Chapter 121: Ghost Walker Invokes the River God
Chapter 121: Ghost Walker Invokes the River God
Yang Gong's skills are truly not to be underestimated...
Hu Ma originally thought that he had only found an unclaimed small Blood Food Mine and was competing with a bunch of low-level cultivators for some White Ta Sui and Green Ta Sui. He thought that these things were not worth much, and that he was rash and impetuous, likely to fail.
But who could have thought that not only did Yang Gong succeed, but he also managed to snatch a full jar of Blood Ta Sui?
According to Little Red Apricot's efforts to estimate, how much would this jar contain?
Forty pounds?
Sixty pounds?
If it's full of Blood Ta Sui, could it be over a hundred pounds?
This is a life-saving treasure! This year, Blood Ta Sui is especially scarce.
In previous years, the Red Lantern Lady Association would always cut some Blood Ta Sui from Old Yin Mountain.
Old Yin Mountain, although filled with Evil Spirits and deep in techniques, is indeed abundant in Blood Food. This is also why the Blood Food Gangs in the city always vie to worship the Ta Sui in Old Yin Mountain.
But this year is different.
A couple of years ago was a great year, and they had cut Blood Ta Sui. After two years of recovery, it's reasonable to say that Blood Ta Sui wouldn't be scarce.
But strangely, they couldn't cut any this year.
Hu Ma doesn't know the reason... it's not like he's the one who eats it!
But this has led to a problem: this year's Blood Ta Sui is extremely scarce throughout Mingzhou Prefecture, and the price has risen. During the years when Blood Ta Sui was abundant, it could be sold for one taels of gold per pound. Now, how high has the price risen?
Perhaps to two taels, three taels?
Anyway, a well-refined Blood Food Pill is worth thirty taels of gold to the wealthy gentrymen in the city, who won't feel bad about buying it.
After all, it's a life-saving thing.
For the Red Lantern Association, not being able to dig up Blood Ta Sui is not a big fear, but if others find out that even the Red Lantern Association doesn't have Blood Ta Sui, it would be truly terrifying. Therefore, the entire association is now exceptionally concerned about Blood Ta Sui.
If the jar Yang Gong has is full of Blood Ta Sui, Hu Ma can't even imagine how great a contribution it would be to the Lady Association.
...Or perhaps, if it falls into his own hands, he could make a fortune?
In theory, just this jar of Blood TaSui is worth a collaboration, a big deal.
Unfortunately, time is short, and he can't gather the necessary resources in time.
Reincarnated Ones like to plan before acting, and they don't often make last-minute decisions.
...
"Given this, how should I respond to him?"
Aware of the importance of this batch of Blood Ta Sui, Hu Ma began to ponder secretly.
Yang Gong has already relayed some key information through Little Red Apricot. The people blocking him outside are a group of Blue Robes Gang disciples, and this Blue Robes Gang is a considerable force in Mingzhou Prefecture, though not as dominant as the Red Lantern Lady Association.
Though not as large as the Red Lantern Lady Association, the Blue Robes Gang still has many disciples.
They are competitors, and there have always been frictions, but they maintain a surface peace.
Moreover, the mountain where this jar of BloodTaSui was found does not belong to either party's territory, making it unclaimed property. Therefore, whoever brings the Blood Food back to their storage first will be recognized by the other party.
After all, once things come to light, the Red Lantern Lady Association would not break face over this matter with the Blue Robes Gang.
Hu Ma, realizing the crux, quickly thought of a few ideas.
"Send a message to the Red Lantern Lady Association?"
"Or invite someone from the village over?"
"..."
He thought of two, but both seemed unreliable. Mingzhou Prefecture is two hundred li away, and people would arrive too slowly.
Moreover, Little Red Apricot is unfamiliar with Mingzhou Prefecture and might get lost or be kidnapped if she goes to send a message.
If he sends a message to the village, the Old Shopkeeper's skills are indeed formidable, but his current health is not as good as before. The wound from the fight with the Vat Sect has never fully healed, and he might not be of much help.
Bringing other apprentices over would mean that the number of people would still be less than the Blue Robes Gang. Furthermore, this kind of fierce struggle could result in deaths over this jar of Blood Food, which wouldn't be worth it...
Perhaps, he could only...
His heart stirred slightly, and he vaguely thought of a possibility.
...
...
"Little Incense Master, I think we can only ask this river's enemy for help..."
Just as Hu Ma had just arrived at the fishing village on the opposite bank, preparing to row across the river, the Blue Robes Gang, who had surrounded the Water God Temple, was also thinking of a plan.
They knew the value of the jar of Blood Food they had lost and didn't want to delay. But the Red Lantern Association's few thieves had come up with the idea of breaking the jar, which left them at a loss.
But as time dragged on until dawn, they had to act. A young man in blue robes, with a topknot, approached a lecherous old man with a mole and a few black hairs on his cheek.
The old man looked skeptical, gazing at the vast river, and sighed softly, "This enemy who built the temple is probably not very smart."
"If it were any other time, I wouldn't deal with such an enemy."
"But now, the longer we drag this out, the more likely something will go wrong, and we don't know if the Red Lantern Association will send reinforcements. We can only take this route."
"..."
"I was only thinking this much."
The young Incense Master in blue robes whispered, "The thing in the jar is so valuable, who would have thought that in this small Blood Food Mine, where even cutting Green Food is difficult, they would suddenly dig out such a large piece of Blood Ta Sui?"
"Once the news spreads, the entire Mingzhou Prefecture will be in chaos."
"Right now, we can only act quickly while the news hasn't spread, and swiftly obtain the Blood Food, delivering it to the Old Clan Leader."
"Mr. Qian, as a Ghost Walker, please trouble yourself to speak with the River God."
"..."
"Rest assured, Young Incense Master. I have been supported by you for so long; it's time to show my skills."
The old man with a mole on his face laughed heartily and said, "Get me a boat, I'll prepare myself."
He then took a bundle from the cart and from it, he took out talismans, a rooster wooden sword, a bowl of rice, paper money, and banners.
After a while, when the others had rowed the boat to the shore, he moved all the items onto the boat and rowed out alone, reaching about three zhang from the shore. He burned the talisman, chanted some words, and watched the river's surface for any movement.
After a while, seeing no response, he rowed another five zhang into the river and chanted the talisman again, but still there was no movement.
The Ghost Walker was helpless, took a deep breath, and silently rowed the boat toward the center of the river.
At this point, he was far from the shore and far from the other people on the boats. If anything happened, no one could help.
Mr. Qian also straightened his clothes, his expression solemn, and released the oars, standing up on the boat. First, he cut the rooster's neck and threw it into the river, the chicken blood mixing with the river water, spreading out in the water.
Then he grabbed a handful of rice and forcefully scattered it around the boat.
He then picked up the talisman paper, burned it, and gently chanted toward the river's surface: "Heaven is clear, Earth is clear, Man is spirited, the god incarnates."
"I worship and invite the River God!"
"I invite the River God to meet, I will thank the River God with heavy gratitude!"
"..."
The talisman paper burned bit by bit into ashes, falling into the calm river water. He then took the banner and shook it forcefully.
Before long, he didn't notice the sky had already darkened. It was just dawn, the sun about to rise, but as he shook the banner, after the dawn, the sky became darker instead of lighter.
The surrounding river water also seemed to welcome the wind and waves, surging and stirring, causing his small boat to spin and tilt, almost capsizing.
"River God, show mercy..."
Mr. Qian was so frightened that he dropped the banner and crouched down, tightly gripping the sides of the boat, pleading, "Just stay here."
"I can't swim..."
"..."
But the surrounding commotion didn't diminish because of his plea for mercy. The cold air around him grew heavier.
He vaguely saw pale faces with lifeless eyes floating on the dark river surface beside the boat.
Mr. Qian hurriedly lit incense, repeatedly worshiping around the boat, trembling and stammering.
At the same time, the surrounding people, including the Young Incense Master and the others, watched the mysterious Ghost Walker row the boat into the river, all curious about what he would do.
The Blue Robe Gang had their own skills, but in the face of such unknown matters, it was more appropriate for a Ghost Walker to handle it. Unfortunately, Old Qian had rowed deep into the river, and the others couldn't see clearly, only seeing him burn incense and make bows.
After a while, the river seemed to be enveloped in fog, even the shadow of his boat couldn't be seen.
Just as they were anxious, the boat finally swayed back, OldQian, using his last strength to row to the shore, was drenched, but not from falling into the water, rather from a cold sweat induced by fear, his teeth chattering.
"Quickly get OldQian some tea."
The Young Incense Master shouted to his subordinates, who hurriedly came to receive him, whispering, "How was it?"
"No wonder it took so much effort to build this temple."
OldQian, being helped away from the river, still trembled, glancing fearfully at the river, and whispered, "This enemy has a huge appetite. I told it our matter, and it didn't refuse to help, but..."
"It wants offerings..."
The Young Incense Master listened and his expression lightened, smiling, "It's willing to help, that's good."
"Does any enemy not want offerings?"
"..."
"It's not..."
OldQian was a bit panicked, hurriedly looking around, and urgently said, "But what it wants as an offering is quite unusual..."
The Young Incense Master suddenly realized the problem, whispering, "What does it want?"
"It wants..."
OldQian spoke with difficulty, "A pair of child sacrifices..."
"..."
The Young Incense Master, hearing this, also felt a headache, somewhat reluctantly saying, "No room for negotiation?"
"I've done my best..."
OldQian sighed softly, "We Ghost Walkers invite spirits, ask spirits, and descend spirits, we respect and worship them, even a heavy word we dare not say. It responded to me and agreed to help, which is giving me face."
"To bargain with it further, my power is not enough, I fear I might offend it..."
(End of Chapter)
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