https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-131-Absolute-Life-Sect-Techniques/12898640/
Chapter 130: Preparations (Second Update)
Chapter 130: Preparations (Second Update)
"Ah?"
Hu Ma knew that the Old Shopkeeper had long been thinking of leaving, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Seeing Hu Ma's surprised expression, the Old Shopkeeper merely smiled and nodded to the side. Wu He Sister then picked up the wine jug, filled Hu Ma's cup, and then filled the Old Shopkeeper's.
The Old Shopkeeper lifted his wine cup, gesturing to Hu Ma, and sighed softly, "I've been restless for a long time. First, leaving now would make it hard to explain to those above. Second, I felt I owed you and wanted to help you plan your future."
"Now that the major matters are settled, I have no more worries, so why not leave immediately?"
"…"
"Major matters settled?"
Hu Ma caught the key point in the Old Shopkeeper's words and instantly looked at him curiously.
"Hehe, you did a good job."
The Old Shopkeeper smiled at Hu Ma and praised him, "Young people indeed have more vigor. When I was young, I might not have had the courage to fight for such a batch of Blood Food. In this matter, you've helped yourself."
"Before, I had already submitted a recommendation, but it was suppressed and no one gave a clear answer. I think they were a bit unsure about entrusting the Village to a young person like you."
"But this time, I received news that the Red Fragrance Disciples accomplished a great feat, and your name has also reached those above."
"With this, it will be much easier to recommend you."
"With me vouching for you and these two great feats as a foundation, you’re young, but you’re capable enough to manage the Village."
"…"
"Indeed…"
Hearing the Old Shopkeeper’s words, Hu Ma felt a slight relief.
No wonder, the Blood Food had been in the city for four or five days without any rewards being distributed.
It seems the Old Shopkeeper’s recommendation coincided with this, so the two matters were combined?
"You have talent, which is a good thing, but…"
The Old Shopkeeper, seeing Hu Ma deep in thought and not overly elated, fell silent for a moment. His eyes looked deeply at Hu Ma, and after a long time, he sighed softly, "Before I leave, I have to give you one piece of advice."
"Once you become the Shopkeeper, focus on your cultivation and stay out of other matters…"
"…"
Hearing his unusual tone, Hu Ma looked up and said earnestly, "Please, Shopkeeper, give me your guidance."
"There's no guidance, just a word of advice between us."
The Old Shopkeeper waved his hand and sighed, "In this world, Evil Spirits are rampant, and the world is in chaos. The officials in the county and the wealthy families, who own thousands of acres of good land, struggle to protect themselves, let alone a Blood Food Gang like ours, which worships Evil Spirits and offers Blood Food for a living?"
"Those Red Fragrance Disciples who worship the Red Lantern Lady have already entrusted their lives to her. It’s hard for them to have a second heart; they have to fight for their survival."
"But we, the Age Keepers, have our own abilities and don’t need to force ourselves into their circle…"
"No matter how powerful and formidable the Red Lantern Lady is…"
"…"
At this point, the Old Shopkeeper paused, then slowly continued, "But she is not a…"
"Person."
"…"
Caught off guard by these words, Hu Ma immediately looked up at the Old Shopkeeper.
The Old Shopkeeper, with his deep thoughts, bearing a great vengeance, and caring for his daughter, had taught Hu Ma the skills of an Age Keeper, but also had his own calculations and used him to some extent.
These words today were the most sincere ones he had ever said to Hu Ma.
"Shopkeeper, I understand."
He bowed earnestly to the Old Shopkeeper and said, "I only believe in my own abilities and don't have other aspirations."
The Old Shopkeeper, hearing this, felt relieved and looked at Hu Ma deeply.
It was unclear whether he regretted his decision in the past.
"Hu Ma Brother, I don’t know when I’ll see you again…"
In the silence, Wu He Sister spoke softly. She wore a black cotton jacket with a fur trim, tied with a belt. If her head and face were covered, she would look like a boy.
The weather was getting warmer, and while she wore this outfit in winter, it was a bit thick now. But considering her condition, it was necessary to cover up.
Now, she picked up the wine jug and carefully poured wine for Hu Ma, her eyes red.
"What are you talking about?"
Hu Ma smiled and said, "Once your injuries are healed, we’ll see each other again."
As he spoke, he turned to the Old Shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, have you found any leads on the Master Zhao’s Family?"
"It’s not yet certain."
The Old Shopkeeper also laughed bitterly and said, "The Ten Surnames Clan isn’t easy to find."
"But with this old face, I managed to have some friends in the city investigate, and we have a lead. I’m in a hurry to follow it and see if we have any luck. Thanks to the Green Jade Ointment you obtained from the Lady Society, the girl can endure the journey."
"But the Master Zhao’s Family is elusive. Whether we can find them depends on our fate."
"…"
"What is the Ten Surnames Clan?"
Hu Ma thought silently, but seeing their father and daughter in low spirits, he didn’t press the matter further, only offering a few words of comfort.
With them about to leave and having secured the best possible treatment for him, Hu Ma temporarily set aside other concerns and joined them for the meal.
Originally, he was the one being invited, but Mr. Wu was tired and not very enthusiastic. Wu He Sister, on the other hand, was quite fond of him, but being a young girl, it was ultimately Elder Brother Hu Ma who accompanied them, deliberately steering the conversation to topics of cultivation and the wandering world, dispelling the gloom.
It had to be admitted that Wu He Sister knew quite a bit about Yin-Yang cultivation and the like.
In the past, Hu Ma had learned some basics of the Yin-Yang Sect from her, which helped him understand some of the techniques in the Year-Guarding Book. Now, as they were about to part ways, Wu He Sister was even more open with her knowledge.
"The girl was quite clever in her early years, and someone even wanted to take her into the Harmful Chief Sect..."
Even the Old Shopkeeper sighed softly when he heard Hu Ma praise Wu He Sister's knowledge, his expression proud. But as soon as he turned his head, he sighed again with regret.
They drank a few cups of wine, expressing their heartfelt sentiments.
Leaving the village, the moon was already high in the willow trees, and Hu Ma was silently pondering.
Could he really take on the position of shopkeeper?
For a moment, he felt a bit uneasy. After all, he had only been in the Lady Society for less than a year, worked for a season, and now he was making a two-step leap from an apprentice to a shopkeeper, which seemed a bit exaggerated.
But then again, he thought, it might be reasonable.
He was indeed just a new recruit on Temple Street, but he had already helped the society pull off a big job, and with the leader's recommendation, becoming a small-time boss in a remote place, wasn't that too much to ask?
But then...
He suddenly realized the last issue. Since the higher-ups had spoken, he should start preparing to curry favor...
The position of shopkeeper was different from that of a manager.
Managers were appointed by the shopkeepers of each village, but the shopkeeper was a high-ranking position with substantial benefits, receiving twenty taels of silver, thirty pounds of Green Food, and one hundred and twenty pounds of White Ta Sui every month.
Additionally, every three months or during festivals, there would be Blood Food Pills and other rewards.
It was several levels higher than a manager.
Many of the managers of the villages in the Red Lantern Association, as well as those who refined Blood Food Pills and other secret medicines, were already well-known and had been invited to join.
Climbing up from the bottom would take ten to twenty years, and one would have to shed several layers of skin.
He was fortunate. The shopkeeper felt guilty and strongly recommended him, and he had also helped Yang Gong achieve a great feat, which gave him some opportunities.
But even so, it didn't mean he could rest easy. The gifts he needed to send couldn't be spared.
But how was he supposed to send them?
It wasn't like when he first joined the Red Lantern Lady Association, where a few Green Taisui would make the managers smile.
But now, if he went to the city with just a few Green Taisui, they might just politely show him the door...
If he wanted to send expensive gifts...
...he had plenty of good things, but he was reluctant to part with them, and some couldn't be shown in public.
As for what he had saved up over the past few months, he had about ten taels of silver and about ten pounds of Green Food.
That wasn't enough to curry favor with anyone, let alone everyone.
Although he wasn't very familiar with the city's social circles, based on his previous experience, he estimated that to secure his position as a shopkeeper, he would need at least three to five hundred taels of silver just for socializing in the city.
Where was he supposed to find such a large sum?
He was silently thinking as he walked back to his room, when he suddenly saw a dark figure heading straight for him.
Both were startled, and then he saw Zhou Datong pulling up his pants after coming out of the outhouse. Seeing it was Hu Ma, he relaxed and said, "You scared me, Brother Pockmark. Why aren't you going back to sleep so late? Looking for ghosts?"
"No, nothing."
Hu Ma, full of thoughts, asked casually, "Datong, do you have money?"
Zhou Datong replied, "Yes, I do."
Hu Ma asked, "How much?"
Zhou Datong said, "Several taels and a few copper coins."
Hu Ma sighed, "Never mind, go back to sleep!"
The richest second-generation villager couldn't help him, so it seemed borrowing money to send gifts wasn't a viable option.
"Brother Old Bai.gan, congratulations on your promotion..."
Feeling helpless, he went back to his room to sleep, only to find that Second Pot, with whom he hadn't spoken for a long time, had suddenly found him.
Since working with Miss White Wine on that big job, their contact had decreased. One reason was to settle the Blood Food distributed to him, and the other was to avoid drawing attention...
...though the contact between reincarnated ones was very secretive, it was still best to follow the rules of the underworld, right?
Anyone who had committed a robbery knew that after a big job, they had to avoid contact for a while.
"You know about it too?"
Hu Ma heard Second Pot's voice and felt much better.
"Not only do I know, I was the one who handed over the Blood Food you got. I even took a cut..."
Second Pot laughed, "But I'm here to ask if you're ready to take on the position of shopkeeper?"
Hu Ma paused, then laughed, "Why not? Freedom and ease, why not?"
"Well, that's convenient..."
Second Pot said, "I actually came to remind you about this tonight. Don't get too attached to the position of shopkeeper just yet."
[Editing in progress, another update coming soon]
(End of Chapter)
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