566: Homecoming_2
“You must be out of your mind, Mo Hua is not…”
Then he turned his head and saw, from within the caravan, that same beaming, innocent-looking Mo Hua.
Mo Hua waved at them, smiling, “Uncle Zhao, Uncle Sun, Uncle Zhou… I’m back!”
Everyone was taken aback, before their faces turned to rapture.
“It’s not a mistake!”
“It really is Mo Hua!”
“Mo Hua!!”
“Keep it down, don’t scare the wolf off…”
“Who cares about that darn wolf, let it be…”
Mo Hua was a bit bemused.
“Mo Hua, wait for us. We’ll finish up here and escort you back to Tongxian City…” the Monster Hunters said enthusiastically.
Mo Hua looked at them, noticing the blood on their swords and armor. Though they had steely eyes and weathered faces, clearly having pursued the Monster Beasts for quite some time, it seemed they were nearly done with the hunt.
Mo Hua shook her head and said:
“Uncles, go on with your Monster Hunting, no need to bother. I’ll be fine returning with the caravan.”
“Drop by our place later; I’ll treat you to a drink!” Mo Hua added, patting her little chest.
The group of Monster Hunters chuckled, but they weren’t prissy about it.
Indeed, with Mo Hua’s abilities, they really didn’t need to escort her.
“Alright, we’ll slaughter this wolf and head back. We’ve got some fresh Monster meat, all freshly killed, to let you try,” said one of the Monster Hunters, smiling.
“Mhm, mhm,” Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.
Afterward, the group parted ways.
Mo Hua waved her little arms, bidding farewell to her Monster Hunter uncles and grand-uncles.
Old Zheng, who had narrowly escaped danger, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; his look towards Mo Hua was a mix of gratitude and astonishment.
“Young man, you know these Monster Hunters?” he asked.
“Yes,” replied Mo Hua, nodding. “They are all my uncles and grand-uncles. They used to take care of me when I entered Big Black Mountain. We’re quite familiar…”
You entered Big Black Mountain?
Old Zheng looked at Mo Hua’s small arms and legs, not sure what to say.
But it’s good… to know people.
Connections make things easier.
Old Zheng felt fortunate in his heart.
Lucky indeed, to have bumped into this young man. Otherwise, without knowing any Cultivators out here in the wilderness, meeting a troop of Monster Hunters, with blood on their blades, anything could happen…
Old Zheng’s manners toward Mo Hua became even more courteous.
But as they continued marching forward, he noticed something wasn’t quite right.
The closer they got to Tongxian City, the more Monster Hunters they encountered.
And each and every one of these Monster Hunters, upon seeing Mo Hua, first showed shock then joyous faces.
One moment solemn and murderous, the next that of joy as if it was New Year’s…
Old Zheng gazed at Mo Hua, his mouth agape, and said in a daze:
“These Monster Hunters… you know them all?”
How do you know all the Monster Hunters in these mountains?
Mo Hua nodded.
But you seem… to know them too well…
Old Zheng still found it hard to believe.
Mo Hua grinned, “I’m just well-liked!”
Old Zheng was skeptical but continued to speculate silently.
This young Cultivator must have an unusual identity, perhaps a child of a high-ranking Elder in the Monster Hunting Guild.
Or maybe, the young master of a big family in Immortal City?
Old Zheng kept guessing as they went on.
The sky began to darken as they continued their journey.
The day neared dusk, the evening sky dyed with the glow of sunset.
Old Zheng flipped through the Map, estimating the distance, and furrowed his brow, “It’s getting a bit late. If we don’t hurry, it seems we’ll end up spending the night in the mountains…”