“If it's not someone from the Demon Cult, then it must be someone from the Songshan Sect.”
“They're actually going around asking about the intelligence of the eldest and second disciples of the Huashan Sect. Do they think we're blind or deaf?”
“It seems the excellence of the Huashan disciples has made Zuo Lengchan feel threatened. The secret correspondence between Huashan and Hengshan must be true. The Four Great Sects are in danger!”
Mo Da’s heart was filled with anxiety, but his face still held a look of worry.
Just as he was thinking about how to meet with the heads of the Huashan and Hengshan Sects, a constable came to him.
“Are you Mr. Mo Da?” Liu Bantou asked.
“You recognize this old man? I shouldn't have done anything wrong, should I?” Mo Da was surprised.
“Don't worry, Mr. Mo Da, I’m just here to deliver a message. Since I have confirmed your identity, I will leave the letter with you. I shall take my leave now!”
Liu Bantou handed the letter to Mo Da, bowed slightly, and left.
Mo Da curiously opened the letter and after reading it, he suddenly realized, “So, the Huashan Sect already knows I'm here and they’ve invited me to visit. But I can’t possibly go to visit, lest Zuo Lengchan find out. Fortunately, the Huashan Sect isn’t stupid either. They guessed that I wouldn’t want to go up Mount Huashan, so they suggested we meet at the foot of the mountain.”
Thus, Mo Da didn’t hesitate and headed straight for Mount Huashan.
After a short half-day, Mo Da arrived quietly at the foot of Mount Huashan. Luckily, his usual disheveled appearance meant no one paid attention to a shabby old man like him, so he wasn’t worried about being followed.
At the foot of the mountain, a handsome young man, Linghu Chong, walked towards him.
“Junior Linghu Chong, greets Master Uncle Mo!”
Linghu Chong bowed and greeted him, curiously observing Mo Da. His heart felt inexplicably strange.
He had heard about Master Uncle Mo from his second senior brother, which is why he was paying attention and had discovered through intelligence that Master Uncle Mo had arrived in Huayin County sometime ago.
Indeed, just as his second senior brother had said, he was unkempt and looked like a street performer.
However, his second senior brother spoke highly of Master Uncle Mo, so he couldn’t tell what was extraordinary about him.
Mo Da grinned, “Heh, you are Linghu nephew. You are indeed a heroic youth! Where is your shifu and Master Tai? Take this old man to meet them!”
“Yes, Master Uncle, please follow me.”
Linghu Chong immediately led Mo Da into a dense forest. Ning Zhongze and Ding Yi Tai, each holding a sword, were leaning against a tree.
Seeing the arrival, they quickly greeted, “Headmaster Mo Da, it's been a long time!”
“Haha, Madam Yue, Master Tai, it’s been a long time!”
Mo Da wasn’t being polite, he bowed as he moved forward and got straight to the point, “I assume you both know my purpose in coming. So I'll be frank. My Hengshan Sect is also worried about being swallowed by Zuo Lengchan. We want to seek a secret alliance with the Huashan and Hengshan Sects, the three sects will watch out for each other and jointly resist the Songshan Sect’s schemes!”
Ning Zhongze nodded decisively, “Headmaster Mo Da, you speak directly. We have the same idea!”
Ding Yi Tai also said, “The Hengshan Sect is the same. The Headmaster has agreed, and I can represent Hengshan!”
The three looked at each other and smiled, all relieved.
Even though a combined force of the three sects might not be able to defeat the Songshan Sect, they haven’t broken with the Songshan Sect yet. As long as the three sides can hold each other back, they can temporarily restrain the Songshan Sect.
As long as they have more time to develop, the sects will surely grow stronger.
In the future, they won’t be afraid of Zuo Lengchan.
It’s a pity that the Taishan Sect seems to be riddled with internal strife. The possibility of joining the secret alliance is very small, and they shouldn’t be counted on.
Mo Da had achieved his purpose, and he proactively shared some intelligence, “Right now, the Demon Cult has gone into hiding and hasn’t shown any intention of attacking the Huashan Sect. However, during my stay in Huayin County, someone deliberately inquired about the intelligence of the eldest and second disciples of Huashan. I even killed a few, and I don’t think they were from the Demon Cult. It’s highly likely that they were from the Songshan Sect. Please be careful.”
Linghu Chong and the three others were not surprised.
This was obviously expected.
Ding Yi Tai grumbled, “It seems that the talents of Linghu kid and Liancheng kid have made Zuo Lengchan feel threatened. Especially Liancheng kid. The Songshan Sect probably wants to eliminate him as soon as possible, to crush the threat in the bud!”
Ning Zhongze’s eyes blazed with anger, “He dares to send people again! I’ll make sure the Songshan Sect people will never come back!”
“Um, Shifu, please calm down. My second senior brother and I will absolutely not go down the mountain for the time being.”
Linghu Chong hurriedly pacified, “And my second senior brother is currently in seclusion. I believe he will soon reach the first-rate level. When that happens, he might even be able to beat Zuo Lengchan. The Songshan Sect can send as many people as they want, we’ll take them all. I just hope the old man Zuo has enough money to afford it!”
These words made the three of them burst into laughter.
He's really just a kid. His thinking is quite naive. If Zuo Lengchan were that easy to deal with, they wouldn’t be in such a predicament.
But it’s a good thing that young people are so confident. When they truly grow up, Zuo Lengchan will be old. Then they will truly be fearless of Zuo Lengchan.
So now, it's up to them, his elders, to buy him more time to grow!
Mo Da didn’t intend to stay long either, he bowed, “Since this is the case, I shall take my leave. There might still be some spies in Huayin County. Since the Songshan Sect hasn’t discovered me, I might as well quietly take care of them.”
Ning Zhongze didn’t stand on ceremony, “Then we thank Headmaster Mo Da!”
Mo Da turned and left, pulling out his erhu and playing a mournful tune that filled the heart with sorrow. The three people at the spot were speechless.
Why was he playing such a sorrowful tune?
Linghu Chong rolled his eyes, “Now I understand what my second senior brother meant by saying that Master Uncle Mo has a unique personality. He’s really special.”
Ning Zhongze praised, “This is called hiding in plain sight! Headmaster Mo Da doesn’t have the haughty air of other sect leaders. He completely blends into the world, and you might not even recognize him on the street. But he has always been in the Jianghu. Such a person might be underestimated, but once he makes a move, it will definitely be unexpected!”
Ding Yi Tai also said, “There is a sword hidden within the music, and the sword is released with the music! Headmaster Mo Da has probably reached the pinnacle of the Hengshan Sword Technique!”
After that, the three of them returned to Mount Huashan.
Ding Yi Tai, however, bid farewell.
“We have been staying with the Huashan Sect for over a month now. Since the Demon Cult has no intention of attacking the Huashan Sect, we shouldn’t continue to bother you. It’s time to return to Hengshan.”
“That’s good. Hengshan also needs you. I really can’t hold you back any longer.”
Ning Zhongze didn’t try to keep them, but she was worried, “However, Zuo Lengchan has already shown his fangs. I’m not sure if he will send people to attack you on the way. I’m worried about your safety.”
Ding Yi Tai had already considered this, and she laughed, “Don’t worry! I will send a letter to Hengshan first, asking two senior sisters to come and meet us. If the three first-rate masters are all eliminated, then we have nothing to say, then Zuo Lengchan should just dominate the Jianghu!”
Ning Zhongze felt relieved when she heard this, “Alright, please be careful. If you need anything, you can contact Huashan immediately!”