Chapter 762: Voluntary Entrapment
Chapter 762: Voluntary Entrapment
A peculiar individual, whose style clashed with any other, held an extraordinary position within the Non-Vegetarian Sect.
I should have realized this earlier...
Just moments ago, immersed in the truth of his destiny, a startling doubt filled his mind. He wondered why someone as powerful as Lao Jun Mei, a Descendant, would gamble on him and leave behind his legacy.
Unexpectedly, on this visit, he caught a glimpse of the answer.
Hu Ma wasn't sure how much of this connection between bloodlines was the real reason, but he thought the proportion must be quite high.
Turning to Thursday Miss, who was beaming with joy, he winked and whispered, inquiring about the latest news. The Kindness Fairy, who was busy packing, couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
Initially, she seemed so pure and innocent, not someone capable of shouldering great responsibilities. But now, he suddenly understood that this might be the very image Lao Jun Mei wished to see. Why bother with the burden of leadership? It was better to live a carefree life, blessed with deep happiness.
He sighed softly and discreetly adjusted the small wings on Xiao Douguan's hat, signaling that he understood.
He would also help keep this answer hidden, a basic act of kindness.
Xiao Douguan heaved a sigh of relief, bowed deeply to Hu Ma, and then hurried to assist the Kindness Fairy with her belongings. Hu Ma, meanwhile, took some incense and approached his biological father's coffin, bowing respectfully several times.
This was his biological father...
No, there was no need for that qualifier; he was his father, the only one.
He had few memories of his father, but the connection between their bloodlines became apparent as he understood his destiny. His father had protected him from a disaster even before he was aware of it.
Later, using the remaining cause and effect, he had prevented someone from altering his destiny over a decade later.
But what had transpired between the Hu family and Lao Jun Mei? Why had both his father and Lao Jun Mei, through the remnants in the cause and effect soul, independently chosen to block the Dalaofa Religion's methods of altering fate?
How had the Hu family, with their deep-rooted grudge against the previous generation of reincarnates, managed to form a complex and ingenious collaboration with him? As Hu Ma resealed his father's coffin, his gaze deepened, and he now had specific questions.
After offering incense and bowing several times, his father's arm, which had been extended outside the coffin, slowly retracted.
Hu Ma resealed the coffin and turned to see that the battlefield had become silent and still.
With a gesture, the rolling Yin soldiers, who had covered the entire battlefield, returned to the Nether General's body. Earlier, when facing the Wandering Death Army of Guan State, the Nether General had gained nearly 100,000 Yin soldiers, and this time, the number had clearly increased.
Watching the Yin soldiers automatically jump back into the iron coffin and sink into the ground, Hu Ma narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Let's go, let's go."
Over there, Xiao Douguan had finished packing for the Kindness Fairy and was calling for the servants and coachmen.
"The smell of blood here is too strong. Let's rest after we pass this place."
"It's still early. We can sleep for a while, and when we wake up, we'll hurry on our way and reach the Imperial Capital soon..."
"..."
The carriage was carefully prepared, and they set off slowly.
As they traversed the devastated battlefield, they spotted some bewildered and hunched figures slowly appearing. Some emerged from within the city, while others came from outside.
These were the people who had been raised as food by the Pan Mountain Army. They were meant to be consumed as food, and they were still in a daze, only realizing their rescue after a long time. They rushed into the granary, stables, and camp like mad.
Ironically, there was still food in the Pan Mountain Army barracks, where they had already resorted to using humans as rations.
There were black beans, wheat bran, millet, and even eggs.
However, these were meant for feeding mules and horses, while humans were directly consumed.
Hu Ma didn't leave his name here or gather these people. With the remaining food and animals, they should be able to survive for a while. But it was only early spring, and they had to endure the scorching summer before reaching the autumn harvest...
Hu Ma couldn't find an answer to these questions, only feeling an intangible sense of urgency.
"You managed to break free?"
As the carriage began to move, Old Abacus tapped his donkey head and quickened his pace to catch up with Hu Ma's carriage.
Hu Ma glanced at him through the curtain and said, "Why don't you calculate it?"
"I did calculate it..."
Old Abacus grimaced, "But I didn't see what you just did."
"I saw some things clearly."
Hu Ma explained, "There is indeed an opportunity to completely sever ties with your Dalaofa Religion and escape this cage."
Old Abacus was startled, "Then you..."
"I didn't escape," Hu Ma said. "I chose to take a step further."
"If the order you received was to guide me onto the path of righteousness and assume the position of the Dalaofa Religion's main sacrifice, then I'm now one step closer to that goal. I've also vaguely seen the opportunity you mentioned to seize life and achieve liberation in the mortal realm."
"I must admit, Brother, you've done me a great favor by guiding me to the Dharma Gate. This cause and effect, I've taken it to heart."
"..."
"What do you mean? I was just following orders and learning the art of tongues..."
Hu Ma's seriousness made Old Abacus nervous, and he unconsciously tried to shrug it off, but halfway through, he suddenly stopped.
The old man, now wise, could taste the meaning in the young shopkeeper's words—he'd rather remember this favor than that of the Dalaofa Religion.
Well, in that case, there was no need for him to deny it.
The Dalaofa Religion didn't pay him, unlike the usual sects that emphasized loyalty.
But as he thought about it, he couldn't help but say, "Then you're not afraid..."
"People fear the unknown, but since I've already understood my destiny, what's there to be afraid of?"
Hu Ma smiled and said, "I don't need to hide from the Dalaofa Religion anymore. I don't even reject the idea of the main sacrifice you mentioned."
"I should say, when I took that step forward, I officially entered the game."
"But not because I was pushed, but because I willingly entered this game."
"Thinking about it, they've been arguing in this game for so many years, and it's time for a third person to step in."
"..."
Old Abacus quietly fell silent, pressing the donkey's head and letting himself fall behind in the procession.
In the sky, a bright moon had already emerged from behind the dark clouds, and all around was quiet, except for the faint sounds of Kindness Fairy's mischievous laughter and Thursday Miss's shy and peculiar voice, mixed with a servant devil's helpless sigh, coming from the carriage behind.
Hu Ma sat quietly in the carriage, eyes closed, and silently entered the Destiny-Origin Spirit Shrine he hadn't visited in a long time.
With the Great Might Heavenly General Seal removed, the Destiny-Origin Spirit Shrine once again opened its doors.
In the silent shrine, Hu Ma looked at the row of nine pillar incense sticks on the incense altar before him, pondering for a long time before taking one and placing it in the incense burner. Then, he took a step back.
Watching the dark red mist rise and swirl, he held his breath, surprised by the eerie silence in his own Life Force Sanctuary. He couldn't hear anyone speaking.
He slowly moved forward, placing his palm on the Fate-Origin Spirit Shrine, and said softly, "Brother Er Guotou..."
"You don't need to rush to respond. I know we both have questions, but I thank you for trusting me."
"And those two ladies."
"I've reached the final step, and soon I'll understand the answers."
"I believe you will too."
"I'd like to invite you to do something fun. In the village behind that battlefield, I left something."
"Once you get it, you'll understand what I mean."
"After reaching the capital, I'll figure everything out and meet with you to clarify it all."
"But before that, I'd like you to deliver a message to White Wine Miss and Sweet Potato Liquor Miss."
"For White Wine Miss, it's a word of thanks."
"As for Sweet Potato Liquor Miss, ask her this: Do you want to see the entire capital city submerged in a sea of spirit money?"
"..."
At this point, even he couldn't help but curve his lips, then gently retrieved the incense stick.
Er Guotou would hear his words; after all, he wasn't that far away.
As Hu Ma woke from his trance, he looked towards the capital with cold eyes.
...
...
"State Preceptor, just now you..."
At that moment, in the capital, everyone heard the late Hu Shan's light sigh and saw the peachwood sword in the State Preceptor's hand break.
The next moment, they witnessed the five lamps in front of the State Preceptor flicker and grow brighter. Not only that, but the four lamps behind him also lit up simultaneously.
The two rows of lamps illuminated the surroundings, and the State Preceptor seemed to be caught in the middle of this bright light.
"Indeed, they are extraordinary people, and their destinies are unpredictable..."
The State Preceptor's expression, illuminated by the lamp's flame, was uncertain.
After a long while, he smiled and suddenly threw the broken sword aside, saying softly, "This is getting interesting."
"The Hu Family's descendants indeed have an extraordinary determination."
He stepped away from the incense altar and quietly observed the complex and probing figures before him. With a smile, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Hu Family is not easily persuaded, but they are willing to give us a chance to show them our intentions..."
"Now, it's time to welcome the Head of the Zhen Cui Hu Family into the capital."
"Zhen Cui Hu, one of the Ten Surnames, second on the Ascension List, and the leader of the Dalaofa Religion..."
"It's time for us, who have been hiding in laziness, to make up for the respect and courtesy the Hu Family deserves."
"..."
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, and after a long silence, someone laughed and said, "The State Preceptor is right..."
"As one of the Ten Surnames, we should welcome the Head of the Zhen Cui Hu Family into the capital..."
(End of Chapter)
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