The Quest for Immortality Chapter 5: Mo Shan

Mo Shan serves as an eighth-level Qi-cultivation beast hunter, earning his keep by pursuing demonic beasts and gathering their resources. While it might seem grand, this job is actually exhausting and perilous.

In the cultivation realm, most demonic beasts possess strength far surpassing that of human cultivators, rendering them incredibly tough to capture.

Usually, taking down demonic beasts at the same level demands a group of five to ten cultivators, and even so, victory remains uncertain. Should the creature fall, its prime components are frequently ruined in the battle, yielding just a small amount of spirit stones. After splitting the earnings based on individual efforts, the gains end up quite scant.

Injuries pose yet another danger. The expense for healing pills can mount up considerably, possibly resulting in losses. A grave wound could forever halt a hunter's means of support.

Mo Shan cuts an imposing figure as a lone cultivator, his rugged yet attractive features etched by the rigors of his profession. Though young in cultivator years, his time in the wild has aged his looks.

As he steps into his dwelling, Mo Shan places his sword and the unidentified beast's hide from his shoulder, letting out a sigh of ease.

His jacket is tattered and marked with blood, recent and aged—chiefly from creatures, though some from his own wounds or those of his allies.

"This hunt must have been rough," Mo Hua murmured softly.

Mo Shan's forehead creased, his face grave, and the bloodied attire lent an intimidating vibe to his demeanor.

"Is everything okay at home?" Mo Shan inquired, his tone raspy from weariness yet tender.

Liu Ruhua arranged his items and retrieved a fresh towel to clean his face. "Everything is fine at home, don't worry."

Noticing his grimy features, she added, "Take care of yourself when you're outside."

Mo Shan grinned and surveyed the room. "Has Hua'er returned?"

"He just got back yesterday. The sect is on holiday now, and he's probably still asleep. I'll go wake him; he'll be so happy to know you're back."

Mo Shan eyed the blood and injuries on his garments and halted her. "Let him sleep a bit more. Sect cultivation is tough too. I'll take a bath first, apply some herbal medicine, and change these clothes."

"That's a good idea. Why don't you eat something first?" Liu Ruhua proposed.

After journeying through the night, Mo Shan felt ravenous.

Liu Ruhua excelled in the kitchen, and despite the modest dishes, Mo Shan ate them with great appetite.

Normally, he'd make do with chilly, tough provisions or ration precious revitalizing pills. Yet here, consuming his wife's home-cooked food erased all his exhaustion and trials.

Mo Shan consumed generously and finished a big bowl of savory, thick porridge, at last releasing a deep sigh of comfort. Liu Ruhua, seeing the blood marks on his attire, then queried anxiously, "Did someone get hurt again?"

"We lost three, and Old Chu was seriously injured," Mo Shan breathed out as he started to describe the hunt.

"We were eight when we cornered a demonic wolf over three meters tall. We had it trapped and were slowly draining its demonic energy to finish it off. However, another hunting team passed by—mostly novices who hadn't seen much blood yet. They recklessly tried to steal our kill and ended up being devoured by the beast..."

"The beast replenished its energy from their blood and went berserk. Old Chu and I used up all our spiritual energy to finally take it down, but the loss was heavy. Old Chu lost an arm and bled profusely; his vital energy severely depleted. He might not be able to continue as a hunter..."

"Old Chu has a two-year-old child, and his wife only supplements their income with some gardening. Now with his severe injuries and the high cost of healing pills, even if he recovers, I don't know how his family will manage," Mo Shan added bitterly.

Liu Ruhua sighed, "When we were in a tough spot, Old Chu lent us some spirit stones even though he wasn't well-off. We still have some saved; let's give them to Old Chu first to at least get him treated."

Mo Shan nodded, "That wolf beast hasn't been sold yet; it should fetch about three hundred spirit stones. We'll give Old Chu a larger share and lend him some more to get through this, but..."

Mo Shan felt guilty, "Hua'er is supposed to start his sect cultivation next year... I was hoping to earn enough from this hunt, but now..."

Liu Ruhua held his hand,

"As long as the family is safe, we can always find a way to earn spirit stones. I've saved some from working in the tavern kitchen, and we can borrow some more. It won't delay Hua'er's cultivation next year."

Mo Shan gazed quietly at his wife, her formerly vibrant and lovely countenance now faintly etched by time. He felt deeper regret.

"Quit the kitchen job at the tavern. The heat harms the heart, lungs, and meridians. Next year, I'll find more hunters, kill more beasts, and earn more spirit stones. I won't let you suffer like this."

Liu Ruhua smiled wryly, proud yet modest, and pointed to her hairpin, "See what this is?"

Mo Shan hadn't noticed when he walked in, but now, he saw that the hairpin was different from the usual.

"What's this pin?"

"It's a gift from Hua'er, called a Fire-Resisting Hairpin. It wards off the heat from the stove, keeping the heart and meridians much cooler."

"Hua'er is really thoughtful."

Mo Shan felt both reassured and ashamed, "I haven't given you a gift in years..."

Liu Ruhua chuckled, "Hua'er is your son, so his gift is as if you gave it."

Mo Shan laughed, then bittersweetly added, "In cultivation, they often talk about fate. Perhaps my greatest fortune in this life is having a wife like you and a sensible son like Hua'er."

Liu Ruhua playfully glared at her husband, but couldn't help laughing.

Watching his wife's smile, Mo Shan silently resolved to recruit more skilled beast hunters after the new year, aiming to venture deeper into the mountains to slay more demonic beasts, earn more spirit stones, and ensure his family would not endure such hardships. Moreover, he was determined to secure a better future for his son.

Mo Hua heard everything from inside the house, and sighed.

Unbeknownst to him, his parents had always endured the hardships of the cultivation life. Perhaps in any world, the burdens parents bear are always much heavier than their children imagine.

Even as cultivators, they toiled for spirit stones and struggled for a living.

Though cultivators and mortals may seem different, in some ways, they are not so different at all.

Reflecting on this, Mo Hua wondered silently, "Is there a way I too can earn spirit stones?"