Upon hearing these two words, Hu Ma felt an intense discomfort in his heart.
He instinctively wanted to take a closer look but couldn't bear to.
By the faint light in the room, he saw that Wu He's body no longer had any skin.
All that was visible were patches of scars and exposed muscle tissue.
Amidst the scent of herbs, he could detect a foul stench emanating from the festering wounds on her body.
She was the beauty that the workers in the outer courtyard dreamed of, the kind of woman one only dared to imagine in dreams.
Yet, she was a person without skin.
Or rather, she did have skin—it was hanging on the wall behind him, but it was the skin of a dog.
"She was turned into a beast through the Art of Beast Transformation," the old shopkeeper's voice rang out behind Hu Ma, filled with cold anger and deep regret.
"I failed her. Despite my best efforts, I could only remove that dog skin from her. But she can't live without herbal ointments, and she can't leave this room. Every day, she endures the pain of poison burning through her body. If she can't bear it..."
He paused, then said in a low voice, "She can only put on that dog skin and live as a beast in this world."
"Earlier, it was thanks to the Green Jade Ointment you brought that she's been able to feel a bit better these days, at least allowing her to step outside for some fresh air."
"Green Jade Ointment? That small piece of Tai Sui I brought before?" Hu Ma suddenly realized.
When he had brought that piece of Tai Sui, the old shopkeeper had openly asked if he had more.
At the time, Hu Ma had thought the old man was being greedy.
But now he understood how important that small thing was to Wu He.
If it were him, he might have been even more greedy.
For a moment, Hu Ma didn't know what to say.
He slowly stepped out of the side room and looked at the old shopkeeper.
"Who did this?"
"It was the Altar Sect," the old shopkeeper said in a low voice.
"A group of lowlifes who specialize in shady dealings—beast transformation, harvesting organs, exorcising spirits, and dabbling in all sorts of wicked, immoral arts."
"Perhaps you've wondered why this manor only has me, the shopkeeper, and no old workers around? Well, it's because of them. Five lives lost, three crippled, and a large amount of blood tribute—all thanks to them."
Hu Ma's heart stirred slightly.
This was the bloody incident Erguotou had mentioned.
Were those evil spirits summoned by this so-called Altar Sect? He had wanted to understand more but didn't know how to ask.
Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper brought it up himself.
The old shopkeeper sighed deeply.
"After what happened last year, I should have returned to the city. But I begged all my old friends to vouch for me, and I stayed in this manor just to wait for those scoundrels to return. Now, it seems the time is near. Since one has appeared, it means the others are about to return. Our wait hasn't been in vain."
Hu Ma was still unclear about what had happened last year and why the old shopkeeper was so determined to wait.
But he knew he should remain in the dark for now, so he patiently waited.
However, the old shopkeeper didn't elaborate further.
Instead, he suddenly turned to Hu Ma and asked, "How's your training coming along?"
Hu Ma's heart tightened.
He quickly unwrapped the cloth from his left hand and showed it to the old shopkeeper.
"Take a look. When I fought that peddler, I took a hit and blocked it with my left hand. The needle must have been poisoned, but at the time, I stopped my blood flow to prevent the poison from spreading. Now, the wound is almost healed."
"Good," the old shopkeeper said, taking the oil lamp and examining Hu Ma's hand.
There were only a few small needle marks on the back of his hand.
He sighed in relief, put the lamp back, and looked at Hu Ma seriously.
"You have a steady temperament and the ability to make decisions on your own. You're well-suited for the path of a Shou Sui Ren. Your progress is not slow. Once you finish refining your left hand, you can move on to your right leg. When you've mastered both, you'll be able to help me."
Hu Ma's heart stirred.
"So, he wasn't just talking about the Tai Sui ritual next spring. He meant these people?" He quickly replied, "Whenever you need me, just give the order. Not just for the teachings you've passed on, but also..."
He glanced at the side room and paused.
"Just for the sake of stopping those who commit such heinous acts, I won't hesitate."
His words were sincere.
Although reincarnators and the people of this world were different in many ways, there were some things that would always evoke the same righteous anger.
There were certain lines that, as humans, should never be crossed—no matter the time or place.
Acts like beast transformation and organ harvesting were things that, when seen or even heard about, would send shivers down one's spine.
The old shopkeeper seemed slightly taken aback by Hu Ma's words.
A faint sound of water came from the side room, as if Wu He was trembling, accompanied by soft sobs.
After a long silence, the old shopkeeper looked at Hu Ma and sighed softly.
"Since we're on the topic, I might as well be frank with you. I taught you the techniques, but I didn't take you as my disciple because I didn't want to bind you with that title. Even if you called me 'master,' it wouldn't have fostered the kind of loyalty needed to follow me through hell. Besides, to be honest, my first choice for a disciple wasn't you—it was Xu Ji."
He paused, then continued, "It wasn't because he gave more gifts, but because his family had fallen, and he was willing to swear a blood oath to serve me. When those scoundrels return, I could have used him to fight for me. As for you, I also see potential. If you survive, I might pass on a key technique to you before I leave."
Hu Ma was slightly shocked.
It all seemed so bizarre, but when he thought about it, it matched the old shopkeeper's attitude.
"But fate had other plans. Xu Ji was too reckless, and his life was cut short," the old shopkeeper sighed.
"So now, I can only rely on you. If those people don't return, you can just continue learning and working here at the Red Lantern Society. But since they're coming back, you won't be able to avoid getting involved. I could have kept this from you, but since things have come to this, I might as well be clear. I taught you so you could help me deal with them. Are you willing to truly help me this time? If you agree, I'll not only teach you more but also provide you with blood tribute to aid your cultivation."
Hu Ma could feel the weight of the old shopkeeper's gaze as he spoke, as if he already knew Hu Ma couldn't refuse.
After a moment of feigned contemplation, Hu Ma said solemnly, "I stand by my earlier words. Even if you hadn't offered me anything, I wouldn't tolerate those who commit such atrocities. But you know my limits. All I can promise is that I'll do my best with whatever abilities I have."
The old shopkeeper nodded slightly.
"You speak well. The Altar Sect isn't easy to deal with, and your current cultivation isn't enough. But we have no choice—we'll just have to work harder."
As he spoke, he opened a cabinet on the side of the room.
Inside were three layers of oil lamps.
He took one out, placed it on the table, and lit it.
"Take this. Start refining your right leg. Once you've mastered both your hand and leg, you'll have a bit of confidence when facing those scoundrels. From now on, come to the inner courtyard for your meals. You'll need more blood tribute."
"Yes," Hu Ma replied, seeing that the old shopkeeper still hadn't elaborated.
He picked up the oil lamp.
This time, unlike before, his left hand didn't go numb.
Instead, it felt cool, and his right leg felt a slight chill.
He knew this was part of the Shou Sui Ren's techniques.
Each oil lamp corresponded to a part of the body that needed to be refined, and each lamp contained a carefully prepared poison that could kill that specific part of the body.
This was also why the old shopkeeper could only teach one person at a time—not just because of the blood tribute, but because each lamp required precise preparation.
Using one for another person would reduce its effectiveness.
In essence, for a Shou Sui Ren, accurately and completely killing a part of one's own body was a challenge in itself.
Of course, Hu Ma could skip this step, but there was no need to mention that.
With the oil lamp in hand, Hu Ma was ready to leave.
But as he reached the door, he turned back and looked at the side room.
"Sister Wu He, thank you for saving my life today. If you ever need any cosmetics, jewelry, or anything else, just let me know. Oh, and I have a jar of Black Ointment, made by the people in my village. I'll bring it over later. It might help you."
"Th-thank you, Brother Hu Ma," Wu He's voice came after a pause, trembling.
"But please... don't tell anyone else."
"Of course not," Hu Ma assured her and turned to leave.
But the old shopkeeper hesitated and called out, "Wait."
He slowly took out a delicate porcelain bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
"I won't take advantage of you. Since you've agreed to help, we won't hold back. This is something very valuable. Take it and use it to strengthen your body."
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(End of Chapter)