Chapter 128: Mutual Gain

The next day, Yu Chengyi specifically went to the eatery to find Mo Hua, who was drawing a formation.

"Mo Hua, drawing another formation again?"

Yu Chengyi greeted him in a slightly awkward tone.

"Uncle Yu?" Mo Hua was surprised. "What brings you here?"

"I came to see you," Yu Chengyi smiled.

Mo Hua smiled back. "Thank you, Uncle Yu, for yesterday."

Yu Chengyi waved his hand. "It was nothing."

Mo Hua glanced at him again. "Uncle Yu, you didn't come just to see me, did you?"

The demon-hunting team was so busy—how could he have come just to visit him for no reason?

Yu Chengyi hesitated, then asked: "Mo Hua, what formation was that you used yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" Mo Hua thought. "It was the Earth-Fire Formation."

Earth-Fire Formation… the name alone suggested formidable power.

Yu Chengyi nodded, then asked with hopeful anticipation:

"This Earth-Fire Formation… can it injure a mid first-grade demon beast?"

"Yes," Mo Hua said. "But one isn't enough. You need four or five together to explode a mid first-grade demon beast into heavy injury—then finish it off with a follow-up strike."

Just as I thought!

Yu Chengyi grew excited. "Do you have time to draw a few for me, Uncle Yu?"

"You want some?" Mo Hua frowned. "But this formation isn't very useful for you, is it?"

Yu Chengyi was already at Qi Condensation Ninth Layer—he shouldn't need formations to hunt mid first-grade demon beasts.

Against late first-grade demon beasts, the Earth-Fire Formation's power would be too limited.

"I don't need it—I want to give it to the new recruits."

Yu Chengyi sighed. "They're weak. When they follow us, they often don't even get a taste of the spoils. But waiting until they can stand on their own takes too long. With this formation, at least they can earn some Spirit Stones."

Mo Hua thought of Brother Da Hu and the others.

Just becoming a demon hunter, they faced danger without earning much—truly the hardest phase.

Mo Hua agreed. "Sure."

Yu Chengyi exhaled in relief, then his expression turned uneasy. He gritted his teeth and asked: "How many Spirit Stones does it cost to draw this formation…?"

This formation must be complex—certainly harder than the Iron Armor Formation—so the payment should be higher. But he simply couldn't afford much.

For the first time, Yu Chengyi understood his father's mindset.

Knowing he was asking too much, yet still forcing himself to beg. Knowing he couldn't pay much, yet still asking someone to do him a favor.

Especially when the one he was asking was a child of ten or so.

The usually bold Yu Chengyi lowered his eyes, too embarrassed to meet Mo Hua's gaze.

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

Whether it was Elder Yu or Uncle Yu, both were proud men—but both could temporarily set aside their dignity for the sake of other demon hunters.

Mo Hua felt deep respect. His dark eyes flashed, and he smiled.

"Uncle Yu, let's make a deal."

Yu Chengyi froze. "A deal?"

"Yes. A deal!"

Mo Hua said: "Just give me Spirit Ink. I'll draw the formations. You send people out to hunt with them. Split the earned Spirit Stones evenly—I'll take my share as payment for drawing them."

Yu Chengyi's eyes lit up. "That's a brilliant idea!"

"But I have one more requirement," Mo Hua added.

"Whatever you want, say it!" Yu Chengyi said generously—he didn't want Mo Hua to lose out.

"After the demon beast dies, I want its blood."

"Demon blood?" Yu Chengyi looked puzzled. "Why do you need demon blood?"

"To mix Spirit Ink—for drawing formations."

Hearing it was for formations, Yu Chengyi immediately nodded.

"No problem. No one wants demon blood—it's all yours."

"But," Yu Chengyi paused, then added, "could we collect the blood for you? Great Heishan is still dangerous—you'd be better off not going there."

"You need the Blood Extraction Technique to do it—I have to do it myself," Mo Hua said.

"I see…"

Yu Chengyi felt disappointed—he didn't want Mo Hua to risk himself, but Mo Hua had to go.

"Then be extremely careful," Yu Chengyi warned.

"Yes, yes, Uncle Yu, don't worry—I know my limits."

After settling a few minor details, Yu Chengyi said:

"I'll head back then. Don't let me disturb your formation drawing."

On his way out, he bought a few jin of beef.

Mo Hua waved goodbye.

Yu Chengyi carried the beef away from the eatery, the heavy weight on his heart lifted—he felt suddenly light and refreshed.

"What a wonderful child…"

Smart, sensible, understanding, and so gifted with formations.

Indeed, the old are wiser—the old man's eye for people was truly sharp.

Originally, his father had sent him over to meet Mo Hua just to get familiar, and he'd been reluctant—but now he wished he could move next door to Mo Shan's house.

When you can't look up without seeing them, that's true familiarity.

"Go tell Lao Zhao and the others—in the mountains, if you meet this kid Mo Hua, look out for him. Don't let anything happen to him!"

Yu Chengyi murmured silently to himself.

After Yu Chengyi left, Mo Hua also exhaled in relief.

He had been wondering how to stockpile more demon blood for mixing spirit ink.

With only Brother Da Hu and the other two, there weren't enough hands—he couldn't keep borrowing people from Uncle Yu forever.

Now it was perfect: he just had to draw the arrays, then use the Blood-Siphoning Art to extract demon blood. The novice demon hunters could gain experience, and meanwhile earn some spirit stones.

After all, demon hunters weren't exactly wealthy.

So in helping Uncle Yu, he'd been helped in return—truly a win-win.

Mo Hua quickly drew several Earth-Fire Arrays and handed them to Yu Chengyi.

Yu Chengyi had others test the Earth-Fire Arrays to hunt demonic beasts, but they failed.

The problem lay in the traps.

Other demon hunters could set traps, but their placement was poor and their technique crude—they were easily spotted by the demonic beasts.

If the demonic beasts didn't fall into the traps, they wouldn't be trapped; if they weren't trapped, the Earth-Fire Arrays couldn't be triggered.

Yu Chengyi came to ask Mo Hua if he had any solutions.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then recommended Uncle Chu—Chu Guangshan.

After all, Mo Hua's own trap-setting techniques had come from Uncle Chu; for something like this, he was naturally the best choice.

Thus, Chu Guangshan, who had been severely injured and unable to hunt demons anymore, rejoined the demon-hunting team and entered Great Heishan.

He was responsible for tracking demonic beasts, placing traps, then laying down Mo Hua's Earth-Fire Arrays, and finally triggering them with arrows tipped with firestones.

After the Earth-Fire Arrays exploded, he didn't need to fight—the other demon hunters would handle the slain beasts.

Thus, even though he was injured and unable to battle demonic beasts directly, he could still aid in their hunting—and earn a substantial share of spirit stones.

Chu Guangshan, with his share of spirit stones, bought many things and went with Jiang Yun to thank Mo Hua.

But neither husband nor wife was good with words.

Jiang Yun blushed, and Chu Guangshan stammered, unsure what to say.

Watching the couple struggle to express themselves, Mo Hua felt touched—and also a little amused.

He thought: the old saying was indeed true—those not of the same family don't enter the same door.