https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-501-The-Malevolent-Spirit-s-Technique/12918928/
Chapter 500: The Living Stake
Chapter 500: The Living Stake
"How could you possibly bring so many?" Hu Ma was taken aback by what she heard from Sweet Potato Burn.
"Oh, I had no choice..." Sweet Potato Burn sighed, "My master taught me three unique skills, but none of them are good. The problem is, he doesn't know anything else, so I have to research on my own. Some powerful techniques are difficult to learn, but others are quite simple and effective..."
Upon hearing this, Hu Ma immediately understood. Simple yet powerful techniques—which one of them was legitimate? Just dealing with the Five Sins Altar Master and the Five Sins Gods, she had sacrificed three entire villages in one go. Although she had a solid excuse, even she herself, one of the three Reincarnators, was left speechless.
It wasn't right to blame her, but while making up excuses was easy, she couldn't deceive the ghosts and gods. Every single sinful debt was recorded in the Cause and Effect Soul, and now, she seemed to have accumulated so much debt that she no longer worried about it.
"It's just..."
Although she understood, she couldn't help but sigh and turned to Sweet Potato Burn, saying, "With so much sinful debt, aren't you afraid...?"
Sweet Potato Burn had once discussed reincarnation and karmic retribution with her, but those were topics White Wine Lady had brought up to test her because she thought Sweet Potato Burn was too bold and wild. But now, it seemed like Sweet Potato Burn was becoming less and less concerned.
"I'm only sixteen years old..." Sweet Potato Burn said.
"What's there to fear about debts from over a hundred years later?" Sweet Potato Burn asked.
"Moreover, I feel like the values of this world are messed up. Take those bandit villages, for example, or the people I usually catch to practice on. They're clearly bad people, yet I'm the one losing yin virtue for harming them..."
"It's enough that we Reincarnators understand each other. Who cares about the rest?"
"..."
Hu Ma was momentarily speechless, sighing softly to herself. Since Sweet Potato Burn didn't seem to mind the cost of these techniques, it seemed like she could indeed borrow her hand to set up the stake? At the very least, she would owe her a favor that she would have to repay in kind!
Just as she was feeling unexpectedly pleased with this turn of events, Sweet Potato Burn's eager voice interrupted her thoughts, "So, Senior, how do we set up the stake?"
"Hmm?"
Hu Ma was taken aback, "You don't know how?"
"No!" Sweet Potato Burn replied.
"My master didn't teach me."
"..."
"Then I'll have to figure something out..."
Hu Ma was momentarily stunned. After reassuring Sweet Potato Burn, she got up from the bed, pointed at Little Hong Tang on the beam, signaling her to continue sleeping, and then took the Punishment Official Sword from the table, tucking it under her arm. She left the room and entered the room next door, where Old Abacus was sleeping.
She gently pushed the door open and entered. Old Abacus was sleeping fitfully, occasionally muttering curses at the Ancestor Master in his dreams. He turned over in his sleep, and his breathing grew lighter and lighter until, suddenly, he flipped over again, clutching a small flag in his hand. That's when he saw Hu Ma's face.
The dim light from the window fell on half of Hu Ma's face, and although the blade was sheathed under her arm, she could feel the eerie killing intent emanating from it, turning half of her face a shade of azure.
"What are you..."
His heart skipped a beat, and his voice trembled, "Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
"I'm an old lady, and I don't like that kind of thing..."
"..."
"I had no choice..."
Hu Ma sighed heavily, "I'm asking for your help. The method for setting up the Living Stake still requires your guidance, Elder!"
Old Abacus' voice was filled with despair, "Do people in your family always ask for help in the middle of the night with a blade in hand?"
"Don't be afraid. I always carry it with me for protection when I go out at night."
"But I'm sure you wouldn't refuse to help me. After all, we've been through hardships together and even risked our lives for each other. As for the account of the four hundred Blood Nourishing Pills, you see, I haven't rushed to collect that debt from you, have I?"
"But I, I..."
Old Abacus looked miserable, stuttering, and then suddenly realized, "Wait, how did it become four hundred?"
"You just said one hundred!"
"..."
Hu Ma waved her hand, "One hundred is fine. You have the final say on that, but I won't argue with you about the Blood Nourishing Pills. You have to teach me the method for the Living Stake, right?"
As she spoke, she slowly lowered her head to glance at the blade tucked under her arm.
Old Abacus was dumbfounded. With Hu Ma standing there with the blade under her arm, and all his fellow disciples sleeping nearby, he was at a loss for what to do, trapped by the killing intent emanating from her. After much hesitation, he finally spoke.
"It doesn't sound too difficult..."
Hu Ma was surprised as she carefully noted down the method. Smiling, she nodded and left with the blade tucked under her arm, not forgetting to say to Old Abacus, "Look at you, being so stingy..."
"Is this a difficult task?"
Watching Hu Ma's relaxed demeanor as she turned and left, Old Abacus was almost in tears, "The gods are watching from above. Ancestor Master is watching. The karmic debt I'll incur from giving you this idea is already huge, not to mention I'm the one who taught you the method!"
But Hu Ma didn't pay attention to these details. She returned to her room excitedly and carefully considered the method Old Abacus had shared, feeling even more confident.
The situation was urgent, and he needed to retrieve the Hu family's token as soon as possible. With his current state, he couldn't afford to waste any more time.
That very night, he informed Sweet Potato Burn, explaining the method in detail and setting a time for the ritual.
The next morning, after a hearty meal, he called Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu over and said, "The mine is quiet now. The other day, I even went out with Old Abacus to the Lantern Blessing Festival, leaving you all alone at the mine. You haven't seen a single girl for days. Now that I'm back, I'll give you some time off."
"Take some silver from the accounts and take everyone from the valley out for some fun. Bring the livestock from the mine, and when you get to the market, groom them and mend their hooves."
"Enjoy yourselves for a couple of days, but remember... Don't go wandering into those alleys!"
"..."
Zhou Datong and the others were overjoyed at this news, almost jumping for joy. They were young and full of vigor, and the loneliness of the mine was too much to bear.
Back in the village, they had interacted with people from nearby villages, but at the mine, the only company they had was ghosts...
Only Old Abacus knew why Hu Ma was doing this. When Zhou Datong and the others came to ask for silver, he grumbled, "Take it all! I'm coming with you. I didn't get to enjoy the festival enough..."
Hu Ma smiled and said, "I thought you'd stay in the valley this time. I didn't think you'd trust me so much."
"Do you really trust me that much?"
Old Abacus glanced at Hu Ma and said, "But I still don't dare to be alone with you. If there's anything, let's talk about it when I return in three days."
Without further ado, the group started preparing. They took the silver, changed their clothes, and each led a horse from the stable. By noon, the entire valley was empty except for Hu Ma, not a single living creature in sight.
Hu Ma finally relaxed and went to the wooden shed at the mine, where he selected a fine black coffin for himself. He found a suitable spot, placed the coffin upright on the ground, removed the lid, and set it aside. Then, he sat quietly and began his cultivation, waiting for nightfall.
As night deepened, the valley was enveloped in darkness, with not even a lantern to be seen due to the absence of workers. Everything was pitch black, and Hu Ma slowly opened his eyes. He circled the coffin, sprinkling ashes from a pot, and lit four oil lamps.
He stuck an incense stick nearby to keep track of time, making final preparations while silently waiting for the appointed hour.
When the time was right, he straightened his clothes and stuck a yellow talisman on his forehead. Then, holding the coffin lid, he lay down... or rather, stood inside the upright coffin.
Little Red Tang poked her head in from outside, and Hu Ma tested the lid from within, struggling to close it. He wondered how others managed to get in and out, so he called for Little Red Tang's help. She came over and carefully secured the lid for him.
"Little Red Tang, you go out and play. Come back when it's dawn," Hu Ma instructed from inside the coffin, his voice muffled.
Little Red Tang nodded obediently, carrying her basket and skipping away.
The valley became even quieter, with only the upright black coffin, four oil lamps, and the wind blowing through the empty valley. The wind swirled around, brushing past the outside of the valley before returning, unable to extinguish the lamps.
After an unknown amount of time, when the incense stick had burned down to less than a quarter, Hu Ma heard footsteps approaching the valley. A head with a jade foot rattle in its bun poked into the valley.
Hu Ma, inside the coffin, had already initiated the ritual, but without using his cultivation power. He could see her through the candlelight by the coffin; it was Sweet Potato Burn, as agreed. She walked with a slight limp, but it was much better than before, indicating that her leg had been treated, though not completely healed.
She had arrived a bit early and, finding no one in the valley, muttered to herself. Carrying two baskets, she explored the valley, checking the cabinets in the hall and the rice jars.
Finding nothing of value, she went to a vein of the blood food mine, picked at some meat scraps, chewed them, and spat them out, making a face as if the meat was too dry.
As the incense stick burned down, Hu Ma began to worry if she was reliable, but just then, she turned and stood before his coffin. She took out two lumps of crude paper from her bundle and slowly unfolded them. Using a nearby branch, she propped them up, creating two standing paper puppets with pink faces and red cheeks, exuding a strange, sinister aura.
"Huff!"
Standing between the paper puppets, she took an iron nail and stuck it in front of the coffin. Then, she lit incense and began chanting silently:
"Darkness shrouds the heavens and earth, a realm of ethereal power. Three souls are absent, seven essences cannot roam."
"Fate decrees burial, blame not others. Reincarnation ground sacrifice, body return position."
(End of Chapter)
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