Chapter 174: Going Home

Elder Yu loudly scolded Qian Hong a few more times.

Qian Hong, whose state of mind had lost its balance, finally could not bear it this time. Just as he was about to strike out recklessly, at that very moment, cultivators from the Dao Ting Si arrived.

Elder Yu had sent someone ahead of time to notify the Dao Ting Si, precisely for fear that the Qian family would not know what was good for them.

Over ten people came from the Dao Ting Si. At their head was the highest-ranking Zhou Zhangsi, along with a Vice Zhou Zhangsi and several Gu Diansi; Zhang Lan was also among them.

Once the Dao Ting Si stepped in, it meant the matter was already concluded.

Qian Hong had no choice but to lead the Qian family disciples away in hatred, but his expression was venomous and resentful, as if he had no intention of letting the matter rest.

He cast a cold, gloomy glance at Elder Yu, then his gaze swept past Mo Hua, lingering on the other demon hunters as he kept weighing things over in his heart.

Which of these demon hunters was the array master who had given him such a bitter time?

Every demon hunter present was a suspect, but Mo Hua, who was only ten-odd years old, was the first one he ruled out.

In Qian Hong's understanding, an array master capable of drawing a first-grade array, even if not white-haired, would already be well past middle age, with cultivation of at least the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

Whether in age or in cultivation, Mo Hua was still far from worthy of his attention.

Elder Yu, seeing that Qian Hong's gaze had not landed on Mo Hua, paid it no mind and let him guess as he pleased.

"Go ahead and guess. If you can guess this one too, I swear I'll treat everyone with courtesy from now on and never curse anyone again in this lifetime!"

Elder Yu said silently in his heart.

Let alone whether Qian Hong could guess, even now that he already knew Mo Hua could draw a first-grade array, he still felt like he was dreaming. If Mo Hua hadn't drawn so many arrays right in front of him, he would hardly dare believe it.

A first-grade array master of ten-odd years — it was simply inconceivable.

Even if Qian Hong racked his brains until they broke, he could never guess it.

The Qian family left, and Elder Yu went to discuss matters with the Zhou Zhangsi of the Dao Ting Si.

Zhang Lan glanced to the side and once again spotted Mo Hua. He could not help but sigh in his heart.

This child Mo Hua — why is it that wherever there's trouble, there you are…

So many lively incidents, and you've never missed a single one.

Mo Hua also saw Zhang Lan. He winked at him, his big dark eyes flashing.

Zhang Lan shook his head, somewhat helpless.

After Elder Yu finished talking with the Zhou Zhangsi, his expression was pleased. He then told everyone to go home and rest for now, and the remaining matters could be discussed later.

Mo Hua went home with Seeing Mo Shan.

Liu Ruhua was tidying bowls and chopsticks at the entrance of the eatery, her gaze drifting toward the road from time to time, her expression both longing and anxious.

After a while, Mo Shan appeared at the road junction, holding Mo Hua's little hand.

Liu Ruhua hurriedly set down the bowls and dishes in her hands, rushed out the door, went to meet Mo Hua, and held him tightly in her arms, as if afraid he would vanish in the blink of an eye.

Mo Hua was a little embarrassed and said, blushing, "Mother, I'm fine."

Only then did Liu Ruhua examine Mo Hua carefully. Seeing that he had no injuries, his complexion was fine, and he had only grown a little thinner, she finally set her mind at ease.

Then, feeling a little heartache, she said, "Being stuck in there for so long, you must not have eaten enough. Did you finish all the things Mother prepared for you?"

Mo Hua patted his empty storage bag. "Finished it all!"

Liu Ruhua nodded. "You're still young, you need to eat more."

"Mm-hm." Mo Hua agreed.

Liu Ruhua studied Mo Hua carefully once more, then said with a gentle smile:

"Hungry, right? Mother made you lots of good things to eat."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he said in a clear voice, "Mother is the best!"

Liu Ruhua's face bloomed like a flower as she took Mo Hua's hand and led him into the eatery.

Mo Shan, who had been left standing aside all this while, stood in place and shook his head helplessly.

Mo Hua ate a wonderful meal, bathed, changed into a set of clean clothes, and then lay on the bed snoring soundly as he fell fast asleep.

During those days of holding the mine tunnel, although he had not engaged in much direct combat, he had ambushed with spells and drawn arrays to face the enemy, so both body and mind were somewhat weary.

Now that he was home, free of worries, he could naturally have a good sleep.

Liu Ruhua took some wild fruits and pastries, intending to give them to Mo Hua to eat. When she entered the room and saw Mo Hua sleeping soundly, his little cheeks puffed out as if munching on something in his dream, she could not help but smile and shake her head.

She set the wild fruits on the table, tucked in the corners of Mo Hua's blanket for him, stole a few more glances at her son, and only then tiptoed away.

After Mo Hua woke up, he rubbed his eyes and realized it was already dark. Hearing voices at his ear, Mo Hua walked into the main room and saw that Elder Yu and Yu Chengyi were discussing something with Mo Shan.

Elder Yu, upon seeing Mo Hua, beckoned him over with a kindly expression.

Mo Hua was a little puzzled. "Elder, what are you all talking about?"

Elder Yu said, "We're discussing the distribution of spirit stones."

"Can I listen too?"

Elder Yu nodded. "There's a share for you as well."

Mo Hua dragged over a small stool and sat down, and Elder Yu then said:

"This time we've finished mining the spirit mine, but the spirit stones inside the mine are tainted and irregular, so they cannot be used directly. They need to be handed over to the Dao Ting Si and exchanged at a fixed ratio for standard spirit stones accepted throughout the Dao Court. These spirit stones are free of impurities, refined to specification, and can be circulated as currency or used for cultivation…"

"Of course, the Dao Court will take a cut in the process, and the Dao Ting Si side also needs to skim off some spirit stones for handling. Even so, what we'll get in hand will still be a massive batch of spirit stones."

"According to the size of each person's merit, these spirit stones will be divided into four tiers — A, B, C, and D — and distributed in monthly installments to all the demon hunters, for their cultivation and daily use."

"Among them, Mo Shan has A-grade merit and will receive an A-grade share of spirit stones. Mo Hua, you are also A-grade."

Mo Hua was a little surprised. "I'm A-grade too?"

Elder Yu nodded and said, "Originally you should have been given even more, but when you count it up, your family already has two A-grade shares, so it wouldn't be appropriate to give you more."

In Elder Yu's heart, Mo Hua's merit far exceeded A-grade.

Whether it was using the Fireball Art to repel the Qian family's spirit cultivators, forcing the hidden cultivator to reveal himself, or using arrays to help them defend and escape, all of it was crucial to the course of this battle.

But according to demon hunter tradition, at most an A-grade share could be given, and Elder Yu could not bring himself to make an exception.

Mo Hua didn't care much—he was already delighted to have received a Class-A quota.

After all, although he had stayed behind and used spells to draw the array, the actual frontline combat was done by everyone else.

The demon hunters bled, were wounded, and fought for their lives.

Mo Hua had merely lent a hand from the side.

Mo Hua then thought of something else, his face darkening with sorrow. "Many must have died this time too…"

Elder Yu stroked Mo Hua's head. "Casualties are inevitable. Don't dwell on it."

Mo Hua understood in his heart, yet still felt sorrow.

Elder Yu said, "All men must die—whether from aging, illness, sudden disaster, or hunting demons. Compared to that, dying defending the Spirit Mine means their families receive greater compensation. This is already the best outcome."

Mo Hua nodded silently.

Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua and sighed. "Suffering is unavoidable. For all these years, demon hunters have lived this way. And people must always look forward."

Mo Hua nodded. "Elder, I understand."

Elder Yu felt a quiet satisfaction and said no more.

But Mo Hua understood—the root of all suffering lay in weakness.

If he were strong enough, the Qian family would be no threat. If his arrays were strong enough, the Qian family would crumble at once.

If only his arrays were strong enough…

Mo Hua's gaze hardened, and he silently vowed in his heart:

"One day, within my arrays, no cultivator will ever bleed or die again!"