Chapter 150: Searching the Mountain

The demon hunters began searching the mountains under cover of night, but Mo Hua did not go.

Mo Shan and Elder Yu both forbade him from going.

Because there might be a clash with the Qian family, and with the dark night, high winds, and the location being Great Heishan, it would be too dangerous.

Though Mo Hua was not afraid, he had no intention of taking risks, so he stayed quietly at home, practicing arrays.

Early the next morning, Mo Shan returned, his expression weary, his body damp with dew, but showing no wounds or signs of combat.

"Didn't you find anything?" Mo Hua asked.

Mo Shan nodded. "The Qian family is hiding deep—there's not a trace left."

"How about taking me with you tonight?"

Mo Shan frowned. "It's dangerous."

Mo Hua said, "I'll stay inside the camp. I won't go out."

"Then what's the point of you coming?" Mo Shan asked, puzzled.

Mo Hua chuckled. "You'll see when the time comes."

Mo Shan thought for a moment, then agreed.

With Mo Hua's mobility, as long as he wasn't caught in a chaotic brawl with the Qian family where swords flew and spiritual energy raged uncontrollably, simply staying on the outer mountain was more than enough for self-preservation.

As night fell, Great Heishan grew hazy, draped in a veil of black gauze.

Mo Hua followed the demon hunters up the mountain; the slopes were pitch black, so dark he couldn't see his own hand.

Only the cold, damp mountain wind blew past, leaves rustling, and from afar came the howls of demonic beasts.

Mo Shan brought Mo Hua to a camp, locked the gate, lit a lantern, then pulled out a fur blanket and wrapped Mo Hua into a little dumpling.

"It's cold at night on the mountain—don't catch a chill."

Mo Hua poked his small head out from the blanket and nodded.

"Be careful. Try not to leave the camp. If you're in danger, light your firework—demon hunters will come running."

Mo Shan repeated his warnings without tiring.

Mo Hua nodded again. "Don't worry, Father—I know the outer mountain well."

He'd hunted demons and drained their blood, gathered spices, mined ore, collected herbs, and drawn maps—his feet had trod this path countless times.

To him, the outer mountain was no different from his own courtyard.

Though the outer mountain at night was more dangerous, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was strong; as long as he stayed alert, nothing serious would happen.

Besides, there were many demon hunters now scouring the outer mountain for traces of the Qian family—he knew plenty of people here.

Mo Shan smiled and shook his head, patting Mo Hua's small head. "I'm off now. Be careful."

After Mo Shan left, Mo Hua opened his storage pouch, took out the compass of the Si Nan Mother Array, and placed it beside him.

Then he extended his spiritual sense to scan the surroundings, confirmed there were no anomalies, and pulled out ink and brush to redraw an array on the camp gate.

The array was a compound one incorporating the Solid Earth Array, reinforcing the stone and earth to make the gate nearly impregnable.

After all, Mo Hua would be spending the night in the camp.

As an array master, he could only feel at ease inside an array he himself had drawn.

Mo Hua thought silently.

Then he took out beef and fruit wine, eating and drinking while studying the One-Pin Nine-Stripe Array by lamplight, all the while glancing sideways at the Si Nan Mother Array compass.

Thus he passed the night in perfect peace.

Nothing happened.

The next morning.

After a night of searching the mountain, weary Mo Shan saw Mo Hua, well-fed and calm, and couldn't help feeling a twinge of unease.

"Will you come again tomorrow night?" Mo Shan asked.

Mo Hua nodded. "I will."

Thus, on the second and third nights, Mo Hua accompanied Mo Shan into Great Heishan and stayed the night in the camp.

But still, nothing happened.

Until the fourth night, as Mo Hua huddled under his small blanket, eating lamb, and flipping through an array book, the Si Nan Mother Array compass beside him suddenly flickered with a single light point.

Mo Hua's eyes brightened.

Here it comes! They've shown their hand!

Qian family cultivators could evade demon hunters, but not necessarily demonic beasts.

If they encountered a demonic beast, a fight was inevitable.

If there was a fight, spiritual energy would ripple—and once that ripple triggered the Si Nan Son Arrays Mo Hua had planted across the mountain, the Mother Array compass would reveal their location.

But such fights didn't happen every day, so patience was needed—waiting by the stump for the rabbit.

And today, this rabbit had run straight into Mo Hua's arms.

Mo Hua spread out the map and, using the Si Nan Mother Array compass, quickly pinpointed the location.

It was a small hill at the boundary between the outer and inner mountains—desolate, rarely visited by cultivators.

Mo Hua extinguished the lamp, packed his things, and stepped out of the camp.

Outside, the moonlight was hazy, tree shadows upon shadows stretched everywhere, and all he could see was a sea of black.

Mo Hua closed his eyes and extended his spiritual sense to its limit.

Around him, the pitch darkness instantly transformed into a field of pale white.

Moments later, Mo Hua opened his eyes and walked toward one direction.

There, a demon hunter was carefully searching the mountain.

The forest was dense, and the demon hunter was fully focused on his search when suddenly he felt a small hand pat his shoulder—he jolted, nearly losing his soul.

Mo Hua quickly shushed and called out, "Uncle Wu."

The demon hunter recognized Mo Hua's voice and relaxed, though his heart still pounded thump-thump.

"Mo Hua, oh my… don't do that, you nearly scared me to death."

Mo Hua was baffled—he simply walked over and patted the man's shoulder; could that really scare someone so badly…?

You're an adult now—can't you be more composed?

The demon hunter came to his senses and whispered:

"What are you doing here? Didn't your father tell you to stay at camp?"

"I'm looking for my father," Mo Hua said.

"Oh," the demon hunter nodded. "Your father's near Dashan Rock."

"Thank you, Uncle Wu."

The Wu-family demon hunter looked at Mo Hua, concerned:

"It's dark and windy out—mountains are dangerous. Should I escort you there?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "No need, I can manage. Uncle Wu, you go on with your work."

The demon hunter nodded. "If you run into danger, shout—I'll come."

Mo Hua thanked him again, then walked toward Dashan Rock.

After Mo Hua left, the demon hunter resumed searching the mountain. As he searched, he suddenly froze in shock:

"How come Mo Hua made not a single sound while walking?"

It was as if his feet didn't touch the ground—something was carrying him.

And just now, why hadn't he sensed Mo Hua approaching at all?

Not through spiritual sense, not through aura, not through sound—he detected nothing…

A cold wind blew through the mountains, and Lin Mu rustled ominously.

A chill surged into the demon hunter's heart, and he shuddered again.

"Forget it, no more thinking—if I keep this up, my soul'll fly right out."

The demon hunter shook his head sharply, focused, and resumed searching.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua was using the Step of Flowing Water to move.

A faint spiritual energy, like ripples, supported the soles of his feet.

This posture was light and silent, and also faster.

When Mo Hua reached Dashan Rock, he released his spiritual sense—and indeed, not far to his left, he spotted his father, Seeing Mo Shan.

Seeing Mo Shan was also carefully scanning for traces when suddenly he sensed something, looked up, and saw a small figure approaching him.

"Hua'er?"

"Father," Mo Hua walked over in a few steps and stood beside Seeing Mo Shan.

"Didn't I tell you to stay at camp?" Seeing Mo Shan said, worried.

"I know."

Seeing Mo Shan blinked. "Know what?"

"I know where the spirit mine is!"