Chapter 48: Human Affairs
Chapter 48: Human Affairs
After staying at Second Master’s place for a few days, Hu Ma gradually heard about the Cui family’s troubles.
This time, the incident with Grandma Cui had broken a major taboo. The clan leader, usually a kind-hearted man, rarely lost his temper. He firmly refused to allow the Cui family’s deceased to be laid to rest in the old fire pit.
Firstly, he was wary of their dark magic, which had harmed others and needed to be severely punished. Secondly, they had died from the backlash of their own dark magic, making their deaths impure. Sending them to the old fire pit could potentially offend the ancestors.
Despite having many uncles and cousins, the Cui family didn’t dare to defy the village’s decision. In the end, they placed Grandma Cui and the four elders in thin coffins, found a few people to carry them, and buried them in the forest.
The Cui family, being numerous, had little to say about this. Many even blamed the family for their misfortune.
As for Hu Ma, he wasn’t particularly concerned about these matters. His mind was preoccupied with Cui Xie.
However, Second Master was overly protective, fearing that the Cui family might retaliate. This made it difficult for Hu Ma to find an opportunity to take action against Cui Xie.
If he didn’t act himself, and let Little Red Hall do it, there were several issues. The village’s ancestors were watching, and Little Red Hall was well-known in the village. While she played and mingled freely, any malevolent intent could alert the ancestors.
Moreover, despite being a malevolent spirit, Little Red Hall had a pure nature.
Hu Ma had asked her if she had ever harmed anyone, and she had honestly admitted it.
“Once, when we fought!”
“...”
This made Hu Ma uneasy. Even though she was a malevolent spirit, she looked like a child, and he couldn’t bear to see her hands stained with blood.
But how could he accomplish this task then?
Should he ask Second Pot Head for help?
Hu Ma thought that if he asked, Second Pot Head would likely agree.
However, killing someone was a serious matter.
Even if Second Pot Head held a high position in this world, asking him to kill someone was a significant request. Besides, if he killed Cui Xie, the favor Second Pot Head owed him would be repaid, and he might even owe him a favor. With the New Year’s Guardian techniques not yet fully secured and many questions still to ask, this would be a poor deal.
Thus, the only option was to have Little Red Hall keep an eye on Cui Xie’s movements.
The Cui family’s incident also made the village more tense, especially for families whose children had been selected for the Red Lantern Festival.
The thought that someone would harm others to secure a spot made them cherish their children even more. They urged the old clan leader to send the children to the city’s Lady Festival as soon as possible, even a month in advance.
The old clan leader, frustrated, discussed the matter with Second Master and decided to set an early departure date.
“Since they’re leaving home, and it’s uncertain when they’ll return, they should say goodbye to their friends and relatives.”
After setting the date, Second Master told Hu Ma, “Your grandmother is gone, but your roots are still here. You need to learn about human affairs.”
“Friends and relatives?”
Hu Ma was taken aback. “We still have these in the Hu family?”
“Your godmother...”
Second Master said, “Your godmother has nearly gone bald from worrying about you. Are you going to ignore her now that you don’t need her?”
“?”
Hu Ma suddenly remembered this relative and quickly agreed.
He followed Second Master, prepared some incense and offerings, and went into the forest to find his godmother. Since he now had a level of Dao cultivation, he no longer needed to seal the furnace with yin energy, so he kept a few for her.
When they arrived at the stream, his godmother was comfortably spreading her branches, absorbing the forest’s spiritual energy. She was startled to see Hu Ma and Second Master, trembling in fear.
“Mother Willow, I’ve brought your godson to pay his respects.”
Second Master led Hu Ma to burn incense under the willow tree. “Your godson is doing well and is going to pay respects to the Red Lantern Lady.”
“Once he returns with his skills, he’ll bring even better offerings...”
“...”
It seemed they weren’t there to cut willow branches. Still, his godmother remained on high alert.
Second Master had Hu Ma bow and burn incense, offering fruits and meat. Then, he thought for a moment and had Hu Ma also bow towards the forest, saying, “After all, your grandmother had deep ties with this forest, and they are also your elders. You can’t skip the formalities.”
Hu Ma found this reasonable. Second Master moved the offerings placed before his godmother and set them towards the forest.
“Can it be done this way?”
Hu Ma felt a bit sorry for his godmother, realizing that Second Master, being a native, understood the forest’s rules.
However, he rarely encountered spirits and was rough in nature, so he often overlooked the details.
Hu Ma bowed three times and burned three incense sticks towards the forest. In the quiet, ethereal forest, the shadows seemed to stir, as if many things were moving, watching the polite Hu Ma with approval.
Especially, when Hu Ma stood up after bowing four times, he thought he saw a broken tree stump behind a row of trees, or perhaps it was just his imagination.
In the forest, if there were any other beings, they would only stand to the side, smiling as he bowed his head in respect.
But the wooden stake and the faint figure that seemed to be sitting on it were right in front of him, accepting his bow with a serene demeanor, their eyes filled with a hint of approval.
"Is this the acquaintance of Grandma?"
Hu Ma's mind flashed back to the first time Grandma took him out of the village, where they met this person and stopped to chat for a while. He also remembered that when he and Grandma returned to the village, this person came to see them off.
Now, as he was about to leave the village to learn new skills, this person had come to see him off, like a true elder.
After completing his formalities, Hu Ma followed Second Uncle back to the village.
A cart pulled by an ox was already prepared, loaded with provisions, bedding, and some mysterious item that the old village elder secretly handed to Second Uncle. Hu Ma, along with Zhou Datong, Li Wa, Zhao Liang, and Zhou Zhu, were already sitting on the cart, waiting with their legs crossed.
After placing his bedding on the cart, the old village elder pulled Hu Ma aside and whispered:
"Since Grandma is gone, no one is around to pack for you. I asked Datong's mother to sew an extra shirt and a pair of cloth shoes for you, and the provisions are all ready."
"Take good care of these things. When you reach the city, you boys must look out for each other..."
"..."
Hu Ma had killed all the members of the Cui family with thirteen slashes.
Although he was a victim and acted in self-defense, this incident had caused quite a stir in the village. The old village elder, who appeared simple-minded, was actually very astute. He knew that among the group of young boys heading to the city, Hu Ma would be the one they relied on the most.
He had already instructed Zhou Datong at home, and now he was personally entrusting the task to Hu Ma:
"Remember, our village is known for its blood rituals. When you join the Lady's Guild, focus on learning new skills."
"Always smile and be friendly to others. Don't be afraid of being bullied, just stay calm and composed."
"Save your wages carefully. It's fine to eat and drink, but never wander into dangerous alleys. You're still young, so don't be too curious. After working for a couple of years and returning to the village, there will be plenty of girls for you to choose from. Make sure to keep an eye on the others..."
"..."
The elder droned on and on, but Hu Ma had already heard most of it from Second Uncle.
He simply smiled and said, "Grandpa, don't worry. I understand."
The old village elder found it hard to let go.
Who would have thought that the two most troublesome boys in the village would be leaving together to seek their fortunes?
Especially since he had once been reluctant to let his grandson play with Grandma's troublemaker, fearing he would be a bad influence. Now, he had to swallow his pride and personally plead with this spoiled grandson, hoping he would look after his own grandson...
People, indeed, grow both their faults and their talents together.
Unlike his own grandson, who only knows how to be mischievous but lacks the wits to outsmart others, which is truly a headache.
"Let's go..."
Seeing the old village elder's endless chatter, Second Uncle grew annoyed and called Hu Ma to the cart, then cracked the whip.
The old village elder and the villagers stood at the village gate to see them off. Some were excited, while others were tearful, unwilling to let their children go.
"Mom, I'll send you to live with Grandma in Snake Village."
Unnoticed by anyone, on the other side of the village, Cui Xie'er, who seemed to have grown overnight, was quietly leaving with his mother, who had gone mad. He led the last large blue mule he had protected with his life after the Cui family's property was looted, carrying only a small amount of luggage.
He knew the commotion at the other end of the village but resisted the urge to look back.
"Mom, this village doesn't accept us anymore. We won't stay here and endure their contempt. Once we reach Grandma's, I'll give the mule to Uncle and ask him to take care of you."
He led the mule step by step, his mother no longer understanding his words, as if he was talking to himself.
"Then I'll leave."
"I need to learn new skills. Once I'm proficient, I'll avenge Uncle, Uncle Three, Uncle Four, and my father and grandmother."
"The people in the village are unrighteous, showing no consideration for the past. They fed Grandma to wild dogs, and our Cui family uncles and relatives didn't stand up for us, only coveting our mules and horses."
"As for the Hu family, Hu Ma... once I master my skills, I'll make sure his family is wiped out..."
He muttered to himself, constantly boosting his morale, his hatred so deep that he blamed everyone, even forgetting he was in the forest.
He didn't notice that the old branches around him had come to life...
Surviving in the Old Yin Mountains, cut off from the village, was extremely difficult.
...
...
Not long after, Hu Ma, sitting on the ox cart and gradually leaving Dayang Village, heard a message from Little Hongtang, which left him slightly startled.
He hadn't expected that some things would take care of themselves.
The human relationships and social dynamics in the Old Yin Mountains were a deep and complex subject...
(End of Chapter)
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