Chapter 44 - Enlightenment

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Enlightenment

Translator: 549690339

“On the Source of Formation Formations” could only be read at Mr. Zhuang’s place and could not be taken away.

In the following days, Mo Hua would always arrive early at Mr. Zhuang’s Forgetful Residence and then find a quiet and comfortable spot to read alone.

If there were any questions, she would note them silently, and once Mr. Zhuang had finished his short rest, she would go and ask for advice. Mr. Zhuang would answer any question, and often with just a few words, he could unravel Mo Hua’s doubts, which greatly impressed her.

In just a few days, Mo Hua’s knowledge about formations had increased substantially.

Mo Shan’s couple wanted to pay a visit to express their thanks, but Mr. Zhuang declined, saying he preferred solitude and did not socialize with others. He appreciated the gesture but insisted that a visit was unnecessary.

Although he said so, without any form of acknowledgment, Mo Shan’s couple always felt somewhat uneasy.

Mo Shan then went up the mountain to kill a wild ox. Liu Ruhua marinated the beef and stewed it to perfection, also prepared various kinds of pastries, and had Mo Hua take them all to Mr. Zhuang, reminding her:

“Since Mr. Zhuang likes quietness, we shall not disturb him, but some modest gifts must still be offered. Items like spirit stones, Mr. Zhuang probably doesn’t lack, but these foods, though not precious, are at least our sincere gesture. Huar, when you give them to the gentleman, I hope he won’t find them displeasing.”

“Mhm, mhm,” Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

When Mo Hua delivered the food box to Mr. Zhuang, she was somewhat nervous.

Considering Mr. Zhuang’s demeanor, she guessed he had probably tasted all sorts of delicacies, and he might not like these ordinary foods eaten by loose cultivators.

However, Mr. Zhuang seemed quite intrigued when he received the food box; he tried a few slices of beef and nodded slightly.

Although it was meat from a low-grade wild monster beast with no spiritual energy, the cooking method was very unique. The meaty aroma of the wild ox mixed with spicy seasoning, creating a wild flavor he had never experienced before.

It was the first time Mr. Zhuang tried beef with such a taste, so he ate a few more slices and even saved some to accompany his drink later.

Mo Hua also brought some pastries to Old Kui. Old Kui was surprised to receive the pastries but did not treat Mo Hua as an outsider. He tried a few and neither praised nor criticized them.

Seeing that both men had accepted the gifts and tasted them personally, and that there were no signs of dissatisfaction, Mo Hua felt relieved.

Liu Ruhua was delighted and, when free, would prepare various dishes for Mo Hua to deliver to Mr. Zhuang and Old Kui.

There were many kinds of monster beasts in the mountains, each with different tastes. Liu Ruhua, busy with her eatery on normal days, would focus on studying cooking in her spare time. Using the meat Mo Shan obtained from monster hunting, she would try different cooking methods. Different types of meat combined with different seasonings and cooking styles brought out diverse flavors.

Some tasted very good, while others were not as easily palatable. Liu Ruhua would choose those that tasted good for Mo Hua to bring to Mr. Zhuang for sampling.

Old Kui loved sweets, and from what Mo Hua observed, he enjoyed crispy treats and especially loved eating them while playing chess. Thus, Liu Ruhua made some crispy fruits and every now and then had Mo Hua deliver them to Old Kui.

After a while, Mr. Zhuang, accustomed to eating these, did not have much appetite for the meals prepared by Old Kui.

One day, after delivering spiced meat and pastries to Mr. Zhuang and Old Kui, having read for the day and asked a few questions, Mo Hua bid farewell and went home.

The sky had darkened and Mr. Zhuang sat by the pond, watching the evening glow in the sky while enjoying the beef and sipping wine, looking quite leisurely.

Old Kui was eating pastries on one side, playing chess against himself. After a moment, he looked up at Mr. Zhuang and said:

“Your Qi Sea is shattered; you can eat other things, but don’t be greedy. And don’t neglect the medicated cuisine I make.”

Mr. Zhuang appeared indifferent, “A broken mirror can’t be made whole, spilled water can’t be recovered. The Qi Sea is already shattered, eating anything is useless. Might as well eat something that makes oneself happy.”

Old Kui couldn’t be bothered with him. Suddenly, he asked, “Is it really that delicious?”

Mr. Zhuang took another piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth, savoring it carefully, “The flavor is quite unique.”

Old Kui frowned, “What delicacies haven’t you eaten in your lifetime? Why have you started to develop a craving now?”

“Indeed.”

Mr. Zhuang revealed an amused expression, but his eyes concealed the indifference of the world:

“Having tired of exotic delicacies, I now find these simple foods, with their simple intentions, to be the most precious.”

“Oh,” Old Kui, seemingly indifferent, continued playing chess intently, while picking up a piece of crispy pastry and tossing it into his mouth.

Mr. Zhuang looked at him and suddenly asked in return, “You can’t taste the flavor, can you? Then why bother eating these things?”

Old Kui concentrated on the chessboard and after a moment replied, “I chew to hear the crunch.”

Having said that, he picked up a crispy cake and began to crunch it noisily.

Half a month later, Mo Hua had nearly finished reading “On the Source of Formation,” and Mr. Zhuang began teaching Mo Hua about formation theory.

The formation theory Mr. Zhuang taught was broader and more abstruse than that taught by Instructor Yan. It was full of formation terminology Mo Hua had never heard before, and Mo Hua learned very slowly.

Mr. Zhuang also adopted a laissez-faire attitude; whether Mo Hua learned quickly or slowly, well or poorly, he never said much.

But perhaps because he had eaten too much beef, Mr. Zhuang also felt uneasy, so he asked Mo Hua:

“What kind of Formation Master do you wish to become?”

Mo Hua wanted to say a First Rank Formation Master, but this goal might seem too trivial in Mr. Zhuang’s eyes, and he also had no idea what kinds of Formation Masters there were, so he simply answered:

“Disciple doesn’t know what kind of Formation Master he can become.”

Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment then said, “Your Spiritual Root is not considered top-notch, and even with no lack of Spirit Stones and Cultivation Techniques, reaching the Golden Core Stage would not be easy. The realm determines the limit of a Formation Master, and without enough cultivation realm, no matter how high the aptitude, one cannot touch upon more profound formations…”

“Furthermore, regarding aptitude, yours is actually quite good. It’s a pity, though, that you started too late and lack a foundational understanding of various formation theories. Offspring of Noble Clans are immersed in this knowledge from a young age, some having a deep familiarity with profound formation knowledge early on. You lack this kind of deep-seated understanding, and even if you start learning from the beginning now, you’ll be much slower.”

“When I taught disciples before, I always started with formation theory, making them memorize the myriad of formation schools and theories of the Tao Cultivation World, to establish a foundation. That way, in the future, they would find it easier to integrate and comprehend, advancing further on the path of formations.”

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his expression tinged with a hint of regret, but he still spoke frankly, “But you might not be able to go far at all. A Third Grade Formation Master might already be your limit, so teaching you the way I did before would just be wasting time and wouldn’t benefit you.”

Mo Hua’s expression dimmed, feeling somewhat disappointed.

But upon reflection, not to mention a Third Grade Formation Master, even becoming a Second Rank Formation Master would be enough to make him secretly delighted. After all, even in the entire Tongxian City, First Rank Formation Masters are few and far between.

He himself was nearly carried away by Mr. Zhuang’s expectations…

After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua earnestly said, “Everything under heaven follows its own destiny. Disciple just needs to wholeheartedly study formation theory. Whatever level he can achieve is what it will be. Worrying too much about gains and losses will only lead to losing one’s true purpose. Please do not hesitate to teach me, Gentleman.”

Mr. Zhuang looked surprised, gazing at Mo Hua silently for a moment, then smiled faintly and said:

“You are right. While humans make plans, success or failure is determined by heaven, and one cannot waver in their heart because of fear of gains and losses. Since that is the case, tomorrow I will try a different teaching method.”