https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-279-The-Person-Locked-in-the-Cave/12918474/
Chapter 280: The Grand Altar
Chapter 280: The Grand Altar
As expected!
See for yourself!
Even before coming here, Hu Ma had been worried that by sending someone back to the Ghost Cavern Li Clan, he would be noticed and asked to marry off his daughter.
It was this concern that prompted him to contact the reincarnate in Anzhou as soon as he arrived.
Sure enough, his worst fear came true.
As he stared in disbelief, the Fragrant Girl blushed and pushed Master Li away.
Master Li laughed and said to Hu Ma, "It was just a joke, young master. Don't take it to heart. I stay here all day, and there aren't many opportunities to talk to people."
"Moreover, since Yu'er is returning, it means I lost the bet I made. Although she is the eighth generation, she still has to continue repaying the debt for the Li family's ancestors. It seems that fate does not allow her to leave."
"This..."
Although he spoke in jest, a hidden hint of deep regret flashed in his eyes.
Hu Ma paused for a moment before standing up and bowing, "Old sir, I sent the young miss back because I felt it was the right thing to do. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I helped her."
"There are many pitiful people in this world, and I, as a small leader of the Blood Feast Gang, can't manage too many things. But she has a connection with me, and she also gets along well with the brothers in our farmhouse. Since I had the opportunity to bring her back and reunite her with you, I did so."
"But..."
He hesitated for a moment and smiled bitterly, "It seems like I've done something unnecessary and caused trouble for the young miss."
"Huh?"
The Fragrant Girl, hearing these words, became anxious and wanted to explain.
Master Li patted her arm, signaling her to stay calm. He let out a soft sigh and said to Hu Ma, "Young master, don't say that."
"Human affairs and fate are two different matters, and I understand that. The Ghost Cavern not letting go of the eighth generation of the Li family is a fated matter, and it's a debt that the Li family owes. But it was you who performed the righteous deed, and that is a favor to the Li family."
"..."
"Human affairs and fate?"
Hu Ma's heart tightened, and he thought back to his previous conversation with Manager Zhou.
In his opinion, everything was just a coincidence, and even if his thoughts had changed slightly, the Fragrant Girl's fate would have been different.
But Manager Zhou believed that there was a fated power driving these events, and if Manager Zhou's abilities were lacking, Master Li seemed to believe it even more.
Even Hu Ma himself started to believe it.
"You can't deceive the ghost deities!"
Master Li glanced at the Fragrant Girl, his eyes filled with deep helplessness, and said, "The fact that you were able to rescue her and provide her with a few months of comfortable living in your farmhouse is already a rare blessing in her life."
"You went through all the hardships and difficulties to send her back, and that is the Li family's accumulated virtue for guarding the Ghost Cavern."
"Although I had this thought at the time, I later regretted it. Imperial orders cannot be defied, and ghost deities should not be deceived. I was afraid that because of me, she would not be able to escape and would suffer additional hardships and torment..."
"..."
As he spoke, it seemed like he had let go, and he sighed softly, "The Li family will never be able to leave this Ghost Cavern."
"This debt cannot be repaid in just seven generations."
"..."
"Debt?"
Hu Ma had heard about these matters from the Fragrant Girl before, but he wasn't entirely clear on the details.
He looked up and saw that inside the Ghost Cavern, there was a deep darkness. It was as if there was a huge well, and from the outside, one could see a massive round stone sitting on a mountain. Now, from the inside, it looked like the stone was pressing down on the well, and the cave connecting to the outside world was the only gap left for passage.
The Li family was guarding this place, but what debt were they repaying? He kept saying that imperial orders couldn't be defied, but the emperor had already been skinned. Nowadays, the government was only in name, so why were the Li family, as descendants of prisoners, so devoted to repaying this debt?
Master Li noticed Hu Ma's gaze directed inside and could sense his confusion.
He seemed to ponder for a moment, considering whether to tell him the truth. After a moment, he looked at Hu Ma and slowly said, "There's a reason why the Ghost Cavern Li Clan stays here. Young master, have you heard of evil spirits escaping from hell and hiding among humans to cause trouble?"
"Evil spirits hiding among humans?"
Hu Ma was taken aback and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. "Are you talking about us reincarnates?"
At this, he managed to control his expression and feigned surprise, saying, "That's right."
"Mingzhou is filled with evil spirits, and there was once a green-robed evil ghost that wreaked havoc in the region, causing great harm to the people."
"Our Blood Feast Gang members make a living by collecting blood offerings, but we also have the responsibility to restrain these evil spirits and prevent them from causing harm."
"..."
"Hehe, that's not what I'm referring to."
Master Li didn't suspect anything and smiled faintly, "The evil spirits you mentioned are just some malevolent qi influenced by the Great Sage, and although some of them cause significant trouble, their origins are known, and they can be restrained."
"The evil spirits I'm talking about are the most difficult to understand and the most terrifying."
"They are everywhere, hiding among humans. They could stand right in front of you, and you wouldn't be able to see their true faces. It's even harder to understand what they truly want to do..."
"..."
He paused and sighed softly, "Of course, it's a good thing that you don't know about these matters.
"These malevolent spirits are extremely vigilant. Once someone becomes aware of their existence, they will harm and silence them."
"..."
'Are they referring to us?'
Hu Ma's heart was filled with shock, and he couldn't help but glance at the deep well hidden in the darkness with a look of astonishment. His mind was filled with endless astonishment and questions.
Did the reincarnate truly crawl out from this place? Is the Li Clan guarding the Ghost Cavern to prevent more reincarnates from entering this world?
If so, what lies at the other end of the Ghost Cavern? Could it be the place from which the reincarnates came, their past lives?
His heart was filled with immense astonishment, but he tried to control his expression, pretending to be earnestly understanding. Slowly, he turned to the Marquis of the Li Clan and said, "Then, what does this have to do with the debt the Li Clan owes?"
"The appearance of the Ghost Cavern is related to our ancestor, so we must repay the debt."
The Marquis of the Li Clan sighed softly and said, "Back then, when the Great Sage was born, evil spirits thrived. The State Oracle invited various extraordinary individuals to the capital for a grand sacrifice. Thirty-six grand altars were set up across the land to worship the earth and respect the heavens, seeking answers from the ghost deities about the origin of the Great Sage's flesh and blood."
"However, the origin of the Great Sage was not discovered, and it led to chaos in the world, with the disruption of yin and yang and the proliferation of evil spirits. The world became as cruel as it is today."
"My ancestor from the Li Clan was one of those who participated in that grand sacrifice."
"For causing such a great disaster, he should have been beheaded. But these places still need someone to guard them, and this bought a glimmer of hope. He was exiled here, tasked with guarding it for generations."
"Before my ancestor from the Li Clan arrived, the State Oracle said that the debt could be repaid within seven generations."
"But it seems the State Oracle miscalculated. It's been far more than seven generations, and the debt is still being repaid generation after generation..."
"..."
"Grand sacrifice in the capital?"
This was the first time Hu Ma had heard this term, and he couldn't help but feel curious.
Was this Ghost Cavern one of the altars for that grand sacrifice?
Is it because of that grand sacrifice that the reincarnates came to this world, struggling to survive?
For a moment, his curiosity peaked, and he had countless questions he wanted to ask.
However, the Marquis of the Li Clan sighed helplessly and suddenly said to Hu Ma, "Young Master, you truly don't want to marry Yu'er?"
"You seem to be curious. If you marry Yu'er, you'll know everything."
"..."
"Huh?"
Hu Ma was momentarily stunned. What was this man joking about again?
But then he remembered what Fragrant Girl had told him, seeing the smile in the Marquis's eyes.
He shouldn't inquire too much about the Ghost Cavern; asking too many questions could lead to being taken away by the things inside the cavern.
Now that he was inside the Ghost Cavern, he wondered if asking too many questions would result in him being left here permanently. Secrets were important, but his life was more so.
"Huff..."
As he thought of this, he became slightly more alert, sensing the cold wind blowing from the direction of the deep well.
It felt like sitting in an air-conditioned room on a winter day.
As a New Year Guardian, he felt uncomfortable all over, and he couldn't imagine how those guarding the place must feel.
Feeling a chill, he quickly looked down at the candle in his hand. It had burned down to a small stub, but the flame was still steady, indicating no immediate issues.
However, after checking the candle, he instinctively glanced at the red thread tied to his left arm, and his heart skipped a beat.
The three red threads were all loose, as if they had all snapped. Damn...
This shock was not minor; Hu Ma's body stiffened.
"Haha..."
At that moment, the Marquis of the Li Clan also noticed the red threads on Hu Ma's arm and laughed silently, saying,
"Young Master, your kindness is appreciated, but there are not many in my Li Clan who will accept this favor..."
"..."
Hu Ma was initially worried, but seeing the Marquis's relaxed attitude, even Fragrant Girl didn't seem tense, so he put his worries aside.
He could only smile bitterly and say, "It seems the rules in your family, Marquis, are not as strict as they seem."
"Blame me."
The Marquis of the Li Clan smiled and said, "Generation after generation, only those who enter the cavern to guard it become the head of the Cave Li Clan. Those outside are considered part of the external mansion. But after staying in this place for a long time, they gradually become less concerned about the affairs of the outside world."
"Too many matters are left for the outsiders to handle on their own, and their authority naturally diminishes over time. The family rules also become less strict than they were in the beginning."
"They don't enter the Ghost Cavern, but even the life in these mountains is enough for them. They want to evade this debt."
"But how could they have imagined that this debt is actually unavoidable?"
"..."
With a sigh, he glanced at Hu Ma and nodded slightly, saying, "However, I'm not too keen on managing external affairs, not because I can't, but..."
"Yu'er, take your benefactor out. Some matters of face must be observed."
(End of Chapter)
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