The market town was a place for low-tier cultivators to trade quest items for cultivation, with all kinds of goods including pills, formations, and spiritual artifacts readily available, though generally of low quality and mixed standards.
As the year-end approached, many cultivators were bustling about in the market town, with a coming and going of people that was loud and noisy.
Mo Hua went straight to a small stall at the end of the street, where the owner was an elder surnamed Sun. Acquaintances called him Old Sun, and his son was a minor manager at Myriad Treasure Building. Occasionally, his son would acquire some defective goods that the Myriad Treasure Building discarded, which he then gave to Old Sun to sell in the market at a cheap price.
Old Sun was hawking his wares when he lifted his head and saw Mo Hua panting as he ran up, his fair little face flushed red. He couldn't help but tease,
"Little brother, are you here to look at spiritual artifacts again today? It's not going to be like the other day when you just looked and didn't buy, right...?"
With a wave of his small hand, Mo Hua said, "Buy!"
Old Sun asked in surprise, "Isn't the New Year's just a few days away? Did your family give you New Year's money so early?"
Mo Hua said displeased, "What New Year's money? This is what I've earned myself!" He then patted the pocket at his waist.
As Old Sun heard the crisp sound of spirit stones clinking together in the pocket, his spirit lifted, and he quickly said,
"Pills, formations, artifacts, I have everything here; high quality and low prices, no deception to young or old, and everything is from Myriad Treasure Building's stock, excellent quality. What is the young friend looking to buy?"
If it really were excellent quality, Myriad Treasure Building would sell them itself and they wouldn't end up in the market town. But Mo Hua didn't care, he couldn't afford items from Myriad Treasure Building anyway.
"Do you have any fire-resistant spiritual artifacts?"
Old Sun had a look of 'I knew it' and pulled out a burlap bag, spreading it out in front of Mo Hua.
"You brought it up before, little friend, so I kept an eye out. I went back and specifically found a few items, all top-notch fire-resistant spiritual artifacts, convenient to carry, and exquisitely styled. What do you think?"
Mo Hua looked at Old Sun with surprise, thinking that he truly lived up to his decades of experience in market town trading, so well prepared at the hint of a business opportunity.
The spiritual artifacts laid out in front of Mo Hua were of various sorts, including rings, jade pendants, lanterns, and even a net and a scarf... Just from the looks of them, they were the most complete set in this market town.
Mo Hua examined them carefully and then picked up a primitively styled yet exquisite hairpin, asking, "What kind of hairpin is this?"
Old Sun explained, "This is called a Fire-Resistant Hairpin, belonging to the standard spiritual weapons category. The materials and craftsmanship follow a uniform standard, and it's engraved with a primary fire-resistant formation. It requires a spirit stone to charge, and once activated, the formation can isolate fire, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable. Although it consumes spirit stones, using one stone, it can last for three months, which is quite economical and practical..."
Mo Hua expressed doubt, "Standard spiritual weapons from Myriad Treasure Building, placed here for sale, must have some flaws, right...?"
Old Sun laughed, "Right you are, you know quite a bit. I won't lie to you, if there were no flaws, it would be sold at Myriad Treasure Building for at least twice the price. But a flaw doesn't mean it's useless..."
Old Sun pointed to the peony pattern on the hairpin, "When the artifact refiner was engraving this peony, he drew a few extra strokes, which deviated from the standard. So, this hairpin was classified as defective, but the formation inside is intact and effective just the same."
Mo Hua nodded, feeling that this hairpin was the most suitable, and asked, "How many spirit stones?"
Old Sun stroked his beard, "A flat rate, fifteen spirit stones!"
Mo Hua shook his head, "Five!"
Old Sun's eyes widened, "Who taught you to bargain like that?"
Mo Hua was a bit embarrassed, "I overheard at another stall; that's how they all haggle..."
Old Sun lamented, "Morals have declined so much, even the good kids are being corrupted!" He continued, "Fourteen stones, can't go any lower!"
Mo Hua tentatively raised the amount a little, "Six?"
...
After some back-and-forth bargaining, the price was finally set at ten stones.
Old Sun felt he couldn't go any lower, not even by a single spirit stone, while Mo Hua had also inquired about the prices of spiritual artifacts at other stalls, and there were none cheaper than this, so he agreed.
Old Sun took the spirit stones from Mo Hua, wrapped the hairpin in a cheap but beautifully crafted paper box, and handed it to Mo Hua while muttering,
"If only my grandson were half as clever as you, I'd have him help me with the stall. Unfortunately, my grandson is very slow, and he doesn't even dare to speak in front of strangers."
Mo Hua, satisfied with his purchase, waved goodbye to Old Sun and then walked away with a spring in his step.
The vendor at the neighboring stall chuckled, "Old Sun, it looks like you're taking a loss this time!"
Old Sun stroked his beard, "It's not exactly a loss, just earning a little less."
The vendor grew curious, "Ten spirit stones isn't a small sum, I wonder who the child is buying the hairpin for."
"The Fire-Resistant Hairpin is for avoiding the heat of the stove, who else could it be for?"
Watching Mo Hua's figure gradually disappearing into the distance, Old Sun sighed softly, "He's a good kid!"
Mo Hua's home was on a secluded street at the edge of Tongxian City, in an old house that was not big, just enough to accommodate a family of three. The neighbors were all Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivators who made a living doing odd jobs; although not rich, there was a strong sense of community and domestic warmth.
As evening approached, wisps of cooking smoke rose from each house, and faint yellow lights were lit.
Mo Hua ran into the house, calling out, "Mom, I'm back!"
A plain-dressed woman with a gentle appearance came out from the inner room. Seeing Mo Hua, her eyes filled with joy, and she couldn't help pulling him over to stroke his head and pinch his cheeks, then said, "Have you lost weight from cultivating too hard?"
Mo Hua replied, "I haven't lost weight," then took out a box, "Mom, this is for you!"
The woman was momentarily stunned, then took the box and opened it to find a hairpin.
"This is a Fire-Resistant Hairpin. You've been working in the restaurant kitchen for a long time, and the heat is not good for your health. This hairpin can ward off the heat, and you'll feel much cooler with it."
The woman's name was Liu Ruhua, the mother of Mo Hua, a Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivator in Tongxian City.
Life as a Loose Cultivator was already tough; there weren't many good jobs that could earn spirit stones. If they had children, raising them was even more difficult, with the expenses for food, clothing, entering a Sect, and various materials needed for cultivation - all major costs for an ordinary cultivator.
Liu Ruhua was skilled at cooking and helped in the kitchen of a small restaurant in the city.
Larger restaurants generally used stoves refined by Artifact Refiners, which had Formations that consumed spirit stones to convert spiritual energy into fire.
Small restaurants, in an effort to save on costs, wouldn't use spirit stones for fire, but would have cultivators with Fire Spiritual Roots use their spiritual power to create the fire needed for cooking. Over time, it was inevitable that their bodies would suffer from the invasion of heat, their meridians would dry up, and they'd have symptoms such as lung pain and a dry cough.
When Liu Ruhua helped in the kitchen, she had to occasionally use her spiritual power for fire. With a salary of about thirty spirit stones a month, despite the harm to her health, this was considered a good job that many Qi Refinement cultivators aspired to have but had no opportunity to get.
Looking at the hairpin in her hand, Liu Ruhua pursed her lips without speaking.
Mo Hua quickly said, "The spirit stones I used to buy the hairpin were earned by helping a fellow sect member. I didn't swindle or steal them!"
Liu Ruhua couldn't help but smile, feeling a warm and slightly sour feeling in her heart, "I can't accept this hairpin, you're still young, and you'll need many spirit stones for your cultivation in the future. We should save when we can. I can take care of myself, you don't need to worry..."
Mo Hua confidently said, "Let's talk about the future when it comes. Who knows, I might become a Great Cultivator with a Golden Core and Nascent Soul, with as many spirit stones as I want."
Liu Ruhua laughed out loud, tapping Mo Hua's forehead with her finger, "You're so young and already learning to boast."
"Mom, please keep it. I haggled with someone for half a day to buy it for you. If you don't want it, then wasn't I wasting my time?"
After speaking, Mo Hua took the hairpin and fastened it in Liu Ruhua's hair, then ran into the house to fetch a mirror.
"Look, doesn't it look nice?"
Seeing the reflection of the woman in the mirror adorned with the simple and elegant hairpin, appearing dignified and graceful, and then seeing her son's sparkling, eager eyes, Liu Ruhua's heart softened, and she said gently, "I'll keep the hairpin, but I won't accept any gifts next time."
"Mhm, mhm," Mo Hua agreed repeatedly, "Mom, is dinner ready? I'm hungry."
"It's ready, all your favorites. Eat up!"
Liu Ruhua was a great cook. Though she only made simple vegetarian dishes without any spiritual energy, they were exquisite and delicious. After eating and chatting with his mother, Mo Hua went back to his room to read.
After 1 p.m., Mo Hua entered his Sea of Consciousness and practiced Formations on a stele all night. When he woke up, it was already 6 A.M.
Mo Hua closed his eyes and meditated, holding a spirit stone in his hand for his routine cultivation practice.
When he opened his eyes again, the day had just begun to brighten, and the brilliant sunlight streamed into the room. Mo Hua lay there stretching languidly, ready to get up, then he heard heavy footsteps outside the house.
Mo Hua rolled over and peered through the crack in the door, seeing a man covered in bloodstains and looking haggard enter the house. It was Mo Hua's father—Mo Shan.