Chapter 34: Array Mending
Chapter 34: Array Mending
"It's actually the Melting Fire Array..." Mo Hua remarked.
"Indeed," Master Chen nodded, impressed that Mo Hua had recognized the array at a glance. He said more solemnly, "Mo Xiao, can you take a look and see if there's a problem with the array? I don't understand these things at all and can't see anything wrong."
Master Chen had the black soot on the furnace cleaned off, and Mo Hua crouched by the furnace mouth, carefully examining the Melting Fire Array engraved on the furnace wall.
Although he couldn't quite recreate it yet, his constant practice had made him extremely familiar with the array's design. Soon enough, he pointed out several spots and explained to Master Chen, "It's definitely an issue with the array. These sections of the array are worn down, disrupting the flow of spiritual energy and causing the array to fail."
Master Chen was surprised by Mo Hua's reasoned explanation and couldn't help but see him in a new light. However, he soon furrowed his brows again, concerned about the cost. "I guess we'll have to get an array master to fix it. Sigh, business hasn't been great lately, and I don't know how many more spirit stones this will cost us..."
"Is it expensive to hire an array master for repairs?" Mo Hua asked.
"Of course," Master Chen replied. "Array masters are rare, and in cases like this where specialized repairs are needed, we have to offer more spirit stones. Otherwise, they won't be inclined to help."
Mo Hua suggested, "How about... I give it a try?"
"You?" Master Chen was taken aback. "Are you already an array master?"
Mo Hua humbly waved his hand. "Not yet. I'm still learning arrays from my sect's teachers, but I happen to have studied this particular array."
Master Chen looked at the half-height Mo Hua, his face still youthful, and said politely, "Let's forget it. You're just a child. I don't want you to tire yourself out."
Mo Hua understood Master Chen's hesitation, so he shifted his gaze and asked, "Master Chen, the people you usually invite might not be real array masters, right?"
"Well..." Master Chen admitted, "Some of them are actually just apprentices and not yet full-fledged array masters. But when we're asking for help, it's only natural to speak politely and address them as masters. It makes them happy, and things go more smoothly. We don't know much about their skills, and it's not good to ask too many questions as long as they fix the array."
"So, have they always fixed the array successfully?" Mo Hua inquired.
Master Chen thought for a moment. "There were a few times when it went very smoothly, and the repairs were done quickly. But there were also times when they made adjustments for half a day, and it still didn't work. We had to call in someone else to get it done."
"Exactly," Mo Hua said confidently. "Most of them are probably just apprentices, and even if their array skills are better than mine, it's not by a significant margin."
Of course, a proper apprentice's skills should be superior to Mo Hua's. But in some cases, their abilities might not necessarily surpass his.
Mo Hua continued, "Whether they come to fix it or I try, it's still an attempt at repairing. At most, I might not succeed, and then you can call them afterward."
His words... seemed to make some sense...
Master Chen was almost convinced but still hesitated. Mo Hua, noticing this, added, "Even if we call an array master, they might not be available immediately. It depends on their schedule. Each day the smithy is closed means a day without income. If this goes on for too long, expenses will outweigh the income."
The smithy was doing decent business, but the profit margins were thin. Master Chen refused to cut corners, so every spirit stone was hard-earned. On top of that, he had to provide for his apprentices' meals and accommodations. A prolonged closure would indeed strain their finances.
Master Chen rubbed his temples, finally giving in. "Alright, young man, give it a try."
But he immediately followed up with a cautious reminder, "Just try, don't force it, and don't damage the array further..."
Mo Hua reassured him, "Don't worry, the worst that can happen is that I can't fix it."
Master Chen felt somewhat comforted but also like he hadn't been comforted at all.
Mo Hua asked Master Chen to wait and went home to retrieve his brush and fire-attribute ink. He also brought the Melting Fire Array diagram with him. Upon returning to the smithy, he showed the diagram to Master Chen.
Master Chen compared the array on the diagram to the one on the furnace and found them similar, which eased his worries a little. At least it wasn't completely unreliable.
This was Mo Hua's first time engraving an array on a spiritual artifact, and he felt a bit nervous. Fortunately, his extensive practice with the Melting Fire Array soon calmed his nerves as he began painting.
Array restoration was different from creating an array from scratch; it didn't require as much spiritual sense because the array itself was already complete. He only needed to reconnect the damaged sections of the array with ink.
What mattered here were the array master's eyesight, attentiveness, and familiarity with arrays.
Mo Hua focused intently as he worked on the furnace.
In less than half a hour, Mo Hua had finished restoring the array. He then spent the time it took to drink a cup of tea to inspect his work thoroughly. Finally satisfied, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Master Chen had been watching anxiously, fearing that Mo Hua would mess up the array. Seeing that he had finished, he asked, "Is it... fixed now?"
But the fire didn't light.
Mo Hua froze, stroking his chin as the already dirty streaks on his young face became even more smudged.
"Why isn't it lighting? I thought the array was fixed," he said, perplexed.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the array, young man?" Master Chen asked.
Mo Hua retrieved the Melting Fire Array diagram and carefully compared it to the furnace once more, then nodded. "The array itself is fine."
Master Chen ran his hand over the furnace, gauging the temperature, and instructed his apprentices, "There's not enough spiritual energy. Add a few more spirit stones and heat up a branding iron to throw in there."
The apprentices followed his instructions, and soon, the furnace's temperature began to rise.
Before long, a fire blazed to life with a whoosh.
Master Chen was elated. "There we go!"
His apprentices shared his joy, for with the furnace functional, they had work to do and could continue learning from their master. They looked at Mo Hua with admiration.
Mo Hua was pleased as well. "Let's try refining a spiritual artifact and see if there are any issues."
Master Chen tossed a sword into the furnace. After refining it for a while, he said with a hint of disappointment, "It works fine, but the fire is slightly weaker than before. It might take longer to refine artifacts from now on."
Mo Hua was puzzled. "Why would the fire be weaker with the same array? Could it be that the array's effectiveness decreases after being repaired?"
Master Chen shook his head. "The fire didn't diminish much after the previous repairs."
"Then why is it happening now?"
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, wondering if he had made a mistake in drawing the array.
Master Chen pondered for a moment, then pointed at the ink in Mo Hua's inkstone. "Perhaps it's the ink? The ones we hired before used ink that was a much deeper red, almost like burning flames. Yours is much cheaper."
Mo Hua realized his mistake. He had prioritized convenience and cost-saving, purchasing the most affordable fire-attribute ink. It had been sufficient for practice, but when applied to a spiritual artifact, its inferior quality became apparent.
"To get better results from the array, you need higher-grade spirit ink," Mo Hua noted to himself.
"I guess it was the ink, then," Mo Hua said sheepishly. "I bought the cheapest option, so it probably doesn't stimulate spiritual energy as well."
"Don't say that," Master Chen replied. "We have fire, and that's what matters. In fact, I should be thanking you."
After some thought, Master Chen made a decision. "As for the stove you wanted me to refine, I won't charge you for that. I'll do it for free. But I won't refund the material costs—I still need to feed all these hungry mouths." He gestured to his apprentices.
Mo Hua looked around the spacious but simple smithy, then at Master Chen, his apprentices, and their soot-covered faces glistening with sweat. He knew they worked hard for every spirit stone they earned. "Master Chen, just give me a 50% discount on the refining fee."
Master Chen shook his head. "No, that's out of the question. Even with the discount, I'd still be profiting. Getting someone else to fix this array would've cost at least a hundred or two hundred spirit stones."
"You don't need to give that much," Mo Hua insisted.
Master Chen's stubborn streak emerged. "Honesty is important in our line of work. A deal is a deal. Since I said I wouldn't take your spirit stones, I won't go back on my word!"
Such stubborn honesty…
Mo Hua had no choice but to change tactics. Smiling, he said, "Alright, then. I won't pay the refining fee, but after you finish the stove, I'll give you some spirit stones as a token of my appreciation for your hard work."
"Well…"
Master Chen was momentarily flummoxed. The refining fee and a token of appreciation seemed like the same thing, but there was a subtle difference.
"It's like when you ask a friend for help," Mo Hua explained. "You still give them a token of appreciation."
"Alright, then," Master Chen relented. "That makes sense."
The apprentices also expressed their gratitude to Mo Hua.
They came from humble backgrounds, and their work as apprentices provided a much-needed supplement to their families' incomes. If they couldn't earn spirit stones, their already difficult lives would become even harder.
Every spirit stone they earned, no matter how small the amount, made their lives a little easier.
"Let's agree on that, then! It's getting late, and I need to head home for dinner!" Mo Hua waved goodbye.
Master Chen reminded him to be careful on his way home and added, "Come to me for any refining needs in the future, and I'll give you a discount!"
(End of Chapter)
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