Chapter 29: The Stove
Chapter 29: The Stove
The shopkeeper went upstairs and soon returned to politely invite Mo Hua up.
When Mo Hua saw An Xiaopan, the young master was drinking with a few other teenagers of similar age and means. The table was adorned with an array of colorful and juicy spiritual fruits, while maids fanned them, creating a fragrant breeze, and songstresses sang melodious tunes that lingered in the air.
The room was comfortably cool, devoid of the summer heat, and the screens were even engraved with ice-based arrays to aid in cooling and ventilation.
Mo Hua's thoughts turned to the scattered cultivators toiling under the scorching sun in the streets, eking out a living, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
Despite being cultivators at the same Qi Refining stage, their lives in Tongxian City seemed worlds apart.
"Mo Hua, it is you!" exclaimed An Xiaopan, a hint of pleasure in his voice. He waved his hand and said, "Come, join us for a drink."
An Xiaopan's face was flushed from drinking, but given his young age, he was likely indulging in fruit wine, which wouldn't be too detrimental even if he got drunk.
Mo Hua, however, wasn't in the mood for drinks. He cut straight to the point, "Young Master An, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Oh," An Xiaopan snapped back to attention and waved to the other youths, "You guys go ahead, I have something to take care of."
The shopkeeper then led Mo Hua and An Xiaopan to a quiet private room. Without beating around the bush, Mo Hua said, "Young Master An, I'd like to ask for your assistance with something."
An Xiaopan, still visibly tipsy, proudly declared, "As long as it's within my means, just ask away!"
Mo Hua glanced at the luxurious decor in the private room and asked, "Does your family own this restaurant?"
An Xiaopan boasted, "Yes!"
"Do you use stoves or cultivators' spiritual power for cooking in the kitchen?" Mo Hua inquired.
An Xiaopan looked puzzled, thought for a moment, and not having the slightest clue, called out, "Shopkeeper!"
Soon after, the shopkeeper entered the room. An Xiaopan pointed at him and said to Mo Hua, "Ask him."
Mo Hua repeated his question to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper replied, "We used to rely on cultivators' spiritual power for fire, but this method often damaged their heart and lungs, and the fire was unstable. So, the boss decided against it. Last year, we hired an artifact refiner to craft a special stove, and an array master to engrave an array on it. We've been using the stove ever since."
Intrigued, Mo Hua asked, "Is the cost of the stove higher than hiring cultivators?"
The shopkeeper honestly answered, "In the long run, the stove is more beneficial. In the short term, hiring cultivators is definitely more cost-effective, and you can even bargain with them. Sometimes, during slumps, you can hire a scattered Qi Refining cultivator for just half a spirit stone."
Mo Hua felt a twinge of discomfort in his heart.
Even as cultivators, they couldn't escape exploitation.
"May I take a look at the stove?" Mo Hua asked.
The shopkeeper hesitated, glancing at Young Master An. He wasn't authorized to make such decisions, as kitchens were usually off-limits to outsiders.
An Xiaopan, now a bit more sober, asked the shopkeeper, "Can't we show it to others?"
"The recipes are the real secrets," the shopkeeper replied. "As for the stove, many restaurants have them. Those that don't simply choose not to spend spirit stones on crafting one; it's not exactly a closely guarded secret."
"Then let's take a look," An Xiaopan suggested. "I haven't even seen that stove myself."
"Very well, I'll take you young masters there right away," the shopkeeper said, relieved. With Young Master An accompanying them, he wouldn't be solely responsible if something went awry.
The shopkeeper led Mo Hua and An Xiaopan to the kitchen and pointed to a massive stove-like apparatus that stood twice as tall as a man. "This is the stove. After inserting spirit stones, the array inside the stove converts the spirit stones' energy into fire. The fire then extends to each cooking station, providing cultivators with the means to cook ingredients."
"There are also arrays connecting the stove to each cooking station," the shopkeeper continued, "and each station has a specialized array to control the intensity of the fire..."
Mo Hua found it all fascinating—it was the first time he had seen artifact refining and arrays applied in such a manner.
Mo Hua examined the stove carefully, looking at it from different angles, paying attention to even the smallest details between the stove's mouth and the gaps in the furnace.
Seeing his intense curiosity, the shopkeeper couldn't help but ask, "Is there something specific you're wondering about, Master Mo?"
Mo Hua inquired, "Shopkeeper, do you know what kind of arrays are engraved within the stove?"
The shopkeeper hesitated but then thought that merely knowing the names of the arrays wasn't useful. The most important thing was the ability to draw the arrays, and that was no easy task.
"The array within this stove isn't complicated. It's just a Melting Fire Array with five array lines. However, the placement of the Melting Fire Array is crucial; it needs to be drawn at the bottom of the stove to ensure even heating. There's also a gap left on the stove's exterior for placing spirit stones. This allows the spiritual energy from the stones to permeate the array, igniting and fueling the fire..."
The shopkeeper explained everything in detail.
"Oh, I see," Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, absorbing all the information.
After observing and chatting for a while longer, Mo Hua felt he had asked all the questions he wanted to, so he sincerely thanked the shopkeeper and prepared to take his leave.
An Xiaopan pulled on Mo Hua, refusing to let him go just yet, "Don't rush off, I'll treat you to something delicious."
Mo Hua had other matters to attend to, so he declined the offer.
"Are you not giving me face?" An Xiaopan pouted, a little upset.
Mo Hua praised him for his generosity and then quietly said to An Xiaopan, "Next time you have an array assignment, I'll help you draw it for free."
An Xiaopan beamed with joy and nodded eagerly, "Okay!"
He didn't care about spirit stones; he cared about saving face. Having Mo Hua help him with his array assignments boosted his ego.
As Mo Hua walked away, the shopkeeper asked An Xiaopan, "Young Master, what is the identity of that Master Mo?"
"He's a fellow disciple, and he's extremely talented at drawing arrays. He's even better than me. To be honest, he's the one who's been helping me with my array assignments all this time!"
An Xiaopan boasted with a hint of pride.
The shopkeeper remained expressionless, but his heart sank. Was this unreliable young master capable of upholding the family's legacy?
"You go ahead and tend to your business. I'm going to drink some more," An Xiaopan said as he turned to leave. Suddenly, he froze, gripping the shopkeeper's sleeve tightly as his eyes widened.
The shopkeeper felt a twinge of nervousness under his intense gaze, "Yo, Young Master..."
An Xiaopan lowered his voice, "You must never let my father know about this!"
"This matter?"
"That someone else is doing my assignments! My father must never find out!"
The shopkeeper's lips twitched, "Alright, alright..."
An Xiaopan patted his chest, feeling relieved. "That was close. Good thing I'm quick-witted, or I would've been exposed." He then made the shopkeeper swear to secrecy before finally letting go of his sleeve and heading upstairs.
The shopkeeper felt helpless, thinking to himself, "Can this unreliable young master of the An family really be trusted with the family's legacy?"
The shopkeeper's thoughts then turned to the young man named Mo.
He didn't seem like a wealthy young master; perhaps just an ordinary cultivator's child. I wonder why he was so curious about the stove.
After taking a few steps, the shopkeeper paused, remembering something An Xiaopan had said. "Talented at drawing arrays? Surely he doesn't intend to replicate the stove's array?"
"Young Master An is at the third layer of Qi Refining, and this Master Mo is his fellow disciple, so he's probably at the third layer as well. How could someone at the third layer of Qi Refining possibly have the spiritual sense required to draw arrays?"
The shopkeeper shook his head and went off to find some tea.
(End of Chapter)
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