Chapter 149: The Stir
"Old Mo—no, Mo Shan—no, wait, Brother Mo!"
A demon hunter slung his arm over Mo Shan's shoulder.
"Tell me, with our friendship, if I shamelessly beg your boy to draw me a formation, do you think he'll agree?"
Before Mo Shan could answer, another hunter chimed in,
"You got the face for that?"
"Yeah, you're too old to be making a living off your face anymore."
The others burst into laughter, teasing along.
"Mo Shan, just say the word, how many spirit stones for that formation? Give me a number so I can prepare my heart."
Mo Shan gave a wry smile. "I'll have to ask my son first. That formation shouldn't be easy to draw."
The group nodded thoughtfully.
A formation that could block a strike from a late first-grade demonic beast wasn't exactly child's play.
Then one of the hunters leaned close and whispered, "Your son… he's not betrothed yet, right?"
Mo Shan nodded. "He's still young."
"Not that young! Things like this should be settled early."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The hunter chuckled slyly. "I've got a daughter, real pretty, too. How about we become in-laws?"
"Don't listen to that nonsense, Mo Shan. My niece is the real beauty here."
"Brother Mo, no need to rush these things. I say wait another year, my daughter will be born by then…"
"You shameless old goat!"
…
Mo Shan looked at the bickering group and smiled helplessly.
This demon hunt, despite some twists, had gone fairly smoothly overall, it hadn't taken much time either.
After descending the mountain, they sold the beasts, divided the spirit stones, and went their separate ways.
As night fell, the lamps lining the street flickered to life.
Mo Shan walked down the familiar street, pushed open the familiar courtyard gate, and returned home.
Liu Ruhua had already prepared dinner, green vegetables, beef, and steaming porridge on the table.
While eating, Mo Shan asked, "That vine armor, did you inscribe a formation into it?"
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded as he stuffed his mouth with a bun and a piece of meat.
"I drew the Golden Armor Array!"
"The Golden Armor Array? Higher grade than the Iron Armor Array?"
"Yes, and its effect is much stronger."
Mo Shan thought for a moment before saying,
"Some of the uncles in my hunting team want to ask you to help draw that formation too."
"That's fine, but they'll have to wait a bit."
Mo Hua planned to spend some time learning new first-grade formations first. Once his mastery stabilized, he'd revisit the Golden Armor Array to further refine his skill.
After thinking a bit, he added, "If they want me to draw it, they should prepare some metal-element ink and materials. As for spirit stones, just give whatever they can, it's just a small fee for my effort."
After all, most rogue cultivators weren't exactly rich.
Mo Shan felt relieved and smiled.
"I'll tell them to start preparing. Once you've got time, you can help them out."
"Okay!" Mo Hua agreed brightly, then curiously asked,
"Dad, how's that Golden Armor Array on your vine armor? Does it work well?"
He wanted to know how effective the first-grade Golden Armor Array really was.
Mo Shan almost said "it works great." After all, even a late-stage first-grade demon beast like the Kui Wood Wolf hadn't been able to tear through it.
He'd never worn armor sturdier than this in his life.
But just as he was about to say so, he hesitated.
Saying it was "useful" would imply that he'd faced danger in the mountains.
And the dangers he'd encountered, he'd deliberately kept quiet about them, not wanting his wife and son to worry.
After a brief pause, Mo Shan said, "It should work well. But today's hunt went smoothly, no danger this time. I'll know more next time."
Mo Hua nodded, a little disappointed, then quickly thought better of it.
No danger was always a good thing.
Armor and formations existed to reduce risk, but danger would never vanish entirely.
The best outcome was not meeting danger at all.
With that comforting thought, Mo Hua relaxed and happily went back to eating.
As he ate, another question came to mind. "Dad, how's Uncle Zhao doing?"
Mo Shan frowned. "Not too well, he still hasn't woken up."
Old Zhao had been hunted by an unknown cultivator in the mountains, fallen off a cliff during his escape, and was only saved because Mo Hua found him with his Divine-Sense.
He'd been on the brink of death, if not for that, he wouldn't have survived.
"Was it the Qian family?"
"No solid proof, but… most likely."
Mo Hua frowned slightly. "Was the Qian family trying to vent their anger... or were they covering something up?"
"Elder Yu is investigating, but there's been no progress. We'll probably have to wait until Zhao wakes up to know the truth." Mo Shan sighed.
Mo Hua looked worried. "When will Uncle Zhao wake up?"
Mo Shan patted his head.
"Don't worry. Elder Feng checked him, said it should be within the next couple of days. You can go visit when you've got time."
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.
...
The next day, Mo Hua went to the Apricot Medicinal Hall.
Old Zhao, still unconscious from his injuries, was being cared for in a side room there.
His wife, being pregnant, couldn't stay long, so she came by only briefly each day.
Elder Yu often visited, even arranging people to help take care of Zhao. Though his life was safe, he had yet to wake up.
When Mo Hua arrived, Elder Yu was already there.
Normally stern as stone, the elder's expression softened the instant he saw Mo Hua.
"Mo Hua, you're here."
"Mm, I came to check on Uncle Zhao."
Mo Hua walked to the bedside, seeing Zhao's pale face still motionless. Worry filled his eyes as he softly asked, "Elder Yu, did you find anything about the Qian family?"
Elder Yu hesitated, then lowered his voice.
"I sent people to investigate. For the past month, the Qian family has been sneaking into Black Mountain, acting suspiciously. No one knows what they're up to."
Mo Hua frowned. "I went into the mountains too, but I didn't run into them."
"They usually move at night, very quietly. Once they're inside, they vanish without a trace, so no one's noticed. Not you, not any of the other hunters," Elder Yu explained.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said suddenly, "Did Uncle Zhao run into them?"
Elder Yu nodded. "He went into the mountain at dusk that day, likely ran right into them. He probably discovered what they were doing, so they decided to kill him to silence him…"
Kill him to silence him!
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.
Just what was the Qian family doing in Black Mountain that they needed to kill to keep it secret?
At that moment, Elder Feng entered. Elder Yu and Mo Hua stopped talking immediately.
Elder Feng carried a tray, with pills, acupuncture needles, and a small steaming furnace.
"Grandpa Feng, what are you going to do?" Mo Hua asked.
"I'll use acupuncture to open his meridians and stimulate the medicine's effect. That should wake him."
"Oh!" Mo Hua nodded eagerly, watching curiously from the side.
Elder Feng heated the medicine over the furnace, extracted the essence, infused it into golden needles, and then inserted them into Zhao's acupoints.
Zhao's skin reddened, dark blood oozed from the pores, and the chaotic spiritual energy within him gradually stabilized, until suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
Everyone brightened instantly.
Elder Yu exhaled in relief, just about to tell him to rest, when Zhao suddenly grabbed his arm with surprising strength.
Zhao's breathing was ragged; he couldn't speak clearly.
But gritting his teeth, summoning every ounce of strength left in him, he forced out the words:
"Black Mountain… has a spiritual mine!"
Elder Yu's pupils contracted sharply.
(End of Chapter)