Chapter 96: Vine Armor
"We went up the mountain with Uncle Zhou's group to hunt a demon beast. We encountered a Rift-Claw Wolf Demon, it stood as tall as two men, with crimson fur, fangs three feet long, and claws shaped like hooked barbs. Its cultivation was around the mid-stage of the First Grade, not yet at late stage, so our squad could handle it. Uncle Zhou and the others engaged it head-on, telling us to stay outside the encirclement and block its escape route…"
"We fought for a long time. Uncle Zhou's group got injured, and the Rift-Claw was already near death. But suddenly, it went berserk and lunged at us three. Dà Hu and I remembered Uncle Zhou's warnings and didn't act rashly. But Xiǎo Hu, anxious, swung his blade at it."
"That strike hit the Rift-Claw, but only grazed its hide. It seized the opening, slipped behind Xiǎo Hu, and tore through his Vine Armor with one claw, his back was flayed open, and the blood wouldn't stop flowing…"
Shuāng Hu wiped his tears with his sleeve, his voice choking.
"Uncle Zhou said the Rift-Claw's talons carry demon energy. Once it rips flesh, the blood never stops. Many cultivators have died like that, bled dry after being clawed."
Dà Hu's eyes shimmered with guilt. "If only I'd taken the hit for him… I'm stronger than Xiǎo Hu, I wouldn't have been hurt this bad."
With their younger brother in such a state, the two elder brothers were torn between sorrow and regret.
"Elder Feng's pill arts are powerful. Xiǎo Hu will be alright," Mo Hua said, eyes stinging as he tried to comfort them.
He examined Xiǎo Hu's wound closely. Though it still oozed blood, the flow had slowed, and the edges of the gash were beginning to clot, the medicine Elder Feng applied was working.
Mo Hua sighed in relief.
Using his Divine-Sense to probe further, he sensed a faint crimson aura coiling around the wound, likely the so-called demon energy that demon hunters often mentioned. It was a mixed spiritual force, formed from the beast's own blood essence fused with the chaotic qi it consumed.
Humans weren't the only beings who could draw power from the Great Dao... Demon beasts could too.
After comforting Dà Hu and Shuāng Hu a few more words, Mo Hua handed over the supplies Liu Ruhua had sent to Madam Meng.
Madam Meng had been secretly wiping her tears. When she saw Mo Hua, she forced herself to smile. "Thank your mother for me. All these years, she's helped us so much. Sorry to trouble you to come all this way. Stay for lunch, won't you?"
But as soon as she said it, she thought of her bare cupboards—barely enough food for themselves—and the large amount of spirit stones Xiǎo Hu's treatment would need. She didn't even know where those stones would come from…
Her heart ached. Though she smiled, tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
Mo Hua pretended not to notice. "No need, Auntie. Mother told me to come back early. Take care of Xiǎo Hu. When he's better, I'll come visit again."
Madam Meng nodded, her voice thick with emotion.
"I just checked," Mo Hua said softly. "Xiǎo Hu's wound is already healing, and the demon energy has weakened a lot. A few more days of rest and he'll recover. Don't worry about spirit stones, once Dà Hu and Shuāng Hu can hunt on their own, things will get better."
Madam Meng gently patted his head.
Though Mo Hua was young, he had always been mature and understanding. His words somehow soothed her heart.
He handed her the food box and took his leave.
"Be careful on your way back," she called after him.
When Madam Meng opened the food box, she found some steamed buns, dried meat, a small pot of nourishing soup still warm, and several bottles of healing pills.
Beneath the pills was a small cloth pouch, heavy in her hand. She untied it and saw over a dozen spirit stones inside.
She stared blankly for a moment, then tears streamed down again.
...
Back home, Mo Hua's mood was heavy.
He wanted to help Xiǎo Hu and his brothers, but couldn't think how. He didn't know any spells, couldn't refine his body, his cultivation wasn't high, and he had no spirit stones left.
After thinking long and hard, he realized he could only do one thing—draw formations.
After lunch, Mo Hua hurried to the Artifact Refining Workshop to find Master Chen and ask for a new set of Vine Armor.
He had no spirit stones and intended to owe the debt, but Master Chen didn't even hesitate—he gave him three sets outright.
"Buying Vine Armor outside costs stones, but here, it's practically worthless. Doesn't use much fine iron or spirit liquid, just soak the vine fibers, roast them with special flame techniques, and it's done. Barely takes any furnace time. Only costs some labor. Take these three sets, kid, consider it a gift."
Mo Hua had drawn several formations for Master Chen before, refusing payment each time. The man still felt guilty about that, so he was actually glad Mo Hua had come to ask for something.
If it had been a valuable spiritual tool, he might've hesitated, but Vine Armor? He could hand those out like candy without blinking.
Mo Hua thanked him sincerely, went home, and inscribed Iron Armor Formations onto all three sets.
He already had one such Vine Armor in his Storage Ring, a defensive measure he had prepared for Qian Xing's madness. But that matter had passed, and the armor lay unused.
Still, if he didn't need it, Dà Hu and the others certainly did.
Demon hunting was perilous work, especially for body cultivators.
Veteran demon hunters knew their craft; they understood beasts and how to fight them. Even when faced with danger, they could attack and retreat with precision.
But novices were different, inexperienced, unaccustomed to sudden crises. One small mistake, and a beast could seize the chance to kill.
Many gifted young cultivators, with the potential to become top demon hunters, had perished in such "accidents," losing their futures before they began.
Such stories were common. Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua had lamented them many times, stories Mo Hua had overheard.
At such moments, having strong enough armor could mean the difference between life and death.
Unfortunately, most demon hunters couldn't afford expensive metal armor, relying instead on cheap Vine Armor.
When the Rift-Claw ambushed Xiǎo Hu, if his armor had been tougher, he might not have been injured at all, or at least not so gravely.
With the Iron Armor Formation inscribed, the Vine Armor was now much sturdier. Mo Hua silently hoped that with these, Dà Hu and the others would suffer fewer wounds while hunting.
...
A few days later, he visited again, Xiǎo Hu's color had returned, and his condition had improved.
Mo Hua brought out the three sets of Vine Armor and gave them to the brothers. Dà Hu's and Shuāng Hu's were still usable, only a bit cracked from battle; Xiǎo Hu's, however, had been shredded by the wolf demon and was beyond repair.
Madam Meng looked at the armor in Mo Hua's hands and hesitated to speak.
Sensing her thoughts, Mo Hua smiled. "Master Chen gave me these. I don't need them, so I'm giving them to Dà Hu and the others. I've added formations, much tougher than normal Vine Armor. With these, they'll get hurt less when hunting. Even if they do, the wounds will be lighter."
Madam Meng had been reluctant to accept, but once she heard "less likely to be injured," she couldn't refuse. Her eyes reddened, a mix of gratitude and shame.
Mo Hua tugged lightly on her sleeve. "Later, when I need help, I'll be counting on Dà Hu and the others. They're not allowed to slack off!"
Madam Meng broke into a laugh through her tears. "Of course! If they dare refuse you, I'll break their legs myself!"
Her mood brightened, and the three brothers grinned sheepishly, clutching the Vine Armor in their arms.
(End of Chapter)