It was too quiet, eerily quiet.
No one expected that when Old Master Qingyi overturned the gambling table, ready to engage in a real fight with the Red Lantern Lady, such a mysterious carriage would appear.
Even more unexpected was that upon seeing this carriage, the furious Red Lantern Lady and Old Master Qingyi, two of Mingzhou Prefecture's top-ranking evil spirits, would beco so docile.
Outsiders didn't know what had happened in the town. Only a few people closer to the scene saw the carriage enter. The Red Lantern Lady and Old Master Qingyi both appeared, kneeling respectfully before the carriage. People vaguely saw the carriage curtain lift, and the person inside chatted amiably with both of them.
But no one knew for sure what was said, and no one dared to listen.
They only knelt after the carriage entered the town, waiting anxiously outside for news.
Neither side was sure if the news would be favorable to them, only knowing they must accept it.
"The Lady said all shopkeepers and managers should return to their duties and wait for further instructions."
They did not have to wait long. It felt like about the ti it takes for one incense stick to burn when suddenly, the sound of urgent hoofbeats ca from inside the town.
Hu Ma, Manager Xu, and others looked up to see a group of Incense Burners riding out on horses.
They spread out in all directions, addressing the kneeling shopkeepers and Worships outside the town, "The great person wishes to rest in the town. Everyone must leave quickly."
"Depart quietly to avoid disturbing the great person."
"..."
"What?"
Suddenly hearing this order, everyone was shocked.
Just a word, and they had to go back?
Not to ntion the Green Clothes Gang, the Red Lantern Society thought they had won this round. They were planning to celebrate and discuss how to take over the Green Clothes Gang's Blood Food mine.
Yet unexpectedly, the Red Lantern Lady issued a decree and sent everyone back.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Manager Xu saw Hu Ma in the crowd. Worried Hu Ma wouldn't understand, he hurriedly waved his hand.
"For heaven's sake, don't ask who just ca, and don't discuss them! Just follow the Lady's instructions and return to the Manor!"
"..."
Hu Ma indeed had a question, but seeing Manager Xu so tense, he could only nod.
He made a small circle and saw a Red Fragrance Disciple he had drunk with Yang Gong the night before last, now standing guard outside Zhu Gate Town. Hu Ma went over to greet him. When the Disciple saw him, he quickly said, "Brother Hu, you're here! Your donkey and cart are still here. I'll have soone bring them out for you."
Hu Ma hesitated. "Yang Gong..."
The Red Fragrance Disciple hastily replied, "Senior Brother Yang Gong is on duty inside. He probably can't talk today, so please wait at the Manor!"
"Alright, I'll leave now..."
Hu Ma had no choice. He saw a young Red Fragrance Disciple bringing his donkey and cart back, already hitched up, and thanked him.
As he was about to leave, he turned his head slightly. The young Red Fragrance Disciple quickly waved his hand, "Brother Hu, nothing is missing from your cart! We'll talk later!"
Hu Ma thought, They all seem so nervous. I'd better not ask now about how to settle the Silver I won. So, he just drove off with his donkey cart.
It was a dark night. He usually felt uneasy driving livestock on the road at night, but for so reason, it was now extraordinarily quiet all around, without a single evil spirit in sight.
Hu Ma vaguely guessed this might be related to the Tongyin ng family, making him uneasy and thus even more hesitant to linger.
But even though he was anxious, he didn't head straight for Green Stone Town. Instead, he circled back to the village where he'd previously stayed.
Firstly, to avoid being ambushed on the road, and secondly, because he had other matters to attend to.
After traveling through most of the night, he finally arrived at dawn near the manor where he had previously rested. He then had Little Hongtang dig out the Silver he had buried earlier.
Little Hongtang, full of energy after eating a large piece of green food, rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
That night, this startled the young couple who had previously hosted Hu Ma. They were sleeping in the central room when they heard sounds from the supposedly uninhabited side room: rummaging, digging, and a little girl's giggles. Terrified, the young couple huddled together, too frightened to look.
The next day, they discovered the side room in chaos, with the bed overturned and a large pit dug beneath it.
They hurriedly burned incense and paper offerings, working busily for so ti. They didn't dare keep the bed, so they threw it away.
Of course, despite frightening the couple, Hu Ma had paid them Silver in advance.
Due to this delay, Hu Ma encountered no incidents that night. By the ti he returned to Green Stone Town, it was nearly noon the next day.
Only then did his heart, restless for so many days, finally calm down.
Although this town wasn't his ho, returning to a familiar place made him feel at ease. He found beauty in everything he saw, even feeling inclined to greet the weasel on the roadside.
At the sa ti, Li, who was sitting on a small stool inside the Manor and dozing against the kitchen door fra, suddenly twitched and woke up.
Hurriedly, he called to Zhou Datong and the others, who were playing cards and drinking in the courtyard, "Quick, stop playing! Brother Ma is back!"
Zhou Datong and the others were montarily stunned, looking at Li with so suspicion.
This guy, ever since he fell into the well, has seed more and more unusual, almost as if he has foresight.
Yet, despite their doubts, they quickly cleaned up. They brought the food and wine into the kitchen, packed their pai gow in a bundle, and stashed it under the bed.
Then, one by one, they picked up knives, spears, and dung forks, practicing diligently.
As Hu Ma drove his donkey cart back to the Manor, he heard loud shouts before he even got through the gate.
Looking up, he saw Zhou Datong and the others, shirtless, waving knives and spears and practicing martial arts earnestly, their young faces flushed red.
Hu Ma thought with relief, These lads are sensible. They know to work hard on their martial skills.
This will be our own Manor in the future, and there will be many tis when I'll need them!
"..."
"Ah, Brother Ma is back..."
Seeing Hu Ma, they all threw down their knives, spears, and dung forks, running over joyfully to greet him.
"Move those carefully."
Hu Ma's donkey cart was laden with valuable items. Seeing them all eager to help, he reminded them that everything on the cart was precious bounty from his trip.
But as he saw them heading toward the small house, he thought for a mont and laughed. "No need to go there."
He said this while patting the donkey's head and driving the cart into the inner courtyard.
"Ah?"
The workers were both surprised and overjoyed, knowing what this ant.
The established practice in the Manor was that only the Shopkeeper could live in the inner courtyard. Now Brother Ma was really taking this position!
Zhou Datong was even happier. "Brother Ma moved into the inner courtyard! Does this an I don't have to squeeze in with others on the large bunk bed anymore?"
No one objected to this, as everyone tacitly agreed he was Hu Ma's right-hand man. Since Hu Ma was moving into the inner courtyard, Zhou Datong could move into the small house where Hu Ma had previously stayed. With Hu Ma becoming the Shopkeeper, Datong would naturally be promoted, becoming a junior manager of the Manor.
Perhaps Zhou Liang too, as normally a Manor had at least two managers.
Hu Ma looked around the inner courtyard and was quite satisfied.
The old shopkeeper's belongings had already been moved out. Sun Niuzi had stayed here for a few days, but it was a short period, and he hadn't moved many of his things over.
Hu Ma just had soone do a simple tidy-up of Sun Niuzi's remaining items, planning to send them back to Great Incense Master Zheng in the city later.
Then, he unpacked the donkey cart himself and had others move his bedding into the inner courtyard.
This way, not only did he avoid the crowded bunk bed, but he could also enjoy the solitude of his own courtyard.
Even Little Hongtang... got a larger beam.
anwhile, while Hu Ma was busy in the inner courtyard, the workers outside weren't idle either. They hurriedly slaughtered a chicken, bought tofu, fried peanuts, and argued over who would fetch wine from Xiangyu at the town's tavern. They were preparing for a grand feast that evening, a sort of early celebration for Hu Ma becoming the Shopkeeper.
Of course, Hu Ma didn't mind these activities. He appreciated his workers' goodwill and understood the importance of team-building.
However, he still had matters on his mind that kept him from drinking too much, as he planned to visit the Lifebound Spirit Temple that night.
He had a premonition that with the sudden arrival of the Tongyin ng family, there would be corresponding movents among the Reincarnators, making the night lively.
After all, news about the ng family is valuable anywhere, not just in our little circle of Reincarnators here in Mingzhou City.
As expected, after a few cups of wine that night, he lay down and easily connected with Er Guotou, who had been waiting.
Even more surprisingly, not only did Er Guotou appear, but Miss White Wine and Junior Sister Sweet Potato were there too.
After connecting with them—and because he had connected with White Wine and Sweet Potato before—the incense smoke from his incense burner naturally split into three strands. These strands passed through the dark red mist to connect with the other three. The first thing he heard was Junior Sister Sweet Potato's earnest voice: "Thank you, seniors, for helping and guiding ..."
"I've successfully transferred now, though I almost lost my life in the process."
"Sister White Wine, do you have any ointnt for decaying flesh and muscle? I'm getting married soon, and I can't have a la leg..."
"..."
Miss White Wine responded coolly, "I do have so, but it's very expensive. Even I can't afford it."
"If you need it, go to the Grass Heart Hall. For a few dozen catties of Blood Food, they could probably heal it for you."
"..."
"What?"
Sweet Potato was dumbfounded. "That expensive? I can't afford it now."
"I wonder if Old White has the Divine Skills to help ..."
"..."
"Ahem..."
Hu Ma felt a bit awkward listening. You can say that in private, but saying it now in front of everyone could socially ruin , couldn't it?
It was then Er Guotou's voice chid in. He first made a lighthearted comnt, "Senior Old White is indeed vastly resourceful and possesses great Divine Skills, but alas, Sweet Potato, he can't help you right now." Then, clearing his throat seriously, he continued, "Everyone, I called you urgently today to discuss a serious matter. From tonight onward, not only must we halt all cooperation, but we also need to temporarily cease all dream communications."
"In other words, we need to lay low for now."
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