Chapter 159 Is This the Purpose?

“So that’s the purpose?”

Hearing the shout of Iron Hand Peng, Hu Ma and the others in the arena immediately understood. They hadn’t yet seen through what trick this person had used, but they now understood his purpose.

So, he, or whatever he was carrying, was here for the mountain sacrifice of the Da Yang village?

“Old brother, am I too ignorant to understand such an impact?”

As soon as Hu Ma realized this, he immediately lowered his voice and asked Elder Tang, the altar master sitting next to him.

Elder Tang nodded slightly and said, “There is such a saying in old customs. Auspicious events should be associated with the word ‘harmony.’ Only then is it considered harmonious and beautiful, a truly auspicious event. Auspicious events can ward off disasters, but they can also be thwarted by unlucky events.”

“Especially since the village is preparing for a mountain sacrifice, with heaven and earth as witness and ghosts and gods as proof, it must be perfectly complete. If something goes wrong, it means the event is not going smoothly, and something doesn’t want to see us performing the sacrifice.”

“It is precisely because the mountain sacrifice is a major event that it requires rules and emphasizes status. If the village is being accused of such a thing, the reputation alone will not sound good.”

“It is said that the Mountain God does not accept such improper offerings. Forcing a sacrifice will not only fail to bring blessings but may even invite disaster…”

“…”

His words caused Hu Ma’s eyebrows to furrow, and he looked warily at the dark, cavernous old Yin Mountains surrounding the village, a strong sense of oppression rising in his heart.

The Da Yang village’s mountain sacrifice, although said to ward off disasters, was actually to please Er Ye.

Whether it could really ward off disasters was not even a consideration.

So, who was it that, even when he himself didn’t believe in the saying of warding off disasters, wanted to disrupt this sacrificial ceremony to prevent him from truly avoiding this disaster?

…At this moment, he didn’t suspect anyone else. Without a doubt, the person behind Iron Hand Peng must be coming for him. Otherwise, no one would be so idle as to disrupt a mountain sacrifice in a remote village.

“All, all sit down, don’t… don’t move…”

Simultaneously, within Hu Ma’s consciousness, as he was pondering intently, Er Ye, seeing the excitement in the village, where everyone was about to grab their weapons and drive Iron Hand Peng and his apprentice out, was sweating with anxiety. He hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop those who were about to act.

In his heart, he seemed to have made a difficult decision, forcing a smile at Iron Hand Peng, “Master Peng, you jest…”

“I, I did call you master, but, these kids…”

He turned his head and glanced at Hu Ma and the others, “You see, the kids are all successful, but how could an old villager like me teach them such great skills?”

“Actually, it’s just the kids humoring me, calling me something nice. I know myself, I don’t have the ability to be their master.”

“That’s why, it’s right for me to kowtow to you, but they don’t need to, right?”

“Indeed, they did learn a few tricks from me, but these tricks were never from our sect. I don’t have the fortune to enter the sect in my life, and I haven’t touched the sect’s unique skills, so how can we talk about… passing them on?”

“…”

“Eh?”

Iron Hand Peng’s expression immediately changed. He never expected Er Ye to say such a thing, and his subsequent words fell flat.

However, Hu Ma’s expression also changed as he listened.

The old clan leader beside him was already anxious, his eyes red, and he cursed at Er Ye, “Er Ye, what nonsense are you talking about again? Why are you acting like a coward when things get serious? I’m your brother, if I don’t teach this old bastard who’s bullying my brother a lesson today, I’m not human…”

“Brother…”

Er Ye was filled with sadness and frustration, and he said anxiously, “There are many guests in the village, and, and, the event is about to start…”

The old clan leader immediately understood that he was referring to the mountain sacrifice, and his anger subsided slightly, but he was still unhappy.

“These words are reasonable!”

At this moment, a loud voice shouted from the side. It was Bald Zhang. He squinted his eyes and said coldly, “Everyone here is from the martial world; don’t you understand the rules?”

“What’s being passed on is one’s own unique skill.”

“Can your few wild tricks be applied to this level of rules?”

“When we in the Red Lantern Maiden Society recruit a few helpers into the manor, we have to explain these tricks one by one clearly. You, damn it…”

“…are more ruthless than the Blood Food Gang!”

“…”

As people from the Shou Sui (Year-Keeping) martial world, with their own skills, inheritance, and disciples, they could clearly see the truth of the matter.

Regardless of anything else, Iron Hand Peng, for some reason, was now trying to forcibly claim this status. He was clearly targeting Hu Ma and the younger ones, not Er Ye.

If he really established this status, he would have to be given the seat of honor, and the first incense stick during the mountain sacrifice would have to be lit by him. If they let him have his way, he would seize the initial blessing.

If they didn’t let him, the old Yin Mountain Da Yang village would lose all face.

Er Ye felt that Hu Ma and the others hadn’t learned any real skills in the first place, and even more so, he didn’t want them to acknowledge this “grandmaster” because of him. For this reason, he would rather these younger ones not acknowledge him as their master.

“You…”

Iron Hand Peng, ridiculed by Bald Zhang, and seeing a certain determination in Er Ye’s defeated demeanor, was slightly confused. The whole person looked like a puppet that had suddenly stalled.

Simultaneously, within this pause, Hu Ma suddenly sensed something was wrong, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

“Woo…”

Also at this moment, from the depths of the old Yin Mountain, a whistling wind suddenly arose, shaking the trees and swirling dry grass. The dark night seemed even deeper.

He had already moved his mind slightly and was preparing to rush out of the village, but he saw that this gust of wind came quickly and left quickly. In an instant, it had stopped. The candles and fire basins lit on the tables in the village gradually stabilized.

He saw Xiao Hongtang, who had just gone out on patrol, returning from afar. Her little face seemed to carry a hint of surprise. Hu Ma was slightly astonished, “Who exactly came that even the Mountain Lord couldn’t catch him?”

At this time in the village, everyone was dizzy from this gust of wind, realizing that the village was probably not peaceful, and they had become vigilant.

Just as the awkward feeling in their hearts was becoming increasingly strong, and the decision they had made had caused Iron Hand Peng to lose his words, seeming to be stunned in place, Hu Ma sighed softly and stood up.

“Er Ye, what you said is wrong.”

He walked to Er Ye’s side and supported him. His opening words startled everyone around him.

Then, they all looked at Hu Ma, seeing him smile at Er Ye and say, “Of course you are my master. Grandma personally led me to your place in the village to apprentice to you. If you’re not my master, who is?”

“And ask Da Tong and the others, who dares not to acknowledge Er Ye as their master?”

“…”

Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu and the others were still wearing armor. Hearing this, they immediately nodded vigorously. Zhou Da Tong even roared angrily, “Whoever bullies our master, I’ll twist their head off!”

Er Ye, hearing Hu Ma’s words, was so moved that he didn’t know what to do. His old eyes were slightly red as he patted the back of Hu Ma’s hand, “It’s enough that you have the heart. You’re all successful, I can't delay you here.”

“If it’s for something trivial and you see Er Ye being bullied, then what’s the use of us being successful?”

Hu Ma’s face turned cold. He patted Er Ye lightly, then turned to look at Iron Hand Peng. He didn’t use any dharma appearance, but his stern look, in the eyes of others, made him seem to be growing incredibly tall, like a fierce god standing nearby, and said in a deep voice:

“Da Tong, please help grandpa to sit down in the house and keep him company.”

“…”

Iron Hand Peng had been affected by some trick, but it was too deep to discern.

Logically speaking, it would be best to figure it out before prescribing the right medicine.

But he couldn’t bear to see Er Ye being ostracized here, so he would subdue him first. No matter what problems there were, they could always be found out.

Sun Ye and Altar Master Tang understood what he meant and could only sigh. It was indeed a helpless solution. The old clan leader and the people in the village cheered in unison, and Zhou Da Tong jumped up to apprehend the man.

But Iron Hand Peng remained motionless, only watching with cold eyes, his brows growing increasingly sinister.

“No!”

Unexpectedly, Er Ye suddenly grabbed Hu Ma’s palm forcefully, shook his head, and said, “Hu Boy, if you still recognize your Er Ye, you can’t take him down.”

Hu Ma wanted to tell Er Ye in a low voice that there was something wrong with Iron Hand Peng, but he heard Er Ye say in a low voice as well, “I’m not blind; I can see that Master Peng is not right, but the words he said today are also a thorn in my heart.”

“Our village people have our own rules, and we have our own methods. We’re not afraid of him coming to criticize us!”

“…”

As he spoke, his gaze slowly shifted from Hu Ma’s face to Zhou Da Tong and the others, as well as the guests from all sides and the clansmen in the village, as if he had made some kind of firm decision.

The inherent decline was swept away, his voice became loud, and he said loudly, “Er Ye, I’m not shrewd, and I don’t have any great skills, but in my life, I have a clear conscience, and I’m not afraid to argue this point.”

“Master Peng, I followed you for eight years and three months, and I also got a few tricks from you, but I’m not afraid to say it today:”

“I call you boss, and I also treat you as an elder.”

“But Zhou Huai, I just don’t acknowledge you as my master, and these young ones I taught have nothing to do with you. I’m not afraid of heaven hearing these words.”

“…”

As he spoke, he suddenly turned around and said to the old clan leader, “Brother, if you feel sorry for your brother, have someone light the fire pit. Today, I’m going to walk the fire pit!”

“If I, Zhou Huai, have done something wrong, then let this fire pit burn me to death. If I walk down from it…”

“Master Peng, then don’t mention this status anymore!”

“…”

Beside him, the drunken old clan leader was startled and woke up a lot, along with old villagers like Grandpa Old Sheepskin from the deep mountains, who exclaimed in unison, “Walk the fire pit? This, this hasn’t happened for many years…”

“You… you don’t want to live anymore?”

“…”

Even Iron Hand Peng’s stiff body trembled slightly, as if he had started shivering.