Xiao Jun grabbed Mo Jiuchi by the scruff of the neck and prepared to leave.
At the entrance of the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at the father-daughter pair, Mo Ruhui and Mo Nichang, and said, “By the way, I advise you two to get out of here while she’s not around.”
“After all, the Mo Clan once saved the life of my future disciple. A reminder is the least I can do to repay that debt of gratitude.”
The two clasped their hands. “Thank you for the advice, Immortal Master.”
“From now on, Mo Jiuchi has nothing to do with your Mo Clan.”
Mo Ruhui’s lips twitched into a bitter smile. ‘This Immortal Master is afraid I’ll later exploit the favor.’
Mo Jiuchi was no longer a Grandmaster Martial Artist but a dignified Sect Disciple. This change in status was something the Mo Clan could no longer control.
“I understand.”
“Mm, good that you understand.” Xiao Jun nodded and turned to leave the Prime Minister’s Residence.
When he reached the main gate, he glanced suspiciously at a street corner not far away.
‘Oh? There’s a little mouse spying.’
‘Unfortunately, it’s too old and has already lost the qualifications to enter the Shen Ce Fu.’
Xiao Jun paid no further attention to the spy. The most important thing now was to find his senior brother and save the kid.
With that thought, he leaped into the air, turning into a beam of rainbow light, and flew toward General’s Mountain.
In a corner several hundred meters from the residence, Yu Shangneng, dressed in plain black clothes, leaned against the wall in a panic, sweating profusely.
“That scared me.”
‘As expected of a Grand Immortal Master from the Shen Ce Fu. I was so careful, not leaking even a trace of my presence, yet I was still discovered.’
‘Come to think of it, who is that Immortal Master carrying?’
‘Judging by the faint aura, it looks like that kid Mo Jiuchi.’
“Ah, it seems I was too late.” Yu Shangneng couldn’t compete with cultivators for people, so he just sighed in regret.
Soon, he climbed over the wall and entered the residence to check if the Prime Minister’s family was safe.
‘If Mo Ruhui also ends up in trouble, the Great Song Dynasty will surely be in turmoil. I absolutely cannot allow that to happen.’
Yu Shangneng stealthily slipped into the mansion in a hurry and sensed many auras in the courtyard. Among them were Mo Ruhui and his daughter.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
‘As long as they’re fine, that’s good.’
‘Huh? Besides the Prime Minister and his daughter, I also sense other people’s auras. They seem like Sect Disciples, but their auras are very weak, so their strength is probably nothing special.’
Even so, Yu Shangneng felt numb. ‘What exactly happened in the residence today? Not only did Fairy Shen come, but also Immortal Master Xiao from the Shen Ce Fu. What did the Mo Mansion do to deserve attracting two such renowned cultivators?’
“Dad, should we really go into hiding?”
“Of course. Did you not hear the Immortal Master? It’s best to lie low. I’ll have my colleagues inform the civil and military officials that I won’t be attending court for a few days. We’ll return once that lady leaves Shangjing City.”
In the passage at the entrance of the courtyard, Mo Ruhui hurried outside. Mo Nichang followed reluctantly, seemingly unwilling to leave.
She thought that the Fairy from earlier did not seem like someone who would kill indiscriminately. Otherwise, when they rushed over earlier, they would have faced a fatal attack instead of a harmless barrier.
However, in the presence of that Fairy, even the Mo Mansion, with its overwhelming power, was nothing but an ant. If she happened to be in a bad mood and decided to kill them, it would be too late to regret. Entrusting one’s life to another’s whims was truly unwise.
“Dad, I want to join the Immortal Sect too.”
Everything that happened today made Mo Nichang clearly realize that no matter how much power one had in the Great Song, it could never compare to the status of a Sect Disciple.
Mo Ruhui was stunned, stopped walking, turned back with a frown, and let out a deep sigh.
“Chang’er, the Immortal Sect is not so easy to enter. Only those with exceptional talent can pass the examination. Moreover, you have already passed the age of fifteen, making it even harder.”
“I understand, Father.” Mo Nichang lowered her head in disappointment.
“Don’t be discouraged. I have a way to get you into the Shen Ce Fu. With your Uncle Mo there in the future, he’ll surely look after you sometimes, but you cannot demand anything from him. Everything will be up to him.”
Mo Ruhui wanted to send Mo Nichang into the Shen Ce Fu for three main reasons. First, it was close to Shangjing City. Second, with Mo Jiuchi there, even if they didn’t ask, he would help a little. Third, this girl had been practicing martial arts with Mo Jiuchi and had a foundation in body training, which matched the cultivation method of the Shen Ce Fu, so the pressure to enter would be much smaller.
But he didn’t know if the Shen Ce Fu would demand an exorbitant price to accept Chang’er.
‘Oh well, as long as this girl can go in and temper her character. From now on, the Mo Clan will also be a family with a Sect Disciple, and our prestige in the Great Song will surely rise.’
After much thought, this deal didn’t seem too bad.
Mo Nichang’s eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this, and she grabbed Mo Ruhui’s hand excitedly. “Really, Father? Can I really enter the sect to cultivate?”
“Really. I already warned you that recently, Sect Disciples have been frequently appearing in Shangjing City. I told you to restrain your temper and stay in the mansion. If you had listened, today’s disaster would not have happened.”
“I was wrong, Father.”
“Mm, after you enter the Shen Ce Fu, keep in mind that the Sect Disciples inside won’t care that you’re the Prime Minister’s daughter.”
“I understand, Father. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Alright, we’ve wasted enough time. Let’s find a place to hide first.” With that, Mo Ruhui pulled Mo Nichang outside.
“Lord Prime Minister.” The two servants at the main gate clasped their hands in greeting.
Mo Ruhui ignored them, looked around, and decided to hide in a distant Mo Clan shop in the bustling market.
“Prime Minister Mo, please wait a moment.”
Just as the two reached the street by the wall, a hoarse, sharp voice suddenly came from behind. The sudden voice nearly scared Mo Ruhui out of his wits, and he thought a Sect Disciple had caught up. But the voice didn’t seem like that; rather, it sounded like someone from the palace.
“Who?”
Mo Ruhui pulled his daughter behind him and looked warily at the wall where the sound came from. Immediately after, a shadow in black jumped out from the other side of the wall.
Yu Shangneng chuckled lightly. “What, Prime Minister Mo doesn’t recognize me after just a few days?”
“Old Xu? Greetings, Old Xu.” Mo Ruhui was taken aback and quickly clasped his hands in salute.
Yu Shangneng pressed his hand down. “No need for formalities.”
“I heard from Ouyang Shaoqing that the Prime Minister’s Residence was in trouble, so I came to check. Unfortunately, I was still a step too late, and that kid Mo Jiuchi met with misfortune.”
Hearing this, Mo Ruhui felt a hint of disdain. ‘Even if you had arrived in time, it would have been useless. The opponent is not something a Grandmaster Martial Artist can contend with.’