"Could there really be such a custom?"

Hu Ma found the custom novel, admiring the beneficial approach to making a living while traveling.

But he found it odd, "If that's the case, why do Wuren have such a bad reputation?"

Lao Suanpan lowered his voice and said with a wry smile, "It's because the Wuren are too practical. They have this habit, so whenever they arrive somewhere, they choose to lodge with families who have recently had bad luck or have sick people. Over time, it has gradually made people feel that wherever the Wuren go, there will inevitably be disaster. There are even rumors that they first use Gu poison and then seek lodging!"

"In addition, the Wuren are skilled in all kinds of methods, and some of them are unscrupulous people who harm others for money, which has damaged their reputation."

"Back then, Mingzhou had three scourges: the Tan'er Sect, the Chong'er Sect, and among them, the Chong'er Sect were the Wuren who took money to harm people with Gu poison."

"..."

"Things in this world are rarely explained clearly in a single sentence."

Hu Ma agreed with Lao Suanpan's words. He turned to look at Wu Ya and saw her knocking on the door and saying a few words to a butler-like person inside. The butler went back to report, and soon returned, respectfully leading them in. When they arrived at the main hall, a master in brocade robes and silk shirts greeted them and offered them seats, serving tea and asking about their origins.

Although Wu Ya was the one who knocked on the door, she was young, so Hu Ma said politely, "We are in the business of mountain goods. We heard that Guazhou is bustling, so we transported a batch of mountain goods here. Now the goods are stored with a friend, but his place is small and we can't rest there, so we came out to find an inn to stay in. But we didn't expect every inn to be full. As we were strolling, my sister stopped in front of your mansion."

"She said that your mansion seemed to have some unclean air, and she was worried that something was wrong, so she wanted to come over and ask. To be honest, I was even scolding her, afraid that her skills were shallow and she might say something wrong, offending the master of your mansion and causing trouble for no reason."

"..."

"No, no..."

Seeing that Hu Ma was neither humble nor arrogant and seemed knowledgeable, the master of the mansion quickly said, "Your sister's observations are indeed correct."

"To tell you the truth, my son is suffering from an illness and is waiting for someone to save his life!"

"..."

As he spoke, he quickly ordered people to bring the young master of the mansion over. From the inner courtyard, hearing that capable people had arrived at the mansion, there was also a flurry of activity. A group of maids and women hurriedly brought over a child wrapped in bedding. Judging by his size, he was about eight or nine years old, but he was completely wrapped in silk quilts, and only a vague human shape could be seen, but his appearance was completely invisible.

Wu Ya's bright eyes glanced over and said, "Uncover him and let me take a look."

Hearing her say this, the master of the mansion hesitated for a moment, then turned his head away first and waved his hand weakly.

The maids next to him were also trembling, summoning their courage to uncover the bedding covering his face. Wu Ya, Hu Ma, Lao Suanpan, Zhou Datong and the others all looked over at once, and couldn't help but be shocked at the same time. They saw that he was a young master, and judging by his features, he should have been intelligent, but now his face was covered with dense bumps, like a toad.

When Wu Ya saw this, she became worried.

Some had already burst, with pus and mucus sticking together.

Even the master of the mansion couldn't bear to look at this tragic sight. He covered his face with his sleeves and sighed, "My son is suffering from toad disease. According to the calendar, he probably only has three to five days left to live. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to sully the guests' eyes..."

Hu Ma was slightly startled when he heard this and said, "Toad disease?"

The butler who had led them in, seeing the master's sadness, explained for him, "Guests, you may not know, in our Guazhou area, children between the ages of seven and ten often suffer from this bump disease. Their bodies are covered with bumps, they don't speak or eat, and from the onset of the disease to their death, it usually only takes a month. But this disease doesn't infect adults."

Hu Ma frowned as he listened, "This disease is strange. Didn't you go to the pharmacy to see a doctor?"

"We did."

The master sighed, "We've tried every method of seeking medical advice and medicine."

"But the pharmacy can't treat it. They only say that this is not a disease, but caused by past grievances. They told us to burn incense at the Fushen Temple and ask for blessings."

"But just a few days ago, our whole family, old and young, went to the Fushen Temple to offer incense, but the Fushen Lord didn't accept our incense. The incense I burned was extinguished in the blink of an eye."

"..."

Hu Ma found this strange and said, "Medical treatment is useless, and the gods don't accept it. Does that mean you can only wait for death?"

The master sighed bitterly and said, "If there is a solution, there is one. On the shore of Green Water Lake in our Guazhou Prefecture, there is a Snake Immortal Temple. It was built with the investment of the Yan family's old master and is very effective. Before, there were also children who suffered from this toad disease. If seeking medical treatment and medicine is useless, then they are sent to this Snake Immortal Temple, offered sacrifices, and the child is placed in the temple for a day and a night. Adults cannot enter. After a day and a night, the child may be cured, but there are also many who die..."

"Our family has no choice. We were already preparing to go to the Snake Immortal Temple, but who would have thought that there have been many things happening in the city recently? People are spreading rumors that there is a great demon from out of town who has a feud with our Snake Immortal Lord, and is coming to seek revenge. Therefore, the Snake Immortal Temple has also been forced to close its doors, and idlers are not allowed to enter. My child only has a 30% chance of survival, but now there is no hope..."

"..."

"Snake Immortal Temple? Great demon?"

Hu Ma had already made some guesses as he listened. He suddenly opened his mouth and asked the master, "The Snake Immortal Temple that the old master mentioned, does it enshrine a Jitu Jun (Earth Lord), named Chunsheng?"

The master was stunned and said, "We don't dare to inquire about the name of the Snake Immortal Lord, but this temple does enshrine the Jitu God."

"Good heavens, he even built a temple and called himself a god?"

Hu Ma's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything in front of others. He only said to Wu Ya, "Can you cure this disease?"

Wu Ya nodded. Just as she was about to speak, the master and butler next to her also lit up their eyes.

Lao Suanpan suddenly said to the master, "Old master, please forgive us. There are some things in our line of work that are not convenient for others to hear. Do you think you could find us a place where we can talk in private?"

The master hurriedly got up and said, "No need to look, no need to look. It's fine to talk here."

As he spoke, he called the butler and asked him to prepare wine and food. He also walked to the front of the hall, turned around and bowed deeply to them, saying, "Guests, it will be dark soon, and the city is in chaos. Please stay here?"

"My son's fate is also his fate. He only has three to five days left to live. If he can be saved, I am willing to offer half of my family property. If he can't be saved, alas..."

"..."

As he spoke, he kept bowing, and then went out.

It was only after they left that Hu Ma looked at Wu Ya. He saw the Wuren girl frowning and whispering:

"Shopkeeper brother, the young master of his family doesn't have a disease!"

"That's Gu poison, toad Gu."

"But, from what they said, it doesn't seem like it. How can there be Gu poison that is like a disease, constantly spreading in the city, infecting one after another..."

"..."

Hu Ma had also heard the strangeness just now, so he nodded and said, "Can you cure it?"

Wu Ya nodded and said, "I know how to cure it."

"To cure toad Gu, you have to use snake Gu. Find a snake, the more poisonous the better, peel off its skin, wrap the child in it, and then use moxa to fumigate his body. After fumigating it a few times, he will be cured."

"This is because toads are afraid of snakes. If they are eaten by a snake once, the toad Gu will be resolved."

"..."

Hu Ma nodded thoughtfully and said, "Don't you have a snake?"

Wu Ya was startled, lowered her head, carefully touched her sleeve, and whispered, "I can't bear to part with Xiao Qing!"

"We have to catch another one..."

"..."

"It's good as long as there is a way."

Hu Ma paused for a moment, and then said to Wu Ya, "Go out and show them later. Datong should follow you too, to avoid trouble."

"Also, before it's cured, tell the people in this mansion not to publicize it, to avoid causing trouble for no reason."

"..."

"..."

After Wu Ya and Zhou Datong agreed and went out, Hu Ma's face turned cold and said, "They are so bold."

Lao Suanpan lowered his voice and said, "Is this Jitu Jun the one you gave the life-buying money to?"

Hu Ma nodded slowly and said, "Guazhou Deep Water Lake Jitu Snake Ghost, is named on the Hundred Ghost Records. They are servants in the Zhensui (Suppression) Prefecture. They were named and owed debts twenty years ago, and are not allowed to be conferred titles or build temples. The Zhensui Prefecture will need them someday, but this guy not only can't be summoned with an altar, but also privately built a temple and accepted incense?"

"In addition..."

He paused slightly and then said, "Meng's claws haven't reached here yet, right?"

Lao Suanpan quickly said, "No, although the Meng family previously issued a large number of incense orders, they deliberately avoided Lao Yin Mountain and haven't come here..."

"...Our Red Lantern Niangniang (Lady), is the first one!"

"..."

Hu Ma nodded and said, "Only the Hu family and the Meng family can grant incense orders after the emperor was skinned."

"And those on the Hundred Ghost Records of the Zhensui Prefecture, even if the Meng family wants to grant them, they don't have the ability. That is to say, it is impossible for this snake ghost to build a temple. But Guazhou has a Fushen (Prefectural God). I think it wouldn't dare to build a temple privately, so the matter is interesting. Who is so bold as to let it build this temple?"

"..."

Lao Suanpan smiled bitterly as he listened, "Isn't this very normal?"

"The Iron Gate Yan family can be said to be very influential here. This snake god also seems to be doing things to save people. Since someone asked it to cure diseases, what about a word from above?"

"..."

"Very simple."

Hu Ma said slowly, "Just the fact that it built a temple is already an added crime, a dead end. And if the Yan family allowed it to build this temple..."

"...Then even the Yan family will have to take a hit."