Twilight's Threshold Chapter 298: Xiang Yaotou's Gift (Third Watch) - Novel Cool

Chapter 298: Xiang Yaotou's Gift (Third Watch)

Chapter 298: Xiang Yaotou's Gift (Third Watch)

"So, what exactly did Miss White Wine ask me to deliver? A letter, or..."

As the Red Wine Miss was explaining the contents of the letter to those around her, Hu Ma, who had left their sight and was driving the carriage back south, was also silently pondering to himself, "Am I the one mentioned in that letter?"

There were some questions that were difficult to ask but couldn't be left unconsidered.

The Red Wine Miss was a kind-hearted person. She had helped him, a mere messenger, with the Li family's matters and even took the time to introduce him to the martial world.

She even gave him a chance to spar with the Beggar Sect's leader, Ji Tang, to gain valuable experience.

Every step of the way since arriving here had felt like winning the lottery, each filled with incredible luck.

But did he truly deserve this good fortune?

After all, in the eyes of these senior reincarnators, he was just a newcomer from a small town. Everyone was struggling to survive in this bizarre world, constantly living with the risk of being exposed and dying without a proper burial.

Why were they willing to reveal certain secrets and help him understand this world, even at the risk of exposure, just to remind him of its secrets? Was it a senior's care for a newcomer?

Haha, if all reincarnators were this caring, the roasted sweet potato leg would have been healed long ago.

"There are no fools in the martial world..."

After much contemplation, Hu Ma let out a long sigh. He accepted a certain truth in his heart; although he was indeed handsome and had a good heart, he didn't think he deserved such special treatment.

If they were going out of their way to help him, there must be a reason they couldn't ignore.

However, although he had realized this, he didn't ask.

Sometimes, it was better to feign ignorance than to ask and risk hearing the truth.

Moreover, even if he asked now, with his current abilities, could he really shoulder the lives and fate of so many people? He needed to take it slow and learn more skills first.

With his mind made up, he traveled swiftly with his carriage towards Mingzhou. Previously, he had traveled slowly with Zhang Agu, Zhou Guan Jia, the coachman, and the two assistants.

Now, returning alone with just the carriage, he made good time due to the horse's relentless determination. It seemed to know no fatigue and was unafraid of dying from exhaustion.

What puzzled Hu Ma was this very aspect. He had assumed that the horse, which had a death wish, was only used as a precaution before encountering the Beggar Sect's leader, Ji Tang. Yet, when he was about to head south, the Red Wine Miss gifted him the horse.

Was this something one could give away?

Every time Hu Ma saw this silent horse, fierce and always ready to bite, he felt a sense of unease. It worked hard during the day, which was fine, and needed a drink at night to sleep, which was also acceptable. But when it lifted its head to gaze at the moon in the dead of night, its eyes filled with tears, it was downright eerie...

Forget it, he'd take it back to the estate first!

With the horse, the journey was much faster, and he soon arrived in Mingzhou.

There were some troubles along the way, as traveling alone with a carriage was quite eye-catching.

However, the martial world etiquette he had learned from the Red Wine Miss came in handy. Whenever he encountered roadblocks or river bandits, he would recite: "Traveling the roads, mountains, and rivers, a few coins bring sunny days. Friends, behind closed doors, we're all family."

"I'm the apprentice of Artisan Li, a senior from the Beggar Sect on Ping Nan Dao. I'm delivering some items for him to the south."

"What? You won't even give me this face?"

The Beggar Sect on Ping Nan Dao was not to be trifled with; they held great influence over the underworld.

Of course, this was also because the news of the Beggar Sect's eradication hadn't spread yet. In this era without telephones or telegraphs, news traveled by word of mouth, slowly and often with exaggerated details.

For instance, his fame in Anzhou would gradually spread, and who knew if he'd eventually be rumored to be an eight-foot-tall hero with an equally impressive waist size!

Disguised as the apprentice of Artisan Li, who had died at his hands, Hu Ma faced no obstacles on his journey. People even offered him assistance and cleared the way, warning him of potential dangers ahead.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing.

Hu Ma encountered someone who, upon learning of his connection to the Beggar Sect, enthusiastically tried to befriend him.

This person claimed to be a close associate of Cui Gan Niang, saying he had helped her greatly. He insisted that since Hu Ma was Artisan Li's apprentice, they were practically family.

So, Hu Ma drew his saber and chopped him down! Firstly, this guy might actually know Cui Gan Niang, and Hu Ma couldn't risk being exposed.

Secondly, this guy had helped the slave traders, making him untrustworthy.

With this swift action, Hu Ma continued his journey at a rapid pace. In about half a month, he returned from Ping Nan Dao to Mingzhou Prefecture. When he arrived at the estate in Qing Shi Town, it was already noon.

He shook the reins, letting the horse pull the carriage straight into the estate, which had its gate wide open. Expecting a bustling scene, he was surprised to find the estate eerily quiet, with not a single servant in sight.

Looking up, Li Wazi was leaning against the kitchen doorway, dozing off.

Hu Ma waved his whip, "What's going on? Where is everyone?"

Li Wazi woke up with a start, rubbing his eyes, thinking it was all a dream. Suddenly, he became excited, "Brother Ma Zi, you're back?"

"I'm back!"

Hu Ma smiled and jumped off the carriage, saying, "Help me with the baskets on the carriage..."

Just as he was about to ask him to unload the carriage and move the items to the inner courtyard, he suddenly stopped and said with a smile, "Never mind, you go and get me a bowl of noodles instead!"

As he spoke, he lifted two large baskets, one in each hand, and carried them directly into the room in the inner courtyard.

If there were other servants around, they would have handled this heavy task.

But Li Wazi's body was currently weak, so he couldn't be assigned this laborious task.

"Where are the others?"

After bringing in the two baskets, he untied the horse harness and led the horse into the stable, feeding it with the finest hay. Meanwhile, Li Wazi, who was starting a fire, asked curiously.

"Half of them are practicing with Brother Datong in the forest, and the other half are attending a banquet in Huang Gou Village."

Li Wazi said, "Brother Liangzi and Brother Zhuzi are currently helping out in Zhu Gate Town. They said they want to earn some money for oil lamps."

"Brother Datong has become really skilled. Last time, there was a corpse that suddenly moved, and several strong men couldn't hold it down. He tripped it with a kick and then stepped on its chest, and it couldn't get up. Brother Liangzi and Brother Zhuzi immediately became envious."

"Now, they're willing to do any work for money, and the other servants also understand the importance of practicing. They follow Brother Datong every day and chop trees in the forest."

"Zhou Widow is cursing every day. They promised to help chop firewood, but they're making a mess of it."

"..."

Hu Ma was speechless. Why is it that wherever Zhou Datong goes, there's a widow? What kind of theorem is this? Of course, he was also slightly relieved, knowing that learning skills is beneficial.

In the past, in this village, only he had been diligently practicing skills. Despite seeing himself promoted to a manager, the other servants didn't seem envious, as if it was only natural. It wasn't until Zhou Datong learned real skills that they became motivated.

"Alright, call everyone back!"

After Hu Ma finished tidying up, he said to Li Wazi, "Xiang Ya Tou has been safely sent back, and she's been cured."

"This time, you brought back a lot of good things for us!"

"Right, in the afternoon, call over Town Manager Sun and his wife from the town. Xiang Ya Tou is thinking of them and wants to share the items they brought."

"..."

If any other servant were here, they would have asked about Xiang Ya Tou upon seeing Hu Ma's face.

Only Li Wazi didn't ask, and he didn't care at all.

But Hu Ma's return made Li Wazi genuinely happy. He hurried to Zhou Widow's forest to call the others, then decided on a few dishes for the evening to properly treat Brother Ma Zi after his journey.

Soon, the village became lively. Zhou Datong and the others ran out bare-chested, overjoyed. They surrounded Hu Ma, asking about Xiang Ya Tou.

They asked if she had ever been engaged, if she had any siblings, and so on.

In the afternoon, Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu also returned, not because they were called, but because it was time to finish work.

So, everyone in the village was busy slaughtering chickens and sheep, going to the town tavern for wine, and inviting the tavern owner, Manager Sun, and his wife along the way. The couple was delighted to hear that Xiang Ya Tou had safely returned home, and they eagerly joined in the preparations.

But seeing the village treating them so formally, they felt a bit awkward.

As usual, they patrolled the village at night, and then two large tables were set up in the courtyard, laden with wine and dishes.

Hu Ma also brought out two large baskets from his courtyard, smiling, "We're all good people, and good people are indeed rewarded. After sending Xiang Ya Tou back, her family was full of gratitude, thanking us for our kindness."

"Xiang Ya Tou has been thinking about us too, saying that the few days she spent here were the most comfortable. Even more so than when she was a young lady in Ling Shou Prefecture."

"So, when I left, she specially brought a lot of local specialties from her home, filling two large baskets..."

"Here, everyone gets a share, let's divide it up."

"..."

Everyone listened with joy and curiosity, focusing on the two large baskets.

Hu Ma, under everyone's expectant gaze, wasn't stingy at all. He opened the baskets, reached in, and with a slight smile, he took out countless good things to distribute to everyone.

"Look, this is the cloth that Xiang Ya Tou pulled for Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun. It would make such beautiful clothes!"

"Datong, this is the wine that Xiang Ya Tou brought for you. It's worth several silver taels per jar!"

"Look at this candy and these pastries, so delicately made. It's clear that Xiang Ya Tou put a lot of thought into it..."

"And this, there's enough silver here for everyone to get..."

"..."

(End of Chapter)

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