CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 359: BLOOD FOOD MINE OWNER

After listening to Yang Gong’s rough explanation, what could Hu Ma say? He could only remark on how this kid’s luck indeed seemed to have turned for the better.

It happened after the bandit situation was resolved. When Yang Gong led his men back into the mountains, they were warmly welcomed by many mountain families. Several villages joined forces, offering fine wine and meat in hospitality. Even families from deep within the mountains, miles away, came with donkeys and carts laden with gold and silver, leading cattle and sheep, and carrying ample food and drink to reward them. The Disciples of Red Fragrance, including Yang Gong, had never witnessed such a scene and were all thrilled and delighted.

At the banquets, elders of status and prominent landowners among the villagers continually raised their bowls to flatter them, inquiring about their identities, ages, and ancestral homes, among other things. Many expressed that they had suitable young women in their villages and hoped to marry them to Yang Gong and his men. Yang Gong and the others were greatly embarrassed, politely declining without accepting the proposals. Yet, who could have anticipated what happened next...

"You’ve got some nerve, kid..." Hu Ma was shocked upon hearing this. "You went to someone’s village for a drink and ended up in the bridal chamber that very night?"

"No, it’s not like that..." Yang Gong immediately looked aggrieved, waving his hands repeatedly as he said, "I don’t know what happened! The mountain wine was smooth to drink but very potent. I passed out drunk and knew nothing. When I woke up wanting water, I reached out and felt something smooth and soft..."

"No need for the details..." Hu Ma quickly stopped him, his heart brimming with curiosity. He quickly asked, "And then you just got married?"

"I had to, she was a virgin..." Yang Gong, his face flushed with embarrassment, continued, "Besides, she’s from a well-known wealthy family in the village, a respectable household with countless fertile fields and herds of mules and horses."

"They said the deed was done, so we had to marry. And since I had no place to live, they even provided a house and assigned several servants to look after me..."

Hmm... Hu Ma found it rather peculiar. Such events weren’t hard to comprehend. Yang Gong had indeed built a reputation in the mountains and, in some unseen way, had also earned good fortune, though it wasn’t outwardly apparent yet. Could the mountain folk really have such sharp instincts, placing their bets so early?

As Hu Ma pondered this, Yang Gong sighed again and said, "Later, I thought it was strange too, so I asked her what happened. She said she didn’t know either; she was just in a daze, in a dream, and her deceased grandpa and grandma pushed her into my room."

"Who knows if it’s true or false..."

"This..." Hu Ma was momentarily at a loss for how to console him. It seemed that while the living might lack such foresight, the dead certainly didn’t. In the eyes of the living, Yang Gong now possessed a renowned reputation and considerable skills. Perhaps he was even more appealing to the dead!

He could only pat Yang Gong’s hand and sigh, "Since it’s come to this, just accept it."

"From what you’ve said, your father-in-law’s family seems quite well-off. You’re planning to leave the Red Lantern Society anyway. Staying there to live wouldn’t be a bad way to find sustenance, right?"

"That’s precisely the problem..." Yang Gong suddenly looked grief-stricken and indignant. He abruptly stood up, closed the inner door of the room, then turned to Hu Ma with such a sorrowful expression that it startled Hu Ma.

Then he heard Yang Gong approach him and whisper, "I’m only telling you this, Brother Hu Ma. If you breathe a word of this to anyone else, I’ll... I’ll have no choice but to go jump in the river! I..." With a conflicted and bitter expression, he glanced downwards and whispered, "My body... it’s a bit weak, you see..."

Hu Ma was bewildered, staring blankly at Yang Gong and blinking.

Yang Gong said, "It’s just that... those of us who are negative spirit people, we’re usually very tired, so... well, you know..."

Watching Yang Gong gesturing, struggling to explain, Hu Ma suddenly reached out his hand. "Say no more. I understand."

Then, Hu Ma silently got up, went to the bed, fumbled for two porcelain bottles, and returned to Yang Gong. He pressed them into Yang Gong’s hand and sighed, "Born as negative spirit people... we all understand..."

"Take these three Blood Food Pills. They’re prime goods from our Shousui Path. After you take them, don’t use your usual dharma method to refine them. Just let them digest naturally. They should be enough to replenish you."

Yang Gong was instantly stunned. "This... this can be used for that?"

Hu Ma glanced at him curiously and said, "You’re a Disciple of Red Fragrance. Haven’t you seen these before?"

"We only eat these to save our lives!" Yang Gong replied, "We risk our lives to earn even half a pill! We save them for critical moments when facing formidable opponents. Who would use them for... for this?"

"Well, now is precisely the time to use them for this." Hearing this, Hu Ma couldn’t help but laugh. He patted Yang Gong’s hand and said, "Consider this my wedding money for you. Take it, and just make sure you don’t disappoint your new bride."

Looking at Yang Gong, now torn between anguish and excitement, Hu Ma couldn’t help but feel amused.

Fate, fate... how does one even describe it? Yang Gong’s destiny, whether in the eyes of the Five Evil or the mountain lord, was actually quite shallow. Although, theoretically, he now possessed the destiny of an Emperor, if he were to truly contend for it... Hu Ma could only shake his head silently. Yang Gong was a long way off, a very long way indeed. He himself had learned a fair bit about the matters of the Path, but his understanding of this concept of destiny was still superficial, only a vague grasp. Thus, he couldn’t help Yang Gong much. For now, they could only follow their respective destinies. Perhaps one day, when he truly understood this concept of destiny, and if the opportunity arose, he might be able to lend him a hand. Of course, that was still a long way off. Currently, he hadn’t obtained the tokens, nor had he fully mastered his skills. He had no intention, for the time being, of truly throwing himself onto such a treacherous and mysterious chessboard.

That day, having resolved Yang Gong’s pressing issue and gained some understanding of his future plans, Hu Ma felt relieved. He arranged a banquet at the Manor and invited Yang Gong for a good drink. As night fell, they saw a fine horse and a red bridal sedan arrive at the Manor’s entrance. It was the bride from the mountains; uneasy, she had personally brought people to escort him back.

Some hide in the cities, others in the mountains. One shouldn’t underestimate this small Mingzhou; there are many families here with deep foundations... Observing their procession, Hu Ma secretly nodded. People of the Path ultimately belonged to the jianghu, and they were never to be underestimated. On the surface, those mountain families might seem relatively poor, but who knew how many villages were stockpiling grain and raising horses, keeping a close watch on the world’s situation? Perhaps many great families, seeing the changing tides of the world, had retreated into the mountains, awaiting their opportune moment! Those who had set their sights on Yang Gong might very well be such families. They were adept at placing bets in various places, and though they appeared low-profile, who knew how many scholars they had gathered by their side! In these times, the government maintained a low profile, and few scholars made their mark. However, those who did possess insight and learning. If such people remained quietly in place, it wasn’t just because they were biding their time for mischief; they were likely pondering rebellion! Indeed, these matters were quite interesting and offered a clearer perspective on this world. But for him, of course, the matter of Entering the Mansion was paramount.

Hu Ma understood this clearly. After seeing Yang Gong off, he refocused his attention.

Currently, the process of Entering the Mansion was straightforward: having enough Blood Food for nourishment was the key. He had a considerable amount of Blood Food on hand now, but it was only enough for half the requirement. This made Hu Ma eager to acquire the other half.

Choosing an opportune moment, he ventured into the city and found Incense Master Xu. He placed a fine jug of wine and two boxes of cured meat on the table and said with a smile, "About that blood food mine in the mountains we discussed before..."

"I was just about to inform you!" Incense Master Xu replied. "It’s time to set off. If we delay any longer, who knows what variables might arise!"

Incense Master Xu knew that the Red Lantern Society had been through a busy period recently, though he wasn’t sure what it was all about. However, he had kept the matter he’d discussed with Hu Ma firmly in mind. He quickly piled the already prepared contracts and documents onto the table. "When can you depart?"

So there’s really a chance to go to the blood food mine? Looking at the stack of contracts, Hu Ma felt a surge of excitement. He had been discussing this with Incense Master Xu, back and forth, since last year and had been worried something might go wrong. Unexpectedly, Incense Master Xu had handled things so smoothly. Hu Ma quickly said, "I can head over within the next two days."

"However..." Before accepting the contracts, he still asked Incense Master Xu seriously, "Uncle Xu, as you know, a newly acquired blood food mine like this will have many internal and external matters to handle. I’ll need to appease everyone and make arrangements all around. I’m inexperienced, so it will take me some time to adapt. Therefore, the Blood Food quota to be handed over to the Society from the mine next year... it might not be enough, will it?"

"What do you take our Red Lantern Society for?" Incense Master Xu, upon hearing this, immediately bristled with anger. He glared at Hu Ma and said, "Do you think we’re that inconsiderate of our subordinates? The Society entrusting this blood food mine to you means they trust you. Why would they nitpick over such things? Even an Emperor doesn’t starve his own soldiers!"

"Ah?" Hu Ma, looking at Incense Master Xu’s stern expression, nodded with a grave face. "Understood."

If I hand in even a tiny bit next year, I’ll consider it my loss...

"Before you leave, go visit Old Calculation and arrange a time. You two can head over together." Incense Master Xu continued to instruct, "Managing a blood food mine is different from managing a Manor. You need to take this old Worship with you. You’ve met him before, had drinks together. This old fellow is very experienced, so there shouldn’t be any problems."

"Understood."

Thinking of Calculation, who owed him at least two hundred pounds of Blood Food, Hu Ma felt no pressure at all about bringing him along. He decided to go and see him that very day.

Upon arriving at Calculation’s place, Hu Ma immediately offered a deep bow. "Old sir, from now on, we two will be working closely together..."

"None of that!" Calculation, with a grandiose air, raised a hand to stop Hu Ma’s bow. "Just call me Elder Brother. Our ages may differ, but our seniority doesn’t. I’m a Worship of the Society, and you’re a Hall Cabinet of the Society. On the Lady’s birthday, we both sit at the same table! You’re acting like a junior in front of me now because you’re hoping to get more benefits at the mine later, aren’t you? Let me tell you, this old man isn’t that easy to fool..."