Chapter 248: Water Prison Technique
Water Prison Technique? Mo Hua had never heard of this spell before.
Previously, he had a book called Compilation of Qi-Refining Spells, which recorded some common spells for the Qi-Refining stage, but the Water Prison Technique was not among them.
This spell was hidden deeply by Diao Lao San, likely as rare as his Concealment Technique.
Mo Hua asked Diao Lao San, "What kind of spell is this Water Prison Technique?"
Diao Lao San replied, "I don't know."
Mo Hua gave him a cold, slightly malicious look.
Diao Lao San felt a chill run through him, afraid that Mo Hua would think of some way to make trouble, so he hurriedly said, "I really don't know."
"Then how did this spell end up in your hands?"
Diao Lao San said, "Back then, I accidentally killed a seriously injured cultivator from the Water Element Sect. I searched his storage bag and found two spells inside—one was the Concealment Technique, the other was this Water Prison Technique."
"Water Element Sect?"
"It's a relatively low-profile sect in Black Mountain Prefecture. Not many disciples, but a long lineage."
Mo Hua nodded, "And then?"
Diao Lao San said, "I have a pure Water spiritual root, which is perfect for learning the Concealment Technique. I saw it as my opportunity, so I learned the Concealment Technique, moved to another place, did some business, and tried to make a living…"
Yu Chengyi kicked him and spat, "What kind of business? Trading in lives, maybe!"
Diao Lao San dared not argue.
Mo Hua asked again, "So you learned the Concealment Technique, but never learned the Water Prison Technique?"
"I couldn't learn it," Diao Lao San sighed. "The Water Prison Technique is very difficult. It's hard to control the spiritual power when casting, it's difficult to hit a target, and it can only trap people—it has little offensive power. I thought it was a bit useless, so I never focused on learning it.
Besides, I'm a physical cultivator—I don't rely on spells for survival. Even though this spell is rare, it's useless to me. I just kept it for now, hoping to trade it with someone else for martial arts or Dao techniques.
But it's such an obscure spell that I've never been able to trade it…"
Diao Lao San poured everything out like scattering beans.
Mo Hua understood the situation and asked, "The two escaped criminal cultivators—the one with one eye and the bald one—which one is your 'big brother'?"
Diao Lao San didn't want to say, but had no choice: "The bald one…"
"What's his name?"
Diao Lao San shook his head. "I don't know his real name. We call him 'Big Brother' to his face, and cultivators in the Dao call him 'Bald Monk'."
"Bald Monk?"
Mo Hua nodded. The name was fitting and easy to remember.
"How many 'big brothers' do you have?" Mo Hua asked again.
"Currently, just him…"
"Currently?"
"The position of 'big brother' rotates. When the previous big brother dies or is captured, the next one takes over. Anyone who survives long enough can become the big brother…" Diao Lao San said quietly.
"Truly shallow waters with too many turtles—everywhere is a big brother…" Mo Hua muttered.
After the questioning, Mo Hua put the two spellbooks away and returned the storage bag to Yu Chengyi.
Yu Chengyi tacitly agreed that the books were now Mo Hua's. After all, few hunters were spiritual cultivators. Even if Mo Hua didn't ask for them, Yu Chengyi would have given them anyway.
Later, the hunters escorted all the criminal cultivators down the mountain and delivered them to Elder Yu.
Each criminal was interrogated again, suffered some pain, provided some information, and was then sent to the Dao Court Division.
Yu Chengyi personally delivered them, explained the circumstances, completed some paperwork, and had them locked up in the Dao Prison.
An hour later, Yu Chengyi returned to find Mo Hua sitting in the living room, drinking tea with Elder Yu.
Elder Yu looked up and asked, "Everything handled?"
Yu Chengyi nodded. "All handled, and I've reported everything to the old chief. He's very pleased."
Elder Yu laughed. "That old guy, gaining merits for no reason, how could he not be happy?"
"Will those criminal cultivators be sentenced to death?" Mo Hua asked curiously, holding his tea cup.
"Given their murders and robberies, most have criminal records. By law, it's death. Even if they don't die, being locked in the pitch-dark Dao Prison until death is practically the same." Yu Chengyi replied.
"That's good. At least they won't harm anyone again," Mo Hua said, feeling relieved.
Yu Chengyi sat beside Mo Hua. Mo Hua poured him a cup of tea and then remembered something, asking, "Earlier, the shorty hidden cultivator said they were hired by the Kong family with spiritual stones to target Uncle Ji and Big Brother Ji. Can the Dao Court Division handle this?"
Yu Chengyi shook his head. "Words without proof. The Dao Court Division cannot convict them. Besides, the Kong family is from Qingxuan City. The Dao Court in Tongxian City can only investigate but cannot intervene directly.
The Dao Court in Qingxuan City has been bribed by the family, so they won't punish the Kong family. Even if there were evidence, it would probably be unresolved in the end."
Mo Hua felt a little regretful.
Yu Chengyi then explained the origins and motives of this group of criminal cultivators.
Most were from Black Mountain Prefecture, with varying statuses—some from families, some from sects, and some were wandering cultivators.
Most had blood on their hands and were wanted by the Dao Court, constantly on the run.
As Tongxian City grew prosperous and more cultivators traveled north and south, they gathered on Great Black Mountain, committing murder and theft, robbing spiritual stones.
Sometimes they kidnapped cultivators for ransom, sometimes murdered and robbed outright, leaving bodies in the wilderness for beasts to devour.
When Ji Qingbai and his son and Fu Lan fled Qingxuan City, the Kong family cultivators failed to catch them. Midway, they encountered this group of criminals, paid them with spiritual stones, and hired them to continue the pursuit.
According to the young master of the Kong family, since Ji Qingbai's father and son had struck him, he wanted their lives.
Fu Lan defied his wishes, so he wanted her as a servant.
After success, the criminals would receive a thousand spiritual stones.
Elder Yu couldn't help but curse, "This little bastard, a wretched thing!"
Yu Chengyi was also angry and added, "We also had conflicts with these criminals. They had been targeting us for a long time. Today, when the fog suddenly rose, hunters got separated, they found an opportunity and made their move."
"Too bad we didn't catch them all—two got away," Mo Hua frowned.
Yu Chengyi said, "It's already good. Small numbers don't make a force. In the short term, they won't stir up trouble."
"Can they be caught?"
"I've asked the hunters to keep watch. But the inner mountain is large; it won't be easy to catch them quickly."
"All right," Mo Hua nodded.
But he remembered the bald one—next time he encountered him, there would be no escape.
"Oh, by the way," Yu Chengyi said to Mo Hua, "there's a bounty from the Dao Court for capturing these criminals. In a few days, I'll deliver it to you."
"All of them?" Mo Hua asked.
Yu Chengyi nodded. "All of them."
Mo Hua smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Yu!"
After chatting and drinking tea for a while, Mo Hua took his leave.
He then went to Elder Feng to check on Ji Li.
Ji Li had been safely returned. Elder Feng performed acupuncture, gave him pills, and used Wood-element spiritual power to clear his meridians. His life was now out of danger.
He was still unconscious for the moment but would recover with proper care.
Fu Lan's eyes were red as she stayed by Ji Li's side.
Ji Qingbai's expression was serious, but he was secretly relieved.
Being alive was better than anything…
Seeing that Ji Li was safe, Mo Hua felt relieved.
Elder Feng saw Mo Hua and smiled, praising him: "You administered the pills well. Otherwise, saving Ji Li's life wouldn't have been so easy."
Fu Lan stood and sincerely bowed to Mo Hua.
Ji Qingbai also cupped his hands in respect: "A great favor, words cannot express thanks!"
Their seriousness made Mo Hua a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and smiled: "Then remember to invite me to the wedding banquet!"
Ji Qingbai was momentarily stunned, then relieved and smiled: "All right!"
(End of chapter)