Chapter 26: Progress
Chapter 26: Progress
After classes every day, Mo Hua would go to Yan Jiaoxi's place to learn about array theory and ask questions about arrays. With Yan Jiaoxi's guidance, Mo Hua quickly grasped the Gold and Stone Array, and with the ability to practice on the stele in his sea of consciousness, it only took him about ten days to complete drawing the five Gold and Stone Arrays.
Due to the ample time he had, Mo Hua worked meticulously and only failed once, earning him a profit of roughly twelve spirit stones after deducting the cost of materials.
During the break, Mo Hua handed the arrays to Mo Guanshi, who looked quite pleased after examining them. He nodded and said, "The arrays drawn by your... brother are becoming more and more impressive."
Mo Hua looked at Mo Guanshi with suspicion.
For some reason, Mo Guanshi felt a bit guilty under his gaze and coughed before waving his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. Go back to the sect now. I'm quite busy here."
Mo Hua scanned the empty Yuanyuan Pavilion, devoid of any customers, and asked curiously, "There aren't any customers here, are there? What are you so busy with, Guanshi?"
Mo Guanshi believed in a laid-back style of management, which was fundamentally different from simply having bad business.
However, the lack of customers was evident at a glance.
Annoyed, Mo Guanshi retorted, "What do kids know? I handle big business here, and whether there are customers or not, I'm always busy! I'm telling you, I'm busy!"
"Alright then, I'll leave you to your business," Mo Hua said and took a few steps before suddenly turning around and asking, "By the way, are you and Yan Jiaoxi close?"
A bit flustered, Mo Guanshi replied, "Not really close. We're just fellow sect members. His temperament is rather stubborn and unyielding, which most people can't tolerate. We haven't been in contact for many years, but we happened to meet the other day and had a cup of tea to catch up."
"Oh..." Mo Hua drew out the word contemplatively.
Saying they weren't close, yet speaking so familiarly, it was obvious they were quite familiar, at least indicating a substantial relationship.
Mo Guanshi waved his hands hastily. "Go now, go now. Don't disturb me while I'm doing business."
As Mo Hua left Yuanyuan Pavilion, he thought to himself, "It seems there really is something fishy going on between Guanshi and Yan Jiaoxi..."
From then on, Mo Hua's life fell into a dull and ordinary routine within the sect. Every day consisted of attending classes, seeking guidance from Yan Jiaoxi on arrays after class, returning to the disciple's residence to draw arrays, and then entering his sea of consciousness at midnight to practice on the fragmented stele.
It was simple yet fulfilling.
Mo Hua's proficiency in arrays improved daily, and his spiritual sense grew deeper. He now had ample spiritual sense to draw four-patterned Gold and Stone Arrays, and he did so with increasing ease, no longer feeling any scarcity of spiritual sense.
The orders for Mo Guanshi's arrays also changed several times, each time with the excuse of "changes in market trends," and he would refuse to accept the previous arrays, asking Mo Hua to draw new ones instead. He would then provide Mo Hua with new array diagrams.
Whenever Yan Jiaoxi instructed Mo Hua on array theory, he would conveniently explain the arrays that Mo Guanshi had asked Mo Hua to draw, essentially feeding Mo Hua the answers.
This basically confirmed Mo Hua's suspicions that Mo Guanshi and Yan Jiaoxi had a relationship, and they were likely both aware of his involvement in drawing arrays for Yuanyuan Pavilion.
However, everyone tacitly pretended otherwise, and Mo Hua played along as if he were none the wiser.
What puzzled Mo Hua was why Yan Jiaoxi was so attentive to him, answering all his questions about arrays, and why Mo Guanshi was also providing him with so many conveniences.
Could it really be just because of his talent in arrays?
Later, after some thought, Mo Hua felt that he was probably overthinking things.
Yan Jiaoxi was a strict and serious person who approached both teaching and arrays with utmost diligence. He never held back when instructing his disciples.
Two months later, in addition to the Gold and Stone Array, Mo Hua had learned the Mud and Sand Array, Quicksand Array, and Ventilation Array. With the spirit stones he had earned from drawing arrays, he now had a total of over 180 spirit stones.
Mo Hua planned to save up for a medium-grade lower-tier cultivation technique, which would cost around 200 spirit stones. This would ease his parents' financial burden significantly.
Once he had enough spirit stones and had chosen a suitable technique, he would inform his parents, and they would surely be pleased.
However, before Mo Hua could save up enough spirit stones, an incident occurred at home.
One day during a pill refining class, Yan Jiaoxi suddenly called Mo Hua out and informed him with a grave expression that his mother was critically ill. He urged Mo Hua to return home immediately.
Mo Hua was stunned, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
He requested a few days off from Yan Jiaoxi and hurried back home.
However, the door to his home was closed, and no one answered his knocks. Just as he was starting to panic, a neighbor, Aunt Yang, came out and said, "Is that you, Mo Hua?"
"Aunt Yang, my mother..." Mo Hua asked anxiously.
"I was just about to come and tell you. Your mother is severely ill and is being treated by Old Man Feng at Xinglin Hall. Go and see her quickly!" Aunt Yang urged.
Mo Hua thanked her repeatedly and rushed towards Xinglin Hall.
Xinglin Hall was the only pill shop in the nearby area.
Pill shops were usually staffed by pill masters who diagnosed and treated cultivators' injuries and illnesses by refining pills.
Old Man Feng of Xinglin Hall was a renowned pill master in Tongxian City, known for his dedication to the Dao of Pills. In his later years, he had passed the appraisal and become a genuine first-grade pill master, one of the few in Tongxian City.
Additionally, Old Man Feng was the only first-grade pill master in Tongxian City who chose to remain in the lower-tier sect market, serving the needs of loose cultivators.
When Mo Hua arrived at Xinglin Hall, Old Man Feng was attending to patients. He wore a clean but slightly faded black robe with white trimmings, his hair and beard were white, and his demeanor was kind. After instructing the patient before him, he waved Mo Hua over.
Mo Hua quickly approached and greeted him. "Greetings, Old Man Feng! My mother..."
Old Man Feng nodded and said, "Good child, I have examined your mother's condition, and although it is severe, it is not life-threatening. You can rest assured for now."
Only then did Mo Hua breathe a sigh of relief. But as he came back to his senses, he felt parched, his throat burning.
Mo Hua had a weak constitution since childhood, and the rush back home had exhausted him. Now that he had stopped running, he felt sweat pouring down his body.
Old Man Feng gently pressed Mo Hua's back with his right hand, and a faint bluish light flashed as he channeled some spiritual energy into Mo Hua's body. Mo Hua felt like a spring breeze was soothing his limbs and bones, and his breath became much smoother.
Old Man Feng then poured a shallow cup of tea and instructed, "Drink slowly and in small sips."
Following the old man's instructions, Mo Hua sipped the steaming tea, and his breath finally eased.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
