Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1133: Samsara (3)

“Immortal Woman?”

Inside Mo Mo’s room at the small inn, Ye Fei shared what he had uncovered. The metal box in front of them had been found buried beneath the ruins of a place once inhabited by this so-called “Immortal Woman.”

“Probably just some old rural charlatan pretending to be divine before the Four Olds campaign.” Ye Fei gave his take. “Back in the day, most rural folks were ignorant. Outsiders often used basic tricks from chemistry and physics to fool them.”

Mo Mo rubbed his temples and looked at Ye Fei with a strange expression. “Brother Ye, don’t you think it feels super weird for us cultivators to be talking about chemistry and physics?”

Ye Fei just shrugged. “The rise of science has gradually made people forget another kind of power... But I can’t say if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“Why do you say that?” Mo Mo asked curiously.

Ye Fei smiled slightly. “Brother Mo, how powerful do you think your Dragon-Tiger Mountain lineage is?”

Mo Mo paused, frowning. “Our sect focuses on exorcising ghosts and subduing demons. With the help of talismanic arts, my master said our power is above average. But Daoism is vast, with many paths leading to the same end. It’s hard to say who’s strongest.”

Ye Fei shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Just tell me—how powerful is your Daoist magic?”

Mo Mo stayed silent for a moment. “It’s strong… Some techniques are so dangerous they shouldn’t be used casually.”Ye Fei nodded. “Exactly. Daoism has countless branches. Over hundreds and thousands of years, it has become incredibly complex and powerful. In the past, it would take disciples decades of persistent cultivation just to touch the surface of Daoist magic. But today… Brother Mo, when did you start learning it?”

“At fourteen,” Mo Mo replied casually. “My master taught me my first technique—‘Five Ghost Transport.’” He waved his hand, and a teacup on the table floated into his palm as if carried by invisible hands.

“Impressive,” Ye Fei smiled. “Starting at fourteen is quite early—clearly you’re talented. But it also shows how far Daoism has progressed. It’s been refined over centuries so that disciples today can avoid many detours. These days, many Daoist sects begin teaching magic at a young age. But if you think about it, that’s also a sign of decline. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Mo Mo thought for a moment, frowning. “You mean, in the past when Daoism thrived, there was no shortage of disciples. So they could afford to have them train the body and mind for years before even touching magic. Now… now they’re forced to reverse that approach?”

“Do you know why?” Ye Fei asked suddenly.

Mo Mo shook his head instinctively.

Ye Fei sighed. “To prevent the loss of inheritance… Think about it. If we followed the old method, how many years would it take? Modern people are impatient and goal-driven. How many can really meditate and train for decades in silence? Yes, such people still exist—and they’re the true successors we hope for. But they’re too rare. We have no choice. Losing the inheritance would dishonor our ancestors, so we settle for less. That’s the reality.”

“But that’s bound to make people unstable in their path,” Mo Mo said seriously. “People are easily corrupted when given power too quickly.”

“Just like modern science,” Ye Fei said calmly. “Its explosive development has happened in the past century or two. But despite its power and potential to change or even destroy the world, it's now widely accessible. Brother Mo, do you think that’s a good thing?”

Mo Mo shook his head.

Ye Fei sighed. “It’s the same with Daoism. Lowering the bar to keep the lineage alive—it’s another kind of ‘science,’ isn’t it?”

“You’re being a bit dramatic,” Mo Mo muttered.

Ye Fei continued, “After the founding of the new nation, to stop evil sects from harming society, there was a nationwide purge. Did you know that?”

“My master told me,” Mo Mo nodded. “The True Dragon of Divine Land and Xuanyuan Palace worked together and wiped out all demonic sects within months. The evil cultivators were either stripped of their powers, imprisoned, or executed on the spot.”

“The truth is,” Ye Fei said, “many of those so-called evil cultivators were once part of orthodox Daoist sects. But the drop in entry standards led them astray. Evil doesn’t come from nowhere—it’s born from the heart. Demons come from within the Dao.”

“I see...” Mo Mo exhaled.

Ye Fei paused, then added, “Even though the evil sects were wiped out, the Management Bureau was still established. In the decades since, rogue Daoists have continued to abuse their powers. Evil can never be fully eradicated. As long as desire exists, so will demons.”

Mo Mo finally understood and sighed. “So that’s why you said whether the world forgets Daoism or not isn’t necessarily good or bad.”

Ye Fei slowly closed his eyes.

Mo Mo felt heavy inside… His master had sent him down the mountain to gain experience, but all he’d done so far was subdue a few ghosts and unruly demons. It had been pretty dull. Conversations like this—maybe they were part of his training too?

Evil is born from the heart…

Mo Mo suddenly asked, “Brother Ye, if you encountered a true demon, what would you do?”

Ye Fei opened his eyes slowly, a cold light flashing within. He answered in a low voice,

“Eliminate it completely. Since the fall of Daoism is already irreversible, only those who come after can clean it out piece by piece. When all the impurities are gone—then it will shine through.”

Mo Mo opened his mouth, but what truly stunned him wasn’t Ye Fei’s words—it was the clarity in his eyes.

…

After their conversation, Ye Fei took the box and left, saying he’d investigate its contents. He even left a few test tubes with Mo Mo—just in case he found something on his side.

But honestly, there was no need to split up. Mo Mo thought they could’ve just worked together.

He suddenly realized Ye Fei might be a more solitary, independent person.

Thinking about Ye Fei’s sect, Mo Mo decided to pull out his phone and call Daoist Changhe, the one who had led him into the world of cultivation back at Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

As the dial tone rang, Mo Mo looked at his smartphone and muttered,

“Science, huh…”

“Hello? You brat, what did you just say?”

“Old man, I need to ask you something. Have you ever heard of a Daoist sect called ‘Guixu’?”

“Guixu? What the hell? Never heard of it. Why’re you asking about that all of a sudden?”

Mo Mo casually explained how he met Ye Fei and what had happened in the fishing village.

“I’ve got no impression of a sect called Guixu,” the old Daoist said. “I just checked the sect registry—no entry. But from what you told me, that guy knows a lot about Divine Land. He should’ve reported to the Management Bureau… Unless he really is from some hidden sect making a rare appearance. Or maybe…”

“Maybe what?” Mo Mo was getting impatient. “Can you stop talking in fragments?”

“You little punk! Tell me everything you two talked about. Word for word!”

“You want me to recite it like a script?” Mo Mo groaned, but still closed his eyes and began carefully recalling everything.

For a long while, Daoist Changhe said nothing. Just as Mo Mo was getting impatient, Changhe’s voice finally came through the phone.

“The purge of the demonic sects back then… The younger generation couldn’t have known about it. We made a pact not to speak of it lightly. If that young man is around your age and from a hidden sect, he shouldn’t know either. It doesn’t make sense… unless.”

“Unless what?”

“Unless he’s a remnant of those evil sects that were purged.” Daoist Changhe’s voice grew grim. “The purge back then had many twists and turns. No one can guarantee that every last evil cultivator was eliminated. Those kinds of people are extremely cunning. It’s not impossible that someone managed to slip through the net.”

“Old man, this Brother Ye doesn’t seem like that kind of person. He came here to exterminate the Sea Demon too, same as me.”

“I’m just speculating. In any case, this person’s background is suspicious—be cautious. Don’t trust him easily.”

Mo Mo nodded.

…

Ye Fei had a way of appearing and disappearing like a ghost. Mo Mo could hardly track his movements—not unless he resorted to special means.

But Mo Mo felt it would be rude to use Daoist techniques to track someone without clear cause. After all, Ye Fei’s background was still unknown.

One thing, however, did move up Mo Mo’s priority list.

Lu Hai, the girl’s father, had returned from the village clinic that evening.

It was Mo Mo’s first time seeing this haggard-looking middle-aged man. His complexion was pale, likely due to his recent illness.

Upon returning, Lu Hai was immediately berated by his wife, Luo Aiyu. As she scolded him, the girl—Lu Yiyun—could only stand at a distance, powerless to say or do anything.

Mo Mo found her in the kitchen, boiling water.

Faced with the mysterious youth who had seen through her identity, Lu Yiyun was visibly nervous, clutching the corner of her shirt and not daring to look at him.

Mo Mo sighed. He’d met many demons, but never one this timid.

He shook his head. “Lu Yiyun, your father’s back. Do you remember what I told you this afternoon?”

Lu Yiyun nodded, then shook her head, biting her lip. “My—my dad can’t be a demon!”

“So it’s your birth mother who was the demon?” Mo Mo followed up.

She opened her mouth to speak but faltered—unable to offer a convincing response.

Mo Mo softened his voice. “It doesn’t matter which side your bloodline comes from. Just help me get one drop of your father’s blood. Then I’ll know… That shouldn’t be too hard, right? I know you want to find out the truth too. Don’t worry—if he’s just a normal person, I won’t do anything.”

“But… what if…”

“There’s no ‘what if.’” Mo Mo shook his head. “Remember what I said about the Management Bureau? They’re all over the country. You just happened to run into me this time. If it had been them, things might not be so gentle. They’d have forced a check on you.”

“Then… okay.” Lu Yiyun finally nodded.

Mo Mo smiled. “Great. Tonight at two o’clock. Same place as before—behind the inn, in the woodshed. I’ll wait for you there.”

“I… I need to take water to my grandfather,” she murmured, lowering her head and quickly running off with a kettle.

Mo Mo watched her go, then smacked his forehead. “Damn… I could’ve just tested the grandfather’s blood.”

Maybe Lu Hai had demon blood from his father’s side? If that were true, the investigation could get even more complicated.

Mo Mo scratched his head. Outside, lightning flashed several times, followed by deep rumbling thunder.

“Coastal weather… really unpredictable,” Mo Mo muttered. He thought about Ye Fei, wondering if he had discovered anything by now.

“Feels like I’m just freeloading off his efforts…”

…

That night, a torrential rainstorm fell, washing everything clean.

A small figure, braving the wind and rain with an umbrella, quickly made her way to the woodshed behind the house. She pushed the door open and slipped inside.

Lightning illuminated the room—revealing a pale face right in front of her.

A ghost—!

The thunder drowned out her scream.

“Wait, don’t panic—it’s me!”

Mo Mo turned on his phone’s flashlight, revealing his face. Seeing Lu Yiyun clearly startled, he apologized, “I didn’t turn on the light to avoid being noticed. I got bored waiting and sat down… But come on, you’re part demon. Why are you scared of ghosts?”

The girl was still pale and didn’t dare meet his gaze. She lowered her head and said softly, “I—I brought it…”

She seemed fearful, tightly gripping a tissue soaked in blood. “Is… is this okay?”

Mo Mo didn’t ask how she got it—he simply nodded. But just then, he suddenly reached out and covered her mouth.

“Someone’s coming.”

(End of Chapter)