Chapter 5 Mo Shan_1

Mo Shan was a Qi Refinement level 8 Monster Hunter who made a living by hunting Monster Beasts and collecting their materials. It sounded impressive, but in reality, it was extremely arduous and risky.

In the Cultivation World, most Monster Beasts were far stronger than human Cultivators, making hunting them exceptionally challenging.

Typically, hunting a Monster Beast of the same realm required a team of at least five to ten Cultivators, and even then, success wasn't guaranteed. Even if the hunt succeeded, some of the more valuable parts of the beast were often damaged during the fight, reducing their worth in Spirit Stones. After dividing the profits based on individual contributions, the resulting amount of Spirit Stones for each member was usually quite meager.

If one suffered injuries during the hunt, the cost of medicinal Pills was no small expense, and it could easily consume all the earnings. If a severe injury occurred, it often became impossible to continue making a living as a Monster Hunter.

Mo Shan, with his towering physique, was a Body Cultivator. His face carried a noble yet rugged demeanor, its sharp contours marked by endless hardships. By Cultivation standards, he was not yet middle-aged, but years of battling Monster Beasts, enduring harsh outdoor conditions, had left traces of wear and tear on his features.

After walking into the house, Mo Shan set down his blade and the fur of some unknown Monster Beast slung over his shoulder. Only then did he exhale in relief.

His outer garment was tattered and stained with blood—some fresh, some dried. Most of it likely belonged to Monster Beasts, but some of it could have been his or his teammates'.

*The hunt this time must not have gone smoothly, Mo Hua secretly guessed.*

Mo Shan's brows furrowed subconsciously, his expression heavy. Combined with the bloodstains on his clothing, it made him appear intimidating and unapproachable.

Yet the intimidating air dissipated upon entering his home and seeing his wife. He seemed like a battle-worn soldier finally returning home, shedding the heavy armor, riddled with scars.

His voice was husky from exhaustion, but he still spoke gently, "Is everything okay at home?"

Liu Ruhua busied herself unpacking his things while handing him a clean cloth to wipe his face. "Everything is fine; you don't have to worry."

Seeing the dust and weariness etched on his face, she couldn't help but say, "You need to take better care of yourself when you're out there."

Mo Shan offered a faint smile and then glanced around the room. "Has Huar come home yet?"

"He came back yesterday. The Sect has given a holiday for the new year, so he's probably still fast asleep. I'll go wake him up. When he finds out you're back, he'll surely be over the moon."

Looking at the bloodstains on his clothing and the injuries on his body, Mo Shan stopped her and said, "Let him sleep a little longer. Cultivation training in the Sect isn't easy. I'll take a bath first, apply some herbal medicine, and change clothes."

Liu Ruhua nodded, "That's a good idea. Then you should eat something first."

After traveling through the night, Mo Shan was already famished.

Liu Ruhua was a skilled cook, and even though the meal was simple, Mo Shan devoured it ravenously.

While hunting Monster Beasts, one often endured harsh conditions, eating just cold, hardened rations when hungry. Even a Fasting Pill was too costly to consume. Eating his wife's cooking now, the exhaustion and hardships seemed to vanish entirely.

Mo Shan ate a great deal, then took a large gulp of fragrant, smooth porridge, letting out a long sigh of satisfaction. Liu Ruhua noticed the bloodstains on his clothes and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Did someone get hurt again this time?"

Mo Shan sighed, "Three were injured, Old Chu was gravely wounded."

He continued recounting the hunt:

"There were eight of us chasing a Wolf Demon that was over a yard tall. We had already trapped it, and as we slowly drained its demonic power, we were about to defeat it. But then another Monster Hunting Team passed by—mostly rookies who had hardly shed any blood—and, emboldened by foolish courage, they tried to cut in and steal the kill. Their reckless attacks got two of them eaten alive by the beast..."

"That cursed creature replenished its Blood Qi by consuming them and went berserk. Old Chu and I had to exhaust every ounce of our Spiritual Power to kill the Wolf Demon, but the cost was heavy. Old Chu lost an arm and bled profusely, his Vital Energy badly damaged. I fear he won't be able to keep hunting Monster Beasts anymore..."

Mo Shan spoke bitterly, "Old Chu's child is only two years old, and his wife barely scrapes by growing vegetables to supplement their income. Now that he's gravely injured, they'll have to spend a fortune in Spirit Stones for treatment. Even if his injuries heal, I don't know how they'll manage to make a living as a family."

Liu Ruhua sighed deeply and said, "When we were struggling before, Old Chu lent us Spirit Stones even though his own family wasn't well-off. We still have some Spirit Stones saved; how about we give them to Old Chu for now? At least they can use it to treat his injuries."

Mo Shan nodded, "The Wolf Demon hasn't been sold yet; it should fetch around three hundred Spirit Stones. We'll give Old Chu a larger share, and I'll lend him some Spirit Stones so they can make it through this. It's just..."

He looked guilty and said, "Huar's tuition fee for entering the Sect next year... I originally planned to cover most of it by selling the Wolf Demon. Now that this has happened..."

Liu Ruhua took his hand and said, "As long as our family is safe, we'll find a way to earn Spirit Stones. I've saved some money from helping at the restaurant, and if we borrow a little more, Huar won't miss his chance to enter the Sect next year for training."

Mo Shan gazed silently at his wife. The formerly youthful and graceful face now bore traces of weariness, which only deepened his self-reproach.

"You should stop working in the kitchen. The Fire Qi exposure there harms your heart and meridians. Next year, I'll gather a stronger team and hunt more Monster Beasts to earn enough Spirit Stones. I won't let you live such a hard life anymore."

Liu Ruhua pursed her lips and smiled, with a hint of pride. She pointed to the hairpin in her hair, "Do you see this?"

Mo Shan hadn't noticed it earlier. Looking closely now, he saw the hairpin was different from her usual one.

"This hairpin, is it...?"

"Huar gifted it to me. He said it's called a Fire-Resistant Hairpin. It protects against the Fire Qi from the stove, keeping my heart and meridians much clearer."

"Huar is so considerate."

Mo Shan felt both comforted and ashamed. "As a husband, I haven't given you a gift in years..."

Liu Ruhua laughed, "Huar is your son, so if he gave it, it's like you gave it!"

Mo Shan couldn't help but chuckle, but his smile soon turned wry. "Cultivation often talks of fortune. My life's fortune might just be marrying a wife like you and having a son like Huar!"

Liu Ruhua shot him a teasing look, but she also smiled brightly.

Watching the smile on his wife's face, Mo Shan silently resolved that after the new year, he would assemble a team of more skilled Monster Hunters and venture into the Inner Mountain to hunt greater beasts and earn more Spirit Stones. He couldn't let his wife suffer anymore and needed to ensure a promising future for his son.

Their conversation wasn't lost on young Mo Hua in his room. He sighed quietly.

*Without realizing it, his parents had been shouldering the burdens of their life in the Cultivation World all along. Perhaps in every world, the responsibilities borne by parents far exceeded what children could comprehend.*

*Even Cultivators were bound by the same struggles—Spirit Stones and survival—busy and battling for their livelihoods.*

*In ways both alike and unalike, Cultivators and common folk shared similar fates.*

Mo Hua reflected quietly and then began pondering in his heart, "Is there a way I can help earn Spirit Stones, too?"