Mo Hua sat in his room, contemplating for a while. When Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua had finished their conversation, Mo Hua changed into casual clothing and then, pretending to be completely unaware, walked out of the room with a cheerful disposition.
The family of three sat down for a meal. Mo Shan had already eaten, but Mo Hua stayed to chat, asking him to share some interesting tales of hunting demons.
Mo Shan recounted a few select stories, including encounters with a one-eyed wolf, a two-headed tiger, and a three-legged wild boar.
He told of one group that managed to hunt an adult demonic beast, but failed to retrieve the demon core. They only took some worthless pelts, and by the time they realized their mistake and went back, someone else had already taken the demon core. The team leader regretted it so much that he spat blood and fainted on the spot.
Then there was the tale of someone who captured a rare exotic beast with ancient bloodlines, which a major sect bought at a high price, providing him with lifelong financial security. But strangely, one day, he disappeared without a trace…
Mo Hua listened with fascination, aware that these stories must also have had their share of bloodshed, danger, and cruelty—details that his father had deliberately omitted.
Parents never wish for their children to be exposed to the harsh realities of the world, hoping instead they might enjoy a simple, happy childhood.
Just as Mo Hua finished listening to the stories, three small heads popped up at the doorway, their bright black eyes peering into the room. Seeing Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were home, the three children stood in line and greeted them in unison:
"Hello, Uncle Mo! Hello, Aunt Liu!"
These three kids, all surnamed Meng, lived on the same street and came from families that also hunted demons for a living.
The Meng family elders and Mo Shan shared a close friendship, and the families lived near each other, so Mo Hua had grown up playing with them. Their names were similar too, based on their order of birth: Meng Da Hu, Meng Shuang Hu, and Meng Xiao Hu.
In the demonic beast-infested areas near Tongxian City, tiger-like demonic beasts were considered the strongest. Naming their children with the character for "tiger" reflected the hope that they would grow up with the power and majesty of a tiger.
The three children certainly lived up to their names; they had stout, tiger-like builds.
Mo Hua was the youngest, and being frail and sickly since birth, Mo Shan doubted that he could grow up to be as robust as a tiger. Seeing his delicate features and fair complexion, which resembled a porcelain doll, Mo Shan borrowed the character "Hua" from his wife's name, calling him Mo Hua.
Seeing the three kids, Liu Ruhua handed each one a steamed bun. Though they all said they didn't need it, their hands reached out instinctively, taking the buns and stuffing them into their mouths, cheeks puffed as they mumbled, "Thank you, Aunt Liu!"
Liu Ruhua's cooking was the best on their street, and the three kids often envied Mo Hua because of it.
Mo Shan waved them off. "Go play together, but make sure you're back for lunch!"
Mo Hua and the three children nodded in agreement, then dashed out the door.
Among the Meng children, Da Hu was honest and straightforward, Shuang Hu was sharp-witted, and Xiao Hu was a chatterbox. They were all older than Mo Hua and also bigger, so they usually took the lead in their play.
As they ran along, Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu chattered endlessly about the dragon dances, the fireworks, the crowded spots, and the places where colorful, dancing girls could be seen…
But with so many options, they couldn't decide where to go.
After a quick discussion, they decided to visit all the places, not wanting to miss anything.
With the new year approaching, the disciples returning from their sect studies, and the cultivators who worked elsewhere coming home, Tongxian City was more bustling than usual, and the streets were packed with people.
Some body cultivators in the Qi Refining stage were showing off their skills with swords and spears, while spirit cultivators performed flashy, albeit useless, techniques that left the kids in awe. Artifact refiners had set up stands with little wooden toys that moved across the ground with just a touch of spirit power, such as rabbits, puppies, and kittens. There were all sorts of other novelties that dazzled everyone who passed by.
Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu were having the time of their lives, excitedly cheering at every new sight. Mo Hua, while playing along, kept an eye out for any opportunities to earn some spirit stones.
After a while, he realized that every way to earn spirit stones was already being handled by someone else, and the tasks left over were beyond his abilities.
Watching the cultivators performing and shouting to attract customers, Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh. Earning a living was certainly no easy task.
Seeing that Mo Hua looked unhappy, Shuang Hu asked, "Mo Hua, is something on your mind?"
Upon hearing this, Da Hu immediately responded, "Is someone bullying you? I'll go teach them a lesson!"
Xiao Hu eagerly nodded. "Yeah, let's go teach them a lesson!"
From a young age, the Meng family elders had instructed the three of them to look after the frail Mo Hua. Liu Ruhua would also often save treats for the three of them, which made them particularly fond of Mo Hua and quite loyal to him. Whenever someone tried to bully Mo Hua, the three wouldn't hesitate to roll up their sleeves and jump in to defend him.
In the neighborhood, Mo Hua was considered the smartest among the independent cultivators' children. When they had trouble with their lessons, they would come to him for help, which had built a strong bond among the children.
Seeing their eagerness to fight, Mo Hua couldn't help but laugh. "No one's bullying me. I was just thinking about how I might earn some spirit stones."
"Earning spirit stones, huh…" Da Hu and the others furrowed their brows, troubled by the question since they didn't have much experience in this area.
They might be able to help with a fight, but earning spirit stones was another matter entirely.
An idea suddenly struck Mo Hua, and he asked, "Do you know how array masters earn spirit stones?"
The world of cultivation was vast, and Mo Hua's daily focus was on training and drawing arrays, so his knowledge was limited. He only knew that becoming an array master would ensure financial stability, but he had no idea how ordinary array masters, particularly low-level apprentices, managed to earn spirit stones.
The three of them often wandered around, so perhaps they had some insights that he lacked.
After thinking for a moment, Da Hu shook his head. "I've heard that the grading exams for array masters are really tough. In our neighborhood, there isn't even a First-Grade Array Master, so I don't really know…"
"Not just our neighborhood," Xiao Hu added, shaking his head. "There aren't many array masters in all of Tongxian City. There are very few First-Grade Array Masters. One of our distant uncles has been studying arrays for twenty years, but he still hasn't passed the exam…"
"You've got it wrong," Shuang Hu interjected, counting on his fingers. "He's just an array apprentice. He wants to find a teacher to learn arrays from, but he keeps failing the entrance exams, so no one accepts him."
Mo Hua was intrigued. "How does he make a living then?"
"I heard he does simple arrays for shops to earn spirit stones, then uses those spirit stones to buy ink for practice. But he still can't find a teacher, so he keeps working for shops to draw arrays…"
"Shops, huh…"
"Yeah, they say that even if you're not certified as a First-Grade Array Master, you can still work as an ordinary array master. Drawing arrays for shops can earn you plenty of spirit stones, enough for a decent living."
Shuang Hu then turned to Mo Hua and asked, "Mo Hua, do you want to be an array master?"
"Yes," Mo Hua replied honestly. "I'm too weak physically to be a demon hunter. A single swipe from a demonic beast would probably kill me. I need to find a way to make a living. But that's all in the distant future. For now, I'm just hoping to earn some spirit stones. If I manage it, I'll treat you all to some pastries!"
At this, the three of them immediately perked up with excitement.
"Sounds great!"
"You're so smart; I'm sure you'll earn spirit stones and become an array master!"
"Pastries! Pastries!"
For the children of common independent cultivators, even ordinary street pastries were a rare treat.
The group wandered around a bit more. They saw nearly everything they wanted to, except for the colorful dancing girls. Just before noon, they returned home satisfied to eat lunch.
After lunch, Mo Hua told his parents he was going out, then headed to North Street in Tongxian City on his own.
North Street was more upscale, while South Street was busier.
The South Street was full of small markets with street vendors and small stalls, while North Street was lined with shops selling everything from spirit talismans to pills, offering better quality goods at higher prices.
But Mo Hua wasn't there to buy anything; he didn't have any spirit stones.
He walked from one end of the street to the other, surveying all the shops, until he found one that had arrays displayed at the entrance but appeared shabby and rundown compared to the others. It was also the least crowded. Mo Hua stepped inside.