“Aunt Zhang found such a small spirit worker…”

Since setting off, Hu Ma had been observing Aunt Zhang's words and actions, filled with curiosity. Now, he couldn't help but ask:

“…Unique?”

“I thought that ghost walkers, having a lot of contacts, would always choose the more obedient ones.”

“……”

He remembered Yang Gong telling him that there were many small spirit workers in the Red Lantern Goddess Society. Some could move wealth, some could send messages, some could scout for dangers, and some could even pray for blessings and ward off disasters for their masters.

Of course, there was also the one Yang Gong raised who only knew how to say auspicious words, and his own Little Red Sweetie, who could do everything…

But what was the deal with Aunt Zhang's one?

If it was said to be clever, it didn't even have a head. If it was said to be smart, its paper head could fall off at any time. It didn't look too smart either.

Could it be scary?

Aunt Zhang returned after burning incense, took out a pancake from her bundle, held it with both hands, and slowly munched on it. Seeing Hu Ma ask, she said, "If I didn't pick it, it would have been eaten by a big ghost. But I see that Shopkeeper Little Bro also has one, and it looks quite well-behaved…”

Hu Ma also turned his head to take a look, only to see Little Red Sweetie squatting curiously to one side, looking at the headless little ghost.

Aunt Zhang sat upright, and the headless little ghost was also well-behaved.

It just squatted next to the incense that Aunt Zhang had lit, constantly sucking in wisps of fragrance.

Little Red Sweetie poked it with a stick, but it didn't react.

“The one I raised is inherited from my ancestors.”

Hu Ma spoke of Little Red Sweetie, full of pride, and said, “It was passed down to me by my grandmother. Actually, my grandmother was also a ghost walker, but she passed away early and didn't have time to teach me.”

“I can see that your little spirit worker hasn't suffered any hardships, and has even developed spirituality.”

Aunt Zhang nodded and said, “But not every little spirit worker is so lucky. Their fates are not so good.”

Hu Ma was slightly stunned, “What do you mean by that?”

“Raising little spirit workers was originally started by ghost walkers, and later learned by people in various sects and paths.”

Aunt Zhang said, "And the reason why ghost walkers initially raised little spirit workers was because the little ghosts were pitiful."

“My mother said that she didn't know when the saying that the gates of the underworld were closed began, but anyway, there were suddenly a lot more evil beings in this world.”

“The more evil beings there are, the harder it is not only for the living, but also for these little ghosts.”

“They are pitiful. If they live, they haven't enjoyed a few days of happiness in the human world. If they die, they can't enter the underworld or reincarnation. They just float in the night, bullied by big ghosts, and some are even eaten by other evil beings.”

“It is said that because of this, ghost walkers bring some pitiful little ghosts by their side, raising them and feeding them incense.”

“Over time, they can also develop some spirituality, helping to run errands and do some things. As more and more people raise little spirit workers, some people have discovered the benefits of little spirit workers. They are obedient, easy to coax, and diligent in doing things.”

“Because of this origin, most people now raise little ghosts, generally choosing small ghosts.”

“Of course, there are also those who specialize in recruiting powerful ones to raise.”

“……”

As she spoke, she looked at Hu Ma with some curiosity, “Why haven't I seen you light incense? What does your little spirit worker eat?”

Hu Ma didn't know how to explain for a moment…

…Our little spirit worker now disdains incense, let alone vegetarian food, and only wants to eat blood sacrifices?

“Thank you for your hard work today, Aunt.”

Having learned something new, he was also polite, took out his water pouch and jerky, and handed them to her, saying, “You eat these.”

“No need.”

Aunt Zhang said, "I baked a few pounds of pancakes last night and brought them with me. I haven't finished them yet."

“Then let's exchange food. I'll also try Aunt's pancakes.”

Hu Ma still smiled and took half a pancake from her hand, and then gave her the buns and jerky. Now the buns were a little cold, but they could be roasted.

Of course, it wasn't a big problem to eat them cold. Ghost walkers who often traveled north and south and watchmen who had refined their five viscera didn't have such delicate stomachs. Even Steward Zhou, who had followed them here, was from a troupe and had been through the martial world.

Seeing Hu Ma's enthusiasm, Aunt Zhang had no choice but to accept it, and after eating a little jerky, she was obviously a little surprised.

But she didn't exaggerate too much, just thanked Hu Ma softly.

At night, they stayed by the carriage and fell asleep. There were branches inserted by Aunt Zhang around them, as well as the incense formation she had burned. Hu Ma was out for the first time after all, and didn't dare to sleep very soundly. His sword was always by his side.

But after this period of time, no evil beings actually came over, which was a bit magical.

Usually, people walking at night easily encounter evil beings, especially when they are carrying a coffin, it is easier to encounter them.

The next day, everyone shared some food, relieved themselves, and prepared to set off.

After harnessing the donkey, he turned around and saw that Aunt Zhang had already pulled out the branches, destroyed the "yang dwelling," and was still burning some paper money on the spot.

Holding incense in her hand, she specially prayed while burning.

Hu Ma waited for her to finish, came to the side of the car, and asked curiously, “Aunt burned incense yesterday to avoid evil beings, which we understand, but who are you burning incense to today when we are leaving?”

“……”

Aunt Zhang said, “To the wronged souls around here, thanking them for not disturbing us last night!”

Hu Ma asked curiously, “Do the formalities need to be so complete?”

“What happens if you leave without burning?”

“……”

“It's probably okay if you don't burn…”

On Aunt Zhang's dark red face, she showed some doubt and said, “But these are the rules! That's how my mother taught me back then, and that's how the ghost walkers I met later taught me. Anyway, whatever method works, just use it.”

Hu Ma had been curious about some questions when Qingyi was haunted, so he took the opportunity to ask, “Ghost walkers seem to pay a lot of attention to rules?”

“No matter if you are a ghost walker or not, or which sect you are from, you have to pay attention to the rules…”

Aunt Zhang was a little surprised when she heard this and glanced at Hu Ma, saying, “Without rules, there is no way to do things. Anyway, when I usually help people exorcise evil, I have to talk about the rules first.”

“If they listen to persuasion, and we talk to them a bit, they will leave. If they want some incense or sacrifices, we give it to them and they leave.”

“It’s not easy for anyone, abiding by the rules makes it easy to talk, and no one makes things difficult for anyone.”

“……”

Hu Ma said, “What if the living abide by the rules, but the wronged souls don’t?”

Aunt Zhang glanced at Hu Ma and said, “If you encounter someone who doesn’t abide by the rules, you have to know how to deal with them.”

“If you can’t deal with them, you can’t be a ghost walker.”

“……

“So, these rules… are for better communication?”

Hu Ma vaguely understood something.

Since the main focus is on communication, then of course there must be that rule in place to facilitate communication.

With Twilight Boundary as the border, those who come out during the day are the ones who don’t abide by the rules, and when you reason with them, they are in the wrong.

With yin and yang separated, evil beings dare not disturb the living, and the living should of course not be disrespectful to ghosts and gods.

The main thing is for each side to take a step back, and both sides are safe.

Of course, this is just the basics. Perhaps ghost walkers also pay attention to rules when setting up altars and offering sacrifices, such as after making offerings, you have to be forgiving, and after receiving things, you have to do things.

But rules need to be maintained by power, where does the ghost walker's power come from?

I can't figure it out for the time being, but there's no hurry.

He felt that he had found the right person by hiring a ghost walker this time, especially this unremarkable Aunt Zhang, who seemed to be a ghost walker from a family lineage, knowledgeable, honest, and not wary of him, telling him everything he asked.

Setting off again, the group followed the main road, traveling by day and resting by night, heading straight to Anzhou to find a way.

To be honest, traveling these days is hard work, and even if you are willing to spend money, you may not find a comfortable place.

Often times, they can't make it to an inn and need to stay in a wild shop or borrow a place to stay in a village.

It's good to have a basin of hot water to wash your feet at night.

Especially since Aunt Zhang is an extremely pious and honest person, acting and sitting upright, and everyone respects her as a spirit bearer, and listens to all her rules, it seems even more tiring.

Seeing her many practices along the way, some of which Hu Ma felt were reasonable, and some of which he felt were pedantic, even rigid, but he listened to them all.

He only persuaded himself in his heart that this trip was to gain knowledge and learn things, so even if it was hard and tiring, he wouldn't say anything.

Until one day, because a rain suddenly fell at noon, the donkey cart got stuck in the mud. Hu Ma helped to lift it up several times. Although the rain stopped, it still delayed the journey and they couldn't reach the village town thirty miles away to stay overnight.

Helpless, the group had to find a recessed stone depression between the cliffs on the edge of the forest to rest.

Wet firewood was difficult to light, and the sky was gloomy, so it took a long time to start a small pile of fire. They baked their clothes and ate dry food. The stone depression was not large, so they had to give the drier place to the donkey first, and everyone else only occupied a corner, huddled together, which was naturally not too comfortable.

But after being tired all day, and being warmed by the fire, and eating some hot dry food, they quickly became sleepy and fell asleep.

Hu Ma had been staying vigilant at night since he set off. He suddenly woke up in the middle of the night.

He felt a gust of cold wind blowing on his face for no reason, and he subconsciously reached for his knife.

But suddenly he felt a hand press down on his arm, and he only heard Aunt Zhang whisper, “Don’t move…”

Hu Ma reacted quickly and stopped immediately, looking outside.

It was already late at night, and there were no stars or moon. Hu Ma hadn't refined his eyes yet, so he couldn't see clearly. He only felt that everything around him was dark. Looking into the deep forest in the distance, two lamps floated out.

Focusing his eyes to distinguish, they were actually two maids carrying lanterns and with their hair combed.

They floated lightly to the outside of the forest, intertwined and turned around, saying softly, “There are passing guests?”

“It's cold outside, come with us to the village to rest and drink a bowl of hot soup?”

“……”

As they spoke, they turned around and went back with their lanterns. Hu Ma was about to speak, but Aunt Zhang's hand was still holding his arm. Sure enough, after a while, the two maids actually came out of the forest again.

Looking at them again this time, they had turned into paper figures, but they were still floating so straight, carrying lanterns and turning around, saying woodenly:

“There are passing guests…”

“It's cold outside, come with us to the village to rest and drink a bowl of hot soup?”

(End of Chapter)