Chapter 8 These Two Definitely Have Something Going On

Hu Ma tensed up and fell silent, afraid of incurring Bai Putao Xiaojie's (White Wine Miss) wrath.

*I'm just an innocent messenger.*

*Their grudges can't possibly be blamed on me, right?*

Fortunately, Bai Putao Xiaojie's temper was still pretty good. Her breathing just became a bit heavier, the atmosphere a bit colder, and she seemed to be subtly gritting her teeth.

Then she quickly adjusted her mood, as if deliberately changing the subject, and said coldly, "It's good to see people like them. Everyone has their own way of life. I actually admire Er Guo Tou's (Chinese spirit) caution. Of course, it would be even better if he were more careful."

"But then again, very few reincarnators can live so cautiously for a lifetime. Life is like a game of chess, and things don't always go as planned. Some who only want to hide at the beginning might suddenly go crazy one day."

"Those who originally acted flamboyantly and crazily might suddenly become low-key after suffering some losses. Of course, there are also those who are just unreliable and suddenly do something big out of the blue."

Hu Ma thought of Di Gua Shao (Sweet Potato Liquor) when he heard her say that.

*That guy is the most typical example.*

Especially in his eyes, this feeling was even more complex.

After a slight pause, he said frankly, "The Feng Zheng (Bestowal of Title) you mentioned before?"

All the reincarnators could hide, but he was the only one who couldn't hide at all, right?

They were hiding from the Ten Surnames, and he was one of the Ten Surnames.

After a long silence, Bai Putao Xiaojie slowly answered. She seemed to have a natural resistance to this question, but in the end, she couldn't avoid it and had to explain it clearly.

"Your situation is special. You haven't been in contact with others like us for long. It's not a bad thing for you to see her."

"Of course, I don't think her approach is smart, let alone safe."

"Hong Putao Xiaojie (Red Wine Miss) takes good care of me, so I wasn't injured."

Bai Putao Xiaojie continued, "Actually, she can be considered my mentor. We met early on and used to work together in Shangjing, where we came into contact with some more mysterious organizations and veteran reincarnators."

Was it better to hide all the time and passively come into contact with those things when you can't hide anymore, or to make plans early on?

Bai Putao Xiaojie probably didn't know what Hu Ma was thinking, but after she said those things, she paused slightly, giving Hu Ma time to think. Then she sighed softly and said, "Anyway, it's good that things are settled."

"With this letter sent, half of my worries are gone. I just don't know if you were injured on this trip? Will it affect other things?"

Actually, although she had mentioned "Feng Zheng" in front of Hu Ma, she had never explicitly said it, always referring to it as "that matter". But Hu Ma hadn't pressed for details before. Now that he was back, of course he had to ask clearly.

"Including the other reincarnators in Anzhou, we actually discovered them together and huddled together for warmth. However, in the end, I didn't stay with them because of some things."

Then, a very obvious question had long been placed before his eyes.

"Yes."

"But I also have to admit that perhaps some things can't be done by people like us. Only they can do it."

Hu Ma knew what she was referring to and immediately said, "Bai Putao Xiaojie means..."

Hu Ma completely agreed with her opinion.

Perhaps it was because he had first come into contact with Bai Putao Xiaojie and Er Guo Tou, so he was influenced by them. He also felt that reincarnators should hide and be careful not to expose themselves. But when he thought of his other identity, he felt a little powerless.

Bai Putao Xiaojie suddenly fell silent, not in a hurry to answer.

In a situation where most reincarnators were hiding from the Ten Surnames, it was rare to have such a stubborn one who took the initiative to get close to the Ten Surnames.

Hu Ma nodded secretly and said, "I've been keeping this matter in mind. My cultivation is enough now, but after all, it's a big deal, so I'll wait until I've tried it elsewhere before giving you an answer, okay?"

Bai Putao Xiaojie had no objection to this and nodded, "Of course."

She didn't ask where Hu Ma wanted to try it and agreed directly, as if she had already guessed it.

With this matter settled, it was only natural for Hu Ma to talk about other things. He hurriedly smiled and said, "In addition, I also have some things that I need Bai Putao Xiaojie to help with."

"This time I went out, I got guidance from many people, and I also need to prepare to improve my skills. I need some secret medicines that ordinary people can't access. I wonder if your Caoxin Hall..."

"Hehe, the oil lamp for the Shousui Ren (Year Keeper) inheritance?"

Bai Putao Xiaojie smiled faintly when she heard this and said, "You've come to the right place."

"Caoxin Hall is very good at this. In this Mingzhou Prefecture, I don't know how many Shousui Ren's oil lamps are mixed by us."

"Of course, they are all very careful, only buying secret medicines separately, and deliberately messing up the proportions each time, mixing them with other types, for fear that we will see the formula and steal their inheritance. But in fact, medicines enhance or counteract each other, and we have already figured out several kinds."

"But don't worry about me taking advantage of you. The higher the Shousui Ren's skills, the more precious and rare the secret medicines required."

"If it weren't for our Caoxin Hall, you probably wouldn't be able to find them!"

"That's great."

Hu Ma was a little happy when he heard this.

Entering the Fu (Manor) was a big deal, especially after seeing Ji Tang's skills, he was quite anxious.

For other people preparing to enter the Fu, configuring the oil lamp and killing their own heads and souls were the most important preparations, but he didn't actually need to. Having obtained this method of entering the Fu, he could directly cultivate.

However, the fact that he had become a monk halfway through and that his body was dead was the biggest secret, and even the reincarnators couldn't know.

Therefore, configuring the oil lamp was a big deal.

Bai Putao Xiaojie agreed so readily, which saved him some worry. With the assurance that he could smoothly learn the skills of the Shousui Ren, he could put more energy into the Zhen Sui Shu (Year Suppressing Book).

The two had already agreed, so they immediately disconnected. Bai Putao Xiaojie was straightforward and only said one sentence before disconnecting:

"You can try it however you want. Just tell me when you're sure."

"By the way, now that you're back, take some time to come over and settle the previous consultation fee."

"Shopkeeper Wu Gui (Five Ghosts) has been thinking about it all the time!"

"Ah?"

Hu Ma was suddenly a little speechless. They had clearly agreed to set up a scheme, so why were they urging him to pay the bill now?

Xiang Yatou (Fragrant Maid) used a lot of golden silk Tai Sui (Flesh Fungus) back then.

But in fact, those golden silk Tai Sui were all paid for with his own stock. In fact, it would be good to take his own share and give it to her to settle the bill. Of course, the Dongzi Li family was generous this time, so even if he really paid the bill, he wouldn't care.

*Tch, who cares about those scraps?*

After thinking about it, he put it behind him for now. These trivial matters were not important. What was most important now was skill.

His trip out hadn't been in vain. The Dongzi Li family's Shousui Ren secrets were already on the way, and he had read them little by little and kept them in his heart. All that was left was to practice hard.

However, although he had also obtained the method of entering the Fu, he wasn't in a hurry to read it. After all, the matter was too important, and he couldn't feel at peace on the road. He could only feel at ease when he returned to his own territory.

In addition, besides Shousui, he actually had an even more important thing to do.

Zhen Sui Shu!

He had gained another important harvest on this trip, which Hu Ma believed was no less than the Dongzi Li family's thanks.

That was the skill of the Zou Gui Ren (Ghost Walker).

Zhang Agu (Aunt Zhang) was a good girl, and she had really been teaching him wholeheartedly all the way.

Perhaps from the perspective of the Blood Food Gang's young shopkeeper and the Shousui Ren, these skills weren't that important. But Hu Ma, who possessed the Zhen Sui Shu, understood the value of the skills she taught him. Or rather, what she taught wasn't the skill of the Zou Gui Ren at all.

It was the key to opening the Zhen Sui Shu!

With the foundation she had taught him, he could try to truly control the methods on this Zhen Sui Shu. But before that, there was still a problem.

The Zhen Sui Shu was overbearing, but this thing couldn't possibly be a rootless source. Where was the root of the skills it controlled?

Just like the Shousui Ren's origin was on their body, the Dongzi Li family's skill came from the Ghost Cave. What about the Zhen Sui Shu? Such a powerful force couldn't possibly have no root.

Before truly entering the Zhen Sui Shu path, Hu Ma had to figure out this question.

*At least know what's behind this threshold before daring to step into it.*

"Feng Zheng, Feng Zheng..."

He didn't light the oil lamp, but just sat quietly on the bed, thinking silently, "Perhaps, this is an opportunity for me to see the foundation of the Hu family?"

It wasn't uncommon for spirits and monsters to ask for Feng Zheng in this world, but upon closer inspection, one would find some mysterious and strange parts.

Bestowal of title was originally the power of the emperor. With an imperial decree, spirits and monsters in the mountains became righteous gods who could receive incense. But even the emperor couldn't just bestow titles as he pleased. He was bestowing titles on behalf of the world.

And if he were to bestow titles on others, was it bestowed by himself, or on behalf of the Hu family?

He had already asked Zhang Agu about this matter. She said it wasn't a bad thing and could accumulate yin virtue, but it would also incur karma. After some were bestowed titles, the spirits and monsters would protect their descendants and bring generations of wealth, while others would bring disaster and bring formless dangers and calamities.

Therefore, Hu Ma also had to consider the consequences and risks of doing this.

Bai Putao Xiaojie asked him to bestow titles, only saying that Er Guo Tou and Di Gua Shao were unreliable, but was the reason really that simple?

After silently sorting things out for a long time, things became clear in his mind.

He entered his natal spirit temple again, then pressed his hand on the incense burner, and with a bit of anticipation, whispered, "Brother Er Guo Tou, Lao Bai Gan (Old White Liquor) calling, are you there?"

(End of this chapter)