Truly, the same rice feeds a hundred kinds of people...

Look at some evil spirits; for the sake of their cultivation, they need to fight people for blood food mines, they need to be good at warming beds, they need to wrestle with big evil spirits like the Green-Clad Evil Ghost, they need to cultivate their own power, and they need to pay tribute to those above them.

After paying tribute for so many years, to get ahead, they still have to fight with others for the incense token. They think they've made it when they get the incense token, but then they realize they need to be even more careful...

...even as ghosts.

But there are also people who act domineering all day long, acting like ruffians, even for something as important as Tao Feng (seeking recognition), they come drunk?

Hu Ma watched Seventh Granny leave, feeling somewhat helpless.

Fortunately, Seventh Granny was carefree. After he said it would be two months, she agreed.

This gave him some time to understand the method of Feng Zheng (bestowal of title). If possible, he would help her then.

After all, they were good neighbors. Besides, Li Waizi had an unusual relationship with them now. The two families could be considered in-laws.

Of course, he still needed to learn about the Tao Feng method from a zou gui ren (ghost walker).

It wasn't that Tao Feng was necessarily within the ghost walker's domain, but ghost walkers knew a variety of things. Living at the bottom, traveling through villages, they came into contact with all sorts of strange things. Therefore, the more low-level the ghost walker, the more strange methods they knew.

But he really wanted to learn, but how could he start learning since ghost walkers were, after all, an entire profession?

While he was thinking, he suddenly noticed something strange. He suddenly looked up and saw a cat outside the threshold, having appeared there at some unknown time.

The cat was pure white with black paws. Its long tail was curled beneath its hindquarters, looking arrogant and somewhat sinister.

He had become a Shousui Ren (Year Keeper) of the Five Viscera, yet he didn't even know when it had arrived?

Little Hong Tang had noticed it and was squatting about ten feet away, watching it warily.

But if it were another evil spirit, like the lame little ghost, Hong Tang would have already attacked.

Now, however, she was just staring, her face full of vigilance, without attacking.

Hu Ma was also slightly shocked, then looked at the cat and suddenly whispered, "From the Caoxin Tang (Herb Heart Hall)?"

He had been waiting for Miss White Wine's letter all evening, and looking at this cat, it seemed to be the one Miss White Wine kept.

Of course, in this world, one had to be careful everywhere, so even when asking, he could only ask about "Caoxin Tang," and not say Miss White Wine's code name.

The cat continued to stare at Hu Ma, slowly placing the letter in its mouth on the ground.

It stretched out its paw and pushed it inward, pushing the letter inside the threshold.

Then, with quite human-like behavior, it nodded to him before turning and quickly disappearing into the darkness.

"It really is?"

Hu Ma was also surprised. He quickly picked up the letter from the ground and saw that the envelope was blank, with nothing written on it.

In his hand, it had a faint herbal fragrance, the same scent as Caoxin Tang.

He looked up at the dark night outside, feeling somewhat surprised. "It really was sent by Miss White Wine..."

"But, others send letters with little messenger ghosts. Miss White Wine actually sent a cat?"

"When people reach a high level of cultivation, they can be willful!"

"..."

Hu Ma hurriedly returned to the table and carefully examined the letter. He saw that it was sealed tightly. Once opened, there would be traces. He held it up to the oil lamp on the table, but couldn't make out the words inside.

He decided to put it away carefully. He comforted Little Hong Tang, closed the door, lay down on the bed, silently circulated his Qi, and soon became drowsy, arriving at his natal spirit temple.

"Miss White Wine..."

"I'm waiting for you."

"..."

Miss White Wine was indeed waiting for him, and said faintly, "Did you receive the letter?"

"Don't peek. If you open it without permission, I'll know."

"..."

"Ah?"

Hu Ma hurriedly said, "How could I? I put it away as soon as I got it. I didn't peek..."

"That's good."

Miss White Wine said, "Keep the letter with you. We don't need to have any more contact in the real world."

"I think you'll be leaving soon."

"..."

Hu Ma exhaled softly and said, "So, I really need to escort her back?"

He had long suspected this.

He could confirm that Xiang Yatou's identity was unusual, and Miss White Wine could see it.

More unusual than her identity were the things she carried. Thinking back, she had an accident right after he sent the letter. Her family didn't react at all, which was strange in itself.

If he sent another letter, it would take at least a month to arrive, and it was uncertain whether her family could come smoothly. Besides, Xiang Yatou's Sheng Hun (living soul) was not present, and her body relied entirely on the Jinwen Gao (Golden Pattern Paste). It was uncertain whether she could last another month.

So, from the beginning, Hu Ma understood that it would be more reliable to send her back directly than to wait for her family to pick her up.

Of course, he couldn't say this. He had to wait for her family's steward to bring it up.

Miss White Wine said, "We've helped stabilize the girl's condition. From now on, every moment she waits is burning money."

"That old steward looks conflicted. He knows more than we do and naturally understands that it's better to send her back than to hold on here. But if he sends her back, with his body, traveling over mountains and rivers, carrying a person, he probably won't be able to handle it."

Hu Ma paused slightly and said, "What if he hires a镖局 (biao ju - security escort agency)?"

"Biao Ju?"

Miss White Wine said faintly, "Most of the people in the biao ju are Jianghu (martial world) wanderers. They only know a few moves."

"If it's really the kind of biao ju that specializes in escorting red goods, it's possible that there are people from the sect sitting there, but how can the skills of someone from the biao ju compare to the shopkeeper of the Blood Food Gang?"

"Heh, although the Blood Food Gang is unpopular, their skills are real."

"After all, you guys are constantly fighting for blood food mines and dealing with all kinds of people. Whether it's your skills or your interpersonal skills, you shouldn't be lacking."

"..."

Hu Ma was a little helpless when he heard this. Miss White Wine had become familiar with him and didn't even consider his feelings anymore...

Doesn't she realize that he's a boy from a village who finally gained a foothold in the Blood Food Gang, which is a matter of great pride? But now, one of them after another, they make it sound like dog meat doesn't belong on the table...

He doesn't care, but he's upset for his Niangniang (patron goddess)!

He could only comfort himself, it's okay, it's okay, no matter what these people say, when he returns to the village, with his status as shopkeeper, he can still sit in the chief's seat...

After comforting himself, Hu Ma smiled and said, "If that's the case, that would be best. I will personally escort her back. First, it will indeed protect the girl, and second, I will help Miss White Wine make this trip and deliver this letter."

The biggest benefit was to increase this favor, but everyone knew it, so there was no need to say it.

"No matter how thorough the plan is, you must always be careful."

Miss White Wine said faintly, "I won't remind you about things on the road. After you arrive, remember to send the letter first, and greet the Reincarnation Organization there before going to the Li family."

"No matter if the Li family has a trap or what kind of trap, their information is quick, and they will remind you first."

"..."

With this conversation, Hu Ma was relieved. After discussing some details, they each retreated and slept soundly.

Before waking up, he began to make this arrangement intentionally or unintentionally.

He went through all the items, itinerary, and preparations needed to send someone off in his mind, but didn't say it out loud.

In the afternoon, he went out of the inner courtyard and checked on the things the workers were doing, the money and food in the village, the arrangements for the night patrol, and even the things he needed to do to exchange food for grain in the surrounding villages these days. Anyway, he acted like he was very busy.

Sure enough, by evening, just as he was driving the donkey cart back from Huang Gou Village with some beans, he saw an anxious and familiar figure appear in the village.

It was Xiang Yatou's steward, squatting at the kitchen door, eating a large bowl of rice.

Although this steward was down on his luck, he always had an uncomfortable air in front of the people from the Blood Food Gang. Now, he didn't know if he had lost that air, but he had suddenly become like everyone else.

Looking at the rice, it should have been given to him by Li Waizi, with only some green vegetables and tofu in it. He was gobbling it up, occasionally taking a bite of garlic.

However, he was clearly preoccupied. He ate while looking outside the village. As soon as he saw Hu Ma return, he hurriedly put down the bowl and rushed up to greet him, calling him "Benefactor" and immediately kowtowing.

Hu Ma hurriedly jumped off the cart, dodging the kowtow, and said, "What's this?"

While speaking, he helped the old steward up, his face full of vigilance: "Old man, I even helped you carry the medicine money. It's possible that I won't be able to sit steady as shopkeeper. If you come to ask me for something else, then I really won't have it..."

"..."

The old steward was stunned for a moment, a little embarrassed by Hu Ma's vigilance.

But after a pause, he still pleaded, "I don't want silver. I'm here, I'm here just to..."

"...beg the Benefactor to show kindness, help someone to the end, accompany me, escort...escort our Miss back to Anzhou!"

"..."

"Hiss..."

Hu Ma immediately gasped and said to the old steward, "Old man, are you joking with me?"

"Mingzhou to Anzhou is a long way. How could I go?"

"...I have a lot of things to do in this village!"

"..."

"I..."

Hearing Hu Ma's refusal, the old steward also looked troubled, but since he had come, he had already thought it through.

With a slight determination, he said to Hu Ma, "Benefactor, please speak in private. I think there are some important words that I can't hide from you anymore..."

(End of Chapter)