Chapter 30 That’s Just Trivial

“Since Mountain Lord Senior doesn't care about it, what am I worried about?”

Hu Ma received the message from Little Redbud and wasn't so panicked for the time being, but he still found the emperor-choosing business a bit bizarre.

They were talking about an emperor, after all. Were they just going to pick one like they were choosing a puppy off the street? Buying whichever one looked obedient?

Besides, no matter how hard Hu Ma tried, he couldn't think of anyone he knew who looked like an emperor. They were all country bumpkins. Were they going to let a transmigrator take the throne?

That would be as good as killing them. Transmigrators liked to hide and avoid the light. Forcing them to sit on the emperor's throne would be more painful than death.

Plum Blossom Lane and the Prefectural Office weren't getting involved, which was the same as stating their position. They had recorded this debt.

He had thought his identity as a descendant of the Hu family would impress people everywhere, but now he discovered that while it could indeed impress some, it was also full of veiled provocations and probing. There were even more troubles than before.

At this rate, he would develop paranoia sooner or later, constantly wondering who was trying to harm him.

But transmigrators were already prone to paranoia, so it wasn't a big deal.

“Let's go then!”

Putting the matter aside, Hu Ma sighed softly, got up, and gathered the fire pot, scarecrow, and other items nearby, placing them on the donkey's back. Then, he turned to the man tied with grass rope and said, "The other things are just minor matters after all!"

"Now, it's time to properly meet your master."

“……”

Now, the seven-day period for the Formation of Evil was approaching. According to the rules, since the Five Evil Altars Envoy had set up the altar, it meant he had begun inviting the Five Evil Lords. Therefore, after seven days, the Five Evil Lords would definitely descend upon this place.

Regardless of whether the altar had been broken or the Evil Envoy killed, if he didn't come after seven days, he would lose face and become a joke.

But if he did come, he would see what he was capable of.

With the doubts in his heart cleared, he slapped the donkey's rump and slowly headed back to Qing Shi Town.

The Life-Severing Altar Envoy could only follow. To outsiders, he was just tied with a piece of grass rope, but this rope was an unbreakable shackle. Besides, he couldn't even try to be disobedient, as he would get kicked by the donkey if he walked too slowly.

His heart was filled with despair and confusion, and he couldn't help but muster his courage and ask, "Things are already like this, why are you still keeping me around?"

He was truly puzzled.

He had already said everything he knew. Facing such a figure, he didn't expect to survive. Why was he still bothering to drag him along?

He didn't have that much value!

Wouldn't it be simpler and easier to just slit his throat in a ditch?

"Keeping you is naturally useful. Anyway, I keep my word and will definitely kill you. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Hu Ma just smiled and reassured him before turning his head. The Life-Severing Altar Envoy despaired and could only follow the donkey step by step, returning to Qing Shi Town.

The village was heavily guarded.

The workers had taken out their knives and guns and were guarding the village. Saddles were placed on the horses, creating an atmosphere of great tension.

Suddenly seeing Hu Ma return, they hurriedly greeted him, looking relieved, "Brother Ma, where did you go? We heard things have been chaotic in several places lately!"

"We heard bandits are causing trouble in the mountains to the south, and evil spirits are lurking, causing many deaths. We were afraid they would attack our village."

"Now, the people have closed their doors and don't even dare to go out. The Red Lantern Society even went to the mountains outside the other day to capture some evil Golden Boy and Jade Girl..."

"..."

Hu Ma was well aware of all this and knew that Qing Shi Town was close to Old Yin Mountain and right in the middle of the Five Altars, so it was under the greatest invisible pressure from the impact of the evil aura.

But because the chaos started from the Five Evil Altars, from the outside in, Qing Shi Town was temporarily spared. He smiled and said, "Since the Red Lantern Goddess said so, why didn't you go?"

"Uncle Xu said..."

Zhou Datong said, "As soon as the incense burner brought back the order, he sent a message through a ghost messenger."

"He said that we're all young and haven't had time to learn any skills, so we don't need to go this time. Guarding our village well is a great contribution."

"..."

"Tsk!"

Hu Ma couldn't help but sigh. Branch Leader Xu was a man of principle.

"It's not just bandits. Recently, I don't know what's going on, but things have been very strange around here, especially in Yellow Dog Village..."

Li Wa'zi, holding a fire poker, also came out of the kitchen and approached Hu Ma, saying, "We haven't been patrolling at night lately. I wanted to go before, but I couldn't even take a few steps out of the village before being scared back."

"Oh?"

Hu Ma was a bit curious and asked, "What strange things have happened?"

"The lanterns won't light."

Li Wa'zi said, "The Red Lantern Goddess's lanterns just won't light, and the vengeful spirits seem to be afraid. They cry every night. We mustered our courage and went out to ask them why they were crying, but they just kowtowed to us and didn't dare to say anything."

"No wonder..."

Hu Ma nodded and looked around the village. He could feel the oppressive and uneasy atmosphere as soon as he came back.

But this wasn't surprising. Qing Shi Town was in the middle of the Five Evil Altars. In other words, this was where the Five Evil Gods had chosen to descend. It would be strange if things were normal.

The Five Evil Gods hadn't descended yet, but he had heard from Seventh Granny that a strange wedding banquet had been set up in Yellow Dog Village. The subtle influence had already begun.

"Just keep guarding the village. You don't need to patrol at night. Close the gate, go to bed early, and don't worry. Bandits won't come here, and no vengeful spirits can enter this village."

Hu Ma instructed them, then had someone lead the donkey into the shed and tied the Life-Severing Altar Envoy to a pillar. He went into the inner courtyard to change his clothes.

The workers in the village were curiously looking around, wondering who this person was, but they figured that whoever Brother Ma brought back couldn't be a good person.

Hu Ma didn't explain. He just drew water to wash his face. The disguise he had used had been wiped off after subduing the Life-Severing Altar Envoy. He couldn't wash it off outside, but now he washed it clean and put on a brand new shopkeeper's robe.

He put on the cloth shoes that Fragrant had given him, looked in the blurry bronze mirror, and was satisfied with his energetic appearance. Then, he walked out the door.

The workers were curious and gathered around, asking, "Where are you going now?"

Hu Ma smiled, "Isn't Yellow Dog Village having a banquet? I'm going over to have a couple of drinks!"

"Ah?"

The workers were worried again, "That banquet in Yellow Dog Village has been set up for days, but they haven't served any dishes. And the old folks in the surrounding villages say that banquet is strange, not set up for the living!"

"As long as there's wine."

Hu Ma didn't explain much. He went into the stable. This time, he didn't need to say anything. As soon as he came in, he was greeted by a pair of bright eyes, staring at him sincerely.

Hu Ma was helpless, "Then it's you!"

Saying that, he led the horse out, along with the Life-Severing Altar Envoy, and slowly left the village.

It was still early in the day, but the sky was gloomy. He didn't ride the horse, but followed the small path toward Yellow Dog Village. On the way, he heard gusts of yin wind blowing around him, making him feel uneasy. Looking around, the atmosphere was gray and depressing.

Just as he reached a graveyard, he suddenly heard a joyful cry. He turned his head and saw Seventh Granny, wearing an old lady's jacket, flowers in her hair, and carrying a small bag, coming out from behind a tombstone.

She said with delight, "Oh, Little Shopkeeper, you're finally back?"

Hu Ma, seeing her dressed like this, asked curiously, "Seventh Granny, why are you carrying a bag? Where are you going?"

"Thinking of moving!"

Seventh Granny glanced around furtively and lowered her voice, "Damn it, this place is haunted. I would have left long ago if I hadn't promised to help you keep an eye on things here."

"?"

Hu Ma was stunned, "Haunted?"

"No, aren't you a proper Little Hall Official, and an evil spirit by origin? Why are you moving because this place is haunted?"

"..."

"It's unsettling..."

Seventh Granny's eyes darted around. She still trusted Hu Ma. Hearing what he said, she felt like she was doing something wrong, but she didn't quite understand. Thinking about it, she asked the most practical question, "What exactly is a Hall Official?"

Hu Ma was a bit helpless.

After these Little Hall Officials were conferred, they would understand some things in the dark. For example, she knew about her ceremonial guard, which he didn't teach her. She understood it as soon as she was conferred.

But there were also many things she was confused about.

So, he thought seriously and then said to Seventh Granny earnestly, "Simply put, it means that from now on, everyone who sees you has to kowtow, and every family has to invite you to sit in the seat of honor at their banquets!"

"Sit in the seat of honor?"

Seventh Granny was shocked, "Yellow Dog Village is having a banquet right now. I've gone to see it several times, but they haven't even served any dishes, let alone the seat of honor!"

Hu Ma said, "That's because they don't know the rules. I'll go with you and see if they dare not kowtow!"

Seventh Granny didn't know what a Little Hall Official was supposed to do, but she valued relationships and trusted Hu Ma the most. She was immediately delighted and said, "Let's go eat!"

Just as they took two steps, Hu Ma suddenly said, "Seventh Granny, we can't just go like this. You have to play some music to show off your status!"

Hearing this, Seventh Granny squeaked twice, and two weasels carried a paper sedan chair out from behind the tombstone. Another weasel puffed out its cheeks and played the suona, toot-toot, imposing, accompanied by the hazy night, they walked toward Yellow Dog Village.

In the surrounding wilderness, countless evil spirits and villagers returning late at night saw them from afar and retreated or knelt down to kowtow. The show was truly impressive.