https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-Entering-the-Mountain-Part-Three-/12540790/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-127-Borrowing-People-Five-Watches-/12540792/
Chapter 126: Yu Chengyi (Fourth Watch)
Chapter 126: Yu Chengyi (Fourth Watch)
After Mo Hua familiarized himself with the outer mountain range alongside Mo Shan, he proceeded to create his own map of the area.
This map, known as a 'yu tu', is a tool used by demon hunters, indicating the terrain, streams, rivers, poisonous miasma, and areas where demons lurk.
Mo Shan also possessed such a map, but it was rather rudimentary, barely showing anything beyond some mountain paths.
For veteran demon hunters, the map is not something they carry on paper, but rather, it is etched into their minds.
After all, one can't afford to be studying a map while being pursued by demons, deciding which way to flee...
But Mo Hua was neither a veteran nor, technically, a demon hunter, so he wanted to create a more detailed map.
Using Mo Shan's basic map as a foundation, Mo Hua began to add his own annotations.
From the contours of the mountains to the flow of streams, he meticulously marked everything worth noting along the route.
As Mo Shan guided him through the outer mountains multiple times, Mo Hua gradually refined his map, eventually committing the entire terrain not just to the parchment but also to his memory.
Mo Shan casually quizzed Mo Hua on various aspects.
He asked about locations of poisonous miasma, demon lairs, campsites, and escape routes in case of danger, to which Mo Hua responded fluently, even providing clearer explanations than some veteran demon hunters.
Mo Shan sighed, both out of relief and resignation, and from then on, he largely left Mo Hua to his own devices.
Thus, Mo Hua sought out the Three Tiger Brothers once more, and they ventured into the mountains together.
While the Tigers slew the demons, Mo Hua drained their blood, after which they shared the spirit stones obtained.
It was a clear division of labor, simple and efficient.
"But... Uncle Mo really allowed you into the mountains..."
Little Tiger still found it hard to believe.
"Aren't you guys also venturing into the mountains? I can do the same."
Mo Hua replied as he drained the blood from a wild boar-like demon.
"It's not the same..."
"Yeah, that day when I saw that maned flame hound charging at you, I was scared out of my wits."
"Fortunately, your agility is excellent, or else it would've been terrifying."
Even now, the memory sent shivers down their spines.
"But, Mo Hua, your agility is incredible!"
The Twin Tigers couldn't help but praise him.
They had never witnessed such agility before—it was like flowing water, like a fluttering butterfly, shifting unpredictably from left to right.
Despite being within mauling distance of an enraged maned flame hound for so long, not even a corner of his clothes had been torn.
Mo Hua blushed slightly, "Thanks to that kind-hearted uncle who happened to pass by... But I've only learned the basics."
After storing away the jade bottles filled with demon blood, Mo Hua added, "I'm done with the blood extraction. You guys can start skinning. This pig is huge; we should be able to sell it for a good amount of spirit stones."
The Three Tigers, invigorated, began to skin and debone the boar demon, preparing to sell it for spirit stones.
With nothing else to do, Mo Hua inspected his storage bag, finding several dozen bottles of demon blood within.
However, he felt it wasn't enough.
The nine array patterns were a significant hurdle for array masters.
After reaching the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, one needed to unravel arrays to break through the bottleneck of the Heavenly Creation Technique, which was another formidable challenge.
To overcome these two obstacles, one would need to draw numerous arrays, and thus, it was beneficial to have an abundance of spirit ink.
It would be wise to stockpile more demon blood.
But... how?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
The Three Tigers, after all, had only reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. Being able to slay one demon a day was already impressive.
If Mo Hua handled things himself, he could use his agility to hold off a dying demon, but actually killing it would be strenuous, and he would have to rely on his Fireball Technique.
The Fireball Technique wasn't particularly powerful, and against thick-skinned demons, especially those with fire-attributed powers, its effectiveness was further diminished.
Killing a dying demon would likely require several fireballs.
Mo Hua practiced his Fireball Technique whenever he had free time, and now, his fireballs were both swift and accurate, allowing him to strike first even against demons.
Mo Hua pondered for several days but still couldn't come up with a good solution.
Then, one day, as he was wandering in the outer mountains and updating his 'yu tu', he happened to run into Yu Chengyi, who was leading a group of demon hunters.
Yu Chengyi was the eldest son of Elder Yu, a cultivator at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement with considerable prowess, and he held a certain amount of prestige among the demon hunters.
Usually, he led his team to hunt demons in the inner mountains, but a few days ago, he had received news that a rather troublesome demon beast had appeared in the outer mountains. Although it was only mid-rank for a first-grade demon beast, it was extremely difficult to deal with.
Yu Chengyi happened to be free that day, so he temporarily gathered some demon hunters and came to the outer mountains to hunt for this demon beast.
Yu Chengyi was fully focused, searching for traces of the demon beast with his team, when he heard someone calling out to him. The voice was rather young.
Yu Chengyi was taken aback, and when he looked up, he saw a small child, a young cultivator, standing on a distant boulder and waving at him.
He was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped.
Where did this kid come from?
This is the Great Black Mountain!
How did this child get in? How dare he come here?! Doesn't he fear being eaten by demon beasts?
When Yu Chengyi recognized who it was, he was startled again, and he exclaimed, "Mo Hua?!"
He still remembered Mo Hua.
Mo Shan's son, young in age, with a well-behaved appearance, and skilled in drawing arrays. His father had even asked Yu Chengyi to look after him.
Yu Chengyi's heart turned cold, and he felt a shiver of fear.
A little array master among the demon hunters... If something happened to him, it would be a huge loss.
Yu Chengyi flashed over and took two steps at once, appearing directly beside Mo Hua. He scooped Mo Hua up from the boulder and set him down on the ground.
"Uncle Yu, your movement technique is amazing!" Mo Hua exclaimed as he landed.
"It's alright," Yu Chengyi replied humbly, and then he thought, "Wait, is this really the time for that?"
He looked at Mo Hua and then glanced around, unable to hold back his question. "Where's your father?"
"My father is in the inner mountains," Mo Hua answered.
"No... I mean, isn't your father with you?" Yu Chengyi asked, perplexed.
"I can't go to the inner mountains," Mo Hua said.
Mo Shan had allowed him to play in the outer mountains and had repeatedly instructed him not to venture into the inner mountains. Mo Hua had firmly obeyed, and he wouldn't go to the inner mountains even if it killed him.
Yu Chengyi said, "I mean, isn't your father with you right now?"
"Oh, he went to hunt demons in the inner mountains. He can't always accompany me," Mo Hua explained.
Yu Chengyi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying that Mo Shan brought you into the mountains and then left you alone in the outer mountains?"
Has Mo Shan lost his mind?
"Not exactly," Mo Hua said, "I came here with Da Hu and the others. My father only allowed me to stay in the outer mountains and forbade me from going into the inner mountains."
Yu Chengyi asked slowly, emphasizing each word, "Are you telling me that Mo Shan actually permitted you to enter the outer mountains?"
Mo Hua nodded.
Yu Chengyi was a bit angry.
What kind of joke is this? The outer mountains are still part of the Great Black Mountain! There's poison, miasma, and demon beasts here!
Don't underestimate the outer mountains!
It took Yu Chengyi a long time to calm down; his emotions were all over the place.
"Never mind that," Mo Hua said, "Uncle Yu, can you do me a favor?"
Yu Chengyi asked some trivial questions, interrupting Mo Hua's train of thought and almost making him forget what he had originally set out to do.
"A favor?" Yu Chengyi paused, "Do you need someone to send you back?"
"No," Mo Hua waved his hand, "I've only just entered the mountains. Why would I go back?"
Mo Hua secretly sized up the demon hunters behind Yu Chengyi and lowered his voice. "Can I borrow a few people from you?"
(End of Chapter)
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