Chapter 1 Red Lantern?

The battle in the valley had reached a fever pitch. Four extraordinarily skilled individuals were on the verge of overwhelming Wu Song, opening the path to the mine. However, this sudden appearance disrupted their momentum. Even those on both sides, who were previously focused on joining forces to eliminate Wu Song, couldn't help but be distracted by Hu Ma and his red lantern.

Despite their anxiety and urgency, they spared a moment to glance at Hu Ma and the lantern. Then, they refocused on Wu Song. The Qian Cult Dharma King, who had invoked the Nine Heavens Lotus Holy Mother, chanted incantations with urgency. Ghoulish wails echoed around him as paper money burned, scattering sparks of ghostly fire.

Wu Ya shrieked silently, awakening the zombified Gu worms on the ground. The densely packed, black tide surged toward Wu Song's three incarnations.

As for the Wu Gong clan leader, his attention had been fixed on the mine all along. He simply emitted insect-like chirps that echoed through the valley like waves crashing against a seawall, one layer after another, surging towards Wu Song.

Even the ordinary flesh-cutters in the valley felt dizzy and nauseous from the echoing chirps. Some were already weak and limp.

"Ignoring me?"

Hu Ma paused, taken aback that everyone had glanced at him only to turn away. Annoyed, he hoisted the red lantern and strode forward with the air of a master.

"Are you the disciple of Old Yin Mountain's Master Zhou the Second?"

Before he could take two steps, a booming voice halted him. A towering figure appeared before him. It was Grandpa Sun, Master Zhuang the Second's teacher, who had become the first to block his path. His face was pale, and he looked less like a living man and more like a vessel for malevolent energy. His fierce eyes glared at Hu Ma as he erupted in a tirade:

"Ignorant boy! Get out of the way!"

"You're a Shousui (grave keeper). Don't you know how you acquired your skills?"

"Wasting your life like this! You're squandering your master's painstaking efforts to train you, throwing away your own life!"

"Eh?"

Hu Ma hadn't anticipated being greeted with such a barrage of scolding after making his appearance.

What he didn't expect was that the old Shousui, while mercilessly berating him, wasn't simply trying to provoke him like a typical enemy. Strange as it seemed, Hu Ma detected a hint of protectiveness in his words.

Remembering his attitude towards Zhou Datong and the others, this realization felt both surprising and, upon reflection, quite reasonable.

Perhaps it was the camaraderie between those who practiced the same arts.

With this thought, Hu Ma's anger subsided. He glanced around the area and said with a smile, "I'm a caretaker under the Red Lantern Goddess, here to carry out her duties."

"She sent me to this mine, and I must safeguard what belongs to her. You have trespassed and engaged in combat and killing, which is disrespectful. However, since you didn't harm my junior brothers earlier, I'll give you some face."

"Now, get out of here!"

"Hmph!"

Master Sun of Iron Bridge flew into a rage. Although he was an Rufu Shousui (Shousui in residence), he hadn't been heavily involved in the fighting, as the witch doctors were treacherous and dangerous. As an Rufu Shousui, he had to be wary of being targeted.

Moreover, the Nine Heavens Lotus Holy Mother had already possessed the Dharma King. It would be disrespectful to the honored guest to try to take the spotlight. Therefore, this Red Lantern Society caretaker who had suddenly appeared was the perfect target to drive away.

Of course, he would also slap some sense into the boy, lest he needlessly anger the others and throw away his life.

With a roar, he delivered a powerful palm strike. Now employing the skills of an Rufu Shousui, his body seemed to transform into that of a demon. Power surged, and malevolent energy rolled off him in waves. A single palm strike possessed unmatched force. An ordinary person would lose their life to the wind pressure alone.

This was indeed the ability unique to an Rufu Shousui, and not the newly inducted kind like Ji Tang of the Beggars' Gang, but an experienced one with honed skills.

He was clearly a living man, yet he had forged a body akin to that of a demon.

"Hoo!"

Hu Ma felt a surge of alertness, but his expression remained nonchalant. With one hand holding the red lantern, he channeled the three pillars of Daoxing (Taoist power) into the incense burner. Circulating his Qi and blood, he unleashed the power of the Great Monument Shattering Hand with his right hand, meeting the attack head-on.

The old Rufu Shousui had refined his entire body to death, unleashing demonic power. Hu Ma, on the other hand, had refined his entire body to life, stimulating his Qi and blood, and using a forceful technique to clash with the opponent directly.

"Bang!"

Their palms collided, and the immense force generated ripples that spread through the air and into their bodies.

Hu Ma felt his bones compress and grind, as if his body was about to fall apart. However, due to the Sha (killing intent) that he had borrowed from the Zhensui Manor (demon suppression manor) to cleanse his body before becoming an Rufu Shousui, his foundation was incredibly solid. Therefore, although he had only recently become an Rufu Shousui, his physique displayed extraordinary abilities.

Although he felt Yin energy invade his body, almost causing him to suffocate, he stubbornly endured, holding his ground without his expression changing significantly.

"Eh?"

While Hu Ma held his ground, the old Rufu Shousui was visibly shocked. He abruptly withdrew his palm, and even the ghostly pallor on his face faded.

It wasn't that he had suffered a loss, but that he was frightened.

As an Rufu Shousui, he wouldn't actually kill the child outright, so although he had used a powerful technique, he had restrained his force, intending only to make Hu Ma understand the difference in power and leave.

However, he hadn't expected the opponent to also use a powerful technique that seemed to be on par with his own. That meant

"This damn kid is also an Rufu Shousui?"

"Damn Zhuang Erchang, he has no discernment! He said he lost a bout with someone. How can a Dengjie (ascending steps realm) practitioner fight against an Rufu?"

"He even tricked me"

At this point, it wasn't about who was stronger or weaker.

Simply seeing that Hu Ma was an Rufu Shousui gave him a shock, so he immediately stopped his attack, his expression alarmed. Countless questions flooded his mind: "He's already an Rufu at such a young age. How skilled must his master be?"

"Could this kid be the disciple of a Great Blade Wielder? Could his master be from the Zhou family of Yangming (nourishing life)?"

"Damn, his master does seem to be surnamed Zhou. Isn't he called Master Zhou the Second?"

"Old Sir, please excuse me!"

Hu Ma retracted his palm, concealing it behind his back. He felt a bone-chilling coldness in his right hand, as if his blood vessels were about to burst.

However, his aura remained undiminished. Instead, he used the momentum of repelling the Rufu Shousui to turn abruptly and glare at the Qian Cult Dharma King and Wu Ya, who were once again fighting Wu Song. He roared, "Are you all deaf? Didn't you hear the Red Lantern Goddess's decree?"

His eyes narrowed as he looked forward. It was clear that Monkey Wine was at a disadvantage. His three incarnations were under a combined attack from the Qian Cult Dharma King, Wu Ya, and the Gu worms. Losing Master Sun wasn't significant.

After all, the old man had been slacking off.

In the brief moment, the three of them had closed in on him. The three witch doctor incarnations were showing signs of collapse. If he didn't help, it would be too late.

With a roar, his eyes suddenly focused, and an invisible, cold force condensed, striking the back of the Qian Cult Dharma King.

"Shua!"

When a Shousui becomes an Rufu, they gain the ability to "see with their eyes." A focused gaze could startle weak or ordinary people into a daze.

Even if ordinary Youhui (wandering ghosts) approached, a single look could scatter half of their soul, causing them to flee in disarray.

However, using this ability on someone in the arts had a lesser effect. But now, the Dharma King was possessed by the Lotus Holy Mother. Hu Ma's gaze instantly enraged her.

A Tangshangke (honored guest) could not tolerate such disrespect from an ordinary person. The Dharma King instantly turned around, his eyes showing only the whites. He exhaled sharply, and instantly, a blizzard of paper money fluttered down, transforming the surroundings into a ghostly, sinister realm that was not of this world.

The lantern in Hu Ma's hand flickered, threatening to go out.

Sensing the Yin energy rushing towards him, Hu Ma dared not be careless.

This was his first time, as the blood-slave shopkeeper, engaging with a Tangshangke, albeit one that had descended. He didn't know how much of her power the Dharma King could bear, but it was an unprecedented pressure.

He braced himself, focusing his mind and preparing for the attack.

His face remained impassive, and he withstood the gust of Yin wind, maintaining his composure. Only the red lantern in his hand flickered, and his expression darkened.

Whether the lantern went out or not was unimportant, because Hu Ma hadn't invited the Red Lantern Goddess.

Normally, the Red Lantern Goddess wouldn't personally handle matters at the blood-slave mine. Of course, Hu Ma was favored by the Goddess and had ways to summon her, but there was no need.

What if she came and, seeing such a grand display, immediately knelt down?

Although he hadn't invited the Red Lantern Goddess, it was necessary to maintain his prestige. With a stern shout, Hu Ma threw the red lantern behind him. Xiao Hongtang, who had been following behind but afraid to get too close, immediately jumped up and caught the lantern.

The next moment, Hu Ma reached into his sleeve and took out a black bone. He brought it to his lips, took a deep breath, and suddenly blew into the bone. In an instant, the sky darkened.

Rolling Sha energy arose abruptly, engulfing one side of the valley. Many fire pits and oil lamps had been lit in the valley. Even the most aggressive Gu bees wouldn't have crashed into the flames. They were still burning brightly.

But at that moment, all the flames suddenly turned a greenish-blue, creating a ghastly, eerie atmosphere that flickered uncertainly.

Within the valley, only Xiao Hongtang, holding the lantern, emitted an eerie red light. It traced obscure, incomprehensible arcs in the air, creating a frighteningly bizarre atmosphere alongside the rolling Sha energy.

But only a Zhuan Sheng Zhe (transmigrator) would understand that she was drawing the shape of "OK."

End of Chapter