Chapter 86: Special Teaching
Chapter 86: Special Teaching
"What’s so precious about it?"
Hu Ma held up the oil lamp, clutched the small porcelain bottle given by the old shopkeeper, and returned to his room.
First, he closed the door, then placed the oil lamp on the table, and earnestly opened the small porcelain bottle. Instantly, he smelled an extremely familiar and pungent bloody aroma, slightly startled, and carefully poured it into his palm, only to find himself somewhat dumbfounded, with a look of both laughing and crying...
Blood Food Pill.
Inside this exquisite and expensive small porcelain bottle was, indeed, a Blood Food Pill, and there was only one.
The key point was, it was even smaller than what the old woman had given him.
Looking at this exquisite small porcelain bottle, and thinking about the jar the old woman had given him that resembled pickled vegetables, this was truly...
...a flower in the mouth, a simple and honest ah!
However, upon second thought, this item, which the old shopkeeper had given, might indeed be something quite valuable?
His heart was now more at ease.
The old shopkeeper’s attitude towards him had made him somewhat suspicious, but after the old shopkeeper explained the mystery of the blood food, it seemed reasonable to believe that this was indeed a Blood Food Pill.
If not, that, he would be worried about its authenticity, not daring to look.
However, now understanding the old shopkeeper’s situation and purpose, hu ma felt relieved.
.
This world is what you use me for, the longer the lever, the one who bends first.
Afraid you might use me, but unsure what the other party thought.
But after some thought, hu ma also felt somewhat doubtful about the old shopkeeper’s words, all the more so not sure if that batch of blood food was really given to him by the jar.
In addition, the old shopkeeper seemednot to care about the jar’s contents, only stating that it was left for him to check if the blood food was truly given by the jar.
Besides, the old shopkeeper stated that he was free to keep it, but was only charged a small fee, which was already a good deal.
The process of refining was not easy, but only after the right leg died could hu ma extract the essence.
Zhou Datong did these things smoothly, only bringing over a sturdy wooden stick with a fork, and cutting a branch for himself to use as a cane.
Zhou datong did these matters quite smoothly, and even after the cane, he sighed and jumped in the back, “No wonder my grandfather said that it’s not easy to lead the way behind.”
“If I go down like this, will the old woman not marry?”
“...”
Anger filled hu ma, wanting to hit him with the cane.
the yard, the living arrangements for the courtyard were now complete, and there was nothing much to arrange, hu ma focused on the cart that had returned yesterday, clearing away the hawker’s belongings one by one, without much thought, and unexpectedly found a small purse within a small bag, containing seven or eight small silver coins, and even a gold coin, though only a couple, but they were indeed quite valuable.
Directly for the public!
In addition, other items were also sorted out, and although the hawker’s status was just a peddler, the items were well-prepared: clay pots, copper mirrors, dough figures and sugar statues, shoe patterns and combs, embroidered pouches...
All things suitable for a fight.
life.
ma had some experience with, and had the apprentices sort them out, all for the public, while secretly hiding the pouch from Zhou datong was taken as unseen.
Additionally, the rattle drum left behind by the hawker was quite exquisite, but thinking about the hawker’s use of the rattle drum to perform evil techniques, he ma dared not dare bring it back to the inner courtyard for the look at how the old shopkeeper would handle it.
After a glance, he said, “Items used to performevil techniques must be used with certain spells and incantations, others might not find them useful, but they are not good things, burn them.”
After saying so, he sighed again, “There might be something, this hawker has fallen into our hands, perhaps some of his accomplices might come to look for him.”
“You instruct the apprentices to keep an eye out, and pay attention to any new faces recently arrived in the area...”
“But do not act rashly, these people, they are not easy to deal with.”
“...”
Hu ma agreed, and brought out the rattle drum, without burning it.
Since the old shopkeeper had seen it, and found no abnormalities, he thought it best to keep it for now, placing it in Little Red Apricot’s basket for her to play with.
Having just instructed the apprentices to be more diligent in patrolling the neighboring villages, he heard outside the village, a clamor of gongs and drums, it was the village that had lost a doll the day before, with the village head leading the villagers, carrying a fat pig, and burning incense for their return.
Losing a doll is a big deal, and with Hu Ma's help in finding it, the villagers naturally felt grateful.
Not only were they grateful to Hu Ma, but even the Red Lantern Goddess received praise, as the villagers burned paper and kowtowed in front of the village, creating a chaotic scene.
Although living people generally dread others burning paper in front of their homes, especially directed at their front doors, for the Red Lantern Association, this was a good thing. Their apprentices were not allowed to drive people away.
However, the Old Shopkeeper in the village was never fond of dealing with such matters and didn't like the noise. He gave Hu Ma a look, leaving it to him to handle.
Hu Ma, now limping, also didn't enjoy dealing with these things, so he gave Zhou Datong a nod. Zhou Datong, who had been eager to step in, immediately put on a broad smile and approached. By the time Hu Ma returned to his room, the villagers were already dragging Zhou Datong off to the village for a feast.
Hu Ma wasn't averse to the noise; he just knew what he should be focusing on.
The Vat Sect had already shown their faces, and trouble could break out at any moment. He needed to focus on honing his skills as quickly as possible.
The Shopkeeper had repeatedly said that he needed to at least master one hand and one leg to be of any help.
For Hu Ma, this meant doubling his efforts.
He needed to master both hands and both legs to have a chance against those strange techniques.
However, he practiced one hand and one leg openly, while the other hand and the other leg were practiced in secret, not wasting any time.
After Hu Ma made this clear, the Shopkeeper indeed kept his promise. In addition to the Blood Food Pill, Hu Ma could enter the inner courtyard every night to eat with him. Without fail, there was always a small bowl of Green Food set aside for him.
Hu Ma had already realized the relationship between blood food and the speed of refinement, and this was now confirmed.
With the blood food supply that ordinary apprentices could only dream of, he quietly cultivated his hands and legs, but the consumption of Daoist Power was still astonishing.
Each day, the incense stick in the incense burner burned visibly, and in its place, the meridians and blood in his hands and legs gradually opened, his vitality slowly returning. He was gradually learning the skills of an Age Keeper.
Not only did he learn the skills of an Age Keeper, but Hu Ma was also not afraid to ask the Shopkeeper questions.
Whenever he had doubts, he would head straight to the inner courtyard, kick open the door...
...Actually, he would carefully knock and then ask the Shopkeeper about the corresponding cultivation principles.
It seemed he was wholeheartedly seeking knowledge, asking about everything, but in reality, he was also preparing to understand the Hu Family Year-Guarding Book.
Every word and sentence of that Heavenly Book was etched in his mind, but mastering it required a lot of effort.
The Shopkeeper was not one to teach readily, and although he had an agreement with Hu Ma, he would answer any questions, but clearly, he wasn't very enthusiastic. However, one time, when Hu Ma asked a question, a timid voice from the inner room responded:
"Big Brother Hu Ma, the meaning of 'three parts of life' refers to body, soul, and life..."
"..."
Hu Ma felt a pleasant surprise and listened through the wall as Wu He Sister patiently answered his questions.
The Old Shopkeeper saw this but said nothing, sighing and going to the courtyard to cool off.
Hu Ma often came to talk to Wu He Sister through the wall.
Although Wu He Sister wasn't a Ghost Walker, the basics of the world's techniques were interconnected and could be applied practically.
His understanding of the world's evil techniques gradually deepened, and occasionally, he hoped that by filling in this gap, he might soon be able to try to understand the content of the Hu Family Year-Guarding Book.
...
If it weren't for the potential threat from the Vat Sect, Hu Ma's life would be quite peaceful, focused solely on learning skills.
But thinking about the hawker with demonic techniques and the mysterious and eerie Auntie Tan, Hu Ma didn't dare to be complacent. Besides urging the apprentices to patrol diligently, he also shared what he knew with Second Pot Elder Brother on the next zero day.
He didn't mention Wu He Sister's condition, only saying that the Shopkeeper's daughter seemed to be injured.
He was now very certain that Wu He Sister's situation was unknown even to the higher-ups of the Red Lantern Association.
Perhaps the Old Shopkeeper deliberately didn't say anything?
Maybe it involved some subtle emotions about fearing others' ridicule or protecting his daughter's face. Hu Ma didn't understand, but he respected it.
"Vat Sect?"
Second Pot heard Hu Ma's account and was clearly hesitant.
"Earlier, Wu Hong's report to the higher-ups also mentioned the Vat Sect attracting evil spirits and stealing that batch of blood food. In the end, the investigation was dropped because he revealed these people."
"I didn't expect them to dare come out, but brother, you mustn't be careless when you encounter them!"
"Vat Sect, Insect Sect, Blind Beggar Society calling souls..."
Second Pot sighed softly, "In the entire Mingzhou Prefecture, how many dare to provoke them?"
(End of Chapter)
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