So, it wasn't that I had walked into their net. It was clearly them who had walked into a net set by my own side...
Originally, after leaving Anzhou, Hu Ma had maintained his vigilance throughout the journey, fearing an ambush or a mishap. Now, however, he suddenly felt relieved.
So Miss Red Wine and the others hadn't been idle at all? They'd figured out the movements of the Beggar Gang Leader Ji Tang, and even the internal deployments within their gang?
Damn... They even figured out how many times Ji Tang could go in one night and how long each session lasted! An overwhelming admiration for these Reincarnators from Anzhou suddenly surged in his heart, accompanied by a growing curiosity about them. In retrospect, during his interactions with Anzhou's Reincarnators this time, he had only met Miss Red Wine. Burning Blade counted as half, as they had borrowed Miss Red Wine's Magical Treasure during their real-world encounter and hadn't seen each other's faces. With someone like Miss Red Wine, whose personality was rare even among ordinary people, what style would the other Reincarnators have? Seeing so many of them suddenly emerge, seemingly involved in this matter—what was going on? Were they all planning to take action this time?
"After all this talk, what kind of trap did Ji Tang set up, and what plan did he prepare?"
Only after everyone had reported the information they had gathered did Miss Red Wine's voice sound again. "Don't tell me you managed to find out where his lover lives but still haven't figured out how he's planning to make his move, even when he's about to act?"
"That would make Old White laugh at us for being unprofessional."
"No laughter, no laughter..."
Hu Ma thought silently, They've already been so thorough, it's almost ridiculous...
Yet, unexpectedly, these Reincarnators, who had seemed quite relaxed and were chatting casually just moments ago, grew somber upon hearing Miss Red Wine's words. The atmosphere suddenly tensed.
"We really haven't found out."
Burning Blade's voice sounded, tinged with a wry smile. "He's gathered the minor leaders along Pingnan Road; he's definitely setting a trap."
"But I truly haven't discovered what their plan is."
"Could it be that they're just gathering everyone in Bull Head Town, waiting for Old White to appear, and then resorting to standard jianghu tactics: first poison the wine, then scatter lime, set up horse-tripping ropes and barbed nets, and finally charge in with a flurry of blades?"
Listening to his detailed description, Hu Ma wondered if Burning Blade had actually done such things before. He was, however, genuinely surprised by this discussion.
They even figured out how many times he does it in one night, yet they couldn't determine the specific plan for his move. Isn't that a bit strange?
Since they couldn't ascertain the specific plan, he had no choice but to commit everything else to memory as best as possible. The next day, after a hearty meal, he would set off again.
He knew the Beggar Gang was sure to make a move against him in Bull Head Town, which was half a day's journey away. Still, he didn't change his route and headed straight there.
Along the way, he occasionally encountered members of the Beggar Gang. Some carried dog-beating sticks and squatted lazily by the roadside, while others, in worn-out shoes, shuffled along, trailing his carriage.
Compared to before, they weren't putting on much of an act, and Hu Ma was even calmer, his face shielded by a straw hat as he leisurely rode along the main road.
He guessed that with more beggars following him now, their numbers would likely swell as he approached Bull Head Town. It seemed probable that every beggar with any skill along Pingnan Road had been summoned, preparing a grand 'welcome' for him there.
But he hadn't expected things to take a turn so quickly.
As he drew closer to the place where they awaited him, the number of beggars watching and following him actually decreased.
This abnormal development made Hu Ma suddenly extra cautious. All gone? What are they up to this time?
"You should leave too!"
At the same time, outside Bull Head Town, in a Wild Tea House by the main road, Ji Tang, the Beggar Gang Leader, clad in a silk robe and possessing a handsome appearance, was speaking to the old servant attending him. "Go meet those we've summoned. Tell them the Beggar Gang is disbanding. Have them quickly divide the remaining goods and flee far away to avoid trouble!
"After all, once we're done with this score, we have to leave Pingnan Road too. If we leave them behind, who knows how their enemies will torment them!
"When you meet those we summoned, tell them to wait for my signal. Once they see it, bring them over to help me load the cart; they can get a slightly larger share when the goods are divided.
"But, as usual, wait only for the time it takes one incense stick to burn.
"If you don't see my fire signal within the time of One Incense, tell everyone to disperse immediately and escape with what little we have left!
"And from now on, never ever mention to outsiders anything about being the Pingnan Road Beggar Gang's elder or one of the Eight Great Vajra...
"...No one in the jianghu truly takes our Beggar Gang seriously."
"Yes, yes..."
The old servant—or rather, the elder of the Beggar Gang—nodded quickly, a wry smile on his face. "Don't say this every time. Before every operation, you deliver what sounds like your last words. Aren't you worried about tempting fate...?"
"These are proper arrangements. What's there to tempt? For those of us who live by the jianghu, which operation doesn't carry the risk of losing our heads?"
Ji Tang actually smiled, looked at him, and said, "If something happens to me, you not only have to disband the youngsters in the gang but also take good care of my wild woman."
"I know you fancy her too. Just take her with you. But I have to make it clear: you can sleep with her, but at least provide for her. Don't turn around and sell her, or I won't spare you. I'll come back as a ghost to deal with you."
"You should know, a person like me, even as a ghost, would be a fierce ghost."
"Please, stop talking like that."
The old servant patted his own mouth twice, as if to ward off ill omen for Ji Tang, and said, "I've remembered everything you said. But really, don't you need us to stay and help? Those people we summoned..."
"When a Shousui man is at work, what help can you offer?"
Ji Tang gave him a sideways glance. "The more people, the more trouble. It would be chaotic, and I'd have to worry about accidentally killing the wrong person."
"Hurry up and leave. I reckon that little shopkeeper is almost here..."
He had originally thought that upon reaching Bull Head Town, he would walk right into a den of beggars. However, Hu Ma never expected that as he approached the outskirts of Bull Head Town, not a single person would be in sight. The entire main road had become deserted.
What kind of elaborate trick are these fellows playing?
He couldn't help but feel a little nervous, not daring to drop his guard in the slightest. Even when fishing, one must prevent the boat from capsizing in a ditch. What if they actually managed to devour him, the bait?
While he was lost in these thoughts, a figure finally appeared ahead of the carriage.
He looked up and saw a Wild Tea House outside Bull Head Town. It consisted of a few wooden poles supporting two shabby straw mats, along with a stove and two tables. It was empty, not a soul in sight.
But outside the tea house, right in the middle of the main road, stood a man. He had his hands behind his back, watching the carriage slowly approach, and a slight smile played on his lips.
Is he also from the Beggar Gang? His clothes aren't ragged. Could it be...
As he was rapidly thinking, unsure whether to rein in the horse and exchange some words first or do something else, the man standing in the middle of the road with his hands behind his back slowly raised his head. He began to walk towards the carriage, taking a deep breath as he did so.
Not good.
Though they were still three to four zhang apart, a sense of alarm suddenly arose in Hu Ma's heart.
In the next moment, the man let out a sudden, furious shout, his voice booming.
Instantly, a sinister wind billowed forth, soul-chilling, as if the gates of hell had swung open, sweeping towards them along the main road.
He's not even going to exchange pleasantries? He's attacking directly?
Hu Ma instantly understood: this person was none other than Ji Tang, the Beggar Gang Leader. This shout was clearly the ability of a Shousui man. He had merely exhaled a breath of yin qi, yet it manifested as a rolling, sinister wind, seemingly capable of blowing a person's soul away. Someone with low cultivation would likely lose their life in such a confrontation. Hu Ma was greatly alarmed and hurriedly pulled at the reins, terrified that if the horse faced this blast of yin qi head-on, the large animal would be killed instantly...
Unexpectedly, as he pulled the reins, the horse, which had been docile throughout the journey, suddenly went berserk.
It had been listless the entire way, but faced with an assailant who attacked without warning, it abruptly became energized. Its eyes seemed to turn red, and despite Hu Ma yanking on the reins, it didn't stop. Instead, it charged madly towards the man.
"Oh?"
The man blocking the road was momentarily stunned to see the carriage horse display such a temper.
Then he burst into laughter. Facing the powerfully charging horse, he suddenly lowered his head and met it with a headbutt of his own.
THUD!
This horse was already unlike others, and now it was charging furiously, gaining speed and momentum, its force immense enough to demolish a wall.
But when the two heads collided, there was a dull thud. It was the tall horse that was sent flying, toppling the carriage along with it.
The horse was clearly stunned by the impact, several of its teeth knocked out.
"The little shopkeeper from Mingzhou?"
The man blocking the road, however, merely shook his head, seemingly unharmed. With a smile, he turned to look at Hu Ma. "I am Ji Tang, making a living on Pingnan Road. Several of my men met their end at your hands."
"Today, I am here to kill you!"