Chapter 683: Blood Fog (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Wind Chocolate!)
Chapter 683: Blood Fog (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Wind Chocolate!)
The undercurrents in the Qian Xuezhou boundary flowed a little faster.
However, Mo Hua, the "mastermind" behind the scenes, knew nothing about it.
With an "empty stomach," all he wanted to do was to fish and find some divine remains to "satisfy his hunger."
A few days later, the prey finally took the bait.
Mo Hua had just finished teaching a class and was having a meal at his disciple's residence when he received a message from Gu Changhuai:
"Guojianlong is dead."
"Is it real or fake?" Mo Hua asked.
"Fake death," came the reply.
"Have you caught the inside traitor?" Mo Hua inquired further.
Gu Changhuai paused for a moment, his voice carrying a hint of apology as he responded, "No..."
Gu Changhuai then proceeded to explain the situation:
"I have limited time and can't keep watch at all times, so I sent someone from the Gu family, disguised as a prisoner, to infiltrate the Dao Prison and secretly keep an eye on Guojianlong from the neighboring cell."
"At first, everything was calm, and nothing happened."
"But last night, around midnight, the surveillant suddenly felt a chill throughout his body as if something had entered the Dao Prison. At the same time, he felt dizzy and sleepy. When he woke up, Guojianlong was already dead, and his body had rotted..."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, "Rotted?"
"Yes." Gu Changhuai confirmed, "He developed poisonous sores that were putrid and rotting, and no one in the Dao Prison dared to go near him."
Mo Hua asked, "Was the identity still recognizable?"
Gu Changhuai replied, "As always, the demonic energy had eroded his flesh, destroying his facial features and meridian channels, and corrupting his spiritual energy. However, this time, the demonic energy wasn't too strong, leaving most of his physical body intact..."
Gu Changhuai sighed, "It could be discerned that the deceased had a similar height, build, and water-attributed spirit root as Guojianlong, and there was also a fishy smell on the body..."
Mo Hua nodded.
They had found a "stand-in," using demonic energy to erase distinctive features and only leaving behind similarities in height, build, and spirit root attribute to match those of Guojianlong.
Indeed, they had put in a lot of effort.
Mo Hua wondered who this stand-in was and where they had found him.
Gu Changhuai continued, "Due to the sudden illness, the corpse was covered in demonic sores, and the death occurred in prison, with the basic features matching, the Daotinsi considered the case closed and sealed Guojianlong's file."
Mo Hua gave a slight nod.
All of this was exactly as he had heard from Jin Gongzi.
"And then?" Mo Hua asked further.
"That's it," replied Gu Changhuai.
Mo Hua clearly didn't believe it and asserted,
"Uncle Gu, you must have something up your sleeve. There's something you're not telling me."
Mo Hua knew the kind of person Uncle Gu was.
While he might be lacking in divine sense and array techniques, when it came to the Daotinsi, especially criminal investigation, he was a true veteran. There was no way things were as simple as Guojianlong just escaping.
Having been seen through, Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment before speaking, "There's no point in telling you."
"If you don't tell me, you won't be able to catch Guojianlong," Mo Hua stated confidently.
Gu Changhuai was taken aback, his expression complex, and he sighed deeply.
He always felt that Mo Hua was like a "little charlatan," capable of divination and prediction, and there was nothing he could hide from him...
Since that was the case, Gu Changhuai decided not to keep secrets from him anymore.
"Outside the Daotinsi, I also secretly arranged for someone to keep watch. The next day, at the zi hour, a corpse transporter from the Zhixi delivered several corpses of criminal cultivators who had been executed to be taken out of the Daotinsi for cremation, and Guojianlong was among them..."
"Was there a problem with that transporter?" Mo Hua inquired.
"No, he was unaware," Gu Changhuai replied.
"And then... Guojianlong was cremated?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai shook his head, "His coffin was switched halfway through the journey..."
"A funeral procession crossed paths with the corpse transporter, and someone took advantage of the transporter's momentary distraction to switch two identical coffins."
"After that, the transporter took the corpses to the crematorium, while the funeral procession took away Guojianlong's coffin and buried it..."
"After it was buried, I secretly had someone dig up the coffin, only to find it empty, and Guojianlong was gone..." Gu Changhuai explained.
Mo Hua was surprised.
This "bait-and-switch" tactic was indeed clever.
He silently made a mental note, thinking that he might be able to use this trick himself in the future.
"Where was the coffin buried?" Mo Hua asked.
"On the banks of the Yan Shui River," came the reply.
Mo Hua was taken aback, "So, Guojianlong returned to the Yan Shui River?"
"Most likely..." Gu Changhuai said.
"Can we still find him?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai sighed, "With his water-attributed cultivation, entering the river would be like a fish returning to the water or a bird returning to the forest. There would be no trace of him in the vastness of the river and the deep forest."
"And he must have changed his appearance, so no one would be able to recognize him."
"There are a fair number of water-attributed cultivators in the Yan Shui River, but I can investigate each one. However, doing so would undoubtedly alert the culprit, and we would lose our chance to catch the big fish..." Gu Changhuai explained.
"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded.
Without further ado, he eagerly said, "Uncle Gu, let me help you find him!"
Gu Changhuai narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss, "Are you waiting for me to bring up some conditions?"
Mo Hua pretended to be hurt, "Uncle Gu, do I seem like that kind of person? As cultivators of the righteous path, it is our duty to punish evil and uphold justice. As a member of the prestigious Tai Xu Gate..."
"Forget it, if you don't want to say," Gu Changhuai interrupted.
"I'll tell you!" Mo Hua quickly replied, and then he sent a long message that he had prepared in advance:
"I only have three small conditions: First, share with me any clues or information you have about human traffickers. Second, provide me with assistance when I need manpower. And finally, can I suggest that next time, I submit the bounty request first, and then you can issue the task according to the bounty details? This way, the Daotinsi's procedures will be faster, and there won't be any delays in awarding the merits..."
Mo Hua was still waiting for the merits from the Fire Buddha's bounty! The Daotinsi's bureaucracy was frustratingly slow, and he was getting impatient.
A person may be small, but their ambitions are not.
"No!" Gu Changhuai refused.
"Don't be like that, I didn't say we can't negotiate..." Mo Hua weakly replied.
Gu Changhuai felt a slight twinge in his temples.
This kid is trying to haggle with me, the head of the Daotinsi, he thought to himself.
"I can only agree to one of them," Gu Changhuai stated.
"Two, then?" Mo Hua tentatively asked.
"Just one, take it or leave it."
"Alright, fine, one it is," Mo Hua reluctantly agreed.
"The matter of the human traffickers is confidential, so I can't tell you about it," Gu Changhuai said. "As for the bounty, it concerns the Daotinsi's system, and I can't agree to that either. However, if you encounter any danger or need assistance, I can help you with that..."
Protecting Mo Hua was also in line with his sister-in-law's wishes, and in a sense, it was for Yu'er's sake as well. Gu Changhuai justified his decision to himself.
"During the next break, come to the Gu residence, and I'll give you a secret order from the Gu family," Gu Changhuai continued. "This order will allow you to command the Gu family's cultivators within the surrounding second-rate small immortal cities and their Daotinsi branches..."
Mo Hua was stunned.
A secret order from the Gu family?
To command the Gu family's cultivators within the second-rate Daotinsi branches? Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed. "Isn't that a bit too valuable...?"
"If you don't want it, forget it," Gu Changhuai said, interrupting his thoughts.
"I want it!" Mo Hua quickly replied.
It would be foolish to pass up such an opportunity.
Besides, he needed more hands to help him capture the evil god's tail.
Although Cheng Mo and the others would assist, there were only four or five of them, which wasn't enough.
Moreover, their cultivation was still too low, and they needed more training before they could be of real use.
Gu Changhuai reminded him, "This secret order is meant for giving commands in my hands, but in yours, it is only for emergencies and self-protection. Don't misuse it, and don't try to coerce or blackmail the Gu family's disciples into doing anything unreasonable for you. They will not agree to it..."
"If I find out that you're abusing this privilege, I'll take it back!" Gu Changhuai said sternly.
"Yes, yes! Rest assured, I won't do anything unreasonable!" Mo Hua promised.
Only after receiving Mo Hua's assurance did Gu Changhuai relax.
"I'll tell you the other clues I have about Guojianlong," he said. "If you can find him, that's great, but don't force it if you can't."
"Okay!" Mo Hua nodded.
Gu Changhuai then proceeded to tell him about Guojianlong's burial site and subsequent disappearance, as well as the clues the Daotinsi had found during their investigation of the Yan Shui River.
During the next break, Mo Hua eagerly made his way to the Gu residence.
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua's eager and determined gaze and felt a twinge of regret. However, having already promised, he couldn't go back on his word. He took a deep breath and handed Mo Hua a jade token engraved with the character 'Gu', saying, "Use this only for emergencies and when you need assistance. Don't abuse its power!"
"Yes, yes!" Mo Hua assured him.
Only then did Gu Changhuai feel relieved and hand over the secret order.
Mo Hua took the "Gu Family Secret Order," feeling its smooth, cool, and heavy surface, knowing instantly that it was incredibly valuable.
Uncle Gu is such a kind person! Mo Hua thought to himself.
He then placed the token into his storage bag but felt that it wasn't respectful enough, so he moved it to his Naji Ring instead.
With the Gu Family Secret Order in hand, Mo Hua felt like he had a "backer" when acting near the sect's nearby second-rate small state boundaries, making his actions more convenient and giving him more confidence.
Mo Hua felt his spine straighten with newfound resolve.
However, with this advantage came greater responsibility. He had to help Uncle Gu... which was also a way to help himself. He needed to capture the "faked death" Guojianlong.
He couldn't let down Uncle Gu's trust, especially not the valuable Gu Family Secret Order! Mo Hua nodded solemnly.
After bidding farewell to Gu Changhuai, Mo Hua visited Aunt Wan and had a meal with Yu'er before setting off for the lower reaches of the Yan Shui River.
This time, he went alone.
Since he was secretly tailing someone and there was no merit involved yet, he didn't bring Cheng Mo and the others along.
Upon reaching the Yan Shui River, Mo Hua located the grave where Guojianlong had been buried after his faked death.
The grave had no tombstone, just a mound of earth, and a few symbolic feng shui array formations were set up around it to protect the burial site.
Being close to the river, the soil was semi-wet.
Mo Hua didn't need to dig; with a sweep of his spiritual sense, he could tell that the coffin inside was empty.
However, he could still discern the residual traces of Guojianlong's aura within the coffin.
His gaze deepened as heavenly mechanisms manifested.
Thin lines of cause and effect extended from the coffin, drifting toward the river, only to disappear amidst the vast waters.
Mo Hua recalled the other clues Uncle Gu had mentioned as he concealed himself and carefully investigated along the river.
Indeed, there were traces of Guojianlong's presence in the river, along with some faint white causal lines, but they were all very weak.
Although faint, it indicated that Guojianlong was still active in the area.
Guojianlong cultivated a water-based technique and relied on the river for survival. This river was his lifeline, and the waterways within were his path to survival. He couldn't have gone far.
Moreover, the most dangerous places were often the safest.
Mo Hua calmed his mind and located another spot with deeper causal lines, concealing himself as he prepared to wait for his target.
At the same time, he took out the few secret manuals he had obtained from Guojianlong and quietly flipped through them.
First was the White Wave Formula...
Only by understanding Guojianlong's cultivation technique could he better counter it.
Next was the White Wave Formula, a water-based movement technique. However, it was entirely different from the Fleeting Water Step, which Mo Hua primarily used for evasion and survival.
The White Wave Formula emphasized unity between the practitioner and water. When used in water, one could move freely and unrestricted, like a fish.
Mo Hua felt that this technique might come in handy in the future, so he decided to learn it.
With limited time and no need to become overly proficient, he just needed to learn enough to make do.
There was also a secret technique for evading aquatic demons in water, called the Water Repelling Demon Evasion Art. It allowed cultivators to avoid aquatic demon beasts, poisonous grasses, vortices, and other unknown dangers.
In a sense, it was more like the experience and art of a "demon hunter."
However, this demon hunter was not one who roamed the mountains but rather the waters.
Being naturally curious about anything related to demon hunting, Mo Hua was intrigued and decided to learn this as well.
The cultivation world was vast, and there was always more to learn.
As Mo Hua flipped through these cultivation techniques and arts, he also divided his attention to keep an eye on the movements in the water.
The more he learned, the more he understood about the Yan Shui River.
Just like when he first entered the Great Black Mountain, he went from being a stranger to becoming intimately familiar with every grass and tree on the mountain.
Now, the Yan Shui River was gradually becoming clearer in his eyes.
The flowing river water, the floating aquatic plants, the swimming spirit fish, and the lurking water demons hidden in the murky mud, waiting for the opportune moment to strike...
Suddenly, Mo Hua felt a subtle connection forming between himself and the Yan Shui River.
This stretch of river water seemed to be resonating with his spiritual sense, bit by bit.
The once turbulent and dangerous Yan Shui River gradually became more "friendly" and familiar, like the pond back at his home...
This feeling was incredibly profound.
Just then, Mo Hua's spiritual sense stirred.
In the familiar river, a familiar presence suddenly swam over from the distance.
Guojianlong! Mo Hua instantly recognized him without even needing to look.
The vast river shimmered under the rippling waves.
Guojianlong hid in the Yan Shui River, following the current as he swam freely like a big fish.
This gave Mo Hua the illusion that...
...the fish he had released was leisurely swimming back to his "pond."
Mo Hua's eyes gleamed.
In the river, Guojianlong swam with the current towards the shore.
Mo Hua continued to conceal himself, following the riverbank as he trailed the swimming Guojianlong.
After a long while, Guojianlong still remained in the river, swimming with the current without coming ashore.
Patiently, Mo Hua kept up with him.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, night fell, and the river surface became dark. Only then did Guojianlong turn in the water and swim towards the shore.
Reaching the shore, Guojianlong floated by the riverbank for a while, making sure that no one was around before he finally climbed onto the land.
Under the faint moonlight, Mo Hua could clearly see his figure.
The previous Guojianlong had a clean-shaven face and a snowy white complexion, resembling a white fish.
Now, he looked like a man with a dark and rugged face, a long beard, and a muscular build. His upper body was also bare, revealing deep sweat pores and dark, knotted muscles, resembling a large black fish.
On the surface, he looked completely different from before.
However, Mo Hua snorted inwardly:
"Think you can hide from me by changing your 'disguise'? I recognize your spiritual energy no matter what."
A person's appearance may change, but their spiritual energy remains the same.
Such superficial physical alterations couldn't fool Mo Hua's spiritual sense.
"But, the big fish has finally shown itself..."
Mo Hua was secretly pleased.
After coming ashore, Guojianlong cautiously looked around again before taking out several dead fish from his storage bag and placing them in a fish basket.
Then, carrying the dead fish, he walked towards the shore.
Mo Hua quietly followed behind him.
On the shore, the moonlight brightened slightly, casting a clear glow on the path.
With a rugged face, Guojianlong continued walking forward, unaware that since he had left the riverbank, a tiny, invisible "water ghost" of a cultivator had been trailing behind him.
After walking for a while, the path widened, and a small fishing village came into view.
The village was dilapidated, with old fishing nets and baskets scattered everywhere.
The air was filled with a faint fishy smell.
It was already night, and in the quiet fishing village, only a few dim yellow lights flickered intermittently.
Mo Hua paused, calculating the direction, and suddenly realized that this small fishing village was the same place that the fisherman cultivators had invited him to visit before.
Guojianlong walked straight into the small fishing village.
Mo Hua hesitated for a moment before following him in.
The fishing village was poor but peaceful and serene.
Guojianlong continued walking ahead, and Mo Hua followed closely behind him.
As they walked, Guojianlong turned into a narrow and secluded little house, and then he disappeared.
Mo Hua frowned and released his spiritual sense to scan the surroundings, but he found nothing.
"Where did he go?"
Mo Hua was puzzled, so he decided to use the Heaven's Secret Calculation to see the cause and effect.
His pupils deepened as the heavenly patterns of cause and effect appeared in his eyes, and he looked around.
Suddenly, a cold and sinister aura emerged.
The once peaceful fishing village, illuminated by flickering lights, was now shrouded in a thin layer of crimson blood fog.
...Thanks to Alliance Leader Wind Chocolate for the extra chapter!
...Another chapter has been returned. (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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