The shopkeeper was sitting in the courtyard, smoking with a gloomy expression.
Suddenly, he saw Hu Ma entering and was momentarily stunned before abruptly standing up.
His face, which had been clouded with worry, now lit up with joy, as if the dark clouds in the sky had suddenly dispersed.
"Good, good, good..."
He quickly got up and approached Hu Ma, glancing around before speaking with urgency, "I was just worrying about something important, afraid that you wouldn't be able to keep up. But now, it seems you've succeeded."
"How much progress have you made?"
"..."
"I can exert some force now, though it still feels a bit stiff. It's not fully refined yet."
Hu Ma responded one by one, twisting his toes slightly, causing a crack to appear in a green brick in the courtyard.
"Very good, very good..."
The shopkeeper couldn't hide his joy upon seeing this.
Even the girl inside the house turned her gaze towards them, and one could sense a hint of happiness in her eyes.
The shopkeeper asked a few more questions, and Hu Ma answered each one without revealing too much.
The shopkeeper kept nodding in approval, smiling, "You've really put in a lot of effort. It wasn't in vain that I taught you this method."
"Your talent is also remarkable. I've taught three disciples before, but none of them progressed as well as you."
"Heh, if it weren't for these matters weighing on me, I might have even considered taking you as my final disciple."
"..."
The way he praised Hu Ma didn't seem insincere.
Of course, the three disciples he had taken before weren't taught with such care, nor were they provided with so much blood nourishment.
"I really have put in a lot of effort..."
Hu Ma thought to himself, "Every day, I ponder how to hide my true level..."
With ample blood nourishment and the illumination of his life idol, Hu Ma had already refined both his hands and legs.
What he showed the shopkeeper was deliberately slowed progress with his right leg, while his left leg had long been fully refined.
But he couldn't reveal this.
Every day, Hu Ma planned how much progress he should show under normal circumstances.
Now, with his right leg halfway refined, it was just the right amount.
"I was truly worried that you wouldn't succeed."
The old shopkeeper sighed, motioning for Hu Ma to sit down and calling for the old servant to bring tea.
He said to Hu Ma, "But you haven't disappointed me with the blood nourishment I provided. Now that you've reached this stage, I can finally share my secret technique with you..."
"Once you learn it, I can assign you that task."
"..."
Hu Ma was curious, "Secret technique?"
Shopkeeper Wu nodded solemnly, "In our path as Shousui practitioners, ascending the steps and entering the mansion, each has their own unique skills."
"Of course, it's not just us. Other paths also have their own ways of ascending the steps and entering the mansion, though the methods differ."
"Simply put, once you grasp the method of seeking life from death, whether it's refining a hand, a leg, or those tricky techniques like refining an eye or an ear, you've entered the path. In our line of work, this is called 'ascending the steps.'"
"When you refine all four limbs, you've ascended to the second step. If your talent is deep enough and you refine your internal organs and five temples, then you've ascended to the third step."
"At this stage, within our Shousui path, you're considered quite skilled."
"As for refining the mind and soul, that's more difficult. But once you succeed, it's not just ascending the steps—it's entering the mansion."
"Of course, that's not something we can easily aspire to. I've been refining for thirty years and only reached the third step. Entering the mansion is still beyond my reach."
"..."
"Sounds like levels?"
Hu Ma couldn't help but think, "If other paths also have this system, then..."
"What level has Grandma reached?"
"..."
As he pondered, the old shopkeeper looked at Hu Ma seriously and said, "In our Shousui path, while the methods of ascending the steps and entering the mansion are the same, how one uses their skills to ward off evil varies based on personal experience and understanding. These unique techniques are called 'secret skills.'"
"Aside from the Shousui methods, I also have a secret skill passed down from my master."
"The reason I wanted you to quickly refine a hand and a leg is that this is the minimum requirement to learn this secret skill."
"This secret skill is called 'Four Ghosts Paying Respect at the Door.'"
"..."
"An unexpected gain?"
Hu Ma was genuinely surprised and quickly stood up, bowing to the shopkeeper, "Thank you, shopkeeper."
"Don't thank me."
Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand, sighing, "Because the time when I need you has also arrived."
"Teaching you this secret skill is to increase your chances of success. Of course, time is tight, and I don't know how much you'll be able to learn."
"..."
"It's here?"
Hu Ma was deeply surprised.
He had been sending people to keep an eye out, but there had been no signs of anything unusual.
"Ah, take a look!"
At this point, Shopkeeper Wu sighed, stood up, and entered the main hall.
He brought out a pale yellow envelope with a hole in it, as if it had been nailed somewhere.
The signature was a finely drawn jar with a crude and eerie symbol on it, resembling the character "敕" (command).
Hu Ma glanced at it and saw some hastily written words like, "Dear friend, I know you've been thinking of us. We'll visit in seven days. Prepare some wine and food."
He looked up at Shopkeeper Wu, puzzled.
"Last night, while I was sleeping, a flying dagger nailed this to my table."
Shopkeeper Wu slowly shook his head, "These scoundrels have been gone for a year, and their skills have grown."
"A letter left in the dead of night?"
Hu Ma was indeed shocked.
Last night had been peaceful, and neither he nor the outer courtyard workers had noticed anything.
Even the old shopkeeper, who lived in the inner courtyard, hadn't noticed?
If they could sneak into the inner courtyard so quietly, nail a letter to the shopkeeper's room, and leave without a trace, then couldn't they also...
"Don't worry."
Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand, "It's not hard for them to deliver a letter quietly, but killing me quietly isn't so easy."
"It's not you I'm worried about..."
Hu Ma thought to himself, "If these people are so skilled, couldn't they just slaughter the workers in the manor?"
"Even me?"
"..."
Of course, he couldn't say that.
He hesitated slightly and asked, "What did they say?"
The shopkeeper sneered, "They said they knew I missed them and would visit in seven days."
"Of course, they also mentioned that they're missing two people and want to settle the debt with me."
"..."
The shopkeeper spoke lightly, as if it wasn't a big deal.
But Hu Ma felt uneasy.
He hadn't been able to track the movements of the Tan'er Sect.
Yet, they had directly issued a challenge?
But this was even stranger.
If their goal was to retrieve the blood nourishment, wouldn't it be better to act quietly?
Why make such a big show of it?
"Heh, that's exactly where they're being cunning..."
The shopkeeper sneered, "I know why they're coming back. At first, they probably thought I didn't know, but after losing two people and not even being able to summon their souls, they must have figured it out."
"They know I'm waiting for them, so they sent this challenge, setting a date. But whether they'll actually come on that day, or when they'll come, is uncertain."
"Maybe they'll come on the appointed day, or maybe they'll act early. Or perhaps they're just trying to keep us on edge, wasting a day or two of our energy before suddenly attacking."
"After all, expecting these lowlifes to keep their word is wishful thinking..."
"..."
"Or maybe it's a test?"
Hu Ma suddenly thought, perhaps they sent the challenge to see if the shopkeeper would report it to the city?
After all, most people would probably seek help from above, but this Shopkeeper Wu was stubbornly incomprehensible.
"You don't need to be afraid."
Shopkeeper Wu looked at Hu Ma, "I've been waiting for them for a year and have prepared for a year. No matter what tricks they play, I don't care. Whenever they come, I'll go and meet them."
"But because of this, there's something important I must entrust to you. From the beginning, I taught you the Shousui skills for this very purpose."
Hu Ma's heart sank slightly as he looked up at the old shopkeeper, "Please, go ahead."
"I've received your teachings, and you're even teaching me a secret skill. No matter what it is, I'll do my best."
"..."
"You're a good one. It's a pity we didn't meet at a better time."
The shopkeeper sighed, waving his hand to indicate that Hu Ma didn't need to continue.
He looked out at the manor.
It was still early, and a large red lantern hung by the gate.
"To put it simply, I need you to guard this lantern for me."
"..."
Seeing the surprise in Hu Ma's eyes, the old shopkeeper explained, "Normally, when enemies come knocking, the first thing they'll do is extinguish our red lantern. This is the obvious sign of victory or defeat, but in the shadows, it's also crucial."
"I plan to face these enemies, and unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to involve the higher-ups. But if I can't handle them, I'll need to call upon the Red Lantern Lady for help..."
"Similarly, the Tan'er Sect will also try to extinguish my lantern, cutting off my retreat."
"So, what I need you to do is, on that day, lead the people here and guard this lantern. Don't open the gate, don't leave the manor. No matter what happens, you must protect this lantern and ensure it doesn't go out. If you can do that, the task is complete."
"..."
"Me, guarding it?"
Hu Ma was greatly surprised, his suspicions rising, though he hid them well.
He instinctively asked, "What about you, shopkeeper?"
"Where I go, you need not ask."
The shopkeeper's expression suddenly turned serious.
He paused, his gaze cold as he looked at Hu Ma, "Just remember what I said before. If you help me with this, you owe me nothing."
Hu Ma was silent for a long moment before slowly saying, "I've already promised you, shopkeeper. I won't go back on my word."
The shopkeeper's expression softened, and he smiled, "In that case, let me tell you about this secret skill of mine."
[Either no extra chapters, or two extra chapters!]
[Thanks to Chu Liu Fu Feng, thanks to Tian Sheng Ai Tao Lun, thanks to Bu Hao Kan Zhi Jie Pao, thanks to Pu Tong Qiao Zhi, and thanks to all the big shots!]
[Words in brackets are free!]
This book has truly received a lot of support from readers.
Thank you all again.
Old Ghost can only strive to write well and not disappoint everyone's kindness...
Alright, I'll continue writing.
I'll have to work overtime, so tomorrow's draft is gone.
(End of Chapter)