Chapter Two: Homeless Blossoms

Mo Bai’s words left Ma Long and his companion in an awkward silence, the mole-faced man’s cheeks flushing an even deeper red. Ma Long coughed lightly and said, “The two of us are mere nobodies who have received a few pointers from Uncle Shunqing. How could we possibly be called true spiritual cultivators?”

Mo Bai appeared at ease, though he had taken note of the name Shunqing, which kept arising in their conversation. It seemed this spiritual cultivator was not to be underestimated. Mo Bai made up his mind and said, “I am not a depraved man, and will not keep you from apprehending your thief any longer.” With that, his form flickered, and he sped towards the outskirts of Cloud’s Edge Town.

Blood Vengeance’s lips curled into a faint, incongruous smile that belied his rough exterior. “Foolish boy, you think you can escape?”

At the town’s edge, Mo Bai sensed a mounting pressure. He looked up at the seemingly ordinary sky, yet could feel the subtle influence of a formation laid over the area. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him—a man with three long black mustaches, dressed in azure Daoist robes, who smiled slightly and said, “Young friend, where do you intend to go?”

Mo Bai’s cold gaze swept over the newcomer. The man exuded spiritual energy, and even as he appeared, the great formation’s energy began to tremble. Mo Bai instantly realized: this must be the Shunqing, whom Ma Long had mentioned, the very one who had laid the formation. It was astonishing—the array was so closely linked to Shunqing’s will that Mo Bai’s attempt to break through had not gone unnoticed.

He forced a laugh and replied, “I’m not heading anywhere special. It just felt stuffy in town, so I thought I’d find some fresh air in the willow groves outside.”

Shunqing smiled knowingly. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible today. My Cloud Heaven Locking Formation has been activated. Until the real culprit is found, it will not be lifted.”

Mo Bai grinned. “So, Master is aware of what goes on in the mortal world after all.”

Shunqing pondered and replied, “I am but a man myself. On the Linglong Continent, there is no true divide between heaven and earth.”

Mo Bai thought to himself that he was dealing with a scholar. He said coldly, “The Cloud Heaven Locking Formation is the supreme array of the Cloud Heaven Sect, but I wonder how much mastery you truly possess. I may be unworthy, but today I must challenge it.” As he spoke, his entire body became a blur of white light, shooting towards the town’s boundary.

Shunqing shook his head slightly, forming a seal with his hand as spiritual energy surged. The formation buzzed loudly. Blood Vengeance and the other two, having just arrived, saw what was happening and burst into laughter, eager to witness Mo Bai’s defeat.

Indeed, as Mo Bai was about to breach the perimeter, the pressure of the formation closed in, layer upon layer. With a thunderous crash, blood trickled from Mo Bai’s lips as he was flung back to his original spot. Clutching his chest, he said calmly, “The Cloud Heaven Locking Formation is truly formidable.”

Shunqing withdrew his energy and declared, “Young man, submit to justice.”

Mo Bai smiled bitterly. “It’s said that among the five great sects, the Cloud Heaven Sect is the most impartial. Why not allow me a chance to explain myself? Since you have already laid such a masterful formation, escape is impossible for me. Why not grant me three or five days to find the true culprit?”

Blood Vengeance pressed forward. “You are the real culprit! What’s the point in searching?” Despite his bluster, sweat beaded his brow.

Shunqing regarded Blood Vengeance deeply before saying, “As you say, the Cloud Heaven Sect is the most just among cultivators. I will grant you this opportunity, but you have only three days. If, after three days, you have not found the true culprit, you must submit to punishment.” Suddenly recalling something, he added, “And do not attempt to flee during these three days. You know the subtlety of my formation.”

Mo Bai relaxed his brow. “I will give Master an answer.” With these words, he cast a meaningful glance at Blood Vengeance, whose face grew even redder.

Under the watchful eyes of the others, Mo Bai departed with a carefree air, as though he had not just been sentenced to death.

Cloud’s Edge Town, Cloud’s Edge Inn. Mo Bai returned, but this time the usual crowd of drunkards was absent. Perhaps they believed Blood Vengeance had already caught the killer, and so they returned home to their wives and lovers. A group of men, unable to protect their own women, could only drown their sorrows in wine, yet lacked the will to fight back at home—a sad fate.

Though the inn was nearly empty, one young man stood out. His face was pale as jade, his figure elegant and handsome—a striking youth. At that moment, he was savoring the scent of a luminous goblet in his hand. Though not filled with wine, it gave off a special fragrance.

Mo Bai spotted him at once and chuckled, “Jade Nectar is best paired with Four Lakes Fish.”

The young man’s interest was immediately piqued. He looked up and said, “So you, too, are a man of good taste. But who could prepare Four Lakes Fish with all seven flavors?”

A gleam appeared in Mo Bai’s eyes, as if recalling something wonderful. “Only Wu Hu, the chef here in Cloud’s Edge Town, can achieve that.”

The young man seemed to recall something, motioned for Mo Bai to sit beside him, and asked, “Wu Hu is a member of the Wu family, a renowned line of spiritual cultivators. Why would he come to such a remote town?”

Mo Bai gave a mysterious smile. “And why would you be here, young master?”

The young man was taken aback, then laughed. “Wu Hu comes here every year at this time to prepare Four Lakes Fish.”

Mo Bai replied, “I, too, came for the Four Lakes Fish.”

The young man said, “But Wu Hu’s own hand-prepared Four Lakes Fish is not something an ordinary person can taste.” He seemed to realize he had said too much; the man before him did not seem like a master, but clearly was no ordinary person to know so much.

Mo Bai glanced at the table and drew a special symbol with water from his teacup. At a glance, the young man’s face betrayed a strange expression. He said, “So you, too, are here for the delicacy. Cloud’s Edge Town is hardly a grand city, but it is enough to attract someone like you for the sake of Four Lakes Fish.”

Mo Bai smiled dreamily. “I am but a glutton, nothing more.”

The young man laughed heartily. “A glutton! Good, good. I am one as well, though I wonder if my Sixth Uncle will let me taste it this year.”

Mo Bai said, “So you are the eldest son of the Wu family, Wu Luohua.”

Wu Luohua smiled. “That is indeed me.”

Mo Bai shook his head. “That’s not good, not good at all.”

Wu Luohua was puzzled. “And why do you say that, my friend?”

Mo Bai replied, “Have you not heard there’s been a case here, the work of a spiritual cultivator? As a member of the Wu family, you’ll be suspected as well.”

Wu Luohua laughed. “I know who you are. You must be the cultivator already suspected of the crime.”

Mo Bai grinned. “I am Mo Bai, unworthy as I am.”

Wu Luohua stared at Mo Bai for a long moment, then relaxed. “Though you are a romantic soul, you are not a base man. You cannot be the culprit, and I am not a cultivator at all, so you need not worry about me.”

Mo Bai was startled. He had thought Wu Luohua possessed some supreme spiritual technique to conceal his energy, but it turned out he was an ordinary man—how strange. “Don’t call me ‘Elder Brother Mo’—that’s a title I have no wish to bear.”

Wu Luohua replied, “Then do not call me ‘young master.’ Just Luohua will do.”

Mo Bai sipped his tea and said regretfully, “Luohua, enjoy your Jade Nectar slowly. As for me, I must bear the burden of this false charge.” With a faint smile, he did not go out to investigate, but instead returned upstairs to his private room at the inn, where he slept soundly.

Watching Mo Bai’s departing figure, Wu Luohua smiled. “Truly a remarkable man.”