“The Meng family is too arrogant…”
“You attacked the Hu family because they were always on the defensive, without even the ability to fight back against the Meng family!”
“But don't forget, the Hu family has this ruthless streak!”
“In your eyes, this might be a crisis where both sides suffer, allowing others to seize the advantage, but in the Hu family's eyes, this is finally an opportunity to drag your Meng family to the gambling table!”
Believing that Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng had already understood his words, Hu Ma didn't need to ask any further questions.
The Tongyin Meng family had a deep foundation and strong roots. Overthrowing the Meng family was never going to be easy, but these two had given him a pleasant surprise, filling his heart with anticipation.
He rummaged around in Second Master's room and found a wine jar left over from his drinking, which Hu Ma had brought him as a gift when he returned to the village the first year.
Now that the wine was gone, he used the jar to pickle vegetables. Hu Ma dumped out the vegetables, sprinkled incense ash on the bottom, drew the Hu family's *jia* curse on the jar, and then placed the Meng family's First Master inside, sealed it, and handed it to Little Hongtang to hold.
As for the Meng family's Eldest Madam, she was arranged in a small wooden hut in a valley not far from the village, where hunters stayed, and he planned to have Zhou Datong watch over her.
…No, better to have Li Wazi come!
After doing all this, he took advantage of the night and led Little Hongtang slowly back to the village.
In his heart, he pondered the words he had extracted from the Meng family: After watching the downfall of the Du Yi, what exactly did the Ten Clans do?
Sealing Reincarnation, Severing Human Specters, Sacrificing the Three Corpses, Dismantling the Bridge of Life, Destroying the Gate of Ghosts…
Were these all preparations made by the Ten Clans for ascension to immortality?
Then, what role did the Hu family play in this grand plan for immortality?
Was it really as the Meng family said, that the two families became enemies simply because the Hu family wanted to be the sole leader?
In reality, his understanding of the Hu family was limited. He knew nothing about the original owner's father and grandfather, and he wasn't sure if they were also obsessed with this "immortality" thing. But he understood his grandmother-in-law…
Could such a kind-hearted person, sometimes to the point of being a bit pedantic, also be thinking about becoming immortal?
His thoughts were in disarray. As he was thinking, he heard a sigh from the shadows in the nearby forest, and a blurred figure sitting on a tree stump quietly watched him.
Hu Ma turned around, bowed deeply, and said with a smile, "Senior, I was just wondering why I haven't seen you in so long. I have some things to ask you. The village is already preparing for the mountain sacrifice. I wonder if Senior has any special requirements?"
"Do you want me to burn a couple of paper figures to serve you?"
"…"
"Get rid of those dirty thoughts in your head…"
Mountain Lord Senior sighed and said, "Paper figures are for appeasing the Yin souls of the Underworld; they are useless to me."
Hu Ma quickly said, "I understand. Does Senior have any other requirements? I'll tell the villagers; we must make this sacrifice beautiful."
"The Hu family is rising…"
Mountain Lord didn't bother to pay attention to him, but sighed faintly, "The person you just locked up has an aura of nobility, definitely not an ordinary woman."
"Of course."
Hu Ma smiled and said, "That is Meng…"
"Don't speak."
Mountain Lord Senior stopped him, saying, "I don't want dozens of City Gods to come and make trouble for me. Martial world affairs and court affairs have nothing to do with me, so I don't care who you've locked up. I even hide far away when you interrogate them."
"I just saw the Hu family's current fortune and came to see you out of emotion."
"…"
Hu Ma could sense the complexity of Mountain Lord Senior's mood, so he pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "Senior, the Hu family has little fortune. Someone is using this opportunity to gamble with my Hu family's life."
Mountain Lord Senior listened, remained silent for a long time, and said softly, "The Hu family indeed has little fortune, even less than ordinary people."
"There are paths, evil ghosts, and City Gods in this world, but there are also things beyond the level of paths, such as karma and retribution, the Three Disasters and Eight Tribulations. If someone really uses these things against the Hu family, you must be careful."
"Of course, the person who triggers these things will also pay a great price."
"…"
Hu Ma nodded and said, "But the blood feud is deep, and my grandmother-in-law is still suffering. If there is a chance to overthrow the Meng family, I don't want to back down."
"When have you Hu family members, with your stubborn necks and cruel deeds, ever backed down?"
Mountain Lord heard this and smiled bitterly, "I also know that your mind is hard to settle, and I can't persuade you. Besides, these things have nothing to do with me. I have already repaid the Hu family's favor."
"But…"
"…"
He also paused slightly and said softly, "I still find it strange. The ancestors of the Hu family have already done so much; it doesn't seem like they should have left such a big weakness."
"The Hu family's lack of fortune is known to all Ten Clans, but because of this, all Ten Clans feel that they can control the Hu family at any time. Even when the Meng family attacks you, they have to be careful, afraid that you will go all out and really destroy the Suppression Bureau. But if…"
"…"
Hu Ma slowly continued, "If we survive it?"
"If the Hu family, with such a big weakness, survives the natural disasters, wouldn't that mean that the Hu family has no weaknesses?"
"…"
Mountain Lord fell silent, seemingly with some appreciation. He didn't know when it started, but this Hu family kid was no longer talking to him like a junior receiving guidance, but as an equal.
After a long time, he sighed softly and said, "I am just an outsider and don't understand these things. But even though I have this guess, I still want to remind you that even someone with your father's abilities died in this disaster. You must also be careful."
Hu Ma didn't say much, just nodded, and suddenly said, "Senior, you are a City God, but you are trapped in the mountain and have a relationship with my Hu family, but we are not on the same path. Seeing you old folks living freely every day, but always frowning, I wonder who you are guarding in this mountain…"
"…who are you guarding?"
"…"
There was already a hint of probing in these words, but after asking, there was silence for a long time. Looking again, he only saw the shadows of the trees, and Mountain Lord Senior had already left.
"He still won't say…"
Hu Ma sighed and had to take Little Hongtang and continue walking towards the village, his heart complex. He asked, "Little Hongtang, have you ever seen my father?"
Little Hongtang shook her two little pigtails: "No, when Grandmother-in-law brought me back to the village, only Brother Mazi was at home."
Hu Ma thought for a while and said, "Then do you remember if Grandmother-in-law ever mentioned him?"
"I remember."
Little Hongtang thought for a while and said, "Grandmother-in-law also cried, saying that her husband was a stubborn mule, her son was a twisted knot, and she was a good girl when she was young and shouldn't have married into your Hu family to suffer."
"…"
Hu Ma didn't know how to respond. He did feel that his grandmother-in-law had suffered a lot. He sighed and said, "By the way, where were you before you followed Grandmother-in-law?"
"Why have you also eaten Purple Ganoderma?"
"…"
Little Hongtang was stunned, as if thinking for a moment, then shook her head happily and said, "I forgot!"
"Grandmother-in-law brought Little Hongtang out of the big house. I don't remember anything about the big house. After coming out, I've been with Grandmother-in-law all the time!"
"…"
Alright, he always wanted to ask Little Hongtang carefully, but every time the questions he had prepared ended so hastily.
Back in the village, Hu Ma found Li Wazi and gave him careful instructions, and told him not to tell Zhou Datong. Li Wazi of course agreed, and left to take care of things that night.
Looking at the Dayang Village now, it was festive. Although there were still a few days before the eighth day of the lunar new year, some respected elders from neighboring villages had already come to help.
They were old and knew the old rules and arranged everything in an organized manner.
Of course, sometimes they would argue, this one saying that one was wrong, that one saying that this one had misremembered. When they got anxious, they would even pick up hoes.
Hu Ma wasn't worried about them fighting, anyway, none of them could beat Second Master…
…Second Master and the old patriarch were brothers, one clever and one strong, and were well-known in the surrounding villages.
Of course, knowing that Dayang Village was going to sacrifice to the mountain, although the people from other villages didn't say it, they felt awkward in their hearts. After all, after sacrificing to the mountain, Dayang Village would be respectable and a part of the Old Yin Mountain. Which village wouldn't envy that?
But no matter how unwilling they were, when they saw the imposing iron armor on Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu, and the soldiers running errands by their sides, the people from these villages were stunned.
These were real officials, who wouldn't be afraid?
As various affairs in the village were arranged properly, people came to watch the ceremony.
First, Xu Wensheng, the grain chief of Ming Prefecture, Great Commander Zhang Lu, Deputy Commander Cui Niangzi, the Incense Master of the Red Lantern Goddess Temple, and several wealthy gentlemen and noble families from Ming Prefecture all brought a group of servants and carts full of gifts.
When they entered the village, not to mention the neighboring villages, even the people in Dayang Village were dumbfounded.
Even Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu felt that it was inappropriate for them to go to greet these people, since under the command of General Baoliang, Chief Xu Wensheng and Old Zhang's official ranks were half a step higher than theirs.
They surrounded Hu Ma and rushed to the outside of the village, but unexpectedly, Chief Xu not only didn't pay attention to them, but didn't even pay attention to Hu Ma. He gave a perfunctory salute and looked around, only saying, "Where is my old brother?"
"Old brother?"
Hu Ma hadn't reacted yet when he saw Xu Wensheng sweep through the crowd and immediately recognize Second Master.
He rushed forward, pushed through the crowd, bowed deeply to Second Master, and said with a smile, "Old brother, do you still remember me, Old Xu?"
"I've wanted to visit you in the village for a long time…"