Chapter 13 The Best Time

Perhaps the Truth Teaching had been chosen because it possessed some extraordinary abilities. Perhaps the Qingyuan Hu Clan had many ideas upon their arrival. Or perhaps the Tongyin Meng family had painstakingly set up this situation, and their backup plans would come one after another.

However, Hu Ma didn't feel like staying outside to fight them. Now that he had cultivated the ability to enter the spirit mansion, broken through three pillars of Daoist cultivation, and refined the Meng family's evil spirits.

With a clean slate, it was the best time to retrieve the Hu family's heirloom.

He would simply take it back.

No matter what deceptive tricks or conspiracies the other party had, they couldn't compare to the important matter of retrieving the Hu family's heirloom.

Therefore, after seeing Yang Gong's current state and gaining a general understanding of the situation in Mingzhou, he didn't delay at all. Instead, he strode to the *xing*, borrowed the power of the Measuring Heaven Boots, and went deep into Old Yin Mountain, returning to Great Sheep Village.

With this superb skill for traveling, it was no longer like before, when he had to ride a donkey or horse for three or four days to get home. Passing through the deep mountains and old forests, it only took him half a day.

Instead of returning to the village first, he found his way to Second Master's estate outside the village. He returned the Measuring Heaven Boots, and then, at the foot of the mountain, he straightened his clothes, which had been ruffled by the wind. He also took out a package wrapped in oil paper from the jar Little Hongtang was holding, containing more than four pounds of bloody meat, and held it in his hand.

"Second Master, how's your health lately?"

As he entered the estate, before anyone could see him, he laughed and said, "I'm back to see you."

Inside the estate, Second Master was leading a group of youngsters, instructing them in their martial stances. When he saw Hu Ma enter, he almost knocked over his teapot in surprise. "Why are you back when it's not New Year's or any other holiday?"

The group of children in the village looked up and saw Hu Ma. They were also surprised, knowing that this was the most promising young man in the village, and their eyes were filled with curiosity and awe.

"It's nothing special. I just saw that there's a famine outside. People who used to be able to eat their fill are now only getting one meal a day. I didn't know how things were in our village, so I came back to take a look. I also brought some grain back."

Hu Ma smiled and said, "This is meat I had butchered for you before I came. I brought it to nourish your body."

"Why bother with these formalities?"

Second Master hurriedly got up and welcomed Hu Ma into the house. He said with a hint of disdain, "Whenever your Second Master wants to eat meat, he just goes into the forest to hunt. I don't need your piece of meat."

After entering the house, he turned around and sized Hu Ma up. There was an indescribable satisfaction in his expression. Then, he lowered his voice and asked, "Has something happened to you, kid?"

"Why did you come back to the village empty-handed this time?"

"And where's the horse?"

"In the past, you always came back with a cart and horse, looking very impressive. This time, it looks like you ran back?"

The more he thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed. Suddenly becoming anxious, he lowered his voice, afraid that the children outside would hear, and said, "You haven't been kicked out by the Red Lantern Society, have you?"

"The questions Second Master cares about are still so simple."

Hu Ma couldn't help but smile wryly. "Second Master, what are you worried about? I'm doing just fine with the Red Lantern Goddess."

"I said I was bringing grain back this time, but the carts and horses carrying the grain are slow. I told them to slowly make their way back. I didn't ride a horse because I'm practicing martial arts. Now I've learned some real skills, and I can get back from the city in less than a day."

"That's right..."

Remembering something, he smiled and said, "Recently, I've been valued by the Society again and promoted a bit."

"What?"

Second Master was confused by what Hu Ma was saying. What did he mean by doing fine with the Red Lantern Goddess? What did he mean by being able to come back in one day?

He just felt that this kid was talking nonsense. How could the Red Lantern Goddess know who he was?

Running several hundred *li* in one day? Did he think he had wings on his feet?

But all of this was not as powerful as the last sentence he heard, and he was shocked: "Promoted again? Are you a shopkeeper now?"

Hu Ma was about to answer, but seeing Second Master's surprised expression, he held back. He really had to be considerate of the old man. If he told him his experiences over the past few years, he might not believe it and would only worry.

So, he smiled and said, "Not really. I'm still a steward, but before I was a steward on the estate, now I'm a steward at the blood meat mine. Of course, the wages are higher."

"A steward at the blood meat mine?"

Second Master's mind instantly conjured up the images of those burly men he had to deal with every year. He felt a slight dizziness from joy, feeling a little unreal, and hurriedly said, "You're not making this up, are you, kid?"

"If you become a steward, then in the future, won't you be able to take people from our village to harvest blood meat? Then who would dare to deduct our wages? We'd save a lot of money on annual tributes!"

Hu Ma smiled and said, "I do have that intention. Why don't you bring some men to my mine next year to harvest blood meat?"

Second Master didn't even delve into the truth of this statement, even if it was false, he was happy.

As for the piece of blood meat Hu Ma gave him, he didn't even look at it and directly threw it into the jar beside him containing pickled vegetables. Hu Ma watched, wanting to remind him, but suddenly felt it wasn't necessary, so he let Second Master leave it there.

He immediately arranged for the group of youngsters to work hard in the estate, and Second Master locked the door and came out with him to send Hu Ma back to the village.

On the way, he asked, "What's this about a famine? Our village doesn't seem to be any different. It's the same as in previous years. It's not possible to eat our fill every meal, but it hasn't reached the point where people are starving to death."

"Old Yin Mountain is blessed by the Mountain God, so it's indeed different from other places."

Hu Ma was slightly relieved to hear Second Master say this, and while returning with Second Master, he thought to himself.

These mountain villages have little contact with the outside world and have been poor for generations, but the more they are like this, the easier it is to avoid harsh taxes and war disasters. In peaceful times, they don't enjoy blessings, but in times of war, they are less affected. It is a classic example of having gains and losses.

Now, there are already some signs in the towns and villages around Old Yin Mountain, but compared to other states and counties, it is still good.

It is the Mountain God who protects it, so the eight hundred *li* of Old Yin Mountain has this kind of good fortune.

But because of this, it has become a granary in the eyes of others. The first thing those who want to do great things set their sights on is such a place.

Back in the village, Second Master's shout immediately let everyone know that Hu Ma had returned. The old clan leader and several elderly people in the village also dropped what they were doing and came over.

At first, seeing that Hu Ma had actually returned empty-handed, without even leading a horse and without bringing anything, they were a little worried. It wasn't that they were greedy for those things, but they were worried that something had happened to Hu Ma outside, but they couldn't ask immediately.

"Don't just stand there staring with your eyes wide open."

Second Master laughed angrily when he saw this and said, "That's all the vision you people have, I'm telling you!"

"Little Hu Ma is doing well now, he's learned some skills and has become a steward at the blood meat mine. He's bought several carts of grain, which are being transported to the village behind him. Why didn't he ride a horse? Because he's learned magic and travels much faster than riding a horse."

"I heard a long time ago when I was outside that some people can summon little ghosts to carry sedan chairs, and they run so fast!"

The old clan leader and several elders in the village were immediately overjoyed when they heard this and surrounded him to ask what was going on.

"I've only just started learning, I'm not that good yet. I don't know how to make little ghosts carry sedan chairs."

Hu Ma also tried to make himself sound less like he was bragging and explained with a smile, "But it's true that I've been transferred to the blood meat mine, and it will be much easier to do things in the future. I'm worried about not having my own people to help me, and people from the village can go there in the future."

"Please let Second Master take charge of these matters."

The people in the village were happy and hurriedly asked how the others were doing.

Hu Ma also told them one by one, mentioning Zhou Datong and Li Waizi, who were both promising and had become stewards. Especially Li Waizi, who was now able to handle things on his own.

Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu were also serious about learning skills. Zhou Liang was now more calm and had a lot of ideas when he encountered problems. Zhao Zhu was even more amazing, and his fork skills were extremely brave. When he returned to the village, no one could match him.

In their joy, Second Master set up a feast. The families of Datong, Zhou Liang, Zhao Zhu, and Li Waizi all sent wine and dishes, and they had a lively meal. Hu Ma then found a chance to ask, "Second Master, I've come back this time for something else. How is things going at Old Sheepskin Grandpa's place?"

Second Master was worried when he heard this. "That place? The haunting is getting worse and worse."

"Your late grandmother left behind some arrangements, and most of the things inside can't get out, but the yin energy is getting heavier and heavier. You can hear things crying inside even during the day, and at night, it's as lively as a market."

"Many of the people in Mang Village can't stay there anymore and want to move out. Old Sheepskin Brother couldn't hold back and went over there himself, but he was so affected that he couldn't get out of bed for two months."

"Actually, just two days ago, he came to our village, wanting to ask something hesitantly, but I persuaded him to go back."

The clan leader and elders next to him said, "That's right!"

"Even here, there seem to be more evil spirits."

"Now, when we go out, we carry twice as much pond ash on our bodies. Once the sun passes the treetops, we have to go back, and we're afraid something will happen as soon as it gets dark."

The matter of the village of complete extinction shouldn't affect this place, maybe it's for other reasons. The world is weaker, and evil spirits are more fierce. Even people in the deep mountains and old forests can't avoid this, but the clan leader doesn't know this and blames it on the village of complete extinction.

Hu Ma thought silently and slowly said, "We can't blame Old Sheepskin Grandpa for this."

"Grandmother promised them that she would help solve it within ten years, and now, it's almost been ten years, right?"

"When he came to ask, wasn't he just asking about this?"

Second Master lost his appetite for wine when he heard this and looked at Hu Ma with concern. "But do you have confidence now?"

"I do."

Hu Ma didn't say anything else, just nodded slowly and said, "I've come back this time for this."