A plaque hung in front of the shop, with the words “Youyuan Shop” written on it.
The interior was not large and somewhat simple, with various Array Formations of different Array Runes hanging all around. Some of the Array Formations seemed to have been hanging for a while, as the ink had faded slightly.
The counter was quite high, and a middle-aged, corpulent Cultivator sat upon it. He had a pale, beardless face and appeared to be the manager of the shop.
A bell hung from the eaves, and as Mo Hua entered, it let out a clear, crisp sound.
The Fat Manager had been dozing, his eyes half-open. Hearing the bell, he looked up and around, but seeing no one, he was about to get angry when he looked down and discovered a small head peeking over the counter.
The Fat Manager was startled. Seeing Mo Hua alone, he finally spoke, “Xiao Xiongdi, where are your parents?”
Mo Hua shook his head, “My parents aren’t looking for you; I am.”
The Fat Manager was startled again, “You’re looking for me? What for?”
“Do you need someone to help draw Array Formations here?”
The Fat Manager found it amusing and teased, “What? You, a little tyke, can draw Array Formations?”
Mo Hua humbly replied, “A little.”
The Fat Manager chuckled, “A little won’t do. You need to be at Qi Refining Sixth Level, have a Sect’s academic Jade Slip, be an Array Formation apprentice, have an Array Master as your Instructor, and pay a deposit before you can draw Array Formations for us here.”
Mo Hua gasped inwardly. He hadn’t known there were so many requirements before. It seemed he couldn’t meet any of these conditions.
Mo Hua had a sudden idea and said, “Alright, I lied. I’m not very good. I’m doing this for my older brother.”
The Fat Manager didn’t mind and asked, “What does your elder brother do?”
“My brother is an Array Formation apprentice, learning Array Formations from an Array Master Instructor. He usually helps shops draw basic Array Formations to earn some ink fees. He’s too busy learning Array Formations, so he doesn’t have time. That’s why I’m running this errand for him.”
Mo Hua directly altered the identity of Meng Jianyuan’s distant uncle and used it.
The Fat Manager stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and still refused, “No, words alone are not proof. If your elder brother wants to draw Array Formations for our shop, he needs to come himself.”
Mo Hua’s eyes darted, and he added, “Don’t you also require a deposit?”
The Fat Manager nodded, “That’s right.”
“Does the deposit include the Array Formation diagrams and the ink, brush, and paper used to draw Array Formations? If so, even if I’m tricking you, it’s just like you’re selling an Array Formation and Materials at cost. You won’t profit, but you won’t lose either.”
In reality, they would still make a little profit, as the deposit was higher than the Array Formation Materials. As for the Array Formation diagrams, they were all the simplest, common types, not costing many Spirit Stones at all.
Thinking this way, the Fat Manager felt a bit hesitant.
“Is your shop’s business not very good?” Mo Hua asked again.
Indeed, it wasn’t very good. There were only a few customers a day. With no customers, few Array Formations were sold, and very few Array Masters, or even apprentices, were willing to draw Array Formations for them. Otherwise, the shop wouldn’t be so desolate.
However, the Fat Manager wouldn’t admit it internally. He still held his head high, though with a hint of guilt.
Seeing this, Mo Hua seized the opportunity and added, “My brother draws Array Formations very well. Everyone says that in a few years, he’ll definitely become an Array Master. Once he becomes an Array Master, and after another ten or twenty years of study, he might even become a First Grade Array Master after passing the grading. At that time, he’ll naturally help you draw some more Advanced Array Formations, and wouldn’t you profit then?”
Grading? It’s not that easy.
The Fat Manager snorted inwardly. However, as the saying goes, don’t bully a young man for being poor. No one can predict the future. If he could become a First Grade Array Master, it would indeed be good to build a positive relationship, making it easier to ask for favors later.
Rules, in fact, were just for outsiders to see. As long as one could draw Array Formations, it didn’t really matter.
“What you say makes sense,” the Fat Manager said, “But, you claim your elder brother draws Array Formations well, and that’s just talk, not to be taken seriously. You’re a child and don’t understand Array Formations, so how would you know good from bad? How about this: bring me an Array Formation your elder brother has drawn for me to see. If it’s truly not bad, I’ll agree to this business.”
Mo Hua didn’t have an elder brother at all, so where would he find an Array Formation drawn by him?
He didn’t have his elder brother’s Array Formations, but he did have some he had drawn himself.
Mo Hua’s Storage Pouch contained several Array Formations he had drawn, but those were Sect assignments, basic Array Runes that had been disassembled, or combinations of Array Runes, which differed somewhat from complete Array Formations.
An astute person would see through it immediately, and he would be exposed if he showed them.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he said, “I didn’t bring the Array Formations my brother drew, but he once taught me a tiny bit. I’ll draw it for you to see, and then you’ll know how well my brother draws Array Formations.”
“You can also draw Array Formations?”
The Manager was startled, thought for a moment, and said, “Alright.”
He was also curious about how the child in front of him would draw, so he casually pulled an Array Formation diagram from under the counter, then took out a brush, ink, and paper, and handed them to Mo Hua.
The diagram had the words “Ming Fire Array” written on it. It was a complete Array Formation that the Sect Instructor hadn’t taught, containing three Array Runes, and it looked very difficult.
Mo Hua certainly couldn’t draw a complete Array Formation. The Array Formations taught in the Sect, although called Array Formations, only contained one, or at most two, basic Array Runes. These were introductory Array Formations and were not considered proper Array Formations outside.
A true Array Formation must contain at least three Array Runes with interconnected Array Rune structures, like the “Ming Fire Array” in front of him.
Mo Hua glanced at the Manager and said righteously, “This is too difficult. If I could draw it, I’d draw Array Formations for you myself to earn Spirit Stones. What would I need my elder brother for?”
The Manager slapped his head, having forgotten. A ten-year-old child naturally couldn’t draw a complete Array Formation; that would be too difficult for him. It was also because he had never dealt with children in the shop, which led to his oversight.
The Manager then pointed to the upper left corner of the Array Formation and said, “If you can draw this small part of the Array Runes, I will agree to let your elder brother draw Array Formations.”
Mo Hua looked at the Array Runes in the upper left corner and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a type of basic fire-elemental Array Runes he had learned in the Sect, just with some minor detail changes and connections, still within his grasp.
Mo Hua took the brush, dipped it in ink, and sketched the Array Runes on the paper. A moment later, the Array Runes were completed.
The Fat Manager had nodded slightly when Mo Hua held the brush. Mo Hua’s brushwork was very skilled, his strokes natural and fluid, without any tension, clearly indicating a good foundation. The Array Runes he drew also conformed to standards, with no errors or omissions. If he didn’t have family teachings, then his elder brother taught him well.
The Fat Manager leaned towards the latter, because looking at Mo Hua’s attire, though clean and tidy, it was too plain, clearly not from a wealthy family. A Cultivator with family Array Formation teachings would certainly not be so strapped for cash.
The Fat Manager glanced again at the Array Runes Mo Hua had drawn, quite satisfied, and said, “Ten Spirit Stones for the deposit, and I’ll give you the necessary Array Formation diagrams and Materials.”
“Ten!”
Mo Hua was stunned.
He only had three Spirit Stones on him. He had previously earned twelve by copying Array Formation assignments for fellow disciples, spent ten on the Fire Aversion Hairpin, saved one by being frugal, and then… there was no “then.” This was Mo Hua’s entire fortune.
He would have to wait until the Array Formation class assessment, when he drew Array Formations for his fellow disciples, to earn that many Spirit Stones.
Who knew how long that would take!
The Manager saw Mo Hua’s expression and realized Mo Hua had no Spirit Stones. He didn’t say anything, as it was normal for a child not to have so many Spirit Stones.
The Dao of Mending life was not easy. Even those who were Managers like them had times when their pockets were empty, let alone Loose Cultivators from poor backgrounds.
The Manager merely kindly reminded him, “Without Spirit Stones for the deposit, you cannot take on this task.”
After speaking, seeing Mo Hua looking somewhat dispirited, he couldn’t help but add, “I’ll keep this order for your elder brother. Just come back and take it whenever you have the Spirit Stones.”
Mo Hua immediately nodded, “Mhm, mhm, when I go back and gather… ask my brother for the Spirit Stones, I’ll come back for this order!”
The Fat Manager waved his hand, “Go play for now. It’s still early. I’ll close my eyes and rest for a bit…” He then slowly squinted his eyes and began to doze off.
Mo Hua left the shop, squatted on the steps, resting his chin in his hand, feeling a bit troubled.
“Seven Spirit Stones…”
Mo Hua wanted to earn Spirit Stones by drawing Array Formations, but to earn Spirit Stones by drawing Array Formations, he first needed Spirit Stones. Without Spirit Stones, he couldn’t draw Array Formations to earn Spirit Stones…
Mo Hua felt dizzy.
Ask his parents?
Mo Hua shook his head. The family’s food, clothing, and daily expenses all required Spirit Stones. That morning, he heard his parents talking: Uncle Chu from the Demon Hunting Team had broken his arm and needed to borrow Spirit Stones for his recovery, and there was also Mo Hua’s Sect tuition for the next semester. The family probably wouldn’t have any extra Spirit Stones.
Borrow from someone?
Mo Hua’s friends were all poorer than Mo Hua; where would they have Spirit Stones to lend to Mo Hua?
Mo Hua was deep in thought when he suddenly heard someone shout loudly:
“Mo Hua, you’re here!”
Mo Hua looked up and saw a plump boy in luxurious clothes, surrounded by servants, looking at him furiously.
Thanks to Fellow Daoist Gui Youbai for the tip~