"Rare?"
Hu Ma felt her reaction was a bit strange, but since she agreed, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy, brushing aside the odd details.
This woman's demeanor and status clearly indicated she was no ordinary person.
Plus, as a seasoned reincarnator, her skills were undoubtedly vast.
Since she agreed to help him find his grandmother, he could finally set his mind at ease, at least partially.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard her say, "However, I can't help you directly. We need to create an opportunity."
Hu Ma was slightly taken aback.
"Huh?"
She paused for a moment before speaking calmly, "Has no one ever taught you that the most important thing for us is to conceal our secrets?"
"Sudden closeness and friendship can easily arouse suspicion. In this world, there's no reason for someone of my status to suddenly become familiar with a poor boy like you who grew up in a village. So, we need to create a chance encounter."
"Tomorrow at noon, I'll be in a bit of danger. When that happens, come and save me. That way, it won't seem strange for us to help you afterward."
"..."
"Can it really work like that?"
Hu Ma finally understood and nodded.
"I see."
"The news you're concerned about..."
"..."
He was about to speak but hesitated.
This woman's aura seemed different from the first reincarnator he had met.
Since she was so meticulous, Hu Ma worried that if he revealed too much, she might go back on her word.
"Let's find your grandmother first, then we'll talk."
She seemed to sense Hu Ma's hesitation and chuckled lightly.
"I have time."
"Just remember, tell me the answer later, and only in our dream connection. In reality, don't say anything that might arouse suspicion."
As her voice faded, a wisp of smoke quietly retreated into the dark red mist.
Hu Ma noticed the incense stick on his altar had returned to its normal, faintly burning state.
He felt a bit surreal.
He silently pondered the information she had given him and his own situation before sighing deeply and falling asleep.
When he woke up the next day, he still felt a sense of unreality.
"Little Hu Ma, get up quickly. Wash your face. We need to hurry today."
Second Uncle had already returned from washing his face by the stream and handed Hu Ma a damp cloth.
He whispered, "We took a detour yesterday and didn't reach the place the nobles wanted to go. Today, we need to hurry. Once we finish their business, we can look for your grandmother..."
"... Did Little Red Tang receive any letters today?"
"..."
Hu Ma glanced over and saw Little Red Tang curled up next to the dry log where he had slept, shaking her tiny head.
His grandmother's situation didn't seem promising.
After eating some softened dried rations, Hu Ma felt heavy.
It had been three days since he last consumed the Blood Tai Sui.
His limbs were starting to feel cold, but his lower abdomen was burning hot, continuously radiating heat.
He knew this meant his internal furnace fire was being consumed.
As long as the furnace fire lasted, he could appear normal.
But once it was exhausted, he didn't dare imagine what would happen.
Perhaps only by finding his grandmother could he fully understand.
However, while washing his face, he stole a glance at the black sedan chair, feeling a bit curious.
Last night's conversation couldn't have been a dream.
Why hadn't she come out yet?
The group packed up and continued their journey.
The reincarnator, codenamed White Wine, remained in the sedan chair, while the others followed alongside.
The sedan bearers rotated every hour.
It wasn't that they lacked stamina, but the forest terrain was rugged and difficult to navigate.
Carrying the sedan chair meant they had to take detours around places they could otherwise easily pass through.
This naturally extended the journey and slowed their pace.
But Second Uncle, being an experienced guide, didn't mind the nobles' demands.
He simply led the way diligently.
From sunrise to noon, the group grew weary.
They had ventured deep into the forest, where few people tread.
Hu Ma kept an eye out but saw no opportunities.
Then, by chance, he turned his head and noticed an old tree covered in vines, its bark marked with black patterns.
About two or three meters above the ground, the patterns vaguely resembled a human face.
"Ghost Tree?"
Hu Ma's heart stirred as he recognized it.
In the forest, old trees that had lived for centuries often developed human-like faces.
Once a face appeared, the tree gained a spiritual aura, and the surrounding forest became eerie, causing people to lose their way or even vanish mysteriously.
If such a tree appeared near the village, Second Uncle would have it cut down.
But deep in the forest, no one paid attention to them.
Some trees not only developed faces but also gained supernatural powers.
Normally, during the day, such a tree wouldn't cause trouble.
But Second Uncle had mentioned earlier that the forest's yin energy was strong, and these spirits often emerged before dusk.
Of course, Second Uncle's yang energy was robust, so spirits shouldn't approach him.
But in this deep, dark mountain, who knew how many powerful entities lurked?
Hu Ma immediately became alert.
If he had noticed the tree, why hadn't Second Uncle or the sedan bearers, who were walking ahead, paid any attention to the eerie old tree right beside them?
As he pondered, a branch from the old tree silently extended toward the sedan chair.
Hu Ma was startled, realizing the opportunity had arrived.
He quickly called out, "Be careful!"
With that, he stepped forward, his right fist clenched, and delivered a powerful punch.
This was the first move Second Uncle had taught him—the Mountain-Splitting Fist.
As Hu Ma struck, he channeled the fire energy from his furnace, making the punch heavy and forceful.
His fist crossed three to four meters in an instant, landing squarely on the branch.
The force of the punch was so strong that it even lifted the sedan curtain slightly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hu Ma caught a glimpse of a green earring, a fair cheek, and something furry inside the sedan chair.
"Snap!"
The branch, as thick as a fist, was instantly severed by Hu Ma's punch.
One end fell to the ground, twitching slightly before going still.
The other end suddenly retracted like a gray python, disappearing into the forest.
"Protect the lady!"
The commotion startled everyone.
The old manager nearly lost his composure, shouting as he leaped to the sedan chair's side.
Even Hu Ma was pushed aside, standing outside the sedan.
The other servants quickly drew their knives, ready for action.
"It's fine."
A calm female voice came from inside the sedan.
After a moment, she added, "Just an old tree that's gained some power."
"Yes, yes..."
The manager wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding repeatedly.
But inwardly, he scolded himself for being so careless.
How could he have missed the danger in the forest?
Although the person in the sedan chair shouldn't have been harmed, his oversight was a grave mistake.
As he thought this, he suddenly turned and drove a black nail into the old tree.
The tree shuddered, its leaves falling like rain.
But the manager didn't look back.
Instead, he gave Hu Ma a strange look.
He hadn't noticed the tree, nor had the old guide or the loyal guards.
Yet, this boy had.
Still, it was a close call.
The boy meant well, but his recklessness could have caused trouble if he had lifted the sedan curtain and disturbed the person inside.
"This child has a good heart."
As the manager pondered, the voice from the sedan chair spoke again, "Manager, give him five taels of silver."
"Yes, yes."
The manager quickly agreed, then turned to Hu Ma with a smile, his earlier scrutiny gone.
"Lucky boy, thank the lady for her reward."
"..."
He reached for the silver, but Hu Ma quickly waved his hands.
"I don't want the silver."
"Huh?"
Second Uncle, not far away, was stunned.
"Why not?"
He had been guiding them for days and hadn't even earned a few taels of silver...
"Oh?"
The manager looked at Hu Ma curiously, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"What, five taels isn't enough?"
Hu Ma quickly put on a confused expression and whispered, "I don't want the silver. I want to ask the lady... sister for a favor."
Knowing the lady was actually a fellow reincarnator, calling her "lady" felt awkward.
Calling her "sister" wasn't a big deal.
But upon hearing his words, the manager's face darkened, and Second Uncle's heart skipped a beat.
This little Hu Ma was being too reckless.
When a noble offers you silver, you take it.
But to refuse the silver and ask for a favor instead? City nobles weren't so easy to deal with.
A wrong word could earn you a scornful look, or worse, a slap.
"You..."
The manager's expression changed, ready to scold Hu Ma, but the voice from the sedan chair spoke again.
"I have matters to attend to and can't help you much."
"But since I promised a reward, I can't go back on my word. Tell me what you need."
"..."
The manager and the others quickly composed themselves, nodding in agreement.
Second Uncle, however, was dumbfounded.
"This little Hu Ma has the luck of a fool. He actually got the noble's favor just like that?"
(End of Chapter)