It shouldn’t be that serious… Mo Hua thought for a moment. When trapped in the Wanmo Valley, she was either lost and defeated or nervous and anxious, without any decisiveness. She only knew how to gnaw on the dried meat he gave her and drift along. Song Jian, he shook his head silently. The Jinpomen are all cunning individuals. With Song Jian’s lack of shrewdness and ability, how could he possibly rise to power? It would already be good if he could become an elder. Mo Hua then put this matter out of his mind.

After returning to the sect, he taught Yu’er arrays for a while, then returned to his room to review his lessons. When the Zi hour arrived, he continued to practice arrays at the Dao Stele. He had already almost mastered the second-grade eighteen-pattern array given by Old Man Xun. He was now practicing the nineteen-pattern array. Nineteen patterns signify a true high-level second-grade array. It is also the limit of arrays that a general second-grade array master can control. For ordinary array masters, learning the nineteen-pattern array might still require spending some time to comprehend, practice, and research to gradually understand. However, for Mo Hua, the nineteen-pattern array was almost no different in essence from the eighteen-pattern array.

Benefiting from the Dao Stele in his sea of consciousness, a strong foundation of divine sense, and the rapid recovery of his meditation technique, his array practice volume was almost ten times, or even dozens of times, that of an ordinary array master. Practice makes perfect. And his own comprehension was high. After his divine sense became Dao-ized, it was compatible with divine power and close to the great Dao, making his comprehension of arrays even more thorough. Furthermore, with the guidance of Old Man Xun, as long as his divine sense was sufficient, even for a high-level second-grade nineteen-pattern array like this ordinary one, he could learn it very quickly. Practicing the nineteen-pattern array also had a relatively obvious improvement on his divine sense. But this improvement was still far from enough. Because after nineteen patterns, there was a huge barrier of twenty patterns, separating them like a natural chasm. Above this level, each slight refinement required a massive amount of divine sense. Mo Hua sighed slightly. “Indeed, it’s too slow. Like this, I probably won’t be able to give Old Man Xun any surprises…”

He still needed to find some other way. Mo Hua thought for a moment and immediately sent a message to Gu Changhuai: “Uncle Gu, how’s the matchmaking going?” Soon, Gu Changhuai corrected him with an ugly expression: “Not matchmaking, it’s investigating a case.” “Uh-huh, investigating a case.” “There are clues.” Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, “What clues?” Gu Changhuai didn’t say, but hesitated for a moment, frowned, and said: “About my aunt…” “Don’t worry, leave it to me!” Mo Hua took full responsibility. Gu Changhuai sighed, then said: “That woman surnamed Hua, I took the initiative to ask her to meet, and she didn’t refuse…” “Uh-huh.” Mo Hua nodded. Uncle Gu finally made some progress. However, Mo Hua was a little suspicious that the instructor surnamed Hua actually agreed so easily. But he quickly reconsidered, perhaps it was because of Uncle Gu’s face that the woman didn’t refuse. After all, whether male or female, good looks can really serve as sustenance.

Gu Changhuai continued: “I invited… that woman to eat at a restaurant in Baihua City. We ate in a private room. During the meal, I patiently chatted casually for a few sentences, but the harvest was not big.” “This woman has a fake smile on her face and speaks airtightly. She is obviously very guarded. When the conversation reaches key points, she either pretends to be reserved, smiles without speaking, or puts on airs, tossing her head and winking. It’s really annoying…” Mo Hua: “…” He imagined the scene at that time and criticized in his heart: Pretending to be reserved, smiling without speaking, tossing her head and winking, isn’t that showing favor towards you… Alas, it’s a pity that Uncle Gu, having served in the司 for a long time, has a brain circuit that is somewhat different from ordinary people. That Instructor Hua truly threw a flirtatious glance at a blind man. “What then?” Mo Hua asked again. “Then I sent her back to the sect…” Gu Changhuai said. Mo Hua couldn’t help but say: “That’s it?” Gu Changhuai: “What else do you want?” “Alright,” Mo Hua sighed: “What about the clues? It can’t be just this little thing…” “Uh,” Gu Changhuai said, “During the meal, she unintentionally said a few words…” “What words?” Gu Changhuai: “I asked her what she usually does when she’s not teaching in the sect. She said she cultivates, prepares lessons, occasionally goes out with some sisters to buy flowers and plants, refines flower pills, or goes to the Rouzhi Pavilion to buy some rouge…” Mo Hua pondered these words in his mind and frowned: “These are all very ordinary things.” “These words are indeed very ordinary.” Gu Changhuai said, “But when she said them, her tone changed a bit, her expression was also somewhat nervous, and her gaze subconsciously dodged, as if she suddenly realized that there was something she shouldn’t have said.” “The words are not the problem, but her state is the problem.” “And this trace of state flashed and disappeared. After that, her smile became even brighter, and she was also a few points more enthusiastic towards me. She even deliberately leaned close to me and poured wine for me…” “Obviously, she wanted to use beauty to distract my thoughts and make me ignore what she said.” Mo Hua was stunned for a moment. For a while, he actually felt that Uncle Gu was really amazing… Observant, calm, and beauty could not disturb his will. “Do you know which sentence is the problem?” Mo Hua asked. Gu Changhuai nodded, “Rouzhi Pavilion.” “Rouzhi Pavilion?” Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment and said: “I carefully recalled that when she said these three words, her expression was as usual. After saying them, she was obviously startled and immediately realized that she shouldn’t have said these three words. That’s why she tried to cover it up…” “Is there a Rouzhi Pavilion in Baihua City?” Mo Hua asked. “Yes,” Gu Changhuai said, “I asked Gu An and Gu Quan to check. There are a total of four Rouzhi Pavilions in Baihua City, but that woman usually only goes to one of them. This Rouzhi Pavilion is called ‘Baiyi Pavilion’.” “Baiyi Pavilion…” Mo Hua pondered, then asked, “Is there a problem with this Baiyi Pavilion?” “On the surface, there’s no problem.” Gu Changhuai said, “So, I used this as a clue and went back to check on that woman. After some inquiries…” Gu Changhuai frowned slightly, “…That woman surnamed ‘Hua’ goes to the Baiyi Pavilion every ten days or half a month to buy rouge and powder. After buying, she doesn’t rush back to the sect but sits in a carriage from Baihua Valley and leaves Baihua City directly, passing through several nearby adjacent sects’ immortal cities, always heading outwards, leaving the boundary of Qianxue State…” “After that, she will again pass through several nearby small immortal cities and then return to the boundary of Qianxue State from Qing State City, and pass by the Dao Ting Si Gate back to Baihua Valley.” Mo Hua was a little confused, “What is she doing by circling such a large loop?” “Buying rouge.” Gu Changhuai said. Mo Hua was a little unbelievable, “Just to buy rouge?” Gu Changhuai: “Yes, I checked once later and found that she indeed bought some different categories of rouge and powder in each immortal city.” Mo Hua pondered: “This… seems problematic…” Gu Changhuai sighed, “At first, I also thought it was problematic. Later, I asked my cousin, and she said there was no problem. She said women are like this, they just want to buy that much rouge and powder…” Mo Hua: “…” “What then? Are there any other clues?” Mo Hua asked again. He couldn’t have made a fuss for half a day just to find out that this Instructor Hua loves to buy rouge and powder. Gu Changhuai frowned, “Time is short, and the things checked are limited. It’s already good to have this much, how can we still be picky? However…” Gu Changhuai hesitated for a moment and sent a message: “There’s still one last point that’s a bit suspicious… That woman, after leaving Baiyi Pavilion, circled around and returned to Baihua Valley. Among the small immortal cities she passed through, there was Shuijing City!” Mo Hua’s eyebrows raised. “Shuijing City!” The Ye family is located in Shuijing City, and the Shuijing River flows through Shuijing City. This clue is probably connected. But there was no more news from Gu Changhuai’s side. After all, he only invited Hua Ruyu for one meal and didn’t talk much, so it was already very good to get these clues. “Uncle Gu, ask a few more times, maybe you can still ask out other things.” Mo Hua encouraged. Gu Changhuai frowned, “Not asking.” “Why?” Mo Hua didn’t understand, “You can eat, matchmaking, and investigate the case. Killing three birds with one stone, isn’t it pretty good?” “If you want to go, go yourself. I don’t have time for now. I’ll go to Shuijing City in a few days.” Gu Changhuai said. Mo Hua immediately said: “I’ll go too, Uncle Gu, take me with you.” “What are you going to do?” Gu Changhuai asked. “Investigate the true cause of death of Senior Sister Ye Jin and return her justice!” Mo Hua said with a firm expression.

Gu Changhuai heard this and, relying on the intuition of the Dao Ting Si Si, a trace of doubt arose in his heart. Something was wrong. This boy Mo Hua, although he said he had a good heart, was definitely not that kind of warm-hearted busybody. Why would he be so attentive to the death of a female disciple from Baihua Valley for no reason? What does the matter of Baihua Valley have to do with him, a disciple of Tai Xu Sect? Very problematic… Gu Changhuai sent a message: “You are not hiding something from me, are you? Confess honestly, what exactly are you investigating this matter for?” Mo Hua felt a little guilty, but on the surface, he still said properly: “It’s really just to return Senior Sister Ye Jin a ‘justice’!” Altars, demons, evil spirits, etc., are all just incidental. Moreover, in Baihua Valley, he had promised Senior Sister Ye Jin, the half-step fierce ghost, to help her avenge. Some things cannot be easily said. Once said, they are stained with cause and effect and cannot be taken back. So, saying it’s to return Senior Sister Ye Jin a justice is also not wrong. Seeing that he couldn’t pry open Mo Hua’s mouth, Gu Changhuai could only give up. Anyway, even if he did pry it open, he wouldn’t know if Mo Hua, who had seven or eight minds, was telling the truth or not. Let him go. “During the break, come to the Dao Ting Si… no, go to the Gu family to find me, I’ll take you to Shuijing City.” Gu Changhuai said. Mo Hua was overjoyed in his heart and repeatedly nodded: “Uh-huh, thank you, Uncle Gu!” “Also, remember about my aunt…” Gu Changhuai really couldn’t do anything about Elder Gu Hong, so he nagged again. “Don’t worry, I have my own way.” Mo Hua guaranteed. Gu Changhuai then felt relieved. After that, Mo Hua stayed in the sect for a few more days, attending classes, hunting demons, and drawing arrays. Soon, it was time for the break. After making full preparations, he went to the Gu family early in the morning. When he arrived at the Gu family, he greeted Aunt Wan, ate some pastries, and then went to the study to find Gu Changhuai. Gu Changhuai had two other people with him. Mo Hua was happy to see the situation and greeted them with a smile: “Brother Xiao An, Brother Xiao Quan, long time no see.” Gu An and Gu Quan also cupped their hands and bowed, smiling: “Little young master, hello.” Mo Hua was curious, “Are you also going?” “Yes,” Gu An nodded, “Since we’re investigating a case, the more people, the more clues. We’re just running errands for the young master.” “That’s true.” Gu Changhuai saw Mo Hua arrive and directly said: “Let’s set off. The sooner we go, the sooner we return, don’t delay.” “Okay.” Mo Hua nodded.

After that, the group set off in the Gu family’s carriage. Leaving the Gu family, the carriage went straight, passed through Qingzhou City, and followed the Shuijing River all the way to Shuijing City. The Gu family’s carriage was very fast. They didn’t stop in the several small immortal cities they passed through. After about an hour, they arrived at Shuijing City. In Shuijing City, there was a “Shuixiang Pavilion” that sold rouge and powder. It was also the place where the instructor named Hua Ruyu from Baihua Valley bought rouge and powder when she passed through Shuijing City. Most of the people who entered Shuixiang Pavilion were women. Even if there were men, they went in with women. It was very rare for male cultivators to enter this kind of rouge shop alone. Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai, then at Gu An and Gu Quan, and asked: “How do we investigate?” The four of them, three big men and himself, a young boy, going in and asking around like this would be very suspicious. Gu An then said: “I know a few female司. Their family background is clean, and they are reliable. I have already told them to come to the rouge shop to help inquire about some things. They will be here in a moment.” Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, looking at Gu An, somewhat shocked. It was true that people could not be judged by their appearance. Brother Xiao An, who looked honest and steady, actually had such connections. He turned his head again, looked at Gu Changhuai, and shook his head slightly. The meaning was, look at Brother Xiao An, a 司, who even knows a few female 司, while you, Uncle Gu, are a 司 and a single dog, who doesn’t know a single female cultivator. Mo Hua didn’t say it clearly. But Gu Changhuai understood his meaning from his expression and immediately his face darkened. However, in front of Gu An and Gu Quan, he was too lazy to argue with Mo Hua. After a while, two women indeed came over. Both were at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level. They were not wearing Dao Ting Si robes but pretty skirts, dressed as ordinary women who love beauty. The two girls first saluted Gu Changhuai, then greeted Gu An. Gu An then smiled: “Thank you two girls for your trouble.” The two female 司 smiled and returned the courtesy: “This is what we should do.” After that, the two female 司 entered Shuixiang Pavilion hand in hand, and Gu An and Gu Quan inquired outside the shop. Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai found a teahouse, drank tea, cracked melon seeds, and asked for some gossip.

After about an hour, the group met in the teahouse, set up a private room, and summarized the intelligence they had gathered. “The boss of that Shuixiang Pavilion is a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator, slightly fat, and a local of Shuijing City.” “We asked him, is your rouge good or not? He then boasted to us, saying that his rouge is the most popular in Shuijing City. Not only local family women come here to pick powder, but even women from some big families and big sects within the Qianxue State boundary often come here to buy rouge…” “I said I didn’t believe him, and he then listed some, including a female elder from Baihua Sect.” “Elder?” “He’s probably boasting and deliberately said instructor as elder.” Mo Hua nodded. The female 司 then said: “We took the opportunity to ask about that ‘female elder’ from Baihua Valley and learned that this ‘female elder’ indeed comes here every period of time to buy rouge and powder.” “Moreover, she doesn’t just buy rouge and powder. When she sees some beautiful and handsome girls, she will also go up and chat with them. She herself is beautiful, knowledgeable about rouge and powder, and her makeup is also exquisite. Plus, she is still a ‘female elder’ of Baihua Valley, so it’s very easy for her to chat with these little girls.” “According to the boss, if the conversation is congenial, this female elder from Baihua Valley will even recommend some girls to join Baihua Valley, one of the ‘Twelve Streams’ of Qianxue.” Recommend… enter Baihua Valley? Mo Hua’s gaze slightly condensed. Gu Changhuai’s face also slightly sank. This Instructor Hua wandering around in the rouge shops of various immortal cities is probably with ulterior motives… “That’s all we’ve found out…” the two female 司 said. Gu Quan chimed in: “I asked some shop owners around and indeed, every period of time, there is a luxurious carriage embroidered with a hundred flowers parked outside Shuixiang Pavilion.” “This carriage should be from Baihua Valley.” “But the carriage is enclosed, so you can’t see the situation inside from the outside.” “And it stays for a period of time, probably about half an hour each time, and then the carriage will leave Shuijing City and drive upstream along the Shuijing River…” “Based on their descriptions, I have roughly restored the appearance of the carriage…” After that, the group also shared some fragmentary and miscellaneous small pieces of news. These pieces of news were not necessarily useful, but to be on the safe side, they couldn’t be missed. After the news was finished, Gu Changhuai nodded: “Hard work.” And then he nodded towards Gu An. Gu An stood up and said with a smile: “I will see the two girls off, and by the way, buy some rouge and powder for them as a thank you gift.” The two female 司 smiled and thanked him, obviously very happy. After that, Gu An sent the two female 司 away. Gu Quan then took out a jade slip and recorded the corresponding news in detail to prevent any seemingly ordinary but very key details from being missed. When Gu An returned, Gu Changhuai’s eyes showed contemplation. Gu An frowned: “Si, this Instructor Hua is probably indeed problematic.” Gu Changhuai nodded slightly. “Although it’s problematic, at the moment, there seems to be no solid evidence, not even obvious clues…” Gu Quan said. “Yes, you can see that she is very cautious in her actions and her actions are flawless, making it unclear what she is exactly trying to do?” Gu An pondered for a moment, having no idea, then asked Gu Changhuai: “Next, where should we start?” Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment and said: “Following her carriage’s route, along the Shuijing River, let’s also walk a circle and see. A long snake roaming on the ground cannot leave no trace at all.” After Gu Changhuai finished, he looked at Mo Hua. Mo Hua also nodded: “Uh, I think so too!”

After that, the group left Shuijing City and drove the carriage along the road towards the next place, while four pairs of eyes stared all the way, looking for any suspicious traces along the way. But they stared for a long time, until they arrived at the next Yunshui City, and still did not find any suspicious clues. Gu Changhuai frowned and could only say: “Continue walking forward…” Mo Hua, however, said: “Wait a moment.” Gu Changhuai was startled. Mo Hua touched the copper coin his master had left him, slightly closed his eyes, and silently urged his divine sense in his heart to conduct divination. A moment later, Mo Hua suddenly opened his eyes, turned his head and looked back, his gaze bright: “We are not walking forward, but backward.” “Backward?” Gu Changhuai asked. “Uh-huh.” Mo Hua nodded, “The road we came from has a little problem…” The line of cause and effect was broken in a small section…