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Chapter 558: Entangled Grudges
Chapter 558: Entangled Grudges
"Greetings, Hu Laoye, may you be blessed with good fortune and great wealth..."
"Dou Guan pays his respects to Shi Ye. After a few days of not seeing you, Shi Ye has become even more handsome. Dou Guan will bow deeply to you..."
"Head... Head..."
"..."
Upon returning to Red Gate Town, even before Hu Ma had reached the two-li distance, countless Xiao Shi Gui swarmed forward, vying to pay their respects.
The most eager one in the lead was Tui Gui Xiao Gui, who bowed like a garlic crusher, quickly offering four or five consecutive bows. Another, dressed in a small official's uniform and exuding joy, bowed solemnly and gracefully, offering a grand bow.
Behind them followed a group of disheveled and bizarre-looking fellows, including Xu Xiangzhu's and Bald Old Zhang's Xiao Gui, as well as some whose origins Hu Ma couldn't identify. However, due to the excellent performance of the first two, the others suddenly felt ashamed and forgot to speak.
At the very back, there was also a headless Xiao Gui who wanted to deliver a message, but its paper head had been blown away by the wind. It was chasing after it, running a few steps each time the wind blew, circling around twice, but it couldn't catch up and forgot to greet Hu Ma.
"No need to explain, I understand. Just go back and tell your master not to worry."
Seeing so many small heads gathered, Hu Ma also felt a headache. Without time to ask each one, he comforted them and reached out to give a piece of blood food to the crippled Xiao Gui.
The crippled Xiao Gui jumped up, overjoyed, and left, only to earn envious glances from the other Xiao Gui.
They proceeded without disturbing any bystanders and entered the town. From a distance, they saw numerous tents and clusters of troops outside the town, arranged neatly in a line stretching over twenty to thirty li. The troops were divided into front and rear camps, exuding a sense of military discipline.
As they ventured further into the town, they noticed that Red Gate Town, which they had left just a day ago, no longer appeared deserted. Instead, it seemed more orderly and imposing than the camps outside.
Upon reflection, this made sense. The outside was guarded by the Grain Protection General, but everyone knew that the general was there to protect Red Lantern Niangniang. Therefore, the An Shen Temple inside the town should be even more heavily guarded than the outside.
Not only were the intersections guarded, but there were also patrols fully armed with swords and armor. The only oddity was that the strict guarding made it seem as if they were keeping Red Lantern Niangniang locked up to prevent her from sneaking away.
As they approached the guards, Hu Ma intended to greet them with a smile and a kind word to enter the town. However, he was surprised to see Xu Xiangzhu emerging from the town with a solemn expression and a worried look on his face. Upon spotting Hu Ma, Xu Xiangzhu's face changed dramatically, and he immediately spurred his horse to approach.
When they were about two or three zhang apart, Xu Xiangzhu dismounted and stared at Hu Ma, opening his mouth but saying nothing, just gazing intently.
Hu Ma smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xu Xiangzhu looked at him with a serious expression and spoke in a low voice, "We're family, no need to beat around the bush. Now that I'm talking to you, do I need to kneel and bow? How many times?"
"Bow?"
Hu Ma was puzzled, "I've always called you Uncle."
"But you're the one who..." Xu Xiangzhu's face was filled with anxiety as he spoke in a low voice, his words conveying tension, excitement, and a mix of confusion and surprise. It was rare to see so many emotions on a person's face simultaneously.
Hu Ma looked at him and suddenly asked, "What noble?"
"Huh?"
Xu Xiangzhu glanced at the smiling mask tied around Hu Ma's waist. He sighed, "I understand, I know the rules."
"Wise... wise nephew... brother... eh, calling me grandpa is fine too..."
"But you must tell me, what's going on? In the manor, with just one word from you, I gathered all my old buddies. We joined the Grain Protection Army and fought a few clueless battles. But who would've thought that now, having reached here, entering the city would be so difficult..."
"..."
Seeing Xu Xiangzhu's anxious and hesitant expression, Hu Ma chuckled softly, "Uncle Xu, you're not an outsider. Some things, as a..."
He bowed slightly, "messenger, I can't reveal too much. Right now is a critical time for the Grain Protection Army to enter the city. The situation is naturally dangerous, but do you think the power in the city or that noble is more formidable?"
Xu Xiangzhu's eyebrows relaxed, and he also spoke in a low voice, "So, that person knows everything about this matter?"
"Hehe, whether that person knows or not, I can't say for sure. But ever since those people from the city came, that person has had it all figured out. Otherwise, why would I suggest you get involved?"
"Just remember, don't let the expressions on their faces distract you. At a critical moment, if you slip up, once this matter is resolved, we'll meet in Mingzhou City."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangzhu became so excited that his face turned red. He repeatedly bowed to Hu Ma, "From now on, don't call me Uncle Xu. You call me Grandnephew, and I'll call you Uncle. I never thought that after all these years of wandering the rivers and lakes, I would have such good fortune."
"Hu Ma was speechless as he listened, knowing that with these words, Red Lantern Lady would find it difficult to leave the Grain Protection Army. Even if she wanted to, the shopkeepers and incense chiefs would likely refuse. So, he smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries.
Then, without further ado, he asked Xu, his nephew, to find him a quiet residence in town.
He didn't specify whom he was waiting for. He simply opened one door and closed another, sitting in the hall, requesting only a pot of tea, which he slowly sipped.
This was the custom of Bu Shi Niu.
Upon his return to town, Bu Shi Niu's disciples knew of his arrival but were unsure if it was appropriate to pay their respects directly.
Opening one door and closing another was their signal to approach.
'Senior Brother, your powers are vast, Miao Shan has gained great insight...'
Sure enough, before he could finish half a cup of tea, someone arrived—none other than Miao Shan Xian Gong.
She personally led a horse, pulling a cart filled with items, into the courtyard. After entering, she hurriedly bowed. Once Hu Ma waived the formality, she quickly rose and retrieved a wooden box, intricately carved and the size of a wine jar, from the horse-drawn cart.
She presented it with both hands, and Hu Ma, after examining its contents, placed it under the table. Then, glancing at the cart behind her, he asked, "Why have you brought so many things?"
"Huh?"
Miao Shan Xian Gong paused, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "These are my belongings—my clothes, personal items, makeup, silver for cosmetics, sewing kit..."
"The only thing I brought for Senior Brother is this box."
"..."
"Alright..."
Hu Ma sighed inwardly, thinking, 'She's here for a significant matter, but it seems like she's moving house!'
As he observed Miao Shan Xian Gong's expression, filled with delight upon seeing him, and her occasional glances, he smiled and said, "Why are you flattering me from the moment you arrive?"
Miao Shan Xian Gong lowered her voice, "I knew the Jiao Zhu was extraordinary, but I couldn't fully comprehend it until now. I never imagined that the Jiao Zhu would possess such skills, managing to infiltrate the circle of that naive young master from the mountains..."
"Miao Shan, I truly admire the Jiao Zhu..."
"..."
Hu Ma wasn't surprised by this revelation.
In recent days, Bu Shi Niu's disciples had already arrived, perhaps even before Hu Ma reached Red Gate Town. They had likely witnessed his appearance as a Ghost Walker and Grand Sword-Holder, and with their intelligence, they would have already inquired about this identity.
Tilting his head slightly, he smiled and said, "You're not worried about me?"
Miao Shan Xian Gong paused, "Why should I be worried?"
Hu Ma pondered for a moment, finding it challenging to explain in detail.
The name of the Hu Family's Pacifying Evil Office derived from their mission to suppress evil spirits and malevolent beings. Logically, the Hu Family should bear a deep grudge against these entities.
However, it seemed that both Er Guo Tou and Miss Bai Jiu seemed to view the Hu Family as ordinary commoners. While they were cautious, their fear was directed more towards the commoners in general rather than a specific aversion to the Hu Family.
If this generation's evil spirit was merely low-key, unaware of past events, it might make sense. But Bu Shi Niu was a disciple of the previous generation's evil spirit, who had likely suffered at the hands of the Hu Family.
It wouldn't be unusual for the previous generation's grudge to be passed down to Bu Shi Niu. Yet, from what Hu Ma observed, Bu Shi Niu didn't seem to hold any particular grudge against the Pacifying Evil Office.
'Does Miao Shan not know, or are Bu Shi Niu's disciples unaware?'
Initially, Hu Ma had intentionally revealed his Ghost Walker and Grand Sword-Holder identities, and he had prepared explanations. But seeing that Miao Shan wasn't concerned, he didn't elaborate, merely smiling and saying, "I said Mingzhou would become lively, and now what do you think?"
"Impressive."
Miao Shan Xian Gong's face lit up at these words, and she praised, "We've cultivated the Yi Qian Jiao for many years, connecting with influential individuals and noble families, keeping a close eye on the world's affairs, and hosting the Deng Huo Fu Hui to gain reputation, all to build momentum for our grand plans."
"But unexpectedly, Mingzhou has already gained momentum, and its influence surpasses ours. When our senior brothers arrived, they were amazed and eager to make a significant impact. They're itching to get started..."
"..."
She paused briefly before continuing, "They're waiting in various places. Should I inform them to meet you as the Jiao Zhu?"
"It's not that they're not taking the initiative. There are rules within the sect. Their status isn't high enough to meet without being summoned."
"..."
"There's no need for now. If there's anything, you can convey it on my behalf. My status doesn't allow me to meet too many people."
Hu Ma waved his hand dismissively and studied Miao Shan Xian Gong intently. "Don't just say nice things. Can't you see the difficulties here?"
"This..."
Miao Shan Xian Gong hesitated, her voice lacking confidence. "Senior Brother, then I'll be frank. The Grain Protection Army doesn't stand a chance."
(End of Chapter)
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