Chapter 209: Master Luo
Chapter 209: Master Luo
Mo Hua shook his head and said, "Everyone is born with a gift, how could one be useless?"
An Xiaofu paused, "What use could there be?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment, unable to explain further, especially regarding the specifics of culinary arts. So, he said, "Your family runs a restaurant, and you have such an exceptional sense of taste. How could that be useless?"
An Xiaofu sighed, "We only started the restaurant out of desperation..."
"Out of desperation?"
Seeing that it was still early, and the meat was delicious, An Xiaofu took a bite and washed it down with some fruit wine. He rarely had anyone to talk to, so he continued, "The An family used to be in the business of pill and artifact refining. But after losing out to the Qian family, our business declined, and we could only rely on some ancestral property to run Ling Shen Lou."
"My grandfather doesn't like running a restaurant. He still wants to refine pills and artifacts. He feels ashamed of owning a restaurant."
...
"What's wrong with running a restaurant?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.
"I think it's great, but my grandfather doesn't," An Xiaofu mumbled. "And the cultivation professions are also divided into three levels."
An Xiaofu counted with his thumb, "First is formation mastery, the most difficult to learn and the most versatile. Formation masters are considered superior wherever they go. Next are pill and artifact refining, as well as talisman making—these are all decent professions."
"Other professions like culinary arts, spiritual plants, textiles, craftsmanship, and demon hunting are actually looked down upon."
"Don't get mad at what I'm about to say," An Xiaofu said weakly. "Many cultivators from large families and sects believe that culinary arts and demon hunting are only suitable for lowly wandering cultivators. They look down on these professions."
Mo Hua understood, but he didn't agree, "Without cultivators specializing in spiritual plants, culinary arts, and textiles, what would they eat and wear? Without these basics, what is there to be proud of?"
An Xiaofu nodded, "Exactly!"
An Xiaofu loved to eat and believed that eating was the most important thing. Anything related to food was of utmost importance to him.
Liu Ruhua prepared a few more dishes, including demon beast meat and wild vegetables from the mountains. Although the ingredients were ordinary, the dishes were delicious and unique in flavor.
An Xiaofu, with his cheeks puffed out from eating, couldn't help but praise, "Mo Hua, your mother's cooking is truly delicious."
Mo Hua was even happier than if he had been complimented himself, "Of course!"
After they finished eating, they waved goodbye to each other.
As Mo Hua watched An Xiaofu's departing figure, he couldn't help but ponder:
What can one do with a good sense of taste?
Become a culinary master? Open a restaurant?
But the An family already owns Ling Shen Lou...
Mo Hua had a vague idea, but he wanted to think it through more carefully.
Qian Shunzhi spent several days gathering information before reporting back to the clan leader, Qian Hong.
"There's a newly built cave mansion south of the city with a plaque that reads 'Bai Fu.' A veiled woman lives there with a male and female young cultivator, but it's unclear if they are formation masters."
A hint of wariness flashed in Qian Hong's eyes, "This is likely a traveling scion of a major family. We can't afford to offend them, and they won't help those demon hunters anyway. Anything else?"
Qian Shunzhi said, "There was an elderly cultivator who passed through, but his whereabouts are unclear. He left after a few days in Tongxian City. There were also a few middle-aged formation masters who stayed at an inn and had some connections with the city's families..."
Qian Hong pondered for a moment, then said coldly, "None of these seem right. Keep investigating."
Seeing the concern in Qian Hong's expression, Qian Shunzhi took out several formation charts and handed them over.
"There's a young formation master among the demon hunters. These formations were drawn by him. Some are authentic charts created by the formation master, while others are imprints I obtained."
Qian Hong glanced at them and frowned, "These are all ordinary formations, not even first-grade."
Although he was not a formation master himself, he could at least count the formation lines.
However, the Qian Family was not looking for this Little Array Master, but rather the mysterious top-tier array master.
"Deploy more people to continue the search." Qian Hong instructed.
"Yes," Qian Shunzhi replied, bowing her head respectfully. As she turned to leave, Qian Hong called out to her again.
After a moment of thought, Qian Hong handed over the few array diagrams in his hand and said, "Give these array diagrams to Master Qian and see if he can discern anything from them."
Qian Shunzhi respectfully acknowledged the order and then passed on the array diagrams and their rubbings to Master Qian.
Master Qian was currently in the Qian Family's library, discussing matters with a group of array masters.
Some of these array masters were from the Qian Family, some had close ties with the family, and there were also a few who, despite not having a deep relationship with the Qians, had accepted Master Qian's invitation and come along.
There weren't many array masters in Tongxian City, and they all knew each other to some extent.
Moreover, the Qian Family was the largest and wealthiest clan in the city, so the others naturally didn't want to offend them.
A top-tier array master was certainly not an unknown figure and would likely have some connections with the various clans.
Master Qian had invited all these array masters from Tongxian City to gather information and see if anyone had any leads or connections to the mysterious master.
If they could find a connection, it would be much easier to establish a relationship with the elusive expert.
However, after discussing for a while, no one had any useful information.
It was as if the top-tier array master had suddenly appeared out of thin air, and no one knew their origins.
Just as they were running out of ideas, Qian Shunzhi entered with the array diagrams.
Master Qian took the diagrams, examined them, and frowned before passing them around for the other array masters to see.
"Can anyone discern anything from these?" Master Qian asked.
"These arrays are well-drawn," one of the array masters commented.
"They are very systematic," added another.
"The brushwork is extremely skilled and reflects solid foundational training," a third array master remarked.
"It's a pity that they are only low-level arrays with five or six array lines. There's not much we can deduce from them," someone else said.
The group of array masters discussed the diagrams further.
The last one to speak was a thin array master who said, "If these arrays were indeed created by the Little Array Master, then there must be a connection between him and the top-tier array master."
The other array masters nodded in agreement, "If there wasn't a connection, a child his age wouldn't be able to draw arrays this well."
As they were talking, a Qian Family disciple entered the room and respectfully announced, "Master Luo has arrived."
Master Qian immediately stood up, and the other array masters followed suit, walking towards the entrance and bowing to greet the newcomer.
"Greetings, Master Luo!" they said in unison.
The person who had arrived was indeed Master Luo, one of the few true top-tier array masters in Tongxian City who had been officially recognized by the Dao Court.
The other top-tier array masters in the city were already elderly and preferred their seclusion, no longer participating in social events, but Master Luo still occasionally made appearances.
Master Luo returned their greetings, "You are too kind."
He then turned to Master Qian and said, "Master Qian, it has been a while."
Master Qian quickly waved his hands, "Please, don't call me that in front of Master Luo. I am not worthy of such a title compared to your expertise in array formation."
Master Luo smiled, "Brother Qian, you are too humble. With your proficiency in array formation, it's only a matter of time before you attain the top-tier as well."
Master Luo entered the main hall and took the seat of honor, while the other array masters took their seats according to their seniority.
A Qian Family maid served them tea.
"This is the Yunwu tea from Lufeng. It has a delicate and fresh appearance, a delightful fragrance, and a beautiful color. Please, Master Luo, have a taste," Master Qian said.
Master Luo's eyes lit up slightly as he lifted the lid of the teacup. The tea emitted a misty vapor, resembling clouds. After taking a sip, a sweet taste spread through his throat and warmed his heart, prompting him to nod in appreciation, "Excellent tea!"
With the tea served and the formalities completed, the group proceeded to discuss the matter at hand.
(End of Chapter)
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