Chapter 17 Is This the Same Old Trick?

*What, is this the same old trick as with Grandpa Sun?*

Hu Ma couldn't help thinking. The most expensive things are often free. They say they'll impart this method to me, and they do, but it secretly harbors disaster. As long as I want to learn it, I have to join your sect?

Not only join the sect, but also… rebel with you?

With that thought flitting through his mind, Hu Ma became wary. Meeting the complicated gaze of this Immortal Maiden Miaoshan, he remained polite on the surface, bowing slowly. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Immortal Maiden."

"However, I have a master, Old Yin Mountain's Zhou the Second. Without my master's permission, no matter how great someone else's abilities are, I can't just join, can I? Besides, I came here sincerely seeking the method, and according to the rules, I offered half of my family fortune."

"Truly, it really is half of my family fortune. If the Immortal Maiden doesn't believe me, you can certainly verify it."

"This method was exchanged for half of my family fortune, so the karma is naturally settled. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the payment is clear. So how can things suddenly change?"

As he spoke, he looked sincerely at the Immortal Maiden, a polite smile on his face.

Although his words were polite, his intention to question and decline was very clear. It made the Immortal Maiden frown slightly, her beautiful eyes glaring at Hu Ma. She said with anger, "Who are you talking to like that?"

"Do you think I'm deliberately coaxing you to join my sect? Heh, do you think you're so desirable? My sect has famous teachers and outstanding disciples, gathering talents from all over the world. Those who ascend the ranks and enter the manor are like carps crossing the river. Why would we be lacking one or two like you?"

"Huh?"

Hu Ma was stunned. How could a Cult Master speak like a little girl?

But the worst thing about arguing is when someone suddenly lowers the level. He could only soften his tone slightly and said in a low voice, "Immortal Maiden, please calm your anger. I'm just a small manager of the Red Lantern Society, here to learn skills. I'm grateful for the Cult Master's grace."

"But you see, I've already given half of my family fortune, which shows how sincere I am. If there are other issues, just tell me, Cult Master. I'll go through fire and water. Just say what you need."

"I also understand the principle that the Dharma should not be easily transmitted. At worst, I can offer the remaining half of my family fortune…"

"Who cares about your half of your family fortune, which is only ten taels of silver!"

The Immortal Maiden seemed to be a little angry. She snorted coldly, waved the horsetail whisk in her hand, and looked askance at Hu Ma, saying, "I'm truly trying to save your life, don't be ungrateful."

"Now that your life is on the line, you're still picking and choosing. If you don't join my Bu Shi Niu (No Eating Beef) sect, do you really think you can bear this method?"

She doesn't want me to join the Yiqian Cult, but wants me to join Bu Shi Niu?

Hearing the meaning in her words, Hu Ma was slightly stunned. But suddenly facing this choice, he was equally suspicious. The Bu Shi Niu has a close relationship with the Transcenders, but it also exudes a sinister aura. Interacting with them and testing them out is fine, but rashly joining would be too much.

Besides, looking at her appearance, the anxiety in her eyes doesn't seem fake. Is there really a big problem with this cultivation method? But if there is a problem, instead of telling me the truth, she's threatening me to join Bu Shi Niu. Isn't that also too much?

He began to calculate in his mind, unsure if he should just turn hostile and force her to reveal what exactly is wrong with this cultivation method.

This Cult Master's abilities are certainly not shallow, but now there's no one around, and the two of them are close. He's a night watcher, wouldn't it be easy to mold her and knead her as he pleases?

For a moment, both of them fell silent.

Each had their own doubts. Hu Ma just thought silently, while the Immortal Maiden Miaoshan paced back and forth, seemingly anxious, occasionally turning her head to look at Hu Ma, annoyed that he didn't respond, and annoyed that she couldn't understand what was happening before her eyes.

They had rushed back, both with questions to ask, but for some inexplicable reason, they both felt uneasy and dragged their feet.

For a long time, before they could sort things out, they suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"Cult Master, this subordinate has something to report!"

Someone hurried to the front yard, shouting loudly.

The Immortal Maiden Miaoshan's face flashed with impatience, but she finally stomped her foot lightly, opened the door of the hall, and walked out. Hu Ma saw through the crack in the door that Bai Shanzi (White Fan) was standing outside with two Altar Masters.

"Cult Master, this matter is a bit troublesome."

They said outside, "After that demonic corpse entered the town and wreaked havoc, a full thirty-seven people died. Eleven were our followers, and twenty-six were merchants from the Wanma Gang (Ten Thousand Horses Gang) and the townspeople. Now, everyone in the town is panicking."

"I've ordered the followers to put on talisman armor and carry weapons, patrolling everywhere. But judging from the situation of the battle just now, that walking corpse is neither like a corpse nor like a ghost. The talisman armor army may not be able to restrain it!"

"If it suddenly rushes into the town again, I really don't know how many more lives will be lost. Now that the news has spread, I don't know how many people in the town are packing their things, wanting to escape as soon as dawn breaks."

"Leave?"

The Yiqian Cult's Cult Master Miaoshan Immortal Maiden was obviously annoyed. She said in a low voice, "I summoned them here in the name of celebrating my birthday, just for the Lantern Light Blessing Ceremony three days later. Now that they're running away, what about the Blessing Ceremony?"

"After preparing for so long, are we going to have a setback?"

Bai Shanzi said with a bitter smile, "The consequences are certainly serious, but the key is that the walking corpse is really strange. We can't subdue it, and we can't defend against it…"

"Now, even those few we invited have stopped talking, clearly thinking of retreating…"

"I'll go take a look!"

The Cult Master of the Yiqian Cult could only stomp her foot in anger, turned to leave, but suddenly thought of something. She told Bai Shanzi and the others to go ahead, but she turned back and pushed the door open, saying to Hu Ma, "Little Shopkeeper, don't be long-winded."

As she spoke, she unbuttoned her outer garment and took it off.

Hu Ma was startled and took a step back, secretly on guard. He saw her put the Daoist robe hanging next to her on, and while buttoning it, she said, "I know you have ulterior motives, your eyes are rolling around, but there's no need to be so troublesome."

"I also saw that you're young and kind-hearted, so I'm pointing you to a clear path. But you're suspicious. Heh, it's all fate."

"I won't force you to become my disciple, but I'll give you a way out. Whether you can seize it depends on yourself."

As she spoke, she frowned, as if she had made a certain determination. She went straight to the side room inside and took out a black box.

After rummaging through it for a while, she found a scroll and hung it directly in the hall, saying to Hu Ma, "I have important matters to deal with. You can carefully observe this painting here. If you can see any clues, enter the Ghost Cave and worship the altar, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."

"If you can't see it, and don't want to see it, then you're free to leave. It's just that the method needs to stay in my Yiqian Cult and cannot be taken away."

As she spoke, she took a deep look at Hu Ma, and then, without saying another word, took the sword, went straight out the door, and even locked it from the outside.

"?"

Hu Ma was full of curiosity. She's still locking the door from the outside. Who is she guarding against?

I'm a night watcher, how can your broken lock stop me?

However, listening to her words, there was still a vague threat, but her expression and appearance didn't seem fake. Could it be that what happened this time is really different from what I thought?

Just as he was about to ask her something, she had already left the second door. He thought carefully, not understanding, and turned his head to look. He saw that the painting she had hung was just a ink painting. Faintly visible, the painting was of a person's back, worshiping a mountain.

"Cult Master"

While Hu Ma was suspicious, the Immortal Maiden Miaoshan went out the door and saw Bai Shanzi and the two Dharma Kings waiting there. When they saw her, they immediately stepped forward to pay their respects. Bai Shanzi hesitated and looked at the hall.

He said in a low voice, "That one…"

"Even I can't understand him…"

Miaoshan Immortal Maiden waved her hand and sighed softly, "He shouldn't have obtained this method, and he shouldn't have entered the door. None of this makes sense…"

"Isn't that simple?"

As Bai Shanzi spoke, he waved the fan in his hand. But a trace of irritability flashed across Miaoshan Immortal Maiden's face. She shook her head and said, "If he just took this method, we can take it back."

"But since he has entered the door, it's different."

"Senior Brother said that this method is not for ordinary people to learn. No matter what his background is, or whether he's hiding something from us, once he comes into contact with this method, he can't escape the fate within. People with light fate will soon be crushed to death by this method, even if we ignore him."

"Unless he joins our Bu Shi Niu and asks the Senior Brothers to come and help him find a way."

"But since he doesn't agree, then we can only see his own fortune…"

Bai Shanzi was surprised to hear this. He didn't even know these rules. He was a member of the Yiqian Cult, but he didn't belong to Bu Shi Niu. And he also knew that Bu Shi Niu was extremely mysterious. How could it be so easy to join?

He was extremely puzzled. After a pause, he said in a low voice, "Then this method has been tied to the tree all along, is it for…"

"Don't ask."

Miaoshan Immortal Maiden glanced at him and warned coldly. Bai Shanzi quickly closed his mouth. But Miaoshan Immortal Maiden's heart suddenly became even heavier. Senior Brother's instructions back then all flashed before her eyes:

"This method is prepared for the destined person. Whoever can cultivate this method will be the master of Bu Shi Niu…"

"How could ordinary people bear it?"

"So many Senior Brothers have tried it, entering the door is easy, and some even make great progress in leaps and bounds, but without exception, they are quickly crushed to death by this fate…"

(End of this chapter)