The crowd felt a bit relieved and gradually approached, but when they reached the door, they couldn't help but hesitate.
Being people of the jianghu, none were fools. At such a perilous moment, no one dared to rush ahead; each hoped someone else would make the first move.
As their pace slowed, the two men with sallow complexions and the three Swordsmen in hempen clothes exchanged glances and slowly moved to the front.
Each holding a knife, they reached the door, took a deep breath, and suddenly, one on the left and one on the right, simultaneously pushed open the two wooden doors.
The wooden doors swung open, revealing the dark interior of the Ancestral Hall.
Although there was some firelight, most of the hall was still shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to see clearly.
But as those two men led the way, the crowd collectively stepped back. Seeing no danger emerge from within, they then, slightly reassured, charged into the hall, led by the two men with sallow faces.
This was the most critical moment. No matter what hidden weapons, traps, or people lurked in the darkness, they could attack at any moment, so everyone was cautious.
However, they failed to notice that as they entered the Ancestral Hall, by the donkey cart behind them, Young Master Lu exchanged a glance with Old Monkey, nodded slightly, took out a new lantern, and then retrieved several brand-new paper men from the cart.
Four paper men were arranged in a line, aimed at the Ancestral Hall—or more precisely, aimed at the backs of Hu Ma and the others.
Old Monkey held a white lantern, standing in the center of the paper men.
Young Master Lu took a brush and drew mouths on the blank faces of the four paper men. Then, he adhered four small, pre-prepared yellow paper strips to the mouths of the paper men.
If one looked closely, they could see that each yellow strip had a name written on it. One of them was "Zhou Dazhuang."
After finishing this, he exchanged another glance with Old Monkey and nodded.
At this moment, Hu Ma and the others had already pushed open the doors. Seeing no immediate danger inside, they shouted and rushed into the Ancestral Hall.
Suddenly entering, darkness engulfed them. Everyone's nerves were taut to the extreme, fearing that some danger might appear. That, however, was how the others felt.
Hu Ma dashed into the hall, his footsteps unceasing. He took off his bamboo hat and rain cape, tossed them into a corner, and then used the Ghost Ascending Stairs technique. His feet trod against the wall, swiftly ascending to the rafters. He grabbed a steel blade and carefully peered down below.
At that very moment, a clear voice suddenly emerged by his ear, as if whispering right behind him.
Now on the rafters, he peered outside through the carved windows, his eyes wide with the sight.
He saw, outside the Ancestral Hall by the donkey cart, stood four paper men. These paper men now astonishingly had yellow tongues in their mouths.
Upon closer examination, he realized they were four talisman papers with names written on them.
As Young Master Lu behind them cast his spell, gusts of cold wind suddenly arose. The four paper men opened their mouths simultaneously, calling out four names, including his own.
Those three people, though vigilant, were still startled. Hearing Young Master Lu, their employer, calling them, they instinctively turned around. They saw Young Master Lu standing by the cart, vigorously waving at them.
They hurried over, asking Young Master Lu, "Sir, what happened?"
However, despite their inquiries, Young Master Lu did not respond, continuing to gesture towards the Ancestral Hall.
Feeling somewhat perplexed, they instinctively reached out to push Young Master Lu.
Suddenly, they realized their hands felt weightless, as if a gust of wind might blow them away. Momentarily taken aback, they stood there dumbfounded.
It wasn't until the two men with sallow faces and the Swordsmen in hempen clothes emerged from the Ancestral Hall, bowing to Young Master Lu with smiles, and said,
"Congratulations, sir, your Skill has succeeded, acquiring some useful people."
Young Master Lu laughed heartily, saying, "It's just about right. Now I have the confidence to duel with my Junior Sister!"
"Everyone, come out!"
With his call, the sound of footsteps resounded from within the Ancestral Hall. The Martial Artists who had just rushed in walked out together.
Besides those who had come earlier, there were even some unfamiliar faces.
Thick layers of water-soaked yellow paper were stuck to their faces, and they stood silently.
Young Master Lu said with a smile, "Just in time. With these people, in the Green Clothes and Red Lights Fighting, I am destined to take the top prize."
These individuals who had just been called out finally came to their senses, their hearts filled with shock, hastily wanting to return to the Ancestral Hall.
Yet, suddenly realizing that "they" had already come out and stood amidst these Martial Artists, they desperately attempted to return to their bodies. But as they rushed in, they felt suffocated and were suddenly expelled again, their terror indescribable.
Some, furious beyond measure, cursed Young Master Lu vehemently, waving fists to strike.
"Oh, truly Martial Artists, such temper."
Old Monkey held a white lantern, walking beside Young Master Lu. He observed the few paper men, their bodies swaying as if blown by the wind. The flame inside his lantern flickered, appearing to nearly extinguish. He chuckled, formed a hand seal, and pointed at the flame in the lantern, causing it to blaze brighter.
Then he smiled at Young Master Lu, saying, "These people were greedy for Silver, and wanted to fetch treasures for you, sir."
"Yet they didn't expect that the treasure you desired was, in fact, them."
Young Master Lu sneered, "Master Tai Sui is the true treasure."
"Apart from Master Tai Sui, people are treasures."
"My Master is biased, only teaching me this trump card of yellow official paper, while passing the more precious one to my Junior Sister. But even this yellow official paper trump card is sufficient. As long as I refine these treasures, there's no concern about not standing out in the green clothes gang."
"Once I become the Great Worship of the green clothes gang, it'll be time to take people to find my old man and visit my lovely Junior Sister for a proper chat..."
"No matter what treasures Junior Sister acquired, won't she have to obediently offer them up by then?"
Old Monkey laughed along, saying, "The items from Majiawa's old tomb?"
"Junior Sister was quicker; I'm afraid I can't compete. Even if I control these people, it's still a fifty-fifty with her..."
Young Master Lu contemplated, then said softly, "No rush for other matters. Let's refine these treasures first. Whether to go inside and fight Junior Sister for treasures or just withdraw, it's a gain either way."
As he spoke, he approached the people who had emerged from the Ancestral Hall.
Among them were three Martial Artists whose souls had been called out; the fourth, wearing a bamboo hat and rain cape, was undoubtedly Hu Ma.
Unlike the others, these three had only a thin layer of yellow paper on their faces, ready to tear at any moment.
Young Master Lu pulled a stack of yellow paper from his pocket, seemingly used.
It was a thick stack, stuck together, vaguely showing human features.
He walked toward these people, saying, "This trump card of ours was passed down from the prison."
"Those imprisoned who were disobedient would be bound to a bench, yellow paper pasted on their faces, and then water poured, layer by layer adhering, with jug after jug of water poured until they could neither breathe nor open their eyes."
"In the end, when the person died, even their soul couldn't escape, becoming a face on the paper."
"This craft is called Adding Official. In our sect, it's known as yellow official paper."
He spoke, turning to the paper men. Knowing their souls were inside, he continued in great detail to convince them:
"You've now fallen under my Magic; your souls are blocked outside. If you wish to return, you can, but remember to be obedient henceforth. Even if it means jumping into a cauldron of oil, you must do so without hesitation."
"Otherwise, I can disperse you and replace your souls. That's also possible."
The summoned souls of the Martial Artists became even more furious and terrified, chaotically drifting around him.
Old Monkey observed the flickering and sputtering flame inside his lantern. He knew they were still causing trouble but remained unconcerned.
Even he had fallen for the trick, so what right did these crude Martial Artists have to resist?
He watched Young Master Lu sticking yellow paper on the faces of the Martial Artists.
The last one he reached was the young Shousui man.
He sighed softly. This boy was someone he'd hit it off with; he had even intended to take him as an apprentice...
Watching Young Master Lu about to stick yellow paper on the face of "himself," Hu Ma, hiding in the Ancestral Hall rafters, silently descended to the ground.
With the Shousui man's trump card, he made no sound upon landing. He stood silently, separated by a wall, facing Young Master Lu and Old Monkey outside. He sighed softly, cupped his hands, and gave a slight salute.
At the same moment, Young Master Lu was about to stick the yellow paper on the face of the Hu Ma wearing the bamboo hat.
Because the hat was in the way, he raised his hand to remove it.
Yet, caught off guard at that moment, the Hu Ma before him suddenly let out a soft chuckle. The yellow paper on his face fluttered slightly.
It was a woman's voice.
Upon hearing the woman's voice, Young Master Lu immediately reacted, startled, and prepared to retreat.
But at that very moment, the yellow paper on the face of the person wearing the bamboo hat was suddenly blown away, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.
Yet, standing amidst a group of people with yellow paper on their faces before the gusty, eerie Ancestral Hall, the mischievous and triumphant expression on this face sent chills through the heart. Before he could truly retreat, this person had already started speaking in a clear and melodious voice, calling out a name:
The moment the name was uttered, Young Master Lu's expression turned as horrified as if he had seen a ghost.