Chapter 103

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Shaowei was suddenly stumped by the question.

Why is Mo Li called Mo Li?

Shaowei originally had her own answer—

When she first met Mo Li, he was already dressed in a full set of ink-colored robes; apart from this appearance, on the journey south, Mo Li spent the whole way catching fish and roasting fish, and his words and actions were even more inhuman than hers, truly resembling a genuine civet cat;

Furthermore, Jiang Fu had once sighed on the road: "Now with a green ox, a black cat, and a little water ghost, my team is becoming more and more complete."

Therefore, Shaowei subconsciously focused her attention on the character "Li" (civet), merely regarding that "Mo" (ink) as a fur color, and never thought:

"... You mean his 'Mo' is the Mo of the Mo School?" Shaowei asked the household servant in a surprised tone for confirmation.

The household servant nodded indifferently: "Mm."

Shaowei was still surprised: "Then he is a disciple of the Mo School?"

The household servant was still indifferent: "Correct."

Shaowei placed both hands on the food table before her, her body involuntarily leaning forward, tilting her head up to stare in astonishment at Mo Li seriously shoveling rice opposite her, her gaze falling on his hands holding the bowl and chopsticks.

In a flash, Shaowei thought of many "no wonder"s.

She still remembered after she was taken away by Jiang Fu, the first time she truly woke up in the inn, she crawled on the ground chasing Jiang Fu to bite and tear, yet ended it with a bout of loud weeping; she cried in a lousy appearance, Jiang Fu had Mo Li bring water to wash her face, she was scratched by Mo Li's hands until her face was ferocious, at the time she was still thinking, how are the calluses on this person's hands a hundred times thicker than hers—

Mo Li's hands had calluses from the tiger's mouth to the fingertips everywhere, grown very comprehensively and solidly old; she had originally wondered what martial art this person ultimately practiced? It turns out it is not solely due to martial arts, but more because what he practices is craftsmanship!

Furthermore, although Mo Li does not recognize big characters, he is extremely numerate; he counts fruit very fast, always counting several at a time together; when dividing steamed buns and cutting melons, every piece is exceptionally even; and his control over food portions is extremely precise—let him cook for however many people and he cooks exactly that many people's portions, not a bit more, not a bit less... Shaowei originally only thought these were unique talents born from his appetite; thinking back now, this is clearly also one of the characteristics of a craftsman.

And Mo Li is very frugal; a piece of snack crumb, vegetable residue stuck to the pot edge, he often pinches them up and eats them clean... Shaowei has read books, naturally knows the Mo School philosophy; the two words "frugal use" are precisely the important viewpoint the Mo School advocates.

But even with these spider-silk horse-tracks, Shaowei still feels this civet hid too deeply!

She couldn't help but say: "Why for so long has Mo Li never shown any crafting ability?"

"His brain you are also clear about; if no one explicitly instructs, he will not take the initiative to do any superfluous matter." Zhao Qie'an said: "This time forging iron hooves for the Green Ox, was also me taking him to the blacksmith shop."

Mo Li was responsible for striking out the iron hooves; he was responsible for knocking out the blacksmith.

Of course, before leaving money was left, two sums of money, one for iron consumption, one for ointment.

Shaowei looked again at the Green Ox lying outside the house, receiving grooming service from Zhan Zhan, thinking that the iron hooves were exquisite to such a degree, this Mo School disciple Mo Li must certainly not be the kind who only learned the surface, but a very outstanding Mo School inheritor.

Shaowei thought for a moment, using a casually inquiring tone: "Then, is Jiang Fu also a Mo School person?"

The household servant shook his head: "She is not."

Shaowei also knew she was not; first, Jiang Fu had told her the name was real; second, Jiang Fu this person has no calluses in her palm, not a trace of craftsman's air between her brows.

She knowingly asked falsely, merely wanting to take the opportunity to probe more about Jiang Fu's origins; the household servant's mouth is tight, never willing to tell Jiang Fu's true origins, only saying what Jiang Fu is unwilling to say he also has no qualification to add comments on.

At this moment this tight-lipped person also only said "she is not" three words and then no further text; Shaowei could only continue pressing: "Then why would Mo Li acknowledge her as master?"

"That was her matter on the journey to Taishan Commandery." The household servant still said flatly: "I saw she had no attendants, so I stole Mo Li out to give to her for use."

Shaowei stared wide-eyed: "Mo Li was also stolen by you?"

This can also be stolen? This is too able to steal, right?

"Mm." The household servant nodded, explaining to Shaowei the process of stealing Mo Li: "His father is a Mo School descendant, also an eccentric. Many years ago I met him by chance, originally not intending deep friendship, but he knew I liked stealing wealth and royal treasures, so he insisted on forming a sworn brotherhood with me; I felt this was too rash and intimate, in my heart unable to accept, after refusing again and again, he reluctantly took me as a bosom friend. My blade was given by him; killing people with it is indeed very fast, and to this day it is still very useful."

"At that time he was only eccentric to some extent, but later he became more and more crazy."

"He couldn't stand the current world, unwilling to serve any power, yet powerless to change anything; therefore he secluded himself from the world, the only thing he could do was pass his lifetime learning to his own descendant. He only had Mo Li one son; Mo Li's mind is not whole, yet he still inherited the Mo School crafting talent. He never permitted Mo Li to go out, only permitted him to do three things: learn arts, practice martial arts, eat rice."

"It is four things, there is also sleeping!" Mo Li, chewing the last mouthful of rice in his mouth, one hand holding the empty bowl, the other hand gripping both chopsticks raised high, rigorously supplemented.

The household servant was forced to nod: "Only need to do these four things."

Shaowei looked at Mo Li, even more rigorous: "Going by what you say, isn't there also relieving oneself? That would be five things."

The household servant could only nod again: "... Fine, five things."

Shaowei turned her face back, using her eyes to urge the household servant to continue speaking.

"Afterward this person became more and more deranged, his hair also early on all turned white..."

Zhao Qie'an recalled his last visit, when he saw Mo Li sitting below the platform steps in the courtyard, his entire back covered in blood, his robe also beaten open with whip marks one after another.

When Mo Li was beaten he never dodged, only let his father beat him; this time was clearly also the same.

Zhao Qie'an felt this father did things very unlike a proper person, very inhuman; he sighed, asked Mo Li where his father was; Mo Li raised his face and said: "He jumped into the Casting Sword Pool, gone."

Zhao Qie'an ran to the Casting Sword Pool side, silent for a long time; this time it was truly burned very unlike a proper person, also truly not doing a person's work but going to be a ghost.

Then Zhao Qie'an asked Mo Li if he was willing to go together with him.

Mo Li shook his head: "He does not permit me to leave this place."

He is obedient to the point of even having to listen to a dead person's words.

Zhao Qie'an then changed a way of asking: "Then if I steal you away, how about that?"

Mo Li rarely thought for a moment: "After being stolen away, will there be rice to eat?"

"There will. She will give you a lot of rice to eat, will not beat you."

Mo Li immediately extended his clenched hands, making a posture of letting himself be bound.

Zhao Qie'an just like that stole him away, brought him before Jiang Fu.

Jiang Fu nodded very satisfied: "I just let go of two black civets, now another one comes to fill up, fate ah."

Shaowei finished listening to this past, then asked: "One thinks Mo Li originally was not the 'Li' of civet cat, right?"

"Mm, it is the 'Li' of departing. His father originally due to conceptual divergence thereby departed from that branch of tribesmen to seclude alone, so he gave him this name." The household servant said.

Mo Li picked up the stacked bowls and plates, rose, walked out of the hall house, stepped over the green ox and the little bird lying in the way, and went into the stove house.

Shaowei turned her head and watched Mo Li's figure disappear, then immediately heard the sound of pots and bowls being scrubbed and washed in the stove house.

Seeing her gazing outside the house, a thoughtful look in her eyes, not speaking for a good while, the household servant asked, "What thoughts do you have?"

Shaowei's neck was tired from turning; at this moment she propped one side of her chin with one hand, still looking outside the hall, her drooping brows slightly furrowed, and with each word she spoke, her chin pressed down on the palm propping it up, moving up and down like a small box constantly opening and closing with tiny amplitude:

"I was thinking, no wonder Mo Li is such a glutton."

"Before, when going to the market, he would stare at those all kinds of foods every time, I was always impatient, annoyed to death by his pestering before I'd reluctantly buy him one or two things……"

"Thinking back now, I really should have taken all the silver money and let him eat it all, I shouldn't have given Jiang Fu a single drop of wine."

Zhao Qie'an was silent for a while, then said, "I originally thought you were thinking about what to make Mo Li produce."

"Didn't expect you were thinking about this, and even regretting it."

"This is a very small matter, not worth mentioning before Mo Li's abilities and uses."

Zhao Qie'an suddenly felt he understood a little more — about why that person who wasn't allowed a single drop of wine would firmly choose this child.

Shaowei recovered, withdrew her hand, stood up: "Producing things is of course also necessary, people have to eat their fill before they can work, right!"

As she spoke, she immediately began planning for this, ran out of the hall house, jumped over the green ox, and scanned the courtyard.

When Zhao Qie'an followed out, he only heard she had already decided, extended a finger pointing into the courtyard: "If we want to produce things, we can start by digging a ground chamber, and then raise more chickens and ducks in the courtyard; they walk around clucking all day, which can just cover the noise below."

Although this place is said to be remote with few people, such matters should be thrice cautious.

Thinking of this, Shaowei belatedly looked at the household servant beside her: "Is this also one of the reasons for choosing to buy a house here?"

"Mm, in places with many people and mixed eyes, many things are inconvenient." The household servant said: "Tomorrow I'll buy some chicken, duck, and goose hatchlings back."

Shaowei nodded, glanced at the moon's trajectory, said: "I should go back, that shrine has many rules, before dawn is fully bright I have to start sweeping and sprinkling."

The household servant wanted to let her rest a bit, after all she must have run cautiously all the way here, and after arriving her mouth kept talking nonstop, she never got to be idle, so he said: "Rest for an hour. With your current lightness skill, it's very easy to avoid those early-rising sweepers."

Shaowei: "I am that sweeping person, it's my turn to sweep."

The household servant fell silent a moment, nodded: "Then you wait a moment."

Before long, the household servant returned from the stove house carrying a bamboo basket wrapped in black cloth; Shaowei reached out and uncovered it to look, and saw it was actually a basket full of fresh eggs, hurriedly pushed the basket back: "I don't want it, how to carry this? The shrine isn't without meals!"

"The shrine provides at most ordinary people's meal portions; you are not ordinary, not eating eggs and meat you'll inevitably become thin and weak." The household servant said, his gaze falling on Shaowei's shoulder and arm: "Seems you've already lost quite a bit of weight."

Shaowei subconsciously braced her shoulders, and suddenly felt a wave of anxiety, no longer daring to mind the trouble, seized the basket over: "Then next time I come, you remember to prepare more, and dried meat, if you can dry some dried meat that would be even better!"

The household servant nodded.

Shaowei carried the basket in one hand and walked quickly away; when about to climb the wall, she hugged the basket with both hands against her chest, but didn't move for a good while, unknown what she was thinking.

As the household servant was puzzled, he saw the basket-hugging girl turn back, suddenly say to him: "Many thanks…… Zhao Shu."

This address "Zhao Shu" was probably the result of her foolishly pondering for a good while.

Two patches of uncomfortable red appeared on the household servant's rough face, he said hoarsely: "Mm, go back."

Shaowei also felt very unaccustomed, one hand holding the basket, one hand grabbing the wall, leaping up, she left like a thief escaping.

"Zhao Shu, Zhao Shu!" Zhan Zhan finally stopped grooming the green ox, flew up, flapping wings and shouted at the household servant.

The household servant silently turned and walked back to the hall house, looked at the place where Shaowei had just sat, and suddenly felt a strange sensation.

He was never someone who liked interacting with people, nor was he good at dealing with people, acting as his heart desired.

The address "Zhao Shu" could not be more ordinary, but being called this by this child, he actually felt as if cursed, instantly becoming intimate and close, as if he truly had to be her devoted old servant for a lifetime, preparing eggs and dried meat for her long and long…… Is this right?

Shaowei could never have imagined that this address of hers expressing gratitude would actually cause the First Swordsman under Heaven's servant nature to flare up.

She carried the basket and walked out over a hundred steps, suddenly heard a rustling noise rise from a grass bush to one side ahead.

This noise was actually not loud, easily mistaken for wind sound, but unfortunately Shaowei's hearing was extraordinary.

Shaowei didn't take it to heart, continued walking forward, but a moment later, that noise suddenly turned into a child's sobbing cries.

This was originally a rumored haunted place; children crying at night is certainly pitiful but also eerie.

Shaowei seemed deaf, still walking forward with eyes straight ahead.

Just as she passed that grass bush making the noise, suddenly a figure darted out, let out a rough strange cry: "Wah!"

Shaowei finally stopped, slightly tilted her head, examining this small shadow wearing tattered clothes, disheveled hair, a broken mask, waving clawed hands to intimidate.

That shadow saw her like this, let out a low growl: "I am a ghost child, leave an offering, spare you from death!"

Speaking, baring teeth and dancing claws, it pounced at Shaowei.

Shaowei impatiently lifted her leg, kicked it back into the grass bush with one foot.

That small shadow screamed miserably, shrank back in panic.

"Tch." Shaowei, who had only reluctantly used one-tenth of her strength: "With this little skill you dare pretend to be a ghost to scare people, do I look easier to bully than that old man who just passed by."

That child wearing a ghost mask shrank back while forcing out: "I, I am a ghost……"

Shaowei: "You are a blind, pearl-less stupid child."

That child froze, seeing the strange girl who kicked and scolded her turn and leave, suddenly felt a huge sense of defeat, couldn't help lying in the grass bush sobbing, this time really crying, though the sound wasn't loud, the undisguised crying revealed a girl's tone.

After a moment, the girl's crying stalled, as if sensing something, she raised her head, only to see that strange girl standing before her.

The girl uneasily shifted back, one hand raising a small rusted knife with a nicked blade, tone fierce: "Dare touch me, I'll fight you to the death!"

"Who wants to touch you, useless stupid ghost." Shaowei raised her hand and tossed, the girl turned her head to dodge, but from the corner of her eye saw two oval objects roll over, eggshells emitting faint cracking sounds.

The starving girl had no time to think, hurriedly grabbed a cracked raw fresh egg, one hand tore off the mask, tilted her head back and gulped it down.

After she drank both fresh eggs clean, licked the shells clean too, holding a pile of broken shells, she looked up again, the strange girl's figure was already gone, only silent moonlight remained.

Shaowei returned all the way to the shrine, changed clothes, lay down, rested for half an hour.

When she heard movement of rising next door, she also sat up, saw the other two Wu Nu still fast asleep, so she woke them up.

Those two Wu Nu woke up yawning, unknown if unaccustomed to the water and soil, or truly too tired from the journey, these two nights seemed like they slept dead, if not for someone calling, they probably couldn't wake on their own.

The two then thanked Shaowei: "……Yu Si Wu is so strict, if someone goes late, she definitely won't let it go lightly! Hua Li, if not for you calling, we would have slept right through!"

Shaowei felt guilty in her heart and widened her eyes, but her face was calm and waveless: "Just a small matter."

Those two Wu Nu, both in their twenties, had originally held some opinions about Shaowei, thinking she was a good-for-nothing who got in through connections, and on the road they would occasionally make cold, mocking remarks.

But after this one small matter, the two inexplicably felt this young companion was warm and kind, not at all like those with no ability who seize every chance to trip others up with ill intent; she was probably just a naive, pure-hearted little sister, only fifteen or sixteen years old — what opinions could she have of her own? Even if she did get in through connections, it was surely the adults' arrangement; what fault could this little sister have?

The two were thus much friendlier to Shaowei; Shaowei, in a fog, secretly felt human nature was indeed subtle and changeable — their attitude had actually changed this much just because she shouted once for them to get up.

Shaowei put herself in their place, imagined it happening to herself, and felt this change indeed had its reasons; she classified it as a usable experience and recorded it then and there.

Three days later, Shaowei gained another experience of human nature — once a relationship takes that first step closer, the remaining steps are walked at flying speed.

On this day, several officials from the Taichang Temple arrived; after checking the Witchcraft List, they selected over ten people from among the newly arrived Wu Nu in the capital and said they would take them to the Taiyi Shu.