https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-297-The-Red-and-White-Appointment/12918526/
Chapter 296: Soul Searching and Inquiry
Chapter 296: Soul Searching and Inquiry
Who would dare to ask for such a special skill...
Although Miss Red Wine's words might have made sense, Hu Ma was still hesitant about the "treasure" on Ji Tang's body.
The Shou Sui practitioner's cultivation technique was indeed mysterious, but it was unclear if it completely disregarded scientific principles. For instance, what if they randomly swapped a pair of large gourds and had children in the future? Who would the child belong to?
As for the so-called Green Corpse Hand, Swift Legs, or even the five senses that had been transformed from death to life by Ji Tang, they were even less necessary. In this regard, Hu Ma admitted that he had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.
While thinking about various things, he saw that Miss Red Wine had already started to collect the Kongming Lantern containing Ji Tang's soul. Hu Ma quickly searched the area as well.
However, the results were quite disappointing...
The last time they had a confrontation with Cui Gan Niang and her group, he had managed to gather quite a few items. But now, this grand Beggar Sect leader, aside from a saber, seemed to have nothing else on him?
You're such a big leader, traveling alone with just a broken saber to block someone. Who would die if not you?
"Let's go!"
Miss Red Wine merely tidied up a few yellow pennants on the wooden scaffold and waited for Hu Ma to take the saber. Then, she led the way with Ji Tang's human skin, and together with Hu Ma, they straightened the carriage and helped the half-dead horse on the ground, which looked quite heartbroken.
The horse desperately wanted to die, but it was knocked unconscious by a blow to the head. In its shame, its desire to die became even stronger.
In fact, it had just regained consciousness but was still lying on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, occasionally blinking. It wasn't until Hu Ma helped it up and harnessed it to the carriage that it showed a lifeless expression.
Hu Ma didn't pay attention to the horse but looked at the two baskets on the ground, feeling a bit nervous.
Earlier, these two baskets were filled with 'local specialties' that Xiang Ya Tou had given him to take back to the village. However, at some point, Miss Red Wine had replaced these specialties with shadow puppets...
...Where had his specialties gone?
For a moment, he was torn about whether to ask Miss Red Wine.
Just then, he lifted the two large baskets back onto the carriage and immediately felt that the weight seemed a bit off. He quickly looked inside and froze.
The two baskets were filled with local specialties, as if they had never disappeared.
"What's wrong? Are you worried that your sister stole your things?"
Miss Red Wine glanced at Hu Ma and said, "I just borrowed your baskets. I don't lack these few items."
"No, no..."
Hu Ma found the statement quite amusing and said, "What are these things? If you want them, just take a basket and go."
"How about you take the basket with more?"
"..."
"Never mind!"
Miss Red Wine, or rather, Han Womzi, lightly hopped onto Hu Ma's carriage. She stretched and said, "Let's go to the town ahead. I'll not only help you get the Shou Sui practitioner's gate entry technique but also inform you of some necessary matters."
"There's a lot to do!"
"..."
Hu Ma became serious and quickly comforted the horse, which was still struggling to die, before hurrying forward.
Miss Red Wine pointed the way, and they soon arrived at the nearby Niutou Town, where an opera troupe was performing.
Miss Red Wine and Hu Ma stopped by the roadside and waited for the performance to end before approaching. She took out an identity token from her bosom and showed it to the troupe leader, who was stunned.
The troupe leader hurriedly tried to kneel and kowtow, then asked if Miss Red Wine had any instructions.
"You have a place to stay here, right? Give me two rooms and prepare four tables of food. I just finished some business and need to rest here."
Miss Red Wine gave her instructions matter-of-factly, and the troupe leader didn't hesitate to make the arrangements.
Before long, they were led to a residence next to the stage, which the troupe had rented. They offered the largest and most spacious room and ordered four tables of food and wine to be served.
Miss Red Wine didn't stand on ceremony and said, "By the way, after you finish the performance here, if you have time, go to Ling Shou Prefecture in Anzhou."
"There's someone there who's inviting an opera troupe, and they'll pay you more than what you usually earn in a month!"
"..."
The troupe leader was extremely grateful and took their leave.
Hu Ma curiously looked at Miss Red Wine, who lazily said, "I told you that the Sword Wielder Overseer's identity is very useful."
"Since I'm a Sword Wielder from the Deception Sect, everyone in the sect is like my disciple or descendant. No matter if I know them or not, they should naturally show respect."
"Of course, if they encounter difficulties and seek help from our sect, I'll have to step in and solve the problem."
"..."
Hu Ma said, "Then only sect members can recognize this identity token, right?"
"What if the troupe leader doesn't recognize it?"
"..."
Miss Red Wine looked at him and said, "Do you always have so many questions?"
Hu Ma felt a bit embarrassed, and Miss Red Wine sighed, "Those who make a living in the martial world know that rules are important. When it comes to sect affairs, who wouldn't find out the details?"
"Of course..."
But then, her tone changed again, "If we really don't recognize someone, we'll have to pretend we've mistaken their identity and find somewhere else to go..."
Hu Ma took notes on these rules, not knowing when they might come in handy in the future.
After all, rules in the martial world were crucial, sometimes even more important than one's abilities.
Miss Red Wine, whether out of care for the new recruit or simply finding Hu Ma pleasing to the eye, explained everything that might be useful or interesting to him without hesitation.
Following Miss Red Wine for this period, Hu Ma had learned more about the martial world than he would have in several years on his own.
After wiping his face and changing out of his bloodstained clothes, Hu Ma sat down to have a meal with Miss Red Wine, his gaze falling on the Kongming lantern.
The moth inside the lantern was probably the most important thing in this line of work, right?
However, Soul Searching was required to obtain the secret art he desired, and Soul Searching was always a major event. Was Miss Red Wine, a member of the Deception Sect, capable of such a skill?
"Don't rush to start eating just yet, we're still waiting for some friends..."
Miss Red Wine wiped her hands and sat down, pouring herself a cup of wine and speaking slowly, but not touching the food.
Hu Ma looked at the four tables filled with food and guessed who was coming, but he still didn't quite understand, "Which group of friends is coming this time?"
"Since it's the Anzhou Reincarnate Team Building, how can we not show up and have a few drinks?"
Miss Red Wine smiled faintly, "We're just waiting for them to arrive, aren't we?"
"Another gathering?"
Hu Ma was shocked. They had just invited so many people to besiege the Beggar Sect's leader, and now they were going to gather again for a meal? If they were noticed, it would be a huge problem. Although they weren't afraid of trouble, they were about to create another commotion.
"You'll see when they arrive."
Miss Red Wine didn't explain further but smiled and replied, "Don't worry about Soul Searching, I've already made the necessary arrangements."
"Soul Searching for secrets is a taboo among sect members, and it doesn't sound good to talk about it."
"But the more so, the more we shouldn't act sneaky. Instead, we should be open and aboveboard."
"The Beggar Sect has committed countless evil deeds, and everyone wants them dead. Who knows how many more crimes they have hidden? When we Soul Search their leader, it's also for the sake of justice, isn't it?"
"Gaining the Gate Entry Technique is a bonus, and we're not afraid of being questioned."
"..."
"That's the logic..."
Although Miss Red Wine's actions were often unexpected, Hu Ma now vaguely understood her style.
Previously, when dealing with Fragrant Girl's matter, she had invited fellow martial artists and sent her back with a drum and gong parade. Now, she was going to organize a team-building event to make the death of Ji Tang, the leader of the Beggar Sect, known to the entire world.
So, her secret to handling matters was simply two words: make a big deal.
As they continued their conversation, the sun began to set in the west, and dusk approached. The wooden gate outside started to echo with knocking sounds, and with a slight raise of Miss Red Wine's hand, the door bolt opened by itself.
The gate opened, and one by one, martial artists entered. Some were old, some young, some dressed in luxurious finery, and others looked poor and shabby. But they all rushed in and began cursing the Beggar Sect's shamelessness.
Some even brought out the list of missing young ladies from wealthy families in Ping Nan Dao in recent years, pleading with Miss Red Wine to Soul Search Ji Tang and find out the whereabouts of these unfortunate women.
Hu Ma secretly observed them, noticing their diverse appearances.
Some looked like wealthy men, some carried weapons, clearly martial artists, some resembled storytellers, some were fortune tellers with flags, some were vendors, and some were managers. It seemed like all sorts of characters from the martial world had gathered.
He was astonished for a moment, wondering if all of them were reincarnates from Anzhou. But then he realized it was impossible. Although the number of reincarnates wasn't small, compared to the entire world, they were extremely rare, with perhaps not even one in an entire state or prefecture.
Among these people, only a few were likely to be reincarnates, but it was difficult to distinguish who they were.
The most crucial thing was that after these people arrived and took their seats, they began talking about the Beggar Sect's leader, Ji Tang, with intense and hateful words. Hu Ma watched, but he couldn't tell who was a reincarnate and who wasn't.
As she greeted these people, Miss Red Wine also glanced at Hu Ma with a hint of subtle pride in her eyes.
Hu Ma understood her gaze, "It's impossible for all of them to be reincarnates, and even among those who recently took action on the martial path and helped deal with Ji Ping's people, not all are reincarnates."
"The reincarnates are among these people, and they know who they are. Those who aren't reincarnates don't know they aren't, but they all share the same attitude as the reincarnates, and at critical moments, they will act according to the reincarnates' wishes."
"These are the people living in the shadows of the reincarnates."
(End of Chapter)
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