https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-72-The-Lifespan-Guardian-s-Talisman/12834542/
Chapter 73: Hu Ma, the Steward
Chapter 73: Hu Ma, the Steward
Earlier, Brother Ergoutou had mentioned that in the life temples of other reincarnated souls, there was always a divine statue behind the altar. This statue represented their life force and reflected their cultivation progress, making their practice faster and more effective than ordinary people. However, Hu Ma could only imagine what this statue looked like, as his own altar remained a blank, dark void.
But now, as Hu Ma began to practice the New Year’s Eve technique, he saw a part of the divine statue for the first time. What he saw was precisely his left hand, which he was currently trying to revive from death. Not only that, but the golden traces that appeared within his left hand perfectly matched the path he had just attempted to cultivate, down to the finest detail.
"Can this divine statue also reflect my cultivation?"
Hu Ma was both surprised and delighted. He examined it closely, confirming his suspicions. However, apart from the left hand, the rest of the statue remained lifeless and unchanged.
"Perhaps because my body is already dead, the statue also appears lifeless and indistinct."
"Could it be that by starting to revive my left hand, the statue's left hand has begun to show?"
"..."
He had a few guesses, but he wasn’t entirely sure. Hu Ma knew that this divine statue was the biggest difference between him and other reincarnated souls. Even if he had questions, he couldn’t ask others.
So, he decided to continue practicing in silence, testing his hypothesis. As he began the New Year’s Eve technique, the third life incense in the incense burner started to burn faster, transforming into a thread of vitality that seeped into the meridians and blood vessels of his left hand, seemingly reviving it.
This was exactly as the old shopkeeper had taught him. What thrilled Hu Ma the most, however, was that every path the vitality took was reflected in the statue’s left hand. To confirm this, he boldly directed a thread of vitality into an incorrect meridian. The statue’s left hand immediately showed a corresponding trace, though the color was strange and the meridian appeared to be damaged.
He quickly withdrew the vitality, now certain of his discovery.
"Great..."
He couldn’t describe the joy in his heart: "After all this time, I finally have the same benefits as other reincarnated souls?"
Initially, when he received the New Year’s Eve technique from the old shopkeeper, he felt some unease. Before obtaining the technique, he had been focused on seeking it. But after receiving it, he worried that the old shopkeeper might have held back or deliberately taught him incorrectly. In this bizarre world, even learning cultivation techniques was a precarious and cautious process, especially the New Year’s Eve technique, which involved transforming life into death and death into life, requiring meticulous attention to the body’s meridians.
Practicing this technique was like a blind person embroidering a flower—though done carefully, there was always a risk of going wrong and leaving hidden flaws. It was only when something went wrong that one would realize the mistake.
But now, with the statue reflecting his progress, he had no more worries. Thinking about this, Hu Ma felt even more elated. He seized the opportunity to practice, becoming increasingly skilled and precise.
By the next morning, Hu Ma felt refreshed and invigorated. He wrapped his left hand in cloth and hung it around his neck because it was "dead" and unresponsive. This was a necessary process for all New Year’s Eve practitioners—killing a part of themselves before reviving it. Hu Ma, however, could skip the "death" part and simply cut off the blood supply to that part.
Initially, he used an oil lamp to naturally cut off the blood supply, but in the future, he might not need the lamp. For now, he still needed to nurture it. Even though he had practiced all night and felt a slight warmth in his left hand, it wasn’t yet fully functional. Additionally, he didn’t want others to see the state of his left hand, so he wrapped it up.
Others assumed he had been injured the previous night and didn’t suspect anything else.
In the outer courtyard, the apprentices had already risen and gathered around him, eager to please. Yesterday, they had been exhausted and scared after the death of Xu Ji and the subsequent events. After a night’s rest, they were aware that something had changed in the courtyard. Seeing Hu Ma, they now looked at him with a mix of respect and fear, recognizing his new status.
After all, he had caught the old shopkeeper’s eye and learned some powerful techniques. His position alone set him apart.
From that day on, Hu Ma was not just a steward in name but in status as well. His monthly stipend and blood rations were now on par with other stewards.
"Don’t just stand there," Hu Ma said, noticing their fluctuating emotions. "Get to work."
The apprentices looked embarrassed, thinking he was putting on airs, but they didn’t dare complain.
As they turned to leave, Hu Ma added, "Have someone go get some meat for lunch and put it on the account."
"You all worked hard yesterday, so take this as a reward."
"..."
The apprentices were momentarily stunned, then erupted in cheers, looking at Hu Ma with newfound warmth. This was a stark contrast to how Xu Ji had behaved. Xu Ji, though close to the shopkeeper, had always been stern with the apprentices, giving orders without any warmth.
Now that Hu Ma had become the true overseer, the others were also worried that his earlier closeness to them might have been an act. They feared that once his goal was achieved, he would show his true colors.
If that were the case, they wouldn't have much to say about it. After all, just the other night, Xu Ji had called out, and most of the men had followed him.
But now, Hu Ma suddenly announced that he would provide extra rations for everyone, which clearly indicated that he was willing to let bygones be bygones and be friendly again.
Thinking that their lives would be a bit easier from now on, no one could be unhappy.
"Hu... Hu Ma, Brother..."
Just as Hu Ma watched the men cheer and get to work, their enthusiasm for sweeping the courtyard visibly increased. He turned around to hear a weak voice calling him. It was Li Wazi.
His face was pale, and he was leaning against the doorframe. He called out to Hu Ma, then suddenly his knees gave way, and he fell to the ground, his voice trembling with tears. "Hu Ma, Brother, I know I was wrong. You were the only ones who were good to me..."
"Don't say that, get up first!"
Hu Ma frowned, lifted him up, and examined him. "Are you feeling better?"
The night before last, Li Wazi had been dragged into the well by a ghost, and his body had gone stiff. Although Hu Ma had managed to bring him back, he wasn't sure if Li Wazi would survive.
The innkeeper in the inner courtyard had given him a pill and made him drink water. He had woken up, but was still dazed and listless. To Hu Ma's surprise, he was now up and speaking normally.
"I... I'm better..."
Li Wazi's body was still extremely weak. As soon as he spoke, he was on the verge of tears. "Xu Ji isn't a good person. He just wants to bully others..."
"They said... they said if you hadn't gone down the well to save me, I would have died for sure..."
"..."
"No wonder he looked so moved..."
Hu Ma understood. Seeing that everyone was watching, he helped Li Wazi into the room.
Initially, Hu Ma hadn't intended to save Li Wazi. At first, he thought Li Wazi was dead, and he was surprised that he had woken up. However, it was clear that Li Wazi had heard from others that Hu Ma had gone into the well to save him, and his current gratitude wasn't feigned.
Hu Ma didn't need to clarify the details. Sometimes, it was better to let things be.
He helped the weak Li Wazi sit on the bed and observed him closely. Though Li Wazi had woken up, it was obvious that just a day ago, he had been a strong young man who would drool at the sight of a lamb's rear and could lift a fifty-pound stone grinder as if it were a toy.
Now, he looked frail, as if he had been drained of all his vitality, barely clinging to life.
"He's ruined..."
Hu Ma understood the gravity of the situation but didn't say it out loud.
These young men had been chosen for the Red Lantern Lady's Society because they had cultivated a furnace fire, and their skills were considerable.
When Li Wazi was dragged into the well by the ghost, an ordinary person would have died instantly. However, because of the furnace fire in his body, he managed to hold on for a bit longer. But he had only survived by consuming the fire within his furnace. Now, not only was his furnace fire gone, but his body had been eroded by the ghost's negative energy, leaving him weaker than an ordinary person.
"Da Tong, Liang, Zhu, don't just peek from outside. Come in!"
Understanding the situation, Hu Ma called out, and Zhou Da Tong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu from Dayang Village entered. Seeing Li Wazi's condition, their expressions softened. They might dislike him, but as young men, they weren't cruel enough to hate him so much.
"What you did before, I didn't approve of it, and neither did Da Tong and Liang, Zhu."
With everyone assembled, Hu Ma looked at Li Wazi seriously. "We're all from the same village, and you didn't trust us. But you chose to trust others?"
"..."
Li Wazi, his face pale with shame, now had a hint of color.
"To be honest, you brought this upon yourself, and I shouldn't have saved you."
Hu Ma continued, "But Master told me before he left that we're all from the same village, and it wouldn't be right to leave anyone behind."
"We're all doing well here, and if something happens to you, how can we face your parents when we return to the village? Seeing other families celebrating, while your family mourns and burns incense at your grave?"
"Or, what if we all struggle, but you alone find success and return to the village in glory?"
"..."
These words made Zhou Da Tong pause, and his usual playful demeanor faded. Zhou Da Tong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu felt that Hu Ma had spoken to their hearts, and they looked at him with admiration.
As for Li Wazi, he could only nod, speechless.
Hu Ma sighed, not saying more, and simply waved his hand. "Stay here and rest. With your condition, I won't tell the innkeeper, or he'll send you back."
Li Wazi, both ashamed and moved, almost wanted to kneel again.
The other young men from the village were also inarticulate, not good with words. But everything was understood without being said.
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(End of Chapter)
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