Mo Hua followed Lu Chengyun to the Lu Family.
On the surface, Lu Chengyun treated Mo Hua very well, considerate and meticulous, but he didn’t allow Mo Hua to leave the Lu Family, and there were various other restrictions—it was essentially "soft imprisonment."
So Mo Hua found Lu Chengyun and said he wanted to return home for a bit:
"I’ll be right back, just to let my Junior Brother and Junior Sister know, so they won’t worry."
Lu Chengyun took out paper and pen, "No need for such trouble, Little Gentleman. Write a letter, and I’ll have someone send it over."
Mo Hua repeatedly waved his hands, "A written letter might not convince my brother and sister, it would be better if I went back personally."
Lu Chengyun shook his head:
"Little Gentleman, you have many ideas, and I must be cautious. Writing a letter is better."
Mo Hua muttered, "Is the Lu Family Head being too cautious…"
"This time, it was I who set up the Expose Shadow Formation and mobilized several Foundation Establishment Elders, only then could we invite the Little Gentleman…"
"If we let the Little Gentleman go back with preparations made, I really might not be able to find you again, much less invite you."
Mo Hua helplessly said, "Alright then, I’ll write the letter."
Thus, Mo Hua picked up the pen and wrote a letter on the stationery provided by the Lu Family, addressed to Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.
The letter didn’t say much, only that he was invited by the Lu Family Head to be a guest for some time and that they should not worry, to have meals on time, but they would have to cook for themselves.
Mo Hua didn’t mention Mr. Zhuang’s matter.
Because he noticed that Lu Chengyun seemed unaware that the three of them were traveling with their master.
Mo Hua even speculated that in Lu Chengyun’s perception, there possibly wasn’t even a person like Mr. Zhuang.
Such a thing was quite baffling, but it seemed his master could indeed do such a thing...
After the letter was written, he handed it over to Lu Chengyun.
Lu Chengyun didn’t even look at it and promptly called over his servants, instructing them to deliver the letter to Mo Hua’s cave dwelling.
It seemed as long as they retained Mo Hua, it didn’t matter what was written in his letters.
Afterward, Mo Hua stayed at the Lu Family for a few days.
Lu Chengyun provided for Mo Hua with fine food and drinks.
The ones serving him were all young and beautiful maidens.
Mo Hua would also sit next to Lu Chengyun at some of the Lu Family’s evening banquets.
During the banquets, some of the Lu Family women, glamorous and painted, each outstanding in her own way, cast alluring glances at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua openly returned their gazes.
After looking around, Mo Hua silently compared them in his mind and felt that none were as good-looking as his Junior Sister; then he lost interest and started eating on his own.
To be fair, the meals at the Lu Family were very good.
Only, the thought that all these delicacies were exchanged for the lives of mining cultivators for the Lu Family’s enjoyment made the food lose its taste in his mouth.
Even while eating cooked meat, he felt there was a bloody smell.
Several days later, one evening, Lu Chengyun found Mo Hua, his figure concealed in the night, his expression indiscernible and his tone indifferent:
"Little Gentleman, I’m taking you to a place."
Mo Hua couldn’t help but ask:
"Where to?"
Lu Chengyun smiled faintly, yet it seemed he didn’t smile at all, "A place you wish to go to."
Mo Hua was puzzled but still followed Lu Chengyun out.
Lu Chengyun led the way, with Mo Hua following him and two Foundation Establishment Elders behind Mo Hua.
Mo Hua still remembered these two Foundation Establishment Elders.
In their hands, they had compass spiritual artifacts used for reconnaissance and concealment.
The group left the Lu Family, exited South Yue City, and arrived at the Lu Family’s mine.
It was the same mine where the five mining cultivators had died tragically.
It was also the mine where a dark and stormy incident occurred at night.
It was also the mine so tightly guarded by the Lu Family that Mo Hua had previously tried to sneak in but failed.
If Mo Hua’s guess was right.
Within this mine, there were zombies hidden.
All of Lu Chengyun’s conspiracies and schemes were also hidden within this mine.
Of course, the complete Spiritual Pivot Formation Chart must also be inside this mine.
The mine was still guarded by Lu Family cultivators.
Lu Chengyun arrived at the mine’s entrance but didn’t go in; instead, he led Mo Hua around the perimeter of the mine and finally stopped at a desolate place by a giant rock.
It was now deep into the night.
The dark and eerie silence of the mountains and the chilling mountain breeze blew around them.
The giant rock stood tall and imposing, emanating a cold corpse Qi.
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Could this giant rock be the door?
Mo Hua looked around and frowned. The giant rock appeared to be a natural formation without any marks of carving; it didn’t seem like a door.
He then released his Divine Sense to probe.
There were no illusion arrays nearby.
At that moment, Lu Chengyun took out a sinister-looking bell, pitch black in color, neither wood nor iron in appearance.
He gently shook it, and its sound was deep, lacking the clarity of metal, but rather dull, like the heartbeat of the dead.
As the bell rang, after a moment, the large rock trembled.
Mo Hua watched in shock.
This giant rock seemed to have been lifted by a tremendous force, revealing a gloomy passageway behind it.
Behind the passage, the corpse Qi was even heavier, as thick as it could drip.
Lu Chengyun glanced at the shocked Mo Hua, smiled slightly, and said kindly:
"Little Gentleman, please."
Mo Hua came back to his senses, nodded, and followed Lu Chengyun towards the dark depths.
The stench of decay and the dizzying, suffocating corpse Qi hit Mo Hua for a moment.
After a short while, the intense smell dissipated, and the space in front of him suddenly opened up.
Mo Hua fixed his eyes and was even more stunned.
Behind this giant rock was a mine shaft.