“Lord Mo, the Chief Master requests your presence!”
Mo Qianzhi composed himself, smoothed his robes, and followed the messenger to the Chief Master’s resting chamber.
Before him sat a figure clad entirely in black, adorned with red moth embroidery. The person occupied the seat of honor, their face shadowed as they regarded the newcomer.
Mo Qianzhi could guess the reason for the somber mood and palpable killing intent. Undoubtedly, news of his retreat and withdrawal had reached them through the Half-Face Ghost, causing displeasure.
Moreover, he had killed one of the Half-Face Ghosts and spoken those words. He had anticipated this confrontation upon his return.
Yet, Mo Qianzhi showed no fear. After a respectful nod, he directly followed Lai Luofu’s gesture to sit nearby.
Any other Half-Face Ghost wouldn’t have dared to sit down.
“May I inquire about the purpose of the Chief Master’s summons?” He glanced at the tea beside him before returning his gaze to the figure in the seat of honor.
Lai Luofu raised his eyes, shifting his gaze from the teacup before Mo Qianzhi, subtly appraising him.
Mo Qianzhi remained composed, allowing the scrutiny.
“My earlier assumption was correct. You indeed prove more useful than Wang Buzui.”
Mo Qianzhi met his gaze unflinchingly, offering no response.
The voice belonged to a man, as did the physique. This certainly wasn’t Lai Luozhi’s sister that Shen Du had mentioned.
Lai Luofu abruptly changed tack, “Why did you fail to capture Yingzhou City today?”
The implication was clear – suspicion of deliberate underperformance and collusion with Shen Du.
Mo Qianzhi tilted his head back slightly, his expression betraying no deceit: “This official has his arrangements.”
Such a response was tantamount to no answer at all.
Lai Luofu flew into a rage, slamming the table as he stood, “I suspect you of conspiring with Shen Du and his people.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Mo Qianzhi burst into laughter, heedless of being in the presence of the Fire Moth Party’s leader – or rather, the Chief Master of Guangchun Hall.
“On what grounds does the Chief Master base such suspicions? I’d be grateful for enlightenment,” Mo Qianzhi remarked coolly, utterly unconcerned.
“You feign ignorance.” Lai Luofu was truly angered by Mo Qianzhi’s attitude. “Don’t overestimate your importance. Remember, just as we chose you as our inside man, we can choose others.”
“Let this matter rest for today, but if Yingzhou City isn’t captured by tomorrow, this Chief Master will surely…”
Mo Qianzhi finally lost patience. He grabbed his teacup and hurled it down, interrupting Lai Luofu. In a deep voice, he said:
“Save your words. If you had other options, you wouldn’t keep me around.”
Lai Luofu paused, regarding Mo Qianzhi with an inscrutable expression.
Mo Qianzhi sneered and rose, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait!”
Mo Qianzhi turned back. This person had been tightly wrapped since their meeting began, emanating a strange, exotic fragrance. Yet, there was also an aura of death about them. Could they truly have been resurrected?
“If you want your wife and children to be resurrected, you’d better behave.”
Mo Qianzhi laughed loudly as if it were nothing: “No need for your concern. My wife and children are already properly buried.”
“What?”
Lai Luofu was shocked: “How could you? For resurrection, they must not enter the earth.”
Seeing Lai Luofu’s anxiety, Mo Qianzhi paused before asking hopefully, “Do you truly possess the art of resurrection?”
“Of course,” Lai Luofu affirmed.
Mo Qianzhi stared at him for a long moment. Seeing Lai Luofu’s certainty, his eyes filled with profound sorrow: “If the resurrection is truly possible, I would follow the Chief Master’s every command.”
Tears flowed down Mo Qianzhi’s face, his grief seemingly genuine. Lai Luofu felt a flicker of joy: “Well said. This is all as it should be.”
Mo Qianzhi wiped away his tears and met Lai Luofu’s gaze: “I’ll exhume their remains immediately. Please, Chief Master, resurrect them at once.”
“Well,” Lai Luofu hesitated, “The outside world is in chaos now. It’s not a good time for the ritual.”
He then added a few strange remarks.
Contempt flashed in Mo Qianzhi’s eyes: “Say no more. There’s no resurrection technique, is there?”
Lai Luofu argued, “Of course there is. I, Chen Huoe, am living proof. Who doesn’t know that I, Chen Huoe, was executed by those imperial dogs five years ago? Yet here I am, alive and well.”
The Fire Moth’s death and rebirth were the foundation of the Fire Moth Party’s existence. Its reality could never be denied.
As Lai Luofu prepared to argue further, Mo Qianzhi cut him off.
“I am not Wang Buzui.” The words came out one by one, each syllable distinct.
For a moment, Lai Luofu was seized by the urge to kill.
Indeed, as Wang Buzui had said, this man was difficult to control. If not for his great usefulness, he would already be dead.
Mo Qianzhi snorted coldly: “I joined you only because we share a common goal.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Suddenly, Lai Luofu sneered: “The goal of our Fire Moth Party is resurrection, giving the unjustly dead a chance at rebirth. How does this align with Lord Mo’s objectives?”
Mo Qianzhi stepped forward, each step punctuating his words: “You’ve run rampant in Gannan for years, killing for pleasure while claiming to resurrect loved ones. Isn’t that laughable?”
“You’ve long been a thorn in the Great Zhou’s side. Even if I hadn’t submitted memorials, others would have. It was only a matter of time.”
“Moreover, while they may be ignorant, you’re not foolish. You established the Fire Moth Party and caused chaos everywhere. Isn’t it just to create trouble for the Great Zhou Dynasty?”
Mo Qianzhi’s eyes held visible disdain as he approached Lai Luofu, looking down at him.
Forced to look up, Lai Luofu realized how insulting the posture was and coldly said, “How dare you speak to me like this?”
Mo Qianzhi sat down again, meeting the other’s gaze, and said seriously, “My goal is simply to overthrow the Empress’s rule.”
Lai Luofu rotated his teacup, mocking, “So it seems our ultimate goals are quite similar.”
“Don’t lump me in with you,” Mo Qianzhi raised his voice, erupting.
Once again, Lai Luofu felt the urge to kill.
This man was arrogant and uncontrollable. He had to reconsider the benefits of keeping him around, questioning his initial decision.
“I’m not Wang Buzui. Don’t expect me to serve you like he did.” He snorted coldly, leaning back in his chair, eyeing Lai Luofu malevolently. “Either shut up and listen to me, or go back and report to your master in the imperial court.”
Mo Qianzhi had his suspicions – likely one of those vying for the throne.
As for Lai Luozhi, that seemed unlikely. Without the Empress, Lai Luozhi was nothing and would die quickly, with too many enemies to count.
Lai Luozhi was like a dodder vine clinging to the Empress; without that protection, he would be crushed to dust. He would be too busy supporting the Empress’s rule to find someone to cause trouble.
Lai Luofu truly wanted to poison this man to death.
He had long neglected Guangchun Hall’s affairs, thinking Wang Buzui would manage better. Who knew he would not only die but also bring in such an unmanageable lord?
As for this Mo Qianzhi, not only came himself but brought a group of yamen officers and government officials – all regular troops loyal to him. It was truly vexing.
Moreover, this man was eloquent. Once he spoke, he could convince the masses to follow him.
After today’s battle at the city gate, even those Half-Face Ghosts might not obey his orders anymore.
Realizing this, Lai Luofu’s heart filled with deep resentment. He longed to execute Mo Qianzhi on the spot to vent his anger.
But remembering that person’s orders, he forcibly suppressed his murderous thoughts.
Mo Qianzhi was still useful. He must not be killed.