Chapter 184: Blue Robe Ghostly Disturbance (Third Update)
Chapter 184: Blue Robe Ghostly Disturbance (Third Update)
Hu Ma didn't pay much attention to what the apprentices were thinking. He only observed that after Zhou Datong mastered the unique skill, the apprentices in the village practiced their movements more diligently, and he was quite satisfied with their performance.
He didn't just teach Zhou Datong. After carefully studying the oil lamps, he called Zhou Liang in and said, "This list has some medicinal ingredients. When you're free, go to the city and buy some."
The first four oil lamps had already been used up. To teach others, he needed to prepare the lamp oil.
The materials required for making the lamp oil, regardless of their rarity, were all quite expensive, and some were extremely hard to find on the market.
Therefore, in the Age Keeper's sect, preparing the lamp oil was a significant matter.
However, Hu Ma didn't plan to do these things himself. Instead, he assigned them to Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu. After all, these were for their benefit, and having them earn the materials themselves and prepare the lamp oil would also be a form of training for them.
Not only them, but even Zhou Datong had to earn the materials for the first oil lamp himself. Hu Ma had just started teaching him and was concerned about any inaccuracies, so he had Zhou Datong try it out.
After the first oil lamp, the materials needed for subsequent lamps had to be earned by themselves.
Of course, Li Wa Zi was an exception. Given his current situation...
...he probably wouldn't have a chance to join the Age Keeper's sect for the rest of his life.
Not only the materials for the oil lamps, but also other affairs in the village, Hu Ma tried to delegate as much as possible.
Now that the Red Lantern Lady had a temple, the entire Red Lantern Association would likely undergo a tremendous change. Although this impact hadn't yet reached the village, changes were already happening.
The Red Lantern Lady was more concerned about her reputation now. If evil spirits appeared within a twenty-li radius of the village, it would tarnish her image. Therefore, the apprentices in the village had to be even busier than before.
When the surrounding villagers had issues, they had to handle them.
Of course, there was another problem. Previously, they openly collected offering money and settled accounts with the village heads monthly. Now, they felt a bit embarrassed about it.
This was also why Hu Ma wanted Zhou Datong and the others to be more diligent. If they didn't act quickly, they might lose the offering money.
At first, Hu Ma was worried they wouldn't do well, but he soon realized he had underestimated these young men. They had many tricks up their sleeves.
They came from different places and used to follow others in exorcising evil spirits, doing whatever they were told. But now, with Hu Ma giving them more autonomy, they boldly prepared various items to drive away evil spirits.
Hu Ma checked their small warehouse: chickens, manure, dog blood, pot ash...
When the surrounding villagers came with issues, they followed them, carrying knives, spears, and manure forks. They drenched the possessed people with chicken blood, dunked them in manure buckets, and if that didn't work, they poured a bucket of dog blood over them, then several people would blow true yang arrows into their mouths.
These were all strong young men, and their true yang arrows were quite potent.
Even if it didn't drive away the evil spirits, it could almost kill a person.
But there was one time when they encountered a powerful evil spirit they couldn't handle. Hu Ma thought they would come to him for help, but they rushed back to the village, quickly heading for the inner courtyard...
...and then turned and went into the kitchen.
They smiled and said, "Brother Li, the thing causing trouble in Gouzi Village is really beyond our control..."
"We had no choice but to come back and ask for your help..."
"..."
"Wait for us! Let me cook a meal for Brother Maizi first."
Li Wa Zi scolded them, but he started cooking. After finishing the meal, he also boiled a pot of red sugar eggs.
Then, surrounded by everyone, he carried the pot of red sugar eggs out.
About half an hour later, they all returned, praising Li Wa Zi, who looked proud and said, "It was just a passing hedgehog. We invited Third Uncle, and he took care of it."
"If we encountered something more powerful, I would have invited Seventh Aunt, so you could see her skills..."
"..."
Hu Ma watched all this happening in the outer courtyard and was quite surprised.
He realized he still lacked experience in the martial world and had poor judgment. He never thought Li Wa Zi, who seemed the least promising, would turn out to be the most successful one in the village.
He had learned the skills to handle exorcisms on his own, without needing any guidance...
...
...
Feeling a sense of relief, he focused all his energy on cultivation.
With ample Blood Food, after about half a month, he had refined his third organ and was now ready to focus on the most important organ, the kidneys.
In the Age Keeper's sect, the heart was generally considered the most important organ among the five viscera.
But Hu Ma believed the kidneys were the most important.
After all, the kidneys didn't just represent the kidneys. Refining them also invigorated other crucial functions.
Moreover, Hu Ma not only planned to refine his kidneys but also intended to put in a lot of effort.
Age Keepers had the skill to remove limbs. With deep cultivation, they could remove and replace limbs that wouldn't regrow.
Similarly, at the stage of the five viscera, they could also replace organs.
Many of the heart-replacement legends in folk tales originate from such practices. However, Hu Ma isn't particularly fascinated by the heart-replacement technique. If he could master the kidney-replacement method, he would be quite formidable in the future...
Especially when the Age Keeper's cultivation reaches a deeper level, it seems they can even replace others' organs.
Of course, whether it's limb removal or organ replacement, it all depends on one's cultivation and proficiency.
These techniques are not unique skills but are inherent abilities of Age Keepers.
They require repeated practice and refinement to achieve.
Sometimes, an unskilled person may spend decades at the limb-removal stage, eventually managing to cultivate to that level, but someone who has quickly grasped the technique and entered the organ-replacement stage may find it difficult to succeed.
Therefore, one cannot be hasty about such matters.
As for the current situation in the village, things are progressing smoothly, and the apprentices have been quite diligent. However, Hu Ma hasn't forgotten to remain vigilant during his cultivation.
He has been closely monitoring the situation in the city, particularly the activities of the Blue-robed Evil Spirits, and has been trying to gather information.
Due to the Reincarnated One's concealment, his only sources of information now are Mr. Xu and Brother Yang Gong.
Hu Ma felt the time was right and called Little Red Apricot over, placing a wild rabbit and a wild chicken in her basket. These were caught unintentionally by Zhao Zhu while practicing with his manure fork.
Since they are brothers, there was no need to send anything too valuable; sending some game would show deeper friendship.
Of course, the real purpose was to gather information.
Little Red Apricot didn't disappoint. She left with a gust of cold wind and returned in about an hour with another gust of cold wind. "The items have been delivered!"
Hu Ma quickly asked, "What did Yang Gong say?"
Little Red Apricot thought for a moment and tilted her head. "He said: 'My honest brother Hu Ma has finally come to his senses and knows to send a little servant ghost to gather information.'"
"He also said to let you know that if anything important happens, he'll send Little Lame One to inform you."
"But don't give too much as a reward. The little servant ghosts have become picky and don't sincerely wish others well anymore."
"..."
"Still, our Little Red Apricot is the best..."
Hu Ma couldn't help but feel relieved, thinking, "Look at how thorough she is."
Then he asked again, "What else?"
Little Red Apricot replied, "He also wanted to remind you to be careful. He said that Chief Zheng couldn't stay in the association and has taken a mission to help the Blue Robe Gang find someone."
"Right now, they are going through the villages under the Red Lantern Association, using mirrors to identify people. Those who are identified are taken away, and their fate is unknown. The managers of the villages cannot interfere, and even the Red Lantern Lady has no information."
"..."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Ma's heart couldn't help but tighten.
It had indeed come to pass.
Earlier, he had heard that the Blue Robe Gang was visiting various sects in Mingzhou City, and he had been worried that they might eventually come to the Red Lantern Association.
After all, when it comes to sects, no one in Mingzhou City has more members than the Red Lantern Association.
Now it seems his suspicions were not unfounded.
Although they started with the Red Lantern Association last due to face, they have finally begun their search.
Worse still, Chief Zheng is helping the Blue Robe Gang?
After a moment of silent contemplation, Hu Ma could only nod in agreement. It made sense.
Chief Zheng had offended the new Red Fragrance Disciples led by Yang Gong and the incense burners after a jest from Er Guotou. These are the people closest to the Red Lantern Lady.
Now, despite his contributions in the magical duel, his situation is the worst. Once the current wave of attention passes, he might not even be able to keep his position as Incense Master. Perhaps he is taking a risk by helping the Blue Robe Gang?
Just don't cause me any trouble...
"Understood."
Taking a deep breath, Hu Ma maintained his composure and asked Little Red Apricot with a smile, "Didn't I ask you to casually ask about something else?"
Little Red Apricot nodded vigorously. "I remember. You asked me to ask about the winnings."
"Right, right, right."
Hu Ma nodded hastily. "What did he say?"
Little Red Apricot replied, "Brother Yang Gong said: 'Winnings? What winnings?'"
"..."
This left Hu Ma speechless. "What's going on?"
"That was two hundred taels of silver, and they offered a two-to-one payout, so they should owe me four hundred taels, making it six hundred taels in total..."
"Is it all gone?"
"..."
This Yang Gong, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, isn't always honest...
I'll have to get it back eventually, but for now, I have more pressing matters. Hu Ma knew the severity of the situation. After learning from Yang Gong that the Blue Robe Gang had started targeting the Red Lantern Association's villages, he knew he needed to go into the mountains.
So, when night fell and the apprentices in the village had all gone to sleep, and the surroundings were quiet, Hu Ma quietly got up.
He instructed Little Red Apricot to keep a close watch on the house, then changed out of his Red Lantern Association manager's clothes, put on a raincoat, and wore a bamboo hat. He then climbed over the wall in the backyard.
It was time to have a proper chat with the old tree stump...
I'll risk my life for this, one more update, please vote!
(End of Chapter)
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