After class each day, Mo Hua went to Master Yan's place to study array theory and seek advice on array techniques. With Master Yan's explanations, Mo Hua quickly mastered the Golden Stone arrays. Coupled with practicing repeatedly on the stone stele in his sea of consciousness, Mo Hua completed five sets of Golden Stone arrays in just over ten days.
Due to ample time, Mo Hua was meticulous in his drawings, failing only once, which still earned him about twelve spirit stones after deducting material costs.
During the break, Mo Hua handed over the arrays to Manager Mo Pang. After examining them, Manager Mo Pang nodded approvingly and said, "Your... elder brother's arrays are becoming more systematic."
Mo Hua looked at Manager Mo Pang suspiciously.
Manager Mo Pang, feeling a bit uneasy for some reason, cleared his throat and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, just go back to the sect. I'm very busy here."
Mo Hua looked around the empty Destiny Pavilion and curiously asked, "There aren't any customers here. What keeps you so busy?"
Manager Pang felt a bit annoyed. "What does a kid like you understand? I handle big business here, whether there are customers or not, I'm busy! When I say I'm busy, I'm busy!"
"Well then, I'll take my leave," Mo Hua said, but after a few steps, he suddenly turned around and asked, "By the way, Manager Mo, are you very familiar with Master Yan?"
Manager Pang felt a bit guilty and said, "Not really close, just some camaraderie from being fellow sect members. He has a difficult temper, not easy for normal people to get along with. We haven't been in touch for many years, but we happened to meet recently and had tea to catch up."
"Oh..." Mo Hua responded meaningfully.
Although he said they weren't close, his tone implied otherwise—they were quite familiar, at least with a good relationship.
Manager Pang quickly waved his hand. "Go on, go on, don't disturb me with my business."
Mo Hua left Destiny Pavilion, thinking to himself:
"It seems Manager Mo and Master Yan indeed have some secrets between them..."
Afterward, Mo Hua returned to the mundane life of the sect: attending classes daily, consulting Master Yan on array techniques after class, returning to the disciples' residence to draw arrays, and practicing on the stone stele in his sea of consciousness after midnight.
Simple yet fulfilling.
Mo Hua's array skills improved day by day, and his spiritual consciousness grew deeper. He handled the Golden Stone arrays with ease, no longer feeling a lack of spiritual energy.
Manager Pang's array orders changed several times, always citing "market changes" as the reason for no longer accepting previous arrays and requesting new ones. He would then present Mo Hua with new array diagrams.
During his array theory sessions, Master Yan would also explain the arrays Manager Mo Pang had assigned to Mo Hua, essentially feeding him the answers.
This essentially confirmed Mo Hua's suspicion: Manager Mo Pang and Master Yan must have a private relationship, and they probably knew that Mo Hua was the one drawing arrays for Destiny Pavilion.
But everyone understood the unspoken agreement, and Mo Hua pretended not to know.
What puzzled Mo Hua was why Master Yan cared so much about him, answering all his questions on array techniques, and why Manager Mo Pang provided him with so many conveniences.
Could it really just be because he had a talent for arrays?
Later, Mo Hua thought about it and believed he might have been overthinking it.
Master Yan was meticulous and serious, whether in teaching or array techniques, never holding back from his disciples. Perhaps his concern stemmed from cherishing talent, hoping Mo Hua wouldn't waste his potential and squander his life, genuinely wishing Mo Hua to excel in array techniques.
Manager Pang had a relationship with Master Yan, likely entrusted by Master Yan to gradually arrange array drawings for Mo Hua. Mo Hua silently stored their goodwill in his heart.
However, Mo Hua was still just a low-level Qi Refining Stage three cultivator, unable to do much. Even if he wanted to repay this kindness, he could only wait until later.
Two months passed. In addition to the Golden Stone arrays, Mo Hua also learned the Mud and Sand Array, the Flowing Sand Array, and the Ventilation Array. Adding up the spirit stones he had saved from drawing arrays earlier, he now had over one hundred and eighty spirit stones.
Mo Hua planned to save up two hundred spirit stones on his own. Then, he would choose a high-grade intermediate-level technique, thus reducing his parents' burden.
Once he had enough spirit stones and chose a technique, he would inform his parents, who would surely be pleased.
However, before Mo Hua could accumulate enough spirit stones, trouble struck at home.
During an alchemy class one day, Master Yan suddenly called Mo Hua out with a solemn expression. He told Mo Hua that his mother was seriously ill and urged him to hurry home to see her.
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, feeling like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, sending chills down his spine.
Mo Hua requested a few days off from Master Yan and hastily returned home.
But the door was closed when he arrived home. Mo Hua knocked several times with no answer. Just as he was getting anxious, Aunt Yang from next door heard the noise and came out, saying:
"Are you Mo Hua?"
"Auntie Yang, my mother..."
"I was just about to tell you. Your mother is seriously ill. She's currently being treated by Elder Feng at Wondrous Hall. Hurry and go see her!"
Mo Hua thanked her profusely and hurried to Wondrous Hall.
Wondrous Hall was the only pill shop nearby.
In Wondrous Hall, there was a pill master in charge. Whenever cultivators were injured or ill, they would come here to consult the pill master and obtain pills for healing.
Elder Feng at Wondrous Hall was a highly reputed pill master in Tongxian City. He had devoted half his life to studying pill refining and, in his later years, had passed the assessment to become a true first-grade pill master. He was one of the few first-grade pill masters who still operated a shop and treated patients among the lower levels of cultivators in Tongxian City.
When Mo Hua arrived at Wondrous Hall, Elder Feng was in the midst of diagnosing and treating a patient.
Elder Feng wore a clean but somewhat old robe with streaks of black and white in his hair. He had a gentle demeanor. Upon seeing Mo Hua, he exchanged a few words with the patient in front of him and then waved at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua hurried forward to bow and said, "Elder Feng, my mother..."
Elder Feng nodded and said, "Good child, I've examined your mother's condition. Although it's serious, it's not life-threatening. You can relax."
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief. However, he suddenly felt parched, his throat as dry as fire.
Mo Hua had always had poor health since childhood. Just now, in his haste, he had run too fast. Now that he had suddenly stopped, he felt sweat dripping all over his body.
Elder Feng lightly pressed his back with a virtual green light flashing between his hands, passing some spiritual power to Mo Hua. Mo Hua immediately felt a breeze brushing through his limbs and bones, instantly feeling much more comfortable.
Elder Feng poured another cup of tea, instructing, "Drink slowly, sip by sip."
Following Elder Feng's instructions, Mo Hua slowly drank the misty tea. Gradually, his breathing became smoother.
(End of the Chapter)