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Chapter 283: Li Family's Gratitude
Chapter 283: Li Family's Gratitude
"Huh?"
Even Hu Ma was surprised by the request from the Li Clan, finding it absurd yet strangely reasonable.
The Cave Li Clan had lived in this place for generations, but they still yearned for a bustling life. Despite their reclusive existence, complete isolation from the outside world was impossible.
Take the matter of clan members marrying and having children, for instance. Could they manage that internally?"
Previously, Manager Zhou had mentioned that his daughter married into the main family, revealing a glimpse of the situation. The Cave Li Clan didn't prioritize status when arranging marriages for their clan members. Perhaps, as long as there was a connection and willingness to stay, they would agree.
Getting people to stay was easy, but convincing them to stay willingly was challenging. How many could endure the daily hardships? However, from his words, Hu Ma discerned another attitude within the Li Clan. With Fragrant Girl's return, they seemed prepared to remain confined.
Hearing this request, Han Womzi also laughed and softly said, "This is an easy matter."
"Our Puppetry Guild members rely on this profession for their livelihood. With such a good employer, how could we refuse?"
"I'll go and talk to them. We can arrange for a performance every month if needed."
"..."
"That's great. Thank you, Han Womzi, for your consideration..."
The Li Clan's administrator repeatedly bowed and smiled, "We've invited several troupes and performers in the past, but they all became afraid after one visit and refused to come again."
"But with Han Womzi's instructions, they will surely believe us..."
"..."
After a detailed conversation, he finally approached Hu Ma. It was evident that his smile was genuine.
As Hu Ma noticed that everyone else had already expressed their gratitude, he stood up and exchanged greetings with the administrator. He discreetly glanced at the box, which was now empty of copper coins...
"Mr. Hu, I've met with the Marquis and listened to his account. I know it was you who saved the lives of our entire clan."
The new External Mansion Administrator of the Cave Li Clan spoke in a low voice, "We are deeply grateful for your immense kindness. It's not something that can be repaid with mere material gifts, but please allow me to express our gratitude in a small way."
"Why be so polite about something you should do?"
Hu Ma followed him, and they arrived at a nearby farmhouse. Most of the farmhouses were simple and crude, with mud walls and thatched roofs. Only this one was built with elegance and simplicity, resembling a study, but it looked very ancient.
"This was the official residence built by our Li Clan's ancestors. No one lives here now. The younger generations just patch up the walls and thatch the roof to make do."
The Li Clan's administrator explained with a smile, then invited Hu Ma to sit down. He called over a young Li Clan member who had been waiting at the door and gave him instructions to fetch something from the back mountain.
Hu Ma's heart skipped a beat when he heard the words "Golden Vein Ointment."
Could it be? But before the administrator could finish serving the tea, the young Li Clan member entered, carrying two large baskets on a pole.
The baskets were ordinary bamboo ones, but their bellies were quite large, capable of holding over a hundred pounds of goods. The pole was bent under the weight, indicating the heaviness of the contents.
He placed the baskets by the wall and then took his leave.
Hu Ma maintained his composure, but his nose twitched slightly, and he immediately caught a familiar scent. His heart raced, and he was astonished.
However, the administrator didn't look at the baskets; he only smiled at Hu Ma, slightly apologetic, and said, "Please excuse the wait, Mr. Hu."
"You've traveled far and wide, facing countless dangers to bring our young miss home. Our Li Clan is deeply grateful. But this kindness is too great to be repaid with mere gold and silver..."
"..."
'I don't mind; I can forgive you...'
Hu Ma's thoughts remained unspoken, and he smiled humbly, "I've heard this many times. The Li Clan is indeed very polite."
"Bringing Fragrant Jade Miss home was my duty. Moreover, no one knew the Li Clan was such a prominent family. Perhaps I shouldn't have interfered and sent another letter. The Li Clan would have naturally brought her back."
"..."
"Mr. Hu, you're being too modest..."
The Li Clan's administrator chuckled, then lowered his voice slightly, "I've asked the Marquis, and he said that gold and silver can't express our gratitude. In this world, one's skills are most important, and you, Mr. Hu, rely on your skills to earn a living..."
He paused briefly, looking at Hu Ma, "Additionally, the Marquis realized that you are from the New Year Guardian lineage, right?"
Hu Ma was surprised by the sudden change in topic. He stared at the administrator's eyes and said, "Does the Li Clan understand the ways of the New Year Guardians?"
"Not really."
The administrator smiled, "Our Li Clan doesn't have much skill. These skills were given to us by the Ghost Cavern."
"Whether they're useful or not is another matter."
"But in Ling Shou Prefecture, or even in Anzhou, the deceased all come to the Ghost Cavern."
"Among them, there are naturally New Year Guardians. Those who enter the prefecture as New Year Guardians will not have their souls come here. However, there are many New Year Guardians with unique skills who have not entered the prefecture."
"The Li Clan is in charge of receiving and serving these people. They will listen to their final words and provide them with their last meal. Since they've been here for a long time, they've naturally accumulated a lot of knowledge from various sects. Perhaps..."
"Some of these are suitable for the New Year Guardians, and the teacher won't disdain them."
"..."
"What?"
When the Li Clan mentioned the New Year Guardians, Hu Ma remained calm. The mysterious Cave Li Clan had indeed attracted many people from various sects.
Take Zhou Manager, for example, who was saved by the Li Clan and willingly came to serve them.
If they could attract people from the Puppetry Guild, then there must be people from the New Year Guardian sect as well. They could offer him some guidance before he entered the mansion, which wouldn't be a difficult task for them.
However, he never expected the Li Clan's administrator to say such words...
The shock in his heart was beyond description at that moment.
The Cave Li Clan was even more profound and terrifying than he had imagined.
Not to mention, if all the deceased in Anzhou had to pass through the Ghost Cavern, and the Li Clan had the ability to extract secrets and techniques from these dead souls, how much knowledge had the Li Clan accumulated over the generations?
Techniques represented skills, and secrets represented even more...
For a moment, Hu Ma felt that the foundation of the Cave Li Clan might be beyond imagination.
Back in Mingzhou, when he first heard about the Ghost Cavern Li Clan, he thought they had a solid foundation and were slightly stronger than the Red Lantern Goddess, but their strength was still limited. After all, the Red Lantern Goddess was no ordinary figure.
But now...
...Hmm, even if Little Red Lantern worked hard for a hundred and eighty years, it might not be enough.
At this moment, he didn't try to hide his surprise, and his expression of astonishment was clearly visible.
"To be honest, we should give you all the New Year Guardian's mansion entry techniques, but even that wouldn't be enough."
Seeing Hu Ma's reaction, the Li Clan's administrator sighed softly and said, "After all, once they enter the mansion, the New Year Guardians won't come to the Ghost Cavern. But they do have some knowledge of the mansion entry techniques, although they haven't experienced it themselves."
"However, the mansion entry techniques have significant cause and effect, and they don't belong to our Li Clan. If we give them to you, we're afraid that the New Year Guardians' ancestors will come to reason with us."
"So, we can only offer a few of our special skills for you to see if they are useful..."
"..."
"That's enough, that's enough..."
Hu Ma listened in surprise, his heart filled with astonishment.
The New Year Guardians valued special skills, and having a few of them meant that one could display various talents when faced with challenges.
As for himself, he had already refined his five viscera, but he only possessed two special skills. One was obtained by risking his life, and the other was acquired by exchanging his life and gratitude, and then trading with someone else.
But according to the Li Clan, they had all the New Year Guardians' special skills, and they could even pick and choose?
...The New Year Guardians outside didn't have the luxury of choosing; they welcomed any special skills they could get.
Additionally, the Li Clan mentioned the mansion entry techniques, implying that they possessed them but were hesitant to give them to Hu Ma, fearing that it might anger the New Year Guardians' ancestors. With such resources, how deep was the Li Clan's foundation?
As he thought in amazement, he subconsciously glanced at the two large baskets by the wall. He had already smelled the scent of the Great Sage's blood and flesh from those baskets. If the Li Clan intended to thank him with the New Year Guardians' techniques, then what was in those baskets...
"Oh, those."
The administrator smiled and said, "Those are local delicacies prepared by our young miss for you. They were taken from the mountain behind our residence. The Li Clan can only stay by the Ghost Cavern because they consume this daily."
"Please take them with you when you leave."
"..."
"What?"
Hu Ma was even more surprised. Did the Li Clan have a Blood Food Mine on the mountain behind their residence?
The Cave Li Clan, who served simple meals and even made him, a village-born man, feel slightly disgusted with their hospitality, actually had a Blood Food Mine?
Startled by the Li Clan's grand gesture and unintentionally revealed secret, Hu Ma quickly reacted...
...with strong refusal: "I can't accept this..."
"We didn't come here for this. How can I accept such a heavy gift? No, no, please take it back, take it back..."
"..."
The Li Clan's administrator hurriedly said, "Please accept it, please. If you don't, the master will blame me for being incompetent..."
"No, no."
"Please accept it, please."
"..."
The peaceful conversation suddenly became intense. Hu Ma felt it was necessary to refuse firmly, while the new administrator of the Li Clan insisted on expressing his gratitude.
You push, I yield; you push again, I yield again.
In the end, Hu Ma conceded...
(End of Chapter)
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