Chapter 38

The prices at the eatery were also not high, because the customers were mostly neighbors or ordinary low-level cultivators with little money; prices were kept low so everyone could at least afford to eat, aiming for small profits but high volume.

The eatery's specialty remained beef, priced at two spirit stones per dish—expensive for a lone cultivator, but far more economical compared to spirit meat or other eateries selling beef.

Beef noodles were even cheaper: plain noodles cost only six-tenths of a broken spirit stone, while adding beef raised the price to twelve-tenths of a broken spirit stone.

A typical Qi Refining cultivator earned roughly one spirit stone plus a few tenths per day; one dish of beef required two full days of labor to afford. Occasional indulgence was possible, but eating it daily was out of the question.

Yet in all of Xiancheng, this was the only place where you could eat meat for two spirit stones—and if you merely wanted to satisfy a craving, a bowl of beef noodles cost only twelve-tenths of a broken spirit stone.

Within just a few days of opening, customers began to increase.

Nearby lone cultivators couldn't eat meat every day, but someone always wanted to treat themselves to a good meal.

Some were Qi Refining cultivators with relatively comfortable households, able to enjoy a meal every few days; others were fellow cultivators meeting up—neither wanting to splurge nor to eat too simply—so they ordered a dish of beef with side dishes, chatting and drinking over it.

Others brought their children, who had made progress in their cultivation, to enjoy a spicy beef noodle meal as a reward.

Occasionally, traveling merchants passing through, weary from their journeys, heard the eatery served meat and wanted to satisfy their craving but hesitated, stammering as they dared not order due to their empty pockets.

Only when they learned a full dish of beef cost just two spirit stones did their eyes widen.

They still had doubts, wondering if such cheap meat could possibly taste good.

Then they thought: the eatery's business was thriving, so the flavor couldn't be terrible—and so they dared to order a dish.

One bite, and they couldn't stop eating.

After that, traveling merchants who often passed by would always stop at the eatery, order a dish of meat and a few cups of wine. Those who previously passed without stopping now paused to eat meat and chat.

Some merchants who never passed this way even changed their routes specifically to come here, just to taste the beef and ease their long journey's fatigue.

After all, within a hundred li, this was the only place where you could eat such delicious meat at such a low price.

As customers gradually increased, the shop grew busy; Brother Da Hu and the other two came to help, working all day, eating a large bowl of beef noodles at night, then taking some beef home—satisfied and content.

But Xiancheng Sect was about to reopen for the term, and everyone needed to return to cultivation, so manpower would still be insufficient.

Mo Hua didn't want his mother to overwork, so he suggested hiring someone to help. Seeing Mo Shan, concerned for his wife's still-unrecovered health and her inability to use spiritual power, agreed with Mo Hua's idea.

After discussing with his wife, Seeing Mo Shan hired a family member from the demon-hunting team to assist at the eatery, paying thirty spirit stones per month.

The next day, a young-looking woman with a shy expression arrived, carrying a basket filled with fresh wild vegetables, still dewy—as if picked just that morning.

Mo Hua overheard his parents' conversation and learned the woman's surname was Jiang, her given name Yun.

Her husband's surname was Chu; during a demon hunt, a wolf demon's claws had torn open his chest. All their savings had been spent on his treatment. Though he barely survived, he suffered severe injury and could no longer hunt demons, leaving the family with no income.

Jiang Yun had poor spiritual roots and had only reached Qi Refining fourth stage before leaving the sect; after several years, she married and had a child. After her husband's severe injury, she sought work to supplement the household, but her Qi Refining fourth stage cultivation was too low to earn much spirit stone. Odd jobs paid meager, unstable amounts, and with a young child to care for, survival was extremely difficult.

Now, having a stable job at the eatery, earning thirty spirit stones monthly, was a rare blessing.

Jiang Yun was deeply grateful, but by nature introverted and poor with words, she wanted to thank them but couldn't speak it out—her face flushed red from nervousness.

Liu Ruhua quickly comforted her, telling her not to overthink it, just focus on her work.

Jiang Yun finally relaxed, following Liu Ruhua's instructions. She was diligent, meticulous, learned slowly but earnestly—and Liu Ruhua found her very likable.

After closing for the night, Liu Ruhua packed several bowls of noodles in a food box, adding extra slices of beef, and told her to take them home.

Jiang Yun immediately refused, her face flushed: "Sister Liu, you've been kind enough to me—I can't take this."

Liu Ruhua insisted she take it; Jiang Yun still refused.

Liu Ruhua said: "Take it for your child."

Jiang Yun lost the strength to refuse—her child hadn't eaten a full meal in days, let alone meat. She accepted the food box, wanting to thank them, but her tongue was clumsy, repeating the same few phrases of gratitude over and over.

Liu Ruhua merely reassured her: "Don't think too much. It's late—go home and see your child."

Jiang Yun carefully carried the food box, walking home. When she passed a corner, she stopped, her back showing signs of quiet weeping. After a while, she silently wiped her tears with her sleeve, then continued toward home.

Mo Hua watched her figure from afar, his thoughts complex.

His own family had never been wealthy, barely scraping by—but in Xiancheng, there were countless cultivator households far poorer and more desperate than his own.

If only all cultivators in this world could live without the hardship of earning a living.

Mo Hua thought silently.

The Liu Family Eatery opened successfully; Liu Ruhua spent her days busy with the shop, growing slimmer, yet her complexion turned ruddy and her vitality improved.

Running the eatery let her experiment with various dishes and save spirit stones for her son's future cultivation and marriage. Liu Ruhua felt deeply satisfied, and her smile returned more often.

Seeing his wife now, Seeing Mo Shan felt comforted.

And Mo Hua, eating more delicious food, became happier.

With the eatery's opening, the household's spirit stone income increased, and daily expenses no longer felt as tight as before. By the time Xiancheng Sect reopened, the eatery had earned over two hundred spirit stones.

Liu Ruhua gave all two hundred-plus spirit stones to Mo Hua, telling him to choose a suitable cultivation technique at the sect, and urged him not to neglect his cultivation for a moment.

Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

The next day, summer break ended; Xiancheng Sect opened its gates to welcome students back.

Mo Hua waved goodbye to Liu Ruhua, who had come to see him off, then stepped into Xiancheng Sect.

As students gradually returned, the previously silent Tongling Peak slowly grew lively.

But after two full months of summer break, many students had grown lax, their cultivation neglected; now returning, their expressions carried varying degrees of anxiety.

Instructor Yan, to refocus everyone's attention, immediately announced a surprise array examination.

The lingering summer heat was utterly doused by this sudden cold splash; many students wore expressions of utter despair.

This was an on-the-spot exam—no taking it home, no cheating possible.

But Mo Hua felt no fear.

He could already draw five array lines, making him an experienced apprentice; these basic array exams posed no challenge to him.

Moreover, in the month following summer break, he had trained day and night, exhausting his spiritual sense to its limit, constantly pressing it to strengthen it.

This exam was a trivial matter—Mo Hua felt confident, certain he could handle it easily.

But when the array exam papers were handed out, Mo Hua was stunned.

He checked several times, finally confirming: the exam was not for individual array lines, but for a complete array—containing six array lines!