Chapter 1487: Huā Yīnkè
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Chapter 1485: Huā Yīnkè
At the peak of the Golden Core realm, almost approaching half-step Feathered Ascension, the fluctuations of Qi Mechanism around him faintly hinted at a soaring momentum.
As this androgynous man appeared, the Yin Qi in the room instantly grew heavier, and together with the Golden Core cultivators of the Joyous-Union Sect, it formed an extremely oppressive atmosphere.
Even Mo Hua on the rafters couldn’t help but squint his eyes.
Surrounded by the Golden Core cultivators of the Joyous-Union Sect, Gu An and Gu Quan’s hearts sank. They each took a step back, positioning themselves to protect Gu Changhuai on either side.
Gu Changhuai also furrowed his brows, his gaze grave, “Huā Yīnkè, Incense Master of the Joyous-Union Sect.”
The powdered-faced man, dressed in women’s clothing, at half-step Feathered Ascension, with a gloomy aura, smiled faintly at the words, his voice sharp and indistinguishable between male and female: “Magistrate Gu actually recognizes this humble one.”
For a man to refer to himself as ‘this humble one’ was somewhat unsettling.
Gu Changhuai said coldly, “Every incense master of the Joyous-Union Sect is a demonic scourge wreaking havoc in their region. Since I have taken office in Kun Province, how could I not know of your reputation?”
Huā Yīnkè smiled, his expression coquettish, yet appearing eerie on a man’s face: “Since Magistrate Gu is so perceptive, you must not leave tonight. Here in the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, this humble one must at least fulfill the duties of a host and properly entertain Magistrate Gu, ensuring you experience ecstasy and pleasure so profound you forget all thoughts of returning.”
Gu Changhuai raised an eyebrow, his tone grave. “And if I refuse?”
Huā Yīnkè shook his head. “What childish talk, of refusing or accepting. This is the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, where the union of men and women is as natural as the heavens. Even a monk passing through must cultivate the blissful dharma.”
Gu Changhuai began circulating his Spiritual Power, activating his Magical Treasure.
Seeing this, Huā Yīnkè’s smile faded slightly: “This humble one offers kind advice, yet you remain unappreciative. If you comply, you may choose who to spend the night with, and you will experience the pleasures of romance.”
“But if you stubbornly resist and are captured by this humble one, with your meridians sealed and limbs disabled, it’s hard to say what state you’ll be reduced to after dual cultivation harvesting.”
“Moreover, Magistrate Gu is handsome and dashing. Not only the women of my sect will harvest from you.”
“Even this humble one is somewhat tempted to have a taste.”
Huā Yīnkè’s eyes gleamed with desire.
Gu Changhuai was thoroughly disgusted.
The people of the Joyous-Union Sect not only had questionable orientations but were mostly deranged as well.
Huā Yīnkè seemed to notice the disgust in Gu Changhuai’s eyes and grew even more interested, nodding: “Magistrate Gu is upright and incorruptible. Excellent, I like men like you.”
He clapped his hands and ordered the others, “Attack together, seize Magistrate Gu. Let’s all taste what an Archive Officer sent by the Dao Court is like.”
The Elders of the Joyous-Union Sect, regardless of gender, all showed excitement and prepared to pounce on Gu Changhuai.
Just then, Miao’er spoke up. “Incense Master.”
Huā Yīnkè looked at Miao’er, who said, “It’s not just Gu Changhuai. There are others in the room.”
Huā Yīnkè was slightly taken aback.
Gu Changhuai also tensed, his pupils contracting.
Even Mo Hua on the rafters was stunned.
Huā Yīnkè asked in a low voice, “Where?”
Miao’er smiled, her fair and delicate finger pointing directly at the rafters, right where Mo Hua was hiding.
Mo Hua’s expression changed. He quickly grabbed Bai Zixi’s hand and leaped down from the rafters.
Almost instantly, a powerful pink force, condensed into petals, shot from Huā Yīnkè’s fingertips, shattering the rafters into pieces.
This was a genuine strike from the Peak Golden Core stage, incredibly fast and immensely powerful.
Fortunately, Mo Hua was quick-witted and proficient in cause-and-effect prediction, allowing him to jump down in advance.
After the dust settled, Mo Hua and Bai Zixi landed on the ground. With this mishap, continuing to use the concealment technique would be like covering one’s ears to steal a bell.
The two had no choice but to reveal themselves.
They were two ‘young masters,’ one wearing a bronze mask, gentle and refined as jade; the other wearing a phoenix mask, elegant and noble.
The moment they saw Mo Hua and Bai Zixi, everyone present was stunned.
They hadn’t expected that someone could truly evade everyone’s perception, hiding on the rafters to eavesdrop. Moreover, one was only at the Early Golden Core Stage, and the other at the Golden Core middle stage—truly audacious.
However, the appearance of these two was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Gu Changhuai, Gu An, and Gu Quan were also taken aback as they looked at Mo Hua and Bai Zixi. Especially when their gaze fell on Mo Hua, they felt an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar sense of déjà vu.
But Mo Hua wore a mask, had grown taller, and was in such a place as a brothel, making it difficult for them to recognize him immediately.
“Two such handsome young masters,” Huā Yīnkè remarked, his eyes glinting.
Though Mo Hua and Bai Zixi wore masks, obscuring their full appearance, these Joyous-Union Sect demons, well-versed in matters of men and women, could tell from just a glimpse of their faces beneath the masks and their extraordinary demeanor that these two young masters were undoubtedly exceptional individuals.
Two such figures had appeared at once, standing side by side like a perfect match, complementing each other brilliantly.
Miao’er watched, unable to suppress a shiver in her heart, her body growing weak.
After a moment, she asked seductively, “What are your identities, young masters? And what brings you to my Flower Tower?”
Instead of answering, Mo Hua first glanced at Huā Yīnkè, then turned to Miao’er, somewhat puzzled: “You saw through my concealment?”
Mo Hua believed his concealment technique had reached perfection, and the ‘Divine Concealment’ he had applied to Little Senior Sister was even more profound.
If it had been seen through by someone at the Feathered Ascension stage, he would have accepted it.
But now, Huā Yīnkè, the Joyous-Union Sect incense master at the Peak Golden Core stage, nearing half-step Feathered Ascension, hadn’t detected it, while Miao’er, an Elder only at the Golden Core middle stage, had.
Mo Hua found this very strange and wanted to understand why.
Seeing Mo Hua’s handsome appearance and knowing he was already trapped within her Joyous-Union Sect’s encirclement—like a lamb among wolves—Miao’er didn’t hide anything and smiled as she explained: “Miao’er did not see through your concealment technique, young master.”
Mo Hua was surprised. “Then how did you discover me?”
Miao’er looked at Mo Hua, her smile deepening. “This humble servant is an Elder of the Joyous-Union Sect, well-versed in matters of men and women, and extremely sensitive to the aura of desire.”
“Earlier, when this humble servant was intimate with Piao Lang in the boudoir, I sensed an aura emanating from the rafters, as if someone there was also stirred by desire.”
“That aura of desire was fragrant, intense, and sweet, yet also incredibly pure and clean, like unpolished jade, both pristine and exquisite.”
“This humble servant knew then that someone was eavesdropping from the rafters and, while doing so, had been stirred by desire.”
Mo Hua and Bai Zixi kept their expressions stoic, but inside, they burned with shame.
Miao’er couldn’t help but glance at them again, her gaze soft as water. “Only… at first, this humble servant thought it was a young couple sneaking around on the rafters, playing some little game. I never expected the two stirred by desire to be such handsome young masters.”
Mo Hua’s face had already begun to flush.
Bai Zixi, wearing two layers of masks, showed no change in complexion, but the tips of her ears were faintly tinged with red.
Mo Hua could even sense a strange killing intent emanating from his Little Senior Sister’s usually cool demeanor. Startled, he quickly grabbed her hand and whispered: “Don’t act.”
Any action would expose them.
Only then did Bai Zixi’s emotions settle slightly.
Yet their hand-in-hand, youthful and innocent appearance made everyone present tremble inwardly, sensing a unique affection between them.
Especially the members of the Joyous-Union Sect, regardless of gender—those skilled in such matters—were instantly consumed with envy.
Those who cultivated the Hehuan Dao, the more they indulged in fleshly desires and debauchery, the higher their thresholds became, and the more numb they grew.
(TN: Hehuan = Joyous Union/Blissful Union)
Instead, they were filled with an unattainable greed for such pure, jade-like, snow-clear affections, and even harbored jealous hatred, wanting to destroy and defile what they could not obtain.
In their minds, they had already devised ten thousand ways to corrupt this pair of ‘lovebirds’ who had mistakenly wandered into the Hehuan Prison, to make them sink into material desires and become utterly tainted.
On the other hand, Gu Changhuai, standing nearby, gradually furrowed his brows.
He had previously felt that this young master wearing the bronze mask seemed vaguely familiar, and his voice resembled that of an acquaintance.
But now, observing his actions, he found them somewhat unfamiliar.
After all, in his heart, Mo Hua was still a child and shouldn’t be playing such games.
Miao’er gazed at Mo Hua and his companion, her desire almost turning into liquid, ready to flow from her eyes. Her voice grew slightly hoarse: “Young masters, would you consider joining our Joyous-Union Sect? Miao’er will take good care of both of you.”
Upon hearing this, the other Elders of the Joyous-Union Sect turned to look at Elder Miao’er. Regardless of gender, their eyes unconsciously revealed traces of jealousy and displeasure.
This was the nature of Hehuan.
When it came to superior cauldrons, no one didn’t want to compete for them, possess them, or recklessly defile them to extract pleasure.
Whoever sought to monopolize them would become the target of all.
As the Incense Master, Huā Yīnkè quickly sensed the shift in atmosphere.
The appearance of this pair of jade-like young masters had drastically altered the mood and desires of those present.
This was a major taboo in the Joyous-Union Sect.
Not to mention, as the Incense Master, he harbored a stronger desire to monopolize such high-quality individuals than anyone else.
Huā Yīnkè’s expression darkened as he said, “Enough.”
His voice carried immense power and a suppressing force, startling the Hehuan members present.
Huā Yīnkè declared, “Attend to the main task first: capture Magistrate Gu. As for these two young masters… we’ll deal with them later.”
He glanced at Mo Hua and his companion, a flicker of greed flashing in his eyes.
With the Incense Master’s order, the Hehuan Elders dared not neglect their primary duty and could only obey, surrounding Gu Changhuai and his two companions once more.
Suppressing the desires in his heart, Huā Yīnkè turned to Gu Changhuai and said, “Magistrate Gu, I’ll give you one last chance.”
Gu Changhuai sneered, “Remnants of the Demonic Path deserve death. There’s nothing more to discuss.”
“Good,” Huā Yīnkè replied with a sinister smile. “Well said—’remnants of the Demonic Path deserve death.’ Then let Magistrate Gu experience the wonders of our Hehuan Demonic Path.”
“Let you taste what it’s like to share a bed with the remnants of the Demonic Path who deserve death, to wallow in the same filth.”
“By then, we’ll see if you can still talk tough, and what face you’ll have left to speak of the distinction between righteousness and demonic ways.”
Huā Yīnkè waved his hand and said, “Take good care of Magistrate Gu.”
A group of Joyous-Union Sect Elders, eight Golden Core cultivators in total, joined forces to attack Gu Changhuai.
The cultivation methods of the Joyous-Union Sect were all tinged with the desires of men and women—gorgeous and illusory, yet concealing filthy killing intent.
With the eight of them working together, each activating their cultivation methods and coordinating their magical treasures, the attacks became even more lingering and insidious.
Hehuan Hooks, Soul-Tugging Veils, Hundred-Charm Threads, Spring-Lust Silks, Soul-Melting Poisons…
These Joyous-Union Sect magical treasures, designed to seduce and provoke desire, were driven by cultivation methods and darted back and forth within the prison. Once touched, it was easy to lose control of one’s Dao Heart and become a Lust Slave of the Joyous-Union Sect.
Facing the encirclement of eight Joyous-Union Sect Elders, Gu Changhuai remained unafraid. With a flick of his right hand, he manifested the Gu Clan’s magical treasure:
A radiant, seven-colored peacock feather treasure fan.
Mo Hua had seen this magical treasure more than once over the years, and no matter how many times he saw it, he found it dazzlingly beautiful.
Now, after more than a decade apart, Uncle Gù’s seven-colored peacock feather treasure fan had grown even more resplendent than before. Nurtured over the years, the spiritual power condensed upon it had become even more brilliant and sharp.
The clash between the righteous and the demonic was about to erupt.
The eight Joyous-Union Sect Elders and Gu Changhuai’s group of three instantly clashed in a fierce battle.
The magical treasures of the righteous and demonic paths collided, unleashing intense shockwaves that caused the surrounding prison cells to crack inch by inch.
The iron bars, forged from Third-Grade refined iron, were continuously twisted and torn apart.
Seeing the battlefield descend into chaos, with Golden Core spiritual power overflowing everywhere, Mo Hua could only pull Little Senior Sister along and retreat to the edge of the fray.
Under these circumstances, as long as he didn’t try to escape, the Joyous-Union Sect wouldn’t stop him.
At least not until they captured Gu Changhuai—they wouldn’t make a move against him.
Once Mo Hua steadied himself, he grew concerned about Uncle Gù’s safety. Frowning, he turned his gaze toward the battlefield. He wasn’t sure whether Uncle Gù could hold his own under the assault of so many opponents.
But after observing for a while, Mo Hua was stunned to find that not only was Uncle Gù holding his ground, but he even seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
Gu Changhuai, along with Gu An and Gu Quan, the three of them fighting together, actually managed to suppress the eight Joyous-Union Sect Elders for the moment.
Gu Changhuai was at the peak of the Golden Core middle stage. Activating the seven-colored peacock feather treasure fan and the Gu Clan’s superior Dao Art, the Wind-Soaring Feathered Ascension Art, he was enveloped in layers of wind blades, dense and intricate like the feathers of a green phoenix, seamlessly blending offense and defense.
Meanwhile, the brothers Gu An and Gu Quan, both at the Early Golden Core Stage, provided support from the side using the Gu Clan’s true inheritance, the Parent-Child Blade Art.
On the Joyous-Union Sect’s side, even without Huā Yīnkè joining the fray, they had one Late Golden Core Stage Demonic Cultivator, while the other Elders ranged from Early to middle Golden Core Stage.
Yet despite their clear advantage in cultivation and numbers—eight of them in total—they were completely outmatched in this coordinated battle of magical treasures and defenses. Not only were their magical treasures overwhelmed, but even their physical bodies suffered relentless, indiscriminate bombardment from Gu Changhuai’s dense wind blades during the fight.
Huā Yīnkè frowned.
Even Mo Hua watched in awe.
After so many years of cultivation, Uncle Gù’s fighting style now bore some resemblance to Fire Buddha’s.
Uncle Gù cultivated the orthodox, inherited secrets of the Gu Clan, where his cultivation method, Dao Arts, and magical treasures complemented each other and merged into one.
Superior spiritual roots, a Superior-Grade Golden Core, high-tier cultivation methods, superior Dao Arts, paired with top-grade magical treasures… Layer upon layer, each enhancement building upon the last, forming a complete and powerful cultivation inheritance.
Upon reaching the mid to late Golden Core stage, when Spiritual Power reaches a certain magnitude, the combat prowess that can be unleashed by this integrated heritage of Superior Cultivation Method, Dao Arts, and Magical Treasure grows increasingly formidable.
On the battlefield now, Uncle Gù resembled a righteous phoenix-like ‘Fire Buddha,’ his wind blades like a fiery rain, unleashing a relentless bombardment of Spells.
The more Mo Hua, a master of Spells himself, watched, the more he marveled.
Back in the day, Uncle Gù had kept a low profile and acted without drawing attention, but that was due to numerous constraints. Once he truly unleashed his killing intent, he proved to be exceptionally powerful indeed.
No wonder he dared to venture into the Jade Fragrance Pavilion with only Gu An and Gu Quan by his side, risking his life in the process.
With his cultivation and combat strength, an ordinary Joyous-Union Sect Golden Core Elder might not be able to stop him.
However…
Mo Hua frowned and turned his gaze toward Huā Yīnkè.
In this arena, there wasn’t just an ordinary Joyous-Union Sect Golden Core Elder, there was also this ambiguous Joyous-Union Sect Incense Master.
This Incense Master’s cultivation had already brushed against the edge of Feathered Ascension. No matter how strong Uncle Gù was, he was absolutely no match for him.
In this situation, Uncle Gù had no means of escape. Once this Incense Master made his move, Uncle Gù would undoubtedly be unable to hold out.
As Mo Hua pondered this, the Joyous-Union Sect Incense Master, Huā Yīnkè, indeed wore a grim expression, growing somewhat impatient.
It seemed he hadn’t expected Gu Changhuai, who hadn’t even reached the Late Golden Core Stage, to be so troublesome.
Yet this only served to prove Gu Changhuai’s importance.
With such temperament and ability, whether killing him to eliminate future trouble or subduing him to serve the Joyous-Union Sect would be a great boon.
At this thought, Huā Yīnkè’s anger turned to delight.
He glanced once more at Gu Changhuai, who was displaying his might, and could no longer restrain himself. He began to channel his Cultivation Method, the Spiritual Power around him shimmering like threads of Feathered Ascension or blooming splendor, imbued with astonishing Dao Arts power.
Seeing this, Mo Hua’s gaze trembled, and he thought to himself, “This is bad. Uncle Gù is in trouble.”
His Divine Thought raced. Just as he was about to mobilize his Divine Sense Thought Power to interrupt Huā Yīnkè’s Spellcasting, he suddenly sensed something and looked behind Huā Yīnkè, his pupils narrowing.
Behind Huā Yīnkè, in a previously empty space, a faint mist of water had quietly materialized at that very moment.
Within this extremely subtle water mist, spiritual threads akin to half-step Feathered Ascension power were undulating, coalescing into icy water-based sword radiance of unparalleled sharpness.
This water-based sword radiance contained astonishing killing intent, yet it was restrained to the extreme and concealed to the utmost, like the flickering tongue of a hunting serpent. With a flash, it shot toward Huā Yīnkè’s back with lightning speed.
An assassination!
Mo Hua’s eyes widened in shock, his thoughts racing as he instantly understood.
Huā Yīnkè was preparing to use Dao Arts to ambush Uncle Gù and capture him.
But Uncle Gù was, in fact, also “bait.”
The moment Incense Master Huā Yīnkè gathered his Joyous-Union Sect Spell and locked his Divine-Sense onto Uncle Gù, another formidable cultivator had been lurking in the shadows all along.
This person was waiting for Huā Yīnkè to let his guard down, for the moment when his Divine-Sense shifted and exposed a flaw, to unleash a concealed, lethal Dao Arts strike and kill Huā Yīnkè with a single blow.
To completely eliminate this Joyous-Union Sect Incense Master and cut off any future trouble.
What truly shocked Mo Hua was that this assassin seemed to be at the Peak Golden Core to half-step Feathered Ascension level, with concealment techniques so incredibly advanced that not even Huā Yīnkè—nor even Mo Hua’s own Divine-Sense—had detected them.
The water-based assassination Dao Arts he employed were subtle and insidious, with immense power, giving Mo Hua a strange sense of familiarity.
…
Translator Notes: This 花 (Huā) Yinke is different that Huá Clan’s 华 (Huá).