Chapter 641: Jia Ren - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 641: Jia Ren** "He is a traitor of the Duan Jin Sect and stole from the Xie Family. The Xie Family issued a task to the sect, which Murong Senior Sister, Feng Senior Brother, and I accepted. We came to Bishan City to capture him and then sent him to the Dao Prison..." Mo Hua spoke succinctly. "This person is capable of disguising himself, and his flesh and blood can distort and change shape, making his appearance unclear. He has also mastered the Duan Jin Sect's escaping technique, transforming into golden light and moving very swiftly..." Mo Hua added. Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened as he said in a deep voice, "Stole from the Xie Family..." "And afterward, the Xie Family was annihilated..." Mo Hua nodded. He hadn't thought of this connection before, but now seeing this traitor of the Duan Jin Sect, he felt there was something very suspicious. Moreover... Mo Hua whispered, "How did he get out of the Dao Prison? Could it be..." Is there an insider in the Dao Court? Mo Hua didn't say it outright, but Gu Changhuai clearly understood what Mo Hua implied, his expression growing even more serious. "I'll have someone investigate." Gu Changhuai took out a golden token from the Dao Court, seemingly sending a message with it. Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "The Dao Court token can also send messages? Then my token..." "Yours cannot." "Why?" "You're not official." Gu Changhuai was equally concise. Mo Hua sighed, "Alright then..." There's no getting around it; non-official status means no rights, doing the same job yet receiving different treatment. Mo Hua looked again at the rouge shop and asked, "Uncle Gu, what do we do next? Should we capture him?" Gu Changhuai took a sip of tea, calmly saying, "No hurry, let's watch for now..." If Gu Changhuai was not in a rush, then Mo Hua was even less so. He, too, was curious and wanted to see how Uncle Gu, as a Dao Court official, handled cases on a daily basis. How to find clues. How to capture people. Knowing oneself and the enemy, one can fight a hundred battles without disaster. Suppose... One day, he himself was wanted by the Dao Court and pursued by Uncle Gu, how could he escape from his grasp... Of course, this was purely hypothetical. He was a law-abiding cultivator in Qianxue State! An obedient disciple of the Taixu Sect! Such a day would never come. But it didn't hurt to learn more, to gain some experience and knowledge. The cultivation world is deep and complex. Not only must one learn the methods of cultivation, but understanding the affairs of the world is also a kind of learning. So Mo Hua sat down patiently, continuing to sip his tea, keeping an eye on both Gu Changhuai and the rouge shop, observing the movements of this traitor from the Duan Jin Sect. The traitor’s actions were peculiar too. He came and went from the rouge shop repeatedly. Each time he entered, he would change his face and his outfit, as if trying not to attract attention. But Mo Hua noticed that each time he entered the shop, he carried only one storage bag. However, when he left, he had three or four storage bags with him. Mo Hua secretly used his spiritual sense to monitor him and found that he didn’t go far; he merely wandered around aimlessly carrying these storage bags. Bishan City was built along steep mountainous terrain. Along the streets, there were often staggered and unfathomably deep cliffs and ravines. He took advantage of people’s inattention to toss these storage bags into the cliffs and ravines. After throwing, he would return to pick up more and continue throwing... Just like... disposing of "garbage"... And from the looks of it, he had been doing this for quite some time. Mo Hua munched on pine nuts, leaned in close to Gu Changhuai, and asked in a gossipy low voice, "Uncle Gu, is he... disposing of stolen goods?" Destroying stolen property... Gu Changhuai’s eyes narrowed, "Possibly..." "Then should we... catch him now, in the act with the goods?" Gu Changhuai shook his head. "He’s been disposing of goods for some time now. Obviously, there are a lot of stolen items; we must not rush..." "Acting rashly might alert others." "If there are accomplices of the Fire Buddha nearby, or if he has scouts and informers, any action could be detected..." "We need to find an opportunity to quietly capture him without alerting anyone..." Mo Hua nodded. Gu Changhuai was about to say more when his expression changed. He picked up the token, glanced at it, and then put it away. Mo Hua, sharp-eyed, asked, "Have you found the insider?" Gu Changhuai gave Mo Hua a glance and sighed, "No..." "No?" Mo Hua frowned, "He was released from Dao Prison so quickly, isn’t it because of an insider?" Gu Changhuai shook his head, "His release was in accordance with the rules." Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. Gu Changhuai explained, "I had someone check the records... "This person is named Jia Ren, with no criminal record..." "The Xie Family claimed their repository was stolen from, yet they didn’t specify what exactly was stolen. Moreover, nothing with the Xie Family’s repository marks was found on him, whether it be spiritual artifacts, pills, or manuals..." "The theft couldn't be proven." "As for the Duan Jin Sect..." "The Duan Jin Sect claimed they made a mistake, saying this person was not their disciple, that the real person who stole and defected from the Duan Jin Sect was someone else entirely..." "So, he isn’t considered a traitor of the Duan Jin Sect." "The only crime that could be proven was that he worked as an 'underground prostitute' in an illegal brothel..." "But..." Gu Changhuai’s expression grew subtle, "He’s a man..." "So the Dao Court could only imprison him for one month under charges of 'fraud' and 'indecency,' then release him afterward..." "What conspiracy there may be behind the scenes is unknown, but on the surface, there’s no issue..." Mo Hua was speechless. How could this be? He glanced again at the "Jia Ren," who routinely changed faces, in disbelief. If there’s nothing suspicious about this man, then there is truly something off... But this led to even more questions: First, the Xie Family... Did the Xie Family lose something or not? If they did, what was it? Was it Jia Ren who stole it? If they didn’t lose anything, why did the Xie Family lie? Is there any connection between this item and the massacre of the Xie Family? Why did the Duan Jin Sect initially claim this Jia Ren was a traitor, but later flatly deny it? What happened in between? The Xie Family’s massacre, the disappearance of the Fire Buddha... What exactly was Jia Ren’s involvement in these matters? While pondering, Mo Hua noticed a change in Jia Ren’s movements. A group of Dao Court officers from Bishan City, on routine patrol, passed by, which alerted Jia Ren. Unable to dispose of stolen goods, he carried the three storage bags and took a secluded path up the desolate mountain to the north. Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai. As expected, Gu Changhuai’s eyes gleamed, placing three spirit stones on the table before getting up to leave. Mo Hua did a quick calculation in his head, realizing that the three spirit stones covered his own tea as well. Satisfied, he nodded and then got up to quietly follow Gu Changhuai. In the back mountain north of Bishan City, the terrain grew even steeper. Jia Ren was highly alert. This time, he was disguised as a short, stocky cultivator carrying a bamboo basket for herbal gathering, weaving through the mountain paths, occasionally stopping to look back at the mountainside. Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua followed from afar. Fortunately, their spiritual senses were strong, making it impossible for Jia Ren to escape. Mo Hua asked, "Uncle Gu, should we make our move?" Gu Changhuai nodded. "How do we capture him?" Mo Hua inquired again. To capture him alive, it needs to be swift, precise, and a quick battle, giving Jia Ren no chance to react or flee. Also, leaving no opportunity for him to inform others... Mo Hua was quite adept at capturing people, but he still wanted to hear how Uncle Gu, or rather the Dao Court, would typically handle such situations. Having a plan of his own, he wanted to "cross-check answers" with Uncle Gu to identify gaps and improve. Gu Changhuai, focused on Jia Ren and the potential involvement of the Fire Buddha, unsuspectingly replied in a calm voice: "Set a trap on his path, arrange an ambush with formation spells..." "On the ground, set manacles, laced with poison..." "Use a sound-burst formation to momentarily disorient him..." "Seize the opportunity to subdue him..." "Then secure him with spiritual locks, restraining his limbs..." "Preparation must be thorough, actions must be swift, and moves must be decisive. Do not give him the opportunity to counterattack, nor the chance to end his own life..." "This is the basic procedure for capturing individuals in the Dao Court..." ... As Gu Changhuai spoke, Mo Hua nodded along. Although he knew some of this beforehand, there were many new details and techniques that could be learned and applied. After finishing, Gu Changhuai reminded Mo Hua: "Remember, as per our agreement, you do not engage." "Sure, sure." Mo Hua agreed readily. Gu Changhuai nodded slightly, then his form flickered, traversing the rugged mountain rocks with a few swift movements, positioning himself ahead of Jia Ren. Mo Hua quietly followed, staying to the side, releasing his spiritual sense while observing attentively. Jia Ren, unaware, continued walking forward. His destination was a cliff ahead. Gu Changhuai, at the cliff, placed several Dao Court-specialized formation plates and buried a few manacles into the ground. His technique was adept and his actions clean and efficient. The traps were laid out meticulously as well. With a mindset of humility and eagerness to learn, Mo Hua quietly committed the Dao Court’s methods of setting traps to memory. Once everything was in place, Gu Changhuai concealed himself nearby. Moments later, Jia Ren appeared. He looked around cautiously but noticed nothing amiss, so he proceeded toward the cliff, intending to throw the storage bags over the edge. After a few steps, a painful 'snap' occurred underfoot. "Not good!" Looking down, Jia Ren saw a manacle clamping down on his calf like a tiger's jaws. The manacle dripped with a green venom. Poison spread through his bloodstream, inducing a spreading numbness. A trap, anesthetic! Jia Ren's expression changed dramatically. Despite the pain, he tore himself free, leaving a chunk of flesh behind, intending to flee. But at that moment, the sound burst formation at the four corners exploded. ... Outside the formation, Mo Hua heard only muffled noises. Inside, Jia Ren experienced dizziness, ringing ears, and a disorienting headache, his spiritual sense slowing. His entire body trembled from the sound waves. However, a jade pendant on his body shattered, releasing a light that snapped Jia Ren back to clarity. "Dao Court's sound burst formation?" Jia Ren's pupils dilated as he reached for a talisman on himself. But within that moment, a wind blade sliced across his arm, leaving a bloody gash and causing the talisman to fall. The wind blade was swift and sharp. Turning his head, Jia Ren saw the cold, distant figure of Gu Changhuai. Sensing Gu Changhuai's aura, Jia Ren's face filled with despair. "A Golden Core?!" Before Jia Ren could act further, Gu Changhuai moved like the wind, reaching Jia Ren in an instant and gripping his shoulder. With a surge of spiritual power, he crushed Jia Ren's left arm. Despite the cold sweat and terror, Jia Ren attempted to shove pills from his sleeve into his mouth with his remaining right hand. Gu Changhuai pointed, sending a wind blade that severed the tendons in Jia Ren’s right hand. Jia Ren's hand fell limp, spilling the pills onto the ground. The pills were a sinister shade of green. Gu Changhuai, experienced, immediately recognized them as deadly poison. "Trying to commit suicide?" Narrowing his eyes, Gu Changhuai realized something was wrong. He saw Jia Ren biting down on a tooth, trying to swallow. Poison hidden in a tooth? A cold glint flashed in Gu Changhuai’s eyes as he swiftly grabbed Jia Ren’s throat with his right hand and delivered a forceful punch to his abdomen with his left. Jia Ren groaned in pain, expelling the poisoned tooth from his mouth. Attempting further resistance or escape proved futile as his last options were dismantled. Meanwhile, the anesthetic from the manacles spread through his system. Jia Ren realized his predicament as his consciousness dimmed and he slipped into unconsciousness. Gu Changhuai retrieved chains, binding Jia Ren's limbs, and then removed his teeth before dragging him to a concealed spot behind a rock. Thus, Jia Ren was captured. Mo Hua watched, somewhat stunned. This Uncle Gu didn’t match his expectations. Despite his aloof demeanor, seemingly dismissive of others, he acted with meticulous care. Even as a Golden Core officer, capturing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he remained diligent and cautious, anticipating all outcomes. Leaving no chance for escape. Not even for suicide. Mo Hua found the experience profoundly educational. Throughout the process, Mo Hua obediently adhered to Gu Changhuai's directive, not intervening arbitrarily. With Jia Ren subdued, Mo Hua emerged from his hiding spot, joining Gu Changhuai. Observing the unconscious Jia Ren, Mo Hua remarked in surprise, "This Jia Ren actually considered suicide?" He had never encountered a criminal cultivator so quick to choose death when capture seemed inevitable. Gu Changhuai frowned deeply, saying: "I was just taking precautions, doing what needed to be done. But for Jia Ren to prefer death over falling into our hands was unexpected..." "Which means..." Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened. Mo Hua interjected, "...this person knows much and harbors significant secrets!" Perhaps he was indeed linked to the Xie Family massacre and possibly had leads on the Fire Buddha’s whereabouts. Or perhaps, he had knowledge of even more... "Should we interrogate him now?" Mo Hua asked. "Yes." Gu Changhuai nodded. But first, the typical search of the storage bags was necessary. Gu Changhuai opened the four or five storage bags originally meant for disposal from Jia Ren’s possession. A strong scent of blood wafted out. As expected, they were filled with "stolen goods." Among them were spirit artifacts: ghost head sabers, bone-cleaving swords, and disemboweling daggers, all bloodstained. Seeing the blood, Mo Hua’s mind buzzed, his vision momentarily overtaken by red. Visions of the Xie Family cultivators' tragic screams and monstrous deaths in a sea of flames resurfaced in his mind. "This is... Xie Family cultivators' blood," Mo Hua said with resolve. Gu Changhuai was startled, "How do you know?" "I can tell..." Mo Hua replied. Gu Changhuai resignedly said, "Never mind, I'll assume I didn’t ask..." Apart from these bloodstained weapons, there were some "clean" spirit artifacts. They bore no blood and appeared not to have partaken in killings. Just ordinary items, not meant for combat. Illumination, ventilation, fireproofing, dust removal, incense burning for concentration... they encompassed various aspects of a cultivator's daily life. Both Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai were baffled. "Are these items from the Xie Family?" "Did they kill the Xie Family and plunder their belongings?" If they did, why discard them now instead of keeping them? Wouldn’t that render the robbery pointless? It hardly seems likely they acted on a whim to kill and plunder. Then regret, fear of Dao Court discovery, and opting to discard the loot isn’t plausible... The Fire Buddha gang, known for their ruthless slaughter, wouldn’t fit such behavior... Gu Changhuai remained cautious, brows knitted in thought. Mo Hua had a sudden realization, eyes sparkling, "Could they have... been searching for something?" Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua, "Searching for something?" "Yes." Mo Hua hypothesized, "They annihilated the Xie Family to find something..." "This Jia Ren initially went to the Xie Family intending to steal it..." "But he failed..." "And this item was crucial; they needed it at all costs." "So the Fire Buddha wiped out the Xie Family." "They gathered everything from the Xie Family to meticulously search, then set the estate ablaze, erasing all traces..." "As for these discarded items..." "They searched through them, found them unnecessary, and discarded the excess..." "And after killing the Xie Family, any spiritual artifacts stained with their blood had to be disposed of..." "To avoid leaving evidence for the Dao Court to find..." "Or leave traces of cause and effect for someone to uncover..." To destroy these "stolen goods" using a forge would be too conspicuous and time-consuming. Instead, they utilized Bishan City's terrain, discreetly throwing these "stolen goods" into the deep ravines and cliffs, leaving no trace, beyond discovery. Even if found later, who knows how many years could pass before that happens. Gu Changhuai was taken aback. This child, his mind works quickly, and it seems to make sense. After considering, Gu Changhuai nodded, "There is that possibility, but it’s just a possibility. Don't jump to conclusions." "Jumping to conclusions before knowing the truth can easily lead to misunderstandings..." Gu Changhuai advised. "Understood." Mo Hua nodded. Even so, he still felt his hypothesis held some weight. At the very least, it was a plausible line of thinking. Gu Changhuai continued to search through Jia Ren's storage bags. Jia Ren’s storage bags were quite ordinary. Inside were spirit stones, pills, spiritual tools, and some jade slips with manuals, just like any regular cultivator. But Mo Hua found nothing out of the ordinary. The jade slips showed no signs of being sealed, encrypted, or tampered with. Clearly, Jia Ren was cautious and didn’t carry any important items on his person. Mo Hua reviewed everything once more. These items provided evidence of connection but offered few leads. They could only demonstrate that Jia Ren was involved in the Xie Family massacre, likely helping with reconnaissance beforehand and disposing of the stolen goods afterward, deeply entangled in the entire event. Beyond that, there were no other leads. Especially none regarding the Fire Buddha. Given this situation, interrogating Jia Ren seemed the only option. Gu Changhuai retrieved a pill for Jia Ren to ingest, and in less than the time it takes for incense to burn, Jia Ren frowned and woke up. He slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Gu Changhuai’s striking yet "revolting" face. Gu Changhuai coolly asked, "Are you one of Fire Buddha’s people?" Jia Ren gave a cold smile, his expression resigned to death, without uttering a word. Gu Changhuai continued questioning: "Where is Fire Buddha?" "Why massacre the entire Xie Family?" "What is your relationship with Fire Buddha?" Yet Jia Ren gave no response, like a walking corpse, treating life and death indifferently. Gu Changhuai frowned, losing his patience. Under such circumstances, he had no choice but to resort to torture. Gu Changhuai produced a second-grade torture tool, a "branding iron," etched with a fire element formation. When heated, it scorched flesh and caused intense pain. But despite the branding iron, even as Jia Ren grimaced in agony, he stayed silent. Mo Hua, watching, couldn't stand it anymore. "Uncle Gu, it seems like your method isn’t working..." Mo Hua quietly pulled out his own "iron board," adding, "Shall we give mine a try?" Gu Changhuai was stunned by the sight of the blood-stained iron board. Jia Ren, realizing someone else was present upon hearing a crisp sound, suddenly became aware. The voice sounded so familiar. Moreover, it sounded like that of the little rascal he wished to cut into thousands of pieces... Jia Ren struggled to turn his head and looked. A fair, delicate face, with features like a painting. Jia Ren, previously lifeless, suddenly seemed animated out of rage, eyes bulging as he exclaimed: "It's... you?!" --- Thank you to Fengfong, Huang Tiantian~, Emerald Box Legend, and Dreaming of Mother’s Purpose for the rewards! (.) (End of this chapter)