Chapter 838 – Falling Into the Trap
The blue-robed cultivator was named Ye Hong, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and an elder of the Ye Clan.
When Mo Hua performed his divination, he was asking about "someone connected to Ye Jin."
And the karmic trail pointed directly to this man.
Since he was tied to Ye Jin and bore some resemblance to her, it was very likely… he was her father.
The name "Ye Hong" was one Mo Hua had seen earlier while consulting the Dao Court's records regarding Ye Jin's birthplace.
With time limited, Mo Hua had chosen to confront him directly, call out his identity, and clearly state his purpose.
As for Ye Hong's desire for revenge—on the surface, he had hidden it well.
But as a father, how could he not wish to avenge the deaths of both his children?
Besides, Mo Hua's understanding of the Dao of the Soul had grown deeper. That kind of soul-level hatred and fury couldn't be concealed from him.
Ye Hong had hesitated at first, but now that he had agreed, he made up his mind and didn't go back on his word.
Truthfully, there were many things he was incapable of doing on his own.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Hong said to Mo Hua:
"This boat was hired by the Yin Water Sect. Most of those on board are their disciples, and they board with tokens. I don't have one myself. If you wish to board, you'll have to play the part of a servant—pouring tea and attending to menial tasks."
Mo Hua nodded. "No problem."
To infiltrate the Hundred Flowers Valley, he'd even worn their robes. Pretending to be a servant was nothing.
Ye Hong fetched a servant's uniform for Mo Hua and brought him along toward the pleasure boat.
At the entrance, they were stopped by members of the Yin Water Sect.
Ye Hong calmly explained, "This is my clan's servant. He's here to assist me with small tasks."
The Yin Water Sect cultivators hesitated briefly, but since the boat had indeed been hired under Ye Hong's name, bringing a servant was reasonable, so they didn't push the issue.
"Elder Ye, please proceed."
Ye Hong nodded and brought Mo Hua aboard.
Once on the boat, Ye Hong didn't wander around. He led Mo Hua straight to his cabin, shut the door and windows, and gave Mo Hua a respectful salute:
"There are too many ears and eyes around at the moment. I ask the young master to be patient and wait here until dusk."
"Alright." Mo Hua nodded.
He didn't plan to go snooping just yet anyway.
He wouldn't uncover anything useful right now. Once the sun set and they reached their destination—that's when the real show would begin.
Seeing Mo Hua agree, Ye Hong let out a soft breath, then invited Mo Hua to sit and personally brewed tea for him.
Mo Hua sat quietly, sipping tea with measured grace—like any handsome, refined young scholar. All the sharpness he had shown earlier was completely gone.
The more Ye Hong looked at him, the harder he found him to read—and the more alarmed he became.
He had no idea who this youth really was or where he came from.
On the surface, Mo Hua seemed to be only a mid-Foundation cultivator—not powerful.
But that sword-sharp gaze earlier still lingered in Ye Hong's mind—it made his blood run cold.
And this young master had promised to help him get revenge.
Whether it was true or not, Ye Hong dared not treat him carelessly.
After a few sips, curiosity got the better of Mo Hua, and he asked:
"Is this boat yours?"
"Yes," Ye Hong replied.
"Why did you lease it to the Yin Water Sect?"
Ye Hong fell silent for a moment, then sighed and slowly began to explain:
"It's a long story…"
"Xiu'er died on the Yanshui River. I've never been able to let it go. But because of family pressure, I didn't dare investigate too deeply. I told myself that this unfilial son's death would bring me some peace… and placed all my hopes on Jin'er instead."
"But then… Jin'er too…"
Ye Hong's expression turned bitter.
"At first, I just thought my life was cursed—that suffering was my fate. Until… I found a jade slip Xiu'er had left behind."
"A jade slip?" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed.
"Yes," Ye Hong nodded. "It was something he used to jot down things casually. In it, he mentioned that his sister, Jin'er, had changed—she'd grown withdrawn, quiet, and when alone, often looked to be in pain. He suspected she was being bullied."
"That boy… he was lazy, carefree, didn't take cultivation seriously. But from a young age, he adored his little sister."
"So he started looking into it. He seemed to have discovered something. And then… he died on the Yanshui River…"
Ye Hong let out a deep sigh.
Mo Hua also fell silent, his expression darkening.
"And after that?"
"After that…" Ye Hong composed himself, continuing, "I was torn between grief and anger. So I decided to investigate as well."
"Before, I was full of concerns—too many things I didn't dare do. But now, I'm a man with nothing left. I'm not afraid anymore."
"So I started digging. And what I found…"
His voice trailed off, as if reluctant to say the words.
Mo Hua filled in, "The Rouge Boat?"
Ye Hong froze—and realized then that Mo Hua truly knew.
He nodded slowly, then frowned deeply:
"I'd heard rumors before. About the Rouge Boat. But I thought it was just nonsense—baseless gossip about things on the Yanshui River."
"I never imagined it was real… And the powers behind it—deep and unfathomable. Not something a third-tier clan elder like me could even touch."
"So I thought—maybe I could find a way to get close…"
"So you leased the boat?" Mo Hua asked.
"Yes," Ye Hong said gravely. "I used all my life savings to acquire this spirit boat. I started a boat rental business on the Yanshui River, undercutting the competition on price. I kept it up for several months… but got nowhere."
"Then, just recently, someone came looking for me. Wanted to rent the boat—for entertaining some 'important guests.' I was stunned. I thought I'd finally found a lead…"
Ye Hong shared everything with Mo Hua, holding nothing back.
Mo Hua nodded, then asked, "And about Senior Sister Ye Jin's death? Do you know who was responsible?"
Ye Hong paused, confused. "Senior sister?"
Mo Hua nodded without hiding it.
"I had some acquaintance with her. By generation, I should call her Senior Sister."
Even though, really, they had only met once.
And he had only called her "Senior Sister" once—that one time was all he got.
Ye Hong's heart trembled. His gaze softened, and he looked at Mo Hua with new respect.
"So… Jin'er, that poor girl… she still has someone who remembers her…"
He muttered to himself, and then said gravely:
"I investigated. It's said she was last seen near the Yanshui River. She was with a man."
"When I searched through her belongings, I found a few clues about him."
"I don't know his identity. Only that he had a pale face, looked handsome, but there was something sinister in his eyes. He enjoyed… tormenting others."
Mo Hua's expression shifted.
Pale, handsome, cruel, enjoyed inflicting pain…
The image of Water Yama surfaced instantly in his mind.
Water Yama…
So it's you again.
Mo Hua's eyes turned cold, and he silently added another entry to Water Yama's growing "death ledger."
Ye Hong seemed overcome by sorrow, and whispered:
"I've failed as a father. I couldn't protect my own children…"
He knew very well that his clan wouldn't help him get justice—they were selfish and cowardly.
As a Foundation cultivator, even knowing the killer, he might still lack the strength to seek revenge.
And worse—the killer might be someone far beyond his reach.
At that thought, his grief deepened into hopelessness.
Mo Hua looked at Ye Hong with quiet sympathy and softly said:
"Don't worry. Those who deserve death… will die."
…
Mo Hua remained in the cabin for most of the day.
As the sun gradually sank and dusk fell, noise stirred outside. It seemed many cultivators were celebrating something.
Floating lanterns were being released into the Yanshui River.
Though the sky was dim and the waters hazy, vibrant little lights began to glow along the river's surface, drifting with the current.
There was a serene beauty to it all.
But beneath that beauty... was a hidden rot.
At You hour (around 5–7 p.m.), the boat set sail.
Mo Hua still didn't leave his room, only cracked open a window to keep track of the boat's heading and the location of the ship that Cheng Mo and the others had boarded.
He had deliberately marked their positions during the day, so even in the dark, he could vaguely make out where Cheng Mo's ship was.
Indeed, both Cheng Mo's ship and Mo Hua's spirit boat were heading in the same direction, toward an unknown part of the Yanshui River.
Mo Hua quietly let out a breath of relief.
The course was correct. Although there had been some deviation, he had successfully gotten aboard.
All he had to do now was wait until these seemingly ordinary ships changed course midway and gathered together to become the Rouge Boat. Then, he could follow them to the real destination.
Mo Hua leaned on the window, watching the ships and the nightscape of the Yanshui River.
By now, night had fully fallen. Countless floating lanterns drifted on the water.
Each lantern was unique in shape and color—an explosion of hues.
Groups of spirit boats, alight with colorful lights, moved together like a school of rainbow-scaled fish swimming down a river paved with lanterns. It was a dazzling, magnificent sight.
Mo Hua stared quietly, somewhat entranced.
He didn't know how long they had been sailing when something suddenly stirred in the ships ahead.
Sensing something, Mo Hua's divine sense flicked out—and he noticed a few ships quietly changing course.
Cheng Mo's ship was among them.
"As expected…"
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, sharpening his focus—until his expression suddenly changed.
"Something's wrong."
Cheng Mo's ship had changed direction, but the spirit boat Mo Hua was on hadn't. It was still sailing along its original course, just like the other ordinary pleasure boats.
Mo Hua's heart tightened. He turned to Ye Hong and asked, "Are you sure it was really someone from the Yin Water Sect who rented your boat?"
Ye Hong didn't seem too sure himself anymore. He could only nod and say:
"I think so. They had a sect token from the Yin Water Sect."
"Then why…? The heading's wrong. Did they realize something was off?" Mo Hua frowned.
He turned again to the vast Yanshui River. Before his eyes, Cheng Mo's ship veered away from his own, the distance growing larger and larger. Mo Hua's heart sank.
Now what?
He couldn't just leap into the river and catch up.
While he had learned some water movement techniques and spells to part water and repel beasts, he'd grown up in the landlocked Great Black Mountain. He had little experience with water, and his swimming wasn't great.
After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua sighed.
Within just a short while, Cheng Mo's boat had already completely disappeared down a different river branch, concealed by the darkness.
He'd have to wait until his own boat docked and then figure out a new plan.
Although Mo Hua was anxious, he forced himself to calm down and focus on what to do after landing—how to find Cheng Mo and the others.
The spirit boat continued sailing.
The scenery along the banks kept shifting and fading behind them.
The number of accompanying ships was also decreasing.
Mo Hua kept watching—until suddenly, he paused.
"Wait…"
This river didn't look familiar at all. The boat's course seemed… off. And fewer and fewer boats were traveling alongside.
Mo Hua's eyes widened. Suddenly, he understood.
It wasn't that Cheng Mo's boat had changed direction.
They hadn't changed direction.
His boat had.
In other words—Cheng Mo's ship was just an ordinary pleasure boat. His own ship was the real Rouge Boat!
Mo Hua let out a long breath—but his expression grew more solemn.
After some more sailing, there were no other boats around. The Yanshui River now stretched vast and dark, and only his lone spirit boat continued quietly forward.
Mo Hua didn't even know where he was anymore.
A moment later, his message talisman buzzed. He took it out—it was from Gu Changhuai:
"We've been tricked. We boarded the wrong boat."
Mo Hua replied calmly:
"It's fine. I got on the right one."
Gu Changhuai went silent, seemingly baffled.
"How is your boat the right one?"
Mo Hua also didn't quite know how to explain it.
"Just… a lucky accident."
Gu Changhuai didn't press further. Time was tight. This wasn't the moment to dwell on it.
"Do you know which part of the river you're on now?"
All around was blackness. Mo Hua frowned slightly and sighed.
"No idea."
This is trouble…
Gu Changhuai scowled.
Mo Hua thought back carefully, then sent another message:
"I only remember the early part of the route and where we turned. You can find Cheng Mo and Hao Xuan, compare routes with them, and figure out the general direction."
Gu Changhuai's eyes lit up.
"Got it."
So Mo Hua told him every detail he could remember about the route the spirit boat had taken—hoping it would help them determine where the Rouge Boat would dock.
"I'll hurry to verify it. Don't act rashly on your own," Gu Changhuai instructed.
But he knew in his heart—unless they tied Mo Hua down, there was no stopping him.
It was a routine warning at best.
Mo Hua casually replied, "Got it."
Then he messaged Situ Jian as well, told him the rough situation, and asked him to assist Gu Changhuai with mapping the route.
Besides, it seemed Situ Jian and the others were now safe.
Sure, they wouldn't get to see the mysterious Rouge Boat firsthand, but they also wouldn't have to face its dangers or temptations.
"Oh, right," Mo Hua suddenly remembered, and sent another message:
"When you get back, remember to find that senior brother of Wang Chen's. Give him a beating and get back the 100,000 spirit stones we spent on that ticket."
100,000 spirit stones was no small matter.
Even if they weren't his spirit stones, they still belonged to his junior brothers.
And he wasn't about to let someone scam them so easily.
"Alright..."
Situ Jian let out a sigh of admiration.
As expected of Little Senior Brother—he really never takes a loss.
Then he reminded, "Little Senior Brother, you're all on your own—please be careful."
"Mm-hmm, don't worry."
After wrapping things up, Mo Hua put away his transmission talisman, focused his attention on the night scenery outside the window, and waited for this spirit boat to reach its destination and transform into the true Rouge Boat.
He was determined to see what kind of business this legendary Rouge Boat really ran—and what lay within its depths.
Ye Hong sat beside him, also staring at the dark night beyond the window, his expression slightly grim.
At the same time, in Yanshui City, inside a lavish and extravagant tavern—
Two figures were having a hushed conversation over drinks.
The room was dimly lit, with only a single candle casting shadows. Their faces were barely visible.
"The boat has set off?"
"It has."
"Everything went smoothly?"
"More or less."
"Good," one of them nodded, then sneered coldly.
"Did they really think the Yin Water Sect is blind? A bunch from the Dao Court, the Great Void Sect, and even that Gu Clan—just put on a disguise and think they can sneak aboard?"
The other man echoed,
"Yes, this time, any ship even slightly connected to the Dao Court, Great Void Sect, or Gu Clan—we made them all disembark."
"To maintain secrecy, we didn't even use Yin Water Sect's own vessels. The only ones heading to the actual site are a few spirit boats we hired from outside sources."
"And that one boat we prepared specially for the young lords."
"Mhm, excellent."
There was a pause, then the other man said hesitantly,
"But Elder... the situation lately… it feels a little off."
The man addressed as Elder raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The Dao Court… seems to be investigating."
"You've heard something?"
"Yes…"
The Elder was silent for a moment before replying calmly,
"No matter. Just because others are eating meat doesn't mean we should sit by and starve."
"But what if…"
The Elder put down his cup without answering.
Sensing the shift, the subordinate quickly lifted the wine jug and poured another cup respectfully.
Satisfied, the Elder finally said in a steady voice:
"The Yin Water Sect is like a ship—and we're all passengers aboard."
"But the Yin Water Sect is only one ship. If this ship sails smoothly, we ride along. If it starts to sink—then those without ability or foresight will drown with it. But those who are capable and see the future will leap to another ship before it goes under."
The other man's face shifted, eyes widening.
"Elder… could it be you intend to—"
The Elder shot him a stern look. He swallowed his unfinished words.
"Of course… jumping ship won't be so easy."
"I already said," the Elder sipped his wine calmly,
"Only those with skill and vision can do so. The rest—will drown along with the wreckage."
"This world is full of opportunities and fortunes. It just depends on whether you're clever enough to seize them—whether you have the eye for it."
The Elder put down his cup again.
The subordinate immediately understood the implication. His expression turned even more respectful as he refilled the Elder's drink.
"From this point on, I place myself entirely in Elder's care. I'll follow you through fire and blood without hesitation."
The Elder looked pleased, giving a small nod. Then, as if remembering something, he confirmed:
"All the sect disciples on the list—they've all boarded?"
"As per Elder's orders. They're all on board."
"Good."
"It's just…" the subordinate hesitated.
"Some of the arrangements this time feel strange. That location—no guards at all… Is that really okay?"
The Elder's expression turned sharp.
"Is that something you should be questioning?"
"No, of course not!" The man bowed deeply.
After a beat, the Elder's tone softened slightly. He gestured upward with his hand.
"The orders from above have their reasons. The waters here are deep. Even a toe in the wrong place could drown an ordinary cultivator. We don't let you ask questions—for your own good."
"Elder's guidance is wise…"
The Elder gave a small nod and said no more, silently downing another cup of wine.
Moments later, he turned to gaze out the window at the Yanshui River—black and still despite the glimmering lights.
There were things he did not understand.
But he didn't need to understand.
A pawn must act with the awareness that it is a pawn.
The powers above, the ancient monsters who stirred up storms behind the scenes—how they wanted to reshape the Dry Learning Prefecture's landscape, what kind of prey they wanted to trap—all of it was beyond his rank.
He simply had to obey.
An obedient pawn is a good pawn.
While dark currents churned, back on the Yanshui River—
No one knew how much time had passed before the spirit boat carrying Mo Hua finally came to a halt.
Unaware of what was happening, Mo Hua held his breath and stayed completely still.
A while later, the sound of water echoed around him—as if more spirit boats were arriving and gathering.
There were metallic clinks as well—chains being cast. It sounded like someone was linking the boats together, one after another, with iron chains.
Then the water sounds faded, and the spirit boats began to move again.
Now connected like the segments of a long dragon, the boats glided down the Yanshui River as one. Before long, they sailed into a patch of thick, pitch-black fog.
The instant the boat entered the fog, Mo Hua's spiritual sense stirred—and his pupils shrank.
"Such intense... evil god aura…"
(End of Chapter)