Chapter 7: Yu Yuan Zhai
Chapter 7: Yu Yuan Zhai
A wooden sign hung in front of the shop, inscribed with the words "Yu Yuan Zhai."
The interior was modest in size and slightly rustic, with various array patterns hanging on the walls. Some of the arrays seemed to have been hanging there for quite some time, as the ink had faded.
The counter was rather high, and a middle-aged, plump cultivator sat atop it. He had a fair complexion and no beard, appearing to be the manager of the shop.
A bell hung at the door, and as Mo Hua entered, it rang out with a crisp sound.
The plump manager had been dozing off, his eyes half-open. Startled by the bell, he looked around but saw no one. Just as he was about to lose his temper, he lowered his head and spotted a small head peeking over the counter.
The manager was taken aback for a moment. Seeing that Mo Hua was alone, he asked, "Little brother, where are your parents?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "I don't need my parents; I'm looking for you."
The manager was puzzled again. "You're looking for me? What for?"
"Do you need help with drawing arrays here?" Mo Hua asked.
The manager found this amusing. "Oh? A little one like you knows how to draw arrays?"
"A little," Mo Hua replied humbly.
The manager laughed. "A little won't do. You need to be at least at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, have a sect's academic jade slip, be an array apprentice, and be recommended by an array master. You also need to pay a deposit before you can draw arrays for us."
Mo Hua was astonished. He had no idea there were so many requirements, and he seemed to fulfill none of them.
Then, a thought occurred to him. "Alright, I lied. I'm not very good at it. I'm just here to pick something up for my brother."
The manager didn't seem to mind and asked, "What does your brother do?"
"My brother is an array apprentice," Mo Hua explained. "He studies arrays under an array master and sometimes helps the shop draw basic arrays to earn some fees. He's too busy studying arrays, so I'm running this errand for him."
Mo Hua had cleverly modified the identity of Meng Jia's distant uncle to suit his needs.
The manager stroked his chin, thinking for a moment before refusing again. "No, that won't do. I need proof. If your brother wants to draw arrays for our shop, he'll have to come himself."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up as he asked, "Do you also require a deposit?"
The manager nodded. "Yes."
"Does the deposit include the array patterns and the ink, paper, and brushes needed for drawing the arrays?" Mo Hua asked. "If so, even if I'm tricking you, it's just like you're selling an array and the materials at a regular price. You won't make a profit, but you won't lose anything either."
In fact, there would still be a small profit, as the deposit was slightly higher than the cost of the array materials. As for the array patterns, they were the simplest and most common ones, which didn't cost much in spirit stones.
This line of thought made the manager hesitate.
"Is business not doing well?" Mo Hua asked.
Indeed, business was slow. They had few customers, sold fewer arrays, and had a scarcity of array masters or even apprentices willing to work for them, which was why the shop was so quiet.
However, the manager wouldn't admit it. He held his head high, though there was a hint of embarrassment in his demeanor.
Seizing the opportunity, Mo Hua continued, "My brother is very skilled at drawing arrays. People say that in a few more years, he'll definitely become an array master. If he keeps studying for another decade or two and passes the grading, he might even become a first-rate array master. Then he'll be able to help you draw more advanced arrays, and you'll make a profit."
Grading? That was far from easy.
The manager scoffed inwardly, but an old saying came to mind: "Don't despise the young just because they're poor." Who knew what the future held? If this boy's brother truly became a first-rate array master, it would be wise to have cultivated a good relationship beforehand. It would be easier to ask for favors later.
Rules were meant for outsiders anyway. As long as someone could draw arrays, it didn't really matter.
"What you say makes sense," the manager said. "However, you claim your brother is skilled, but I have no proof of that. You're just a child and don't understand arrays, so how would you know if they're good or not? Here's what we'll do: bring me one of the arrays your brother has drawn. If it's indeed decent, I'll agree to this deal."
Mo Hua didn't have a brother, so where would he find an array drawn by him?
He didn't have an array drawn by his brother, but he had drawn arrays himself.
Mo Hua had a few arrays he had practiced in his storage bag, but they were basic array patterns or combinations he had learned from his sect's curriculum. They weren't complete arrays and would easily be seen through by anyone with knowledge of arrays.
Thinking for a moment, Mo Hua's eyes brightened. "I didn't bring any arrays drawn by my brother, but he taught me a little. I'll draw one for you, and you'll know if my brother is skilled or not."
Intrigued by the child's abilities, he pulled out a piece of paper with an array pattern, titled "Bright Fire Array," along with a brush, ink, and paper, and handed them to Mo Hua.
The array pattern was more complex than anything Mo Hua had learned at the sect. It consisted of three intricate array lines that seemed incredibly challenging.
Mo Hua knew he couldn't possibly draw a complete array. The arrays taught by the sect, though called arrays, usually consisted of only one or at most two basic array lines. They were introductory patterns and weren't considered true arrays outside the sect.
A genuine array, like the one before him, required at least three interconnected array lines.
Mo Hua glanced at the manager and said boldly, "This is too difficult. If I could draw this, I'd be making spirit stones by drawing arrays myself. Why would I need my brother's help?"
The manager snapped his fingers, realizing his mistake. It was unreasonable to expect a child of that age to be able to draw a complete array, and he had never dealt with children in the shop before, which is why he had overlooked this detail.
The manager pointed to the top left corner of the array and said, "If you can draw this small section of the array lines, I'll agree to your request and ask your brother to draw the array for us."
Mo Hua examined the array lines in the top left corner and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a basic fire-attribute array line taught by the sect, with some added details and connections that were still within his capabilities.
Mo Hua took the brush, dipped it in ink, and began to outline the array lines on the paper. Soon after, he completed the task.
The plump manager had already nodded slightly as Mo Hua held the brush, impressed by the boy's confident and fluid strokes. There was no sign of hesitation, indicating a solid foundation. The array lines Mo Hua drew were also neat and conformed to the standard, with no noticeable errors. Either he came from a family of array masters, or his brother was an excellent teacher.
The plump manager leaned towards the latter assumption, judging by Mo Hua's attire. While it was clean and tidy, it was also very plain, suggesting a modest background. A family with knowledge of arrays wouldn't likely be in such financial straits.
The manager examined the array lines Mo Hua had drawn and was quite satisfied. "A deposit of ten spirit stones, and I'll give you the necessary array patterns and materials," he said.
"Ten!" Mo Hua exclaimed, stunned.
He only had three spirit stones to his name. He had earned twelve by helping his fellow disciples copy array homework, spent ten on the fire-repelling hairpin, and saved one by being frugal with his daily expenses. That was all the wealth he had.
It would take a while to earn that much again, perhaps until the next array assessment when he could draw arrays for his fellow disciples.
How long would that take?
The manager noticed Mo Hua's expression and realized he didn't have enough spirit stones. It wasn't surprising for a child to not have that many.
The path of cultivation was challenging, and even those in managerial positions like himself sometimes struggled financially. It was even more understandable for a solitary cultivator from a less fortunate background.
The manager offered friendly advice, "Without spirit stones for the deposit, you won't be able to take on this job."
Seeing Mo Hua looking a little dejected, he added, "I'll keep this order for your brother. Whenever you have the spirit stones, just come back and we'll proceed."
Mo Hua nodded eagerly. "Okay, I'll go and... ask my brother for spirit stones, then I'll come back for this order!"
The plump manager waved his hand. "Go play for now, it's still early. I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit..." With that, he slowly closed his eyes and dozed off.
Mo Hua left the shop and sat on the steps, pondering with his chin in his hands.
"Seven spirit stones..."
Mo Hua wanted to earn spirit stones by drawing arrays, but to do that, he needed spirit stones to start with. Without them, he couldn't draw arrays to make more spirit stones...
Mo Hua felt dizzy from the conundrum.
Should he ask his parents?
Mo Hua shook his head. The family needed spirit stones for daily expenses. That morning, he had overheard his parents talking about Uncle Chu, a member of the demon-hunting team, who had broken his arm and needed to borrow spirit stones for treatment. There probably wouldn't be any extra spirit stones for his next term's tuition fees at the sect either.
Could he borrow from someone else?
All of Mo Hua's friends were even poorer than him, so borrowing from them was out of the question.
As Mo Hua racked his brains, he suddenly heard someone exclaim:
"Mo Hua, what are you doing here!"
Mo Hua looked up to see a lavishly dressed, chubby boy surrounded by servants, glaring at him angrily.
(End of Chapter)
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