"Mister Mo, while investigating Steward Zhang, this disciple heard that a terrible case of an entire village being slaughtered occurred in Jiang City, seemingly caused by zombies! The court was furious upon hearing of it and wished to gather Daoist and Buddhist practitioners from every path to investigate. This disciple's followers intend to go and contend for a stroke of fortune. Do you have any teachings for me, sir?"
Seeing that Immortal Mo was in a good mood, Huang Buyu seized the chance to report and seek his instructions.
Though the massacre of an entire village was rather horrifying, it was hardly uncommon in this world where demons and monsters ran rampant.
Not long ago, had not a Great Five-Armored Demon sought to slaughter Changlan City for cultivation?
Thus, if his disciples could secure a stroke of fortune from it, they might well bring him some incense offerings in return.
"A village massacre? Was it Lord Black Armor's village at Tuoyun Mountain?"
Mo Chuan's gaze abruptly pulled away from that fresh strand of incense as he frowned at Huang Buyu.
"That's right! Does sir know that place?" Huang Buyu was startled.
"So it truly was that place. This poor Daoist has harmed them!"
With a wistful expression, Mo Chuan could not help letting out a long sigh, making Huang Buyu even more curious.
"This poor Daoist was traveling through Jiang County when I happened upon a ghost marriage. After investigating, I learned that it was deeply entangled indeed. A thousand-year Flying Zombie had pushed its puppet, the black zombie Lord Black Armor, to the fore while secretly gathering flesh and blood as provisions for cultivation. I never expected that after this fiend was exposed by this poor Daoist, it would be so ruthless as to kill even the relatives of its own subordinates."
Huang Buyu was left dumbfounded.
He had never imagined that the recent village massacre stirring up the entire city had actually been caused by Immortal Mo.
Still less had he imagined that Immortal Mo was so formidable!
Though Immortal Mo had not stated it outright, Huang Buyu guessed that Immortal Mo's investigation had alarmed the thousand-year Flying Zombie. Fearing that something might be uncovered, it had destroyed the evidence and silenced everyone to cut off future trouble.
"Sir need not blame yourself. Since that village accepted its benefits, bearing its karma was also Heaven's will. What does it have to do with you, sir?" Huang Buyu hurriedly replied.
"You certainly know how to comfort people."
Mo Chuan chuckled. He was not ashamed; he merely felt some wistful emotion.
As they spoke, he waved a hand. The Sacrificial Dao Furnace hidden within his soul immediately spat out one of the parties to the Jiang City ghost marriage—the bride, Guo Shi.
Who knew what method the ghost matchmaker had used? Guo Shi was still unconscious, looking as though she were dead.
"There, she is the victim. Wake her up and explain the reasons clearly. She probably cannot return to her heartless parents' home. Put some thought into arranging a good place for her. Do not let the young lady suffer injustice."
As Mo Chuan spoke, he handed over a scroll of Daoist scripture.
"This is the Star Worship Technique. It uses the Big Dipper as a guide to draw in the power of the stars and temper the sinews and bones. Now that you have taken human form, do not stray onto an evil path!"
Huang Buyu was overjoyed at the sight.
He hurriedly knelt and bowed, raising both hands to receive it.
"This disciple, Huang Buyu, thanks Master!"
To his surprise, the Daoist scripture in his hands did not move in the slightest.
Huang Buyu looked up in astonishment, only to find Immortal Mo regarding him with an amused expression.
"This disciple, Huang Buyu, thanks Mister Mo!"
A bitterness rose in Huang Buyu's heart, and he had no choice but to change his words.
Only then did the Daoist scripture finally fall into his hands, joy tinged with a thread of regret.
It was like drinking a cup of finest Tieguanyin: fragrant at the start, faintly bitter in the middle, and endlessly sweet in the aftertaste.
Immortal affinity truly was not so easily obtained.
Still, there was no need to rush.
Since Mister Mo had enlightened him and was willing to teach him, it meant he had the intention of forging a connection.
For now, this should be a test and an observation.
Naturally. Even Daoist inheritances were passed down with the utmost caution, much less the immortal fate of an immortal family.
"A Great Five-Armored Demon once caused trouble in Changlan City. This is one of its remains. I hear that Second Master Huang is skilled at tracking and searching, so you may go try your luck with this opportunity."
With a teasing tone, Mo Chuan handed over a crimson bone fragment.
Little did he know that the words "Second Master Huang" made Huang Buyu's entire body tremble. Just as he had begun to think there was hope, unease immediately welled up in his heart again.
Thinking carefully, why would settling a peasant woman require the gift of a Star Worship Daoist scripture?
Immortal Mo's actions clearly showed that he did not wish to owe karma.
Yet Huang Buyu had climbed the pole and called him Master. Had he not angered the immortal?
And now he was giving him an opportunity, yet stiffly calling him "Second Master Huang." Was he not trying to buy out the connection between them?
Just like Steward Zhang's ten taels of immortal affinity.
Huang Buyu's heart was bitter, but he still gritted his teeth and accepted it.
It was not that he coveted the Great Five-Armored Demon's opportunity. He simply did not dare defy an immortal's will.
If he refused, he would only make things more awkward.
"This poor Daoist has had a brief encounter with fellow Daoist Yan Zhen. If you find anything, inform this poor Daoist. When I make offerings to fellow Daoist Yan Zhen, I can mention a word or two."
Seeing that Huang Buyu's expression was odd, Mo Chuan thought for a moment and found an excuse to offer him a hint.
Unexpectedly, those words of guidance gave Huang Buyu a jolt.
From Immortal Mo's words, he clearly was not buying out the opportunity between them!
Could it be... this really was a test?
"This disciple accepts the order!"
As his thoughts churned, Huang Buyu hastily answered.
After a good while without hearing any response, he looked up, only to discover that Immortal Mo had already departed silently and without a trace.
At the sight, Huang Buyu let out a faint sigh of relief.
His heart was filled with a hundred tangled emotions. The bearing of immortals was truly unfathomable and hard to discern, enough to make one restless with unease!
"Hoo—"
He softly exhaled, soothing his anxious heart, yet he did not dare let himself go.
As the saying went, a gentleman remained cautious even in solitude.
Since Immortal Mo intended to observe him, perhaps his everyday conduct and propriety were themselves part of the test.
Thus, only after solemnly performing three kowtows and nine bows did he rise.
Rather than examine the Daoist scripture, he studied the crimson bone fragment in his hand. From his many years of experience, it appeared to be human bone.
Could it be the remains of the Great Five-Armored Demon, Lu Fengbei?
Huang Buyu instinctively thought of this possibility.
In truth, this was also Mo Chuan's guess.
Such remains were often formed through the tempering of their owner's essence and vitality during life.
They were also called indestructible bones.
In Buddhism, they were known as golden collarbones.
This was because a Buddhist cultivator's indestructible bones were golden.
The remains that Lu Fengbei had carried with him even unto death must have belonged to someone close to him.
Therefore, there was a high chance they were his own.
Mo Chuan had several pieces in hand. Tossing one to Huang Buyu and letting him follow the vine to find the melon might bring some unexpected discovery.
It also counted as planting a seed of Daoist affinity.
Whether it bloomed or bore fruit depended entirely on whether Heaven was willing to grant it a meal!
After arranging these trivial matters, Mo Chuan's heart stirred. Following that lingering wisp of incense, he slipped into that nameless peasant courtyard.
The sun hung low in the west, and the daylight was dim and murky.
Upon reaching the courtyard, Mo Chuan looked around, and the more he looked, the stranger it seemed.
By the fence, several little ghosts formed from remnant souls wandered about in confusion, seemingly trying to leave this place.
Yet their corpses were nearby, so they could not travel far at all.
Without revealing any emotion, Mo Chuan stepped over the fence and came outside the courtyard. On two cracked wooden pillars in the front yard, he saw a couplet carved:
"Wealth cannot make plans for later generations; virtue can bring blessings that stretch far into the future."
Above it was written: Hua Family Charity Morgue.
Well, well!
So it was a charity house for holding corpses.
Mo Chuan shook his head and casually flung several Ghost Subduing Talismans at the fence before striding away.
The charity morgue stood in a rather remote place. Mo Chuan followed the only official road outward for quite a while before he finally saw signs of people.
It was a tea stall preparing to close for the day.
A group of idle men returning from farmwork had gathered before it, whispering among themselves.
Mo Chuan quickly raised a hand and called out, "Old sir, wait a moment. Allow this poor Daoist to beg for a drink of water!"
The stall owner glanced up and answered, "Daoist priest, it is not that this old man refuses to serve you. There is only half a pot of leftover tea."
Mo Chuan hastily said, "No matter, no matter. This poor Daoist must travel through the night, so I will chew some tea leaves to wake myself up."
Hearing this, the stall owner quickly unfolded the small wooden table and lifted the teapot, which still held some warmth, pouring out half a bowl of strong tea.
"Daoist priest, tonight is no time to travel by night."
From among the whispering crowd, an inquisitive fellow carrying a hoe turned his head and shouted.
"How so?"
Mo Chuan walked over, raised the crude tea bowl, and gulped it down like an ox drinking water.
"Heh, Daoist priest, you do not know this, but a whole group of corpses just passed along the road!"
"A group of corpses? What do you mean by that?"
Mo Chuan knew full well that the man was showing off, yet he still put on a look of surprise.
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