Chapter 16婆婆已经把她知道的事情都告诉我了 (Granny Has Told Me Everything She Knows)

“Granny has already told me everything she knows.”

Having returned to the grand mansion, Hu Ma ate a simple meal and then returned to the room prepared for him by the old servant.

On this day, he finally met Granny, saw the legendary ancestral shrine, and asked some of the questions he had most wanted to know.

Although Granny couldn't answer everything, he understood that she had told him the answers in her own way. Since meeting the National Preceptor at Lao Yin Mountain, the last trace of doubt in his fluctuating state of mind had finally vanished on this day.

Outside the mansion, the white lanterns remained, and the people who came to offer condolences and the coffin bearers were still eating in the courtyard. But he stayed in the unlit room, silently sorting things out in his mind.

Images flashed through his mind: the Zhenchong Bureau (Suppression Bureau), the Zou Gui Bridge (Walking Ghost Bridge), the ranking on the Da Luo Dharma Sect Merit Ledger, and…

…the small red crabapple that Granny had left him.

His lips pursed slightly. After pondering for a long time, he slowly sank into his Natal Spirit Temple.

Now that he had made a decision, he could of course communicate with the Reborns. Naturally, he would start with someone he trusted.

He thought of Miss White Wine.

Believing that he wasn't seeing things when he was being buried in the morning, he thought he could call her first and exchange some information.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at the Natal Spirit Temple and inserted the Life Incense into the incense burner, countless voices suddenly rang out. Some were panicked, some surprised, some angry, all kinds intertwined within the temple.

“Lao Bai Gan (Old White Liquor) brother, what… what exactly is going on?”

“Holy crap, big brother, are you the head of the Zhenchong Hu family?”

“Looking at your aura, you don’t seem like someone from the Ten Surnames!”

“Kid, someone said you’re an undercover agent who infiltrated the Reborns? Bah, I’m glad I didn’t snatch your code name!”

“Imperial Jade Liquor, what’s the next line? Answer me quickly!”

“Extra! Extra! A traitor has appeared among the Reborns! The latest bounty has been refreshed! Everyone, prepare to enter the Upper Capital to fight monsters!”

“…”

The dense voices never stopped. Some were directly trying to talk to him, and some were just shouting randomly. Hu Ma, who had originally planned to call Miss White Wine, fell silent amidst the countless chaotic sounds.

They finally revealed my true identity in the Reborn circle.

The people who came to assassinate me earlier seemed to be a very mysterious group in the Reborn circle. I was also curious as to why they didn't reveal my identity at that time, but instead only assassinated me in secret.

Although he couldn't understand the reason, he still held a faint hope in his heart because of their actions.

But now, his suspended heart had finally died.

He knew the severity of this identity exposure!

Although he had a good reputation in the Reborn circle and had earned a lot of favors, after knowing his identity and the threat he posed to the Reborn circle, not many would still believe in him and protect him like those people in Mingzhou.

After all, there were so many people among the Reborns, and not everyone would trust him; caution would prevail.

What would he face next?

Earlier, it was just a few people who wanted to assassinate him. Now, wouldn't all the Reborns be coming to kill him?

He was still in the Upper Capital, where talented people from the Ten Surnames were gathered, so he had some protection. He didn't know what he would face if he were still outside the Upper Capital at this time.

Even though he had thought about talking to the Reborns, in this situation, how many would be willing to talk to him?

“You’ve finally appeared.”

Just as these thoughts surged in his mind, a clear and cold voice suddenly appeared, suppressing the others' clamor. A wisp of red incense thread connected to the incense burner in Hu Ma's Natal Spirit Temple.

It was Miss White Wine.

Hu Ma's heart trembled slightly. After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth: “Thank you…”

“There’s no need to say such meaningless words.”

Miss White Wine interrupted him and said calmly: “You know, Reborns are relatively selfish and only make exchanges of benefits under the guise of favors, so you don't need to attribute our choices to genuine favors.”

Hu Ma adjusted his state of mind and calmed down, softly saying: “You’re right.”

“However, isn't it too risky for you to appear in the Upper Capital now?”

Establishing a connection with her meant that she was also in the Upper Capital now, perhaps even very close to him, since there was only one stick of Life Incense inserted in his incense burner.

In that case, she was undoubtedly in extreme danger. With so many capable people, even the National Preceptor, if her identity were revealed or someone discovered something, she could be said to be doomed.

“I’ve returned to investigate some things.”

Miss White Wine slowly opened her mouth: “This matter requires the identity of the head of your Hu family.”

“Also, I know that you are now wary of the Reborns. I think I can give you the answer you want when I have investigated this matter.”

“…”

Hu Ma's heart stirred slightly, and a strange feeling floated up in his heart.

Clearly, things were no longer the same as before, but Miss White Wine could still so calmly propose cooperation with him. Compared to her previous cautious appearance, it really made him feel emotional.

With a slight sigh in his heart, he straightened his attitude and said: “What question?”

“Some things about the Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter).”

Miss White Wine’s tone was slightly low. After a pause, she whispered: “Have you noticed that the Upper Capital now has an extremely oppressive atmosphere, even… a terrifying aura?”

These words struck a chord in Hu Ma's heart. He had had this feeling as soon as he entered the Upper Capital.

Moreover, he had already discovered that the source of this strange atmosphere seemed to be the ancestral shrines of the Ten Surnames.

“Come to the Zhi Shou Pavilion tomorrow. I will let you see something.”

Miss White Wine also seemed to have made up her mind, slowly saying: “If you see anything, remember not to make a sound.”

“After today, when we exchange information later, let's not choose the Natal Spirit Temple first. Now, the Natal Spirit Temple cannot give me a sense of security.”

“Also, you need to be careful of the Upper Capital…”

“…”

Hearing these words, Hu Ma's heart fluttered slightly. The Upper Capital?

She wasn't telling him to be careful of someone; she was specifically pointing out the Upper Capital?

He still had words he wanted to say, but Miss White Wine had already quietly severed the connection. She seemed to have too many things she didn't understand herself, or perhaps she was unwilling to talk too much in the Natal Spirit Temple.

When he got up the next day, he ate under the arrangement of the old servant.

Although the servants in the Hu family's old mansion had only just been bought from the human market, they were able to take care of the cleaning and service without any problems. Hu Ma came from the village and had never lived such a decent and luxurious life.

But with his previous life's experience, he could still enjoy it calmly, so he wouldn't reveal the embarrassment of a poor person from the mountains suddenly becoming rich.

After eating, countless matters were brought before him. Those Hu family relatives and old colleagues had already eagerly spoken to Hu Ma at Hu Shan's funeral yesterday, and they still wanted to come and test the waters today.

Of course, they all found excuses, either asking about the business here, or asking about the manor over there, or asking about the funeral gifts received yesterday, and so on.

But Hu Ma frowned as he looked at these trivial matters and looked at the two people in the courtyard.

Why was Fourth Girl Zhou still in the Hu family's mansion?

At this moment, she had changed into a set of close-fitting clothes, which made her waist especially slender. She was facing the morning sun, slowly breathing in and out.

And on the corridor next to her…

There were also some candied fruits and other things placed next to her, clearly as comfortable and leisurely as if she were in her own old mansion.

So he casually pointed and said to the old servant: “Go ask her about everything.”

“Her?”

The old servant was immediately a little embarrassed. Many things had to be done by people from the Hu family, and he didn't even know this person's identity.

And Immortal Maiden Miaoshan immediately widened her innocent eyes: “Me?”

Hu Ma was a little helpless, and pointed to Fourth Girl Zhou in the courtyard, saying: “Asking her is also fine.”

“Master, this…”

Leaving the old servant and the two women dumbfounded in place, Hu Ma wore a cloth coat and cloth shoes, and went straight out the door. He personally led the horse he had brought from Mingzhou out of the stable and called Lao Suanpan (Old Abacus), who was sleeping in the stable, to go out.

The old servant still chased after him, saying that the Hu family's mansion had already prepared carriages for their master and ladies to go out.

The carriage set that he brought from Mingzhou would seem a little rough and simple when traveling in the Upper Capital. The carriage frame was not delicate enough, and the carvings were outdated from several years ago.

“What kind of bad habits are these?”

Hu Ma ignored him, just dragged Lao Suanpan into the car, and then went out the door.

He was going to the Zhi Shou Pavilion for the appointment, and there had to be a reason. The current Da Luo Dharma Sect leader, the Dongxuan National Preceptor, was staying at the Zhi Shou Pavilion.

As the chief officiant, it was very normal for him to visit the National Preceptor after completing his biological father's funeral.

And Lao Suanpan was a member of the Da Luo Dharma Sect. Although he had settled down in the Hu family's old mansion, he had already visited the National Preceptor once, but with his status, he had not seen him. It was just right to have him lead the way.

The carriage traveled in the Upper Capital, heading straight for the Zhi Shou Pavilion.

It was not until this time that Hu Ma carefully looked at this Upper Capital. He saw that even in the daytime, there was still a hazy feeling, as if a gloomy ghost aura always shrouded the city, lingering and impenetrable.

But in this gloomy ghost aura, novelties, odds and ends, crowded the streets, and all kinds of city people wearing silk and satin were talking and laughing, passing through the streets.

But whether it was because of Miss White Wine's reminder or the inexplicable feeling in his heart, Hu Ma always felt that the liveliness in this city was abnormal.

Traveling through this Upper Capital was even more depressing and eerie than entering the Yin mansion at the beginning.