After the New Year celebrations, upon returning to the manor, preparations began for the spring harvest of Tai Sui.
In theory, since it wasn't the first year, the people in Hu Ma's manor were already familiar with the process. However, the previous year, their manor wasn't favored and was constantly guarded against as if they were thieves.
During the months of the Tai Sui harvest, they only handled warehouse management tasks. There was no opportunity to actually come into contact with Tai Sui, which meant no benefits. This was also the reason why the manor's public accounts were rather poor last year.
But this year, things were different.
We've latched onto Incense Master Xu, and everyone in the society are familiar faces!
When they reached the city and delivered the mountain goods sent by Second Master to his old friends, Incense Master Xu understood immediately. He whispered, "Joining our society without making a trip to the mine would mean gaining an undeserved reputation for living off Blood Food, while in reality, only doing Dart Head jobs."
"Of course, this trip to the mine isn't just about securing some benefits. It's mainly about getting closer to Master Tai Sui, hoping to gain some karma, isn't it?"
"..."
Hu Ma wholeheartedly agreed. Yes, indeed. We have no selfish motives; we're just looking to understand Master Tai Sui better.
"I've already picked a place for you..."
Incense Master Xu lowered his voice, saying, "Over by Blind Ridge on West Mountain, there's a Blood Food mine that used to belong to the Green Clothes Gang. We only took it over last year."
"However, when we took over the Blood Food mine, to avoid trouble, we promised the previous guardians that we would continue to employ them. Only a fool would actually keep them on. Once things are stable, we'll inevitably have to clear them out."
"Later, you'll go over there and take direct control. Then, have Calculation go with you to handle the accounts. That way, our society will be at ease, and the Lady will be at ease too, right?"
"Of course, a promise is a promise, and appearances must be kept. We just promised them last year that they could continue managing it. To discard them this year after they've served their purpose would look truly bad. So..."
He paused slightly, lowering his voice further, "...we'll deal with them in the second half of the year."
"For this season, let them continue managing it for now. I'll find a few of their mistakes, and then later, I'll make an issue of it all at once, allowing you to take over smoothly. However, you must perform well this year and establish a solid reputation. Only then can I confidently hand it over to you..."
"Otherwise, within our Red Lantern Society alone, there are quite a few manors eyeing that Blood Food mine..."
"..."
Hearing his arrangements laid out so clearly, Hu Ma was deeply moved. He then said with stern criticism, "Uncle Xu, what you said isn't right. What do you mean by handing it over to me?"
"This is clearly yours. I'm just keeping an eye on it for you..."
The two of them immediately looked at each other and laughed, then quickly whispered for a while about things that the Red Lantern Lady must not hear, secrets only to be shared among their own.
「Back at the Manor」
After returning, Hu Ma paid out of his own pocket to prepare a full feast, telling his men it was time to get busy.
Initially, the men thought it would be the same as last year: merely patching up mouse holes in the warehouse, and when the people transporting the Blood Food arrived, being diligent, careful, and avoiding causing any annoyance.
But they soon discovered things were different. The work they received this year was completely different from last year.
Last year, they were merely managing the warehouse, and even that work was done under suspicion. This year, however, they made several trips outward within a few months, continuously transporting cartloads of Blood Food from the Blood Food mine, escorting it all the way to Zhu Gate Town for accounting.
This change was also due to the Red Lantern Lady establishing a temple.
Previously, the Red Lantern Society was based in the city. But now, the first temple of the Red Lantern Lady's Club was built in Zhu Gate Town.
Consequently, the left and right protectors, along with a host of Worships, Incense Masters, and Incense Burners, all came to Zhu Gate Town.
As they began receiving and escorting the Blood Food, the work and the risks on the road naturally increased. From the moment the Blood Food left the mine and came into their hands, until it was handed over in Zhu Gate Town, the entire responsibility was theirs.
The workers were naturally fraught with worry, treating every journey as if marching into battle. But each time, Hu Ma personally escorted the convoy, exercising extreme caution along the way, and so, no problems arose.
"No problems" meant that any issues that did arise were resolved, not that there were no issues at all.
Evil spirits, attracted by the scent of Blood Food and unable to resist, did appear, but they were scared away by a single shout from Hu Ma.
Additionally, a few bands of robbers plotted to seize their shipment of Blood Food. These weren't the type of mountain bandits who would let you pass after extorting a few items; they were true brigands intent on murder and plunder, hoping to rob a shipment and then hide out in Old Yin Mountain until the heat died down.
As for this group, Zhou Datong kicked one to death, and Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu also bloodied their hands.
After all, both Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu had now learned skills with one hand each.
Zhou Liang had learned to use his left hand, and Zhao Zhu his right. Zhou Datong, on the other hand, had already achieved refining life in his legs and was most skilled in the Ghost Ascending Stairs technique—picking locks, scaling lonely walls, prying open windows, and eavesdropping...
...Hu Ma didn't quite understand how Zhou Datong's trump card had developed so differently from his own teachings, but it was indeed well-practiced and had its own distinct style.
Of course, the standing rule was that although Hu Ma taught them, he was not their Master; Second Master was.
Hu Ma was merely transmitting the teachings on behalf of Second Master, making him their senior brother.
The only problem was...
...Second Master still didn't know he already had four disciples in the Path.
「Several Months Later」
After several months of intense activity, Hu Ma and his manor had escorted dozens of Blood Food shipments into Zhu Gate Town. During busy periods, they had to make a trip every two or three days. They would barely return, the livestock not even properly rested, before receiving new orders.
But Hu Ma knew that Incense Master Xu was helping him accumulate merit, so he didn't refuse. He provided his men with good wine and meat daily, and the men were happy.
Thus, as this busy period was drawing to a close, Hu Ma reckoned he had accumulated nearly enough merit. The next step was to wait for Incense Master Xu to finalize the arrangements, then he would go to Blind Ridge and take over the Blood Food mine there. When that happened, the benefits would increase substantially.
On this particular day, he received an order to pick up a batch of Blood Food sealed in large urns.
Seeing that they were sealed in large urns, with talisman patterns drawn all over them, Hu Ma guessed that the contents must be valuable. He felt a stir of temptation in his heart but admonished himself, Resist, resist...
We'll discuss it further once we get to the mine!
Once he took over the mine, Little Hongtang could have Blood Food every day.
He collected the shipment early in the morning and traveled for an entire day, planning to rest for a day upon returning to the manor. Unexpectedly, however, a flood in one area had washed away a bridge, forcing them to take a long detour. This delayed their journey, and by the time they were still about ten li from the manor, the sky began to darken.
"We're practically at our doorstep; no need to rest now!"
Hu Ma considered that they were now in the vicinity of their manor; sometimes their night patrols even reached this far.
It would take a little over an hour to rush back. Resting here, on the other hand, might lead to unforeseen complications if they lingered.
So, he spurred his horse onward, quietly promising Master Ma two catties of wine and a good rest once they returned, and continued along the official road.
Traveling at night easily led to uncanny encounters, and transporting Blood Food at night likely increased the chances of such events tenfold. However, Hu Ma and his men were extremely familiar with the area around their manor; they even knew who was buried in which grave mound.
They had established a certain rapport with the local entities, so not many troubled them.
But just as their carts rumbled along, passing Yellow Dog Village and with their own manor almost in sight, they suddenly noticed a large flag planted on each side of the dark official road ahead. At the top of each flag, a lantern was lit, illuminating the characters written on them.
Fluttering in the gloom were the four large characters: "Living Humans Keep Away."
A group of sturdy-looking men stood behind a placard. Upon seeing someone approach, they immediately shouted, "Stay back! Do not come any closer!"
"..."
"This..."
The workers were perplexed and turned to look at Hu Ma.
Hu Ma politely dismounted from the carriage, took a few steps forward, and bowed from a distance. "May I ask which friends are ahead?"
"We are disciples of the Red Lantern Lady's Club, currently returning to our manor. Could we trouble you to let us pass?"
"..."
"Red Lantern Society?"
The group of robust men sneered upon hearing this. "So what?"
"Our Master Mage is here expelling evil and saving people. All unauthorized personnel should detour immediately to avoid disrupting the Magic Altar."
"..."
"Expelling evil and saving people?"
Hu Ma felt a slight jolt upon hearing this.
They were now at the entrance to their own manor, and his men were accustomed to being assertive. Moreover, they all possessed some skills. Hearing the other party speak so rudely, Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu all began to feel indignant.
But Hu Ma quickly ordered them to halt and then retreat a good few dozen yards, not wanting to start a conflict with these people.
"Little Hongtang, what's happening up ahead?"
Only after retreating far enough to ensure those men couldn't hear their conversation did Hu Ma approach the edge of the road and ask quietly into the darkened fields.
"Oh dear, it's the sister from the well..."
Little Hongtang quickly scrambled over from the field, a small basket in her hand, and said nervously to Hu Ma, "Brother Hu Ma, the sister from the well is fighting with some people up ahead! Those people keep whipping her, but she's latched onto someone and won't let go."
"The sister from the well?"
Hu Ma was stunned for a moment before it suddenly dawned on him. "Is it her?"
「Ahead, by the Roadblock」
Just ahead, behind the two placards, a group of people formed a circle. In the center was a carriage, its roof originally present but now dismantled.
Seated in the carriage was a middle-aged man with a pale face and a long beard, dressed in luxurious clothing. But now, his face was filled with yin qi, his movements were unnatural, his gaze eerie, and his expression was one of deep-seated hatred as he stared at the man before him holding an oil lamp.
This man wore a black Magic Robe and sported a drooping mustache. He held a Willow Whip in one hand, glaring intently at the possessed man, and shouted, "Foul creature! Do you know his identity? How dare you harm him?"
"Leave him at once! Otherwise, I will ensure your soul shatters, and you will never reincarnate!"
"..."
"Of course, I know who he is. He's my husband, the one who heartlessly pushed me into the well."
The possessed man, upon hearing this, only showed eyes full of hatred and chuckled sardonically. "I later moved my grave, precisely to keep watch over him here..."
"I never expected him to be so cruel. He was finally coming back, but the first thing he did was fill in my well. If I hadn't moved my grave and waited for him here by the official road, I wouldn't even have had the chance to see him now! Mage, look, isn't this just our fated connection?"