Chapter 529: The Mother-in-Law's Obsession
Chapter 529: The Mother-in-Law's Obsession
"Xiao Huma, are you okay? Make a sound..."
"You hooligan, don't scare your second uncle. You're still young, and I can't afford to lose my life..."
"Which malevolent spirit is so bold to create this demonic mist, blocking our way and trapping you in a pit of filth..."
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, Heavens!"
"..."
Outside the forest, Second Uncle and Old Sheepskin Elder, along with the others, were already terrified.
They had just been outside, offering incense and prayers, when they suddenly heard a strong gust of wind coming from the direction of the Extinct Village. The wailing of ghosts and gods filled the air, and soon after, they heard thunderous roars. Even where they stood, the sky seemed to darken, as if night had fallen abruptly.
Anxiously, they waited, only to hear a final boom, followed by an earthquake that sent debris flying. Despite being a mile away from the village, the loud commotion startled them, and they all fell to their seats.
After a long while, they regained their senses and saw that the sky had cleared, and a gentle breeze blew. The oppressive atmosphere from the village had dissipated, but they were still worried about Hu Ma. They quickly made their way inside.
Although they were only a mile away from the Extinct Village, it felt like they had been walking for ages. As they ventured deeper into the forest, thick fog enveloped them, making it impossible to find the village, which should have been within arm's reach. Panic set in, and they began calling out for Hu Ma, their voices laced with profanities.
"I'm here, I'm here, Second Uncle. Don't curse, I'm coming out..."
Inside the village, Hu Ma was startled and quickly nodded to the Mountain Lord before shouldering the iron box and striding out.
Mountain people often encountered spirit possession and phantom walls. The solution was to curse viciously; the harsher the curses, the easier it was to find their way. But they didn't know that this time, it wasn't a malevolent spirit blocking their path, but the Mountain Lord himself...
As the profanities filled the air, even the Mountain Lord's face began to show signs of embarrassment.
"Oh dear..."
When the anxious group saw Hu Ma carrying an iron box and emerging from the quickly dissipating mist, Second Uncle, Old Sheepskin Elder, and the vigorous young men who had followed them in, all broke into delighted smiles. They rushed forward to greet him, carefully examining him for injuries.
They checked if his arms and legs were intact, and one of them even secretly pinched him...
...to see if he was still alive or just a wandering soul.
After confirming that Hu Ma was indeed alive and whole, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Second Uncle, eager to take the box from Hu Ma's shoulders, asked excitedly, "We've been calling for you for so long, and you didn't respond. What happened to the village?"
"It's all taken care of," Hu Ma replied with a smile, looking at the concerned faces around him. "The village's resentment has been dispelled, and the villagers have all found their destinations."
"Second Uncle, don't bother. I'll carry this box myself; you can't lift it!"
"..."
"This kid gets more arrogant as he grows older..."
Even Second Uncle's face turned pale at Hu Ma's words. "Everyone within a hundred li knows that I, your Second Uncle, have great strength!"
"I can lift a three to five hundred-pound stone lock with one hand as if it's child's play..."
"..."
Hu Ma couldn't explain, knowing that Second Uncle was concerned about his depleted proficiency, his pale face, and unsteady steps. He wanted to take the box from him, but the problem was, he knew exactly how heavy it was.
With his Four Pillar Proficiency and Palace Guard status, he could only carry it with all his might. If he gave it to Second Uncle, the old man's bones might shatter instantly.
"It's... it's really taken care of..."
As Hu Ma spoke with Second Uncle, Old Sheepskin Elder and the young men stood there, stunned.
They turned back to look inside, now that the mist had cleared, and they could see the village clearly. There were no more swirling dark winds, no oppressive atmosphere, and no eerie cries.
What they saw was a village that looked like it had been through an earthquake, broken yet ordinary.
They weren't insiders, but their instincts as living beings told them that this village was different from before.
"Yes," Hu Ma nodded and said to Old Sheepskin Elder, "The Extinct Village is no more. Now, there's only the Stone Chest Village."
"Then... then..." Old Sheepskin Elder's lips trembled as he struggled to describe his feelings.
For ten long years, the Extinct Village had weighed heavily on the hearts of the Python Village and the surrounding villagers. It made it difficult for them to breathe, and the village's young ladies wanted to marry outside. Outsiders knew that next to Python Village was a ghost village, and no one dared to venture in.
If this continued, Python Village might also disappear.
Old Sheepskin Elder had dreamed of solving the village's problem, but now, it seemed to have been resolved so easily?
Looking at Hu Ma's young face, he couldn't believe his eyes for a moment...
Then, as he finally realized what had happened, he took a deep breath, stepped back, and created some distance between himself and Hu Ma. With trembling arms, he raised his hands and bowed deeply, his forehead touching Hu Ma's.
"Ah?"
Hu Ma was startled, as he had never dared to accept such a grand gesture, especially from someone so old. The man was bowing deeply to him with such solemnity, and he even had a box on his shoulder, so he hurriedly extended his other hand to support him.
But Old Sheepskin Elder was determined to bow, and before he could be pulled up, the young men from Python Village behind him saw that the elder had knelt, so they hurriedly followed suit, imitating Old Sheepskin Elder's actions and bowing to Hu Ma.
A large group of people knelt down, and even a few young men from Great Sheep Camp hadn't reacted in time and hastily joined them in kneeling.
It wasn't until others pulled them up that they dazedly said, "I saw everyone else kneeling, so I followed along..."
"What else can we do? We're not nobles, and bowing won't hurt us."
Hu Ma couldn't pull up so many people, especially while carrying the stone chest, so he was forced to accept this gesture. Strangely, he felt the chest on his shoulder seemed to lighten slightly.
A subtle emotion stirred within him, and he remained silent.
He considered these bows as not for himself, but for the stone chest on his shoulder or the contents within.
The Zunsui Hu Clan had always been lacking in blessings, but by accepting this gratitude, they might accumulate some merit.
"This was promised by the elder, and I'm merely fulfilling what she couldn't finish in her time. Elder Sheepskin, you really don't need to honor me like this."
Hu Ma sighed softly and said, "But regardless, it's good that the matter is resolved. Second Uncle, Elder Sheepskin, let's return to the village and celebrate."
"Yes, yes, let's go back to the village and have a feast!"
Second Uncle watched as Elder Sheepskin Elder respectfully bowed, his dark face serious, but inside, he was beaming with joy.
He was an uninitiated Year Guardian, while Elder Sheepskin Elder was a self-taught Ghost Walker. One was stronger, the other more renowned; one had wanted to learn skills but missed the chance to marry, the other was too poor, and his wife had long since left him for a peddler.
Though they were both inexperienced, the two old men had always been earnest in their efforts, vying for recognition in secret and in the open. And now, it seemed, he had won big.
His voice boomed louder than Hu Ma's, "The Extinct Village... the stone chest issue is resolved. We should celebrate with the folks from the village and invite them to our village for a feast!"
In truth, Second Uncle was thinking that someone in Great Sheep Camp had surpassed the elder in skill, and that was the most worthy cause for celebration.
Additionally, with the Extinct Village's problem solved, the lives of the surrounding villagers had become more peaceful, which was also worth celebrating. However, the affairs of the living couldn't overshadow the dead, so he could only call for a celebration for the villagers.
Furthermore, Little Hu Ma had come into his own and gained great skill, even becoming a manager at the Bloodfeast Mine.
Second Uncle had to help build his reputation in advance. What if, come spring, Hu Ma really took people to the mine for help? Where would he find temporary workers then?
After all, it was a family matter, and if he brought people, they had to be the most capable meat cutters. When going to others' mines, they could bring inexperienced workers, even if they were less efficient, as long as they could earn two wages, they would. But for their own mine, inexperienced workers were unnecessary.
Seeing Second Uncle's enthusiasm, Elder Sheepskin Elder joined in, shouting, "Let's feast! Our village will take care of everything!"
Second Uncle said, "The people from our camp will drink at our camp."
Elder Sheepskin Elder replied, "If we go to your camp, our village will still handle the feast."
Everyone was delighted, surrounding Hu Ma as they headed into Great Sheep Camp. Some started digging up homemade wine from the kiln, while others went to Python Village to catch sheep and chickens.
The elders hurried to the old fire pit to burn incense, praying to their ancestors for protection. They believed that with a capable person in the camp, the Extinct Village's issue had been smoothly resolved, and the entire village would be blessed.
Not only did they burn incense, but Second Uncle also pushed Hu Ma to go to the old fire pit to bow and offer prayers to the elder's spirit.
In the elders' eyes, the elder had left the stone chest village's issue unresolved in her lifetime, but now, after her death, their village had completed it. This was a highly honorable matter, even more so than Hu Ma's success.
Such an event was worth sharing, to bring joy to the elder's spirit.
Hu Ma, of course, wouldn't refuse. He went to bow and burn incense, but as he watched the incense smoke rising from the old fire pit, he felt a difference within.
In truth, the elder was no longer in that old fire pit.
Initially, with his limited skills and insight, he hadn't realized this, but now he understood. The elder had left behind a fragment of her soul, sustained by her obsession. Now that he had grown up and retrieved the token, her obsession was gone, and she had left this place.
If he wanted to see the elder, he would have to visit the ancestral hall and meet her as a descendant of the Hu Clan.
(End of Chapter)
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