"Pitter-patter..."

Since there were so many people rushing in, Hu Ma didn't hold back and chopped down two or three right away.

As Hu Ma began to fight, Steward Zhou was only a step behind, also entering. He was taken aback at first, seeing Hu Ma killing people, before hurrying forward to help.

He was holding a handful of silver needles, and his hands and feet were incredibly fast. He pulled out the needles one by one and stabbed them into the people standing dumbfounded.

Some of these people were slowly returning to their senses, some were still daydreaming, and some had just recovered. All were startled by Hu Ma's killing spree, but no matter what state they were in, once stabbed by a silver needle, they immediately collapsed to the ground, their eyes darting around wildly.

"That's a skillful technique..."

Hu Ma exclaimed in admiration, shook the blood off his blade, and said to Steward Zhou, "What kind of amazing trick is that? Could you teach me?"

"Silver needle acupuncture."

Steward Zhou had just subdued a few people and was feeling a bit pleased with himself. However, seeing Hu Ma's fierce attacks, he felt a chill in his heart. With a smile, he said, "Just a small trick from the Ba Xi (Acrobatic) School. You gravekeepers probably wouldn't think much of it."

"This technique is only good for dealing with those who are weaker than you, or those who can't move. If you encounter someone powerful, it's hard to aim accurately."

"I originally had a set of specially made silver needles, but I lost them all. These ones I bought in Mingzhou Prefecture with your money, using embroidery needles as substitutes."

"..."

Hu Ma praised, "It looks pretty impressive to me..."

Steward Zhou was stunned, thinking that the little shopkeeper had squeezed everything out of Zou Gui Agu (Walking Ghost Old Woman) and was now eyeing the little skill he possessed.

He glanced nervously at the bloodstains on Hu Ma's blade and the corpses on the ground, and said, "You still want to learn this? Isn't your method more thorough?"

"..."

"There's no such thing as too many skills to learn," Hu Ma said with a smile before turning around. He scanned the crowd, recognized the brawny leader, and placed his serrated blade against his neck.

The brawny leader was subdued by Steward Zhou and couldn't move or shout, but he could hear and see. He had seen Hu Ma kill several people, and now with a blade against his neck, he immediately closed his eyes and waited for death.

But Hu Ma didn't chop him down. Instead, he signaled Steward Zhou to remove the needles and said in a low voice, "Answer whatever I ask, or I'll kill you."

"If you don't believe me, I'll chop off your arm first to show my respect for your tough bones..."

"..."

"Speak, speak, I'll answer whatever you ask..."

The brawny leader said with a whimper, "My bones aren't tough, not tough at all."

"Then honestly tell me, what are you looking for here?" Hu Ma asked, "And why are you blocking the bridge?"

"It's... it's not our fault..."

The brawny leader said tearfully, "We're just following the orders of Gan Niang (Foster Mother). Gan Niang told us to guard the bridge and carefully check those coming from the south, to look for a comatose girl, fourteen or fifteen years old..."

"A comatose girl?"

Hu Ma sighed softly and exchanged a glance with Steward Zhou, thinking, 'Just as I thought.'

He pressed the blade against the man's neck and said, "Then tell me more about this Gan Niang. Who is she?"

"She... she's Cui Gan Niang..."

The brawny leader trembled as he said, "Everyone who travels the Pingnan Ancient Road knows Cui Gan Niang."

"She... she's incredibly powerful. She can raise little ghosts, use magic, and even... even kill people without showing her face. Everyone on the road knows that as long as... as long as she's involved, it's a big deal."

"She... she gave the orders, and we had no choice but to obey. Otherwise, otherwise, if we offend Gan Niang, we won't be able to make a living on the road anymore. Even the brothels won't welcome us..."

"..."

Hu Ma looked up at Steward Zhou, who had a grim expression. "Do you know her?"

Steward Zhou shook his head and said softly, "I've heard of her."

Seeing that Hu Ma wasn't asking him anything else, the brawny leader immediately said, "Good sir, spare my life..."

"I'll ask you a question," Hu Ma said, glancing at him. "Do you think someone with soft bones can live longer, or someone with hard bones?"

"..."

The brawny leader immediately replied, "Soft bones."

Hu Ma said, "I don't like people with bones."

With that, he struck with his blade. He killed the remaining few as well, then sheathed his blade and said to Steward Zhou, "Xiang丫tou (Fragrant Girl) also said that the person who kidnapped her made her call her Gan Niang, and that Gan Niang was the one who hammered the nail into her head."

"Is this killing people or chickens?"

Steward Zhou was also shocked by Hu Ma's ruthlessness, thinking that the members of the Xue Shi (Blood Food) Gang were indeed efficient.

Years ago, when he roamed the martial world, he was also ruthless, but now, seeing Hu Ma kill one person after another without even frowning, he was momentarily stunned.

Of course, he didn't quite understand that transmigrators had their own set of principles.

If they were to draw their blades and kill innocent people, a shadow would fall over their hearts, and they would hesitate, unable to do it.

But if someone initially intended to take their life, then killing them would be done without any burden.

There were even transmigrators who would deliberately provoke the other party to reveal their killing intent first, and then use that as an excuse to kill their entire family. Hu Ma was only trying to maintain secrecy, which already counted as being soft-hearted.

If Di Gua Shao (Sweet Potato Liquor) were here, they might not even be able to become ghosts.

However, with this newfound respect, Steward Zhou quickly organized his thoughts. Listening to Hu Ma's words, he connected many things and sighed softly, "It was impossible for ordinary people to kidnap the young miss right under my nose..."

"At first, I was wondering if I was just getting old and my eyesight was failing, but now I'm sure that this so-called Cui Gan Niang seems to be quite famous on the road."

"She can order so many thugs to work for her with just a word, and even guard bridges and ferry crossings. She must be quite capable."

"..."

Hu Ma also understood and vaguely guessed the reason.

Or rather, this was what he had been worried about all along. He hadn't expected that after traveling halfway, it had finally come true.

Hu Ma had sent the letter to the Li family, but before they could come to pick her up, Xiang丫tou (Fragrant Girl) had an accident.

At that time, they had already suspected that Xiang丫tou's accident might not be so simple, and might even be a scheme by the Li family. If someone in the Li family didn't want Xiang丫tou to be well, they might have even arranged for her to be kidnapped in the first place.

If that was the case, did the other party only want Xiang丫tou's soul to not return to her body?

Otherwise, someone might have immediately set out for Mingzhou to eliminate any future problems.

However, he had seen through their plan early and had taken Xiang丫tou on the road before those people could arrive, sending her directly to Lingshou Prefecture.

If the other party guessed this, they would definitely not let him off easily.

But he and his party had anticipated this move in advance, concealing their identities and using the pretense of escorting a coffin. It wouldn't be easy for them to find these people.

Could it be that the other party had also considered this and simply didn't chase after them? Instead, they had simply set up surveillance along the necessary routes, waiting for their party to pass by?

"..."

But as he thought about it, his expression became more and more doubtful. "But if she's so capable and knowledgeable, she should know the reputation of the Li family of Ghost Cave. Why would she bother kidnapping the young miss of the Li family of Ghost Cave?"

"What's even stranger is, what are they trying to achieve by going through so much trouble? Why didn't they just..."

"..."

As he spoke, he gestured slightly at his neck.

Steward Zhou listened, feeling a lingering fear. He quickly shook his head and said, "This is probably related to our young miss's Yin Tie (Netherworld Decree)."

"Not just anyone dares to take our young miss's life. The more they know about the Li family of Ghost Cave, the less they dare to."

"Now that the young miss has been kidnapped, so many things have happened. But if they had really intended to kill the young miss back then, perhaps the master would have already taken action personally."

"..."

"Yin Tie (Netherworld Decree)?"

Now that Steward Zhou didn't dare to hide anything from him, Hu Ma also understood the importance of respecting taboos and didn't recklessly inquire about other people's secrets. But from his brief words, he guessed a few things, but didn't ask for details for now.

Time was of the essence, and they could only leave as soon as possible.

From the moment they were targeted by these people, whether they killed them or not, their whereabouts would inevitably be exposed. The only difference was that killing them would delay the time it took for that Cui Gan Niang to receive the news. They could only use this time to hurry on their way.

"Go to Anzhou."

The old steward said through gritted teeth, "The more they act like this, the more it shows they're afraid of the young miss returning."

"No matter if it's Gan Niang or Gan Sunzi (Foster Grandson), once we reach Anzhou, I don't believe she can still cause any trouble!"

"..."

As he spoke, he pulled out the silver needles again and stabbed them into the Yin Po Xue (Yin Spirit Acupoints) of the corpses on the ground before standing up and putting away the needles.

Seeing Hu Ma's curiosity, he explained, "Stabbing them like this will prevent their souls from gathering and turning into ghosts too quickly."

"It won't be so easy for them to reveal our whereabouts."

"This isn't a skill from our Ba Xi (Acrobatic) School. It's a skill from the Li family of Ghost Cave."

"..."

"Goodness, you're a ruthless one too..."

Seeing this, Hu Ma couldn't help but sigh, "In this martial world, I'm indeed still lacking in experience..."

"Steward Zhou, it wouldn't be too much to ask you to teach me this skill, would it?"

"..."

As they discussed, they extinguished the lanterns, wiped the blood off their blades on the corpses, and quickly headed forward.

After walking seven or eight *li*, they saw Xiao Hongtang (Little Red Begonia) and the headless little ghost waiting by the roadside. With their guidance, they found Zhang Agu (Old Woman Zhang) and the donkey cart resting down the slope.

Seeing the murderous aura on the two of them, Zhang Agu (Old Woman Zhang) and the others knew that they had just experienced something, but she didn't ask about the master's affairs. Seeing that Hu Ma wanted to leave, she set up an incense formation in the cart and then took advantage of the night to quickly move forward.

Seventy *li* away, at the ferry crossing, an old woman with flowers all over her head and wearing a blue wide-sleeved shirt and padded cotton pants was dozing off, exhausted from guarding all night. Suddenly, the oil lamp beside her burst with a sound, startling her awake.

She stared blankly at the light, and then suddenly woke up with a start. She slapped the table and shouted, "Not good, they slipped past..."

"Jin Er (Gold), Yin Er (Silver), quickly carry the sedan chair. Gan Niang is going to chase after them..."

(End of Chapter)