Chapter 337: Direct Provocation (Third Watch)
Chapter 337: Direct Provocation (Third Watch)
Banquet Row, Ghost Feast?
With the arrival of Seventh Aunt, everyone present, from the Wei family's guards and the head steward to the ghostly figures seated around, felt an intensified pressure, not daring to meet their gaze.
But Hu Ma, while serving Seventh Aunt, also observed the scene with a cold eye.
Although he had known that the Five Sorrows Deity was setting up a banquet here, seemingly for a wedding, seeing it in person made it seem even stranger. The Five Sorrows Deity had not only arranged a wedding feast but had also invited numerous guests!
Of course, among these guests, there were few living people, and most of them were reluctant, crying and sobbing, as if forced to come. Only then did Hu Ma understand what Li Wa Zi had meant about the spirits crying around the village every night.
After being dead for so many years, they were still forced to attend the wedding feast, and even had to give away the few possessions they had as gifts. Who wouldn't cry in such a situation?
It seemed that the Five Sorrows Deity had invited everyone they could from Green Stone Town.
In Mingzhou Prefecture, the most notorious malevolent spirit was the Red Lantern Lady, but with their feud, she wouldn't come. There were a few in Plum Blossom Alley and the Government Office, but they were both playing dead and didn't join in.
Left with no choice, the Five Sorrows Deity didn't care about status and forced everyone who could still move to attend the banquet in Yellow Dog Village, thus creating this scene.
But what was the purpose of such a grand display?
Hu Ma was aware of the previous engagement between the Five Sorrows Deity and Zhang A Gu, but now that things had come to this point, could he still be interested in marrying her?
If that was the case, it would be a convenient coincidence to solve both issues at once.
So, he patiently waited, watching as the hour grew late and the sky darkened, casting an eerie atmosphere over Yellow Dog Village. Only the sound of the parade band played a joyful tune, but it sounded incredibly sad.
The surrounding tables were filled with people, except for the one where Hu Ma and Seventh Aunt sat. Seventh Aunt felt a bit uncomfortable and looked around, "Why isn't anyone sitting next to me? Are they not giving me face?"
"It's fine," Hu Ma smiled and reassured her, "It's better this way, or else someone might snatch our food..."
Hearing this, Seventh Aunt's eyes lit up, and she happily puffed on her pipe, looking relaxed and distinctive amidst the ghostly wedding banquet, making the surrounding people and malevolent spirits appear timid in comparison.
"Please ask the young master to come out..."
The old servant secretly glanced at Seventh Aunt several times. The last time Seventh Aunt stopped the Black Robed Mage, he had been very close to her and even tried to speak to her.
But that time, Seventh Aunt hadn't revealed herself to him, so he couldn't see her. Now that he could see her, he felt that the old lady was extraordinary and perhaps not of the same kind as himself, which made him even more nervous.
However, he had a task to complete, and the time was right, so he hurriedly gave instructions.
The guards beside him gathered their courage and went to the Wei family's ancestral hall, where they helped the nobleman who had been possessed by a ghost for several days. They also took the memorial tablet from his embrace and threw it aside, following the instructions of the old master of Plum Blossom Alley.
"Ah..."
The nobleman seemed unable to walk, and two strong guards had to carry him. His feet were pointed, not touching the ground.
When they reached the table, the nobleman, who had appeared dazed, suddenly struggled, and the guards dared not use force. He broke free from them.
With his feet pointed and his hands in an orchid finger pose, he quickly rushed to the table and bowed deeply to Hu Ma, crying, "My benefactor, you are truly kind-hearted, and you've come to uphold justice for me..."
The others didn't know who he was talking about, and they never expected him to bow to Hu Ma, assuming he was addressing Seventh Aunt.
This was Hu Ma's first time seeing the nobleman clearly. He had a pale face, long beard, and long fingernails, appearing to have lived a life of luxury.
However, his brows were now shrouded in dark energy, indicating a deep possession by a malevolent spirit. Hearing the high-pitched voice coming from a man's mouth, Hu Ma knew who was bowing before him.
Seventh Aunt, caught off guard by the sudden kneeling, felt embarrassed and set down her pipe, "It's not a festival or anything, I didn't prepare any lucky money for you..."
"I did, I did," Hu Ma quickly searched his pockets and took out a few copper coins, handing them to Seventh Aunt. He smiled at the bowing nobleman, "Don't worry, we are neighbors, and we have a history together. Seventh Aunt loves to bring people together, and she hates those who break up couples. She will definitely help you."
Previously, this ghost lady had come to him in a dream, seeking help. But publicly, he was just a small manager at the Blood Feast Pill Shop, and couldn't help her. Now, by chance, he used Seventh Aunt's name to repay her plea for help.
The nobleman took the copper coins and expressed his deep gratitude, holding them tightly as if they were a lifeline.
These were the coins Hu Ma had received as a reward for dispelling a malevolent spirit in another village, and though they were only twenty copper coins, they held a special significance.
As Hu Ma's cultivation deepened, even these twenty copper coins would gain sentience!
The key was, perhaps due to the heavy yin energy at the feast, when they first carried it out, it still resembled a noble. But after receiving the reward from Seventh Aunt, its appearance changed, and now it looked like a bride in a red wedding robe.
The guard on the other side, seeing the noble master transformed into a woman, dared not support him anymore. Instead, the elder servant, with a stiff upper lip, helped the noble master up.
But as he stood up, he secretly glanced at Hu Ma, recognizing him. In his heart, he couldn't help but think, "No wonder Elder Yan wanted to exorcise the evil spirit, but was stopped by the minor magistrate."
"Could it be that the young manager of the Blood Feast Pill secretly sent a message?"
"Hehe, a mixed-blood Blood Feast Pill messenger dares to meddle in the Wei family's affairs, this is simply..."
"..."
Hu Ma noticed his gaze, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Old sir, don't look at me like that. I know my own abilities, I wouldn't dare to get involved in such a mess. But Seventh Aunt is an elder from our region, who wouldn't listen to her?"
"If she wants to attend the feast, shouldn't we serve her?"
"..."
"Oh dear, what are you saying?"
Hearing this, the elder servant hurriedly said, "No, no, young master, your words are too kind..."
While speaking, he thought to himself, "This matter must be made known to the young manager..."
As they went back and forth, it was the hour between midnight and dawn, and the surrounding yin energy suddenly intensified, clearly indicating the arrival of the appointed time. The elder servant's heart raced with anxiety, and he looked towards the banquet with a plea for help. Suddenly, someone stood up.
It was none other than the surviving Wealth Sins Messenger.
He was the most unfortunate among the Five Sins Messengers, having offended the Red Lantern Society and forced to flee for his life. However, he managed to survive because he never directly confronted the Red Lantern Society's experts.
In the absence of the Transportation Malefic Deity Attendant, it was his duty to make the invitation. He strode to a wooden platform in front of the banquet, took a torch from the side, and lit a basin on the platform filled with kindling. The fire roared to life.
Then, he bowed several times, held the basin with both hands, and placed it below the platform. He circled the fire basin, muttering an incantation as he walked.
"Life Fortune Wealth Longevity, East West North South Center, Heart's Desire Longevity, Five Blessings Hall!"
"..."
Listening to this incantation, Hu Ma frowned slightly.
Was this the first direct provocation?
Previously, he had learned from Mountain Lord that the Five Sins Deity was originally a guardian deity of the Phantom Sect, and his original title was Five Profits. But the Old Yin Mountain had taken his title and banished him from Bright State. Since then, he could only use the title of Five Sins.
But now, in front of Seventh Aunt, he used the title of Five Profits to invite him, showing disregard for the Hu family? A chill filled his heart, and he watched coldly as the Wealth Sins Messenger took strange steps, circling the fire basin five times, each circle with a different step.
It seemed that this ritual should have been performed by all five Sins Messengers, but since the other three were absent and the Malevolent Fate Altar Keeper was still restrained, he dared not release him in front of Seventh Aunt. So, he took their place, circling five times.
After the fifth circle, he suddenly stopped and extended his tongue. With his right hand holding the knife, he cut his tongue.
Instantly, blood flowed, dripping into the fire basin.
In the next moment, the flames in the fire basin soared four to five times higher, dazzling everyone's eyes with their brilliance.
On the surrounding banquet tables, all the lit candles also flared up, and everyone felt a surge in heart pressure, their vision darkening. Faintly, they seemed to see several strange flags slowly appearing around the fire basin.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Suddenly, the people, or non-human beings, sitting at the tables stood up and knelt down simultaneously.
Even the villagers forced to attend by the Wei family were seized by an invisible awe, slipping to the ground, not daring to raise their heads.
Only Hu Ma and Seventh Aunt remained seated, standing out like cranes among chickens.
But even Seventh Aunt felt a sense of reverence, her small eyes rolling, unsure whether to kneel. Hu Ma stared at her intently, knowing she must not kneel...
Just then, the atmosphere was oppressive and eerie. The horse Hu Ma had brought with him sensed an opportunity and its eyes glowed with a faint light...
Hu Ma was still watching Seventh Aunt, for if she knelt, the Hu family would lose face...
But unexpectedly, a neigh sounded from behind, and the horse brought by the Red Wine Lady slowly and casually strolled out.
With everyone else kneeling, not daring to lift their heads, only this horse walked with elegance and arrogance.
Then, it walked straight to the burning fire basin and urinated into it.
(End of Chapter)
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