The Quest for Immortality

Eating and sexual desires are some of the basic cravings of humanity, hard to prohibit and even harder to curb.

Hence, there came to be establishments with restaurants at the front and brothels at the back—a classic case of blatant bait and switch.

Mo Hua snorted coldly, feeling that this matter deserved criticism, and knowing how the Land of Fireworks often concealed dirt and filth, the traitor might be hiding there, they walked straight into the restaurant.

The waiter saw Mo Hua and was clearly taken aback.

Their restaurant had never been graced by such a clear-browed, handsome-looking Young Master with cherry-red lips and porcelain-white teeth.

"Young Master, you are...?"

"I'm here to eat."

Mo Hua stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh, oh, of course, to eat... Please, this way."

The interior decoration was lavish, with a strong scent of rouge in the air.

The waiter escorted Mo Hua to a table and they sat down.

Glancing at the menu, Mo Hua thought to themselves how expensive it was; not only were the various dishes costly, but even the desserts and beverages were twice as expensive as anywhere else.

But for the sake of "tracking down the traitor," Mo Hua bit the bullet and ordered a table's worth of dishes and drinks.

Having walked quite a distance that day, Mo Hua was hungry. They used their Divine Sense to discreetly inspect the food and drinks, ascertaining there were no issues or signs of drugging, then began to eat and drink while surveying their surroundings.

The front part of the restaurant was relatively "clean."

Those who were dining did so, and those who were drinking did just that, but in the center, there was a platform curtained by pink drapes from where flirtatiously dressed women danced.

There were also women lightly clad, with inviting smiles, accompanying the drinking patrons.

Mo Hua tore into a chicken leg as their Divine Sense expanded, taking in every detail of the surroundings.

After some observation, Mo Hua slowly grasped the situation...

The women dancing on the stage were the "menu."

After the performance, the diners who fancied a particular woman would then "place an order."

The dancing women, having been "ordered," would then come down to accompany the customers in drinking.

During the companionship, men and women whispered to each other, likely negotiating the "meal's price."

Once agreed upon, they would proceed to the back to "have their meal."

And after finishing their meal, that's when they would "settle the bill."

The innocent Mo Hua was shocked.

These cultivators have so many illicit tricks up their sleeve!

All the effort that doesn't go into the Righteous Dao, instead goes into designing these "wine as a color medium" schemes...

And they even have the nerve to charge so much for the food and drinks!

Mo Hua was furious.

They stared for a while at the dancing women in the center and suddenly squinted their eyes in realization.

Amongst the dancers in the corner of the stage, there was a woman of average appearance but slender waist, whose every move seemed questionable...

With a sweep of their Divine Sense, Mo Hua knew instantly.

This "woman" was actually a man!

And with a sudden conviction in their heart, Mo Hua was sure this person was the Sever Gold Sect traitor they'd been sent to capture!

Cross-dressing males in the Land of Fireworks.

Mo Hua scoffed.

Totally unbecoming!

They immediately used their Taixu Token to send a message to Senior Sister Murong:

"Senior Sister, I've found the traitor!"

The Taixu Token was a communicative device among sect disciples.

Senior Sister Murong had taught Mo Hua to use it, and they hadn't made much use of it since they weren't adept at it at first.

But within moments, Murong Caiyun responded:

"Where are you?"

Mo Hua: "In the brothel…"

Murong Caiyun: "..."

After a lengthy silence, as if struggling to understand how Mo Hua ended up seeking a traitor in a brothel, a reply finally came:

"Which brothel?"

Mo Hua sent over the name of the restaurant.

Murong Caiyun said:

"I see, I'll be right there. Take care of yourself."

"Mhmm."

Mo Hua nodded, although they found something strange.

This "take care of yourself" sounded odd...

What do I have to protect myself from?

Some two incense sticks' worth of time later, Ouyang Feng and Murong Caiyun arrived at the restaurant entrance.

The waiter was shocked just as before, and after hesitating for a while upon hearing they were here to find a disciple, allowed them in but couldn't help keeping a cautious eye on them.

The three spoke in hushed tones.

"Junior Brother, how did you end up here?"

Mo Hua waved dismissively. "That's not important."

They pointed to the cross-dressing, waist-slim, heavily made-up "woman" still dancing on the stage:

"This person here is likely the traitor."

Mo Hua was almost certain, but still showed humility by refraining from speaking in absolutes.

Murong Caiyun and Ouyang Feng both looked surprised, frowning and scrutinizing the "woman" for a long time, their gazes sharp.

"Cross-dressing to dance here, it is indeed a good way to hide in plain sight..."

"There might be more to it than just 'hiding in plain sight'..."

There could be a "side job" at play.

Even a renegade sect disciple, even a wanted Sin Cultivator, has to make a living…

"What should we do?"

"Should we just apprehend them?"

"Would that startle the snake in the grass?"

Ouyang Feng and Murong Caiyun discussed their options.

Mo Hua suggested: "I'll 'order' him over."

Both Murong Caiyun and Ouyang Feng were taken aback. "'Order'?"

"Mhmm." Mo Hua nodded. "We can order him to come over for a drink, and then seize the opportunity to capture him!"

Senior Sister Murong couldn't hold back, "Junior Brother, do you… come here often?"

How come you seem like a regular...

Mo Hua sternly replied, serious: "I'm a Serious Cultivator! I would never visit such places! Unless absolutely necessary..."

Senior Sister Murong eyed Mo Hua skeptically.

"This is to complete the mission!"

Mo Hua added.

Ouyang Feng gave a wry smile: "Catching that traitor is what's crucial."