"Rare?"
Hu Ma felt her reaction was a little strange, but when she agreed, a surge of joy still rose in his heart. He couldn't afford to fuss over the details.
The woman's bearing and status both hinted at her extraordinary influence. And as a veteran Reincarnator, she was sure to have plenty of ability. Since she'd agreed to help him find the Old Woman, he could at least set his mind somewhat at ease.
Just then, he heard her say, "However, I can't help you directly. We need to create an opportunity."
Hu Ma paused. "Hm?"
She fell silent for a moment, then said flatly, "Has no one taught you that concealing our secrets is the most important thing for us?"
"Unexplained closeness or friendship can make others suspicious. There's no reason for my identity in this world to suddenly make me familiar with a poor boy who grew up in a village like yours. So we need to create an opportunity for ourselves."
"Tomorrow at noon, I'll run into a little danger. When that happens, come rescue me. Then it won't seem strange for us to help you!"
"..."
"We can do that?"
Hu Ma finally understood and nodded. "I see."
"That piece of news you're concerned about..."
"..."
He opened his mouth to tell her, then hesitated. This woman seemed different in temperament from the first Reincarnator he'd met. Since she was so careful to keep things separate, Hu Ma couldn't help wondering whether she might go back on her word after he told her...
"Let's find the person you're looking for first!"
As if sensing his thoughts, she gave a faint laugh. "I still have time."
"Just remember to tell me the answer later—and only in a dream, through this connection. In the real world, don't say anything that might arouse suspicion."
As her voice faded, a wisp of smoke quietly retreated behind the dark red mist. Hu Ma saw that the incense before his altar had returned to its faint, scattered smolder. He still found it all rather unreal.
He silently pondered the information the woman had given him, and how their circumstances differed. Then he let out a slow sigh and drifted off to sleep.
When he woke the next day, it still felt unreal.
"Little Hu Ma, get up. Wipe your face. We need to make good time today."
Second Master had already returned from washing by the stream. He handed Hu Ma a damp piece of coarse cloth and said quietly, "We took a detour yesterday and didn't reach the place the Noble Lord's party was headed. We'll have to hurry today. Once we've finished with their business, we can go look for the Old Woman..."
"...Did Xiao Hong Tang not get a letter today, either?"
"..."
Hu Ma turned to look. Xiao Hong Tang was curled up beside the dead tree where she'd slept, a tiny little bundle. She shook her head.
The Old Woman's situation was probably not good.
After he ate some dried rations softened over the fire, his body felt heavy, too.
He hadn't eaten any Blood Ganoderma for three days, and his limbs were beginning to grow cold. His lower abdomen, on the other hand, burned like a ball of fire, continuously sending warmth outward. But he understood that this meant his furnace fire had begun consuming itself.
As long as the furnace fire lasted, he could still pass for an ordinary person. But once it was all spent, he didn't dare imagine what would happen to him.
Perhaps only finding the Old Woman would let him understand everything.
While wiping his face, he stole a glance at the black sedan chair and felt a trace of curiosity.
Last night's conversation hadn't been a dream. So why hadn't she come out yet?
Once everyone had made their preparations, they continued on their way. The Reincarnator codenamed White Wine was still seated inside the sedan chair, while the others accompanied her on foot.
The bearers changed about once every hour. It wasn't that they lacked stamina; it was just that the Woods were rugged and difficult to traverse. Because they were carrying the sedan chair, they even had to take detours around places where they could otherwise have squeezed through by ducking low.
This inevitably lengthened the journey and slowed their pace.
But Second Master was an experienced guide and wouldn't complain about the Noble Lord's demands. He simply led the way as before.
By noon, after setting out at sunrise, everyone was growing tired. They had gradually entered a part of the Woods where few people ventured. Hu Ma kept a close watch but saw no opportunity.
Then, turning his head by chance, he spotted an old tree nearby, wrapped in vines and mottled with black patches. On its trunk, two or three meters above the ground, the markings faintly resembled a human face.
"A ghost tree?"
Hu Ma's heart stirred as he recognized it.
When trees in the Woods grew old, human faces could appear on their trunks. Once a face appeared, the tree had gained a spirit, and the whole surrounding forest turned uncanny. People could easily lose their way or even vanish without a trace.
If Second Master had seen such a ghost tree near the village, he would certainly have chopped it down. But deep in the forest, no one bothered with them. Some grew not only human faces, but even cultivated a measure of power.
In theory, since it was daytime, this old tree shouldn't cause trouble.
But Second Master had said earlier that Yin Qi was heavy in the forest, and these spirits and monsters often came out before dusk.
Of course, with Second Master's strong Yang energy, evil spirits shouldn't approach him. But who knew how many dangerous things lurked in Old Yin Mountain?
Hu Ma immediately grew alert. He had noticed the old tree, so why hadn't Second Master, who was walking ahead, or the two bearers carrying the sedan chair? They'd walked right past the strange tree without even glancing at it.
As he wondered about it, a slanting branch beside the old tree silently reached toward the sedan chair.
Hu Ma's heart gave a jolt. He knew the moment had come and cried, "Look out!"
He lunged forward, right fist clenched, and swung hard.
It was the first move in the Mountain Splitting Fist Second Master had taught him.
As Hu Ma struck, he drew on the fire in his furnace, driving all his weight behind the punch. His tightly clenched fist crossed three or four meters and smashed into the slanting branch.
The force of his blow even lifted the sedan chair's curtain, which had been drooping down.
From the corner of his eye, Hu Ma glimpsed a jade-green earring and a pale, delicate profile inside the sedan chair, along with some furry thing that flashed past.
Crack!
The branch, as thick as a fist, had silently reached into the sedan chair. Hu Ma's punch broke it clean in two.
One piece fell to the ground, twisted a couple of times, then lay still.
The other end suddenly recoiled. Like a giant gray python, it darted back into the Woods and vanished in an instant.
"Protect the young lady!"
The commotion startled everyone around them.
Old Shopkeeper nearly lost his wits. He shouted as he flipped up the front of his robe and leaped to the side of the sedan chair.
He even put himself between Hu Ma and the sedan chair.
The other attendants sprang to attention as well, drawing their knives in a flash and taking up defensive positions.
"I'm fine."
The sedan chair was quiet. After a moment, a woman's voice sounded from within, calm and faint. "It's only an old tree that's grown a little power."
"Yes, yes..."
Old Shopkeeper was drenched in cold sweat and hurriedly agreed.
But inwardly, he blamed himself. Had he grown so weary from rushing that he'd overlooked the dangers of the forest?
The person in the sedan chair probably couldn't have been harmed, but this kind of negligence was a serious failure on his part...
As he thought this, he suddenly turned and drove a black nail into the old tree beside them.
The tree shuddered, and its leaves rustled down.
But Shopkeeper didn't look back at it again. Instead, he gave Hu Ma a strange look.
He hadn't noticed it. The experienced old guide hadn't noticed it. Nor had the loyal guards surrounding them. Who would've thought that this boy had spotted it?
Still, it had been a close call. The boy had meant well, but he was reckless. If he'd lifted the sedan chair's curtain and offended the person inside, it could've caused trouble.
"This child meant well."
As he was thinking, the person in the sedan chair said mildly, "Shopkeeper, give him five taels of silver."
"Yes, yes."
Shopkeeper agreed at once, then turned to Hu Ma. The scrutiny had vanished from his face, replaced by a smile.
"You silly boy, you're in luck. Aren't you going to thank the young lady for her reward?"
"..."
He reached for the silver, but by then Hu Ma had already collected himself. He hurriedly waved his hands. "I don't want the silver."
"Huh?"
Second Master, not far away, was dumbfounded. "Why not?"
He'd been guiding them for days, and he doubted he'd even earn a few taels in reward...
"Hmm?"
Shopkeeper looked at Hu Ma with amused curiosity. "What, five taels isn't enough for you?"
If they were putting on a show, he could play his part.
Hu Ma hurriedly put on a bewildered expression and said softly, "I don't want the silver. I'd like to ask the young la... lady for a favor."
He knew the young lady was a fellow countryman deep down, so calling her "young lady" felt a little awkward.
But calling her "big sister" wouldn't be a problem.
The moment he heard this, Old Shopkeeper's face fell. Even Second Master's heart lurched. Little Hu Ma was being far too reckless.
The Noble Lord had offered him a reward, so he should've accepted it. But instead of taking the money, he wanted to ask her for help. How could a Noble Lord from the city be so easy to talk to? If he offended her, he might get a dirty look at best. If she had a bad temper, she might come over and slap him a few times.
"You..."
Shopkeeper's expression changed; he was about to curse him out. But then the voice from inside the sedan chair spoke calmly:
"I have matters to attend to, so I can't help you much."
"But since I said I'd reward you, I can't go back on my word. Tell me what you want."
"..."
Old Shopkeeper and the others put their expressions away and nodded along.
Second Master, meanwhile, was stunned. "Little Hu Ma must be a lucky fool. He actually won the Noble Lord's favor just like that?"
Before you continue