Chapter 1 “City of Wrongly Dead?”

Startled by Hu Ma's mention, Erg锅头 jumped in fright, “What do you want to know about that forsaken place for?”

Hu Ma pondered for a moment and slowly said, “For investigation.”

“If the information I received earlier is correct, the collaboration between Noble Zhang and Tongyin Meng to create the demon-revealing mirror is related to that place.”

“……”

He hadn't decided whether to reveal everything to Erg锅头. Zhao Sanyi of the Divine Hands Zhao family and Chen Abao of the Jiangtou Chen family had eagerly sought him out, asking him to deliver a message, reminding the Hu family.

However, they probably still didn't completely trust him, the Great Surtout of the New Year's Eve Watch, and only vaguely hinted at the most crucial point:

If the Hu family scion wanted help, they should go to Guli Village, thirty *li* outside the City of Wrongly Dead, to meet them...

They probably thought that as long as they mentioned the City of Wrongly Dead, the “Hu family descendant” would immediately understand.

But understand what? He didn't get it…

He was a *shousui ren* (New Year's Eve Watch), while the City of Wrongly Dead was in the underworld, which required entering the underworld to see. But in his cultivation journey, he hadn't descended into the underworld even once.

After all, if a *shousui ren* descended into the underworld, their primordial spirit had to leave their body, which would render their abilities useless.

Even the *zhen sui shu* (Book of Suppressing the Year), which mentioned many advanced ghost-walking techniques, didn't have any that allowed one's physical body to enter the underworld.

Of course, the Hu family ancestors couldn't be blamed for this. They probably never imagined that a *shousui* would emerge from the Hu family.

However, if he didn't understand, Brother Erg锅头 would…

Having come from an old ghost-walking lineage, he was knowledgeable and highly skilled, and he had ascended the Bridge. What could be more convenient than asking him?

“Related to that forsaken place?”

As soon as Erg锅头 heard Hu Ma mention the demon-revealing mirror, he immediately became serious and said in a low voice, “Then things are going to be a bit difficult.”

“That City of Wrongly Dead isn't a good place to go. Although it has a big reputation and everyone knows it's in the underworld, legend says that only the Ten Families and the *wen shi tang* (Hall of Inquiry) officials around them can find it. You… By the way, why don't you ask that noble of the Hu family?”

“……”

“That's the problem…”

Hu Ma sighed deeply and said, “I've already asked him, and he… doesn't know!”

“What the hell?”

Erg锅头 was dumbfounded. “You're not trying to tell me that the Hu family descendant is really an idiot, are you?”

“I can't say that…”

Hu Ma was a little embarrassed, but he became serious, sighed deeply, and said in a low voice, “He's actually very smart, kind, knowledgeable, broad-minded, and resourceful…”

“It's just a pity that the Hu family has paid too much of a price for the *zhen sui fu* (Suppression Bureau). Outsiders only think that this family has only one descendant left, but they don't know that even he was almost killed by the ghosts sent by the Meng family from Lao Yin Mountain.”

“Or rather, he already lost his life, and it was the previous generation Great Surtout of the old ghost-walking lineage who saved him, but that Great Surtout, as a result… Alas!”

“The current him, actually…”

He paused slightly, as if he had made up his mind, and said in a low voice, “Even going to Lao Yin Mountain is very difficult for him.”

“What?”

Erg锅头 was shocked. “What does this mean?”

“It was all caused by the Meng family…”

Hu Ma looked worried and sighed, “Others only think that the Hu family is mysterious, but that's because he has to be mysterious…”

“In terms of ghost-walking skills, I think he might not even be as good as you, Brother. And now, he's only taken over the *zhen sui fu* (Suppression Bureau), holding up the facade of the ghost-walking family, but he doesn't consider anything else, only wants to avenge himself against the Tongyin Meng family.”

“Alas, I often hear him lamenting in secret that he was once a child prodigy who could recognize characters at three and summon ghosts at five, but now he has fallen into a disabled state and can only hide in Lao Yin Mountain playing these ghostly tricks, unable to fight the opponent with real skills…”

“……”

“Ah, this…”

Erg锅头 listened, speechless for a long time, as if countless questions in his heart had been answered instantly.

However, in addition to being relieved, he also felt a little strange: Why does this sound so familiar?

“But for a dignified member of the Ten Families, the master of the *zhen sui fu* (Suppression Bureau), to be reduced to this state because of a private feud with the Meng family, it's our opportunity.”

Hu Ma sensed the change in Erg锅头's attitude, and took the opportunity to say, “Now he's imprisoned himself in that small mountain village, only seeking survival under the protection of the Lao Yin Mountain Lord. Although the *zhen sui fu* (Suppression Bureau) has been opened and its momentum is rising, there are too many things he can't take care of.”

“Otherwise, could you have taken the Purple Tai Sui so easily?”

“Hehe, the current him, he isn't even named Hu, but… Bai!”

“……”

“Holy crap, so that's how it is!”

Hearing this, Erg锅头 dispelled all doubts and was even a little excited, “I knew it! Who would dare to be named Hu?”

“Even I, who was originally named Hu, didn't dare to say that I was named Hu after those Meng people came to Mingzhou!”

“Since he's a descendant of the Hu family, restricted everywhere and in constant danger, changing his name is the safest thing to do!”

“……”

“Huh? You're named Hu?”

Hu Ma was a little surprised. So he and Erg锅头 were brothers from different mothers…

But on the surface, he said, “I think he's too careful. So what if he's named Hu? Aren't I still named Hu? The reason he was willing to help me and give me a chance was also because I'm named Hu.”

“……”

“Haha, you're just too careless. In my opinion, you should have changed your name long ago. Actually, I even suspected that you were that Hu family…”

Erg锅头 laughed, but it startled Hu Ma.

“Just kidding.”

Erg锅头 smiled, “I just secretly went to Lao Yin Mountain to find out your background when I arranged for you to join the Red Lantern Society, and I investigated your ancestors for eighteen generations. Of course, I know you have nothing to do with that Hu family.”

“Besides, that one is also the main family of the ghost-walking lineage. Even if he's really crippled, he would rather die than take the path of the *shousui*, the division between the two is too great, it won't work!”

"He investigated me?"

Hearing Erg锅头's words, Hu Ma felt a little surprised: "Then how did he find out about my ancestors for eighteen generations?"

"The Hu family has only been passed down for three generations in Lao Yin Mountain..."

"Also, why can't the ghost-walking main family learn *shousui*? What does he mean by this division?"

"……"

He originally wanted to deceive Erg锅头 and lay the groundwork in advance to make it easier to discuss cooperation in the future, but now it made him feel a little suspicious.

But at this critical moment, he didn't mention it much, just pondered for a moment: "Then…"

"The City of Wrongly Dead isn't a good place to go. Only the Ten Families and those closest and most trusted by the Ten Families can find it."

Erg锅头's voice also became serious, and he said in a low voice, "But if you found me…"

"…I really can!"

“……”

Hu Ma was slightly stunned: “Huh?”

Erg锅头 smiled, “Don't forget that the Yin-Yang Two Scenery Disk is in my hands!”

"Our lineage has a heritage. This thing used to belong to the Hu family of the Ten Families. With it in hand, I can even find the treasures that the Hu family left in the underworld. What does that City of Wrongly Dead amount to?"

"But, do you really want to go?"

“……”

Hu Ma paused slightly and said seriously, "Yes."

"For the sake of the public, this matter concerns the life and death of the Reincarnated One, I must make a trip. For the sake of the private, the Hu family descendant is a pitiful person, and he helped me. If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to meet you."

"Since he can't make this trip himself, then I, the Great Surtout of the ghost-walking lineage, should of course make this trip for him. If I can successfully complete this task, it will be beneficial to everyone!"

"Brother, you won't not help me, will you? Miss Red Wine did mention something about first priority…"

“……”

"Alright, alright, your priority is for outsiders. Our friendship doesn't need you to use that to provoke me."

Erg锅头 sighed and didn't need Hu Ma to say it directly. He sighed, "Besides, it concerns the Second Cleansing, how can we not be serious? But the problem is, finding the City of Wrongly Dead isn't difficult, but how can I take you there?"

Hearing this, Hu Ma was slightly invigorated and said, "I have pushed open three palace gates and should have the ability to walk the Yin and Yang in my physical body."

"It's not that simple."

Erg锅头 said, "I've heard of the *shousui ren*'s ability to walk the Yin and Yang, but have you ever done it?"

Hu Ma was stunned: "No, the *shousui ren*'s ability to walk the Yin and Yang is related to the opportunity to ascend the Bridge. In theory, I can, but without someone to guide me, I haven't done it before."

"That's the problem."

Erg锅头 pondered and slowly explained, "First of all, the underworld isn't what you think it is. It's not a place, or even a world like the netherworld or the ghost realm. If I had to describe it… it should be a lake, an ocean."

"Speaking of the ability to walk the underworld, there are many techniques in various lineages. Ghost-walkers can use the roads of the underworld to travel, which is like diving in, but only swimming around shallowly. Before I even reach the Ghost Gate, I have to come out."

"If I go deeper, I have to let my primordial spirit leave my body. And *shousui ren* do have the ability to walk the Yin and Yang, but the deeper they go, the harder it is to return."

"With your three palace gates, you can only stroll around outside the Ghost Gate for a bit, do you want to enter the Ghost Gate?"

"Not to mention whether your cultivation can withstand the Yin energy, even the Yin officials guarding the gate have to let you in. To be honest, when you *shousui ren* enter the underworld, you look like a big fireball, too conspicuous. You'll be chased away as soon as you get close to the Ghost Gate…"

“……”

Hu Ma didn't expect there to be so many complicated things. He frowned and said, "Is there no other way?"

Erg锅头 laughed and said, "The City of Wrongly Dead is deep in the underworld, it's really not easy for you to get there, but who asked us to be from the ghost-walking lineage? We may not be good at other things, but we have a lot of knowledge and methods!"

"I really know one…"

“……”

Hu Ma really liked Erg锅头. He perked up and said, "Brother, you're awesome. Sometimes I even think you're more like the Hu family young master than the Hu family young master…"

"Hehe, you're exaggerating…"

Erg锅头 smiled softly, not without pride, and said in a low voice, "It's simple, bypassing the Ghost Gate isn't practical, so we can only smuggle…"

"Either find a master of the *hai shou men dao* (Harm Head Lineage) to help open the underworld and go straight to the Yellow Springs, or… find the legendary ghost cave that leads directly to the depths of the underworld and crawl straight in!"