A hundred li outside Tongxian City, the mountains and forests were lush, and streams gurgled.

On the mountain path, a caravan of more than ten people, pulling several carts of storage boxes filled with goods, slowly proceeded.

Mo Hua sat on one of the caravan’s goods carts, his legs swinging leisurely. While looking at the nearby familiar but slightly strange mountain scenery, and missing his parents, as well as the acquaintances and little friends in Tongxian City, his mood was excited, yet also carried a sudden, timid trepidation about being close to home.

From the border of Dali Mountain State in the Third Grade, to Tongxian City.

This road was remote and mountainous. Mo Hua stopped and walked along the way, visiting array masters and seeking array methods. He had been traveling for more than half a year.

Now he was already fifteen years old.

A First Grade Array Master, with Foundation Building early stage cultivation, fourteen patterns of divine sense, and divine thought that had qualitatively changed, condensing like mercury.

Compared to when he left home, Mo Hua had grown a bit taller.

His eyebrows and eyes had also opened up a bit, and within them was a trace of heroic spirit.

However, for cultivators, the age of a teenager was still too young.

Even though Mo Hua was in the Foundation Building early stage and had experienced many things, he still looked like an uncarved jade, an innocent and lively child.

“Mo Ge’er, your family’s adults are really at ease letting you travel alone, huh…”

An old man in the caravan couldn’t help but ask.

He had asked this question at least seven or eight times along the way.

The old man was the caravan’s boss. He traveled south and north, selling some spirit stones and pills to make a living.

His surname was Zheng, and his eyes were sharp and bright. Everyone called him Zheng Lao.

Tongxian City was gradually prospering, and there were also more trading cultivators and merchants coming and going. Zheng Lao’s caravan had prepared some cultivation goods specifically to sell in Tongxian City.

But along the way, they encountered a demon beast attack, and the array on the cart was damaged.

Mo Hua encountered them and helped them repair the array. These were all very simple arrays, around First Grade four or five patterns, so it wasn’t even considered a significant effort.

But Zheng Lao was still extremely surprised.

This little cultivator, at such a young age, could actually repair a five-pattern array…

His future prospects were bound to be immeasurable!

To thank Mo Hua, Zheng Lao entertained Mo Hua with good food and drink. He learned that Mo Hua’s destination was also Tongxian City, and so he conveniently gave Mo Hua a ride.

Mo Hua was tired from walking along the way, so it was just right for him to be lazy and hitch a free ride.

Getting free food and drink and having someone to chat with along the way was also not boring.

Anyway, the distance to Tongxian City was already very close, and it wouldn’t delay him by many days.

But every time Zheng Lao looked at Mo Hua, his expression was somewhat inconceivable.

At such a young age, with such good array talent, his family’s adults were truly at ease letting him travel alone, huh…

If it were him, he couldn’t bear it.

Mo Hua then lightly said, “While traveling, there were people together. Now returning, it’s just me alone…”

Saying this, a trace of loneliness was hidden in Mo Hua’s eyes.

Zheng Lao nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.

In the towering mountains, the caravan followed the winding mountain road, step by step, toward Tongxian City.

Mo Hua raised his head, looking at the undulating Great Black Mountain range in front, and in the distance, hidden in the mountain terrain and clouds, the vaguely visible outline of Tongxian City. He silently let out a breath.

“No matter what, I’m almost home…”

Although only a few years had passed since he left home.

Cultivators had long lifespans, and a few years was not considered long. But for Mo Hua, it seemed to have passed very slowly…

Now, he was finally home.

Mo Hua’s heart was slightly sore.

After another few days, having traveled dozens of li, Mo Hua then saw acquaintances.

It was the demon hunter uncles.

They were wearing iron armor, holding plain knives, with stern faces, fully alert, pursuing demon beasts. They just happened to encounter Mo Hua’s caravan.

They were in the midst of hunting demon beasts, with sharp blades on their iron armor, their bodies stained with blood, full of killing intent.

The other cultivators in the caravan saw this and all became alert, their expressions tense.

Zheng Lao’s heart also slightly chilled.

This was their first time doing business in Tongxian City, and they were unfamiliar with the place. In this desolate place, Great Black Mountain, encountering demon hunters with bloodstained knives and stern faces, their hearts were inevitably uneasy.

They feared that if a word was not in agreement, these demon hunters would kill and rob…

This kind of thing, they often encountered and heard about when traveling south and north.

What was more troublesome was that these demon hunters were obviously extremely strong.

Although the caravan had hired guards, these guards were only in the late stage of Qi Refining, less than nine layers.

Dealing with general petty thieves was okay, but dealing with these demon hunters in front, who had deep cultivation, excellent spirit tools, and rich killing experience, and moreover were covered in blood, they were obviously inferior.

Zheng Lao’s heart was tense, but he still tried to force a smile: “Various dao friends, this old one’s surname is Zheng, I’m going to Tongxian City to do some small business. I still hope everyone will accommodate me…”

He began to calculate in his heart exactly how much road fee he would have to pay to pass safely and minimize losses to break even…

The demon hunters didn’t speak.

When they were hunting demon beasts, they spoke little; this was the rule of demon hunting.

Seeing that they didn’t speak, Zheng Lao’s smile became more stiff.

Just at this moment, a demon hunter casually glanced over and saw a child with eyebrows like a painting, a face full of kindness, smiling at him on a cart in the caravan.

He was shocked, widened his eyes, and shouted incredulously: “Mo… Mo Hua?!!”

The nearby demon hunters all glared at him.

“What are you doing? So startled?”

“Your voice is so loud, what if you alarm that Wind Listening Wolf?”

“Old demon hunter, don’t you know this rule?”

“No… it’s Mo Hua!”

“What Mo Hua? Mo Hua can’t possibly…”

This demon hunter’s words were cut short, and he was also stunned, “Mo Hua?!”

“You silly, Mo Hua isn’t…”

Then he turned his eyes and similarly saw Mo Hua, with a smiling face, innocent and lively, in the caravan.

Mo Hua waved at them and laughed: “Uncle Zhao, Uncle Sun, Uncle Zhou… I’m back!”

Everyone choked, and subsequently their faces were filled with wild joy.

“I didn’t see wrong!”

“It’s really Mo Hua!”

“Mo Hua!!”

“Keep your voice down, don’t let that wolf run away…”

“Who still cares about that broken wolf, it can do whatever…”

Mo Hua was a bit amused and helpless.

“Mo Hua, you wait, we’ll pack up, and then send you back to Tongxian City…” The demon hunters all said enthusiastically.

Mo Hua looked at them and saw that their knives and armor were all stained with blood. Although their gazes were firm, their faces were weathered, obviously having chased demon beasts for a long time and also having experienced fights. They were probably about to finish.

Mo Hua then shook his head: “Uncles, you hunt demons first, no need to trouble yourselves. It’s fine for me to follow the caravan back.”

“Later, go to our house, I’ll treat you to a drink!”

Mo Hua patted his small chest and said.

The crowd of demon hunters laughed, but also didn’t pretend.

With Mo Hua’s ability, they indeed didn’t need to send him.

“Good, we’ll kill this wolf and then go back. There’s also some fresh demon meat, all just killed. We’ll bring it back for you to taste.”

The demon hunters laughed.

“Um um.” Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.

After that, everyone separated.

Mo Hua waved his small arms, bidding farewell to the demon hunter uncles and elders.

Zheng Lao had a false alarm, wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, and looked at Mo Hua with both gratitude and surprise.

“Little brother, are you acquainted with these demon hunters…?”

“Um.” Mo Hua nodded, “They are all my uncles and elders. Before I entered Great Black Mountain, they all took care of me. We’re very familiar…”

You entered Great Black Mountain?

Zheng Lao looked at Mo Hua’s small arms and legs and didn’t know what to say.

But, it’s good to be familiar, huh…

It’s good to handle things when you’re acquainted.

Zheng Lao’s heart was fortunate.

Good luck, he met this little brother. Otherwise, without a familiar cultivator, in this wilderness, encountering this group of demon hunters who licked blood on the edge of their knives, what would happen was really hard to say…

Zheng Lao was even more polite to Mo Hua.

But as they went further, closer to Tongxian City, they encountered more demon hunters.

And these demon hunters, upon seeing Mo Hua, actually without exception, were first shocked, and subsequently their faces were all filled with joy.

The previous moment they were still full of killing intent, and in an instant they became like a spring breeze and rain, as happy as celebrating the New Year…

Zheng Lao looked at Mo Hua, his mouth open, lost in thought: “These demon hunters… are you all acquainted?”

How do all the demon hunters in the whole mountain know you, huh?

Mo Hua nodded.

But you are also… too acquainted, aren’t you…

Zheng Lao was still somewhat inconceivable.

Mo Hua smiled: “I have good interpersonal relations!”

Zheng Lao half-believed and half-doubted, silently speculating in his heart.

This little cultivator’s identity was probably not ordinary, perhaps the child of an elder in the demon hunting lineage, at least of a high level.

Or, was he the young master of a big family in Tongxian City?

Zheng Lao kept guessing along the way.

Everyone continued forward, and the sky gradually darkened.

The sun was nearing dusk, and the evening glow covered the mountains.

Zheng Lao flipped through the map, estimating the journey, and frowned, “It’s a bit late. If we don’t hurry, we’ll probably have to spend the night in the deep mountains…”

Spending the night in the deep mountains was very dangerous…

Today’s Great Black Mountain had a newly built mountain path extending from the deep mountains to the inner mountains, then to the outer mountains, going directly through to Tongxian City.

The demon beasts in the inner mountains were ferocious.

The demon beasts in the deep mountains were even more bloodthirsty, and occasionally Second Grade demon beasts appeared.

Daytime was still okay, but once it was evening, staying overnight in the deep mountains, encountering demon beasts, with the night being dark and the mountains dangerous, everyone would likely become tooth offerings for the demon beasts.

“While the sky is not dark, shall we take a shortcut?”

At least get out of the deep mountains.

Someone suggested.

Zheng Lao thought for a moment and nodded, “We need to hurry. It’s better to arrive at Tongxian City early and avoid potential trouble.”

Mo Hua raised his head, looked around, and discovered that this place was located deep within the Great Black Mountain. The mountain path had been newly repaired, and the mountain terrain had also changed somewhat. He found it a bit strange.

The mountain terrain changed…

It seemed because the power of the Five Elements Demon Slaying Great Array he had previously disintegrated was too great, it nearly leveled half of the deep mountains, so the entire terrain changed.

Now the mountain was still that mountain, but the mountains and rivers had a different shape, and the road was also not that road.

Mo Hua for a while, also couldn’t figure out the exact position.

An accompanying merchant then said: “I’ve come to Tongxian City several times and know a shortcut, but it’s a bit late, and I’m afraid we’ll encounter demon beasts…”

Zheng Lao thought for a moment and sighed: “That’s still better than spending the night in the deep mountains. You lead the way, and everyone be careful.”

“Okay, Zheng Lao.”

So the merchant led the way, and the caravan turned onto a small path.

The small path was an old mountain road.

Mo Hua had a vague impression, it seemed to be a road that went from the outer part of Great Black Mountain to Tongxian City very early on.

Now fewer people walked on it, and it was gradually abandoned.

This road was indeed somewhat winding.

Some mountain rocks had collapsed due to the disintegration of the great array several years ago. People could pass, but vehicles and goods would require some effort to get through.

And there were also demon beasts.

But mostly only First Grade mid to late stage.

The caravan’s guards could handle them. Mo Hua just gave them a reminder in advance and didn’t make a move himself.

Everyone worked together and killed a Kui Wood Wolf and a Red Eye Sheep Demon. Afterward, the road became much smoother.

Just as they were about to leave the deep mountains, Mo Hua’s divine sense moved, his brows tightly frowned, and he said, “Stop.”

Zheng Lao was startled, and the other cultivators in the caravan were all somewhat unclear why.

The sky was gradually getting late, and they could already vaguely see Tongxian City in the distance. Stopping at this time would inevitably delay them.

But Mo Hua’s voice, although tender, had a faintly majestic aura, making people dare not ignore him.

Especially since all the demon hunters along the way had been enthusiastic and kind to Mo Hua, this “interpersonal relations” certainly couldn’t be underestimated.

“Little brother…” Zheng Lao was a bit hesitant.

Mo Hua raised his finger and made a “shh” sound, signaling him not to speak.

Zheng Lao was unclear why.

Mo Hua released his divine sense, spied for a moment, and his face also gradually became solemn. He murmured: “It’s… a Second Grade demon beast…”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Lao’s legs went weak, and he trembled: “Sec… Second Grade?”

The other cultivators in the caravan also had horrified gazes, and subsequently all discussed: “Impossible…”

“A Second Grade demon beast, its blood energy is extremely abundant, you can see it from afar…”

“We didn’t discover it at all…”

Their words had not yet fallen, when they heard a suppressed and terrifying low roar from the gloomy mountain forest on the right side.

This low roar contained a baleful aura and blood energy that made people’s hearts alarmed and terrified.

Everyone’s faces instantly turned pale.

It was a Second Grade demon beast!

Stronger than a Foundation Building demon beast!

A demon beast of this level was enough to eat all of them!

And with a Second Grade demon beast’s speed, they couldn’t escape even if they ran!

Everyone drew their knives, but their hands holding the knife handles couldn’t help but tremble, their faces full of despair.

Just at this moment, Mo Hua reminded: “Don’t move!”

Zheng Lao also came back to his senses and immediately lowered his voice: “Put away your knives, don’t show killing intent, don’t look the demon beast in the eyes.”

Things had come to this point, and he could only pray that this demon beast was full and looked down on them.

As long as they didn’t anger this demon beast, perhaps there was still a slim chance.

Everyone was on tenterhooks, and the dark tree shadows swayed in the blackness.

From the mountain forest, a demon beast, one person tall, slowly walked out. Its pupils were deep brown, its body was intertwined with black and white patterns, and it had a “king” character on its head, making it look majestic.

“Second Grade tiger demon…”

Zheng Lao’s heart was bitter.

It was over…

It was precisely the tiger type demon beast, strong, bloodthirsty, and ferocious among demon beasts…

A tiger demon’s appetite was very large.

Everyone’s faces were as white as paper.

Mo Hua, however, was startled.

Big tiger?

Why was it so familiar…

Mo Hua looked closely several times, suddenly startled, and suddenly realized.

This was… Black Mountain Village, the big tiger that the second boss raised for blood sucking?

That is, the little cat demon he had initially fed dried fish?

It was an acquaintance!

No, it was an acquaintance “demon”!

The big tiger’s gaze wandered among the crowd, and then fixed on Mo Hua’s body. There was an instant of astonishment, then doubt. Subsequently, it seemed to recognize Mo Hua. Its big eyes blinked, and the ferocity in its eyes faded.

It seemed not to have come to hunt for food, but just felt a familiar aura, so it came to see.

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly said: “Zheng Lao, give me those demon meats.”

Zheng Lao was startled, “Demon meat?”

“The two we killed before…”

They had killed two demon beasts on the road, a Kui Wood Wolf and a Red Eye Sheep Demon. Some materials had been peeled off, and some meat had also been kept.

“Oh, oh… good!”

Zheng Lao nodded repeatedly.

Mo Hua took the demon meat and then said: “You all go first, I’ll feed it.”

Zheng Lao’s expression stiffened, “Feed…”

“Um.” Mo Hua nodded, “I’m also acquainted with this demon beast…”

Zheng Lao’s mouth widened. He looked at Mo Hua, then at the fearsome Second Grade king character tiger demon in front of him, his heart filled with disbelief: You said you had good interpersonal relations, but this… this shouldn’t count as ‘human’ relations, right…

A Second Grade tiger demon, huh…

You…

Zheng Lao’s heart was complex, and for a moment, it was hard to express in words.

Mo Hua waved his small hand towards him, “Go quickly, otherwise it will be dark…”

Zheng Lao wished to leave early, but he looked at Mo Hua, hesitant: “Then little brother, you…”

“Rest assured,” Mo Hua said.

This Great Black Mountain was like his home courtyard.

At most, the courtyard had been newly repaired, and he couldn’t distinguish the road for a while, it was just a bit unfamiliar.

Zheng Lao looked at the sky, gritted his teeth: “Little brother, this great kindness and virtue, this old one will definitely repay heavily!”

“Our group will be staying at the Lan Zhi Guest Inn opposite Fu Shan Lou…”

“Little brother, if you enter the city, be sure to go there and find me!”

Lan Zhi Guest Inn?

Newly opened?

There didn’t seem to be this guest inn in Tongxian City before…

Mo Hua nodded, “Good, I remembered.”

Zheng Lao bowed to Mo Hua, and the other cultivators also had grateful faces, cupped their fists to Mo Hua, and then carefully walked towards Tongxian City.

That Second Grade tiger demon actually really didn’t pay attention to them and let them leave.

This was a Second Grade demon beast, huh…

Zheng Lao was somewhat inconceivable.

He couldn’t help but turn back and look at Mo Hua, his heart shocked: “What divine being is this little cultivator exactly…”

The caravan left, and besides Mo Hua, there was no one around. The big tiger then was no longer fierce, but ran two circles around Mo Hua and made an “ao wu” sound towards him.

Mo Hua couldn’t understand, but he could roughly understand its meaning.

It seemed to be saying, “Follow me…”

Mo Hua was now already in the Foundation Building stage, with his divine sense qualitatively changed, and he was more sensitive to the perception of killing intent. He didn’t perceive killing intent from the big tiger’s body, so he thought there was no danger. He then used the Passing Water Step and followed behind the big tiger, walking in the gloomy mountain forest.

The big tiger walked a few steps, turned back to look at Mo Hua, saw Mo Hua following, and then continued forward.

In this way, it directly brought Mo Hua to a cave.

The cave was spacious and somewhat damp, not like a place it resided in for a long time, but rather temporary.

Mo Hua was a bit surprised.

Even a big tiger made “cunning rabbit three holes.”

It wouldn’t really become a spirit, would it…

The big tiger looked at Mo Hua, signaled Mo Hua to wait here, and then drilled deep into the cave itself. It didn’t know what it was fiddling with, but after a while, it drilled back out, biting about ten storage bags in its mouth.

These storage bags, some were new, some were old, and their shapes varied, some were even very exquisite.

He didn’t know if it had picked them up or killed and robbed.

It placed the storage bags in front of Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was stunned for a long time, and then slowly understood.

This big tiger… was repaying kindness?

He had saved it twice, and it had remembered it in its heart, hoarding these storage bags, waiting to meet again and give them to him as gifts?

Mo Hua was a bit moved for a moment.

He stared at the storage bags for a few more times. Most of them were not ordinary storage bags, and their shapes were also different from those of the demon hunters. Mo Hua then relaxed.

Mo Hua took out the demon meat of the Kui Wood Wolf and threw it to the big tiger.

The big tiger sniffed, felt it was still fresh, then lay down, covered the meat with its claws, and ate it up “huchi huchi”.

Mo Hua stared at the big tiger for a long time, feeling very novel.

Black and white patterns, with a “king” character on its head.

He asked his father Mo Shan, Elder Yu, and some other demon hunter elders, but they had never heard of a tiger type demon beast with this appearance.

Mo Hua also asked Mister Zhuang.

Mister Zhuang’s gaze slightly solidified, obviously knowing something, but he didn’t say clearly, only saying “a bit rare, indeed not common…” and so on.

Mo Hua still didn’t know until now what breed of demon beast this was exactly.

Moreover, it seemed it really didn’t eat people…

And it was very smart…

Mo Hua stared at the big tiger for a long time, shook his head, having no clue.

He then looked at the sky outside again and said to the big tiger: “I have to go. In a few days, I’ll come see you again and treat you to small dried fish…”

The big tiger obviously showed a disdainful expression, seeming to feel that the dignity of a Second Grade big tiger was being contempted by Mo Hua.

But it also didn’t refuse.

Mo Hua put the storage bags away and stuffed them on his body.

After all, it was the big tiger’s good intention, and he didn’t need to be polite.

And Mo Hua was also very curious about what was inside these storage bags and whose they were.

After that, Mo Hua waved his hand, bid farewell to the big tiger, and then set off alone, walking along the mountain path towards Tongxian City.

Out of the deep mountains, into the inner mountains, Mo Hua was much more familiar.

Some past memories also emerged.

The spirit mine, the Qian family, the great demon… and initially, he followed his father, little by little ran through the mountains, familiarized himself with Great Black Mountain, drew maps, and set up arrays…

Mo Hua couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

These things felt like a long time had passed, and yet they also seemed like just yesterday.

The sky was already completely dark. Mo Hua sped up his pace. Relying on the proficiency of Passing Water Step, he only took shortcuts and quickly passed through the inner mountains to the outer mountains.

This road, with demon beasts, miasma, and poisonous swamps, Mo Hua avoided all of them.

After that, he trekked for several more hours.

By the time he arrived at Tongxian City, the night was already very deep.

The sky was dotted with stars, and the lights of Tongxian City were dim.

Mo Hua slowed down his steps. As he walked, he was suddenly startled. He discovered a familiar figure standing in front of the city gate.

Gentle and soft.

She seemed to have gotten the news from the demon hunters and was just standing at the city gate waiting, looking up at the distant mountain road, expecting to see that small figure she thought about day and night appear on the mountain road.

Even though the sun had set and the night covered her body, she was still silently waiting.

Waiting for her child to come home.

Mo Hua saw her, but she hadn’t seen Mo Hua yet, still full of expectation, yet somewhat anxious, gaining and losing as she looked into the distance.

Mo Hua’s heart trembled, and his eyes were a little blurry.

He ran like the wind towards the city gate.

“Mother!”

Liu Ru Hua heard this voice, her body trembled, she turned her head, and stared blankly at Mo Hua running towards her. For a moment, she felt as if she was in a dream.

By the time Mo Hua ran to her, she saw that face, which was somewhat strange, but a soul-stirring small face. With a smile, tears couldn’t help but flow down.

Liu Ru Hua tightly hugged Mo Hua in her arms, as if she was hugging the most precious treasure in this world.

“Safely, returned…”

Liu Ru Hua’s voice was trembling, but very gentle, like a warm breeze.

“Um.”

Mo Hua’s eyes were wet, and he snuggled in his mother’s embrace, nodding.

“Mother, I’m home.”

Thanks to the rewards from Wind’s Chocolate, Burned Flame Mage, PYHuang, katiestar, Supervisory Wind Envoy, Middle Mouth, Sang Chen, and Love Eating More Love Not Moving.

(End of this chapter)