Mo Hua menggenggam kepalanya dan berbalik. “Semua orang itu lahir dengan tujuan tertentu, bagaimana mungkin bisa tidak berguna?”
An Xiaofu terpukul sejenak. “Apa gunanya itu?”
Mo Hua menghela napas, lalu berkata, “Kamu pasti tahu, kamu punya selera makan yang bagus, bagaimana bisa tidak berguna?”
An Xiaofu mengangguk, “Kita buka Gedung Makanan Spiritual karena tidak ada pilihan lain…”
“Tidak ada pilihan lain?”
Lihat saat itu, dagingnya enak dan sangat langka untuk seseorang yang baru saja mau ngobrol, An Xiaofu mengambil satu helai daging, mengusap air buah, lalu mulai bercanda.
“Keluarga An pada awalnya jualan di bidang Pemurnian Artefak dan Alkimia, tapi kabel yang gimengin Qian Family, bisnis kita gagal, dan kita harus bergantung pada harta warisan untuk hidup dengan makan-makan di Gedung Makanan Spiritual…”
“Lolo Kui nggak suka makanan, dia tetep pengin lanjutin Pemurnian Artefak dan Alkimia karena menurutnya menjalani Gedung Makanan Spiritual rasanya malu.”
…
“Buka Gedung Makanan Spiritual itu tidak bagus?” Mo Hua bertanya, penasaran.
“Aku rasa enak, tapi lolo Kui nggak begitu,” kata An Xiaofu perlahan. “Tapi di dunia Kultivasi Tao, semua pekerjaan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelas.”
An Xiaofu memutar jari-jarinya, sebut satu per satu:
“Pertama adalah Formasi, paling rumit untuk dipelajari dan paling banyak dipakai. Para Master Formasi dianggap hebat di mana-mana. Selanjutnya adalah Alkimia, Pemurnian Artefak, dan Pembuatan Rune, semuanya dianggap pekerjaan yang decent.”
“Yang lain seperti penanaman Rumput Spiritual, pembuatan pakaian, kerajinan, Pemburu Monster, dan lain-lain, tidak dihargai orang-orang.”
“Jangan marah atas yang akan aku katakan,” kata An Xiaofu dengan rendah hati. “Banyak Kultivator dari klan-klan besar dan sekte yang pikir makanan spiritual dan Pemburu Monster itu pekerjaan kelas bawah yang biasanya diamati oleh Kultivator Bebas, dan mereka curiga dalam hati.”
Mo Hua mengerti, tapi menolak sedikit. “Kalau tidak ada Kultivator yang melayani penanaman Rumput Spiritual, pembuatan makanan, atau tekstil, apa yang mereka makan? Tanpa makanan atau baju, kok bisa merasa sombong sih?”
An Xiaofu mengangguk. “Benar!”
An Xiaofu sangat suka makanan dan merasa makan adalah hal yang paling penting. Semua yang berkaitan dengan makanan itu sangat penting baginya.
Liu Ruhua memasak beberapa hidangan lain, termasuk daging monster dan sayuran liar dari gunung. Meskipun bahannya biasa, rasanya lezat dan ada nuansa unik yang menarik.
An Xiaofu dengan pipinya mengembang, mengunyah dengan bahagia, lalu memuji, “Mo Hua, masakannya memang enak sekali!”
Mo Hua pun tersenyum lebar, “Tentu!”
Setelah selesai makan, mereka memeluk diri dan beranjak pergi.
Melihat An Xiaofu menggapai jarak, Mo Hua perlahan merenung.
Apa yang bisa dilakukan oleh selera makan yang bagus? Jadi Master Makanan? Buka Gedung Makanan Spiritual?
Tapi keluarga An sudah membuka Gedung Makanan Spiritual…
Mo Hua memiliki gambaran samar, tapi masih perlu dipikirkan lebih lanjut.
Beberapa hari kemudian, Qian Shunzhi ketemu jejak-jejak baru dan melapor kepada Kepala Keluarga Qian Hong.
“Di selatan kota ini, ada grotta baru dibangun dengan tanda tulis ‘Bai Mansion’. Ditempati seorang wanita yang menutupi wajahnya, disertai dua Kultivator muda, laki-laki dan perempuan. Namun, tidak jelas kalau mereka itu ahli Formasi.”
Sepintas waspada, mata Qian Hong berbincang. “Ini keturunan seruan keluarga besar yang daurat. Kita nggak bisa ganggu mereka, dan mereka jarang bantu Pemburu Monster. Ada yang lain?”
Qian Shunzhi mengajukan, “Seorang Kultivator tua lewat datang, dengan niat yang jelas, dan berangkat dari Tongxian City setelah beberapa hari. Beberapa Master Formasi tengah usia di inn, ada hubungan dengan klan setempat…”
Setelah dipikirkan, Qian Hong berkata dingin, “Ini tidak jejak yang benar, telahkan lebih lanjut.”
Melihat reaksinya yang tak terduga, Qian Shunzhi mengeluarkan beberapa Diagram Formasi dan menyerahkannya.
“Bawa ini ke Master Qian dan tanya apakah dia bisa temukan jejak.”
Qian Shunzhi memuji dan kemudian menyerahkan Diagram Formasi serta jejaknya kepada Master Qian.
Master Qian sedang berdiskusi dengan sekumpulan Master Formasi di dalam perpustakaan Keluarga Qian.
Beberapa Master Formasi itu berasal dari Keluarga Qian, ada yang dekat dengan Keluarga Qian, dan yang lain, meski tidak begitu dekat dengan Keluarga Qian, datang karena ajakan Master Qian.
Di Tongxian City yang penuh dengan Master Formasi langka itu, semua orang pasti punya hubungan dengan yang lain.
Sebagai klan terkemuka dan terkaya di Tongxian City, mereka pun tidak bisa menyombong diri di depan Keluarga Qian.
Seorang Master Formasi tingkat pertama bukanlah orang yang terlupakan, dan tidak mungkin tidak punya ikatan dengan berbagai klan.
Master Qian mengundang semua Master Formasi dari Tongxian City untuk menelusuri jejak-jejak orang yang punya kaitan dengan Master Formasi tingkat pertama.
Jika ada kaitan, semua negosiasi bisa berjalan lancar, dan mereka bisa memanfaatkan hubungan ini untuk membangun jaringan dengan Master Formasi tingkat pertama itu.
Namun, setelah diskusi yang panjang, tetap tidak ada jejak yang dimulainya.
Master Formasi tingkat pertama sepertinya muncul tanpa jejak asal, tidak ada satupun orang yang tahu asalnya.
Tiba-tiba Qian Shunzhi masuk dengan Diagram Formasi.
Master Qian mengambil dan setelah memeriksa, menundukkan alisnya, lalu menyerahkannya kepada Master Formasi lainnya untuk dilihat.
“Apakah ada yang bisa melihat sesuatu?” tanya Master Qian.
“Diagram-formasi ini sangat baik digambar.”
“Mereka menunjukkan pemahaman yang baik atas prinsipnya.”
“Aksennya sangat kompeten, menunjukkan fondasi yang kuat.”
“Dang, hanya itu Formasi tingkat rendah, hanya ada lima atau enam Pola Formasi, sulit dilihat apa-apa di dalamnya…”
Master Formasi lainnya berdiskusi.
Yang terakhir, seorang Master Formasi yang berbau kulit tipis berpikir, “Kalau Diagram Formasi ini memang dibuat oleh Junior Master Formasi itu, maka Junior Master Formasi itu pasti punya ikatan dengan Master Formasi tingkat pertama itu.”
Semua Master Formasi lainnya mengangguk bersama, “Kalau tidak ada ikatan, gimak bisa di usia muda sudah bisa menggambar Diagram Formasi yang bagus seperti ini?”
Sementara mereka berdiskusi, seorang murid dari Keluarga Qian melompat ke dalam dengan perintah, “Master Luo telah tiba.”
Master Qian langsung berdiri, dan Master Formasi lainnya juga berdiri dan menuju pintu, mengucapkan salam dengan telapak tangan bersilang, “Master Luo, selamat datang!”
Ternyata yang datang itu adalah Master Luo, salah satu dari beberapa Master Formasi tingkat pertama yang benar di Tongxian City, yang telah diakui oleh Pengadilan Tao.
Beberapa Master Formasi tingkat pertama di Tongxian City yang lain sudah tua, lebih memilih kesolitan, dan jarang muncul di publik. Hanya Master Luo yang akan muncul dari waktu ke waktu.
Master Luo mengembalikan salam, “Terima kasih, teman-teman.”
Kemudian ia menghadap Master Qian, “Master Qian, lama tidak berjumpa.”
Master Qian buru-buru mengecuali, “Aku tidak berhak, tidak berhak. Bagaimana aku bisa memuji diri di hadapan Master Luo?”
Master Luo tertawa, “Saudara Qian, kamu terlalu rendah hati. Dengan pemahamanmu tentang Formasi, menjadi tingkat pertama hanyalah masalah waktu.”
Master Luo masuk ke dalam aula dan menunduk ke kursi kehormatan, sementara Master Formasi lainnya mengatur kursi sesuai status masing-masing.
Seorang maidservant dari Keluarga Qian melangkah maju untuk mengantar teh.
Master Qian berkata, “Ini teh Kabut Langit dari Lu Feng, hijau dan sejuk, cantik warna dan aroma. Master Luo, silakan nikmati.”
Master Luo menatapnya dengan penuh kehangatan, mengangkat tutup cangkirnya, lalu aroma teh mengalir seperti kabut. Setelah mendagikannya, rasa manis menyebar ke telur leher, menenangkan hatinya dan perutnya. Ia mengangguk dengan puas, “Tehnya sangat enak!”
Setelah duduk dan menikmati teh, mereka kembali ke urusan yang ada.
Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Master Luo_1
Mo Hua shook his head and said, “Everyone is born with a purpose, how can I be of no use?”
An Xiaofu was puzzled for a moment, “What use could it possibly have?”
Mo Hua thought for a while but couldn’t quite articulate it; he was unsure about the specifics concerning food, so he said,
“Your family runs a Food Building, and you have such a good sense of taste, how can it be of no use?”
An Xiaofu sighed, “We opened the Food Building because we had no other choice…”
“Had no other choice?”
Seeing that it was still early and the meat was delicious, and it was rare for someone to talk to him, An Xiaofu took a bite of meat, sipped his fruit wine, and started chatting with Mo Hua:
“The An Family initially was in the business of Artifact Refining and Alchemy, but we couldn’t compete with the Qian Family, our business failed, and we could only rely on some ancestral properties to make a living running a Spiritual Meal Building…”
“My grandfather didn’t like running a Food Building; he still wanted to continue with Artifact Refining and Alchemy because he felt that running a Food Building was a loss of face.”
…
“Is running a Food Building not good?” Mo Hua asked, somewhat puzzled.
“I think it’s pretty good, but my grandfather doesn’t,” An Xiaofu mumbled, “and in the world of Tao Cultivation, all trades are ranked into different classes.”
An Xiaofu counted on his fingers, listing one by one:
“First comes Formation, the hardest to learn and the most commonly used. Formation Masters are considered superior wherever they go. Followed by Alchemy and Artifact Refining, as well as Rune making, all of which are considered decent professions.”
“Others like spiritual meals, Spirit Plant cultivation, textile, craftsmanship, Monster Hunting, and the like, aren’t really respected by people.”
“Don’t be offended by what I’m about to say,” An Xiaofu said meekly, “Many cultivators from large clans and sects think that spiritual meals and Monster Hunting are lower class jobs only suited for Loose Cultivators, and they disdain them in their hearts.”
Mo Hua understood but disagreed somewhat, “If there are no cultivators engaged in Spirit Plant cultivation, spiritual meals, or textile, what would they eat and wear? Without food or clothes, what is there to be pompous about?”
An Xiaofu nodded, “Exactly!”
An Xiaofu loved food and thought eating was the most important thing. Anything related to food was of great importance to him.
Liu Ruhua made several other dishes, including Monster meat and wild vegetables from the mountains. Although the ingredients were common, the flavors were delicious, and the tastes were very unique.
An Xiaofu, with his cheeks puffed out, ate heartily and couldn’t help but praise, “Mo Hua, your mother’s cooking is really delicious.”
Mo Hua was even happier than if he had been complimented himself, “Of course!”
After they had finished eating, they waved goodbye to each other.
Watching An Xiaofu’s retreating figure, Mo Hua couldn’t help but ponder,
What can a good sense of taste be used for?
Become a Meal Master? Open a Food Building?
But the An Family had already opened a Spiritual Meal Building…
Mo Hua had a vague idea in mind, but he needed to think it through more thoroughly.
After several days of investigation, Qian Shunzhi finally came upon some leads and went to report to Family Head Qian Hong.
“A new cave dwelling was built to the south of the city, bearing a sign that reads ‘Bai Mansion’. It is inhabited by a veiled woman, accompanied by two young cultivators, male and female. But it is uncertain whether they are skilled in Formation.”
A trace of wariness flashed in Qian Hong’s eyes, “These are the wandering descendants of great families; we cannot afford to provoke them, and they won’t bother with helping those Monster Hunters. Anything else?”
Qian Shunzhi said, “An elderly cultivator passed by, with unclear intentions, and left Tongxian City after a few days. Several middle-aged Formation Masters stayed in the inn, having some connections with the local clans…”
After thinking for a moment, Qian Hong said coldly, “These are not the right leads, go and investigate further.”
Seeing Qian Hong’s somewhat unexpected reaction, Qian Shunzhi took out several Formation Diagrams and handed them over.
“There’s a Junior Formation Master among the Monster Hunters; these formations are his creations. Some are genuine works of the Formation Master, while others are rubbings made by others.”
Qian Hong took them and glanced at them, slightly disappointed, “They are all common formations, not even first-rate.”
He may not be a Formation Master and couldn’t tell what the formations were, but he could count the Formation Patterns.
These formations, old and new, with mature brushwork, mostly consisted of five or six Formation Patterns.
For a young cultivator around ten years of age to be able to draw five or six Formation Patterns, that already showed exceptional talent, no wonder he was called a “Junior Formation Master”.
But the Qian Family was not looking for this Junior Formation Master, but rather that mysterious first-rank Formation Master.
“Send more people to search,” Qian Hong instructed.
“Yes.”
Qian Shunzhi bowed respectfully and was about to leave when he was called back by Qian Hong.
After a moment of contemplation, Qian Hong handed him several formation diagrams, “Take these formations to Master Qian and see if Master Qian can find any clues.”
Qian Shunzhi respectfully acknowledged the request and then transferred the formation diagrams and their imprints to Master Qian.
Master Qian was in the Qian Family’s library, discussing matters with a group of Formation Masters.
Some of these Formation Masters were from the Qian Family, some had close dealings with the Qian Family, and others, though not as closely related to the Qian Family, had to come over upon the invitation of Master Qian.
In such a vast place as Tongxian City, where Formation Masters were scarce, everyone would inevitably have some connections with each other.
As the most prominent and wealthiest clan in Tongxian City, naturally, they could not afford to slight the Qian Family’s dignity.
A first-rank Formation Master was not an obscure individual and could not possibly have no ties to the various clans.
Master Qian invited these Formation Masters from Tongxian City to probe around to see if anyone had any leads, or perhaps any connection to the mysterious Formation Master.
If there really was a connection, then all negotiations could proceed smoothly, and they could use this relationship to foster connections with that Formation Master.
However, after a long discussion, they still had no leads.
The first-rank Formation Master seemed to have appeared out of thin air, with not a single person knowing their origin.
Just as everyone was at a loss, Qian Shunzhi entered with the formations.
Master Qian took the formations and after looking through them, furrowed his brow, and passed the formations on for the other Formation Masters to examine.
“Can anyone see anything?” Master Qian asked.
“These formations are well-drawn.”
“They show a good understanding of the principles.”
“The brushwork is very skilled, showing a strong foundation.”
“It’s a pity they are just low-level formations, with only five or six Formation Patterns, hard to discern anything from them…”
The Formation Masters discussed amongst themselves.
The last, a thin-faced Formation Master, mused, “If these formations were indeed drawn by that Junior Formation Master, then this Junior Formation Master must be related to that first-rank Formation Master.”
The other Formation Masters nodded in agreement, “If there were no connection, he couldn’t draw such good formations at such a young age.”
As they were talking, a Qian Family disciple entered the room and respectfully said, “Master Luo has arrived.”
Master Qian immediately stood up, and the other Formation Masters also rose and went to the door, saluting the newcomer with clasped hands, “Master Luo, greetings!”
The visitor was indeed Master Luo, one of the few true first-rank Formation Masters in Tongxian City, certified by the Taoist Court.
The other few first-rank Formation Masters in Tongxian City had aged, preferred solitude, and no longer socialized. Only Master Luo would occasionally make an appearance.
Master Luo returned the greetings one by one, “You flatter me, gentlemen.”
Then he turned to Master Qian, “Master Qian, long time no see.”
Master Qian hurriedly demurred, “I dare not, I dare not. How can I presume the title of ‘Master’ in front of Master Luo.”
Master Luo laughed, “Little Brother Qian, you are too modest. With your understanding of formations, advancing to first-rank is just a matter of time.”
Master Luo entered the main hall and took the seat of honor, while the other Formation Masters took their seats according to their status.
A Qian Family maidservant came forward to serve tea.
Master Qian said, “This is Cloud Mist Tea from Lu Feng, emerald and tender, a beauty in color and fragrance. Please, Master Luo, enjoy.”
Master Luo’s eyes brightened, he lifted the cup’s lid, and the tea’s aroma wafted out like mist. After tasting a sip, the sweetness spread to his throat, refreshing his heart and spleen. He nodded in approval, “Excellent tea!”
Once seated and having tasted the tea, the group turned to the matter at hand.
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