Chapter 245: Turning Back
The one-eyed cultivator's face showed utter disbelief.
If Zhao Hu weren't gravely injured or dead, the storage pouch couldn't have fallen into someone else's hands.
Originally, he had thought that once Zhao Hu killed that kid surnamed Ji and came back to help, they could slaughter all the other cultivators.
Now, not only had Zhao Hu failed to kill him, he might have been killed instead.
The one-eyed criminal cultivator spat in anger.
At the moment, he had no time to ponder who exactly had dealt with Zhao Hu.
If they delayed any longer, by the time the demon hunters arrived, they themselves would be the ones dead.
The one-eyed criminal weighed the situation for a moment and finally gritted his teeth, saying: "Retreat first!"
The other criminal cultivators were unwilling but also realized that the situation was hopeless. Reluctantly, their gazes filled with resentment as they prepared to withdraw.
Seeing them ready to retreat, Mo Hua's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said:
"You shorty... are you called Diao Lao San?"
The small, stealthy cultivator stopped in his tracks, eyes cold.
He had wandered in the cultivation world for centuries, when had a mere kid ever dared to shout at him like this?
Mo Hua pretended to advise: "Your concealment technique isn't enough; I saw through it at a glance. Next time you see me, just stay out of sight. Otherwise, I'll see through you again, and you'll embarrass yourself."
Diao Lao San's anger surged.
Mo Hua then mocked in a sarcastic tone: "Or better yet, change your name. Don't call yourself Diao Lao San(Old Third Diao), call yourself Diao Tail instead. Every time you see me, just flee with your tail between your legs."
Diao Lao San was so furious he nearly ground his teeth to pieces, feeling blood rush to his throat.
The one-eyed criminal said coldly: "Don't let him provoke you. Settle this with him later!"
Diao Lao San shot Mo Hua a hateful glare, as if he wanted to engrave his face into memory forever.
The other criminal cultivators said nothing more, gradually retreating until they vanished into the forest.
Ji Qingbai and the others exhaled deeply, relieved.
Mo Hua, however, felt a twinge of regret that he couldn't keep that stealthy cultivator Diao Lao San behind.
Through his Divine Sense, he had already detected the approaching demon hunters, they would soon arrive for backup.
Since Uncle Ji and the others were injured, it was too risky to pursue, and Mo Hua alone couldn't hold the criminals back.
Still, everyone was safe, so Mo Hua finally felt at ease.
He distributed the pills refined by Elder Feng to the three.
The two demon hunters thanked him, consumed the pills, and began meditating to recover.
Ji Qingbai, still worried, looked at Mo Hua, hesitating to speak.
Mo Hua said: "Big Brother Ji is indeed alive, but severely injured. Focus on healing, and then you can check on him sooner."
Ji Qingbai nodded hastily, swallowing the pills and starting his recovery meditation.
Soon, demon hunters began arriving.
Earlier, the sudden fog had disoriented some, causing them to get separated.
Now that the fog had lifted, those who saw the smoke signals could come to provide support.
...
Meanwhile, the one-eyed criminal and Diao Lao San led the others along the rugged mountain path, eventually reaching a forested area.
The one-eyed cultivator looked up and noticed people ahead. He ordered his group to scatter and hide in the bushes on either side.
After a while, over ten cultivators in black robes approached, their appearances far from friendly.
The one-eyed cultivator relaxed and stepped forward, clasping his hands: "Big Brother!"
The "big brother" was bald, a Qi-Refining Peak Nine cultivator of medium height, with sharp eagle-like eyes and pointed ears. Frowning, he asked: "How did it go?"
The one-eyed cultivator's expression was ashamed: "We failed."
"Failed? What about Zhao Hu?"
The one-eyed criminal couldn't bring himself to answer.
How could he explain that he had been toyed with by a mere kid using body techniques, wasting time, and therefore failing to kill Ji Qingbai, while Zhao Hu's whereabouts and fate were unknown?
He couldn't afford to lose face in front of so many.
So he forced out the words: "The demon hunters arrived quickly. Brother Zhao Hu's fate is unknown."
The bald cultivator's eyes darkened.
Diao Lao San estimated the number of criminal cultivators, then said with a glint of hatred:
"Big Brother, we have the numbers. Let's turn back and catch them off guard!"
His voice brimmed with resentment.
He wanted to kill the little cultivator who had used fireball techniques against him!
That kid had cost him several major losses, and on top of it, had mocked and ridiculed him before leaving. The memory still enraged him.
He had never suffered such humiliation.
Worst of all, that kid had completely neutralized his concealment technique and skills.
If that kid wasn't dealt with, sooner or later he would fall into his hands again!
Unless, as the kid had said, he'd have to run every time he saw him, tail between his legs.
But if he did that, he would lose all face and could never survive in the Black Mountain Prefecture again.
That was worse than being killed!
Diao Lao San added: "They haven't gone far. If we turn back now, the one surnamed Ji is dead for sure, and we can also kill the other demon hunters!"
Especially that damned little cultivator, he would never rest until he crushed that kid utterly.
The one-eyed criminal's eyes lit up:
"Big Brother, this plan could work. We have the numbers; we can strike fast and finish it quickly."
The bald cultivator pondered for a moment, then said slowly:
"Kill the one surnamed Ji, and the Kong family will pay the rest of the spirit stones. We go together, act fast, and leave once it's done."
All the criminal cultivators responded in unison, "Yes!" and then swiftly moved toward the small hill.
...
On the hill, Mo Hua was still there, and more demon hunters were arriving, their numbers steadily growing.
This was beyond Mo Hua's expectations.
The inner mountains were vast; he couldn't have imagined so many demon hunters would arrive just because of a few signal fires.
After asking, he realized the reason:
Earlier, due to the fog, many demon hunters had become separated.
Normally, staying put in heavy fog is safest, but in the inner mountains, danger is everywhere.
They could encounter beasts, poisonous swamps, or attacking cultivators, forcing them to continue through the fog, which inevitably caused separation.
Once the fog cleared, the hunters gathered in small groups.
Those who saw the fires rushed to help and relayed the message to others.
Some who had seen Mo Hua said: "Someone's injured, and Mo Hua is there too."
As the message spread, it eventually became: "Mo Hua is injured too."
Hearing this, the hunters were outraged.
Mo Hua injured? Unacceptable!
No matter how far, the hunters rushed over.
Some were still chasing bloodied beasts, others were skinning and butchering them, and some were preparing to descend. Upon hearing the news, they all stopped and rushed to the hill with weapons in hand.
Thus, the number of hunters on the hill grew to nearly a hundred.
After learning the reason, Mo Hua was both moved and slightly amused.
Soon, Yu Chengyi arrived, out of breath from hunting beasts on another side. Seeing Mo Hua, he asked: "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Mo Hua had said "I'm fine" dozens of times already.
Yu Chengyi finally relaxed: "Good to hear."
Then, puzzled, he asked: "Why did I hear someone say you were injured?"
Mo Hua sighed: "Someone is injured, but it's not me."
"Then that's good." Yu Chengyi nodded, then, slightly annoyed, instructed:
"Tell everyone Mo Hua is fine. Stop spreading rumors."
Otherwise, Elder Yu Cheng would probably have to come up the mountain himself.
Yu Chengyi looked around and finally asked: "What happened?"
Mo Hua briefly explained Ji Li being chased, and Ji Qingbai with the two demon hunters being ambushed.
Yu Chengyi fumed: "These bastards, leaving them in the mountains will only bring trouble. We'll slaughter them all sooner or later!"
Mo Hua also felt a twinge of regret.
If the inner mountains weren't so vast, the demon hunters could have arrived sooner, or the criminals, enraged by him, could have been delayed a little longer, leaving them behind.
Mo Hua extended his Divine Sense, scanning around, feeling slightly disappointed.
"That little guy with concealment skills is really patient. I insulted him like that, and he didn't even think to come back for revenge?"
Could it be like Qian Hong, both turtles?
Mo Hua thought silently.
After a while, Ji Qingbai finished healing and was eager to check Ji Li's injuries, so everyone prepared to descend the mountain.
Suddenly, Mo Hua's Divine Sense shifted, his eyes brightened, and he quickly said: "Wait."
The hunters paused, looking at him curiously.
Mo Hua focused, pushing his Divine Sense to its limit, then opened his eyes, smiling:
"The big fish has been reeled back in."
(End of Chapter)