Chapter 97: The Young Array Master (Part Ten)
Chapter 97: The Young Array Master (Part Ten)
Ten days later, thanks to the healing pills provided by Old Man Feng, Xiao Hu and Da Hu, their wounds had fully healed, and they ventured into the mountains once more to hunt demons.
It was inevitable for demon hunters to sustain injuries and shed blood. Da Hu and his brothers, though young and inexperienced, had embarked on the path of a demon hunter the moment they donned their demon hunting permits. They would have to gradually adapt to this way of life.
Such was the way of things for demon hunters in Tongxian City. Every day, demon hunters ventured into the mountains, and every month, some returned injured. Sadly, every year, there were those who perished in those treacherous lands.
Mo Hua could only silently wish Da Hu and the others good luck in his heart.
Unfortunately, Mo Hua's well-wishes did not come to fruition. Half a month later, Da Hu was carried out of the mountains, his blood staining the ground.
Mo Hua, who had been practicing his array formations at home, suddenly heard the commotion and went out to inquire. It was then that he learned of Da Hu's dire condition—severely wounded and fighting for his life.
Mo Hua felt as if he had been doused with cold water, his limbs turning icy.
He rushed to the Xinglin Pavilion and saw Old Man Feng with a solemn expression, tending to Da Hu's injuries.
Da Hu lay motionless on the bed, his eyes tightly shut and his face as pale as paper. It was unclear if he was even breathing. There was a large patch of blood on his chest, soaking his outer garment and turning it a vivid crimson.
Mo Hua's heart pounded with anxiety at the sight.
Old Man Feng noticed Mo Hua and picked up a bloodstained vine armor. His expression was grave as he asked, "Are the array formations on this armor drawn by you?"
The vine armor was pierced on one side, likely by the fangs or claws of a demon beast, and the inside was inscribed with intricate array patterns.
Mo Hua nodded.
Old Man Feng remained silent for a moment before heaving a long sigh of relief. "Fortunately, he had this vine armor. Otherwise, I fear this young man would have perished..."
Mo Hua froze for a moment at his words, then breathed a sigh of relief. The weight of worry that had been pressing on his heart finally lifted.
If Old Man Feng said so, then Da Hu's life should be out of danger. As long as he was alive, there was hope.
Having grown up together since childhood, always standing by Mo Hua's side and fighting alongside him, the thought of losing his close companion was unbearable.
Shuang Hu and Xiao Hu rushed over, their faces streaked with tears. Only upon hearing that Da Hu would be alright did they quietly wipe away their tears.
Meng Da-shuang, who had also been hunting in the mountains, hurried back upon hearing the news of Da Hu's predicament. He maintained a relatively calm demeanor, but his hands trembled slightly.
Meng Da-niang, who had been helping out in the eastern part of town, was also in a hurry to get back. Their household was short on spirit stones, and she had been busier than ever. Upon hearing about Da Hu's accident, she rushed over as well.
Meng Da-niang stood at the doorway, hesitating for a long time before mustering the courage to step inside. When she heard that Da Hu's life was not in danger, it was as if all the strength had drained from her body, and she collapsed to the ground, burying her head in her sleeves and sobbing.
Old Man Feng explained that it was thanks to the vine armor provided by Mo Hua that Da Hu's life had been saved.
Today, Da Hu and his brothers had been hunting a Claw-Ripping Wolf Demon when they were suddenly ambushed by a Long-tailed Demon Beast that had been lurking in the grass.
Da Hu shielded his younger brothers and faced the Long-tailed Demon Beast head-on. However, his cultivation was no match for the demon beast. The tail of the creature was adorned with sharp spikes, and it lashed out with incredible speed, aiming straight for Da Hu's heart. Da Hu had no time to dodge, and the spike pierced his chest.
Fortunately, the vine armor over Da Hu's chest was inscribed with the Iron Armor Array, making it more durable than regular vine armor. Although the spike penetrated the armor, Da Hu had managed to twist his body slightly, causing the spike to veer off to the side. As a result, the spike missed Da Hu's heart, but he still suffered a severe chest wound that caused copious bleeding.
Despite the grievous injury, Da Hu's heart had not been pierced, and his life was spared. Thanks to Old Man Feng's timely treatment, even though he was currently unconscious, he would gradually regain consciousness over time.
Meng Da-niang expressed her endless gratitude to Old Man Feng and then tightly clasped Mo Hua's hand, her eyes brimming with appreciation. However, she was so choked with emotion that she couldn't utter a single word...
In the course of one's life, pain and hardship were inevitable, and some people seemed to bear a heavier burden than others.
Da Hu's injuries had just recovered, and his complexion wasn't the best, but his eyes were firm and resolute. Shuang Hu and Xiao Hu's expressions were solemn, but they showed no signs of fear.
Even after losing so much blood, suffering such severe injuries, and almost losing their lives, the trio still showed no hesitation or dread. Once their wounds healed, they remained determined to venture into the mountains to hunt demons.
"We need to repay Father and Mother for the spirit stones they spent to treat our injuries as soon as possible," they said.
"I don't want Mother to suffer anymore," Da Hu added.
"Me neither..." Xiao Hu agreed.
They bid farewell to Mo Hua and made their way along the path into the mountains.
Mo Hua watched as their figures gradually diminished in the distance, eventually disappearing into the vast expanse of the Great Black Mountain.
In the days that followed, Mo Hua lived a rather frugal life.
Aside from the unrestrained moments at night when he practiced array formations on the stele in his sea of consciousness, every drop of spirit ink was carefully calculated during the day.
For array formations he had already mastered, he resolutely refused to use spirit ink as it would be a waste. For formations he had yet to learn, he also abstained from using spirit ink to avoid squandering it.
Even for those formations he was only half-familiar with, Mo Hua was selective. Only when he encountered a formation with a peculiar attribute or an unusual array core structure would he deem it worthy of opening the ink bottle, carefully applying the spirit ink, and slowly copying and comprehending the formation.
Time passed, and one evening during dinner, Mo Shan suddenly said to Mo Hua, "Someone asked me to have you help them paint a few array formations..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, and Mo Shan's expression was somewhat intricate.
Mo Shan rarely interfered with Mo Hua's affairs regarding array formations. Firstly, because demon hunting was arduous, and as the captain of the demon hunting team, Mo Shan had to lead a group of cultivators into the mountains. He had to ensure their safety while hunting demons, and the rewards earned from demon hunting had to be distributed according to the rules. It was a dangerous and busy occupation. Previously, Mo Hua had been entirely dependent on Mo Shan's earnings from demon hunting for his livelihood, and Mo Shan barely had any free time.
Secondly, Mo Shan didn't understand array formations himself. His knowledge was limited to recognizing a few common formations or sensing when a cultivator had set up a trap using a formation. He was unaware of the intricacies within the formation master's field and, naturally, didn't know what questions to ask.
Thirdly, Mo Hua was conscientious and diligent. Whether it was cultivation or studying formations, he would accomplish what needed to be done without needing to be told, sparing Mo Shan from worrying or needing to put extra pressure on Mo Hua.
Additionally, Mo Hua was still young and of low cultivation. Even with his talent, it would take time for him to truly achieve something significant in the field of formations.
Mo Shan was well aware of the challenges cultivators faced when studying array formations, and becoming a formation master was even more difficult.
The formation masters with some reputation in Tongxian City were all elderly, with heads full of white hair, and some were even balding.
Now, it seemed that Mo Hua's talent was indeed remarkable. If he could become an ordinary formation master before the age of thirty and make a living through formations, even if he couldn't reach the elite level, Mo Shan would be content.
As long as he was careful and didn't let Mo Hua come to harm before he grew up, that would be enough.
It was only yesterday that a demon hunter had sought out Mo Shan and formally requested Mo Hua's help in painting a few array formations. The hunter's words were polite, and he didn't doubt for a moment that Mo Hua would be able to accomplish the task.
It was then that Mo Shan realized something was amiss.
Having people seek you out to paint array formations—wasn't that the kind of treatment reserved for formation masters?
Could it be that this child, Mo Hua, was already a formation master...?
(End of Chapter)
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