As expected of the most experienced and well-informed puppeteer of the jianghu…
Hu Ma drank and chatted with this young master Zhao, feeling like he was eating melons to his heart's content. Although this guy was shrewd, he would laugh off anything that touched on the secrets of their puppetry.
But the good thing was that he was truly willing to talk about anything that wasn't related to their puppetry. Once he started, he couldn't stop.
Staying in this small village for two days, Hu Ma really broadened his horizons and learned a lot about the Yin Realm.
He also used this understanding of the Yin Realm to carefully consider the affairs of the Suppression Office.
He gradually developed some ideas and gained some confidence in entering the City of Wrongful Deaths.
Erguotou, on the other hand, didn't come down until two days later. Without waiting for Zhao, the Divine Hand, and Chen, the Hex Master, to greet him, he appeared directly in Guli Village, making Zhao, the Divine Hand, stare blankly.
He watched Erguotou walk down the street, a look of astonishment on his face: "Wait, the location of our little village changes from time to time, how did you just walk in… How did you find your way here directly?"
"He's really amazing…"
Chen Abao leaned to the side, sighing, "It is said that Ghost Walkers cannot enter the Yin Realm, but there's no one the Yin Realm can't find…"
"This saying is indeed well-deserved…"
"…"
Erguotou didn't even realize that there was anything wrong with finding his way here. Besides, he had heavy matters on his mind and had no time to think about it.
Seeing Hu Ma, he still flicked his sleeve, and several incense sticks fell around them, immediately isolating the concerned Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao. He said to Hu Ma, "I've already talked to Miss Red Wine. As you said, things must be done."
As he spoke, he handed over a folded rag, whispering, "You asked someone to investigate the Zhang family, the nobles. It's done."
"But to be fair, they are one of the Ten Clans after all. They're like dragons, only showing their heads but not their tails, with deeply entrenched forces. The information we could dig up in a short time is only a small part. At most, it will give you a warning so you won't be completely ignorant."
Hu Ma pocketed the rag and nodded, saying, "Understood."
No matter how famous or capable someone is, if you can figure out their bottom line, you can find their flaws.
But as one of the Ten Clans, the Zhang family's secrets were not easy to uncover. It was wishful thinking to truly understand them.
"The Zhang family, the nobles, are skilled in dream magic, killing people invisibly. You must be careful then…"
Erguotou couldn't help but whisper, "Miss Red Wine is also helping to find someone who is skilled in dream magic, asking how to protect yourself. She's found out some key points, which are all written on this cloth. Read it carefully and remember it."
"Alas, there's no other way. Not many reincarnation survivors are skilled in dream magic. If we could find the old senior with the code name Long Jing, that would be great…"
His unintentional sigh made Hu Ma pause slightly: "Long Jing?"
He remembered Miss White Wine mentioning this name.
"Miss Red Wine said it."
Erguotou sighed, "She and Miss White Wine were both in Shangjing, following someone with the code name Daughter Red. That person once said something about the previous generation of reincarnation survivors, such as Lao Jun Mei, Da Hong Pao, Mr. Long Jing, and Tie Guan Yin."
"And the Mr. Long Jing they mentioned was said to be a dream magic master who cursed and killed hundreds of thousands of members of the Yi Dynasty's imperial family. He was very powerful."
"It's just that this person should be dead."
"…"
"Dead?"
Hearing this, Hu Ma couldn't help but think of the dream magic master who wasn't named Zhao that Zhao Sanyi had mentioned. He felt a slight movement in his heart: "With such great ability, how did he die?"
"The leader that Miss Red and White Wine followed has also disappeared, so they don't know much."
Erguotou smiled wryly, "But his death is not surprising. Dream magic kills people invisibly, and the backlash is the most severe."
"At that time, this senior cursed and killed the imperial family. At that time, the fortune of this world was still on the Du family's head. Logically speaking, even if the emperor was skinned, his son and clan could quickly elect an emperor, and the world would still be named Du."
"But this senior cut off the Du family's roots in one breath. Think about what that represents?"
"It represents that he single-handedly ended the Yi Dynasty's two-hundred-year fortune!"
"Even if his dream magic didn't have any problems, just this massive karma would have been unimaginable…"
"…"
"Hoo…"
Hearing his words, Hu Ma couldn't help but take a deep breath, and a yearning arose spontaneously: "The previous generation of reincarnation survivors were indeed fierce. If they were here, how could we have lived so aggrieved?"
Erguotou obviously felt the same way, but the two looked at each other, and some words were left unspoken.
Even the previous generation of reincarnation survivors, who were so powerful, had suffered a crushing defeat…
So, what exactly would the reincarnation survivors ultimately face?
As he was thinking, Erguotou seemed a little irritable and waved his hand, sighing softly, "Alright, let's not discuss unnecessary things. The matter is already upon us. Just boldly enter the City of Wrongful Deaths."
"Eh?"
Hu Ma was stunned.
That's not right. Two days ago, you looked touched and reluctant to let me take the risk. How did your attitude change after this trip?
"But, since we're going to enter the City of Wrongful Deaths, we can't go unprepared."
As Erguotou spoke, his expression became serious. He slowly took out three talismans and placed them on the stone table, saying in a deep voice, "Keep these talismans close to your body."
Hu Ma glanced at the talismans. He saw that they were blue, yellow, and red, each with dense talisman patterns. He was curious: "What are these?"
"This first talisman is my gift to you!"
Erguotou pointed to the blue talisman and said slowly, "After entering the City of Wrongful Deaths, no one knows what you'll encounter or whether you'll be successful. I'm giving you this talisman to protect your life. If you encounter a danger that you can't solve, burn this talisman!"
Hu Ma saw an unprecedented solemnity on Erguotou's face and couldn't help but become serious: "What is its effect?"
Erguotou slowly said, "I will help you leave the City of Wrongful Deaths and save your life."
These were ordinary words, but Hu Ma heard a certain determination in Erguotou's voice. He also became serious, looked into his eyes, and nodded.
"This second talisman…"
Erguotou pointed to the second red talisman. The talisman patterns were sharp, as if a murderous aura was coming at him. He said, "Miss Red Wine asked the Ghost Messenger to deliver it to me."
"In this City of Wrongful Deaths, or even anywhere in this world, if you're sure who deserves to die, then just stick this talisman on them. No matter their identity or how capable they are, just stick it on…"
"…"
Hu Ma said in a low voice, "And then?"
Erguotou slowly said, "Then, they will die!"
"Even I don't know how they will die, who will kill them, whether it will be a curse or a knife, but I know they will definitely die."
"Crushed to ashes, their souls scattered!"
"…"
Hu Ma immediately understood what this red talisman represented. He took it in his hand and slowly nodded after a long time, then put it away.
"And this third, blue talisman…"
Seeing Hu Ma's gaze turn over, Erguotou slowly said, "This is the last guarantee. If you enter the City of Wrongful Deaths and discover something important that is inconvenient to send a message about, then you can burn this talisman and speak to the outside world, and we will all hear it."
"?"
The first two talismans were mainly about being moved and shocked, but suddenly hearing this, he was a little confused: "Wait, doesn't this talisman sound like it's letting me leave a last will and testament?"
"…"
Erguotou also looked embarrassed and quickly pushed it to him, saying, "Don't think too much. It's just a precaution. Be good, take it…"
Hu Ma was helpless and had to admit that this third talisman was also very useful. He honestly put it away. Erguotou looked at him, as if he had a lot to say, but in the end, he just sighed softly.
He patted Hu Ma on the shoulder and said, "Maybe I've really been in this world for too long. I've lost some of my courage. It's actually up to you, little brother, to inspire me. But rest assured, I'm not the kind of person who shirks responsibility."
"This time, I'll be waiting in the Yin Realm, personally taking you up."
"…"
Reincarnation survivors don't like to be sentimental. Hu Ma heard Erguotou's implied meaning and nodded lightly.
The two smiled at each other, and everything was understood without words. Erguotou didn't say any more and left the village directly to make arrangements.
Hu Ma also took the three talismans and went to discuss with Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao.
"Goodness…"
Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao had been outside the courtyard all along. They finally waited for Erguotou to come back, but saw him just enter the small courtyard, tell Hu Ma a few words, and then leave directly, while Hu Ma came to discuss with them.
They also felt like their eyes had been opened and even looked at Hu Ma with some sympathy, saying, "Wait, that one… he's really letting you enter the City of Wrongful Deaths?"
'Didn't I already tell these two that I, the Ghost Walker's chief knife-hand, am the one doing the work?'
Hu Ma was a little confused as to why these two were so surprised. He smiled and said, "It's enough to have me."
"Amazing, amazing…"
Zhao Sanyi actually looked admiring and sighed, "Clearly not a Ghost Walker, but he's so responsible and courageous…"
"Brother, after you've finished this errand for the Hu family, are you really not planning to join my Puppetry Sect?"
"…"
'This kid isn't serious, is he?'
Hu Ma was a little surprised and laughed directly, "Don't joke around. Of course, it's important to take care of business right now."
"Gentlemen, since you don't want to see the Meng family succeed either, then your goal is the same as ours, the Ghost Walker Sect. Now that we Ghost Walkers are on a mission, shouldn't you also show some sincerity?"
"…"
Hearing him say this, Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao exchanged a look and nodded lightly, saying, "Needless to say."
"We two will personally send you into the City of Wrongful Deaths to find that evil spirit!"
(End of this chapter)