After Mo Hua moved into the cave mansion, he originally thought it would be quieter. However, he didn’t expect that within a few days, people would continuously send over visiting cards.

First was the owner of the tooth shop, said to be a direct disciple of the Nanyue Sect.

Mo Hua simply entertained him.

This owner’s surname was Zheng, he wasn’t very old, had a cultivation base at Qi Refining level nine, was dressed in fine silk and jade, and looked like a young master.

Young Master Zheng was very polite when he saw Mo Hua, and they simply chatted for a few sentences.

Mo Hua then understood the general situation.

Young Master Zheng was a direct disciple of a certain Elder Lin of the Nanyue Sect. His parents were in the refining business, and his family was wealthy, so he entered the inner sect of the Nanyue Sect.

However, within the inner sect, there was a lot of conflict among the direct disciples.

His parents were afraid he would suffer losses, so they invested in him to open a tooth shop, letting him be the owner and earn some spirit stones to build relationships within the sect and with other local cultivation forces.

But a tooth shop couldn’t be opened without the support of other forces.

His Dao companion came from the Land family, and a small portion of this tooth shop also counted as the Land family’s dowry.

Young Master Zheng saw that Mo Hua was young but had extraordinary knowledge of arrays, so he had the idea of making friends. That’s why he sold the cave mansion to Mo Hua at a lower price.

Some of these matters were directly told to Mo Hua by Young Master Zheng.

Another part was something Mo Hua spent two spirit stones to inquire about from a tooth person.

Since Young Master Zheng was not a person with malicious intentions, Mo Hua treated him politely.

Young Master Zheng had no other business, so he drank a few cups of tea and then left. Before leaving, he said:

“Later I will have a servant send a few boxes of good tea to young master.”

He probably disliked Mo Hua’s tea but didn’t want to say it directly.

This tea was definitely not good; it was tea Mo Hua bought for five cents of spirit stones.

Good tea was very expensive.

He usually only “freeloaded” tea to drink and rarely bought it himself.

He only bought some tea leaves to entertain guests reluctantly after buying the cave mansion, fearing someone would visit.

Anyway, whether it was good or not, it was still tea, and Mo Hua wasn’t picky.

But since Young Master Zheng wanted to send some, Mo Hua wasn’t going to refuse and bowed with a smile:

“Then I thank Young Master Zheng.”

Young Master Zheng was also happy that Mo Hua accepted his good intention and bowed with a smile to bid farewell.

After that, some array masters also visited, drank tea, and exchanged knowledge about arrays.

Some neighbors also sent some greeting gifts.

Two days later, Elder Su actually came.

Mo Hua brewed the tea sent by Young Master Zheng for Elder Su.

Elder Su took a sip and then said:

“This is… my Nanyue Sect’s tea?”

Mo Hua asked doubtfully: “You can tell?”

Elder Su smiled, “I drink it every day, I can tell by the smell.”

Elder Su pondered for a moment, then asked again:

“Who sent this tea to young master?”

Mo Hua then said: “A young master surnamed Zheng.”

Elder Su frowned, “Surname Zheng?”

“The one who wears luxurious clothes, wears a jade pendant, is a little bit fat, and opened the tooth shop…”

“Oh.” Elder Su remembered, “Zheng Yu…?”

“He actually sent tea to young master?”

Elder Su was a little surprised. In just a few short days, he discovered that Mo Hua already knew quite a few cultivators in Nanyue City.

When he entered the door, there were still quite a few gifts piled up at the entrance.

“I got to know him after buying the cave mansion,” Mo Hua said.

Elder Su nodded.

Mo Hua then asked about Instructor Yan again.

Elder Su shook his head and said: “I sent people to inquire again later, but there are still no clues about this Instructor Yan.”

“I see…” Mo Hua nodded, “Thank you, Elder Su.”

“It’s a small matter, nothing to mention,” Elder Su said politely.

He then thought for a moment, hesitated, and still asked:

“Young master, have you been to the Land family’s mine?”

Mo Hua was slightly surprised in his heart, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he nodded with his usual expression, “I have.”

Elder Su looked like he wanted to say something but stopped.

Mo Hua asked: “Is there something inappropriate?”

Elder Su hesitated for a long time and finally sighed, “The water is a bit deep in the Land family’s mine. It’s best for young master not to get involved.”

Mo Hua lowered his voice and said:

“The Land family might have some unspeakable secrets…”

Elder Su repeatedly waved his hands, “No, no, young master, don’t overthink.”

Elder Su said again: “The Land family’s mine is legal and compliant, it has passed the audit of the Daoting Office, and the mine cultivators are also voluntary. They don’t default on spirit stones, and they compensate if there are accidents. There is nothing unspeakable.”

Mo Hua showed an expression of curiosity although he wasn’t directly concerned and quietly said:

“I heard from friends at the Daoting Office that five mine cultivators died miserably in the mine cave… died very miserably…”

Elder Su said in surprise: “You have friends at the Daoting Office?”

“Sort of,” Mo Hua nodded.

He called Situ Fang sister, and they handled matters and ate meals together. Naturally, they counted as friends.

Elder Su’s expression was complex.

Wasn’t this first-grade array master the first time coming to Nanyue City?

Knowing Zheng Yu was one thing, but how did he also have friends at the Daoting Office?

But these things didn’t matter and had nothing to do with him.

Elder Su just sighed a little, then said:

“People die in this mine cave every year. As long as they die inside, the manner of death is always miserable.”

“People die every year?”

“Yes.”

Mo Hua frowned, “How many die?”

“That’s not easy to say,” Elder Su pondered, “There are several hundred in total. If there’s a major accident, it’s estimated that thousands or even tens of thousands will die…”

“Major accident?”

“Mine well collapse, demon beasts causing trouble, foul Qi leaking out, and so on.”

Mo Hua couldn’t bear it in his heart, “So many people actually die?”

Elder Su sighed, “There’s no other way. We rely on the mountains for food. Here in Nanyue City, there are only many mines, and cultivators can only rely on this to live…”

“It’s a bit better now. If someone dies, the Land family will compensate with spirit stones.”

“In the past, if someone died, they just died for nothing…”

Mo Hua was a little surprised, “In the past, they didn’t compensate with spirit stones?”

Elder Su nodded, “They are scattered cultivators. If a few die, no one cares.”

Mo Hua also sighed.

Elder Su then realized that the topic had drifted a bit far and said:

“In short, the matter of the mine involves the livelihood of the mine cultivators, the interests of the family, and also the power of the Daoting Office. It is very complicated…”

“We are array masters, it is better to be aloof from worldly affairs and not care about these trivial matters.”

“Especially, young master, you are still an outsider, it’s even less appropriate to intervene…”

What Elder Su said was quite true.

Mo Hua nodded:

“Elder Su, rest assured, I have a sense of proportion.”

Elder Su then breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t know if Mo Hua was really listening or just pretending, but having this sentence was enough.

The two chatted for a while longer, and then Elder Su said goodbye.

Mo Hua was propping his chin, feeling a bit doubtful.

How did Elder Su know he had been to the mine cave?

If he wanted to inquire, he could certainly find out.

But he and himself were not relatives or friends, so why did he want to inquire about his whereabouts?

Perhaps this matter was related to the Land family?

Mo Hua remembered that the Nanyue Sect and the Land family had a very close relationship…

As expected, the next day, Mo Hua received an invitation.

The invitation was personally sent by the head of the Land family.

The wording above was simple and did not state the reason, only that they invited Mo Hua to the Land mansion for a talk to discuss arrays together.

Discuss arrays together…

It seemed that the Land family knew about his identity as a first-grade array master. Otherwise, the head of the Land family would not have personally sent an invitation.

In the realm of second-grade, the identity of a first-grade array master was still very honorable.

And in Nanyue City, the cultivators who knew about Mo Hua’s identity as a first-grade array master, at present, seemed to only be Elder Su.

It seemed that Elder Su and the Land family had a close relationship.

Mo Hua frowned.

To go or not to go?

Would there be any danger?

Mo Hua thought for a moment and still decided to go.

Without reason, the Land family would not dare, and there was no need to make a move against a first-grade array master.

Even if they made a move, it would be in secret, unknown to everyone.

It wouldn’t be like sending an invitation and openly inviting him to the Land family to make a move.

Moreover, Mo Hua was also a little curious.

He wanted to know what kind of person the head of the Land family was.

Mo Hua told Mister Zhuang about this matter.

Mister Zhuang just nodded and didn’t say anything.

Mo Hua then felt relieved. Mister Zhuang didn’t say anything, which meant that this matter was not risky.

Bai Zisheng wanted to go with him but was stopped by Mister Zhuang.

“First draw the arrays I taught you a hundred times…” Mister Zhuang said.

Bai Zisheng then watched Mo Hua easily and leisurely go out alone with a bitter face.

Mo Hua arrived at the Land family.

The Land family had specially assigned disciples to welcome him outside. They respectfully invited Mo Hua into the door and led the way.

Mo Hua took the opportunity to examine the Land family’s mansion.

His first impression was that the Land family was very rich!

If the Sun family was a small wealthy family, then the Land family was a big landlord.

The scale of its mansion and the grandeur of its buildings were even more luxurious than the Qian family in Tongxian City.

Even more so when it came to arrays.

The Land family should have a complete array inheritance, and the mansion should also have a first-grade array master, plus they had many spirit stones.

So the arrays throughout the mansion were the best building arrays Mo Hua had seen so far, a bit better than the ones he drew for the refining shop and the pill refining shop.

Of course, compared to a true great array like the Five Elements Demon Slaying Great Array, it was still far worse.

The Land family disciple led Mo Hua to the study of the head of the Land family.

Mo Hua also saw the head of the Land family for the first time.

What surprised him greatly was that the head of the Land family was actually an extremely gentle and elegant middle-aged cultivator. He treated people like a spring breeze and had a handsome appearance, which made it easy for people to feel good about him.

Mo Hua chatted with him for a few sentences and discovered that his array attainments were very high, at least that of a first-grade array master.

During the conversation, the head of the Land family was also extremely appreciative of Mo Hua.

They talked for an hour, discussing only some arrays, some trivial matters, the customs of Nanyue City, and some cultivation experiences.

Not a single word was mentioned about the mine.

Mo Hua acted shy and polite, while the head of the Land family was enthusiastic and considerate.

Both host and guest seemed happy.

Before parting, the head of the Land family again gave Mo Hua a pile of gifts in large and small bags, including array books, spirit ink, array brushes, some spirit meat pastries, and special products of Nanyue City.

Afterwards, he had the luxurious carriage of the Land family personally send Mo Hua back to his door.

Mo Hua sat in the Land family’s luxurious and soft carriage back home and then threw the large and small bags of storage bags into the courtyard.

Bai Zisheng’s mouth was wide open, “Mo Hua, did you go to scam them?”

Mo Hua gave him a glare, “I don’t scam people.”

Bai Zisheng shook his head, “We are fellow disciples, don’t lie to me.”

Then he asked again: “These were all sent to you by the Land family?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng frowned, “Why?”

Mo Hua thought: “There is no reason to offer courtesies without a purpose.”

But what was the purpose, Mo Hua still couldn’t guess. He could only keep this matter in his heart for now.

Mo Hua frowned.

The pressing matter was still to find a way to find Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan had the grace of teaching and guiding him.

And now it seemed that the situation in Nanyue City was a bit complex.

Forces colluded, mine cultivators died miserably, and there were evil strange arrays…

If Instructor Yan had really come here, he might encounter some misfortune.

Mo Hua wanted to find Instructor Yan as soon as possible to confirm his safety.

But no matter how he searched, he still had no clues, so he had to ask Situ Fang.

Situ Fang was a registrar of the Daoting Office, so her means of finding people should be more than his own.

Situ Fang also agreed.

A few days later, Situ Fang visited and mentioned two matters.

One matter was that there was indeed a cultivator named Yan, who looked like a scholar, who came to Nanyue City several years ago and rented a room near the mine in the southern part of the city.

But this room had been uninhabited for a long time.

According to the nearby cultivators, this Mr. Yan went out one evening, headed towards the direction of the mine, and never came back…

Another matter was that there were clues about the five mine cultivators who died miserably…

(End of this chapter)