The uproar eventually settled, and the matter was resolved.
Hu Ma listened as the village elders scolded Head Li for his lack of filial piety, claiming he had starved his own mother to death. He also heard the neighbors on both sides banging against Head Li’s windows. Nearby, the Dong couple were blocking the entrance to the Li family’s courtyard, demanding compensation for their pig.
Gradually, he understood the entire situation but found himself momentarily speechless.
Indeed, the evil spirit was present, but ultimately, it was the living who had committed the sin.
The person collapsed on the ground was helped up; it was Head Li’s wife, barely clinging to life. Yet, this wasn’t a living person overcome by hunger for pig slop. The villagers who had rushed over all heard the cry Head Li’s wife uttered just before fainting. And her voice, the sounds she made—they truly resembled Head Li’s mother.
The matter wasn’t hard to clarify: the one causing the trouble was indeed the spirit of Head Li’s mother, but the one eating the pig feed was his wife.
Head Li’s biological mother had been treated poorly by the couple and never had a full meal. Every night, she could hear the pigs in the Dong family’s backyard being fed while she was left hungry. That envy in her heart eventually turned into a vengeful spirit after she starved to death.
Head Li’s wife, who had treated her harshly in life, was then possessed by her, coming at night to fulfill her wish.
However, this wasn’t anything too formidable. With a mere fright, it dissipated in the clash with human vitality.
Naturally, Head Li’s wife, having been possessed by an evil spirit and then suffering such a fright, was bound to fall seriously ill.
"Young Master, I apologize for this spectacle. Who could have imagined such an unfilial wretch would emerge from our village..."
The village elders had witnessed Aunt Li’s state after death, so they could only believe the story. After rebuking Head Li for a while, they hurried over to bow to Hu Ma. "Rest assured," they said, "we won’t spare him."
"His mother raised him well from a young age, always saving the best food for him, making his head as big as a pig’s. Yet he grew up to starve his mother to death!"
"I must teach him a lesson, and we in the village won’t let him off easily."
Hu Ma could only nod in agreement.
Perhaps Head Li starving his own mother wasn’t a secret in their village.
Initially, it was his family’s own matter, and outsiders were reluctant to intervene. But once his deceased mother started causing trouble as a spirit, it couldn’t be ignored.
What if it escalated and caused greater disruptions?
"You really ought to watch over this, burn a few more sticks of incense, and offer more tributes," Hu Ma advised the elder. Then, he whispered, "She wasn’t fed well in life, so she ought to enjoy a proper meal in death, at least."
The village elders quickly agreed. "Once this matter gets out, it’ll spread throughout the neighboring villages, and everyone will know our village produced such an unfilial son..."
"Who would dare to marry into this family in the future..."
Hu Ma agreed that their concern was valid but found himself at a loss for further words.
While pondering this, he heard the village elders sighing deeply before finally broaching the main topic. "We are grateful to you, Young Master. We’ll be sure to burn incense and kowtow at the Red Lantern Lady’s shrine. However, about the donation for this visit..."
Hu Ma vaguely recalled that when the old shopkeeper dealt with that nest of Yellow Immortals, this issue was also mentioned.
They called it a donation, but it was really a reward given by villagers for resolving issues with evil spirits.
Logically, it wasn’t a big deal, and he had already enjoyed a good meal and drink. Receiving it or not was optional.
But remembering the old shopkeeper’s previous actions, Hu Ma nodded slightly, saying, "Just let the village chief handle it, and deliver it to the Manor."
The village elders eagerly agreed, preparing to host another banquet for Hu Ma and the others.
Yet, as the matter concluded, Hu Ma didn’t linger. He gathered Zhou Datong and the others and left the village overnight.
Upon returning to the Manor, he found the inner courtyard’s lights extinguished, so he refrained from disturbing anyone and went to bed early. The next morning, he entered the Manor and reported the previous day’s events to the old shopkeeper.
The old shopkeeper seemed indifferent to such matters, silently listening while sipping tea.
Finally, he suddenly asked Hu Ma, "How did you handle the donation?"
Why would he ask that?
Hu Ma found the old shopkeeper’s concern unexpected, thinking that a small village like that would only offer a few copper coins.
Nevertheless, he responded, "Since it was my first time, and I wasn’t certain of the usual amount, I suggested they follow the previous arrangements and have the village chief deliver it."
"Very well done." The old shopkeeper surprisingly cracked a rare smile. "You catch on fast."
Hu Ma wasn’t sure how to respond to this unexpected praise.
The old shopkeeper seemed to notice his puzzlement, smirked, and said, "Are you curious why we collect the donation?"
Hu Ma nodded, not hiding his curiosity.
After all, even the employees at the Red Lantern Lady’s Club received a significant stipend every month. Although the ordinary workers received less than half a tael of silver—not a large sum in itself—it was quite substantial compared to the earnings of ordinary families in villages like his own, or those in the surrounding area.
"Why do we take the donation?" The old shopkeeper, in good spirits, explained to Hu Ma, "Because not taking it would cause more trouble."
"If people came to you with every issue, big or small, and we work for the Red Lantern Society, should we manage them all?"
"If we can’t manage them all, we’ll end up being blamed!"
Hu Ma nodded, understanding these points.
"Moreover..." The old shopkeeper continued, chuckling, "If we didn’t charge, these surrounding manors would owe us a great debt of gratitude."
"Even now, they occasionally come outside the Manor to burn incense and kowtow to the Red Lantern. If we resolved every issue for them, or even provided them with livelihoods when they’re destitute, they wouldn’t just burn incense—they’d build a temple for the Red Lantern Lady!"
The first reason made sense to Hu Ma, but the second caught him off guard.
Building a temple for the Red Lantern Lady seemed like a positive thing? If the incense master learned of it, it would probably be seen as an achievement for their Manor, right?
As he mulled over it, he felt that the old shopkeeper’s words carried additional meaning.
"Haha, there’s much depth to this." The old shopkeeper chuckled softly. "Building a temple is easy, but she has to be able to bear the weight of it!"
However, he said the latter sentence very softly, and Hu Ma didn’t catch it clearly. Then he heard the old shopkeeper change the topic. "We mustn’t offend the people of these surrounding villages, but we also shouldn’t indulge them too much."
"Next spring, who knows what might require their help. If we’re too distant, they won’t feel obligated to assist. But if we’re too close, they’ll become troublesome, making any cooperation just as unpleasant."
"I clearly have a lot to learn," Hu Ma smiled, saying, "I’ll need the Shopkeeper’s guidance."
"Just handle more matters, and you’ll learn," the old shopkeeper responded with a simple smile, looking at Hu Ma. "Though you come from a village, I find your methods quite dependable."
Hu Ma felt a slight chill internally but reacted quickly, replying candidly, "My elders taught me to be careful in everything I do."
The old shopkeeper smiled. "Your elders seem to have foresight."
Although the conversation seemed abrupt, Hu Ma had rehearsed it internally many times, and he answered truthfully, "My Granny was the Ghost Walker of the village. She passed away before I came here, but she taught me many principles while she was alive."
"Oh?" The old shopkeeper seemed to have anticipated this and wasn’t surprised, simply saying, "Then why didn’t you learn the Ghost Walker’s craft?"
"Couldn’t learn it," replied Hu Ma. "I’m naturally timid, and even now I’m afraid when I see evil spirits. Besides, my Granny said it wasn’t worth learning."
"She walked ghosts in the village for twenty years and gained nothing good from it!"
Having been here long enough, Hu Ma understood the role of a Ghost Walker. In this region, including the Old Yin Mountain, there were many Ghost Walkers. These individuals healed people and dealt with evil spirits, similar to witch doctors or shamans in past societies, so the role itself wasn’t particularly unique.
Of course, Hu Ma knew internally that a Ghost Walker like his Granny, who could single-handedly harvest a Blood Tai Sui, was far from ordinary.
But he certainly wouldn’t share his Granny’s abilities with anyone else.
Even if he did, the old shopkeeper might not believe him.
"Haha, that’s quite true..." The old shopkeeper, unexpectedly, seemed touched by Hu Ma’s words and gave a faint smile. "Ghost Walkers, they are the most entangled in karma."
Hearing his seemingly sentimental tone, Hu Ma felt a stir in his heart and bravely asked, "Then..."
"...what about us Shousui men?"
The old shopkeeper looked up at Hu Ma and sighed softly.
For a moment, Hu Ma sensed a profound weight in the old shopkeeper’s gaze, which had turned complex and heavy.
Simultaneously, he felt that behind the wooden lattice window in the inner courtyard’s side room, someone was watching him.
"Us Shousui men..." After a pause, the old shopkeeper spoke softly, "In theory, we are the ones least entangled in karma."
"But living in this world, who can truly escape it?"
"You should focus on your training and learn your skills well. You’ve only just stepped through the door; the real troubles are still far off..."
Most entangled in karma versus least entangled...
Hu Ma pondered the differences, realizing the Shopkeeper had no intention of further discussion. He continued to muse as he walked out.
Internally, he felt that Shopkeeper Wu would have asked him these questions eventually. Now that the dharma method had been transmitted, the questions felt somewhat overdue.
Having answered truthfully, he felt a sense of relief.
Now that he had openly stated he was the grandson of a Ghost Walker, future conversations might be easier.
He had obtained the dharma method and the old artifact, and the Shopkeeper seemed satisfied with how he handled matters. Everything appeared to be progressing smoothly.
Yet, deep down, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he had forgotten something.
He thought carefully...