He had saved the daughter of their family, a family with deep roots and noble status. Even the old housekeeper, who had caused the trouble, looked down on him because of his humble position as a little shopkeeper in the Blood Food Gang.
So, where was the crux of the problem?
...It lay in the question Miss White Wine had asked him during the earlier Reincarnator meeting: what did he currently lack?
What did he lack? Quite a lot, actually.
He lacked Blood Food; after all, even the Blood Food for refining life's heart depended on the dowry from the Red Lantern Lady.
He lacked the skills from the Ghost Walker Path; learning these would help him better understand the Age Suppressing Book.
He lacked understanding of this world, to figure out the Ten Surnames' schemes.
But what did he lack most?
It was precisely favors.
And when Miss White Wine heard Hu Ma's words, she surprisingly let out a laugh and said lightly, "The fact that you think this way saves me the trouble of persuading you.
"I advise you not to miss this opportunity.
"The Ghost Cave Li Family is a clan with government ties and inheritance. Having them owe you a great favor is more significant than favors exchanged between Reincarnators.
"Your skills will face some challenges after Entering the Mansion. These are difficulties that even other Reincarnators might not be able to help you with, but such a clan can help you solve this problem.
"Moreover, if there ever comes a time when you encounter problems in this world that you can't handle and Reincarnators can't come forward to assist, seeking help from such a clan could offer an unexpected surprise."
This is how a Reincarnator should talk...
Hu Ma, after hearing Miss White Wine's words, felt his guess confirmed and determined his principles and goals for handling this matter. He said, "Of course, although I have this idea, I also know that their family's favor won't be easy to obtain..."
After pondering for a while, he asked, "Could you help check her current condition?"
"Her soul is injured."
Miss White Wine said, "I took a look during the day and saw the problem. Her issue arises from her Living Soul leaving her body. For some reason, it can't return, causing soul loss and unconsciousness.
"But in my opinion, the most critical injury is that nail in her soul.
"The method used seems rather crude, unlikely the work of an expert. Still, I admire the audacity of those who dared to do such a thing to a young lady of the Ghost Cave Li Family."
The godmother Xiang once mentioned...
The thought of this person flashed through Hu Ma's mind, and he hurriedly said, "It should be related to the group that kidnapped her back then. How can this injury be treated?"
Miss White Wine was slightly startled and said, "You want me to treat her?"
Hu Ma also fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "When I say treat, I mean to preserve her life first."
Miss White Wine heard this and smiled. "Why?"
"Their family's matters are too complicated."
Hu Ma also pondered before speaking in a lowered voice, "For a young lady of the esteemed Ghost Cave Li Family—even if not from a major branch like the Impermanence Li Family—to be influential and capable, yet still get kidnapped, is remarkable in itself.
"What's more, I had already sent a letter to her family earlier, but not only did no one come to retrieve her, she suddenly met with this misfortune. It's very strange...
"And as you mentioned, the kidnappers who hammered a nail into her head were able to do so without leaving any external traces. That alone shows considerable skill...
"I suspect her kidnapping and ending up in Mingzhou Prefecture was problematic from the start. Sending her back might drag me into some not-so-rare family feuds...
"I do want to cash in on this favor, but I also need to guard against drowning in those feuds..."
Listening to him, Miss White Wine was a bit surprised, a rare hint of amusement in her voice. "You've matured a lot. You're not the same boy from that village anymore."
Hu Ma laughed. "That's what happens when you suffer too many losses.
"Of course, one can be a good person, and a good reputation is very useful. But it's not like you can't be a little cautious while being a good person and building a reputation, right?
"We're not bad people, just clear-headed good people."
"Exactly."
Miss White Wine said, "So, what is your ideal outcome now?"
When asked, Hu Ma thought about it seriously and said, "The ideal outcome is that Grass Heart Hall heals her, and then the adults from her family come to get her. This way, I wouldn't have to do anything else to establish a connection with the Ghost Cave clan."
"That's difficult to achieve."
Miss White Wine said, "I can heal the injury in her head and remove that nail.
"But I can't guarantee whether she'll wake up. The matter of soul loss is too peculiar. Even after the nail is removed, she might wake up, or she might not."
Then there's really no other way...
Hu Ma let out a soft sigh and said, "If she can't be fully healed, then rather than trying to wake her now, it might be better to follow what the old housekeeper suggested.
"If my guess is correct, her current problem is indeed related to the letter I sent to her family earlier. Perhaps the Li Family is also embroiled in power struggles and a nest of troubles.
"And if someone has indeed set a trap for her, forcibly waking her now might attract unnecessary trouble.
"It might even drag their family feud into Mingzhou Prefecture City.
"In my view, it's better to just stabilize her condition. This way, whether we wait for her true family members to come and get her, or directly send her back to the Ghost Cave Li Family in Lingshou Prefecture, we can try our best to avoid the feuds, and it would be more convenient for everyone..."
"I also think along those lines."
Miss White Wine sighed gently and said to Hu Ma, "In fact, this is how we at Grass Heart Hall have always handled such matters. You know we generally don't treat these strange illnesses, right?
"Because people have their fates.
"Of course, the concept of fate is too ethereal, but feuds and complications are very real. We are a medical hall; treating illnesses, healing injuries, and detoxifying people is our duty.
"But asking us to help someone prolong their life, that involves great karma.
"You can certainly save someone on the brink of death, but what if their impending death was deliberately caused by someone's spellcasting? If Grass Heart Hall saves them, wouldn't we then have offended those capable of killing?
"There are too many sinister and malicious methods in this world; how many such people can Grass Heart Hall afford to offend?
"So, Grass Heart Hall has these skills, but we don't use them. If the origins of a case are unclear, we will definitely decline if we can.
"Take establishing connections with the Ghost Cave clan, for example. Grass Heart Hall would also like to, but we must act according to our rules. For us, connections are sometimes more of a burden."
I can see that.
Hu Ma thought silently. This indeed matched Grass Heart Hall's consistent style.
Even when Gua Shao came for treatment, they immediately quoted a high price and dragged it out without treating her.
The reason was simple: at that time, the Green-clothed Evil Ghost was still rampant in Mingzhou Prefecture, and Grass Heart Hall didn't want to get involved in that trouble.
Gua Shao, though clever, was ultimately not prudent enough. If she had realized this earlier, she shouldn't have come seeking treatment before the Green-clothed Evil Ghost left. If she had waited until after the Green-clothed Evil Ghost was dealt with and then come, Grass Heart Hall might have conveniently treated her.
Now, however, since Grass Heart Hall had already quoted a high price, it wouldn't be easy for them to back down from that price until she gathered enough Blood Food.
While he was contemplating, Miss White Wine spoke again, "You've thought this through well. But what if you really need to personally escort her back to the Ghost Cave Li Family?
"Are you willing to do this?"
"This matter is even more complicated..."
Hu Ma didn't feign ignorance; he simply smiled wryly and said, "If I directly return their missing young lady, that favor would be enormous. But I also can't ignore the risks involved...
"Besides, the journey to Anzhou is long, and I don't know anyone there. If any accident happens..."
He stopped speaking, his mind racing with all sorts of possibilities.
What if the Ghost Cave Li Family was unreasonable?
What if their enemies intercepted me beforehand?
What if their family was overly enthusiastic, decided I had no future in the Blood Food Gang, and insisted I marry into their family?
"You're considering exactly what I'm thinking."
Miss White Wine chuckled. "In fact, my enthusiasm in this matter after learning about it is precisely because I have something to ask of you.
"Do you remember what I said I'd entrust to you before?"
"Ah?"
Hu Ma was slightly taken aback. "Didn't you say I could only help you after refining the three organs?"
And back then, the task she mentioned seemed related to 'Sealing' or something similar. He'd even spent some time trying to learn more about it. How had things changed now?
"Let's not mention the Sealing matter for now."
Miss White Wine chuckled softly. "But knowing this girl's identity has given me other ideas. It's just that I can't split myself.
"I need someone to leave for a trip and also someone to stay and guard here. I initially wanted to ask you to guard here, but now I find it might be better for you to make a trip to Anzhou for me and deliver a letter."
"Deliver a letter?"
Hu Ma was slightly puzzled upon hearing this. "To whom?"
Miss White Wine said slowly, "To the Reincarnator Organization in Anzhou."
"Reincarnator Organization?"
Hu Ma was somewhat surprised to hear this.
"Isn't this perfectly normal?"
Miss White Wine smiled. "The few of us in Mingzhou Prefecture often discuss matters, exchange information, and seek opportunities to cooperate. Doesn't that already count as a small organization?
"If even a remote place like Mingzhou Prefecture has a small group like ours, isn't it reasonable for larger cities to have Reincarnator organizations too?
"To tell you the truth, before I came to Mingzhou Prefecture, I was always a member of such an organization."