Who else, other than a Reincarnator, could be so insidious, striking at one's most vulnerable spot with just a word?
Hu Ma felt relieved when he heard it, but he didn't dare to scrutinize Er Guotou closely.
The more he encountered such realities, the more cautious he had to be. Therefore, he just lowered his head, intending to simply watch the unfolding drama, silently listening to how Great Incense Master Zheng was being verbally cornered.
"I... I truly can't claim that the Incense Burners made a mistake..."
Great Incense Master Zheng was momentarily struck dumb. After a long pause, he finally managed to stammer out an explanation, "There was a resignation of a Shopkeeper at the Green Stone Town branch earlier, which already made it a special case, causing some confusion."
The Er Guotou, wearing a smiling mask, snorted coldly and said, "Even if it's chaotic, could it get so disordered that no one knows who the Shopkeeper is?"
His tone softened as he addressed Incense Master Zheng, "Incense Master Zheng, need not fear. I know you're considering the Red Lantern Society's interests, and what you just said makes a lot of sense. It's really those Incense Burners who have acted outrageously. If no one knows who the Shopkeeper is now, over time, will they forget who the Lady is too?"
Hearing these words, it was clear the intention was to find fault with the Incense Burners, and Incense Master Zheng felt a cold sweat forming.
Trouble! Isn't this setting me up against the Incense Burners?
Even though I, as an incense master in the Red Lantern Society, hold a noble position, offending those close to the Red Lantern Lady would spell disaster.
I wanted to explain, yet truly had no idea how to do so.
"Brother Er Guotou, that's quite a play you've got there..."
Hu Ma, standing nearby, dared not let his composure slip, yet he enjoyed the spectacle. Just at that moment, he suddenly felt a sharp gaze upon him.
It was indeed Er Guotou, under the smiling mask. His words were stern as he berated, "And you, little shopkeeper, you are truly audacious to the extreme! Eating the grain and silver bestowed by the Lady, yet at such a critical time, you dared run away?"
Damn, that scared the hell out of me...
Under that gaze, Hu Ma couldn't help but shiver internally, as if an Evil Ghost had leaped onto his face.
If he hadn't known it was Er Guotou, his legs might have gone limp by now.
He quickly composed himself and used the excuse he had prepared, "Protector, your insight is keen. I didn't run away. I didn't know in advance that there would be such an important event that required people. I..."
He paused slightly, glanced at Sun Niuzi, and continued, "...I had indeed received word earlier that I was to be promoted to Shopkeeper. But then, this... this Shopkeeper Sun arrived, claiming it was Incense Master Zheng's order for him to assume the Shopkeeper's position, and for me to follow and learn the rules."
Upon hearing this, Incense Master Zheng's face changed, while Sun Niuzi, kneeling at the very back, hurriedly exclaimed, "I didn't..."
"I... I was just following my brother-in-law's words..."
Incense Master Zheng quickly turned his head, glaring fiercely at him, silencing him.
At this point, the Protector wearing the crying mask was growing impatient, saying, "It's not like I haven't heard about how you usually conduct your affairs. Let's not argue here. That little shopkeeper, don't pretend to be wronged. Whatever you deserve, whether reward or punishment, you can't escape."
Hu Ma quickly replied, "I just wanted to say that this time, when I went out, it was under the Red Lantern Society's orders, and I had reported it to the city."
"I thought, if I could thoroughly investigate the Big Shen Family massacre case and earn some merit before returning..."
He stopped speaking at this point, since everyone understood his implication.
"Honestly, is it worth such a shameless scramble for a mere Shopkeeper position?" Er Guotou, from above, took over the conversation at this point, looking at Hu Ma with a hint of mockery. "So, did you complete this mission?"
Hu Ma looked ashamed and shook his head. "No, instead, I got injured and nearly lost my life..."
"Who has the patience to listen to this?" Er Guotou grew impatient. "Can't you see what time it is to be bothered by such trivial matters? Silence that chatter! Take him out and beat him half to death!"
Upon hearing his orders, those beside him were ready to act.
Incense Master Zheng and the others nearby were slightly excited. They didn't care if this little shopkeeper was punished or if the Protector was angry. In any case, they needed a scapegoat. The heavier his punishment, the more certain it was that he couldn't escape being that scapegoat.
Failed to accomplish the outside job and came back just in time to earn yourself some merit, didn't you?
"Why do I have to be beaten half to death..." Hu Ma shuddered, quickly saying, "Please, Protector, let me finish. I do know I didn't complete the mission and shouldn't have returned."
"It's just that I accidentally stumbled upon a group plotting to cause trouble for our Red Lantern Society, which is why I rushed back to report."
Startled by this, everyone, including Incense Master Zheng, was taken aback.
Before Er Guotou could respond, the crying-mask Protector had already turned to Hu Ma curiously. "Who are they?"
Hu Ma took a deep breath and swiftly said, "That man's surname is Lu, Lu Xiujin."
"He was originally the Eldest Young Master of Lu's Rice Store in Wutong Town, but secretly he learned a trump card involving yellow official paper. The master he apprenticed under is an old Worship of the Green Clothes Gang. Recently, he's been tricking many in the jianghu, borrowing people to help him refine treasure..."
"Moreover, he plans that once he has refined that trump card, he'll help the Green Clothes Gang challenge us, to establish a name for himself..."
Upon hearing this, everyone present became alarmed.
Hu Ma could feel countless gazes suddenly turning toward him, pricking like needles.
He quickly added, "This matter is absolutely true. I... I returned injured and nearly lost my life, wounded by that man's Junior Sister. It seems their relationship isn't good, and it was during their fight that I overheard this..."
Watching Hu Ma speak, seemingly confused, the crying-mask Left Protector sternly cut him off, "Who cares about all that?"
"I'm asking you, are you sure they are the ones planning a duel?"
Hu Ma paused momentarily, then said, "Yes."
With that one word, both Protectors appeared to be visibly trembling with excitement.
The crying-mask Protector's sudden exuberance could be excused, but Er Guotou was trembling even more intensely than she was.
Brother, you're truly putting on quite the show...
"Quickly..." Not waiting for Er Guotou to speak, the crying-mask Protector urgently said, "What's their Path, and what are their abilities? Explain in detail!"
Hu Ma quickly responded, "At the time, I accepted the assignment and arranged for Shopkeeper Sun to watch over the Manor before I set off. I originally planned to gather some more travel money. Hearing that Mancang Town was troubled by a drought ba, I went over to... gather some funds."
"Coincidentally, I encountered an old beggar with a monkey, who led me to Wutong Town, claiming there was a big opportunity there. I thought it might provide leads, so I followed, only to find this beggar was up to no good, deceiving me..."
This story was deliberately full of holes.
Indeed, as expected, Incense Master Zheng immediately wanted to rebuke him, but the crying-mask Protector was already expressing irritation, "Stop trying to justify yourself. I'm well aware of how you people usually operate."
"You live off the Red Lantern Lady's grain and silver, yet you're all insatiably greedy, using her name to rake in money on the side while neglecting your actual duties..."
"But that's not my concern. My question is, how did you cross paths with them?"
Rapidly, Hu Ma recounted his arrival in Wutong Town: how Young Master Lu was recruiting people, how he promised silver, how he baited souls and lured them up the mountain, how his Junior Sister suddenly appeared, and how their duel unfolded, and so on.
These were his actual experiences, so he recounted them flawlessly. It was a performance perfected for this very moment.
When he finished, especially upon recounting how he saw the Senior Brother and Junior Sister dueling one day, only for them to have reconciled by the next, and how, when he himself went to seek revenge, he was instead swiftly defeated by the Junior Sister, the crying-mask and smiling-mask Protectors struggled to conceal the excitement beneath their masks.
Er Guotou chuckled softly, raising a hand to halt Hu Ma's narration, and turned to the crying-mask Protector. "What do you think of this intelligence?"
The woman beneath the crying mask pondered, "Currently, our record is four losses and three wins. To secure a decisive victory in this duel, we must win all three remaining rounds."
"Among these, we have one opportunity to issue a challenge. This one must result in a win. The difficulty lies in the two rounds where we will be challenged."
Er Guotou chuckled appropriately, adding, "Didn't we devise a foolproof plan just yesterday?"
"Strictly speaking, there's now only one match we're not confident about."
The Left Protector beneath the crying mask blinked, a hint of eager anticipation in her eyes. "Are you implying..."
"Challenging, yes, challenging always involves using one's best trump card to pose a difficult problem for the opponent..." Er Guotou laughed lightly. "If we know their Path ahead of time, if we can guess their trump card..."
The Left Protector beneath the crying mask was now visibly excited. "Could it be that before the duels even commence, we'd have secured all three rounds?"
Er Guotou clapped his hands with a boisterous laugh. "Our Lady's fortune truly reaches the heavens! The intelligence this little shopkeeper brought back is practically the decisive move that determines victory..."
The two continued to speak, each growing more delighted.
At that point, Hu Ma closed his mouth, recognizing his merit was secured. Incense Master Zheng, however, had not expected the conversation to pivot in this direction and found himself unable to interject.
Seeing both Protectors smiling, he could only muster a forced smile and tentatively ask, "So, about this matter..."
"Rest assured, Incense Master Zheng, we know how to reward him properly..." Er Guotou glanced at Hu Ma, chuckling. "Of course, he has a crafty little mind. The Big Shen Family massacre might not necessarily be the work of that yellow official paper faction; it's possible both sides merely used yellow paper casting methods. This little shopkeeper returned spouting nonsense without any evidence. While it shows his reckless daring, it's all trivial compared to the critical matter of the duels."
"Yet, the fact that he thought to rush back and report it upon hearing someone intended to trouble our Red Lantern Society is commendable enough."
He suddenly shifted his gaze towards Incense Master Zheng. "This little shopkeeper has earned us a merit, which is good."
"Incense Master Zheng, are you willing to make the necessary sacrifice for us to secure another guaranteed win?"
Hearing this, Incense Master Zheng's expression turned somewhat resigned. After a long pause, he softly stated, "I am willing."