Chapter 368: The Whereabouts

After bidding farewell to Master Luo, Mo Hua felt at ease.

Cultivation grants cultivators strength, but does not produce wealth, nor can it enrich more cultivators.

Only array techniques can improve the lives of free cultivators.

Among the free cultivators of Xiancheng, only Mo Hua knows array techniques; if he leaves, no one will draw arrays for them, and in a few or even ten years, the free cultivators' lives may return to hardship.

Self-reliance brings abundance.

More array masters must emerge among the free cultivators.

These array masters must also vow to study array techniques and benefit the free cultivators.

Only then can the plight of the free cultivators truly improve.

Even if Mo Hua's array skills are supreme, he is still only one man, able to change things only temporarily.

But the transmission of array techniques can benefit many.

Before leaving, Commander Yang clapped Mo Hua on the shoulder and gave him repeated warnings.

My array skills are still not fully perfected, but within my ability, I naturally wish to inquire after Fu Jiesi's whereabouts and see if there is anything I can do to help Master Zhuang.

"You are leaving Xiancheng to travel abroad."

Manager Mo's business has declined greatly.

If one truly walks the dark path and builds great arrays to slaughter cultivators, it will surely bring catastrophe to a city, a realm, even an entire province.

Though his words carried no laughter or sorrow, a faint atmosphere of parting lingered.

Manager Mo sighed inwardly: What a good boy.

He is only eighteen years old, yet he alone has built a great array to trap and kill Fengxi.

"Another matter," Mo Hua's expression grew serious, "I wish to ask about Master Zhuang's whereabouts."

"He committed patricide, stole array techniques, and betrayed the sect to flee…"

Mo Hua had heard much of it.

"That's a novel, embellished and exaggerated—don't take it as truth."

In stories, wealthy youths like Zhang Lan refuse arranged meetings, yet after reluctantly attending one, seeing the Miss is beautiful, they shamelessly chase after her anyway…

I don't often go to Fushan Restaurant to play with Young Master An.

Mo Hua asked: "Is it because you've succeeded in Foundation Establishment that you're returning to your clan?"

I have never seen a great trapping array with such overwhelming killing aura.

Manager Mo was slightly startled, but not truly surprised.

Without Manager Mo, Master Zhuang might still have discovered his talent for arrays, still introduced him to Teacher Yan, still made him a registered disciple of Teacher Yan, and now he would never have become Master Fu Jiesi's disciple.

"He is now a distinguished guest—proper etiquette must be observed."

Manager Mo was both startled and touched: "He still remembers me…"

He immediately understood, and spoke solemnly in a loud voice:

After resolving the matter of array transmission, Mo Hua still had to bid farewell to many acquaintances.

Mo Hua patted his shoulder and comforted him:

"Not bad," Zhang Lan said vaguely, adding only: "As long as you come, I won't treat you poorly—I'll treat you to good food."

Given time, his array skill may reach heights unknown.

…

That snack will no longer be sent by anyone.

"If you ever pass through Kanzhou and reach the Zhang family's territory, be sure to visit, give my name, and I'll do my best as host to entertain you properly."

The great cultivator who once impersonated his elder brother to draw arrays and earn spirit stones has now become a renowned array master across the entire city.

Mo Hua waved his hand: "Manager Mo, no need to be so formal."

After drinking tea for a while, Manager Mo asked:

Mo Hua continued: "I came here first to see you and express my gratitude."

"If you wish to join the Dao Bing Division, come find me—no matter what happens, our Yang family will protect you!"

That point I never fully grasped until I saw Mo Hua.

Young Master An despised listening to the Four Hexagrams, yet he himself rewrote them with embellishments, composed novels, and hired storytellers to recite them at the restaurant—full tables, no empty seats, wildly popular.

Mo Hua is quick-witted—I truly cannot outtalk him.

Mo Hua waved his large hand as he bid farewell to Commander Yang.

Not to mention the terrifying phenomena caused by the great array's self-destruction and the sudden distortion of spiritual energy.

Manager Mo nodded, sorrowfully: "Our master was an old array master—kind to his disciples, devoted to teaching and transmitting knowledge."

Yet thinking that once he left Xiancheng, he might never again have a lively boy like Mo Hua to bicker and chat with, Zhang Lan felt a pang of loss.

After the Dao Bing Division marched out, Commander Yang departed along Great Baishan.

"There's one more important thing…"

"This matter is actually simple—I and Master Zhuang are fellow sect brothers; he entered earlier, I entered later, we had some connection, but since I entered so late, the sect suffered sudden upheaval and closed its doors, so I studied for only a short time—our bond was never deep."

Mo Hua nodded.

The gap between them was as vast as a heavenly chasm.

Commander Yang finally truly understood the power and dread of an array master.

The signboard at the door was still the old one, bearing the eight characters "Moyuan Zhai," but the entire entrance and its decorations had been completely renewed.

Mo Hua did not want Xiancheng to return to its former state of "no array masters for free cultivators" after he left—he hoped that when he returned, more free cultivators would have learned array techniques and all could live better.

"Yes," Manager Mo said with emotion, "He entered earlier and had deep feelings for our master, so he could never accept it—he wants to bring that traitor to justice to comfort our master's spirit, and also to reclaim the sect's core array technique…"

A drop of kindness deserves a spring of repayment.

If you don't want to join the Dao Ting Si, you must firmly hold to your Dao heart, act with caution, avoid going astray, and never fall into the demonic path…

Before leaving, I went to Mo Hua's eatery and packed seventy shaojin of beef to take with me.

It's just going back for a matchmaking meeting—why be so resistant? If you meet someone suitable, it's still a kind of fate.

First, there's Commander Yang.

I most despise stories about slaying demons and exterminating monsters, or bizarre tales.

When cultivators grow older, they must venture out to see the world, seek opportunities, behold the myriad mountains and rivers of the cultivation realm, meet all kinds of cultivators, and seek out obscure lineages…

An array master's individual strength may be weak, but once they complete an array and establish a great array, they can truly wield the power to reshape heaven and earth—or annihilate them.

Zhang Lan needs to hand over duties to the Dao Ting Si; it will probably take two months.

Luo Xiaoshi won't help me for any reason—he's probably doing it out of respect for Mo Hua.

After pondering for a long time, I still laid everything bare:

Manager Mo laughed when he saw Mo Hua liked to eat.

Commander Yang feared seeing this scene too much to bear facing Mo Hua with sword and blade.

Romance-themed novels didn't suit Mo Hua's taste, but I was picky—I wouldn't listen if there wasn't any.

"This array is called the Ling Shu Array—a first-rank… seventeen-stroke array, one that no array master could possibly learn!"

"Truly a disgrace among array masters."

Because I received Luo Xiaoshi's favor, some array masters were willing to help me draw arrays; as the shop's arrays decreased, customers gradually dwindled, business worsened, and reciprocity naturally became more valuable.

The Dao Bing Si mission was completed—the great demon was subdued and slain—he should return to report.

"Your sect was never a great one, its people few; those who came to learn weren't seeking to master arrays—they just wanted to earn a living. When the master died, the sect naturally fell apart, and the entire organization vanished…"

Mo Hua's expression flickered with surprise.

Mo Hua replied confidently: "'When false is treated as true, truth becomes false.' How do you know what's written in the novels isn't true?"

No matter what kind of cultivator, they never act abnormally.

"Alright…" Zhang Lan sighed.

Commander Yang was still uneasy, but had no choice—his mission was done; he could only leave now.

Mo Hua said solemnly: "Though I'm young, I've heard many things."

I never knew how Mo Hua learned.

It was just a bit too early for Mo Hua to travel at this age.

Seeing this, Zhang Lan couldn't help smiling, then suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice:

He didn't look much taller now, and his appearance was still gentle and likable, but his gaze and bearing had changed completely.

I saw Mo Hua's trapped killing great array; I saw the annihilating force generated by Mo Hua's self-destructive array.

When Manager Mo first met Mo Hua, I could only draw an eight-stroke Minghuo Array; now, two years have passed, and I can draw a first-rank great array.

Manager Mo watched Mo Hua sitting, drinking tea, and felt a deep sense of emotion.

Manager Mo's expression was bitter.

I didn't say it aloud, but I understood it in my heart.

Mo Hua thought Zhang Lan was the kind of person who could do such a thing.

That beef—I'd never eaten it before. Each time I visited Mo Hua's place, I tried it once, and ever since, I couldn't forget it, so before leaving I bought a lot to keep for drinking on the road.

Manager Mo looked even more spirited.

Zhang Lan sighed, his expression desolate. "Yes."

I saw Mo Hua, startled and delighted, quickly ushered Mo Hua inside, and poured him a cup of tea.

Passed down generation after generation, forever altering the lives of free cultivators.

"Unexpected changes?"

The aura around him was even beyond my comprehension.

After a while, I remembered something, stood up, and took a deep red food box from behind the counter, placing it before Mo Hua.

Zhang Lan's expression was plain.

Zhang Lan's expression was bright, full of self-satisfaction.

But the way he used the word "support" made it sound like you two were colluding, as if you were doing good deeds…

"You didn't come just to drink tea, did you?"

"These were given to me—they're very precious pastries. Try them."

Zhang Lan's head throbbed.

Zhang Lan's face paled again. "What nonsense are you talking? You're still so young—is it appropriate to say such things?"

Mo Hua comforted: "Mountains and rivers will meet again—someday, we may encounter each other still."

"The Step Through Flowing Water wasn't taught by you, Uncle Zhang. No matter what, I won't betray you…"

Mo Hua didn't refuse, tasted one bite—the soft, glutinous, sweet flavor made his eyes light up. "Thank you, Manager!"

Manager Mo shook his head, deeply astonished.

Fu Jiesi had been my mentor and enlightenment teacher; I was able to become Yan Jiaoxi's disciple thanks to Mr. Zhuang's recommendation.

Mo Hua earned his first batch of spirit stones by drawing arrays for Manager Mo, and took his first step toward becoming an array master.

So I truly feared Mo Hua might stray.

"When Mr. Zhuang left, he said he had private matters to handle—wasn't it to track down that disgrace?"

Commander Yang had personally witnessed and experienced the horror of the Seven-Step Demon-Slaying Great Array up close.

Mo Hua shouted: "Uncle Zhang, is your status low within your clan?"

At this time, Mo Hua took a moment to visit Manager Mo again.

Outside the food box were arranged various coarse pastries.

I also told Xiao Shi Luo that I had occasionally given a little business to Master Mo in the past.

Mo Hua comforted me, saying, "Uncle Yang, don't worry—you're a proper cultivator; you'd never do such a thing."

Before Commander Yang left, Zhang Lan found Mo Hua and said I was leaving too.

"Shuishui Step…" Zhang Lan reminded him.

The world changes little; who can say what the future holds?

Mo Hua frowned, not angry, and asked:

I still remember how Mo Hua first came—huge for his age, perched on the counter with his big head sticking out.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up and he quickly replied, "Good!"

"But recognizing talent is wisdom—yet I took in a disciple with wolfish ambition, one who coveted the sect's core formation array, and I…."

During my spare time, I still came to drink and chat with Mo Hua.

Master Mo took a sip of tea, suppressing the anger in his heart, then continued:

Master Mo looked at Mo Hua, his gaze flickering, and said urgently:

Mo Hua kept his mouth shut—that was certainly good.

Zhang Lan thought for a moment and nodded: "You're right—if fate brings us together again, we'll meet once more."

Mo Hua swallowed the pastry, drank some tea, and nodded:

After all, if Master Mo had once asked me to paint formation arrays for spirit stones, my current formation skills might not have reached this level.