The old fire pit...
That was the first mysterious tradition related to protection that I encountered after coming to this world.
Now that I've entered the Path and learned some skills to walk in this world, although I still carry pond ash with me, I no longer rely on it for protection. But unexpectedly, after wandering and exploring, I suddenly rediscovered the mystery of the old fire pit.
Following this thought, countless images suddenly flashed before my eyes.
Granny was very skilled, but the first thing she did after bringing me back to life was to take me to worship the old fire pit, almost arranging for me to marry a ghost bride.
Later, when pressured by the Meng family, she would rather I enter the old fire pit to help me obtain that protection.
Was it because the old fire pit in Dayang Village was so powerful that even someone as skilled as Granny believed that I could only survive by gaining the protection of the old fire pit in that small place?
Or was Granny more concerned with the very existence of things like the old fire pit?
All along, I've been devoted to learning the Magic of the Shousui man to bring myself back to life.
But could it be that Granny's arrangements always lay within the Path of the Ghost Walker?
"Maybe this answer is enough..." Hu Ma sighed softly to himself after a long while. Er Guotou hadn't given him a clear answer.
He was confused, unable to see clearly, hence the fear.
But hearing what Er Guotou said today, I suddenly had a vague sense of understanding—about the Ghost Walker, the Age Suppressing Book, setting up the altar, incantations, the Guardian Soul, the old fire pit...
Thanks to someone pointing out this line of thinking, although I still couldn't understand the relationships between these things, I felt as if I had suddenly grasped the correct direction.
I knew the answers were to be found in that place.
With this direction, when stepping over that threshold, I felt somewhat more at ease.
"Wait..."
Just as Hu Ma's thoughts began to clear, Er Guotou, who had also been lost in silence and internal conflict, suddenly spoke, "Hey..."
"Were you serious about wanting to get rid of the Five Evil Gods?"
"..."
"I was serious," Hu Ma replied offhandedly. "It's just that the matter is quite significant, and I need to think it over carefully."
"Alright then..." Er Guotou paused, seeming to have made up his mind. "If you really plan to do it, remember to tell me."
This statement truly surprised Hu Ma. "Huh?"
Weren't you going to wait a few years before contacting me again?
"It's not that... the idea sounds frightening, but I've thought it over carefully..." Brother Er Guotou seemed a bit embarrassed, chuckled, and said, "It seems to be inevitable sooner or later. The positions are limited, and the Five Evil Gods are so close to us. If we don't get rid of them, Little Red Lantern will just have to suffer below..."
"Although she only recently gained the qualification to move upward, she'll make progress eventually, right?"
"..."
"Whoa..."
This statement truly left Hu Ma dumbfounded.
A Reincarnator is indeed a Reincarnator. They may act cautiously at times, but once an idea takes hold, they'll go all out...
"Oh, I could only talk to you about this. Miss White Wine is too cautious, and Little Gua Shao is too reckless..." Er Guotou sighed helplessly. "To be honest, did you think I'd be satisfied just by entering the Manor? If I were, I wouldn't have gone to Fox Coffin Village in the Old Yin Mountain back then."
"It's not that I don't want to progress. The Path of the Ghost Walker is just too chaotic and deep. I always feel that moving further would draw attention. So, I've been thinking of finding a way to proceed without being noticed and find an opportunity to Shangqiao."
"To put it simply..." He paused for a moment before explaining, "I always felt like the Path of the Ghost Walker was like a rich man with no one at home."
"So, I also want to seize the opportunity to steal some things while the rich man is away..."
"..."
This realization struck Hu Ma like a thunderbolt. Before his Lifebound Spirit Temple's incense burner, he instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to speak but couldn't.
No...
Has Er Guotou considered that the rich man he's talking about is me?
He can say these things to anyone, but telling me makes it seem particularly inappropriate...
But even though it was frustrating, he held back. Reluctantly, he agreed with Er Guotou that when he acted, he would definitely consult him. Only then did he sigh and leave the Lifebound Spirit Temple.
After sleeping for a while more, daylight broke.
The insights gained from this journey, along with the final conversation with Brother Er Guotou, helped me clear up many things that had been piling up in my mind, things I couldn't figure out.
He washed his face, rinsed his mouth with blue salt, donned a long robe, and exited the inner courtyard. Seeing the Manor's workers busily going about their tasks and Li preparing water to cook, he headed to the kitchen door.
"Li, tell Seventh Aunt that I'll host a dinner for her tomorrow night."
"..."
Li was surprised to hear this. Invite Seventh Aunt? Brother Ma Zi has been away for nearly two months; why would he suddenly want to invite her upon returning?
Though confused, Li promptly agreed. Hu Ma then returned to the inner courtyard, contemplating how to arrange this dinner.
Two months ago, I promised Seventh Aunt I'd give her a reply.
Now, it seems like the right time. I've made all the necessary preparations, and naturally, I owe her an explanation.
Most importantly, I feel grounded.
It's indeed time to leverage some event to open the doors of the Age Suppressing Book, to peer into its mysteries, and also to see how much wealth the Hu Family has left behind.
Yet, even when everything is ready, it's important to be cautious.
Hu Ma made thorough preparations. He instructed Li to prepare incense, flowers, lamps, wine, and fruits, and to arrange the square table properly. He also warned the workers to hide in their rooms when he set up the table and not to come out no matter what happened.
After giving these instructions, he rode once more into the Old Yin Mountain, where he lit three incense and prayed.
After murmuring an invocation for the mountain lord three times, he softly spoke of his intentions.
Upon opening his eyes, there was no sign of the old tree stump.
I knew that if I were in trouble, the old tree stump elder would come. But now I was making a decision related to the Hu Family's affairs, so the elder was deliberately avoiding me.
However, glancing down at the three incense burning before me—the left and right even, the middle one lower by a finger's breadth—my mood suddenly relaxed.
The elder avoided a direct meeting and discussion, but the way the incense burned still reflected his stance.
An excellent omen.
This indicated that he supported all of my current decisions.
"Thank you, elder." Hu Ma stood up, silently adding, But there's still something else I need your help with.
While speaking, he broke off several branches near the burning incense and took them with him.
Back at the Manor, he patiently sorted the branches. First, he wove a frame, then he gathered straw and meticulously crafted two scarecrows. After covering their faces with white paper, he propped them against the wall to wait.
「A day passed.」
Preparations in the Manor were almost complete, and Li confirmed that Seventh Aunt had been informed.
Counting the days, it was precisely two months.
Hu Ma felt assured and personally oversaw the final preparations for the dinner.
By evening, as dusk approached, he first had the Manor's workers eat supper, patrol for the night, and retire early. He even had the red lanterns in front of the Manor gate removed. Then, he took a seat at one end of the square table in the courtyard.
Since it was Seventh Aunt's dinner, he hadn't prepared the usual dishes meant for human guests.
Three incense burned in the center, and two incense candles were lit at both ends of the table. In the middle were flowers, fruits, a pot of brewed wine, and two cups.
In principle, these items would have sufficed. However, considering it was to please Seventh Aunt, two live roosters with large combs and a pot of sugar egg were also prepared.
Hu Ma sat in one chair, with an empty chair opposite him, waiting patiently. The two scarecrows he had made stood like guards on either side of the table.
The night deepened, and a cold wind blew. Suddenly, the flames of the candles on the table flickered, as if a spark had burst from a wick.
He looked up just as the kitchen door creaked open. Li, drowsy, stumbled out and sat opposite Hu Ma. His eyes darted around, and he seemed about to speak, but Hu Ma smiled and interrupted him, saying, "Seventh Aunt, we're inviting you. You should come over properly."
"..."
Bewildered, Li stood up, hobbled back into the kitchen, and closed the door.
Then, from the corner by the wall, came a rustle. A flash of yellow appeared—a weasel with pointy whiskers scurried over. It jumped onto the chair and then restlessly onto the table.
Eyeing the pot of sugar egg, it seemed tempted.
But after hesitating, it jumped back onto the chair, its little paws gripping the edge of the table. Its round, beady eyes fixed on Hu Ma, seemingly puzzled.
Hu Ma merely smiled, watching it. I was unsure if this muddle-headed creature even remembered what happened before.
But at this moment, I couldn't remind it.
As for Seventh Aunt, watching Hu Ma sitting opposite her with a smile and a silent demeanor, it vaguely felt that today's little shopkeeper was different from before. There was an aura of pressure emanating from him, a pressure that made it rack its brains to recall what trouble it had gotten into recently.
Suddenly, it remembered! It darted to the wall and picked up a straw hat.
Hopping unsteadily back onto the chair, it surprisingly spoke in a high-pitched voice, "Little Shopkeeper, look at me. Don't I look human?"
Hu Ma smiled. He looked at it intently and said, "Seventh Aunt, if you abide by human rules, then you are human."
"If you commit monstrous acts, then you are a monster and must be punished."
"..."
It was just a light, simple exchange—no casting, no chanting, no setting up of an altar.
Yet, upon hearing this, Seventh Aunt suddenly froze.