Chapter 27: Sorrowful Love_1

Translator: 549690339

“Your mother has overworked herself, using spiritual power to fuel the stove for long periods, which has damaged her heart and lungs due to the heat, causing her to cough, become weak, and have difficulty breathing.”

Old Mr. Feng explained the illness to Mo Hua and continued:

“When she was brought here, she could hardly breathe. I’ve made some pills that have temporarily relieved her condition. You don’t need to worry for now, but going forward, she needs proper care. She cannot use spiritual power to fuel the stove anymore, and she can no longer work in the Food Building’s kitchen. Otherwise, her heart and lungs will eventually fail beyond recovery.”

Mo Hua, frightened, couldn’t help but bow deeply again and said, “I will forever remember Grandpa Feng’s kindness in my heart!”

Old Mr. Feng helped Mo Hua up, smiled slightly, and said, “Saving lives and healing the injured is a part of a Pill Master’s duties; there’s no need to talk about kindness. You are young, but you speak very clearly. By the time you repay me, I might already be under the ground.”

Mo Hua then breathed a sigh of relief and responded with a smile, “Grandpa Feng, with your benevolent heart, you will surely live for a few hundred more years!”

Old Mr. Feng laughed heartily, “You’ve always been a smooth talker since you were little.”

“My mother only works in the Food Building’s kitchen for four hours a day; she has always been fine before, so why did her heart and lungs suddenly become so severely damaged?” Mo Hua couldn’t help asking.

Old Mr. Feng replied, “I asked the cooks in the Food Building, and starting this year, your mother’s work hours increased from four to six each day. With the longer hours, it’s easier for spiritual power to become exhausted, and coupled with overwork, the damage naturally worsened.”

“Was the Fire-Resistant Hairpin useless then?”

“Are you referring to the hairpin your mother wears,” Old Mr. Feng stroked his beard and nodded as he explained:

“The hairpin is indeed useful, but that Fire-Resistant Hairpin is a common Spiritual Artifact without any rank, and its effectiveness is limited. However, it’s good that she had the hairpin; otherwise, her condition would be even worse, and even if it were healed, there would be lingering issues with her heart and lungs.”

Mo Hua felt a mix of relief and lingering fear, then asked about the cost of the diagnosis. Old Mr. Feng said, “The manager from the Food Building came earlier; they feel very troubled about your mother’s situation, so they’ll cover all the pill expenses. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Old Mr. Feng gave Mo Hua a secretive wink and whispered, “Since they’re willing, I won’t be polite. I’ve used the best ingredients for the pills, and I’ll make sure your mother gets well.”

Mo Hua was reassured, thanked Old Mr. Feng earnestly, and then asked quietly, “May I go see my mother?”

Old Mr. Feng nodded, “Go ahead, she’s just taken the medicine and laid down. Remember to keep your voice down.”

The wards of Apricot Forest Hall were connected, with several sickbeds placed specifically for patients to rest. Although simple, they were clean and tidy, and the air was tinged with a faint incense.

When Mo Hua saw Liu Ruhua, she was lying quietly on a bed inside, breathing lightly and looking pale and somewhat haggard.

Mo Hua brought over a small stool, sat gently beside her, and watched Liu Ruhua’s face.

Mo Hua remembered when he was newly born, his mother was young, gentle and beautiful, and had a lovely smile.

Now, without realizing it, ten years had passed.

For cultivators who have relatively longer lifespans, ten years is not much; some cultivators do not change their appearance at all in a decade.

But Mo Hua’s mother had become somewhat haggard, with even a few strands of white hair at her temples.

Thinking of himself growing up slowly, while his parents aged without his noticing—by the time he realized it, they no longer looked as they did in his memories.

Mo Hua’s heart turned sour, and his eyes became slightly blurred.

After Liu Ruhua had slept for an unknown length of time, she woke up to find Mo Hua lying beside her, with red eyes. She felt both comforted and a little distressed.

Liu Ruhua touched Mo Hua’s head, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at the Sect cultivating?”

Mo Hua silently looked at her. Liu Ruhua felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I’m alright, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“Old Mr. Feng said that you have to help in the kitchen at the Food Building for six hours every day.”

“Six hours is nothing. Look at the uncles and aunts in our neighborhood; their tasks are sometimes even harder. Your father goes out monster hunting and sometimes doesn’t sleep for several days and nights. Everyone is like this…”

Mo Hua shook his head, “Mother, your health is not good, how can you be the same? Is it because our home lacks Spirit Stones?”

Liu Ruhua sighed softly, “The home indeed doesn’t lack Spirit Stones, but you are about to start learning a Cultivation Technique, right? A medium-grade, low-level technique should cost over two hundred Spirit Stones. I was thinking of saving more so you can choose a better one when the time comes.”

Mo Hua was taken aback, “I didn’t mention anything about the techniques, how did you know, Mother?”

Liu Ruhua touched Mo Hua’s head again, “Silly child, how could your mother not know? You didn’t say because you are sensible, but your father and I naturally have to think ahead for you. Both your father and I are only at the Qi Refinement Realm, so we can’t give you the best, but within the scope of our abilities, we still want to provide you with something better.”

Mo Hua’s nose felt sour, then he took out a Storage Bag and said:

“Mother, I can earn it myself, I’ve already earned one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!”

This time it was Liu Ruhua who was surprised. She opened her mouth slightly, and after a while, she said:

“How did you earn so much…”

Mo Hua felt a bit better, “I’m helping people with Drawing Formations.”

“Is it still that Fated Gathering on the North Street?”

“Yeah.”

Mo Hua said, and then he paused, “Mother, how did you know about this too?”

Liu Ruhua smiled gently, “Your father told me. He saw you taking out so many Spirit Stones that day and suspected someone was cheating you with ill intentions. He followed you to that business and asked the manager a few questions. Then he found out you weren’t cheated; instead, it was the manager who was tricked by you. I, as your mother, didn’t even know you’d gotten an elder brother…”

Mo Hua’s mouth hung open. He felt like he had kept everything secret, but in the end, he hadn’t kept anything hidden. He even didn’t know when his father had followed him to the Formation Pavilion…

Liu Ruhua caressed Mo Hua’s face and said contentedly, “When you were little, so small and skinny, I was worried you’d be bullied and concerned about how you would make a living in the future. But now, at such a young age, you can earn so many Spirit Stones; now I’m reassured.”

“However, you should save these Spirit Stones for yourself. Don’t think it’s a lot right now. Once your cultivation is higher, or when you get married and have children, you’ll need many Spirit Stones. Saving now will prevent difficulties later.”

Mo Hua shook his head, “Mother, I will surely earn more Spirit Stones in the future; you don’t have to worry about this. The most important thing for you now is to recover your health; don’t worry about anything else.”

Liu Ruhua looked at Mo Hua tenderly, wanting to say something more but couldn’t help coughing. Mo Hua stopped her from talking any further, urging her to rest well.