Dried fruits for Old Kui, pastries for his junior sister.
Mo Hua ate and drank while pondering, when suddenly something occurred to him. He asked Situ Fang:
"Sister Situ, you were arguing with someone just now. What happened?"
Situ Fang's previously relaxed mood instantly vanished, leaving her with a sense of resignation as she replied:
"Indeed."
"Can you tell me about it?"
Mo Hua blinked, his eyes sparkling.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi also looked at Situ Fang, clearly curious as well.
Situ Fang considered for a moment, then sighed and said:
"There's no harm in telling you..."
"I was transferred here as the Supervisor for South Yue City's Taoist Court six months ago."
"Around here in South Yue City, the clans hold the mines while most loose cultivators earn their living by mining, what's commonly referred to as 'mining cultivators'."
"Mining cultivators need to enter the mines, dig tunnels, and mine—which is quite tough and very dangerous."
"Inside the mines, there's not only centuries-old Evil Qi but also other odd and sinister spirits, as well as monster beasts that burrow through the mountains."
"If the Evil Qi invades the body, it can cause severe injuries at best, and at worst, death."
"The mine's monster beasts, too, are man-eaters."
"Additionally, if the mineshafts are poorly excavated or the Formations are crudely drawn, it can easily lead to the collapse of the mines."
"Once a mineshaft collapses and rocks tumble down, cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm wouldn't be able to make it out alive."
"That's why, every year in South Yue City, quite a few cultivators die within the mines..."
"So the cultivators just now, they were arguing with you because they had relatives who died in the mines?" Mo Hua asked.
Situ Fang nodded, "Yes, but it's not certain. They are just missing."
She then sighed again, "Based on past experiences, those who went missing in the mines are most likely dead."
Mo Hua asked with confusion, "But what does this have to do with you?"
Situ Fang helplessly said, "Their family members went missing, and they cried to the Taoist Court to file a report. The Taoist Court accepted the case, but they don't seem very willing to handle it."
"Seeing their poverty and distress over their missing loved ones, who were washing their faces with tears day in and day out, I felt somewhat compassionate and took the initiative to take on the matter."
"As a result, I didn't expect..."
Mo Hua suddenly said, "You've run into trouble, huh..."
Situ Fang gave a bitter smile, "If the trouble was only from the Taoist Court's side, it would still be okay. But these victims, they are also a big headache."
"At first, when I helped them, they were immensely grateful to me."
"Gradually, they started to complain, blaming the Taoist Court for being ineffective, wondering why it's taken so long to find anyone."
"Regarding compensation, they've also made extravagant demands."
"The Court Leader from that side also dislikes my meddling in affairs."
"Caught between both sides, I'm helpless and in an awkward position..."
Deep helplessness showed on Situ Fang's face.
Mo Hua nodded, "Ungratefulness for kindness is often the case."
"If you don't help them, they will beg you to help. Once you actually help them, they will think your help is not enough and they will blame you."
Situ Fang looked at Mo Hua in surprise, "Then what do you think I should do?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said:
"If you really want to help, you should adopt an official and impartial attitude from the beginning."
"Unbiased, so they would plead for your help and naturally have a better attitude towards you."
"Otherwise, it will be troublesome."
"If you get too close to them and show that you're considering their interests, they subconsciously think that, no matter what happens, you will side with them..."
"Consequently, they will take your kindness for granted, become even more demanding, and may even deceive you, treating you like a fool..."
Situ Fang exclaimed in shock, "How do you know all this?"
Mo Hua scratched his head, "Uncle Zhang Lan told me..."
Situ Fang was taken aback, "Why would he tell you these things?"
Recalling the past, Mo Hua crisply said:
"We had a drink together. Of course, it was mainly him drinking and me eating meat, and I also had some fruit wine... He talked a lot when he was drunk and told me everything."
"He said that in the past, even when doing good deeds, he ended up not pleasing anyone..."
Situ Fang looked surprised upon hearing this.