https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-839-The-Courtesans-and-their-Clients/12626773/
Chapter 838: Walking into a Trap
Chapter 838: Walking into a Trap
The man in the blue robe was named Ye Hong, a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and an elder of the Ye family.
When Mo Hua used his divination technique, he was calculating those "related to Ye Jin."
And the causality of divination pointed to this man.
Since he was related to his senior martial sister Ye Jin and bore a resemblance to her, he was most likely her father.
Mo Hua had seen the name "Ye Hong" before when he looked into Ye Jin's background information at the Dao Court.
With limited time, Mo Hua could only directly confront him, revealing his identity and stating his purpose without beating around the bush.
As for his desire for revenge, Ye Hong was indeed trying to conceal it on the surface.
But as a father, how could he not seek vengeance for the murder of his son and daughter? Moreover, with Mo Hua's deeper understanding of the Soul Dao, that deep-seated anger and hatred hidden within his soul could not escape Ye Hong's notice.
Ye Hong had hesitated before, but since he had already agreed, he made up his mind and would not go back on his word.
Indeed, there were many things he couldn't accomplish with his abilities.
After a moment's thought, Ye Hong said to Mo Hua, "This is a boat hired by the Gui Water Gate. Most of the people on board are disciples of the sect, and they board the ship with a token. I don't have that token, so if Young Master wants to get on board, I'm afraid you'll have to endure the disguise of a servant, serving tea and water."
Mo Hua nodded, "No problem."
To enter the Hundred Flowers Valley, he had even put on their Daoist robe; naturally, disguising himself as a servant was not a problem.
Ye Hong found a servant's attire and helped Mo Hua change into it. Then, he led him toward the pleasure boat.
At the entrance, they were stopped by someone from the Gui Water Gate.
Ye Hong explained, "He's my servant from the Ye family, and he'll be helping me with some chores."
The person from the Gui Water Gate hesitated for a moment but thought that since the boat was originally rented by Ye Hong, it was reasonable for him to bring a servant. Thus, they didn't make things difficult for him.
"Elder Ye, please."
Ye Hong nodded and boarded the boat with Mo Hua.
Once on board, Ye Hong didn't walk around much but instead took Mo Hua directly to his room, closed the doors and windows, and said to Mo Hua with a bow, "There are many people around at the moment, and it's not convenient to go out. I hope Young Master can bear with me and wait here until the hour of Youshi (5–7 p.m.)."
"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded.
He didn't plan to go out at the moment anyway.
There wasn't much he could find out by going out now. The show would probably begin when the boat reached its destination after sunset.
Seeing Mo Hua's agreement, Ye Hong breathed a slight sigh of relief and then invited Mo Hua to take a seat. He personally brewed tea to entertain him.
Mo Hua sat calmly, drinking his tea in a disciplined manner. He appeared to be nothing more than a handsome, amiable, and cultured young man, devoid of the sharp edge he had displayed earlier.
The more Ye Hong observed him, the more unfathomable he seemed, and the more Ye Hong's heart trembled.
He didn't know Mo Hua's true identity or background.
On the surface, Mo Hua seemed to be only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, not particularly powerful.
But Ye Hong remembered that sharp gaze, like a sword, and it sent a chill down his spine.
Moreover, this young master had said that he would help him take revenge.
Whether it was true or not, Ye Hong didn't dare to be negligent.
After a few sips of tea, Mo Hua's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked Ye Hong, "Is this boat yours?"
"Yes," Ye Hong replied.
"Why did you rent it to the Gui Water Gate?"
Ye Hong pondered for a moment and sighed before slowly explaining, "The story behind this is rather long..."
"Xiu'er died on the Yanshui River, and his death has always weighed on my mind. But due to family pressure, I didn't dare to investigate much, thinking that this 'unfilial son' was already dead, and I might as well save myself the trouble. So, I pinned all my hopes on Jin'er."
"But I never expected that now Jin'er..."
Ye Hong's expression turned bitter as he continued, "At first, I thought that I had simply experienced a lot of ups and downs in my life and that my fate was sealed. But later, I found a jade slip left by Xiu'er..."
"A jade slip?" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes," Ye Hong nodded. "It contained some of his casual notes, in which he mentioned that he noticed his sister, Jin'er, had become more reticent and less talkative than before. Occasionally, when she was alone, she would look distressed, and he suspected that someone was bullying her."
"As an elder brother, he was usually lazy and carefree, not taking cultivation seriously. But he doted on his only sister."
"So, he decided to investigate, and it seems he found something. Then... he died on the Yanshui River."
Ye Hong sighed deeply.
Mo Hua's eyes also turned pensive.
"And then?"
"Then..." Ye Hong took a moment to gather himself before continuing, "I felt both heartbroken and furious, so I decided to investigate the matter myself."
"If it weren't for the various concerns I had before, I wouldn't have dared to look into it. But now that I'm alone, I have nothing to fear."
"And that's when I discovered..."
Ye Hong's voice trailed off, as if he didn't want to utter those words.
Mo Hua prompted him, "The Rouge Boat?"
Ye Hong was taken aback, and it was then that he truly believed that Mo Hua knew the inside story.
He nodded and furrowed his brows, "I had heard rumors about the Rouge Boat on the Yanshui River before, but I thought they were just hearsay and didn't take them seriously."
"But I never expected it to be true... and the forces behind it are so deep and powerful that they are far beyond the reach of a small elder like me from a third-rate family."
"So, I wondered if there was a way to get in touch with them..."
"And that's why you rented out the boat?" Mo Hua asked.
"Yes," Ye Hong said in a low voice, "I used all my savings to acquire this spirit boat and started a rental business on the Yanshui River, offering lower prices than others. I did this for several months, but there was still no progress."
"It was only recently that someone came to me, wanting to rent the boat to entertain some 'distinguished guests.' That's when I felt a shock in my heart, thinking that I had finally caught a lead..."
Ye Hong revealed everything he knew to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Do you know who was responsible for Senior Martial Sister Ye Jin's death?"
Ye Hong was startled, "Senior Martial Sister?"
Mo Hua nodded, not hiding the truth, "I have some connection with Senior Martial Sister Ye Jin. In terms of seniority, I should call her Senior Martial Sister."
Although this connection was only a brief encounter.
And Mo Hua had only called her "Senior Martial Sister" once—the only time he had the chance to do so.
Ye Hong's heart trembled, and his gaze toward Mo Hua softened. There was also a hint of trust in his eyes as he looked at Mo Hua.
"So, someone remembers Jin'er, a child with a bitter fate..."
Ye Hong murmured to himself, and then he no longer hid the truth. With a solemn expression, he said, "I've made some inquiries, and it's said that someone saw Jin'er near the Yanshui River, accompanied by a man.
"Later, when I went through Jin'er's belongings, I also found scattered clues about this man."
"I don't know who he is, but I know that he has a pale complexion, a handsome face, and occasionally a fierce gaze. He enjoys tormenting others."
A slight frown appeared on Mo Hua's face.
Pale, handsome, fierce gaze, enjoys tormenting others...
The image of the Water Hell Judge naturally floated into his mind.
Water Hell Judge.
So it was you again...
Mo Hua's eyes turned cold as he added another "death mark" to the Water Hell Judge in his mind.
As Ye Hong spoke, his heart felt a sense of bitterness, and he sighed:
"I am a failure as a father. I couldn't even protect my own children..."
He knew that the Ye family was selfish and wouldn't seek justice for him.
As a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if he knew the identity of the murderer, he might not have the strength to take revenge.
Moreover, the murderer's identity was likely someone he couldn't afford to offend.
With these thoughts, Ye Hong felt not only bitterness but also a sense of despair.
Mo Hua looked at Ye Hong with a pitying expression and gently sighed, "Rest assured, those who deserve to die will die..."
...
Mo Hua remained in the cabin for most of the day.
As the sun set and darkness fell, the area outside became lively, with many cultivators seemingly celebrating something.
One by one, flower lanterns were released onto the Yan Shui River.
As night enveloped the river in a hazy mist, the colorful lights of the lanterns floating on the water created a beautiful yet decadent scene.
Amidst the quietness, there was a touch of surreal beauty.
But within this beauty lay a hidden decadence...
When the hour of Youshi (5–7 p.m.) arrived, the boats set sail.
Mo Hua still didn't go out; he only opened a window to keep track of the boat's direction and the position of Cheng Mo and the others' pleasure boat.
He had intentionally marked their position during the day, so even though it was now dark, he could still vaguely make out the location of Cheng Mo's boat.
Indeed, Cheng Mo's pleasure boat and the spirit boat Mo Hua was on were heading in the same direction toward the unknown reaches of the Yan Shui River.
Mo Hua quietly heaved a sigh of relief.
The direction was correct, although there was some deviation. Still, he had managed to blend in successfully.
Now, he just needed to wait for these seemingly ordinary pleasure boats to change course midway and converge, transforming into the "Rouge Boat." By following them, he would also reach his destination.
Mo Hua leaned against the window, keeping an eye on the boat's direction while admiring the night view of the Yan Shui River.
With the arrival of nightfall, countless flower lanterns floated on the river's surface.
These lanterns came in various shapes and colors, creating a dazzling spectacle.
Countless spirit boats sailed in groups, their brilliant lights resembling colorful schools of fish swimming in a river illuminated by the flower lanterns. The sight was magnificent and awe-inspiring.
Mo Hua watched silently, his mind a little dazed.
After an unknown period of sailing, just as Mo Hua was starting to feel bored with the view, the pleasure boats ahead began to stir.
Mo Hua's divine sense stirred, and he noticed that some of the pleasure boats were quietly changing their course.
Cheng Mo's boat was also altering its direction.
"As expected..."
Mo Hua's spirits lifted, and he concentrated his divine sense even more. However, after a moment, his expression changed.
"Something's wrong."
Cheng Mo's boat had changed course, but the spirit boat he was on maintained its original direction, sailing along with the other pleasure boats.
Mo Hua's heart tightened, and he turned to ask Ye Hong, "Is the person who rented your boat really from the Gui Water Gate?"
At this moment, Ye Hong was also unsure of the situation and could only nod, "Should be. They had the sect's token."
"Then why? The direction is wrong... Did they discover something amiss?" Mo Hua frowned.
He turned back to look at the vast Yan Shui River, watching as Cheng Mo's boat sailed further and further away in the cover of night. Mo Hua's heart sank.
What should he do now?
It wouldn't be appropriate for him to jump into the river and chase after them at this point.
Although he had learned some water-style movement techniques and water-repelling demon-avoiding incantations, having grown up in Dahei Mountain with little exposure to water, his swimming skills were not particularly good.
Mo Hua fell into deep thought for a moment before sighing silently.
In the short time he had been distracted, Cheng Mo's boat had completely changed course and disappeared into the night.
He could only wait for the boat to dock and then think of another way to find Cheng Mo and the others...
The spirit boat continued sailing.
The scenery on both sides of the river kept changing.
The number of accompanying pleasure boats also decreased.
As Mo Hua watched, he suddenly paused.
"Something's not right..."
This river channel looked unfamiliar, and the spirit boat's direction seemed odd. The number of accompanying pleasure boats was decreasing.
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed as he suddenly realized the truth.
It wasn't that Cheng Mo and the others had changed their course; they hadn't changed at all.
It was his spirit boat that had changed direction.
In other words, the boat Cheng Mo was on was just an ordinary pleasure boat, while the one he was on was the real "Rouge Boat"!
Mo Hua slowly relaxed, but his expression became more solemn.
After sailing for a while longer, they were completely alone on the river, with no other boats in sight. The Yan Shui River stretched endlessly, and the night was deep and mysterious.
Mo Hua didn't even know where he was.
After a while, the transmission token vibrated slightly, and Mo Hua took it out to see a message from Gu Chang Huai:
"We've fallen into a trap. We got on the wrong boat."
Mo Hua sent a reply:
"It's fine. I got on the right one..."
Gu Chang Huai fell silent for a moment, seemingly puzzled, "Why is the boat you're on the correct one?"
Mo Hua was also at a loss for words and could only attribute it to "coincidence..."
Gu Chang Huai didn't dwell on it further, as the situation was urgent, and now was not the time for such discussions.
"Do you know the river area you're in now?"
Mo Hua frowned as he looked out at the dark river. After a moment of thought, he replied, "No."
Troublesome...
Gu Chang Huai furrowed his brows.
Mo Hua recalled for a moment before sending another message to Gu Chang Huai:
"I only remember the first half of the route and the direction of the change in course. You can go find Cheng Mo and Hao Xuan and compare the routes to get a general idea of the direction."
Gu Chang Huai's spirits lifted, "Okay.
"Mo Hua then described the details of the spirit boat's route to Gu Chang Huai, hoping that he could deduce the location of the Rouge Boat based on this information.
"I'll hurry and verify the details. You're on your own for now, so don't act rashly," Gu Chang Huai instructed.
However, he knew that unless he tied Mo Hua up, there was no way he would stay put.
Gu Chang Huai's warning was merely perfunctory.
Mo Hua gave a token response, "Okay."
Then, Mo Hua sent a message to Si Tu Jian, informing him of the situation and asking him to cooperate with Gu Chang Huai to verify the route.
Additionally, Si Tu Jian and the others should be safe now.
Even though they couldn't board the Rouge Boat and witness the spectacle, at least they wouldn't have to face its temptations and risks.
"By the way," Mo Hua remembered something and sent another message, "On your way back, find that senior brother of Wang Chen's and teach him a lesson. Get back the 100,000 spirit stones for the ticket."
100,000 spirit stones was no small sum.
Although they weren't his own spirit stones, his junior brothers' spirit stones were still spirit stones, and he wasn't going to let someone else benefit from them.
"Okay..." Si Tu Jian sighed.
As expected of his junior brother, he never put himself at a disadvantage.
Then, he also cautioned, "Little Brother, you're on your own now, so be extra careful."
"Mhm, don't worry," Mo Hua replied.
After finishing his instructions, Mo Hua put away the transmission token and focused his attention on the night view outside the window, waiting for the spirit boat to reach its destination and transform into the real "Rouge Boat."
He wanted to see what this so-called "Rouge Boat" was really up to and what secrets lay within.
Ye Hong sat beside Mo Hua, gazing at the dark night outside with a solemn expression.
...
Meanwhile, in a luxurious restaurant in Yan Shui City, two people were drinking and discussing something in secret.
The room was dimly lit, with only a flickering candle providing a vague glimpse of their faces.
"Has the boat set sail?"
"Yes."
"How's the situation?"
"Smooth so far."
"Good," one of them nodded, then coldly smiled, "Do you think I, as an elder of the Gui Water Gate, am blind? A member of the Dao Court, another from the Tai Xu Gate, and someone from the Gu family. Do they think they can sneak onto the boat just by disguising themselves?"
The other person chimed in, "Yes, all the boats related to the Dao Court, Tai Xu Gate, and the Gu family have been asked to disembark."
"For secrecy, we didn't even use the Gui Water Gate's boats. The only ones that will reach the destination are the ones we rented from outsiders."
"And of course, there's also the boat prepared for the young masters."
"Mhm, very good!"
"But, Elder, the situation seems a bit unusual..."
The one called "Elder" raised his eyebrows, "How so?"
"It seems the Dao Court is investigating something..."
"You got wind of this?"
"Yes..."
The "Elder" fell silent for a moment, then said, "It doesn't matter. Just because others are eating meat doesn't mean we should sit idly by and watch. We're in this together."
"But what if..."
The Elder put down his cup and didn't respond.
The other person was quick-witted and immediately poured him another cup of wine.
The Elder was somewhat satisfied and coldly said, "The Gui Water Gate is but a single boat, and we are all on this boat together.
"However, the Gui Water Gate is just one boat. If this boat sails smoothly, we'll ride along, but if it sinks, those without ability and foresight will sink with it. Only those with talent and foresight will find another boat to jump onto before it's too late..."
The other person pondered for a moment, his expression changing as he seemed to understand something.
The Elder gave him a stern look, causing him to swallow his words.
"But, isn't it difficult to jump ship?"
The Elder took a sip of wine and casually replied, "Only those with ability and foresight have the capability to jump ship. The rest will sink with the boat."
"There are plenty of opportunities and fortunes in this world, but it depends on whether you know how to seize them and whether you have the 'foresight' to do so."
The Elder put down his cup.
The other person immediately understood his intentions and respectfully poured him another cup of wine:
"From now on, I will rely on Elder's support and am willing to devote myself to you."
The Elder arrogantly nodded, then seemed to remember something and confirmed:
"Have all the disciples from the list boarded the boat?"
"Yes, following your instructions, we've invited them all on board."
"Mhm."
"But..." The other person was still confused, "Some of the arrangements this time are quite strange. Why aren't we guarding that place? Won't that be a problem?"
The Elder's expression turned stern, and he said solemnly, "Is that something you should be concerned about?"
"Yes." The other person quickly bowed.
The Elder paused, his expression softening slightly as he pointed upward, "The arrangements from above have their reasons. The waters here are deep, and ordinary cultivators would drown if they got involved. It's for your own good that I'm not letting you ask about it."
"I understand, Elder."
The Elder nodded slightly, then fell silent and quietly drank his wine.
After a while, he turned his head to look at the Yan Shui River, shrouded in darkness despite the flickering lights.
There were some things he didn't understand, and he didn't need to.
As a pawn, he had to be aware of his role.
The Elder didn't need to know the intentions of the powerful forces and ancient monsters manipulating the situation in the Dark State Realm.
He just had to follow orders.
Obedient pawns were the best kind.
...
Amidst the undercurrents, on the Yan Shui River.
After an unknown amount of time, the spirit boat carrying Mo Hua finally came to a stop.
Mo Hua, unaware of the situation, remained still and focused his senses.
After a while, he heard the sound of water, as if other spirit boats were approaching and gathering together.
The clanking of iron chains could be heard, as if someone was using them to tie the boats together.
Then, the water sounds subsided, and the spirit boat started moving again.
All the nearby boats were connected by iron chains, forming a long dragon-like formation as they sailed on the Yan Shui River and soon entered the pitch-black mist.
As the spirit boat entered the mist, Mo Hua sensed the dense evil aura within and his pupils constricted.
"Such a strong evil aura..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
