In the evening, Mo Hua returned home first and had his mother prepare some food: two bowls of steaming noodles, some sauced beef, refreshing pickled vegetables, several plates of snacks, and a few pots of osmanthus wine.
After packing all this food into a lunchbox and stowing it in a storage bag, he headed towards the mountains.
Halfway up the mountain, a boy and a girl, along with the veiled woman, still stood upright.
Mo Hua slung the storage bag over his shoulder and approached them straightforwardly:
"You've disturbed Mr. Zhuang's peace. It's better to go back; Mr. Zhuang doesn't wish to see you."
Upon hearing this, the children looked somewhat disheartened. The veiled woman then said:
"Kindly inform Mr. Zhuang that old acquaintances have come to visit with urgent matters to discuss, and we must meet him."
Mo Hua replied, "Whatever your reasons for coming, if Mr. Zhuang doesn't want to see you, he simply won't. Waiting longer will be in vain."
The boy declared firmly, "I'll wait as long as it takes to see Mr. Zhuang."
The girl beside him remained silent but showed no sign of retreat in her eyes.
Curiously, Mo Hua asked, "If Mr. Zhuang continues to refuse to see you, will you really wait indefinitely? Even for ten or a hundred years?"
The boy stiffened his neck and said nothing.
Handsome and seemingly intelligent, he was just a bit too stubborn, Mo Hua silently criticized.
"What are you eating then?"
"I have fasting pills."
"Fasting pills can harm the body if consumed excessively," Mo Hua cautioned.
Fasting pills were one of the pills refined by alchemists, using common ingredients combined with preservatives to solidify into pills. They were easy to store, could satiate hunger, and replenish vitality, making them essential for cultivators during long travels or extended seclusions. However, prolonged use could damage a cultivator's vitality.
"Hmph," the boy scoffed, "It's none of your business."
Yet he still stole glances at the veiled woman beside him.
The veiled woman hesitated for a moment. Though she hadn't met Mr. Zhuang, she had heard a bit about his ways and suspected the young Mo Hua might be right.
If Mr. Zhuang didn't wish to see them, even if they waited here until they turned to dust, they wouldn't meet him.
Seeing her hesitation, Mo Hua continued, "In cultivation, everything revolves around fate. If Mr. Zhuang doesn't wish to see you, it's because your destiny hasn't arrived. Persisting in this will only be futile."
The woman couldn't help asking, "Then when will we have the fate to meet Mr. Zhuang?"
"That depends on Mr. Zhuang's mood. You came on a fine day; you don't need to wait long. Just bow at his door, and if it opens wide, he wishes to see you. If it remains tightly closed, the timing isn't right, and you should leave on your own."
The woman hesitated further. She hadn't met Mr. Zhuang before, but from what she had heard, the young Mo Hua's words were likely correct.
If Mr. Zhuang didn't wish to see them, even waiting here for years would be in vain.
Mo Hua noticed her wavering and added, "As cultivators, everything depends on fate. If Mr. Zhuang doesn't wish to see you, it's because your destiny hasn't arrived. Persisting in this will only be futile."
"But Madame instructed us to bring the young master and miss to meet Mr. Zhuang. If we leave now..."
"If you wait ten or eight years, neglecting your cultivation, losing sleep, damaging your vitality, even if you meet Mr. Zhuang and become his disciples, your foundation will be weakened, making it difficult to comprehend the Dao. What would be the point?" Mo Hua countered.
The woman nodded, frowning slightly. "We didn't say we wanted to become Mr. Zhuang's disciples. How did you know?"
Mo Hua thought to himself, You bring two children of enlightenment age to visit Mr. Zhuang. It's not for apprenticeship; what else could it be?
But on the surface, Mo Hua maintained a carefree demeanor and mentioned Mr. Zhuang:
"I've said it all. Everything is within Mr. Zhuang's expectations. You should go back. When Mr. Zhuang wishes to see you, naturally, he will."
Mo Hua finished speaking and felt the timing was about right. He opened the lunchbox, and its fragrance wafted out.
"Would you like something to eat?"
The girl was fine, but the boy couldn't help but sway a bit, trying to appear composed but unable to resist glancing into the lunchbox.
Fasting pills didn't taste good, and excessive consumption could cause discomfort. Their appearance, aroma, and taste couldn't compare to the food and snacks in Mo Hua's lunchbox.
Seeing the young master and miss turn pale and lips colorless, thinking back to their pampered upbringing, the Lady's heart softened.
She had watched the two children grow up. Even if they couldn't become Mr. Zhuang's disciples, going against Madame's instructions and facing her punishment, she couldn't bear to let the young master and miss suffer.
Besides, the young Mo Hua was right. Consuming fasting pills daily, without sleep or rest, and being exposed to the mountain's extremes could damage their foundations, affecting their future cultivation irreparably.
"Thank you, young sir."
The woman thanked Mo Hua and then turned to the two children:
"Young master, miss, please eat something first. Since Mr. Zhuang is unwilling to see us, the time is not yet right. We will choose another day to visit again."
The two children also thanked Mo Hua.
Then they took out the noodles and various snacks from the lunchbox and began to eat. Despite their hunger, their demeanor remained dignified, clearly demonstrating their excellent upbringing.
After tasting a spicy piece of beef, the boy asked, "What meat is this?"
"It's demonic beast meat."
The boy widened his eyes. "Demonic beast meat can be eaten?!"
Mo Hua rolled his eyes. "You're eating it right now..."
"Isn't it said that eating demonic beast meat can damage your vitality and sanity?"
"This is from a wild buffalo demon. It eats only plants and trees, so it won't harm a cultivator's vitality. The meat of those beasts that eat meat and even humans should indeed be avoided."
Mo Hua gave him a look of amusement at his surprise.
The boy looked at the meat in his hand with some apprehension but didn't want to be looked down upon by Mo Hua. He ate a few more bites and found the meat becoming increasingly delicious. Before he knew it, he couldn't stop...
Meanwhile, the girl beside him looked at the snacks in Mo Hua's lunchbox.
"My mother made these. They're delicious!" Mo Hua proudly declared.
"Does your mother... make snacks for you often?"
"In addition to snacks, there are many other delicious foods." Mo Hua nodded.
The girl's clear eyes showed a hint of envy. She picked up a piece of snack from the plate, lips gently biting.
It was crisp and sweet.
The girl lowered her eyelids, long eyelashes covering her eyes, concealing her thoughts. After a while, she raised her head and praised Mo Hua, "It's very delicious."
Her voice was clear and melodious, as if the celestial beings played music, perhaps no different.
Mo Hua was also very happy, squinting and smiling:
"Yes, what my mother makes is the best!"
After everyone finished eating, before leaving, Snow Lady took out a jade pendant shimmering with brilliance and handed it to Mo Hua:
"This is a first-class Clear Heart Pendant. Carrying it with you can keep your mind focused during cultivation. It's not expensive. Consider it a token of gratitude."
Although Snow Lady claimed it wasn't expensive, judging from its luminous appearance, it was clearly not ordinary. To a wandering cultivator like Mo Hua, it seemed even more valuable.
Although Mo Hua was tempted, he knew he couldn't accept it.
Their kindness to him was all because of Mr. Zhuang's face. If not for this, given their disparate statuses, they probably wouldn't have said a word to him.
Following Mr. Zhuang to learn formation techniques had already earned him Mr. Zhuang's favor. He couldn't exchange Mr. Zhuang's reputation for personal gain.
Mo Hua politely declined. Snow Lady insisted, and Mo Hua said:
"If you really want to give something, just give me a meal's worth, five spirit stones will do."
Snow Lady was momentarily stunned, as if she had never heard such a request before. Still, she took out a storage bag containing forty or fifty spirit stones.
Mo Hua took out five from it and returned the bag to Snow Lady. Before Snow Lady could say anything, he waved his hand and carried his storage bag down the mountain.
Snow Lady watched Mo Hua in astonishment. As Mo Hua was about to leave, the girl suddenly spoke, her voice clear and melodious:
"What's your name?"
Although soft, Mo Hua still heard it.
Mo Hua turned back and smiled, "My name is Mo Hua."
At this moment, the evening glow painted the sky, the scene amidst the mountains resembling a painting.
Amidst the brilliant hues of the sunset, Mo Hua stood among the mountains, as if he were within a painted landscape of splendid scenery.
The little girl looked at Mo Hua, her eyes shimmering with a bright light.
"Mo Hua," she whispered softly, as if this name held a special meaning in the evening hues.
Mo Hua smiled, sensing the warmth in the girl's gaze.
"Farewell," he replied gently, then continued his descent down the mountain.
Amidst the painted sky of evening glow, Mo Hua's name remained.
(End of the Chapter)