Chapter 845: All Set

But Shui Yanluo seemed off now.

The malevolence on his body was heavier than before, his aura savage, his eyes filled with deep desire—perhaps because losing an arm had damaged his primordial energy, causing the murderous aura cultivated through half the Dao to go awry.

And this thick mist took advantage, stirring up his inner demons.

Now his face wore a hungry expression, his eyes slithering like venomous snakes over Hua Qianqian's slender form.

Hua Qianqian felt a chill run through her entire body under his gaze.

Ouyang Feng frowned and stepped in front of Hua Qianqian.

But his injuries were severe; blood slowly seeped from his wounds, soaking the hilt of his sword, his grip growing numb.

This sinister cultivator was a formidable foe!

Until now, he had never encountered a dark cultivator with such powerful cultivation, strength, and Dao techniques.

In direct combat, he was entirely on the defensive.

And this man had even lost an arm.

Had he not, his strength would have been even greater!

Ouyang Feng's heart grew solemn.

Seeing Ouyang Feng block Hua Qianqian from view, unable to see the woman he craved, Shui Yanluo's expression darkened slightly—then he burst into laughter.

"Good! A weary beauty, a gallant protector—perfect! I've always loved doing this."

"Torment the beloved man before the woman's eyes; defile the beloved woman before the man's eyes."

"Then watch them die with hearts torn apart, agonized, helpless, miserable, eyes wide open in despair…"

Shui Yanluo laughed, almost hysterical, "A bit twisted, isn't it?"

"I can't help it—who made me cultivate the demonic path, nurture this malevolence? This malevolent energy festers inside me; if I don't find amusement, torment others, and release this pent-up energy, I'll go mad first."

As Shui Yanluo spoke, his eyes began to redden with bloodshot veins:

"Lately, everything's gone wrong. This malevolence… has festered inside me for too long, with no outlet. You two—this handsome youth and lovely maiden—are perfect 'furnaces' for me to vent and train upon."

"Besides…" Shui Yanluo gazed past Ouyang Feng at Hua Qianqian's faint, shimmering form, his heart itching and aching as if ants gnawed at his flesh,

"She's still such a pure, tender bud…"

"Blame only your bad fate…"

Shui Yanluo's eyes turned crimson; his body dissolved into a watery shadow, like a nightmarish water yecha, grotesque and terrifying, lunging at Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng's gaze turned solemn; he summoned swordlight and clashed with Shui Yanluo.

He had met Shui Yanluo only once before, and their brief clash had left him unfamiliar with his strange techniques; now he had to guard Hua Qianqian behind him, leaving him constantly off-balance, forced to rely solely on his solid cultivation and refined swordplay to hold on.

Mo Hua watched all this, his eyes cold, thinking:

"This Shui Yanluo seems unbalanced. I need a way to kill him…"

A sliver of killing intent rose in his heart.

But the moment this intent surfaced, the malevolent aura flooding his mind—Shui Yanluo's heightened perception—suddenly snapped awake.

He instantly halted, leapt aside, and glared fiercely toward Mo Hua's hidden position, coldly demanding:

"Who?!"

Mo Hua was slightly surprised.

Has Shui Yanluo suddenly become this alert?

Mo Hua naturally did not reveal himself.

But Shui Yanluo would not let it go; he was certain a faint killing intent had just flickered, prickling his skin like thorns.

He had been burned before, so he would never be careless again.

Before Mo Hua could act, Shui Yanluo pulled out a blood pearl and crushed it.

Blood mist exploded instantly, spreading through the room, engulfing Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's form flowed like water, retreating swiftly—but the mist was too thick, vast and blinding, and some still clung to him.

The blood mist had no direct lethal power, but once on the skin, it couldn't be washed off quickly—and it exposed Mo Hua's location.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

This blood pearl seemed to be a special dark artifact.

Shui Yanluo had learned from his mistake: last time, he'd been tricked by concealment and had his precious Water Prison Casket stolen right before his eyes, so he'd carefully prepared this blood pearl to counter cultivators skilled in stealth.

And now it was perfectly suited for Mo Hua.

Mo Hua had no choice—he slowly revealed his form.

Seeing his tactic work, forcing the sneaky intruder to show himself, Shui Yanluo sneered.

But when he saw Mo Hua's face, his pupils shrank slightly.

Too young.

Like a boy under twenty.

Those who mastered concealment techniques, who could vanish flawlessly, were always seasoned veterans of the martial world.

How could he look like this?

And he didn't recognize this brat…

Shui Yanluo frowned, "Who are you?"

Mo Hua's expression was subtly strange.

This Shui Yanluo—his water stronghold had been destroyed by Dao Ting Si, his precious Prison Casket stolen by me—and yet he doesn't recognize me…

Mo Hua thought for a moment, and understood.

At the ferry, when they first met, I had my face covered—he never saw my face.

The second time, I hid in the shadows and struck suddenly, stealing his Water Prison Casket.

His movements were too fast, and he slipped away too quickly; the room was dim, and he didn't clearly see himself.

But Water Yama, being sharp-witted, regained his composure in an instant, his pupils sharply contracting in disbelief:

"It's you!"

He recognized me!

He had no memory of this face, but this silhouette—he would never forget it, not even in death!

The figure of Mo Hua before him slowly merged with the one in his memory—the vile thief he had longed to slice into a thousand pieces and grind his bones to ash.

"It's you, that remnant of the Water Prison Sect, that damned thief!"

Water Yama snarled through gritted teeth.

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian both froze in surprise.

Isn't Mo Hua just the junior disciple of the Grand Void Gate?

How could he possibly be a remnant of the Water Prison Sect?

And this eerie, powerful one-armed cultivator—his eyes burned red, veins bulging as if he bore a deep, bitter grudge against Young Master Mo.

It might even be called a father's murder and wife's theft…

What exactly had Young Master Mo done?

Both were utterly bewildered.

"So, I never imagined you'd dare show your face before me again…"

At this moment, Water Yama's gaze turned monstrous as he demanded of Mo Hua: "Where is my thing? Where is it?"

Mo Hua feigned ignorance. "What thing?"

Water Yama, enraged by this act, felt his liver and lungs about to burst; his fury turned to a cold laugh:

"You little brat who deserves to be sliced into a thousand pieces—I'll break your limbs one by one and torment you slowly, see if your mouth stays hard!"

Mo Hua glanced at his empty sleeve and spoke clearly:

"I don't know if my limbs will be broken, but yours? One's already gone—probably can't be reattached, no wonder you're always obsessed with breaking others' limbs. Your own arm was cut off, yet you're too weak and cowardly to seek revenge, so you take it out on others…"

Water Yama felt a surge of blood rushing backward, slamming into his crown; his demonic aura nearly slipped its leash.

He dared not speak another word to Mo Hua.

Water Yama instantly drew his bloody Water Torture Whip, lashing out with venomous water energy toward Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's form flowed like water, evading effortlessly.

Seeing Water Yama attack Mo Hua, Ouyang Feng immediately unleashed his sword qi to intercept.

Hua Qianqian, though shaken by repeated shocks, now saw her great enemy before her, Ouyang Feng fighting desperately, and even the younger Young Master Mo holding his own against this terrifying demon—her courage surged. She channeled her spiritual energy, deploying the Hundred Flowers Valley's embroidered spiritual needles to restrain Water Yama.

As Mo Hua dodged, he supplemented with various spells from the side.

His Water Prison technique couldn't trap Water Yama, but its restraining effect still held.

He occasionally used his Concealment Technique, blending it with the Step of Fading Water, his blood-drenched form flickering in and out around Water Yama—though he launched no killing blows, he still inflicted immense pressure.

Water Yama couldn't fathom Mo Hua's true strength; he didn't know what he was capable of.

But he remembered clearly—the eerie, terrifying flame that had radiated lethal intent in that hidden chamber on Water Island, the sight that had chilled his soul. He dared not slacken for a moment.

Every move he made, he had to pinpoint Mo Hua's exact location—never once exposing a weakness before him.

Water Yama's attention split three ways; Ouyang Feng's pressure dropped sharply.

Ouyang Feng, naturally intelligent, with deep cultivation and high sword talent, merely lacked experience compared to Water Yama.

In their earlier skirmish, he had suffered a crushing defeat.

But now, with the pace slowed, after dozens of exchanges, he had gradually grown familiar with Water Yama's techniques and responded with increasing mastery.

Moreover, there was Mo Hua—who knew Water Yama "inside and out."

When Water Yama's eyes reddened, Mo Hua warned: "Don't look into his eyes."

When Water Yama activated his Water Shadow Step, Mo Hua immediately fired a fireball at his true form, shattering the technique.

Without these two signature moves, Water Yama, hampered on all sides, could gain no advantage in direct combat with Ouyang Feng.

Water Yama seethed with hatred—especially toward Mo Hua.

"When did this damned brat figure out every single technique I spent half my life cultivating?!"

This brat must not be allowed to live!

Otherwise, how could he ever walk the Dao again?

He must be killed…

A flash of sinister malice crossed Water Yama's eyes.

At the same time, Mo Hua was thinking the same thing.

"The timing's right—I feel I can kill him…"

Someone like Water Yama? The sooner he dies, the cleaner the world.

His demonic aura was chaotic, his soul savage and wild—seemingly fierce and terrifying, but in Mo Hua's eyes, he was hollow inside, riddled with flaws.

One strike of the Shocking Spirit Sword should finish him.

But Mo Hua felt uncertain…

Especially after fighting the Grand Void Gate's master's giant white watchdog, Mo Hua had suddenly lost confidence in the power of his Shocking Spirit Sword.

Never underestimate any opponent.

Besides, Water Yama had practiced this eye technique for at least a hundred years.

Though he took a shortcut, cultivating demonic demonic energy, he was by no means negligible.

Mo Hua thought again, deciding he should at least try.

Use Water Yama to test the sword.

A cultivator who attained Dao through his own spiritual awareness, having labored hard to forge the Shocking Spirit Sword, surely wouldn't be worse than Water Yama…

Even if he couldn't win outright, in this three-versus-one brawl, merely disrupting him for a moment would be enough to decide victory or defeat, life or death.

Mo Hua made up his mind.

But before that, he had one thing to confirm.

Mo Hua cast a fireball to distract Water Yama, then retreated swiftly to create distance, and asked in a low voice:

"Did you kill Ye Jin, Senior Sister of Baihuagu Sect?"

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian both froze.

"Ye Jin?" Water Yama blinked in surprise, then grinned crookedly. "I've bedded countless women; I've killed too many who bored me to count. How would I know which one you mean?"

Mo Hua's gaze grew cold.

Hua Qianqian was stunned and furious, gritting her teeth: "So it was you… You killed Jin'er—I'll make you pay with your life!"

Hua Qianqian swept her sleeve, and several silver needles shot forth in colorful flashes, aimed straight at Water Yama's face.

Water Yama sneered, flicked his punishment whip, and knocked every needle out of the air.

"Still have time to worry about others? This is the Rouge Boat, surrounded by Smoke River waters—you can't escape. You'll all end up in my hands, and then you'll learn what true suffering means…"

After speaking, Water Yama turned to Mo Hua and suddenly smiled darkly:

"I almost forgot—you're a remnant of the Water Prison Sect. The entire Yu Family Water Village was wiped out. All those dead were your 'family.' I'll be kind—I'll send you down to join them soon."

Water Yama intended these words to shake Mo Hua's spirit, then strike while he was vulnerable.

But Water Yama was wrong.

Mo Hua's heart remained calm, utterly unaffected.

Because he was no remnant of the Water Prison Sect.

The people of Yu Family Water Village meant nothing to him…

On the contrary, Water Yama's mention of Yu Family Water Village stirred something in Mo Hua. He feigned furious rage:

"You soulless monster! I'll kill you—and spill your blood before the graves of the Yu family, to honor their dead souls!"

Water Yama laughed darkly at this. "You ignorant brat—do you even know where they died? Where their souls went? No graves, no spirits—what are you even offering? Pathetic."

Water Yama burst into mocking laughter.

But Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

Indeed—this Water Yama knew the altar's location.

The cultivators of Yu Family Water Village, after being slaughtered, were likely delivered by Water Yama himself to the altar, sacrificed to the demon god.

Yet…

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

That meant this Water Yama couldn't be killed just yet.

He must be "fully utilized"—he must reveal the altar's location before he died.

"First, use the Shocking Spirit Sword to disrupt his soul. While his mind is in chaos, subdue him—cut off his limbs. No—three limbs. Then put him on the interrogation board and slowly extract the truth…"

"But I must control the Shocking Spirit Sword's power…"

Having planned it all, Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, golden light swirling in his eyes—he was ready to test the true power of the Shocking Spirit Sword he had honed so hard upon Water Yama.

At that exact moment, he sensed something. His expression halted. Slowly, he withdrew the golden light from his eyes and turned toward the door.

Outside the door stood a person.

A woman, dressed extravagantly, face caked in powder.

It was Hua Ruyu.

She stood at the threshold, sneering: "Not seen for a moment, and this room is already so lively."

The moment she spoke, everyone stopped.

Water Yama's eyes flickered, his killing intent receding. "Miao'er, what are you doing here?"

"What?" Hua Ruyu glanced at him coldly, scoffing. "Can't I come? Did I ruin your fun?"

She had long been entangled with Water Yama and knew his nature well.

One glance at this scene told her exactly what base intentions had brought him here.

"Just moments ago you were sweet-talking me, and now you're sneaking off to cheat? Typical lowlife!"

Water Yama, guilty and still harboring feelings for Hua Ruyu, couldn't retort—even as she cursed him, he forced a sheepish grin:

"Miao'er, don't misunderstand. My heart has always been yours. But… you know my supreme cultivation method is extremely difficult—it keeps failing. I need to vent. You're heartless—you won't satisfy me. I had no choice but to resort to this. It's not what I truly want…"

Hua Ruyu sneered. "So now it's my fault?"

"How could I blame you?" Water Yama spoke softly. "I only think of how to treat you well."

Hua Ruyu snorted. "Men's mouths are deceitful spirits—always empty, flowery lies."

Then she turned to Ouyang Feng and sneered again:

"Ouyang Young Master, you're no different. I went to great lengths to create the perfect chance for you—to enjoy a night of bliss with a woman. Yet you're ungrateful. You lied to me—said one thing, did another…"

She saw at a glance: Ouyang Feng had not touched Hua Qianqian. He had never intended to submit to Young Master An.

Ouyang Feng had come to his realization.

Now his gaze was like a blade, his aura stern. He spoke low and firm:

"We walk different Dao paths—I won't join your ranks. Your Young Master An's threshold is beyond my reach. But you…"

Ouyang Feng's eyes turned icy. "As a teacher of Baihuagu Sect, a role model, how can you commit such heinous acts? Don't you fear heavenly retribution?"

"Heavenly retribution?" Hua Ruyu blinked, then laughed wildly. "Where is it? I've been a teacher at Baihuagu Sect for years, bringing countless girls onto this boat—and I'm still alive! Where's your heavenly retribution?"

Hua Qianqian's face turned pale, her eyes red with tears—filled with disappointment and pain. She spat:

"Hua Ruyu! May you die a cursed death!"

Hua Ruyu smiled lightly, unconcerned, but still avoided Hua Qianqian's gaze.

Her eyes swept across the room and landed on the last person inside—Mo Hua—and immediately brightened with admiration.

"What a handsome, delicate young man—truly pitiable to behold…"

Mo Hua snorted coldly, his face filled with disgust.

Hua Ruyu liked him even more, her eyes shimmering with delight.

Beside her, Shui Yanluo felt as if he'd swallowed a fly, his heart souring; he glared at Mo Hua as if ready to devour him.

"Wait…"

Hua Ruyu's smile faltered as she studied Mo Hua's face, feeling a strange sense of familiarity; after a moment, she suddenly remembered and exclaimed in surprise:

"You're that beautiful young man who entered the Hundred Flowers Valley…"

Mo Hua's face darkened.

He had entered the Hundred Flowers Valley for convenience, wearing only a simple Daoist robe, no makeup, relying solely on his natural beauty—so his face then and now was nearly identical.

Moreover, he was currently rescuing Hua Qianqian; the two stood side by side, and once Hua Ruyu connected the dots, she recognized him at once.

Ouyang Feng, though sensing the timing was poor, couldn't help but be stunned inside.

Entered the Hundred Flowers Valley?!

Could Mo Hua, my junior brother, have entered the Hundred Flowers Valley?!

Could men even enter the Hundred Flowers Valley?!

Ouyang Feng silently glanced at Mo Hua, and without realizing it, his gaze carried a hint of respect.

Seeing Hua Ruyu's eyes fixed entirely on Mo Hua, Shui Yanluo grew even more irritated and said:

"Miao'er, it's getting late—we can't delay any longer."

Hua Ruyu glanced at him coldly and said, "Fine. First, join forces and capture them. Then I'll settle accounts with you."

Shui Yanluo said, "I'll follow your lead."

After speaking, the two struck together, once again clashing with Mo Hua and the others.

With this, Mo Hua felt pressure surge abruptly.

Hua Ruyu was also at the peak of Foundation Establishment, not far from Jin Dan; her Hundred Flowers Valley heritage granted her mastery over pink, poison-scented spiritual needles—extremely troublesome.

Added to that, Shui Yanluo and the other two made the situation dire.

Mo Hua frowned.

The altar's clue could only be sought later.

Should he just kill these two bastards outright?

Under these circumstances, with Hua Ruyu holding him back, capturing Shui Yanluo alive was nearly impossible.

This was inside the Yanzhi Boat; the longer they delayed, the more perilous things would become.

And this Hua Ruyu was not only cruel and evil, she had also learned of his "dark past"—she could not be left alive.

Mo Hua made up his mind and was about to act when he suddenly froze.

He sensed a powerful aura.

Not just him—everyone in the room felt the pressure and fell silent, turning toward the door.

Outside the door stood a figure, expression icy, yet his cultivation was extraordinarily thick, radiating an energy utterly unlike ordinary Foundation Establishment.

Jin Dan!

Mo Hua's pupils shrank, his heart sinking.

The Jin Dan from the Yanzhi Boat—he's here too!

yifan

xsguan

23zw