SEC Chapter 335 - 333: Seven-Day Period
Chapter 335 - 333: Seven-Day Period
Chapter 335: Chapter 333: Seven-Day Period
"Since even the Mountain Lord doesn’t care about this matter, why should I worry?"
Hu Ma received the message brought by Little Hongtang, and although his heart was temporarily at ease, he still found the selection of an Emperor somewhat bizarre.
After all, it’s the Emperor, not something you can just pick like you’re choosing a dog on the street. Which one looks obedient, buy that one?
Moreover, no matter how hard he tried to think, he couldn’t figure out who among the people he knew resembled an Emperor. They all seemed like country bumpkins. Were they really going to let a Reincarnator take the spot?
That would really be pushing people to their deaths. Reincarnators like to hide in the shadows. Forcing one to become Emperor would be more unbearable than death.
Plum Blossom Lane and the government did not intervene, but their non-intervention effectively showed their stance. I’ve already recorded this debt.
He had thought that his identity as a descendant of the Hu Family could intimidate people everywhere. But now he found that, although it could indeed intimidate, it also invited subtle provocations and tests. Troubles were more frequent than before.
At this rate, he’d end up paranoid, constantly wondering who wanted to harm him.
But Reincarnators were inherently paranoid, so it wasn’t much of an issue for them.
"Let’s go then!"
Letting go of this issue, Hu Ma sighed lightly, stood up, and packed away the fire pot, straw man, and other items beside him. He put them all on the back of the donkey, then said to the man tied with a grass rope nearby, "In the end, they’re all just small matters!"
"Now, it’s time to formally meet your Old Master."
"..."
Currently, the seven-day period to become an evil spirit was approaching. According to the rules of the Path, the fact that the Five Evil Altar Envoy had set up an altar meant that the Five Evil Master had already been invited. After seven days, the Five Evil Master would definitely descend here.
No matter if the altar was broken or if the Evil Envoy was killed in between, when seven days were up, if he didn’t show up, it would be a significant loss of face. He might even become a joke in the Hall.
If he did come, Hu Ma wanted to see what he was capable of.
With the doubts in his heart cleared, Hu Ma patted the donkey’s butt and leisurely headed back to Green Stone Town.
That Life Evil Altar Envoy could only follow. To outsiders, it seemed that he was merely tied with a grass rope, yet this grass rope was a shackle he couldn’t undo. Moreover, he couldn’t misbehave—if he walked too slowly, the donkey would kick him.
He felt both hopeless and bewildered, unable to resist summoning the courage to ask, "Since it’s already come to this, why bother bringing me along?"
He truly did not understand.
Everything he knew had already been said. He thought there was no chance of survival against someone of this caliber. Why did this man still go through the trouble of dragging him along?
What could Hu Ma possibly gain from him? A quick, clean cut in the dark would have been so much easier and straightforward...
"I take you with me because there’s a use for you, and I always keep my word—I’ll definitely kill you eventually. Why the rush?"
Hu Ma simply chuckled and reassured him before turning his head away. The Life Evil Altar Envoy, now in despair, could only follow step by step as the donkey dragged him back to Green Stone Town.
The manor was now tightly secured.
The workers had drawn their blades and spears, standing guard inside the manor. Saddles were placed on the backs of the horses, and they looked ready for a great foe.
Suddenly seeing Hu Ma return, they rushed to him with relief, "Brother Ma Zi, where have you been? I’ve heard several places have been in chaos recently!"
"I heard that bandits have been running rampant all over the southern mountains, and evil spirits are taking advantage of it. A lot of people have died. We’re all afraid they might attack our manor."
"Now, the villagers have shut themselves in, not daring to leave their houses. The Red Lantern Society even sent a message two days ago, telling us to prepare our weapons and follow the Lady to the mountains a hundred miles away to catch some haunting gold and silver dolls..."
"..."
Hu Ma was well aware of these matters. He knew that Green Stone Town’s proximity to Old Yin Mountain, precisely at the heart of the Five Altars, subjected it to the greatest pressure from the Five Evil’s influent aura.
However, because the disturbances started from the Five Evil Altar, spreading from the outside in, Green Stone Town remained unaffected for the time being. He laughed and said, "Since the Red Lantern Lady said so, why didn’t you go?"
"Uncle Xu said..."
Zhou Datong replied, "As soon as the Incense Burner passed on the order, he then had the ghost messenger bring another message right after."
"He said that our manor’s workers are still young and haven’t learned any real skills yet, so there’s no need to join this time. Guarding our own manor well would be a great contribution."
"..."
"Tsk!"
Even Hu Ma couldn’t help but admire Incense Master Xu; he was truly considerate.
"It’s not just the bandits. Lately, things have been eerily strange, especially over by Yellow Dog Village..."
Li Wazi, carrying a fire poker, emerged from the kitchen and joined Hu Ma, saying, "We haven’t gone on night patrol for days. We attempted it before but only went a few steps out of the manor before getting scared and running back."
"Oh?"
Curious, Hu Ma asked, "What other strange occurrences are there?"
"Can’t light the lanterns."
Li Wazi explained, "No matter what, the Red Lantern Lady’s lanterns just won’t light up. And it seems the resentful spirits around here are afraid, crying every night. When we gathered the courage to ask why, they only kowtowed without saying a word."
"It’s not surprising then..."
Hu Ma nodded, glancing around the manor. Since returning, he could feel the suppressive and uneasy atmosphere.
But it wasn’t unexpected. This Green Stone Town sat right at the center of the Five Evil Altar. In other words, it was precisely where the Five Evil Gods had chosen to descend—normalcy would be peculiar.
The Five Evil Gods hadn’t arrived yet, but from what Seventh Aunt said, Yellow Dog Village had already laid out a strange celebratory feast; its unidentifiable influence had begun.
"You just need to watch the manor, no need to patrol at night. Shut your doors and sleep early. Rest assured, bandits won’t reach us, and any malicious spirits will have no way of entering."
Hu Ma advised them before having someone lead the donkey into the stable, tying the Life Evil Altar Envoy to a post. He then entered the inner yard to change his clothes.
The workers were curious, observing the captive, yet unsure who this was. But since Brother Ma Zi had brought him back, he was definitely not a good person.
Without explaining, Hu Ma drew water and washed his face. The disguise he had used earlier had been wiped off after he subdued the Life Evil Altar Envoy, though it hadn’t been easy to clean it thoroughly while outside. Now, having washed his face sparkling clean, he took out a brand-new Shopkeeper’s cloth robe and put it on.
He put on the cloth shoes Xiang had given him, picked up a blurry bronze mirror to look at himself, and seeing his refreshed appearance, walked out satisfied.
The curious workers immediately clustered around, "Where are you off to now?"
Hu Ma laughed and said, "Isn’t Yellow Dog Village holding a feast right now? I’m going to have a drink or two!"
"Huh?"
The workers, hearing this, grew worried, "The feast at Yellow Dog Village has been set for days without serving any dishes! And the elderly in the surrounding villages say that feast is malevolent—it’s not set for the living!"
"As long as there’s booze, it’s fine."
Hu Ma didn’t elaborate further and entered the stable. This time, without him uttering a word, as he stepped in, a pair of bright eyes greeted him, staring with utmost sincerity.
That left Hu Ma somewhat helpless, "Fine, you’ll do!"
He hitched up this horse, then took the Life Evil Altar Envoy, and ambled slowly out of the manor.
Although it was still early, the sky was overcast. He didn’t ride the horse, instead taking a small path towards Yellow Dog Village. Along the way, gusts of chilling wind blew around him. The air was prickly and stifling, and as far as the eye could see, everything was shrouded in a gray, hazy atmosphere.
Just as he reached a graveyard, an excited voice suddenly called out. Looking around, Hu Ma saw Seventh Aunt, decked out in an old-fashioned blouse with flowers in her hair, emerging from behind a tombstone with a small bundle on her back.
With delight, she exclaimed, "Ah, little shopkeeper, you’re finally back!"
Curious at her getup, Hu Ma asked, "Seventh Aunt, why the bundle? Are you going somewhere?"
"Thinking of moving!"
Seventh Aunt cautiously glanced around, lowering her voice, "Damn it, this place is haunted! If I hadn’t promised to keep an eye on things here for you, I’d have left long ago."
"?"
Hu Ma was puzzled, "Haunted?"
"Wait, aren’t you a legitimate small hall officer, and one who originated from an evil spirit at that? Yet you’re considering moving because of ghosts?"
"..."
"It’s not peaceful..."
Seventh Aunt’s eyes darted around. She still trusted Hu Ma. Hearing his words, she felt she might have been mistaken but didn’t quite understand. Thinking for a moment, she asked the most practical question, "What exactly is a Hall Officer?"
Hu Ma sighed.
Small hall officers like her, after their Sealing, would mysteriously understand certain things. For example, this ceremonial tent she used for outings wasn’t something I taught her; she understood it as soon as her Sealing was complete.
But many things remained unclear to her.
Thus, he thought seriously, then earnestly explained to Seventh Aunt, "Simply put, it means that from now on, whoever sees you, Seventh Aunt, must kowtow. And whoever hosts a feast must invite you to the seat of honor!"
"The seat of honor?"
Seventh Aunt was astounded, "Yellow Dog Village is holding a feast right now! I’ve visited several times; forget the seat of honor, they don’t even serve dishes!"
Hu Ma said, "That’s because they don’t know the rules. I’ll go with you, Seventh Aunt. Let’s see if they dare not kowtow!"
Seventh Aunt herself didn’t know what her duties as a small hall officer entailed, but she valued friendship and trusted Hu Ma immensely, knowing he was very capable. She was instantly overjoyed and said, "Let’s go, to the feast!"
After only a few steps, Hu Ma chimed in again, "Seventh Aunt, this isn’t how it’s done. You need to have your music playing, show them your prestige!"
Hearing this, Seventh Aunt SQUEAKED twice. Behind the tombstone, two weasels emerged carrying a paper sedan chair, while another puffed its cheeks, blowing a suona. DA-DI-DA-DA! Its sound was grand and magnificent as they proceeded towards Yellow Dog Village, accompanied by the hazy twilight.
In the surrounding wilderness, it was unknown how many evil spirits or late-returning villagers, spotting them from afar, either quickly retreated or knelt to kowtow. Their prestige was truly established in an instant.