Chapter 119: Trap
Chapter 119: Trap
Foresight is essential for success; those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
As they prepared to venture into the treacherous Da Hei Mountain, they knew they had to be well-prepared.
Da Hei Mountain was notorious for its hazardous environment, teeming with poisonous creatures and shrouded in miasma. And lurking in the shadows were the ever-present demonic beasts.
Demonic beasts were not known for their reasoning skills; they would eat anyone they came across, and even those that didn't eat humans would still kill without hesitation, ripping apart cultivators and leaving them to their fate.
Mo Hua, having grown up in Tongxian City, was all too familiar with the dangers of Da Hei Mountain, especially since his father was a demon hunter.
Venturing into the mountain unprepared could easily lead to one's demise, and the chances of recovering even a single bone were slim.
Therefore, those who dared to venture into the mountain must consider every possibility and plan ahead to avoid the myriad dangers that lurked within.
"I am my father and mother's only son," Mo Hua thought to himself.
One day, Liu Ruhua sent some beef and vegetables to Jiang Yun, asking her to take them home and cook them for the children.
Jiang Yun tried to decline, saying she couldn't carry so much.
The storage bags of Qi Refining cultivators were relatively inexpensive and didn't offer much space, so they truly couldn't hold too many items.
"Aunt Jiang, let me help you carry these back," Mo Hua volunteered.
"How could I let you do that?" Jiang Yun replied.
"It's no trouble. I was planning to visit Uncle Chu anyway," Mo Hua assured her.
"Really?" Jiang Yun asked, a hint of suspicion and puzzlement in her voice.
Mo Hua nodded.
Jiang Yun stopped refusing and picked up the storage bag, leading the way while Mo Hua carried two large Chinese cabbage heads behind her.
Along the way, Jiang Yun kept turning back to remind Mo Hua to be careful and to ask if he was tired and needed a rest.
After walking for about an hour, they arrived at Jiang Yun's home.
It was a simple abode—just two or three rooms with peeling walls and old, worn-out furniture that was missing arms and legs.
Fortunately, the kitchen still had a homely feel to it, and at the very least, there was enough food to fill their stomachs.
Jiang Yun felt a bit embarrassed by their humble home. "Please excuse the simplicity of our home..."
"It's quite alright, Aunt Jiang," Mo Hua said with a smile.
This was the typical living situation for a casual cultivator's family in Tongxian City—modest and frugal.
Mo Hua's previous financial situation had been slightly better, thanks to Liu Ruhua's prudent management of their household and Mo Shan's demon-hunting skills and robust health. Although they were poor, they had gotten by.
However, this was all contingent on the absence of unforeseen circumstances.
The lives of casual cultivators were far more fragile than they seemed. Any unforeseen incident could lead to a rapid decline in their circumstances, making it difficult to even earn a living, let alone pursue the path of longevity.
Aunt Jiang's husband had been badly injured while hunting demons, and with their savings depleted and no other source of income, they struggled to provide for their young child, despite Aunt Jiang's constant tears.
It was only after she started working at the restaurant and earned some spirit stones, and her husband's condition improved, that they could barely make ends meet.
The life of a casual cultivator was far more fragile than one might imagine, but despite this, they persevered.
Aunt Jiang's mother-in-law was busy soothing the child when they arrived. Upon seeing Mo Hua, she greeted him warmly.
The child, with his curious pair of pitch-black eyes, also peered at Mo Hua, taking in this new visitor.
Mo Hua took out a small cloth tiger and gave it to the child, who excitedly exclaimed, "Thank you, big brother~" in his baby voice, hugging the toy tiger tightly and refusing to let go.
Mo Hua smiled at the child's reaction and then went to find Aunt Jiang's husband, Chu Guangshan.
Chu Guangshan was surprised to see Mo Hua but delighted to hear that he had come to seek his help.
"Ask away. If it's something I can do, consider it done!" Chu Guangshan said enthusiastically.
"Uncle Chu, I want to learn how to use traps. Could you teach me?" Mo Hua asked.
It was Chu Guangshan's trap that had caught the little cat demon that had accompanied Mo Hua during his practice of the Flowing Water Steps.
While young demonic beasts might not be particularly strong, they were highly vigilant and perceptive, with an innate familiarity with their surroundings. Typically, they would easily avoid any traps laid by cultivators.
The fact that Chu Guangshan could successfully trap demonic beasts, and even capture them alive, was impressive.
Although part of the reason for his success was Mo Hua's addition of the Wood Binding Array on the trap, which made it harder for the demonic beasts to escape, it also highlighted Chu Guangshan's extensive experience and expertise in trap placement.
Not all demon hunters had the patience and attention to detail that he possessed.
Chu Guangshan hesitated for a moment.
"If it's inconvenient, then forget it," Mo Hua said quickly, realizing he might be overstepping by asking about someone's livelihood.
"As for me, I'm half a cripple. Unable to hunt demons, I can only rely on these petty tricks to make a living. Otherwise, your Aunt Jiang... will have a hard time," he said with a self-deprecating smile.
Mo Hua was touched by his words and replied thoughtfully, "Understanding the ways of the world is a form of knowledge. The path of cultivation is vast and profound, encompassing all things. The Great Dao is the path, and even these small tricks are part of it."
Chu Guangshan was slightly taken aback but then smiled and said, "I don't know where you learned all this, but it makes sense. Since you don't mind, I'll teach you everything I know. However, I must emphasize that these are mere tricks and not worth too much of your time."
"Don't worry, I won't neglect my cultivation and formation studies," Mo Hua assured him.
Only then did Chu Guangshan nod in agreement.
"Traps are actually quite simple, but they require patience and attention to detail," he explained.
"When setting up a trap, you need to observe the terrain and predict the demon beast's path—where it will come from and where it will go. Then, you set the trap on its inevitable route..."
"After setting the trap, you must erase any traces of your presence. The surroundings should look exactly as they did before—the grass, trees, and rocks undisturbed. You also need to conceal your spiritual energy, and if you can't eliminate it completely, you must learn to mask it."
"How do you mask it?" Mo Hua asked.
"Demon beasts are attracted to putrid and bloody scents. You can use demon blood, rotten meat, or herbs with strong odors like bloodgrass to disguise your spiritual energy," Chu Guangshan instructed.
"As for the construction of traps, I'll draw a few diagrams for you later. It's quite simple, and you can enhance them with formations for better results."
...
"Lastly, be cautious of demon beasts pretending to be dead. They are cunning and may feign death when trapped. As you approach to inspect, they will suddenly launch a surprise attack, and most likely, you won't be able to defend against it."
Chu Guangshan explained everything in great detail.
Mo Hua listened intently, nodding frequently.
As Mo Hua prepared to take his leave, Chu Guangshan hesitated, his expression uncertain.
"Uncle Chu, is there something else?" Mo Hua asked.
"It's nothing, really," Chu Guangshan waved his hand dismissively, though his expression suggested otherwise.
Mo Hua gently probed, "Aunt Jiang has been kind to me, and you've taught me how to use traps. If there's something on your mind, please feel free to share."
Chu Guangshan's face turned bright red, and after much hesitation, he finally spoke, "When Zhu'er grows up a bit, could you... teach him some formations?"
Zhu'er was Chu Guangshan and Jiang Yun's son, the little boy Mo Hua had met earlier.
Having been injured by a demon beast, Chu Guangshan was unable to hunt demons anymore, and even making a living had become difficult.
He didn't want his son to follow in his footsteps, living a life of constant danger and fear. So, he hoped that his son could learn some formations to secure a better future.
Learning formations required finding a master, but he couldn't afford the spirit stones for tuition.
His only option was to rely on Mo Hua, but he couldn't afford to compensate him either. Asking for such a favor made him feel ashamed and embarrassed.
However, he was desperate, and despite his reluctance to ask, he felt he had no choice for the sake of his son.
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback but soon fell into thought.
Chu Guangshan quickly added, "Of course, if Zhu'er is dull and doesn't have the talent, then forget about it..."
Although Chu Guangshan said this, his eyes betrayed a glimmer of hope, and he even appeared somewhat humble.
Mo Hua felt a twinge of sadness seeing his expression...
He pretended not to notice and simply smiled, "Sure, but let's wait until Zhu'er grows up a bit. Even if he doesn't have exceptional talent, as long as he can learn a few formations, he can trade with merchant houses and earn spirit stones. In the future, he may not become rich and powerful, but he should have enough for a comfortable life."
Chu Guangshan's worries melted away, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
As he looked at Mo Hua, his emotions surged, and his eyes reddened with gratitude. He wanted to express his thanks, but the words felt inadequate, and he didn't know how else to convey his appreciation.
Mo Hua bid him farewell with a smile.
Chu Guangshan saw Mo Hua out of the house and even accompanied him to the street, stopping only when they reached the signboard of "Liu's Restaurant." He stood there, watching until Mo Hua returned home.
(End of Chapter)
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