Chapter 48: Guests

Below the mountain path leading to the entrance of Zuowang Residence, three cultivators stood waiting.

Among them, two children stood in the front, with a veiled woman standing behind them.

The two children, a boy and a girl, appeared slightly older than Mo Hua. They were dressed in fine, luxurious clothing that did not look like commoner's attire, suggesting they were of extraordinary status. At that moment, they were standing respectfully on the steps before the gate, bowing toward the mountain.

The boy was handsome, with eyes that sparkled with brilliance.

The girl was exceptionally beautiful; as the sunlight hit her face, her complexion appeared even more fair and translucent than ice and snow.

From a distance, the two looked like the Golden Boy and Jade Maiden serving beneath an immortal.

Behind the children stood a tall woman wearing a veil, her features obscured. She appeared to be a family housekeeper or a guard; while there were no significant fluctuations of spiritual energy around her, she possessed a sense of pressure that Mo Hua had never felt before.

"They look like scions of a great clan, coming to seek studies from Mr. Zhuang..."

Mo Hua speculated privately, though such matters were clearly for Mr. Zhuang to decide and had nothing to do with him.

Mo Hua only needed to learn formations well from Mr. Zhuang. After all, he was merely a registered disciple, and he didn't know how long Mr. Zhuang would continue to teach him.

As Mo Hua made his way up the mountain, the three at the gate naturally saw him. However, seeing his simple clothing and low spiritual power, they merely gave him a cursory glance and paid him little mind.

This continued until Mo Hua walked straight past them, ascended the long mountain path, and reached the courtyard nestled within the clouds and mist.

Then, he reached out a small hand and pushed open the bamboo gate—a gate they had waited several hours through the night to open—and entered casually, as if entering his own home.

Only then did the expressions on the three faces turn complicated.

The two children couldn't help but glance back at the woman behind them. She shook her head secretly, signaling them to be patient, and only then did the children settle their minds to continue waiting respectfully.

Once inside the courtyard, Mo Hua set down his bamboo basket. He took out a plate of braised meat and several plates of pastries, arranging them on a small table in the courtyard so that when Mr. Zhuang woke up, he could enjoy wine or tea while overlooking the scenery.

Mo Hua stole a glance into the inner room and, as expected, the Master was still sleeping in.

Mo Hua then brought two boxes of roasted pine nuts to Old Puppet. Old Puppet was an early riser and was currently playing a game of Five Elements Chess by himself, his face devoid of emotion, making it unclear whether he was amused or bored.

Mo Hua set the pine nuts aside. Old Puppet tasted one, and his expression shifted slightly. "The flavor is different."

"These are two different flavors. When roasting them, one used fragrant licorice and the other used spicy spices. My mother said to let you try them for a change of pace."

Old Puppet tasted one from each box and nodded. "Focus on your formations first. When you are tired, come play chess with me."

Mo Hua ran to the study to find several formation books he hadn't finished reading, then headed to the large locust tree in the courtyard. Sitting on a small wooden stool and leaning over a small stone table, he began studying formations.

This small table and stool had been specially made by Old Puppet for Mo Hua and placed in a spot Mo Hua liked; the height of both was perfectly suited for him.

Mr. Zhuang was a lazy man and did not place many demands on Mo Hua, but Mo Hua knew that such an opportunity was rare. In the future, it was unlikely he would ever again receive guidance on formations from a master like Mr. Zhuang.

Thus, Mo Hua studied very diligently.

For a rogue cultivator like Mo Hua, even being a mere registered disciple was a massive stroke of fortune.

Filled with gratitude, Mo Hua did not allow himself a single moment of slackness.

Studying formation books and tracing formations both consumed spiritual consciousness. Once Mo Hua's spiritual consciousness was exhausted, he would use meditation techniques to recover, then continue reading and drawing formations, exhausting his consciousness again, and repeating the cycle. However, once it was completely depleted, he would not continue meditating immediately.

In Mr. Zhuang's words, "too much is as bad as too little." Although Mo Hua didn't feel there was an issue, he strictly followed the Master's teachings.

When his spiritual consciousness was exhausted and he could neither read nor draw, Mo Hua would go to play chess with Old Puppet.

Five Elements Chess was simple to understand and did not require intense mental exertion, making it a relaxing way to play.

After Mo Hua and Old Puppet played a few rounds, evening approached. Mo Hua bid farewell to Mr. Zhuang and headed back, taking the empty plates and food boxes with him.

As the sun set and the evening glow clung to the mountains, Mo Hua noticed that the three people he had seen that morning were still standing outside the gate. Though their posture and expressions remained respectful, they both showed signs of fatigue.

Even for cultivators, standing for a whole day without food or drink would cause some discomfort, let alone two children who were not much older than Mo Hua.

However, Mo Hua did not wish to meddle in others' business.

Since they had stood there all day, it was impossible for Mr. Zhuang not to know. In this situation, it was clear that Mr. Zhuang simply did not wish to see them.

Whether to see them or not was Mr. Zhuang's decision; it was not for Mo Hua to worry about.

Therefore, Mo Hua merely gave them a simple, polite greeting and, without a word, headed down the mountain with his small basket.

When he climbed the mountain the next day, Mo Hua found that the three were still standing outside the gate.

The mountains were hot during the day, but at night, the air turned cool and the dew grew heavy.

The three had stood for a day and a night. The veiled woman was fine, as her deep cultivation was enough to withstand the heat and cold.

The two children, however, looked somewhat haggard. The boy's expression was weary, clearly gritting his teeth to endure, his eyes filled with stubbornness.

The girl's face had grown even paler, looking like a pear blossom covered in dew, yet her clear eyes revealed a sense of determination.

Mo Hua stole another glance and couldn't help but marvel that beautiful people truly remained beautiful at all times.

However, Mo Hua felt nothing in his heart.

In this world, the more beautiful a woman is, the more she has nothing to do with you.

Mo Hua proceeded as he had the day before, pushing open the bamboo gate as if no one else were there. Under the complicated and somewhat resentful gazes of the three, he carried his small basket into Mr. Zhuang's courtyard.

Mo Hua figured they would likely leave within three or four days at most, but the three continued to wait at the gate for seven days. The two children's faces were as white as paper, yet they showed no intention of retreating. Mo Hua couldn't help but admire their perseverance.

Especially when he thought about how he had faced no such obstacles when visiting Mr. Zhuang, while these three had stood for seven days without food or water and hadn't even stepped through the gate, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

The next day, Mo Hua prepared several questions regarding formations and specifically went to consult Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang's expression was as usual, answering patiently, though he would occasionally glance toward the gate with a profound gaze, as if lost in thought.

Mo Hua then asked, "Does Master not wish to see the people outside the gate?"

Mr. Zhuang snapped out of his thoughts. He originally intended to say nothing, but looking at Mo Hua, he finally spoke

"They are the descendants of an old acquaintance, entangled by fate. I do not wish to involve myself, so it is better not to see them."

Mo Hua said, "Then I shall tell them to go back."

Mr. Zhuang's expression shifted slightly. "They have stood there for seven days. If they could have left, they would have left long ago. Having reached this point, do you think they will listen to you?"

"How will we know if we don't try?" Mo Hua smiled. "They have stood outside for seven days and disturbed your peace. You haven't even been able to sleep well."

Previously, he mostly slept in until the afternoon; now, he was waking up at noon...

Mr. Zhuang found this amusing. "Fine, go and try. Tell them to go back so they do not disturb the tranquility of these mountains."