CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 364 SHOUSUI HERITAGE

Hu Ma understood the rules and was willing to abide by the jianghu norms, always leaving room for a smile. But now, he didn’t want to relent.

After all, he represented the Red Lantern Lady’s Club coming here. Still, these disciples and grand-disciples of the green-clothed Evil Ghost didn’t even bother to discuss the rules or show their faces, instead starting with underhanded tricks and costing him a horse’s life. Although the horse had brought that fate upon itself, how could he not be angry?

His roar carried the legendary Five Thunders Golden Toad Roar skill, and what an imposing force it was.

Even the entire valley where the blood food mine was located echoed like dull thunder, with sudden pressure arising. A flock of birds was startled and flew into the night sky from the distant forest.

Just moments ago, these savage Meat Cutting workers, knowing the formidable power behind the roar, were filled with awe and backed up several steps, lowering their raised forks and meat cutting knives, not daring to point them directly at Hu Ma.

Unexpectedly, however, they still crowded the village entrance, unwilling to retreat entirely, appearing hesitant.

"Everyone, make way..."

At that moment, a deep voice echoed in the valley. Amidst the flickering torchlight, a tall man, dressed in black clothes with tied leggings and a white cloth wrapped around his forehead, walked out with two others.

His frame was massive and lean, towering over the Meat Cutting workers beside him, exuding great authority. The surrounding workers hurriedly stepped aside.

Someone couldn’t help but address him, "Cui, you see this..."

Hu Ma focused intently on him, realizing, Is this the blood food mine chief?

He had come here precisely to wrest food from this man and had thoroughly inquired about him from Incense Master Xu.

The man’s surname was Zhuang, full name Zhuang Erchang. Previously a member of the Green Clothes Gang, he now officially belonged to the Red Lantern Lady’s Club. He was also a Shousui man, reputed to be quite skilled, having achieved refining life in his Five Organs years ago.

Being able to guard the mine for so many years, he must have a trump card, but details were scarce. Although the Red Lantern Society took over the Green Clothes Gang’s territory, they needed to reregister the subordinates. However, these men weren’t foolish enough to reveal everything completely.

Regardless of whatever trump cards he held, Hu Ma had already assessed his own apparent abilities, which gave him the confidence to come here and face this confrontation.

Now seeing the main player appear, he simply let out a cold laugh and looked at him.

"No need to say much..."

The man approached, and people stepped aside to make a path.

He first raised his hand, stopping the surrounding miners’ murmurs, then gave Hu Ma a once-over with an indifferent gaze, saying, "From the Red Lantern Society?"

"How shall I address you?"

"..."

"Courteous."

Hu Ma cupped his fist in greeting and said, "My surname is Hu."

"Ah, Manager Hu."

The mine chief with the surname Zhuang nodded and said, "I didn’t know you were coming. My apologies for the lack of a proper welcome. However, everything that needed to be delivered was handed over months ago, and the accounts are clear. What are you here for now?"

Hu Ma met his gaze and said flatly, "The green-clothed Evil Ghost is dead. The blood food mine under his name now belongs to our Red Lantern Society. We’ve come on behalf of the Red Lantern Lady to check things out. Is there any problem with that?"

"What’s this, Mine Chief Zhuang? Are you being impolite? Treating this blood food mine as your own, guarding the gate, and not letting us in?"

"..."

His words were already brusque, unafraid of angering him.

The surrounding Meat Cutting workers, who had been watching fiercely, stirred again. Having just witnessed Hu Ma’s skills, few now dared to raise their tools to challenge him.

The man’s expression was grim, but after a moment of silence, he said, "I wouldn’t dare. Since you wish to enter, please do!"

Saying this, he stepped aside, gesturing for Hu Ma and his group to enter. The two disciples accompanying him, along with the Meat Cutting workers still crowding the entrance and holding their tools, all wore hostile expressions and looked quite imposing.

But Hu Ma ignored them, lifted his long robe, and walked in.

Not only him, but Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, Zhao Zhu, and the others were also skilled individuals and not intimidated by such a minor display. They followed Hu Ma into the valley with great strides, chests puffed out, looking left and right as if entering an uninhabited land.

Calculation’s courage was noticeably less, but he was sitting on the donkey cart, and the donkey, terrified of being left behind, stuck close to Hu Ma, thus pulling him in as well.

Only the horse at the gate quietly turned its head, glancing at Hu Ma and the others entering the valley, then looked away.

It closed its eyes, continuing to revel in that near-death sensation it had felt recently.

This blood food mine, there’s clearly something wrong here...

Hu Ma pondered secretly. Setting aside the fact that they were obstructed before even entering the mine—a clear sign of a guilty conscience—the problems with the mine became even more apparent upon entry:

The season for cutting Tai Sui had long passed. The Meat Cutting workers should have returned to their villages to farm, yet they were still here. Were they working day after day without pay?

Furthermore, Meat Cutting workers were here to earn silver by cutting meat, concerned only with taking a few taels back to build a small house and marry a wife. Yet these men seemed to have been trained like one’s own subordinates?

Are they planning a rebellion?

He thought silently, not rushing to speak, as he walked through the valley and arrived before a hall constructed from rough-hewn timber.

Braziers burned on either side, emitting the distinctive odor of black oil ointment. Animal hides and other items hung on the walls, creating a crude, rugged atmosphere. It looked less like a blood food mine and more like a mountain village. And once inside the hall and seated, with a row of sturdy, fierce-looking men standing behind their host, the resemblance was even stronger...

"Since a manager from the society has arrived, there must be no rudeness."

Mine Chief Zhuang led them into the hall and said coldly, "Go and prepare a table to welcome our guests with a dust-clearing banquet."

The men behind him exchanged glances, their faces showing some displeasure, but they still obeyed his orders. After glaring at Hu Ma and his group, they departed.

When they glared, Zhou Datong glared right back, silently cursing the mine workers for their lack of manners. Preparing a banquet is like they’re about to butcher meat?

After giving his instructions, Mine Chief Zhuang turned back to Hu Ma and said, "Since the society has sent a manager to inspect, what is it that you wish to see?"

"I’ve reviewed the Blood Food and account books you submitted today, and I have a few questions for you," Hu Ma stated bluntly and coolly.

"This Huozi Ridge blood food mine used to belong to the Green Clothes Gang. We’ve obtained the Green Clothes Gang’s account books and reviewed them in detail, but we couldn’t quite understand them."

"How many catties of Blood Food was it able to produce annually in the past? Why has the output suddenly decreased after it came under the Red Lantern Society? A few months ago, the society instructed you to go to Mingzhou Prefecture to hand over the account books in person. Why didn’t you go, sending only a disciple instead?"

"Furthermore, this year, Blood Tai Sui is scarce. You were assigned a quota of twenty catties, yet you haven’t delivered a single bit, nor have you provided any explanation. What is the meaning of this?"

"I’ll need to hear your explanations for these issues. If you don’t have satisfactory answers, then I think your position as mine chief, heh..."

"You might as well vacate it!"

"..."

As he spoke, Hu Ma stared coldly at the other man’s face, leaving half of his thoughts unsaid.

Even if you provide an explanation, you’re still finished. We’re here to take over, and it’s on Incense Master Xu’s orders. Incense Master Xu is so clever; if he wants to find fault with you, would he really allow you to argue back?

Of course, in normal circumstances, Hu Ma wouldn’t be so aggressive. Those who navigated the jianghu always believed in ’harmony breeds wealth’; even harsh words had to be phrased pleasantly.

But this time, it was this blood food mine that acted improperly first. We hadn’t even entered the mine, and you lot already resorted to underhanded tricks. In that case, why should I bother saving face for you? It’s better to be direct.

"You..."

Mine Chief Zhuang was indeed somewhat indignant, and the two disciples behind him were furious.

These questions were simply designed to make things difficult. Blood food mines naturally had good years and bad years; weren’t fluctuations in output normal?

As for handing over the account books, it was a mere formality. Besides, he wasn’t familiar with the people in the Red Lantern Society anyway, so sending a disciple to report was sufficient. Did he really need to go in person? Did the Red Lantern Society truly see itself as the government?

And as for the allocated twenty catties of Blood Tai Sui, that was even more ridiculous...

Even if I wanted to provide it, it has to exist first...

Yet, facing such aggressive words, Mine Chief Zhuang managed to restrain himself. He turned and glared at his two disciples, signaling them not to speak recklessly.

He then frowned at Hu Ma and suddenly said, "Manager Hu, it’s clear that we are all Shousui men. We walk the same Path; we are not outsiders."

"My master was Old Mr. Sun of Iron Bridge from Liu County, Gunzhou; I was his direct disciple. I wonder, Manager Hu, about your own master..."

"..."

"Oh?"

Hu Ma found this somewhat amusing.

This Mine Chief Zhuang recognized the trouble. Seeing that the Red Lantern Society’s accounting matters were difficult to address directly, he instead tried to establish a connection through their shared Shousui heritage.

His idea wasn’t bad. Seeing Hu Ma’s aggressive demeanor and his use of the Red Lantern Society’s authority to pressure him, he knew this matter would not be easily resolved.

So he deliberately avoided mentioning the Red Lantern Society and instead leveraged their Shousui heritage to try and build rapport.

The skills of Shousui men were typically passed down from master to disciple, and within this Path, there were only a few truly capable individuals. It was possible they had met before or had some past dealings. The further back one traced their lineage, the closer the connections became, possibly even leading to a common ancestor.

Moreover, Mingzhou and Gunzhou were neighboring states, and the jianghu was only so large. It was quite possible that if they discussed their respective lineages and seniority, they might trace things back to a connection between their masters. Following such a discussion, a friendly relationship could be established between them.

If such a connection were established, Hu Ma would find it difficult to be too severe regarding the mine’s affairs, as he would have to consider the dignity of their elders.

His method was, in fact, rather ingenious. Unfortunately for him, in this particular matter, he had run into Hu Ma.

He smiled, pointed at Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu, and said candidly, "We martial brothers all learned our skills from Second Master Zhou of Old Yin Mountain. What guidance does Mine Chief Zhuang have for us?"

Mine Chief Zhuang paused, then quickly said, "I’ve long admired him, long admired him..."