Rare? Hu Ma sensed her reaction was a bit odd. However, seeing her agree, he felt a surge of joy and couldn’t be bothered with such details.
The woman’s demeanor and status all hinted at her formidable power. As an experienced Reincarnator, she undoubtedly possessed considerable skills. Since she agreed to help him find Granny, he could set his mind at ease for the time being.
As he was thinking this, he heard her say, "However, I can’t directly help you. We need to create an opportunity."
Hu Ma was slightly taken aback. "Huh?"
The other party paused for a moment, then said blandly, "Has no one taught you that our most important task is to hide our own secrets? Unexplained closeness and friendship could arouse others’ suspicion. It makes no sense for someone of my status in this world to suddenly become familiar with a poor boy like you, who grew up in a village. So, we need to manufacture an opportunity for ourselves. Tomorrow noon, I will encounter some danger. At that time, you can come to save me, and then it won’t be strange for us to help you!"
Can it be done ? Hu Ma finally understood. He nodded and said, "I understand."
"The information you’re concerned about..." He was about to speak but hesitated. The woman’s demeanor seemed different from the first Reincarnator he had encountered. Given her clear distinctions, Hu Ma worried whether she would keep her word if he revealed too much.
"Let’s help you find the person first, then we’ll talk!"
The other party seemed to sense Hu Ma’s thoughts, chuckled softly, and said, "I still have time. Just remember, tell me the answer later, but only in a dream, through this connection. In reality, you must not say anything that might arouse suspicion."
As her voice faded, a wisp of smoke quietly retreated behind the dark red mist. Hu Ma saw the incense on his incense table had returned to a state of faintly burning, scattered ashes, and a strange sense of unreality washed over him.
He silently reflected on the information the woman had shared and his own different circumstances compared to hers. Only then did he slowly sigh and sink into sleep.
When he woke up the next day, there was still a feeling of unreality.
"Little Huma, get up quickly and wash your face. We must hurry today," Second Master said. He had already returned from washing his face by the stream and handed Hu Ma a damp piece of thick cloth, whispering, "We took a detour yesterday and didn’t make it to where the important people wanted to go. Today, we must hurry and finish their business so we can look for Granny... Little Hongtang didn’t receive a message today either?"
Hu Ma turned his head to glance at Little Hongtang, who was huddling by the deadwood where he’d slept. She was a small bundle and shook her head.
Granny’s condition was likely not optimistic.
After eating the softened dry rations, his body felt heavy. He hadn’t consumed Blood Tai Sui for three days, and his limbs had started to feel cold. His abdomen, however, felt like a ball of searing heat, continuously spreading warmth. But he understood this meant his stove fire had begun to be consumed. As long as the stove fire remained, he could function like a normal person. But he couldn’t imagine what would happen once the stove fire was exhausted. Perhaps only by finding Granny could he understand completely.
However, while wiping his face, he surreptitiously glanced at the black sedan chair, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. The conversation last night couldn’t have been fake. So why hasn’t she come out yet?
When the group was ready, they continued their journey. The Reincarnator codenamed White Wine still sat in the sedan, while the others accompanied her. The bearers rotated about every two hours. This wasn’t due to a lack of strength, but because the forest path was difficult and rugged. Sometimes, even places a person could normally squeeze through required detours because of the sedan chair. This naturally extended their journey and slowed their pace.
As an experienced guide, Second Master had no complaints about the extra trouble for their important guests and just diligently led the way.
As they traveled from sunrise to noon, the group grew weary. They gradually entered parts of the forest seldom seen by humans. Hu Ma had been vigilant but found no opportunity.
It was not until he unintentionally turned his head that he noticed an old tree covered with vines, with black patterns growing on it. Especially at a spot two or three meters above the ground, the patterns vaguely resembled a human face.
A ghost wood? Hu Ma felt a stir in his heart as he recognized it.
In the forest, old trees would gradually develop human-like faces on their trunks as they aged. Once a face appeared, the old tree gained spiritual awareness, and the entire surrounding forest would become ominous. People became prone to getting lost or even mysteriously disappearing within it. If such a ghost wood appeared near the village, Second Master would definitely chop it down. Deep in this forest, however, no one bothered with them, and some had even developed cultivation.
Technically, since it was daytime, this tree shouldn’t cause trouble. But Second Master had mentioned that the forest was heavy with yin qi, and these spirits often emerged before dusk. Of course, Second Master had strong yang qi, so evil spirits wouldn’t usually approach him. But in this Old Yin Mountain, who knew how many powerful entities lurked?
Hu Ma immediately grew more cautious. He had noticed this old tree, so why hadn’t Second Master, who was in front, or the two sedan bearers noticed this eerie tree they were passing so closely?
While he was pondering this, a low-hanging branch from a nearby tree silently stretched towards the inside of the sedan.
Hu Ma was slightly startled, knowing the time had come. He immediately shouted quietly, "Watch out!"
Saying that, he took a quick step forward, clenched his right fist, and struck out forcefully. This was the first move of the Mountain Opening Fist, just as Second Master had taught him. When Hu Ma struck, he invoked the fiery intent within his stove fire, delivering the punch with immense strength and force. His clenched right fist covered three to four meters in an instant, landing squarely on the sloping branch. The force of his punch was so vigorous that it even lifted the sedan’s drawn curtain slightly.
From the corner of his eye, Hu Ma caught a glimpse inside the sedan: an emerald green earring against a fair cheek, and something furry flashing past.
The branch, as thick as a fist, that had silently snuck toward the sedan, was severed in two by Hu Ma’s punch. One segment fell to the ground, twisted a few times, and then lay still. The other end, however, suddenly contracted, like a gray giant python, and retreated into the forest in the blink of an eye, disappearing from sight.
"Protect the Young Lady!"
This disturbance shocked everyone around. The old shopkeeper nearly lost his composure. Shouting loudly, he leaped beside the sedan with a flick of his gown, even blocking Hu Ma outside. The group of attendants also became vigilant, drawing their knives and preparing for any threats.
Inside the sedan, silence followed, until a faint female voice spoke after a moment, "It’s just an old tree that has gained significant power."
"Yes, yes..." The old shopkeeper, sweating profusely, responded repeatedly. Was it because I was tired from the journey that I overlooked the dangers in this forest? he internally berated himself. Although the Young Lady in the sedan should not have been harmed, this negligence was a significant oversight on his part.
As he was thinking, he suddenly turned back and drove a black nail into the trunk of the nearby old tree. The old tree trembled violently, its leaves cascading down.
But the Shopkeeper didn’t look back, instead eyeing Hu Ma with a peculiar gaze. I didn’t notice it, the old guide didn’t notice it, and these loyal guards didn’t notice it either. I can’t believe this kid was the one who did.However, it was quite risky. Although this kid was well-intentioned, he was also impetuous. If he had lifted the curtain and disturbed the people in the sedan, it could have been troublesome.
"This kid, he has good intentions." The voice from inside the sedan spoke softly, "Shopkeeper, give him five taels of Silver!"
"Yes, yes." The Shopkeeper replied promptly and looked at Hu Ma. The scrutinizing look on his face had vanished, replaced by a smile as he said, "Foolish boy, you’re in luck. Why not thank the Young Lady for her reward?"
He was about to reach for the Silver, but Hu Ma quickly reacted, waving his hands and saying, "I don’t want Silver."
"Eh?" Even Second Master, not far away, was perplexed. "Why don’t you want it?" He had been guiding them for several days, and the reward silver he expected to receive wouldn’t necessarily amount to that much...
"Hmm?" The Shopkeeper also looked at Hu Ma curiously, a half-smile playing on his lips. "What, five taels isn’t enough for you?"
Even he knows how to act? Hu Ma quickly feigned naivety and whispered, "I don’t want Silver. I’d like to ask the Miss... sis to help me with something." This woman is essentially a fellow countryman, so calling her ’Miss’ feels a bit strange. ’Sis’ seems more fitting.
But at his words, the old shopkeeper immediately frowned, and even Second Master felt a pang of worry. This Little Huma is being too reckless! When someone offers you reward silver, you’re supposed to just accept it. Refusing the silver and asking for a favor instead? These distinguished guests from the city weren’t known for being accommodating. If you offended them, you’d be lucky to get away with just a glare; someone with a short temper might even dish out a few slaps.
"You..." The Shopkeeper’s face changed, ready to scold, but unexpectedly, the voice from the sedan spoke softly, "I have matters to attend to, so I can’t help you much. However, since I said I’d reward you, I can’t go back on my word. Go ahead, speak!"
The old shopkeeper and the others listened, their expressions becoming unreadable as they nodded in agreement.
Nearby, Second Master listened in awe. Fortune favors fools! How did this Little Huma actually manage to get the attention of such a distinguished guest?