https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-152-Paper-Man-on-the-Back-Second-Update-/12899740/
Chapter 151: Paper Figures Scouting (First Update)
Chapter 151: Paper Figures Scouting (First Update)
The one hiding in the ancestral hall should be Diguashao, right?
He mentioned that he had already taken action, which aligns with what Young Master Lu said.
However, this kid is actually a girl?
Earlier, her voice sounded somewhat high-pitched, more like a woman's, but I thought she was just trying to change her voice. Now it seems she was using her natural voice all along...
...These newbies are really unprofessional!
Of course, even if she had concealed this information, Hu Ma couldn't really say much.
She had already laid out all the secrets of her sect and the matters he needed to be cautious about. Gender is a minor issue.
However, his slightly pensive expression was noticed by Young Master Lu, who suddenly turned to look at Hu Ma and smiled, "Brother Zhou, do you have something to say?"
"..."
Hu Ma was slightly taken aback but, meeting his gaze, simply said, "Since we're about to set off, could the master explain the plan?"
After asking, he seemed a bit embarrassed and added, "It's not that I don't understand the rules, but if I have a clearer understanding, I can better assist the master."
"Like yesterday, I didn't know anything and was scared to death by the old man."
"..."
"Very well."
Young Master Lu glanced at Hu Ma, noting his open and honest expression. He also noticed that several of the others he had invited looked doubtful and hesitant. He said, "I mentioned earlier that I invited everyone here to help me seize a treasure."
"To be honest, this treasure was planted by my master over a decade ago."
"To prevent it from being discovered or something going wrong, he set up some safeguards around it."
"Now, my junior sister and I both want to seize this treasure and make a name for ourselves."
"But our master has said he is not biased. Whoever can get the treasure will do so based on their own abilities."
"However, he has three unique skills. My junior sister learned two, while I only learned one."
"Moreover, my junior sister is one of the few shameless, despicable, and cunning women I've ever met. She's especially good at flattering the old man..."
"Master is pleased, and she has already figured out the situation around the treasure and arrived there three days ahead of me."
"Now that I've lost the first move, I have no other options."
"To arrive before she does, I need to prepare to counter the safeguards my master left behind and also guard against the tricks my junior sister might set up. That's why I invited all of you here, to leverage your skills and help me counter her devious plans."
"..."
Everyone listened and felt that the rules of this sect were indeed quite sinister.
Comparing what he said, Hu Ma found it matched what Diguashao had mentioned earlier.
This Young Master Lu is no simple character.
People from the past had summarized that lies are seven parts truth and three parts falsehood. He might not know this formula, but he has naturally mastered it through his shrewdness.
Now, as he speaks, he appears open, indignant, and unwilling. Even the most experienced wanderers couldn't find any flaws in his words.
The only thing that was a bit surprising was what Diguashao had done to make her senior brother so angry.
"Since everyone is helping me, I won't be stingy."
Seeing that no one objected, Young Master Lu smiled and said, "Although breakfast might be a bit greasy, please bear with it!"
As he spoke, a servant outside brought out a small tray, on which were several blue-and-white bowls filled with sliced meat, mostly lean.
"Could this be, Green Taisui?"
As the bowls were placed in front of them, someone sniffed and immediately changed color, "Young Master Lu is truly generous."
Young Master Lu smiled, "What's this? If we succeed, I'll treat everyone to the finest secret blood wine."
While the others were excited, Hu Ma and the seemingly dull man showed no special reaction. The dull man poked at the meat with his chopsticks, seemingly unsure what it was.
The others couldn't hold back and started eating in large bites. Hu Ma watched, gaining a rough understanding of the "wandering world."
It seems that life as a wanderer is not as affluent as he had imagined. A bowl of Green Food is indeed a good thing.
But in the village, he had never lacked such things, and even Zhou Datong could occasionally indulge in such a treat.
However, they treated it as a rare supplement.
Old Monkey and Young Master Lu, after a few bites, began to pack up.
Hu Ma noticed they led a donkey cart into the courtyard and placed several bundles and vividly crafted paper figures on it, though their eyes were unmarked, making them look hollow and pale. Their cheeks were painted with bright, eerie red.
There was also a white lantern, the same type Old Monkey mentioned yesterday, but larger.
It wasn't lit, so it was unclear if there were any moths inside.
Seeing the master prepare so earnestly, the workers also pretended to prepare.
The two with jaundiced faces sharpened their weapons, both using knives.
The one with the throwing knives checked his waist pouch, revealing two rows of eight knives, sharp and menacing.
Only Hu Ma and the taciturn brother exchanged glances, then lowered their heads to continue eating.
As the sun rose higher, everyone wiped their mouths and followed Young Master Lu out, clustering around the donkey cart. The cart was piled high with things, so no one sat on it, but walked behind it step by step out of the town, heading west.
After walking about twenty to thirty li, the surroundings became increasingly desolate. There were traces of farmland, but it was now overgrown with weeds.
Looking up, they found themselves at the foot of a hill. It wasn't as large as Old Yin Mountain, just a small mound, but it was lush and green.
On top, a large area was planted with pine and cypress trees. It was late spring, early summer, but the vibrant life expected was absent. Instead, the ground was covered with withered and yellowed grass, making one feel uneasy.
Overhead, a dark cloud had drifted over, obscuring the sun.
Everyone followed the donkey cart to the foot of the hill and looked up, seeing a narrow path winding up the hill, almost hidden by the weeds.
For some reason, they all felt a bit uneasy.
"The Ma Family Ancestral Hall is up there," Young Master Lu stopped and said to everyone, "It's daytime, but everyone should still be cautious."
"My junior sister's skills are formidable even in broad daylight!"
"..."
As he spoke, he took a black cloth from his chest and blindfolded the donkey's eyes.
At first, the donkey raised its head, unwilling to be blindfolded, but after a slap, it obediently let the cloth be tied to its head.
After blindfolding the donkey, he took a copper basin from the cart.
Hu Ma examined it closely and saw that it was already quite dirty and had many black spots, indicating it had been used for a long time.
Looking closely, he felt an uncomfortable yin qi, and realized that this was likely an old object. If he took it, it would be quite useful for practicing the techniques in the Book of Year-Taming...
...The techniques of the Soul Punishment Sect share many similarities with those of the Ghost Walkers.
He placed the copper basin in the middle of the path, then took a paper figure from the cart.
Holding it in one hand, he took a simple ink box from his chest with the other, drew a pen, and dipped it in the ink, which was half black and half red, and lightly touched the white eye sockets of the paper figure.
"Go, explore the path up the hill!"
Putting away the ink box, he took a fire striker from Old Monkey, lit the paper figure, and let it burn.
The ashes fluttered down into the copper basin in front of him.
When the paper figure was halfway burned, he placed it completely in the basin and crouched down to watch carefully.
After the paper figure was completely burned, he picked up the basin, faced the ashes inside, and silently recited something, then tipped the basin to let the ashes fall.
The ashes drifted and fluttered with the mountain breeze, flying up the hill. After he finished, he stared intently, not blinking.
Those with poor eyesight saw the ashes fly away with the wind.
But those with keen eyesight could see that some of the ashes, carried by the mountain breeze, did not fall to the ground but floated up the hill.
However, they only flew about ten zhang before a sudden cold wind blew down from the hill, sweeping the ashes back and blowing them onto Young Master Lu's face.
He hurriedly waved his sleeve to clear the ashes, nearly losing his balance, and his face turned terrifyingly pale.
"My junior sister's Daoist power is getting deeper and deeper..."
He gritted his teeth, stared fiercely at the hill, and said softly, "Gentlemen, let's go!"
No one knew what the paper figure had discovered on the path, but it was clear that things were not going smoothly. They hesitated and moved slowly.
But Young Master Lu quickly recovered and turned around.
His expression softened slightly as he looked at one of his followers, the one skilled in throwing knives, and said, "Master Qiao, we'll need your expertise with the throwing knives. We'll follow the path up the hill, and if anything appears, you must nail it with a knife."
"Give me your knives first."
"..."
The knife thrower hurriedly agreed and unfastened his waist pouch.
Young Master Lu took the knives, traced something on them with his finger, and handed them back. It was hard to see any change.
The knife thrower lowered his voice and asked, "Sir, what did you draw on the knives?"
"It's not a talisman, it's an incantation."
Young Master Lu said, "I cast an incantation from our Soul Punishment Sect on your knives. If my junior sister sends anything, your knives might hit it, but they won't hurt it. With my incantation, they will be able to harm those things."
"However, my power is still shallow, and the incantation will only last for the duration of a stick of incense, after which it will need to be recast. You must be very accurate later."
"Yes, yes."
The knife thrower nodded repeatedly, then hesitated, "If we succeed, I don't want silver. Can you teach me this incantation?"
Young Master Lu looked at him in surprise and said coolly, "We'll discuss it later."
(End of Chapter)
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