“Let’s fight it out if we really have no other choice…”

Having heard Hu Ma's words, the others were also taken aback. But after some discussion, including Aunt Zhang, they all sighed, "If we can avoid it, we should avoid it."

"That Granny Cui has been operating in Pingnan Prefecture for so many years, how could she not have some tricks up her sleeve?"

"Now that this matter has been exposed, her little life is definitely in danger. Therefore, this old thing will definitely bring out all her possessions and fight us to the death."

"..."

After all this commotion, the sky had already brightened. Everyone had been frightened and exhausted all night, and now they were extremely tired.

So, they simply turned east and went to a city adjacent to Dongchang Prefecture. After entering the city, they went straight to the mule and horse market. They spent a lot of money to hire four good horses and two large carts, specifically for those who were tired to rest.

Knowing that the situation was critical, Steward Zhou shamelessly borrowed another hundred taels of silver from Hu Ma.

He hurriedly went out, also to prepare something, to make a big move.

That was how the performers were, many skills simply could not be used without thorough preparation.

After about half an hour, everyone had left the city and was on the road again, just to get as far away as possible. However, they had vaguely felt something was wrong in the city, and it became even more obvious once they were out.

"Looks like it won't be easy for us to escape..."

Looking back from a distance, they could see figures of beggars from time to time by the roadside.

Some were lazily squatting under trees catching lice, others were holding dog-beating sticks, looking at them lazily.

As Hu Ma and the others drove the carts, the beggars ran along, keeping a distance. When they stopped, these people also kept their distance. When they looked at them, they turned their heads away. They looked like plasters.

Everyone knew that Granny Cui had suffered a loss and retreated, but her disciples and grandchildren had followed.

"The Beggar Clan has a large number of people and is very good at petty theft and reconnaissance. Now that they are watching us, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to get away..."

The beggars who no one usually paid attention to now brought a deep sense of pressure.

Steward Zhou also glanced coldly at the beggars. Since entering the Li mansion, he had been a respectable person for decades, his hands unstained with blood, but now he was also murderous. However, he also knew that killing these stalking beggars would be useless.

"Heh heh, if they don't let us have a good time, we won't let them have a good time either."

Turning his head, he seemed to vent his anger, saying, "I just borrowed money from my benefactor and also went to the镖局 (biao ju, security escort agency) to send a letter to Great Stone Cliff, specifying that it should be given to the master of the mansion."

"However, I know the rules of the mansion. Even this letter is very difficult to get directly into the hands of the master, but at least it can distract them and make them uncomfortable."

"..."

"The other party will definitely not dare to let this letter be sent out. They have many disciples and grandchildren, so they should be able to handle it."

Hu Ma also said in a low voice, "It's a pity that we are still some distance from Anzhou. Otherwise, as long as we make this matter big, Granny Cui will not be able to bear it. She seems extremely afraid that this matter will be exposed."

"It will be fine once we get to Anzhou."

Steward Zhou nodded and said in a low voice, "As long as we get to Anzhou, close to Lingshou Prefecture, there will be many ways!"

"That depends on whether we can get there safely!"

Hu Ma glanced at him and didn't discuss it further. Instead, he turned to look at Aunt Zhang and said, "Aunt, what have you decided?"

"Is the method I mentioned effective?"

"..."

Since Hu Ma proposed this idea, Aunt Zhang had been thinking hard about it. Now that she saw Hu Ma asking, she said with some worry, "I have never encountered this kind of thing before. Are you sure you can invite that one over, and are you sure she is really willing to help you?"

Hu Ma nodded and said, "I'm sure."

Aunt Zhang thought for a while and said, "She won't ask you for very high offerings, will she? These great evil spirits..."

"...are not very reasonable!"

"..."

Hu Ma said, "That won't happen. In theory, I have already given the offering. Moreover, the one I want to invite is at a time when she values face and reputation, so she wouldn't dare to be too willful."

Aunt Zhang pondered for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "Then presumably, it is worth trying."

"But Shopkeeper, you must be careful. It's your first time setting up an altar, and you're asking for a spirit. This is doubly dangerous. If the thing you invite is easy to talk to and capable, then that's fine."

"If she has a bad temper, and you suddenly invite her, maybe you won't be able to deal with the opponent, and you'll become a human candle first."

"..."

"I know all this."

Hu Ma heard Aunt Zhang's worry, presumably because she herself had suffered this kind of loss, so he smiled at her and said, "Just teach me the method of setting up an altar and inviting spirits."

This was also a method without a method.

Along the way, he followed Aunt Zhang, watching her ward off evil spirits, asking this and that, and learned a lot of methods.

If compared to other professions, he was now an apprentice who had followed a doctor and learned many prescriptions, or a stoker who had practiced a few stances with a master. Now, what he had to learn was the most important link in the early stage of the Ghost Walker's profession, that was, setting up an altar and inviting spirits.

Of course, time was tight, and the first time inviting a spirit was a big deal.

But he had the Red Lantern Little Lady... no, the Red Lantern Goddess's life-saving incense!

If I burn the incense and ask you to save my life, how can you not come?

Normally speaking, once this incense was burned, the Red Lantern Goddess would already help him deal with Granny Cui and the others, but Hu Ma wasn't so confident in the Red Lantern Goddess now.

Although she had built a temple, she was essentially a little girl raised on Erguotou liquor...

Just using this half-stick of incense to invite her to descend, he didn't know if she could deal with the evil Taoist妖人 (yao ren, demon people) on this ancient Pingnan Road.

But setting up an altar and inviting spirits was different.

Ghost Walkers could invite spirits over by setting up an altar, and they could also use the altar to better drive the power of this evil spirit.

"I'll set up the altar first and then burn the incense. She shouldn't be so petty..."

"If that doesn't work, let Little Hong Tang hold up her arm and show her the blue cloth?"

"...Of course, this last method is the last resort, the ultimate move, and cannot be used lightly. We still have to talk to the Red Lantern Goddess with affection."

"..."

"However, teaching someone to set up an altar, and helping to protect the law and prepare to receive the altar, is what a master does for his apprentice in the Ghost Walker's profession, right?"

Thinking to himself, Hu Ma also looked at Aunt Zhang and said seriously, "Aunt, should I worship you as my master?"

There was a smile in his words, but he said these words very sincerely.

If you really think about it, it would be a big karma if a descendant of the Hu family worshiped a Ghost Walker as his master.

But Hu Ma didn't care about these things at all. If he learned someone's skills, he would worship them. What's more, he also knew the problems that Aunt Zhang was facing now. Having a status in advance was not a bad thing.

"Aiya?"

Aunt Zhang's face immediately turned red when she heard this, and she shook her hands repeatedly, "No, no, I don't have the ability to accept apprentices."

"Teaching you to set up an altar is also something that can't be helped. I'll teach you to set up the altar and recite the incantations, and you'll sit at the altar, but I'll also be watching from the side. If it really doesn't work..."

"..."

She paused slightly, and a bit of regret and resolution appeared on her dark red face, "We still have to invite him over."

"Anyway, it's my fate."

"..."

These words made everyone feel a little depressed.

Only Hu Ma had a few countermeasures in his mind. If he could cope with it, he would cope with it. If he really couldn't cope with it, relying on his ability as a Night Watchman, if he wanted to leave, the other party might not be able to stop him.

Using the excuse of reporting the news to the Li family in Dongzi, he might be able to scare her.

Of course, that was a last resort. It would be easy for him to leave, but Aunt Zhang, Xiang丫头 (Xiang Yatou, Xiang Girl), the carter, and the others would probably suffer.

Even Steward Zhou next to him was silent for a while before turning to look at Hu Ma.

After thinking about it, he still handed over something, "Benefactor, you are taking a risk for my young lady. We will remember this kindness. You didn't accept this thing before, but now, let's give it to you to use!"

"It's too dangerous for you to set up an altar for the first time. This thing can save your life at a critical moment."

"..."

"Substitute copper coin?"

Hu Ma was stunned when he saw it. This was the money Steward Zhou used to sell himself into the Li mansion, and it was also a treasure to die for.

He wanted to give it to him earlier when he was in the village, but he refused. Now he gave it again.

This time, he didn't stand on ceremony. He took it casually, and then smiled and said, "You only gave me this copper coin? Old gentleman, the few skills I asked you about before, you haven't told me yet..."

"Ah..."

The old steward was a little embarrassed again and said, "I've already told you how to use the Li family's silver needles to pierce the soul. What else do you want to learn?"

"Disguise, ventriloquism, and how to prevent people from becoming ghosts..."

Hu Ma said, "When learning things, who thinks they have too much?"

"Alright then..."

Steward Zhou hesitated, really unable to withstand Hu Ma's sincere eyes. He wanted to say no, but he also briefly explained these few skills.

When they were being targeted by the Beggar Clan, and everyone was under great pressure, they didn't expect that they would all behave quite relaxed. Even the carter and the two guys felt a lot more relaxed.

But at this time, seeing that there were more and more beggars following behind, and the carriage that had just been hired from the city felt vaguely wrong, seeing that it was getting dark, they hurriedly sent someone over to say to Hu Ma and the others with difficulty:

"Several masters, did you... did you offend the Beggar Clan in the city?"

"I see them following all the time, and I'm a little scared."

"We're just helping people drive carts and earn some money for our strength. We don't dare to participate in your grievances..."

"..."

Seeing them like this, Hu Ma also sighed and said, "Since that's the case, you should avoid it first!"

Saying that, he glanced at the beggars behind him, then swept around the mountains and rivers, and turned to Aunt Zhang, "Shall we fight those people here?"

(End of this chapter)