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"There's no 'and then'."
"It's not the Demon's Cave? The Fire Buddha isn't inside?"
"I can't get in…"
Gu Changhuai sighed, "Solitary Mountain City hangs in the sky; a sheer cliff offers the only path, with dense Demonic Qi across the way, who knows how many Evil Demon Cultivators lurk within."
"To rashly enter would mean life and death are unpredictable, and I'm afraid it would also startle the snakes in the grass."
"Moreover, there are Formations inside and out."
Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled, "The Taoist Court should have plenty of hands, and they're not short on Formation Masters either…"
Gu Changhuai fell silent for a while before replying:
"That, I cannot tell you…"
Mo Hua was taken aback, mumbling to himself, "Feigning profundity…"
Then he pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you want my help?"
Gu Changhuai was adamant, "No need."
"Don't be polite."
"I'm not being polite."
"I won't take risks or make a move, just help you look at the Formation, find the loopholes on it…" Mo Hua persuaded gently.
Gu Changhuai was truly swayed.
"You... have classes, right?" Gu Changhuai hesitated.
Just as Mo Hua suspected.
It appeared that Uncle Gu truly encountered a difficulty, in need of someone as skilled in Formation as himself to lend a hand.
"I can try to ask for leave."
Gu Changhuai fell silent.
Mo Hua roughly understood.
Uncle Gu must be too proud to stoop to asking for help.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then offered him a way out with good intentions, conveying, "Uncle Gu, if the Sect approves my leave, then I'll come and help you all catch the Fire Buddha?"
Only then did Gu Changhuai reluctantly say:
"Alright…"
But between the lines, it was clear he breathed a sigh of relief.
Mo Hua shook his head, unable to do anything with him.
Now that Uncle Gu's issue was resolved, about asking for leave… that wouldn't be so easy either.
A normal Elder could approve a day or two off, but any longer and they wouldn't have the authority.
And entering the Demon's Cave to catch the Fire Buddha was definitely not something that could be completed in just a couple of days.
Even if things went smoothly, it would take at least six or seven days.
If I make use of the bi-weekly rest days to supplement, I'd still need to ask for five days off…
My only option is to go to Elder Master Xun.
But Elder Master Xun…
He can't possibly approve my leave, right?
Mo Hua was somewhat troubled.
Should he tell Elder Master Xun, "Gentleman, I want five days off to help the Taoist Court capture a depraved Sin Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, murderous and skilled in Forbidden Techniques"?
Unless Elder Master Xun lost his mind, he would never agree.
So, the request had to be more subtle…
Mo Hua then approached Elder Master Xun and altered his explanation, stating that the Taoist Court asked him to create a Formation Painting, which would probably take five days.
Elder Master Xun looked at him with a puzzled expression, "The Taoist Court? Asking you? To create a Formation Painting? And for five days?"
Mo Hua braced himself and nodded.
"Why?"
Elder Master Xun asked.
Mo Hua vaguely answered, "Supervisor Gu from the Taoist Court invited me, the specifics are unclear to me…"
Elder Master Xun shook his head, "A Formation can be created anywhere, why go to the Taoist Court, and besides, five days off is too much…"
Mo Hua sighed, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Just as Elder Master Xun was about to say something, he suddenly paused, "You just said… Supervisor Gu from the Taoist Court…"