Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 990: People and Goldfish

In Records of the Grand Historian, it is written: "On the first day of December of the Jiawu year, the emperor personally ascended Gaoli to offer prayers to the earth deity." The Haoli Mountain once had a grand shrine, also known as the "Hall of Senluo."

From Eastern Han dynasty tombs, there is a frequently found saying in tomb-sealing inscriptions: "The living belong to Western Chang'an, and the dead belong to Mount Tai."

The deity of Mount Tai governs both life and death.

---

At the Taishan Railway Station, Mo Mo, carrying two bags of luggage, was carefully studying a tourist map he had just purchased after disembarking from the train.

Though the Daoist world holds a Penglai Conference every ten years, it had always been his master who attended. Now, as a newcomer stepping into the world, Mo Mo was visiting for the first time. Much of what he knew was only from his master's accounts, leaving him somewhat apprehensive about the experience.

"Hmm… there's a tourist bus heading that way. That’s good," Mo Mo muttered while checking the route. "Zhan’er, we probably don’t have time to sit down and eat. Let’s just grab some snacks. Zhan’er…? Zhan’er?"

The young Daoist, entrusted to him by Elder Yang Taizi, was nowhere to be seen!

This immediately made the young Tianshi of Mount Longhu anxious—mainly because if he lost the boy, he wouldn’t know how to explain it to Yang Taizi, his master’s old friend.

Mo Mo instinctively opened one of his bags and retrieved a paper crane. Mount Longhu boasted numerous arcane arts, including those for tracking people.However, with the station bustling with crowds, Mo Mo hesitated—it would be troublesome if bystanders noticed him performing such magic.

In this era, the Daoist world no longer enjoyed the freedom it had during imperial times, when practitioners were beyond the government’s reach. Now, regulations were much stricter.

One reason was the advancement of technology. Ordinary people could easily access tools powerful enough to counter Daoist practitioners. Compared to mass-produced technological devices, the Daoist community, which relied on carefully chosen disciples, seemed at a disadvantage.

Moreover, this was an age dominated by humanity. The new post-war nation was protected by powerful destiny. Both the once-thriving demon realm and the ancient Daoist world had to tread carefully.

Before Mo Mo left the mountain, his master had given him a "travel permit."

This document was issued by a specialized government agency tasked with oversight. Despite their magical prowess, Daoist and demon practitioners had to comply due to the agency's formidable capabilities.

After all, the ultimate guardian of the nation, the "True Dragon of China," served as the agency's highest consultant…

---

Thankfully, Mo Mo quickly found Zhan’er.

Though he was already familiar with Zhan’er’s personality, seeing the boy squatting before a goldfish stall still left Mo Mo speechless.

How did Elder Yang Taizi raise this kid?

"Ten yuan per fish! Buy five and get a free fish tank!" The stall owner rubbed his hands together as he glanced at Mo Mo. "These are the last five!"

Mo Mo shook his head, but Zhan’er, hugging his knees and squatting there, suddenly looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

Those bright, dazzling eyes made Mo Mo falter.

"Alright, I get it!" Mo Mo sighed. "We’ll buy one fish. No more than that… Fine, fine, we’ll take them all."

In the end, Mo Mo gave in.

In truth, this wasn’t the first time he had succumbed to Zhan’er’s glowing puppy-dog eyes on this journey.

With the last of the goldfish sold, the stall owner began packing up, while Zhan’er happily hugged his new fish tank.

"You’re satisfied now, huh? But are you really planning to lug that tank around everywhere?" Mo Mo asked irritably.

"Hehe, it’s not that much trouble," Zhan’er replied with a grin.

Just as Mo Mo was about to say something, he suddenly sensed someone approaching him deliberately—and not just one person.

"Zhan’er, stay close to me," Mo Mo said, frowning. He grabbed Zhan’er’s arm and quickly led him into the crowd.

But before he could take a few steps, a man in a black suit blocked his path. Mo Mo stopped. Within moments, similarly dressed men surrounded him and Zhan’er on all sides.

"I don’t believe I know you," Mo Mo said coldly, scanning the group.

One of the men reached into his jacket—a move that immediately put Mo Mo on alert.

To his surprise, the man didn’t pull out a weapon but a phone. After glancing at it, the man said, "You’re Mr. Mo Mo, correct? The representative of the Tianshi Sect of Mount Longhu attending the Penglai Conference this year."

"And you are…?" Mo Mo asked, puzzled.

The man replied calmly, "I’m Ling Feng, or you can call me Captain Ling. Here’s my ID. We’re from the 'Special National Land Management Bureau.'"

Mo Mo blinked, immediately understanding who they were. This agency was the special department overseeing Daoist and demon practitioners across the nation.

"Oh… I see." Mo Mo nodded. "But even if you’re from that department, I haven’t done anything wrong or caused public panic. You don’t exactly have the right to corner me here, do you?"

Ling Feng smiled slightly and replied, "Mr. Mo Mo, we’re not here to detain you. We’re here to manage the Penglai Conference and ensure its smooth operation. During the event, we’re also responsible for maintaining order."

"Ah," Mo Mo murmured, wanting to say more.

Ling Feng added, "In fact, we’ve already prepared accommodations for all participants. We’re here to escort you to your quarters."

"Have others already checked in?" Mo Mo asked after a moment.

Ling Feng nodded politely. "Yes, Mr. Mo Mo, you’re among the last to arrive. Delegates from major sects like Wudang, Qingcheng, Quanzhen, and Zhengyi have already settled in."

After carefully verifying Ling Feng’s credentials and comparing them with the seal on his travel permit, Mo Mo finally nodded. "Alright then, lead the way."

"This way, please. We have a car ready for you."

---

Mo Mo and Zhan’er followed Ling Feng’s team to a domestic Hongqi car and soon arrived at a mountain estate.

Along the way, Mo Mo asked numerous questions.

For instance, a special estate had been built within Mount Tai for the Penglai Conference, which took place every ten years. This estate, constructed after the founding of the nation, had hosted the event eight times so far.

Their destination was Wolong Estate.

Not far from there, about four or five kilometers away, stood another estate named Kunpeng, reserved for demon realm guests.

"Warm congratulations on the success of the XXth Penglai Conference and Wellness Forum!"

When Mo Mo saw the banner hanging at the entrance of Wolong Estate, he finally let out a long-suppressed exclamation: "What the heck!"

This was nothing like the grand event he had imagined for the Daoist and demon realms’ decennial gathering!

For example, while passing a conference room on the way to their quarters, Mo Mo caught sight of a gray-robed Daoist holding a microphone and using an electronic pointer to explain a line from The True Words of the Ultimate on a projector screen.

Meanwhile, the audience—a mix of people in colorful outfits—was busy taking notes.

Mo Mo stood there dumbfounded for over ten seconds.

"Excuse me, fellow Daoist," the gray-robed speaker called out with a gentle smile. "If you’re interested, please enter from the back. There are seats available in the rear. But please don’t disturb everyone."

"Sorry to bother you!" Mo Mo quickly shut the door.

If this were happening elsewhere, Mo Mo might have dismissed it as a charlatan's gimmick to scam people. However, he could clearly sense the overwhelming spiritual power within the room, emanating from at least three individuals whose strength rivaled his own.

At that moment, Ling Feng said, "Mister Mo Mo, if you're interested in attending the lectures, feel free. Your check-in has already been completed. Here's your room key."

"No, thank you. I'll head to my room first," Mo Mo declined, shaking his head. "I need some quiet time."

"By the way, where's your companion?" Ling Feng looked around, puzzled. The young man who had been following Mo Mo, clutching a fish tank, had disappeared.

Mo Mo, unfazed, replied, "He has a playful nature and often wanders off without notice. But he usually doesn't stray far and should still be within the estate."

"That's concerning," Ling Feng said worriedly. "Mister Mo Mo, you know the guests here aren't ordinary people. Some have peculiar temperaments or strict rules, and even we have to tread carefully."

"Don't worry; he’s likely nearby," Mo Mo replied with a sigh.

---

Sure enough, Mo Mo quickly found Zhan'er again, this time in the estate's ornamental garden.

When Mo Mo and Ling Feng located Zhan'er, he was squatting by a small lotus pond, emptying the fish from his tank into the water.

"Why did you wander off again without a word?" Mo Mo knocked Zhan'er lightly on the head.

Zhan'er simply grinned foolishly, making it impossible for Mo Mo to stay angry.

"What are you doing?" Mo Mo asked, puzzled by Zhan'er’s actions. "Didn't you just buy those fish? Why are you letting them go?"

Zhan'er replied, "I don't want them anymore. Letting them stay here is better."

"Why?" Mo Mo was taken aback.

Zhan'er blinked and said matter-of-factly, "Because this pond is much bigger than the fish tank."

"You…" Mo Mo frowned. "Did you plan to release them from the start?"

Zhan'er nodded, watching the little fish swim away. Resting his chin in his hands, he remarked, "They seem happier now."

"Sure, they’re ecstatic," Mo Mo said sarcastically, feeling a headache coming on.

Suddenly, Zhan'er asked, "Big Brother Mo Mo, why does the fish seller catch and sell them?"

"For business, to make money," Mo Mo replied instinctively. "People want to keep fish, so sellers meet that demand. It's just business as usual."

Zhan'er tilted his head. "But if the fish have needs, who meets theirs?"

"Fish don’t have the same needs as people," Mo Mo said, frowning. "They don’t have intelligence, just basic instincts. They follow their nature and don’t care about higher needs. Even if they did, no one would care. Speaking of which, don’t you like catching crickets? Have you ever considered whether the crickets wanted to be caught?"

"Crickets? Oh, I let them go afterward," Zhan'er said, tilting his head. "And I always ask them first. Only if they agree to play with me do I catch them."

"You asked… them?" Mo Mo was stunned, realizing there might be something deeper behind Zhan'er's words.

"Yes, is that strange?"

Zhan'er clearly had some unusual traits. While he seemed intelligent for his age, his behavior resembled that of an innocent child. Mo Mo wondered how Elder Yangtai had taught him. But with Ling Feng from the Bureau nearby, Mo Mo decided not to probe further. "Never mind. Let’s head inside. Our room is ready."

"Okay," Zhan'er nodded, standing up. Then he asked, "Big Brother Mo Mo, if one day we became fish and were caught and sold, would no one care about our feelings either?"

"Don’t be silly! Nobody catches and sells people. This isn’t some slave society. And we’ll never become fish, just as fish won’t become us."

"But you said as long as there’s demand, someone will do it. If people like keeping fish, couldn’t they also like keeping people? If that happens, won’t we get caught and thrown into fish tanks? And nobody will care about us?"

Mo Mo opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. He glanced at Ling Feng, who had stepped closer and was frowning slightly as well.