The Quest for Immortality

The lantern festival was approaching, and Mistwater City was bustling with activity.

The streets were packed with people and vehicles, cultivators of all kinds crossing paths, the market town was dense, and the sounds of people filled the air.

Mo Hua and a few others found a small tavern, requested a private room, and only after confirming no one was eavesdropping, did they begin to converse quietly.

”At this critical moment, the sect above seems reluctant to set sail...”

”But there’s quite a commotion below, as everyone is counting on this for some extra cash.”

”Moreover, the furor has already passed, the Taoist Court has withdrawn, there’s no visible action.”

”As for the higher Taoist Court, they always put on a show, and when something goes wrong, a little Spirit Stone here and there smooths things over.”

”Several other noble families are also exerting pressure, after all, it’s not just us... it’s not just the Gui Water Sect in this, others also need to earn their keep...”

”Therefore, this time the ship will still set sail, though it will be more discreet.”

...

Wang Chen told Mo Hua everything he knew about the inside story.

Mo Hua nodded, seeing Wang Chen’s worried expression, he said:

”Don’t worry, I left a record for you at the Taoist Court, you were coerced by the sect into doing this. As long as you remain loyal and don’t make any major mistakes, when the Gui Water Sect incident breaks out, you can be exonerated.”

Wang Chen was overjoyed and saluted: ”Thank you...”

He glanced at Mo Hua, unsure of how to address him.

Hao Xuan promptly reminded him: ”Junior Brother.”

”Oh,” Wang Chen confusedly followed suit, ”Thank you, Junior Brother.”

Mo Hua nodded, accepting it.

”All the Gui Water Sect’s ships dock during the day, and after sunset, around 5 p.m, they will set sail all at once, heading into Mistwater River.”

”Some of the ships are just regular pleasure boats for tourists to release lanterns and enjoy the scenery; while others, externally identical, have different destinations and purposes entirely...”

Wang Chen said to Mo Hua.

”Wait for sunset...” Mo Hua murmured.

Wang Chen nodded, ”But you can board early, I’ve spoken to the senior brother in charge, you can head over in advance. You can spend some time on the ship, familiarize yourself with the situation, and naturally, when it’s 5 p.m, you’ll sail to your destination with the ship.”

”Is your senior brother reliable?” Cheng Mo asked.

Wang Chen considered, ”He’s not very reliable, but he’s very greedy. I gave him some Spirit Stones, with that, he should be reliable.”

”Alright.” Mo Hua nodded.

After finalizing the plan, Wang Chen led Mo Hua and the others to a large, luxurious pleasure boat.

There were Gui Water Sect disciples guarding the entrance, tourists needed tokens to board.

”Junior Brother, hang on a second.”

Wang Chen said to Mo Hua and the others, then ran ahead to speak with a senior brother from Gui Water Sect.

The senior brother glanced at Mo Hua and the group from a distance, nodded slightly, then waved them over.

Mo Hua and the group walked forward.

”Come with me...”

This Gui Water Sect senior brother said, and then led the way ahead.

However, he didn’t take Mo Hua and the others onto the ship but brought them to a secluded little storeroom nearby. As soon as he opened his mouth, he said:

”A hundred thousand Spirit Stones per person.”

Mo Hua was shocked, ”So expensive?”

The Gui Water Sect senior brother sneered, ”Do you know where you’re going? What a place of intoxicating pleasures it is? A hundred thousand Spirit Stones is already a discount, thanks to Junior Brother Wang’s face, otherwise, it would be at least a hundred and ten thousand.”

Mo Hua hesitated, finally, with reluctance, he said: ”Alright then...”

This is all for the sake of the investigation, if it were up to him, he’d never spend this kind of unjust Spirit Stone.

And he planned to ask Uncle Gu for ”reimbursement” later. .

Hao Xuan and the others also felt the pinch, but they were noble family’s sons, not to the point of not being able to afford it, and Mo Hua said this was a commission from the Taoist Court, capable of earning a lot of merit points.

Merit points can’t be bought with Spirit Stones.

As long as they could earn merit points, spending some Spirit Stones was worth it.

If they didn’t have enough Spirit Stones, they could also use some equivalent valuable Spiritual Artifacts to offset.

They all handed a storage bag filled with Spirit Stones or containing a Spiritual Artifact to the Gui Water Sect senior brother.

But when it was Mo Hua’s turn, the Gui Water Sect senior brother scrutinized Mo Hua, left and right, pondered for a moment, then suddenly changed his mind, shaking his head:

”He’s not allowed.”

”Why not?” Wang Chen asked, puzzled.

The Gui Water Sect senior brother looked serious, ”Do you know where I’m taking you to?”

”Look at him,” he pointed at Mo Hua, lowering his voice, ”...does he look like he’s going to a brothel?”

Mo Hua couldn’t take it anymore.

Being refused once was bad enough, but being refused twice?

Mo Hua angrily said: ”Why don’t I look like someone who would go to a brothel?!”

Situ Jian quickly tugged his sleeve with a helpless expression.

This isn’t exactly a good thing...

No need to argue over this.

But the Gui Water Sect senior brother just wouldn’t let Mo Hua on the ship, no matter what, not even for more Spirit Stones.

Wang Chen’s plea was also ineffective.

”Though I have this minor hobby of liking to earn Spirit Stones, I can’t break the rules from above, at least not make it too obvious.”

”He looks too young, it’s just no good, really no good...”

Ultimately, with no resolution feasible, Mo Hua had no choice but to be excluded, watching helplessly as Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and Hao Xuan boarded.

Mo Hua was a bit angry but also worried for Hao Xuan and the others.

Luckily he had prepared some measures beforehand.

Cheng Mo and the other two each had formations prepared by him for self-defense, in case of unexpected events.