https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-247-Aunt-Zhang-Summons-a-Spirit-Third-Update-/12915735/
Chapter 246: Paper Figures Carrying a Sedan Chair
Chapter 246: Paper Figures Carrying a Sedan Chair
After Hu Ma and the others regrouped, they dared not linger for a moment and hurriedly traveled under the cover of night, sinking their feet deep into the earth as they rushed along.
When they first encountered those fierce bandits, it was not long after dusk. Now, they had been fleeing for most of the night, and it was nearly the hour of the tiger. If they waited any longer, the sky would surely be light.
By this time, the cart driver and the two apprentices were already weak in the legs, dizzy, and parched.
Although Zhang Agu did not say anything and refused to sit in the cart, it was clear that she was swaying as she walked, likely from the fatigue that had made her legs sore.
Of course, even if she were to sit in the cart now, it would be impossible. The donkey was the most exhausted, its tongue hanging out, its large head nodding, and it was on the verge of tripping as it walked.
"Let's stop and rest for a moment!"
Hu Ma knew that everyone was nearing their limit and could only sigh softly, gesturing for them to turn aside into the forest to stop. He then took out water and dry rations to distribute among them.
Fortunately, the two apprentices were experienced and diligent. When Hu Ma and Zhou Manager had stayed behind to wait for the bandits, they had already fetched fresh water and filled the water bags. Otherwise, everyone would have been unable to even drink a drop.
"Should we be safe for now?"
They had entered the forest to hide, fearing that someone might pursue them. But looking back, the road was pitch black, and there was no sign of movement.
Hu Ma silently thought about what the bandits had said. Old Lady Cui was over seventy miles away, and even if she received the news and gathered her people to chase them, it shouldn't happen so quickly.
Now, they needed to wait until dawn and then find a place to buy two fast horses to speed their journey.
Earlier, they had only used a donkey cart to avoid drawing attention and to prevent any complications. Now that they had been targeted, they had no choice but to be more conspicuous.
Lighting a tinder, Hu Ma glanced at the map, trying to get a sense of the surroundings.
He then turned to Zhou Manager and whispered, "Who exactly is this Old Lady Cui?"
"Just a hag."
Zhou Manager snorted, a hint of anger in his voice. "I've only heard bits and pieces about her. She's said to have come from the Beggar Gang and is the daughter of the previous gang leader. She learned some evil techniques and now roams around, swindling people, and has gained a reputation on the road."
"Allegedly, many brothels, even brokerage houses, in the Southern Plain Road have some connection with her. Her influence has spread far and wide."
"Didn't those bandits say that if you offend her, you can't even visit a brothel?"
"This isn't a joke."
"Many people say that in this old capital, a place of great prosperity, you might not know who the prefect is, but you can't afford not to know about the Beggar Gang. The prefect can collect taxes from you, but the Beggar Gang can make you unable to pay those taxes."
"..."
Hu Ma listened and sighed softly. He had studied the map on the journey and knew about the old capital.
It was said that after the Ta Sui descended, the Yi Dynasty royal family moved the capital to Shangjing, and this former capital became the old capital. Despite this, many nobles and officials stayed behind, creating a kind of morbid prosperity.
Countless merchants, officials, and eccentric experts mingled here.
If Old Lady Cui could make a name for herself in such a place, she must have some real skills and should not be underestimated.
"Then..."
Hu Ma asked the crucial question, "How does this Old Lady Cui compare to the Ghost Cave Li Family?"
Zhou Manager was taken aback for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "To compare them would be to flatter that Old Lady Cui."
"Even the entire Beggar Gang is nothing more than a bunch of rats that can't come out into the open compared to the Ghost Cave Li Family. If the master knew they had targeted Miss, he would order everyone to be caught and thrown into the Ghost Cave."
"..."
"Knowing that makes me feel more at ease."
Hu Ma sighed softly and continued, "But the more so, the more cautious we must be."
"If Old Lady Cui really fears the Ghost Cave Li Family, she will be even more determined to prevent us from revealing this matter."
"If I were her, I would do everything in my power to stop us from returning to the Great Stone Cliff!"
"..."
Zhou Manager, who had just assumed the role of the Ghost Cave Li Family's manager and was looking down on the Beggar Gang, suddenly felt a twinge of unease when Hu Ma spoke.
Yes, the more Old Lady Cui fears the Ghost Cave Li Family, the less likely she would allow this matter to leak out...
He hurriedly finished his rations, intending to urge everyone to continue their journey, but then he suddenly noticed a thin, green mist rising in the forest, spreading from all directions and shrouding everything in a hazy mist.
"Oh no..."
Just as he felt a twinge of panic, he suddenly heard a hoarse, ugly old woman's voice, crying out, "I've finally found you..."
"My poor goddaughter, who put you in that coffin to suffer? Your foster mother has come to save you..."
"..."
"They've caught up?"
Hu Ma and the others were startled by the sudden noise.
They had wasted no time and had been traveling all night, yet the pursuers had still caught up so quickly. Earlier, Big Brother Ma had said she should still be waiting at the Ferry Mouth, over seventy miles away.
The situation had escalated in just a few hours. Could this Old Lady Cui really be so formidable?
Everyone scrambled to their feet, looking around frantically, but all they heard was that muffled, sobbing voice, now close, now far, now from the east, now from the west. It was as if her voice was coming from everywhere, making it impossible to pinpoint her exact location. The eerie sensation made everyone's hair stand on end, their minds clouded with fear: Was this a living person or an evil ghost?
...
“What are you?”
Everyone was terrified, even Zhou Manager, who was usually composed, was trembling with fear, but he still gritted his teeth and shouted, “Did you kidnap our Miss?”
“Do you know who she is?”
“..."
“Who else could it be?”
The old lady’s voice carried a chilling tone, “What does it matter if she’s the daughter of a wealthy family or a noble’s daughter? The Li Family of the Ghost Cave has a great reputation, but that doesn’t scare me.”
“Truly, fate is a fickle thing. They originally wanted me to take the girl’s life, but I’m kind-hearted and let her live. I thought she’d be bought and her virtue ruined, but who would have thought a good person like you would not only refuse but insist on sending her back home...”
“Even I, with my kind heart, can’t let this slide...”
“..."
“Her virtue ruined?”
Hu Ma listened to the indistinct, eerie voice, his heart skipping a beat. There was no doubt that this was the old lady who had kidnapped the maid and driven nails into her head.
Despite her talk of being kind-hearted, it was clear that those in her line of work had no room for kindness. However, he could sense a hint of truth in her words—perhaps they would have been satisfied if the maid’s virtue had been compromised.
Phew...
Fortunately, I had enough moral integrity back then!
Just as he was thinking this, he felt a gaze fix on him, and the voice suddenly changed, sounding as if someone was staring directly at him.
“So, you’re the good-hearted person who sent a message to the Li Family?”
“What kind of world is this, that you insist on being the good guy? Was the maid not pretty enough, or were you not up to the task?”
“Since you have a good heart, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. If you give me the coffin, don’t meddle in this, and leave quickly...”
“..."
“She even knows about the message I sent and my presence here?”
Hu Ma’s mind raced, and he quickly realized that his cover was blown. If the Li Family’s lord found out, it would mean certain death, and not a pleasant one at that. So, he decided to be straightforward.
He smiled and said, “Are you trying to scare me, Old Lady?”
“...My body is quite strong.”
As he spoke, he scanned the area, trying to locate her. “But you’ve already exposed yourself. If I walk out of here alive, everyone will know you were the one who harmed the Li Family’s daughter.”
“Would you really let me leave?”
“..."
“Oh dear...”
The old lady’s voice turned oddly cheerful, “If you don’t leave, you’ll lose your life here...”
As the voice echoed, everyone felt extremely uneasy. Even the donkey was trembling, and the mist that had appeared seemed to seep into the forest, flowing like water around their feet.
Everyone was frantically searching for the source of the voice, but suddenly, one of the apprentices saw an old lady with a head full of flowers and moles on her face, sitting in a sedan chair carried by two paper figures that appeared between the trees.
She smiled at the apprentice, waving her handkerchief.
The apprentice was instantly terrified, his breath freezing, and he let out a loud cry before collapsing straight to the ground. Everyone was shocked, rushing to his side, only to see him with his jaw clenched, eyes rolled back, and foam spilling from his mouth.
“Cough, cough, cough...”
The old lady seemed to be laughing and coughing at the same time. The paper figures carrying the sedan chair had vanished.
“What’s this? A soul-summoning technique?”
Hu Ma was taken aback, wanting to help but unable to do so in time. He thought quickly; if it was a soul-summoning technique, he hadn’t heard her call anyone’s name.
Gripping his knife tightly, he considered attacking but found her form elusive, making it hard to decide where to strike.
“There’s a spirit bearer, a punishment spirit, and possibly a malevolent head...”
During this time, Zhang Agu had been biting her lip and looking around. Seeing someone injured by the eerie old lady, she finally decided to act.
She gritted her teeth and turned to Hu Ma, “Young Master, I need to summon a spirit to deal with her.”
“Please watch my back!”
“..."
“Alright.”
Hu Ma immediately agreed, drawing his knife and standing guard in front of Zhang Agu.
(End of Chapter)
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