It was not yet midnight, yet the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper was already preparing. Xiang lay on a soft couch on the second floor, with many red threads tied around her.
"SWOOSH!"
All the red threads were tied with slipknots. Though they appeared complex, there was actually only one main release strand. When the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper pulled it, the red thread was suddenly extracted, and all the bells on it rang one last time, then scattered, falling gently around Xiang.
The sound gradually ceased, leaving the bells in disarray.
The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper crouched down to examine the bells, and Hu Ma joined him, discovering with surprise that several bells were damaged.
No one else knew the reason, merely watching the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper with concern. After observing for a long time, he called for pen and paper, seemingly noting something down before inviting Hu Ma and the old housekeeper to sit outside.
"The girl you brought doesn't seem well," he said, lowering his voice. "She's indeed a Living Soul detached from her body, unable to return to her corporeal form. But do you know what's more serious? There's a nail hammered into her head."
"A nail?"
The old housekeeper's heart skipped a beat with worry.
Hu Ma suddenly recalled Xiang mentioning this before, although he hadn't seen any marks on her head. But the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper, using their Siming Path Method, had discovered it.
The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper sighed and said, "Humans have three essential souls. Two of these are the Yuan Soul and the Living Soul. These three souls are also known by other names: the Rebirth Soul, the Karma Soul, and the Guardian Soul."
"Now, it seems that her Living Soul is merely detached and unresponsive. But the nail is the more severe issue; it has damaged her Yuan Soul, making her unable to guard her body."
"Because of this, of her remaining two souls, one is weakened and one is hurt. If the Living Soul returns late, her life may be in danger."
Hu Ma didn't understand these methods and could only listen attentively to broaden his knowledge.
But the old housekeeper seemed to comprehend, shocked and frightened. "Who would dare deal such a cruel blow to a young lady from the Ghost Cave Li Family?"
"Grass Heart Hall treats illnesses," the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper said, "but we don't meddle in feuds. Yet, since we've intervened this far, you don't need to worry too much for now. I've temporarily protected her with a longevity lock, so her life isn't in immediate danger. However, I don't quite have the capability to decide the next steps. I'll need to consult the Young Master for further decision-making."
"However, the Young Master should be resting now. I'll have to ask him tomorrow."
"You should find a place to stay first and return here early tomorrow!"
The old housekeeper was concerned upon hearing there was still waiting involved. In his opinion, waking the Young Master immediately would be best.
But Hu Ma sensed an opportunity and readily agreed.
Grass Heart Hall treated patients but didn't accommodate guests. Hu Ma had already declined Manager Xu's invitation and thought it inappropriate to go back now, so he left to find an inn for the night.
Seeing the old housekeeper squatting by the Grass Heart Hall, looking pitiful, Hu Ma felt a touch of helplessness. He called him over, and they took a room at the same inn. It was late, so he didn't bother washing up and simply lay on the bed, soon falling into a deep sleep.
「Inside the Lifebound Spirit Temple」
Miss White Wine was indeed waiting for him.
Upon seeing Hu Ma enter the Lifebound Spirit Temple, her voice rang out, "You certainly have some luck, picking up someone like her from who knows where."
"It was quite a coincidence."
Hu Ma then recounted how he had helped Yang Gong and, in doing so, inadvertently saved the girl.
Of course, he didn't mention the Age Suppressing Book, only saying his granny had left him a stick of incense that, when burned, repelled evil spirits.
He explained everything unrelated to the Hu Family's identity in great detail, including Xiang's ability to draw souls in dreams.
"Since she's from the Ghost Cave Li Family, it's not strange that she can draw souls," Miss White Wine said with a sigh. "It's your good fortune to have stumbled upon such a huge opportunity."
Hu Ma had been wanting to ask about this. "So, she truly has an impressive background?" he asked hurriedly.
"Her background is significant, indeed," Miss White Wine said. "The so-called Ghost Cave people refer to those in Lingshou Prefecture assigned by Imperial decree to guard the Ghost Cave. It is said there's a natural Ghost Cave there, from which demons and Evil Ghosts would emerge to harm people."
"Therefore, the ruling Emperor at the time secretly appointed a few powerful individuals skilled in subduing demons and evil spirits to pacify this Evil Land. Over time, those families took root and multiplied there, becoming today's Ghost Cave people."
"I personally examined that girl, and I can confirm she belongs to a cave guardian clan, possessing some innate gifts."
Hu Ma pondered this, then asked, "The innate gift you're talking about, does it mean she can guide souls in dreams?"
"Correct," Miss White Wine replied. "Guiding souls in dreams is no small feat. Many practitioners from various Paths train for it but can't achieve it. It's a gift carried in her bloodline, impossible to fake."
Exhaling softly, Hu Ma was now sure that Xiang's heritage was indeed extraordinary. "Is her clan very powerful?"
"The Ghost Cave clan differs from ordinary jianghu sects," Miss White Wine said. "They guard the Ghost Cave generation after generation, passing down family traditions, and rarely interact with other jianghu Paths. But they all possess certain extraordinary skills that command respect. In Anzhou Prefecture, they are considered an extremely renowned and mysterious clan."
"So she does have an impressive background, though not what I imagined." Hu Ma understood now, chuckling. "I actually thought she might be from the Impermanence Li Family of the Ten Surnames..."
"Ten Surnames?" Miss White Wine was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "You meet someone surnamed Li and assume they're from the Impermanence Li Family? Why not pick up a random stone and assume you've found gold?"
"If I meet a Zhao in the jianghu, should I automatically presume he's from the Divine Hand Zhao Family?"
"If I meet a Hu kid in the village, must I conclude he's from the Zhensui Hu Family?"
Miss White Wine's teasing words left Hu Ma speechless for a moment. A flicker of unease, then panic, washed over him. Don't make such wild connections!
"But speaking of which..." Miss White Wine continued, "The Ten Surnames are elusive, like divine dragons showing only their heads but never their tails. Unless they choose to reveal themselves, finding them, let alone anyone connected to them, is incredibly challenging. However, on the surface, each county, state, and prefecture has its own prominent families."
"In terms of public reputation, these prominent families' stature and influence can even outweigh those of the Ten Surnames. The Ghost Cave Li Family is one such family, akin to a local tyrant in Lingshou Prefecture."
"If there's a chance to befriend them, it shouldn't be missed."
"Oh?" Hu Ma paused, then smiled. "But your shopkeeper seemed quite firm when he heard the name of this family."
"That's because of our rules; he had to be firm," Miss White Wine explained. "Grass Heart Hall is a clinic, and we deal with many people. If everyone started pulling strings and calling in favors, what would happen to our regulations?"
"Of course, their situation is different. With generations of heritage, holding sway over a prefecture's territory, their words carry weight throughout the entire state of Anzhou. Their foundation truly isn't something your Red Lantern Lady's Club can compare to."
Hearing this, Hu Ma began to understand.
Counties, states, prefectures, circuits, villages—the Red Lantern Lady's Club was a Blood Food Gang that dominated Mingzhou Prefecture city, holding considerable sway there and in the surrounding areas.
Yet, within a single state, there were at least ten or twenty prefecture cities.
The Red Lantern Lady's fame might spread across an entire state, but the further one went, the fewer people would give them face. This Ghost Cave Li Family, however, sounded genuinely capable of influencing an entire state.
The old housekeeper hadn't been exaggerating; the Red Lantern Lady's Club indeed paled in comparison.
Sigh, it's just that the Red Lantern Lady isn't ambitious enough. If you were a bit more powerful, a bit more diligent, your followers would command more respect when they roam the jianghu, wouldn't they?
"To sum up..." Miss White Wine sighed again. "You are indeed fortunate. Not only did you save a young lady from the Ghost Cave clan, but you also have the chance to make this favor even greater."
"So, what are your actual plans now?"
"Make the favor greater?" Hu Ma paused. "That's not necessary. We're purely saving someone, not seeking any reward..."
"...But surely her family can't simply ignore such a significant kindness, can they?"