Immortality Through Array Formations

"Over these years, I've also wanted to marry a Dao companion and forget Shuixian."

"But people are just cheap..."

"No matter what, I can't forget..."

"Thinking of a Dao companion isn't so bad, but as soon as I do, my heart is filled with the shadow of Shuixian."

"Later, I came to realize it didn't matter anymore. I had given all my affection to her in this lifetime. It was owed to her, and upon her death, that affection went with her..."

Mo Hua had not expected Elder Su, who used to frequent brothels, to have such a painful and melancholic past.

He had not expected Elder Su to be such a sentimental person.

Indeed... one can't judge a book by its cover.

Mo Hua patted Elder Su on the shoulder but didn't say a word, offering silent comfort.

With Mo Hua's pat on the shoulder, Elder Su suddenly shivered.

That's not right!

Why had he revealed everything?

Although he planned to tell Mo Hua his past, he hadn't intended to divulge all these grievances and sorrows.

He intended to rot these thoughts in his heart.

Elder Su took another look at Mo Hua and felt a chill in his heart.

This child was too deceptive in appearance.

With an innocent face, friendly and lovable, one is unwittingly compelled to tell the truth.

Before he knew it, he had poured out his heart...

But what's done is done, what could he do now?

Elder Su could only thicken his face and act as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that Elder Su's mood had recovered, Mo Hua asked again:

"So Shuisheng is the child of you and Shuixian?"

Elder Su was taken aback for a moment, then nodded helplessly: "Yes."

"After Shuixian's death, I kept the child by my side as my direct disciple, thinking that with my protection, the child could live safely, learn some formations, and, upon achieving success in his studies, his mother's spirit in heaven would be consoled..."

"When his mother was still pregnant with him, she hoped that he could become a Formation Master like me, to stand out from the crowd..."

Elder Su said this, and again, he became somewhat angry.

"But this child, apart from resembling me a bit, is completely different in all other aspects. His talent for formations is lackluster, he refuses to work hard, is clumsy in his actions, and his temperament is not as gentle as his mother's..."

Elder Su listed a slew of faults before suddenly falling silent again. After a long while, he said despondently:

"But his brows and eyes, his expressions... they look very much like his mother..."

Mo Hua also sighed upon hearing this.

It's often after a loss that one learns to cherish.

Especially when it comes to emotions.

For a time, both Elder Su and Mo Hua looked somewhat despondent.

Elder Su's mood stemmed from memories of the past.

Mo Hua, young and without any romantic history, was simply making groundless sighs...

Shuisheng walked in and saw the mood was a bit somber, suddenly unsure of what to say.

After a moment, he finally spoke softly, "Master, the Lu Family Head has arrived."

"The Lu Family Head?"

Elder Su was startled and quickly looked at Mo Hua, whispering:

"The things I just told you, you mustn't speak of them to anyone."

Mo Hua was momentarily puzzled, "What things?"

"It's just..."

Elder Su gestured to himself and then pointed outside, making a gesture towards the Lu Family Head.

Mo Hua understood that it was about their joint visits to the brothel.

"Don't worry, I won't tell!" Mo Hua assured.

Only then did Elder Su feel relieved.

Before long, Lu Chengyun entered, paid his respects to Elder Su, and then greeted Mo Hua with a refined and genteel manner.

Lu Chengyun's arrival did not surprise Mo Hua.

When Elder Su invited him for tea, Lu Chengyun would occasionally come to visit.

Having seen each other a few times, they were not strangers.

The group drank tea together, chatted about formations, and then talked about the affairs of the South Yue Sect and the Lu Family.

Drinking tea was fine, and so was discussing formations.

But when it came to the internal affairs of the sect and the clan, Mo Hua found it inappropriate to listen in.

Although he was very interested in eavesdropping, as there might be clues regarding the traitor of the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect,

there were certain basic courtesies to be observed.

Mo Hua then stood up and said:

"Lu Family Head, Elder Su, please continue your conversation; I'll take a walk in the garden."

Elder Su said, "Young Gentleman, please feel free."

Since Mo Hua often visited here, he was already quite familiar with the place and thus did not stand on ceremony.

However, Mo Hua was not here just to stroll around for fun.

Seeing that Elder Su and the Lu Family Head were engrossed in conversation, he stealthily made his way to Elder Su and Shuixian's secret child, the disciple known as "Shuisheng."

Shuisheng was reading a book at a small table by the garden bridge.

Shuisheng was somewhat older than Mo Hua and also taller.

Mo Hua quietly approached him and asked,

"What are you reading?"

Startled, Shuisheng hurriedly put away the book and was about to get angry, but upon seeing it was Mo Hua, he respectfully bowed and said,

"Young Gentleman."

Although Mo Hua was young, he was a guest of honor for Elder Su and was treated as an equal.

Naturally, Shuisheng did not dare to offend him.

Mo Hua sat next to him and patted the stool, saying,

"Sit."

Shuisheng did not dare to sit.

Mo Hua glanced at him. Enjoy more content from empire

Feeling awkward, Shuisheng then sat down.

As he did, Mo Hua caught a glimpse of the book in his hands.

It was a text explaining the basics of the Five Elements Formation Patterns.

Mo Hua was surprised; according to Elder Su, his disciple wasn't very diligent, and his skills at formations were not good.

But now it seemed somewhat different.

Mo Hua asked, "Do you have any questions about this book?"

Shuisheng was taken aback for a moment, then stuttered,

"I'm not very good at drawing..."

He opened the book and pointed at a few Golden Series Formation Patterns.

Mo Hua glanced at them; they were very basic patterns.

He then began to explain to him how to draw these patterns, how to use the brush, how to use the ink, what the layout should be, how to wield Divine Sense, and what to do when Divine Sense was insufficient...

As Shuisheng listened, he couldn't help but gape in awe, looking at Mo Hua with great admiration.

These issues had troubled him for a long time; he could not figure them out no matter how he tried, but to his surprise, Mo Hua clarified them with just a few words, causing him to have a sudden realization.

Mo Hua's inner world, however, remained undisturbed.

This was, after all, the Five Elements Basic Formation.

It was a very, very simple technique.

Mo Hua was puzzled, "These things, you..."

He was about to say "your dad," but at the last moment he changed his words:

"...didn't your master explain them to you?"

Shuisheng shook his head, "Master didn't explain. He thought these were all too simple, the kind of things one would understand with a thought. When I asked him, he would just look at me with disappointment, as if I had failed to meet his expectations..."

"Over time, I stopped asking him and tried to figure it out on my own, to learn as much as I could on my own, and to let go of what I could not grasp..."

Mo Hua shook his head.

How could one learn formations like this?

Elder Su probably had too high expectations for his only son.

Once they were not met, disappointment would ensue in his heart.

But people are different.

Anyone learning formations has different conditions; they must progress step by step, and cannot subject others to harsh criticism because of their own excessive expectations or disappointments.

Formations are inherently difficult; Elder Su's excessive expectations born out of his deep love for his son could, in fact, leave Shuisheng feeling at a loss.

Mo Hua sighed, thinking that since he had drunk Elder Su's tea and owed him a favor, he then continued to teach Shuisheng for a while.

A short while later, Shuisheng looked at Mo Hua with even more respect and gratitude.

Young in age yet with high proficiency in formations, frank in interactions, lacking pretension, and willing to teach him.

He seemed so much better than his own master...

Shuisheng thought to himself.

The two of them thus became more familiar with each other.

After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua suddenly asked:

"Shuisheng, do you know who your mother is?"

Shuisheng was taken aback, bowed his head, and nodded slightly.

"Then do you know who your father is?"

Shuisheng looked at Mo Hua with some surprise and then also slowly nodded.

Mo Hua felt a stir in his heart.

It seemed that the boy named Shuisheng knew everything...