Chapter 368: A Legacy
Chapter 368: A Legacy
Mr. Zhuang intended to leave in a month.
This was what he told Mo Hua and the Bai Zisheng siblings, asking them to prepare and settle their personal affairs during this period.
From then on, they would be leaving Tongxian City and embarking on a journey elsewhere.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi had little to prepare.
This month was mainly for Mo Hua to spend time with his parents, bid farewell to acquaintances and friends, and take care of some trivial matters.
Mo Hua was about to depart...
When Liu Ruhua made her decision, she was resolute, but now that the time had come, she felt a pang of heartache and reluctance as she realized that Mo Hua, who had been by her side for over a decade, would soon be leaving.
She worried about him facing the elements, going hungry, and sleeping in discomfort.
She fretted over his long journey ahead, the unknown dangers he might encounter, and the hardships he would endure...
So, Mo Hua spent more time at home, comforting his parents and assuring them that everything would be fine.
Elder Yu, upon learning of this, felt sad to see him go but was also happy for Mo Hua's opportunity.
It was not easy for a solitary cultivator to become an array master, especially one as gifted as Mo Hua.
However, a dragon should not linger in a shallow pond.
Tongxian City was too small, and staying here would limit Mo Hua's potential for greater achievements. Thus, while Elder Yu felt a sense of regret, he also welcomed the development.
And with Mo Hua's departure, there would no longer be an array master among the solitary cultivators in Tongxian City.
Considering this, Mo Hua had made plans in advance.
He sought out Master Qian and said, "Master Qian, I have a request."
Master Qian hurriedly replied, "I dare not..."
He dared not address himself as 'Master' in front of Mo Hua, nor did he feel worthy of receiving a request from him.
"Young Master Mo, please speak. If it is within my ability, I will certainly do my best to fulfill it," he said.
With the punishment inflicted on the elder of the Qian family by the Dao Court, their property confiscated, and the clan members drifting apart, the family was in decline. They no longer supported each other and would even fight bitterly over trivial gains.
The Qian family had once valued profit over righteousness, and their disciples were like a pack of wolves.
Now, in their downfall, without the allure of profit, it was only natural for the clan members to lose their sense of loyalty and morality.
The once-powerful Qian family had become little more than a group of solitary cultivators sharing the same surname, lacking even the unity typically found among solitary cultivators.
However, as an array master, Master Qian held a unique status. Even without the protection of the Qian family, he could still live a comfortable life.
But having experienced numerous ups and downs, he had developed a sense of uncertainty about cultivation and the unpredictability of life, causing his pursuit of personal gain to wane. Instead, he focused his attention on the art of arrays.
"Master Qian," Mo Hua continued, "are you able to teach arrays to solitary cultivators?"
Master Qian was taken aback, never expecting Mo Hua's request to be about this.
"Teaching is certainly possible," Master Qian hesitated, "but..."
But he had never considered this possibility before, nor had he imagined that one day he would be instructing solitary cultivators in the art of arrays.
"If you're willing," Mo Hua said, "I'll speak to Elder Yu, and in the future, if you have any needs or encounter any difficulties, Elder Yu will also be willing to help you."
Master Qian paused, slowly understanding Mo Hua's intentions.
Mo Hua was offering him an opportunity as well as a form of assurance.
With the decline of the Qian family, people were quick to abandon them, and past debts would be called in. Master Qian, despite being an array master, would inevitably be affected by the family's downfall due to his surname.
Now, Mo Hua was providing him with a chance to teach arrays to solitary cultivators, which would also improve his relationship with Elder Yu.
In the future, should he face any troubles, Elder Yu, out of respect for Master Qian's role as an array master, would be inclined to lend a helping hand.
And behind Elder Yu stood the entire community of demon hunters in Tongxian City. With this connection, Master Qian would not have to worry about facing any hardships in the city.
This arrangement benefited both parties, and Mo Hua had thoughtfully considered all the details.
"As long as Young Master Mo doesn't mind my limited knowledge and shallow understanding, I am more than willing to impart all that I know," Master Qian agreed.
Mo Hua nodded.
Although the Qian family did not specialize in arrays, they still had some array legacies, especially in terms of teaching arrays to their disciples. It was this aspect that had caught Mo Hua's attention and led him to approach Master Qian.
However, it was not enough.
Mo Hua then took out a book titled "Understanding First-Rank Arrays" and handed it to Master Qian. "This is a book I compiled during my free time recently. It records the methods for drawing universal first-rank arrays, presenting the process of learning arrays in a step-by-step manner. It also includes some of my own insights and experiences..."
"...I would like to ask Master Qian to provide some guidance. If there are no issues, you can use this book, 'Understanding Arrays,' as a foundation to teach arrays to the solitary cultivators..."
Mo Hua spoke politely, expressing his request.
Master Qian smiled bitterly upon hearing this, "Young Master Mo, you're too kind. I dare not claim to be able to 'guide' you..."
Given Mo Hua's proficiency in arrays, he hardly needed any "guidance."
However, Master Qian was curious about the kind of array manual Mo Hua had compiled.
He opened "Understanding First-Rank Arrays" and browsed through it, only to find himself stunned.
This... was no ordinary array manual.
It encompassed everything from a single array pattern to nine patterns, covering all first-rank and lower-rank arrays, providing a comprehensive guide.
The book explained the principles and spiritual energy flow of first-rank arrays in a simple yet detailed manner, building from the basics to more advanced concepts.
It was easy to understand and had a solid foundation, revealing an exceptionally profound understanding of arrays.
What was even more valuable was that it didn't merely cover the basics but also provided guidance on how to progress further and learn more complex composite arrays after mastering the nine-pattern arrays.
All of this was included in the "Understanding" manual.
This meant that "Understanding First-Rank Arrays" could not only help cultivators who lacked knowledge in arrays to learn systematically and gradually but also...
Even the array legacies that the Qian family had amassed over hundreds of years couldn't compare to this.
Master Qian's hands trembled as he held the book, feeling its weight, and he couldn't help but ask, "Are you really going to give this to me?"
He felt unworthy of such a gift.
"Mmhmm." Mo Hua nodded. "If array formations are hoarded selfishly, they become stale and useless. Only by passing them on, allowing more people to comprehend and benefit from them, do they truly align with the Dao and become worthy of being called arrays."
Mo Hua's eyes were clear, and his tone sincere.
In that moment, Master Qian felt a twinge of shame. He sighed and said solemnly, "Rest assured, young master Mo. For the rest of my life, I will pass on these array legacies."
Mo Hua was greatly relieved and bowed, "Then I must trouble you, Master Qian."
Master Qian quickly returned the bow, "Not at all, young master Mo."
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "There's one more thing I'd like to trouble you with, Master Qian."
"I wouldn't dare call it a 'trouble'. Please speak, young master Mo."
"I'd like to ask Master Qian to take in a child and personally teach him array formations." Mo Hua made his request.
Master Qian was taken aback, "Who is this child?"
"His surname is Chu, and his nickname is Zhou'er. I promised his father, Uncle Chu, that I would teach him arrays, but Zhou'er was too young to learn back then."
"Since I made that promise, I cannot go back on my word."
"Now that I'm about to embark on a journey, I don't know when I'll return, so I'd like to ask Master Qian to help me fulfill this promise. That way, Zhou'er will have a skill to rely on in the future."
"Chu Zhou'er..." Master Qian repeated the name and nodded, "Rest assured, young master Mo. I will teach him diligently."
"Then I must thank you, Master Qian."
After that, Mo Hua got up to leave, and Master Qian saw him out respectfully.
After leaving Master Qian's residence, Mo Hua went to find Master Luo and presented him with a copy of "Understanding First-Rate Arrays" as well.
Master Luo was overjoyed and deeply grateful.
While the basic array techniques in the book didn't hold much value for Master Luo, the appended insights into arrays were incredibly precious to him and could even help him break through the bottleneck of a first-rate array master.
Mo Hua informed Master Luo about his arrangement with Master Qian to teach arrays to solitary cultivators, and Master Luo, after some contemplation, agreed, "That's a wonderful idea!"
Not only would it pass on the legacy of arrays, but it would also help ease the tensions between them.
Seeing Master Luo lounging at home, leisurely sipping his tea, Mo Hua suddenly asked out of curiosity, "Aren't you going to the Lan Mountain Sect?"
Previously, when the great demon had appeared, Master Luo had planned to join the Lan Mountain Sect as an external elder to escape the impending relocation of Tongxian City.
Master Luo shook his head, "I'd rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. I know my own worth."
"If it weren't a matter of necessity, I wouldn't want to leave Tongxian City."
Master Luo gave a slight embarrassed laugh, "Don't mind me saying this, but here in Tongxian City, I'm a revered first-rate array master. If I go elsewhere, I'll just be an ordinary external elder, with a position that's neither high nor low, and I'll have to follow the orders of others. It might seem glamorous, but it's not truly free. I don't want to go through that trouble."
Mo Hua asked in confusion, "But wouldn't the array legacies be better outside? Don't you want to improve further?"
"It's not something you can improve upon just because you want to." Master Luo shook his head, "The larger the sect, the more complex the interests. Where there are more interests, there will inevitably be internal strife."
"When it comes to array formations, sometimes it's better to be detached from fame and wealth, to seek tranquility and distance. If your mind is in turmoil, it's difficult to learn properly, and you might even learn it twisted."
"Moreover, the array legacies out there are not necessarily better." Master Luo sighed, "You might struggle and scheme, only to end up with scraps that barely fill your stomach, and you'll still have to endure the cold eyes of others..."
Mo Hua suddenly understood that Master Luo had his own story to tell.
Perhaps he had ventured out before, enduring storms and hardships, only to return empty-handed and be treated with cold eyes.
That was why he had returned to Tongxian City, lounging in his bamboo chair and sipping his tea, content with a peaceful life.
"Aren't you resentful about that?" Mo Hua asked curiously.
"Everyone has their own destiny, and you can't force it." Master Luo was very open-minded, "And sometimes, inheritance relies on fate..."
He gently patted the copy of "Understanding First-Rate Arrays" that Mo Hua had given him, "Look, fate has brought this opportunity to me."
Mo Hua was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh. He found Master Luo to be a truly interesting person.
Mo Hua drank a few more cups of Master Luo's fine tea and chatted about their experiences with arrays. As the sky gradually darkened, he got up to leave.
Master Luo also stood up and saw Mo Hua out personally.
Watching Mo Hua's departing figure, Master Luo murmured,
"Accompanying your master on his travels, you'll be receiving his personal teachings..."
"If you come back after mastering even more advanced arrays, then your potential will truly be..."
Master Luo clicked his tongue in admiration, then his expression turned expectant as he watched Mo Hua's departing figure and whispered,
"Study hard..."
(End of Chapter)
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