Chapter 38: Grand Opening

The eatery's prices were not expensive. Considering that most customers were neighbors or ordinary, low-level rogue cultivators who were not well-off, the prices were kept low so that everyone could afford to eat, aiming for a strategy of low profit but high volume.

The eatery's specialty was primarily beef. A plate of beef cost two spirit stones, which was not cheap for a rogue cultivator, but compared to spirit meat or other beef-selling establishments, it was extremely cost-effective.

Beef noodles were even cheaper; plain noodles cost only three-tenths of a fragmented spirit stone, while adding beef required six-tenths.

An ordinary Qi Refining rogue cultivator earned roughly one spirit stone and a few extra fragments per day. To afford a single plate of beef, one would have to work for two full days. It was fine for an occasional treat, but eating it every day was simply impossible.

However, this was the only place in Tongxian City where one could eat meat for just two spirit stones. Even if one just wanted to satisfy a craving, a bowl of beef noodles cost only six-tenths of a fragmented spirit stone.

After only a few days of opening, the number of customers began to grow.

Although nearby rogue cultivators could not eat meat every day, there were always people who wanted to treat themselves to a good meal.

Some were Qi Refining rogue cultivators from relatively well-off families who could afford it every few days; others were fellow Daoists meeting up who didn't want to be too extravagant yet didn't want to be too simple, so they would order a plate of beef with some side dishes to enjoy while chatting and drinking.

There were also parents who brought their children for a bowl of spicy beef noodles to reward them for making progress in their cultivation.

Occasionally, traveling merchants passing through would stop by. Exhausted from their travels, they would hear that the eatery served meat; they wanted to satisfy their cravings but were hesitant to order due to their tight budgets.

It wasn't until they heard that a full plate of beef cost only two spirit stones that their eyes widened.

They still had lingering doubts, wondering if the food would taste bad since it was so cheap.

But then they thought that since business was so good, the taste couldn't be that bad, so they would try ordering a plate.

Once they took a single bite, they couldn't stop.

From then on, traveling merchants who passed by frequently would make a stop at the eatery to order a plate of meat and a few cups of wine. Those who used to pass by without stopping now made a point to stop, eat meat, and chat.

Some merchants who didn't even pass through the area would even go out of their way to change their route just to eat a few bites of meat, seeking the flavor of the beef to relieve the fatigue of their long journeys.

After all, within a hundred-mile radius, this was the only place where one could eat such delicious meat at such a low price.

As the number of diners gradually increased, the shop became busy. Dahǔ and the other two came to help out. After a busy day, they would eat a large bowl of beef noodles and take some extra beef home, returning home feeling completely satisfied.

However, with the Tongxian Sect about to start the new term, everyone would be entering the sect to begin their cultivation, so they were still short-handed.

Not wanting his mother to work too hard, Mo Hua suggested hiring someone to help. Mo Shan also agreed with Mo Hua's idea, considering that his wife's health had not yet fully recovered and she could not yet use her spiritual power.

After discussing it with his wife, Mo Shan hired a family member of one of the demon-hunting teams to help at the eatery for thirty spirit stones a month.

The next day, a young-looking woman with a shy expression arrived at the door, carrying a basket. The basket contained fresh wild vegetables still covered in dew, looking as if they had just been picked from the mountains that morning.

Listening to his parents chat, Mo Hua learned that the woman's surname was Jiang, and her given name was Yun.

Her husband's surname was Chu. During a previous demon hunt, his chest had been torn open by a wolf demon's claws. All the family's savings had been spent on his medical treatment; although his life was barely saved, he was severely injured and could no longer hunt, leaving the family without an income.

Jiang Yun had poor spiritual roots and had left her sect after reaching only the fourth level of Qi Refining. A few years later, she married and had a child. After her husband was injured, she tried to find work to support the household, but her fourth-level cultivation was too low to earn much. Doing odd jobs provided meager and unstable spirit stones, and with a young child to care for, making a living was extremely difficult.

To be able to have a stable job at the eatery now, earning thirty spirit stones a month, was already quite rare.

Jiang Yun was filled with gratitude, but being naturally introverted and not good with words, she couldn't find the right way to express her thanks, her face turning bright red from embarrassment.

Liu Ruhua quickly comforted her, telling her not to overthink it and to just focus on her work.

Only then did Jiang Yun feel at ease and began following Liu Ruhua's instructions. She was diligent and careful; although she was not a fast learner, she was very serious, which Liu Ruhua found very pleasing.

After closing at night, Liu Ruhua packed several bowls of noodles in a food container, adding extra slices of meat, and told her to take them home.

Jiang Yun hurriedly declined, her face flushing as she said, "Sister Liu, you have been too kind to me. I cannot take this."

Even when Liu Ruhua insisted, she continued to refuse.

Liu Ruhua then said, "Take it home for your child to eat."

Jiang Yun lost the strength to refuse. Her child had not had a full meal in days, let alone meat. She took the food container, wanting to say thank you, but being tongue-tied, she could only repeat the same few words of gratitude over and over.

Liu Ruhua simply comforted her, "Don't think too much about it. It's getting late; go home and see your child."

Jiang Yun carefully carried the food container on her way home. When she passed a corner, she stopped moving; from her back, it looked as though she was sobbing. After a while, she silently wiped her tears with her sleeve and continued toward her home.

Mo Hua watched her figure from a distance, his heart filled with complex emotions.

His family had not been wealthy either, and life had been tight, but in Tongxian City, there were rogue cultivator families even more desperate and struggling than his.

*If only the cultivators of this world didn't have to suffer the hardships of making a living,* Mo Hua thought silently.

The Liu's Eatery opened successfully. Liu Ruhua was busy with the shop all day; she looked a bit thinner, but her complexion was rosy and her spirit was much better.

Running the eatery allowed her to research various dishes and save spirit stones for her son, which would be useful for his future cultivation and marriage. Liu Ruhua felt very satisfied, and the smiles on her face became more frequent.

Seeing his wife's current state, Mo Shan felt relieved.

As for Mo Hua, eating more delicious food made him happy as well.

With the opening of the eatery, the family's income from spirit stones increased, and they no longer had to live as frugally as before. By the time the Tongxian Sect school term began, the eatery had earned a total profit of over two hundred spirit stones.

Liu Ruhua gave all the two hundred-plus spirit stones to Mo Hua, telling him to go to the sect and choose a suitable cultivation method, and reminding him never to neglect his studies.

Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

The next day, the summer break ended, and the Tongxian Sect opened its mountain gates to welcome the new disciples.

Mo Hua waved goodbye to Liu Ruhua at the foot of the mountain and then stepped into the Tongxian Sect.

As disciples arrived one after another, the originally quiet Tongling Peak gradually became lively.

However, after a full two months of summer break, many disciples had lost their focus, and much of their cultivation had been neglected. Entering school at this time, their expressions were somewhat apprehensive.

To gather everyone's focus, Instructor Yan directly announced an impromptu formation assessment.

The lingering summer heat was completely extinguished by this sudden cold shower, and many disciples wore expressions of utter despair.

This was an on-site assessment that could not be taken home, meaning no one could try to cheat.

Mo Hua, however, felt no fear.

He was already able to draw five formation runes, making him a fairly experienced apprentice; these basic formation assessments of the sect could not trouble him.

Furthermore, during the last month of the summer break, he had practiced formations day and night, pushing his divine sense to its limit every time, constantly strengthening it by continuously squeezing its capacity.

Regarding such a small matter as an assessment, Mo Hua was full of confidence, feeling it would be a piece of cake.

However, when the formation assessment papers were handed out, Mo Hua was stunned.

He checked several times, finally confirming that the assessment was not for individual runes, but for a complete formation—and it was a formation that contained six runes!