Chapter 7: Fate's Inn

A plaque hung above the entrance of the shop, inscribed with the characters "You Yuan Zhai."

The interior was not large and felt somewhat worn. Around the room hung various array diagrams, some of which seemed to have been there for a while, their ink faded.

The counter was quite high. Behind it sat a plump middle-aged cultivator with a pale, beardless face, who appeared to be the shop's manager.

A bell hung from the eaves of the doorway. When Mo Hua entered, the bell let out a clear, crisp sound.

The stout manager, who had been dozing with half-closed eyes, heard the bell and raised his head to look around. Seeing no one, he was about to get angry when he lowered his gaze and spotted a small head just visible above the counter.

The manager was momentarily stunned. Seeing Mo Hua alone, he opened his mouth and asked, "Little brother, where are your parents?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "My parents aren't looking for you, I am."

The manager was surprised again. "You're looking for me? What for?"

"Do you need someone here to help draw array diagrams?"

The manager found this amusing and teased, "Oh? Can a little one like you also draw array diagrams?"

Mo Hua replied modestly, "A little bit."

The manager laughed. "A little bit isn't enough. You need to be at least at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, have a sect's study jade slip, be an array method apprentice, have an array master as a teacher, and then pay a deposit before you can draw array diagrams for us."

Mo Hua inwardly clicked his tongue. He hadn't realized there were so many requirements. It seemed he didn't meet any of these conditions.

An idea suddenly struck Mo Hua. He said, "Okay, I lied. I can't do much. I'm helping my brother."

The manager didn't mind and asked, "What does your brother do?"

"My brother is an array method apprentice. He's studying array methods with an array master teacher, and usually helps shops like yours draw some basic array diagrams to earn some money for ink and paper. He's too busy studying array methods and doesn't have time, so I'm running this errand for him."

Mo Hua simply modified the identity of the distant relative from the Meng family and used it.

The stout manager stroked his chin, thought for a moment, but still refused. "No good, word of mouth isn't proof. If your brother wants to draw array diagrams for our shop, he has to come himself."

Mo Hua's eyes darted. He then said, "You still require a deposit?"

The manager nodded. "Correct."

"Does the deposit include the array diagram and the pen, ink, and paper used to draw it? If so, even if I were to deceive you by paying the deposit, it would just be like you selling a copy of the array diagram and materials at cost. You wouldn't make a profit, but you wouldn't lose either."

Actually, they would still make a small profit. The deposit was higher than the cost of the drawing materials. As for the array diagrams, they were all the simplest, most common ones and fundamentally didn't cost much in spirit stones.

Thinking this way, the manager hesitated a little.

"Is business not very good at your shop?" Mo Hua asked again.

Business was indeed not very good. There weren't many customers each day, and with few customers, few array diagrams were sold. There were also few array masters, and even apprentices, willing to draw for them, otherwise, the shop wouldn't be so quiet.

But the manager wouldn't admit it inwardly. He still held his head high, though with a hint of guilt.

Seeing the situation, Mo Hua seized the opportunity to say, "My brother draws array diagrams very well. Everyone says that in a few more years, he will definitely become an array master. When he becomes an array master, and studies for another twenty years, and passes the grading, maybe he can even become a first-grade array master. At that time, he will naturally help you draw some more advanced array diagrams. Won't you profit then?"

Grading? It wasn't that easy.

The stout manager scoffed inwardly, but as the saying goes, don't bully the young and poor. No one could say for sure what the future held. If he could become a first-grade array master, it would indeed be good to build a positive relationship, making it easier to ask for help later.

Rules were actually just for show to outsiders. As long as the array diagrams could be drawn, it didn't matter.

"What you said makes sense," the manager said. "However, you say your brother draws array diagrams well, but words alone aren't proof and can't be taken as truth. You're just a child and don't understand array methods, so how would you know good from bad? How about this, bring one of the array diagrams your brother has drawn for me to see. If it's truly not bad, then I'll agree to this business."

Mo Hua had no brother at all, so where would he find array diagrams drawn by him?

He didn't have his brother's array diagrams, but he had his own.

Mo Hua's storage bag contained several array diagrams he had drawn himself, but those were for sect coursework. They were disassembled basic array patterns or combinations of array patterns, slightly different from complete array methods.

Anyone with a keen eye would spot the difference immediately if he showed them.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, his eyes brightening. He said, "I didn't bring the array diagrams my brother drew, but he once taught me a little bit. I can draw it for you to see, and then you'll know whether my brother's array diagrams are drawn well or not."

"You can also draw array diagrams?"

The manager was stunned for a moment, then thought for a bit and said, "Alright."

He was also curious to see how the child in front of him would draw. He casually pulled out an array diagram from under the counter, then took out pen, ink, and paper and handed them to Mo Hua.

The diagram was labeled "Ming Fire Array." It was a complete array method, not taught in the sect before, containing three array patterns and looking quite difficult.

Mo Hua certainly couldn't draw a complete array method. Although the array methods passed down in the sect were called array methods, they only contained one, or at most two, basic array patterns. These were entry-level types, not really worthy of being called array methods outside.

True array methods needed to contain at least three array patterns and have a mutually connected array pattern structure, like the current Ming Fire Array.

Mo Hua glanced at the manager and said righteously, "This is too difficult. If I could draw this, I would draw array diagrams myself to earn spirit stones for you. Why would I need my brother to do it?"

The manager patted his head, having forgotten himself. A child over ten years old naturally couldn't draw a complete array method; this was asking too much. It was also because he had never interacted with children in the shop that he had overlooked this.

The manager then pointed to the upper left corner of the array diagram and said, "If you can draw this small part of the array pattern, I'll agree to let your brother draw array diagrams."

Mo Hua looked at the array pattern in the upper left corner and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a type of basic fire-element array pattern learned in the sect, with only some added details and connections. It was still within his grasp.

Mo Hua took the brush, dipped it in ink, and outlined the array pattern on the paper. After a moment, the array pattern was finished.

The stout manager had already nodded slightly while Mo Hua held the brush. Mo Hua's brush technique was very skillful, his strokes natural and smooth, without any nervousness, indicating a good foundation. The outlined array pattern also conformed to norms, without any mistakes. If he didn't have family training, then his brother must have taught him well.

The manager was more inclined to believe the latter, because looking at Mo Hua's clothes, although clean and tidy, they were too plain. He was clearly not from a wealthy family, and cultivators with family training in array methods were definitely not so strapped.

The stout manager looked at the array pattern Mo Hua had drawn again, quite satisfied. He then said, "Ten spirit stones for the deposit, and I'll give you the necessary array diagrams and materials."

"Ten pieces!"

Mo Hua was stunned.

He only had three spirit stones on him. He had earned twelve by helping fellow disciples copy array methods homework, spent ten on a fire-avoiding hair clip, and frugally saved one, then... there was no more. This was all of Mo Hua's assets.

He would have to wait until the array methods coursework assessment time to draw array methods for his fellow disciples and earn that many spirit stones.

Who knew how long that would take!

The manager saw Mo Hua's expression and realized he had no spirit stones. He didn't say anything, as it was normal for a child not to have so many spirit stones.

Cultivation life was not easy. Managers like them all had times when their purses were light, let alone loose cultivators from poor families.

The manager only kindly reminded, "You can't take this job without the spirit stones for the deposit."

After speaking, seeing Mo Hua look somewhat listless, he couldn't help but add, "I'll keep this order for your brother. You can come and pick it up when you have the spirit stones."

Mo Hua immediately nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll go back and raise... find my brother to ask for spirit stones, and then come back for this order!"

The stout manager waved his hand. "Go play first, it's still early. I'll close my eyes and rest for a while..." With that, he slowly narrowed his eyes and began to doze.

Mo Hua walked out of the shop, squatted on the steps, and propped his cheek, feeling troubled.

"Seven spirit stones..."

Mo Hua wanted to earn spirit stones by drawing array methods, but to earn spirit stones by drawing array methods, he first needed spirit stones. Without spirit stones, he couldn't draw array methods to earn spirit stones...

Mo Hua's head felt dizzy.

Ask his parents for them?

Mo Hua shook his head. Everything at home, from food and clothing to expenses, required spirit stones. He had heard his parents chatting this morning that Uncle Chu from the demon hunting team had broken his arm and needed to borrow spirit stones for healing. There was also Mo Hua's sect tuition for the next semester. Their family probably didn't have any extra spirit stones.

Borrow from people?

Mo Hua's little friends were all poorer than him. Where would they have spirit stones to lend to Mo Hua?

Mo Hua was deep in thought when he suddenly heard someone loudly exclaim:

"Mo Hua, you're actually here!"

Mo Hua raised his head and saw a richly dressed little fatty surrounded by small servants, glaring angrily at him.