Mr. Zhuang would be leaving in a month.
He had said this to Mo Hua and the siblings Bai Zisheng, asking them to prepare during this time and to handle their private affairs.
After that, they would leave Tongxian City and wander elsewhere.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi didn’t have much to prepare.
The month was mainly for Mo Hua to say goodbye, to spend time with his parents and friends, and to settle some trivial matters.
Mo Hua was going to leave...
When Liu Ruhua made the decision, she was resolute, but now, as the departure approached and she realized that Mo Hua, who had been with her for over a decade, was about to leave, she suddenly felt heartache and reluctant to let go.
She worried about him facing the hardships of travel, not having enough food, and not sleeping well.
She was concerned about the long journey ahead of him, not knowing what dangers he would encounter, how much hardship he would endure...
So, Mo Hua took more time to stay at home, to keep his parents company, and to reassure them.
Elder Yu learned of this matter and, while he couldn’t bear to part with Mo Hua, he was also happy for him.
It was not easy for a monk to become a Formation Master, especially one as gifted as Mo Hua.
But a dragon that swims in the shallows cannot soar to the nine heavens.
Tongxian City was too small; being confined here would make it very difficult for Mo Hua to achieve greater accomplishments. Therefore, despite feeling regret, Elder Yu was also pleased to see him set out and become an apprentice to wander the lands.
After Mo Hua left, there would be no Formation Masters among the Loose Cultivators in Tongxian City.
Considering this, Mo Hua had made early preparations.
He went to Master Qian and said:
"Master Qian, I have a request."
Master Qian hurriedly responded, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare..."
He neither dared to call himself "Master" in front of Mo Hua, nor did he dare to accept Mo Hua’s request, so he said:
"Little Master Mo, please tell me your command. As long as Qian can do it, I will not shirk."
After the Patriarch of the Qian Family was convicted by the Taoist Court, all the family property was donated; the clan fell apart, and the members scattered, living their separate lives. Not only would they not help each other, but sometimes they would even fight tooth and nail over petty gains.
The Qian Family used to value profit over righteousness, and its disciples were like wolf cubs.
Now in decline, with no benefits left, it was natural for clan members to drift apart and lose their morals.
The Qian Family of today was no longer a clan but more like a group of Loose Cultivators sharing the Qian surname, and they weren’t even as united as the Loose Cultivators.
Master Qian was a Formation Master with a unique status; even without the protection of the Qian Family, he could still get by.
But many changes had also made him reflect on the unpredictability of Tao Cultivation and the impermanence of the world, and his desire for gains had faded, turning his focus to the study of formations.
Mo Hua then said, "Master Qian, could you teach Loose Cultivators formation methods?"
Master Qian looked astonished; he had never expected that Mo Hua would make such a request.
Master Qian hesitated:
"Teaching is certainly possible, it’s just that..."
It’s just that he had never considered this before, nor had he ever imagined that one day he might do such a thing—to teach formation methods to Loose Cultivators...
Mo Hua said, "If you are willing, I can speak to Elder Yu. If you ever need help in the future or encounter any difficulties, Elder Yu will also help you."
Master Qian was slightly stunned, then slowly grasped the meaning.
Mo Hua was offering him an opportunity as well as some security.
With the Qian Family’s fall, they faced hostility from many sides, and old debts were being settled, foreshadowing difficult days ahead.
Although he was a Formation Master and didn’t need to concern himself with such things, he was, after all, a Qian by surname and couldn’t completely detach himself from these matters.
Now Mo Hua was giving him an opportunity: by teaching formation methods to Loose Cultivators, he was forming an alliance with Elder Yu, easing their relationship.
Should any difficulty arise in the future, Elder Yu would help him out of consideration for the formation teaching he provided.
Behind Elder Yu were the Monster Hunters of the entire Tongxian City. With this connection to Elder Yu, he would be untroubled by others in Tongxian City.
This arrangement was beneficial for both parties and had been thoughtfully considered.
Master Qian then agreed, "As long as Little Master Mo doesn’t find my skills meager, I am naturally willing to share all I know."
Mo Hua nodded.
Although the Qian Family didn’t establish itself with formations, it still had a certain legacy in this field, particularly in imparting formation methods to disciples, and had experience to follow.
Mo Hua was counting on this when he asked Master Qian to teach formation methods to Loose Cultivators.
But this was not enough.
Mo Hua then took out a book titled "Comprehensive Explanation of the First-grade Formation Method" and handed it to Master Qian:
"This is a formation book I compiled in my free time. It records the drawing methods for common first-grade formations, lays out the learning process in a step-by-step progression, and includes some insights and experiences..."
"...Please, Master Qian, review it. If there’s nothing wrong, you can use this ’Comprehensive Explanation of the First-grade Formation Method’ as the foundation to teach formation methods to the Loose Cultivator disciples..."
Mo Hua spoke very politely.