Inquiries About Longevity Chapter 802: Hana Shanshan - Novel Cool

Chapter 802: Hana Shanshan

Chapter 802: Hana Shanshan

Men were strictly forbidden from entering the Hundred Flowers Valley.

Even the Chief Disciple of the Dao Court was not allowed entry, let alone a junior disciple like Mo Hua from the Tai Xu Sect.

"Can't go in, can't go in..."

Mo Hua shook his head repeatedly, abandoning the idea.

Fortunately, after two days, Gu Changhuai finally sent news.

"The interrogation is complete..." Gu Changhuai said.

Mo Hua asked, "Is A-Long still alive?"

Gu Changhuai was speechless, "Why do you always wish for his death..."

Mo Hua said, "It's not that. I just feel that he looks like he's about to die accidentally, so I asked again."

These minions of the Evil God tend to drop dead at the slightest disagreement.

Mo Hua was quite experienced in this regard.

"Rest assured..." Gu Changhuai assured him.

"Did you find out anything?" Mo Hua inquired.

"Mhm." Gu Changhuai sent a message, "We found out, but there are some discrepancies with what you said."

"What discrepancies?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai replied, "The deceased young master wasn't surnamed Ye, but Lin."

"Lin?" Mo Hua was taken aback.

"Yes."

How could it be Lin? Mo Hua frowned.

He had learned the Heaven's Secret Calculation Art, and his intuition told him that Young Master Ye was the one who died on the Yan Shui River, his throat slit by A-Long.

But A-Long claimed that the person he killed was surnamed 'Lin', not 'Ye'...

Did A-Long lie?

Mo Hua shook his head.

At this point, with A-Long's crimes, he would either be beheaded or spend the rest of his life in the Daoist prison. There was no reason for him to lie about such a minor detail.

"Lin... Ye..."

A thought occurred to Mo Hua, and he said, "Could it be that Young Master Ye used an alias? Perhaps he went to the place of debauchery and called himself 'Young Master Lin' to avoid being recognized?"

"That's possible," Gu Changhuai acknowledged.

Mo Hua asked again, "Did A-Long say anything else?"

Gu Changhuai replied, "He did, but not much was useful. He only said that he was following orders to kill a young master surnamed Lin and that everyone on the boat had to be eliminated, leaving no traces behind."

"Killing is like a daily routine for A-Long. As for other matters, he doesn't ask, nor dare to ask."

That means there are no more leads...

Mo Hua frowned and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Uncle Gu, have you heard of the 'Rouge Boat'?"

On the other side, Gu Changhuai, who was reviewing case files in the Dao Court, was startled when he saw these words from Mo Hua, especially the three words 'Rouge Boat'.

He couldn't help but ask, "How much do you know?"

Mo Hua's heart suddenly understood.

So Uncle Gu also knows about this.

"Not much, just heard about it..." Mo Hua replied.

Gu Changhuai didn't believe him, but he had no choice but to let it go.

If Mo Hua didn't want to say anything, he couldn't force him to.

Gu Changhuai could only remind him, "Be careful and don't be too curious. That place is very dangerous..."

The place of smoke and willows was a den of iniquity.

The people there were unscrupulous and had all sorts of peculiar hobbies.

For Mo Hua, it was dangerous in every sense of the word.

The innocent Mo Hua obviously didn't understand what Gu Changhuai meant. He thought it was just a general warning about danger.

"Rest assured, Uncle Gu. I know what I'm doing," Mo Hua said.

No, you don't know...

Gu Changhuai wanted to say more but stopped himself.

Mo Hua asked again, "A-Long must know about the Rouge Boat. Have you asked him about it?"

"I did," Gu Changhuai replied, "But as soon as I mentioned those three words, A-Long's expression changed, and he shook his head vigorously."

"He dared not speak?"

"Yes, it seems he was subjected to some kind of 'gag order'. If he doesn't speak, it's fine, but if he mentions anything related to the Rouge Boat, he'll probably die immediately." Gu Changhuai explained.

Mo Hua then remembered that Gu Changhuai had mentioned something similar before.

"Is it a silence curse?"

"It's hard to say," Gu Changhuai replied, "There are many ways to enforce silence, and it's difficult for the Dao Court to make a judgment immediately. I was afraid of taking his life, so I didn't press further."

Mo Hua frowned.

A-Long knew about the Rouge Boat, but he dared not speak of it. If he did, his life would be forfeit.

No wonder those young masters used A-Long to commit murders.

His mouth had been sewn shut.

With that, the trail went cold...

"Is there a confirmed identity for this Young Master Lin?"

"No, the Dao Court couldn't find any records," Gu Changhuai answered.

Mo Hua was a little disappointed.

Gu Changhuai hesitated for a moment, sighed, and then sent a message to Mo Hua: "We couldn't find any information about the deceased Young Master Lin, but regarding the Ye family, I found a record of a deceased Young Master Ye."

Mo Hua was stunned.

Gu Changhuai continued, "I had someone retrieve a case file from the Dao Court in Yan Shui City. According to the file, about a year ago, the Ye family went to the Dao Court to remove a registered member. The removed cultivator was a direct descendant of the Ye family named Ye Xiu."

"Ye Xiu?" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed, "Ye Jin, Ye Xiu, exquisite embroidery... Could he be..."

"Yes." Gu Changhuai confirmed, "The person whose registration was removed was indeed Ye Jin's elder brother."

As Gu Changhuai spoke, he flipped through a case file by his side and sent a message: "Ye Xiu, a descendant of the Ye family from Yan Shui City, a direct descendant, 28 years old, at the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. While traveling by boat, he was attacked by a water demon and afflicted with water poison. The poison was fierce, and he passed away after returning home."

"Upon the request of his father, Ye Yun, the Dao Court approved the removal of his registration."

Mo Hua understood.

This became clear.

Ye Xiu, whose registration was removed by the Ye family, was the late Senior Sister Ye Jin's elder brother.

He had gone to the Rouge Boat for debauchery but did not use his real name. Instead, he used the alias 'Young Master Lin'.

Something must have happened on the Rouge Boat.

After that, Ye Xiu was killed by A-Long to cover up the incident.

However, since Ye Xiu used the name 'Young Master Lin', A-Long didn't know his true identity and only thought he had killed a 'Young Master Lin'.

As for the Ye family, upon discovering Ye Xiu's death, they probably did a little investigation and realized that the waters were too deep. Fearing the consequences, they chose to cover up the matter, claiming that Ye Xiu had died from water poison and removing his registration.

However, with Ye Jin dead and Ye Xiu's death covered up, the two incidents seemed unrelated.

Without Gu Changhuai's help, it would have been impossible to connect the dots between the 'Lin Young Master' killed on the Yan Shui River and the 'Ye Young Master' who supposedly died of water poison.

Mo Hua sighed inwardly, feeling grateful for Gu Changhuai's assistance.

As a registrar, Gu Changhuai had access to the Dao Court's records, which would have otherwise been impossible for Mo Hua to obtain.

"So, it's mostly confirmed..." Mo Hua mumbled to himself.

"Ye Jin, a senior disciple of the Hundred Flowers Valley, committed suicide."

"And her brother, Ye Xiu, was killed by A-Long over a year ago on the Yan Shui River."

Mo Hua was certain that Ye Xiu's death was connected to the Rouge Boat.

Therefore, it was highly likely that Ye Jin's suicide was also related to the mysterious vessel.

Mo Hua's eyes darkened with determination.

Gu Changhuai's expression was equally grim.

This matter was more deeply entangled than he had anticipated...

"Are there any other leads?" Mo Hua asked.

"None," Gu Changhuai replied.

"Really?" Mo Hua pressed.

Gu Changhuai chose to ignore the question.

Mo Hua knew better than to push further.

Based on his experience, if Gu Changhuai didn't want to answer, it usually meant that there truly were no other leads.

Gu Changhuai added, "Regarding the Rouge Boat, tell me anything you find out, and don't take any unnecessary risks."

"Of course, I promise," Mo Hua assured him.

However, Gu Changhuai wasn't sure if Mo Hua's promise was genuine or not, knowing the youth's unpredictable nature.

At that moment, Gu Changhuai could empathize with the sentiment the Dao Court's leader must have felt toward Mo Hua.

The way he saw Mo Hua now was probably similar to how the leader viewed him—a source of constant worry.

Gu Changhuai let out a silent sigh as he flipped through Ye Xiu's file, his expression growing more solemn at the sight of the bright red seal of the Dao Court's Xiao family.

...

Back at the Tai Xu Sect, Mo Hua continued to ponder the situation.

Now that he had a better understanding of the victims' identities, he realized that both Ye Jin and Ye Xiu were dead.

Gu Changhuai had already investigated Ye Xiu's case, and it was unlikely that any new leads would surface anytime soon.

This line of inquiry had hit a dead end for the time being.

Mo Hua's only option was to focus on Ye Jin, the disciple who had committed suicide, and try to find other clues related to her.

However, Ye Jin was a disciple of the Hundred Flowers Valley, a place he was forbidden to enter.

His best option was to ask someone else to inquire on his behalf, and the person he knew best in the Hundred Flowers Valley was Shallow Consonance.

Mo Hua began formulating a plan.

He intended to look for an opportunity to ask Shallow Consonance about the matter.

But he couldn't loiter outside the Hundred Flowers Valley like Hao Se had done, or he might be mistaken for a suspicious cultivator and get beaten up like his fellow disciple.

Instead of waiting outside the valley, Mo Hua decided to linger at the Tai Xu Sect.

Shallow Consonance often visited the sect to spend time with Murong Caiyun, practicing cultivation, taking on missions, or hunting demonic beasts.

Mo Hua decided that, under the pretext of seeking guidance in formation techniques, he would approach Murong Caiyun whenever he had free time.

However, after several days, he still hadn't run into Shallow Consonance.

It was only one day after class that Mo Hua happened to see her lingering at the foot of the mountain while he was picking up the formation charts and pastries that Wan Yi had sent for him and Yu'er.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he immediately ran over to greet her.

"Shallow Consonance, Senior Martial Sister."

Shallow Consonance was startled, but upon seeing that it was Mo Hua, a slight smile appeared on her face. "Mo Hua, Junior Martial Brother..."

She seemed to be in a pensive mood, and her smile appeared somewhat forced.

"Are you here to look for Murong Caiyun, Senior Martial Sister?" Mo Hua asked.

Shallow Consonance nodded.

"Then let me call her for you," Mo Hua offered.

However, Shallow Consonance hesitated and pulled on Mo Hua's sleeve, her expression wavering as she eventually shook her head. "Never mind, it's not that important..."

Mo Hua's eyes flickered with understanding.

He could tell that Shallow Consonance had something on her mind and wanted to confide in Murong Caiyun, but she seemed hesitant and unsure if she should share her troubles. That was why she had been lingering at the foot of the mountain.

A thought occurred to Mo Hua, and he gently asked, "Senior Martial Sister, is something troubling you?"

His voice was clear and crisp, like a refreshing spring, and it carried a trace of divine consciousness that exuded a sense of tranquility.

Upon hearing his words, Shallow Consonance's restless heart calmed down.

She looked up at Mo Hua, meeting his clear gaze, and her own heart settled.

"I..." Shallow Consonance began, then paused.

"Senior Martial Sister, if you have any troubles, please share them with me. Perhaps I can be of assistance," Mo Hua said sincerely.

Shallow Consonance was taken aback. "You... want to help me?"

"Of course," Mo Hua nodded, his expression earnest. "When I first joined the sect, you and Murong Caiyun, Senior Martial Sister, took good care of me. It's only natural for senior and junior martial siblings to look out for each other. Now that you're facing difficulties, I should do what I can to help."

Shallow Consonance looked at Mo Hua's sincere expression, and her heart warmed. However, she shook her head and said, "You're at a crucial stage in your cultivation. It's best to focus on that and not get entangled in unnecessary troubles..."

"Alright," Mo Hua sighed, then his eyes lit up as he took a step back and suggested, "Senior Martial Sister, why don't you tell me what happened first? Maybe I can offer some suggestions."

"Well..." Shallow Consonance hesitated before eventually nodding.

She had an open and lively personality and wasn't good at hiding her feelings.

The weight of this matter had been burdening her, disrupting her sleep and appetite, and she desperately wanted to confide in someone. However, she didn't feel comfortable sharing her troubles with her fellow disciples in the Hundred Flowers Valley.

While she considered confiding in Murong Caiyun, she had been hesitant.

But with Mo Hua's persistent offer of help, she found it difficult to keep her concerns to herself any longer.

Hana Shanshan's expression turned pained. "She..."

Her voice was thick with emotion as she bit her lip. "She's... dead."

Sadness flickered in Mo Hua's eyes.

"How did Senior Sister Ye die?" he asked softly.

"She committed suicide..." Hana Shanshan replied.

Mo Hua pretended to be surprised. "Why would she suddenly take her own life?"

Hana Shanshan's heart was filled with anguish.

Some things were easier left unsaid, buried deep within the heart.

But once the words were out, there was no taking them back.

Hana Shanshan continued, "The elders all say that Jin'er committed suicide, but I don't believe it's that simple. There has to be more to it..."

"Jin'er was very introverted, and although she didn't come from a prestigious background, she was a kind person. Despite her cold exterior, she was always thoughtful towards others. She loved magnolia flowers, and in her free time, she would bake pastries and share them with us."

"Everyone treated her well."

"How could someone like Jin'er suddenly take her own life? There has to be a reason."

"I want to find out the truth behind Jin'er's death..."

"But everyone is tight-lipped about it. The elders insist that she committed suicide, and when I asked my fellow disciples for help, some showed no interest, others were dismissive, and a few even warned me not to meddle in other people's business."

Hana Shanshan's expression turned glum as she spoke.

"So, you want to ask Senior Sister Murong for help with this matter?" Mo Hua asked.

Hana Shanshan nodded. "I wanted to ask Senior Sister Murong for assistance, but..."

She sighed. "I'm afraid of bothering her. Next year is the Doctrine Discussion Conference, and unlike me, she has exceptional talent and is expected to achieve good results. I don't want my issues to distract her from her cultivation..."

Doctrine Discussion Conference?

Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment as he realized that Senior Sister Murong was a year ahead of him, and indeed, the conference was coming up for her.

Hana Shanshan's expression remained gloomy.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Senior Sister Hana, how about... I help you investigate?"

Hana Shanshan was taken aback. "You... how would you investigate?"

"You can tell me any clues or information you have, or what you want to find out," Mo Hua said. "To be honest with you..."

Mo Hua leaned closer to Hana Shanshan and lowered his voice. "...I have connections in the Dao Court. As long as it doesn't violate the Daoist laws, I can help you find out almost anything."

Hana Shanshan was stunned.

Connections in the Dao Court?

How could a junior disciple like him, with only a Mid-Tier Qi Refining cultivation base, have connections in the prestigious Dao Court?

"Really?"

Mo Hua, worried that she wouldn't believe him, secretly took out his waist token from the Dao Court in Transcendent City and the special messenger talisman given to him by Gu Changhuai.

Hana Shanshan nodded dumbly.

However, she still had her concerns. "This matter might involve some trouble, and I'm worried about..."

"Don't worry," Mo Hua assured her. "My connections are very solid. Master Xun told me that as long as I act uprightly and don't do anything wrong, he will have my back if anyone dares to bully me."

After the incident in the Myriad Demon Valley, he had also become quite familiar with elders like Xun Ziyu and Xun Zixian.

For minor matters, he didn't even need to bother Master Xun.

Hana Shanshan had heard Murong Caiyun mention the elder Xun from the Tai Xu Sect before, and her heart trembled as she realized the extent of Mo Hua's connections.

She had no idea that the seemingly harmless junior disciple had such impressive abilities and background.

Hana Shanshan's expression turned solemn, and she nodded earnestly. "Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Junior Brother Mo."

"No trouble at all," Mo Hua waved his hand. "It's what I should be doing." He then shared the plan he had already formulated. "Senior Sister, when you return to the Hundred Flowers Valley, investigate discreetly and take note of everything related to Senior Sister Ye Jin."

"Note down the people she interacted with, the places she went, and the things she said."

"Find out if she had any grudges or conflicts with anyone..."

"Also..."

Mo Hua spoke fluently, listing out a series of instructions.

Hana Shanshan's eyes widened in surprise.

How could Mo Hua be so knowledgeable about investigations?

But then she remembered his connections with the Dao Court and realized that it made sense for him to be familiar with such matters.

Hana Shanshan nodded. "Alright, Junior Brother Mo, I'll remember that."

Mo Hua suggested, "If you discover anything, we can meet here again. If I find out anything, I'll let you know as well."

"Good!" Hana Shanshan said with determination shining in her eyes.

She was determined to uncover the truth behind Jin'er's death!

After their meeting, Hana Shanshan returned to the Hundred Flowers Valley, while Mo Hua went back to the Tai Xu Sect.

However, Mo Hua now had an informant within the Hundred Flowers Valley.

Several days later, the two met again as planned at the foot of the Tai Xu Sect mountain.

Hana Shanshan secretly shared the information she had gathered:

"Like the others, Jin'er mostly interacted with the sect elders, instructors, and fellow disciples. There doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary..."

"I also haven't heard of her having any grudges with anyone."

"Her words and actions were normal, but there was one strange thing..."

Hana Shanshan furrowed her brows. "According to one of my senior sisters, Jin'er once asked her a very peculiar question."

"A peculiar question?"

"Yes," Hana Shanshan said slowly. "She asked... if people can become ghosts after they die."

Mo Hua's pupils contracted.

Ghosts?!

(End of Chapter)

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