Chapter 1 Inching Forward

They didn't beat drums or gongs, but Huma and Xiang丫頭 (Xiang Yatou, little girl), under the care of Mother Han, set off on their journey to Lingshou Prefecture in a proper and upright manner.

Since leaving Ming Prefecture, Huma hadn't felt so at ease.

Not only were they escorted by prominent figures from An Prefecture after leaving Mother Han's estate, but people continued to join them along the way, quickly forming a team of dozens, creating quite a spectacle.

Who knows how many others wanted to participate, hoping to forge a connection with the Li family and gain favor, but were hesitant due to their status!

In the face of such momentum, what evil spirits would dare to block their path?

Even Huma inadvertently became a little hero in everyone's eyes, a righteous man who traveled a thousand *li* to protect an orphaned girl.

People frequently approached him, praising his good deeds, saying they would visit his estate in Ming Prefecture in the future. Others patted their chests, declaring that now that they had a friend like Huma, they wouldn't hesitate to help if he ever needed it.

Who knew how much of it was true, but Huma realized that his reputation had actually grown.

Was this the great gift Miss Red Wine had given him?

Even in Ming Prefecture, he was just an unpopular small manager of the Blood Food Gang. Who would have thought that he would become famous in An Prefecture?

A strange feeling arose in his heart. If he were just a transmigrator, he might not see this as a great gift. What transmigrator would be crazy enough to pursue such superficial things?

But, thinking of his other identity...

...Perhaps this reputation came at just the right time?

While he was thinking, the group gradually approached Lingshou Prefecture. They simply followed the main road, even stopping in a village to demand that the villagers pay silver, slaughter chickens, and cook food, not being subtle at all.

But the journey was peaceful. Seeing that they had entered Lingshou Prefecture, nothing happened.

As expected, Miss Red Wine saw things clearly...

Huma sighed and glanced at Xiang丫頭 in the carriage. She was leaning against the window, her head against the curtain, looking forward with anticipation.

This girl had endured so much on this journey, and she was finally close to home. Her feelings must be complex.

At that moment, in a small town not far from An Prefecture City, someone was renting a large room in a roadside inn to recover from his injuries. He tore open his shirt, looking at the black mark on his shoulder, pierced by Yin energy.

He clenched a handful of glutinous rice, slowly trying to remove the Yin energy, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

He cursed as he pulled, until the wooden door suddenly opened, and a short, stocky middle-aged man stood in the doorway, his hands behind his back, looking like a peasant, but dressed in silk and satin.

He was startled, then his face fell into a mournful expression. "Father, I really couldn't help it..."

He looked at the short, stout middle-aged man and cried, "Originally, things were going perfectly, and it was about to succeed."

"Who would have thought she could come back?"

"I asked Steward Zhou to take care of the aftermath, but who knew what that old fool did? The people on the Pingnan Road were silenced, but the small manager who brought the girl back is doing well."

"They always say that the Xi Family are shrewd and calculating. I was originally waiting for him to bring the person over, but when I went to find him, he had already been placed in a coffin. This is the other side provoking me..."

"I didn't dare to make a big deal out of it, so I had to pursue it myself. I had no choice but to ask for the help of a *yi gui* (ghost summoner)..."

"But who would have thought that the Xi Family would interfere..."

"Now, we have no choice. It's not good to cast spells during the day, but if there were bandits on the road who robbed them..."

"..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Before he could finish his resentful and vicious words, the short, stout old man suddenly interrupted him.

The young man was startled and blinked in confusion.

"What could be wrong with Mother Han?"

The short, stout old man gritted his teeth and said, "Her intervention is giving face to our Dongzi Li family. Not just her, but anyone in the *mendao* (sect/school) would help with this."

The young man became nervous. "Then we..."

"There's no 'we'..."

The short, stout old man stared at him intently, lowering his voice with a hint of resentment, and said, "The only problem is that you're such an idiot. Letting her be abducted in the first place was the least karmic way to do it. You only gave it a push. The greater karma will still be borne by the world."

"But after things changed, you couldn't get involved anymore. You should have let that old dog from the Xi Family do it. Why did you have to step up yourself?"

"..."

As he spoke, his voice suddenly became louder, as if shouting for someone to hear. He suddenly slapped the young man on the head.

"How could you be so heartless? She's your sister!"

"..."

The young man was completely stunned, his face full of grievances. He wanted to speak but couldn't. The short, stout old man immediately grabbed his head after shouting that sentence.

He rubbed the spot he had hit, softening his voice and saying, "Be smarter. Wait to admit your mistakes. We can't implicate your father and your two brothers. Miss has returned after all. Father won't kill you, at most he'll punish you."

"With us around, we can always take care of you."

"The people from the Law Hall are outside. Be good and go with them later. Don't resist."

"..."

The young man was stunned, and his voice trembled. "You..."

He only said one word, then realized it and lowered his voice. "Father, where are you going?"

"Where else can I go?"

The short, stout old man sighed deeply. "I have to hurry and bring Miss home..."

...

...

The group arrived at Lingshou Prefecture but didn't enter. They only glanced at it from a distance.

Lingshou Prefecture was a large city, and its former prosperity could vaguely be seen, but now it seemed dilapidated and deserted. There were few people at the city gate, as if it were an abandoned town.

But Huma had heard Xiang丫頭 say that she was abducted here, which was quite strange. Was such a deserted city a place where the Dongzi Li family rarely went to watch fireworks and play?

Turning south again, they gradually approached Big Stone Cliff. The group went further into the mountains. They began to see many desolate graves along the road. It was unknown if the area was originally sparsely populated, but where did so many graves come from? A thin mist rose from the graves.

After passing through the desolate graves, they saw a small path leading forward, and everyone stopped involuntarily.

In front of them stood an ancient stone tablet with eight deeply carved characters: 前方陰府，生人止步 (Qiánfāng yīnfǔ, shēngrén zhǐ bù) - “Ahead lies the Yin Realm, living beings halt.”

"Yin Realm?"

The *jianghu* (martial world) people all stopped, unsure if they should proceed.

Although they lived in An Prefecture, most of them didn't believe in the existence of the Yin Realm.

But the eight simple characters carved on the stone tablet gave people a chilling feeling, and their voices lowered.

It seemed to be a warning. Although they were returning the Li family's young lady, would they cause trouble by barging in?

Just as everyone was hesitating, two people wearing black clothes and strange hats that seemed to be rarely seen official hats slowly walked over from the path in front of them.

Their faces were pale, and they were holding a piece of black cloth. They didn't speak to anyone.

Everyone fell silent, temporarily refraining from greeting them.

The two came to the stone tablet, first unfolded the black cloth, and covered the stone tablet, before turning to the crowd and saying:

"Please come this way!"

"Our uncles and elders have received the message and are already waiting ahead."

"..."

Everyone then went forward. When they passed the stone tablet, they couldn't help but glance at it.

The Dongzi Li family would stop people, but to invite people in, they had to cover the stone tablet first. What a strange custom!

Huma was even more stunned, thinking that it was so difficult for him to go to the Li family at Big Stone Cliff with these *jianghu* people. How difficult must it have been for the mule and horse business, which helped him send the letter before, since they were ordinary people?

Perhaps the letter was intercepted here back then?

No wonder it didn't reach Xiang丫頭's father's hands.

Continuing forward, they entered the mountains. After turning past the foot of the mountain, they saw that the area ahead widened.

A crowd of people had already come to greet them from afar. The three in the front were burly and had a dignified air. They greeted them from afar.

They were all filled with gratitude, bowing and saying, "Ah, since our Li family's Xiang玉 (Xiang Yu, fragrant jade) went missing, the entire Li family has been anxious and restless. Now, thanks to your righteousness, you have sent her back. The Li family will remember this kindness."

"Where is Miss? Let us see her quickly. Has anything happened to you?"

"..."

The *jianghu* people all responded with a few smiles and looked at the carriage behind them. At this time, Xiang丫頭 also got out of the carriage, looking at the three people, and timidly called out, "Fourth Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I... I'm back..."

Her voice was already trembling, but she didn't dare to get too close to the three people with their joyful faces.

"My poor little girl, you have suffered so much. Come back with us quickly. Your father is still waiting to see you!"

The three stepped forward, moved by the return of their lost young lady.

They turned to scan the crowd and said, "The letter said that there was a righteous man who sent Miss back from afar. Who is it?"

Hearing this, Huma had no choice but to jump off his horse. Under the gaze of everyone around him, he humbly said, "I can't be called a righteous man. I was the one who sent her back."

"Ah, benefactor, please accept my bow!"

The three old men were immediately filled with excitement and actually stepped forward to bow to Huma.

Huma was startled and hurriedly helped him up.

He feared this the most along the way. Damn it, his beard was already white, and I wouldn't dare to accept his bow.

But while he was helping the three in front, the younger generation behind them all knelt down in a dark mass. Huma suddenly had a headache:

I worked so hard to bring your person back, and this is the great gift you give me?

You're bullying me like this, do you think I wouldn't dare to bow back?

(End of Chapter)