https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-81-The-Hawker-in-the-Countryside/12898246/
Chapter 82: Catching Children
Chapter 82: Catching Children
In the afternoon, Hu Ma felt that the hawker was suspicious. How could someone be so kind-hearted for such a petty profit?
Moreover, when he approached quietly, he vaguely saw that while the hawker was giving candy to the children, his hand inadvertently brushed against one child's head, as if he had pulled out a strand of hair.
Although he was far away and couldn't see clearly, Hu Ma had experienced such tricks in the village before. One's body, hair, and commonly used items could all be used for spells, so he had to be cautious.
However, since he wasn't entirely sure, this person might just be a regular hawker.
If he hastily returned to the village to gather people, it might alarm the hawker, who could then stop and leave, leaving Hu Ma in an awkward position. So, he decided to secretly watch and see if there was any real issue.
Once he confirmed the problem, he would quickly send Little Red Apricot back to report.
He woke up Zhou Datong not because he expected help, but to have him go to the inner courtyard and call the innkeeper.
One should intervene when injustice is seen, but he didn't plan to act alone.
Acting bravely and righteously is a good deed, a virtue, and such virtue should be shared by everyone.
After confirming that the hawker was up to no good, he didn't rush to raise an alarm. Instead, he quietly followed the group of children, watching as they shuffled and staggered out of the village, resembling clumsy little beasts under the dim moonlight.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they reached a dirt road outside the village, where a two-wheeled wooden cart pulled by a person was parked. A man stood beside the cart, shaking a rattle drum.
It was the hawker from the daytime, but his face was painted stark white, and he wore a stiff smile.
In the silent night, there was an indescribable eerie atmosphere.
As the children approached, his smile grew wider, and he shook the rattle drum more vigorously.
However, despite the faster shaking, the sound remained barely audible, for some unknown reason.
Hu Ma stayed in the shadows of a tree by the roadside, watching as the hawker, while shaking the rattle drum, began to dance around the cart, jumping and shaking.
The little children seemed to mimic him, extending their small hands and following him in circles.
After one round, the hawker stood aside, grinning at the children as they climbed onto the cart.
Hu Ma focused and noticed that on the cart was what appeared to be a dark coffin, with the lid half-open, revealing a black hole. The children, seemingly unafraid, clumsily climbed onto the cart and into the coffin.
"Second Uncle once told me about some evil people who disguise themselves as hawkers or knife sharpeners, wandering through towns and villages, luring women and children, and then selling them to brothels or slave traders for profit."
"These evil people have little skill but are extremely adept at wicked spells. They can bewitch and control souls, making them the lowest of the low in the underworld..."
"Looks like the hawker I encountered today is one of them."
"..."
He glanced towards the village, but there was no sign of movement, and Little Red Apricot hadn't returned.
Logically, he shouldn't rush into action, but Hu Ma was unsure what was inside the coffin and what would happen to the children once they were inside.
"Let's see how he reacts..."
Making up his mind, he suddenly cleared his throat and laughed, "Business is so good, busy restocking at night?"
"Whoosh!"
In the dead silence, Hu Ma's voice was extremely loud.
The hawker was startled, immediately stopping the rattle drum, and the children's movements froze.
After listening for a while, the hawker suddenly looked in Hu Ma's direction and said, "Which friend from the underworld is this? Why don't you come out and show yourself?"
"Quite perceptive!"
Hu Ma was alarmed. From such a distance, the hawker had spotted him.
He stepped out of the shadows, walking slowly forward, and smiled, "We just met this afternoon, already forgot?"
The hawker, who had been tense, relaxed slightly as Hu Ma approached, recognizing him.
He smiled, "It's the young steward from the counter, you scared me."
"This late at night, you're quite the night owl, out for a stroll. But we have no grudges, you have your Red Lantern Lady Association and your blood food, I have my children, let's not interfere with each other, shall we?"
"..."
"Interfere with each other?"
Hu Ma shook his head, smiling, "Friend, that's a bit much."
"The villagers trust me and the Red Lantern Goddess, burning incense and offering sacrifices daily. Watching their children being kidnapped, is that acceptable?"
"Listen to me, leave the children and undo your evil spell. Then, you can leave."
"..."
The hawker stared at Hu Ma, unmoving. After a moment, he laughed, "Taking away someone's livelihood is like murdering their parents. You don't understand this, do you? If your innkeeper came, I might give him some face, but for you, forget it..."
He seemed relaxed, speaking while reaching into the baskets at the front of the cart, pulling out a cloth doll and putting it on his hand.
Turning to Hu Ma, he smiled, "At worst, we can share. I'll leave a small silver coin for you?"
As he spoke, he raised his left hand, on which the cloth doll was placed. The doll was worn and torn, but its features were clear, almost as if it could express emotions.
He wrapped his left hand around the doll, not knowing what he had done, and waved at Hu Ma. The doll seemed to come to life, smiling with a giggle, and blinked at Hu Ma.
"Little Silver Cake?"
Under the moonlight, the eerie doll was indeed somewhat sinister, Hu Ma's heart shivered slightly, but he smiled and said, "A few ounces?"
As he spoke, he took a step forward, and the doll suddenly turned, revealing a bit of dust on its surface. He wondered what kind of evil technique this doll possessed, but was even more uncertain whether it had the same intangible skill as Grandma Cui.
But Hu Ma knew what he could do, being a real Age Keeper, he had the true blade and spear. Using the opportunity of speaking, he moved a little closer, seeing the distance was not far, and suddenly attacked, not giving the other side any chance to react.
"Hu... " He used the opportunity to practice the movements taught by Second Uncle, using the doll to pull himself closer to the opponent. Although the movements were simple, he was already agile enough. This trip, he intended to quickly close the distance, but as he pulled, a cloud of dust rose,, surprising him with a sudden attack. He didn't know what the doll spewed out, but saw a surprised look on the doll’s face, as it had not shown any reaction.
"Chih!" Hu Ma held the knife, meeting the hawker's hand with a steady stance.
In the pale moonlight, only to see a few barely visible silver needles on the blade. He had just taken a quick slash, but the hawker's reaction was clearly not fast enough. After a brief hesitation, he raised his left hand slightly, a few needles piercing his wrist.
He had just attacked, but the doll's poison needles had already been spewed out, and the hawker's reaction was clearly not enough to dodge.
"Poisonous?"
Hu Ma also felt a slight sting in his arm, hearing the hawker shouting "Lie down," he immediately staggered, as if about to faint.
.
Unexpectedly, taking advantage of the hawker's forward lunge, Hu ma stepped forward and slashed down with all his strength, "Ah..."
The hawker thought the poison would take effect, feeling a slight relief. But the knife blade suddenly hit his face.
Shocked, he saw Hu Ma's steady blade and quick movements, his facial muscles tightening, his eyes gleaming with a killing intent.
The hawker's face turned pale, his scalp tingling, fear rising, and blood rushing to the top of his head, making it feel numb.
Without time to think, seeing the blade approach, he turned and reached into the coffin.
"Auntie Tan, save me..."
"..."
"The cultivation techniques of Age Keeper are good..."
Hu Ma was indeed overjoyed in his heart, feeling that his left hand, though just refined, had developed a resistance to a hundred poisons, immune to water and fire, and unharmed by blades and spears. Taking advantage of the opponent's lack of preparation, he decided not to rest until he had dealt a decisive blow.
.
This slash used all his strength, but he suddenly felt a chilling yin wind in front of him.
Clearly aiming for the hawker’s neck, but the blade missed, and he immediately felt a bone-chilling coldness around him, hearing a strange and sinister laugh from the ear circle, his hair standing on end.
Fixing his gaze, he saw the hawker already reaching into the coffin, pulling out a round object.
It looked like a wine jar, thirty pounds, covered with a red cloth.
the hawker’s shoulder had been severed, only a bit of skin and the left arm remaining.
Swinging it with force, the blood sprayed out, drenching the jar.
Hu Ma watched as the yin qi from the jar grew heavier, and a strange gulping sound came from inside.
All the blood, none of it landed on the,, instead coagulating at the jar's mouth, soaking through.
You all relaxed a bit, the comments yesterday were many.
(End of Chapter)
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