Chapter 99: Thank You
When Zhou Cheng heard Mo Shan only needed five spirit stones, he couldn't help but open his mouth, then earnestly said:
"Brother Mo, how can this be…? I—I'll give you another five."
He wanted to give more, but he really had no more spirit stones.
He had quietly inquired in Tōngxiān City, usually, drawing an Iron Armor Formation cost fifty spirit stones. Only some inexperienced formation masters, unsure of their own skills, would charge thirty at the lowest.
Last night, he had fretted over how many stones Mo Shan would need. Yet today, hearing that Mo Shan only required five, he felt deeply ashamed.
Mo Shan patted his shoulder. "Use the extra stones to buy some quality spiritual ink. It's all for the boy, don't refuse."
Grateful, Zhou Cheng said no more.
That afternoon, he took the time to buy Gold-Stone Spiritual Ink and personally delivered it with the Vine Armor to Mo Hua's home. Mo Hua spent less than an hour completing the Iron Armor Formation and handed the Vine Armor to Mo Shan.
He effectively earned five spirit stones, with half a bottle of spiritual ink left.
Mo Hua thought the transaction was fair.
"Should I tell others I'm already a formation master, and have them come to me for formations?"
He pondered, then shook his head.
He was still young; such a move would be flashy. He remembered what Master Zhuang said: cultivators must hide their talent. If your brush sticks out, it will break; if the pig fattens, it will be slaughtered. The cultivation world was full of dangers, and with Mo Hua's current abilities and experience, he could not defend against them all.
Besides, his formation skills were still far from perfect; there was much to learn. He could not let temporary profit blind him to the true path.
So the matter passed.
...
The next day, the demon hunter who had asked Mo Hua to draw the formation unexpectedly arrived at the house, accompanied by a simple-looking young man.
"Dàpíng, quickly thank Uncle Mo and Brother Mo," he said.
The boy did not hesitate, bowing deeply: "Thank you, Uncle Mo, thank you, Brother Mo!"
Mo Shan introduced them. "This is your Uncle Zhou, given name Cheng. This is his youngest son, Zhou Dàpíng. That formation was commissioned by your Uncle Zhou Cheng."
"Hello, Uncle Zhou. Hello, Brother Dàpíng!"
"All good," Zhou Cheng laughed repeatedly. "No need for formalities, just call him Dàpíng."
Dàpíng nodded, "Just call me Dàpíng."
Zhou Cheng handed over a bundle, some food, vegetables, fruit, and most valuable, a bottle of spiritual ink.
Mo Hua had only taken five spirit stones to draw the formation, and Zhou Cheng already felt uneasy. Seeing the Vine Armor with Mo Hua's formation—its patterns precise, strokes elegant, faintly golden—his unease deepened.
Though he didn't understand formations, the brushwork looked masterful; such quality could not be achieved without great skill.
Originally, he had assumed that because Mo Hua was young, the formation would be just barely usable. Now, comparing even with Tōngxiān City formation masters with twenty or thirty years' experience, it was by no means inferior.
Zhou Cheng tested the Vine Armor. Its performance exceeded expectations. In dangerous situations, it might actually save his son's life.
He felt even more indebted, gathering some more spirit stones and carefully bought gifts, personally delivering them to express his thanks.
Mo Shan firmly refused. "Keep these for yourself, it's not easy to earn spirit stones."
But no matter how Mo Shan insisted, Zhou Cheng was determined to give them.
The two were at a standstill until evening with no resolution.
Mo Hua finally said, "Father, Uncle Zhou means well. Accept it. If he ever needs a formation drawn, he can come to us."
Zhou Cheng grinned. "Brother Mo, your son is right, don't refuse."
Mo Shan sighed, and finally accepted.
Afterwards, whenever Dàpíng went demon hunting, he wore the Vine Armor with Mo Hua's formation. A few times he was injured, but the armor's durability prevented serious harm.
When Zhou Cheng learned this, he finally relaxed. He realized his effort wasn't wasted; just the spirit stones saved on treatment were significant. And in a real emergency, the formation could indeed save a life.
As rogue cultivators with limited means, raising a child was already difficult. Losing a son to demon hunting would be heartbreaking beyond words.
Over the years, Zhou Cheng had seen young cultivators die hunting demons every year.
Even skilled hunters could fall prey with one mistake, let alone inexperienced novices. Thinking of this, Zhou Cheng felt profound gratitude to Mo Hua. But being poor, he could only express it in words.
Afterward, he praised Mo Hua to anyone who would listen: though young, his formations were excellent. With formations drawn on the Vine Armor, it became nearly impervious to weapons, so his son could hunt without fear.
The praise was somewhat exaggerated, a bit theatrical, but people loved to hear it.
Some doubted a teenage formation master, but others believed.
Occasionally, people invited Mo Shan to meals or drinks, subtly asking if his son could truly draw formations, and if the Vine Armor was really impenetrable.
Mo Shan could only explain, "My son can draw formations, yes. But even with formations, the Vine Armor is not invincible, it's just sturdier than before."
"Oh, I thought it would be invincible!"
"I've seen that Vine Armor. The formation makes it much harder, but it's still not perfect. It works for mid-stage Qi Refinement, but not beyond. It cannot withstand a First Grade late-stage beast's claw."
"Mid-stage Qi Refinement works?" someone asked.
"Yes, it's effective, at least it protects vital areas."
"I need one for my son. Every time he goes into the mountains, I worry. Back when I was young, hunting didn't make me this nervous. I was tough, could take a bite from a beast. But I fear those beasts biting my son. One misstep, he might die before me…" a burly man laughed bitterly.
"Mid-stage Qi Refinement, not much use…" someone sneered.
"You don't have a son, of course it's useless. I have three! Mo Shan, our friendship of so many years, your son should draw a few sets for me. Let's say three… no, six, for backup…"
"Oh, and me too."
"I want one too…"
"You don't have a son, why?"
"I don't now, but what about the future?"
"That's uncertain."
"Stop talking, if he wants one, let him take it. Maybe he has a few illegitimate sons out there."
"You bastard, what are you saying!"
A few drunken men started wrestling.
Mo Shan could only watch, half laughing, half crying.
...
Author Notes: Thanks to Ze Yu'an for the support~
(End of Chapter)