Chapter 44: Enlightenment
"Principles of Formation Dao" was only available for reading at Master Zhuang's residence—it couldn't be taken outside.
Over the next few days, Mo Hua went early each morning to Zuo Wang Ju and found a quiet, comfortable spot to read alone.
Whenever he had questions, he noted them down and waited until Master Zhuang finished his nap before asking. Master Zhuang always answered his questions—succinctly and clearly, often resolving Mo Hua's confusion in just a few words. Mo Hua couldn't help but be impressed.
In just a few short days, Mo Hua's understanding of formations had grown immensely.
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua wanted to visit Master Zhuang in person to offer their thanks, but he gently declined, saying:
"I prefer solitude and don't associate much with others. I appreciate your kindness, but there's no need to visit."
Even so, the lack of a proper thank-you weighed on Mo Shan and his wife's minds.
So Mo Shan climbed the mountain and hunted a wild ox. Liu Ruhua marinated the meat and stewed it to full flavor, then prepared a variety of pastries as well. She packed everything and handed it to Mo Hua, telling him:
"Since Master Zhuang likes peace and quiet, we won't disturb him directly. But we must show some small token of gratitude. He probably doesn't lack spirit stones, so these home-cooked dishes, though humble, at least show our sincerity. Take them to him—hopefully he won't mind."
"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua nodded earnestly.
Still, when he brought the food box to Master Zhuang, he felt a bit nervous.
Judging by Master Zhuang's demeanor, he'd likely tasted every rare delicacy in the cultivation world. Would such rustic fare from a rogue cultivator's kitchen even be to his liking?
To Mo Hua's surprise, Master Zhuang seemed rather curious about the food box. He tried a few slices of the ox meat and gave a subtle nod.
Though it came from a low-grade wild beast and lacked spiritual energy, the cooking method was quite unique. The meat's natural flavor, combined with spicy and fragrant seasonings, gave it a rustic charm he'd never experienced before.
It was the first time Master Zhuang had tasted this kind of beef—and before he knew it, he'd eaten several more slices. He even set some aside to have with wine later.
Mo Hua also gave some pastries to Kui Lao. Kui looked a little surprised but accepted them without ceremony. He took a few bites and, as expected, gave no praise or complaint.
Seeing that both had accepted and tasted the food without any sign of displeasure, Mo Hua finally relaxed.
Liu Ruhua was delighted and started making more dishes in her spare time for Mo Hua to bring to Master Zhuang and Kui Lao.
There were many types of wild beasts in the mountains, each with different flavors. Whenever she wasn't busy with the restaurant, Liu Ruhua focused on developing new recipes using the meat Mo Shan brought home. Different meats paired with different spices and stewing methods produced completely different flavors.
Some dishes turned out delicious, others… not so much. She carefully selected only the best-tasting ones for Mo Hua to deliver to Master Zhuang.
As for Kui Lao—he had a soft spot for pastries. Mo Hua noticed that he especially liked crispy ones, and even more so when he could eat them while playing chess.
So Liu Ruhua began making crispy nut pastries and sent them every few days via Mo Hua.
Over time, Master Zhuang got so used to Liu Ruhua's food that he lost interest in Kui Lao's cooking altogether.
One day, Mo Hua once again brought stewed meat and pastries to Master Zhuang and Kui Lao, studied the formation manual for the day, asked a few questions, and then headed home.
As evening fell, Master Zhuang sat by the pond, watching the clouds turn red with the sunset. He nibbled on the beef, sipped wine, and looked completely at ease.
Kui Lao sat nearby, eating pastries while playing chess against himself. After a while, he looked up at Master Zhuang and said:
"Your Qi Sea is shattered. You can eat whatever, but don't overdo it. And don't skip the medicinal meals I prepare."
Master Zhuang replied nonchalantly:
"A broken mirror can't be made whole again. Spilled water can't be gathered. My Qi Sea is already destroyed. Eating or not eating won't change that—might as well eat something that brings me a little joy."
Kui Lao didn't argue. But after a pause, he suddenly asked:
"Is it really that tasty?"
Master Zhuang took another bite and savored it slowly.
"It's… unique."
Kui Lao frowned.
"You've tasted every rare delicacy in your life. Now you're suddenly craving plain food?"
"Exactly."
Master Zhuang's eyes showed interest, but also a subtle melancholy:
"I've grown tired of rare and exotic foods. These simple things may be plain, but the sentiment they carry is just as simple—and that's what makes them precious."
Kui Lao didn't respond. He kept staring at the chessboard, picked up another crispy pastry, and popped it in his mouth.
Master Zhuang looked at him and asked:
"You can't even taste anything. Why do you still eat those?"
Kui Lao studied the board intently for a moment, then replied:
"I like the crunching sound."
With that, he picked up another pastry and crunched away: kachi kachi kachi.
Half a month later, Mo Hua had nearly finished reading Principles of Formation Dao. Master Zhuang then began teaching him formal formation theory.
What Master Zhuang taught was broader and deeper than anything Instructor Yan had covered—filled with obscure terminology that Mo Hua had never encountered before. Progress was slow.
Master Zhuang, however, didn't seem to mind. He kept a completely laid-back attitude. Whether Mo Hua learned quickly or slowly, well or poorly, he never commented.
But perhaps out of guilt for eating so much beef, Master Zhuang finally asked one day:
"What kind of formation master do you want to become?"
Mo Hua thought about saying he wanted to become a First-Grade formation master—but that probably sounded too petty to someone like Master Zhuang. Truthfully, he had no idea what types even existed.
So he answered honestly:
"I don't know what kind of formation master I can become."
Master Zhuang was silent for a moment before replying:
"Your spiritual roots aren't particularly strong. Even with sufficient spirit stones and techniques, reaching the Golden Core stage would be difficult. And one's cultivation stage determines their upper limit as a formation master. No matter how insightful you are, if your realm isn't high enough, you won't be able to comprehend the more advanced formations…"
"As for talent—you're not bad. But unfortunately, you started too late. You lack the foundational immersion in formation theory. Disciples from great clans start learning these things from childhood. They're steeped in it. Many advanced concepts are second nature to them by the time they reach your age. You don't have that kind of foundation. Even if you start now, you'll always be behind."
"When I've taught disciples in the past, I'd begin with theory—helping them memorize the different schools and philosophies of the formation world to lay a foundation. That made it easier for them to grasp deeper concepts and walk farther along the path."
Looking at Mo Hua, Master Zhuang seemed a little apologetic, but still spoke plainly:
"But in your case… you might not walk far at all. Reaching Third Grade may already be your limit. So teaching you the same way I taught the others might just be a waste of time—and not beneficial for you."
Mo Hua's expression dimmed slightly. He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
But on reflection—Third Grade? Heck, even reaching Second Grade would make him ecstatic. In Tongxian City, even First-Grade formation masters were incredibly rare.
He nearly let himself get carried away just because he was studying under Master Zhuang…
After thinking it through, Mo Hua responded earnestly:
"Heaven and Earth have their own order. I will simply focus on learning formations. However far I get is however far I get. If I worry too much about gains and losses, I'll lose my original heart. I ask only that Master continue to teach me."
Master Zhuang looked surprised, silently gazed at Mo Hua, then smiled gently.
"Well said. We make plans, but outcomes are up to Heaven. We must not let anxiety over gain and loss dull our spirit. In that case, I'll try a new teaching method tomorrow."
(End of Chapter)