Chapter 817: The Pursuit

Chapter 817: The Pursuit

"The Dao Court..." Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as he muttered, "So, according to you, it was Gui Shuimen who colluded with the Dao Court, secretly plotting against you?"

"Indeed." Mo Hua frowned, "But how did you come to know about all this?"

It was understandable that he knew about Gui Shuimen, but the inner workings of the Dao Court were complex and murky. It wasn't information that an outsider like him, akin to a "stray dog" from the remnants of the Water Prison Sect, should have access to.

The old man let out a cold laugh, "Don't forget, my Water Prison Sect has a unique origin. The character 'Prison' in our sect's name is derived from 'Dao Prison'. Generations of our sect's cultivators have served in the Dao Court, specializing in pursuit and punishment, and are even regarded as the Dao Court's lapdogs behind their backs. Any unsavory business is handled by us. How could I not be aware of the corruption within the Dao Court?"

"Moreover, Gui Shuimen is essentially a resurrected Water Prison Sect. Their collusion with the Dao Court is only natural."

"My pursuit and the annihilation of the Yu family—while there is no apparent involvement of the Dao Court, in the eyes of an expert like me, their shadow lurks behind every incident."

Mo Hua said, "The situation within the Dao Court must be intricate as well, with various noble families and sects intertwined. It's not a simple matter."

The old man replied, "The Dao Court is like a vat of dye. Anyone who enters it will eventually be stained. Does it matter what color you were before?"

Mo Hua furrowed his brows.

The old man gazed at him and finally sighed, speaking sincerely, "Young friend, you are clever and meticulous in your actions, and your methods are no less formidable than those of veteran cultivators who have wandered the cultivation world for many years. However, due to your young age, you have seen and experienced less, and you do not fully comprehend the depths of human wickedness."

"In this world, desires ensnare people, wealth corrupts their hearts, but it is power that has the most insidious influence on one's heart."

"The Dao Court holds the power of life and death, and this power is passed down from generation to generation. Over time, it inevitably breeds corruption—this is an indisputable truth of the world."

"Moreover, the Dao Court has existed for over 20,000 years—a span of time so vast that it is more than enough to turn tiny worms into monstrous beasts."

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, "Surely, there must be some upright and honest people within the Dao Court as well..."

The old man scoffed, "Who can distinguish between true integrity and false pretenses? Even the clearest water, once poured into the vat of dye, will change color. If one wishes to remain untainted, they will invite the hopes of death from countless others..."

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

The old man looked at him with a complex expression and sighed, "I have said all that I can. The choice is now yours, young friend. I do not presume to ask for your assistance, but I hope that you will honor our agreement and not reveal my whereabouts. Otherwise, if disaster befalls me and the lineage of the Water Prison Sect is severed, I will not rest in peace, even if I have to become a vengeful ghost to seek an explanation from you..."

'Even if you become a vengeful ghost, I won't be afraid...' Mo Hua thought to himself.

However, after some contemplation, he said, "This matter involves not only Gui Shuimen but also the Dao Court. I may not be able to handle it, but I will do my best to help. Nonetheless, I can't guarantee success. As for your whereabouts, rest assured that I won't divulge them to anyone."

Gratitude filled the old man's eyes, "Since that's the case, I thank you, young friend."

Mo Hua nodded, "There's one more thing..." His expression turned slightly cold, "Those two children from earlier, they are also descendants of the Yu family, aren't they? By teaching them the Water Prison Sect's cultivation techniques, aren't you afraid that Gui Shuimen will discover them and slaughter the entire fishing village?"

The old man's expression froze.

He had deliberately concealed their identities, not wanting Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi to be exposed.

Yet, the young cultivator before him already seemed to know everything.

The old man's face twisted with bitterness, and he sighed, "I really had no other choice..."

"If I teach them, they may die. But if I don't, once I perish, the entire lineage of the Water Prison Sect will be completely eradicated. How can I face our ancestors like that...?"

The old man's emotions surged, and his face paled as he began to cough violently, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.

Mo Hua shook his head. It wasn't right to blame the old man.

"Get some rest. If you're willing, I'll find a vehicle tomorrow and take you to a place where you can recover from your injuries."

The old man cupped his hands and said indifferently, "I appreciate your help, young friend."

"I won't disturb you further." Mo Hua turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by the old man, "Young friend..."

He turned his head, glanced at the dense array of killing formations surrounding the cave, and felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, "These formations..."

"Oh, don't worry, I won't kill you." Mo Hua assured him.

"It's not that..." The old man's head was aching.

'At least dismantle them for me.'

The cave entrance was filled with killing formations, akin to stacking explosives in a room, ready to detonate at the slightest touch. How could he possibly sleep soundly?

However, Mo Hua ignored him and turned to leave.

'He'll have to dismantle them himself.'

He had worked hard to set up those formations, and he hadn't even had a chance to use them yet. How could he bear to dismantle them?

Of course, the main reason was that he was simply lazy.

After all, the killing formations weren't set up at his own doorstep.

The old man at the cave entrance watched as Mo Hua nonchalantly walked away, shaking his head helplessly.

This young cultivator was truly a bit of a "scoundrel."

The night was dark, and the moonlight was bleak. There was no other place to stay in the desolate mountain.

The old man could only sigh bitterly and return to the cave.

After all, it would be his last night here...

...

After leaving the mountain, Mo Hua returned to the small fishing village and confirmed that Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi were safe and sound, sleeping peacefully at home, before he finally felt relieved.

However, this situation couldn't continue.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and then took out a transmission order to send a message to Gu Changhuai, "Uncle Gu, there's something very important..."

Before long, Gu Changhuai replied in a displeased tone, "What time is it? Go to sleep!"

Mo Hua looked up and noticed that the sky was pitch-black, and it was already well past midnight, probably around three o'clock in the morning.

'It seems a bit late...'

But Mo Hua said, "Uncle Gu, aren't you supposed to be asleep as well?"

Gu Changhuai: "The Dao Court is rather busy..."

Mo Hua: "I thought you were being sidelined?"

Gu Changhuai: "..."

Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized, "Uncle Gu, could it be that you've been going on blind dates with that flowery teacher, and now you're so lovestruck that you can't eat or sleep, right?

"A new official?" Mo Hua was taken aback. "Who is it?"

Gu Changhuai was speechless. "Even if I tell you, you won't know who it is. Also, don't go prying into the Daoting Court's business."

"Oh."

Gu Changhuai continued, "Why are you looking for me at this late hour?"

Mo Hua was about to speak when he suddenly remembered the words of the Water Prison Sect elder named Yu Canghai, and he felt a chill in his heart. He asked, "Uncle Gu, is the Gu family considered part of the 'clear stream'?"

Gu Changhuai frowned and thought for a moment before slowly saying, "I don't like the term 'clear stream.' As officials of the Daoting Court, we should follow the Daoist laws, seek truth from facts, arrest and kill as necessary, and uphold justice impartially. There's no such thing as being part of a 'clear stream.'"

"However, in the eyes of others, our Gu family does seem to be regarded as part of the 'clear stream'..."

Mo Hua nodded, understanding. Then he spoke, "I met someone related to the Yu family's water fortress. He said that the Yu family was wiped out by evil cultivators colluding with Guishui Gate."

"Additionally, this person is also a descendant of the Water Prison Sect..."

It was already late at night, and Gu Changhuai had been busy all day. He originally looked weary, but upon hearing this, his expression changed.

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Mo Hua replied.

You've lied to me plenty of times.

Gu Changhuai thought to himself.

But now wasn't the time for idle chatter, so Gu Changhuai asked, "Where are you now?"

"I'm in the small fishing village," Mo Hua answered.

"The small fishing village by the Yan Shui River?" Gu Changhuai frowned. "What are you doing there?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you the details when we meet," Mo Hua said.

Using the transmission order to communicate was too slow.

Moreover, he needed to consider what he could and couldn't say.

"Alright!" Gu Changhuai thought for a moment. "I'm still at the Daoting Court in Qian Xuezhou and can't leave for the time being. I'll come find you tomorrow morning after I finish dealing with the matters at hand."

"Okay." Mo Hua nodded.

After their conversation, Mo Hua put away the transmission order and sat down at the base of a large tree at the village head, deep in thought.

This matter was too big, and it involved too many factions.

He could muddle through on his own, but to ensure a safety net, he knew he didn't have the capability yet.

Even protecting the Water Prison Sect elder was beyond his ability.

After much contemplation, he could only rely on Uncle Gu.

However, there was a problem.

Mo Hua trusted Uncle Gu.

Although he had a bad temper, a sour face, and sometimes spoke harshly, he wasn't gentle or considerate, but he was indeed a good person.

But the Water Prison Sect elder might not feel the same way.

He was extremely wary of Daoting Court cultivators, and if he learned of Uncle Gu's position as an official, he might not be willing to cooperate.

"Forget it, I'll deal with it when the time comes..." Mo Hua thought.

Furthermore, the elder might not be a good person himself, and what he said might not be entirely true.

Once Uncle Gu arrived, with his presence as a Jin Dan official, they might be able to find out more.

Afterward, Mo Hua began to meditate, sinking his spiritual sense into his sea of consciousness to practice formation techniques on the Daoist stele.

Now that he had nineteen spiritual sense threads, he could learn more formation techniques, so he had to make full use of every moment.

Only by learning more formation techniques and honing his spiritual sense to the extreme would he be able to learn even more formation techniques in the future.

Time passed, and dawn arrived.

Mo Hua opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and stretched his lazy bones.

Then, as the sun rose, he took out a spirit stone and cultivated for a while before waiting for Gu Changhuai.

In the small fishing village, the fisher cultivators also woke up and began their diligent day.

Mo Hua sat in the tree, waiting, but soon grew anxious. He sent a message via the transmission order, "Uncle Gu, when will you be here?"

There was no response from the other side.

After a while, Gu Changhuai finally replied, sounding a bit helpless, "The new official is a bit tricky, and I can't get away for now. I'll be there in two hours."

"Alright, remember to hire a larger carriage." Mo Hua instructed.

"Okay."

Mo Hua could only patiently continue waiting.

But as he waited, he suddenly realized a problem: What if the Water Prison Sect elder had run away?

They had met by chance and had no prior relationship. Although the elder had told him so much about his past, he might not truly trust him.

"I'd better go check..." Mo Hua thought to himself.

Without further ado, he got up and followed the path that Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi had taken the night before, arriving at the desolate mountain. He climbed up the cliff lightly and approached the cave.

The dense killing formations were still in place.

However, when Mo Hua swept the area with his spiritual sense, he found that the cave was empty, devoid of any human presence.

"He's gone..."

Mo Hua sighed.

But upon reflection, it wasn't too surprising.

This elder of the Water Prison Sect had his clan destroyed and was being pursued by enemies. He saw enemies everywhere and couldn't easily trust others.

However, with his darkened brow, an ominous mark known as the " Seal of Death" or " Death's Mark" ( Yin Tang is an acupoint in the forehead area) appeared, signifying that death was impending. If he ran away, his fate would likely be sealed.

"Should I chase after him?"

Mo Hua considered for a moment but ultimately decided against it.

Since the elder didn't trust him, he was too lazy to bother with meddling in his affairs and trying to save him again.

One had to respect the choices of others.

Those who were destined to die would die.

Mo Hua turned to leave, but halfway there, he furrowed his brows as if he had realized something.

"That's not right..."

Mo Hua turned back, released his spiritual sense, and scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he noticed something, "Someone else has been here..."

There were broken traces in the grass, indicating multiple people's footprints.

Nearby, there were scattered spiritual energy traces, faint but encompassing the five elements, with a slightly higher concentration of the cool and moist water spiritual energy.

These were human traces.

Mo Hua's spiritual sense had reached the Dao Transformation stage, and his spiritual thoughts were close to divine, making him highly sensitive to such traces.

He approached the cave.

Even though it was daytime, the cave remained dark and gloomy.

The old man was gone. From the traces left behind, it seemed he had departed in a hurry, perhaps sensing that someone was coming to kill him and so had no choice but to leave early.

"The pursuers are here?" Mo Hua's expression shifted as his eyes deepened and his pupils turned pitch-black, the threads of cause and effect appearing before him.

After a moment, he employed an invisibility technique to conceal himself and left the cave, following a certain direction deeper into the mountains.

The mountain was barren, with only scattered grasses, shrubs, and no signs of beasts or minerals. The nearby fisher-cultivators rarely ventured here, making their living solely from fishing.

As he ventured deeper, the surroundings became increasingly desolate. However, due to this desolation, the traces of spiritual energy and causal energy were all the more distinct.

Mo Hua followed these traces further into the mountain until he suddenly heard noises up ahead.

As he drew closer, he saw seven or eight cultivators surrounding an old man—the same elder from the Water Prison Sect, Yu Canghai.

The attackers wore varied clothing but all had their faces covered, their killing intent icy. Their cultivation levels ranged from the latter stages of the Foundation Establishment to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Instead of engaging in direct combat, they were employing a strategy of attrition, seeking to wear down the elder of the Water Prison Sect until he was completely exhausted.

Yu Canghai, already severely injured, now faced with this onslaught, had a face as pale as paper.

The leader of the seven or eight cultivators shouted, "Old man, you're at death's door. Surrender now and spare yourself unnecessary suffering."

Yu Canghai's spiritual energy fluctuated as he replied shakily, yet with determination, "You mongrels, even if I die today, I'll take some of you down with me."

His spiritual power surged, and the water-attributed spiritual energy condensed into water needles that he fired at his assailants.

However, the group of cultivators did not engage him directly. Instead, they retreated and waited for his spiritual power to weaken, then pounced like mad dogs.

Even a fierce tiger fears being torn apart by a pack of wolves, let alone an injured one.

The elder was merely relying on his Golden Core foundation to hold on.

But it was clear that he wouldn't last much longer.

Despair filled Yu Canghai's face, and his heart turned icy as he thought, "Is the lineage of the Water Prison Sect going to end with me...?"

Just then, a clear and youthful voice rang out from the side, "Senior!"

The fighting momentarily ceased as the cultivators turned to look at the source of the voice, revealing a "nervous" Mo Hua.

With a resolute expression, Mo Hua said, "Senior, I will carry on the legacy of the Water Prison Sect and won't disappoint your expectations!"

Having said that, he "reluctantly" turned and ran.

Everyone was taken aback for a moment.

Yu Canghai also paused, then realized that the young man was drawing their attention away from him.

The seven or eight masked cultivators were shocked as well.

"Big brother, what do we do now?"

"How is there still someone left?"

"He's getting away!"

The leader of the masked cultivators angrily ordered, "Split up! Three of you go after that kid, the rest will stay with me to hold down this old man. Not a single one of them should be left alive!"

"Yes!"

One of the cultivators, with a sharp and malicious gaze, said, "I'll go too. I have experience in pursuit, and this little brat won't escape the palm of my hand."

The leader hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Thus, four of the cultivators set off in pursuit of Mo Hua.

The remaining four continued their assault on Yu Canghai.

Yu Canghai's pressure eased slightly, but at the same time, his heart sank.

"That kid is only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, and he's being chased by four cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. I wonder if he'll be able to escape..."

Although he was trying to divert their attention, his actions were indeed too reckless...

Yu Canghai sighed inwardly.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua did not manage to "escape."

He was relentlessly pursued by the four late-stage Foundation Establishment assassins through the forest, circling a large area.

"Little brat, don't run!"

"Run again, and I'll break your legs, making you wish for death!"

Mo Hua's expression was one of "panic," his back hunched as if fleeing for his life.

After some time, Mo Hua suddenly veered towards the mountainside and returned to the cave where Yu Canghai had previously taken refuge.

It seemed like he was "desperately" seeking refuge in the cave.

His pursuers paused, hesitating at the entrance.

"There's an array outside the cave."

"Should we go in?"

Three of them looked at the cultivator with the sharp and malicious gaze, clearly intending to follow his lead.

The malicious-looking cultivator thought for a moment and said coldly, "The array outside the cave must have been set up by that old man, Yu Canghai."

"What does a kid his age know about arrays?"

"What if...?" someone hesitated.

"It doesn't matter," the malicious-looking cultivator said, examining the arrays around the cave. "These arrays are probably killing arrays. If they are triggered, that brat will undoubtedly die. Even if he somehow understands these arrays, he won't have the guts to take us down with him."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Let's not waste any more time. Let's go in and 'catch the turtle in a jar.' We'll capture this brat and use him to threaten the old man."

"Let's capture them both and torture them to death, eradicating the Water Prison Sect once and for all."

The malicious-looking cultivator smiled coldly.

The four cultivators then formed an array and cautiously entered the cave.

However, to their surprise, the cave was empty, with no sign of anyone.

"What's going on...?"

"Where are they?"

The malicious-looking cultivator frowned, deep in thought. Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and he turned his head sharply towards the cave entrance.

It was then that they realized the young cultivator they had been chasing was already standing outside the cave, a smile on his face, all traces of his previous panic gone.

Mo Hua had only pretended to enter the cave. As soon as he reached the entrance, he had quietly used an invisibility technique to slip away, tricking the four cultivators into the cave.

But Mo Hua would not give them a chance.

Before they could react, Mo Hua, standing outside the cave, calmly uttered a single word:

"Boom!"

In an instant, the intricate array of high-level killing formations ignited, erupting with fiery explosions, golden blades tearing through the air, and deadly energy filling the area.

With a thunderous roar, the killing formations unleashed their full power.

The surging spiritual energy intertwined and reverberated, shattering the cave into pieces and obliterating the four masked cultivators beyond recognition.

Even a seasoned Golden Core cultivator like Yu Canghai would have been wary of such an array, let alone these late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.

His painstakingly crafted killing formations had proven their worth, and his efforts had not been wasted.

Wastefulness was shameful.

After all, it had taken him a great deal of effort, spiritual ink, and spirit stones to create these formations, and it would have been a pity if they had gone unused.

With the four assassins dealt with, Mo Hua retraced his steps to find Yu Canghai.

Upon reaching the desolate mountain, he discovered that the group besieging Yu Canghai had dwindled from eight to seven.

One of them lay on the ground, his face cold and his breath faint, seemingly afflicted by water poison.

Mo Hua was surprised.

It seemed that even a starving camel was bigger than a horse.

This Yu Canghai was indeed formidable.

Both Yu Canghai and the remaining assassins were astonished to see Mo Hua returning.

"Kid, how did you escape?" the leader of the assassins demanded.

Mo Hua smiled gently and replied, "I killed those chasing me, so naturally, I escaped."

At his words, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

Without further ado, Mo Hua began preparing to cast fireballs.

After about an incense stick's worth of time, the remaining three assassins also met their demise.

With two against three, the collaboration between Mo Hua and Yu Canghai proved too much for the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Without the advantage in numbers, they were like lambs to the slaughter, unable to mount any meaningful resistance.

Thus, all eight assassins were annihilated.

Their bodies lay strewn across the ground.

Yu Canghai stared at Mo Hua, his eyes filled with shock and his heart stirred.

Who was this young man? Despite only possessing mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and appearing unremarkable, he had effortlessly dispatched late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators...

Mo Hua, however, remained nonchalant. Turning to Yu Canghai, he said, "Senior, you should meditate and recuperate from your injuries."

After all, it would be a waste if Yu Canghai died after he had gone through the trouble of saving him.

Yu Canghai sighed and cupped his hands, sincerely expressing his gratitude, "Thank you!"

This "thank you" carried genuine weight.

Subsequently, Yu Canghai began to meditate and recover, while Mo Hua proceeded to "search the bodies."

However, the search yielded little of value. The four assassins he had blasted to pieces carried only basic supplies, spare spirit stones, and common pills in their storage bags.

Mo Hua frowned, feeling disappointed.

"They're quite cautious..."

He paused for a moment, then recalled the four assassins he had killed back at the cave.

After Yu Canghai's injuries had improved somewhat, Mo Hua suggested they return to the cave.

The cave was in ruins, bearing the marks of the detonated formations.

Yu Canghai realized that Mo Hua had not been lying; the other four assassins had indeed perished at his hands. A chill ran through his heart as he realized how wrong his first impression of Mo Hua had been.

Indeed, appearances could be deceiving.

The younger one looked, the more ruthless he turned out to be.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then pointed at the cave and instructed Yu Canghai, "Senior, please dig out those four people for me."

Yu Canghai was unsure of Mo Hua's intentions, but he followed his instructions and began digging through the rubble to retrieve the bodies.

Despite his injuries, Yu Canghai had rested for a while, and the task of digging through the scattered stones was not too challenging.

Within half an hour, the four corpses were laid out side by side.

Mo Hua lifted their masks, only to find that he did not recognize any of them.

Moreover, the faces of these four assassins had been mostly destroyed by the killing formations, making it even more difficult to identify them.

Mo Hua proceeded to search their bodies.

After a brief search, he found nothing of significance.

It seemed they had traveled light, perhaps to maintain a low profile. Their storage bags contained only basic pills, spiritual tools, and a handful of spirit stones.

"No clues..."

Mo Hua shook his head, sighing in disappointment.

However, he was not ready to give up. Drawing from his extensive experience in capturing sin cultivators, as well as his interactions with the cultivators of the Daoting Court, he began to concentrate his spiritual sense, scrutinizing every inch of the bodies...

Sure enough, after some time, Mo Hua noticed something unusual.

One of the assassins had a tooth that was noticeably different from the others.

"A tooth!"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

He recalled that some sin cultivators would break their teeth and replace them with custom-made teeth that served as hidden storage compartments.

These compartments were tiny, capable of holding objects no larger than a palm, but they were incredibly discreet.

If not for his extensive experience in dealing with sin cultivators, he might never have thought to check for such a hiding place.

Mo Hua carefully extracted the tooth and, using his spiritual sense, retrieved an object stored within.

It was a token.

Moreover, its design was strikingly familiar.

Frowning, Mo Hua examined it closely before recognizing it as a "Daoting Court" enforcement token! Having spent so much time with Gu Changhuai, he was quite familiar with the various tokens of the Daoting Court.

From the low-end bronze hip plates like his "unofficial" one to the more prestigious ones like Gu Changhuai's "manual" token.

The most common type was the "enforcement token" carried by the cultivators of the Daoting Court, such as those possessed by Gu An and Gu Quan.

Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as he flipped the token over and saw a character inscribed on its back:

"Xiao!"

The Xiao family of the Daoting Court! Was this assassinated cultivator a member of the Xiao family?!

Mo Hua fell silent, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

After a moment's thought, he took out his transmission order and sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, please come here quickly..."

Soon, Gu Changhuai replied, his voice tense: "What's wrong?"

Mo Hua: "I think... I may have killed an enforcer from the Xiao family..."

Far away in the Qian Xuezhou Daoting Court, Gu Changhuai's heart skipped a beat as he read the message. His right hand tightened around the transmission order, almost crushing it.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end