https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-97-The-Young-Array-Master-Part-Ten-/12540719/
Chapter 98: A Request (Part 1)
Chapter 98: A Request (Part 1)
In a distant mountain range, Mo Shan, a seasoned demon hunter, had just finished skinning and butchering a formidable demon beast. He collected its demonic core and prepared to descend the mountain to return home. However, a fellow demon hunter by the name of Zhou Cheng, whom he was somewhat acquainted with, approached him with an unusually polite demeanor.
"Brother Mo, there's something I'd like to ask of you..." Zhou Cheng hesitated, his demeanor respectful.
Mo Shan, known for his straightforward and generous nature, immediately sensed that Zhou Cheng was facing some sort of difficulty. "Go ahead and speak, if it's within my means, I'll certainly lend a hand."
Zhou Cheng seemed reluctant to continue, "It's not that I'm asking for your help directly, Brother Mo. It's actually a matter concerning your son that I'd like to discuss..."
Mo Shan was taken aback, "My son, Mo Hua?"
"Yes, yes," Zhou Cheng affirmed. "You and I have some acquaintance, but I've never even met your son. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to approach him directly, so I thought I'd come to you first..."
Mo Shan regarded him with suspicion, "My son, Mo Hua, is only at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. How could he be of assistance to you?"
"He can! He definitely can!" Zhou Cheng quickly assured him. "You see, I have a younger son myself, he's around fifteen or sixteen years old and at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. He's only recently become a demon hunter, but his talent is rather ordinary, and his mastery of martial arts is lacking. I worry that if he encounters a tricky demon beast in the mountains, something unfortunate might happen..."
Zhou Cheng sighed, his worry evident. "He's been lucky so far, and hasn't faced any formidable demon beasts, but as fellow fathers and demon hunters, you and I both understand the dangers within the Dark Mountains. The thought of something happening to him keeps me up at night."
Mo Shan nodded in understanding, sharing a similar sentiment.
Zhou Cheng continued, "Not long ago, I heard that there's a young array master in your village who can enhance vine armor with array formations. In critical moments, such armor could mean the difference between life and death. Later, I learned that this young array master is named Mo, and his father is Mo Shan. What a coincidence, I thought, so here I am, seeking your help."
Zhou Cheng's eyes pleaded with Mo Shan, fearful of rejection.
Mo Shan hesitated, "It's not that I don't want to help, but... I know Mo Hua is studying arrays, but I don't understand much about arrays myself, nor do I know how skilled he is. This array you're requesting doesn't seem simple, and I'm not sure if Mo Hua would be able to create it."
"He can! He definitely can!" Zhou Cheng insisted.
"How do you know he can?" Mo Shan asked, perplexed.
"I heard it from Old Xu," Zhou Cheng explained, referring to a fellow demon hunter they knew. "You know, the one who used to be impolite to you and wanted to spar, but you knocked him out with one punch..."
Zhou Cheng smiled briefly before continuing, "He said that Lao Meng's son, Da Hu, was stung by a scorpion demon recently, but because his vine armor was inscribed with an array formation, the sting didn't pierce his heart meridian, and his life was spared. He also mentioned that you're fortunate to have such a talented son, although he did sound a bit sarcastic about it. Don't blame him, though; you did punch him after all..."
"Oh, Old Xu..." Mo Shan recalled the man.
He had heard about Da Hu's injury, but as he had been in the mountains at the time, he didn't pay it much mind when he later heard that Da Hu was going to be fine.
Injuries were common among demon hunters; as long as one still had their limbs, meridians intact, and their life, it was considered a minor setback. It was the nature of their profession.
If it were for Da Hu, Mo Hua might indeed be willing to help, as they had grown up together. Inscribing an array formation on his friend's vine armor would be a reasonable request.
Mo Shan pondered this as he regarded Zhou Cheng.
Zhou Cheng gripped Mo Shan's hand tightly, his eyes pleading. "Brother Mo, please help me with this favor. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy, always worrying about my younger son."
Mo Shan considered for a moment before replying, "I'll go back and ask Mo Hua. If he truly knows how to create the array formation you need, he'll definitely help. But if he doesn't know how, then I'm afraid I can't be of much assistance."
Zhou Cheng's face lit up with joy, and he quickly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Mo! If he can really do it, name your price in spirit stones."
However, his expression soon turned sheepish as he added, "But lately... I don't have many spirit stones on hand. If it's not enough, could I owe you and repay you after I return from my next demon hunting expedition next month?"
Mo Shan waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about that for now. We can discuss it later."
While he wouldn't have asked for payment if he were the one helping, since this concerned his son, he would first need to return and ask Mo Hua's opinion.
"Then, do you have time these days?"
"Yes."
"Can you help him paint it?"
"Sure."
Mo Shan hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. The day before, when someone had begged him for help, their attitude had been so sincere that he thought it must be a difficult task. Yet, from Mo Hua's perspective, it seemed like a trivial matter.
"How long will it take?"
"Not long, half a day at most," Mo Hua replied.
In reality, it wouldn't even take a full hour. With his strong spiritual sense and control, and his familiarity with the Iron Armor Array, painting it would be almost effortless for Mo Hua. However, it was always better to allow some extra time, just in case.
Mo Shan nodded and asked, "Then... how much is the usual fee for painting an array formation?"
Noting his father's hesitant expression, Mo Hua asked, "Dad, is there something else you want to say?"
Mo Shan thought for a moment before replying, "Their family isn't well-off, and their younger son is a demon hunter. They have to provide for everything he needs, so they probably don't have many spirit stones. If you can, it would be good to charge them less. But ultimately, it's your decision, since you're the one painting the array."
Previously, Mo Shan had assumed that Mo Hua's cultivation was not high and that the array formations he learned were not too complex. He thought Mo Hua could help the neighbors with their array formations and that whether he charged spirit stones or not didn't matter; it was fine to take a small loss.
But now, Mo Shan realized the situation was different. The array formations useful to demon hunters were definitely not simple ones consisting of just two or three array lines.
The fact that Mo Hua could paint such array formations meant that he was almost on par with the ordinary array masters in the city.
Mo Shan knew how difficult it was to become an array master. Even the most ordinary array master would have to spend a decade or two diligently studying and researching.
Yet, Mo Hua was only eleven or twelve years old, which meant that he had likely devoted almost all his available time to studying array formations. While other children were complaining about their cultivation struggles and thinking about where to play, Mo Hua was studying array formations day and night.
Mo Shan recalled that every time he returned from hunting demons in the mountains, Mo Hua would be painting array formations. On the rare occasions when Mo Shan came home late, he would see Mo Hua's room still lit.
Mo Shan felt a twinge in his heart and was even more determined not to let his son suffer a loss.
Mo Hua, unaware of his father's train of thought, considered the matter and said, "Just bring over the vine armor and a bottle of metallic spiritual ink. If you can get a better quality spiritual ink, the array's effect will be better, but if you can't afford it, regular ink will do. As for payment, Dad, how many spirit stones do you earn in a day of demon hunting?"
"About five spirit stones per person," Mo Shan replied.
Five spirit stones per day, but they couldn't hunt in the mountains every day. They wouldn't encounter demon beasts every day either, and even if they did, they might not be able to kill them. If they encountered a tricky beast and got injured, they would have to spend spirit stones on healing pills. So, five spirit stones wasn't a large sum, especially considering the dangers of demon hunting.
"Then I'll charge five spirit stones," Mo Hua said.
Mo Shan nodded and asked again, "Five spirit stones... are you sure you're not losing out?"
Hiring an array master to paint an array formation could be very expensive. Although Mo Shan had never hired one himself and didn't have the spirit stones to do so, he had lived in Tongxian City for a long time and had a general idea of the costs.
Mo Hua said, "I'm still learning array formations, so it doesn't matter how much I earn. As long as I get the chance to practice painting array formations, that's enough. Besides, Dad, haven't you always told me that solitary cultivators should look out for each other? When our family was going through a difficult time, these uncles and aunties helped us in one way or another. Now that we're in a better position, it's only right that we help them in return."
Mo Hua smiled and added, "It's a win-win situation—I get to help others, practice my array formations, and earn some spirit stones. What could be better?"
"Good," Mo Shan said, unable to suppress a smile as he ruffled Mo Hua's hair. "Then I'll ask him to prepare the materials tomorrow, and you can paint the array formation."
After dinner, Mo Hua returned to his room to rest.
Mo Shan sat alone, feeling increasingly pleased. He thought about what his son had said and the fact that Mo Hua was already an array master. The usually stoic and calm Mo Shan couldn't hide the smile on his face.
(End of Chapter)
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