Chapter 95: Tengjia

"We followed Uncle Zhou and the others up the mountain to hunt demons, and encountered a Claw-Tearing Wolf Demon, standing as tall as two men, its fur a deep crimson, fangs three feet long, claws like hooked barbs. Its realm was roughly mid first-grade, not yet late stage, so our small team could handle it. Uncle Zhou and the others engaged it in combat while we held position outside to prevent it from escaping…"

"After fighting for a long time, Uncle Zhou and the others were wounded, and the Claw-Tearing seemed on the verge of death—when suddenly it erupted, charging straight at the three of us. I and Brother Da Hu remembered Uncle Zhou's warning and held back, but Little Hu, in his panic, swung his blade at the Claw-Tearing."

"That slash struck the Claw-Tearing, but only scratched its hide. The Claw-Tearing seized the opening from Little Hu's attack, slipped behind him, and tore open his vine armor with one claw—Little Hu's skin split, flesh laid bare, blood gushing uncontrollably…"

The Two Tigers wiped their eyes with their sleeves and choked out:

"Uncle Zhou said the Claw-Tearing's claws were wrapped in demonic energy—once the wound is torn open, the blood won't stop flowing. Many cultivators have died this way, drained dry after being slashed…"

Brother Da Hu's eyes glistened with tears as he said guiltily, "If only I had taken his place—I'm stronger than Little Hu, I wouldn't have been hurt so badly."

With their younger brother so grievously wounded, both older brothers felt deep sorrow and regret.

"Master Feng's alchemy is extremely powerful. Little Hu will be fine," Mo Hua said, his own eyes stinging as he comforted them.

Mo Hua carefully examined Little Hu's wound again. Though it still oozed blood, the flow had begun to slow and clot—Master Feng's medicine must already be working.

Mo Hua exhaled in relief.

Mo Hua probed with his spiritual sense and saw faint crimson energy swirling around the wound—the demonic energy hunters often spoke of, a chaotic spiritual force formed when demonic beasts absorb ambient qi through feeding, mingling with their own blood qi.

It's not only humans who can draw power from the Dao of Heaven and Earth—demonic beasts can too.

Mo Hua comforted Brother Da Hu and the Two Tigers a few more times, then handed Meng Dama the items Liu Ruhua had asked him to deliver.

Meng Dama had been quietly wiping her tears nearby; seeing Mo Hua, she forced a smile. "Please thank your mother for me—these past years, we've relied so much on her help. And thank you for making the trip—stay for lunch…"

But then she remembered her home was destitute, with little food to offer, and Little Hu's healing would cost a fortune in spirit stones—where would even that come from?

Her heart ached; though she forced a smile, tears streamed down her cheeks again.

Mo Hua pretended not to see. "No need, Dama. My mother told me to return home early. Take good care of Little Hu—I'll come back to play once he's healed."

Meng Dama nodded, voice choked.

Mo Hua added gently, "I just checked—Little Hu's wound is already healing, and the demonic energy on it has weakened considerably. With a few days' rest, he'll recover fully. Don't worry about the spirit stones—once Brother Da Hu and the others can stand on their own, things will improve gradually…"

"Mm," Meng Dama patted Mo Hua's head.

Though young, Mo Hua was always sensible and well-informed. His words brought Meng Dama unexpected comfort.

Mo Hua handed the food box to Meng Dama, then took his leave.

"Be careful on the way."

Meng Dama saw Mo Hua to the door, then opened the food box. Inside were steamed buns and dried meat, a small pot warming a nourishing soup, and several vials of healing pills.

Beneath the pills lay a small cloth pouch—heavy. Meng Dama opened it and found over a dozen spirit stones.

She stared at the spirit stones, stunned for a moment, then tears flowed again.

After returning home, Mo Hua's mood remained low.

He wanted to help Little Hu and the others, but couldn't think how. He knew no spells, couldn't cultivate his body, his cultivation was low, and his spirit stones were long gone.

After much thought, he could only draw arrays.

Mo Hua hurried through lunch, then rushed to the Armory to ask Master Chen for a new set of vine armor.

Mo Hua had no spirit stones—he'd planned to ask for credit—but Master Chen said nothing, simply gave him three sets outright.

"Vine armor? If you buy them, you pay spirit stones. But here? Worthless. Making them needs little iron, no spirit liquids—just soak the vine grass, then roast it with special fire techniques. The furnace doesn't even need to stay lit long. Just a bit of labor. Take these three—play with them."

Mo Hua had drawn arrays for Master Chen several times since, never taking spirit stones. Master Chen felt guilty and hoped Mo Hua would ask for more.

For valuable spirit weapons, he'd hesitate—but for something as simple as vine armor, something even apprentices could make, he gave it away without blinking.

Mo Hua thanked him, then returned home and drew the Iron Armor Array onto all three sets of vine armor.

Mo Hua already owned one such vine armor in his storage pouch—meant to wear when confronting Qian Xing—but Qian Xing went mad, so the vine armor had no use.

But he didn't need it—Brother Da Hu and the others certainly would.

Demon hunters face deadly battles with demonic beasts, especially body cultivators.

Veteran hunters fare better—experienced, familiar with demonic beasts, able to advance or retreat wisely even in danger.

Novice hunters are different—lacking experience, unable to react swiftly to sudden threats. One slip, one misstep, and the demonic beast strikes—wounding them, or killing them.

Many talented young cultivators, who could have become outstanding hunters, lost their lives in sudden accidents, forfeiting their futures.

Such things happened often. Mo Shan had lamented them many times in conversation with Liu Ruhua—heard secretly by Mo Hua.

At such moments, a sufficiently sturdy armor could mean the difference between life and death.

But most hunters couldn't afford expensive armor, so they used cheap vine armor.

If Little Hu's vine armor had been sturdy enough when the Claw-Tearing ambushed him, he wouldn't have been wounded—or if wounded, the wound would have been shallow, not this severe.

The vine armor with the Iron Armor Array drawn on it was far tougher than before. May Brother Da Hu and the others suffer fewer injuries when hunting.

Mo Hua thought silently.

Several days later, Mo Hua visited Little Hu. His condition had improved; his complexion was better.

Mo Hua took out the three sets of vine armor and gave them to them. Brother Da Hu and the Two Tigers' vine armor were fine, only slightly cracked from battle. Little Hu's vine armor had been torn open directly by the wolf demon—useless now.

Meng Dama stared at the vine armor in Mo Hua's hands, lips moving but no words coming out.

Mo Hua saw her hesitation. "This vine armor was given to me by Master Chen. I don't need them—I'm giving them to Brother Da Hu and the others. I've drawn arrays on them—they're much tougher than ordinary vine armor. That way, they won't get hurt easily when hunting, and if they do, the wounds will be lighter."

Meng Dama had been too shy to accept—but hearing "won't get hurt easily," she couldn't refuse. Her eyes turned red with shame.

Mo Hua tugged her sleeve. "Next time I need help, I'll be calling on Brother Da Hu and the others—they can't slack off."

Meng Dama nodded vigorously. "Yes yes! Anytime you need something, go to them. If any of the three dares say no, I'll break their legs!"

Meng Dama's expression brightened. Brother Da Hu and the others hugged the vine armor and grinned.