“Needless to say.”

Looking at Qian Lao's worried face, the young incense master just waved his hand. In truth, he knew the zou gui ren's (errand spirit) capabilities quite well after having him around for so long.

Zou gui ren often traveled north and south, living in poverty. Those who relied on blood sacrifices for their comfort and enjoyment were usually limited in skill.

Moreover, he could also see that although the river surface was calm, the resentful spirits inside were far from ordinary. Even the incense he burned couldn't reach into the river. It was already impressive that Qian Lao could speak to them at all.

Therefore, frowning and thinking for a while, he said in a low voice, "If it requires a pair of children, that's not too difficult…"

As he spoke, he glanced at the fishing villages on both sides of the river, but then shook his head: "But it's broad daylight now, making it inconvenient to act."

Qian Lao was shocked by how casually he said it, but he quickly hid it, not daring to show it on his face.

He carefully suggested, "Then, why not think of another way, or... tonight?"

"Time is of the essence. Who knows how many more things will happen if we wait until tonight?"

But upon hearing this, the young incense master suddenly made a decision. Although he had hesitated at first after listening to Qian Lao, he adjusted far quicker than Qian Lao.

His eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "Where is that yellow-haired girl now?"

Qian Lao was slightly startled and said, "In the village behind us, helping to cook for the workers!"

The young incense master said indifferently, "Call her over!"

Qian Lao understood his meaning and couldn't help but be startled: "But she's your..."

"She's just a girl I bought for ten taels of silver. Seeing that she has a good appearance, I thought of offering her to the Old Ancestor, but I haven't used her yet."

The young incense master said indifferently, "Using her here isn't a loss either."

"Ah..."

Qian Lao felt a chill in his heart as he listened to him calmly deciding someone's life and death. He couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "But even if you call her, it's only one person. We still need... we still need a boy. You wouldn't..."

As he spoke, he subconsciously looked at the Qing Yi (Azure Clad) gang disciples around him.

There were indeed a few boys among these disciples, luckily he had already lost his virginity early on.

"What are you thinking?"

The young incense master noticed his gaze and sneered, "These are all risking their lives for me. Why would I target them?"

"It's the fishing villages around here. If there's anyone who goes out fishing alone..."

"..."

He was pondering to himself, looking at the river surface, which was empty. The fishermen were frightened by them and hadn't set sail yet, and it wasn't certain that anyone would come out today.

If they directly went into the village to kidnap someone, it would easily provoke public anger, which would be troublesome for them to handle.

Just as he was pondering, he suddenly turned his head and saw a man wearing a bamboo hat leaving the shore. It was Hu Ma, who had just received Xiao Hongtang and was preparing to go over. It just so happened that the young incense master saw him, and his eyes changed slightly:

"Who is that?"

"He seems to be a passing traveler. It looks like our men have already questioned him."

The young incense master's heart stirred and he said, "Call him over."

Hu Ma, on the other side, had just heard Xiao Hongtang describe how big the jar was, and while thinking of countermeasures, he pretended to leave. However, he hadn't walked far when he was suddenly stopped.

Turning his head, he saw a man wearing azure clothing, made of exquisite materials, silky and shiny, with his hair tied in a bun, walking over with a few gang members, smiling from afar: "Brother, greetings!"

"Seeing you in such a hurry, I wonder where you're going?"

"..."

Seeing his politeness, Hu Ma also cupped his fist in return and smiled: "I'm helping my employer deliver a letter to Xiao Liang County!"

The azure-clad man smiled: "My respects, my respects."

Saying that, he asked a few questions, nothing more than what the gang members had just questioned Hu Ma about. But after explaining everything clearly, he suddenly asked:

"Looking at you, brother, you're not too old. I wonder if you're married?"

"..."

Hu Ma's heart turned slightly, and he said, "Not yet..."

Saying that, he glanced at the other party's slightly relaxed eyebrows, and then smiled: "But I have two good women in the alley, brother. Why are you asking?"

Upon hearing this suddenly, the old man next to him was a little disappointed.

But the azure-clad man stared at Hu Ma's eyebrows, carefully looked at them, and smiled: "I see that you still have a strong, untainted yang energy. How about this, I have some important matters here. Please come and help me. I will definitely reward you handsomely afterwards..."

"You can even see that?"

Hu Ma was a little speechless, but still said, "No need for rewards, I have important matters to attend to. Farewell."

Saying that, he turned around to leave, but the azure-clad man subtly gave a look.

Behind Hu Ma, the two Qing Yi gang disciples who had just blocked his way suddenly flanked him from the left and right. One of them went to press on Hu Ma's shoulder, and the other went to pull his arm.

Their movements were skilled and experienced, obviously having done this kind of thing many times.

Unexpectedly, just as they touched Hu Ma's clothes, Hu Ma's two arms suddenly softened, his arms slipped out of their hands, and he grabbed their belts, throwing them directly out.

The two fell more than ten feet away, their faces turned green, and they straightened their backs a few times, but couldn't stand up.

It turned out that Hu Ma had used the Soul-Reaping Hand technique of a Shou Suiren (Night Watcher).

Turning his arms into a deathly state, not only did they not bear any force, but also, upon contact, they could injure people's souls.

This was still Hu Ma deliberately holding back. Otherwise, if he had made a ruthless move, he could have directly torn out the souls of these two people. "Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"

Everyone around was shocked by the sight and drew their sabers, ready for battle.

The azure-clad man's expression also changed slightly, and he stared at Hu Ma, saying in a low voice, "So you're a martial artist..."

Hu Ma looked at him and smiled, "You guys are looking for people to help, and you're resorting to violence?"

"It's just a misunderstanding."

The azure-clad man spoke very slowly, seemingly thinking as he spoke, and said to Hu Ma, "Brother, don't misunderstand, we were reckless. Please go!"

"A misunderstanding is good. Farewell."

Hu Ma smiled and bowed to him, turned around, ignored the Qing Yi gang disciples raising their knives, and strode forward.

He was also vigilant inside, ready to draw his saber at any time.

But as he walked, he always felt that everyone around him was staring at him, but no one actually attacked.

It wasn't until he walked out of sight that both sides breathed a sigh of relief. Qian Lao looked over with some confusion.

He saw the azure-clad man frowning slightly and saying softly, "Unlucky. I didn't expect to catch someone troublesome at random. This person seems to be quite capable. It's not advisable for us to make more enemies now, lest those few guys in the temple find a loophole to escape..."

Qian Lao nodded in agreement and said, "But this person is secretive. He may not be a good person."

"I can't worry about that."

The young incense master said in a low voice, "We can only get the things as soon as possible and send the brothers back to recuperate. Otherwise, it will become more and more chaotic."

"...Where are those injured brothers now?"

"..."

Qian Lao was suddenly shocked when he heard him ask this.

Last night, the Qing Yi gang chased after those Hong Xiang (Red Incense) disciples of the Niang Niang Hui (Venerable Mother Society). Both sides suffered casualties. The Qing Yi gang had a seriously injured man, who was now lying in the carriage. The wound had been bandaged, and he was sleeping in the carriage.

The young incense master and Qian Lao walked over, looking at the wound on his thigh. Noticing someone approaching, he勉力 opened his eyes, and when he saw the young incense master, he wanted to get up.

"No need to get up. Your injury is too serious. Go in peace. I will take care of your old mother and younger sister."

The young incense master walked closer to him, speaking softly. The man in the carriage was shocked and looked over in disbelief.

But before he could speak, the young incense master's palm was already pressed on his face, and with a burst of hidden force, he directly knocked him unconscious.

Qian Lao watched from the side, his heart trembling.

The young incense master glanced at him indifferently and said, "They were originally selling their lives for me. Isn't it good to sell them here?"

Qian Lao lowered his head and didn't dare to speak. The young incense master only said indifferently, "Make arrangements!"

……

……

"What kind of scheme are these people up to?"

At the same time, Hu Ma, who had shown his hand in front of them, had been on guard against the other party attacking again, but seeing that they didn't actually chase after him, he silently pondered in his heart.

The other party's sudden hostility was puzzling. They attacked but didn't try to keep him, which meant they didn't recognize his identity. But for no reason, they didn't want to rob him. Why provoke him?

His mind recalled the question the other party had asked him about whether he was married...

...They're checking if I'm a virgin?

While thinking this, he circled around and walked towards the fishing village on this side of the river. Both sides of the river had fishing families who made a living from the water, and the village on this side was even larger than the one on the other side of the river.

When Hu Ma came over, he had already seen smoke rising from the chimneys, and the fishing families were cooking.

He saw two azure-clad figures in the distance, who were with the people by the river, and silently stood to the side.

"What does the young master want me to do?"

"I... I'm cooking for the young master. I... I'm a very good cook, and I never steal food."

"..."

Getting closer, he realized that these two Qing Yi gang members were taking a thin, sallow-faced girl to the riverside. The girl seemed very scared, constantly asking the two, but neither of them answered her.

As soon as he saw her, Hu Ma's heart suddenly lit up, and he understood: "Good heavens..."

"...A virgin boy and girl, could it be a sacrifice?"

"..."

Since returning to the寨子 (mountain stronghold), he had not only been practicing his own Night Watcher techniques, but also continued to work hard on the Zhen Sui Shu (Talisman Age Book), and gradually understood a lot about offering sacrifices, summoning evil, and attracting misfortune.

He knew that the offerings were strange and varied, with many requirements, ranging from a bowl of rice to fresh vegetables, fruits, or large sacrifices such as chickens, fish, and three sacrificial animals (ox, goat, and pig).

But apart from these, there were also some evil sacrifices, such as virgin boys and girls, which were one of them.

"The people of the Qing Yi gang led the girl away, and suddenly blocked my way, asking me if I was a virgin..."

"...They want to sacrifice to the river god?"

"..."

Thinking this, Hu Ma slowly exhaled. This was what he was thinking too...

The Zhen Sui Shu also had methods for sacrificing to the river god.