Chapter 22: Mount Moyuan

"Mo Yuan Mountain?"

Zhao Zheng looked at the three large characters of Mo Yuan Mountain, feeling a vague sense of familiarity.

But in his memory, he had never been here before.

"This is the Mo Family’s main courtyard."

Ying Shu noticed Zhao Zheng’s confusion, a playful tone in her voice.

The Mo Family’s main courtyard? The Mo Family’s territory?

Zhao Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly. The Mo Family, renowned worldwide for their philosophy of "universal love and non-aggression" and "frugality and meritocracy," was also a highly organized and secretive faction.

Why would such a mysterious organization seek out an obscure nobody like him?

Could it be...

Suddenly, Zhao Zheng recalled something. His gaze fell on Ying Shu, and he spat inwardly—this woman was no good; it would be best to keep his distance from her in the future.

No, he should be thinking about how to escape right now.

He scanned his surroundings quickly, his heart sinking to the bottom of a valley. He was deep in a forest.

Not to mention a path, there wasn't even a crack in the dense undergrowth!

Run? Zhao Zheng twisted the corner of his mouth bitterly. What a joke—he couldn’t even tell east from west.

"Anyway, you can't leave. Let's go up; the Elder just wants to meet you."

Ying Shu crossed her arms, her eyes full of mockery.

Zhao Zheng shot her a glare. Go up? What else could he do?

Historically, besides their technological prowess, the Mo Family was an extraordinary assassination organization. If he ran today, by next year, the grass over his grave would be three feet tall.

Fate decides life and death; fortune is heaven’s will. Just do it.

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Zheng followed Ying Shu up the stone steps leading into the depths.

The fog thickened, so dense that he could barely see his hand before his face, relying only on the feel of the ground and Ying Shu’s presence to keep his direction.

The silence around them was terrifying—only their steady footsteps echoed through the empty valley.

After an unknown length of time, the dense fog ahead was suddenly torn apart by an invisible force.

A massive stone!

No, it was an ancient stone gate, carved from a single huge rock, abruptly appearing at the end of their sight.

The gate was tightly shut, covered with faint, ancient patterns. On either side stood two enormous stone statues of mythical beasts, carved from the mountain rock, their forms both fierce and archaic.

"Are you the Sage of Ghost Valley from Yunmeng Marsh?"

A sudden voice came from behind. Turning around, Zhao Zheng saw a tall man dressed in a deep gray robe, who had appeared silently behind them.

Golden thread embroidery marked his cuffs and collar with neat symbols, likely unique to the Mo Family.

Ying Shu hurriedly bowed to him, for this man was the current Elder of the Mo Family.

---

"Princess Ying Shu of Qin greets the Elder."

Elder? He looked about the same age as himself.

"Hurry up and bow when you meet the Elder!" Ying Shu nudged Zhao Zheng with a glance.

Bow? What a joke. His identity was that of a Ghost Valley master, and the man before him was the Mo Family’s Elder. There was no reason to bow among equals.

Zhao Zheng merely cupped his hands together, a symbolic gesture of courtesy.

"No need. One of us is the Mo Family’s Elder, the other is the head of the Ghost Valley sect. Among peers, no formal bow is necessary."

"I am Mo Chen, Elder of the Mo Family."

Mo Chen waved his hand and was the first to bow to Zhao Zheng.

Zhao Zheng returned the gesture. "I am Zhao Zheng, greetings to the Mo Family’s Elder."

Mo Chen nodded slightly, then walked to the stone gate and inserted a small iron rod into a hole beside the door. With a creak, the heavy gate slowly opened.

Hissing... truly impressive technology from the Mo Family.

The mechanism was exactly like a modern security door.

"Please."

Mo Chen gestured for Zhao Zheng to enter.

As Zhao Zheng approached the gate, a cool breeze brushed his face. The scene before his eyes made his pupils constrict sharply.

Damn, this was no desolate remote mountain—it was a paradise on earth.

An ancient stone path stretched through the mountain, ending at several elegant pavilions half-hidden behind bamboo groves, with a mountain spring visible in front.

Ying Shu was also stunned, pressing her lips tightly, speechless. It was her first time inside the Mo Family’s main courtyard.

"Please."

Mo Chen gestured again and strode forward with calm grace, his sleeves fluttering elegantly.

Zhao Zheng and Ying Shu followed closely behind. The three soon arrived at the pavilion behind the bamboo.

Inside, many Mo Family disciples were sipping tea and discussing matters.

Upon seeing Mo Chen, the disciples all rose and bowed.

"Greetings, Elder."

Mo Chen waved them off. "No need. You may leave."

"Yes."

The Mo Family members responded and dispersed.

Mo Chen gestured for Zhao Zheng to sit, who readily took a seat.

---

"What matter brings the Elder to me?"

Zhao Zheng got straight to the point.

"True to the head of Ghost Valley, you are straightforward."

As he spoke, Mo Chen brewed tea for the two. After a pause, he asked, "How is the old man?"

"The old man? Just as usual. I haven't seen him for a long time."

Zhao Zheng knew Mo Chen referred to Wang Xu and guessed he was aware of his situation.

The Mo Family was indeed a powerful organization combining intelligence, technology, and martial strength.

"The fire at Black Dragon Gorge that burned sixty thousand souls—does the Ghost Valley sect not fear divine retribution?"

After polite words, Mo Chen’s expression suddenly changed.

I knew it—the Mo Family’s Elder harbored ill intentions.

Alarm bells rang in Zhao Zheng’s mind. The Mo Family always preached universal love and non-aggression, but his fire at Black Dragon Gorge that killed sixty thousand people was clearly against their principles.

Ying Shu’s face instantly darkened, her hand already on her sword hilt.

"Divine retribution?" Zhao Zheng snorted, fearless. "Elder Mo, do you think you sit idly at home, brewing tea and discussing myths?"

Mo Chen frowned. "Sixty thousand souls turned to ash—our Mo Family’s ‘universal love and non-aggression’ cannot tolerate such slaughter."

"Do you Ghost Valley disciples truly have no compassion?"

"Slaughter? Compassion?"

Zhao Zheng sneered, his voice rising sharply. "That was a battlefield—a hell where it’s either you or me!"

"The Elder of the Mo Family comes straight to accusations, as if he’s mighty."

"I know the reasons myself, but that doesn’t justify slaughtering sixty thousand civilians of Wei!"

Mo Chen’s face darkened, his icy gaze piercing Zhao Zheng.

"Hmph. Pang Juan repeatedly invaded Qin, countless Qin people died by Wei soldiers’ hands. Where was your 'universal love and non-aggression' then?"

Zhao Zheng met Mo Chen’s cold stare without flinching, his voice low and firm. "Eighty thousand Wei soldiers marching south—do you not know their intentions?"

"Burning and looting all the way, sparing neither women nor children. Is that the 'universal love' your Mo Family upholds?"

"I set them ablaze in the gorge, and you accuse me of divine retribution? Then I ask you, if the ones killed were your Mo Family citizens, what would you, Elder Mo, do?"

"Zhao Zheng!"

Mo Chen’s expression turned completely grim as he suddenly stood up.

"You, a mere outsider, have come to our Mo Family’s main courtyard to make a scene and speak recklessly."

"Sixty thousand lives are a debt that Heaven will not tolerate. Even with supreme wisdom, the Ghost Valley sect must hold reverence."