Chapter 195: Young Master
Chapter 195: Young Master
In the past, the gates of this manor were never closed during the day.
But now, the main gate is shut early in the morning. What does this signify?
The villagers of Ganzhu Village do not understand and do not wish to think too deeply about it, but they are already afraid. They weep in front of the manor, begging the manager inside to save the people of their village, yet no one dares to knock on the gate.
Their commotion has also drawn people from neighboring villages. Hearing that Ganzhu Village is plagued by great evil spirits and that the manager of the manor has not yet emerged, they too become worried.
Among them are some who are enthusiastic or brave, or perhaps from Ganzhu Village with bigger hearts. Unable to wait for the manor gates to open, and with their own people still trapped in the village, they gather the courage to call on friends and return to the village to look for their loved ones. But once they enter, they do not come out.
Back and forth, not only Ganzhu Village, but other villages also have people trapped inside, and they are becoming increasingly afraid.
Ordinary villagers, facing such a situation, have almost no means of resistance. All they can do is seek help from the people inside the manor.
But with the manor's gates tightly closed, how can they not feel despair?
This despair and resentment seem to make the sky turn heavy and gloomy, as if a great mountain is pressing on everyone's hearts.
It seems that this gloom can ferment into something.
"Creak..."
But before these things could ferment, just as the villagers outside the manor were about to lose hope, the tightly closed manor gates suddenly opened.
There, inside, a manager wearing a shopkeeper's robe, with a thousand-layered cloth shoe on his feet, a flat head, and a steady demeanor, carrying a red wooden sword on his back and holding a waist knife in his hand, walked out with a cold expression.
Behind him, the apprentices who often interact with the surrounding towns and villages, some holding knives, some holding spears, and some carrying manure forks, were driving a donkey cart filled with various bottles and jars, some of which were seeping blood.
The hearts of the villagers who had been crying in despair sank, and they subconsciously took a step back in awe.
Their lips moved, but they did not dare to make a sound.
At this moment, the young manager stepped out boldly, looked at the anxious villagers, and said in a deep voice, "In the past, we have been grateful for the care of all our fellow villagers. Now that there is trouble in the village, we cannot ignore it."
"But we have only recently entered the manor, and our skills are not yet fully developed. We will do what we can to help!"
As he spoke, he walked out confidently.
Despite his young age and somewhat tender face, the villagers on both sides made way for him, looking at him with hope in their eyes.
"Yes, yes, follow along..."
Someone quickly reacted, waving his hand vigorously, "The young manager has come out to help us exorcise the evil spirits. Everyone, follow along and see..."
More people reacted, wiping away the snot and tears on their faces, and extinguishing the paper money and incense they had burned at the manor gates. According to the old rules, when they encountered trouble, they would burn paper money and incense to the Red Lantern for help, and someone from the manor would come to assist.
But this time, seeing Hu Ma and the apprentices, they felt that burning paper money to the Red Lantern was unnecessary.
More and more people followed behind Hu Ma, while Zhou Datong and the others all had serious expressions.
Even the donkey pulling the cart followed obediently, as if it knew to follow without being driven...
...Of course, it was also possible that the thing driving the cart was invisible to the villagers.
The manor had two horses, but Hu Ma chose this donkey to pull the cart because the village they were going to was too eerie, and horses could easily be startled.
This donkey, at least, had seen the world before and had endured a beating from him. It had also bonded well with Little Red Apricot, and driving it to pull the cart should mean that it would not be easily frightened by ordinary things.
As they walked confidently towards Ganzhu Village, Hu Ma looked back and saw the villagers following, which gave him a bit more confidence.
When they first explored Ganzhu Village, they did not want the villagers to follow to avoid them being deceived and getting into trouble.
But now, with the trouble already this great, they needed more people to bolster their morale.
The group, in a large crowd, quickly arrived at Ganzhu Village again. Compared to the morning, the yin qi here was even heavier. Even before they approached, they could feel a strong yin qi coming towards them.
Looking into the village from outside the manor, it seemed that the sky in the village was darker than in other places, and indistinct figures moved around in the courtyards.
Hu Ma walked in front, the donkey cart followed behind, and Zhou Datong and the others were on either side of the cart, while the villagers followed further behind.
Seeing Hu Ma walk to the village entrance, Zhou Datong and the others followed, but the villagers hesitated.
"Datong!"
Hu Ma looked at the gloomy village and suddenly shouted, "Sing the name of the Red Lantern Lady."
"Name?"
Zhou Datong was taken aback. They only shouted during night patrols, not singing names.
But he had seen the annual Kai Shan and logging chants in Dayang Village. Hearing Hu Ma's shout, he understood what he wanted to do. Facing the village with the heavy yin qi, he immediately raised his voice and called out, "Red Lantern Illuminates the Night... Hey yo!"
"Peace and Tranquility... Hey yo!"
"..."
His chant was followed by the apprentices around him, who also began to sing.
At this moment, everyone felt a heavy burden on their shoulders, believing themselves to be great lords helping the villagers exorcise evil spirits. This sense of responsibility naturally bolstered their courage, and as they chanted, their voices became deep and heavy, full of gravitas.
The villagers following behind were not fools. Hearing the simple chants, they also joined in, shouting as they approached the village.
"Red Lantern Illuminates the Night... Hey Oh!"
"Peace and Tranquility... Hey Oh!"
"..."
In the past, this night patrol chant had always sounded ghostly and eerie, often accompanied by red lanterns and the dead of night. Now, with the apprentices chanting loudly and the villagers joining in, the tone for the evil spirit night patrol had taken on a robust and masculine quality. This masculine energy grew increasingly thick and powerful.
As Hu Ma strode forward, he directly dispersed the bone-chilling yin qi that had been overwhelming them, and they surged into the village.
"Chants can gather hearts and strengthen courage!"
Seeing that this approach was effective, Hu Ma silently thought to himself. Of course, shouting this name now might not be entirely appropriate, as the Red Lantern Lady didn't really want to get involved in this matter. But by shouting it, it seemed as if she had sent them here.
But was this a problem?
No!
The Red Lantern Lady didn't want to get involved, but they couldn't let her off the hook. She had just built a temple and needed a good reputation, merit, and incense and offerings...
Give it to her!
He must build a good reputation for the Red Lantern Lady!
While he was thinking this, the apprentices and villagers following behind truly felt that their chants had created an intangible force. The village no longer seemed so terrifying, and the bone-chilling yin qi that had been so overwhelming earlier seemed to have weakened. What was once a place no one dared to approach was now within reach.
"Mother..."
But just as this thought crossed their minds, a cry echoed from the village.
The cry was piercing and ethereal, as if it had pierced directly into their brains. Everyone's vision blurred, and they saw a little girl in a blue robe, her eyes red and swollen from crying, floating towards them while calling out.
Behind her were four or five adults, both men and women, with iron-blue faces, all of whom had lost their senses, their eyes hollow and their steps unsteady, and they were all strangely twisting their waists.
Not only were the villagers startled, but even Zhou Datong and the others were taken aback, and their chants grew much weaker.
They had encountered this little girl looking for her mother just as they arrived, and now it seemed they had found several more...
"Looking for your mother everywhere, but did you ask your father if he agrees?"
Hu Ma, noticing the change in everyone, strode forward and shouted, "I'll teach you a lesson first, on behalf of your father."
If it were a usual encounter with evil spirits, he would have carefully questioned them to see if there was anything to discuss. If a friendship could be made, he would avoid creating enmity.
But this time was different. The village was already too strange, and the yin filth and wandering spirits inside seemed to have been influenced by some mysterious force, making them more powerful but also less normal. So Hu Ma didn't bother with any discussion and charged forward directly.
He didn't draw the saw-toothed blade in his left hand but instead reached back and pulled out the red wooden sword, pouring in a full pillar of fire power.
He was generous, using a full pillar of fire power.
If it were anyone else, even with a full pillar of Daoist power, they would be hesitant to use so much at once, worried about running out of energy later.
But Hu Ma wanted to overwhelm them first, and with two more pillars as backup, he didn't have time to worry about it.
"Mother..."
Seeing Hu Ma approach, the female ghost's voice suddenly became shrill and deformed, her face turning fierce as she lunged at him.
But she didn't expect the red wooden sword to be so powerful. It pierced her directly, scattering a lot of her yin qi, but she remained suspended in mid-air, not dispersing, and suddenly opened her mouth wide.
A strange black mist spewed out from her mouth, wrapping around Hu Ma.
Hu Ma let out a cold snort, raised his left hand holding the blade, and his entire left arm turned to death, blocking the black mist.
In the next moment, he let out a thunderous roar and blew out a True Yang Arrow.
This True Yang Arrow was infused with fire power. To ordinary people, it looked like a breath, but to the evil spirit, it was like encountering a fierce fire. After a fierce struggle and a loud scream, the girl turned into sparks and scattered in all directions.
At that moment, the four or five villagers following her woke up from their trance, looking around in fear, their legs trembling.
The surrounding villagers were both shocked and delighted, looking at Hu Ma with admiration, as if they had found a pillar of strength.
"Villagers, don't be afraid."
Hu Ma waved the red wooden sword to shake off the sparks and shouted loudly, "These evil spirits are nothing but yin qi. With enough courage, a single breath can scatter them."
"Usually, we worship them to give them face, but how can the living rely on the dead to live?"
"Today, if they cause trouble, we'll deal with each one as they come!"
As he spoke, he raised the wooden sword and walked into the village, his voice low and deep, as if warning the evil spirits in the village.
"We can't control disturbances in other places."
"But within ten miles of our village, no matter what you are, you must behave!"
(End of Chapter)
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