The Quest for Immortality

Unlike himself, he was so endearing.

The Taoist Court office outside had a doorbell, ancient in style. Mo Hua shook it lightly, and a crisp sound emanated.

Then from inside the room, a cold and haughty voice spoke, ”Come in.”

The door opened, and Mo Hua walked in.

The room was simple and tidy, with furnishings that were both exquisite and elegant. Gu Changhuai sat at the desk, focused and intent, writing something unbeknownst to others.

As Mo Hua entered, Gu Changhuai looked up, paused for a moment in surprise, then frowned.

”Why is it you again?”

He glanced around the room and, seeing only Mo Hua, asked,

”How did you find this place?”

The Court Official’s office within the Taoist Court was a Supervisor’s workplace. Though it wasn’t exactly fortified or restricted, it was off-limits to outsiders.

Mo Hua said, ”A passing, kind-hearted Enforcement Leader brought me here.”

He was loyal and did not disclose the appearance of the Enforcement Leader to Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai sighed, somewhat helpless, and continued to look down and write, saying indifferently, ”Tell me, what’s the matter this time?”

”I encountered the Fire Buddha!”

Gu Changhuai’s hand shook, and a long streak of ink marred the document. He looked up, incredulously, at Mo Hua.

”The Fire... Buddha?”

”Yes!”

”How did you run into him?”

”I was drinking tea at the teahouse, and I ran into him.”

Gu Changhuai paused in speechless astonishment.

The Fire Buddha wasn’t some peddler rushing to do business with you; you have a sip of tea at a teahouse, and you can run into him...

Or are you saying, young man, you truly have the ”law following the word,” proclaiming you can meet the Fire Buddha and actually encounter him upon leaving home...

Seeing Gu Changhuai’s disbelief, Mo Hua earnestly said, ”It’s true!”

Gu Changhuai didn’t disbelieve it; he just found it too preposterous.

The Taoist Court had been searching for so long with no results for this Sin Cultivator, and you, a minor Sect Disciple, go for tea and claim to have stumbled upon him?

Are you a Minor Religious Con Man or what?

Besides...

Their Taoist Court also demanded evidence; even if Mo Hua was a disciple from one of the Eight Great Gates, Taixu Gate, it wasn’t like whatever he said could be taken as fact.

The Taoist Court didn’t have that many personnel to waste.

Gu Changhuai sighed, ”How do you know the person you encountered is the Fire Buddha?”

Mo Hua said gravely,

”He was tall and large, with a kind face, and spoke little. Under his ordinary clothes, he wore a kasaya. His hair was tied up, but it was fake, concealing several fiery scars from vows...”

”Accompanying him were three others. A burly man skilled with a bloody hatchet, called ’Qiao Laowu’—he could be the Sin Cultivator known by the nickname ’Blood Woodcutter’...”

”Another was a skinny man with a grim complexion, probably ’Yin Thunder Child.’ And another large man, with a fierce and intimidating face, I suppose could be ’Ghost Face Sha’...”

Gu Changhuai’s casual demeanor vanished, growing more solemn with each word.

What Mo Hua described didn’t sound fabricated at all.

These people were indeed the notorious Sin Cultivators from within the Second Grade State Border.

But...

Gu Changhuai’s gaze became stern as he looked at Mo Hua, ”Where did you learn about so many Sin Cultivators?”

What ”Blood Woodcutter,” ”Yin Thunder Child,” ”Ghost Face Sha”—you mention them as easily as if they were treasures in your home.

As if these Sin Cultivators were items on your ”menu”...

With righteous indignation, Mo Hua replied earnestly,

”Although my cultivation is not high, I have always remembered my Sect’s teachings—to uphold the Righteous Dao, to slay demons and eradicate evil, to despise wickedness like an enemy, and to detest Sin Cultivators. I long to catch them all in one fell swoop!”

”So I like to gather information about Sin Cultivators in my spare time; that’s how I know just a little bit more...”

Listening, Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming on.

What nonsense are you spouting, kid?

What ”upholding the Righteous Dao,” ”hating evil as you would a foe”...

”Is that you’re talking about really you?”

”Even lies need a draft.”

But in his heart, he also faintly felt that the Fire Buddha’s involvement was very likely true.

However, the evidence was still scarce...

Physical appearance, kasaya, the scar from a burn mark...

These could only prove that this person somewhat resembled the Fire Buddha. It’s not like there were no other Buddhist believers in the world, cultivators with burnt scars donning kasayas.

Gu Changhuai frowned and said, ”Are there any other clues proving he is the Fire Buddha?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, ”He is proficient in fire spells, and when he casts spells, two fierce flames ignite inside him, as if he had two hearts...”

Gu Changhuai shuddered inside and exclaimed, ”He took action?”

”He did.”

Gu Changhuai’s gaze hardened as he looked at Mo Hua. ”And you escaped?”

”Uh-huh,” Mo Hua nodded, ”As soon as he made his move, I ran.”

”How did you escape?”

Mo Hua felt this question was rather redundant, ”Of course, I ran with my legs...”

Gu Changhuai was somewhat frustrated.

”I meant to ask you...”

Gu Changhuai calmed his emotions, and as he was halfway through his reply, he suddenly paused, his gaze darkened, and he said no more.

There are indeed certain things that should not be asked excessively.

Especially the means by which a cultivator preserves their life...

It’s just that Mo Hua, in his eyes, was becoming more and more enigmatic...

”Do you know where the Fire Buddha went?” Gu Changhuai asked solemnly.

Mo Hua shook his head, ”I was lucky to get away, where would I dare to follow them...”

”Where did you encounter them?”

”On the outskirts of Luan Mountain City...”

Mo Hua thought a bit and then got more specific, ”Between the mountain paths outside Luan Mountain City and Bishan City, there is a stretch of forest and a small tea house...”

”The mountain path junction between Luan Mountain City and Bishan City...”

Gu Changhuai nodded, ”Alright, I got it. I’ll go check it out myself with some people. If the situation turns out to be true...”

Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua, ”I will compensate you with Merit Points.”

Mo Hua was thrilled inside, ”Thank you, Uncle Gu.”

Gu Changhuai nodded, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

”Uncle Gu,” Mo Hua asked quietly, ”what exactly does the Fire Buddha intend to do by suddenly showing up?”

Gu Changhuai shook his head, ”I don’t know, don’t worry about it, and don’t get involved anymore.”

After saying this, Gu Changhuai put his documents in order and hurriedly left the room.

He also summoned several teams of Enforcement Leaders, dividing them to act separately as if to trace the Fire Buddha’s whereabouts.

Mo Hua really wanted to join them, but without having to think, he knew Uncle Gu would definitely disagree, so he could only return to the Sect with his senior brothers and sisters.

After returning to the Sect, Mo Hua still had this matter on his mind.

How could they catch the Fire Buddha?

How could he obtain the cultivation spell for the ”Meteor Fire Skill,” a forbidden technique, from the Fire Buddha?

And the Fire Buddha, his face wearing compassion while slaughtering mercilessly...

What exactly did he intend to do by suddenly appearing?

With too few related clues, Mo Hua just couldn’t understand it.

So he asked Senior Sister Murong for help, to gather some news.

He faintly felt that since the Fire Buddha had appeared, he must be up to something...

Several days later, Murong Caiyun found Mo Hua and hesitated for a moment before she spoke with a grave expression:

”The Xie family of Bishan City has been annihilated by the Fire Buddha.”

”The Xie family has become a sea of fire; men, women, the elderly, children, all were burned to ash without survivors...”