https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-165-Pitfalls-Everywhere-in-the-Wandering-World-Second-Update-/12899772/
Chapter 164: One of Us (First Update)
Chapter 164: One of Us (First Update)
"Yang Gong?"
The guards here were all Red Incense Disciples, usually the most arrogant and least obedient. They were naturally cautious when they saw someone approach and would not let them pass without a thorough inspection.
But when Hu Ma called out for the Three Fragrances Disciple, Yang Gong, who had recently been in the limelight, they did not dare to be careless. They quickly ordered Hu Ma to wait there and sent a Blue-clad Servant to fetch Yang Gong.
Hu Ma remained seated on the donkey cart, looking pale and weak, like Lin Daiyu about to faint.
After waiting for no more than half the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, he suddenly heard footsteps nearby, followed by an urgent shout:
"Who's looking for me?"
"Is it Brother Hu Ma?"
"..."
It was indeed Yang Gong. He came running, his outer robe's sash not even tied, as if he had just woken up. Without asking for details, he jumped up the moment he heard someone was looking for "Brother Yang Gong."
In this area, among the people he knew, his brothers called him Yang Big Brother, and the members of the society called him Yang Senior Brother. There were no other acquaintances who would call him that way, except for Hu Ma.
As he ran closer, he indeed saw Hu Ma sitting on the donkey cart and felt a sudden surge of worry.
He was about to tell Hu Ma to leave, wondering why he had returned despite receiving his message, but then he noticed Hu Ma's unusual complexion. His heart raced as he approached, calling out, "Why do you look like this, ghostly and pale?"
"Quick, Blood Food Pills!"
"..."
Saying this, he reached back.
A few people who had followed him rushed over. Seeing he needed Blood Food Pills, one of them quickly took out a green ceramic bottle from his chest and handed it over.
But when Yang Gong took the bottle and looked at it, he became furious, smashing it on the ground and stomping it to pieces. He shouted at the people behind him, "Don't try to fool me with this dog food! I need Blood Tai Sui!"
Usually, whether white, green, or red, as long as it wasn't black, it was all considered Blood Food.
But only when it was refined into pills for easy carrying and consumption was it called Blood Food Pills.
The disciples who followed him were not unaware of this, but they did not expect Yang Gong to suddenly demand Blood Food Pills.
Those things were valuable!
Seeing Yang Gong scolding them, they looked embarrassed. They didn't have any on them...
Fortunately, at this moment, a few more people ran over, including Shen Dabang, who had met Hu Ma with Yang Gong.
He heard Yang Gong's shout and recognized Hu Ma on the donkey cart. He hurriedly took out a handkerchief-wrapped object from his chest, carefully unwrapped it, and revealed a small ceramic bottle wrapped in a red cloth.
Yang Gong snatched it, removed the stopper, and fed it to Hu Ma, saying, "Brother, eat it first before we talk."
He was a Red Incense Disciple and had experienced things different from Hu Ma and the others. He immediately recognized that Hu Ma was nearly at the end of his strength, a condition that only Red Incense Disciples would be in after borrowing too much power from the Red Lantern Lady. He knew that a Blood Food Pill was needed to sustain his life.
"..."
Hu Ma hesitated. He had only pretended to be so weak to make the act convincing, but he was surprised by Yang Gong's generosity.
After a brief pause, thinking he would have to repay him later, he swallowed the pill.
Immediately, he felt a surge of energy and vitality spreading through his chest. His spirits lifted, and he took a deep breath, whispering to Yang Gong, "I went out to help the society with some tasks and encountered a formidable opponent, who injured me."
Yang Gong's brows furrowed, and he said fiercely, "Which bastard hurt you? I'll slice him into a human stick to avenge you."
Hu Ma's heart sank. He knew Yang Gong was not just saying it.
Yang Gong was not one to make idle threats. If he said he would slice someone into a human stick, he meant it.
"Let's not talk about that now."
He quickly said, "Is Mr. Xu, who manages the distribution of provisions to the Green Incense Disciples, around?"
"..."
"That's the one with the rat-like mustache who loves to wear green robes and pretend to be a scholar. He's my elder, so take me to see him first."
"..."
"He should be staying in a tile-roofed house on the west side."
Yang Gong thought for a moment, looked around, and someone pointed in a direction. He turned to Hu Ma and said, "Get on, I'll carry you."
"..."
"No need, I can walk."
Hu Ma felt a bit embarrassed, jumped off the cart, and turned to leave, saying, "Take care of the donkey cart for me."
Yang Gong replied, "Don't worry, no one will touch our brother's things."
He then turned to the Red Incense Disciples and said, "You all see clearly, this is Brother Hu Ma from the counter in Qing Shi Town. He's one of us. He saved both my life and Shen Dabang's. From now on, treat him with respect."
Most of the people who followed him were Red Incense Disciples. Hearing this, they all nodded, "Of course."
Hu Ma was somewhat surprised, "It seems Yang Gong has become quite influential and has a large group of brothers now!"
"..."
"And they're all Red Incense Disciples."
"..."
As they spoke, they walked into the town without any further questioning. The Red Incense Disciples guarding the area looked at Hu Ma with the eyes of a brother.
Even the donkey cart was not searched but was taken to a nearby stable and fed with good fodder.
This kind of treatment is something even the real innkeeper of the village might envy.
As Hu Ma followed Yang Gong into the town, he noticed that the Zhu Men Town, with its hundred or so households, had clearly divided into two distinct sides.
On one side, many courtyard gates were adorned with red lanterns, indicating that members of the Red Lantern Association had taken up residence there. On the other side, green banners fluttered, and in the middle of the main street, a high platform could be faintly seen, with people guarding it on either side.
Yang Gong led Hu Ma into an alley, and by now, many people who had heard the commotion had come out to see what was happening.
From a distance, Hu Ma saw the mustachioed Mr. Xu, the manager, tiptoeing to get a better look. He quickly waved his hand: "Senior, I found you."
Mr. Xu, seeing someone who looked like Hu Ma from a distance, hesitated. When he finally confirmed it was him, he was startled:
"Oh, Hu Nephew, it really is you... What happened to you?"
"..."
"I was greedy for credit and got injured."
Hu Ma, now by Mr. Xu's side, lowered his voice and said with a bitter smile, "Earlier, I was afraid of not being able to sit securely in this innkeeper's position, so I took on a task from the association to investigate the Shen family's mass murder in the outskirts of Mingzhou."
"But I didn't expect to run into people from the Soul Punishment Sect. I thought I wasn't far behind them, but as soon as we clashed, I suffered a major setback..."
"Quick, come inside and talk!"
Mr. Xu's face turned grave upon hearing this. He hurriedly led Hu Ma into a nearby courtyard and, turning to look at his pale face, saw that only the blood food pills had brought a sickly red hue to his cheeks, while a dark aura lingered in his brows.
He couldn't help but scold him in a low voice, "You foolish, honest child. I heard you took on this task and thought it was a good thing."
"But why didn't you use your head and really go through with it?"
"You could have gone around for a bit, claimed some hard work, and come back to me. What task couldn't you have handed in?"
"..."
"?"
Hu Ma was taken aback, thinking to himself, "I did plan to do it that way at first..."
But on the surface, he could only give a sheepish smile and shake his head, saying, "I thought I would be careful, but I still underestimated them..."
"The Soul Punishment Sect is full of treacherous and vicious people. How could they be easy to deal with?"
Mr. Xu scolded him, then asked with concern, "What did they do to you? How did you end up like this?"
"Your foundation used to be solid, but now your Daoist power is almost gone."
"..."
"I... I'm not sure."
Hu Ma looked somewhat embarrassed, saying, "They just threw a handful of paper money in my face, and I couldn't avoid it. That's how it happened."
"Paper money?"
Mr. Xu was startled and hurriedly said, "You stay here. I'll get someone to look at you."
As he spoke, he saw Yang Gong standing by the door and said, "Yang Brother, right? We've met before, we're all part of the same group. I can't entertain you properly right now. Keep an eye on Hu Ma, and make yourself some tea. I need to get someone who knows what to do."
In fact, he had noticed Yang Gong following them and saw the worried look on his face. But he deliberately ignored him and spoke to Hu Ma as if they were close, treating him as one of their own.
Red Fragrance Disciples always stick together, and few outsiders can get close to them.
"Thank you, Mr. Xu. Don't be so formal with me. Go quickly, and if they don't come, I'll go find them."
Yang Gong urged him on, and Mr. Xu hurried out.
They hadn't been sitting for long when a servant brought in tea, and they heard footsteps outside. Mr. Xu led in an old man with a white beard, wearing a small cap, who looked like a bookkeeper.
The old man seemed reluctant, being dragged like a kite by Mr. Xu. When he saw Yang Gong sitting nearby, he frowned slightly, but his attitude became less reluctant:
"What's going on? You called me here without even explaining clearly?"
"..."
Mr. Xu said, "A young brother from our association went out on a task and was injured by the Soul Punishment Sect using paper money."
"Among us, you're the only one who understands their techniques. We had to call you over to take a look."
"..."
"Paper money?"
The old man was startled. He tilted his head and saw the dark aura in Hu Ma's brows, which shocked him even more.
He quickly sat next to Hu Ma, extended his fingers, and placed them on Hu Ma's pulse, whispering, "Stay calm and don't resist."
Hu Ma knew what he was going to do and couldn't completely avoid it.
However, he had two incense sticks with visible tips, but he had removed the complete ones from the incense burner, leaving only a tiny bit in it. This made it look as if there was only a small amount of residual power in his body.
As the old man's fingers touched his pulse, the faint incense fire in his body stirred slightly, and the old man sensed the presence of Daoist power.
He was shocked and exclaimed, "Good heavens, what injury? You've been bought out."
(End of Chapter)
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