Chapter 222: Inspection
Mo Hua returned home and took out the gifts from his storage pouch, handing them to his parents for safekeeping.
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua exchanged a glance, both visibly astonished.
They could not quite tell when it happened, but the number of cultivators acquainted with Mo Hua had grown significantly. Moreover, most of them were prominent figures in Tōngxiān City—chief officers, enforcers, family heads, elders, formation masters, and the like.
Even the New Year brought him piles of gifts.
Whenever Mo Hua went out, he brought presents back; if he stayed home, gifts would be delivered to their door.
The gifts filled the house to near overflowing.
After setting the pouch aside, Mo Hua collapsed into a chair and sighed like a little adult. "So busy!"
Liu Ruhua could not help laughing.
"Mother, I'm hungry," Mo Hua said plaintively.
"I'll get you some osmanthus cake," she replied, smiling. "Just eat a little and save some room for dinner"
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.
Liu Ruhua brought him the cake and a cup of tea, then asked: "Have you returned all the courtesy gifts? Properly thanked everyone?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment, counting silently.
"All those who should be thanked have been thanked. Those who deserved gifts have received them. Now I can spend the New Year in peace."
With the social obligations behind him, his days grew calmer. He stopped running about and settled quietly at home, waiting for the festivities.
...
Each morning, he still rose early to meditate and cultivate, then drew several formation diagrams and studied formation texts. At night, he continued his practice atop the Dao Stele.
All other time was devoted to keeping his parents company.
On the day of the New Year, they shared a warm family meal.
Liu Ruhua prepared a lavish spread, and—unsurprisingly—Mo Hua overate. He sighed, took out the digestive pills Elder Feng had given him, and swallowed two.
"As expected of Grandpa Feng… truly foresighted," he thought with gratitude.
...
The next day came the customary New Year visits, followed by nights of festival revelry that lasted until the Lantern Festival. Throughout the holiday, Tōngxiān City brimmed with light and laughter.
Ordinarily, the festivities did not continue for so long, but this year was different. With new spirit mines, new smithies and alchemy houses, and the flourishing Fortune Dining House, the livelihoods of rogue cultivators had improved.
They had more spirit stones to spare, so the celebrations stretched on.
No longer did they have to return to hardship and toil the moment the year turned.
Mo Hua indulged in a bit of leisure himself, strolling the streets when he pleased. He also dropped by Fortune Dining House to visit An Xiaofu.
The place was overflowing with customers, and An Xiaofu was rushing about without pause.
When Mo Hua found him, he was seated in the hall, guzzling tea straight from the pot.
Though exhausted, he looked far more spirited and cheerful, though still every bit as round as before.
Apparently, while he worked more, he also ate more.
Leaving the restaurant, Mo Hua happened to run into Zhang Lan on the street.
Zhang Lan, a scion of a noble family, had not taken leave to return home. He knew a few people in the city, but few he called friends. Mo Hua was one of the rare exceptions, so Zhang Lan was quite pleased to see him and immediately pulled him along for a stroll.
"See anything tasty or fun? My treat!" Zhang Lan declared grandly.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang," Mo Hua said, then frowned slightly. "But Uncle Zhang, you're not exactly young anymore. Isn't it improper to be playing with a child like me instead of settling down?"
"This is called preserving one's childlike heart," Zhang Lan said solemnly.
"You mean 'a heart untainted by age,' then?"
Zhang Lan rubbed Mo Hua's hair. "Everything that comes out of your mouth sounds strange."
Mo Hua covered his head and huffed. "That's what people say when they've lost an argument."
"Fine, fine. I can't win against you," Zhang Lan sighed, then muttered, "What's so good about settling down anyway?"
Mo Hua's eyes glimmered with curiosity. "You're avoiding a marriage arrangement, aren't you?"
Zhang Lan blinked. "What makes you think that?"
"Xiaofu told me," Mo Hua said matter-of-factly. "He said family marriages are all about matching spiritual roots, forced pairings, forced weddings. You don't get to choose."
Fixing his gaze on Zhang Lan, he added, "You came all this way just to avoid being forced to marry someone you don't like and spend a miserable life together."
After saying this, Mo Hua nodded to himself, convinced of his logic.
Zhang Lan sighed. "Partly right, but not entirely. I just don't want to go back to the clan."
"Not even for the New Year?"
With mock solemnity, Zhang Lan replied, "I'm a Law Enforcer of the Dao Court Division. My duty is to maintain order in Tōngxiān City. During such an important holiday, how could I possibly leave?"
"Isn't the Dao Court Division busy, then? You have time to wander about?"
Zhang Lan frowned. "This is official duty. The Chief Officer knows; he won't mind."
"Really?" Mo Hua looked unconvinced.
"Of course."
"Oh." Mo Hua pointed behind him. "Then why is the Chief Officer calling you over? He doesn't seem to know you're 'on duty.'"
Zhang Lan froze and slowly turned around... to see Division Chief Zhou waving at him, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile.
Inspections were a Dao Court Division custom.
On major holidays, the Chief Officer personally led patrols to prevent incidents among the gathered cultivators.
Zhang Lan, caught red-handed wandering idly, could only offer a stiff smile.
Mo Hua was barely suppressing laughter and was about to slip away when Zhang Lan grabbed him. "You're coming with me."
"What for? I'm not with the Dao Court Division."
"You'll accompany me and the Chief Officer on inspection."
"I refuse."
"Tens of thousands of cultivators in Tōngxiān City would dream of such an opportunity. You should consider it an honor."
"Then you enjoy the honor."
Mo Hua saw no reason to thrust himself forward. He already knew the Chief Officer and had even sent him New Year's gifts. There was no need for more face time.
Besides, accompanying the Chief Officer on patrols was dull and stifling, far less fun than roaming freely.
Yet before he could escape, the Chief Officer gestured toward him as well.
Now there was no way out. Mo Hua sighed inwardly and reluctantly followed Zhang Lan to pay their respects.
Division Chief Zhou found such patrols tedious. Most of those accompanying him were elders of various clans or sects, all offering empty flattery with forced smiles.
It was monotonous and tiresome.
He had long grown used to it, but upon spotting Zhang Lan and Mo Hua chatting animatedly in the distance—carefree and full of life—he suddenly felt an odd twinge of envy.
So he beckoned to them both, calling them over to join his patrol.
Joy, after all, can be shared... and so can boredom.
With the lively Zhang Lan and the clever Mo Hua beside him, the inspection became far more entertaining, or at least less dreary.
Mo Hua shot Zhang Lan a resentful look; if not for him, he would have been long gone.
Zhang Lan winked back, silently promising to make it up to him later.
Thus Mo Hua found himself accompanying the Chief Officer on patrol.
Division Chief Zhou occasionally asked him questions, about cultivator customs, spirit beast materials, or festive pastries.
Mo Hua answered each in turn.
And so, he was forced to spend the entire day playing "assistant inspector," accompanying the venerable Division Chief Zhou on a calm, uneventful circuit around the city.
Division Chief Zhou was very satisfied. Mo Hua, however, could only sigh inwardly in defeat.
(End of Chapter)