Bai Qingcheng remained silent, offering no answer.
Immortal Rong gradually understood from her expression and sighed inwardly.
"So it really is...?"
No wonder.
No wonder that boy Mo Hua seemed utterly ordinary, with nothing to recommend him but his looks, yet was a monster inside... If he was that person's disciple, how could he be simple?
But then Immortal Rong frowned. "Didn't your senior brother vow early on that he would never take another disciple? Shouldn't his line have died with him, with no successor?"
Bai Qingcheng sighed softly. "The world is unpredictable... Who could have foreseen it?"
Immortal Rong asked, "Then is Mo Hua a direct disciple?"
A chill ran through Bai Qingcheng's heart. She shook her head. "How could that be? Taking a disciple at all was already breaking his vow, let alone a direct disciple."
"Mo Hua..." Bai Qingcheng paused briefly. "He's only a nominal disciple. In the last days before my senior brother's death... he took Mo Hua in on a whim. I suspect he did it with some hidden intention."
Immortal Rong's gaze sharpened, uncertain whether to believe her.
But on reflection, if Mo Hua really were that Master Zhuang's disciple, he would never have ended up in his current circumstances. Either he would have done something extraordinary, or he would have been hidden away, trembling through life in the shadows, or he would already have died in the vortex of karma, leaving no corpse behind.
Very often, so-called chance encounters also invite unforeseeable disaster... That Master Zhuang's karma was not so easy to touch.
Immortal Rong sighed softly. Then, as if thinking of something, her gaze turned cold. She worked a spell and turned a mechanism disc, condensing a Feather Transformation barrier that sealed the small study completely. Only then did she look at Bai Qingcheng and ask in a low voice:
"Qingcheng, your senior brother... is he really dead?"
Bai Qingcheng slowly nodded. "Of course."
Immortal Rong frowned. "His karmic threads were severed, with no chance of survival?"
"Yes." Bai Qingcheng's gaze sharpened. "Elder Sister Rong, why do you ask?"
"It's nothing..." Immortal Rong's expression shifted. After thinking for a moment, she sighed. "I just never imagined that someone like him could die."
The plain words were like a needle piercing Bai Qingcheng's heart. She gave a bitter smile and murmured, "Yes..."
Not only others hadn't imagined it. She, his junior sister, hadn't either.
From childhood on, she had always believed Elder Brother Zhuang was exceptionally strong, that he could divine Heaven's secrets and never miscalculate, and that he handled everything with ease.
No matter how she schemed, Elder Brother Zhuang would find a way to resolve it.
Even if she made mistakes, Elder Brother Zhuang would clean up after her.
But she had never thought that the deeper one could see into Heaven's secrets, the stronger the backlash would be.
The pressure Elder Brother Zhuang bore was far beyond ordinary imagination.
Human strength eventually runs out, and even Heaven's secrets can be calculated to their end.
Once that end was reached, no matter how stunning a person was, they would face a dead end with no strength to turn back the tide.
Bai Qingcheng's eyelids twitched, and the bitter, sour feeling surged into her heart again.
Seeing her like this, Immortal Rong felt a pang of sorrow too, and said quietly, "I always thought someone as brilliant as your senior brother was a true 'immortal seed of the Dao.'"
"If anyone in this world was cut out to be an immortal, if anyone could attain immortality... it would probably be someone like your senior brother."
"But I truly never expected him to die like that."
Immortal Rong's expression was indescribably bitter. "A man of such dazzling brilliance, such peerless skill—let alone becoming an immortal, he never even reached Hollow Void. And yet he died..."
"While mediocre people like me are still alive."
"The Heavenly Dao is truly cruel. The fates of men are truly... bizarre and unfathomable."
Immortal Rong's expression was complicated beyond words.
Bai Qingcheng's gaze dimmed as well. "Elder Sister Rong, your talent is also excellent. There's no need to belittle yourself."
Immortal Rong shook her head. Her talent was good, but it depended on whom she was compared to.
After a moment of silence, Bai Qingcheng sighed again. "Elder Brother Zhuang... he couldn't escape..."
"He had offended too many people. Not only did the patriarchs of various powers harbor grudges against him, enemies want him dead, and peers envy him, but even his own people were scheming against him."
"Not to mention... that most terrifying Daoist."
"They were fellow disciples who knew each other best, and their Heaven-secret arts countered each other. That was the most fatal thing of all."
Bai Qingcheng's eyes were icy.
Immortal Rong naturally knew which Daoist she meant.
When one didn't study Heaven's secrets, ignorance was bliss.
But she had learned a little, even if she wasn't skilled, and she understood how terrifying that Daoist was.
Once targeted by that Daoist, even a fellow disciple with peerless calculations and stunning talent like Zhuang Daoling could not escape the calamity of the deviant path.
In this world, probably no one could walk out alive from that Daoist's trap.
Immortal Rong sighed, deeply afraid, and did not say more.
The study fell into a stifling silence.
Bai Qingcheng changed the subject. "Enough, let's not discuss this."
She looked at Immortal Rong seriously. "Elder Sister Rong, you must keep Mo Hua's lineage a secret. Don't let anyone know, or it will bring disaster."
Immortal Rong nodded. "Don't worry, I understand." Then she asked, "What about his matter with Zixi? What do you plan to do?"
"I've already spoken to Zixi. She dotes on her little junior brother, so she should understand."
"But Mo Hua... I can't bear to tell him. I'll have to find another marriage for him instead."
"Find a gentle, beautiful girl from a good family, so Mo Hua can shift his affections. Once he has a new love, his feelings for Zi Xi will fade in time."
Immortal Rong frowned. "Will that work? Mo Hua is a little monster. What girl could match him?"
Bai Qingcheng said, "There's no other way. Besides..." She sighed.
"This is also for Mo Hua's good. I'll personally find him an excellent match, so he can live a life of ease, with no worries about food or cultivation, beauty by his side, and wealth and honor. It will also keep him from getting involved in dangerous karma."
"Mo Hua being with Zixi is extremely dangerous."
"And Mo Hua brooding over his master's matter is even more dangerous."
Bai Qingcheng had seen Mo Hua not long ago, and she could see the deep obsession hidden behind his calm eyes.
With Mo Hua's temperament, he would definitely try every means to revive his master.
But Bai Qingcheng also knew that obsession would be the death of Mo Hua.
Elder Brother Zhuang's karma was something even she, a Feather Transformation True Person, did not dare touch lightly.
Therefore, the only way was to keep Mo Hua away from all that danger, find him a Dao companion, let him start a family, and give him a bright future.
Immortal Rong asked, "Then which family's daughter do you plan to choose?"
Bai Qingcheng slowly shook her head. "I'm still thinking."
Immortal Rong mused, "Why not pick a girl from the higher echelons of your Bai family and marry her to Mo Hua?"
Bai Qingcheng was taken aback.
Immortal Rong went on, "You're his Martial Aunt, and the Bai family is a great sixth-rank clan with deep foundations and strong power. It's enough to protect Mo Hua."
"You yourself are an Immortal of the Bai family, so you have a say, and you know the Bai girls well. It'll be easier to choose a good match for Mo Hua."
"Why not let Mo Hua go to the Bai family?"
Bai Qingcheng thought it over and felt it made sense, but then her expression turned complicated and she shook her head. "No."
Immortal Rong asked, "Why not?"
"If Mo Hua goes to the Bai family, he'll still be too close to Zixi," Bai Qingcheng said. "I'm afraid the two of them will still be entangled."
Immortal Rong frowned. "If they're married, how can they still be entangled?"
Bai Qingcheng sighed. "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
"They're young and don't yet understand love, so they can still restrain themselves. But once each of them marries someone else, the true love they couldn't have in youth becomes moonlight coated with poison; alluring and lethal..."
"If Mo Hua marries a Bai girl and lives in the Bai family, he and Zixi will still meet from time to time. In the long years ahead, if their old feelings reignite and they do something exciting and forbidden, then there's truly no way to explain it."
"Not only would Zixi be unable to face herself, Mo Hua might even lose his life..."
Bai Qingcheng was very troubled.
Immortal Rong's expression was complicated as she looked at Bai Qingcheng. "Are you... overthinking this? What is all this improper nonsense?"
Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "Elder Sister Rong, you don't understand. Human desire is like that. No matter how rational a person is, once love is born in their heart, one slip can lead to eternal regret."
Immortal Rong sighed. "Fine, whatever you say. So what do you plan to do? Send Mo Hua to Daozhou?"
Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "Daozhou is even worse."
Immortal Rong thought about it and nodded. "That's true."
"Sending Mo Hua to Daozhou might bring them even closer, making the improper outcome even more likely."
"Then Qingzhou? Mingzhou? Ningzhou? Yanzhou? Or Jianzhou?" Immortal Rong counted them off.
Bai Qingcheng couldn't decide. After thinking a moment, she suddenly said, "How about leaving Mo Hua in Kunzhou? Kunzhou is the most prosperous of the nine provinces, second only to Daozhou. Its great clans live in luxury, as rich as dragons. If Mo Hua marries a girl from a Kunzhou clan, he'll enjoy endless wealth and glory for a lifetime..."
Immortal Rong's expression turned strange.
Bai Qingcheng noticed something was off. "What is it?"
"Mo Hua..." Immortal Rong hesitated for a moment. "The Earth Sect of Kunzhou, and the Lu, Wu, Zhu, and Jin families—and some other clans as well—all have some friction with him. They issued a wealth ban cutting off his path to riches."
Bai Qingcheng was stunned. "Mo Hua? What did he do to offend so many great clans?"
"He went to brothels and pursued the courtesans."
Immortal Rong tried to save Mo Hua a little face, saying euphemistically, "By a twist of fate, some disputes arose."
Bai Qingcheng asked, "Did anyone die?"
Immortal Rong said, "No."
Bai Qingcheng said calmly, "If no one died, then it's fine. What's all this banning of wealth? Kids' squabbles are no big deal. Why make such a fuss? When I have time, I'll pay a visit and make the Earth Sect back off."
Immortal Rong knew that this great matriarch of the Bai family had always acted domineeringly and protected her own without scruple.
Of course, she also had the capital to be domineering, so Immortal Rong said no more.
Bai Qingcheng thought for a moment, then felt something was wrong.
"Mo Hua is such an innocent child, with no power, no influence, and no background. Why would the Earth Sect and the four great clans go out of their way to issue a wealth ban against him? Are they that idle? Do they like making trouble out of nothing?"
Immortal Rong really didn't know how Bai Qingcheng, as his Martial Aunt, could say the word "innocent."
Could "innocent" even begin to describe Mo Hua?
Immortal Rong sighed. "It's not exactly the Earth Sect and the clans making trouble for nothing... After all, the Little Senior Brother of Taixu Sect, the Crown Prince of Taixu Sect, one of the Twin Champion of Formation Dao in Qianxue, and the Number One of the Qianxue Sword Debate—those titles are worth some sanctioning."
Bai Qingcheng frowned. "Who are you talking about?"
Immortal Rong said flatly, "Who else? Your good martial nephew."
Bai Qingcheng was startled, and slowly said, "What... Little Senior Brother of Taixu Sect, Crown Prince, Twin Champion of Formation Dao, Number One of the Sword Debate—are you talking about Mo Hua?"
Immortal Rong made an affirmative "mm" sound.
Bai Qingcheng still couldn't believe it. "What do those titles have to do with Mo Hua?"
To a True Person, cultivation knew no years; a decade or two passed in the blink of an eye.
In her memory, Mo Hua was still the child from a rogue cultivator background, with a mid-lower-grade spiritual root, from a poor family, but well-behaved and industrious, loyal and devoted.
She still remembered Mo Hua silently weeping before Elder Brother Zhuang's remains, alone and pitiful, looking so wretched that it broke one's heart.
What Little Senior Brother of Taixu Sect, Crown Prince of Taixu Sect, Ghost Head of Formation Dao, Number One of the Sword Debate?
How could these terrifying titles be connected to a child like Mo Hua?
Bai Qingcheng was shocked, finding the facts too surreal, unable to make sense of it.
Immortal Rong sighed. "So you really don't know anything."
Bai Qingcheng nodded slightly, dazed.
Immortal Rong said, "You're his martial aunt, after all..."
Then she suddenly realized something and said, "That's right, you're Zixi's mother. You don't even know much about Zixi's affairs, let alone about your martial nephew Mo Hua."
Bai Qingcheng was a little embarrassed, but had nothing to say in response.
Then her heart turned cold as she realized she had misjudged.
She had thought that a child like Mo Hua, going alone to the great province of Qianxue and entering a major sect, would be bullied, wronged, and suffer all kinds of hardships.
But she never expected that he would be so capable and make such a name for himself.
Elder Brother Zhuang's judgment of people, at least in terms of talent, had truly never failed.
Bai Qingcheng turned over Mo Hua's titles in her mind one by one, and instead felt gratified. "Since the child is so promising, the marriage will be even easier to arrange."
Immortal Rong reminded her, "Actually, before this, the Earth Sect and the various clans of Kunzhou all made overtures to Mo Hua at the same time, wanting to recruit him with marriage and prospects, but your martial nephew refused."
Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "That's different. Don't I know the nature of great clans?"
"Truly good girls are barely enough for the clans' own inner circles. How could they marry them to outsiders?"
"If I make a move, I'll find Mo Hua the very best. Only that can match this martial nephew's character and talent..."
And it would let Mo Hua completely give up his hopes.
At the same time, giving Mo Hua a good marriage and a good future would count as some compensation to Elder Brother Zhuang, whose fate was still unknown.
Bai Qingcheng said this silently in her heart.
Immortal Rong was a little curious. "Who do you want to choose?"
Bai Qingcheng's beautiful eyes turned, a plan forming in her heart, but she only said, "I'll have to think it over. It's still too early to say."
Immortal Rong made an "mm" sound and didn't ask further.
The study fell quiet again.
After a while, Immortal Rong suddenly looked at Bai Qingcheng. "Qingcheng, what exactly did you come to Kunzhou for?"
Bai Qingcheng said, "I already told you—for Zixi."
Immortal Rong shook her head. "You're not that idle..."
Bai Qingcheng was startled and looked up at Immortal Rong. Their gazes met for a moment.
Then Bai Qingcheng lowered her eyes and sighed helplessly. "As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Elder Sister Rong..."
Immortal Rong asked in a low voice, "What exactly is it?"
Bai Qingcheng was silent for a moment, her gaze cold. "I... want to go to that place once."