Chapter 46 To Understand Tai Sui

Firstly, it was for his own blood offerings upon entering the manor, and secondly, to broaden his knowledge and better understand the flesh of the Tai Sui, in preparation for the future.

This journey to the blood offering mine was now Hu Ma's primary concern. Of course, before leaving, Hu Ma had to arrange matters within the village.

Logically, since he was going to Huoziling to take over the blood offering mine's industry for the Red Lantern Society, this village would also have to be relinquished. After all, once he left, there would be no backbone in the village. Who would be responsible for the surrounding transport and escort duties when spring arrived?

Moreover, even if Hu Ma wanted to find someone from his own group, it wouldn't work. To become a village steward, one needed a letter of recommendation from the previous steward, sufficient skill, and merit to gain the Society's approval.

Currently, the most capable person in their village besides Hu Ma was Zhou Datong. He had trained two legs, independently comprehended the skills of wall-climbing, roof-crossing, and hole-drilling, making his light body technique quite impressive. However, he was still far from qualified to take over as steward.

Normally, to take over a village, one had to have trained at least four limbs. Hu Ma's appointment, when he seemingly hadn't trained four limbs, was already an exception.

But Hu Ma certainly wouldn't teach others. He had barely become familiar with this village; how could he pass it on to someone else? Therefore, before leaving, he wrote a letter of recommendation to the Society, requesting that Li Wazi temporarily guard the village in his stead.

Xu Xiangzhu's side was naturally taken care of, as they were his own people. But the others would also need some explanation. Hu Ma didn't bother with the details and instead quietly revealed the truth to Erguotou: "Don't underestimate this Li Wazi in our village."

"To pursue a future, he voluntarily went under the command of that Zougui Xiaotangguan (minor spirit hall official) and became a Fuling (spirit bearer)!"

"Of course, nominally only a senior disciple."

Erguotou was shocked upon hearing this and immediately made arrangements. In just one day, everything was settled. Li Wazi was simply allowed to watch over the place, and there would be no shortage of money or supplies.

Hu Ma was surprised: "Are the people in the Society so easy to talk to?"

"No..."

Erguotou said, "Niangniang (Madam) personally gave the order. As soon as she heard about it, she immediately agreed and even thought about..."

He paused, and Hu Ma quickly asked, "What?"

Erguotou said, "She even thought about removing you and directly letting him become the steward!"

"?"

Hu Ma was stunned: "Is Niangniang so ungrateful?"

Of course, with Erguotou's persuasion, Hu Ma's position as steward was still preserved. Nominally, he was still the steward of this village, but Li Wazi was also promoted to manager, leading the village staff and staying here.

With him watching, it was equivalent to Seventh Granny watching, so Hu Ma was also relieved. But he still instructed them that if anything really happened, they should directly speak to Hongdeng Niangniang (Red Lantern Madam).

If that didn't work, they should go to Laoyin Mountain and kowtow.

As for himself, he packed his luggage, bought a carriage, used the donkey to pull it, and packed all his blood offerings, usual equipment, etc., sealing them up and piling them on the carriage.

As for manpower, he left most of his people for Li Wazi to use. He only took Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu.

"Just these few people?"

On the day of departure, Lao Suanpan (Old Abacus) looked at the manpower Hu Ma brought and was immediately shocked. He lowered his voice and said, "Brother, do you think we're going on a spring outing?"

"We're going to do dirty work... no, to take over the industry!"

"These days, that mine is full of the disciples and grandchildren left behind by Qingyi Egui (Blue-Clothed Evil Ghost), unwilling to let go of that piece of meat. We're going to snatch this piece of meat, and you're only bringing these three people. Is that enough?"

"..."

"It's not three people..."

Hu Ma looked at Lao Suanpan in surprise and said, "Adding you, isn't that four?"

"Ah?"

Lao Suanpan was dumbfounded and said, "I'm going to be responsible for bookkeeping and registering. I won't be fighting if it really comes down to it..."

"Alright, alright, I know."

Hu Ma glanced at him and sneered inwardly.

However, he was very confident in this trip. Although he only brought three people, they were all Shou Sui Ren (Year Watchers) who had entered the threshold. Their skills might not be high, but they each had their own unique abilities!

And this was precisely what set this group of teenagers from the village apart from others.

Other village stewards would probably need three or four years of effort to train a Shou Sui disciple who could barely stand on his own, and even that depended on talent.

But Hu Ma was different. He had many unique skills. The Shou Sui skills he learned from the Dongzi Li family could not only be used by himself but also allowed him to select suitable ones to teach to Zhou Datong and the others.

Now, Zhou Datong had only trained two legs, Zhou Liang had trained his left hand, and Zhao Zhu had trained his right hand. To other masters, it would seem that these disciples hadn't even laid a good foundation and shouldn't be taught unique skills. But Hu Ma directly selected those that could be practiced starting with one hand and one foot, getting them started early.

If they really had to compete with others, as long as the opponent's Dao (cultivation) wasn't too much higher than theirs, these guys wouldn't be afraid at all.

"It's good that you have a plan. Lao Xu (Old Xu) also told me before you came, knowing that although you're not old, you're a steady worker. Otherwise, I wouldn't be going out with you, with my old bones..."

Seeing that things were settled and it was time to depart, Lao Suanpan eagerly instructed Hu Ma, "But one thing's for sure, you can't be careless when you really go to Huoziling."

"That Huoziling blood offering mine used to be the industry of the Qingyi Gang (Blue-Clothed Gang), too far from our Hongdeng Niangniang Hui (Red Lantern Madam Society)."

"There won't be time to rescue you if something happens."

"In addition, that place is a remote and poor area with fierce customs, and a branch of Wuren (Witch People) lives there, who know how to raise insects to harm people."

"When you get there, you must not rely on your strong Shou Sui bodies and look down on them. If you're not careful, you'll suffer a loss."

"..."

"Wuren (Witch People)?"

Hu Ma was slightly stunned upon hearing this and said in a low voice, "Old brother, what kind of sect do these Wuren belong to?"

Lao Suanpan became proud when Hu Ma asked, stroking his sparse beard and sighing, "Most Jianghu (martial world) novices are like you. When they meet people, they first ask what sect they belong to. But what's the use of that?"

"Shou Sui Zougui (Year Watchers Ghost Movers), Fuling Xinghun (Spirit Bearers Soul Punishers), Siming Hai Shou (Life Controllers Head Harmer), Baxi Daozai (Acrobats Disaster Stealers), Wugu Jiangtou (Witchcraft Curses), the Jianghu spreads that all the world's magic arts come from these ten sects. But who learns the magic so orthodox? It's not like you're from the ten surnames. You just learn whatever you can get your hands on."

"However, our Ming Prefecture, or the great north, is mostly Shou Sui Zougui, Fuling Baxi. And the Wugu Jiangtou two sects are prevalent in the southern seven Dao (paths, provinces). It's normal that you don't know much about them."

"What I, this old man, can tell you now is that when you meet them, be very careful. Greet them with a smile first, and handle things according to the rules, and there won't be any trouble."

"Furthermore, I have to remind you, the girls of the Wuren are beautiful, but you few young men with strong blood must restrain yourselves..."

"..."

"Huh?"

Hu Ma was stunned, suddenly wanting to leave Zhou Datong in the village.

But on second thought, it seemed unnecessary. Datong probably wouldn't fancy girls. It would be troublesome if there were any pretty widows there.

While thinking, he became interested and discussed with Lao Suanpan the three sects of Wugu Jiangtou and Daozai (Disaster Stealing), which he usually didn't have much opportunity to learn about. They talked more and more enthusiastically. This old Jianghu hand might not have great skills, but he was very familiar with all the sects, eloquent and garrulous.

Of course, it was unknown how much was true and how much was boasting. Unless they were talking about the Shou Sui sect, Hu Ma couldn't tell even if Lao Suanpan was spouting nonsense.

However, this discussion attracted Zhou Datong and the others, who were all drawn to the old guy. Anyway, the road was long, so they all crowded around him, joking and asking questions.

Lao Suanpan became excited and talked about himself as if he knew everything under the heavens and above the earth, knowing everything and saying everything. When he became happy, he even said that he was good at fortune-telling and palmistry, especially good at reading people's marriage destinies, which made them all excited.

They hurriedly crowded over, each jumping onto the donkey cart, squeezing to the side to ask the old Suanpan when they could marry a wife and whether they could earn a big house in the future, to show off in the village.

"Aiyo..."

Lao Suanpan first grabbed Zhou Datong's hand to look at his palm, and immediately his face was full of praise: "Your fate is amazing, becoming a noble and prime minister, above ten thousand people!"

Zhou Datong said, "Who asked you about that? When can I marry a wife?"

Lao Suanpan was stunned for a moment, then looked carefully for a while and said, "This marriage is hard to say. Why does it look like all halfway couples... it seems like there's no original in your fate..."

Zhou Datong suddenly became nervous and quickly said, "That's not important, what's important is... how many?"

Lao Suanpan was stunned: "You kid is a little greedy..."

Before Zhou Datong could ask clearly, Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu next to him couldn't restrain themselves and climbed onto the donkey cart to ask him to calculate.

The old Suanpan shook his head and said that Zhou Liang had the fate of ten thousand gold, able to marry a princess, extremely noble, and Zhao Zhu had the fate of a fierce general, commanding thousands of troops, fighting on the battlefield.

Even Hu Ma was watching curiously from the side. Could this old guy really calculate?

In this world, there were no shortage of people who wandered the streets giving fortunes and reading characters, but according to his understanding, it seemed that no one in any sect was good at these things. And normally, these people seemed to be managed by the Baxi (Acrobats) sect, or simply put, all classified into the con artist industry...

But this old Suanpan, when he spoke, was actually so knowledgeable. Could this old guy really be a hidden master?

"Alright, alright, revealing heavenly secrets is a great sin. I've already told you your future fate. If you want to ask me about wealth or marriage, it won't be free anymore..."

Just as he was in doubt, Lao Suanpan showed his true colors, putting on airs and saying, "If you want to ask again, you have to pay."

The three had just been moved and were nervously thinking, "Can you really calculate?"

"As long as you give money, I can."

Lao Suanpan vaguely said, "If you give more, I can even help you change your fate..."

The young men looked at each other, suddenly resolutely took out small silver coins and copper coins. Hu Ma watched from the side, and suddenly felt relieved.

Thankfully, there aren't so many hidden masters. He's clearly a real old swindler...

(End of this chapter)