Chapter 291: Worry

Mo Hua traveled swiftly and silently.

He was finally on his way home, and his heart felt lighter for it.

The deep mountains of Black Mountain were much the same as when he came—dense with trees, heavy with mist, directionless and vast.

But unlike before, every blade of grass, every tree, every ridge and stone now appeared vividly within his Divine-Sense.

His Divine-Sense had grown stronger—his perception clearer and farther-reaching, every detail more distinct.

The fog array laid down by the Third Chief within the misty forest now looked to him like a series of road signs, plainly marking the way forward.

What the naked eye saw as impenetrable fog, his Divine-Sense revealed as clearly separated paths—brightly delineated and unmistakable.

After walking for about half an hour, Mo Hua approached the edge of the deep mountains.

He stopped and frowned slightly.

This wasn’t the same cliff he had entered through before, so the path was unfamiliar, with several branching trails ahead—he wasn’t sure which direction to take.

Just then, faint sounds drifted through the fog in the distance.

They were mixed and overlapping, like many people shouting—anxious voices, and they seemed to be calling his name… “Mo Hua!”

Mo Hua froze.

Those were the voices of the Demon-Hunters.

He immediately performed the Flowing-Water Step, speeding toward the sound.

Through the thick fog, he soon saw a group of a dozen Demon-Hunters forming a search line, combing through the forest with anxious faces, calling out his name as they went.

At that moment, someone spotted a figure emerging from the mist.

The Demon-Hunters tensed, long blades drawn, each on guard.

The silhouette drew nearer—a small figure, a young cultivator by the looks of it.

A few hunters brightened with hope; the rest looked on with cautious anticipation.

As the mist thinned, they finally saw clearly—a delicate young face, eyes bright and spirited.

It was indeed Mo Hua.

Mo Hua greeted them softly.

Hearing his familiar voice and seeing that he was uninjured, all of them relaxed visibly, relief flooding their expressions.

One hunter shouted in joy, “We found Mo Hua!”

The others passed the message along.

Moments later, through the dense mist, voices echoed one after another—

“We found Mo Hua!”

“Mo Hua’s been found!”

“Found him!”

Mo Hua stood there dazed, feeling both touched and guilty.

So many people had come looking for him… risking the mountains themselves out of worry.

He’d caused everyone so much trouble.

He recalled that night, when the old evil cultivator had spoken to the Third Chief:

“There’s movement among the Demon-Hunters…”

“Something’s happened in the Inner Mountains…”

He had wondered then what that “incident” was.

Now he understood—the “incident” was him.

Years ago, when the Qian Family’s Grand Elder disappeared, the entire clan had mobilized to search the mountains, forming nets of search parties despite the danger.

Now, the Demon-Hunters were doing the very same—for him.

Mo Hua’s eyes stung, his heart tight with emotion.

After a while, he met Elder Yu.

Feeling guilty, he opened his mouth to speak, but Elder Yu raised a hand to stop him.

“We’ll talk when we get back,” the elder said.

Elder Yu’s expression was complex. Though he felt Mo Hua had acted rashly, he also knew why the boy had gone into the mountains—and could not bring himself to scold him.

Not everyone possessed both the compassion and the courage to risk their life for the sake of the itinerant cultivators of Tōngxiān City.

Fortunately, Mo Hua had returned safe and sound.

Though Elder Yu appeared calm, in his heart he was deeply relieved.

Whatever Mo Hua had found in those mountains could wait until later.

He ordered everyone to regroup and withdraw.

Gradually, the search parties assembled and began retreating from the depths of the mountains.

Mo Hua soon realized that even more people had come searching for him than he had imagined.

He recognized nearly every familiar Demon-Hunter among them, and even saw several cultivators from the Dao Court Division.

He also spotted Zhang Lan.

When Zhang Lan saw Mo Hua safe and unharmed, she too exhaled in deep relief.

She opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her—so she simply reached out and ruffled Mo Hua’s hair hard enough to leave it a mess.

Mo Hua, knowing he was in the wrong, stayed quiet.

By the time they reached the Inner Mountains, Mo Shan came rushing over from the opposite side.

Even though he’d already heard that Mo Hua was safe, it wasn’t until he saw his son in person that his heart finally settled.

Mo Hua lowered his head and said softly, “Father…”

Mo Shan had been angry before—but upon seeing his son, that anger melted away.

He sighed, patted Mo Hua’s head, and said gently,

“Go see your mother. She hasn’t slept in days.”

Mo Hua was startled. “Mother’s here too?”

Mo Shan nodded.

Mo Hua followed his father to a camp in the Inner Mountains, where he saw Liu Ruhua, his mother, waiting by the entrance.

She looked thin and haggard, her once-gentle eyes filled with exhaustion and worry.

The moment she saw Mo Hua, tears welled up silently.

Mo Hua’s nose stung. “Mother…”

Before he could say anything more, Liu Ruhua ran forward and pulled him tightly into her arms, trembling slightly.

She held him so tightly it was as if she feared that, if she blinked, he might disappear again.

She had been sleepless for days, tormented by worry—no matter how many people searched, there had been no trace of him.

She had feared she might never see her child again.

She held Mo Hua for a long time before finally calming down.

Mo Hua felt a deep guilt welling up inside. “Mother, I’m sorry…”

Liu Ruhua, eyes still glistening, shook her head and sighed.

“You may be young, but you already have your own mind—you can tell right from wrong, and you act on your convictions. I don’t blame you.”

“But remember—there are many who care deeply about you. Whatever you do, never make them worry. And whatever happens, always tell your father and me.”

Mo Hua nodded earnestly. “Mother, I understand!”

Liu Ruhua looked at her son’s delicate face and clear, water-like eyes, her heart full of tenderness. She added softly,

“And no matter what happens, you must protect your life first.”

“There are countless treasures in this world—but to your father and me, you are the most precious of them all. Even becoming an immortal is not worth more than your safety.”

Her gaze was gentle yet unwavering.

Mo Hua’s guilt deepened.

He had thought he’d already considered his parents’ feelings—but now he realized he had understood nothing at all.

He had known they would worry, but never imagined how much.

The care children give their parents can never compare to the concern parents feel for their children.

Next time, he told himself, he must never make them worry again—never cause them fear.

He looked up at Liu Ruhua and said solemnly,

“Mother, don’t worry. I’ll live well—I’ll live long, and one day I’ll become an immortal!”

“You and Father will live long too—you’ll both attain the Dao and ascend together!”

Liu Ruhua couldn’t take his words seriously, but her heart was full of warmth.

She wiped her tears, smiled, and gently pinched Mo Hua’s cheek.

“Alright,” she said softly, “then it’s a promise.”

(End of Chapter)