“Confidence?”

Di Guashao laughed at Hu Ma's question. "What confidence could they have?"

"The reason they're sending this challenge to the Red Lantern Matron and fighting this contest is because they have no choice. The incense decree from above is about to be issued."

"Whoever gets this talisman has the chance to build a temple. That Blue-Clad Evil Ghost is certainly not as strong as the Red Lantern Matron, but he absolutely can't give up this talisman. For a great evil being like him, the chance to build a temple might only come once in a lifetime."

"If he can seize this opportunity, he'll soar to the heavens."

"If he doesn't get it, he'll never enjoy incense offerings in this life and will only be an evil thing."

"..."

"Build a temple?"

Hu Ma's heart stirred at this.

He had always been curious about the matter of evil spirits building temples in this world, but he had never had anyone to ask.

First, old shopkeeper Wu Hong had told him that the Red Lantern Matron didn't want to build a temple, but she didn't dare to, because she couldn't withstand it.

Later, he saw the old turtle in Niujiawan who had been tricked by a capable person and built a temple, only to suffer a great loss. The questions in his heart only accumulated more and more.

This world has talk of "temples" and "incense offerings," but you rarely see temples in small places. What's the secret behind it?

And hearing her mention the "incense decree," does that mean building a temple in this world requires someone's approval?

That one sentence cleared up a doubt in his mind. No wonder this contest was so sudden and so mysterious. He had originally thought it was just the Red Lantern Matron and the Blue-Clad Evil Ghost fighting over territory and blood food mines, but now it seemed to be much more than that.

The more curious Hu Ma became, the more he suppressed it, not wanting to appear ignorant. He only said faintly, "They've reached the point where they can build temples?"

"Senior is curious too..."

Di Guashao chuckled and said, "Could it be you want to pull another job?"

Hu Ma remained noncommittal and said, "Just understanding it. Information is the most valuable thing, after all."

"That's true."

Di Guashao's voice lowered slightly. "I heard it from my master. He's an old retainer of the Blue-Clad Gang, but he's too old to help."

"Right now, outsiders don't know about the incense decree. They just think the Blue-Clad Gang really wants to fight the Red Lantern Matron and decide the ownership of a few large blood food mines. But actually, that's just a smokescreen."

"Think about it. The two sides have been at peace for so many years, and the Blue-Clad Gang is a weaker force that can barely protect itself. Why would they suddenly want to provoke the Red Lantern Matron?"

"In the end, it's only because the Meng family of Tongyin showed their face and graciously granted this incense decree."

"With this decree, both the Red Lantern Matron and the Blue-Clad Evil Ghost are willing to risk their lives to fight to the death. It's just a pity that the Meng family won't allow them to fight directly, disturbing the peace of the region and, even worse, disrupting the order so next year's blood food tribute is affected."

"So they can only restrain themselves and choose this kind of martial world contest to determine the winner and seize this decree..."

"..."

Hu Ma didn't interrupt as she told the story like a strange anecdote.

But as he listened silently, his heart was churning like a stormy sea.

The Meng family of Tongyin?

Is that the shadow behind the Red Lantern Society that they have to pay tribute to every year?

And is this the Meng family that Granny has always told me to be careful of and quickly learn my skills to deal with?

Just issuing a so-called incense decree can make two great evil beings occupying prefectural lands fight to the death, and can also determine their fate of whether or not they can build a temple...

...How much power does that take?

For a moment, he felt his palms trembling slightly. Fortunately, he was talking to Di Guashao through the incense burner and didn't have to worry about being seen. He tried to steady himself and said slowly, "This Meng family of Tongyin is truly... quite influential..."

"Heh heh, they are one of the ten great families, after all."

Di Guashao said, "When the Grand Duke came into the world, the Yi Dynasty collapsed, and the world was in chaos. Even the emperor was skinned alive. The governments of various states are also in a precarious state now, but why can many places still maintain the most basic order?"

"I heard that it's the people of these ten families who are helping to maintain it. Before they elect a new emperor, the great evil beings in various places have to be honest..."

As he listened, Hu Ma pretended to be casual and suddenly asked, "Who are the ten great families? I've only met people from the Zhao family of Divine Hands. A friend of mine who was afflicted with the Creation of Livestock technique asked them to treat him."

"My heavens, Senior, you really must have been reincarnated into a noble family, to actually know people from the Zhao family of Divine Hands?"

Di Guashao was amazed and said, "I'm far from that. I've only heard my master mention a few names in general, like the Meng family of Tongyin, the Li family of Impermanence, and some others with the surnames Hu and Chen..."

"...They're too powerful. Even people in the know don't dare to mention their names casually, for fear of inviting trouble. Only we dare to chat about them."

"But Miss White Wine also warned me that it's best not to provoke them. In the future, when you hear their names, you should quickly hide. Many of us reincarnated have had our lives ruined by them."

"..."

While talking to Di Guashao about this, Hu Ma maintained a nonchalant air, as if he didn't care.

But in reality, he remembered every word clearly.

If this Meng family of Tongyin is also one of the ten great families, and also the enemy of the Hu family that Granny spoke of...

...Could it be that the Hu family in my past life was also related to one of the ten great families...?

It wasn't that Hu Ma wasn't brave enough, but it was too bizarre. If the Hu family really had such a great background, how could they have hidden in a remote place like Dayang Village for twenty years?

But even though he didn't want to think too much about it, he couldn't help but think of many strange things. First, Granny, who possessed great magical powers.

Second, the *Zhen Sui Shu* (Book of Suppressing the Year), the book in his hand with its amazing magical techniques.

Perhaps only people from the ten great families were qualified to possess such unique skills?

No, I can't expose myself, absolutely not.

The more curious he became, the more he warned himself that he absolutely couldn't think about these things. According to Di Guashao's description, even many reincarnated have had their lives ruined in the ten great families, so one can imagine the power of the ten great families.

If his identity were confirmed, it would probably cause an uproar not only in reality, but even in the reincarnation community, right?

"In that case..."

He slowly followed Di Guashao's words and asked softly, "Why are you still going to fight in this contest?"

"Once the Blue-Clad Gang loses, won't you be in trouble?"

"..."

"What trouble would they give me?"

Di Guashao asked curiously, "I'm just helping out in a contest under the name of a Blue-Clad Gang retainer. I didn't harm anyone from the Red Lantern Matron Society. Why would she cause trouble for me?"

"In my opinion, the Blue-Clad Gang is bound to lose, but even if they lose, the Red Lantern Matron Society won't wipe them out. If you kill them all, who will manage those blood food mines? Won't the tribute for next year be affected?"

"So, when the Red Lantern Matron Society wins, she will only recruit the people from the Blue-Clad Gang, and the more capable they are, the more she will recruit."

"If I win a stage in this contest, and the Blue-Clad Gang wins, then I'm a great hero. If the Red Lantern Matron Society wins, they will also think highly of me and give me a high price. Besides, once my name is made, even if I don't join the Red Lantern Matron Society, there will be plenty of other opportunities."

"Of course, we retainers and managers have a choice. The Blue-Clad Boys of the Blue-Clad Gang and the Red Incense Disciples of the Red Lantern Society don't have that choice."

"Once the victor is decided, both sides will definitely kill off these core disciples."

"..."

Hearing this, Hu Ma had a sense of sudden understanding.

This Red Lantern Matron Society and the Blue-Clad Gang didn't seem like the kind of gangs with a life-or-death feud.

Or rather, those who have a feud and want to fight to the death are those above, not

However, this also raised some curiosity. If that's the case, then why aren't those Blue-Clad Boys and Red Incense Disciples the ones fighting? These people have a vested interest, and they should be fighting even harder. Why do

But he also realized that he had asked too many questions, so he just smiled and said, "I don't know much about these things."

Di Guashao laughed, "That's for sure."

"Senior, you sound like you were reincarnated into a wealthy family. You probably don't understand these martial world ways."

"I'm lucky that Miss White Wine helped me plead, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to invite you..."

"..."

"Cough..."

This guy's mouth was too sweet, and Hu Ma was starting to feel uncomfortable.

He just silently calculated in his heart, realizing that there were so many secrets and complicated rules behind this contest, especially with the involvement of the mysterious Meng family of Tongyin. It seemed that he had to think of a way to go take a look...

Thinking of the last thing, he said, "I have one more question for you."

"Last year, near the end of the year, on the border between Gunzhou and Mingzhou prefectures, a Shen family was exterminated. Yellow paper was pasted on the faces of the dead. It looked a bit like your senior brother's methods."

"Do you know who committed this crime?"

"..."

"I know about that. It was my senior brother who did it."

Di Guashao answered immediately and laughed, "He planned to catch a few more martial world people, one to compete with me for treasures, and two to control these people so he could show off when he went to the contest later."

"But his trick of using Yellow Official Paper also requires some preparation in advance. Killing that family was to refine this paper. With those wronged souls as the foundation, it's easier to use this trick to control others."

"As expected..."

Hearing this, Hu Ma's heart was clear. He didn't expect to accidentally solve this case.

It was just a pity that it wasn't easy to accept this credit.

After all, he was just a small Year Guardian. If he suddenly went back and revealed this case, it would arouse suspicion...

Then...

He had an idea in his heart and said in a low voice, "There's one more thing."

"Now that things seem to be settled, I still have to go find you tomorrow, so others will see it as more reasonable."

"..."

"Ah?"

Di Guashao was startled. "You want to give me another stab?"

"No."

Hu Ma sighed softly and said, "This time, I'm going to let you stab me."

"After all, we have to put on a full show..."