Seeing that young master Lu's attitude was not very good, the one who used flying knives quickly agreed and stopped asking questions.

If the other party was willing, that would be for the best. If not, there was nothing he could do.

Actually, many half-baked skills in the martial world came about like this. No matter how well the flying knife user practiced his skill, he was still just an outsider. He could hurt people, but not evil spirits. If he could learn the incantation, he would be considered to have touched the edge of the profession, and his value would increase.

Of course, some people thought it was cheap to buy an incantation for a few hundred taels, while others thought it was a loss. It all depended on the individual.

Within Hu Ma's line of night watchmen, there were also some skills that could be passed on.

For example, the stances they practiced, if used well, could also be good fist, foot, and knife techniques. Teaching them to others wouldn't be a big deal.

After everyone agreed, they continued to move forward. Perhaps because of young master Lu's words, they became more and more silent as they walked. They felt that the surrounding pines and cypresses were getting denser and denser, hazy and giving people a sense of unease.

Hu Ma stayed close to the donkey cart, appearing as usual, but in reality, his whole body was tense. After walking less than ten zhang, he suddenly caught something out of the corner of his eye and paused slightly.

It was behind a pine tree, a pale face suddenly peeked out, looked at them, and then shrank back.

Not only did Hu Ma stop abruptly, but the old monkey leading the donkey cart and young master Lu also paused suddenly.

However, the flying knife user didn't react. Seeing everyone stop, he was startled and hurriedly pulled out his flying knife.

But the face behind the tree had flashed away, and it was too late.

Everyone couldn't help but look at the flying knife user, their expressions somewhat strange.

The flying knife user was also covered in sweat. He raised his sleeve to wipe it and said in a low voice, "I was distracted. I'll be more careful."

Everyone remained silent and continued forward. They hadn't walked far when they heard a rustling sound in the grass behind them.

It seemed that the wind was blowing, but since it had been extremely quiet, anyone who was quick to react immediately knew something was wrong. They turned around sharply and saw a white object squatting in the grass.

Everyone was shocked and looked at the flying knife user.

He was still walking forward, but when he realized something was wrong, he turned around and shouted.

The flying knife shot out, but missed and hit a tree a few chi away.

This time, everyone's gaze towards him was indescribably strange. The flying knife user was sweating profusely, wiping his face with his sleeve, and awkwardly explained to young master Lu, "I... I usually deal with people, but with these things..."

"...I really have no experience."

"..."

Young master Lu turned away with a cold face and said in a low voice, "Monkey."

The old monkey leading the donkey knew what he meant and slowly shook his head, saying, "There's no need to bother anymore."

"Even if he hits accurately, I'm afraid the flying knives wouldn't be enough."

"..."

Hearing this, everyone suddenly felt a chill. Looking ahead, they saw that a thin mist had appeared in the pine forest, and among the trees, in the grass, and in the cracks of the rocks, pale paper faces were peeking out.

But they only peeked out slightly before slowly retracting.

The feeling of being stared at by countless eyes was deeply etched in everyone's minds, making them feel uneasy.

"What's going on?"

"..."

If it was fake, why did everyone see this scene?

If it was real, how many paper figures were hidden in this mountain, and they could even move?

"It's my junior sister's術 (shù, art/skill)."

Young master Lu was clearly also somewhat helpless. He glanced at the flying knife user and said in a low voice, "She has received my master's true teaching in the art of paper crafting, and she's much better at it than I am."

"I originally wanted to use this gentleman's flying knives to break her 術 (shù, art/skill), but it seems I was too naive. There's no other way, we have to confront her head-on."

"Everyone, from now on, we'll follow Monkey and walk behind him. Watch your step, and no one should speak, especially if someone calls your name. Don't turn around, and don't answer."

"Answering will cost you half your soul, and turning around will cost you your life."

"..."

Hearing what he said, everyone panicked, and some even considered retreating.

They were all in the martial world, and had experienced dangerous and life-threatening situations, but the thought of suddenly losing their lives was terrifying.

If it was a real fight, even if it was dangerous, everyone would find it acceptable...

In the silence, Hu Ma suddenly asked, "How would she know our names?"

Everyone then realized.

Yes, if someone calls our names, they must know our names first. How would the things in this mountain know?

"They don't know."

Young master Lu looked at everyone and said, "But it will make you feel like something is calling your name."

"No one else can hear it, only you can. But as soon as you are called, if you answer or turn around, you will be tricked."

"This is a trick within our Xing Hun (刑魂, Soul Execution) sect, called sheng hun (生魂, living soul). There are distant calls and close calls. Distant calls require knowing your birthdate, name, and clothes and shoes you've worn, and objects you've used, in order to call you.

"Close calls only need a name, or even an inaccurate name. A sudden call, and the soul comes out."

"My junior sister is cunning. She doesn't need to get close to call your souls. I can't explain the specifics, but I can tell you that you will hear all kinds of sounds later, and they will all sound like they are calling your name."

"When her skill is deep, the calls will sound more real. When her skill is shallow, the calls will sound more vague. But you must not answer. If it's a normal call, Monkey and I will naturally help you resolve it."

"If the call is very clear and it is indeed your name, it means that the paper figure is very close to you. You must not answer."

"Just spit a mouthful of秽痰 (huì tán, foul phlegm) heavily on the ground."

"..."

Hearing this, everyone stopped talking and looked at the old monkey leading the donkey.

He smiled silently, took a lantern from the donkey cart, and carefully lit it with a fire starter.

Instantly, a white light appeared before everyone's eyes. Last night, Hu Ma had seen this kind of white lantern, which couldn't illuminate the road at night.

But now that it was lit, the hazy mist on the surrounding mountain road seemed to be dispelled by the light of the white lantern.

Even more astonishing was that the lantern was filled with moths, fluttering about.

Looking at it, it was densely packed, probably dozens of them?

"This means that he has harmed dozens of people before... you old bastard!"

Hu Ma took a low breath, suppressed the negative emotions in his heart, and honestly followed behind everyone.

The mountain road was not very long, but they walked slower and slower, and quieter and quieter, so quiet that it was as if they could no longer hear the sound of their own footsteps and the sound of the donkey cart wheels rolling over the gravel on the road.

They could only vaguely hear the sound of the mountain wind passing through the pines and cypresses, and the crisp sound of the paper figures' clothes rubbing against the weeds. Suddenly, there was a burst of giggles.

Hu Ma clearly saw the flying knife user's body stiffen.

He immediately understood that he must have heard someone calling his name, but he did manage to resist answering.

"Flutter..."

At the same time, the old monkey looked down and saw a white moth suddenly fly out of the lantern and into the forest, disappearing with a paper figure with a strange smile painted on its face.

Hu Ma was slightly surprised and immediately understood.

They had lured so many souls here to deal with Digua Shao's paper crafting术 (shù, art/skill).

Digua Shao's paper figures could call souls, and his method of calling souls was clearly much more advanced than the old monkey's.

But the old monkey had lured so many souls in advance to break his art.

Sure enough, as everyone continued along the mountain road, white figures flickered around from time to time, and they could also sense that someone's body had stiffened, indicating that they had been called by name.

However, a moth in the lantern immediately flew out for them, and the number of paper figures in the mountain decreased by one.

As they were halfway across the road, everyone was under great pressure when they suddenly heard a shiver beside them.

They turned their heads sharply and saw that a paper figure was clinging tightly to the back of the flying knife user, its white paper head next to his shoulder.

It must have been too close and called his name. He was so frightened that his clothes trembled, and the sound was heard by everyone around him.

But fortunately, he still resisted and spat a mouthful of穢痰 (huì tán, foul phlegm) hard on the ground.

"Eeya..."

The paper figure seemed to let out a cry of pain and unwillingly flew back into the thick fog on the mountain road.

"So there really are paper figures that can crawl on your back and call your name..."

Everyone was now on high alert and dared not be careless, but they couldn't help but quicken their pace, straightening their backs subconsciously.

Even Hu Ma was the same as them. During this process, he did hear a voice.

Moreover, it clearly called out the two words "Hu Ma."

But he resisted reacting, and a moth flew out of the lantern to replace him.

But as they walked, just as they were about to cross the mountain road, Hu Ma just looked up at the road when he suddenly felt a slight coolness on his shoulder.

It was a very light touch, which he was very familiar with, because that's how it felt when Xiao Hongtang climbed onto his back.

But it definitely wasn't Xiao Hongtang now. He was dealing with these people in the martial world, and a fierce battle could break out at any time. Fearing that they had methods to harm the little ghost, he would never let Xiao Hongtang follow.

At most, Xiao Hongtang would follow from afar, taking the opportunity to attack if there was one, and splitting up to escape if there wasn't.

So what was it that had climbed onto his back?

Hu Ma forcibly resisted turning around, but his eyes turned slightly, and he caught a glimpse of a patch of pale white with bright red inside, which was the rouge on the paper figure's face.

Then, it leaned close to his ear and softly called out a different name: "Zhou Da Zhuang..."

Hu Ma's body stiffened, and he stopped in his tracks. After standing still for a long time, he spat hard on the ground and strode forward.

(End of chapter)