Hidden Moth

The tea was drunk, and the matters discussed. Before leaving, He Kao specifically asked, "Senior Brother Hu, how do you view the Magic Sect?"

Hu Weidong stood up and said, "Although I originate from the Xiao Alliance, I am extremely grateful that the Magic Sect exists in this world. Without it, I fear I would not have achieved my current cultivation success!"

These words were quite puzzling, as Hu Weidong clearly received his technique inheritance from the Xiao Alliance—why express gratitude towards the Magic Sect? However, considering his earlier judgment of Arthur and others, the logic becomes clear.

Due to his background, Hu Weidong faced hidden discrimination on the North American Continent and was once a marginal figure within the Xiao Alliance. It was through talent and effort that he became a high-tier cultivator.

If the Magic Sect did not exist, that might have been his ceiling.

According to Hu Weidong’s judgment, Arthur and others regarded technique inheritance as a private tool for seeking power and profit. Hu Weidong certainly had no affinity with them and couldn’t flatter them like Fabre. Would Arthur grant him high-tier technique inheritance?

One can easily deduce the impossibility with a mere thought! Unless Hu Weidong pledged allegiance to Arthur’s group and sufficiently pampered them, along with paying a significant price...

Though the world contains Grotto Heaven summons, if seized by Arthur’s group, the scenario remains unchanged.

However, Hu Weidong didn’t do any of this, yet obtained complete high-tier technique inheritance for free.

It is due to the Magic Sect’s presence, Arthur had no choice but to grant it out completely and without discount, otherwise, the Xiao Alliance couldn’t retain high-tier sorcerers, people would long since have fled to the Magic Sect.

That’s why Hu Weidong said he’s extremely grateful for the existence of the Magic Sect, without which he wouldn’t have achieved his current cultivation success.

In this world, some people, some events, might seem unrelated to you, but because of their existence, you have hope.

...

Passing this to the Ancestral Hall was easy—He Kao just had to tell Mei Guyu in the adjacent office—and he relayed his conversation with Hu Weidong.

Mei Guyu asked, "What’s your opinion?"

He Kao: "I think we can agree."

Mei Guyu: "Oh, why?"

He Kao could explain plenty, but only said, "Because they dare to come!"

This answer might be the most crucial. The Ancestral Hall might worry about sorcerers from the Xiao Alliance entering the Grotto Heaven for secondary inheritance, bringing great risks, yet these sorcerers worry they might encounter misfortune!

As long as they dare to come, this illustrates doubt in the long-term propaganda of the Xiao Alliance, and trust in the Magic Sect.

From those sorcerers’ perspective, they prefer taking life-threatening risks to seek truth and reality, but due to various reasons in reality, they can’t publicly reveal identities or join the Magic Sect.

Mei Guyu smiled: "Yes—if they dare to come, we dare to arrange! Our opinions are aligned, but how do you think we should proceed?"

He Kao thought for a while, then considering Hu Weidong’s special situation, provided some specific suggestions.

The two weren’t privately meeting to discuss, but rather sat at their respective workstations during office hours, secretly communicating using divine thoughts, like a different form of slacking.

No idea how the Ancestral Hall discusses things, but two days later, He Kao received feedback—the Ancestral Hall surprisingly agreed to Hu Weidong’s request!

As for the specifics of implementation, they practically entirely adopted He Kao’s recommendations—

People can come, and they come secretly, leaving quietly; timing is determined by each Magic Sect. The applicant waits for notification, and someone will guide and arrange accordingly.

Each Grotto Heaven arranges no more than three people at a time, the rest line up and wait. Applicants need to submit detailed information for the Magic Sect to verify their past actions.

Hu Weidong shouldn’t directly act as a middleman; a different middleman is appointed for the task.

After Jiaobide was captured, the Magic Sect acquired much intelligence and began internal investigation and cleansing, identifying a batch of undercover Xiao Alliance personnel; some voluntarily confessed.

To these individuals, if their past didn’t involve forbidden actions, the Magic Sect didn’t impose extra penalties; those willing to stay can remain, but cannot continue dirty work for the Xiao Alliance, those unwilling to stay can leave freely.

Almost every voluntary confessor has stayed, and their situation remains an internal Magic Sect secret, not disclosed externally.

Interestingly, Hu Weidong also holds these people’s information, though he might not be aware they’ve confessed to the Magic Sect... Now, these people’s roles can be utilized.

For example, Heart Plate Sect has a Tier Four merchant named Huo Boshang, one such confessed Xiao Alliance undercover agent. Whoever wishes to enter the Grotto Heaven for secondary inheritance can contact him privately; he has the connections to arrange it.

Every six Great Technique Sects finds someone with similar background and high-tier sorcerer status to act as these middlemen. Hu Weidong doesn’t need to present himself; if someone requests, he just provides the relevant middleman’s contact information.

The middlemen aren’t busy without compensation; a fee collection is necessary. Besides, during the secondary ceremony ancestor worship uses Awakening Incense—you can’t expect the middleman’s money, right?

For high-tier sorcerers, that’s a minor issue.

Why the six Great Technique Sects? Because Lingxi Sect really can’t find a middleman with such background—the Xiao Alliance has never successfully infiltrated... that’s a separate topic.

According to the situation on Hu Weidong’s side, in the Xiao Alliance’s Lingxi Lineage, currently the only one with this need is his "intimate comrade" Elder Julie, who can be arranged for separately.

As for Hu Weidong himself, he should also be arranged separately. He Kao can personally accompany him to Immortal Bottle Village in Phoenix Tail Town, and then Sect Leader Mei Guyu can personally conduct the Secondary Inheritance ceremony for him in the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven.

He Kao is also a high-tier Sorcerer of the Alchemy Cauldron Skill, so he can sneak into a Secondary Inheritance ceremony. Although he has long received the inheritance of high-tier techniques, paying homage to the ancestors and experiencing the atmosphere of the Grotto Heaven is still good.

...

Zhao Ci has been feeling quite anxious recently.

On the surface, he doesn’t seem much different; if someone were secretly watching, they wouldn’t notice anything unusual in his behavior, nor any private contacts with others.

The only change is that he started smoking since that night.

He doesn’t smoke a lot, just as a pastime. He stays in the study for a while after dinner every day and smokes at least three cigarettes before bed, leaving the butts in the ashtray.

He doesn’t need to do anything else; anyone can see it, and those who understand will naturally understand.

Zhao Ci was waiting for the follow-up, and Hu Weidong was also waiting for feedback from the Xiao Alliance headquarters... Half a month later, feedback from the Xiao Alliance headquarters finally reached Hu Weidong.

So, Hu Weidong once again lay low near the Beiyuan Manor, still accompanied by his two helpers and tagalongs, Zola and Totti.

The time was shortly after dinner; Zhao Ci was in the study, browsing novels on his phone, having just finished his first post-dinner cigarette. He was pondering when to light the second one when he suddenly received that familiar divine thought.

Hu Weidong asked Zhao Ci—how he had considered it.

Zhao Ci looked at the phone screen and talked to himself, as if commenting on a book’s plot: "This dumb author, why does the protagonist ask these questions? For matters like these, do you need to seek opinions and leave evidence? Just get it done!"

As he said this, he lit his second cigarette.

In the dark, Hu Weidong understood his meaning, and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Zhao Ci’s response was indeed as He Kao had said, though he wondered if He Kao had secretly given him a hint.

Zhao Ci’s meaning was clear—if you want to lift the seal for him, just do it directly; no need to ask if he agrees or not.

...

During this period after university started, life appeared calm and peaceful. He Kao could still contact Hu Weidong but didn’t know where this Great Elder was hiding.

This was indeed necessary caution; Hu Weidong had to guard against not only his own people but also the Magic Sect, as his relationship with the sect was a top-level secret held only by the Sect Law Hall.

Hu Weidong’s whereabouts within the Eastern Country were very secretive, but his daughter Hu Yuanzhen and son Hu Henry were easy to find. However, ordinary Magic Sect disciples weren’t aware of their identities or backgrounds.

Hu Yuanzhen was pursuing graduate studies at Xijing University of Science and Technology, while Hu Henry was an undergraduate at Qi Yuan University, both carefully chosen institutions.

Xijing University of Science and Technology was among Eastern Country’s well-known universities, closest to Phoenix Tail Town, and many Magic Sect disciples were alumni. There were still many students and faculty who were sect disciples.

If the Xiao Alliance wanted to stir up trouble, they would certainly need to avoid Xijing University of Science and Technology, or it would be like walking into a trap.

As for Qi Yuan University, its past reputation was only high in the educational field and not in the circles of techniques, but this has changed in recent years. This isn’t mainly because He Kao graduated from there, but due to changes in Qi Yuan’s atmosphere.

Qi Yuan has experienced many events in recent years that have drawn great attention from sorcerers worldwide. Half a year ago, many experts sent by the Xiao Alliance were beheaded by Mei Guyu, with only Fabre escaping with injuries.

Now, Mei Guyu still commands Qi Yuan with the Divine Sword, with Gu Chun, Li Xiuyuan, and other Sect Law Hall Elders appearing occasionally in Qi Yuan. Who knows how many experts the Magic Sect has deployed in Qi Yuan, making it a place not to stir trouble.

Eighteen-year-old Hu Henry knew nothing about this, enjoying university life, thrilled and excited by everything in Eastern Country.

Perhaps influenced by his father, he was long curious and eager to see the distant Eastern Country, but his sister Hu Yuanzhen called him naive, telling him all kinds of unflattering stories about Eastern Country, quoting much information online to educate him.

But upon arriving in Eastern Country, he found it nothing like his sister described—backward, dangerous, chaotic, closed. It was far more developed, safe, lively, and comfortable than he had imagined.

Hu Henry, of Eastern Country descent, with parents both born there, resembled a typical Eastern Country handsome young man, and spoke the language fluently with almost no foreign accent.

Yet, anyone who knew him would invariably ask—did you return from abroad? The issue lay in his name. What kind of parents would name their child "Henry"?

And so, Hu Henry would seriously explain that this Henry is not the usual Henry, citing the ancient Eastern classic "I Ching," from whose hexagram words "Qian, yuan heng li zhen" it derived. He’d also mention his sister named Hu Yuanzhen.

His serious demeanor often amused everyone, yet the same thing happened again next time.

In such situations, most would grow tired and not bother explaining, allowing others to think what they may.

But Hu Henry was different; each time, he would seriously explain, never angry or impatient, because he encountered different people who hadn’t heard his previous explanation.

**