Chapter 609: Kneel

Chapter 609: Kneel

Life in the sect was peaceful and uneventful. Eight days later, it was once again time for the fortnightly break.

As Bishan City was quite a distance away and the journey there and back would be tedious and time-consuming, Mo Hua applied for an extra day of leave.

With Elder Xun backing her, the sect elders readily approved her request.

Thus, with a three-day holiday ahead of her, Mo Hua packed her bags, slung her storage bag over her shoulder, and happily set out to find Murong Siyuan.

Murong Siyuan had taken on this mission, and Mo Hua was tagging along.

Knowing that Mo Hua was accumulating merit points to exchange for array diagrams, Murong Siyuan said, "This mission isn't difficult, so there are only three of us, including you. You'll be able to get a good share of the merit points."

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Mo Hua said with a smile.

The two of them walked together towards the exit of Tai Xu Gate, Mo Hua's steps light and cheerful as they chatted casually along the way.

"Three people..." Mo Hua thought for a moment and asked, "Senior Sister, who else is coming?"

"Senior Brother Feng from Tai Ah Men," Murong Siyuan replied.

"Senior Brother Feng..." Mo Hua nodded.

Senior Brother Feng was courteous and polite, with profound cultivation. He seemed to hold a high position in Tai Ah Men and was one of the inner disciples. He was indeed a "big shot."

"What about Senior Brother Xu and Qianqian?" Mo Hua asked.

"Senior Brother Xu needs to recuperate from his injuries. Since this mission isn't difficult and there aren't many merit points at stake, there's no need for him to make the trip," Murong Siyuan explained.

"As for Qianqian..." She paused, "She's quite busy, so she'll sit this one out."

"Oh, I see," Mo Hua nodded.

Murong Siyuan, however, sighed softly.

That little rascal, Qianqian, kept pestering her every day, saying she wanted to go on a mission with Mo Hua. She had even prepared "gifts" for Mo Hua—all sorts of girly things like skirts, hairpins, and rouge.

She wanted Mo Hua to dress up and look like a delicate and exquisite doll, insisting that he would definitely look good...

Fearing that Qianqian might go too far, Murong Siyuan didn't call for her this time.

But because Qianqian had been nagging her incessantly, as Murong Siyuan looked at Mo Hua, her mind unconsciously wandered, and she found herself imagining how handsome Mo Hua would look in a colorful robe, causing her to space out for a moment.

"Senior Sister?" Mo Hua found her daze strange.

Murong Siyuan snapped out of her reverie, her cheeks slightly flushed. She coughed lightly and said, "We're running out of time. Let's hurry..."

"Oh..." Mo Hua looked at her with a puzzled expression but didn't ask further questions.

Soon, the two of them met up with Ouyang Feng, who was wearing the Tai Ah robe, and they hired a horse-drawn carriage. Leaving the boundaries of Qian Xue State, they sped along the wide mountain road towards Bishan City, located outside the state.

Outside the carriage, the horses' hooves clattered rapidly, while inside, the atmosphere was calm and comfortable.

Mo Hua sat by the window, lounging on a soft blanket. He gazed at the passing scenery while chatting with Murong Siyuan and Ouyang Feng.

"This time, we're going to capture a disciple who has gone rogue..." Murong Siyuan explained, "This disciple stole the sect's heritage and killed his fellow disciple before escaping more than a decade ago. He's been on the run ever since, and despite the pursuit, he hasn't been caught."

"A decade ago?" Mo Hua was surprised.

Murong Siyuan nodded. "He stole some minor heritage and killed a fellow disciple, who was actually just a menial worker. The matter didn't create much of a stir, so it didn't become a big scandal."

"And after the disciple went rogue, he kept a low profile and disappeared without a trace, leaving no clues behind."

"The Dao Court doesn't seem too keen on pursuing this matter..." Mo Hua mused.

"Is it because there's nothing in it for them?" Murong Siyuan hesitated, feeling a bit helpless. She gently nudged Mo Hua with her elbow and said, "Firstly, there aren't many leads to go on, and secondly, the Dao Court truly has... limited manpower, so this case has been put on hold for the time being."

"Oh, I see," Mo Hua said, understanding.

Ouyang Feng continued, "Later, when the Xie family's treasury in Bishan City was robbed, the thief was forced to use the 'Duan Jin Gate's' magic during the pursuit. That's how they discovered his identity."

"The Xie family of Bishan City demanded an explanation from the Duan Jin Gate..."

"The Duan Jin Gate checked their records of stolen heritages and, upon comparing the information, they realized that the thief was the same disciple who had gone rogue a decade ago."

Mo Hua frowned, "The Duan Jin Gate?"

"It's one of the 'Twelve Flow' sects in Qian Xue State, specializing in the Five Elements metal-based sword-controlling techniques..." Murong Siyuan explained.

Mo Hua nodded.

He vaguely recalled Aunt Wan mentioning this sect once when she was introducing the Twelve Flow sects of Qian Xue State, but apart from that, he didn't think there was any other connection.

However, upon hearing the name "Duan Jin Gate," he felt a vague sense of familiarity, as if this sect had some sort of karmic relationship with him.

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Shouldn't it be the Duan Jin Gate's responsibility to pursue their own rogue disciple?"

"They tried, but they couldn't catch him..."

"They couldn't catch him?"

Murong Siyuan nodded, "That rogue disciple has exceptional movement techniques."

Ouyang Feng added, "Indeed, he stole a movement technique called the 'Escape Gold Manual' from the Sword Control Sect, and he's quite skilled at it. Even the disciples of the Duan Jin Gate couldn't catch one of their own renegades..."

Ouyang Feng shook his head, amused and exasperated at the same time.

A proper disciple couldn't compare to this renegade who had stolen the heritage.

"The Xie family of Bishan City is dissatisfied and suspects that the Duan Jin Gate is deliberately turning a blind eye, secretly protecting the thief. So, they have offered a separate reward for his capture."

"However, the Xie family of Bishan City doesn't have much influence, so the reward in merit points isn't very high."

"Moreover, the Duan Jin Gate doesn't want their own renegade disciple to be caught by disciples of other sects, and they certainly won't let others claim the merit points..."

Mo Hua muttered, "The Duan Jin Gate... They're quite petty, aren't they?"

Ouyang Feng smiled bitterly, "Indeed, but be careful not to let the disciples of the Duan Jin Gate hear you say that. Petty people are the most sensitive to being called petty..."

Mo Hua nodded with a smile.

Half a day later, the three of them arrived at Bishan City.

True to its name, Bishan City was surrounded by towering cliffs and crisscrossing mountain ranges.

Most of the cave dwellings and buildings were built on steep cliffs, creating a spectacular and majestic sight.

However, Bishan City was currently under lockdown, with people only allowed to enter and not leave.

This was because a renegade disciple from the Duan Jin Gate had robbed the Xie family's treasury, and the Xie family had reported the incident to the Dao Court.

Murong Caiyun shook her head, "I don't know. The Xie family hasn't disclosed any details, and it's not our place to pry..."

"They've made quite a fuss by sealing off the city and deploying a lot of manpower, but the bounty they've offered is pitiful. That Xie family is really stingy..." Mo Hua said, a little unhappy.

He was in dire need of merit points, so he felt a bit resentful towards the Xie family's frugality.

Moreover, there was something odd about this family...

Reasonably, the theft from their treasury and the city-wide search should have been considered a major incident, and the bounty offered should have been more substantial.

"We're here to do a job and earn our merit points. It's best not to concern ourselves with other matters," Murong Caiyun advised.

Ouyang Feng agreed, "The sooner we finish, the sooner we can return."

"Alright," Mo Hua nodded.

Their goal was to assist the Xie family in capturing the traitor from the Duan Jin Gate.

The Xie family was conducting the search, but it was more of a perfunctory effort, with family disciples patrolling the streets and looking out for any suspicious cultivators.

They didn't have the audacity or strength to conduct a thorough house-to-house search.

Even though Bishan City was just a small immortal city, one couldn't guarantee that a true immortal or a powerful cultivator might be sipping tea in a teahouse or enjoying a drink in an inn...

Murong Caiyun and her companions joined the search for a while, but with no success. Afterward, they split up to cover more ground.

As Mo Hua walked through the streets of Bishan City, he secretly released his spiritual sense, scrutinizing his surroundings.

It wasn't that he intended to pry into others' privacy, but rather, he was looking for anyone out of the ordinary.

The city was a melting pot of cultivators from all walks of life.

With his transformed spiritual sense, Mo Hua could probe and understand most cultivators, but out of respect, he refrained from delving too deeply, only skimming the surface to determine if they were the traitor or not.

There were also some cultivators with obscure and profound auras, causing Mo Hua to quickly retract his spiritual sense after a brief touch.

These powerful cultivators were at least at the Golden Core stage or higher, and he knew better than to offend them.

However, there were some cultivators who, despite their unassuming appearances, exuded an indescribable strength. Even with his swift retraction of spiritual sense, they seemed to sense his intrusion.

Their gazes, sharp as swords, fell upon Mo Hua, only to pause momentarily when they saw that he was just a young boy of around ten years old.

Mo Hua respectfully bowed, apologizing for his intrusion.

They didn't seem to mind, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief but also marveled at the depth of talent in the cultivation world, especially in Qianzhou. Even in this small immortal city, he had encountered so many formidable opponents...

After a few such encounters, offering apologies and bowing had become second nature to him.

Without even using his spiritual sense, he could now instinctively sense which cultivators were not to be trifled with.

A single glance was all it took for him to gauge their strength.

Having learned his lesson, Mo Hua was more cautious with his spiritual sense, no longer daring to offend true immortals or powerful cultivators...

After searching for most of the day, Mo Hua, with his profound spiritual sense, had covered a large part of Bishan City, but still with no sign of the traitor.

It was time to explore some less-searched areas...

Mo Hua thought for a moment and headed toward a "brothel."

Although it appeared to be an ordinary restaurant from the outside, Mo Hua's single experience at the Hundred Flowers Tower in Nanyue City, under Su Elder's guidance, allowed him to discern:

"This isn't an inn, it's a brothel!" While the front masqueraded as a restaurant, the back exuded a sultry and sensual atmosphere that was not suitable for children.

The Dao Court prohibited dual cultivation, and even more so, the act of essence-gathering.

Or rather, the prohibition on "dual cultivation" was primarily aimed at preventing "essence-gathering," to avoid people "finding loopholes" and engaging in essence-gathering under the guise of dual cultivation.

This was something Zhang Lan had told Mo Hua a long time ago.

Hence, the Dao Court kept a tight rein on such "brothels."

Of course, while the Dao Court had strict rules and regulations, the local Dao Court branches might be a different story.

The situation varied even more across different immortal cities.

For example, in Nanyue City, the Lu family used brothels to curry favor, earn spirit stones, exploit mine cultivators, and curry favor with the Dao Court branch.

In such a scenario, many Dao Court disciples were frequent patrons, and it was difficult to expect them to enforce the rules impartially.

However, the Qianxue State was an exception, as the entire state strictly prohibited brothels.

The Qianxue State was a hub of cultivation, attracting young genius disciples from the Nine States.

The sects didn't want their disciples to indulge in worldly pleasures, damaging their foundations, wasting their time, and corrupting their Dao hearts.

They also feared that demonic cultivators might use allurements of the flesh to entice and mislead sect disciples, causing them to lose their sense of right and wrong, drown in desires, and willingly fall into depravity.

Therefore, not only was the practice forbidden within the Qianxue State itself, but the surrounding states and numerous immortal cities also banned the establishment of brothels.

However, as eating, drinking, and procreating were fundamental human desires, prohibition was easier said than done.

Hence, there were establishments that appeared to be restaurants from the outside but operated brothels in the back, deceiving the public.

Mo Hua scoffed, feeling that he should criticize such practices. Moreover, these places of indulgence often harbored unsavory characters, and the traitor could very well be hiding among them. Thus, he walked straight into the restaurant.

The waiter was visibly taken aback by Mo Hua's appearance.

They had never had such a delicate and handsome young master grace their establishment before.

"Young master, what brings you here...?" the waiter asked, unsure.

"I'm here to eat," Mo Hua replied matter-of-factly.

"Oh, of course, eating... Please, this way."

The waiter assumed that Mo Hua was unaware of the true nature of their business, thinking that he only saw it as a restaurant for dining. With a forced smile, the waiter enthusiastically led Mo Hua inside.

The interior was lavishly decorated, with a strong scent of perfume hanging in the air.

The waiter seated Mo Hua at a table and handed him a menu.

Mo Hua scanned the menu, thinking to himself how expensive everything was. Not only were the dishes pricey, but the snacks and drinks were also double the usual price.

However, for the sake of "tracking down the traitor," Mo Hua gritted his teeth and ordered a table full of food and drinks.

Patrons were either eating or drinking, but in the center was a pink-curtained stage where women with colorful, flowing sleeves danced gracefully.

Scantily clad women also weaved through the crowd, their faces painted with alluring smiles as they attended to guests.

Mo Hua, munching on a large chicken leg, released his spiritual sense to scan his surroundings.

After observing for a while, he began to understand what was going on.

This restaurant offered more than just food and drinks; the dancing women on the stage were the real "menu."

After performing, the women would come down and accompany guests who took a liking to them.

During this companionship, deals were struck, and the pair would then retreat to a private room to "dine."

Only after this "dining" would the bill be settled.

Pure and innocent Mo Hua was shocked.

These cultivators had so many mischievous ideas!

Instead of channeling their energy into cultivating, they were using their creativity to devise ways to indulge in "wine and women."

And the prices of the food and drinks were exorbitant!

Mo Hua was furious.

He glanced at the dancing women in the center and then, suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

In the corner of the stage, he noticed a dancing woman with average looks and a slender waist, but there was something odd about her movements...

Mo Hua swept his spiritual sense over her and immediately understood.

This "woman" was actually a man!

Furthermore, he felt a strange connection, and suddenly, he was certain that this person was the traitor from Duan Jin Gate, the very fugitive they were after!

A man dressed as a woman, performing in a place of debauchery.

Mo Hua huffed in disgust.

Such behavior was an affront to decency!

He immediately used the Tai Xu Order to send a message to Murong Siyuan:

"Senior Sister, I've found the traitor!"

The Tai Xu Order could be used for communication between sect members.

Murong Siyuan had taught him how to use it, but as he was unfamiliar with it, he hadn't used it much before.

However, in just a moment, Murong Siyuan replied:

"Where are you?"

Mo Hua: "In a brothel..."

Murong Siyuan: "..."

There was silence for a long while, as if she couldn't comprehend how he had ended up in such a place. But after a few breaths, she responded:

"Which brothel?"

Mo Hua sent the name of the restaurant.

Murong Siyuan: "I know the place. I'm on my way. You take care of yourself."

Mo Hua: "Mhm."

He nodded, but felt a bit puzzled.

There was something odd about her instruction to "take care of himself."

What did she think he needed to protect?

After about two incense sticks' worth of time, Ouyang Feng and Murong Siyuan arrived at the restaurant.

The waiter was once again taken aback and hesitated before letting them in, having heard that they were looking for their junior disciple. However, he couldn't help but eye them warily.

The three of them spoke in hushed tones.

"Junior Brother, how did you end up here?"

Mo Hua waved his hand dismissively. "That's not important."

He then pointed to the "woman" still dancing on the stage, with a slender waist and heavy makeup: "This person is very likely the traitor we're looking for."

Mo Hua was almost certain, but he left room for doubt, not wanting to sound too assertive.

Murong Siyuan and Ouyang Feng were both surprised, their brows furrowed as they stared at the "woman" intently, their gazes sharp.

"A man dressed as a woman, dancing here, is indeed a clever way to hide in plain sight..."

"It's probably not just for 'hiding in plain sight'..."

Perhaps he had a "side business" going on as well.

Even as a fugitive disciple and a wanted criminal, one still needed to make a living...

"Now what?"

"Should we just capture him directly?"

"Won't that alert him?"

Ouyang Feng and Murong Siyuan discussed their options.

Mo Hua said, "I'll 'call' him over."

Murong Siyuan and Ouyang Feng were taken aback. "Call him?"

"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded. "I'll have him come over to accompany us, and then we can seize him!"

At this point, Murong Siyuan couldn't hold back anymore. "Junior Brother, do you... come here often?"

Why did he seem like a regular customer...

Mo Hua frowned, his expression serious. "I'm a respectable cultivator! I never visit such places! Only under extenuating circumstances would I ever step foot here..."

Murong Siyuan gave him a skeptical look.

"I'm here for the mission!" Mo Hua added.

Ouyang Feng sighed. "Capturing that traitor is our top priority."

"Senior Brother Ouyang is right!" Mo Hua nodded and beckoned a waiter. He pointed to the man dressed as a woman on the stage. "I want 'her' to come and accompany us."

The waiter was surprised by Mo Hua's request and gave him a second look. He then went up to the stage and called down the "woman."

The "woman" was taken aback, realizing she had been "chosen." She glanced at Mo Hua and his companions, her gaze sharp, before lowering her head and obediently making her way toward them, her steps slowing as she approached.

"He's going to run!" Mo Hua exclaimed.

Ouyang Feng immediately sprang into action, rushing forward to grab the "woman."

But the "woman" was prepared, and with a flash of golden light, he retreated with agile movements.

Ouyang Feng missed his grab and continued to pursue, only to be blocked by a strange man.

The man had a frivolous smile on his face as he said, "My friend, you're quite the handsome fellow yourself. Why are you so heartless toward these ladies..."

Ouyang Feng was in no mood for pleasantries and kicked the man away, continuing his pursuit of the "woman."

The "woman" was now running without any pretense, and it was clear that he was indeed a man, with exceptional agility.

Murong Siyuan unleashed her Five-Colored Spirit Light to slow him down.

Mo Hua lifted his hand halfway, then paused as a thought occurred to him. He changed his Water Prison Technique to the Fireball Technique.

Furthermore, he didn't bother with precision, lobbing fireballs one after another at the fleeing "woman."

These fireballs were haphazardly thrown.

Mo Hua made up his mind and held nothing back, quickly destroying a large part of the restaurant with his fireball technique.

The pink curtains burned, the stage collapsed, and from the back of the restaurant came the startled cries of men and women.

The owner of the restaurant turned pale.

He was running an illicit business near the boundaries of Qian Xue State, operating a brothel under the guise of a restaurant, and if this was exposed, he would be in deep trouble.

But he dared not take any action.

This was because Ouyang Feng and Murong Siyuan clearly had profound cultivation and extraordinary backgrounds, and he might not be able to afford to offend them.

The "restaurant" was filled with chaos and noise.

The "woman" also took the opportunity to escape, running north along the street.

Ouyang Feng gave chase.

"Pursue him!" Murong Siyuan commanded decisively.

"Yes!"

Mo Hua nodded and took the opportunity to slip away.

The commotion attracted the attention of others, including members of the Xie family and the Dao Court.

Upon seeing the disheveled men and women inside the "restaurant," the Dao Court disciples immediately understood the true nature of the establishment.

In broad daylight, they had no choice but to investigate.

The Xie family also realized that the "woman" was the traitor from the Duan Jin Gate, the very person they were pursuing.

Thus, both parties joined in the pursuit of the cross-dressing traitor.

However, the traitor, shrouded in golden light, was swift and fierce, making it extremely difficult to catch up to him.

After chasing him for several blocks, he suddenly disappeared from sight.

The Xie family disciples were furious and scolded him relentlessly.

Ouyang Feng and Murong Siyuan frowned, but Mo Hua's eyes shone with understanding.

He had seen everything clearly.

The traitor turned the corner and hid in a dark alley, and within a few breaths, he changed his appearance and face, disguising himself as an ordinary male cultivator with unremarkable features.

"Is this... a disguise?"

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed with interest, and he secretly pointed at the man, whispering to Ouyang Feng, "Senior Brother, that person!"

Ouyang Feng was taken aback. He wanted to ask how Mo Hua knew, but the situation was urgent, and he didn't have time for details. Instinctively, he chose to trust Mo Hua's judgment.

Ouyang Feng casually strolled towards the male cultivator, pretending not to notice him.

However, the man had a keen sense of danger, and as soon as Ouyang Feng came within ten zhang of him, he immediately took off running.

Seeing the golden light in his movement technique, Ouyang Feng was certain that this was indeed the traitor! He drew his sword and continued the pursuit.

In this way, the traitor continued to flee, using his movement technique while simultaneously changing his appearance and disguise, hoping to escape from Mo Hua and his companions.

Mo Hua didn't rush to take action but instead surveyed the surroundings, secretly manipulating the situation to drive the traitor to a deserted area in the eastern part of Bishan City, a mountain forest with no signs of human activity.

He couldn't capture him in the city, or else he would fall into the hands of the Xie family, and he wouldn't be able to gather any information.

Everything went according to Mo Hua's plan.

There were no other people around.

The traitor was now cornered by the three of them.

The traitor, currently disguised as a burly man, panted as he looked at the trio, disbelief written on his face.

"How... How did you recognize me?"

Mo Hua smiled slyly, "Guess."

The man's face twitched, his eyes filled with anger, and he coldly snorted, "Even if you recognized me, so what? In the face of the Escape Gold Manual, which I have cultivated painstakingly for ten years, all your efforts are futile. Do you really think you can catch me? You're delusional!"

The man's face was filled with contempt, and he spat on the ground. With his movement technique at its peak, golden light permeating his legs, he was about to make another escape.

Mo Hua casually pointed a finger, and the Water Prison Technique instantly trapped the man.

The arrogant man was suddenly locked in place by the water prison, falling flat on his face.

"I said you were fat, and now you're panting for breath..." Mo Hua shook his head, unimpressed by the man's mediocre tricks.

With just this petty skill, he dared to show off in front of him...

Ouyang Feng stepped forward, and the man tried to struggle, but Ouyang Feng's sword struck his shoulder, and he was kicked to the ground.

The man's movement technique was impressive, but his cultivation was no match for Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng took the man's storage bag and used the second-grade spirit lock of the Dao Court to secure him tightly.

Murong Siyuan glanced at Mo Hua, her eyes narrowing slightly, and she asked, "Mo Hua, you lured him here to ask him something?"

"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded, "There's no one around, so it's a good opportunity to ask some questions."

Murong Siyuan thought for a moment and then nodded, "Alright, go ahead."

With the traitor captured, their mission was almost complete.

Before that, it wouldn't hurt to let Mo Hua ask a few questions.

Mo Hua turned to the "burly man" and said, "I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you'd better answer honestly!"

The man, with a mouthful of dirt, spat a few times and coldly laughed, "Little brat, you're dreaming!"

Ouyang Feng shook his head, "This guy has a tough mouth. I don't think he'll talk."

"Can we use torture?" Mo Hua asked.

Ouyang Feng hesitated, "Torture...?" He turned to look at Murong Siyuan, his expression complicated, as if asking, "Is this how your junior disciples of Tai Xu Men handle things...?"

At the first sign of disagreement, Mo Hua suggested using torture.

Murong Siyuan sighed, "Don't go too far... At least..."

She thought for a while, "Don't make it too obvious..."

If the Dao Court or the Xie family found out that they had used private methods of interrogation, it would be difficult to explain their actions.

"Don't worry!" Mo Hua smiled confidently, "I've prepared for this!"

"You've... prepared?"

Mo Hua nodded, "Mhm!"

Anticipating such a situation, he had made preparations in advance.

Mo Hua took out an iron plate from his storage bag, covered with intricate and painful-looking arrays.

Ouyang Feng and Murong Siyuan's eyelids twitched at the sight.

Mo Hua placed the iron plate on the ground and said to the burly man, "Kneel!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end