Chapter 131: Absolute Life Sect Techniques
Chapter 131: Absolute Life Sect Techniques
"Hmm?"
When Cold Bingding heard Second Pot Elder Brother say this, Hu Ma was taken aback for a moment.
However, he quickly recovered and lowered his voice, "Is something wrong?"
He instantly became cautious.
If he were an ordinary young man from the village, he would have risked his life for the opportunity to become an Innkeeper. After all, this wasn’t just a matter of sustenance; it was a direct path to the clouds, a real chance to make the ancestral grave smoke rise, even though it was just a small Innkeeper position, it meant having a voice and influence in the Red Lantern Association, and taking care of the Big Sheep Village.
Could he wait until the Red Lantern Association recruited more children from the village?
Hu Ma, now a Manager, was among the most promising youths in the Ten Li and Eight Villages.
If he were to become an Innkeeper, the Old Clan Leader couldn’t just overlook him, right?
But Hu Ma was, after all, a Reincarnated One, born with a ghost embryo in his heart. For this position, he wouldn’t be so stunned. Once he heard there was a problem, he immediately became a bit more cautious.
"Hehe, those who become Innkeepers are often not the favorite of the Lady. Of course, the Lady’s favorites can’t do these jobs. But to support them with such generous money, food, and Blood Food, isn’t it truly not as easy as it seems?"
Second Pot Elder Brother sneered, "There might come a time when they will be needed."
"By coincidence, a wave is coming next month. So, I think you should weather this storm and then decide on the Innkeeper position."
"..."
Hearing Second Pot Elder Brother’s words, Hu Ma was inwardly cautious, "What specifically is the matter? Tell me."
"Specifically..."
Second Pot Elder Brother hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice, "Don’t let slip a word."
"This matter, now that I’m involved, only three people in the Red Lantern Association know. Once the news leaks, outsiders can easily lock onto you and me."
"..."
Hu Ma solemnly said, "I understand the severity."
Only then did Second Pot Elder Brother softly sigh, "Next month, Innkeepers from all the villages will have to enter the city, to exert their utmost efforts."
"The Blue Robe Gang’s evil spirits have been suppressed by our Red Lantern Lady for so long. Now, they finally can’t hold back anymore..."
"..."
"Wh-what?"
Hu Ma listened carefully and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, realizing how important the matter Second Pot Elder Brother had told him was.
He had been so elated earlier, never imagining he could have almost encountered such bad luck.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he looked earnestly at Second Pot ElderBrother, "Elder Brother, this intelligence has literally saved my life."
"I can’t take it for granted, so consider me one favor in your debt."
"..."
Second Pot Elder Brother said, "No need to be so formal. This is the basic cooperation mode for Reincarnated Ones. If there’s anything you need to pass along, it doesn’t mean we must act immediately."
Though he said this, HuMa still remembered this favor.
Such matters were truly wonderful. Others only needed a word, yet it had significantly changed his fate.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "So, do I need to push for the Innkeeper position?"
"It’s not about pushing. Being an Innkeeper in the outside village is indeed comfortable, and future cooperation will be easier."
Second Pot ElderBrother added, "But don’t take the lead now, even hiding out for a while is fine. Also, don’t worry about the Innkeeper position being lost. Choosing an Innkeeper for a village is a troublesome matter."
HuMa thought about it and said, "I understand."
Seeing HuMa’s quick agreement, Second Pot Elder Brother also smiled, "Really, I didn’t expect you to show your head so fast."
"That boy called Yang Gong, everyone hates him, and he looked at me with white eyes. Who would have thought he would especially recognize you. A few days ago, when I rewarded him, he kept praising your efforts, saying no other Innkeepers were as good as you, doing much to-promote your reputation..."
"I don’t want that kind of reputation, it’s just offending people..."
Hu Ma, hearing this, also felt somewhat helpless, and bitterly smiled, "Actually, I helped him a bit at first, but I was worried. That credit was too tempting. After some thought, I still did the deed."
"That great credit is indeed worth it. Among those you brought into the Red Lantern Lady Association last year, not many stood out, and in the Green Fragrance Disciples, you are the only one."
As Second Pot Elder Brother spoke, there was no regret in his voice, "However, it was such a large batch of Blood Food. If we could have gotten our hands on it, it would have been better..."
Hu Ma smiled, "It’s not that I didn’t feel for it, but the matter was too urgent, there was no time to arrange..."
"True, acting can’t be too frequent, or sooner or later, something would happen."
After some thought, Second Pot Elder Brother deeply acknowledged and smiled, "It’s not a loss, that Red Fragrance Disciple calledyang Gong, so ignorant and belligerent, completely doesn’tknowhow tohidehisweakness."
"Initially, I thought he would quickly lose his life, but unexpectedly, he took a sharp turn, snatching this great credit, catching the Lady’s eye. Now, you doing well with him isn’t bad, and in the future, there might be use for him."
"..."
Hu Ma, hearing this, deeply acknowledged.
Yang Gong was a typical yet special case. Not just Second Pot Elder Brother, even he himself had not seen him favorably earlier.
But precisely, such people, not favored by others and seen as having too many flaws, sometimes could, with a simple mind and a burst of energy, do something astonishing. Of course, they could also die the next day.
Feeling a sense of admiration, Hu Ma suddenly became curious about something and asked, "What do these Red Fragrance Disciples aspire to?"
Second Pot Elder Brother laughed and said, "They generally go through more dangerous experiences than the Green Fragrance Disciples."
"These disciples who burn red incense, once they join the association, their first thing is to enjoy comfort, with the finest Blood Food provided, good sleep, and good clothes."
"Most of them come from poor backgrounds, lacking in innate qualities, so they need to nourish their bodies. Otherwise, they might lose their souls to a gust of Yin Qi before even seeing the Red Lantern Lady's Association."
"Once they are well-nourished, they face the first test called 'Red Lantern Worship.'"
"In the midnight hall, they hold three incense sticks and kneel before the red lantern, being illuminated by it for the entire night. If they can't endure it, they die."
"Even if they don't die, their bodies eroded by Yin Qi will fall seriously ill."
"But if they can survive, they become Yin Bodies. At this point, as long as they learn the incantations and techniques, they can summon the Red Lantern Lady's power when needed..."
"You can consider them as walking red lanterns."
"Of course, that's not enough. Learning to summon the Red Lantern Lady's power only means they can start working. There are also a series of special situations to consider, such as how to worship, how to nourish their bodies, and how to cleanly perform dirty tasks, etc."
"If they learn well and are willing to work, and if they catch the Red Lantern Lady's eye, they might be assigned to serve directly before her lantern, following her commands and executing her will..."
"Actually, these disciples, if they pass three tests, belong to a specific path called the Spirit Bearer."
"Currently, in the Wandering World, the most common are these Spirit Bearers, who take the most dangerous paths and strive for the greatest riches."
"So, if Yang Gong survives, he cannot be underestimated."
"..."
Hu Ma, listening, felt a sense of admiration and whispered, "Year Guardians, Ghost Walkers, Spirit Bearers..."
"How many paths are there in this world?"
"..."
Second Pot Elder Brother laughed and said, "That's a big question. In your previous life, could you understand all the disciplines in the world?"
He asked a rhetorical question and then continued, "In short, the most common paths in the Wandering World are the Year Guardians, Ghost Walkers, Spirit Bearers, Execution Souls, Head Harmer, Life Keeper, Yin Communicator, Disaster Thief, Performers, and Khmer Sorcery, among others."
"But human creativity is boundless, and this applies to these paths as well."
"Each major path branches out and blends, giving rise to countless minor paths and specialized techniques, which are beyond our imagination."
"..."
"My understanding of this world is just the tip of the iceberg..."
Hu Ma thought to himself, "Now I have chosen the path of the Year Guardian, but I also need to learn the skills from the Book of Year-Taming. What path does the content of the Book of Year-Taming belong to? Is it the path of the Ghost Walker, or something else I don't know?"
He didn't want to ask Second Pot Elder Brother directly about the Book of Year-Taming, so he subtly asked, "This time, while going out on business with Yang Gong, I met a Ghost Walker from the Blue Robe Gang, Elder Brother, do you understand the path of the Ghost Walker?"
"Ghost Walker?"
Second Pot Elder Brother was initially surprised but then laughed, "That's one of the easiest paths to enter, and there are many of them in the Wandering World."
"But you don't need to worry. Most Ghost Walkers are quite easy to deal with because the essence of the Ghost Walker path is not something just anyone can master..."
"..."
"Burning money!"
"..."
As he spoke, he casually mentioned some of the Ghost Walker's techniques, which were quite detailed and broadened Hu Ma's horizons.
After a lively conversation, Second Pot Elder Brother reluctantly ended the connection, sighing, "If only every chat with Miss White Wine was as engaging as this one with you."
"..."
Hu Ma was speechless. How did he end up being criticized for no reason?
But after exiting the Life-bound Spirit Temple, he thought helplessly: extraordinary people, various paths...
This world is truly profound, strange, and complex...
What brought himself, Second Pot Elder Brother, Miss White Wine, and others, the reincarnated ones, to this world?
Just to survive in this world?
Even if they gradually learn skills and establish themselves, what will ultimately await them?
This fundamental question had never been given much thought by Hu Ma, but now, the more he thought about it, the more he felt a headache and confusion.
In the end, he could only sigh and hide this initial question deep in his dreams.
When the sky was still dark, he heard the courtyard gate open and got out of bed. He saw Mr. Wu's old servant already leading a carriage into the inner courtyard, loading luggage onto it.
Hu Ma went to help, placing things securely without disturbing the apprentices. As the sky began to lighten, he sent off the two elders and the young one out of the manor.
In the mist, he could vaguely see Wu He Sister lifting the curtain to look back.
But what else could he do besides wave goodbye to her?
His heart was clear: the Wandering World is vast, and life is full of ups and downs. Whether reincarnated or natives of this world, everyone is struggling to survive.
Why think too far ahead? First, survive, then think about living meaningfully...
Three more chapters! More updates tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
