Chapter 804 – Celestial Being
"Yes! Absolutely yes!"
Before Mo Hua could blink, Hua Qianqian replied at lightning speed.
Mo Hua: "…"
Was she… that excited?
Seeing that Mo Hua didn't respond, Hua Qianqian quickly added:
"As long as you put on Hundred Flowers Valley's robes, I'll do whatever it takes to sneak you inside!"
"No matter what unexpected situations arise, I'll handle them all!"
"All responsibility—will be mine!"
She vowed, full of conviction.
Mo Hua: "…"
"Well? Well?" Before he could respond, Hua Qianqian barreled ahead,
"Then it's settled! This kind of thing can't be delayed—the earlier the better! Come find me first thing tomorrow!"
Decision made—by her, unilaterally.
She had to strike while the iron was hot. Act fast—hesitate and she might lose her chance!
What if he changed his mind after a few days? Her once-in-a-lifetime wish would go poof!
Now that she'd got him to budge, she couldn't let him back out!
Mo Hua was speechless.
He thought of Senior Sister Ye Jin, and of that line in "One Hundred Taboos of Cultivation"—
"If one dies tragically, with heavy resentment, they may transform into a vengeful ghost…"
He let out a helpless sigh.
"Fine…"
"Yes!"
Inside Hundred Flowers Valley, Hua Qianqian had been too distraught to eat or sleep properly for days over Ye Jin's death.
Now, for the first time in a while, her world seemed full of light again.
"Let's see now… What kind of robes would my adorable Junior Brother look best in…"
All sleep forgotten, she leapt up and began digging through her chests, selecting robes for Mo Hua from her collection of vibrant, elaborate outfits.
The next morning.
Mo Hua arrived at Hua Qianqian's personal residence.
She had given him the location—it was outside Hundred Flowers Valley, in Hundred Flower City, one of the Hua Family's properties.
As a favored daughter of the Hua Clan, she'd been given this place to live, cultivate, rest, refine pills, or entertain friends during the rest period.
At the front hung a plaque that read "Fragrant Pavilion."
Judging from the handwriting, it had probably been inscribed by Sister Qianqian herself.
Mo Hua stood at the entrance, staring at the plaque, and instantly regretted every decision that brought him to this point.
"Maybe I should just… run?"
What did the matters of Hundred Flowers Valley have to do with him?
The whole Rouge Boat situation wasn't that urgent.
As for Sister Ye… he'd just have to mourn her in his heart.
These were the guilty thoughts running through Mo Hua's mind.
He slowly began backing away—then turned to flee. But just as he was about to escape, the door to the residence swung open.
"Junior Brother Mo, you're here!"
Hua Qianqian's eyes sparkled like twin stars.
She'd gotten up before dawn and waited by the door in case Mo Hua tried to escape.
So the moment she saw him, she opened the door at once.
"Senior Sister, I—" Mo Hua stammered,
"I just remembered, I have something to take care of at the sect, and there's this formation I haven't finished yet, so maybe we should postpone this whole thing—"
But Hua Qianqian wasn't about to let him off that easily.
She instantly lunged forward and grabbed Mo Hua in a bear hug.
Caught off guard, Mo Hua couldn't dodge in time. He was pulled firmly into her embrace and dragged helplessly into the residence.
The residence was cozy and exquisitely decorated, filled with a riot of colorful flowers.
Fragrances of alchemical herbs and blossoms blended in the air, creating an intoxicating aroma.
Qianqian dragged Mo Hua into the inner chamber, sat him down at the table, then closed the door behind them and sealed the formation.
She had made up her mind—whether or not he actually entered Hundred Flowers Valley, she was going to see him wear the robe she had picked out.
Before Mo Hua could react, a large ornate storage box appeared before him—decorated with golden filigree.
Qianqian opened it, revealing an army of robes neatly folded inside.
Some were luxurious, some elegant, some dignified, some playful—each more extravagant than the last.
Exquisite embroidery of vibrant flowers, grand landscapes, and regal phoenix patterns adorned the fabrics, shimmering with divine radiance.
"I didn't sleep a wink. I picked them out all night," she said excitedly.
"Junior Brother Mo, see which one you like?"
Mo Hua stared at the enthusiastic Hua Qianqian and suddenly had the feeling…
Like a lamb being fed to the tiger.
He turned to glance at the chest of clothing and said weakly:
"These don't… look like Hundred Flowers Valley's sect robes…"
After all, Hundred Flowers Valley's standard robes, while elegant and floral, were still uniforms—they didn't come in a hundred different styles.
Qianqian froze.
Right… Mo Hua had said he needed official Hundred Flowers Valley robes.
She'd been so happy, she'd picked only the ones she liked.
"That's such a minor detail… shouldn't matter, right?" she whispered.
"As long as it's a woman's robe, we should be able to sneak you in…"
Mo Hua gave her a long, silent stare.
She sighed, then her eyes lit up again:
"Just try one! Let me see! Just one look, that's all I ask!"
"Senior Sister, we're here to handle serious business," Mo Hua said helplessly.
"Fine…" she sighed in defeat.
She reluctantly turned around and picked out a few relatively plain, regulation sect robes—not her favorites—and handed them to Mo Hua.
"Try these first, Junior Brother."
Mo Hua still felt uncomfortable.
But under Qianqian's persistent urging, he finally gave in and put on a set of elaborately floral Hundred Flowers Valley robes.
When Qianqian saw him, she froze for a full second, then couldn't stop herself from covering her mouth in astonishment.
Mo Hua's features were delicate to begin with, his aura clear and elegant.
Now, clad in radiant robes, he appeared refined and striking—a mix of grace and otherworldly charm, exuding a neutral beauty that transcended gender.
He had the innocence of a maiden and the boldness of a youth.
His figure wasn't especially tall for a man, but compared to most women, he appeared tall and slender.
And his eyes… sparkled like stars.
In them were traces of sorrow, mystery, and a solemn majesty that felt both divine and unreachable.
Qianqian, for a moment, wondered—
"Is this even a mortal face?"
In legends, when the Dao was flawless and yin-yang in harmony, the immortal form was said to be just like this.
"Senior Sister…"
"Senior Sister?"
Mo Hua called twice before Qianqian finally snapped out of it.
She immediately dove back into the chest, pulling out more outfits, eyes gleaming:
"Try these next!"
Even wearing the standard robe, Mo Hua looked like a flawless jade statue, ethereal and otherworldly.
If he tried on these specially chosen, luxurious robes… the results would be unimaginable.
Even celestial beings needed divine garments to match their divinity.
As long as Mo Hua tried them on—just for a second—her life's dreams would be fulfilled.
But Mo Hua violently shook his head.
"No! Not happening!"
"Just once!"
She reached for a robe and tried to slip it onto him, but just then—
A gentle yet scolding voice came from outside the door:
"Qianqian? It's broad daylight—why is your door shut?"
Murong Caiyun, holding the residence's access token, opened the door and was greeted with the following sight:
A floor scattered with robes and accessories…
A flustered, rosy-cheeked Hua Qianqian…
And a beet-red Mo Hua, wearing Hundred Flowers Valley robes, caught mid-scuffle.
Murong Caiyun froze.
So did the two inside.
Moments later, Murong Caiyun's voice trembled with rage:
"You—"
Hua Qianqian's heart dropped like a stone.
"Sister Murong, it's not what you think—"
"Still trying to lie?!"
"Please—just let me explain—!"
…
After the chaotic scene, the doors to the residence finally shut once more.
Murong Caiyun now sat inside, her expression dark and unreadable.
Hua Qianqian and Mo Hua sat side by side, heads lowered like two children who'd been caught doing something wrong.
"...Is that really what happened?"
Murong Caiyun asked, face stern.
"Yes..."
Both Hua Qianqian and Mo Hua replied in small voices.
Murong Caiyun scolded,
"Even if you wanted to investigate what happened to Sister Jin, you can't have Mo Hua disguise himself in Hundred Flowers Valley robes and sneak in! If this gets exposed—"
"I'll take full responsibility," Hua Qianqian said firmly.
Murong Caiyun shot her an exasperated look.
"You're still just a disciple yourself, with the emotional maturity of a child. What exactly can you take responsibility for?"
Qianqian muttered,
"At least the blame won't fall on Junior Brother Mo..."
Murong Caiyun's expression grew colder as she glared at her.
"And how could you have him wear the female disciples' robes from Hundred Flowers Valley?"
"Because… he looks good in them..." Hua Qianqian mumbled feebly.
Murong Caiyun looked like she wanted to tug her ears off.
Just then, Mo Hua raised his head and quietly spoke:
"Senior Sister…"
Murong Caiyun turned her gaze toward him.
But the moment she looked—she couldn't look away.
When she first entered the room, she'd been too stunned and angry to really see him.
Now, calm and composed, she truly took in Mo Hua's appearance—and it was breathtaking. Her heart gave an involuntary thump.
In that instant, an absurd, ridiculous thought crossed her mind:
"Maybe… Qianqian was right."
She immediately shook her head to dispel the thought.
But then she heard Mo Hua say:
"Senior Sister, there's definitely something hidden behind Ye Jin's death."
"And more than that… the way she died—was extremely dangerous."
Murong Caiyun had to consciously force herself not to look at his face and focus solely on his words.
"Dangerous?" she echoed, puzzled.
Mo Hua nodded.
"I don't know what Senior Sister Jin went through before her death, but she must have suffered tremendous injustice and pain. Desperate, with nowhere left to turn, she took one of the most taboo paths—what's written in The Hundred Taboos of Cultivation..."
"After dying a tragic death, a person filled with resentment may become a vengeful ghost."
"A vengeful ghost…"
Murong Caiyun's face turned pale.
Hua Qianqian also blanched in horror.
She had only known that Ye Jin once asked if people could become ghosts after death—but never imagined she would deliberately turn herself into a "vengeful ghost"...
Even by self-immolation—a truly tragic death.
Murong Caiyun now realized the gravity of the situation.
Though not an expert in the way of ghosts and spirits, she knew that once someone became a vengeful ghost, they were extremely violent and destructive.
Cultivators feared ghosts not without reason—ghosts had consciousness but no form. Their path of cultivation was entirely different from the blood, qi, and spirit cultivation of living people. Fighting them was difficult, and extremely dangerous.
Some powerful cultivators with strong divine sense could resist them…
But if they lacked methods to restrain or purify ghostly beings, they were powerless even then.
If Ye Jin had become a vengeful ghost...
Murong Caiyun looked at Mo Hua worriedly.
"Then aren't you in danger too?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
"I'll be fine."
Murong Caiyun opened her mouth to ask why—but when she saw his calm expression and steady eyes, she was strangely reassured.
He had that quiet composure that only emerged in moments of crisis.
She had seen it before—when they'd first met, Mo Hua occasionally showed that same unshakeable calm in dangerous situations.
Now, years had passed. He'd grown and matured—had served as a Junior Brother and leader. That aura of having everything under control had only grown stronger.
Murong Caiyun sighed.
"Alright then…"
Every cultivator had their secrets.
And if Mo Hua was the kind of person who wouldn't act without confidence—then she trusted him.
After thinking for a moment, she asked:
"Why don't you report this directly to the elders of Hundred Flowers Valley?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
"I can't. Not yet…"
Because he still didn't know if any of the higher-ups in Hundred Flowers Valley were involved in this.
Whether or not Senior Sister Ye Jin's death had anything to do with them.
Murong Caiyun paused—then understood.
She sighed again, then said seriously:
"Hundred Flowers Valley is all-female, with very strict sect rules. No male cultivators are allowed to enter."
"If you sneak in and everything goes smoothly, great. But if you're caught—just say I ordered you to investigate."
Mo Hua blinked in surprise.
Hua Qianqian was shocked too.
"Senior Sister Murong…"
Murong Caiyun shook her head.
"I feel terrible about what happened to Sister Jin. There's little I can do to help—so at the very least, I'll shoulder the blame for this."
Hua Qianqian quickly said:
"You don't have to take the blame, I—"
Murong Caiyun cut her off, voice stern:
"You don't understand. I'm from the Murong Clan, and I'm close to you. If you get involved with me, it's manageable. But if people find out you're colluding with Mo Hua, they'll make trouble for your Hua Clan."
Hua Qianqian nodded slowly, still unsure.
Murong Caiyun finished with a warning to Mo Hua:
"Go in, get what you need, and leave. Don't linger. Be careful."
Then she sighed, and with a long, deep look at Mo Hua, said sincerely:
"I'm entrusting Jin'er's case… to you."
"Don't worry, Senior Sister," Mo Hua nodded.
It was getting late. Soon, Hua Qianqian led Mo Hua toward Hundred Flowers Valley.
Only Murong Caiyun remained in the residence.
She thought back on Ye Jin's death and sighed softly.
Then her gaze landed on the beautiful garments scattered all over the floor—she paused, dazed…
In her mind, an image unbidden surfaced:
Mo Hua, dressed in those ornate robes—ethereal, divine, like a celestial being.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Quickly, she pinched her arm to snap out of it, muttering to herself helplessly:
"That troublemaker Qianqian must've corrupted me…"
...
At the entrance to Hundred Flowers Valley.
The morning sun was bright, casting its golden light across the valley, where countless blossoms bloomed in a riot of color—vivid and breathtaking.
Ahead on the mountain path, Hua Qianqian whispered to Mo Hua:
"From this moment on, you're my little junior sister. When we walk through the gates, I'll link arms with you and pretend we're chatting."
"If anyone talks to you, just act shy and don't say much."
Mo Hua nodded awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.
Hua Qianqian glanced at him again, heart aching with regret.
So many beautiful outfits… and her dear Junior Sister—no, Junior Brother—hadn't worn any of them.
And the rouge hadn't been applied, nor had the powder touched his cheeks. His hair was only redone into the simple disciple's topknot of Hundred Flowers Valley.
But Mo Hua's natural features—rosy lips and white teeth—meant that even in a plain sect robe, he looked like a lotus blooming from clear spring water. Elegant, pure, and untouched by dust. No embellishment needed.
Rouge and powder would've just ruined the effect.
And besides—getting Mo Hua to wear even a Hundred Flowers Valley robe was already a miracle. This might be her only chance in life. She had to enjoy every second of it.
Hua Qianqian silently made up her mind.
Her attitude toward Mo Hua grew even more affectionate, her eyes soft as water and constantly fixed on him.
Mo Hua fidgeted under her gaze, utterly uneasy.
The two walked along the mountain path toward the valley's gates.
Hua Qianqian was very well-liked in Hundred Flowers Valley. Along the way, several female disciples greeted her, and she responded to each one politely.
Some inquired about Mo Hua, and Hua Qianqian would say:
"She's a little junior sister from my clan."
Most disciples simply looked amazed and offered a few compliments.
Some were a little suspicious, but seeing how natural Hua Qianqian sounded and how close she acted with this "junior sister," they didn't question it too much.
At the gate, as usual, they needed to present a sect token to enter.
But since it was the mid-cycle rest period, many disciples were coming and going, and the inspection wasn't very strict.
Hua Qianqian discreetly handed her sect token to Mo Hua, then sweetly said to the female elder guarding the entrance:
"Auntie~ I forgot my Hundred Flowers Token. Could you be nice and let me in this once~?"
The elder looked clearly troubled and shook her head.
"No."
"Come on~ just this once~"
"No. It's against sect rules."
"Auntie~"
The elder glared at her.
"You could call me 'Granny' and it still wouldn't work. You're a grown woman already, and still forgetting things like your sect token? Go back and get it."
"I just need to grab a pill manual and I'll be right back! It'll only take a moment," Hua Qianqian said pitifully. "Otherwise I'll have to make the round trip and waste a ton of time. You're the one who told me—cultivators' time is precious…"
The elder sighed in frustration.
Then Hua Qianqian added:
"Auntie, let me in this once, please! I promise on the next sect exam, I'll get at least… a B in Formation!"
"Shameless," the elder shot her a look. "You won't even promise an A?"
Qianqian muttered under her breath,
"Well… I can only promise what I can actually get…"
"Fine." The elder finally gave in, waving her hand. "But just this once. Next time, no token, no entry—no matter what you say."
Hua Qianqian lit up with joy,
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Only then did the elder turn to look at Mo Hua beside her—and her eyes instantly lit up. She was just about to ask something when—
Hua Qianqian grabbed Mo Hua's hand and bolted up the mountain path.
"Junior Sister, hurry up!"
Mo Hua, clutching the sect token, was dragged along with her.
The elder watched the scene unfold but couldn't stop them. She could only sigh and mutter:
"That girl… never proper…"
Inside the sect, Hua Qianqian dragged Mo Hua to a secluded mountain cove. Seeing no one around, she finally let out a breath of relief.
"Whew… We made it. Good thing no one caught on..."
Her heart was pounding wildly.
If they'd been exposed, they'd have "failed before even setting out."
Seeing her this nervous made Mo Hua anxious too.
If they did get caught… maybe he wouldn't die, but he'd definitely suffer a "social death."
"I'm taking you to Sister Ye Jin's disciple quarters now. Just follow my lead," Hua Qianqian told him.
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.
And so, hand in hand, they walked up the stone steps of Hundred Flowers Valley toward the inner disciple quarters in the rear mountains.
At that moment, deep inside Hundred Flowers Valley—
Atop a grand pavilion high above the valley—
A stunningly beautiful woman with a cold expression was frowning as she stared intently at the Hundred Flowers Divination Plate before her.
She too wore a Hundred Flowers Valley sect robe.
But her robe was utterly different—dignified, elegant, and extravagantly ornate. Hundreds of different flowers were embroidered on it in dazzling color. Though each bloomed in its own way, they complemented one another perfectly. This was the highest-grade Hundred Flowers Robe.
As the divination plate turned and flowers on it withered one by one, the woman's expression grew increasingly grim.
Eventually, she sighed softly and turned around, gazing out from the tower to survey the entire Hundred Flowers Valley—lost in thought.
The valley below bloomed in a riot of vivid colors.
Female disciples came and went along the mountain paths, like petals drifting through spring—brilliant and beautiful.
It all looked like a dream.
But just then, her gaze froze.
She had caught sight of a charming young disciple, walking arm-in-arm with another who had a clear and ethereal presence—like a lotus emerging from water—whispering to each other as they walked along the path.
The cold expression on the woman's face shifted in an instant—into startled disbelief.
(End of this Chapter)