Chapter 119: Trap
Everything in life, prepare, and you stand firm; fail to prepare, and you fall.
Since he planned to enter Black Mountain, Mo Hua had to make thorough preparations.
Black Mountain's environment was perilous, poisonous creatures everywhere, miasma filling the air, and beasts lurking in every shadow.
Those beasts had no sense of reason. They ate anyone they saw, and even the ones that didn't eat people would still kill them, gut the bodies, and saunter off without a care.
Mo Hua had grown up in Tōngxiān City, and with a father who was a demon-hunting cultivator, he'd long understood the dangers of Black Mountain.
To step into the mountains rashly was courting death. A single mistake, and you'd be gone, body, bones, and all.
Thus, if one intended to enter the mountains, every detail had to be considered in advance. A plan made beforehand could mean the difference between life and death.
"Father and Mother only have one son," Mo Hua murmured inwardly.
...
One day, Liu Ruhua sent some beef and vegetables to Jiang Yun, asking her to take them home and cook for her child.
Jiang Yun tried to refuse, saying she couldn't carry so much.
Storage pouches used by Qi-Refining cultivators were cheap and small, indeed, not much could fit inside.
"Auntie Jiang, I'll help you carry them home," Mo Hua offered eagerly.
"How could I trouble you with that?"
"It's fine. I was just about to visit Uncle Chu anyway."
"Really?" Jiang Yun asked, a little skeptical.
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.
Since he insisted, Jiang Yun didn't refuse again. She walked ahead with her storage pouch, while Mo Hua followed behind, hugging two large cabbages in his arms.
Along the way, Jiang Yun kept glancing back, reminding him to be careful, asking if he was tired, if he wanted to rest.
After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at her home.
Jiang Yun's house was simple, two or three rooms, walls mottled with age, furniture worn and incomplete.
Still, the kitchen smoke showed signs of life, at least, they weren't starving.
"Please don't mind the place… it's a bit shabby," Jiang Yun said, a little embarrassed.
"It's fine, Auntie Jiang," Mo Hua replied with a smile.
For most itinerant rogue cultivator families in Tōngxiān City, this kind of poverty was the norm—plain, humble lives.
Mo Hua's own home had been a little better off only because Liu Ruhua was frugal and Mò Shan skilled at hunting beasts. With his strong body, their family had survived decently, poor, yes, but stable.
But that stability always rested on one condition, no accidents.
For common cultivators, one misfortune was enough to shatter everything. Once the breadwinner fell, the household would soon crumble, leaving even survival uncertain, let alone pursuing the Dao.
Auntie Jiang's husband had once been gravely injured hunting beasts. Their meager savings bled dry, income gone, and with a baby crying for milk, she had wept herself dry but found no solution.
Later, she found work at a diner, earning a few spirit stones. When her husband's injuries improved a little, he managed to contribute a bit, and life became slightly more bearable.
The life of a rogue cultivator was far more fragile than most imagined. Yet, despite everything, they still struggled to live on.
Her mother-in-law was playing with the child. When she saw Mo Hua, she greeted him warmly.
The little boy peeked out curiously, his big black eyes fixed on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua took out a small cloth tiger and handed it to him. The child said in a muffled, childish voice, "Thank you, big brother~" before hugging the toy tightly and shouting excitedly.
Mo Hua smiled, then went to find Jiang Yun's husband, Chu Guangshan.
When Chu Guangshan saw Mo Hua, he was surprised, but after hearing that Mo Hua had come to ask him something, his face lit up.
"Go ahead, whatever it is, if I can do it, I'll help!"
"Uncle Chu, I wanted to ask… how do you use traps?" Mo Hua said.
The little cat demon that had once helped Mo Hua practice Flowing-Water Step had been caught by Chu Guangshan using traps.
Even though juvenile beasts weren't strong, they were cautious and sensitive, perfectly attuned to their environment. Normally, no trap laid by a cultivator could catch them.
That Chu Guangshan could not only catch beasts but sometimes even catch them alive, that was impressive.
Admittedly, part of that success came from the Wood-Binding Array Mo Hua had drawn on the traps, making them harder for beasts to break.
But still, it showed that Chu Guangshan had real skill and experience in the craft.
Not all demon hunters had the patience or precision to study traps this deeply.
Chu Guangshan hesitated.
"If it's inconvenient, that's all right," Mo Hua said quickly.
It was indeed a bit rude to ask a man to share the craft that fed his family.
Chu Guangshan froze for a moment, then smiled.
"There's nothing inconvenient about it. I'm glad you'd even ask. But…"
He paused.
"These are small tricks, not worth spending too much time on. You should still focus on cultivation and formation arts, that's where real prospects lie."
"As for me… I'm half a cripple now. Can't hunt beasts anymore, so I can only rely on these little skills to make a bit of coin. Otherwise, your Auntie Jiang… she'd have too hard a life."
He sighed, his expression tinged with self-mockery.
Mo Hua was moved. After a moment's thought, he said softly, "To understand the world is itself a form of learning. The Dao of cultivation is vast and all-encompassing. The great Dao is Dao, but the small Dao is still Dao."
Chu Guangshan blinked, then laughed. "Don't know where you picked that up, but it makes sense. Since you don't mind, I'll teach you everything I know. But remember, these are just minor skills, don't get lost in them."
"Mm, don't worry. I won't neglect my cultivation or formations."
Only then did Chu Guangshan nod.
"Traps are actually quite simple, but they require patience and attention."
"When setting one, you must study the terrain, guess where the beasts will come from, and where they'll go. Lay your traps along their likely paths."
"Once the trap is set, erase all traces. Grass, trees, rocks, everything must look exactly as before. You must also mask your scent. If it can't be erased, cover it."
"How do you cover it?" Mo Hua asked.
"Beasts love the smell of blood and rot. Use beast blood, rancid meat, or herbs like blood-scent grass to mask your presence."
"I'll draw you a few diagrams later, it's simple stuff. You can add some formation patterns if you like; that'll make them work even better."
…
"...And one more thing, watch out for beasts that play dead. They're cunning. Sometimes, even when caught, they'll pretend to die. When you get close to check, they'll suddenly spring up and strike. Most people can't react in time."
Chu Guangshan explained everything in detail, leaving nothing out.
Mo Hua listened intently, nodding repeatedly.
When he finally got up to leave, Chu Guangshan hesitated, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.
"Uncle Chu, is there something else?"
"No, no, nothing."
He waved his hands quickly, though his expression betrayed otherwise.
Mo Hua smiled. "Auntie Jiang has always been good to me, and you've just taught me about traps. If there's something, please tell me."
Chu Guangshan's face flushed red. He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
"I was wondering… when little Zhou'er grows older, could you maybe… teach him a bit of formation arts?"
Zhou'er was their son, the little boy from before.
Chu Guangshan himself had been maimed by a beast. Though he survived, he would never again hunt beasts. Even earning a living had become difficult.
He didn't want his son to walk the same blood-soaked path, living on the knife's edge, in fear of every sunrise. If the boy could learn formations, he might one day make a living without risking his life.
But to learn formations required a master, and Chu Guangshan couldn't afford one.
So he could only turn to Mo Hua, though even asking made him feel both ashamed and desperate.
Still, for his child's future, he had to ask.
Mo Hua was briefly startled, then thought for a moment.
Chu Guangshan hurriedly added, "Of course, if Zhou'er's too slow or has no talent, then forget it…"
He said it humbly, but the hope in his eyes betrayed him, fragile, earnest, and painfully sincere.
Mo Hua's chest ached slightly.
He pretended not to notice and smiled.
"Of course. When Zhou'er's older, I'll teach him a few formation diagrams. Even if his talent isn't great, he'll be able to trade those for spirit stones. Maybe he won't be rich, but at least he'll never go hungry."
The weight lifted from Chu Guangshan's heart. He exhaled deeply, his eyes reddening with emotion. The words of gratitude stuck in his throat, they all felt too small.
Mo Hua smiled, said his goodbyes, and left.
Chu Guangshan walked him all the way to the street. When he saw Mo Hua approach the sign of Liu's Eatery, he finally stopped, yet his gaze followed the boy all the way home.
(End of Chapter)