The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua slowly let out a breath, but his gaze also grew somewhat serious.

After sailing for a while longer, there were no other boats around. The Mistwater River was vast, the night was dark, and only his own Spirit Boat was sailing alone.

Mo Hua did not even know where he had ended up.

After a moment, the Letter Token trembled slightly. Mo Hua took it out to check, and it was a message from Gu Changhuai:

”We’ve been tricked, we boarded the wrong boat.”

Mo Hua silently replied:

”No worries, I boarded the right one...”

Gu Changhuai was silent for a moment, seemingly unable to understand, ”Why is the boat you boarded not wrong?”

Mo Hua also found it hard to explain at the moment, so he simply replied:

”A stroke of luck...”

Gu Changhuai didn’t dwell on it; time was tight, and this was not the time to discuss such matters. .

”Do you know which part of the river you’re in now?”

Surrounded by pitch darkness, Mo Hua thought for a while and sighed, ”I don’t know.”

This is troublesome...

Gu Changhuai frowned.

Mo Hua recalled for a moment, then sent a message to Gu Changhuai:

”I only remember the first half of the route and the direction we veered. You can try to find Cheng Mo and Hao Xuan, compare routes, and you should figure out the general direction.”

Gu Changhuai’s spirit lifted, ”Alright.”

Mo Hua then relayed the details of the Spirit Boat’s route to Gu Changhuai, hoping he could deduce the location where the Rouge Boat would dock.

”I’ll make haste in checking, don’t act rashly on your own.” Gu Changhuai advised.

But he knew, unless he tied Mo Hua up, immobilizing him, otherwise, it would be impossible for Mo Hua to stay calm.

Gu Changhuai was merely giving routine advice.

Mo Hua symbolically responded, ”Okay.”

Then Mo Hua sent a message to Situ Jian, telling them the general situation and asking them to cooperate with Gu Changhuai in checking the route.

Besides, Situ Jian and the others should be safe.

Though they couldn’t get on the Rouge Boat and see the novelty, they also wouldn’t have to bear the boat’s temptations and risks.

”By the way,” Mo Hua remembered something and sent a message, ”When you return, remember to find that Senior Brother of Wang Chen’s and give him a beating to get back the hundred thousand Spirit Stones’ ticket fee.”

A hundred thousand Spirit Stones is no small amount.

Even though they’re not his Spirit Stones, the Junior Brothers’ Spirit Stones are still Spirit Stones, and they shouldn’t benefit others.

”Alright...”

Situ Jian sighed.

No wonder he’s our Junior Brother, truly doesn’t suffer any loss.

Then he also cautioned, ”Junior Brother, be very careful on your own.”

”Mmm, don’t worry.”

After giving all the instructions, Mo Hua put away the Letter Token, concentrating on watching the night scenery outside the window, waiting for the Spirit Boat to reach its destination and become a real ”Rouge Boat.”

He wanted to see what kind of business the rumored ”Rouge Boat” was doing and what it looked like inside.

Ye Hong sat beside Mo Hua, also watching the heavy night outside, looking somewhat serious.

...

Meanwhile, in Mistwater City, inside a luxurious tavern.

Two people were drinking and having a secret conversation.

The room was dark, with only a single candle flickering, making it hard to see their faces.

”Has the boat set off?”

”It has.”

”How’s the situation?”

”Fairly smooth.”

”Good,” one of them nodded and then sneered, ”Do they really think our Gui Water Sect is blind? A Taoist Court, a Taixu Gate, and that Gu Family, they think they can blend in the boat just by disguising?”

The other person chimed in, ”Yes, this time, any boat associated with the Taoist Court, Taixu Gate, or Gu Family, we made sure they all disembarked.”

”For confidentiality, we aren’t even using Gui Water Sect’s boats. Only some Spirit Boats we’ve hired from outside can reach the place.”

”And the boat prepared for the gentlemen.”

”Yes, very good!”

”However, Elder, the situation now seems a bit off...”

The cultivator called ”Elder” raised an eyebrow, ”How so?”

”The Taoist Court seems to be investigating...”

”You’ve heard rumors?”

”Yes...”

The ”Elder” was silent for a moment and said, ”No matter, others might eat meat, but we can’t just watch and not participate.”

”But what if...”

The Elder set down his wine glass, not speaking.

The other person, perceptive, immediately poured a glass of wine for the Elder.

The Elder was somewhat pleased and then said solemnly:

”Gui Water Sect is like a ship, we are all on this ship.”

”But Gui Water Sect is only a ship. If the journey is smooth, we can coast along. If the ship sinks, those without skill or foresight will sink with it; but those with ability and vision will find another ship to jump onto before it sinks...”

The other person pondered for a moment, his expression jolting, ”Elder, could it be that you...”

The Elder gave him a stern look, making him swallow his words.

”But, it’s not that easy to jump ship...”

”I’ve said,” the Elder took a sip of wine, speaking calmly, ”only those with abilities and vision have the capability to jump ship; the rest can only sink and die with it.”

”There are plenty of opportunities and chances in this world. It depends on whether you know how to maneuver and if you have ’perception.’

The Elder set down his wine glass.

The other person quickly grasped the meaning, his demeanor becoming even more respectful, as he poured another glass of wine for the Elder:

”Thereafter, I will completely rely on the Elder’s guidance, willing to go to great lengths for you.”

The Elder, with an arrogant attitude, nodded slightly, then remembered something and confirmed:

”Have all the Sect Disciples on the list boarded the ship?”

”Following the Elder’s instructions, they have all been placed on board.”

”Good.”

”However...” the other person remained somewhat puzzled, ”some arrangements this time seem very strange, that place... is it really fine not to have someone guard it?”

The Elder’s expression sharpened, sternly saying, ”Is this something you should be considering?”

”Yes.” The other person immediately bowed with hands clasped.

The Elder paused slightly, his expression softened a bit, and he pointed upwards with his hand:

”The higher-ups have their own reasons for the arrangement. The depths of these waters are profound; even touching a little can drown an ordinary cultivator. Not asking you to inquire is for your own good.”

”The Elder’s lesson is correct...”

The Elder nodded slightly and said no more, sipping his wine quietly.

A moment later, he turned his head, looking towards the Mistwater River, illuminated by lanterns yet still shrouded in darkness.

Some things he indeed could not understand, but he didn’t need to.

As a pawn, one must be aware of their role.

The big influences above and those monsters manipulating things behind the scenes, how they want to shift the Qianxue State Boundary’s layout and what they aim to kill are not for him to know.

He only needed to obey orders and act accordingly.

An obedient pawn is a good pawn.

...

Amidst the surging undercurrents, on the other side, above the Mistwater River.

It was unclear how long had passed before the Spirit Boat Mo Hua was on finally halted.

Unaware of the situation, Mo Hua held his breath, not making any move.

After a moment, the sound of water arose around, as if other Spirit Boats were approaching, gathering together.

Mixed with the sound of chains, it seemed like someone was linking these boats together with chains.

Then the splashing subsided, and the Spirit Boats, forming a long line like a dragon, sailed into the pitch black fog of the Mistwater River.

Mo Hua noticed something unusual concerning this area:

The overwhelming aura... of the Evil God.