Sometimes, a burst of strength, with veins bulging, could only make the willow trees by the river sway. Sometimes, a light word could fall like a thunderbolt.
Seventh Aunt came to find Hu Ma for Sealing. She thought perhaps the time was ripe; it couldn't be felt or known on a normal day. It—Seventh Aunt in her spirit form—had no physical form and couldn't speak. Only when it sensed the time was right would it ask this one question.
Moreover, it sought Hu Ma not because it knew anything specific about him, but simply because, within dozens of miles around this Manor, it was familiar only with Hu Ma, and Hu Ma was a manager.
The last time it asked this question, Hu Ma told it to wait for two months, so it waited for two months.
Now, when it asked again, it was just asking. Perhaps it didn't even internally understand what this represented.
But after Hu Ma gave his answer, it—or rather, she—was taken aback, vaguely realizing that some change seemed to be occurring.
This instinctively made the always wary Seventh Aunt want to flee. Yet, as if some unseen force held her back, she dared not run. Trying to crouch on the chair seemed inappropriate, and jumping on the table felt even more unruly.
She was like a countrywoman entering a grand mansion, feeling uneasy and out of place everywhere.
Then, at this moment, she suddenly heard a thunderous sound by her ear. She vaguely saw formless shadows appearing above her head, wearing high crowns and wide robes, holding something in their hands, and whispering to her.
This majesty and solemnity scared her so much that her head seemed to shrink into her neck. Yet, instinctively, she knew to kowtow to those shadows, and she did so three times in a row.
When she finished kowtowing, something inside her seemed to crackle.
Hu Ma sat across the square table. He couldn't really see from Seventh Aunt's perspective, nor did he intentionally look. He just felt the weight of the sentence he had just spoken.
He saw that after he spoke, Seventh Aunt suddenly became very uneasy. First, she wanted to flee. Then, she suddenly tilted her ear as if someone was speaking to her. After that, she became excited again, kneeling in an empty spot and kowtowing like a human.
As she kowtowed, even her shadow seemed to blur a little.
Perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him, or strained by the wind. He saw Seventh Aunt's small, yellow silhouette begin to stretch.
At times, it became elongated and slender; at others, thick and sturdy. Sometimes it looked like a rough man, sometimes a rural old farmer, sometimes a child with flowing hair, and sometimes a sturdy farm woman.
Finally, the shadow gradually stabilized. Hu Ma then saw an old lady wearing a blue dress, adorned with pearls and jadeite. She had a pointed, monkey-like face and was skinny. Her face was powdered white, and on her cheek was a large mole with a long, black hair growing from it.
Did Seventh Aunt become human?
Sealing someone for the first time, Hu Ma was also quite shocked. He immediately confirmed to himself, Not human. She just gained a human shadow. But this shadow...
He suddenly found it somewhat amusing. How does she resemble those sharp-tongued matchmakers who gossip all around the countryside?
「Meanwhile」
At the same time Hu Ma in his Manor bestowed Sealing upon Seventh Aunt with a single sentence, Mingzhou Prefecture was supposed to be a scene of peace. Humans and evil spirits each kept to their own domains, not encroaching upon one another.
Someone was calculating accounts in Plum Blossom Lane. Someone else was in the government yamen, lighting an oil lamp to review the newly submitted documents from various counties and towns, registering them one by one, and then arranging for the night watchman to make his rounds. Yet another person was in a pharmacy, crushing herbs and adjusting prescriptions bit by bit.
In the Red Lantern Society, the Lady was dissatisfied. Why did that little Shopkeeper invite me, and now that I'm back, why hasn't he come to kowtow?
Should I give him a hard time when I see him later to show my displeasure?
Then, at that very moment, they all suddenly sensed something—an inexplicable yet compelling feeling.
The quiet ones, those chatting and laughing, those sulking, and those preparing medicine—all were distracted from their tasks. They suddenly looked up, vaguely sensing that something had happened in Mingzhou.
They all felt a bit uneasy and hastily stood up.
Those with Mana naturally wanted to use their abilities to see what exactly was happening.
Those knowledgeable in divination wanted to immediately cast a reading and see the omens.
But as they began to cast their readings and use their Mana, they suddenly felt a stern, chilling gaze. Unseen, it was as if two sabre-wielding Warriors in soap-cloth garments turned to face them, loudly reprimanding:
"Zhen Sui Mansion affairs! Private prying is punishable by beheading!"
"..."
SWISH!
The stern shout was soul-shattering and terrifying. They hurriedly recoiled from the inexplicable panic, already breaking out in a cold sweat.
Not qualified to look?
In Plum Blossom Lane, the pen in the hand of the person calculating accounts halted. A large blot of ink dripped onto the page filled with meticulous small characters, yet he dared not move for a long time.
Only after a long while did he slowly turn his head to look out the slightly ajar window. The moon in the sky was being gradually obscured by layers of drifting dark clouds, adding a faint air of grimness and desolation to the world.
Next year's Divine Incense Distribute... I'm afraid it will be tough to handle...
After a long while, he finally lowered his head to look at his ledger, at the words now submerged in ink, and sighed quietly with a bitter smile.
In Grass Heart Hall, Miss White Wine, who had already gone to bed wearing only her white underwear, was startled awake. She floated upright, then abruptly flashed to the window. There, she saw her cat on the windowsill, staring intently and motionlessly at one spot.
Sealing should only grant a human form... but he...
"..."
In the unfinished temple of the Red Lantern Society, the sulking Red Lantern Lady suddenly dropped to her knees.
Her body stiffened. She dared not move for a long time, not knowing what had happened.
In Old Yin Mountain, where yin qi usually lingered year-round, obscuring the sky and sun, the yin qi surprisingly lightened that day. All over the mountain, the evil spirits seemed to detect a faint, sweet fragrance.
On an old tree stump sat a figure in wide-sleeved robes. Though smiling, he seemed somewhat helpless as he remarked:
"Too cautious..."
"Why does spending the Silver from under my own bed make me feel like a thief?"
"..."
Deep in the night, at the Mingzhou government yamen, the sound of gongs and drums thundered before the entrance. It was deafening to the Chief Executioner, making him feel as though his ears might burst, yet no one else could hear it. Meanwhile, a box placed deep within the Record House trembled violently, as if something inside was trying to break free.
He remained still and did not investigate, forcibly suppressing his curiosity. He refrained from looking at the new name that had appeared inside. Only after a long time, when everything returned to silence, did he sigh softly. Has that esteemed personage finally decided they won't be lonely anymore?
So, just like that, Mingzhou Prefecture has gained a new small hall officer?
"..."
"..."
So, is this really the appearance Seventh Aunt herself wished to take?
While everyone in Mingzhou Prefecture was struck by shock and panic, Hu Ma was now also curious. He wanted to know the changes that occurred after a spirit's Sealing, so he didn't miss a single detail of the transformation.
But no matter how much he imagined, he never thought that after changing multiple times, Seventh Aunt's final appearance would be... so down-to-earth?
"Oh, dear..."
Across from him, Seventh Aunt was delightedly looking left and right, her wrinkles smoothing out. She gave Hu Ma a flirtatious glance, pinched her fingers into a lotus shape beside her cheek, and coyly asked, "Little Shopkeeper, do I look beautiful in my new form?"
"I used to hide in my grass nest and watch that old human lady. She'd ride in a small sedan chair, and people would flatter her wherever she went. She was always drinking wine too."
"She looked so imposing and respectable! I thought it would be wonderful to become like her..."
"..."
Listening to her, Hu Ma sighed helplessly.
So that's it.
No wonder Seventh Aunt transformed this way. She always wanted to look like this...
People came in all shapes and forms—some noble, some down-to-earth, some rugged, some charming. But who could blame Seventh Aunt for admiring this particular appearance the most?
You have to admit, it truly is a respectable appearance.
As he thought this, he sighed softly again, looking up at the deep night sky.
He had just used the opportunity of helping Seventh Aunt with her Sealing to take a peek at the source of that power in the unseen realm. It was only a glimpse. Indeed, his current abilities and cultivation level weren't high enough to see clearly, but for him, at this moment, it was enough.
This glimpse allowed him to perceive a grand hall with a massive tiled roof and an enormous fire pit, so large it was almost immeasurable.
The name Zhensui Hu Family isn't borne for nothing...
He finally understood what kind of power the Age Suppressing Book truly held and the heavy weight of his identity as a descendant of the Hu Family.
He sighed softly, then composed himself and raised his glass to celebrate with Seventh Aunt.
Now, while everyone in the city puzzled over the deeper meaning behind that esteemed personage's sudden action, Hu Ma was happily drinking with Seventh Aunt, feeling better than ever.
Seventh Aunt, revitalized by her good fortune and spirits high, had already happily downed two cups of wine. Her eyes roved, landing on the two live chickens tied up on the table. Both excited and a bit shy, she cautiously probed, "Um..."
"Can... can these chickens be eaten?"
"..."
"HAHA, go ahead and eat! Today is my treat."
Hu Ma also laughed heartily, generously inviting her, "Eat your fill, drink to your heart's content! You know what to do from now on, right?"
"Yes, yes, I know!"
Seventh Aunt happily grabbed a chicken and said, "I have to follow human rules now!"
"The little Shopkeeper helped me, so I can't go around gossiping. If the little Shopkeeper gets into a fight, my whole family will go and bite their toes!"
"..."
She really has become much smarter after the Sealing...
Hu Ma also smiled happily.
Just now, he had glimpsed the Hu Family's old fire pit—enormous and its depths unfathomable—which had left him in a great mood.
After chatting a bit more, seeing that Seventh Aunt understood propriety and knew the rules, his final worries faded away, and his mood improved even further.
Through this minor Sealing, he had understood how to truly begin using the Age Suppressing Book. This feeling...
...was wonderful!