Chapter 823: A Sneak Attack

Mo Hua's expression grew even darker.

He, a true man, was looked down upon by these people—this was utterly outrageous.

Hao Xuan said to Wang Chen: "Make an exception."

Wang Chen shook his head. "Even if I make an exception, the senior brothers inside won't let him board."

"Board?" Hao Xuan asked.

Wang Chen realized he'd slipped up and quickly added: "Nothing, nothing. But this junior brother…"

Mo Hua's gaze was cold.

Under Mo Hua's stare, Wang Chen felt a chill run through him and hastily amended with a nervous laugh:

"... this young brother, being so 'young,' is simply unsuitable to go upstairs. Don't make things hard for me."

Hao Xuan gave Mo Hua a look, asking what to do.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and sighed: "Then go up."

Afterward, he secretly sent a message via the Grand Void Token to Hao Xuan and the others:

"Go inside and check the situation. Stay alert. Don't fall for their tricks. If anything happens, better to make a scene than get trapped."

"Also, don't sneak off to look at those 'pretty things' or play with those 'fun things.' There's definitely something strange inside."

Hao Xuan and the other two nodded silently.

Mo Hua said: "I'll wander around Qishui City. Wait for you to come out, then return to Yiqihui Sect together."

"Alright."

Then Hao Xuan and the other three followed Wang Chen into a bustling, noisy tavern.

Mo Hua could only watch helplessly.

He was deeply curious—what exactly was inside the tavern? But no one would let him in.

Mo Hua could only bide his time, turning away to stroll through Qishui City.

Qishui City was fairly prosperous, filled with many disciples of the Qishui Sect.

According to Yu Canghai, the upper echelons of the Qishui Sect colluded with the Court of Judicial Review, betrayed the Water Prison Sect, stole its heritage, and on that foundation established the present-day Qishui Sect, now ranked among the Twelve Streams.

Qishui Sect disciples mostly cultivate water-based Dao arts, specializing in interrogation techniques, and after graduation, most enter Dao Ting Si.

Throughout the city, many disciples in Qishui Sect robes walked back and forth, their glances subtle yet grim.

In addition, there were several Qishui Sect-owned businesses.

The Qishui Sect's heritage was tied to water, and its livelihoods largely revolved around water-related trades.

They operated ferries, spirit boats, taverns, fish markets, and rented or sold cave dwellings built beside waterways.

Mo Hua wandered the city, memorizing everything, gradually familiarizing himself with Qishui City's layout, then returned to the tavern.

The tavern was named Linshui Tower.

Inside, voices roared with activity; Hao Xuan and the three were still inside, doing who-knew-what.

Mo Hua sent them a message, but received no reply.

Mo Hua was displeased.

Was it that these three fools were having so much fun they forgot their purpose—or had the tavern cast some array to block magnetic-soul signals, preventing them from receiving his message?

"Should I sneak in invisibly?"

Mo Hua circled the tavern and found it surrounded by expensive, high-grade concealment-detection arrays.

Any attempt to become invisible and approach would trigger detection.

Mo Hua frowned. "They're this wary of me? There's definitely something fishy inside."

As he pondered how to slip in, the entrance suddenly erupted in noise—many cultivators emerged.

Among them were Hao Xuan and the other three.

As the three stepped out of the tavern, Mo Hua heard Wang Chen repeatedly apologizing:

"Brother Xuan, brothers, I'm truly sorry. Everything was arranged perfectly, but the upper echelons changed their minds at the last moment, ruining your enjoyment. I offer my deepest apologies."

He then pulled out a storage pouch and handed it to them. "This contains Linshui Tower's rare wines and secret-cured meats—mere gustatory offerings, insignificant, but meant as an apology."

Wang Chen's demeanor was abjectly humble.

Cheng Mo's face darkened, and he sneered:

"A few bottles of wine and some meat? What's that to us? Did we come here for such trifles? You've wasted my time."

Cheng Mo was clearly furious.

Still, he took the wine and meat.

The three parted from Wang Chen, left the tavern, and met Mo Hua at a teahouse across the street.

Cheng Mo "presented" the wine and meat Wang Chen had given them to Mo Hua:

"Senior brother, try some."

Mo Hua inspected them thoroughly, confirmed no poison or traps, and shared them with the others.

The wine was excellent, aged well. The meat was superb, rich and flavorful, lingering on the tongue—hard to buy even with money.

Clearly, the Qishui Sect's apology was sincere.

As Mo Hua ate and drank, he extended his spiritual sense, observing the bustling teahouse patrons—no suspicious figures—and finally whispered:

"What did you do inside?"

Hao Xuan and the other two exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Nothing much—just watched some performances…"

"Were those performances… respectable?" Mo Hua whispered.

Hao Xuan nodded hesitantly. "I think… they were respectable."

"What do you mean by 'proper'?"

Hao Xuan was uncertain. "They're all dressed. Is that considered proper?"

Mo Hua nodded. "That does seem fairly proper."

"And then?" Mo Hua asked again. "That's it?"

Sister Situ also nodded. "Only music and dance. But I suspect the earlier performances were just warm-ups. That Wang Chen clearly intended to lead us somewhere else..."

"But before he could arrange it, a senior disciple from the Gui Shui Sect came over, looked grave, spoke to him, and then the entire itinerary was canceled."

Mo Hua felt a pang of regret, yet also confusion.

Why was it canceled?

Had the Gui Shui Sect discovered their ill intentions?

Or had Shui Yanluo become more alert because of past events?

Or some other reason?

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, found no clear answer, and said, "Let's head back."

This was Gui Shui City, effectively Gui Shui Sect territory. The longer he stayed, the more uneasy Mo Hua felt.

"Alright." Hao Xuan and the others nodded.

Leaving the teahouse, the group hired a carriage and headed from Gui Shui City toward the Grand Void Gate.

Sitting in the carriage, Mo Hua continued pondering the Gui Shui Sect.

The carriage passed through Gui Shui City's gate and moved slowly along the wide road.

Halfway there, Mo Hua, frowning in deep thought, seemed to sense something. His expression froze. He suddenly pulled back the curtain—and his pupils shrank.

Not far ahead, there was another carriage.

The carriage was enclosed, elaborately decorated, embroidered with vivid, colorful flowers.

A Baihua Valley carriage!

It was positioned just ahead and behind their own, as if it had just left Gui Shui City too.

Mo Hua's heart leapt. He shouted immediately:

"Cheng Mo!"

Cheng Mo, driving the carriage, turned his head.

Mo Hua pointed at the "blossom-clad" carriage. "Follow that one."

Cheng Mo was startled, but didn't hesitate—he whipped the reins and sped forward.

Mo Hua said, "Keep it low-key. Don't let them notice!"

"Oh, okay."

The big fellow Cheng Mo pulled the reins, slowed the carriage, and silently trailed behind the "flower cart."

The Baihua Valley carriage continued straight ahead.

Mo Hua and the others followed in their carriage, quietly trailing—passing Tai Xu City, then Tai E City, circling a few times, until they reached Baihua City.

The flower cart, emitting a faint fragrance, drove into Baihua City.

Cheng Mo saw this and asked, "Young Master, should we enter the city?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment. "Leave the carriage. We go in on foot."

Cheng Mo nodded.

The group left the carriage outside Baihua City, disembarked, and walked in. Fortunately, the carriage ahead moved slowly, so Mo Hua and the others caught up easily.

They followed it all the way until the carriage arrived beneath the Baihua Valley's main gate.

The carriage door opened. Five or six women, dressed in Baihua Valley robes, each strikingly beautiful in her own way, stepped out and entered the valley.

They chatted and laughed along the way, yet their subtle expressions were oddly varied.

Some looked normal. Some appeared disappointed. Some quietly exhaled in relief. Others had dull eyes and blank faces.

Mo Hua frowned.

"Where's Hua Ruyu?"

He had assumed Hua Ruyu would be among them.

He studied again the women who had stepped down, memorizing their faces, then sighed inwardly.

The matter of Baihua Valley isn't over yet...

Beside him, Hao Xuan, seeing Mo Hua crouched in the grass, eyes fixed intently on the Baihua Valley disciples, couldn't help warning:

"Young Master, don't you dare copy my cousin!"

Mo Hua froze.

Hao Xuan pointed toward the valley. "You'll get beaten—badly."

Mostly it's humiliation.

His cousin Hao Se had always been shameless since childhood.

But Mo Hua, as their junior elder among the Grand Void Gate disciples, absolutely couldn't bring shame upon himself.

"It's fine," Mo Hua waved his hand. "It's not what you think. And I won't get caught."

Hao Xuan remembered Mo Hua's body techniques and concealment arts. He nodded. "True."

So far, he'd never seen the young master caught.

Seeing the women from the carriage vanish into the riot of colorful flowers within Baihua Valley, Mo Hua said:

"Let's head back."

Though Hao Xuan and the others didn't know what Mo Hua was up to, they'd grown used to it—whatever the young master said, they followed.

Yet on the way back, Cheng Mo couldn't help asking curiously:

"Little Brother, why are you following that carriage?"

"I'm investigating a case related to Dao Ting Si," Mo Hua didn't hide it, "but the specifics, I can't tell you yet."

"Investigating a case?" Cheng Mo's eyes lit up, intrigued. "Is there merit reward?"

Mo Hua's gaze shifted, then he said carefully: "Dao Ting Si won't give any, but if you help, I can award you some."

He was now a major holder of merit rewards—painting arrays, hunting demons, completing bounties—all earned him plenty of merit.

And after the Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident, Master Xun had awarded him a large sum of merit on behalf of the sect.

The Tai'e Sect and Chongxu Sect also gave him a sum of merit as thanks.

At first, he was thrilled by so much merit, often pulling out the Grand Void Token just to glance at it, but once the excitement faded, he gradually found it dull.

Now he barely checked his merit total—it was simply too much to ever use up.

Cheng Mo knew Mo Hua was a big shot, so he didn't hold back and smiled:

"Thank you, Little Brother. If you need anything, just give the word."

Mo Hua nodded.

Of course, the matter of the Water Yama of Gui Shui Sect ran too deep—he wouldn't let Cheng Mo and the others get too involved; just have them run errands, gather intel.

One hero needs three helpers; you must learn to leverage others' strength.

Doing everything alone always leaves gaps.

"Seems we didn't gain much," Sister Situ asked. "What now? Return to the sect directly?"

There were gains, just not substantial ones.

Mo Hua thought silently.

And they were all just "threads"—to dig deeper would take considerable effort.

Mo Hua pondered, then suddenly glanced at Hao Xuan and asked:

"Hao Xuan, how close are you to your childhood friend Wang Chen?"

"We used to be…" Hao Xuan felt uneasy, speaking softly. "Little Brother, you're not planning to go after him, are you?"

After all, he was a childhood friend—grown up together since childhood; there was still some bond.

If Little Brother really went after him, Wang Chen would be in terrible trouble.

Hao Xuan knew well: no matter how big Wang Chen was, ten of him couldn't withstand Little Brother's tricks.

Mo Hua asked: "What's his character like?"

Hao Xuan considered: "A bit slippery, a bit cowardly, occasionally scheming—but his nature isn't bad."

Mo Hua nodded: "I understand. Then we'll go after him."

Hao Xuan's face fell. "Little Brother…"

"You don't understand," Mo Hua said to Hao Xuan. "The Gui Shui Sect situation is extremely complex. If things come to light, your childhood friend could be utterly ruined."

"Acting now is saving him. Leaving him alone is what will destroy him."

Hao Xuan's expression turned solemn.

He hadn't realized the matter was this grave. A weight settled in his chest. He wanted to ask what had happened, but seeing Mo Hua's serious expression, he wisely stayed silent.

One's capacity determines how much one may know.

Hao Xuan knew he lacked such capacity—so some secrets were better left unasked.

"Then, Little Brother, how will you go after him?" Hao Xuan whispered.

"What do you require?" Mo Hua said.

Hao Xuan gritted his teeth: "He's still my childhood friend. Please make it gentle—give him some dignity."

Mo Hua paused. "It's not that serious. Just knock him out, drag him aside, and ask a few questions."

Hao Xuan exhaled in relief.

Good—it was just a knock on the head, no bloodshed…

Mo Hua looked at Hao Xuan: "I'll have Cheng Mo handle the knock. You two are close—I'm afraid you won't be able to do it."

But Hao Xuan shook his head: "He's my childhood friend—we grew up together. I'll be the one to knock him out. I won't trust anyone else."

Hao Xuan's expression was firm.

Mo Hua couldn't tell whether Hao Xuan was worried about Wang Chen's safety—or simply obsessed with "knocking heads" and feared losing his chance.

"Alright…" Mo Hua nodded.

The group then briefly planned their strategy.

That night, Hao Xuan invited Wang Chen out, saying he had something to discuss.

Wang Chen had no suspicion.

Since it was still the ten-day break, Gui Shui Sect had no curfew—he walked out boldly alone, heading toward the nearby Gui Shui City.

At the foot of the mountain, on a secluded, empty path, Hao Xuan used his cultivation technique to circle behind Wang Chen, activated the array, and knocked him unconscious with a single blow.

Cheng Mo and Sister Situ rushed forward, bound Wang Chen tightly, and dragged him into the nearby bushes.

Mo Hua set up a small Yuan Ci Array nearby for alerting, a soundproof array, and other concealment techniques to ensure absolute safety.

Then Cheng Mo slapped Wang Chen awake.

Wang Chen came to, his head still aching, dazed—then suddenly jerked, about to scream.

Cheng Mo instantly clamped his mouth shut, voice rough and warning:

"Don't make a sound, or I won't be gentle with you."

Wang Chen instantly realized he was surrounded by masked "bandits," bound by chains and restraining arrays, utterly immobilized—he understood his situation at once and nodded meekly.

Cheng Mo released his hand.

Wang Chen trembled: "You… who are you? What do you want? I'm from Gui Shui…"

"Shut up! I ask, you answer!" Cheng Mo growled.

Having spent too much time with Mo Hua, he'd learned now: the attitude during interrogation must be firm—don't let the other side waste words.

"O-okay…"

Wang Chen said timidly.

But as he looked at Cheng Mo, the more he stared, the more familiar he seemed; then he glanced at the figure beside Cheng Mo—and it became even more familiar.

Wang Chen wasn't stupid; after thinking through the sequence of events, he instantly realized—hard to believe, he said:

"You… Brother Xuan?!"

Hao Xuan sighed helplessly: "I told you—wearing a mask was pointless. He'd recognize you anyway."

"Whether he recognizes you or not has nothing to do with it. This is respect."

"Do a job, love a job."

"You have to follow industry standards…"

Wang Chen stared, dumbfounded, then shouted angrily: "Brother Xuan, we've done nothing to each other—why are you doing this to me?"

Hao Xuan sighed and used the "script" Mo Hua had taught him:

"It's not me—it's these older brothers of mine. They think you're mocking them. We agreed you'd take us somewhere fun, something exciting—but we came full of excitement and left in disappointment…"

"That's right," said Cheng Mo, tall and burly, gripping Wang Chen's throat, his voice rough: "You little brat—were you making a fool of us? A few women dancing around up there, plain and tasteless—is that supposed to satisfy us? Do you think a noble heir like me can't afford it?"

Now Wang Chen knew he was in the wrong and couldn't blame Hao Xuan; he hurriedly begged:

"Big Brother, spare my life! I didn't refuse to take you—I truly had no choice! Something unexpected happened—the venue was shut down!"

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened slightly; he gave Cheng Mo a look.

Cheng Mo understood instantly and tightened his grip a little more:

"Still lying? Trying to trick me? No changes before, but as soon as I show up, everything falls apart? Am I that unlucky?"

"It's true! I swear! I wouldn't dare lie to Big Brother!" Wang Chen swore.

"Fine," Cheng Mo loosened his grip slightly. "Tell me—what exactly happened? What ruined my mood?"

"This…" Wang Chen hesitated.

Cheng Mo squeezed his throat again. "Can't come up with an excuse?"

"No, no excuse—I'm not making it up!" Wang Chen gasped, struggling. "It's… Dao Ting Si."

"Dao Ting Si?" Cheng Mo was startled.

"Yes…" Wang Chen could barely breathe.

Cheng Mo eased his grip slightly. "Explain clearly."

Wang Chen gasped for air, coughed a few times, then slowly spoke:

"My senior brothers said… Dao Ting Si came to inspect. All venues were shut down. They told us to lie low, send all guests away."

Cheng Mo couldn't help glancing at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua frowned slightly and said coldly: "Why would Dao Ting Si come to inspect? Don't think we don't know—you Guishui Sect has close ties with Dao Ting Si. Why would they investigate you?"

Wang Chen smiled bitterly. "I don't know either—but I heard this isn't the local Dao Ting Si. It's someone from above…"

"Above?"

Wang Chen trembled: "Dao Ting."

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