Chapter 123: Father and Son
From then on, whenever Dà Hu, Shuāng Hu, and Xiao Hu had free time, Mo Hua would go into the mountains with them to hunt demon beasts using trap formations.
After every hunt, they'd split the spirit stones from the kill, and Mo Hua could also absorb demon blood to strengthen himself.
Though happy, the three brothers couldn't help but worry. They said to Mo Hua:
"We're only killing beasts that are already injured… if we never fight them head-on, won't our combat skills get rusty?"
Mo Hua replied calmly:
"That's called fighting to nurture fighting. First, hunt beasts to earn spirit stones and raise your cultivation. Once your cultivation is stronger, you can fight them head-on, there's no rush."
Then, he added with a faint smile,
"We're still young. If we fight demons head-on now, it's just throwing our lives away. If we don't use some brains, we'll end up as monster snacks."
The three nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Following Mo Hua's methods, they grew more and more practiced and coordinated. They no longer panicked when facing a demon beast, their fear was fading, replaced by calm determination.
But after a few successful hunts, an accident finally happened.
That day, they were surrounding a Flame-Mane Hound, nearly as tall as a man, with blood-red eyes and a whip-like tongue.
After a dozen exchanges, the beast took a slash from Shuāng Hu but managed to find an opening and leapt out of their encirclement.
This hound was at the peak of Grade One mid-stage—almost at late stage—so Mo Hua's Earthfire Array hadn't hurt it as badly as it did weaker beasts.
The hound dashed ten zhang away, eyes blazing red, glaring at the three boys as if to memorize their faces before turning to flee.
But halfway through, its nose twitched, and it suddenly smelled something.
Mo Hua.
The boy was hiding behind a rock nearby.
A cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi-Refining had weak blood essence. To the beast, that scent was deliciously tempting.
The hound's eyes gleamed crimson; its fangs gleamed with drool and stench as it turned and charged straight for Mo Hua.
"Mo Hua! Run!" Dà Hu shouted.
Mo Hua froze for an instant... and in that instant, the hound had already lunged behind him, jaws wide open.
But when it bit down, there was no blood, no flesh, only air.
The hound blinked, stunned.
Mo Hua was standing a zhang away, face tense but not panicked.
It didn't understand how that fragile human cub had slipped away.
Dà Hu and the others cried out and rushed forward.
The Flame-Mane Hound sneered (as much as a dog could), leapt again, and pounced with even greater speed.
Just one zhang, an instant's distance.
Its claws raked toward Mo Hua's chest... yet Mo Hua's figure floated backward lightly, as if carried by a breeze, gracefully evading the strike.
The hound hesitated, and Mo Hua took the chance to retreat another three zhang, eyes calm... even slightly mocking.
That mocking glint infuriated the beast. Its red eyes flared; its fur turned crimson and then burst into flame.
"Not good!"
Dà Hu and the others paled mid-run.
When enraged, the Flame-Mane Hound's entire body would ignite in burning demonic fire.
The inferno beast lunged, faster, hotter, wrapped in blistering heat that could melt steel.
This fire was demon power condensed into flame, it could corrode flesh, burn away a cultivator's spiritual energy, and even destroy one's meridians. Once it invaded the body, it was nearly impossible to remove.
Mo Hua's expression grew solemn. He fully extended his Divine-Sense, tracking the hound's movement, while channeling his qi to use Flowing-Water Step.
Each time the hound advanced, Mo Hua retreated.
Each time the hound struck, Mo Hua slipped away like a ripple on water.
After several rounds, though the scene looked perilous, Mo Hua remained completely unscathed.
Dà Hu and the others were dumbfounded, half terrified, half amazed.
What kind of body movement technique is that…?
Realizing Mo Hua was still in danger, they sprinted to assist.
The hound, furious from repeated failure, pushed its demonic energy to the limit; flames blazed brighter and hotter.
Its killing intent surged.
Mo Hua instantly sensed what it intended...
it was about to go all in, risking death to devour him.
If it could kill Mo Hua and drink his blood, it might recover enough vitality to keep fighting the others, or escape altogether.
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened; he gathered spiritual fire at his fingertips. Fireball Technique.
At this distance, it would hit for sure… though he wasn't sure if it could actually hurt a demon beast.
But before he could release the spell.
A flash of light.
A blade fell from the sky, piercing the Flame-Mane Hound clean through and nailing it to the ground.
The hound twitched a few times, flames dying out, leaving only the vicious glint frozen in its eyes.
Mo Hua's heart skipped. He looked up.
On a rocky outcrop stood Mo Shan, alone, face dark as ink.
Mo Hua's heart chilled.
Uh-oh… caught by Dad.
He hadn't told his parents because he knew they'd worry, and definitely forbid it.
The Great Black Mountain was dangerous, yes, but not impossible to survive, not if one was cautious and prepared.
He knew he'd get found out eventually...
He just didn't think it'd be this soon.
His grand "demon-hunting project" had barely started…
Mo Hua sighed. So this is what they mean by: 'The venture has barely begun, yet halfway, it collapses.'
Mo Shan didn't speak, but his expression was thunderous.
Mo Hua felt uneasy. Dà Hu and the others dared not even breathe loudly.
After collecting the hound's corpse, Mo Shan sent them off.
"Uncle Mo, it's not Mo Hua's fault, it was us…" Shuāng Hu mumbled weakly.
"Enough. Go home," Mo Shan said softly.
No one knew a son better than his father.
Though Mo Hua was young, he was sharp and decisive. Even when the others were older, it was always Mo Hua who led the group.
So of course, this whole "let's go hunt demons" idea had been his.
Mo Shan sighed. He wanted to scold the boy, but couldn't quite find the words.
When father and son returned home, they ate dinner in silence.
Mo Shan's face was dark. Mo Hua sat meekly, eyes down, chewing quietly.
Liu Ruhua glanced curiously between husband and son.
As soon as they finished eating, Mo Shan opened his mouth to speak.
But Liu Ruhua cut in:
"Hua'er, go back to your room and read."
Mo Shan froze, words stuck midair.
Mo Hua, relieved, gave his mother a grateful look and slipped away quickly.
Only then did Liu Ruhua turn to Mo Shan and ask:
"What happened?"
Mo Shan sighed and told her what had happened in the mountain.
Liu Ruhua gasped.
"That child's courage is far too big!"
"Exactly. If something had happened to him in that cursed mountain…"
Mo Shan frowned, the memory making him uneasy.
"So what do you plan to do?" she asked.
Mo Shan thought for a long while, then said:
"From what I saw, he didn't go up there out of curiosity or mischief, he had a plan. The traps, the formations, and having the others finish off the beast… it was all carefully prepared. Honestly, he handled it better than some veteran demon hunters."
Then his tone hardened.
"But that doesn't change the fact, no matter how careful he is, the Great Black Mountain is unpredictable. One mistake, and it's over. This time, I'll let it pass, but from now on, he's absolutely forbidden to go there again."
Liu Ruhua was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, taking her husband's hand.
"You know, we parents… can't protect him for his whole life."
...
💬 Author's Note:
Thanks to 辋水沦涟 for the reward!
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Originally planned to relax a bit, but… let's keep pushing!
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(End of Chapter)