"When the red lantern shines, evil spirits dare not disturb, and all illnesses vanish. When the red lantern shines, people grow strong, horses grow sturdy, and wealth and treasures flow in..."
"Once you join the Red Lantern Society, whether you're a laborer or a shopkeeper, you become a disciple under the Red Lantern Lady. Bow to the red lantern, keep the Red Lantern Lady in your heart, and you'll be free from evil spirits, unafraid of ghosts on night roads, and even drinking won't give you a headache..."
"..."
The young men took turns offering incense, noting their assigned numbers, and then the incense master gave a speech.
Though his words were a mix of formal and informal language, they were simple and easy to understand.
Hu Ma listened carefully and felt that worshipping the Red Lantern Lady was somewhat similar to the old fire pit rituals.
However, he didn't fully grasp the specifics, and the other young men around him were equally confused.
It wasn't until the speech ended and the food was served that they became excited.
Surprisingly, it wasn't just the front tables that had meat and wine, the middle tables had steamed buns, and the back tables had coarse cornbread.
These items were indeed present: only the front tables with red cloth had a bottle of wine, the kind Second Master had brought over earlier.
The tables with green cloth had a basket of white steamed buns, and the tables with white cloth only had a bowl of mixed grain cornbread.
But besides these, every table also had meat dishes—a plump chicken as the main dish, a bowl of "Tai Sui" meat, and several plates of vegetables.
The young men's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets as they stared at the food.
A chaotic scramble ensued, and the meal was lively.
"Fate has now divided us..."
Hu Ma, blending into the crowd, silently thought to himself.
He had been warned earlier by his friend Erguotou that the type of incense one burned upon joining the Red Lantern Society was crucial.
The Red Lantern Lady's organization was vast and powerful.
Although newcomers were all considered laborers, their roles varied greatly.
Those who burned green incense were the most ordinary laborers, tasked with guarding mines, patrolling courtyards, and transporting goods—essentially the lowest rung of the Red Lantern Society.
Those who burned white incense had more chaotic fates.
The clever ones learned accounting, managed ledgers, or prepared medicines, while the less intelligent ones swept floors, ran errands, or filled in gaps.
During busy times, some even had to go down into the mines.
However, most fell into the latter category.
As for those who burned red incense, they were the fewest in number and the most mysterious.
Their treatment was undoubtedly the best.
Not only did they get the finest food at the banquet, but their lives afterward were also different.
Earlier, when they entered the compound, the well-dressed youths and the sturdy, strong ones had taken the best rooms in the main hall.
The youths from Da Yang Village had initially stayed in the east wing, while the ragged youths were directly assigned to the stables.
But now, after burning incense, the ragged youths had taken over the main hall, throwing out the belongings of the others.
In the morning and evening, when the helpers came to deliver food, the ragged youths who had burned red incense were the first to eat, even boldly picking out the best pieces of meat.
The others could only watch.
No one dared to touch the food until the red incense burners had finished, or they would face scolding from the overseers and other helpers.
"Sigh, they not only eat the best and live in the best places, but I've heard they also receive blood offerings regularly..."
All the youths were envious, including Li Wazi from the village, who said wistfully, "If only we had fought for it earlier. With our skills, we might have won!"
Hu Ma heard this and sneered, "It's not too late for you to try now. Go talk to the overseer. They might let you in."
"..."
Li Wazi thought he had angered Hu Ma and cautiously fell silent.
Hu Ma didn't explain further.
He just coldly watched as the ragged youths, now full of pride, enjoyed their special treatment.
Three nights later, Hu Ma was awakened by faint, eerie laughter.
He sat up and saw a faint red glow in the courtyard.
Peering outside, he noticed two blood-red lanterns hanging in the empty yard.
Two overseers held the lanterns, waiting in the courtyard.
The ragged youths who had burned red incense and taken over the main hall stumbled out, barefoot and shirtless, following the overseers in a daze, leaving the compound.
Outside, red incense disciples from other compounds had also gathered.
They followed the red lanterns held by the overseers, moving like zombies through the streets.
The scene was silent but chilling, sending shivers down Hu Ma's spine.
He sighed softly, recalling Erguotou's earlier warning.
"Logically, we've all lived two lives and shouldn't be so impulsive, but I must remind you," Erguotou had said with a mysterious tone, "The Red Lantern Society values red incense above all. Even a shopkeeper who burns three sticks of incense must treat a red incense disciple with respect and not put on airs."
"It's not just because they fight for the society, but because they quickly learn dark arts—summoning spirits and controlling ghosts, with methods hard to defend against. But brother..."
"...this is not the right path."
"From the moment they burn red incense, their lives are no longer their own."
"Every year, the Red Lantern Society buys parentless, desperate children from slave traders and beggar gangs, promising them good food, warm beds, and thick quilts, all to make them burn red incense and worship the Red Lantern Lady. Seventy percent of the society's business relies on them..."
"..."
"..."
"Indeed, under the Red Lantern Altar, the three types of incense determine different fates..."
Hu Ma had already understood.
Those who burned red incense had a special status.
They were the true disciples of the Red Lantern Lady.
The others were merely laborers.
But these disciples became "human candles"—burning their lives to summon spirits and nurture ghosts, destined to die exhausted and abandoned in the wilderness.
From the moment they fought for red incense, it was clear that the well-dressed youths and the privileged second-generation members didn't all compete.
Even those who wanted to didn't fight as fiercely as the ragged youths, who might not have won otherwise.
This was a matter of life and death, but even Second Master hadn't warned him, showing that Second Master was unaware.
The youths, eager to stand out after worshipping the Red Lantern Lady, didn't realize that fighting for red incense was fighting for a death sentence.
The next morning, when the red incense disciples were gone, the other youths were puzzled.
Some wanted to reclaim the main hall, but Hu Ma knew it was pointless.
He simply waited for their own assignments.
They had come to the city to worship the Red Lantern Lady, and perhaps to select red incense disciples from among them.
But most would have to leave.
The Red Lantern Society didn't need to keep so many people in the city.
Now that the red incense disciples were settled, it was time for the green incense laborers to pursue their own futures.
"How have you been these past few days?"
After two quiet days in the compound, the mustached overseer who had accepted Second Master's three green Tai Sui arrived.
Hu Ma responded respectfully.
The mustached overseer asked Hu Ma a few friendly questions about what incense he had burned and the situation of the others who had come with him.
Upon learning they had all burned green incense, he smiled and said, "You're lucky. If you had burned red incense, I wouldn't have said anything. If you had burned white incense, I couldn't have helped you—it would have been up to fate. But since you all burned green incense, I should ask."
"Now that you've joined the Red Lantern Society, do you want to earn some money and return to the village to marry, or do you want to learn some skills?"
"..."
Hu Ma quickly replied, "Marriage is important, but before we left, our elders told us to learn as much as we can."
"You're a sensible lad. No wonder your elders sent me such good gifts."
The mustached overseer smiled.
"I won't take your gifts for nothing. Since you want to learn skills, I'll arrange a good place for you. At Qingyan Village, a new branch was set up last year and needs laborers. If you want to climb higher and learn some skills, that's the place for you."
"Of course, I'm just sending you there. Whether you succeed depends on the old shopkeeper!"
"..."
Hu Ma quickly agreed, "Thank you, thank you."
Two days later, the overseer, now dressed in a green robe, came to their door.
"It's time. Pack your bedding. After lunch, we'll set off."
"What?"
The group from Da Yang Village and the others who had been called were stunned.
After burning incense, they had stayed here for a few days, with meals delivered daily, living leisurely.
Some had even thought they were in the city to enjoy life.
Now they were suddenly being sent away?
Though disheartened, the seven or eight laborers who had been called quickly packed their bedding and waited.
For lunch, they were served white steamed buns and dishes with large chunks of fatty meat.
After eating their fill, they followed the overseer out.
The overseer rode a large green mule, but Hu Ma and the others from Da Yang Village, along with four or five other green incense laborers, had to carry their bedding and walk.
They left the city through the west gate and headed south, passing through villages and hamlets for several hours.
As night approached, they arrived at a town with about a hundred households.
A few narrow shops lined the desolate mountain road, leading into the dark, ominous Old Yin Mountain.
Their destination was clear—a large compound at the edge of the town, with white walls and green tiles, and a striking red lantern hanging at the entrance.
Surprisingly, there were traces of incense and offerings at the door.
Who would burn incense at the entrance of a house? Wasn't that like treating the people inside as dead?
The laborers, having just experienced the city's excitement, now found themselves in this remote, desolate town, feeling a sense of落差.
"This overseer really delivers after taking bribes..."
Hu Ma thought silently.
The mustached overseer hadn't been lying.
Erguotou had already explained the ways of the Red Lantern Society to him.
The more remote the place, the fewer the dark arts...
Of course, for Hu Ma, learning the skills of a Shou Sui Ren was most important.
But that would depend on the specific circumstances.
(End of Chapter)