Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 5
Previously on Immortality Through Array Formations...
Chapter 5 – Mo Shan
As a Monster Hunter at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, Mo Shan sustained himself by slaying Monster Beasts and harvesting their valuable parts. While the title sounded prestigious, the reality of his profession was grueling and fraught with peril.
In the Cultivation World, the majority of Monster Beasts possessed strength that far eclipsed human Cultivators, making the hunt a daunting challenge.
Usually, a group of five to ten Cultivators of equivalent rank had to unite to bring down a single Monster Beast, and even then, victory was never certain. Even in success, the ferocity of the struggle often ruined the beast's most precious components, driving down their market value in Spirit Stones. Once the spoils were divided based on each person's effort, the remaining Spirit Stones were barely enough to get by.
The financial burden of Pills for injuries could easily turn a successful hunt into a loss. Furthermore, a severe wound often meant the end of a Cultivator's career in Monster Hunting entirely.
Mo Shan was a Body Cultivation practitioner, possessing a tall, robust frame and a heroic face with sharp, defined features. Though he was still young by the standards of those on the path of Cultivation, years of battling Monster Beasts and enduring the biting winds of the wilderness had etched lines of hardship onto his face.
Upon returning home, Mo Shan dropped his blade and a heavy Monster Beast pelt from his shoulder, finally exhaling a long breath of relief.
His outer robes were tattered and stained with blood—some of it fresh crimson, some of it dried to a dark crust. It was a mixture of beast ichor and the blood of himself or his comrades.
Watching from a distance, Mo Hua realized the hunt must have been a difficult one.
Mo Shan’s brow was tightly knit, his expression stern and heavy. Combined with the gore on his attire, he projected a fierce, almost frightening aura.
Yet, the moment he stepped inside and saw his wife, that hostility evaporated. He looked like a weary general returning from the front lines, finally shedding his scarred, heavy armor.
“Is everything alright at home?” Mo Shan asked. His voice was raspy with exhaustion, yet his tone remained gentle.
Liu Ruhua began organizing his gear while grabbing a fresh towel to clean his face. “Everything is fine here, you shouldn't worry.”
Seeing the grime and fatigue etched into his features, she added softly, “You really must be more careful while you're out there.”
Mo Shan offered a small smile and scanned the room. “Has Huar returned?”
“He came home just yesterday. Since the Sect has started the new year’s break, he is likely still asleep. I’ll go wake him; he will be thrilled to see you.”
Mo Shan looked down at his bloody clothes and his various wounds, stopping her. “Let him rest. Cultivation at the Sect is a heavy burden as well. I’ll wash up first, apply some medicinal herbs, and get changed.”
Liu Ruhua nodded. “Very well, but you must eat something first.”
Having traveled through the night, Mo Shan was famished.
Even though the meal Liu Ruhua prepared was simple, she was a skilled cook, and Mo Shan ate with a desperate hunger.
Out in the wild, he often slept on the cold ground and survived on hard, frozen rations or the occasional Fasting Pill. Sitting at home and eating his wife’s food, he felt the weight of his fatigue begin to lift.
After a hearty meal and a deep swallow of thick, fragrant congee, Mo Shan let out a long sigh. Noticing the bloodstains, Liu Ruhua asked with concern, “Was there another injury this time?”
Mo Shan’s expression darkened. “Three were hurt, and Old Chu is in critical condition.”
He began to explain the details of the hunt:
“Our group of eight had cornered a wolf Demon over three feet tall. We intended to wear down its demonic power before finishing it off. However, a group of inexperienced Monster Hunters stumbled upon us. These greenhorns, who had barely seen real combat, tried to snatch the kill. Their recklessness resulted in two of them being devoured alive by the beast…”
“After the creature gorged on human flesh, its blood qi surged and it went into a frenzy. Old Chu and I had to burn through our spiritual power to kill it, but the price was high. Old Chu lost his arm and suffered massive blood loss. His vital energy is shattered; I doubt he can ever hunt again.”
Mo Shan continued bitterly, “Old Chu has a toddler at home, and his wife only makes a bit of money growing vegetables. With such a grievous injury, the Spirit Stones needed for his recovery will be immense. Even if he survives, I don't know how they will survive.”
Liu Ruhua sighed in sympathy. “When our family was struggling, Old Chu lent us Spirit Stones despite not having much himself. We have some savings; let’s give them to him so he can at least treat his wounds.”
Mo Shan nodded in agreement. “The wolf demon’s body hasn't been sold yet, but it should bring in about three hundred Spirit Stones. We’ll give Old Chu a larger portion and lend him some extra to help them get by. It’s just that…”
Mo Shan felt a pang of guilt. “I had hoped the profit from this wolf demon would cover Huar’s Sect expenses for next year. Now, with this situation…”
Liu Ruhua took his hand comfortingly. “The safety of our family is what matters most. We can always earn more Spirit Stones. I’ve saved some from my work at the tavern kitchen, and we can find a way to borrow the rest. Huar’s Cultivation studies won't be delayed.”
Mo Shan looked at his wife in silence. Her once youthful face now showed signs of weariness, deepening his regret.
“Perhaps you should quit the kitchen. That intense heat is bad for your heart and lungs, and it can harm your Meridians. Next year, I will find a stronger team and hunt more beasts to earn more Spirit Stones. You shouldn't have to suffer like this.”
Liu Ruhua smiled with a touch of playfulness and pointed to the ornament in her hair. “And what do you think this is?”
Mo Shan hadn't noticed it before, but looking closer, he saw it wasn't her usual hairpin.
“What kind of hairpin is that?”
“Huar gave it to me. He called it a fire-resistant hairpin. It blocks the heat from the stove, and since I started wearing it, my heart, lungs, and Meridians feel much cooler.”
“Huar is a good lad.”
Mo Shan felt both pride and a sense of shame. “As your husband, I haven't given you a gift in so many years…”
Liu Ruhua laughed softly. “Huar is your son; a gift from him is the same as one from you.”
Mo Shan laughed along with her, though it was a bit self-deprecating. “Those on the path of Cultivation talk often of fate. I suppose my greatest fortune was marrying you and having a son as sensible as Huar!”
Liu Ruhua gave him a playful, mocking look and couldn't stop her laughter.
Watching her smile, Mo Shan silently resolved to find more capable hunters next year and venture into the Inner Mountain. He would hunt greater beasts and earn more Spirit Stones to ensure his wife didn't have to toil and his son had a bright future.
Inside the house, Mo Hua had overheard the entire conversation. The young boy let out a quiet sigh.
He hadn't realized how much his parents were struggling under the weight of a Cultivator's life. It seemed that in any world, the burdens carried by parents are far greater than their children ever suspect.
Even those who seek immortality must toil for Spirit Stones and fight for their survival.
Cultivators and ordinary mortals appeared different, yet in their struggles, they were much the same.
Mo Hua reflected on this for a moment before a thought occurred to him: “Is there a way for me to start earning Spirit Stones as well?”