Chapter 1 Slow Down!

Seeing Zheng Xiangzhu's words, the qingyi (green-robed) children smiled and picked up the chains, stepping forward as if to take Zhou Datong and the others away.

None of them understood what the mirror had revealed, but they felt a chill run down their spines as these ghostly people stared at them. Helpless in the face of such eerie beings, they looked to Hu Ma, who stood to one side, in a fluster.

Even Zhou Datong, who was usually brave, was now visibly panicked.

But before the qingyi children could reach them, Hu Ma suddenly stepped out, blocking their path.

He had to.

He had been paying attention to these qingyi children for some time now, knowing that they had caused quite a stir in Mingzhou City. Many people had been taken away after being reflected in their mirrors.

Even the Hong Deng Hui (Red Lantern Society)… once they left, they were never heard from again, their fate unknown, their very existence uncertain.

Even asking Hong Deng Niangniang (Red Lantern Mother) yielded no information.

He didn't know what was going on with Zhou Datong and the others, or why they had been reflected.

They were clearly of clean background, ordinary disciples from the village. How could they be so different from everyone else?

Could it be that the Zheng fellow had tampered with something?

His gaze suddenly turned to Zheng Xiangzhu, dark and sharp. He clenched his teeth. No matter what Zheng had done, he absolutely couldn't let them take Zhou Datong and the others away.

If they went with them, how could things possibly end well?

His mind raced, but he put on a smile.

Staring at Zheng Xiangzhu, he said, "We wouldn't dare interfere with the qingyi masters' business, but these people in the village are all fellow disciples serving Hong Deng Niangniang. You can't just take people away after a single look in the mirror. Shouldn't you at least give us an explanation?"

"Explanation?"

Zheng Xiangzhu saw that Hu Ma had stepped forward and smiled faintly, saying slowly, "The qingyi masters have ordered us to use the zhao yin jing (soul-revealing mirror) in Mingzhou City to find those with deficient yin virtue. One look in the mirror reveals their yin virtue."

"All those who reach the red line must be taken back for questioning and further judgment."

"Mingzhou City, the Hong Deng Hui, and even the Qingyi Gang (Green Robe Gang) are all doing this. And you want an explanation?"

"..."

"Red line?"

Hu Ma's so-called explanation was just a stalling tactic; he didn't expect to actually get one.

But hearing his words, he couldn't help but glance at the bronze mirror. He did indeed see a faint red line marked on the edge of the mirror.

He didn't understand or care about the talk of deficient yin virtue. He immediately continued, "I wouldn't presume to comment on the qingyi masters' instructions, but if I'm not mistaken, they're still far from that red line…"

That was the truth. Among these people, only Zhou Datong was close to the three-chi (three-foot) red line, and even he was just barely reaching it.

As for Zhou Liang, he was still half a chi (foot) away, and Zhao Zhu and Li Wazi were even further.

Zheng Xiangzhu's expression didn't change as he listened to Hu Ma's words. He simply said, "The qingyi masters are merciful, only instructing us to find those who have reached the red line."

"But we naturally have to be careful in our work, so we'll take away those who are close as well, to avoid any oversights."

"If you haven't reached it, what are you afraid of? It's just a few questions, and then we'll let you return."

"..."

"Return, my ass…"

Hu Ma cursed inwardly, his mind racing, but his smile became even more natural and friendly. He said quickly, "I'm just afraid of causing too much trouble and tiring the qingyi masters and my fellow disciples. If you're not sure, you can just take another look…"

"If they really reach the red line, there's no need for my fellow disciples to act. I'll tie them up and send them over myself…"

"But taking people away like this, Zheng Xiangzhu, you're also a member of the society. If Niangniang finds out you're treating our own people like this…"

"…I'm afraid she won't be happy, either, right?"

"..."

He was just talking nonsense, of course. He didn't really expect these words to scare Zheng Xiangzhu.

Others might not know the truth, only thinking that Zheng Xiangzhu was taking advantage of the qingyi masters' power to throw his weight around, but Hu Ma knew that the Meng family's shadow was behind this. How would Hong Deng Niangniang dare to interfere?

He was just stalling for time, already thinking about how to escape, take Zhou Datong and the others, and flee the village, hiding in Lao Yin Shan (Old Yin Mountain).

He didn't want the position of shopkeeper in the Hong Deng Hui anymore.

After all, Zhou Datong and the others' lives were more important. Anyway, he had learned a lot, and he could always find another opportunity to come out and find a backer.

His only worry now was that, facing these qingyi children, Zheng Xiangzhu, and the mysterious, seemingly similar to Hong Deng Niangniang's lantern, evil ghost mask on the sedan, did they have enough skill to break free?

While Hu Ma was thinking these things, the qingyi children seemed to be getting impatient.

They were already dissatisfied with the people of the Hong Deng Hui, and besides, they had handled so many errands without encountering such trouble.

They winked at each other, chuckling coldly and swinging the chains in their hands. If Zheng Xiangzhu hadn't been blocking them, they probably would have rushed up and snatched the people already.

"Well, you have a point…"

But no one expected that this Zheng Xiangzhu had been watching Hu Ma all along, as if he were pondering something.

In the end, he sighed softly to himself, "I'm also a member of the Hong Deng Hui, after all. These disciples were all personally recruited by me. How could I really not care about them at all?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Ma expressionlessly, but when he turned to look at the qingyi children, his face was already filled with a smiling face. He said somewhat ingratiatingly, "Gentlemen, shall we go?"

"What?"

Hearing these words out of the blue, not only the qingyi children, but even Hu Ma and the people in the village were greatly surprised.

What medicine was he selling in his gourd?

Hearing these words, not only did no one dare to relax, but they even thought that Zheng was about to strike immediately, and their hearts were on edge.

"I'm serious."

Zheng Xiangzhu bowed deeply to the qingyi children and said, "We've already inspected many people in Mingzhou City, in the various blood-food gangs, and we've taken back quite a few people."

"These disciples in the village, although they are indeed a little higher than ordinary people, still have a significant gap compared to those who have exceeded the red line."

"There are already quite a few people over there, and they can't even finish the interrogations. There's no need to go to so much trouble."

"Gentlemen, you've worked hard. You've already inspected seventeen villages. There's no reason to create complications here, is there?"

"Besides, if no one exceeds three chi (feet), there's no need to invite the qingyi master over."

"..."

Seeing him say this, the qingyi children stared at each other, and the chains in their hands slowly stopped swinging.

Their skill was not necessarily lower than Zheng Xiangzhu's, but they had been following the qingyi master for too long and were no longer quite the same as ordinary people. They were not very clever in their speech and actions, so they mostly followed Zheng Xiangzhu's lead on this trip.

Moreover, this Zheng Xiangzhu was deliberately trying to befriend them, and he served them very comfortably in their travels.

Hearing him say this now, they actually nodded slowly.

Hu Ma, on the other hand, had already prepared to shovel the sand on the ground into their faces, but he didn't expect them to actually leave.

Were they really letting Zhou Datong and the others go?

This change was not only not surprising, but rather a little strange.

Seeing Zheng Xiangzhu make a gesture of invitation, the qingyi children lifted the sedan and were about to leave. His mind raced, guessing Zheng Xiangzhu's intentions.

Suddenly, his heart stirred, and he quickly took two steps forward, catching up with them and smiling, "Qingyi masters, walk slowly, gentlemen, walk slowly, I'll see you off…"

He suddenly thought that Zheng was likely using a delaying tactic, saying that he was leaving, but turning around to strike.

He was a shousui ren (night watchman), and the closer he was to people, the better he could use his skills. At this critical moment, he couldn't distance himself from them.

Some of the more clever disciples had already picked up knives and forks and followed behind.

But even Hu Ma didn't expect that he would see Zheng Xiangzhu and the others all the way out of the village, heading towards the entrance of the town, and that they were actually just leaving, without any intention of attacking. He was really surprised, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.

"Is Shopkeeper Hu worried that I'm going to forcibly take away your disciples?"

At this time, Zheng Xiangzhu was just walking slowly beside the qingyi children with his hands behind his back, a smile on his lips as he looked at Hu Ma: "Or even, do you think that I tampered with things to make your disciples be reflected?"

Meeting his gaze, Hu Ma's heart sank slightly, but he just looked at him silently.

"That's normal, I would think so too if I were you."

Zheng Xiangzhu didn't wait for him to answer, just laughed softly, as if he were telling Hu Ma secrets, looking very close and intimate.

Even some of the disciples in the village thought that it was because Hu Ma had a good relationship with this Zheng Xiangzhu that he had helped intercede and keep Zhou Datong and the others.

But Zheng Xiangzhu's words made Hu Ma feel very surprised: "But in fact, I didn't tamper with anything."

"Even if I had the ability, I would only use it on you, after all, I really want you to taste the taste of being fried in oil, but I'm not interested in these disciples."

"They were really reflected, and they really met the criteria to be taken back."

"..."

"Then…"

Listening to Zheng Xiangzhu's words, Hu Ma was stunned for a moment, realizing that he didn't seem to be lying about this matter.

But if that was the case, how could he be so kind as to really let Zhou Datong and the others go?

Outside the town, the ghost energy surrounding the qingyi children was becoming more and more intense and cold. The sedan they were carrying was trembling slightly, like a bride being married off at night.

Hu Ma had no reason to continue following them at this time, and he also saw that they really didn't intend to attack, so he had to stop. But his heart was full of questions, making him watch these people's backs for a long time without turning around.

Zheng Xiangzhu followed the group of qingyi children, walking further and further away. Just as he was about to disappear from sight, he suddenly turned his head and smiled at Hu Ma.

Seeing that smile as if a trick had succeeded, Hu Ma's heart suddenly jumped, and an idea flashed through his mind:

"Damn it!"

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