https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-325-The-Meat-Vengeance-Shrine-Master/12918601/
Chapter 324: Fried Ghost
Chapter 324: Fried Ghost
First, if you're going to do it, do it thoroughly, to prevent any lingering poison from harming the villagers.
Second, Hu Ma needed to act more like a Ghost Walker and less like a New Year Guardian.
Third, the meat vendor had disappeared, and Hu Ma wanted to invite him back, so he had to show some sincerity.
Completely destroying the Meat Curse was Hu Ma's way of showing his sincerity.
So, under the watchful and suspicious eyes of the villagers, he saw the bubbling oil in the pot and began to chant a low incantation, holding a coarse ceramic bowl with the piece of meat in it, and slowly raised it above the oil.
Steam rose from the pot, scorching his arm, and oil splattered onto his wrist and the back of his hand, but he seemed oblivious, holding the bowl of meat steady.
Gradually, the bright red piece of meat in the bowl, as if affected by the heat, began to slowly writhe, as if coming back to life.
Bone-dry...
As bubbles rose from the oil, a strange atmosphere enveloped the entire village.
The villagers had gone mad, but the braying of the donkey and the disappointed sigh from the Ancestors in the Ancestral Hall had awakened those who had eaten less meat. However, many others rushed back to their homes.
Now, the sober ones surrounded the large pot, staring wide-eyed, while those who had fled back to their homes hid in the corners, sniffing the aroma and swallowing their saliva in the darkness.
Hu Ma let the steam from the pot waft over the meat in the bowl, releasing an unusual fragrance that seemed to tantalize the villagers' stomachs.
Gradually, the sound of swallowing saliva became louder, and those gathered around the pot struggled to control their craving for meat, lowering their heads to avoid temptation. In the shadows, some couldn't resist, clenching their fists and rubbing their palms together.
Crunch, crunch, someone was grinding their teeth.
Gurgle, gurgle, someone's stomach rumbled loudly, as if a hungry ghost was crying out for meat.
Little Hong Tang tensed up, ready to charge out and fight, but Hu Ma's gaze stopped her.
"Squeak..."
Just then, a wooden door creaked in the neighboring courtyard, and a tall figure stumbled out, crawling forward using both hands and feet.
It was none other than Da Niu, the man whose body had been stripped of most of its meat, leaving him almost a skeleton. Yet, he had managed to crawl out of bed and was slowly making his way towards the oil pot.
His eyes were fixed on the piece of meat in Hu Ma's hand.
Clatter...
Seeing Da Niu emerge, those hiding in the shadows could no longer contain themselves. They stepped out of the darkness, eager to join in.
Hu Ma quietly signaled to Little Hong Tang, while he continued to hold the bowl steady.
As Da Niu drew closer, the aroma of the meat in the bowl tantalized him, and he suddenly quickened his pace, stumbling towards the oil pot.
His movement triggered the villagers hiding in the surrounding shadows, those who had eaten more meat, to rush forward as well. Even the sober villagers guarding the oil pot seemed to lose their senses, fearing they wouldn't get any, and reached out in a hurry.
At that moment, Hu Ma's expression turned serious. He swiftly pinched a sword incantation and pointed to both sides, shouting:
"Flying Sword!"
"..."
"Whoosh!"
The redwood sword on his back suddenly flew up, and Little Hong Tang, having received the signal, grabbed it, holding it awkwardly as she made her way through the crowd. This bizarre scene startled many of the onlookers.
Those standing near the oil pot scattered like the petals of a blooming lotus, except for Da Niu, who charged into the crowd.
Seizing the opportunity, Hu Ma released his grip, and the meat bowl clattered into the oil pot.
The meat in the bowl, now in the hot oil, released an even more mouthwatering aroma, ten times stronger. The eerie and highly tempting scent instantly filled the entire village.
"Plop..."
The first to reach the oil pot was the burly man, Da Niu. His dry and dull eyes reflected only the image of the meat in the bowl, and he was about to dive right into the oil pot. But Hu Ma, in a timely manner, raised his hand and pointed.
The flying sword immediately changed direction and flew back...
...Actually, Little Hong Tang was holding it, and she quickly struck Da Niu's leg with it, then grabbed his legs.
Da Niu was just one foot away from the oil pot, yet he couldn't quite reach it. Frustrated and angry, he opened his mouth wide, and a small ghost with a big belly, small head, and wrinkled body crawled out.
Its mouth watered with greed, its eyes red, and it used all its limbs to dive headfirst into the oil pot.
For a moment, it squealed and sizzled in the hot oil.
But that wasn't the end of it. As Da Niu spat out the little ghost, which stepped into the oil pot, a chaotic rustling sound filled the air. The villagers, whether they had eaten more or less meat, began to hunch over and retch.
From their mouths, one after another, small ghosts emerged, some larger, some smaller, all rushing eagerly towards the oil pot.
It was like a swarm of dumplings, running and jumping into the pot.
"Oh my..."
Among the villagers who had spat out the ghosts, some fainted after vomiting, while others seemed to regain some clarity, staring blankly at the oil pot.
"Move aside, everyone."
Hu Ma loudly instructed the others. Seeing that several small ghosts had already slipped into the oil, he grabbed a large wooden pot lid from the side and slammed it onto the oil vat.
The oil vat crackled and popped, and the lid kept getting pushed up, while faint cries for mercy could be heard from within.
But Hu Ma paid no heed; he simply stepped on the lid, preventing them from escaping.
Finally, the turbulence in the oil vat gradually subsided, and he lifted his foot, releasing the lid. The lid remained firmly in place, motionless. He knew then that his task was accomplished.
He picked up the lid and set it aside, then casually scooped up a skimmer from the edge of the vat and plunged it into the oil.
Strangely, aside from the coarse porcelain bowl and the meat, there seemed to be nothing else in the vat. But when he scooped, he pulled out a skimmer full of insects, each the size of a grain of rice, fried to a golden brown. If he had sprinkled some pepper on them...
"They're still alive. Grind them into powder and drink it, and you'll recover soon."
Hu Ma flipped the skimmer, pouring its contents into a large bowl, and said to the people around him, "As for the dead ones, bury them quickly!"
The villagers seemed to finally snap out of their daze, and as they looked around in a daze, they realized that nearly half the village's population was missing, and those who were alive had gaunt, lifeless faces.
"Oh, my benefactor..."
Finally, someone reacted and hurriedly bowed to Hu Ma, but they were weak and feeble, looking like ghosts.
Hu Ma glanced around and noticed that even the elders in their funeral robes were standing on the steps of the village ancestral hall, eagerly bowing to him from a distance.
"No need, get up quickly!"
Hu Ma frowned, but while it had been easy to scare them earlier, it was now difficult to stop them from bowing. Helpless, he scanned the crowd and saw Little Hong Tang lazily holding his redwood sword, standing among the villagers.
He pinched a finger gesture and shouted, "Flying Sword, return!"
Everyone then remembered the astonishing scene they had just witnessed and turned to look.
The flying sword that had just flown out from behind the teacher was now flying crookedly back towards him. At first, it flew slowly, but after the teacher glared, it sped up.
Accompanied by a gust of yin wind, it jumped onto his back and automatically inserted itself into his waistband, taking two tries to get it right.
"A living immortal..."
The villagers were startled, but they forgot about bowing as they stared at Hu Ma with wide eyes. Some thought they were still dreaming, while others believed they had encountered a celestial being.
Among them, some of the older villagers, having eaten less meat due to the competition, had clearer minds at this moment. Shaking, one of them squeezed out of the crowd and asked, "May I ask how the teacher is addressed, and how much gold is required for a consultation?"
"Has something been summoned here?"
"..."
"The old man doesn't need to be so polite."
Hu Ma reached out and patted Little Hong Tang's head, then politely said to the villagers, "I'm just a passing ghost walker who happened to help you dispel the curse. Twenty copper coins is the customary payment."
"If you truly want to express your gratitude, it's better to burn more incense at your ancestral hall."
"If you're sincere, after you finish burning incense, someone will likely visit you in your dreams and explain everything. Whether or not they'll give you a beating in your dreams, I can't say."
"..."
He didn't intend to stay any longer. After dispelling the curse and accepting the twenty copper coins, he declined the villagers' offer to stay and instead led his donkey out of the village.
He had already helped them remove the meat curse, but the village's virtue was already corrupted, and no one could save it.
Staying here would be pointless; it was better to go and meet the person responsible.
After leaving the village, he traveled another twenty li and spotted a wooden house by the roadside that resembled a tea pavilion. He sat down beside the house, tied his donkey to the side, and patiently waited, knowing that someone would eventually come to the door.
He had dealt a heavy blow, and it would be strange if the person didn't come to investigate.
Sure enough, after waiting for most of the night, just as he was dozing off, he heard the sound of a gong accompanied by gusts of yin wind. He opened his eyes and saw a single-wheel cart being pushed towards him in the dim moonlight.
Hanging on the cart were strips of meat, dark red and neatly arranged. With the sound of the gong, the cart slowly approached:
"Meat for sale..."
"Pork, mutton, deer meat, one copper coin per catty..."
"..."
The cart pusher spoke slowly, his eyes hidden under a felt hat, looking at Hu Ma, "Sir, would you like some meat?"
Hu Ma stared back, then suddenly asked, "Do you sell human meat?"
The man paused for a moment, then laughed, "Young or old, fat or thin, which do you prefer?"
Hu Ma smiled at him, "Fresh."
"Freshly butchered and sold, my favorite!"
(End of Chapter)
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