The Quest for Immortality

It was exactly at that Hundred Flowers Valley, the instructor named Hua Ruyu, on her way through Mistwater City, bought cosmetics.

Most of those who entered the Water Incense Pavilion were women.

Even if there were men, they were accompanying women inside, and it was rare for male cultivators to enter such cosmetic shops alone.

Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai, then at Gu An and Gu Quan, and asked, ”How do we investigate?”

The four of them, three grown men and a young boy like himself, entering and asking questions everywhere would surely be suspicious.

Gu An then said, ”I know a few female officers. They come from reputable families and are reliable. I’ve already spoken to them to come to the cosmetic shop and help gather some information. They’ll be here later.”

Mo Hua was taken aback, looked at Gu An, somewhat shocked.

It truly goes to show one can’t judge by appearances. Who would have thought honest and stable Little Brother An had such connections?

He then turned his head to look at Gu Changhuai and shook his head slightly.

The implication was, look at Little Brother An, an enforcement leader who knows several female officers, while you, Uncle Gu, a supervisor, don’t even know a single female cultivator.

Mo Hua didn’t say this explicitly.

But Gu Changhuai, seeing his expression, largely understood what he meant, and his face darkened immediately.

However, in front of Gu An and Gu Quan, he didn’t bother to argue with Mo Hua.

After a while, sure enough, two women came over.

Both had Foundation Establishment cultivation and weren’t wearing Taoist Court official robes, but instead wore pretty dresses, dressed like ordinary beauty-loving women from respected families.

The two women first saluted Gu Changhuai and then greeted Gu An.

Gu An smiled and said, ”I entrust you two ladies with this task.”

The two female officers smiled back and replied, ”It’s our duty.”

Afterward, the two female officers walked hand in hand into the Water Incense Pavilion, while Gu An and Gu Quan gathered information outside the shop.

Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai looked for a tea house, drinking tea and eating pine nuts while gossiping.

After more than an hour, everyone reconvened at the tea house, got a private room, and compiled the gathered intelligence.

”The owner of the Water Incense Pavilion is a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator, slightly plump, and a native of Mistwater City.”

”We asked him if his rouge was good, and he boasted about how his rouge was the most popular in Mistwater City. Not only would local noblewomen come to choose his cosmetics, but even women from great families and sects in Qianxue State would often visit to buy rouge from him...”

”I said I didn’t believe him, so he listed some, including a female elder from the Hundred Flowers Sect.”

”Elder?”

”I guess he’s exaggerating, deliberately calling the instructor an elder.”

Mo Hua nodded.

The female officer continued, ”We took the opportunity to ask about the ’female elder’ from the Hundred Flowers Valley. It turns out this ’female elder’ does come by now and then to buy cosmetics.”

”Moreover, not only does she buy cosmetics, but when she sees beautiful young women, she approaches to chat. She’s stunning herself and knows a lot about cosmetics, with exquisite makeup. Plus, being an ’elder’ from the Hundred Flowers Valley, she easily gets along with these young women.”

”The owner said if they hit it off, this Hundred Flowers Valley ’female elder’ might even recommend some girls to join the ’Twelve Streams’ of Qianxue, one of which is the Hundred Flowers Valley.”

Recommending... joining the Hundred Flowers Valley?

Mo Hua’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Gu Changhuai’s expression also darkened slightly.

This Instructor Hua, lingering in cosmetic shops across the immortal cities, probably has ulterior motives...

”That’s all the information we gathered...”

The two female officers said.

Gu Quan interjected, ”I asked some of the nearby shop owners, and indeed, every now and then, a luxurious carriage embroidered with hundreds of flowers would stop outside the Water Incense Pavilion.”

”This carriage is likely from the Hundred Flowers Valley.”

”But the carriage is enclosed, so it’s practically impossible to see inside from the outside.”

”And after staying for a while, approximately half an hour each time, the carriage would leave Mistwater City and head upstream along the Mistwater River...”

”Based on their descriptions, I’ve roughly recreated the appearance of the carriage...”

...

Following that, everyone shared some fragmented, varied small pieces of information.

This information might not be useful, but just in case, nothing could be overlooked.

After the information was shared, Gu Changhuai nodded:

”Thank you for your hard work.”

Then he nodded at Gu An.

Gu An stood up and said with a smile, ”I’ll escort the two ladies and buy some cosmetics as a thank you gift.”

The two female officers thanked him with smiles, evidently very happy.

Afterward, Gu An escorted the two female officers away.

Gu Quan took out a jade slip and meticulously recorded the corresponding information to prevent any seemingly trivial but potentially crucial details from being overlooked.

When Gu An returned, Gu Changhuai had a thoughtful look.

Gu An frowned and said, ”Supervisor, this Instructor Hua indeed seems suspicious.”

Gu Changhuai nodded slightly.

”Though there’s an issue, as it stands, it seems we have no solid evidence, not even clear leads...” Gu Quan said.

”Yes, you can see she’s cautious in her actions, leaving no glaring flaws for us to figure out her intentions.”

Gu An thought for a while, without much insight, then asked Gu Changhuai:

”Where should we start next?”

Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment and said, ”Follow the carriage’s route along the Mistwater River. We’ll also go check. A snake cannot slither without leaving a trace.”

Having said that, he glanced at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua nodded and said, ”Yes, that’s what I was thinking too!”

Then everyone left Mistwater City, driving the carriage along the main road to the next place, all the while keeping a watchful eye along the way for any possible clues.

Yet, after watching for a long time, even upon reaching the next city, Yun Shui City, no suspicious traces were found.

Gu Changhuai frowned and said, ”Let’s keep moving forward...”

But Mo Hua said, ”Wait a moment.”

Gu Changhuai was startled.

Mo Hua felt the copper coin left by his master and closed his eyes slightly, silently urging his divine sense for a calculation.

Moments later, Mo Hua suddenly opened his eyes and looked back, his gaze shining brightly:

”We shouldn’t go forward, but retrace our steps.”

”Retrace our steps?” Gu Changhuai asked.

”Yes.” Mo Hua nodded, ”The way we came has some issues...”

The thread of causality was broken for a segment...