Chapter 1 After the Reunion

After reuniting, Hu Ma and the others didn't dare to linger for even a moment. They took advantage of the darkness, hurrying along the road, each step sinking deep into the ground.

They had encountered that group of thugs not long after nightfall, but now, they had fled for most of the night in one breath. It was almost Yin Shi (3-5 AM), and if they waited any longer, the sky would probably brighten.

By this time, the cart driver and the two shop assistants had already gone weak in the legs, their heads were dizzy, and their mouths were dry.

Although Aunt Zhang didn't say anything, and didn't sit on the cart even when invited, it was clear that she was swaying as she walked. She must be exhausted as well.

Of course, even if she were allowed to sit on the donkey cart at this time, it wouldn't work. The most tired was the donkey. By now, its tongue was almost hanging out, its big head was nodding, and it was about to stumble as it walked.

"Let's stop and rest for a while!"

Hu Ma knew that everyone was reaching their limit, so he could only sigh softly, directing them to turn aside into the forest and stop. He took out water and dry food and distributed it to everyone.

Fortunately, the two shop assistants were both skilled and diligent. When Hu Ma and Manager Zhou stayed behind to wait for the group of thugs, they had fetched clear water and filled the water pouches. Otherwise, everyone probably wouldn't even have water to drink now.

"Should we be safe for the time being?"

Entering the forest to hide was to prevent anyone from chasing after them, but looking back, the road was pitch black, and there was no movement.

Hu Ma thought silently. He had just heard the group of thugs say that Granny Cui was originally only seventy *li* away from here. Even if she received the news and gathered her men to chase after them, it shouldn't be so fast.

Now, they should wait until dawn, find a place, buy two fast horses, and hurry on their way.

Earlier, they had only hired a donkey cart in order to keep a low profile and avoid complications. But now that they had been targeted, they couldn't care less.

Lighting a fire starter and taking a look at the map, Hu Ma tried to get a sense of his surroundings.

Then he turned to Manager Zhou and said in a low voice, "Who exactly is that Granny Cui?"

"Just a trafficker."

Manager Zhou snorted coldly, feeling resentful as he mentioned her, "I've only heard of her name. It's said that she came from the Beggar Clan and is the daughter of the former leader of the Beggar Clan. She learned a lot of evil arts, swindles and deceives, and has a reputation in the underworld."

"It is said that in Pingnan Dao, many brothels, kilns, and even brokerage firms have various connections with her. She has taken over all the business."

"Didn't you hear what that group of thugs said just now? You can't even visit a brothel if you offend her?"

"It's not a joke."

"I don't know how many people say that in this prosperous Old Capital, you may not know who the prefect is, but you must know the Beggar Clan. The prefect can collect your taxes."

"But the Beggar Clan can make you unable to pay this tax."

"..."

Listening to this, Hu Ma also took a low breath. On the way, he had been studying the map and knew about this prosperous Old Capital.

It is said that after the Taishui descended into the world, the Yi Dynasty royal family moved the capital to Shangjing, and the original capital became the current Old Capital, but there were still many princes and nobles who stayed behind, creating a kind of morbid prosperity.

I don't know how many merchants, officials, and strange people are mixed in here.

Since Granny Cui can make a name for herself in this place, she must have some skills. She should not be underestimated.

"Then..."

Hu Ma asked the key question: "How does this Granny Cui compare to the Dongzi Li family?"

Manager Zhou was stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly, "To compare them like that is too much of a compliment to that Granny Cui."

"Not to mention her, even the entire Beggar Clan is just a bunch of rats that can't be put on the table in front of the Dongzi Li family. If the master knew that they had designs on the young lady, with a single order, everyone would be caught and thrown into the Ghost Cave."

"..."

"That's reassuring."

Hu Ma breathed a sigh of relief and said, "But the more this is the case, the more cautious we must be."

"If that Granny Cui is really so afraid of the Dongzi Li family, then she will be even less likely to allow us to expose this matter."

"If I were her, I would desperately prevent us from returning to Da Shitou Cliff!"

"..."

Manager Zhou had just identified with his identity as the manager of the Dongzi Li family and was disdainful of these demonic people from the Beggar Clan. But suddenly, after hearing Hu Ma's words, he felt a little flustered in his heart.

Yes, the more Granny Cui feared the Dongzi Li family, the less likely she would be to let this matter leak out...

He hurriedly finished his dry food, thinking about urging people to hurry on their way, but suddenly, he saw that in this forest, a thin, blue mist had vaguely risen at some point, coming from all directions, obscuring everything.

"Oh dear..."

Just as he was feeling uneasy, he suddenly heard a hoarse and unpleasant old woman's voice, suddenly crying, "I've finally found you..."

"My poor goddaughter, who put you alive in a coffin to suffer? Godmother is here to rescue you..."

"..."

"She's caught up?"

Hu Ma and the others were startled when they heard this movement.

They had not delayed at all, traveling all night, but they did not expect the other party to catch up so quickly. Earlier, he had heard that Mang Laoda said that she should still be guarding the Duzikou, seventy *li* away, right?

How could she have caught up in only three or four hours?

Is this Granny Cui really that capable?

Everyone hurriedly got up and looked around, but they only heard that sobbing voice, sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes coming from the east, sometimes from the west.

It was as if her voice was everywhere, and it was impossible to tell where she was. The invisible sense of strangeness made everyone's hair stand on end, and their minds were confused:

Is this a living person, or an evil spirit?

...

"What exactly are you?"

Everyone was terrified, and Manager Zhou was also afraid, but he gritted his teeth and sternly asked, "Are you the one who abducted my young lady?"

"Do... do you know who she is?"

"..."

"Who else could she be?"

The old woman's voice had a sinister and eerie tone: "Godmother has taught all kinds of young ladies from wealthy families and daughters of princes and nobles. The Dongzi Li family has a great reputation, but it can't scare me, old woman."

"It's really the work of fate. People originally wanted Godmother to take the girl's life, but Godmother kindly spared your life, just thinking that you would be sold and defiled, and that would be the end of it. Where did such a great benefactor come from, not only not wanting you, but also sending you home..."

"No matter how kind Godmother is, when she encounters such a thing, she has to be ruthless..."

"..."

"Defiled?"

Hu Ma's heart also trembled slightly as he listened to this subtle and indistinguishable, extremely strange voice.

Without a doubt, this must be the "godmother" who abducted Xiang丫tou (Xiang Yatou, "Fragrant Girl"). She must have been the one who hammered nails into Xiang丫tou's head.

Saying things like "kindness" is not even worth listening to. There is no reason for anyone in their line of work to be kind. But it can also be noticed that it would have been better if Xiang丫tou had been defiled?

Hiss...

... Fortunately, I wasn't very capable at the time, ah no, I had enough moral values!

Just as he was thinking, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart, feeling that eyes were looking at him, and the voice that was sometimes near and sometimes far suddenly changed, as if someone was staring at him, saying strangely:

"This is the kind-hearted person who sent a letter to the Li family, right?"

"What kind of world is this? Why do you have to be a good person? Is it because Xiang丫tou is not pretty enough, or is it because your body is not good?"

"Since you are so kind-hearted, Godmother doesn't want to make things difficult for you. Otherwise, give me the coffin, don't meddle in this matter, and leave quickly..."

"..."

"She even knows about the letter that was sent out, and she also knows about my existence?"

Hu Ma was also thinking quickly in his heart, and then he understood. Her secret could no longer be kept. As long as the master of the Dongzi Li family knew, it would definitely be death, and it would probably not be a good death. So she simply stopped hiding it.

So he smiled and said, "Godmother is joking with me, right?"

"... My body is very good."

While speaking, he searched for her figure, slowly saying, "But your secret has already been revealed. If I leave alive, then everyone will know that you were the one who attacked the Li family's young lady."

"How could you be willing to let me leave?"

"..."

"Oh dear..."

That godmother laughed strangely: "If you don't want to leave, then you will have to leave your little life here..."

As this voice rang out, everyone felt extremely uncomfortable, even the donkey was trembling, and the surrounding area was covered in fog at some point, seeping into the forest layer by layer, flowing like water at their feet.

Everyone present was eagerly looking around, trying to find that person, but suddenly, a shop assistant saw an old woman with flowers all over her head and a mole on her face, appearing between the trees behind the fog.

She was sitting on a sedan chair carried by two paper figures, smiling at the shop assistant and waving her hand holding a handkerchief.

The shop assistant was immediately so frightened that a cold air rushed to the top of his head. He screamed "ah" and fell straight down. Everyone was shocked and hurriedly looked at him, but they saw that his jaws were clenched, his eyes were rolling back, and he was spitting out mouthfuls of foam.

"Cough cough cough cough..."

That godmother seemed to be laughing and coughing at the same time. The paper figures carrying the sedan chair had already disappeared again.

"What kind of trick is this? Soul-calling technique?"

Hu Ma was also suddenly shocked. He wanted to help, but it was too late. He was just thinking quickly in his heart. If it was a soul-calling technique, he didn't even hear her call anyone's name.

And he clenched the knife in his hand, wanting to go up and give her a knife, but he saw that her figure was sometimes visible and sometimes hidden, looking not real at all. He had a belly full of strength, but he didn't know where to use it for a moment.

"There is negative spirit, there is criminal soul, and there seems to be harm to the head..."

During this process, Aunt Zhang had also been biting her lips tightly, looking around. Seeing that someone had been hurt by the strange old woman, she finally couldn't care less.

She gritted her teeth and said to Hu Ma beside her, "Shopkeeper, I have to invite the spirit to deal with her."

"Please take care of me a little!"

"..."

"Yes."

Hu Ma immediately agreed, holding his knife and guarding in front of Aunt Zhang.