The Quest for Immortality

Once you succumb to the allure of profit and take the wrong first step, you will continue to be drawn by the profit, making mistakes step by step.

Until finally, when the grave mistake is made, even if everyone knows it’s wrong, the profit is so deeply rooted that it cannot be changed at all.

In the end, everyone can only watch helplessly as the towering edifice topples little by little, crushing everyone beneath it.

Perhaps for the cultivators with a conscience inside the Gui Water Sect, this is how they feel...

Mo Hua sighed.

Then he contemplated for a moment and asked, ”Uncle Gu, do you know when exactly the Gui Water Sect will launch the Rouge Boat? Any clues?”

”I have some...”

”What clues?”

Gu Changhuai did not hide it from Mo Hua, ”Three days later, the annual lantern festival of Mistwater City will take place, bringing together cultivators, as usual, releasing river lanterns, taking boat rides, and taking a night cruise on the Mistwater River. According to information from the Taoist Court, during that time, the Gui Water Sect will slip the Rouge Boat among the pleasure boats, releasing it into the Mistwater River, then diverging at a predetermined point, ultimately converging at their destination, where they will begin their business of amorous services...”

”I see... quite a few tricks they have...” Mo Hua mumbled, and then immediately noticed something was off, asking curiously, ”Uncle Gu, why tell me this?”

”Don’t you want to know?”

”I want to know, but...”

Usually, Uncle Gu keeps things to himself until he’s really pressed about it, so why is he acting so abnormally today?

When something unusual happens, there must be ghosts lurking about.

”...Do you have some request from me?” Mo Hua asked shrewdly.

Gu Changhuai sighed.

It’s good for the child to be clever, but being too clever can be a bit unappealing.

”It’s not a ’request,’ it’s an assignment from the Taoist Court.” Gu Changhuai insisted.

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow, ”Oh... what do you need me to do?”

Gu Changhuai didn’t correct his wording anymore and said helplessly, ”You need to sneak in as well...”

”There are two types of Rouge Boats: one for sect disciples to indulge in and another for family cultivators across the cultivation world to entertain themselves with.”

”To avoid any oversight, there must be insiders on both kinds of boats.”

”As for the family cultivators’ side, I can infiltrate. But on the sect disciples’ boat, I don’t have a good informant.”

Initially, Gu Changhuai thought about finding someone from the Shangguan Family or the Gu Family to board and investigate.

But those disciples either have enough cultivation but lack agility or are clever enough but slightly lacking in strength, and when it comes to sneaking in and gathering intelligence, the aptitude compared to Mo Hua is vastly different.

And many sect disciples, including those from the Shangguan and Gu Families themselves, he couldn’t trust.

After much consideration, in Gu Changhuai’s heart, he actually felt Mo Hua was the most reliable.

”You sneak in, and if you find anything, you can tell me. After all, even if I don’t tell you, you would eventually sneak in yourself...” Gu Changhuai said.

Mo Hua nodded; that was true, Uncle Gu knew him quite well.

He was definitely going to the Rouge Boat on this mission.

However, he had a concern.

”Uncle Gu, the Rouge Boat... seems to be that kind of place, right? If I’m going to gather intelligence, you need to give me a ’proof.’” Mo Hua said.

Gu Changhuai was stunned, ”What proof?”

”It’s just,” Mo Hua said, ”there’s a record at the Taoist Court proving that I boarded the boat to assist the Taoist Court with investigations, not for personal leisure!”

Otherwise, if the Taoist Court conducts a ’purge’ and sweeps him up in it, he’d lose face terribly.

Gu Changhuai paused and sighed helplessly.

One has to admit that Mo Hua, this kid, is quite thoughtful, leaving no room for error.

”Alright.” Gu Changhuai agreed.

”So, how do I sneak in?” Mo Hua asked again.

”That’s for you to find out by yourself.” Gu Changhuai said.

With Mo Hua’s shrewdness, Gu Changhuai had no doubt he would be able to sneak in.

”If you need anything, just let me know.”

Gu Changhuai finished speaking and said nothing more.

Mo Hua, on the other hand, was pondering in his heart how exactly he could sneak onto the Rouge Boat.

”Mistwater City, Lantern Festival, Rouge Boat...”

Mo Hua pondered over it and figured that he could only turn to Hao Xuan and the people from Gui Water Sect, like Wang Chen, for help.

In the following days, he was busy preparing for this matter.

With Hao Xuan’s help, he also got in touch with Wang Chen from Gui Water Sect, gathered some clues, prepared some Formations and Pills, and set off on the day of the ten-day break. .

He first visited the Gu Family and discussed specific matters with Gu Changhuai, planning to head directly to Mistwater City afterward.

But before he could leave the Gu Family’s house, Elder Gu Hong blocked his way.

Elder Gu Hong pulled Mo Hua to a small pavilion nearby and said sternly, ”Have you colluded with Changhuai and kept something from me?”

Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat, ”You’ve found out?”

Indeed, ginger only gets spicier as it gets older.

Elder Gu Hong snorted lightly, ”Spit it out, what’s going on?”

”It’s nothing major...” Mo Hua said with an awkward smile.

Regarding the Rouge Boat, Elder Gu Hong might not know.

What she’s concerned about is probably just Uncle Gu’s matchmaking matter.

Mo Hua contemplated for a moment and then said:

”It’s just that Uncle Gu approached me and made a deal... I cover for him on this matchmaking matter with you, and in return, if he has any tasks from the Taoist Court, he’ll take me along to earn some Merit Points.”

Mo Hua just sold out Gu Changhuai, throwing the blame on him.

Elder Gu Hong was a bit angry, ”Taking you to earn Merit Points should be a given. But letting you, a child, deal with me to avoid matchmaking? This Gu Changhuai is really regressing as he ages; he’s become a Supervisor, his wings have hardened, and I won’t let him off easily...”

Elder Gu Hong was about to get up in a rage.

Mo Hua quickly pulled her back, ”Elder Hong, don’t be hasty, this could be good news.”

Elder Gu Hong gave Mo Hua a light glare, ”How is this good news?”

”Think about it,” Mo Hua glanced around and whispered, ”Uncle Gu doesn’t want to meet for matchmaking, and if you force him, he gets even more reluctant. Doesn’t that backfire? Why not let me secretly help you!”

”Help me?” Elder Gu Hong was taken aback.

Mo Hua nodded, ”I’ll help you. If there’s really a suitable sister or aunt, I can play matchmaker for Uncle Gu...”

Elder Gu Hong still seemed a bit hesitant.

Mo Hua then took the opportunity to ask, ”Do you not find Instructor Hua suitable?”

Elder Gu Hong hesitated, then frowned and said, ”I heard later on; this girl seems off...”

”What’s off?” Mo Hua asked.

”I always felt her actions were a bit sneaky, and her makeup smell is rather strong, with chaotic aura, possibly...not very self-respecting.”

Elder Gu Hong’s words were quite straightforward.

But in her eyes, Mo Hua was like a nephew, so she didn’t hold back.

To reassure Elder Gu Hong, Mo Hua whispered secretly:

”Elder Hong, actually... I found someone who matches Uncle Gu very well, an ’elder sister’...”

As expected, Elder Gu Hong perked up, her eyes sparkling, ”Who?”

”I can’t tell you yet...” Mo Hua teased.

”You child...”

Elder Gu Hong was somewhat helpless, but thinking over it, she smiled and said, ”Fine, I won’t ask then. You better put your heart into it. If this works out, treat the Gu Family as your own. If anything happens...”

Elder Gu Hong felt she might have spoken too boldly, so she corrected herself, ”...as long as it’s not a grave offense like defying the Taoist Court, if anything happens, I’ll support you!”

Mo Hua’s expression brightened, ”Thank you, Elder Hong!”

After a few more words of casual conversation, Mo Hua took his leave of Elder Hong and left Qingzhou City, arriving inside Gui Water City.

In Gui Water City, Mo Hua met with Wang Chen, confirmed the accuracy of the information, and reunited with Hao Xuan, Cheng Mo, and Situ Jian.

The group then set off together for the Third-grade Immortal City—Mistwater City.

Meanwhile, the annual Lantern Festival in Mistwater City had already begun, attracting cultivators from all sides.

In the city, there were local Mistwater City cultivators, visiting cultivators, and cultivators from various family sects.

And within the Qian Learning State Boundary, there were numerous sect disciples from different sects...