Finally a clue

Chapter - 10

After their initial plan failed, there was another plan they had to work on.

So, the immortals turned their attention to the beautiful women suspected of being charmed by Chen Haoyu. They carefully observed them, asked questions discreetly, trying to avoid raising suspicions. Yet, even this effort seemed in vain. The women, bewitched by Chen Haoyu's allure, revealed nothing useful.

Days turned into weeks as the immortals scoured every brothel, tavern, and hidden corner of the Immortal Realm. They conversed with courtesans, prostitutes, and brothel owners, brothel managers, hoping to find any shred of information that could lead them to Chen Haoyu. Despite their best efforts, their search seemed to be in vain.

In one particularly dimly lit brothel, Feng Jun leaned on a beautiful courtesan, his eyes looking all drowsy as he enjoyed the blackish grapes that the beautiful courtesan fed him with giggles, playing and teasing Fenj Jun.

Another lady dressed in long, red, floral dress poured him a drink, while two ladies danced gracefully in front of him, trying to entertain Feng Jun. 

Feng Jun had been here for hours, nursing a drink and making small talk with the courtesans.

"Look, sweetheart," he said to a courtesan named Mei, his tone dripping with false charm, "If you can tell me anything about Chen Haoyu, I will make sure you're rewarded handsomely."

Mei twirled a lock of her hair, feigning interest. "I wish I could help you, sir, but I have not seen him in months. He is a ghost, always slipping through our fingers."

"You don't know sir, how long it has been since he had wrapped his arms around me."

"How much we long for his touch," Mei said with a longing look in her eyes, "The warmth of his body, the tingling touch of his fingers..."

"Enough," Feng Jun sighed, tossing a few coins onto the counter. "Thanks anyway."

Meanwhile, Shin Jui sat in a corner of a tavern, trying to pry information out of a manager named Jin.

"Chen Haoyu?" Jin laughed, shaking his head. "He's like smoke, brother. One moment you think you have him, and the next, he's gone. I would love to tell you if I knew anything, but honestly, I haven't seen him."

Shin Jui's frustration was palpable. "Here, take this," Shin Jui threw a few coins at Jin.

"Thank you brother," Jin's eyes gleamed as he caught the coins, "I wish i could be of more help to you."

Hearing him, Shin Jui pulled out another crystal from his robes and tossed it towards the manager, "If you hear anything, anything at all, crush this crystal and I will know."

The days continued in a similar vein, each immortal encountering dead ends and vague answers. The sense of defeat began to settle in, heavy and unrelenting.

Eventually, the immortals gathered once more at Feng Jun's palace, their faces drawn and weary. The sense of unity they had felt weeks ago now seemed like a distant memory.

"Well, that was a complete waste of time," Feng Jun grumbled, pacing back and forth. "We did not get a single solid lead."

Yueliang Shen nodded, his expression grim. "All our efforts, and yet we are no closer to finding him than we were before."

Ming Zhao rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache forming there. "We underestimated him again. He is always one step ahead of us."

Feng Shun's frustration boiled over. "We have spoken to everyone, bribed courtesans, and scoured every damn brothel. What more can we do? It is like he has vanished into thin air."

"Maybe he has," an immortal muttered, their voice filled with despair.

Feng Jun slammed his fist on the table. "We can't give up. Not now. We need to think of another plan."

"But what?" Yueliang Shen asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "What else can we do that we haven't already tried?"

Silence fell over the room, each immortal lost in their thoughts. The sense of defeat was almost suffocating.

He was a master trickster alright, always one step ahead, always making a fool out of them.

Days have already turned into more than a week, the immortals have grown increasingly frustrated. Their confidence in delivering swift justice waned with each fruitless endeavor, they were not ready for this drawn-out hunt. Some even began to wonder if they could truly catch Chen Haoyu.

But just as they were thinking about what to do next, and amidst their growing despair, a rumor reached the ears of the immortals. A whispered clue about Chen Haoyu's possible whereabouts ignited a spark of hope. It was enough to make them spring into action, their resolve rekindled by this faint glimmer of a lead.

"He has been seen near the Forbidden Grove," a young immortal whispered urgently. "It is said he has been hiding there. I think he knows we are after him."

"Then what are we waiting for? We should move as soon as possible before that bastard slips through our fingers again," Feng Jun stood up from his seat and screamed, his voice echoing through the hall.

Like a war-cry, his declaration spurred the immortals into action. They gathered their forces, weapons at the ready, determination etched on their faces. Yueliang Shen and Li Mingzhi led the charge, their steps quick and purposeful as they made their way toward the rumored location.

The Forbidden Grove was a place shrouded in mystery, a dense forest where the trees seemed to whisper secrets and the air was thick with enchantment. It was the perfect hideout for someone like Chen Haoyu. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew more oppressive, the shadows longer and darker.

"Stick together," Li Mingzhi commanded, her voice steady. "This place is full of traps. We can't afford to lose anyone."

Yueliang Shen nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Keep your senses sharp. If Chen Haoyu is here, he'll be ready for us."

The journey was fraught with tension, each step heavy with anticipation. As they approached the rumored location, the air grew thick with an eerie stillness, the calm before the storm.

The air was so dense that even the immortals could fly above the Forbidden Grove. Forbidden Grove was one of the most dangerous, and one of the few no go zones in the Immortal Realm.

So the Immortals got on their feet and moved silently, their senses heightened, every rustle of leaves and distant chirp of a bird setting their nerves on edge.

"This place gives me the creeps," Shui Jian muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword. "Feels like the trees are watching us."

"They probably are," Yueliang Shen replied with a grim smile. "Chen Haoyu has eyes everywhere. Stay alert."

The sanctuary within the Forbidden Grove was a labyrinth of stone pathways and cascading flowers, its beauty marred by the darkness they knew lurked within. The immortals spread out, their Profound Qi illuminating the shadowed corners as they advanced. The soft glow of their energy cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, making the flowers seem to twist and writhe in the dim light.

"Looks like we are on the right track," Yueliang Shen said, his voice low. "Stay close, everyone."

As they followed the trail, the forest seemed to close in around them, the trees growing denser and the air colder. The sense of impending danger was palpable, and the immortals moved with a mixture of caution and urgency.

"Do you think he is setting a trap?" Feng Jun asked, his eyes darting around.

"Probably," Li Mingzhi replied. "But we don't have a choice. We have to keep moving."

The tension was almost unbearable as they neared a clearing. The sanctuary was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. The immortals paused at the edge of the clearing, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement.

As the immortals pressed forward, driven by their burning fury, their pursuit led them into a world of vibrant beauty. A majestic mountain rose before them, its slopes a riot of color and life. Wildflowers bloomed in defiant bursts of purples and yellows, their sweet fragrance mingling with the crisp mountain air. Birds sang unseen from leafy canopies, their melodies a chorus against the steady rush of a hidden waterfall.

"Beautiful!" The immortals called out in unison.

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