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Chapter 459: Lantern Festival Fair
Chapter 459: Lantern Festival Fair
No one could have predicted that the Lantern Festival Fair of the One Coin Sect would commence right on schedule.
The entire street was lit up with twinkling lanterns, and tattered commoners, carrying their children and holding infants, knelt on both sides of the street. The sect's followers, dressed in paper garments, wandered among the crowd, setting up tents and cauldrons, distributing talismans, and freely offering steamed buns, incense, and candles.
In the town, every large courtyard or open space was occupied by stages and performances, creating a bustling atmosphere with their drums and gongs. Acrobats performed face-changing acts, each showcasing their unique skills.
Not only did the event take place, but its scale was even larger than expected.
Among those most perplexed were Elder Sun and the Tang Pavilion Master, who had come to the street with a heavy heart, anticipating a scene of despair. Instead, they were astonished by the lively atmosphere.
"With the county magistrate sharpening his knife outside and the ghostly fog sealing the town, even the victims of the demon corpse haven't been properly buried yet. Why are they in such a hurry to hold this fair?"
"Indeed, I thought there would be around thirty to fifty people, and that would be barely passable. But why have so many people come all at once?"
"..."
For those in the know, the presence of the New Year Hall Official outside brought immense pressure. They were unaware that the Meng family had also arrived, which could have scared them into a potential rebellion.
However, while those in the know were terrified, the commoners seemed oblivious to the danger. As they witnessed the crowded streets, the aroma of fried dough and the sweet scent of sugary skewers filled the air, making them feel dazed, as if the lively atmosphere had dispelled the pressure.
Even Hu Ma had calmed down and was leisurely strolling through the streets, weaving through the throng.
With everyone in town taking their time, why should he rush? After all, as a Year-End Guardian, his specialty was running away. At most, he would need to consider taking the horse, the donkey, and the Dark General with him when escaping. Oh yes, and for safety's sake, he should also bring the stone horse from outside the town...
...and if possible, the old abacus too! As long as he could escape, he would feel much more at ease. He took a deep breath, feeling that pondering these matters in this atmosphere was inappropriate. Instead, he turned his attention to a nearby skewer of sugary skewers.
Little Red Tang was leaning on his shoulder, gazing at the sugary skewers with a longing look in her eyes.
Hu Ma sighed helplessly and generously fished out a small piece of silver from his pocket, buying two large, bright red skewers. He gave one to Little Red Tang and held the other in his hand.
Seeing Little Red Tang's satisfied expression, he smiled and said, "After eating this skewer, you can't ask me for blood feast pills anymore..."
"Hey, Uncle Hu, Uncle Hu, over here..."
As he was looking around, a joyful call suddenly came from not too far away. Hu Ma turned to look and saw the seventh young master of the Sun family, dressed in a decent brocade robe, accompanied by several servants. He stood outside the inn with his head hanging low, and upon seeing Hu Ma, his face lit up with joy.
Hu Ma pushed through the crowd with Little Red Tang and approached him, asking, "Why are you here too?"
Earlier, when Elder Sun had hosted a banquet here, he hadn't invited this young master. Moreover, with Stone Horse Town already facing multiple misfortunes, why would he come to join the commotion?
"I've already been scolded by my father..."
The seventh young master of the Sun family, upon seeing Hu Ma, was initially pleased. But when Hu Ma asked, he became embarrassed and said in a low voice, "I came to deliver a jar of Year God's Blood, as the tempering of the knife you commissioned me to forge is almost complete. I wanted to welcome it out of the furnace."
"But I didn't expect that before entering the town, no one told me anything. However, when I entered and saw my father, he scolded me harshly, saying that I shouldn't have come here to court death."
"But I didn't know anything. When I entered the town, I didn't encounter any trouble, and he didn't send Aunt Chu to warn me..."
"..."
'Aunt Chu?'
Hu Ma paused, then realized he was referring to Elder Sun's ghost agent. However, he couldn't blame Elder Sun, as even if he wanted to send a message to warn them of the danger, it wouldn't be possible.
The Meng family had set up an impenetrable net outside, and sending a ghost agent at this time would be akin to seeking death.
After a moment of contemplation, Hu Ma asked, "Didn't you notice the ghostly fog outside the town? How did you and the commoners get in?"
"There was fog in the mountains, but it seemed ordinary."
The seventh young master of the Sun family replied honestly, "However, nothing happened when we entered. Moreover, during the day, the road leading to the mountains was packed with people, as if everyone from West Ridge Road had come to attend the Lantern Festival Fair."
"With so many people, no one felt anything unusual. Some even said that the fog was the Dharmaraja of the One Coin Sect using his powers to protect those participating in the fair from disasters..."
"..."
"That's complete nonsense..."
Listening to these words, Hu Ma couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
The commoners' minds were truly imaginative, mistaking the town-sealing ghostly fog for a blessing that warded off disasters. Of course, the mud body guarding the graves outside the town was also considered the mount of a benevolent general.
However, after asking this question, he couldn't help but look at the seventh young master of the Sun family with anticipation and smiled, "Is my sword finally ready to be forged?"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, the seventh young master of the Sun family nodded vigorously, his face filled with excitement.
The elder of the Sun family, fearing he might scare him, saw that he had already arrived in town and couldn't run away anymore, so he didn't bother explaining too much. He didn't even know that the County Magistrate was outside, and at this moment, all his thoughts were focused on the sword, with a hint of showing off:
"When I took this sword out from Uncle Hu's mine, I immediately sent it to Stone Horse Town. The most skilled sword-forging master in our Sun Family's Iron Workshop is right here."
"When the master saw such a good sword embryo, he was also very happy and decided to show off his skills. He said that this was a great opportunity to make a name for himself in the jianghu."
"But this sword is difficult to forge. He has quite a few conditions, such as a heavy evil-suppressing hammer that has killed people, an old furnace that has burnt people to death, not to mention the best iron and wood charcoal. Even the tempering requires pure Earth Deity's blood."
"We took out all the good things from the workshop, but the Earth Deity's blood wasn't pure enough. I had to go out and find some more."
"This is Uncle Hu's business. I dare not be careless. So, I quickly went out and bought a jar, and I just brought it to this town."
"I originally came to see my father here, and I heard that Uncle Hu was also around. I thought I could catch up with him and watch the sword being forged. But unexpectedly, the sword still needed a few more strikes, and I was scolded by my father first..."
"..."
"Is forging a sword so complicated?"
Hu Ma listened and smiled, nodding. He looked at the seventh young master of the Sun family with some guilt, realizing that this young master had come to town at this time, and it was even related to him?
If something happened to him, wouldn't it be because of him that he lost his life? As he was thinking this, he was about to give him some instructions, but he saw the elder of the Sun family hurrying out from the inn behind. He glared at the seventh young master of the Sun family and shouted, "Get out of here! You're in the way."
Then he turned to Hu Ma and said, "Where have you been these past few days? I've been worried that something might happen to you..."
He scanned the crowded street outside and invited Hu Ma inside to talk. They entered a quiet guest room, and the elder of the Sun family had the seventh young master stand guard outside. Then, he lowered his voice and said to Hu Ma, "You must have heard about what happened these past few days."
"With the County Magistrate outside and the members of the sect not united, I'm guessing that this Lantern Festival Fair will definitely turn into a big mess. As Year-End Guardians, we need to consider a few steps ahead. If things turn bad, it's best to leave."
"Tonight, don't go too far. If something happens and chaos ensues, I'll help you find a way out. You can leave with my seventh young master."
"..."
Hu Ma listened, touched by the elder's words, and smiled, "Thank you, brother. I appreciate your concern."
"This isn't about sentiment..."
Upon hearing this, the elder of the Sun family couldn't help but smile bitterly, "I bet on the wrong horse!"
"I've received guidance from the senior brothers of the Non-Vegetarian Sect, and I'm willing to follow them to do great things. But I never expected that this would bring such a disaster. I'm afraid I'll lose everything."
"I can't just abandon everything and run for my life. Even if I survive, if the senior brothers of the Non-Vegetarian Sect find me, I wouldn't have the face to see them again. So, no matter what happens tonight, I'll fight with all my might."
"But you're different, young brother. This is your first time following me, and you're still young. There's no reason for you to stay here. I only ask that when you leave, take care of my seventh young master. If you can escape with your life, please take him..."
"Introduce them to your Red Lantern Goddess Guild, even if it's just to sit and burn incense. Change his name and identity, and at least save his life!"
"..."
Hu Ma was taken aback by these heartfelt words. It seemed that the elder of the Sun family had been waiting here. He sighed and said, "Elder brother, do you think that after this fair, the One Coin Sect won't have a good outcome?"
"How could there be a good outcome?"
The elder of the Sun family smiled bitterly, "Others may not understand, but we do. The One Coin Sect may seem powerful, but it's just a makeshift troupe..."
"At first, we hoped that the senior brothers of the Non-Vegetarian Sect would come to help us. The Sect Leader and the Great Virtuous Master also said they had invited them."
"But how did they invite them?"
"These past few days, countless people secretly sent ghost agents to deliver messages, but even the ghost agents didn't return. This means the road to the Netherworld has been blocked, cutting us off from the outside. If the people in this town want to escape, they can only break through..."
"But if we break through and try to seize the path from the New Year Hall Official? Hehe, we're the Year-End Guardians; do you think we don't know what's going on?"
(End of Chapter)
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