Chapter 518: The Truth Sect Follower
Chapter 518: The Truth Sect Follower
"Boy, I'm going back to the Great Sheep Camp to see Second Young Master. You don't need to come with me. Just stay here and watch over the manor."
The next day, Hu Ma found Li Wazi and instructed him earnestly, "Just remember, something might happen soon, but if we can talk it out, don't fight. If it comes to a fight, remember to protect yourself. If there's any trouble, go and ask Seventh Aunt for advice."
"The most important thing for you is to keep an eye on this manor. No one is allowed to enter before I return."
"..."
Li Wazi listened, a little puzzled, "Not anyone at all?"
"Yes."
Hu Ma said, "Not even Red Lantern Lady is allowed in."
Li Wazi immediately showed respect and glanced at the warehouse that Hu Ma had them clean the day before. Now, a large lock secured the entrance, and a yellow talisman was pasted on the main door.
Although it was just an inconspicuous yellow talisman, it exuded a killing intent that made Li Wazi nod seriously and remember the instruction, even though Hu Ma didn't explain why. He had long learned to shoulder responsibilities.
Hu Ma couldn't help but feel helpless. Having too much blood food was indeed troublesome...
If this batch of blood food they acquired was small, he could find a secret place to hide it. Just like the two thousand catties of blood food he promised to Sweet Potato Burn, he had immediately found a place to bury it and told her the location...
... It wasn't actually a new place; it was the grave where the Altar's followers used to hide their blood food. Hu Ma had already stored a jar inside.
The two thousand catties of blood food were indeed a substantial amount. In the past, he wouldn't have been in a hurry to heal Sweet Potato Burn's leg, fearing she might cause trouble. But now, seeing the plight of the reincarnated, Hu Ma felt it was better to help her regain her agility.
However, the remaining blood food was still a large quantity and difficult to manage, so he kept it in the warehouse. Inside, talismans were pasted on the walls, including a shackling talisman on the main door. If anyone approached and attempted to open it, they would be bound by the talisman's power and restrained on the spot.
The other walls, the roof, and even the floor were pasted with killing talismans. Anyone who tried to peek would be in for bad luck.
After giving these instructions, Hu Ma turned to Li Wazi and said, "Also, prepare a feast and cook a pot of red sugar eggs. Invite Seventh Aunt over. I'm treating her to a meal today at noon."
"And send someone to buy several carts of grain to bring back to the camp later."
"..."
Li Wazi agreed and hurried off to take care of the tasks.
Soon, the wine and dishes were prepared and brought into Hu Ma's inner courtyard. He closed the door and sealed the windows, not allowing a ray of light to enter. However, on the table, a candle was lit to provide illumination.
This was the custom when inviting Seventh Aunt for a meal. After all, she was born from a spirit, and it was customary to invite her for a feast at night. With her current level of cultivation, she wasn't afraid of appearing during the day, but it was easier for her to reveal her true form in daylight, which would be a loss of face.
In other words, only Hu Ma could invite Seventh Aunt for a feast in broad daylight.
"Ah, Little Manager, you're finally back..."
As noon approached, a sparse sound of gongs and drums could be heard from outside, and a gust of Yin Wind blew into the room from the corner. Seventh Aunt emerged from the shadows, and upon seeing Hu Ma, she became excited, "Things around here haven't been peaceful lately!"
"You just got back the day before yesterday, and now you're leaving again. Is it that urgent to invite Seventh Aunt for a drink?"
Hu Ma smiled, not mentioning that he had already seen Seventh Aunt when he first returned. He said, "What's been happening?"
"It's because of those banner-waving people!"
Seventh Aunt said, "I don't think those people are good people!"
"Although they're acting politely, they even know to bow when they see me. But the more I look at them, the more evil they seem, an indescribable evil."
"Their actions are also incomprehensible. As soon as they arrived, they stopped the Red Lantern Society's members from helping the locals. They do everything themselves. But when there's trouble, whether it's ghosts or evil spirits, they take care of it, and everything becomes peaceful."
"According to them, it's because their banner contains the truth, and the truth is the greatest, suppressing those small ghosts and spirits. But I think it's not the truth but heavy evil energy..."
"As soon as they approach, not only do the mischievous spirits calm down, but even the ones in the graves dare not show themselves..."
"..."
Seventh Aunt continued, "Moreover, they say they're here to eliminate evil spirits and ensure peace, but I feel there's something else going on. They come and measure the fields and ask how many households are in the village."
"Sometimes, under the pretext of helping people, they sneak into people's homes, asking about the family's silver and the amount of grain in the granary, and even peek into people's jars..."
"They may be polite on the surface, but the more polite they are, the more uncomfortable people feel. There was once a banner-waving man; when I got close to him, I heard someone crying in his stomach..."
"..."
"Someone crying in his stomach?"
Hu Ma frowned slightly, guessing what it might be, and sighed inwardly, "What kind of person has my distant relative chosen to compete for the throne..."
Previously, Old Abacus had mentioned the origin of this sect, and it seemed that killing good people to increase their cultivation was their doing.
Of course, that was a long time ago, something done by the ancient ancestors of this sect.
"It's nothing."
Hu Ma heard this and raised his cup, saying to Seventh Lady, "I invited you here to talk about this."
"Our region has always been peaceful. We've gotten rid of the few troublemakers, and now there are no major ghosts. These evil cultists have entered, but no matter how fierce or wild they are, we won't interfere. However, if they break the rules, we can't tolerate them."
"This matter still requires your attention, Seventh Lady."
"Keep a close eye on things here. If any of the neighboring villagers encounter trouble and seek help, please take charge and help them."
"..."
"Do I even need to say this?"
Seventh Lady replied with an air of righteousness, "I'm just waiting to use my shoe sole to beat them..."
In the past, following Hu Ma, Seventh Lady had even beaten the Five Evil Gods. Now, seeing these evil cultists from the Truth Sect, she wasn't afraid at all. However, what troubled her was that these people exuded an air of evil, yet they spoke of following rules.
After a few attempts, she couldn't find an opportunity, and her patience was wearing thin.
"If it's a ghost, it should be skinless, and if it's a fox, its tail should be exposed."
Hu Ma smiled, "They won't be able to hold back forever. Seventh Lady, you don't need to give them any face."
"Also..."
As she spoke, she pointed to the Executioner's Great Saber on the table, "I'll leave this saber here."
"If they don't understand, you can teach them a lesson however you see fit. If they still don't listen and want to argue with you, then don't spare their face. Take my saber back, and you won't need to worry about the rest."
"Good, good..."
Hearing this, Seventh Lady was overjoyed. She took another look at the saber and sighed, "It will probably take Little San and Little Si to carry it!"
The banquet had Seventh Lady in high spirits, and she fell asleep in the firewood pile outside during the day.
Fortunately, everyone in this region knew that the Yellow-Skinned One was a celestial being and didn't dare provoke it, or else they might have encountered danger.
In the afternoon, Li Wazi, who had been sent to buy grain, returned with two carts, still complaining, "There's no disaster or famine, and the new harvest has only just arrived a few days ago. Why is grain so expensive?"
"It's much more expensive than last year. We from the Blood Feast Gang have lost face. If we knew this, why bother collecting blood essence? We could have just farmed and returned to the camp to build houses and marry wives."
"..."
"Expensive?"
Hu Ma wasn't surprised by this, as it matched the information he had gathered.
He sighed, and Li Wazi's thoughts were too simple. Even if grain became more expensive, the farmers wouldn't get rich.
"You don't need to give it to me. Go hire a few cart drivers to send the grain back to the camp. I won't wait, I'll go ahead."
Hu Ma instructed Li Wazi, and when night fell, he set off during dusk. When he reached outside the manor, he saw that no one was around, so he began to cast his spell. He lightly stamped his feet, and the Heaven-Measuring Boots appeared on his feet.
This time, he didn't forget Little Red Tang. He picked her up and placed her on his shoulder, also carrying a large jar in his arms.
The jar contained the blood essence that Hu Ma had taken from the few jars, which had been their food supply during this time.
As dusk fell, he set off and soon entered the Old Yin Mountain region. However, before returning to the Great Sheep Camp, he decided to make a detour and visit Yang Gong's in-laws, where he had married into the family.
This was his first time here, but in Old Yin Mountain, he didn't have to worry about getting lost. With the Mountain Lord's guidance, even the flowers and plants along the way could show him the path.
From afar, in a valley, he saw Yang Gong's current home, and he was surprised. It was already pitch-black outside, but in the village of over a hundred households, the lights were still bright.
On the hard ground, flattened by a stone roller, two to three hundred militiamen were training with weapons, their backs glistening in the light of the fire pit and torches.
They practiced their battle skills with vine shields in their left hands and sabers and spears in their right, and their training was quite disciplined.
"The family that chose Yang Gong as their son-in-law must have an extraordinary background..."
Hu Ma didn't disturb anyone but quietly walked around the village, and soon he had a rough idea of the situation.
Outside the village was a horse field, and among the hundred households, there were over ten blacksmith shops. Additionally, in a few obviously larger and more spacious houses, armor was hung on the walls, indicating that the villagers' ancestors might have had an extraordinary background.
During the last bandit attack, the young men from the surrounding villages had gathered, and they had been preparing ever since! Such a foundation might even surpass many martial arts sects, yet the Mountain Lord still found it lacking?
Hu Ma sighed softly, not intending to meet Yang Gong. He turned to leave and continue towards the Great Sheep Camp. Just as he was about to take a step, a gust of cold wind blew towards him.
In the dark night, a black mist rolled to his feet, and a head bumped onto the ground, exclaiming with joy, "Greetings, Lord Hu..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
