Chapter 1 After getting through this small matter and inquiring about the Hu Ma family's situation, the shopkeeper seemed even more at ease.

He entrusted all matters, big and small, to Hu Ma.

Not only the daily night patrol arrangements, the clearing of evil spirits in the surrounding area, but even the [tribute] paid monthly by the surrounding villages, as well as the distribution of blood food to the guys in the outer courtyard of the manor, and the accounting of money and food, were all handled by Hu Ma.

Before and after, he only showed his face once when he entrusted relatives in Xu's family in the city to pick up Xu Ji and said a few words to them.

The person who came seemed to be just a distant relative who didn't know anything, didn't know about Hu Ma's competition with Xu Ji, took the bag of silver cakes given by the shopkeeper, and left happily, without even mentioning the red sandalwood sword.

Only after this incident did Hu Ma finally feel relieved, put away the red sandalwood sword, and even went to the village to buy a fat-crowned rooster, a hen, along with seven or eight eggs, and a bag of brown sugar, stuffing the little Hong Tang basket full, hanging it around his neck, and sending it over.

However, Hu Ma also felt that this family was really carefree and not worried about the old shopkeeper seeking revenge on them.

Of course, as it seems now, the old shopkeeper really didn't mean to do that. He had told Xu Ji that he didn't help him get revenge because the Huang Xian (Weasel Immortal) family had escaped into the Lao Yin (Old Yin) Mountain. Now it seems that it was just an excuse.

This also made Hu Ma curious. Was this shopkeeper a bit too lazy?

He had some doubts in his mind, but he couldn't take care of other things for the time being. The cultivation of the Shou Sui (Year Watcher) methods was the most important thing.

Taking advantage of the evil spirits in the Shiya Village, Hu Ma had a preliminary sense of the power of the Shou Sui (Year Watcher) methods. The old lady, full of resentment, gave birth to evil spirits, which was originally Yin (Yin) and穢(Hui - filthy). After possessing a living person, even three or five strong laborers with weapons would be afraid of not being able to subdue her.

But his left hand, which had not yet been fully refined, already had the ability to resist Yin Qi and knock the opponent over. What would happen if it was refined?

From this, he also confirmed the methods taught to him by the old shopkeeper.

It was indeed true.

However.

The only problem was that his cultivation progress seemed to be a bit too fast.

But in fact, it had only been seven or eight days, and this left hand already had Daoxing (Taoist cultivation).

Thinking about this progress, it was probably far beyond the old shopkeeper's imagination.

However, analyzing the reasons, it was also reasonable. After all, other Shou Sui Ren (Year Watchers) often started practicing this method with one pillar of Daoxing (Taoist cultivation), while he only started learning with three pillars of Daoxing (Taoist cultivation), so the speed of washing the meridians, refining the body, and stimulating vitality was much faster than others.

In addition, his body was already dead, saving a step, and he also had the Benming Shenxiang (Natal Divine Image) to illuminate his own cultivation and prevent him from going astray.

Of course, these three reasons were related to his secrets, which he couldn't let the shopkeeper know.

Therefore, his progress was extremely fast. Not only could he not tell the shopkeeper, but he had to carefully calculate so that the shopkeeper wouldn't see it.

And the other problem was...

Hu Ma sighed, there wasn't enough blood food.

The jar of blood food pills that his婆婆 (grandmother) had given him was now running out.

And now, his Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher) methods were progressing quickly, but the consumption of Daoxing (Taoist cultivation) was also accelerating. With the cultivation of the Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher) methods, the body would be consumed like a furnace. The three pillars of life incense would become less and less. Presumably, it would be enough for him to support himself until he refined this body. But was he really going to rely on these three pillars of life incense and just grit his teeth and persevere like this?

That was too outrageous.

Only a prodigal could consume his savings like this.

Hu Ma only wanted to earn and not spend. He felt heartache every time he spent a little.

Moreover, for the Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher) methods, life was the most important thing. Combining his own advantages, he had the most obvious characteristic: the more abundant the blood food, the faster the refinement. But where could he get another jar of blood food pills?

While thinking silently, he suddenly thought of this manor. Next spring, the warehouse would be full of blood food.

No, no, no.

Hu Ma was startled by his own thoughts and deeply reflected: [My skills are still lacking, so I only have to think of other ways. As a Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher), can't I handle this little bit of blood food?]

婆婆 (grandmother) could do it, so could I.

While thinking, he wiped his face, washed his feet, and then lay back on the bed.

He silently calculated that this day was the twentieth day of the month, a zero day, and he should say thank you to Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head).

He had asked him for so much help. He couldn't just end up not even saying hello.

[Congratulations, congratulations.]

When Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) heard that Hu Ma had learned the Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher) methods, he immediately congratulated him repeatedly, but he didn't find it surprising.

[At least he's a transmigrator, and at least I helped. It would be a joke if he couldn't get it.]

As he spoke, he asked Hu Ma how his progress was and whether he had used his Benming Shenxiang (Natal Divine Image) to see the truth of the method.

Only then did Hu Ma realize that the surprise brought by his Benming Shenxiang (Natal Divine Image) was a normal phenomenon for other transmigrators. Everyone did it subconsciously.

Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) smiled and said, [However, I've finally waited for this day. The two of us can also research a deal.]

Hu Ma was a little surprised: [A deal?]

Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) smiled and said, [How can we cultivate these various methods without blood food?]

[Especially you Shou Sui Ren (Year Watchers), of course, you have to watch over blood food.]

The origin of the name Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher) doesn't seem to be about watching over the Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter).

Hu Ma thought to himself, but he didn't have time to argue, so he hurriedly asked, [Do you seem to have some ideas already?]

[Of course.]

Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) said, [I've had this idea since I knew you went to that manor in Qing Shi (Green Stone) Town.]

Hu Ma suddenly reacted, and his heart couldn't help but move slightly.

Normally, a Qing Xiang (Green Incense) disciple, after entering the Hong Deng Niang Niang Hui (Red Lantern Goddess Society), if he works hard and is valued, he will have the opportunity to learn the true skills of a Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher).

But this was undoubtedly a difficult and lengthy process. Even if he had good luck, he would have to wait for more than ten years.

But he had the opportunity to learn in a short period of time. Wasn't the reason because something had happened to this manor?

Wu Hong, the shopkeeper, had been sent here by the Niang Niang Hui (Goddess Society) earlier, and he had also brought some confidants and familiar guys. But as a result, last year, somehow, he was invaded by evil spirits, causing his people to die or leave, leaving only his old servant and servant boy.

Now, there was something fishy about this matter?

[It's just a guess.]

Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) chuckled and said, [The incident happened last year. Our Hong Deng Niang Niang Hui (Red Lantern Goddess Society) was lucky enough to find a new blood food mine and dug up a thousand pounds of Qing Tai Sui (Green Grand Duke Jupiter), and even a lot of Xue Tai Sui (Blood Grand Duke Jupiter).]

[This was a windfall. They were eager to transport it back to the city, but as a result, when that batch of blood food arrived at his manor to rest, evil spirits arose and caused a great chaos.]

[Of course, according to what Wu Hong said, it was robbed by evil spirits and妖人 (demon people) who took advantage of the chaos and fled into the Lao Yin (Old Yin) Mountain. The Xiangzhu (Incense Master) and a group of managers of the Hong Deng Hui (Red Lantern Society) certainly didn't have the ability to go to the eight-hundred-mile Lao Yin (Old Yin) Mountain to verify his statement.]

[In addition, there were indeed many deaths that time. His confidant guys, and even his own daughter, were injured. Others didn't dare to doubt him too much.]

[But this suspicion has never stopped.]

[Daughter?]

Hu Ma was listening, but his heart moved. Was it the gaze that secretly looked at me in the courtyard?

He perked up and listened to Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) continuing to say, [The first point of suspicion is that blood food is difficult to transport.]

[You've heard about this, right? There are many people in our Hong Deng Hui (Red Lantern Society) who understand some transporting methods, but only blood food, especially large quantities of blood food, is difficult to transport with magic. That's why we can only honestly rely on people to escort it.]

[But precisely, such a large batch of blood food, to say that it just disappeared like that, everyone is suspicious. Even if we take a step back and say that some demon people who were waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble transported the batch of blood food, you would always leave some traces along the way, right? But there were none. So...]

Hearing this, Hu Ma understood: [So, is it only possible that the old shopkeeper embezzled it himself?]

[Anyway, that's what everyone thinks.]

Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) smiled and said, [After all, such things have happened quite often before.]

Hu Ma said: [Didn't anyone investigate?]

[They investigated. Hong Xiang (Red Incense) disciples and managers have all gone down.]

Brother Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) said: [However, they didn't find any evidence. In addition, this Shopkeeper Wu did suffer quite a bit of loss in this incident. If we force him too much, I'm afraid it will chill the hearts of other shopkeepers and no one will help our Hong Deng Niang Niang Hui (Red Lantern Goddess Society) serve.]

[Later, they said that Shopkeeper Wu was looking for people everywhere to plead for him, refusing to retire and wanting to stay here to revitalize this industry.]

Hearing this, Hu Ma understood and pondered slightly: [Your meaning is the same as others.]

Er Guo Tou (Second Pot Head) laughed and said: [I also suspect that the batch of blood food fell into the hands of Shopkeeper Wu.]