Chapter 34: Who Are You?
Chapter 34: Who Are You?
"Granny..."
As Hu Ma rushed into the cave, he heard Little Hongtang's anxious cry.
His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, revealing that this was not a deep cave, but a shallow space, only a dozen feet deep.
Granny lay inside, half of her body covered in blood, her spirit weakened and listless.
In front of her, two candles and an incense stick burned, along with some broken bone talismans and vials. The candles were almost burned out, but they still emitted a faint, powerful light.
Outside the range of the candlelight, several infant spirits were desperately trying to get in, but they couldn't approach.
It seemed that Granny had been injured and forced to hide in this cave, hastily setting up a simple ritual to ward off the infant spirits.
Hu Ma didn't have time to think. He held his knife in one hand and quickly rushed into the cave.
At that moment, Granny, who was already extremely weak, raised her head with great effort and saw Hu Ma charging in, his face fierce and his knife raised. She was startled but was too weak to do anything, only able to watch as Hu Ma approached.
"Swish..."
He suddenly swung his knife, the wind from the blade causing the candle flames to flicker and nearly go out.
In that dazed moment, Granny almost resigned herself to death, but she didn't expect Hu Ma's blade to be so powerful and full of yang energy.
The infant spirits, sensing the danger, turned to attack him, but Hu Ma's broad, forceful swings easily cut them down, one by one, until they dissipated into nothingness.
Then, in two quick steps, Hu Ma reached Granny, planted his knife in the ground, and reached out to support her.
"Granny, are you okay?"
"..."
Granny's eyes, which seemed to be clouded, stared at Hu Ma, her expression changing as if a storm was brewing within her.
Seeing her pale, sunken face, Hu Ma's heart trembled.
Since he had woken up, Granny had seemed terrifying and formidable, able to do anything.
She had chanted scriptures to drive away evil, just to let him sleep well.
She had cut the precious Blood Taisui from the deep mountains to prolong his life.
And finally, she had gone into the forest alone to deal with the ghost sent by the Meng family, to eliminate the threat, despite her age, showing an unyielding strength.
But now, she was so weak.
This injured and exhausted old woman, like a flickering candle in the wind, made him feel as if she were not real.
"Granny, it's okay now."
He instinctively reassured her, "I came with Second Master to find you. I even brought... the important person from the city to help."
Granny just stared at Hu Ma, her eyes brimming with endless emotions.
Suddenly, she turned her hand, her withered, bony fingers gripping his wrist with surprising strength.
In a low, strained voice, she asked, "You... who are you really?"
"Whoosh!"
Caught off guard by the question, Hu Ma's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Granny in disbelief.
At this moment, Granny was very weak and no longer gave off the oppressive, eerie aura she had when they first met.
But this time, he saw her eyes clearly.
Those dim, sunken eyes were clear, as if they saw everything.
His heart pounded slowly but loudly.
Hu Ma slowly said, "I'm Hu Ma, Granny..."
"You're Hu Ma, you're Hu Ma..."
Granny murmured, her grip on Hu Ma's arm tightening, her voice low. "But I know my grandson."
"He... was never this thoughtful."
"..."
"Hum..."
At that moment, Hu Ma felt a tremor deep within his soul.
Granny had already understood.
He couldn't help but think of the taboo the first reincarnated person he met had told him about, and he remembered how even the important person from the city, with her high status and power, dared not show the slightest hint of suspicion.
Even when she wanted to help him, she had to arrange a show for her subordinates to see.
All of this was because of...
...secrets!
The greatest secret of a reincarnated person was their true identity. Once exposed, no matter their status or cultivation, they would meet a terrible end.
He had been walking on thin ice, being careful to keep this secret.
But Granny had seen through it.
Second Master was outside the cave, ready to deal with the things outside and come in.
Little Hongtang was right there, and he didn't know if she had heard.
If those important people from the city were intrigued and came to check, they would hear this as well.
His palm grew warm, and a hint of violence stirred within him.
He almost reached for the broadsword planted beside him...
But just as this thought arose, Hu Ma noticed Granny's eyes again, seeing the deep worry and hope in those dim eyes.
He had seen this look before, in his previous life.
In this life, he was a reincarnated person, and the blood relation between him and Granny was false, but he couldn't dismiss this look as false...
So, his eyes slowly returned to calm, and he placed his hand on Granny's, which was gripping his.
Tracing the rough, bark-like texture of his palm, he looked into the old woman’s eyes and spoke slowly, “I’m Husu, grandmother.”
“I just remembered some things from before I was reborn and forgot some things from this life.”
“But I remember that you are my grandmother…”
“…”
The old woman stared at Husu, her pupils widening slightly. After a long moment, Husu suddenly saw her eyes fill with boundless joy.
She slowly sat up, her dim eyes regaining a peculiar brilliance.
She was still the same powerful, mysterious, and inscrutable figure, but now, a glimmer of affection shone in her eyes.
“Yes, my little grandson…”
She pulled his hand forcefully, as if afraid he might run away, her voice trembling with emotion. “You are my little grandson, and you’ve grown so wise…”
“Heaven has eyes. Our Hu family has suffered, but we have not been wiped out…”
“…”
“…”
“I…”
Husu, still holding his grandmother’s hand, felt a sudden jolt of fear, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Grandmother...
He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but he was aware that the grandmother he saw earlier seemed to be on her last breath, like a flickering candle in the wind. Out of pity, he had said something he didn’t fully believe to comfort her.
But now, he realized that his grandmother wasn’t as weak as he had thought. She might be tired, but she was far from feeble.
So, what had just happened was...
...a test?
He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he had truly harbored any murderous intent.
“Don’t be afraid, my child…”
Seeing Husu’s reaction, the old woman’s face softened with a comforting smile. She gently stroked his head and whispered, “I knew you were different from the start, even when you were brought back and still confused…”
Husu didn’t know how to respond, his eyes filled with fear.
But at that moment, the old woman looked at him with unprecedented affection, holding his hand and speaking softly, “I never doubted that you were my grandson, because I brought you back myself. I knew I hadn’t made a mistake.”
This response caught Husu off guard, leaving him at a loss for words.
The old woman, seeing his expression, sighed lightly. “Your soul is right, your Natal Chart is right, even your destiny is right. If you’re not my grandson, then who is?”
“Still, you’ve been through the gates of death and were forcibly brought back. There are bound to be some issues.”
“But you can’t be blamed for that…”
“…”
She spoke slowly, her eyes filled with deep guilt. “It’s my fault, my child. I failed to protect you. I found you too late…”
“Like…”
Her gaze slowly turned toward the cave entrance, pausing for a moment before she whispered, “Like the dolls on the Locust Tree.”
“They experienced the suffering of reincarnation before they even knew anything. Who can they blame?”
“…”
As Husu listened, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Earlier, he had spoken to comfort the old woman, unable to bear the thought of her enduring such a blow after all her hard work.
But at this moment, he realized that he was the one who didn’t understand the situation.
The old woman had already verified his identity from another level, but she didn’t understand why he had changed.
So, who was he, really?
“Grandmother, are you alright?”
At that moment, heavy and hurried footsteps echoed from outside the cave. Second Uncle, panting heavily, rushed in.
His forehead was bruised and bleeding, with a large bump, making him look a bit comical.
“Ah?”
Lifting his head, he saw Husu holding the old woman’s hand, and she was half-reclining against the cave wall. He couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, taking a few quick steps forward, hands raised but not daring to touch anything. “Are you... are you okay?”
“…”
“Second, your loud voice is giving me a headache…”
The old woman seemed in a good mood, looking at Second Uncle with a teasing tone. “The people sent by the Meng family are strong, but I can handle them. Why did you bring him to such a dangerous place to find me?”
“This…”
Second Uncle was taken aback and stammered, “It’s not my fault. He insisted on coming.”
“He was so worried when he heard you were in trouble…”
“…”
“Yes…”
The old woman’s eyes sparkled with joy as she listened to Second Uncle’s praise. She sighed slowly, leaning against the stone wall, her eyes fixed on Husu, filled with boundless happiness. “Second, you big man, crying in front of me isn’t very dignified.”
“Wait outside for a moment. I have some things to discuss with my little grandson.”
(End of Chapter)
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