Saying no, he meant no.

The old house's caretaker presented the account books from the past twenty years, but Hu Ma didn't even glance at them.

Actually, it was easy to guess that this Hu family's mansion wasn't earned by the Hu family, but bestowed by the previous dynasty. Twenty years ago, the entire line of the Hu family, who were tasked with suppressing evil, moved away, leaving only this old servant to watch over the house. The main gate was locked for twenty years, and he had no contact with anyone else.

Over time, even some of the industries in Shangjing were scattered. Anyway, the old servant was alone, and a little money was enough for him to live on.

The account books and other items he presented were merely saying which properties were originally owned by the Hu family and to whom they now belonged.

Hu Ma was truly not interested in these matters.

People from the Qingyuan Hu family also wanted to come in and say a few words as members of the Hu family, but he refused to see them.

Hu Ma was very curious. He had already killed people from the Qingyuan Hu family and made it known to the whole world. Why would they still come?

And that Uncle Ren from his mother's side also wanted to come in and reminisce about the old days, but Hu Ma had no interest in seeing him either.

Later, when Old Suanpan followed the Little Bean Official, who was strutting with his square steps and two wings on his head, to discuss the funeral arrangements for the next day...

...this, he still had to see.

However, even for the funeral, Hu Ma decided to keep it simple. Although everyone in Shangjing knew that the Hu family had returned and were watching the Hu family.

But Hu Ma still felt that his biological father had passed away more than ten years ago, and even his zhuansheng hun (reincarnation soul) and shoushi hun (corpse-guarding soul) were gone. Presumably, his wish during his lifetime was just to be sent back to Shangjing, buried in the ancestral shrine, and stay by his grandmother's side.

Although some people would think that holding a grand funeral was a sign of filial piety, he could see clearly the current situation. It was nothing more than using such an unexpectedly large funeral to show the Hu family's dignity to the countless figures in Shangjing, or even the whole world.

The Hu family, one of the Ten Surnames tasked with suppressing evil, was originally about to be forgotten in the eyes of many people in this world.

In recent years, with some of the things Hu Ma had done, people had gradually remembered them.

Especially after the death of Tongyin Meng, the reputation of the zougui (ghost-walking) lineage greatly increased, and the whole world remembered the fame of the zhensui (evil-suppressing) lineage.

This Shangjing seemed to be using this funeral to attract the attention of the world and let them watch.

But even if it was attracted, what could be done by building up this reputation?

Sitting in the now still empty, desolate, and silent Hu family mansion, Hu Ma raised his eyes and looked out. The vast city of Shangjing was covered by a cloud of darkness that seemed to be too thick to dissolve.

In the depths of the night, there was no sound.

On the long street, only occasionally could one or two cold lanterns be seen. Even though he was now a Nine-Pillar Daoist, he still felt a faint sense of oppression and gloom.

But now, the Great Luo Dharma Sect leader had appeared and planned to hold a dharma assembly. Most of the experts from the Ten Surnames had gathered in Shangjing.

Speaking of it, almost half of the most capable people in this world were squeezed into Shangjing, right?

Why, with so many people here, did this great city still seem so oppressive and eerie?

"There's no need to keep the spirit for forty-nine days, or even seven days. Tomorrow morning, I will send my father into the ancestral shrine."

He didn't want to cause trouble in this Shangjing city, nor did he want to fulfill the wishes of those people.

Hu Ma also understood that his biological father had been waiting in Old Yin Mountain for more than ten years, and now nothing was more reassuring than sending him into the ancestral shrine.

Hu Ma had long known that this biological father was not a callous person, and he respected him in his heart.

But this kind of thing of making a name under the banner of the dead really didn't suit his heart, and he believed that his grandmother would think the same.

"Alright, I'll listen to you on this matter."

Old Suanpan said, "But it's fine if the funeral specifications aren't too high, that's indeed for others to see, but the send-off must be guaranteed, this is respect for the ancestors."

"Sending off the ancestors, er cai ba gang (two materials, eight poles)."

"You've already chosen the shoucai (coffin) in Old Yin Mountain, so we won't disturb the deceased again, but the bearers must be carefully selected. On this matter, I was already thinking about it for you on the way."

"According to the customs of this Shangjing, when the emperor dies, one hundred and twenty bearers must be hired, and when the royal family dies, eighty people must be hired. Of course, now the emperor's family is all dead, and you are the biggest among these Ten Surnames, so even if you find a thousand people, it wouldn't be considered presumptuous."

"But there's no need for that, right?"

"So, I'm thinking of hiring according to the specifications of a noble, sixty-four people, is the most suitable."

"..."

Hu Ma couldn't help but frown as he listened. His late father had become a skeleton, and the coffin wasn't heavy, he could lift it with one hand.

He actually needed to find sixty-four people to carry it?

But before he could speak, Old Suanpan said, "This is the least amount, can't be reduced any further."

"The Hu family is, after all, the Hu family, some things you can save on, but you can't do without."

"..."

Hu Ma listened and had no choice but to nod, sighing softly, "Then you can help with managing these matters."

Old Suanpan nodded and said, "Then hurry up and give me the money, I have to rush to get it done!"

Hu Ma was stunned for a moment, "Money?"

Old Suanpan said, "Yes, although it's simplified, the expenses are not small. Not to mention all the incense, paper, and candles, hiring these sixty-four bearers will cost money, right?"

"There are many people coming to offer condolences, and the funeral customs cannot be avoided, right?"

"It adds up to quite a bit, even those who come to offer condolences will send gifts according to etiquette, but we can't not prepare some in advance, right? Just hiring someone to keep accounts will also cost money!"

Hearing this question suddenly, Hu Ma couldn't quite react.

Speaking of money, this Hu family's descendant, who had returned to Shangjing in glory, really didn't have any money.

However, the Qingyuan Hu family had money, and the Ren family on his mother's side also had money, they even mentioned it when they wanted to come in to meet him.

Earlier, the cleaning of the house inside and out, as well as the newly bought servants, were actually all paid for by them.

If Hu Ma needed anything, he could just go and tell them, and the money would come.

They were probably waiting outside.

But Hu Ma didn't have this intention now, he just waved his hand. Before he could even speak, the Little Bean Official pressed down Old Suanpan's outstretched hand and said, "How can you ask for money like this? I'll go get it from Auntie if you need it."

"Now, as long as we get an order from Shifu, we'll know what to do, and we'll have a clear idea in our minds!"

"..."

As soon as these words came out, even Hu Ma couldn't help but look at the Little Bean Official with admiration, reaching into the little red basket and taking out a piece of blood food to reward it.

So Old Suanpan followed the Little Bean Official out the door and went to make arrangements overnight.

Miaoshan Fairy wouldn't lack any money, and there were also people in this mansion, plus the Little Bean Official was following to make arrangements, which was enough to handle it. As for the bearers, Old Suanpan was also nervous.

Sixty-four bearers, and they also had to remove those whose zodiac signs and birthdates didn't match the deceased's, he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to gather them all together overnight, and that would be embarrassing the next day, but the Little Bean Official had already had an idea and told Old Suanpan, and he immediately understood.

He immediately went to find Fourth Miss Zhou. As soon as he said this, Fourth Miss Zhou couldn't care less about being dazed and immediately treated it as a major event to handle.

To find bearers, they had to be young and vigorous, have matching birthdates, and also have strength, know the rules, and carry the coffin steadily.

Where could they find them at this time?

Of course, they had to go and borrow people from their own father.

Who had more useful and obedient young men than those in the Shou Sui (Year-Watching) Gate?

However, Zhou Family Head, seeing his own daughter come to him, opening his mouth to borrow manpower to help the Hu family carry the coffin, also looked embarrassed, and scolded, "Don't forget your surname, you have no title or status, and you're already starting to help others with their affairs? Shouldn't some things be explained first?"

Fourth Miss Zhou frowned and pondered for a while, then suddenly said, "Daddy, there's something I don't understand!"

Zhou Family Head, Zhou Zhiming, sneered, "Speak, I'll see what you can say!"

Fourth Miss Zhou said, "What are you doing asking for their methods for no reason?"

"Also, in the town, when I was chasing you from behind, how did you run so fast?"

"..."

Zhou Zhiming, facing his daughter's suddenly bright eyes, wanted to open his mouth, but sighed helplessly.

He waved his hand and said to the Iron Steed Hall Official, who was pretending not to have heard these words, "Go and arrange some people for her!"

"Choose those with pure yang bodies, it will show respect."

"The Hu family is a dignified direct line, how can they only use sixty-four people? When the Meng family sent off someone outside of the five degrees of mourning, they used eighty people!"

"..."

So, with everyone helping out, although it was only overnight, the various arrangements were made. When dawn broke the next day, Old Suanpan secretly reported to Hu Ma, letting him rest assured.

And Hu Ma also changed into white linen clothes and, surrounded by everyone, came to the front of the coffin. The bearers were already ready, with paper money paving the way in front, stretching far towards the ancestral shrine.

Hu Ma personally broke the tiles, reciting, "Heaven and earth spirits, passing ghosts and gods, I borrow this road today, to send off the funeral procession!"

"Borrow one zhang two chi for the main road, and eight chi wide for the small road."

"People lead the soul, the funeral must proceed properly."

"This funeral is no ordinary funeral, the Hu family's noble receives divine light."

"Those who ruin my funeral will die beneath it, those who block my funeral will perish beneath it."

"I borrow this road to send off my late father, a stick of incense before the ancestral shrine."

"Raise the coffin!"

"..."

Beneath the wooden sword, gray tiles shattered. Hu Ma walked in front holding the soul-leading banner, and behind him, sixty-four bearers carried the wooden coffin.

Coming out of the gate, the servants behind him knelt on the ground to send him off. Outside on the roadside, various funeral platforms were crowded together.

Along the way, no one knew how many people were just watching along the way, using the excuse of sending off the deceased to see the face of the legendary descendant of the Hu family, who suppressed evil.

At this time, Hu Ma could not disguise himself or disguise himself, allowing countless curious, suspicious, or awed gazes to fall on his face. His peripheral vision also seemed to see some familiar faces, hiding in the crowd, quietly disappearing.

But perhaps it was just an illusion, Hu Ma actually saw a figure wearing a bamboo hat and holding a white cat in his arms in the crowd.

His heart was a little surprised. Now, there were experts like clouds and dangers lurking everywhere in this Shangjing city.

Miss White Wine was usually such a cautious person, she wouldn't be here in Shangjing at this time, right?

(End of this chapter)