In front of the trading company hung a signboard with the characters "Destiny Pavilion" written on it.
The interior was small and somewhat humble, with various patterned formations hanging around. Some formations seemed to have been there for a while, with the ink already somewhat faded.
The counter was quite high, and behind it sat a middle-aged, plump cultivator with a pale, beardless face, who seemed to be the manager of the trading company.
A bell hung at the door's eave, and as Mo Hua entered, it emitted a clear, crisp sound.
The plump manager had been dozing off, his eyes half-open and half-closed. Hearing the bell, he looked around but saw no one. Just as he was about to get angry, he looked down and saw a small head peeking over the counter.
The plump manager was taken aback. Seeing Mo Hua alone, he asked, "Little brother, where are your parents?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "My parents aren't looking for you; I am."
The plump manager was puzzled again. "You're looking for me? What for?"
"Do you need someone to help draw formations here?"
The plump manager found it amusing and teased, "What? You, a little kid, know how to draw formations?"
Mo Hua modestly replied, "Just a little."
The plump manager laughed. "A little bit won't cut it. You need to be at least at Qi Refining Level Six, have a sect's academic jade slip, be an apprentice to a formation master, and pay a deposit to draw formations for us."
Mo Hua was taken aback. He didn't know there were so many requirements, and he didn't seem to meet any of them.
Thinking quickly, Mo Hua said, "Alright, I lied. I don't know much. I'm here on behalf of my brother."
The plump manager didn't mind and asked, "What's your brother's profession?"
"My brother is an apprentice in formations, learning from a formation master. He usually helps trading companies draw basic formations to cover his costs for pens and ink. He's too busy learning, so I'm running this errand for him."
Mo Hua borrowed and slightly modified the identity of Meng's distant uncle for his use.
The plump manager rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and still refused. "No, talk is cheap. If your brother wants to draw formations for us, he needs to come himself."
Mo Hua's eyes twinkled as he asked, "You require a deposit, don't you?"
The plump manager nodded. "That's right."
"Isn't the deposit meant to cover the cost of the formation patterns and the materials to draw them? Even if I'm lying, paying the deposit means you're effectively selling a set of formations and materials at a regular price. You might not profit much, but you won't lose either."
In reality, there was still a small profit. The deposit was slightly higher than the cost of the materials. As for the formation patterns, they were the most basic and common, not worth much spirit stones.
Thinking this through, the plump manager hesitated.
"Isn't business here quite bad?" Mo Hua asked again.
Indeed, it was. They hardly had any customers all day. With fewer customers, fewer formations were sold, and there were very few apprentices or even formation masters willing to draw formations for them. Otherwise, the shop wouldn't be so desolate.
However, the plump manager wouldn't admit this and still held his head high, albeit with a hint of guilt.
Seeing this, Mo Hua seized the opportunity and said, "My brother is very good at drawing formations. People say that in a few years, he will definitely become a formation master. Once he becomes a formation master, with another decade or two of study, he might even pass the ranking examination and become a first-rank formation master. By then, he'll be able to help you draw more advanced formations, and you'll profit greatly."
Ranking examination? That's no easy feat.
The plump manager snorted inwardly, but as the saying goes, "Don't underestimate the young and poor." The future is unpredictable. If he could become a first-rank formation master, it would indeed be wise to form a good relationship for potential future favors.
Rules, after all, are for outsiders. As long as one can draw formations, the specifics don't really matter.
"You make a good point," the plump manager said. "However, you claim your brother is good at drawing formations, but talk is cheap and can't be trusted. You're just a kid and don't know enough to judge. How about this: bring me one of your brother's formations. If it's indeed decent, I'll agree to this deal."
Mo Hua didn't have an older brother, so there was no way he could find one of his brother's formations.
However, he did have his own formations.
Mo Hua's storage bag contained several formations he had drawn himself, but they were all assignments from his sect. They were either dissected basic formation patterns or combinations of patterns, which differed slightly from complete formations.
Anyone knowledgeable would immediately see through it, and he would be exposed.
After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "I didn't bring any of my brother's formations, but he did teach me a little. I can draw one for you to see. That way, you can judge his skill."
"You can draw formations too?"
The manager was surprised but intrigued. "Alright."
He was curious about the child's drawing skills, so he pulled out a formation pattern from under the counter, along with ink and paper, and handed them to Mo Hua.
The pattern was labeled "Minghuo Formation," a complete formation with three patterns, making it quite complex.
Mo Hua couldn't draw complete formations. The sect only taught formations that included one or, at most, two basic patterns, which were entry-level formations and not worthy of being called formations outside the sect.
A true formation required at least three patterns with interrelated structures, like the "Minghuo Formation" in front of him.
Mo Hua glanced at the manager, then confidently said, "This is too difficult. If I could draw this, I'd be earning spirit stones myself and wouldn't need my brother."
The manager slapped his forehead, realizing he'd forgotten that a ten-year-old couldn't possibly draw a complete formation. This was too demanding, especially since he had never dealt with children in the shop before.
The manager then pointed to the upper left corner of the formation. "If you can draw this small part of the pattern, I'll agree to have your brother draw formations for us."
Mo Hua looked at the upper left corner of the pattern and sighed in relief. It was a basic fire formation pattern he had learned in the sect, with a few added details and connections, still within his capability.
Mo Hua dipped the pen in ink and began sketching the pattern on the paper. Moments later, he completed the pattern.
The manager, observing Mo Hua's penmanship, nodded slightly. Mo Hua's handling of the pen was skilled, his strokes smooth and natural, showing no signs of nervousness. Clearly, he had a solid foundation. The pattern he drew was accurate and error-free, indicating either good family teaching or a skilled brother.
The manager leaned towards the latter, noting Mo Hua's simple but clean attire, indicating a not-so-wealthy family. A family of formation experts wouldn't be so poor.
Satisfied with Mo Hua's pattern, the manager said, "The deposit is ten spirit stones. I'll give you the necessary formation diagrams and materials."
"Ten spirit stones!"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
He only had three spirit stones. He had earned twelve by copying formation assignments for fellow students, spent ten on a Fire Repelling Hairpin, and saved one through frugality. That was all he had.
He'd have to wait until the next formation course assessment to earn enough by drawing formations for others.
Who knew how long that would take!
Seeing Mo Hua's expression, the manager realized he didn't have enough spirit stones but didn't say anything. It was normal for a child not to have that much.
Life as a cultivator was hard, even for managers who sometimes found themselves short on spirit stones, let alone less wealthy wandering cultivators.
The manager kindly reminded, "Without the spirit stones for the deposit, you can't take this job."
Noticing Mo Hua looking disheartened, he added, "I'll keep this job for your brother. When you have the spirit stones, come back and take it."
Mo Hua nodded eagerly. "I'll go gather…ask my brother for the spirit stones and come back for the job!"
The manager waved him off. "Go play for now. It's still early. I'm going to rest my eyes…" With that, he slowly closed his eyes and began to doze off.
Mo Hua left the shop, sat on the steps, and pondered.
"Seven spirit stones…"
He wanted to earn spirit stones by drawing formations but needed spirit stones first. Without spirit stones, he couldn't draw formations to earn more.
Mo Hua felt dizzy from the paradox.
Ask his parents?
He shook his head. His family needed spirit stones for daily expenses. This morning, he overheard his parents talking about lending spirit stones to Uncle Chu from the demon-hunting team for his arm injury and needing spirit stones for his sect fees next semester. They probably didn't have any to spare.
Borrow from someone?
Mo Hua's friends were even poorer than he was. They wouldn't have spirit stones to lend.
As he was racking his brain, he suddenly heard someone shout:
"Mo Hua, there you are!"
He looked up to see a richly dressed chubby boy surrounded by servants, glaring at him angrily.
(End of the Chapter)