635 internal traitor - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 635: The Traitor Gu Changhuai's mind was tangled like a twisted rope, unable to unravel the confusion for quite some time. The badge indeed belonged to the Dao Court Division. Even though Mo Hua was audacious, it was impossible for him to replicate the badge at the risk of committing a grave transgression. Bronze signified being an outsider. Yet, having an outsider's badge still meant being affiliated with the Dao Court Division, something beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. "Where did you steal this badge from?" Gu Changhuai asked, face full of skepticism. Mo Hua, feeling indignant, retorted, "Stole? This was personally given to me by the chief of our Tongxian City's Dao Court Division!" "Tongxian City?" Gu Changhuai recalled it—an obscure second-tier small immortal city in the state where Mo Hua originated. Gu Changhuai frowned, "Is the chief your relative?" Mo Hua shook his head, "No." "Did you marry into their family?" "I didn't!" Gu Changhuai was puzzled, "Then why on earth would he give you a bronze badge?" Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai with an expression suggesting one should not judge a noble heart with a petty mind and confidently said: "Of course, the chief sees potential in me because I'm young and promising, so he gave me the badge to..." Mo Hua nearly slipped and blurted out "to accumulate merits"... He couldn't say "to accumulate merits." Otherwise, Uncle Gu would realize that despite holding a title, Mo Hua was just a minor troublemaker within the Dao Court Division. Especially since Uncle Gu might become his "superior" in the future. He needed to put on an "active and progressive" front before his superior. So Mo Hua smoothly corrected himself: "...to serve the Dao Court Division and contribute to the peace of the realm of cultivation!" "Contribute?" Gu Changhuai shook his head, "At your young age, what contributions can you make?" "I've made significant contributions!" Mo Hua asserted righteously. The great demon had been slain by him. The Stele of Demon Suppression outside Tongxian City bore his name. Right at the top, with the largest characters, even gilded. Mo Hua! Those bold characters, which Mo Hua would admire several times whenever passing by. Gu Changhuai looked unconvinced. It seemed like he was boasting... Mo Hua was too lazy to explain. No one believed him even if he stated facts, which had become a habit for him. "In any case, the badge is mine! I count as half a member of the Dao Court Division..." Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai with big, sincere eyes full of trust. "Uncle Gu, you are over a hundred years old; you should keep your word!" Gu Changhuai frowned unconsciously. He realized his oversight. Careless and entrapped by this young lad's clever words; he needed to be more cautious in conversations with him in the future, without leaving any handles for him to seize upon... Gu Changhuai sharpened his focus. He pondered for a moment and then denied, "I only said I would consider it, not that I agreed..." "So, have you considered it yet?" Gu Changhuai coughed, averting his gaze. He picked up the wine pot, poured himself a drink leisurely, and said, "I'm busy right now, still thinking about it—I’ll let you know in a few days..." Is this how adults "default" on promises... Mo Hua learned something new. In the future, when he defaults and procrastinates, he would use this trick. Mo Hua nodded, "Alright then." Gu Changhuai was taken aback; he didn't expect Mo Hua to remarkably comply, so easily giving up? Not likely... His heart tightened, eyes narrowing in suspicion, "You wouldn't badmouth me to my cousin and Yu'er, would you..." Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai, pondered for a long while, and truthfully said: "Uncle Gu, there really isn't any 'good word' about you that I could share, is there..." His temper wasn't the best. He was a bit of a show-off. He didn't help when requested. Even reneged on promises, playing 'default' with him... Even if he wanted to say a few "good words" about Gu in front of Wan Yi and Yu'er, there might be nothing to say at all... Gu Changhuai was momentarily stunned, falling into a complicated silence. What Mo Hua said... was unfortunately true... "Right?" Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai, sighed, "If you aren't kind to me, how can I say good things about you to Wan Yi and Yu'er?" "If all I know about you are your shortcomings, then what I share are bound to be all bad words, right?" "You can't blame me for that..." Mo Hua looked as if he was utterly justified, helpless even. Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched continuously, but thinking about his cousin and Yu'er, he finally sighed, "Alright, what exactly do you want to do?" Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, "I want to catch Huo Fo Tuo!" Gu Changhuai still couldn't understand, "Why do you, a disciple new to the sect, want to tangle with Huo Fo Tuo?" Mo Hua replied with all seriousness, "I'm small-minded and hold grudges. Since Huo Fo Tuo wanted to kill me, I won't let him off either." Gu Changhuai was left in astonishment. Small-minded, grudge-holding... That was such a "frank" admission. Yet being small-minded likely wasn't a lie... Gu Changhuai, with his graceful eyes, scrutinized Mo Hua closely, slightly squinting, "What else?" "What else?" "There must be more to your wanting to catch Huo Fo Tuo than just that..." Gu Changhuai was convinced. As expected from the Dao Court Division’s director, not easily outsmarted... Mo Hua contemplated for a bit and then said, "Suppose I help you—no, help 'us' at the Dao Court Division... catch Huo Fo Tuo, can I get a share of the merits?" "Are you that short of merits?" Gu Changhuai asked, puzzled. "Is there ever too much merit?" Mo Hua retorted. Gu Changhuai was momentarily stunned, unconsciously nodding. Indeed. For sect disciples, cultivation resources, practicing techniques, all expenses, and advancement in sect structures depend on merits. More merits are always better. Even for the Dao Court Division, this holds true. "There are no sect merits involved in the Huo Fo Tuo matter," Gu Changhuai explained. "It's the Dao Court Division's affair, and won't be issued as a task to the sects." After all, Huo Fo Tuo was a murderer of whole families, hands soaked in blood. If sect disciples took on the task, acted rashly, and perished at Huo Fo Tuo's hands, it would be a huge problem. "If it doesn't count as sect merits, could it count as merits for the Dao Court Division then?" "As long as there are merits offered..." Mo Hua, wearing a face that said, "I'm not picky." Gu Changhuai heaved a sigh. "Fine then..." He couldn't withhold merits from the Dao Court Division. Just seeing Mo Hua’s delighted expression gave Gu Changhuai a strange sense of dissonance. Needless to say, there's more at play with this kid who harbors myriad schemes in his young heart... Pondering all past interactions concerning Mo Hua, Gu Changhuai suddenly felt a jolt of realization: "You don't want to secretively learn Huo Fo Tuo’s Forbidden Fire Art, do you?!" Mo Hua maintained an impassive demeanor, merely glanced at Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, do you think I could learn it?" Gu Changhuai scrutinized Mo Hua, then exhaled in relief, gradually calming down: "Yeah, you probably couldn’t learn it..." The Forbidden Fire Art is a forbidden technique, carrying immense spiritual might, requiring supreme spiritual roots and substantial spiritual power to practice and execute. While Mo Hua was clever, his spiritual roots and power were far inferior to his level of comprehension. Even if he had the brains, he just didn’t have the capability to use forbidden arts. After contemplating for a moment, Gu Changhuai agreed on a few conditions. "You can mingle with the Dao Court, join in capturing Huo Fo Tuo, but we need to set terms..." "Set terms?" "Yes," Gu Changhuai enumerated point by point: "First, it can’t interfere with your sect cultivation, nor can you take leave. You may only help out during scheduled breaks, otherwise, stay within the sect; "Second, you mustn't make a move. Both Huo Fo Tuo and his accomplices are at least mid-Foundation Establishment level, beyond your capability. You might escape once or twice, but any time you can’t, you may lose your life... "If anything were to happen to you, I couldn't face my cousin, and Yu'er would surely be heartbroken..." "Third, if we go out to pursue Huo Fo Tuo, you must follow me closely, taking no liberties, not acting recklessly..." "...Alright, alright, alright," Mo Hua nodded repeatedly. He didn't ask for much; getting into the Dao Court Division and blending in would suffice. Future actions could then be decided based on circumstances... Since Mo Hua had already “exposed” his identity with the Dao Court Division and reached a "mutual cooperation" agreement with Uncle Gu, he decided not to hold back and promptly asked: "Uncle Gu, what exactly happened the night the Xie Family was wiped out in Bi Mountain City?" "How did Huo Fo Tuo enter Bi Mountain City?" "Why didn't a single person from the Xie Family escape?" "Why was the Xie Family wiped out? After the massacre, where did Huo Fo Tuo go? Has there been no trace?" ... Mo Hua, like an inquisitive child, fired off a barrage of questions. Gu Changhuai listened with a headache, already knowing this kid was a major troublemaker. But having already boarded this "pirate" ship, it was too late to turn back. He checked the surroundings with his divine sense, ensuring there was no one nearby before taking a drink to soothe his throat and then spoke in a low, serious tone: "The day you reported the incident, I personally led a team to search for Huo Fo Tuo..." "But between Luan Mountain City and Bi Mountain City, we found only traces of fire, and no sign of Huo Fo Tuo and his accomplices." "I sent people to investigate further. Yet Huo Fo Tuo and his men seemed to have vanished without a trace, as if someone had hidden their tracks..." "A few days later, the massacre at the Xie Family occurred..." "The details of the case are still under investigation and are hard to determine, so I can only tell you the broad strokes..." "The Xie Family's formation was tampered with." "Originally an outward-facing defense formation, it was turned into an inward-trapping formation." "That night, Huo Fo Tuo suddenly appeared within the Xie Family, casting spells abruptly, and fiery meteors rained down, killing many and setting the buildings ablaze. The fire quickly spread and grew larger..." "Following the fire, dozens of ruthless criminals used it as cover to slaughter the Xie Family's cultivators..." "The Xie Family was attacked, hastily activating the formation to fend off enemies, but ended up being trapped by it, unable to escape, perishing in the sea of flames..." "Huo Fo Tuo's methods were exceedingly brutal." "It appears, as rumors suggest, that there was deep-seated hatred between Huo Fo Tuo and the Xie Family. Merely killing was not enough; he went further by dismembering their bodies and burning their bones to ash..." "The formation's isolation made it impossible for outsiders, including the Dao Court Division’s directors and enforcers, to enter, and those inside couldn’t get out..." "Just like that, Huo Fo Tuo exterminated the entire Xie Family right in front of the Dao Court Division and the cultivators of Bi Mountain City..." Gu Changhuai could not conceal his anger as he recounted this, and Mo Hua sighed silently, feeling sympathetic. "What happened next?" Mo Hua asked, still puzzled, "The formation sealed everything into a trap, trapping the entire Xie Family; it should have trapped Huo Fo Tuo too. If the Xie Family couldn’t escape, then Huo Fo Tuo shouldn’t be able to either..." Gu Changhuai's expression turned stern, "That’s precisely the issue..." "After annihilating the Xie Family, it was as if Huo Fo Tuo ‘vanished into thin air,’ disappearing into the trapping formation with no sign in Bi Mountain City." "Not only did Huo Fo Tuo disappear, but so did the dozens of criminals assisting him." "These days, the Dao Court Division has scoured Bi Mountain City and every nearby immortal city without finding a single clue..." "Up to now, evidence has been scant..." Gu Changhuai’s face was tense and displeased. Mo Hua thought for a moment, then asked, "Uncle Gu, has the Dao Court Division consulted anyone to calculate the cause-and-effect?" Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua with surprise, "You understand cause-and-effect?" Mo Hua humbly replied, "Just a bit." Gu Changhuai didn’t dwell on it but shook his head, "We did consult, and they calculated, but couldn’t find anything—claimed the traces were covered..." Then, with some disdain, he added, "In my view, they were just incompetent, making excuses to shirk." "Besides, these days, who talks about fate deduction and cause-and-effect prediction? It’s all just smoke and mirrors to fool people..." Upon hearing this, Mo Hua realized the Gu family probably didn’t possess the legacy of "Heavenly Mechanics." In matters of "Heavenly Mechanics" and "Cause-and-Effect," they were likely considered "fools." Mo Hua chose to refrain from explaining, understanding that divination was an arcane and complex subject. So he simply agreed, "Yes, yes." Although ignorant of fate calculations, Gu Changhuai's intuition was sharp. He felt that Mo Hua’s gaze held a hint of sympathy, as though he were looking at a "fool"... Seeing Gu Changhuai’s displeased visage, Mo Hua quickly shifted the topic: "Uncle Gu, is there any other evidence?" Distracted by the change in topic, Gu Changhuai overlooked the implication that he was regarded as a fool in the eyes of those who understood celestial calculations... "No more, that's all the clues we have," Gu Changhuai said, "So you should stop bothering me and return to the sect to focus on your cultivation..." Gu Changhuai was keen to shake off the "little drag along" that was Mo Hua. Mo Hua noticed and said, "I have a lead!" Gu Changhuai, skeptical, snorted, "What lead could you possibly have?" "If you don’t believe me, I won’t say it." Mo Hua lowered his head and focused on eating his chicken leg. This particular chicken leg was seemingly from some sort of brocade chicken, large and tender, with a delightful taste. As Mo Hua remained silent, Gu Changhuai's mood grew complicated. Asking would hurt his pride. Not asking might mean missing crucial information. This kid, though prone to "bragging," wouldn’t lie about something critical. Gu Changhuai pondered and reluctantly sighed. In the end, solving the Huo Fo Tuo case was crucial. "I believe you; just tell me..." Gu Changhuai sighed. Mo Hua cut to the chase and said, "Hua Lang Jun!" "Hua Lang Jun?" Gu Changhuai’s eyebrows knitted together. "The notorious flower thief," Mo Hua explained, "whom I caught before encountering Huo Fo Tuo..." "I heard Huo Fo Tuo and his followers refer to Hua Lang Jun as 'Hua Liu Lang,' suggesting they knew each other. It's likely that Hua Lang Jun was frequenting Luan Mountain City to join Huo Fo Tuo for the massacre..." "But before heading there, his ‘siphoning cultivation method’ stirred his vicious urges, and given Huo Fo Tuo’s impending actions at Bi Mountain City, he couldn't act there without alarming the city's defenses. Hence, he targeted women around the lesser city of Luan..." Gu Changhuai frowned, "Why didn’t you mention this earlier?" Mo Hua defended himself, "You never asked me..." Besides, at the time of reporting, Hua Lang Jun was already apprehended and sent to the Dao Prison, effectively subdued. Mo Hua had naturally overlooked him in the initial chaos. Now, with a shortage of leads, Mo Hua mentally sifted through potential clues, and "Hua Lang Jun" resurfaced from the back of his mind. Gu Changhuai nodded, "There's no time to lose; I must head to Luan Mountain City immediately." "Isn’t he in the Dao Prison within the precincts of Qianxue Prefecture?" Gu Changhuai shook his head, "Local cases require procedural completion; they aren’t typically transferred..." Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then added, "I’ll go with you!" "No." Gu Changhuai refused without hesitation. "Alright then," Mo Hua didn’t push, merely adding, "If you get confused during questioning, come ask me..." Gu Changhuai frowned, "And why would I need to ask you?" "Because Hua Lang Jun was caught by 'me'!" Mo Hua emphasized again. Momentarily caught off guard, Gu Changhuai conceded, "Fine, you can come along." Mo Hua’s eyes gleamed, "Mm hm." Thus, Gu Changhuai spoke with Wen Ren Wan about taking Mo Hua on the trip. Wen Ren Wan found it a bit odd, uncertain what task could involve both of them. Yet seeing Gu Changhuai’s reluctant demeanor and Mo Hua’s cheerfulness, she assumed it was nothing harmful for Mo Hua and agreed with a nod, cautioning: "Take care on the road." "Look after Mo Hua..." She repeated her reminders. "Yes," Gu Changhuai sighed. Subsequently, Mo Hua rode alongside Gu Changhuai in a Gu family carriage, swiftly through the night toward Luan Mountain City. Upon arriving and entering the Dao Court Division, Gu Changhuai presented his director badge, moving smoothly through to Luan Mountain City’s underground Dao Prison. However, upon finding Hua Lang Jun, both Gu Changhuai’s face turned cold and Mo Hua’s gaze hardened. Hua Lang Jun... Inside the cell, his breath ceased. He was already dead. Silently. Mo Hua glanced up at the damp, foreboding, and sunless Dao Prison and whispered to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, in the Dao... or rather, our Dao Court Division, do we have a 'traitor'?" Gu Changhuai’s face turned stone cold, remaining silent. On New Year's Eve, I'm still typing away with tears in my eyes. I wish everyone a happy Eve, filled with joy and happiness. Oh, how I wish I could go out and play. (ˇˇ) (End of this chapter)