After Hu Ma and the others regrouped, they didn't dare to stop for even a moment and, under the cover of night, hurriedly made their way with uneven footsteps.
When they first encountered that group of vicious individuals, it had been just after nightfall. Now, they had been fleeing for more than half the night in one go. It seemed to be almost 3 a.m.; if they waited any longer, daybreak would soon be upon them.
By this time, the driver and the two companions all had weakened legs. They each felt dizzy, their heads spinning, and their mouths dry.
Although Aunt Zhang didn't say anything, and even when invited to sit in the cart, she refused, it was clear that she was struggling to walk, her legs probably aching from fatigue.
Of course, even if they let her sit in the donkey cart at this time, it wouldn't be able to carry her. The one most tired was the donkey; its tongue was nearly hanging out from exhaustion, its big head bobbing, and it was almost stumbling as it walked.
"Let's stop for a rest!"
Hu Ma realized everyone was nearing their limit. He could only sigh softly, then direct them to turn off the path and into the woods to stop. He took out water and dry rations to share with everyone.
Fortunately, the two companions were quick and diligent. While Hu Ma and Housekeeper Zhou had stayed behind to deal with those vicious individuals, the companions had fetched fresh water and filled the water bags. Otherwise, they wouldn't even have a drop to drink now.
Should we be safe for now?
They entered the woods to hide, fearing someone might catch up. But looking back, the path behind them was pitch black, with no sign of movement.
Hu Ma silently pondered. Earlier, he had heard those vicious individuals mention that Godmother Cui was originally over seventy miles away. By the time she received the news and gathered people to pursue them, she shouldn't have been able to catch up so quickly.
Now, they just needed to wait until daybreak, find a place, buy a couple of fast horses, and press on. They had initially used only a donkey cart to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary complications. But now that they were being targeted, they couldn't afford such caution.
Lighting a Fire Stick, Hu Ma consulted the map, trying to get his bearings.
He then turned to Housekeeper Zhou and asked in a low voice, "Who exactly is this Godmother Cui?"
"She's just a kidnapper."
Housekeeper Zhou snorted, his voice laced with resentment. "I've only heard of her reputation. They say she came from the Beggar Gang and is the daughter of the former Gang Leader. She learned a set of evil skills and uses them to swindle people. She's quite notorious in these parts."
"They say that on this Pingnan Road, countless brothels, even brokers, have all sorts of ties with her. She's practically cornered the market."
"Didn't you hear that group of thugs say earlier that if you offend her, you can't even go whoring?"
"That isn't a joke."
"Many people say that in this prosperous old capital, you might not know who the Governor Lord is, but you absolutely cannot afford not to know the Beggar Gang. The Governor Lord can collect your taxes, but the Beggar Gang can prevent you from being able to pay them."
Listening, Hu Ma took a gentle breath. Along the way, studying the map, he had learned that this old capital was still a prosperous place.
It's said that after the Tai Sui descended, the Yi Dynasty's royal family relocated the capital to Shangjing. The original capital then became today's "old capital." However, many nobles remained, creating a sort of morbid prosperity.
Countless merchants, officials, miracle men, and skilled individuals mingled here.
Since Godmother Cui could make a name for herself in a place like this, she must possess considerable skills and shouldn't be underestimated.
"Then..." Hu Ma asked the crucial question, "How does Godmother Cui compare to the Dongzi Li Family?"
Housekeeper Zhou was momentarily stunned by the question, then laughed wryly. "To make such a comparison is to greatly overestimate that Godmother Cui."
"Not just her, but the entire Beggar Gang, in front of the Dongzi Li Family, are nothing but a pack of rats that wouldn't dare show their faces. If the Old Master found out they were targeting the Young Miss, with a single order, they would all be seized and used to fill the Ghost Cave."
"That does put one's mind at ease."
Hu Ma exhaled softly and added, "But precisely because of this, we must be even more cautious."
"If Godmother Cui is indeed so afraid of the Dongzi Li Family, then she has even more reason not to allow this matter to be exposed."
"If I were her, I'd risk everything to stop us from reaching Big Stone Cliff alive!"
Housekeeper Zhou had just slipped into the mindset of a housekeeper for the Dongzi Li Family and was, at that very moment, filled with contempt for these demon people of the Beggar Gang. Suddenly, upon hearing Hu Ma's words, a sense of panic gripped his heart.
Yes, the more Godmother Cui feared the Dongzi Li Family, the more determined she would be to prevent this secret from getting out...
He quickly finished his dry rations, intending to urge everyone to hurry. But then he suddenly noticed a thin, bluish mist beginning to rise from all directions within the woods, stealthily enveloping everything in a hazy veil.
"Oh no..."
Just as panic began to stir in his heart, he abruptly heard a hoarse, unpleasant old woman's voice start to wail, "I've finally found you all..."
"Oh, my poor dear girl! Who put you in a coffin alive to suffer so? Your godmother is here to rescue you..."
"She's caught up?"
Hu Ma and the others were startled by the sound.
They hadn't delayed a moment, traveling through the night, yet their pursuer had caught up so quickly. Didn't Boss Mang say earlier that she should still be over seventy miles away, guarding Duzi Port?
How had she caught up in just six to eight hours?
Could this Godmother Cui truly be so formidable?
Everyone scrambled to their feet, looking around, but could only hear the sobbing voice—sometimes near, sometimes far; sometimes from the east, sometimes from the west.
It was as if her voice was everywhere, making it impossible to pinpoint her location. The intangible, eerie sensation made everyone's hair stand on end, their minds muddled: *Was this a living person or an Evil Ghost?*
"What are you, really?"
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. Housekeeper Zhou was terrified too, but he gritted his teeth and demanded sternly, "Are you the one who kidnapped our Young Miss?"
"Do... do you know who she is?"
"Who else could she be?" The old woman's voice carried a sinister, chilling tone. "As if I haven't trained young ladies from prestigious families and the daughters of nobles. The grand name of the Ghost Cave Li Family doesn't scare an old woman like me."
"Fate is a twisted thing, isn't it? They originally wanted me to take the girl's life, but I, in my kindness, spared her. I just thought that if she were bought and her purity lost, it would all be over. But then some great do-gooder comes along, not only refusing to take her but insisting on sending her back home..."
"Even a kind-hearted godmother like me must be ruthless when faced with something like this..."
Lost her purity?
Hu Ma listened to the faint, indistinguishable, and utterly bizarre voice, slightly taken aback.
Undoubtedly, this had to be the "Godmother" who had kidnapped Xiang. She must also be the one who had hammered nails into Xiang's head. Her talk of "kindness" was not worth listening to; there was no kindness in their line of work. However, one thing was clear: it would have been better if Xiang had lost her purity?
Hiss...
...Luckily, back then, he... hadn't been up to the task. No, that's not it! He had a strong moral compass!
Thinking this, a chill ran down his spine again as he felt eyes upon him. The voice, sometimes near, sometimes far, suddenly changed, as if someone were staring right at him, speaking in a bizarre tone:
"So, you're the kind-hearted person who sent the message to the Li Family, are you?"
"Why must you play the hero? Was Xiang not pretty enough for you, or is there something wrong with your body?"
"Since you're such a kind soul, I don't want to make things difficult for you. Give me the coffin, stay out of this mess, and be on your way..."
She even knows about the letter and my existence?
Hu Ma's mind raced. He quickly understood: her cover was blown. Once the Old Master of the Dongzi Li Family found out, death was certain for her, and likely not a pleasant one. So, she had nothing left to hide.
He chuckled. "Are you joking with me, Godmother?"
"...I'm in perfectly good shape."
As he spoke, he scanned the surroundings for her, continuing slowly, "But your cover is blown. If I leave here alive, everyone will know you were the one who targeted Miss Li."
"How could you possibly let me go?"
"Oh, dear me..." The godmother cackled strangely. "If you refuse to leave, then you'll have to leave your little life behind here..."
As her voice echoed, an intense discomfort settled over everyone; even the donkey shivered uncontrollably. Meanwhile, a mysterious fog had begun to seep into the forest, layer by layer, flowing like water around their feet.
Everyone present was desperately looking around for the speaker when, suddenly, one of the companions spotted her: an old woman with a head full of colorful flowers and a mole on her face, appearing between the trees behind the mist.
She sat in a sedan chair carried by two paper men. She grinned slyly at the companion and beckoned with a handkerchief-clutching hand.
The companion was so terrified that the hair on his head stood on end. Letting out an "AH!" he collapsed, falling stiffly to the ground. Alarmed, the others rushed to check on him, only to see his jaw clenched tight, his eyes rolled back, and foam frothing from his mouth.
"COUGH. COUGH. COUGH..."
The godmother seemed to be either laughing or coughing; the paper men carrying the sedan chair had vanished once more.
What kind of trick is this? Soul Calling Technique?
Hu Ma was startled. He wanted to help but was too late. His mind raced. If it is Soul Calling Technique, I didn't even hear her call anyone's name.
He gripped his knife tightly, wanting to charge forward and strike her, but her figure flickered in and out of sight, indistinct and unreal. He was bursting with strength but, for a moment, didn't know where to direct it.
There's Negative Spirit, Punishment Soul, and it seems even Haishou...
Throughout this, Aunt Zhang had been biting her lip, her eyes darting around. Seeing one of their own harmed by the eerie old woman, she could no longer stand by.
Gritting her teeth, she said to Hu Ma beside her, "Shopkeeper, I'll have to perform inviting spirits to deal with her."
"Please watch over me!"
"Understood." Hu Ma immediately agreed, raising his knife to stand guard in front of Aunt Zhang.