Chapter 802: Hua Qianqian
Hundred Flowers Valley strictly prohibited entry to all male cultivators.
Even Dao Tribunal Inspectors weren't allowed in, let alone Mo Hua, a junior disciple of the Great Void Sect.
"No way I'm getting in… absolutely not…"
Mo Hua shook his head repeatedly and gave up on that idea.
Fortunately, two days later, a message finally came from Gu Changhuai.
"The interrogation is done," Gu Changhuai said.
Mo Hua: "Guo Jianglong isn't dead, is he?"
Gu Changhuai was speechless. "Why are you always hoping he's dead…"
Mo Hua replied, "I'm not, really. It's just that… he always seems like he's about to die any second, so I had to ask."
After all, Mo Hua had plenty of experience—these minions of the evil gods tended to explode at the drop of a hat.
Gu Changhuai: "Relax…"
Mo Hua: "Did you get anything out of him?"
Gu Changhuai: "Yes, but there's a discrepancy with what you told me."
Mo Hua: "What kind of discrepancy?"
Gu Changhuai: "The young master who died wasn't surnamed Ye… his surname was Lin."
"Lin?" Mo Hua was taken aback.
"That's right."
How could it be Lin?
Mo Hua frowned.
He'd studied the Heavenly Pattern Divination, and had a strong premonition that Young Master Ye was the one who died on Yanshui River, throat slit by Guo Jianglong.
But Guo Jianglong claimed the person he killed was surnamed Lin, not Ye…
Was Guo Jianglong lying?
Mo Hua shook his head.
At this point, with crimes like his, Guo Jianglong was either going to lose his head or rot in Dao Prison forever. There was no reason for him to lie about something so minor.
"Lin… Ye…"
Mo Hua's thoughts stirred. "Could it be… that Young Master Ye was using a false name? Maybe he didn't want to be recognized while indulging in debauchery, so he went around calling himself 'Young Master Lin'?"
Gu Changhuai: "That's entirely possible."
Mo Hua asked again, "Did Guo Jianglong say anything else?"
Gu Changhuai: "He did, but not much of use. He just said he was acting on orders—to silence a Young Master surnamed Lin. Everyone on the boat had to die, cleanly, without leaving a trace."
"To Guo Jianglong, killing is routine. As for other matters, he neither asks nor dares to."
So… that was the end of the trail.
Mo Hua frowned, hesitated, and still asked, "Uncle Gu, have you ever heard of the 'Rouge Boat'?"
On the other end, Gu Changhuai—currently reviewing case files at the Dao Tribunal—paused in shock the moment he saw those three words: Rouge Boat (胭脂舟).
He couldn't help but ask, "How much do you know?"
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
So Uncle Gu did know about it.
Mo Hua replied, "Not much. Just… recently heard the name."
Gu Changhuai didn't believe a word, but he had no way of making Mo Hua talk if he didn't want to.
He could only warn him: "Be careful. Don't be too curious. That place is… dangerous."
A place of mist and debauchery, hiding all manner of filth and corruption.
The people involved were crooked, twisted, and had all sorts of perversions.
To someone like Mo Hua, it was dangerous in… many senses of the word.
But the innocent Mo Hua clearly misunderstood—thinking Gu Changhuai was referring to regular danger.
"Don't worry, Uncle Gu. I know what I'm doing," Mo Hua said confidently.
No, you really don't… Gu Changhuai thought, but bit back the words.
Mo Hua pressed on, "Guo Jianglong definitely knows something about the Rouge Boat. Did you ask him?"
Gu Changhuai: "I did. But the moment I mentioned those three words, Guo Jianglong looked terrified and shook his head furiously."
"He's too scared to talk?"
"Yes. He's most likely been hit with some kind of silencing spell. If he so much as mentions the Rouge Boat, he might die on the spot," Gu Changhuai replied.
That reminded Mo Hua of something Gu Changhuai had told him before.
"A silencing curse?"
"Hard to say. There are many such methods. The Dao Tribunal can't determine it immediately," Gu Changhuai said. "I didn't dare push further. I was afraid it might kill him outright."
Mo Hua frowned.
Guo Jianglong knew about the Rouge Boat—but couldn't say a word. If he did, he'd die.
No wonder the young masters used Guo Jianglong to do their dirty work.
Because his lips were magically sealed.
Which meant… this lead was cut off.
Mo Hua asked, "Is there a confirmed identity for this 'Young Master Lin'?"
Gu Changhuai: "No. The Dao Tribunal couldn't find anything."
Mo Hua was disappointed.
But after hesitating for a bit, Gu Changhuai sighed and messaged Mo Hua:
"The dead 'Young Master Lin' couldn't be traced. But over at the Ye family, I did find one 'Young Master Ye' who died."
Mo Hua blinked.
Gu Changhuai continued: "I had someone pull a file from the Dao Tribunal office in Yanshui City. According to the records, over a year ago, the Ye Clan submitted a request to delete a household registry. The person whose registry was removed was a direct bloodline member named Ye Xiu (葉繡)."
"Ye Xiu?" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. "Ye Jin… Ye Xiu… Jin Xiu… 'Splendid'... Could it be…"
"Yes," Gu Changhuai confirmed. "The person removed from the registry was Ye Jin's elder brother."
He flipped open the file and relayed its contents:
"Ye Xiu, member of the Ye Clan in Yanshui City, direct bloodline, twenty-eight years old, mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. While traveling by boat, he was attacked by a water fiend and poisoned. The poison was potent, and he died after returning home."
"Upon application from his father, Ye Yun, the Dao Tribunal approved the deletion of his household registry."
Mo Hua suddenly understood everything.
It all became clear.
The Ye Clan's Ye Xiu—the one who had his registry deleted—was the deceased brother of Senior Sister Ye Jin.
He went to the Rouge Boat to indulge in pleasures, but used a fake name: Young Master Lin.
Something happened aboard that Rouge Boat.
And afterward, Ye Xiu was silenced—killed by Guo Jianglong.
But since Ye Xiu used the alias "Young Master Lin," Guo Jianglong never knew his real identity—only thinking he'd killed someone surnamed Lin.
Meanwhile, the Ye Clan discovered Ye Xiu was dead. After looking into it just a little, they likely realized this matter was way too deep and dangerous.
So, they decided to drop it.
They claimed he died from poison and filed for his registry to be erased.
That meant the "Young Master Lin" killed on Yanshui River didn't legally exist. The Dao Tribunal had no way to trace him.
Ye Clan's "Young Master Ye" died—but the cause of death was unknown, and they quietly removed all records.
Both sides kept things vague—so naturally, the details never lined up.
If Mo Hua hadn't dug into the circumstances surrounding Ye Jin's death and looked into this old mess, no one would've realized that the "Young Master Lin" with his throat cut on Yanshui River and the "Ye Xiu" erased from the Ye Clan's records… were actually the same person.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly, but also felt fortunate.
Good thing he had Uncle Gu's help.
As a Dao Tribunal Inspector, Gu could access classified records. Without that, Mo Hua would have been completely lost trying to navigate the red tape.
"This confirms it…"
"Senior Sister Ye Jin of Hundred Flowers Valley committed suicide."
"And her elder brother, Ye Xiu, was killed on Yanshui River over a year ago by Guo Jianglong."
The cause of Ye Xiu's death was undoubtedly tied to the Rouge Boat.
Which means Ye Jin's suicide likely had something to do with it as well…
Mo Hua's gaze darkened.
Gu Changhuai's expression wasn't any better.
The implications of this case ran deeper than he'd thought…
"Any other clues?" Mo Hua asked again.
"None," Gu Changhuai replied.
"Really?"
Gu Changhuai didn't respond.
Mo Hua knew better than to press further.
Based on past experience, if Uncle Gu didn't want to answer after being asked, it usually meant… there really was no lead.
In the end, Gu Changhuai sent one last message:
"If you find out anything about the Rouge Boat, remember to tell me. Don't go poking around on your own."
"Mm. I promise," Mo Hua replied earnestly.
Gu Changhuai couldn't tell if Mo Hua's "I promise" was real or just for show.
After all, this kid was notoriously unpredictable.
At this moment, Gu Changhuai finally began to understand how the Grand Inspector of the Dao Tribunal must feel watching him work.
To the Grand Inspector, he was probably exactly what Mo Hua was to him…
Gu Changhuai sighed silently.
He pulled out Ye Xiu's dossier again. As he stared at the bright red seal from the Dao Tribunal's Xiao Clan, his expression grew increasingly grim.
Meanwhile, back at the Great Void Sect, Mo Hua sat quietly in thought.
Now, at least, the victim's identity was mostly confirmed.
But both Ye Jin and Ye Xiu were dead.
Gu Changhuai had already dug into Ye Xiu's side of the story—trying to investigate further probably wouldn't yield anything soon.
That line was, for now, cut off.
Which meant his only hope was through Senior Sister Ye Jin, the one who'd taken her own life.
But Ye Jin was a disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley.
Mo Hua couldn't get inside, so he'd have to ask someone on the inside.
The person he was most familiar with in Hundred Flowers Valley… was Senior Sister Qianqian.
Mo Hua formed a plan.
He would find time to speak with her.
But he couldn't just do what Hao Se did—wait outside Hundred Flowers Valley's gates. That would just get him labeled a "suspicious cultivator"… and likely beaten within an inch of his life.
So if he couldn't stake out Hundred Flowers Valley… he'd have to stake out the Great Void Sect instead.
Senior Sister Qianqian was close with Senior Sister Murong, and often visited to cultivate together, complete missions, or go monster hunting.
After that, whenever he had free time, Mo Hua would head to Murong Caiyun under the pretense of "asking for advice on array formations."
But after several days of visiting, he still hadn't run into Hua Qianqian.
Ironically, it was after a class one day—while picking up some formation diagrams and pastries that Aunt Wan had arranged to be delivered for him and Yu'er—that he spotted Hua Qianqian pacing nervously at the foot of the mountain.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. He immediately jogged over and greeted her:
"Senior Sister Qianqian!"
Hua Qianqian startled slightly. When she looked up and saw Mo Hua, she gave him a faint smile.
"Junior Brother Mo…"
She seemed to be troubled, her mood low, and the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Mo Hua asked, "Senior Sister Qianqian, are you here to see Senior Sister Murong?"
Hua Qianqian nodded.
Mo Hua offered, "Then I'll go call her for you."
But before he could move, Hua Qianqian gently tugged on his sleeve, hesitated a few times, and sighed.
"Never mind… it's nothing important."
Mo Hua's eyes flickered slightly.
He could tell—Senior Sister Qianqian clearly had something on her mind, something she wanted to talk to Senior Sister Murong about. But she seemed hesitant, unsure if she should even bring it up. That must be why she'd been pacing outside the sect.
Mo Hua's heart stirred, and he asked gently:
"Senior Sister, is something bothering you?"
His voice was clear and tranquil, like a spring of pure water. And within his tone was a thread of calm divine intent.
Upon hearing it, the uneasiness in Hua Qianqian's heart visibly eased.
She looked up at Mo Hua and met his clear, steady gaze—and gradually felt more at peace.
"I…"
She opened her mouth but stopped short.
Mo Hua encouraged her:
"Senior Sister, if there's trouble, tell me. I might be able to help."
Hua Qianqian blinked.
"You… help me?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
"When I first joined the sect, you and Senior Sister Murong looked after me. Senior brothers and sisters should look out for each other. Now that you're troubled, of course I should help you."
Hua Qianqian looked at Mo Hua's earnest face and felt a warmth rise in her heart. But she still shook her head and said:
"You're at a critical stage of your cultivation. You should focus. Don't get involved in unnecessary trouble…"
"Okay…" Mo Hua sighed. Then his eyes sparkled with an idea. He took a step back and said:
"Then how about this: at least tell me what happened? Maybe I can give you some advice."
"That…"
Hua Qianqian hesitated for a moment—but in the end, she nodded.
She had always been lively and straightforward, not good at keeping secrets.
Keeping this bottled up was eating away at her. She wanted to tell someone—but couldn't confide in anyone back in Hundred Flowers Valley.
She'd thought of talking to Murong, but kept hesitating.
Now, with Mo Hua offering so sincerely, she found it hard to refuse.
Besides, she was familiar with him—despite his young age, Mo Hua was clever, calm in a crisis, and resourceful. Honestly, he was sometimes even more reliable than she was.
Hua Qianqian let out a deep sigh, then asked:
"Do you still remember… that Senior Sister Ye?"
"Senior Sister Ye?" Mo Hua played dumb, then after a moment's pretend thought, he nodded:
"The one with the oval face, very fair and beautiful, refined temperament? I remember her… What about her?"
A painful look crossed Hua Qianqian's face.
"She…"
Her voice trembled, and she bit her lip before continuing:
"…She's dead."
A hint of sadness flashed in Mo Hua's eyes.
"Senior Sister Ye… how did she die?" he asked softly.
"She... committed suicide..."
Mo Hua feigned shock.
"She was perfectly fine—why would she take her own life?"
Hua Qianqian's heart ached.
Some things—if kept inside—would never be said.
But once the first word slips out, everything pours like a flood.
She said, "The elders all claim Sister Jin'er committed suicide… but I don't believe it. At the very least, it couldn't have been that simple."
"Jin'er was... very introverted. Her background wasn't great, but she was kind. She always looked a bit distant, but she really cared for others. She loved magnolias, and when she had free time, she'd even make pastries for us."
"Everyone treated her well too."
"Someone like her—how could she possibly take her own life for no reason?"
"I want to find out the truth. I want to know what really happened to Jin'er…"
"But everyone avoids the topic. The elders insist she killed herself, and when I tried asking my fellow sisters for help, some didn't care, others brushed me off, and some even told me not to meddle…"
As she said this, Hua Qianqian's expression dimmed.
Mo Hua asked gently, "So you wanted to ask Senior Sister Murong to help investigate?"
Hua Qianqian nodded.
"I wanted to ask Sister Murong, but…"
She sighed.
"…I didn't want to disturb her. The Dao Discussion Conference is next year. Sister Murong isn't like me—she's talented and has high expectations placed on her. She's supposed to place in that competition. I didn't want my troubles to distract her."
Dao Discussion Conference?
Mo Hua blinked, then remembered—Murong Senior Sister was one year ahead of him. The conference was indeed coming up.
Hua Qianqian looked downcast.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said,
"Senior Sister Qianqian… how about I investigate it for you?"
Hua Qianqian blinked in surprise.
"You? But how?"
Mo Hua replied,
"If you have any leads, you can tell me. And if you have questions, I can try to find the answers. Actually…"
He leaned in close, lowering his voice:
"…I have some contacts in the Dao Tribunal. If it's not something that violates Dao law, I can probably find it out for you."
Hua Qianqian was stunned.
He has contacts in the Dao Tribunal?!
A mid-Foundation Establishment junior like him… has contacts in the Dao Tribunal of a fifth-grade province like Qianxue?!
"Really!"
Afraid she wouldn't believe him, Mo Hua pulled out his bronze waist token from Tongxian City's Dao Tribunal and flashed it dramatically.
He even showed her the communication talisman given by Gu Changhuai, used specifically for Dao Tribunal correspondences.
Hua Qianqian stared blankly, nodding dumbly.
But she still looked worried.
"This matter… might involve some danger. You—"
"It's fine," Mo Hua waved her off.
"I've got strong backing. Elder Xun told me—as long as I act upright and don't do anything wrong, if anyone tries to mess with me, he'll stand behind me."
After all, after the Ten Thousand Demon Valley incident, Mo Hua had grown quite familiar with Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian.
For minor things, he didn't even need Elder Xun to personally intervene.
Hua Qianqian had heard Murong Caiyun mention the Great Void Sect's Elder Xun before. Upon hearing this, her heart trembled, and the way she looked at Mo Hua completely changed.
She had no idea her seemingly harmless junior brother Mo was actually so capable—and had such deep connections.
With a solemn expression, she bowed her head respectfully:
"Then I'll be counting on you, Junior Brother Mo!"
"No need to thank me—it's what I should do." Mo Hua waved his hand casually, then laid out the plan he'd already been forming:
"Once you return to Hundred Flowers Valley, don't draw attention. Investigate quietly."
"Take note of anything related to Senior Sister Ye Jin—who she interacted with, where she went, anything she said or did."
"See if she had any grudges, any conflicts with others, anything suspicious…"
"Also—"
Mo Hua laid out a long and detailed plan, fast and fluent.
Hua Qianqian stood there a bit dazed.
How is Junior Brother Mo so experienced at this…?
But then again, given his ties to the Dao Tribunal, it made sense he'd know his way around investigations.
She nodded earnestly.
"Alright, Junior Brother Mo. I'll remember everything."
Mo Hua added, "If you discover anything, meet me here again. If I find something, I'll tell you too."
"Okay!" Hua Qianqian's eyes were firm.
She would uncover the truth behind Jin'er's death!
After that, Hua Qianqian returned to Hundred Flowers Valley, and Mo Hua went back to the Great Void Sect.
Just like that, Mo Hua now had a "spy" inside Hundred Flowers Valley.
A few days later, the two met at the foot of the mountain as agreed.
Hua Qianqian shared what she'd gathered in secret:
"Just like the other sisters, Jin'er usually only interacted with the elders, instructors, and fellow disciples. Nothing out of the ordinary…"
"I never heard of her having grudges with anyone either."
"Everything she did and said seemed normal. But—there was one thing that stood out…"
Her expression turned puzzled.
"One of my senior sisters said Jin'er once asked her a very strange question."
"A strange question?"
"Yes," Hua Qianqian said slowly.
"She asked… 'Can people become ghosts after they die?'"
Mo Hua's pupils constricted.
Ghosts?!
(End of this Chapter)