Blood Ganoderma

The evil spirits that crawled out of hell hid among the living...

For a moment, Hu Ma was stunned by the other man's strange words. Ever since he had woken up, he had been stuck with this sinister Old Woman, thinking only of how to evade the Evil Spirits that kept watching him. He knew nothing about anything else.

Yet out of nowhere, thanks to some unknown old brother in a dream, he'd learned that he was apparently an evil spirit now—and, in fact, a kind of Evil Spirit himself?

How could he be an Evil Spirit?

He was obviously still just a college student from a normal world. At most, he'd been transported to another...

...But at that thought, he suddenly froze.

Yes. In his previous life, he clearly remembered that he had died in that explosion. He even vaguely recalled drifting aimlessly for many years, until the sound of that strange incantation drew him in and he landed in this body.

The Old Woman had meant to summon the soul of her little grandson, but had accidentally summoned him instead.

So what, exactly, was he in the Old Woman's eyes?

A terrible truth slowly took shape before him. "So..."

"I'm an Evil Spirit?"

"..."

"..."

"My incense is almost burned out, and that thing's about to find me..."

Just then, the voice of the person "connected" to the other end of the incense grew anxious as well. "Brother, it's an old-timer's duty to teach newcomers the rules of survival, but I really can't spare the time right now."

"I can only tell you this: our situation is extremely dire. Both the Evil Spirits and the people of this world are desperate to kill us."

"Remember, your identity is the most important thing. Never let anyone find out who you are."

"We once had a companion who was only five years old in this world. She accidentally let something slip, and her biological father in this world ground her to pulp with a stone mill. He crushed her soul until not a trace remained."

"People in this world won't hesitate to lay hands on you just because of family ties or anything like that. They'll only think you're an evil spirit who possessed their child, and they'll hate you all the more for it..."

"..."

"You..."

Hu Ma still had countless questions, but he also noticed that the incense seemed to be growing faint, its wisps growing erratic.

"I don't have time to say more. I can only tell you..."

The other man spoke hurriedly, too. "Tai Sui is what matters most."

"I don't know what your situation is like right now, but you must find a way to get Tai Sui Meat. It's the best thing there is. It can save me, and it can help you, too. Green Ganoderma is best; if that's not possible, White Ganoderma will do. Of course, if you can find Blood Ganoderma..."

"...Sigh, that's almost impossible. Unless you've reincarnated into a Noble Family."

"In short, use any means necessary to get your hands on these things."

"..."

Hearing how frantic the other man was, Hu Ma didn't dare interrupt him again. He simply strained to make out the increasingly indistinct voice, committing every word to memory. "Damn, that thing's gotten in..."

"I'm going to use the Seal of Life Technique to seal myself away. Brother, I can hold on for two months at most. If you get the chance to meet anyone else, tell them to go to Fox Coffin Village... beneath the east bridge..."

"There's a... Hundred Corpse Mound..."

"..."

"I'll remember..."

When the voice had grown so weak it was almost inaudible, Hu Ma hurriedly called out.

He hoped his reply might give the other man a little more confidence.

For some reason, even though he had never met this person and they had only exchanged a few words, Hu Ma felt a powerful surge of worry for him.

Silence settled all around him. Every sound had vanished.

Hu Ma saw that the incense stick he had placed in the burner—or rather, the faith incense—was no longer sending up a straight wisp. It had grown scattered and crooked again, swaying this way and that as if blown by an invisible wind, searching all around.

So I'm not the only one who came to this world and is struggling to survive?

"..."

He instinctively took a few deep breaths.

And he tried hard to gather up all the information that man had just given him.

As he thought it through, a growing terror crept over him.

Keeping his identity secret was the most important thing. Otherwise, he would face a fate worse than death...

Then what about the Old Woman?

Uncertainty gnawed at him. Every now and then, the Old Woman's sinister gaze flashed through his mind.

Don't panic. At least the Old Woman hasn't discovered who I am. Otherwise, with her abilities, why would she keep me around? Right now, she just thinks I've been rescued and lost much of my memory!

Feeling nervous, he could only reassure himself again. Besides, if I'm not the only one in this world with the same fate, doesn't that mean I might be able to find others and get some help from them?

He glanced down at the faith incense in the burner. About an inch and a half remained.

But the smoke it gave off was unsteady, drifting about in a hazy, scattered way.

Hu Ma suddenly understood. That old brother seemed to have been calling out continuously for a long time, but I was the only one who answered.

Does that mean there really isn't anyone else nearby?

"..."

Once he understood that, he stopped waiting. He pulled the faith incense out of the burner and set it aside.

Though they'd only had that brief, hurried conversation, he had realized it was a precious resource.

Old Yin Mountain? Fox Coffin Village?

He repeated the place names that old brother had mentioned.

It sounded like the man was in a very dangerous situation, but he seemed to have some way to protect himself—enough to hold out for about two months. His faith incense had already burned out, though, which meant he wouldn't be able to call for help during that time.

So was he the only one who might be able to save the man?

Hu Ma was tempted for a moment, but then he shook his head in frustration.

Who could he save now?

He couldn't even leave the stockade, let alone stray from the Old Woman and Xiao Hong Tang.

Even that Erguotou brother had only told him to take someone there if he happened to meet another companion. If the man had been calling for so long without finding anyone, how could Hu Ma possibly find someone in the short time he'd had?

A shadow seemed to fall over his heart. Hu Ma quietly woke up, only to find his back drenched in cold sweat.

A faint glimmer came through the small window overhead.

It wasn't yet light out, but Hu Ma could already see a little brightness spilling in from beyond the crude wooden door of the side room.

The Old Woman seemed to be up already, tidying something.

Xiao Hong Tang was making a crunching sound as she chewed on something when she suddenly cried out, "Brother Hu Ma's awake..."

Then she went right back to crunching away.

"..."

Hu Ma had wanted to pretend to sleep a little longer and calm himself down, but at her words, he could only slowly feel his way up.

He pinched his cheek, trying to make how he acted in front of the Old Woman his absolute top priority.

He got out of bed slowly and walked to the door. When he pushed it open, the oil lamp on the Eight Immortals table in the main room swayed gently. The Old Woman, who was sitting on a little stool and sorting things, slowly turned to look at him.

Hu Ma had just put on a smile when the Old Woman asked, "You didn't sleep well last night?"

"When Granny covered you with a blanket in the night, you looked awfully tense. You were also muttering some nonsense I couldn't understand."

"Huh?"

Hu Ma's scalp prickled, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

Before he could ask anything, the Old Woman had already looked away. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"That happens when you eat too much Tai Sui Meat. It can cure illness, but it has side effects, too. People have all sorts of strange dreams. Some even go mad..."

"But only this meat can cure you."

"..."

"Mm, I understand."

Drenched in cold sweat, Hu Ma could only give a vague reply. After hesitating briefly, he summoned his courage and crouched beside her to help tidy up.

Now that he understood the connection between Tai Sui Meat and the faith incense, he wasn't so resistant to it anymore.

Quite the opposite. He had just sorted through his thoughts, and now he was a little curious.

He pretended to be nonchalant as he packed the cured meat, brown sugar, dry tobacco, quilts, and other things the Old Woman had set beside her into a bundle. Then, choosing his words carefully, he asked, "Granny, you've kept telling me to eat meat, saying it can suppress Evil Spirits. But what exactly is this meat?"

At his words, the Old Woman turned her gaze toward him, deep and unfathomable.

Xiao Hong Tang, who had been crunching loudly on a chicken foot in the corner, suddenly turned to look at Hu Ma as well.

Hu Ma was tense to the core, but he quietly reasoned with himself.

He had only just come back from the dead, and he couldn't remember things. Wasn't it perfectly reasonable for him to ask a question like this?

He ate this strange meat every day. It would be weirder if he never asked about it.

It felt as though he had waited a long time, though perhaps he was simply so nervous that it seemed that way. Then he heard the Old Woman let out a soft sigh. "Lord Tai Sui suppresses all Evil Spirits."

"You were hurt terribly by those people, so I have to go and beg Lord Tai Sui every day for a little meat to build your strength back up. You're not the only one who eats it. Our stockade's Clan Leader and elders eat Tai Sui Meat to extend their lives, too."

"But they eat White Ganoderma, and they don't dare eat much."

"Green Ganoderma is better than White Ganoderma, but the people in the city have taken it all away."

"..."

Hu Ma's heart stirred. "Then what am I eating?"

The Old Woman slowly rose to her feet. "You were very sick. The ordinary kind wouldn't do, so Granny went out of her way to beg for something just for you."

"It's called Blood Ganoderma!"