https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-244-Hell-Has-No-Gate-But-They-Broke-In/12915732/
Chapter 243: Broken Shoes on the Bridge
Chapter 243: Broken Shoes on the Bridge
"Either make an offering and cross the bridge, or go downstream, carry the coffin, and secretly find a boat to cross!"
Hu Ma had a general understanding of the situation and glanced at the teahouse before silently walking back to consult with Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang was crouching by the bridge, quietly observing the water and murmured, "They all say there's something on the bridge, but to me, it looks perfectly clean."
"Hmm?"
Following her gaze, Hu Ma saw her toss a copper coin into the water below.
The coin, having been handled by countless people, carried a human aura, but being made of copper, it slowly sank to the bottom of the greenish-blue river, quickly disappearing from sight.
"If there was something on the river, the coin wouldn't sink."
Aunt Zhang whispered, "But the bridge clearly looks clean and empty."
Hu Ma's heart sank as he listened and looked ahead.
The bridge was a simple stone structure, with stone piers and long green stone slabs, spanning the river. It was about ten feet wide and over a hundred feet long, with low rope railings on both sides. Although the bridge wasn't particularly long, the mist rising from the river gave it a misty and vast appearance, and the water vapor obscured the view halfway across, adding a touch of mystery and strangeness.
"If there's nothing on the bridge, should we just go straight across?"
Hu Ma thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "But if someone is blocking the way and selling offerings, it won't be easy to cross."
"Even if there's nothing on the bridge, with these people guarding it, it won't be easy to pass."
Aunt Zhang stared at the bridge for a long time before slowly shaking her head and whispering, "But, Master, we can't think too much about this right now. We have to follow the rules."
"We're here to escort the spirit home. If we can walk, we don't go into the mountains; if we can cross the bridge, we don't take a boat; if we can stay at a roadside inn, we don't enter a proper inn."
"If we go downstream to find a boat, they might not let us on because we're carrying a coffin. Besides, if something happens on the water, no matter how skilled we are, our lives will be at the mercy of others. It's better to walk across the bridge, where we feel more secure."
"..."
"Then we'll do as Aunt Zhang says."
Hu Ma noticed Aunt Zhang's hesitation but agreed right away.
Crossing the bridge would simply mean adding an offering. Being cautious and careful would be beneficial.
He asked Aunt Zhang to stay and watch while he returned to the carriage and quietly instructed Zhou Manager, making various preparations and arrangements. Zhou Manager, however, looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Isn't this... a bit disrespectful to Miss?"
"..."
Hu Ma whispered, "Do you want safety or do you want to consider your relationship with Miss?"
Zhou Manager immediately understood. They had discussed on the way that they couldn't hide anything from Hu Ma and should follow his instructions if anything happened.
He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "No, no."
This shout drew the attention of many people nearby.
Zhou Manager angrily shouted at Hu Ma, "We absolutely cannot take a boat. My old companion lived over seventy years and was always afraid of water. She drowned in a river, and now that she's gone, we can't let her take a boat again. We must not take a boat."
"We must cross the bridge. You go and make an offering to the Bridge Lord, and we'll beg him to let us cross the bridge!"
"..."
Hu Ma sighed, feeling helpless, and said, "Alright, as you wish."
In his heart, he silently praised: "No wonder he's from the Play Sect. He gets into character quickly and his emotions are quite genuine..."
Pretending to be frustrated, he returned to the shore. The people waiting to cross the river had heard the commotion and were curious to see how Hu Ma would handle it.
Hu Ma had no choice but to approach the teahouse, looking at the fierce and threatening men inside and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, greetings."
"I'm accompanying the master to escort the spirit home and want to cross the bridge. Could you please tell me how to make an offering and if there are any specific rules?"
"..."
A tall, muscular man in the teahouse sneered, "An offering?"
"You need to offer the small three sacrifices. Whatever you do to offer to your ancestors at home, you should do the same for the Bridge Lord."
"..."
The small three sacrifices were chicken, fish, and a pig head.
The large three sacrifices were pig, cow, and sheep, which were already significant offerings.
Hu Ma put on a troubled face and asked, "Where can I buy them?"
The group of men laughed and brought out the items, which they had clearly prepared in advance.
The chicken was already plucked, the fish was on a plate, and the pig head was blackened on the surface, possibly having been used and returned. The price was not cheap; they demanded three taels of silver for these items.
Seeing that they were all in on it, Hu Ma reluctantly paid the silver and took the offerings back.
He handed them to Aunt Zhang and then called over the old manager and the cart driver.
The old manager nodded at Hu Ma, indicating that everything was ready.
Aunt Zhang immediately made the offering at the bridgehead, lit incense, and silently prayed, burning some paper money.
A cart rolled onto the bridge, its wheels creaking as they pressed against the green stone slabs. Initially, everything seemed safe. They had crossed halfway, and the river below was calm. However, just as they were about to reach the other side, the cart wheels suddenly slipped, and the cart lurched towards the river.
The cart driver was taken aback and shouted, “Whoa! Whoa!” but his calls did nothing to stop the donkey, which had already started to panic.
Hu Ma rushed forward and grabbed the cart, planting his feet firmly on the ground, immobile.
But he couldn't help feeling uneasy and glanced at Zhang Agu, whispering, “Aunt Zhang, what’s happening here?”
“There’s no evil spirit on the bridge, but someone left something behind!” Zhang Agu whispered, her voice low and somber as she looked ahead.
Following her gaze, Hu Ma saw a pair of old, tattered shoes tied to the bridge post with silk thread. The shoes were worn and had several holes, yet they were inexplicably tied to the bridge.
“Having old shoes tied to the bridge, it would be strange if we could pass safely.”
Zhang Agu continued, “But I think someone deliberately tied these shoes here. What do you think, young man?”
Hu Ma didn’t rush to answer. He stared at the old shoes, which seemed ordinary but made him feel dizzy and disoriented. The sound of water splashing was clear, and the bridge felt like it was turning into a writhing python, moving incessantly.
Looking ahead, the bridge seemed like a noodle, and they felt unstable standing still. If they continued forward, they would likely fall into the river.
“This thing on the bridge is causing trouble…”
The cart driver and others were even more surprised. They hadn’t heard Hu Ma and Zhang Agu’s conversation and only felt the bridge was incredibly strange.
At this moment, Zhang Agu, who had already identified the problem, suddenly spoke in a low, serious tone, “Bridge Lord, we’ve already given you the offering!”
“Please, Bridge Lord, be lenient and let us pass!”
“...”
No one dared to speak, waiting patiently, but there was no response from the bridge. The old shoes remained still, but suddenly, they heard sounds from behind as the group of ruffians from the teahouse caught up.
They brandished knives and swords, sneering, “The Bridge Lord thinks there’s something unclean in your coffin. He wants you to open it for inspection.”
Zhang Agu’s face darkened, and she shook her head, “Sir, that’s forcing us into a difficult situation.”
“Ghost Walkers have their own rules. Since we’ve taken on the job of escorting the spirit, we must see it safely home. We can’t open the coffin until we reach the grave. You’ve already accepted our offering, yet now you’re going back on your word. What’s the logic in that?”
“...”
The ruffians sneered, and from the other side of the bridge, more people rushed over, trapping them in the middle.
Someone shouted, “Rules are rules. The Bridge Lord won’t make things difficult for you. If you open the coffin for inspection, you can pass. If not, into the water you go!”
As they spoke, the bridge shook even more violently, and the donkey had already knelt down, too afraid to move.
The people rushing from both ends of the bridge looked menacing, clearly not friendly.
Zhang Agu’s temper was clearly rising. She had identified the problem, but the others were clearly pretending to be ignorant, pressing them further to open the coffin.
“Thank goodness we didn’t take a boat, or they might have taken the coffin from us.”
Hu Ma thought to himself. With ruffians approaching from both ends, blocking their path, he quickly assessed the situation. If they fought on the bridge, they would have to deal with the supernatural presence on the bridge and also protect the others. It wouldn’t be a good idea.
He suddenly called out, “Aunt Zhang, let them see...”
Zhang Agu was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him.
Hu Ma nodded at her, “It’s better than falling into the river.”
As he spoke, he struggled to keep his balance and walked to the cart, pushing the coffin lid open halfway.
The people at both ends of the bridge leaned in to look. As soon as they saw inside, they immediately covered their noses, muttering curses, “Phew, it stinks.”
“It’s been over two months since the person passed away...”
Hu Ma explained, “That’s why we’re in a hurry to send them home. But why do you insist on us opening the coffin?”
“Quick, quick, it’s not them!”
The ruffians on the bridge retreated, waving their hands.
On the other side, the ruffians also cursed and walked back. The bridge, which had seemed very strange just moments ago, was now as normal as ever.
Even Zhang Agu was surprised and glanced at Hu Ma, but she held back her questions.
“Quick, let’s go!”
Hu Ma urged the others, and they hurriedly crossed the bridge, moving forward quickly. They walked a long distance before looking back. They saw a crowd gathered at the bridge, discussing something.
A sudden, terrifying thought flashed through Hu Ma’s mind. He turned to Zhou Manager, “What do you think these people are doing?”
(End of Chapter)
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