Twilight Boundary-Chapter 512 - 504: The Non-Greedy Little Ghost

"Huh?"

Er Guotou was clearly taken aback by Hu Ma’s question. "Why ask such a strange question?"

"If you’re asking about the wealth-moving dharma method, there are plenty, like Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth, Gold Stealing Jade, stealing the beam and replacing the pillar, all sorts of tricks. But once Blood Food is involved, many methods become useless..." He was indeed worthy of being a great walking ghost who had achieved Entering the Mansion. After hearing Hu Ma’s words, he immediately spoke confidently, "Take stealing the beam and replacing the pillar, for instance; other things can be easily swapped, but with Blood Food, even if you use the magic ten times, you can’t swap it out."

"Sometimes, not only does the Skill fail, but you also suffer backlash!"

"Then there’s the Wall-penetrating Skill. If you learn this method, shouldn’t it be as easy as pie to pass through walls and take things out?"

"But not with Blood Food. You can get in but can’t take the Blood Food out. Of course, there’s one way: enter through the wall, eat to your fill, and then come out. In theory, it’s possible, but how much can you eat in total?"

"Anyway, in all my years in this world, the only successful case I’ve heard of was from a master from the Trick Door who once transported Blood Food harvested by a Blood Food Gang."

"But here’s the issue: when someone from the Trick Door uses their magic, how do you know if it’s real or fake? The Path of the Trick Door likely involved bribing the guards to smuggle it out, then tricking you into believing it was magic."

"They’ve often done such shameless things; their trump cards are nine fake, one real. You’ll never know what’s true and what’s false."

Listening to his lament, Hu Ma sighed along with him and then carefully probed, "Is there really no Method at all?"

"If there were a Method, would our Blood Food Gang’s business be so lucrative?"

Hearing this, Er Guotou chuckled. "Anyway, if you ask me, if you want to get a batch of Blood Food, there’s only one way: rely on true skill, charge in openly, and take it back!"

Following his words, Hu Ma paused, as if pondering, then said, "But what if we can find a little ghost that doesn’t crave Blood Food?"

"I see many little ghosts—some are soul born, grave born, resentful born, and victim born. Some are more spiritual; some are duller. Among so many little ghosts, can’t we find one that can transport Blood Food?"

"Brother, you’re thinking too simply..." Hearing this, Er Guotou gave a wry smile. "I’m a walking ghost, and I’ve seen more little ghosts than you. In all my years, I’ve never heard of a little ghost that doesn’t crave Blood Food."

"This goes against a little ghost’s nature. Even the most obedient little ghost, upon smelling Blood Food, can’t resist stuffing it into its mouth. The more they eat, the less they control themselves. Even the most well-behaved little ghost will go berserk..."

"Yeah..." Hu Ma also sighed with him. Inwardly, however, he was certain of this point, and his heart couldn’t help but pound wildly.

A little ghost that doesn’t crave Blood Food indeed seemed like a fantasy, but the key point was... there was one right beside him! Little Hongtang! Although she also had a fixation on Blood Food, drooling at the sight of it, she was undoubtedly more sensible than other little ghosts! Back in Dayang Village, she would deliver meals from Granny to him every day. Directly. No need to pack it in an altar; she’d carry it in a basket. She could smell the Blood Food all the way but could refrain from eating it. If Sister Hong Tang could deliver meals then, perhaps this task of transporting Blood Food now...

"By the way, why did you suddenly think of this question?" Er Guotou was baffled by Hu Ma’s strange questions, trying to probe, "Does it have something to do with that noble in the Old Yin Mountain?"

"You don’t need to worry about that. We are on the same side. Would I trick you?" Hu Ma laughed. "Where are you now?"

"I’m no longer in Mingzhou Prefecture, but I haven’t gone far yet. I just received a letter from the Left Protector." Er Guotou sighed. "Last time, when I learned about those things in Shima Town, Miss White Wine had already left Mingzhou Prefecture. Perhaps she went to Anzhou or maybe to Shangjing. She didn’t tell me."

"I can’t sit idle, so I plan to look for the elder Biluochun I’ve met before, gather some information, and maybe go to Shangqiao. I wanted to settle the Plum Blossom Lane before leaving, but..." As he spoke, he sighed again, feeling upset and unlucky, but with things as they were, he simply said, "But compared to our matters, this Prefecture and land are small. Now that you’re back in Mingzhou Prefecture, I won’t be turning back."

"After all, you’re familiar with that noble and can help me look after the Red Lantern Society. Little Red Lantern is timid, and the Left Protector is just a brute..."

"If I wasn’t looking after them, those two would be counting money after being sold..."

Wow, he was just muttering about not breaking through the cultivation of three incense, and now he’s already heading to Shangqiao?

Hu Ma suddenly felt a deep respect and sighed. "Brother, you handle your matters. Rest assured about things in Mingzhou; we’re all on the same side."

"Besides, our Red Lantern Society is full of hidden talents. How could outsiders bully us?"

With a round of assurances, Er Guotou finally felt at ease. After giving some reminders, he also finished explaining the Five Ghosts Move Wealth Method and then headed towards the West Mountain Road.

As for Hu Ma, after carefully considering everything, he called on Sweet Potato again. It seemed the other had been waiting all along, immediately responding eagerly, "I’m here, Master; I’ve always been here. I was just thinking about how to accomplish this job..."

"Why don’t we gather a group of people and charge in? To be honest, I also know some friends in the jianghu, all of them are ruthless people who lick blood off the knife’s edge..."

"Okay, okay..." Hu Ma was speechless. "We don’t need such ruthless people for now; we need to keep a low profile for this job."

"You don’t have to worry about it; I already thought of a solution just now."

"My goodness..." Sweet Potato took a deep breath, profound admiration arising for Hu Ma. "To think of a way to transport Blood Food in such a short time? Master, your skills are indeed as Er Guotou and Miss White Wine said, unfathomable!"

"But..." She suddenly felt a bit worried, timidly asking, "But Master, if that’s the case, finding the job, planning, execution, and even post-operation clean-up are all handled by you, won’t you..."

"...leave me out of it?"

Hu Ma found it quite peculiar. Sweet Potato, who feared nothing, actually sounded a bit worried? Finding it amusing, he chuckled softly. "We’re all Reincarnators, naturally on the same side. Even if you’re less involved this time, I wouldn’t leave you out. After all, it’s good to give you more experience."

"Besides, I also thought carefully, and there are some small tasks that you can do."

Sweet Potato was so moved that she almost cried. "Master, you’re really too kind to me. Please tell me; I’m willing to do anything."

Hearing her eagerness, Hu Ma couldn’t help but smile. "It’s just a few people from the Truth Sect, at most involving one or two at the Entering the Mansion level. You should be fine, right?"

The discussion that night went smoothly. Sweet Potato pounded her chest firmly, and Hu Ma felt relieved.

The next morning, he had breakfast with Incense Master Xu and then took his leave.

He first went to the north of the town to check the locations of the two Blood Food Storages Xu had mentioned. He thoroughly examined the surrounding terrain, layout, and forces.

As Incense Master Xu had said, those two Blood Food Storages were once incredibly hidden, but now could be seen from afar, heavily guarded. On one side, the Left Protector of the Red Lantern Society, worried about mishaps, was personally leading gang members to guard it.

The followers of the Truth Sect, since arriving in Mingzhou, had always followed the rules. Naturally, they wouldn’t forcibly seize the place, but they seemingly feared that the Red Lantern Society would do something secretly, thus set up a few divine altars there, watching over them.

Confirming the locations, Hu Ma quietly departed, mounted his horse, and found a secluded place in the wilderness. He then lit incense and waited silently for Little Hongtang to arrive. This time, he waited a full hour before Little Hongtang appeared timidly on a nearby tombstone.

Hu Ma immediately adorned a warm smile. "Little Hongtang, how did you become more beautiful again?"

Little Hongtang turned her head angrily. "Brother Hu Ma came back without waiting for me. I couldn’t see you. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find you."

Hu Ma suddenly understood. Actually, the relationship between people and their ghost helpers wasn’t necessarily one where they stayed together all the time. Many people only summoned their little ghosts by incense-burning when needed for a task. But Little Hongtang was indeed used to following him daily. She could find him by his scent over short distances, but couldn’t when it was far, requiring him to burn incense to guide her to him.

Feeling a pang of guilt, he quickly said, "I was coming back after practicing Spells, so I couldn’t wait for you; I’ll be more careful next time."

"Look, I know you’re hungry, so I prepared a Blood Food Pill for you."

While speaking, he took out a Blood Food Pill and handed it to Little Hongtang.

Little Hongtang’s eyes lit up at the sight of the round, meatball-like pill. She popped it into her mouth promptly, erasing all her anger, and cheerfully held Hu Ma’s hand.

And as Hu Ma watched her, he took out his last remaining Blood Food Pill with a smile. "How could one be enough? There’s more!"

Little Hongtang was astonished, hardly daring to believe another round Blood Food Pill was before her.

As he handed it to her, Hu Ma laughed. "Eating too much isn’t good for you, so why don’t we head back to the Manor first, and once we’re there, you can eat more, how about that?"

Little Hongtang immediately nodded vigorously and carefully placed the Blood Food Pill into her basket, showing no sign of the greed to devour it immediately. This instantly made Hu Ma feel even more relieved.

Steady.