Please Enter the Urn—Who Was Plotting Against Whom

[Nine Snake Steps: This movement Dou Technique was created by this old man after ten years of fighting the Snake People Race in the Tagor Desert. It emphasizes unpredictable movements, tricky angles, and bodily agility. When fighting others, its movements are exceptionally flexible and swift, allowing one to strike after the opponent yet arrive first. The specific cultivation method is: ...(This Dou Technique has no attribute. Cultivators of different attributes will gain different additional effects after mastering it.)]

After reading through the introduction to Nine Snake Steps, Gu Han was satisfied.

This movement Dou Technique was unsuitable for long-distance travel. Instead, it was meant for close-quarters combat and could enhance one's fighting ability.

As for traveling, once he obtained the Flying Fighting Skill, Six Wild Geese Flight Skill, he would not lack a means of travel for the time being.

"It's still early. I'll familiarize myself with it first."

Gu Han sat cross-legged and began studying the cultivation method of Nine Snake Steps and the route through which Dou Qi circulated within his body.

"It's time to meet Mo Qing."

After practicing for a while, Gu Han put away the Ancient Book, left the Xuanwu Secret Realm, and headed to the most expensive restaurant in Yunlan Town.

When the attendant at the entrance saw that he was wearing the uniform of a Misty Cloud Sect Outer Disciple, he immediately stepped forward to receive him.

"Find me a window seat on the second floor, and bring out all your signature dishes," Gu Han stated his request.

"Certainly, Young Master. This way, please." The attendant smiled and eagerly led the way.

Just as he reached the second floor, Gu Han heard a burst of noisy chatter from nearby.

"Senior Brother Mo Qing is exceptionally gifted. He broke through to become a Dou Zhe at just sixteen. In the future, he will surely become a Dou Ling powerhouse renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire."

"What Dou Ling? With Senior Brother Mo Qing's talent, and with the Mo Family behind him, becoming a Dou Wang will not be a problem."

"Among the Misty Cloud Sect's thousands of disciples, how many can compare to Senior Brother Mo Qing in talent?"

"..."

Several Probationary Disciples friendly with Mo Qing, along with a few Outer Disciples, were all shamelessly flattering him.

The latter kept saying, "I don't deserve such praise. I'm not that impressive," but the corners of his mouth simply would not stay down.

"Senior Brother Mo Feng."

A voice suddenly rang out from nearby, drawing everyone's attention.

Upon seeing who had arrived, Mo Feng, who had been silently drinking tea beside Mo Qing, showed a slight change in expression. He immediately rose with a smile. "Junior Brother Gu Han, you came here to eat as well?"

"That's right. I heard the Roasted Cloud Pigeon here is a specialty, so I came to try it." Gu Han replied in an neither distant nor overly familiar tone, then turned his gaze toward Mo Qing. "I just heard that Junior Brother Mo Qing has already broken through to become a Dou Zhe. Congratulations."

Junior Brother!?

That form of address made Mo Qing extremely uncomfortable.

He was older than Gu Han and had entered the Misty Cloud Sect before him.

However, Gu Han had indeed become an Outer Disciple before him. Probationary Disciples did not count as official disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Y-you... Thank you, Senior Brother Gu Han."

Mo Qing was about to lash out when Mo Feng tugged at his hand beneath the table.

He immediately recalled his elder brother Mo Yu's warning and reluctantly forced an ugly smile onto his face.

Mo Feng secretly let out a breath of relief and invited Gu Han, "Junior Brother Gu Han, we've only just started eating as well. If you don't mind, why not join us?"

"Wouldn't that be imposing?" Gu Han showed a conflicted expression.

"Not at all, not at all." Mo Feng quickly waved his hand. "We're here to celebrate Junior Brother Mo Qing anyway. The more people there are, the livelier it will be."

Seeing him say this, the others also extended invitations one after another. Even Mo Qing did not pull a long face.

Although he wished Gu Han dead in his heart, he would not show it.

"Then I'll accept your kind invitation." Gu Han did not refuse. He turned to the attendant and said, "Bring everything I ordered to this table. We'll settle the bill together afterward."

"Of course, Young Master. Please take your seat and enjoy yourselves. The dishes will be here shortly." The attendant immediately took his leave.

Gu Han took the seat beside Mo Feng and began casually chatting with everyone.

Although his expression and tone remained cold throughout, no one showed even the slightest displeasure. They all took the initiative to speak with him.

After all, Gu Han's status and strength had changed. Moreover, he appeared to have reconciled with the Mo Family disciples and become friends with them.

If they could befriend him, they absolutely could not offend him.

At the dinner table, Mo Qing believed Mo Feng's judgment that Gu Han wished to befriend the Mo Family.

His elder brother Mo Yu might want to recruit this Prodigy, but Mo Qing only wanted to get rid of him as quickly as possible.

Still, on the surface, he could put on an act.

After several rounds of wine, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill.

Seeing that the time was about right, Gu Han secretly circulated his Dou Qi and used the Mysterious Yin Finger, tapping a certain acupoint on Mo Qing's body from afar. Then he said, "Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, continue drinking. I'm going to relieve myself."

Naturally, no one would stop him over such a matter. They all continued eating and drinking.

Mo Qing felt a sudden urge as well, so he swayed to his feet. "I'm going to relieve myself too."

The restroom was behind the restaurant and was fairly large.

After relieving himself, Mo Qing came out while fastening his belt when his ears suddenly twitched.

He clearly heard Gu Han's suppressed yet excited voice coming from around the corner. "Are you sure that place is an intelligence station of the Golden Goose Sect?"

Golden Goose Sect!?

Mo Qing instantly sobered up by more than half and quietly made his way over.

"Boss, I'm sure," an unfamiliar voice sounded. "Thanks to you joining the Misty Cloud Sect, people like us have been able to scrape out a living in town. We all want to repay you."

"Huzi went to that residence to deliver vegetables and accidentally heard those two mention the Golden Goose Sect's Dou Technique, Nine Wild Geese Flight Skill. They also said they would bring more intelligence for another transaction tonight."

"Good, good, good." Gu Han's excited voice rang out. "These are Golden Goose Sect spies hidden within the sect. Though they're only Dou Zhes, capturing them would still be a great merit. If I can pull up the radish and bring out the dirt, it would be an extraordinary achievement. Even the Sect Leader would reward me."

"Once I prosper, I definitely won't forget you. Keep watching outside 73 South Street Residence for now. It isn't far from the Mo Encampment. I'll sound out Mo Qing first."

"We absolutely cannot let them learn of this and steal my merit."

Upon hearing this, a burning gleam appeared in Mo Qing's eyes.

That bastard Gu Han had actually been lucky enough to discover Golden Goose Sect spies planted in the Misty Cloud Sect, as well as undercover agents passing along intelligence.

If this matter were reported to the sect, it would indeed be a great merit. He would certainly receive praise from the higher-ups and bring glory to the Great Elder's faction.

No wonder Gu Han had agreed to drink with them. He had been afraid his merit would be stolen.

"You leave first. I'll be there shortly," Gu Han's voice sounded again.

Mo Qing's expression shifted slightly. He had originally intended to step forward and see who Gu Han was speaking with, but he could only change his plan.

"Gu Han, this merit is mine now."

Mo Qing quietly retreated, making sure Gu Han would not notice him.

By the time he entered the restaurant through the back door, Gu Han had appeared around the corner.

"Looks like he's taken the bait."

"Three plans. I wonder which one he'll run into."

After waiting silently for a while, Gu Han returned to the second floor of the restaurant.

Seeing that Mo Qing was gone, he asked in confusion, "Where is Junior Brother Mo Qing?"

"He couldn't hold his liquor, so he took two junior brothers back to the nearby sect station to rest." A trace of calculation flashed through Mo Feng's eyes as he smiled. "Don't mind him. Junior Brother, let's keep drinking."

"Then... all right." Gu Han seemed to agree reluctantly.

The group continued passing cups around.

Gu Han suggested leaving several times, only to be persuaded to stay each time.

Left with no choice, he could only make an excuse. "Senior Brother Mo Feng, I still have an important matter to attend to. I need to visit a Steward at the sect station. We can drink together another time."

Mo Feng silently calculated the time and nodded slightly. "All right. Junior Brother, be careful on the road."

Gu Han's brows relaxed, as though he had let out a sigh of relief. After exchanging a polite remark, he left.

Mo Feng walked to the window and watched Gu Han hurry away, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Gu Han, by the time you arrive, the spies will already have been captured by Mo Qing and the Mo Family's Dou Masters."

"What a pity. I won't get to see that wonderful expression of yours."