Chapter 508: A Branch of the Hu Family
Chapter 508: A Branch of the Hu Family
"Family division is not something to be taken lightly."
Seeing the astonishment and confusion on Hu Ma's face, the Mountain Lord also sighed softly, "Once a family like yours splits up, even if your branch commits unforgivable crimes, punishable by the extermination of nine generations, they won't be able to touch the other branch."
"Of course, if they were to commit such crimes and face the extermination of nine generations, it wouldn't affect your branch."
"Your Hu family did the same back then. Under the witness of countless ghosts and spirits, you divided the family and went your separate ways. Some took the family wealth, while others obtained fortune and precious treasures. But your branch ended up with the Demon Suppressing Bureau."
"Thus, the Qingyuan Hu clan, even with their vast lands and rich assets, are merely the Qingyuan Hus. And your branch, despite enduring hardships in the Great Sheep Village, remains one of the Ten Surnames, the Zhen Sui Hu Clan!"
"..."
"This..."
Hu Ma was momentarily at a loss for words. After a long pause, he bitterly smiled, "Although it sounds like the good days that should have been mine are gone..."
"But I don't quite understand."
"Even a fool knows that these abilities are the foundation for survival. Why would they give up the Demon Suppressing Bureau?"
"..."
Could the Qingyuan Hu clan be fools? In this chaotic world, no matter how wealthy you are, you're just a fat sheep. The real power lies in one's abilities. Even I, as a reincarnator, can see this, so why would they do something so foolish?
"Because inheriting the Demon Suppressing Bureau is not an easy task."
Hearing Hu Ma's inner astonishment, the Mountain Lord chuckled lightly, his face hidden but his mocking smile evident, "It's not that they don't know the power of the Demon Suppressing Bureau, but they dare not bear the consequences of taking it on."
"Just look at yourself."
"You, a proud descendant of the Hu family, now have to make a living in the small Blood Food Sect. Your father was the eldest son of the Qingyuan Hu clan, yet he died mysteriously in the Black Wind Disaster."
"Your mother couldn't bear the hardships of Old Yin Mountain, so your grandmother sent her back home."
"The most noble branch of the Qingyuan Hu clan was reduced to just your grandmother and you, enduring twenty years of hardship in Old Yin Mountain. But in the end, your grandmother couldn't escape..."
"..."
Even he paused slightly, finding it difficult to continue.
But Hu Ma suddenly lifted his head, his expression filled with surprise and doubt, "Is all of this related?"
"Yes."
After a long silence, the Mountain Lord let out a soft breath, "On the surface, it can be understood as bearing a heavy burden, standing apart from the crowd, and thus being forced into poverty and despair by enemies."
"But in terms of destiny, it can also be understood as the price of inheriting the Demon Suppressing Bureau—the heavy sins severed their blessings."
"..."
This explanation made sense...
Hu Ma's heart sank as the Mountain Lord's words suddenly brought clarity to something.
At Shi Matown, he had encountered the second son of the Tong Yin Meng family. After a series of twists and turns, he had indeed killed him, but Hu Ma also realized the gap between himself and the Ten Surnames.
Whether it was their identity, status, the cultivation of their disciples, the capable assistants by their side, the treasures they possessed, or even the weight carried by the surname 'Meng', they were beyond the imagination of ordinary people. It was even harder to fathom the Hu family's decline.
Pondering this, Hu Ma asked the Mountain Lord, "If such a heavy price must be paid to take on the Demon Suppressing Bureau, what did my... they, gain from it?"
"In this world, some are patient, while others are impatient."
The Mountain Lord looked deeply into Hu Ma's questioning eyes and sighed, "It seems that your Zhen Sui Hu Clan is among those who are impatient, willing to pay such a heavy price to inherit the Demon Suppressing Bureau."
"But I don't know the specific reasons. It's probably related to what was discussed in the Stone Pavilion, but your grandmother would never tell."
"When you see her, you can ask her directly."
"..."
"The Stone Pavilion Alliance, the Stone Pavilion Alliance..."
Hu Ma's curiosity grew as he listened, eager to know what kind of decree could make a prestigious family give up their greatest abilities and willingly descend from nobility to endure hardships in Old Yin Mountain...
After a long pause, he sighed, "Let's not talk about the Qingyuan Hu clan splitting up and living separately. Why are they seeking us out again?"
"That, I don't know either."
The Mountain Lord sat behind the desk and sighed softly, glancing at the bustling village feast before him, "Perhaps they saw that you're still alive and realized that the price of inheriting the Demon Suppressing Bureau isn't as terrifying as they thought."
"But now that I've sensed their approach, I must warn you."
"After all, you're a descendant of the once-great Zhen Sui Hu Clan, yet you're openly associating with the heretics of the Truth Sect, forming alliances and marriages. They probably hope to regain their noble status, maybe even becoming relatives of the new dynasty's royalty..."
"..."
"The Truth Sect?"
Hu Ma heard this and felt a chill in his heart, recalling the people with green banners he had seen at the foot of the mountain.
He quickly asked, "I encountered them on the way here, but their identities were unclear, so I didn't act rashly. I was just about to ask you, what's their background?"
"Heaven's Will Chasers!"
When the Mountain Lord spoke of these people, his obscure face seemed to darken slightly, and he said in a low voice, "In the past, they were notorious heretics. They conducted human sacrifices in the meat markets, targeting good people. They were hated by all and their sins were as deep as the ocean."
"But now, times have changed. Someone has taken notice of their skills and foundations, and they want to borrow their strength to vie for the throne. They've even chosen a Heaven's Will General for themselves."
"These uninvited guests of the Hu Clan are with them, and they seem full of ambition. As soon as they arrived, they occupied the government office, measuring the fields and secretly contacting the aristocratic families. It seems they've already planned to treat Old Yin Mountain as the Dragon Ascension Land."
"..."
"The Mingzhou Government Office?"
As Hu Ma listened, he was taken aback. The Ten Surnames and the Truth Sect also wanted to rebel and challenge Heaven's Will, but they were hiding in the mountains, secretly plotting, and hadn't shown their faces. Yet, they still attracted the attention of the Grand Magistrate.
And now, the Truth Sect had arrived in Mingzhou and directly occupied the government office?
What does this mean? Even if the government office kept a low profile, it still represented the ruling power of Mingzhou. Now that the Truth Sect had moved in, did it mean that all of Mingzhou had surrendered to them?
The difference was just too great...
The Heaven's Will General, chosen by the Ten Surnames and the aristocratic families, had a smooth journey wherever he went, receiving far better treatment than the wild bandits.
If they succeeded in the future, the historical records would show that the Heaven's Will General, upon witnessing the suffering of the common folk, took pity on the people and rallied them. Wherever he went, the state and county government offices would surrender at his approach, and he would be known as the one to whom Heaven's Will Descended.
"With their arrival, did the Mingzhou Government Office just surrender so easily? Are they rebelling or forming an alliance?"
Thinking of this, Hu Ma found it amusing. He had killed the Green Robe Guild and the Five Sins Gods, making Mingzhou more peaceful. He thought it would remain stable for a while, but within just a few days, it had become a target for others.
"What do you think is the reason?"
Seeing Hu Ma's astonishment, the Mountain Lord couldn't help but laugh. "Everyone knows that there's a noble person of the Hu Clan in Old Yin Mountain, feared by both gods and ghosts, and untouchable by criminals."
"If even the Hu Clan has given their approval, who would dare not submit to this Heaven's Will General?"
"..."
"What?"
Hu Ma suddenly realized this and felt it was both absurd and hilarious. "Goodness, I've become their backing?"
The Mountain Lord also found it amusing, but his laughter carried a hint of helplessness. He sighed softly and said, "Even if you don't agree, there will be others who will agree on your behalf. Others don't know this, but the Qingyuan Hu Clan is indeed of the Hu surname."
"With their status, wherever they go, it represents their stance..."
"..."
At this point, Hu Ma understood the crux of the matter. His eyes turned slightly cold, and although he was smiling, there was no warmth in his gaze.
"That's how it is."
Seeing that Hu Ma understood, the Mountain Lord sighed softly, "I'm not a living person, and my aspirations lie elsewhere. Whether it's the Heaven's Will General or vying for the throne, it's none of my concern."
"I'm only concerned about the peace of the Old Yin Mountain area."
As he spoke, a hint of regret crept into his voice, "Nowadays, the entire world has become lighter. Even Old Yin Mountain, which guards an area of eight hundred li, cannot escape this fate. But with me here, things are slightly better. With balanced weather and rain, the commoners can barely survive."
"But even this barely livable place, in the eyes of those people, is a rich granary. If they want to do something big, they need money and food, so they've set their sights here. They might bring war and slaughter to this place."
"I can protect the mountain people from natural disasters, but I'm powerless against human-made catastrophes. That's why I called you back."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the commoners with joyful expressions. He said softly, "Although we've split into separate families, we still share the same bloodline."
"They might not truly intend to overstep their bounds, but they are using this method to force you to reveal yourself. If you don't respond, the situation in Mingzhou might spiral out of control. If you do respond, then these years of hiding might have been in vain..."
"I don't know about you..."
"..."
At this point, he paused slightly, finding it a tricky situation. But Hu Ma, who had been listening calmly, spoke up, "You just said that with such a complete family split, even if they were to exterminate the nine families, they couldn't touch the other side, right?"
"If that's the case, they are outsiders to me, not worth mentioning."
"Since they've come to Mingzhou to cause trouble, it's a convenient coincidence..."
His brows furrowed, and he smiled coldly, "This time, I returned in a hurry and didn't bring anything with me. But I did bring a good sword that doesn't stain with blood..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
