“Yes, Father, then I…”

Xiang丫tou stood up, but she was still hesitant and subconsciously turned to Master Li.

“Don’t rush.”

Master Li smiled and said, “You are the next guardian, but there’s no need to rush in. Although your fate cannot be changed, I've figured it out. As long as I don’t die, it’s still the debt of the seventh generation, and it’s not your turn yet!”

“Stay outside for now. These past few days have indeed been hard on you.”

“…”

Xiang丫tou’s eyes were red, and she nodded silently. Then, she walked to Hu Ma’s side and took his hand.

According to the two younger members of the Li family outside the cave, once the red thread was broken, one could not leave the Ghost Cave. However, now that Hu Ma was holding Xiang丫tou’s hand, he felt nothing unusual.

Only occasionally could he sense something in the depths of the well, as if something was eager to crawl out, but it was quelled by Master Li’s low sigh and several bows facing the well.

“Brother Hu, my father…”

Walking in the dim passage, Xiang丫tou whispered, “He can actually leave the cave now and live outside. I can stay in the cave and guard it for him.”

“The Li family has always been like this, generation after generation. Either the older generation leaves later, or the younger generation comes in earlier. I was actually ready to enter the cave half a year ago to replace my father, but… but he didn’t agree…”

“…”

What could Hu Ma say?

As an outsider, it was hard to describe the strangeness of the Li family in this cave.

The debts of ancestors being repaid by descendants had already gone on for seven generations, yet it was still not enough, and the eighth generation had to follow, perhaps repaying it forever.

Who exactly was collecting this debt they were repaying?

Shaking his head, he decided to put these thoughts aside for now. The affairs of the Li family in the cave were too mysterious, too bizarre, and seemed to be related to some affairs of the imperial court back then, which he could not understand just by thinking about them.

What he should figure out now was how the three red threads on his arm had broken.

Could it be that some members of the Li family deeply resented his sending Xiang丫tou back, and wanted to harm him even in the presence of their family head?

If so, he really couldn't afford to be polite with them anymore.

After all, he had already clarified that the head of the Li family didn’t manage things much, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be managed.

Seeing that they were about to leave the cave, he thought about finding the two who had led the way, but unexpectedly, just as they reached the cave entrance, a bone-chilling coldness swept over them, and the darkness before their eyes became thick and viscous. In the dimness, strange things appeared in the night.

Hu Ma was slightly shocked to see that these were all Yigui (Infernal Servants) wearing tall hats and wrapped in chains.

They were the same kind he and Xiang丫tou had been avoiding before.

There was even one among them that was noticeably shorter than the others, probably the one that had been whipped by Madam Han earlier.

They stood in a row in front of the Ghost Cave.

Opposite them, there were also people holding torches. The flames were affected by these Yigui (Infernal Servants) and turned a eerie green, casting a dim light all around.

Under the torches, several people were holding down a young man kneeling on the ground, as if he were pleading guilty.

Hu Ma had never seen him before, but as soon as he came out and met the young man’s angry and unwilling gaze, he immediately guessed his identity: “He’s the so-called Third Young Master?”

Since he knew that everything was under the control of Master Li in the cave, he naturally understood this person’s fate.

Their schemes and betrayal had been seen, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be punished.

As for the people behind him, the short and stout one seemed to be the Third Uncle who had gone out to greet him and the Jianghu (martial world) people, and the others, although dressed plainly, looked old and should be people of low seniority and status in the Li family.

'They’re pushing a scapegoat forward to plead guilty?'

Hu Ma glanced at them silently, knowing what was happening, but he didn’t intend to say anything and was about to walk past them.

“Li Xiangguan, from the Third Branch of the Li clan, who guards the altar, harbored malicious intentions and plotted against the main family, is now brought to the front of the cave for the Master to decide his fate.”

The short and stout Third Uncle was shouting loudly towards the Ghost Cave.

Hearing this, Hu Ma slowed down and wanted to hear how Master Li inside would deal with this matter. Then, he heard a moment of silence, followed by: “Bring him in. Punished to be an Yigui (Infernal Servant), leading souls for ten years.”

The young man kneeling on the ground was immediately shocked and subconsciously wanted to struggle.

But the short and stout old man glared at him and said to the cave, “Master, he is still young, please consider…”

“Not bringing him in yet?”

Before he finished speaking, the voice from inside the Ghost Cave echoed.

The row of Yigui (Infernal Servants) in front of the cave suddenly floated up slightly, and the chains on their bodies swayed gently, automatically fastening around each of their necks.

Not only Li Xiangguan, but also the short and stout old man, the elders who were about to plead for mercy, and even the women.

“This is…”

Everyone was shocked and stared blankly at the Yigui (Infernal Servants), feeling suspicious.

“I’m not just talking about him.”

The voice inside the cave said faintly, “All of you who condoned and knew about this, regardless of age, status, gender, or whether you are from within or outside the family, will be brought before the altar and punished to be Yigui (Infernal Servants), leading souls for ten years.”

“Anyone who disobeys will have their souls torn apart and thrown into the Ghost Cave.”

“…”

“Whoa…”

This time, everyone in front of the cave was completely dumbfounded, and a flurry of panic and wailing erupted.

Especially the kneeling young man, who had been the most unwilling, was now speechless.

The Yigui (Infernal Servants) didn’t care about their reactions. When the person inside the cave didn’t speak, the people outside could follow the rules and use the Yigui (Infernal Servants) to lead souls, but once the person inside the cave spoke, the Yigui (Infernal Servants) would only listen to him and immediately put the chains on everyone and drag them into the cave.

The previously silent and solemn scene in front of the cave suddenly became chaotic, a lively drama, and then everyone was dragged into the cave.

The commotion aroused the curiosity of the Jianghu (martial world) people who were staying in the village.

They were afraid to come out and watch the excitement because of the rules, but they all opened a window and listened with their ears perked.

“This is the true power of the head of the Li family in the cave…”

Even Hu Ma couldn’t help but sigh.

Those who guarded the cave could ignore things, even pretend to be confused and be deceived by the people outside the cave, making them think they had no temper. But with just one sentence, the outside would be completely reshuffled.

Xiang丫tou glanced at the relatives who were being dragged into the cave, seeming soft-hearted, but didn’t say anything.

Having already left the cave, she was still holding Hu Ma’s hand.

Now that the candle in Hu Ma’s hand had burned out and he didn’t have a lantern, it was dark, but she walked very steadily.

She led Hu Ma back to the village and to the house where he was staying, then told Hu Ma to sit down and left with her head lowered.

Hu Ma could tell that she was troubled and didn’t know what she was doing.

But after all, she was now the young lady of the Li family in the cave, and her status was different, so he had to give her the respect she deserved. So he just sat here obediently, listening to the subtle noises outside.

Not long after, the wooden door was gently pushed open, and Xiang丫tou walked in with a wooden tray.

Hu Ma was a little surprised. On the tray was a bowl of noodles and a cup of tea.

She had gone out just now to light the fire and cook?

“Young Master…”

Xiang丫tou came to the table and put the tray down for Hu Ma.

Hu Ma quickly looked up at her and said, “That’s not an appropriate way to address me…”

“It’s okay, I’ll be quiet.”

Xiang丫tou said in a low voice, “Young Master, this is the last time I’ll serve you. Consider it as thanks for sending me back all this way.”

“This…”

Hu Ma looked at the bowl of noodles on the tray, and his heart suddenly felt a little complicated.

He looked up and saw Xiang丫tou’s face, which looked a little desolate in the dim light of the oil lamp.

He sighed softly in his heart and suddenly said, “Miss Xiangyu, is it…”

“…did I actually harm you by sending you back?”

“…”

He had asked a similar question to Master Li once before, but he still wanted to ask Xiang丫tou.

If she really didn’t want to…

“Ah?”

Hearing this, Xiang丫tou panicked and quickly waved her hand.

She raised the back of her hand and rubbed her eyes before looking seriously at Hu Ma and whispering, “Young Master, don’t misunderstand. I’m different from my father.”

“He’s the one who’s burdened with debt, but I’ve always felt since birth that this is my duty. I’ve always known in my heart that I was born to stay inside.”

“Everyone else wants to spend as little time inside as possible, but I actually want to go in sooner.”

“I… I don’t know how to describe it…”

“…”

She hesitated and answered softly, “It’s like… it’s very attractive to me.”

“Before I lost my memory, when I was in Ming Prefecture, I would hear those poor people crying, and I would unconsciously go to lead them in my dreams. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t bear it, but thinking about it now, it was as if that was what I was born to do…”

“I…”

She paused for a moment before saying softly, “I’ve never even had a feeling of attachment to the world of the living. I just find it all mundane and boring.”

This answer was unexpected, and Hu Ma suddenly thought of a rather strange thing about Xiang丫tou.

He had discovered it back in the village. She could lead souls in her dreams, but if an ordinary person encountered such a thing, they would probably be scared, right?

But she wasn’t. At that time, she didn’t remember anything, but she still felt that everything was as it should be, without any hesitation or fear.

Was it her personality, or was it the Yin Die (Netherworld Record) that was influencing her?

“But, it’s not that there’s nothing at all…”

While Hu Ma was surprised, Xiang丫tou seemed to have mustered a lot of courage before looking over and whispering, “The only thing, maybe…”

“…maybe it was in Ming Prefecture, when I didn’t remember anything and had no pressure.”

“When I could work a little every day, smile with Brother Datong and the others, and sew clothes for you, Young Master…”

“…”

Listening to her words, Hu Ma suddenly didn’t know what to say.

(End of Chapter)