https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-151-Paper-Figures-Scouting-First-Update-/12898687/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-153-The-Evil-Man-and-the-Fierce-Blade/12899741/
Chapter 152: Paper Man on the Back (Second Update)
Chapter 152: Paper Man on the Back (Second Update)
Seeing that Young Master Lu’s attitude wasn’t too good, the one who wielded the flying knife hurriedly agreed and didn’t ask any more questions.
If they were willing, it would be best, but if not, there was nothing he could do.
In fact, in the Wandering World, there were many half-skilled practitioners who came from such backgrounds. No matter how good their flying knife technique was, they were still outsiders to the Inner Circle. They could injure people, but if they couldn’t harm evil spirits, learning this incantation would at least get them a foot in the door, raising their value.
Of course, spending several hundred taels for an incantation, some people thought it was a bargain, while others thought it was a loss, depending on the individual.
Among the Age Keepers of the Hu Ma lineage, there were also some techniques that could be passed on externally.
For instance, the martial arts and knife techniques they practiced, if used well, were also excellent. Teaching them to others was not a big deal.
After agreeing, everyone continued to move forward. Perhaps due to Young Master Lu’s words, they became increasingly silent, feeling that the pines and cypresses around them grew denser, creating a foggy, unsettling atmosphere.
Hu Ma followed closely behind the donkey cart, appearing normal on the surface but actually tense. After walking for less than a dozen paces, he suddenly caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye and paused.
It was a ghastly pale face that suddenly appeared behind a pine tree, glanced at them, and then retreated.
Not only did Hu Ma stop abruptly, but the old monkey leading the donkey cart and Young Master Lu also suddenly halted.
The one with the flying knife, however, didn’t react. Seeing everyone stop, he was startled and quickly drew his flying knife.
But the face behind the tree had already vanished.
Everyone couldn’t help but look at the flying knife wielder, their eyes filled with a strange expression.
The flying knife wielder was drenched in sweat, wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and whispered, “I was distracted. I’ll be more cautious.”
Everyone remained silent and continued forward. Not long after, they heard rustling in the withered grass behind them.
It seemed to be the wind, but in such a quiet environment, this sudden noise was immediately recognized as unusual. The quick-witted ones immediately turned around, and indeed saw a white, ghostly figure crouching in the grass.
Startled, they all looked at the flying knife wielder.
He had been walking forward, but sensing something was wrong, he turned around and let out a loud cry.
The flying knife in his hand shot out but missed, embedding itself in a tree a few feet away.
This time, the looks everyone gave him were indescribably strange. The flying knife wielder was drenched in cold sweat, wiping his face with his sleeve, embarrassed, and explained to Young Master Lu, “I... I’m usually better against people, against these wandering spirits...”
“I really have no experience.”
“...”
Young Master Lu’s face was cold, and he didn’t speak, only turning around and whispering, “Old Monkey.”
The old monkey leading the donkey understood and slowly shook his head, saying, “There’s no need to trouble him anymore.”
“Even if he aimed accurately, I doubt his flying knives would be enough.”
“...”
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill. Looking ahead, they saw a thin mist had formed between the pine and cypress trees. Faintly, they could see pale paper faces peeking out from behind the trees, in the grass, and from the crevices of rocks.
But after a quick glance, they slowly retreated.
The feeling of being watched by countless eyes lingered in their hearts, making them feel deeply uneasy.
“What’s going on?”
“...”
If it were fake, why would everyone see the same thing?
If it were real, how many paper men must be hiding in the mountains, and how could they all move?
“It’s my junior sister’s technique.”
Young Master Lu clearly felt somewhat helpless, glancing at the flying knife wielder and whispering, “She learned the true art of paper binding from our master and is more skilled than me.”
“I originally wanted to use this gentleman’s flying knife to break her technique, but it seems I underestimated it. There’s no choice but to face it head-on.”
“Gentlemen, from now on, we will follow Old Monkey, watch your steps carefully, and do not speak. Especially, if someone calls your name, do not turn around or respond.”
“Once you respond, you lose half your soul. Once you turn around, you lose your life.”
“...”
Hearing this, everyone’s hearts sank, and some were already considering backing out.
They were all people who lived by the Wandering World, having experienced their share of dangerous situations. But the idea of suddenly losing their lives was terrifying.
If it came to a real fight, even if it was dangerous, they could accept it...
In the dead silence, Hu Ma suddenly said, “How does she know our names?”
Everyone finally realized this.
Yes, if someone called their name, they would need to know their names. How could these things in the mountains know?
“They don’t know.”
Young Master Lu looked at everyone and said, “But it will make you feel like something is calling your name.”
“No one else can hear it, only you. But once you are called, if you respond or turn around, you are trapped.”
“This is a technique from our Xinghunmen, called the Living Soul. It can call from a distance or nearby. To call from a distance, it needs to know your birth date and time, your name, and items you have used, such as clothes and shoes, to make the call effective.
"Close-range summoning only requires a name, and it doesn't even have to be accurate. An unexpected call, and the soul will come out."
"My junior sister is cunning; she can summon your souls without being close. I can't explain exactly how, but I can tell you that you will hear various sounds later. An unexpected call will sound like your name."
"When her powers are strong, the calls will be clear; when they are weak, the calls will be vague. But under no circumstances should you respond. If it's just a regular call, I and Old Monkey will help you counter it."
"If the call is very clear and is indeed your name, it means the paper figure is very close to you. You must not respond. Just spit a mouthful of phlegm heavily on the ground."
"..."
Hearing this, everyone fell silent and looked at Old Monkey, who was leading the donkey.
He laughed silently, took a lantern from the donkey cart, and carefully lit it with a fire striker. Instantly, a hazy white light appeared before everyone. Hu Ma had seen this kind of white lantern before; it didn't illuminate the path at night.
But now, as it was lit, the misty fog on the mountain path seemed to be dispelled by the light of the white lantern.
More astonishingly, when the lantern was lit, it seemed to be full of moths, fluttering and bustling inside. A quick glance revealed that there were probably dozens of them.
"This means he has already harmed dozens of people... Old scoundrel!"
Hu Ma took a deep breath, suppressing the negative emotions in his heart, and obediently followed behind everyone.
This mountain path was not long, but they walked slower and slower, and it became quieter and quieter, until even the sound of their footsteps and the donkey cart's wheels rolling over the small pebbles on the path seemed to be inaudible.
They could only faintly hear the sound of the mountain wind passing through the pines, and the crisp sound of the paper figures' clothes rubbing against the withered grass. Suddenly, a giggle echoed.
Hu Ma clearly saw that the man with the flying knives, who was walking in front, suddenly tensed up.
He immediately understood that this must be because he heard someone calling his name, but he managed to resist responding.
"Rustle..."
At the same moment, Old Monkey glanced down and saw a white moth suddenly fly out of the lantern, entering the forest and disappearing beside a paper figure with a strange smile painted on its face.
Hu Ma was slightly surprised and instantly understood.
They had lured so many souls to counter the paper binding technique set up by Diguashao.
Diguashao's paper figures could call souls, and the method was clearly more advanced than Old Monkey's.
But Old Monkey had lured so many souls in advance to break his technique.
Sure enough, as everyone continued walking along the mountain path, white figures occasionally flickered around them, and it was sometimes noticeable that someone's body had stiffened, as if their name had been called.
However, moths would immediately fly out of the lanterns to take their place, and the number of paper figures in the mountains would decrease accordingly.
By the time they were halfway through the path, everyone was under immense pressure when they suddenly heard a shiver.
Turning their heads sharply, they saw the man with the flying knives. A paper figure, with a white paper head, was tightly pressed against his back, its head near his shoulder.
Perhaps because it was too close and called his name, he was too frightened, and the slight tremble of his clothes made everyone around him notice.
But fortunately, he still held back, spitting a mouthful of phlegm forcefully on the ground.
"Ah..."
The paper figure seemed to let out a faint cry, unwillingly flying back into the thick fog on the mountain path.
"Indeed, some paper figures can crawl onto your back and call your name..."
Everyone's hearts tightened, and no one dared to be careless. They unconsciously quickened their pace, straightening their backs.
Even Hu Ma was the same. During this process, he also heard a voice.
And it was clearly calling his name, "Hu Ma."
But he held back and did not react. A moth flew out of the lantern to take his place.
However, as they continued walking, just as they were about to pass the mountain path, Hu Ma suddenly felt a slight coolness on his shoulder.
It was a very light touch, one he was all too familiar with, as Little Red Apricot would do the same when she crawled onto his back.
But it couldn't be Little Red Apricot now. Dealing with these people from the inner circle, a fight could break out at any moment, and he feared they might harm the little servant ghost, so he would never let Little Red Apricot accompany him.
At most, Little Red Apricot would follow from a distance, ready to join in if there was an opportunity, or flee separately if not.
So, what was it that had crawled onto his back?
Hu Ma forcibly held back from turning around, just slightly shifting his eyes to catch a glimpse of a ghastly white face with a vivid red blush on the cheeks of a paper figure.
Then, it leaned close to his ear and softly called out, "Zhou Dazhuang..."
Hu Ma's body stiffened, and he stopped in his tracks. After a moment, he spat forcefully on the ground and then strode forward.
(End of Chapter)
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