"Three days. At most three days, and you can come over to pick her up."
Seeing that Hu Ma agreed, the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper didn't say much more, only sighed and had the Contract brought over, writing everything down clearly and affixing their handprints.
He looked at Hu Ma with some melancholy, shaking his head and sighing, "During these three days, we can definitely help stabilize her soul. However, you both are familiar with this Path, so you must know it all depends on whether she can truly recover."
"But bringing her back is not something our Grass Heart Hall can do."
He solemnly looked at the old housekeeper and said, "If what you said is true and she is from the Dongzi Li Family, then as long as her family elders come, they should be able to heal her. But whether to send her back or wait here for her family elders to arrive, that's up to you."
"Yes, yes, thank you, Shopkeeper."
Hearing this, not only did the old housekeeper express his gratitude repeatedly, but Hu Ma, standing by, also nodded quietly.
Miss White Wine had already successfully helped him earn a favor from the Dongzi Li Family.
But whether to send Xiang back or wait for her family to come made no difference to him. However, waiting for her family would save him some trouble, though it would make Miss White Wine's entrusted matter difficult to manage.
But at this critical time, he couldn't say anything else. Seeing that everything was settled at the Grass Heart Hall, he said to the old housekeeper, "For now, I have no choice but to trust you."
"As long as Xiang's situation stabilizes, I can be at ease. The remaining matters are for you to handle here!"
"I think it's better if you send word back sooner rather than later."
"I already had someone send her handwritten letter back earlier. The Li Family hasn't sent anyone. If you send word and people come, it will confirm your identity and also relieve us of a major concern."
"...Indeed, I also covered the consultation fee for you."
"..."
"Ah, well, yes, yes..."
Seeing Hu Ma act so openly, and thinking of his own previous evasiveness, the old housekeeper felt a flush of embarrassment.
Hu Ma glanced at him and suddenly smiled. "You actually looked more pleasing when you were haughty. That way, I could have hardened my heart and ignored you."
"Now, since I've already covered the consultation fee for your young mistress, it's no big deal. Go find someone to look at your leg!"
"..."
Hearing this, the old housekeeper felt both embarrassed and ashamed, wishing he could crawl into the ground.
Hu Ma hadn't been wrong before. As the housekeeper of the Ghost Cave Li Family, he was always wary and distrustful of those shopkeepers in the Blood Food Gang. He also knew that Hu Ma was the benefactor who had saved their young mistress, and on the very first day, he had stealthily asked the doctor if his young mistress was still untouched. After receiving a definite answer, he was overjoyed internally. He originally possessed some of the arrogance typical of a prominent family's housekeeper, but after these few days of interaction, that arrogance had finally dissipated, replaced by a strong sense of shame.
For some reason, this little shopkeeper didn't seem like one from the Blood Food Gang at all. Instead, he carried the air of someone from a prominent family.
Hu Ma, however, didn't bother with what the old housekeeper was thinking and simply left as he said he would. He didn't really plan to abandon Xiang; Miss White Wine was there to watch over things for him, so he would understand everything that happened. Moreover, this matter also involved the task of delivering Miss White Wine's letter. There were also some concrete matters between the two to hand over, so he had to wait until he returned to the Manor to discuss them. That was far better than being in the city with so many prying eyes.
Thus, he truly acted like someone who does favors without expecting anything in return. After covering the medicine money, he set off back to the Manor.
The old housekeeper watched him from afar, his eyes filled with gratitude. Even the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper, who sat nearby holding a smoking pipe, couldn't help shaking his head and sighing, "Old brother, your young mistress is lucky to have met this young man from the mountains."
"In this world today, there aren't many people with a heart so pure and kind..."
"..."
The old housekeeper could only nod in agreement, quite moved.
After rushing for six to eight hours, Hu Ma returned to the Manor. It was already approaching evening.
He saw all the workers in the courtyard, practicing with Zhou Datong. Red lanterns were lit nearby, ready for a night patrol. Zhou Datong had now taken up the responsibilities of the manager and was handling affairs quite thoroughly.
But the moment they saw Hu Ma, they immediately reverted to a childish demeanor, threw down their knives, and hurried over to ask, "How is Xiang?"
"Her condition is stabilized, but it's hard to say for sure beyond that," Hu Ma comforted them, then said, "I've been on the road all day without eating anything. Go make some food."
"Yes, yes! Quickly, go ask Brother Li!"
Xiang's illness meant that Li, who had been recovering for two months, was also forced to recover. With so many people in the Manor, it was impossible to have no one cooking. But now, he cooked every day, though he was lazy when cooking for the workers, preferring to stew chickens and boil sugar eggs. Even during his recuperation period, he hadn't spent much time lying in bed. He would often jump up, dash into the kitchen to get busy, then emerge carrying two big roosters or a pot of sugar eggs. Sometimes, he even took two bottles of wine with him!
But no worker dared to question him. While other workers would be reprimanded for wasting the Manor's food, Li could buy as many chickens as he wanted and cook as many sugar eggs as he liked, all on the public account.
Obviously, Li's status was different now, but he was still happy to cook for Hu Ma. Soon, he brought over a pot of stewed chicken, a few large steamed buns, and a plate of stir-fried greens.
Hu Ma noticed that the chicken in the pot was only half. He guessed the other half had been taken outside as a tribute. But since this was something he himself had allowed, he didn't mind. He just ate a few bites casually and then sat there waiting.
Xiang's matter was a minor detail; successfully currying this favor naturally had many benefits. But even if it didn't work out, he wouldn't lose anything.
However, Miss White Wine's request for him to deliver the letter was an important matter. It was vital for advancing his Shousui man Path, and she had found the method for him.
Thinking of Miss White Wine's changes these past few days, Hu Ma was actually curious: What kind of letter could be so important that she would offer him such a generous reward for delivering it?
Furthermore... Miss Red Wine? Wasn't that the codename sweet potato was unworthy of back then? Since sweet potato was unworthy, what kind of person could this Miss Red Wine be?
Mingzhou Prefecture was small, with few people. So far, only the four of them had been discovered as Reincarnators. What about Anzhou City? In a place where a Reincarnator Organization could form, there must be many of them, right? If he could meet them, it would be extremely helpful for broadening his horizons.
While he was silently pondering, night had fallen. He wondered if Miss White Wine would seek him out tonight, or if the letter she mentioned would be delivered by a little ghost today.
Just as he lit the oil lamp on the table and was reading while waiting, a staggering figure appeared outside the courtyard, wearing an enormous hat.
It was just over a foot tall, walking on two legs, looking like a little person.
Before it even crossed the threshold, a strong smell of alcohol wafted over. When it reached him, it lifted its head, revealing a pair of round eyes and a few long whiskers under the hat. Tilting its head, it giggled and suddenly spoke, "Little Shopkeeper, do I look like a human?"
"..."
"Huh?"
The moment Hu Ma saw it enter, he realized this was not human and was about to act. But when he heard its words, the voice was slightly unfamiliar. Yet, the tone and the sense of familiarity were indeed recognizable, and he was suddenly startled.
Sealing?
Miss White Wine had mentioned it once before, and he had paid attention, inquiring about it a few times. He now had some understanding of this Sealing technique.
The so-called Sealing occurred when these spirits, having partaken of the mortal realm's essence, gradually gained Mana. However, this couldn't yet be called true Cultivation. They needed to cross a critical threshold to be considered as having entered the Path. And this entry into the Path was a process unique to spirits: Sealing.
This one had come in drunk and staggering, this being its first direct encounter with Hu Ma. But Hu Ma immediately recognized it; this was Seventh Aunt...
Their family, during the previous haunting by the green clothes, couldn't escape. So, they had used Li's body to help nearby villagers in expelling evil. In doing so, they earned merits comparable to those outside Ghost Walkers. And while the Ghost Walkers left after their job was done, this family had stayed. Due to the fame they gained during the haunting, they received incense from the nearby villagers, who began to regard them as Immortals.
Could it be that due to this incense, Seventh Aunt's Cultivation has surged, reaching the point of Sealing?
But you... this is simply absurd! We have a connection, but you should have at least had Li come over and give me a heads-up, let me prepare...
The Sealing process was extremely dangerous. If he said "yes, you look human," she would cross that threshold. But if he somehow said "no, you don't," her Cultivation would be ruined!
And she, without any warning, still drunk, swaggered into his Manor with a stolen hat, seeking Sealing. Is she really this drunk? ...It seems she really is quite drunk.
Hu Ma couldn't help but admit that this truly suited their whole family's reckless nature!
He couldn't say she didn't look human; saying so would ruin her Cultivation. But his understanding of Sealing was still limited, and saying she did look human might entail unknown karmic consequences.
Hu Ma suddenly felt a bit nervous. Sitting upright in the hall and facing her dark, round eyes squarely, he calmly said, "Seventh Aunt, I know it's you. You assisted the villagers and gained incense; you have done good deeds."
"But the matter you ask about is too important. I need to think. Can you come back to me in two months and ask me this question again? What do you think?"
"..."
His heart was in his throat. If she said no and insisted on an answer now, it would be troublesome.
Unexpectedly, while he was still worrying, Seventh Aunt scratched her head, took off her hat, and said, "Alright then!"
With that, she turned and left.
"?"
Hu Ma was baffled. This is a crucial matter in your Cultivation; couldn't you show a bit more respect for it?