The next day, Mo Shan hurried back as well.
When Mo Shan arrived at Wondrous Hall, his clothes were ragged and covered in mud, with bandages wrapped around his arms, as if torn by some demonic beast, with blood seeping through.
It seemed that the demon-hunting team had just finished fighting with a demonic beast and hadn't had time to treat their wounds before rushing back.
Upon hearing that his wife's life was not in danger, Mo Shan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Elder Feng checked Liu Ruhua's condition and also helped Mo Shan with the wounds on his arms.
A few days later, Liu Ruhua returned home to recuperate. According to Elder Feng's instructions, she had to have a light diet, avoid fatigue, take the elixir on time, and refrain from using spiritual power for a month.
Mo Shan and his son stayed at home for a few days, but they were soon chased out by Liu Ruhua—Mo Shan was the captain of the demon-hunting team and had to lead the team to hunt down demonic beasts, while Mo Hua was a disciple of the sect and had to continue his training at the sect, unable to delay too much on his studies.
Fortunately, Liu Ruhua only couldn't use spiritual power, so it didn't affect her normal life much.
Mo Shan had to ask the neighbors to help take care of her. He would often come back when he had time, and Mo Hua would also ask for leave from his instructor to come home during the monthly breaks.
The instructor was understanding and didn't make things difficult for Mo Hua, just reminding him not to neglect his cultivation and sect duties.
A month later, Liu Ruhua's health had improved significantly. Although she still couldn't use spiritual power and had to avoid using it, otherwise she would cough uncontrollably, there were no other problems.
Mo Hua finally relaxed, but he noticed that his mother wasn't very happy. Although she still smiled, her expression was noticeably more subdued than before, often lost in thought alone.
Mo Hua was very worried but couldn't understand, so he went to ask Mo Shan.
Mo Shan sighed and said to Mo Hua, "Your mother's thoughts are simple. What she most wants to do is save spiritual stones for you to cultivate properly, watch you grow up, get married, and have children... But now that your mother can't use spiritual power, she naturally can't do anything, let alone earn spiritual stones."
"After being busy for half a lifetime, suddenly not being able to do anything and not being able to help you in any way, she must feel quite empty inside..."
Mo Hua felt uncomfortable and asked after some thought, "Then, is there anything else she wants to do?"
"Other things?"
"Yeah, like something she's interested in, such as alchemy or formations..."
Mo Shan thought for a moment and said, "She isn't particularly fond of those, but she does enjoy cooking. I'm not just praising her, within ten miles, there's no one better at cooking than your mother."
Mo Shan sighed again, "When we first pledged our lifelong commitment and became Dao companions, I even promised to open a restaurant for her, specializing in various dishes. But over the years, she has only accompanied me through hardships, and I haven't fulfilled those promises..."
Mo Hua looked at his father, who seemed somewhat self-reproachful, understanding that it wasn't entirely his fault.
Mo Shan's cultivation and Dao techniques were outstanding among the demon hunters in the area. Despite risking his life fighting demonic beasts all these years, the family was still struggling to make ends meet.
Fundamentally, life as a lower-level wandering cultivator was too harsh; just maintaining a livelihood was exhausting.
Mo Hua said, "Dad, don't worry. I'll definitely help Mom open a big restaurant in the future!"
Mo Shan knew his son was comforting him. He patted Mo Hua's head and said with some relief, "Good!"
However, since his wife couldn't use spiritual power, even if she became a chef, it required spiritual power. Even if they opened a restaurant, without spiritual power, it would be difficult to be a chef.
Thinking of his wife's melancholy appearance, Mo Shan felt sorry for her and patted Mo Hua's shoulder, "Take more time to talk to your mother. Sometimes, your words are more effective than mine in reassuring her."
"Yeah." Mo Hua nodded.
After that, whenever Mo Hua had time, he would take the initiative to talk to Liu Ruhua. Her complexion did improve somewhat, but she still looked lonely when alone.
"If only Mom could use spiritual power," Mo Hua thought, but he also knew it was unlikely.
Illness comes like a mountain and goes like a thread being drawn out, especially such chronic illnesses accumulated over the years, which could only be slowly nursed back to health. It might not be possible to cure it in the short term.
There were definitely treasures in the cultivation world that could cure it, as Elder Feng had mentioned a few, but with Mo Hua's family background, they couldn't find a way, let alone afford them.
Mo Hua could only give up on those thoughts.
Another half month passed, ushering in the hottest month of the year when the sun hung high and even the ground felt scorching hot. Tongxian Gate, as usual, announced the summer vacation lasting more than a month.
One annual vacation and one summer vacation—the two longest holidays of the year.
With the hot weather, even the demons preferred not to roam around. Those willing to appear were mostly fire-type, stronger in such weather, making them extremely difficult to deal with. Therefore, the summer vacation period was also the off-season for demon hunting.
Mo Shan would spend more time at home during this period, only occasionally venturing out for a few days when team members discovered valuable demons, returning with some spiritual stones or hides from the demons.
Once, after Mo Shan returned home from a few days out, he brought back a large package. When Mo Hua opened it, he found a large quantity of tough jerky inside. His eyes widened in surprise, "Dad, this is..."
"This is wild mountain ox meat, not very spiritual and not worth much money. Compared to other demons, though, the meat isn't too bad in quality, and the smell isn't too strong."
"We haven't had much luck with the demon-hunting team recently. This wild mountain ox was all we got. After skinning and cutting it, we couldn't sell it at all. Everyone thinks this beef is tough and old, impossible to tenderize or chew. So, we each took a portion and brought it back to eat," Mo Shan explained.
Mo Hua asked uncertainly, "Dad, are you going to cook this meat?"
Mo Shan ruffled Mo Hua's head, "What, you think your dad can't cook well?"
Mo Hua smiled but didn't say anything.
At noon, Mo Shan stewed the beef, spending half a day to finally cook it properly, serving it in a large open white porcelain bowl.
"Try it and see how it tastes!"
The bowl contained reddish-brown beef in sauce.
After looking at the beef, Liu Ruhua put down her chopsticks and just scooped some soup slowly and drank it.
Mo Hua picked up a piece of beef and put it in his mouth, chewing a few times until his teeth felt sour, the meat was still very tough, showing no signs of being chewable.
Awkwardly but politely, Mo Hua spit out the meat and took a sip of soup, then praised, "The soup is good!"
Mo Shan glared at him unkindly, "Your mother seasoned the sauce herself. Of course, it's good."
Liu Ruhua smiled slightly, "I appreciate your effort, but cooking like this isn't something you can do casually. Even if you use spiritual power to stoke the stove to stew things, there's a lot of finesse involved—when to use high heat, when to use low heat, and when to add what sauces and how much."
Mo Hua suddenly asked, "So, if you cook it for a long time, can this beef be tenderized?"
Liu Ruhua replied, "In theory, yes, but it would require a cultivator to watch the pot day and night, constantly using spiritual power to stoke the fire..."
"Normal cultivators definitely can't do it, and even those who can probably wouldn't bother," added Mo Shan.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "What about using formations?"
"Formations..." Liu Ruhua pondered, "I'm not sure about that. But according to the head chef at the restaurant, some major restaurants have alchemists refine stoves, and then formation masters set up formations. This way, they can stew ingredients for a long time just by using spiritual stones to activate it, without consuming a cultivator's spiritual power. However, hiring a formation master is very expensive. At least, the previous restaurant couldn't afford to build such stoves."
"I see..."
Mo Hua thoughtfully considered this.
Mo Shan also picked up a piece of beef, chewed on it without success, and had to admit, "Indeed, it's not very chewable." Then he swallowed it directly, using his spiritual power to forcibly refine it.
That evening, Mo Hua practiced formations on the broken stele while thinking about the restaurant business.
The next day, Mo Hua didn't stay home to draw formations but headed straight to North Street under the scorching sun.
Despite the hot weather, he was sweating profusely after a few steps. Nevertheless, there were still some small vendors along the street enduring the intense sunlight, shouting about their goods, albeit with weak voices.
Mo Hua arrived at North Street and found the largest restaurant on the street—Ling Shan Restaurant. He asked the shopkeeper, "Is your young master surnamed An, called An Xiaopang.. no, An Xiaofu?"
The shopkeeper didn't look down on Mo Hua because of his ordinary clothes. Instead, he guessed from Mo Hua's tone that he might indeed be acquainted with the young master. He politely said, "Young master is upstairs. Would you like me to announce your visit?"
Mo Hua replied politely, "Please inform him that a fellow disciple surnamed Mo is here to see him about something."
(End of the Chapter)