Setelahnya, tidak lama kemudian, Mo Hua terus menggambar formasi untuk mengumpulkan Batu Roh. Hanya dalam dua bulan, dia sudah menabung sejumlah Batu Roh yang cukup lumayan.
Suatu hari, ketika Mo Hua seperti biasa pergi ke Paviliun Formasi untuk menyerahkan hasil karyanya, dia menemukan seorang pria paruh baya berjubah Tao hijau sedang duduk minum teh di dalam toko yang biasanya sepi itu.
Pria itu membelakangi Mo Hua dan tampak familiar. Ketika pria itu berbalik, Mo Hua tertegun.
Pria berjubah Tao hijau itu adalah Instruktur Yan...
Mo Hua langsung merasa seperti ketahuan membolos.
"Mo Hua?"
Instruktur Yan juga melihat Mo Hua dan tampak agak terkejut.
Steward Gendut yang duduk di seberang Instruktur Yan sambil menuang teh, mendengar itu dan mengangkat kepalanya, "Kalian saling kenal?"
Instruktur Yan menjawab, "Dia muridku di Gerbang Tongxian."
Mo Hua segera memberi hormat, "Murid menghormat Instruktur!"
Instruktur Yan mengangguk dan bertanya, "Sedang apa kau di sini?"
Sebelum Mo Hua sempat menjawab, Steward Gendut menjelaskan, "Dia sedang menjalankan tugas untuk kakaknya, yang menggambar formasi untuk Paviliun Formasi kami. Setelah selesai, dia mengantarnya ke sini."
Instruktur Yan mengangguk dan tidak bertanya lebih lanjut.
Mo Hua menghela napas lega, lalu menyerahkan formasi itu kepada Steward Gendut, mengambil Batu Roh, dan cepat-cepat berkata, "Murid pamit dulu, biar tidak mengganggu Instruktur."
Instruktur Yan pasti sedang ada urusan dengan Steward Gendut. Melihat betapa bijaksananya Mo Hua, dia tak bisa menahan diri untuk tidak mengangguk dan berkata, "Kembalilah ke sekte lebih awal dan hati-hati di jalan."
Mo Hua dengan hormat menyetujui, membungkuk, lalu meninggalkan Paviliun Formasi.
Melihat punggung Mo Hua yang menjauh, Steward Gendut berkata kepada Instruktur Yan:
"Anak itu sopan dan sangat pintar. Kau beruntung punya murid sebaik itu."
Instruktur Yan bergumam pelan, "Hmm." Lalu bertanya, "Kau bilang kakaknya menggambar formasi untukmu?"
Steward Gendut mengeluarkan Formasi Bumi Padat yang dikirim Mo Hua dan menyerahkannya kepada Instruktur Yan untuk dilihat. "Gambarannya cukup bagus."
Ketika Instruktur Yan melihat itu adalah Formasi Bumi Padat, dia agak terkejut dan berkata, "Ini digambar oleh kakaknya?"
"Memang kenapa?" kata Steward Gendut. "Kau pikir dia yang menggambarnya? Di usianya, bahkan jika dia menguras seluruh kesadaran ilahinya, dia tetap tidak akan bisa menghasilkan formasi yang lengkap."
Instruktur Yan mengangguk, mengingat bahwa Mo Hua pernah datang menemuinya untuk berkonsultasi tentang Formasi Bumi Padat. Sepertinya Mo Hua memang melihat kakaknya sedang mengerjakan Formasi Bumi Padat, dan dengan rasa ingin tahu, datang untuk meminta nasihatnya.
"Memiliki rasa haus akan pengetahuan di bidang formasi itu bagus," pikir Instruktur Yan, "Jika dia bisa mempertahankan pola pikir seperti itu, dia mungkin suatu hari benar-benar bisa mencapai sesuatu di bidang formasi."
Berpikir demikian, Instruktur Yan memutuskan untuk tidak menyelidiki lebih jauh. Dia melirik toko yang sepi dan tenang itu, lalu menatap Steward Gendut dan bertanya, "Apa kau benar-benar ingin menjalani seluruh hidupmu seperti ini?"
Steward Gendut menjawab, "Sebagai sesama murid dalam mengejar Tao, kau seharusnya memahamiku. Aku berbeda darimu. Kau sekarang adalah instruktur Gerbang Tongxian, dengan penguasaan formasi yang mahir, hanya selangkah lagi dari ranah master formasi tingkat satu. Begitu kau melewati ambang itu, kau akan punya koneksi dan status di Kota Tongxian, dan kau pasti tidak akan kekurangan batu roh. Gerbang Tongxian pasti akan menawarkan posisi tetua kepadamu."
"Sedangkan aku," Steward Gendut menyesap tehnya, "aku hanya orang yang hidup pas-pasan, mendalami formasi secara dangkal, kurang sabar untuk praktik kultivasi sendirian. Kalau aku bisa hidup bebas setiap hari, aku sudah puas. Jangan memandang rendah aku. Lihat para kultivator bebas yang sibuk dan bekerja keras di jalanan; kehidupan santai seperti ini adalah sesuatu yang mereka rindukan tapi tak bisa didapatkan."
Instruktur Yan terdiam.
Melihat diamnya Instruktur Yan, Steward Gendut menghela napas tak berdaya dan berkata, "Apa yang bisa kulakukan untukmu?"
Instruktur Yan berkata dengan serius, "Bantu aku mencari 'Bagan Formasi Poros Roh'."
Steward Gendut mencubit pangkal hidungnya, "Setelah bertahun-tahun, kau masih belum menyerah. Kalau menurutku, kau sudah tidak muda lagi. Kau sebaiknya cari pasangan dan menetap."
"Urusan pribadi itu kecil, pewarisan formasi itu penting."
"Jadi bagaimana kalau kau menemukannya? Kakek guru agung kita tidak bisa menguasainya, gurumu juga tidak bisa. Kau pikir kau bisa? Metode formasi tingkat satu dengan dua belas pola formasi itu tidak masuk akal! Bahkan master formasi tingkat satu hanya perlu menguasai sembilan pola. Kau bahkan belum menjadi master formasi tingkat satu. Apa gunanya Bagan Formasi Poros Roh itu bagimu? Bahkan jika kau memilikinya, kau mungkin tidak akan menguasainya sampai kau di liang lahat."
Instruktur Yan tetap diam.
Steward Gendut dengan tulus menasihati, "Kakak, lepaskan saja. Lagi pula, kau tidak akan bisa menemukannya. Orang yang mengkhianati sekte kita dan mencuri formasi-formasi itu bertahun-tahun lalu sudah tidak meninggalkan jejak, bahkan para pejabat Pengadilan Tao pun tidak bisa melacaknya. Kau ini master formasi, bukan ahli seni Tao; apa yang bisa kau lakukan?"
Instruktur Yan tidak goyah dan berkata dengan suara serak, "Guru telah menunjukkan kebaikan yang besar padaku, semua pengetahuan formasiku berasal darinya. Sekarang guru telah tiada, sekte telah bercerai-berai, dan ajaran-ajarannya hilang. Pikiran itu membuatku terjaga di malam hari. Selama aku bisa mendapatkan kembali formasi-formasi itu dan mewariskannya, memenuhi keinginan terakhir guru, hal lain tidak penting."
Instruktur Yan menatap Steward Gendut dan melanjutkan, "Aku tahu kau lebih suka kenyamanan dan tidak akan meminta terlalu banyak darimu. Kabari saja kalau kau mendapat petunjuk tentang 'Bagan Formasi Poros Roh', dan aku akan mengurus sisanya."
"Bagaimana kau tahu akan ada petunjuk tentang 'Bagan Formasi Poros Roh' di Kota Tongxian?" Steward Gendut mengerutkan keningnya.
Instruktur Yan tidak menjawab.
Steward Gendut melambaikan tangannya, "Baiklah, tahu terlalu banyak juga tidak baik untukku. Aku akan setuju, tapi aku juga ingin mengingatkanmu dengan baik bahwa setelah semua usahamu, kau mungkin tetap berakhir dengan tangan kosong."
Steward Gendut, merasakan masalah di depan, tak bisa menahan diri untuk berkata,
"Kalau menurutku, lebih baik fokus mencari pasangan, punya anak. Bahkan jika kau tidak bisa menemukannya, anakmu bisa melanjutkan pencarian di masa depan, dan kau tidak akan mati sendirian. Manfaatkan usiamu sekarang dan cepat cari pasangan. Cari saja satu, jangan sampai di masa depan..."
"Tehnya sudah dingin. Aku harus pergi."
Instruktur Yan berdiri, menyapu lengan bajunya, dan pergi tanpa menghiraukan celotehan Steward Gendut yang terus-menerus di belakangnya.
Afterward, Mo Hua continued to draw the Solid Earth Formation, tirelessly for two months.
Whenever there was something unclear about the formation, he would seek guidance from Instructor Yan. Instructor Yan was a serious person with strict demands, but he always answered his disciple's questions thoroughly and earnestly.
Instructor Yan naturally felt that Mo Hua's foundations were not yet solid and that studying such advanced formations was premature, but whenever Mo Hua asked, he would still patiently explain, which Mo Hua greatly appreciated.
Sometimes, Mo Hua skipped classes to secretly draw formations and earn Spirit Stones, but Instructor Yan didn't pursue the matter too strictly, only reminding Mo Hua:
"Cultivators can have specialties, but you shouldn't be too biased. There are some spell points you may not master, but you must understand them, otherwise, after graduating and leaving the Sect to venture into the Tao Cultivation World, you will easily suffer losses and be deceived due to blind spots in your cultivation knowledge."
Mo Hua humbly accepted the instruction and benefited a great deal from it.
However, since he had no Spirit Stones to learn cultivation techniques, he could only continue to skip classes and draw formations to save up Spirit Stones.
A single Solid Earth Formation included four formation patterns and could earn two Spirit Stones, and thanks to this, Mo Hua was able to accumulate Spirit Stones much faster.
Two months later, on a certain day, Mo Hua went to the Fatty Steward as usual to deliver the orders. Upon entering, he discovered that in the normally quiet Fated Gathering sat a middle-aged man in a green Taoist robe drinking tea.
The man had his back to Mo Hua and looked familiar; when he turned around, Mo Hua was stunned.
The man in the green Taoist robe was Instructor Yan...
Mo Hua suddenly had the feeling of being caught skipping classes.
"Mo Hua?"
Instructor Yan also saw Mo Hua and appeared somewhat surprised.
Fatty Steward, who was seated opposite Instructor Yan and pouring tea, looked up upon hearing this and expressed his surprise, "You know each other?"
Instructor Yan replied, "He is one of my disciples from Tongxian Gate."
Mo Hua bowed and said, "Disciple pays respect to Instructor!"
Instructor Yan nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Before Mo Hua could speak, Fatty Steward explained, "He's running errands for his elder brother, who draws formations for our Formation Pavilion. Once completed, he delivers them here."
Instructor Yan nodded and did not inquire further.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief, then handed over the formation to Fatty Steward, took the Spirit Stones, and quickly said, "Disciple will take his leave now, so as not to disturb Instructor."
Instructor Yan must have had matters to discuss with Fatty Steward. Seeing how tactful Mo Hua was, he couldn't help but nod and said, "Return to the Sect early and be careful on your way."
Mo Hua respectfully agreed, bowed, and then left the Formation Pavilion.
Watching Mo Hua's departing figure, Fatty Steward said to Instructor Yan:
"The boy is quite polite and very smart. You're lucky to have taught such a good disciple."
Instructor Yan uttered a soft "Hmm" and then asked, "You said his elder brother draws formations for you?"
Fatty Steward took out the Solid Earth Formation that Mo Hua had delivered and handed it to Instructor Yan to look at. "It's quite well drawn."
When Instructor Yan saw that it was a Solid Earth Formation, he was slightly taken aback and said, "Was this drawn by his elder brother?"
"What else?" Fatty Steward said. "Do you really think he drew it? At his age, even if he drained all his divine sense, he still couldn't produce a complete formation."
Instructor Yan nodded, recalling that Mo Hua had come to consult with him on the Solid Earth Formation. It seemed likely that Mo Hua had seen his elder brother working on the Solid Earth Formation and, with doubts in mind, came to seek his advice.
"Having a thirst for knowledge in the realm of formations is good," Instructor Yan thought to himself, "If he can maintain such a mindset, he might indeed achieve something in formations one day."
Thinking thus, Instructor Yan decided not to pry further. He glanced at the deserted and quiet shop, then looked at Fatty Steward and asked, "Is this really how you want to spend your whole life?"
Fatty Steward replied, "As fellow disciples in the pursuit of Tao cultivation, you should understand me. I'm different from you. You are now an instructor of Tongxian Gate, with a proficient grasp of formations, a mere step away from the realm of a first-grade formation master. Once you step over that threshold, you will have both connections and status in Tongxian City, and you definitely won't lack spirit stones. Tongxian Gate will surely offer you the position of an elder."
"As for me," Fatty Steward took a sip of tea, "I'm just someone who gets by, dabbling superficially in formations, lacking the patience for solitary cultivation practice. If I can live carefree every day, I'm satisfied. Don't look down on me. Look at those loose cultivators bustling and toiling on the streets; this kind of leisurely life is something they yearn for but cannot attain."
Instructor Yan stayed silent.
Seeing Instructor Yan's silence, Fatty Steward sighed helplessly and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Instructor Yan said gravely, "Help me find the 'Spirit Pivot Formation Chart.'
Fatty Steward pinched the bridge of his nose, "After all these years, you still haven't given up. If you ask me, you're not young anymore. You should find a partner and settle down."
"Personal matters are minor, the transmission of formations is significant."
"So what if you find it? Our great-grandmaster couldn't master it, nor could your master. Do you think you can? A first-grade formation method with twelve formation patterns is preposterous! Even first-grade formation masters need only master nine patterns. You haven't even become a first-grade formation master yet. What use would the Spirit Pivot Formation Chart be to you? Even if you had it, you might not master it by the time you're in your grave."
Instructor Yan remained quiet.
Fatty Steward earnestly advised, "Elder brother, let it go. Besides, you won't be able to find it. The one who betrayed our sect and stole the formations all those years ago has left no trace, and even the Taoist Court officials couldn't track him down. You are a formation master, not skilled in Taoist skill; what can you do?"
Instructor Yan was unmoved and said hoarsely, "Master had shown me great kindness, all my knowledge of formations came from him. Now that master has passed away, the sect has scattered, and the teachings are lost. The thought keeps me up at night. As long as I can retrieve the formations and pass them on, fulfilling master's last wish, nothing else matters."
Instructor Yan looked at Fatty Steward and continued, "I know you prefer comfort and won't ask too much of you. Just let me know if you get any leads on the 'Spirit Pivot Formation Chart,' and I'll take care of the rest."
"How do you know there would be clues about the 'Spirit Pivot Formation Chart' here in Tongxian City?" Fatty Steward frowned.
Instructor Yan didn't respond.
Fatty Steward waved his hand, "Alright, knowing too much isn't good for me either. I'll agree to this, but I also want to remind you kindly that after all your efforts, you may still end up empty-handed."
Fatty Steward, sensing trouble ahead, couldn't help but say,
"If you ask me, it would be better to focus on finding a partner, having a child. Even if you can't find it, your child could continue the search in the future, and you wouldn't die lonely. Take advantage of your age now and quickly find a partner. Just find one, lest in the future..."
"The tea has gone cold. I must go."
Instructor Yan rose to his feet, swept his sleeves, and left without paying any further attention to Fatty Steward's incessant chatter behind him.
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