Chapter 249: Beggar Gang
Chapter 249: Beggar Gang
"If all else fails, we'll have to fight our way through..."
On this side, everyone was shocked by Hu Ma's words. After a brief discussion, including Zhang Agu, they all sighed, "If we can avoid it, we should."
"Old Lady Cui has been operating in the Southern Plain Road for so many years; she must have some resources."
"Once this matter is exposed, her life is surely in danger. So, this old thing will surely bring out all her resources to fight us to the death."
"..."
After all the commotion, the sky had already brightened. Everyone had been frightened and exhausted for the whole night, and now they were utterly drained. So, they turned east and headed to a neighboring city of Dongchang Prefecture. Once they entered the city, they went straight to the mule and horse caravans, spent a large sum of silver, hired four good horses, and two large carriages specifically for the tired people to rest.
Zhou Manager, knowing the situation was urgent, also shamelessly borrowed a hundred taels of silver from Hu Ma. He hurriedly went out to prepare some things, planning a major move.
Without proper preparation, many of their skills would be useless.
After about half an hour, they left the city and set off again. However, to get as far away as possible, they had already sensed something was off in the city, and it became even more obvious once they were out.
"It looks like it won't be easy to escape..."
Looking far back, they could see the occasional figure of a beggar on the roadside and along the path. Some lazily squatted under trees, picking lice, while others held dog-beating sticks, lazily watching them.
As Hu Ma and his group drove the carriages, these beggars ran alongside. When the group stopped, the beggars maintained a distance, looking away when they were watched, and immediately ran to a distance if anyone tried to speak to them, like sticky plasters.
Everyone knew that Old Lady Cui had taken a hit and retreated, but her disciples had followed them.
"The Beggar Gang has a large number of people and is extremely skilled in theft, surveillance, and stalking. Now that they've targeted us, it will be hard to shake them off..."
The beggars, whom no one usually bothered to look at, now brought a deep sense of pressure.
Zhou Manager also gave a cold glance at the beggars. Since entering the Li Mansion, he had been a respectable person for decades, with no blood on his hands. But now, he had thoughts of killing, though he understood that even if he killed these stalkers, it wouldn't help much.
"Heh, if they don't let us have a peaceful time, we won't let them have a peaceful time either."
Turning around, he seemed to vent his frustration, saying, "I just borrowed some silver from my benefactor and went to the escort bureau to send a letter to the Great Stone Cliff, specifying that it should be delivered to the master of the mansion."
"However, I know the rules of the mansion; it will be difficult for this letter to reach the master directly. But at least it will distract them and make them uncomfortable for a while."
"..."
"The other side won't dare to really send this letter out. They have many disciples, so they should be able to handle it."
Hu Ma also whispered, "Unfortunately, we're still a distance from Anzhou. Otherwise, if we could create a big commotion, Old Lady Cui would be in deep trouble. She's terrified of this matter being exposed."
"Once we reach Anzhou, it will be better."
Zhou Manager nodded and whispered, "As long as we reach Anzhou, we'll be closer to Lingshou Mansion, and we'll have more options!"
"But we need to get there safely first!"
Hu Ma glanced at him and stopped discussing further. Instead, he turned to Zhang Agu and asked, "Aunt Zhang, have you thought it through?"
"Is the method I suggested effective?"
"..."
Since Hu Ma proposed this idea, Zhang Agu had been deeply thinking about it. Now, seeing Hu Ma's question, she looked worried and said, "I've never encountered such a situation before. Are you sure you can summon her, and are you sure she will really help you?"
Hu Ma nodded, "I'm sure."
Zhang Agu thought for a moment and said, "She won't demand a high offering, will she? These major evil spirits... aren't very reasonable!"
"..."
Hu Ma replied, "No, she won't. In theory, I've already given the offering, and the one I want to summon is very concerned about her reputation and face, so she won't act too recklessly."
Zhang Agu pondered for a while before finally nodding, "I suppose it's worth a try."
"But, Young Shopkeeper, you must be extremely careful. This is your first time setting up an altar and summoning a spirit, which is already risky. If the spirit is reasonable and capable, it will be fine. But if she has a bad temper and you suddenly summon her, you might end up as a human candle before your opponent even reacts."
"..."
"I understand all that."
Hu Ma heard Zhang Agu's concern, which was likely due to her own past experiences. He smiled at her, "Just teach me the method of setting up the altar and summoning the spirit."
This was a last resort.
On this journey, he had followed Zhang Agu, watched her exorcise evil spirits, and learned many techniques through inquiries.
If compared to other paths, I can now be considered a disciple who has learned quite a few formulas from a doctor, or a furnace operator who has practiced a few movements with a master. Now, what I need to learn is the most crucial part of the Ghost Walker path—the ritual of summoning a spirit.
Of course, time is very tight, and the first summoning is a major event.
But I have the Red Lantern Maiden… no, the Red Lantern Lady, who gave me the life-saving incense!
I’ll burn the incense and ask for your help. How can you not come?
Normally, once this incense is lit, the Red Lantern Lady would already be helping me deal with Old Lady Cui and the others. But I’m not entirely confident in her.
Although she has a temple, she is essentially still a little girl raised by Er Guotou…
Using just this half-stick of incense to summon her, I don’t know if she can handle the evil spirits and demons on the Southern Plain Road.
But the ritual of summoning a spirit is different.
When a Ghost Walker performs the ritual, they can summon a spirit and use the ritual altar to better control the power of these evil spirits.
“I’ll perform the ritual first, then burn the incense. She shouldn’t be so petty…”
“If that doesn’t work, I’ll have Little Red Apricot raise her arm and show her the blue cloth?”
“…Of course, the last method is the ultimate backup, the ultimate move, and shouldn’t be used lightly. I should first appeal to the Red Lantern Lady’s emotions.”
“…”
“But, teaching someone to perform the ritual, helping to protect the ritual, and preparing to receive the spirit, isn’t that something a master would do for a disciple in the Ghost Walker path?”
Thinking this, Hu Ma looked at Zhang Agu and said seriously, “Aunt Zhang, should I kneel and call you master?”
His words were laced with a smile, but he spoke with great sincerity.
If the Hu family descendants were to kneel and call a Ghost Walker master, the consequences would be significant.
But Hu Ma didn’t care about that. Learning skills and kneeling to a master were just formalities, and besides, he knew the problem Zhang Agu was facing. Having a formal relationship beforehand wouldn’t be a bad thing.
“Oh!”
Hearing this, Zhang Agu’s face immediately turned red, and she shook her hands vigorously. “No, no, I don’t have the ability to take on disciples.”
“Teaching you the ritual is a last resort. I’ll teach you the ritual and the incantation, and you’ll sit at the altar, but I’ll be watching from the side. If it really doesn’t work…”
“…”
She paused slightly, and her dark red face showed a hint of regret and determination. “We’ll still have to call him.”
“It’s my fate anyway.”
“…”
Her words left everyone feeling a bit oppressed.
But in Hu Ma’s mind, several strategies formed. If he could handle it, he would. If he couldn’t, he could rely on the skills of the Year Guardian. If he needed to leave, the other party might not be able to stop him.
Using the excuse of reporting to the Li family in the cave might also scare her.
Of course, that’s a last resort. Leaving would be easy for him, but Zhang Agu, the Fragrant Girl, and the cart driver would likely suffer.
Even the nearby Zhou Manager, after a moment of silence, turned to look at Hu Ma.
After some thought, he handed him something. “You took risks for my young miss, and I remember this favor. Although you didn’t accept this before, now it might be useful to you.”
“Your first ritual is too dangerous. This thing can save your life in a critical moment.”
“…”
“Life-saving copper coin?”
Hu Ma was taken aback for a moment. This was the money Zhou Manager had used to sell himself into the Li family, a life-saving charm. He had offered it to Hu Ma before, but Hu Ma had refused. Now, he accepted it without hesitation, smiling. “Only this copper coin? Old Master, you still haven’t taught me those skills I asked about earlier…”
“Ah…”
The old steward was a bit embarrassed. “I’ve already told you how to use the Li family’s silver needle soul piercing. What else do you want to learn?”
“Disguise, ventriloquism, and things that prevent someone from becoming a ghost…”
Hu Ma said, “Learning things, who doesn’t want more?”
“Alright then…”
Zhou Manager hesitated, unable to resist Hu Ma’s sincere gaze. Reluctantly, he explained those skills in a simple manner.
At a time when they were all under great pressure from the Beggar Gang, they didn’t expect to be so relaxed. Even the cart driver and the two apprentices felt more at ease.
But just then, they noticed more beggars following them, and the horse-drawn carriage hired from the city seemed off. As night approached, they sent someone to speak hesitantly to Hu Ma and the others:
“Sir, have you… have you offended the Beggar Gang in the city?”
“I see them following us and I’m a bit scared.”
“We’re just helping people with the carriage, earning a bit of money. We don’t want to get involved in your disputes…”
“…”
Seeing their hesitation, Hu Ma sighed. “If that’s the case, you should hide first!”
He glanced at the beggars behind them, then at the surrounding mountains and rivers, and turned to Zhang Agu. “Shall we fight them here?”
(End of Chapter)
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