https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-The-Meng-Family-s-Malevolent-Spirits/12834406/
Chapter 27: The Noble from the City
Chapter 27: The Noble from the City
“Can’t find Grandma? What do you mean?”
Xiao Hongtang’s words sent a chill down Hu Ma’s spine, and he quickly set down the basket in his hands.
“I can’t smell the incense Grandma lit, so I can’t find my way home.”
Xiao Hongtang’s voice wavered with a hint of sadness. “I searched for Grandma in the woods, but I couldn’t find her. I was even bullied by someone, so I had to come back. But Second Master had already scattered ashes outside the village, so Xiao Hongtang couldn’t get back in to find Brother Hu Ma. I could only wait.”
“You’ve been wandering around all night?”
Hu Ma finally understood, his heart heavy with worry. “What does it mean that Grandma didn’t light the incense?”
Recalling the White-Faced Mountain Spirit from last night and now Xiao Hongtang’s inability to find her home, his heart grew even heavier. He told Xiao Hongtang to wait outside the village and hurried back inside.
Second Master was carefully questioning Cui Xie’er, who had just woken up. Cui Xie’er’s face was pale, and he instinctively trembled when he saw Hu Ma, but Hu Ma ignored him and looked at Second Master.
Seeing Hu Ma’s worried expression, Second Master understood and came outside, whispering, “Did something happen?”
“Xiao Hongtang says she can’t find her way home…”
Hu Ma quickly explained the situation to Second Master, his heart uneasy.
“The situation doesn’t seem right.”
Second Master’s brow furrowed. “Xiao Hongtang is a spirit raised by Grandma. The place where the incense burns is her home. Only Grandma can light that incense for her, and anyone who deals with spirits would never forget to do so.”
“Then what about Grandma…?”
Hu Ma’s heart trembled, and he looked up at Second Master.
“Don’t panic if something happens.”
Second Master noticed Hu Ma’s worry and said firmly, though he too seemed concerned.
As they were thinking, a few herbalists, wearing leggings and raincoats, came up the hill outside the village. Seeing Second Master from a distance, one of them called out, “Second Master, the chief sent us to deliver a message this morning.”
“There’s something going on in the village. He wants you to settle things here and head over by noon.”
“It’s important, so don’t delay.”
“…”
“Did something happen?”
Second Master’s face darkened, and he hurriedly asked, “Is it related to Grandma?”
“I don’t know!”
The herbalist was taken aback. “We left this morning, and the chief stopped us at the village entrance to pass on the message.”
“He didn’t say much, but he looked very anxious.”
“…”
Hearing this, Hu Ma’s heart also grew uneasy.
Second Master composed himself and said to Hu Ma, “Come, let’s go back to the village together.”
He went inside to arrange things, while Hu Ma waited anxiously. Xiao Hongtang quietly approached and held his hand.
“Brother Hu Ma, does Grandma not want Xiao Hongtang anymore?”
“…”
“No, no…”
Seeing her pitiful expression, Hu Ma knew she only looked like a child, but her true nature was unknown. Despite this, his heart softened, and he treated her like a scared child, whispering, “Of course not. We’ll go back to the village to find Grandma together.”
“Just stay close to me and don’t run off again.”
“…”
Xiao Hongtang obediently agreed and followed Hu Ma closely, afraid of getting lost again.
Second Master returned after settling things, and, worried, he quickly picked up Hu Ma and carried him on his back, taking long strides toward the village. Xiao Hongtang, unable to keep up, also jumped onto Hu Ma’s back.
So, Second Master carried Hu Ma, and Hu Ma carried Xiao Hongtang, and the two of them, along with the spirit, swiftly moved through the dense forest, much faster than a normal person.
Hu Ma could tell that Xiao Hongtang shivered whenever she got close to Second Master, seemingly unable to bear it. But when she buried her face in his neck and took a deep breath, she felt much better.
“Second Master is a Furnace Keeper, so it’s natural for Xiao Hongtang to be afraid of him.”
“But I’m a Furnace Keeper too, and my fire is almost as strong as his. Why isn’t she afraid of me?”
“…”
These strange thoughts were pushed aside as he followed Second Master, his mind filled with worry.
It seemed Second Master had learned some special method of travel. The last time Hu Ma and Grandma crossed the forest, it took over two hours, but with Second Master’s long strides, they moved much faster, even without running.
In about half an hour, they reached the entrance of Dayang Village.
From a distance, they could see the chief and a few elders waiting anxiously.
“What happened to Grandma?”
Second Master approached quickly and called out to the chief from a distance.
"Granny?"
The clan elder also approached, about to speak, but he heard Second Uncle’s words and his expression turned strange. "What’s wrong with Granny?"
Second Uncle also paused in surprise. "It’s not about Granny?"
"She hasn’t been around the village for a while now..."
The old clan elder looked past them and saw Hu Ma, nodding. "Ever since we sent little Hu Ma to your village, we’ve rarely seen Granny around. She hasn’t been back to the village for a few days now."
"But Granny often travels to treat the sick and the spirits, sometimes not returning for a day or two. Little Hu Ma knows this..."
"Still, it’s unusual for her to be gone for several days..."
"..."
"That..."
Hu Ma let out a small sigh of relief when he realized it wasn’t about Granny, but he couldn’t shake off his worry since he hadn’t seen her in a while.
He quickly asked, "Where has Granny gone?"
"Seems like she went to the western forest?"
The old clan elder also looked a bit awkward. "She’s been going there a lot lately, but we don’t know what she’s doing. We usually don’t ask about Granny’s business."
This was indeed in line with Granny’s habits. Hu Ma glanced back and saw Little Redtang with a puzzled look, gazing toward the western forest.
If she were close by, she could sense Granny. She had followed her into the forest a few days ago, but now she seemed lost and uncertain.
Second Uncle sighed. "So, what’s the urgent matter that made you call me back?"
The old clan elder’s expression grew cautious. He stepped closer to Second Uncle and whispered, "It’s a big deal. Some important people from the city came today, looking for something in the forest. They need a guide from our village, and I thought only you could handle this."
"They’re all high-ranking individuals. You must serve them well, Second. We might earn a good reward..."
"Be a guide?"
Second Uncle was taken aback and looked into the village. "Them?"
Hu Ma followed his gaze and froze.
In his anxiety, he hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw that there were additional people in the village.
They were all muscular men dressed in black pants and shirts, with red silk sashes tied around their waists. Some of them had knives at their belts, looking like bodyguards.
There were about eighteen of them, surrounding two black sedan chairs and a large wagon, standing quietly in the village.
The children and villagers watched them with a mix of respect and fear.
Outside one of the sedan chairs stood an old man in a gray robe, with the air of a shopkeeper. He had his hands behind his back, surveying the village.
The other sedan chair was completely shrouded in black silk curtains, concealing the occupant inside.
These were the important people from the city?
Hu Ma’s curiosity was piqued. What kind of world was this?
"But I have something important to do right now..."
Second Uncle understood why the old clan elder had called him back, and his expression turned difficult.
"Oh, Granny is so capable, what could happen to her?"
The old clan elder, seeing his hesitation, grabbed Second Uncle’s arm and whispered, "You can’t refuse this, do you know how important these city people are?"
"The old shopkeeper from Caoxin Hall came with them. Our village can’t afford to offend them."
"If we do a good job, we might get a good price for our black oil ointment and herbs next spring..."
"..."
"This is such bad timing!"
Second Uncle glanced at Hu Ma. "We don’t know what’s happened to Granny yet!"
"What could happen to Granny?"
The old clan elder paused, looking at Hu Ma. "What’s wrong with Granny?"
"I don’t know."
Hu Ma let out a slow breath. "Granny used to send food to my village, but she didn’t send any today. The person who usually helps with the food delivery suddenly couldn’t find her. I’m worried something happened to her, so I came back with Second Uncle."
"Well, one day without food isn’t going to starve you."
The old clan elder sounded a bit resentful. "And it’s only been one day."
"Let Second Uncle handle the important people first. I’ll look around the village and see if I can find her."
"..."
Without waiting for Hu Ma’s response, he turned to Second Uncle, his tone serious. "But you can’t delay the important people from the city!"
"Second, you’re experienced. Just look at their wagon, and you’ll know how important they are!"
"They’ve already been waiting for an hour or so. We can’t keep them waiting any longer!"
"..."
Second Uncle’s face showed his dilemma, and Hu Ma let out a low sigh, understanding the situation. He turned to look at the vast, endless forest.
Suddenly, he said, "It’s fine, Second Uncle. I’ll go into the forest with you."
(End of Chapter)
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