610 broken jade slip - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 609: Kneel Once** Life at the sect was uneventful, and before long, eight days had passed, bringing about the regular ten-day break. Since Bìshān City was quite a distance away, with a round trip requiring extra time, Mò Huà decided to request an additional day off. With Mr. Xún acting as her "backer," the elders of the sect were accommodating. Thus, this extra day off was approved without a hitch. Mò Huà now had a total of three days! After packing her belongings and putting on her storage bag, Mò Huà cheerfully went to find Senior Sister Murong. This time, the mission had been taken up by Murong Caiyun, and Mò Huà was tagging along. Knowing Mò Huà was accumulating merits to exchange for formation charts, Murong Caiyun said, "This mission isn’t difficult, so there are only three of us, including you, which means you can earn more merits." Mò Huà grinned, "Thank you, Senior Sister!" Together, they headed towards the gates of the Tài Xū Sect, Mò Huà walking lightly and chatting intermittently along the way. "Three people…" Mò Huà pondered and asked, "Senior Sister, who else is coming?" Murong Caiyun replied, "Also coming is Senior Brother Feng from the Tài Ā Sect." "Senior Brother Feng…" Mò Huà nodded. Senior Brother Feng was courteous and gentle, with profound cultivation. It seemed he held a high status within the Tài Ā Sect as one of the predetermined inner disciples, truly someone to rely on. "What about Senior Brother Xù and Sis Qiǎnqiǎn?" "Junior Brother Xù is recovering from his injuries, and since the task isn’t difficult with little merit to gain, I didn’t want him to exert himself." "As for Qiǎnqiǎn…" Murong Caiyun hesitated, "She’s quite busy, so this time she’s sitting it out…" "Oh, okay." Mò Huà nodded. Murong Caiyun sighed slightly. Qiǎnqiǎn had incessantly urged her, expressing a desire to accompany Mò Huà on a mission. She even prepared “gifts” for Mò Huà, such as dresses, hairpins, and rouge, claiming that Mò Huà would look exquisite when dressed up. Fearing her unpredictable behavior, Murong Caiyun decided not to bring her along this time. However, all this nagging made her eventually conjure up an image of Mò Huà elegantly dressed in a magnificent robe, becoming slightly dazed as she did so. "Senior Sister?" Mò Huà noticed her distraction, looking somewhat puzzled. Murong Caiyun snapped out of it, her cheeks flushed, clearing her throat, "It’s getting late, let's speed up…" "Oh…" Mò Huà looked slightly suspicious but didn’t press further. Quickly, they met up with Ōuyáng Fēng, donned in his Tài Ā Sect robe, hired a carriage, and departed from the borders of Qiánxué Province. The horses galloped like the wind along the broad mountain paths, heading towards Bìshān City outside the province. Outside, the sound of horse hooves was urgent, while inside the carriage was quiet and comfortable. Mò Huà sat by the window, lying on a soft blanket, admiring the landscape while chatting with Murong Caiyun and Ōuyáng Fēng. "This time, we're going to capture a traitorous disciple of a sect…" Murong Caiyun explained, "This disciple stole a heritage and killed a fellow disciple before fleeing the sect over ten years ago. He’s been at large ever since, despite multiple attempts to capture him…" "From ten years ago?" Mò Huà was a bit surprised. Murong Caiyun nodded, "What was stolen was small heritage, and the 'fellow disciple' was merely a laborer, so the incident didn’t cause a major stir." "The traitorous disciple has been very low-key, vanishing after leaving the sect without leaving a trace." "The dào tíng department didn’t seem very invested either…" "Because there's no profit to be had?" Mò Huà whispered conspiratorially. Murong Caiyun paused, glancing at Mò Huà helplessly: "The main issues are the lack of leads and the fact that the dào tíng department is indeed… understaffed, so the case was shelved temporarily." "Oh." Mò Huà "understood." Ōuyáng Fēng continued: "Later, the treasury of the Xiè family in Bìshān City was robbed, and when pursuing the thief, they were forced to use a technique from the 'Duàn Jīn Mén,' revealing their identity…" "The Xiè family demanded an explanation from the 'Duàn Jīn Mén'…" "Upon investigation, comparing the list of stolen heritages, they realized the thief was the same traitor from ten years prior." Mò Huà furrowed his brow, "The Duàn Jīn Mén?" Murong Caiyun responded, "It’s one of the 'Twelve Flow' sects in Qiánxué Province, specializing in the five-element gold-based swordsmanship…" Mò Huà nodded. He recalled Aunt Zhū mentioning the Twelve Flow sects of Qián Province once, but aside from that, he didn’t have much contact with them. Still, the name "Duàn Jīn Mén" stirred a vague sense of connection as if some fate tied him to that sect… Mò Huà wondered aloud, "Shouldn't the Duàn Jīn Mén be the ones pursuing their own traitor?" "They did, but couldn’t catch him…" "Couldn’t catch him?" Murong Caiyun nodded, "That traitorous disciple moves exceptionally well…" Ōuyáng Fēng added, "Indeed, amongst the techniques he stole from the Yù Jiàn Mén was a skill called the ‘Dùn Jīn Jué,’ which he mastered quite skillfully. None of the Duàn Jīn Mén’s disciples could catch this defector…" Ōuyáng Fēng sighed. Properly trained disciples failing to outmatch a “thieving” traitor… "The Xiè family in Bìshān City grew dissatisfied, suspecting the Duàn Jīn Mén of ‘holding back’ to protect the thief, prompting them to issue their own bounty on the traitor." "However, given the Xiè family’s limited influence, the bounty wasn’t worth much merit." "Also, the Duàn Jīn Mén wouldn’t want their sect’s traitor captured by outsiders, preferring not to award merits to others…" Mò Huà muttered, "The Duàn Jīn Mén… truly petty…" Ōuyáng Fēng chuckled, "Indeed, but be cautious not to let the disciples of the Duàn Jīn Mén hear you. They’re very sensitive about being called ‘petty’…" Mò Huà nodded with a smile. Half a day later, the three arrived at Bìshān City. True to its name, Bìshān City stood tall with towering cliffs and overlapping ridges. Most dwellings were built along steep cliffs, creating a breathtaking, magnificent sight. However, Bìshān City was currently sealed off, allowing entry but prohibiting exit. The traitorous disciple had stolen from the Xiè family’s treasury, prompting them to report to the dào tíng department. In response, the dào tíng department locked down the city, launching a massive search for the traitor, creating quite a spectacle. Mò Huà curiously asked, "What exactly was stolen from the Xiè family?" Murong Caiyun shook her head, "We don’t know. The Xiè family didn’t disclose it, and it’s not something we should pry into…" "Such a large-scale lockdown with considerable manpower mobilized, yet the bounty rewards fewer merits than expected. The Xiè family is quite stingy…" Mò Huà remarked somewhat irritably. He was currently striving to collect merits, so the "stinginess" of the Xiè family left him a bit begrudging. Moreover, the Xiè family seemed a bit strange… Typically, a theft from a treasury followed by city lockdown should qualify as a "big deal," warranting a substantial merit reward for any bounties offered. Murong Caiyun commented, "Our task is to earn merits, so we shouldn’t concern ourselves with other matters." Ōuyáng Fēng added, "Completing the task early means returning sooner." "Alright." Mò Huà agreed. Their objective was to assist the Xiè family in capturing the traitor from the Duàn Jīn Mén. The Xiè family had dispatched clan members to patrol streets, looking for suspicious individuals under the guise of a citywide search. Yet, actual door-to-door searches were beyond their courage and capability. Even amidst smaller immortal cities like Bìshān, it wasn’t uncommon for a tea house or tavern to host a real adept or high-cultivation master… Murong Caiyun and her companions joined the search briefly without success, then split up to cover more ground. Walking through the streets of Bìshān City, Mò Huà discreetly released his spiritual senses, scanning for peculiar individuals. The variety of cultivators in Bìshān City, ranging vastly across the social spectrum, left Mò Huà relying on his heightened senses to identify suspicious behavior, albeit respectfully refraining from deep invasions of privacy. Even when encountering those with profound or obscure auras, Mò Huà brushed his senses lightly without pressing further, choosing not to "transgress" those likely at the Golden Core stage or higher. Nevertheless, some cultivators, while appearing unassuming, exuded a mysterious strength, alerting them to his fleeting spiritual sweep. Their eyes were sharp as swords, sweeping over Mò Huà, only to pause in surprise at the sight of what appeared to be a mere teenager. Mò Huà respectfully saluted them, a gesture of apology for his inadvertent probing. Seeing this, they didn’t hold any grudge, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Mò Huà breathed a small sigh of relief, yet reflected silently, "The cultivation world indeed hides many talents, especially here in Qián Province. Even in a small immortal city like this, so many experts can be found…" After encountering a few "roadblocks," offering several bows, and making multiple apologies, Mò Huà became quite adept at recognizing whom not to offend. Even without using his spiritual sense, he could, by sheer intuition, sense which cultivators were best left unprovoked. With a mere glance, he could gauge the situation. After a half-day of searching, leveraging his profound spiritual sense and delicate perception, Mò Huà scanned most of Bìshān City yet found nothing unusual. Left without choice, he decided to explore the yet unvisited areas… Upon pondering, Mò Huà ventured into what appeared to be a "pleasure house." Though it seemed to be just a regular tavern on the surface, Mò Huà, recalling his one-time experience when Elder Su took him to Bǎihuā House for "flower wine" in Nányuè City, was certain: This was not just a tavern, but a brothel in disguise! In front stood the tavern, but from the rear wafted forbidden and decadent undercurrents. Dào Tíng severely prohibited dual cultivation, especially "harvesting" techniques. In essence, the ban on "dual cultivation" was primarily to prevent "harvesting" practices—preventing individuals from masking such acts under the guise of dual cultivation. This much had been explained to Mò Huà by Zhāng Lán long ago. Therefore, the Dào Tíng was stringent about regulating places like brothels. Of course, while the Dào Tíng and Dào regulations were strict, the local Dào Tíng departments’ enforcement varied greatly. Different immortal cities presented more complex situations. For example, in Nányuè City, the Lù family used brothels to gain favor, earn spirit stones, exploit cultivators, and even pull the strings of the local Dào Tíng department. In such environments, many cultivators within the Dào Tíng department were regular brothel patrons. In these conditions, there was little chance of any regulation. However, Qiánxué Province was an exception, with an outright ban on brothels throughout the province. Qiánxué Province, as a hub of cultivation, gathered young prodigies from across the nine provinces. The sects desired their disciples not to indulge in carnal pleasures, preserving their cultivation foundations, time, and maintaining a pure heart. They also feared demonic cultivators might use physical beauty to tempt and corrupt the disciples, blurring their moral lines and making them slaves to desire. Therefore, not only was there a stringent prohibition on any venues of vice within Qiánxué Province, but the prohibition extended to all nearby provinces and numerous immortal cities. Yet, human desires are the hardest to suppress. Thus arose businesses masquerading as taverns but operating as brothels in the back. Mò Huà scoffed, feeling it was right to criticize such practices. Brothels were known dens of inequity, and the traitor might well be hiding within. He entered the tavern decisively. The tavern's steward was clearly taken aback by Mò Huà. Such an exceptionally handsome young man had never graced their establishment before. "Young master, you are here for…?" "I'm here to dine," Mò Huà replied, as if it were the most natural thing. "Oh, right, dining… this way, please." Assuming Mò Huà wasn’t aware of their establishment’s true nature and believed it to be merely a tavern for food and drink, the steward led him inside with a smile. The interior was lavishly decorated, steeped in the heavy scent of rouge. The steward seated Mò Huà at a table. Surveying the menu, Mò Huà inwardly noted the exorbitant prices. Every dish, drink, and even snack was twice the price found elsewhere. But for the sake of "catching the traitor," Mò Huà gritted his teeth and ordered a table of food. Having walked for most of the day, he was also quite hungry. After a quick spiritual scan confirming the food was safe, he began eating and drinking, all while observing his surroundings. The tavern front appeared relatively "clean." Diners ate and drank, but the center of attention was a platform draped in pink curtains, where colorfully dressed women danced. Around the room, other women, clad in sheer garments with playful smiles, served as companions for the guests. Mò Huà gnawed on a large roast chicken leg, unfurling his spiritual sense to capture the goings-on around him. He soon pieced together the act: The dancers on stage were the "menu." After their performance, patrons could "order" a dancer they fancied. Once selected, the dancers would descend to socialize, likely negotiating over "meal costs." Upon agreement, they would retire to the back to "dine." Only after this would they "settle the bill." Pure-hearted Mò Huà was dumbfounded. These cultivators indulged in countless shenanigans! Such ingenuity was misapplied, wasted on crafting schemes entwining drinks with debauchery… And selling such costly food and drink! Mò Huà was furious. He scrutinized the dancers and instinctively narrowed his eyes. In the corner of the stage, a dancer of plain looks, slender waist, yet suspicious movements caught his attention… With a swift scan of spiritual sense, Mò Huà confirmed his suspicions. This "woman" was actually a man! Furthermore, he instinctively sensed that this person was the very traitor from the Duàn Jīn Mén, the very one they were commissioned to capture! A brothel as a hideout, and dressed as a woman. Mò Huà snorted in disdain. Such disgraceful conduct! Immediately, he used his Tài Xū order to send a message to Senior Sister Murong: "Senior sister, I’ve found the traitor!" The Tài Xū order allowed inter-member communication within the sect. Senior Sister Murong had taught him this function, though Mò Huà seldom used it due to unfamiliarity. Almost instantly, Murong Caiyun replied: "Where are you?" Mò Huà: "In a brothel…" Murong Caiyun: "…" A long pause followed, seemingly puzzled over how Mò Huà ended up in a brothel during his search. After what seemed like an age, a reply came: "Where is there a brothel?" Mò Huà sent the tavern’s name. Murong Caiyun replied: "Understood, I’m heading over. Protect yourself." "Hmm." Mò Huà nodded, but felt curious. The phrase "protect yourself" sounded odd… What did he need protecting from? Around the time it would take for two incense sticks to burn, Ōuyáng Fēng and Murong Caiyun arrived at the tavern entrance. The steward, again surprised, hesitated before allowing the pair inside after they claimed to be meeting a junior brother. Yet he remained wary, keeping an eye on them. The three spoke in hushed tones. "Junior brother, how did you end up here?" Mò Huà waved it off, "That’s not important." He gestured toward the stage, pointing out the cross-dressed dancer with the slender waist and heavy makeup: "This person is likely the traitor." Mò Huà was almost certain, but spoke with caution, not wanting to assert his conclusion completely. Murong Caiyun and Ōuyáng Fēng were taken aback, both narrowing their eyes, scrutinizing the "woman" intensely. "Dressing as a woman and dancing here, it’s a clever cover…" "It might not just be for cover…" They might have other "side jobs" as well. Even as a sect defector, a wanted criminal, one still had to make a living… "What’s the plan?" "Do we act directly?" "Would it alert him prematurely?" Ōuyáng Fēng and Murong Caiyun deliberated. Mò Huà suggested, "I’ll ‘order’ them over." Murong Caiyun and Ōuyáng Fēng were taken aback, "Order?" "Yes." Mò Huà nodded, "Summon him over for drinks, and we’ll seize him then!" At this, Murong Caiyun couldn’t hold back, "Junior brother, do you… come here often?" He seemed so familiar with the procedures… Mò Huà maintained a straight face, sincerely stating, "I’m a proper cultivator! I would never frequent such places! Only out of necessity…" Murong Caiyun glanced skeptically at Mò Huà. "This is for the task!" Mò Huà added. Ōuyáng Fēng chuckled wryly, "Catching the traitor is paramount." "Senior Brother Fēng is right!" Mò Huà agreed wholeheartedly, motioning for the steward, pointing to the cross-dressed dancer: "I want ‘her’ to join me for a drink!" The steward paused, inspecting Mò Huà in a new light, then proceeded to summon the "woman" down from the stage. Knowing they were "picked," the "woman" showed a hint of surprise in their demeanor. The steward gestured towards Mò Huà and his companions, and the "woman" narrowed her eyes slightly, then lowered her head submissively as they walked over, their pace gradually slowing. Mò Huà remarked, "He’s about to run..." Ōuyáng Fēng immediately dashed forward to catch the "woman" before they could escape. Anticipating this move, the "woman" swiftly retreated, a faint golden light trailing behind as they sped away. Ōuyáng Fēng's grip caught nothing but air. He tried to pursue, only to be obstructed by a strange man. The man, with a frivolous grin, quipped, "My fellow cultivator, you seem quite distinguished, why would you…" Impatient, Ōuyáng Fēng did not let him finish, responding with a swift kick that sent him flying, then continued his pursuit of the "woman." The "woman" dashed ahead, no longer feigning femininity, revealing the movements of a true man, further reinforced by an impressive skill in bodily techniques. Murong Caiyun utilized her Five-Colored Spiritual Light, attempting to hinder the "woman's" escape. Halfway through casting, Mò Huà paused, a thought crossing his mind. He switched from Water Prison Technique to Fireball Spell. Throwing caution to the wind, he launched fireball after fireball in the "woman's" direction, each attack casual and imprecise. Most fireballs were evaded, crashing into the tavern, spreading flames and chaos, transforming the establishment into a disaster zone. Such backroom brothels masquerading as taverns deserved no mercy in Mò Huà's view. Committed to this belief, he unleashed havoc with the Fireball Spell, reducing the lavish venue to ruins. The pink drapery burned, stages were overturned, and a cacophony of terrified shrieks arose from the backrooms. The owner of the tavern turned pale. Trafficking in illicit business near the strict Qiánxué restrictions meant exposure would lead to severe consequences. Yet, he dared not retaliate. Fellows like Ōuyáng Fēng and Murong Caiyun, clearly imposing figures, were beyond reckoning with. Chaos reigned in the tavern. Taking advantage, the "woman" fled, sprinting northward along the street, with Ōuyáng Fēng following in swift pursuit. "Chase!" urged Murong Caiyun decisively. "Right!" Mò Huà nodded, conveniently slipping out of paying for the mess. The uproar attracted numerous cultivators, some from the Xiè family, others from the Dào Tíng department. The Dào Tíng representatives, witnessing the disarray of undressed men and women within the tavern, needed no prompting to begin inquiries. The Xiè family, aware the fleeing "woman" was indeed the traitorous disciple of Duàn Jīn Mén, their target, joined the pursuit. Yet, the traitor, cloaked in shimmering gold, moved with swiftness and elusiveness that made capture difficult. After chasing him through several streets, the trail suddenly went cold. Frustrated, the Xiè family’s cultivators vented their anger with curses. While Ōuyáng Fēng and Murong Caiyun frowned, Mò Huà’s eyes were sharp and perceptive. He noted everything. The traitor had ducked into a dark alley and, within moments, changed attire and donned a new mask, appearing as an unremarkable male cultivator. "Is this… disguise?" Mò Huà mused with keen interest, then discreetly pointed him out to Ōuyáng Fēng, saying: "Senior Brother Fēng, that man!" Ōuyáng Fēng hesitated, curious about how Mò Huà identified so precisely, but trusted Mò Huà’s judgment and acted on instinct. Feigning nonchalance, he subtly advanced towards the man. However, the disguised man had keen instincts, bolting the moment Ōuyáng Fēng crossed a ten-zhang threshold. The golden light in his step confirmed his identity as the traitor! Drawing his sword, Ōuyáng Fēng resumed the chase. The traitor pushed his agility desperately, emphasizing disguise to elude capture from the trio. Mò Huà, not rushing to act, assessed the surroundings, maneuvering the traitor subtly and unknowingly towards Bìshān City’s eastern, desolate woodland. Capturing him within the city would result in the Xiè family detaining him, obstructing Mò Huà’s intent to extract information. Everything unfolded according to Mò Huà’s design. No one was present to observe them. Cornered, the traitor faced the trio in the secluded woodland, now in the guise of a burly man, panting as he faced them incredulously: "How did you… manage to identify me?" Mò Huà smiled warmly, "Guess." The man’s face twitched with anger, then his lips curled into a sneer: "Even if you did recognize me, so what? Against my hard-earned Dùn Jīn body technique, practiced for ten grueling years, all efforts are wasted. Capture me? Utter foolishness!" His expression full of disdain, he spat, energized his technique to its peak, feet wreathed in golden light, attempting yet another escape. Mò Huà, with a simple gesture, invoked the Water Prison Technique. Instantly, the brash man was ensnared, falling face-first into the dirt in an undignified manner. Mò Huà shook his head, "You were so full of yourself, and now you end up eating dirt..." Such a minor trick and you thought to impress me at woodwork? Stepping forward, Ōuyáng Fēng found the man struggling, coolly subduing him with a sword blow to the shoulder and a boot to the ground. Despite his agility, in terms of cultivation, he was no match for Ōuyáng Fēng. Ōuyáng Fēng seized the man's storage bag, binding him securely with a second-level dào spirit lock. Murong Caiyun exchanged a glance with Mò Huà, curiosity sparking, as she asked: "Junior Brother Mò, bringing him here, were you planning to interrogate him?" "Yes." Mò Huà nodded, "In private, it’s easier to ask some questions." Murong Caiyun pondered a moment before nodding in agreement: "Alright then, go ahead." With the traitor captured, their mission was complete. Whatever Mò Huà wanted to ask was of little consequence now. Mò Huà turned to the "burly man": "I have a few questions, answer truthfully!" The man, spitting dirt with disdain, countered coolly: "Dream on, kid!" Ōuyáng Fēng shook his head, "Tough customer. He'll be hard to crack." Mò Huà mused, "Can we use coercion?" Ōuyáng Fēng paused, "Coercion…" He looked towards Murong Caiyun, expression complex, silently asking, "Is this how your Tài Xū Sect disciples handle matters…?" At the slightest dissent, resort to force. Murong Caiyun sighed, "Don’t overdo it… at least…" Thinking deeply, her constraint seemed resigned, "At least not overtly…" Should the Dào Tíng department or the Xiè family hear of extrajudicial tactics, repercussions might ensue. "Rest assured!" Mò Huà grinned reassuringly, "I’m fully prepared!" "Prepared…?" queried Murong Caiyun incredulously. Mò Huà nodded, "Indeed!" Anticipating such situations, he had already planned for contingencies. From his storage bag, he retrieved an iron plate densely inscribed with intricately "painful-looking" formations. Ōuyáng Fēng and Murong Caiyun flinched, unable to suppress a shudder. Mò Huà set the plate on the ground, addressing the captive: "Now, kneel!" (End of Chapter)