Chapter 126

"Borrow people?"

"Mm-hmm." Mo Hua nodded.

"What do you need them for?"

"I've got something to do, need help. Just six-stage Qi Refiners—five… no, four will do." Mo Hua said.

Yu Chengyi wanted to ask what Mo Hua intended to do, but remembered Mo Hua was a Array Master—this must relate to array techniques, and even if he explained, Yu Chengyi wouldn't understand; asking would be pointless.

His father, Elder Yu, had ordered him to look after Mo Hua; if he didn't, and his father found out, he'd be in deep trouble.

His father spoke kindly to Mo Hua, but never showed him a good face.

Yu Chengyi's heart tightened, and he said, "It's a minor thing—no problem."

Mo Hua had expected to have to plead for a while; he hadn't expected Yu Chengyi to agree so readily, and he beamed:

"Thank you, Uncle Yu!"

Yu Chengyi selected several Qi Refiners at the sixth stage from behind him, ordered them to follow Mo Hua, protect him fully, and assist him whenever he needed help.

Still not reassured, he turned to an older Hunter of Demonic Beasts and said:

"Old Zhao, you go too—keep an eye on things."

Old Zhao looked surprised, but nodded. "Alright."

"Uncle Yu, that's enough—no need for so many." Mo Hua hurried to say.

The Hunter called Old Zhao had a thick, deep aura—he was likely late-stage Qi Refiner. Add the five mid-stage Qi Refiners just now, and they were already too many.

He only wanted to hunt a mid first-grade demonic beast—no need for this many.

Yu Chengyi waved his hand. "It's fine—let them follow. I'll feel safer."

Better to have too many than too few—if anything happened to this little Array Master, his father would peel him alive!

This was Great Heishan—demonic beasts thrived everywhere; you couldn't afford to be careless.

If he weren't tied up, he'd have gone himself.

"If I borrow so many people, will you have enough hands left?"

Mo Hua asked, worried.

Yu Chengyi felt a warmth in his chest, patted Mo Hua's shoulder, and said:

"Don't worry—I've got plenty of veterans here. You're safe."

Mo Hua nodded, then said, "Then we're off, Uncle Yu—goodbye!"

"Go," Yu Chengyi said, then paused and added,

"Finish your business and return quickly. Don't linger in the mountains—Great Heishan is dangerous."

Mo Hua led the group of Hunters through the mountains.

"Brother Mo, what are you planning to do?"

One young Hunter whispered.

Mo Hua turned and, startled, said, "Daiping?"

Daiping's surname was Zhou; his father was Zhou Cheng, who had previously asked Mo Hua to draw the Iron Armor Array and even came in person to thank him.

Mo Hua had met Daiping only once, with little impression, so he hadn't recognized him among the crowd—only now, hearing Zhou Daping's voice, did he realize it was him.

Zhou Daping, shy and introverted, said, "Brother Mo, you remember me?"

"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua said. "I'm taking you to hunt a demonic beast."

Zhou Daping froze, exchanging glances with the other Hunters.

Old Zhao was also startled inside.

This kid had guts!

With just these mid-stage Qi Refiners, hunting a demonic beast—whether they'd even return alive was uncertain…

No wonder Yu Chengyi told him to watch over them.

Zhou Daping hesitated. "Brother Mo, we… we can't kill a demonic beast."

Then, timidly, he added, "What realm is it?"

If it was early first-grade, maybe it wouldn't be too hard.

"Hmm, mid first-grade. We couldn't kill a late one anyway."

Zhou Daping's vision darkened—couldn't kill a late one, but they couldn't even kill a mid one…

"Don't worry," Mo Hua patted his chest. "I've planned everything—I've got it covered!"

Zhou Daping wanted to say more, but didn't know what, so he gritted his teeth and followed Mo Hua.

Old Zhao beside them tightened his focus completely.

These kids didn't understand the stakes, but he'd spent years in Great Heishan—he knew even a mid first-grade demonic beast wasn't easy to handle.

Yu Chengyi entrusted him with this—if anything went wrong, he couldn't answer for it.

"Hope nothing goes wrong…"

Old Zhao could only silently pray.

Mo Hua walked a loop along the mountain path, then stopped before a stretch of forest.

This was the boundary between forest and cliff—a crossroads where demonic beasts entering or exiting the woods had no choice but to pass.

Thick wild grass and rocky outcrops nearby offered concealment.

Mo Hua set the traps, activated the array, erased all traces, and covered the scent with Bloodstain Grass. Then he led everyone to hide behind the rocks.

"We wait here. When the demonic beast triggers the traps, I'll activate the array—you—no, you all—strike then." Mo Hua said.

He wouldn't go up and cause trouble.

Zhou Daping and the others nodded; Old Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had heard that Mo Shan had a young son who was good at drawing formation patterns.

But this is a beast—thick-skinned and tough—could a formation even work…?

Old Zhao frowned again.

Zhou Daping felt uneasy. "Mo Ge'er, will it really work?"

Mo Hua comforted him: "Don't worry, I've tested it—no problem."

Zhou Daping nodded, but still felt uneasy, gripping his knife tightly.

The other several beast-hunters were also young, all holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.

The waiting was agonizing; all of them wore serious expressions.

Only Mo Hua looked relaxed, even bored, plucking a blade of grass and idly drawing formation lines on the ground.

After an unknown length of time, Zhou Daping gently nudged Mo Hua. "Mo Ge'er… it's coming."

His voice trembled slightly with tension.

Mo Hua perked up, tossed aside the grass, and peered forward—sure enough, a goat-like beast emerged from the forest.

The beast's eyes glowed crimson, its mouth caked with blood, as if it had just torn apart and devoured its prey.

But perhaps it had eaten too much, and its vigilance was low.

When it slowly stepped into the trap and became ensnared by the Wood Binding Formation, Mo Hua tossed a fireball from afar, triggering the Earth Fire Formation.

A blast echoed; flames surged, spiritual energy scattered, shattering the surrounding rocks.

Zhou Daping and the others stared, dumbfounded.

Mo Hua said: "Go!"

Only then did they snap out of it, no longer hesitating—they drew their knives and punched forward, rushing at the beast.

In no time, the beast lay on the ground.

Mo Hua poked his head out and called from afar: "Is it dead?"

Staring at the beast that had fallen so quickly, Zhou Daping stood frozen for a long while before slowly saying:

"D-dead."

Mo Hua ran forward and used the Blood Siphon Technique to draw the beast's blood.

The bright red beast blood flowed into the vial, guided by Mo Hua's spiritual sense.

"Mo Ge'er, what is this…?"

Zhou Daping couldn't help asking.

"For drawing formations."

Mo Hua answered as he continued draining the blood.

"Oh oh." Zhou Daping stopped asking.

After Mo Hua finished draining the blood, he saw Zhou Daping and the others still standing there dumbly, and asked:

"Aren't you skinning it?"

"Huh?"

"It's a beast—skin it, break the bones, take it to sell."

Only then did they snap out of it and began working, processing the beast and stowing it in their storage pouches.

Mo Hua calculated their share: how many spirit stones for the formation, how many more to activate it. After selling the beast, deduct those costs, then split the remaining spirit stones equally.

Zhou Daping quickly shook his head: "No, this is all your work—how could we take spirit stones?"

The others also refused.

"You helped—that's what you deserve!"

"But…"

Mo Hua wouldn't let them refuse; he waved goodbye. "I'm heading back. Next time there's work, I'll call you again." Then he happily went home.

Zhou Daping and the others stood where they were, glancing at each other, their expressions unexpectedly complex.

Selling the beast meant each of them could split seven or eight spirit stones.

They'd never earned so many spirit stones before…

Fifth watch complete~