Chapter 106 A Woman's Demeanor

In a secluded mountain valley, the Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law fetched water from the stream herself and used a coarse pottery jar to heat it over a fire pit that Li Waizi had helped build.

First, she used a handful of soft grass from nearby to clean the coarse pottery bowl she had eaten from, placing it back in the food box for someone else to collect.

Then, she sat on the threshold next to the wooden house, using a piece of cloth torn from her clothes to wipe her face with warm water. It was an ordinary action, but the way she stretched her waist, in the morning light and mist, naturally exuded a noble and reserved beauty.

"I wonder what Zhou Datong would think if he were here..." Li Waizi, who was leaning against a tree nearby, guarding her, glanced at her with disdain and turned his head away, thinking, "Women in the city eat well and have figures like that, but they don't go picking manure and planting crops. What a waste."

"Next time, I'll only bring her rice, no meat."

"..."

"..."

He had been guarding here for some time and was bored. He knew that there was a mountain sacrifice in the village today and wanted to join in the fun, but he couldn't disobey Ma Zi-ge's orders and could only guard the plump woman here.

He was idly thinking about how to practice the new tricks Ma Zi-ge had taught him when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the silent forest.

Soon, he saw a man in brocade robes, a man in black robes, and a bright woman in cloth clothes rushing over from outside. Li Waizi immediately became alert.

Just as he was about to get up and stop them, he saw that the three of them were even more surprised than he was.

After staring blankly at the Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law, they hurriedly bowed to the woman in the valley, "Meng family's Aunt, Zhao family's juniors pay respects..."

"Ah?"

The Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law, who was sitting on the threshold of the wooden house wiping her face, was also stunned when she suddenly saw them. She paused for a moment, then suddenly ran into the house without a word, busily searching for things to comb her hair.

The appearance of these juniors meant that she was rescued. Greetings were not important now; maintaining her dignity was.

"What are you doing?"

Li Waizi quickly grabbed a handful of incense, stared warily at the people in front of him, and shouted, "Don't come any closer, or Li-ye here will start hitting people!"

"She... she really is the Meng family's head mistress..."

The people who had rushed in, upon seeing the Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law, were as if struck by lightning. They couldn't care about anything else and looked back at the forest, where Hu Ma was slowly walking over.

When Li Waizi saw Hu Ma, he felt slightly relieved. He then heard Zhao Sanyi anxiously ask Hu Ma, "Why is she here? Could it be that the Hu family really..."

"You want to say that the Hu family condoned demons and kidnapped her from Yanzhou?"

Hu Ma sneered, "On the contrary, it was my young master who learned that she had fallen into the hands of demons and spent a thousand jin of Zi Taisui (purple spiritual fungus) to redeem the Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law from the demons. She only arrived in these mountains recently."

"The Hu and Meng families have their own grievances. Although we couldn't bear to see her humiliated, we couldn't just let her go back for nothing."

"Therefore, I was ordered to imprison her here."

"But to be honest, although I am a Da Zhuodao (Master Blade) in the Zou Guimen (Netherwalking Sect), I am also a good man and do not want to imprison women and children."

"..."

"Demons? Redeemed?"

As soon as Zhao Sanyi and the others heard this, they knew it was related to that mysterious Hu family's young master again.

If that young master were in front of them, they would naturally ask in detail, but now they were only facing a Da Zhuodao who was carrying out orders, so they couldn't ask about the many doubts in their hearts.

But they understood the meaning of his words and asked in surprise, "You... you're really willing to let us take this eldest daughter-in-law back?"

"But if that's the case, won't your young master... be angry with you?"

"..."

"Heh, my young master actually thinks the same way as I do."

Hu Ma smiled faintly, waved his hand, and said, "Although he didn't say it explicitly, I understand his character. His biggest problem is that he inherited the Hu family's kindness."

"The Hu and Meng families do have a blood feud and must fight, but even if they fight, they must do so fairly, with real skills, without involving others, and even less willing to bully women and children. Of course, they can't use the means of threatening the Meng family with women and children."

"Otherwise, he could have kept this Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law in the Suppression Office and forced a confession with torture. Why bother sending her here, where she's taken care of with two meals a day?"

He sneered, "To put it bluntly, he wanted to release her long ago, but because of the feud between the two families, it was difficult to handle. Now that I've released her for him, the young master might even praise me for being resourceful!"

"This..."

These high-sounding words immediately stunned the three members of the Ten Families present, and they were somewhat shocked.

Chen Abao, wrapped in black robes, suddenly said, "Back then, the Meng family didn't show any mercy when the Hu family was left with only orphans and widows..."

"That's them!"

Hu Ma said coldly, "The descendants of the Hu family will not stoop to the level of the Meng family, with no bottom line!"

His words were resounding, as if the Old Yin Mountain trembled.

Especially when the Zhou family's Fourth Miss heard this, her scalp tingled. Standing behind Chen Abao, she looked at Hu Ma and felt that this Shou Sui (year-guardian) Da Zhuodao from the Zou Guimen stood in the morning light, tall and straight, with light in his eyebrows.

Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao also gradually widened their eyes, their moods complicated, not knowing what to say. They subconsciously felt that these words might not be so sincere, but they couldn't find anything wrong with them.

After a long while, Zhao Sanyi sighed and bowed solemnly to Hu Ma, "The Hu family bears a heavy burden. For so many years, they have lived in seclusion in the deep mountains and do not associate with other families. I didn't expect that the Hu family's brother is such a magnanimous man."

"Whether it's the Hu family's brother or you, Brother Blade, you deserve this bow from Zhao Sanyi of the Xi Men (Theatrical Sect)."

"..."

As he bowed, Chen Abao next to him pouted, his black eyes rolling, not knowing what he was thinking. The Zhou family's Fourth Miss reacted and followed suit, bowing solemnly. Then, she looked up and bit her lip.

"Of course..."

At this moment, Hu Ma also felt that he might have overacted. The dignified members of the Ten Families had started bowing?

But he had to continue acting, so he straightened his face, cleared his throat, and said, "Take the person away. Rich people can't endure the hardships of these mountains."

"However, although I released her on my own initiative, there must still be an explanation."

"This eldest daughter-in-law was, after all, redeemed by my young master with both favors and goods. If you want to take her away, you should show some appreciation, so that I can at least give the young master an account..."

"..."

"Easy, easy!"

Before Hu Ma could finish, Zhao Sanyi said anxiously, "Everyone understands the rules of the Jianghu (martial world)."

"Whether it's Bai Qing Hong Zi (white, green, red, purple objects) or gold and silver, the Meng family should prepare them properly. Even if they don't give them, my Zhao family and Chen family will take on this matter."

"But this matter is urgent, you discuss it first, I'll send a message..."

"..."

Knowing that time was tight, he couldn't care about anything else and hurriedly walked to the side, randomly picking a broad leaf.

The Zhao family was skilled. With a few folds, he had already folded the leaf into the shape of a flying bird. Then, he muttered words, drew a few strokes in the air, and the flying bird suddenly flew up from the ground, its speed extremely fast, and it disappeared into the forest in an instant.

He was quickly sending a message to his elders, saying that the Meng family's eldest daughter-in-law had been found.

At this time, the Zhou family's Fourth Miss had been looking at Hu Ma and suddenly said, "Although the Hu family's young master may also have this intention, you released her on your own initiative after all. Won't... something happen?"

Hu Ma glanced at her, expressionless, and said coldly, "Rules are rules. Even if the young master wants to punish me, that's what I should receive."

"Then he..."

The Zhou family's Fourth Miss hesitated, "You are Shou Sui after all. If he punishes you severely, our Zhou family..."

Hu Ma directly interrupted her and said indifferently, "Although I am a Zhuodao and my status is different, I am as close as brothers with the Hu family's young master. Even if he punishes me, it will only be a light tap after a heavy lift."

"But your Zhou family, can you accommodate my skills?"

"..."

"This..."

The Zhou family's Fourth Miss was silent again.

She naturally knew that this Zou Gui Da Zhuodao had learned the techniques of the Great Mighty Master Gong's lineage, which were incompatible with the Zhou family's orthodox methods and even had old grudges.

In theory, as a member of the Zhou family, she should be cleaning up the house at this moment. Moreover, the reason she came here to find him was to regain her dignity as a daughter of the Zhou family and take back her stolen double hammers and Bottle Master.

But now, one thing after another, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

In this somewhat delicate atmosphere, Chen Abao suddenly looked around and sniffed hard:

"Hey, that's strange, where's that sour stench coming from?"

"..."

Hu Ma turned his head and glanced at her, silently calculating the time in his heart. Then, he turned around slowly and said, "If you want me to suffer less punishment, then make up for my young master's expenses!"

"I think you wouldn't be embarrassed to offer less than a thousand jin of Zi Taisui as compensation."

"You can take the person away, but after all, this is my responsibility. I won't stay here to watch. Afterwards, I can only say that you sneaked into Old Yin Mountain and rescued the person. It's not that the Hu family is afraid of trouble and released her."

"..."

As he spoke, he led Li Waizi away from here. The Zhou family's Fourth Miss kept following him with her eyes until he disappeared.

After Hu Ma left their sight, he immediately sent Li Waizi back to the village. He then put on his Measure-the-Sky Boots and instantly crossed mountains and ridges, finding a shady place near water, which was just right for performing the ritual.

Without time for much consideration, he quickly shook the twenty-four altar flags left by Erguotou on the ground. Then, he entered the altar and instantly activated the fourth incense stick.

...

...

At the same time, in the Meng family's ancestral home, the Meng family's eldest young master was sitting on a grand master's chair, complacent and arrogant.

He'd see if anyone would say that the Meng family only knew how to kowtow and had no real skills after this day!

(End of this chapter)