Immortality Through Array Formations

Chapter 49: Evening Glow_1

Translator: 549690339

At twilight, Mo Hua first returned home and had his mother cook some food: two bowls of hot noodles, some soy-braised beef, refreshing pickles, a few plates of snacks, and several pots of osmanthus-flavored wine.

He then packed the food into a food box, stowed it in his storage bag, and took it up the mountain.

Midway up the mountain, there stood a man, a woman—two children—and the veiled woman, all standing as straight as before.

Mo Hua, carrying his storage bag, approached them and got straight to the point.

“You’ve disturbed Mr. Zhuang’s peace,” he said. “It’s best you go back. Mr. Zhuang does not wish to see you.”

Upon hearing this, both children appeared somewhat disheartened, while the veiled woman spoke up.

“Please pass on a message. Just say that an old acquaintance has come to visit, with urgent matters to discuss, and we must have an audience with Mr. Zhuang,” she said.

“Mr. Zhuang is aware of your reasons for coming and has chosen not to see you. No matter how much longer you wait, it will be in vain,” Mo Hua replied.

The boy, with a resolute expression, said, “As long as I can meet Mr. Zhuang, I’ll wait however long it takes.”

The girl on the side didn’t say anything, but her eyes showed no sign of backing down either.

“If Mr. Zhuang keeps refusing to meet with you, will you really continue to wait? For ten years, a hundred years?” Mo Hua asked curiously.

The boy, with his neck stiffened, remained silent.

He seemed quite handsome and intelligent, just a bit too stubborn. Mo Hua inwardly sneered at the boy’s obstinacy.

“Then what will you eat?” he asked.

“I have Fasting Pills,” the boy replied.

“Consuming too many Fasting Pills can harm your body,” Mo Hua said.

Fasting Pills are one of the elixirs concocted by alchemists, combining everyday food ingredients with preservative agents. They are transformed into pills that are easy to carry, can relieve hunger, and replenish Blood Qi. They are an essential type of pill for cultivators who travel long distances or engage in extended periods of secluded cultivation. However, consuming them for extended periods can be harmful to a cultivator’s Blood Qi.

Of course, another reason why Loose Cultivators don’t eat Fasting Pills is that they are not cheap. Using them to stave off hunger is not cost-effective.

“Hmph,” the boy snorted, “That’s none of your concern.”

Yet, he couldn’t help but stealthily glance at the veiled woman.

“We appreciate your kindness, young friend, but we must meet Mr. Zhuang on this trip, and we will not leave until we do,” said the woman behind the veil.

“Staying here to meet Mr. Zhuang is your desire, but no matter how long you wait, you won’t see him. Knowing Mr. Zhuang’s nature, the longer you wait, the more he will want to avoid you,” Mo Hua said.

The veiled woman hesitated for a moment. She had never seen Mr. Zhuang but was somewhat aware of his ways, knowing that what the young boy said was likely true.

If Mr. Zhuang didn’t want to see them, they could turn to bones waiting and still never meet him.

Seeing her waver, Mo Hua continued, “For those in Tao Cultivation, everything is about fate. If Mr. Zhuang does not want to meet you, it’s because the right moment has not come. If the moment has not come, no matter how staunchly you wait, it will be contrary to your wishes.”

The woman couldn’t help but ask, “Then when will we have the fate to meet the gentleman?”

“That depends on Mr. Zhuang’s mood,” Mo Hua answered. “You should choose a day when the weather is fine to visit him. There’s no need to wait long; just perform a proper greeting at the entrance. If the door opens, it means Mr. Zhuang is willing to see you. But if the door remains firmly closed, then the destined moment has not arrived, and Mr. Zhuang does not wish to see you. You may then leave at your discretion.”

The woman was still hesitant. “The lady instructed us to ensure that the young master and young miss meet Mr. Zhuang. If we leave now…”

“What point is there in waiting for ten or eight years, neglecting cultivation, with no sleep or rest, ruining your Blood Qi? Even if you eventually meet Mr. Zhuang and take him as your master, if your foundation is damaged and you cannot glimpse the Great Dao, what would be the meaning of it all?” Mo Hua retorted.

The woman nodded and then frowned, “We never said we wanted to take Mr. Zhuang as our master. How did you know that?”

“You’ve come to visit the gentleman with two children of enlightenment age; if not to seek mentorship, what else could it be for?” Mo Hua thought to himself.

If it was just a simple visit to an old friend, they wouldn’t have stayed put for seven days without leaving.

Still, outwardly, Mo Hua maintained an unconcerned demeanor as he continued, “As I said before, everything is within Mr. Zhuang’s expectations. You should return, and when Mr. Zhuang is ready to see you, he will naturally do so.”

After finishing, Mo Hua felt the timing was about right and opened the food box, letting the aroma waft out.

“Would you like something to eat?” he offered.

The girl was managing fine, but the boy immediately looked unsteady, pretending to be composed but unable to stop glancing into the food box.

The taste of Fasting Pills was not pleasant, and consuming them excessively could lead to discomfort, not to mention that they could not compare to the wine, meat, and snacks in Mo Hua’s food box in terms of flavor and aroma.

Seeing that the young master and young miss were paler than paper, with lips devoid of color, the veiled woman’s heart softened. She remembered how the two children had been raised in comfort and never experienced such hunger and haggardness. She couldn’t bear to see them suffer like this.

Having watched the children grow up, she knew that even if they failed to become disciples of Mr. Zhuang and disobeyed the lady’s orders, she was willing to accept punishment from the lady herself rather than let the young master and young miss endure hardship.

Moreover, the young boy was right—if they continued eating Fasting Pills daily without rest and let the mountain’s varying temperatures damage their foundational health, affecting their future cultivation, it would be irreparable.

“Then I thank the young friend.” said the lady to Mo Hua, before turning to the two children and saying,

“Young master and miss, you should eat something first. Since Mr. Zhuang is unwilling to see us, it must not be the right time. We will choose another day to pay a visit.”

The two children also thanked Mo Hua.

They then took out noodles and various snacks from the food box and began to eat. Despite their hunger, they ate in a dignified manner, utensil by morsel, clearly well-mannered children from noble clans.

The boy tasted a piece of spicy beef, and at first, it had a bit of an odd taste, but as he chewed, the flavor spread, and he couldn’t help asking, “What kind of meat is this?”

“Monster Beast meat.”

The boy’s eyes widened, “Monster Beast meat can be eaten?!”

Mo Hua rolled his eyes at him, “Aren’t you eating it now…”

“But isn’t it said that eating Monster Beast meat can spoil your Blood Qi and make you lose your senses?”

“This is from a Wild Cattle Monster; it feeds on plants and will not spoil a cultivator’s Blood Qi. Those Monster Beasts that eat meat and people, their meat should not be eaten.”

Mo Hua had an expression that suggested he was used to such surprises.

The boy looked at the meat in his hand with a hint of fear but not wishing to be looked down upon by Mo Hua, he ate a few more bites. Then he realized that the more he ate, the tastier it became, and before he knew it, he couldn’t stop…

Meanwhile, the girl eyed the pastries in Mo Hua’s food box, “These pastries…”

“My mother made them herself. They’re delicious!” Mo Hua said proudly.

“Your mother… does she make pastries for you to eat?”

“Not only pastries, but a lot of delicious foods.” Mo Hua nodded.

A hint of envy appeared in the young girl’s cool eyes before she picked up a pastry from the plate and took a light bite.

Crispy and pleasantly sweet.

The little girl lowered her eyelashes, covering her eyes and concealing her thoughts. After a while, she raised her head and looking at Mo Hua, she praised, “It’s very delicious.”

Her voice was clear and melodious, as if the sounds produced by celestial beings playing their heavenly instruments couldn’t be any more exquisite.

Mo Hua was also very pleased and smiled with his eyes narrowed,

“Mhm, the food my mother makes is the best!”

After finishing their meal, just before departing, Aunt Xue took out a radiant Jade Pendant and handed it to Mo Hua:

“This is a Clear Heart Pendant of the finest quality. Wearing it can help one stay focused during cultivation. It’s not very precious, but please accept it as a token of our gratitude.”

Although Aunt Xue said it wasn’t very valuable, the flickering light on it clearly showed it wasn’t ordinary, and for a Loose Cultivator like Mo Hua, it seemed all the more precious.

Mo Hua was somewhat tempted, but he also knew he shouldn’t accept it.

They were treating him so courteously solely because of Mr. Zhuang; without that connection, considering the disparity in their status, they probably wouldn’t even speak a word to him.

Since he was studying formations with Mr. Zhuang, he already owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Zhuang, and couldn’t exchange Mr. Zhuang’s face for personal benefits.

Mo Hua politely declined, but Aunt Xue insisted on giving, so Mo Hua said,

“If you really wish to give something, just provide some money for the meal, five Spirit Stones would suffice.”

Aunt Xue was stunned for a moment, as if she had never heard such a request before. Yet, she still took out a storage bag with forty or fifty Spirit Stones inside.

Mo Hua only took five and returned the bag to Aunt Xue. Without waiting for Aunt Xue to say anything, he waved his small hand and, slinging his own storage bag, headed down the mountain on his own.

Aunt Xue watched Mo Hua in a daze, and as he was about to disappear into the distance, the young girl suddenly spoke, her voice clear and melodious,

“What is your name?”

Though the voice was soft, Mo Hua still heard it.

Mo Hua turned around and smilingly said, “I am called Mo Hua.”

At that moment, the sunset was like a splash of ink, turning the mountain scenery into a painting.

With the brilliant colors of the sunset, Mo Hua standing amidst the mountains seemed as if he was positioned within a splendid tapestry.

The name Mo Hua, along with the evening’s colorful clouds, stayed in her Sea of Consciousness.