Chapter 130: Spices
The effect of the Earthfire Array turned out to be far better than expected.
Just as Yu Chengyi had predicted, once the array was deployed, a few Qi-Refining sixth-layer demon hunters could take down a first-rank mid-stage demonic beast, and as long as they were cautious, there would be hardly any casualties.
Previously, the hunting teams always had veterans bringing along a few newcomers.
That way, the new recruits were protected, familiarized themselves with the terrain, gained experience, honed their techniques, and could even earn some spirit stones to help their families.
But with such mixed teams, the efficiency of the veteran hunters dropped significantly.
Now, with the array in play, all the newcomers needed was a bit of basic training, after that, they could hunt independently.
Because the Earthfire Array would blast the beast into serious injury, its meridians damaged and demon power sluggish, most of its deadly abilities couldn't even be activated, making things far safer for the newbies.
Thanks to the array, the rookies earned spirit stones, the veterans worked less, and everyone's life got a little easier.
However, Mo Hua was just one person. Even though he could draw arrays fast, there was only so much he could produce in a day.
Yu Chengyi thought for a bit and decided to save on a few arrays and send more people instead.
Normally, five Earthfire Arrays required three or four hunters to finish off the beasts.
Now, they'd use only three arrays but send six or seven hunters, the outcome was about the same.
Mo Hua had already mastered the Earthfire Array to perfection; the more he drew, the faster he became. And as his work spread, more and more demon hunters started using his arrays.
Over time, most of the Qi-Refining mid-stage demon hunters became acquainted with him.
Some wore vine armor engraved with his Iron Armor Array; others hunted with his Earthfire Arrays; still others had their household doors and windows reinforced by arrays he'd drawn.
Even the late-stage Qi-Refining hunters mostly knew him now, some because of old ties with Mo Shan, some because they'd hired him for array work, and others who'd merely heard of the young array prodigy from relatives and friends.
And, of course, quite a few had been personally instructed by Yu Chengyi to "keep an eye on the boy while he's in the Black Mountain."
So after a month wandering the outer ranges, Mo Hua realized… practically everyone there knew him.
He'd walk along the path, and familiar cultivators would call out greetings.
Some would even pick wild fruit from the mountains to offer him.
Sweet, tangy, crisp, and refreshing.
And not just fruit, there were dried meat, pine nuts, and rice wine too.
Mo Hua could enter the mountain empty-handed and still eat and drink his fill before heading home.
But, as the saying goes, courtesy goes both ways.
So every time he prepared to go up the mountain, he'd ask his mother to pack a few jin of sliced beef, all sorts of flavors.
Whenever someone offered him food, he'd share some beef in return.
Before long, some people were actually waiting in the mountains just to bump into him.
Especially the older hunters, those with a drinking habit but no meat to go with their wine.
They used to avoid lingering in the mountains when not hunting; now they'd deliberately squat by the mountain paths, hoping Mo Hua would show up.
They'd give him fruit and snacks, and he'd offer beef to go with their wine.
These were also the hunters Yu Chengyi had told to watch over him, and sometimes when Mo Hua ran into trouble, they'd lend a hand.
He remembered every favor.
So now and then, even with nothing to do, Mo Hua would bring some meat up the mountain, sit on a big rock with them, gaze at the scenery, and listen to their hunting stories over shared food.
Occasionally, they'd "critique" his beef:
"Not spicy enough."
"Too soft, no bite."
"Could use a bit more gamey flavor."
They'd say all that, while eating like starved wolves.
Some hunters also gave suggestions: they said there were aromatic herbs in the mountains that could make the meat even tastier.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Where can I find them?"
"There's plenty in the mountains, you'll have to look yourself."
One hunter pulled out a thin booklet. It had illustrations of various herbs, trees, and flowers, with notes on which parts could be used as spice, petals, leaves, bark, resin, sap, and more.
Altogether, there were dozens of kinds.
The hunter handed him the booklet, asking only one thing in return, if Mo Hua made something delicious, he'd better get a taste.
Mo Hua clutched the book like treasure and nodded eagerly.
After that, whenever he traveled through the mountains, he'd keep an eye out for the herbs in the booklet.
Whenever he found some, he'd bring them home for his mother.
Liu Ruhua was delighted. She'd always been devoted to refining cultivation-based cuisine, and with these spices, her dishes truly reached new heights.
With the new ingredients, the meat dishes she made were more fragrant, richer in taste, and full of layered flavor.
Mo Hua, keeping his promise, brought some to the hunter who'd given him the book.
After taking one bite, the hunter's expression turned utterly serene, as though he'd transcended mortal life itself.
It was… a bit much. Mo Hua didn't know what to say.
He also brought some to Forgetful Meditation Abode.
Bai Zisheng tried it and sighed enviously,
"Mo Hua, your mom's amazing! Hey, ask her if she'd take me as a godson?"
Mo Hua rolled his eyes.
Bai Zixi couldn't stand it, she threw a paper ball at her brother's head.
The beef Mo Hua gave Mister Zhuang was the best, beautifully arranged on five or six plates, garnished with greens or crimson chili, each dish with a unique flavor.
After tasting it, Mister Zhuang frowned slightly, then sighed wistfully:
"Desires of the tongue… how they ensnare the heart."
Then he took another bite anyway.
With the new spices, the restaurant business flourished.
Mo Hua was thrilled, and decided that while collecting spices, he might as well pick some herbs too.
After all, in hunting operations, his real job was only to draw arrays and later collect beast blood.
The rest of his time, he was usually wandering the outer mountain anyway.
So why not? Spices, herbs, ores, all fair game.
He borrowed The Daoist Materia Medica from Elder Feng, and The Daoist Mineral Records from Master Chen.
Then he began exploring the mountains with both books, identifying herbs and ores, gathering whatever he could find.
He'd give the herbs to Elder Feng and the ores to Master Chen.
Neither stood on ceremony, they just told him that if he ever needed pills or spirit tools, to come find them.
And so, Mo Hua's days in the Black Mountain Outer Range went like this: sketching maps, collecting spices, gathering herbs, mining stones, and waiting for other hunters to slay beasts so he could extract their blood for his spiritual ink.
Until one day, he realized…
The number of hunters using Earthfire Arrays had exploded.
Sometimes they'd kill a beast in the south while he was still drawing blood from the one in the north, by the time he rushed over, the corpse was already cold.
Ten bottles' worth of demon blood, gone, just like that.
After this happened a few times, Mo Hua frowned and muttered to himself:
"I need to come up with a better method… this waste is killing me."
(End of Chapter)