Chapter 151: Searching the Mountain
The Demon Hunters began scouring the mountains under the cover of night. Mo Hua did not go.
Mo Shan and Elder Yu both forbade him from doing so.
There was a possibility of clashing with the Qian Family, and with the dark night, high winds, and the treacherous terrain of the Great Black Mountain, it would be far too dangerous.
Although Mo Hua was not afraid, he had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. He simply stayed home and practiced formation arts.
...
Early the next morning, Mo Shan returned.
His expression was weary, his clothes damp with dew, but there were no wounds on his body, no sign that he had fought anyone.
"Couldn't find them?" Mo Hua asked.
Mo Shan nodded. "The Qian Family is hiding deep. There's not a single trace."
"Then… how about taking me with you tonight?"
Mo Shan frowned. "It's dangerous."
"I'll just stay at the camp. I won't go out," Mo Hua said.
"Then what's the point of you coming?" Mo Shan asked, puzzled.
Mo Hua chuckled. "You'll see when the time comes."
Mo Shan thought for a moment, then agreed.
With Mo Hua's movement technique, as long as there was no direct battle with the Qian Family, where swords flew and spiritual energy rampaged, simply staying in the outer mountain area was safe enough.
As night fell, the Great Black Mountain grew hazy, draped in a veil of darkness.
Mo Hua followed the Demon Hunters up the mountain. The slopes were pitch-black; one could not see a hand before their face.
Only the damp, chilly wind swept through, rustling the leaves, while distant howls of demonic beasts echoed through the woods.
Mo Shan brought Mo Hua to a small camp, closed the gate, lit a lamp, and wrapped Mo Hua snugly in a fur blanket like a little dumpling.
"The mountain gets cold at night. Don't freeze," he said.
Mo Hua poked his little head out from the blanket and nodded.
"Be careful. Try not to go outside. If danger comes, set off that flare, you'll have Demon Hunters rushing over," Mo Shan instructed again and again.
Mo Hua nodded again. "Don't worry, Father. I know the outer mountains well."
He had hunted beasts, drawn blood, sought spices, mined ores, gathered herbs, and mapped the terrain countless times.
To him, the outer mountain was almost like his own courtyard.
Though the Great Black Mountain was more perilous at night, Mo Hua's Divine-Sense was powerful. As long as he remained cautious, nothing serious would happen.
Besides, many Demon Hunters were scattered throughout the outer mountain searching for traces of the Qian Family. There were plenty of familiar faces around.
Mo Shan smiled and shook his head, rubbing Mo Hua's little head. "I'll head out now. Be careful."
After Mo Shan left, Mo Hua opened his Storage Ring and took out the compass of the Central Array of the Mother-and-Child Formation.
He released his Divine-Sense to inspect the surroundings. Once certain there was no danger, he drew a new formation on the camp's gate.
It was a compound formation that included an Earth-Stabilizing Array, reinforcing the soil and stone to make the gate even more unbreakable.
Since he was spending the night here, as a formation master, only within a formation he had personally drawn could he rest at ease.
Mo Hua thought so quietly to himself.
Then he took out some beef and fruit wine, eating and drinking while studying first-grade nine-pattern formations under the lamp's light, occasionally glancing at the Mother-and-Child compass beside him.
Thus, he passed the night peacefully.
Nothing happened.
...
The next morning, Mo Shan returned after a night of searching. Seeing Mo Hua well-fed, well-rested, and utterly relaxed, he could not help feeling a bit conflicted.
"Are you coming again tonight?" Mo Shan asked.
Mo Hua nodded. "Of course."
And so, the second and third nights were the same. Mo Hua followed Mo Shan into the Great Black Mountain and stayed in the camp overnight.
Still, nothing happened.
Until the fourth night, while Mo Hua was wrapped in his little blanket, eating mutton and studying formation scrolls, the compass Mother-and-Child Array suddenly lit up with a small point of light.
Mo Hua's eyes brightened.
They're here! Finally exposed!
When Qian Family cultivators entered the mountain, they could evade Demon Hunters, but not necessarily the demonic beasts.
Once a fight broke out, there would be spiritual energy fluctuations. Those fluctuations would trigger the sub-arrays Mo Hua had planted throughout the mountain, and through the Mother Compass, he could locate their position.
Such battles did not occur every night, so patience was required, a hunter waiting for his prey.
Tonight, however, the prey had walked right into his trap.
Mo Hua unfolded his topographic map and quickly pinpointed the location through the compass.
It was a small hill at the border between the outer and inner mountains, remote and seldom visited by cultivators.
He extinguished the lamp, packed his belongings, and left the camp.
Outside, the moonlight was dim, the trees cast deep shadows, and the mountain was enveloped in darkness.
Mo Hua closed his eyes and extended his Divine-Sense to its fullest extent.
The pitch-black world around him instantly turned into a field of hazy white.
Moments later, he opened his eyes and headed in a certain direction.
Ahead, a Demon Hunter was carefully searching through the forest.
The mountain woods were dense. The Demon Hunter, fully focused, suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder—a small hand—and nearly jumped out of his skin.
Mo Hua hurriedly shushed him. "Uncle Wu."
Recognizing the voice, the man relaxed, though his heart was still pounding.
"Mo Hua… heavens, don't scare me like that."
Mo Hua was baffled. He had just walked up and patted his shoulder. How could that be so frightening?
Adults really needed steadier nerves.
The Demon Hunter finally caught his breath and whispered, "Why are you here? Didn't your father tell you to stay at camp?"
"I'm looking for him," Mo Hua replied.
"Oh." The man nodded. "Your father's over by the Great Rock Ridge."
"Thank you, Uncle Wu."
The man looked at him with concern. "It's dark and windy tonight. The mountain's dangerous. Want me to walk you there?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "No need. I'll be fine. Keep working, Uncle Wu."
The Demon Hunter nodded. "If anything happens, shout. I'll come right away."
Mo Hua thanked him again and headed toward the Great Rock Ridge.
After he left, the Demon Hunter resumed his search, but then froze as a chill ran down his spine.
"Wait… how come Mo Hua made no sound when he walked?"
It was as if his feet never touched the ground, something unseen carried him forward.
And when Mo Hua had approached earlier, there had been no sign of him at all, no sound, no breath, no Divine-Sense fluctuation… nothing.
The cold mountain wind whispered through the trees, making the shadows sway eerily.
A shiver ran through the Demon Hunter. "Forget it. Don't think about it. Keep going, or my soul really might flee…"
He shook his head hard, forcing his focus back to the task.
...
Meanwhile, Mo Hua was traveling swiftly with the Flowing-Water Step.
Gentle ripples of spiritual power spread under his feet like liquid waves, supporting his light, soundless steps as he moved even faster.
When he reached the Great Rock Ridge, he released his Divine-Sense and soon sensed Mo Shan's presence not far to his left.
Mo Shan was carefully searching the ground for clues when he suddenly felt something and looked up, spotting a small figure approaching.
"Hua'er?"
"Father." Mo Hua walked up to him in a few quick steps.
"Didn't I tell you to stay at the camp?" Mo Shan said, worried.
"I found it," Mo Hua said.
Mo Shan froze. "Found what?"
"The spiritual mine's location!"
(End of Chapter)