Chapter 137

"I'm just a child—how would I know?" Mo Hua said confidently.

Zhang Lan's expression froze, filled with helplessness, and he sighed, "Let me explain."

"What is called 'caibu' is actually a form of dual cultivation."

After speaking, Zhang Lan paused and asked, "You know about dual cultivation, right?"

Mo Hua's face turned red. "I only know a little."

Zhang Lan didn't know if Mo Hua was truly ignorant or pretending, so he continued, "It's simply sexual intercourse—put plainly, that's all it is. But dual cultivation can slightly enhance one's cultivation, and the process is sensual, so many cultivators become obsessed with mastering the art of dual cultivation."

Mo Hua had a question: "Can dual cultivation really enhance cultivation?"

"Only slightly—it's better than nothing. If you have time to study such fringe arts, you'd be better off spending it in meditation and cultivation," Zhang Lan said.

"Then what's the difference between dual cultivation and caibu?"

"Dual cultivation is still normal; caibu is vicious. Evil cultivators use caibu to drain others' blood qi, essence, and spiritual power. Those victimized by caibu may suffer regression in cultivation, or worse—collapse of their Dao foundation, even death. Such cases happen frequently."

"Mutual cultivation is still normal, but blood-sucking is vile. Evil cultivators use blood-sucking to drain others' blood qi, essence, and spiritual power. Those victimized may suffer a regression in cultivation, or worse—their Dao foundation collapses, even dying from being drained. Such things happen all too often."

"Did the flower thief you're chasing also drain someone to death?"

"He's definitely done it before—but not recently. We're chasing him because last month he drained a perfectly healthy woman until she was skin and bones, her qi sea utterly destroyed, and now she's mentally shattered, living in constant terror," Zhang Lan said, sighing bitterly.

Mo Hua felt pity and asked, "If you catch him, will he be sentenced to death?"

Zhang Lan nodded. "Dao Ting Si always imposes strict punishment for caibu—sentences exceed a hundred years, up to capital punishment. This one? Death is inevitable."

Mo Hua finally felt reassured.

Zhang Lan thought for a moment and added, "I forgot to tell you—dual cultivation is also forbidden."

Mo Hua looked puzzled.

I'm still a child—why are you telling me this specifically?

Zhang Lan, slightly embarrassed under Mo Hua's gaze, still pressed on: "Normal sexual relations between men and women are not regulated by Dao Ting Si. But dual cultivation is not allowed—any dual cultivation techniques or secret arts discovered will be immediately burned."

"If a cultivator engages in dual cultivation and is caught by Dao Ting Si, they will be held accountable. Though not as severe as caibu, their record will be logged, affecting future mentorship, sect entry, and marriage prospects…"

Mo Hua frowned. "You just said dual cultivation isn't harmful—why is it banned?"

"Theoretically, yes. But in practice, it's another matter."

Zhang Lan sighed. "Dual cultivation itself doesn't violate the Dao Code, but if we didn't ban it, people would use it as a cover for caibu—effectively allowing caibu to flourish. And without the ban, Dao Ting Si couldn't investigate properly; once we investigate, they'd claim it's dual cultivation, not caibu—and you'd have no way to prove otherwise…"

As he spoke, Zhang Lan grew heated. "Worst of all, some cultivators don't even realize they've been drained—they actually enjoy it, and even defend the ones who drained them. It's sheer stupidity!"

"If they claim it was consensual, wouldn't you have no recourse?" Mo Hua asked.

Zhang Lan snorted. "Before the Dao Code, there is no 'consensual.' Violate the Dao Code, and you're caught—no one escapes."

Zhang Lan sighed: "Mutual cultivation isn't forbidden and doesn't violate the Dao Laws, but if we don't ban it, people will use the guise of mutual cultivation to carry out blood-sucking—effectively allowing blood-sucking to go unchecked. Moreover, if mutual cultivation isn't banned, Dao Ting Si can't easily investigate; once they do, the perpetrators claim they're practicing mutual cultivation, not blood-sucking, and you have no way to prove otherwise..."

As Zhang Lan spoke, he grew increasingly agitated: "Worst of all, some cultivators don't even realize they've been drained—they actually enjoy it, and even defend the ones who drained them. It's sheer stupidity!"

Mo Hua blinked. "There's more?"

"Of course," Zhang Lan said. "In over twenty thousand years of the cultivation world, with billions upon billions of cultivators, what bizarre things haven't happened?"

"Ohhh."

Zhang Lan continued: "The second reason is that dual cultivation between partners can turn into caibu."

Mo Hua's mouth opened wide. "Don't partners become cultivator couples because they care for each other?"

"Of course," Zhang Lan said, "in over twenty thousand years of the cultivation world, with billions upon billions of cultivators, what strange and absurd things haven't happened?"

Zhang Lan gave him a look of condescension, as if to say, "You're still too young to understand."

"The closer cultivator couples become, the more likely they are to develop resentment. One day they're madly in love, the next they want to kill each other. Once conflict arises, it turns to hatred—and what was once dual cultivation becomes caibu…"

Mo Hua's eyes widened in astonishment. He couldn't help blurting out:

"Uncle Zhang, you know so much—have you ever been… caibued?"

Zhang Lan immediately grabbed Mo Hua's ear and yanked it. "Don't talk nonsense! I'm a proper cultivator!"

Mo Hua rubbed his ear and muttered under his breath: "Who knows if you're proper or not…"

Zhang Lan sighed helplessly, then studied Mo Hua and said, "You need to be careful from now on."

"Careful about what? I won't go around doing caibu…"

Zhang Lan smirked. "You won't do caibu—but you'll be the one caibued."

Mo Hua froze. "No way…"

"Female cultivators aren't the only ones drained by males—male cultivators get drained by females too," Zhang Lan said with a sly smile. "Especially ones as handsome and adorable as you."

Mo Hua's mouth hung open.

Zhang Lan patted Mo Hua's shoulder. "Next time you see a seductive, flirtatious female cultivator, keep your eyes open—she might be planning to drain you."

Mo Hua thought deeply, then nodded seriously.

Then he noticed another blind spot and asked curiously: "Female cultivators get drained by males, males by females—what about male cultivators draining other males? Or females draining other females?"

Zhang Lan went cross-eyed.

What the hell is this nonsense!

"It's not just female cultivators who are drained by male ones—male cultivators can be drained by female ones too," Zhang Lan said with a sly smile. "Especially someone as handsome and adorable as you."

Mo Hua opened his mouth in shock.

Zhang Lan patted Mo Hua on the shoulder. "Next time you see those seductive, promiscuous female cultivators, keep your guard up—they might be planning to drain you."

Mo Hua pondered for a long while, then nodded seriously.

After that, he noticed another blind spot and asked curiously:

"If female cultivators can be drained by male ones, and male cultivators by female ones—can male cultivators drain other male cultivators? Can female cultivators drain other female cultivators?"

Zhang Lan went cross-eyed from the question.

What kind of nonsense is this!

What's going on in that little head of yours? How can you ask such things?!

Zhang Lan fell silent for a long while, then sighed helplessly, "Go to sleep. I'm tired."

He closed his eyes and ignored Mo Hua.

Mo Hua wanted to ask more, but seeing Zhang Lan's weary expression, he wisely stayed quiet.

The campfire lights flickered, gradually falling still.

Mo Hua studied the array book for a while; at Zi Shi, he entered his mental sea to practice an array technique, then closed his eyes briefly to rest.

At Mao Shi the next day, as the sky faintly whitened, Mo Hua awoke.

Mo Hua rose, and at the same moment, Zhang Lan and the other two also opened their eyes.

The three ate a little, then left the camp and continued their journey.

When they reached Gu Yun Peak, Mo Hua examined the terrain and marked several spots on the map.

These spots were relatively hidden, rarely visited by demonic beasts, and hard for other cultivators to spot.

Zhang Lan instructed, "Be extremely cautious. Don't leave any trace, or you'll alarm the snake. If you encounter that thief, don't act rashly—keep your distance, watch him, and wait until we're all gathered before striking."

They nodded, then split up to search the areas Mo Hua had marked.

Mo Hua followed Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan's cultivation was higher; staying with him was safer.

After searching around, they regrouped in a mountain forest, not far from which lay a camp.

Mo Hua said, "There are traces around—this thief must be hiding in that camp."

"Could it be other demon hunters?" Sister Situ asked.

Mo Hua replied, "This camp has been abandoned for a long time. Demon hunters wouldn't stay here overnight."

Zhang Lan nodded and said, "We'll surround the camp and strike together. Mo Hua, this will be dangerous—stay far away."

"Understood."

Mo Hua nodded, then immediately ran far off.