Chapter 1 Remove It!

The old shopkeeper watched coldly and waved his hand.

With the shopkeeper beside them, the other workers grew bolder and built a human ladder to take the worker down.

Hu Ma watched from the side, feeling a little suspicious.

He had originally thought that the shopkeeper would take action and resolve the evil spirit that had killed the worker, helping him to avenge himself.

But he didn't expect that he would have the worker taken down and brought back, then turn around and leave, ignoring everything.

"It's all fate."

As if seeing through Hu Ma's thoughts, the shopkeeper explained indifferently, "The thing that did it is already gone. He has become its substitute and must guard this place now. If I get rid of the evil spirit here, I'll only be getting rid of him."

"If the workers pass by here in the future, they must be careful. He won't be thinking of old times anymore."

Hu Ma understood and felt a slight sinking in his heart.

A substitute?

There was indeed something here, but after harming the worker last night, this thing had gained its freedom and left.

Instead, this worker would have to replace it and guard this place from now on…

Torture.

The man was already dead, but the torture was only beginning.

As he thought this, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if someone was looking at him with resentment from behind. He turned his head sharply, but saw nothing behind him, completely empty.

They divided into two groups, with some carrying the worker back to the village. The others continued searching for two shichen (approximately four hours), finally hearing someone shouting from ahead.

The others hurried over and found the body in a terraced field built on a slope near the foot of Old Yin Mountain.

They recognized him by his clothes, but his appearance was unbearable to look at.

He was curled up among dry thorns, no one knew how he had gotten in there. His body was covered in bite marks, a bag of lime scattered haphazardly around him. His face, almost unrecognizable, was filled with terror.

Seeing this scene, not only the workers felt a chill in their hearts, but even Shopkeeper Wu frowned.

After a long time, he sighed, "If I had known this would happen, why was I so ruthless in the first place?"

Hu Ma inexplicably felt that he seemed relieved after seeing the wounds on Xu Ji's body.

An idea flashed in his mind, "He was actually worried that he had killed Xu Ji?"

This was too much…

…If I had killed him myself, you definitely wouldn't have found the body."

Hu Ma had understood early on that if he wanted to ensure his success, the safest thing to do was not to win this competition, but to leave the old shopkeeper with only one choice.

If he had the chance, he might have taken action himself.

But he didn't expect that Xu Ji, who had made many enemies, would be caught by them first.

And that Huang Xian (weasel spirit) was truly cunning, killing him and throwing the body at the foot of Old Yin Mountain, as if to demonstrate.

'We killed your worker and went into Old Yin Mountain. Do you have the ability to come and find me?'

"Let's go!"

The old shopkeeper also sighed as he glanced at Xu Ji's body, shook his head, and whispered, "It's not like he died for nothing, but those bastards have probably run away already. Even if I wanted to avenge you, I can't find them."

"I'll tell your father the same thing!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, telling the workers to bring him back to the village as well, and to buy a coffin and bury him.

Back in the village, all the young men were in low spirits, silently grieving.

Some were heartbroken over their fingers, which had been gnawed down to the bone. Others still couldn't believe that Xu Ji was dead.

Still others were now terrified, thinking that since they had become workers at the Red Lantern Madam Society, they would have to deal with such evil spirits for the rest of their lives, and who knew what fate awaited them!

"Go find the carpenter Liu at the town entrance and have him come quickly to measure the body."

Shopkeeper Wu returned to the village and went into the inner courtyard, while Hu Ma directly took on the task of handling the aftermath.

He had Zhou Datong take out the black ointment that Second Master had left behind and distributed it to the workers who had their fingers gnawed off.

This black ointment was excellent for treating external injuries, but whether the muscles on the fingers could grow back was something no one knew.

Then, he looked at Li Wa, but was also at a loss.

At this moment, a servant came out from the inner courtyard and gave Hu Ma a pill.

Hu Ma knew that this was the shopkeeper's intention and had someone dissolve it in water and feed it to Li Wa. The man actually woke up.

But he was dazed and foolish, not knowing if he had lost his soul from fright.

After that, Hu Ma personally watched the carpenter Liu measure the length and width of Xu Ji and the worker's bodies, urging him to hurry back and make coffins, temporarily placing the bodies in the warehouse.

He also arranged the day's work for the workers who were still unsettled, then returned to his room, washed his face, took the red sandalwood sword, came to the front of the inner courtyard, knocked gently, and reported these arrangements.

"You've arranged things well, just keep doing it that way."

The old shopkeeper said expressionlessly, "Burn the worker's body and keep the ashes. Next spring, send them back to their town. We don't need to worry about Xu Ji, wait for his family to come and collect him."

….If anyone comes to collect him."

"Yes."

Hu Ma agreed and presented the red sandalwood sword with both hands, saying, "This is Xu Ji's thing. Last night, evil spirits were rampant, and I was afraid. After picking it up, I used it first. Since his family is coming to collect him, the shopkeeper should keep this sword."

"You can keep it for now!"

The shopkeeper waved his hand, saying, "If his family wants it, give it to them. If they don't mention it, then consider it a reward for you."

"Can you make connections even in these small things?"

Hu Ma thought to himself that the weasel spirits knew to give him this sword to curry favor.

This shopkeeper also wanted to do someone a favor easily.

He just smiled in his heart, but still respectfully thanked him on the surface, but remained in the inner courtyard, not in a hurry to leave.

"I know what you're thinking."

The old shopkeeper sighed softly and said to Hu Ma, "Since I promised you, I will naturally teach you."

"Come to my place after your night patrol tonight!"

Only when Hu Ma heard these words did he finally feel relieved, bowing and saying, "Thank you, Shopkeeper."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper smiled faintly, then looked at Hu Ma with a slightly cold expression, saying, "Besides, you two have made it known to everyone, how can I go back on my word?"

Hu Ma's face turned slightly red, and he excused himself and came out.

But although he pretended to blush, he felt no guilt at all in his heart.

Before going out, he had deliberately made the matter of the night watchman clear to all the workers, originally to prevent the shopkeeper from making other tricks. Since everyone knew about this test, the shopkeeper would no longer have other excuses.

On this point, even Xu Ji had the same idea as him. Of course, the difference between the two was that they both believed that they would get this opportunity.

When things came to the most critical moment, Hu Ma made himself remain calm.

He returned to the side room and took a nap. The red sandalwood sword was placed on the side, allowing Da Hongtang to pick it up and play with it.

He woke up after sleeping for about two or three shichen (approximately four to six hours), and it was already afternoon.

He still arranged for the workers to feed the horses and sweep the floors as usual, carried the red lanterns for the night patrol, and after everything was in order, he walked towards the inner courtyard.

When he pushed open the door, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

He saw Shopkeeper Wu sitting in the courtyard, surrounded by all kinds of oil lamps.

He had tea by his side, quietly looking at him, and said, "Come here!"

Hu Ma took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.

This ordinary courtyard was filled with various oil lamps, adding a bit of weirdness. Hu Ma could also smell the various burnt odors emanating from the different oil lamps.

The inexplicable atmosphere made it difficult for one not to feel a hidden sense of danger.

But Hu Ma knew that he was now facing the key method that could save his life, and still walked in step by step, slowly.

He walked straight to the middle of the oil lamps, next to the small stone table, and nothing unusual happened.

Shopkeeper Wu just sat quietly beside the stone table, watching Hu Ma walk in slowly.

His eyes flickered slightly, as if he was making a comparison with someone.

"You tried so hard to grab this opportunity and walked so calmly to my side…"

Raising his hand, he signaled Hu Ma to sit next to him. The old shopkeeper slowly said, "But do you know what I can teach you?"

"I know."

Since entering the Red Lantern Society, Hu Ma had been looking forward to this day every moment. He had already prepared a draft in his heart for various situations, and said in a low voice, "An elder in my family once told me that the Red Lantern Madam Society supports some people with great abilities."

"They live to be a hundred years old, have much fortune and longevity, ward off evil, cure diseases, and are immune to evil spirits. These people have a name, they are called Shou Sui Ren (Night Watchers)."

"Live to be a hundred years old, have much fortune and longevity?"

Shopkeeper Wu was not surprised by what Hu Ma said.

The name Shou Sui Ren was not known to many ordinary people, but it was not a big secret. Those old miners who had been around for years, or those who had dealt with evil spirits, had often heard of this mysterious method.

He just smiled, not commenting, and said, "What you said is not wrong, this skill is indeed called Shou Sui Ren."

"I have been a Shou Sui Ren for thirty years. I don't know how many evil spirits I have dealt with in my life, and I don't know how many times I have worshiped Tai Sui (God of Age). Of course, I have also experienced some of the treacherous dangers in between."

"Now that I am old, and there are no helpers in our village, it is time to find someone to guide. Among you new workers, in terms of intelligence and foundation, you are the most suitable."

Hu Ma was slightly moved, perhaps he should get up and bow immediately?

Bow if you have to, this bow doesn't matter.

But he didn't expect that just as he was about to get up, Shopkeeper Wu seemed to see through his intentions and waved his hand gently, saying, "You can skip the formalities, and you don't have to call me Shifu (Master)."

"After all, in terms of seniority, you and I both worship the Red Lantern Madam, the only difference is that I am the shopkeeper and you are the worker."

"Kowtowing more would only add more constraints of favor!"

"And I am passing on this method to you not because I have a good heart, but because there are always important things that I can use you for."

"Important things?"

Hearing this, Hu Ma felt a slight sinking in his heart, vaguely feeling that it seemed to be alluding to something.