Hero "Saves" Beauty

"Rare?"

Hu Ma felt her reaction was a bit strange, but seeing that she agreed, his heart was filled with surprise, and he didn't bother with the details.

This woman's demeanor and identity all indicated that she was extraordinary. Furthermore, she was an established Reincarnator, so she must have considerable skills. Since she agreed to help him find his grandmother, he could finally put his mind at ease.

As he was thinking, he heard her speak again: "However, I can't help you directly. We need to create an opportunity."

Hu Ma was slightly stunned. "Hmm?"

The other party was silent for a moment, then said faintly, "Has no one ever taught you that the most important thing for us is to conceal our secrets?"

"Unexplained closeness and friendships can arouse suspicion. My identity in this world doesn't make sense for me to suddenly become familiar with a poor boy like you who grew up in a village. Therefore, we need to create an opportunity for ourselves."

"Tomorrow at noon, I will encounter some danger. At that time, you come and save me. That way, it won't be strange for me to help you!"

"..."

"It can be like this?"

Hu Ma finally understood and nodded, saying, "I understand."

"The news you care about..."

"..."

He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated again. This woman's temperament seemed different from the first Reincarnator he had met. Since she was being so clear about things, Hu Ma worried that if he spoke, she might go back on her word...

"Let's find your grandmother first!"

As if sensing Hu Ma's thoughts, the other party smiled faintly and said, "I still have time."

"Just remember to tell me the answer when you get it, and only in dreams. With this connection, do not say anything suspicious in reality."

As her voice faded, a wisp of smoke quietly retreated behind the dark red mist. Hu Ma saw that the incense on his altar had returned to its normal, lightly burning state. He felt a sense of wonder.

He silently pondered the information the woman had given him and his own different situation before sighing and drifting off to sleep.

When he woke up the next day, he still felt a sense of unreality.

"Little Hu Ma, hurry up and get up, wash your face. We need to travel fast today."

Second Master had returned from washing his face by the stream and handed Hu Ma a damp, coarse cloth. He whispered, "We took a detour yesterday and couldn't reach the place the noble guests wanted to go. We have to hurry today. After we finish their business, we can go look for Grandmother..."

"...Xiao Hong Tang didn't receive any letters today either?"

"..."

Hu Ma turned to look. Xiao Hong Tang was curled up next to the deadwood where he slept, a small ball. He shook his head.

His grandmother's situation was likely not optimistic.

After eating the softened dried rations, his body felt heavy.

He hadn't eaten Blood Ganoderma for three days, and his limbs were starting to feel cold. However, his lower abdomen was burning hot, continuously transferring heat to his surroundings. But he knew that this was actually his inner furnace starting to consume itself.

As long as the inner furnace remained, he could still be like a normal person. But once the inner furnace was completely consumed, he dared not imagine what would happen to him.

Perhaps only by finding his grandmother could he fully understand.

However, while wiping his face, he stole a glance at the black sedan chair and felt a slight curiosity.

The conversation last night should not have been fake. Why hadn't she come out yet?

The group tidied up and continued their journey. The Reincarnator codenamed White Wine still sat in the sedan chair, while the others followed alongside.

The sedan bearers were rotated approximately every two hours. It wasn't that these bearers had poor stamina, but rather that the terrain in the forest was rugged and difficult. Moreover, because they were carrying the sedan chair, they had to detour around places that could have been easily passed by simply crouching down.

This, of course, invisibly extended the road and slowed down their speed.

But Second Master was an experienced guide, so he naturally wouldn't complain about the noble guests' demands. He simply led the way honestly.

From sunrise until noon, the group was somewhat tired. They had gradually entered a sparsely populated area of the forest. Hu Ma had been paying attention but hadn't found any opportunities.

Until, by chance, he turned his head and saw a cluster of black spots growing on an old tree entwined with vines not far away. Especially about two to three meters above the ground, the spots vaguely resembled a human face.

"Ghost Wood?"

Hu Ma's heart stirred as he recognized it.

When old trees in the forest grew old, they would often develop human-like faces on their trunks. Once a face appeared, the old tree would gain sentience, and the surrounding forest would become sinister, making it easy for people to get lost or even disappear inexplicably.

If such Ghost Wood were seen near the village, Second Master would definitely chop it down. But here in the deep forest, no one paid any attention. Often, some trees not only grew faces but also developed cultivation.

Logically, it was daytime, and this old tree should not be causing trouble.

But Second Master had said earlier that the forest had heavy Yin energy, and these Spirits and Monsters often came out before dusk.

Of course, Second Master had heavy Yang energy, so Evil Spirits shouldn't approach him. But who knew how many powerful ones there were in Old Yin Mountain?

Hu Ma immediately became vigilant. He himself had noticed this old tree, so why were Second Master, who was walking ahead, and the two sedan bearers, just walking with their heads down, completely oblivious to this strange old tree right beside them as they passed?

As he was pondering, a diagonally growing branch next to the old tree quietly reached towards the inside of the sedan chair.

Hu Ma was startled, knowing that the time had come. He immediately let out a low cry, "Be careful."

Saying this, he took a step forward and quickly moved, forming a fist with his right hand and punching forward heavily.

This was the first move, Mountain Splitting Fist, from the Skills taught to him by Second Master.

As Hu Ma made his move, he stirred the fire within the furnace, imbuing his punch with immense power. His clenched fists traveled three to four meters, striking the slanted tree branch in an instant.

The wind from his punch was so fierce it even lifted the fallen sedan curtain slightly.

Hu Ma's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a jade-green earring, a fair-skinned profile, and something fluffy flashing past inside the sedan.

"Crack!"

The tree branch, which had quietly extended into the sedan, thick as a fist, was shattered into two pieces by Hu Ma's punch.

One piece fell to the ground, twitched, and lay still.

The other end suddenly retracted, like a giant gray python, vanishing into the woods in the blink of an eye.

"Protect the young lady!"

This commotion startled everyone around.

The old shopkeeper nearly lost his soul. He shouted, lifted the front of his robe, and leaped instantly to the sedan's side.

He even blocked Hu Ma from the sedan.

A group of shop assistants also became alert, drawing their knives with a swish and standing ready.

"I'm fine."

Inside the sedan, it was quiet for a moment before a faint female voice replied, "Just an old tree that's gained some sentience."

"Yes, yes..."

The old shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat, repeatedly agreeing.

He secretly blamed himself, wondering if he had become weary from the journey and overlooked the dangers of the forest.

Although the person inside the sedan shouldn't have been harmed, this oversight was a grave mistake on his part...

As he thought, he suddenly turned and drove a black nail into a nearby old tree.

The old tree immediately trembled, its leaves rustling down.

But the shopkeeper didn't look back. Instead, he glanced at Hu Ma with a strange expression.

He hadn't noticed, the old guide hadn't noticed, and the loyal guards around hadn't noticed. He hadn't expected this kid to be the one to notice.

Still, it was incredibly risky. Although the kid meant well, he was so rash. If he had lifted the sedan curtain and offended the person inside, it would have been a huge problem.

"This child is kind-hearted."

As he pondered, the person inside the sedan said faintly, "Shopkeeper, give him five taels of silver!"

"Yes, yes."

The shopkeeper agreed repeatedly and looked at Hu Ma, the scrutinizing look on his face long gone. He smiled, "Silly boy, you're lucky. Aren't you going to thank the young lady for her reward?"

"..."

As he reached for the silver, Hu Ma, who had just reacted, waved his hand, saying, "I don't want the money."

"Huh?"

Second Master, not far away, was stunned. "Why don't you want it?"

He had been guiding them for days, and the reward he received wasn't even a few taels...

"Hmm?"

The shopkeeper also looked at Hu Ma curiously, a half-smile on his face. "What, five taels isn't enough?"

He could play along, couldn't he?

Hu Ma pretended to be bewildered and said softly, "I don't want money. I want to ask the young lady... Sister for a favor."

He knew this young lady was from his hometown deep down, so calling her "young lady" felt a bit awkward.

Calling her "young lady sister" was fine.

But upon hearing his words, the old shopkeeper's face immediately fell. Even Second Master's heart skipped a beat: this little Hu Ma was being too reckless.

If they offered you a reward, you should accept it. But he refused the money and asked for a favor. These noble guests from the city weren't so easy to deal with. If they offended them, they might get a cold stare, or worse, a slap or two if the person had a bad temper.

"You..."

The shopkeeper's expression changed, and he was about to scold Hu Ma, but unexpectedly, the voice from inside the sedan rang out faintly:

"I'm busy and can't help you much."

"However, since I said I'd reward you, I can't go back on my word. Tell me what it is!"

"..."

The old shopkeeper and the others around listened and put away their expressions, nodding in agreement.

Second Master nearby was dumbfounded. "This silly Hu Ma is lucky to have such good fortune, actually receiving the attention of a noble person like this?"