Yu Cangming's emotions surged, his gaze icy cold, and his killing intent as deep as dark waters. The atmosphere in the room was oppressive to the extreme—this was the killing intent of a peak Core Formation, even half-step Feather Transformation, enough to make even demonic overlords change color.
Yet amidst such killing intent, Mo Hua sat aside like nothing was wrong, leisurely picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
He seemed certain that Yu Cangming would not kill him.
Or perhaps he simply wasn't afraid of this vice director of the Demon Suppression Department, who specialized in assassination, making a move against him.
Mo Hua's demeanor was so calm that Yu Cangming's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He also realized that his own tense and confrontational mood was excessive, so he forcibly suppressed his killing intent and regained a calm expression.
Mo Hua glanced at Yu Cangming, and seeing that he had calmed down, slowly set down his teacup, personally poured a cup of tea for Yu Cangming, and said gently, "Director Yu, have some tea. We're just chatting casually, why such a strong reaction?"
Yu Cangming stared at the tea in the cup but did not take it. Instead, he looked up at Mo Hua with a deep gaze and asked again, "Young Master Mo, who exactly are you?"
Mo Hua said, "Didn't Director Yu already know? I'm just an ordinary disciple of the Taixu Sect."
Yu Cangming's face remained cold; clearly, he didn't believe a word.
Mo Hua said, "Really, I'm not lying to you."
Yu Cangming sneered slightly, and after a moment, he asked, "Young Master Mo, how do you know—"
Yu Cangming paused, thought for a moment, and then spat out the three words he hadn't mentioned in a long time: "—the Water Prison Sect."
Mo Hua glanced at Yu Cangming and calmly said, "Director Yu, there's no need to be suspicious. I was just a little curious and asked casually. I have no other intentions."
"Just asked casually?" Yu Cangming frowned.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "Back then, when I was studying at the Taixu Sect in Ganxue Prefecture, I saw a spell illustration in the Scripture Depository called the Water Prison Technique."
Upon hearing the words "Water Prison Technique," Yu Cangming's pupils constricted, but he said nothing.
"As luck would have it—" Mo Hua mused, "before that, when I was still young, I wiped out a group of rogue cultivators in Li Prefecture and obtained a manual of the Water Prison Technique from them."
"This Water Prison Technique is obscure and niche, but very useful."
For a long time, Mo Hua's main attack method was using the Water Prison Technique to annoy people.
Mo Hua said, "Later, I became curious about the origins of the Water Prison Technique, so I looked up some information at Taixu Sect and naturally traced it back to—"
Mo Hua looked at Yu Cangming and slowly said, "—the matter of the Water Prison Sect."
Yu Cangming's gaze trembled. "How much does Young Master Mo know?"
"Not much," Mo Hua frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "I only know that a thousand years ago, the Water Prison Sect was prominent for a time, ranking among the Twelve Schools of Ganxue. It specialized in water-type Dao techniques for control, imprisonment, and punishment. Its water-type Dao techniques were unmatched. Most of its disciples, after graduation, entered the Dao Court Department, where they handled punishments, and many were harsh officials, so its reputation wasn't very good."
"But it seems there were flaws in the Water Prison Sect's techniques, causing disciples to become sinister and cruel when practicing to deep levels."
"Later, rumors spread that the Water Prison Sect had fallen into the demonic path. The Dao Court was furious and launched a siege against the Water Prison Sect."
"As a result, the Water Prison Sect was destroyed, many disciples died or were imprisoned, core inheritances were sealed, and fragmented techniques like the 'Water Prison Technique' were scattered across the cultivation world—"
Mo Hua recounted the information he had gathered back then.
Hearing this, Yu Cangming's forehead twitched. "And you call that not knowing much?"
Even some intelligence dealers of major powers might not know more than you—
"So," Yu Cangming said coldly, "Young Master Mo followed the clues and came knocking on my door?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "Why would I come looking for you? I just happened to run into you while handling business in Kun Prefecture."
Yu Cangming frowned, clearly not convinced.
People who work in the Demon Suppression Department are cautious and have a heavy suspicion; they don't easily trust others.
Mo Hua didn't blame him, but asked, "So, is your 'Yu' really the 'Yu' from the Water Prison Sect?"
Yu Cangming asked blankly, "Young Master Mo—how did you know I was connected to the Water Prison Sect?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "That day at the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, I saw Director Yu use the Ming Water Heart-Piercing Sword. The spell structure of this technique felt very familiar, as if it had similarities with the Water Prison Sect's inheritances back then."
"Just that?" Yu Cangming's gaze sharpened.
"Just that," Mo Hua said.
Yu Cangming frowned and asked, "Young Master Mo has such a thorough understanding of the Water Prison Sect's inheritances?"
The Water Prison Sect was an old sect buried long ago; few people could accurately determine its origin from the traces of a technique.
Unless—he was someone well-versed in the Water Prison Sect's inheritances.
But Mo Hua shook his head and said, "Not thorough. I only know one Water Prison Technique."
Of course, Mo Hua wasn't telling the truth.
Besides the Water Prison Technique, he had also learned the Water Shadow Phantom Body and the Seven Souls Blood Prison Eye. Moreover, the Water Prison Sect's Water Prison Forbidden Box was currently lying in his Storage Ring.
The Water Prison Sect's inheritances were strictly hierarchical, with higher levels controlling lower ones.
If the Water Prison Sect still existed, with the depth of his inheritance, he would at least be a "candidate for sect master."
Mo Hua was too modest to brag, so he told a "white lie."
Of course, the main reason was that Director Yu didn't seem to have a good temper.
Mo Hua didn't know if telling the truth would make Director Yu, bound by sectarian views, want to kill him.
Yu Cangming didn't think much of it at the moment.
He also couldn't possibly imagine that the Water Prison Sect's long-lost core inheritances and the forbidden technique research manuscripts were in the hands of this Young Master Mo.
These were things that the descendants of the Water Prison Sect had sought all their lives but could never obtain. According to his guess, they should have been hidden in the hands of some "old monster."
But hearing that Mo Hua knew the Water Prison Technique, Yu Cangming's feelings were quite mixed.
Although it was just an obscure spell, easy to learn but hard to master, it was still part of his Water Prison Sect's legacy.
Now that the sect was destroyed, descendants scattered, and the inheritance scattered across the nine prefectures, falling into others' hands—how could it not evoke sighs.
Yu Cangming's expression darkened slightly.
Mo Hua read his expression and asked, "So, are you really a descendant of the Water Prison Sect?"
Yu Cangming instinctively wanted to deny it, but after looking at Mo Hua, he felt that honesty was best. Lying in front of a smart person like Young Master Mo would be too low-level.
Yu Cangming nodded. "Yes. I took refuge in Kun Prefecture. I originally wanted to change my surname, but I couldn't bear to completely abandon it, so I changed the character 'Yu' to 'Yu.' The character changed, but the pronunciation remained, as a small comfort."
Mo Hua felt a moment of admiration, then couldn't help asking, "Can Kun Prefecture really be a place of refuge?"
Since they were already speaking openly, there was no need to hide anything.
Yu Cangming mused, "Kun Prefecture has large forces, many cultivators, and is a mixed bag, enough to hide."
"Moreover, Houtu City in Kun Prefecture is far from Ganxue Prefecture. As long as you don't get involved in Gan Prefecture, not many people would be willing to travel thousands of miles to cause trouble for me."
"The Water Prison Sect's case is from nearly a thousand years ago. If I don't mention it, not many know."
"Of course, the most important thing is—" Yu Cangming's gaze sharpened, "I am now a member of the Demon Suppression Department, serving as Vice Director, with considerable cultivation and authority. I'm not afraid of harassment from small fry."
Mo Hua nodded, then asked curiously, "Director Yu, what exactly does the Demon Suppression Department do?"
"I'm very familiar with the Dao Court Department, and I've also had dealings with people from the Surveillance Department. But the Demon Suppression Department—I've hardly ever seen anyone from it before. Is it true that there are very few places in the nine prefectures that have a Demon Suppression Department?"
Yu Cangming didn't know if Mo Hua was genuinely curious or had other intentions. After a moment of thought, he said, "The so-called Demon Suppression Department, as the name implies, is a court institution specializing in suppressing demonic ways and hunting demonic cultivators."
Mo Hua asked, "But—the Dao Court Department also arrests demonic cultivators. What's the difference?"
Yu Cangming slowly said, "Slaying demons and eliminating evil is the duty of the righteous path. Whether it's the Dao Court Department, the Surveillance Department, or the Demon Suppression Department, it's all the same."
"However, there is specialization in the field. The Dao Court Department has a wide range of duties, including not only demonic cultivators but also rogue cultivators, bandits, and even some public security and management issues."
"The Demon Suppression Department, on the other hand, only handles killing demonic cultivators, especially roundups of ferocious and powerful demonic overlords."
"When the Dao Court Department encounters demonic cultivators, they kill them if they can; if not, they report to the Dao Court and mobilize the Demon Suppression Department for severe suppression and annihilation."
"The Dao Court Department has a fallback, but the Demon Suppression Department does not. Suppressing and killing demons is everything—life or death."
"Twenty thousand years ago, the Demon Suppression Department was spread across the nine prefectures of the Dao Court, terrifying all directions, with extremely powerful influence. It killed demonic cultivators so much that they trembled in fear."
Mo Hua felt a chill inside, and asked, "What about now?"
"Now—" Yu Cangming sighed deeply, "Times have changed. The Demon Suppression Department of today has long declined, no longer possessing the glory of those years—"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and slowly said, "When the cunning hare is killed, the hound is boiled; when the flying birds are gone, the good bow is put away."
"The Dao Court has been peaceful for ten thousand years, with most demonic paths lying low, not daring to show their faces—so the Demon Suppression Department has no demons to eliminate, and thus becomes more and more weakened?"
Yu Cangming looked at Mo Hua in surprise and nodded: "Correct. The Demon Suppression Department exists to suppress demons. If there are no demons to suppress, then the Demon Suppression Department is naturally not very useful."
"So now, across the entire nine prefectures, the number of prefectures that still have a Demon Suppression Department can be counted on one hand."
"Most Demon Suppression Departments have been abolished."
"Except for a few that guard chaotic lands, where constant fighting has preserved a certain degree of authority."
"As for the other remaining Demon Suppression Departments, their presence is becoming weaker and weaker, almost becoming 'invisible'—"
Mo Hua looked around. When he first entered, he hadn't noticed.
Now, after listening to Director Yu's words, he realized that Houtu City was a fifth-grade immortal city. Logically, Houtu City's Demon Suppression Department should be a major force.
But the Demon Suppression Department before him was rather shabby.
Moreover, there were not many people; only a few clerks and officers came and went.
If he hadn't been told, Mo Hua would have thought this was just a special punishment office of the Dao Court Department—
Mo Hua couldn't help but ask, "Director Yu, is it that few people are willing to join the Demon Suppression Department?"
Although the question was a bit piercing, Yu Cangming didn't evade it and nodded, "Naturally."
"The Demon Suppression Department is probably the most dangerous institution."
"Fighting against ferocious and bloody demonic cultivators, the more courageous and fearless you are, charging to the front, the faster you die."
"Many young and aspiring cultivators joined the Demon Suppression Department, and within a few years, they were either dead, crippled, suffered severe mental trauma, broke their Dao heart, or even fell into demonic possession, turning into demonic cultivators—"
"On top of that, the Demon Suppression Department is in decline, with low authority and being squeezed out by various forces. Naturally, life gets harder and harder."
"Joining the Demon Suppression Department is almost equivalent to having no future at all. Fewer and fewer people are willing to join."
"Another more serious problem—"
Yu Cangming looked at Mo Hua and asked, "Young Master Mo, you must be from a major sect, right?"
Mo Hua nodded, "More or less."
The Taixu Sect was now the number one major sect in Ganxue Prefecture.
Yu Cangming said, "Aren't almost all the disciples accepted by major sects from aristocratic families?"
Mo Hua thought back and nodded.
"That's it," Yu Cangming said. "Originally, major sects would also accept poor and humble disciples. These disciples, coming from poor backgrounds, hated evil as if it were their enemy. After graduation, some would think of joining the Demon Suppression Department, risking their lives to kill demonic cultivators and restore clarity to the world—"
"But now, in major sects, all the disciples are from aristocratic families, living in comfort, thinking only of their own prospects. How many are willing to risk their lives to serve in the Demon Suppression Department, to go all out and slay demons?"
When Yu Cangming said these words, he was not agitated, but very calm.
He had long been used to the injustices of reality.
"For this reason—" Yu Cangming sighed again, "A clerk like Clerk Gu, who comes from an aristocratic family with superior talent, but disregards danger and leads the charge against demonic cultivators, truly earns my respect."
"But such people are becoming fewer and fewer in this world—"
Mo Hua nodded as well.
Although Uncle Gu was a big fool, his character and principles were indeed commendable.
Mo Hua then asked, "Only when there are demonic cultivators does the Demon Suppression Department exist. If the demonic sects were to rise again, wouldn't that mean the Demon Suppression Department would have a purpose?"
Yu Cangming shook his head, "It's not that simple—"
Mo Hua was a bit surprised, "Isn't it?"
Yu Cangming sighed, "The Demon Suppression Department and the demonic sects are sworn enemies—"
"If the demonic sects rise again, they would naturally not want the Demon Suppression Department to rise."
"But besides the demonic sects, the aristocratic families and sects of the nine prefectures have already seized most of the power and interests. They also would not want to see the Demon Suppression Department develop and expand."
"Because if the Demon Suppression Department becomes powerful, it will inevitably affect their interests and even suppress their actions."
"Even the central Dao Court, in fact, does not want to see the three characters 'Demon Suppression Department'—"
Mo Hua was taken aback, "Why?"
Yu Cangming said solemnly, "Suppress demons—the problem lies in the two characters 'suppress demons'—"
"If the Demon Suppression Department grows, doesn't that mean there are many demonic cultivators? Many demonic cultivators means the Dao Court is poorly governed, causing unrest in the nine prefectures? It could even be said that the Dao Court—"
Yu Cangming's heart tightened; he didn't say the words out loud.
But Mo Hua could roughly guess that Director Yu might have wanted to say "the Dao Court has lost the Way."
The Dao Court, representing the "Way," if it lost the Way, the problem would be extremely serious.
This was almost tantamount to rebellious words of "turning the world upside down."
So it seemed that the Demon Suppression Department was in a situation where the Dao Court didn't care, various forces suppressed it, and demonic paths sought revenge.
Under such circumstances, it was good enough to barely survive.
Mo Hua sighed.
Yu Cangming also sighed. Just as he finished sighing, he suddenly widened his eyes, realizing he had said too much. He had said what he should and almost said what he shouldn't.
He looked at Mo Hua in disbelief.
Mo Hua noticed Director Yu's gaze and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Yu Cangming shook his head, pursed his lips, and said nothing.
Mo Hua suddenly thought of something and asked, "Director Yu, how many people are in Houtu City's Demon Suppression Department now?"
Yu Cangming held back and only said three words: "Not many—"
Mo Hua asked, "Does the Earth Sect target the Demon Suppression Department?"
Yu Cangming said, "It's okay."
Mo Hua asked, "What about the major aristocratic families?"
Yu Cangming: "Mm."
Mo Hua asked again, "Was there some hidden truth behind the Water Prison Sect's destruction back then?"
Yu Cangming was even less likely to answer, only saying, "Not sure."
Mo Hua frowned, feeling disappointed. He didn't know why Director Yu, who had been so talkative, suddenly fell silent.
Mo Hua tactfully sighed and said, "Then I won't disturb Director Yu any longer. I'll take my leave."
Yu Cangming felt a great sense of relief, nodded, and said, "I'll have someone escort Young Master Mo."
After speaking, Yu Cangming called over an officer and said, "Escort Young Master Mo."
Mo Hua cupped his hands and said, "Director Yu, farewell."
Yu Cangming returned the gesture: "Young Master Mo, go slowly."
Then the officer led Mo Hua out of the Demon Suppression Department's Confidential Office.
After Mo Hua left, Yu Cangming sat alone, frowning deeply. He took a deep breath and thought: "What kind of person is this Young Master Mo?"
"Seemingly naive, but with deep schemes; seemingly upright, but with a hint of wickedness; seemingly weak, but seemingly strong—"
"He even influenced my state of mind, making me spill my heart—"
"Something unusual must be at play. This Young Master Mo probably—isn't a good person."