CHAPTER 490: CHAPTER 484 REINCARNATOR MEETING

After handing over the head of Young Master Meng to these Beef Avoidance Sect members, Hu Ma didn’t immediately discuss anything with them, even though both parties indeed had many questions.

But he was truly exhausted.

So, he first let these people return, while he went to retrieve the Yin General. Along the way, surveying the mountain ridge, he found Master Ma, dejected, hesitating before a cliff of moderate height. Gently, Hu Ma persuaded,

"You won’t die from a fall..."

"..."

Master Ma’s large eyes widened at these words, and he glared at Hu Ma, full of resentment.

What could Hu Ma do? He had to gently reassure it, promising that the next time they encountered danger, he absolutely would not rescue it. Only then did he manage to coax it back. He then circled the town, retrieving the items he had hidden around for setting up the altar, either collecting them or burning them.

No evidence could be left behind.

Forcing himself to complete these tasks, Hu Ma returned to the town. He still dispatched the Yin General to the grand mansion of the One Coin Sect’s main altar, directing it to rest under the old elm tree for shade. Then, he declined all requests for meetings from Immortal Miaoshan and the Beef Avoidance Sect disciples, returning to the inn to rest first.

Sitting on the bed, he swallowed two Blood Food Pills to replenish the vitality and cultivation he had lost that night, yet he still felt disoriented and extremely weak.

He knew full well that there were many things still to deal with and countless doubts in his mind that he wanted to clarify. However, he found himself entirely unable to care at the moment, overwhelmed with fatigue.

When it came to danger and unexpected events, this occasion, since leaving Dayang Village, was indeed the most perilous. Yet, nothing he had done before felt more satisfying to him.

So, after briefly reviewing the events, he finally let out a long sigh. He instructed Little Hongtang to guard the door and let no one in, then, still fully clothed, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

That sleep took him from midnight to dawn, then from dawn to dusk.

Initially, it was just for rest and to regain energy, but after sleeping through an entire day, he even started having many strange dreams.

There were arguments in the court, bloody battles on the battlefield, and even heated disputes in tall mansions among people dressed in the garb of a certain Path, arguing incessantly with righteous indignation.

Suddenly, he dreamed of rolling heads hitting the ground. Then he saw the bloated Tai Sui Blood and Flesh crawling over the earth, followed by countless lonely and vindictive souls crying and howling, their bodies squeezed together.

The suffocating pressure made Hu Ma restless even in his dreams. His hands and feet trembled slightly. Finally, in that foggy and chaotic state of mind, he suddenly heard a clear voice sighing softly by his ear,

"Brother Old White, what kind of trouble have you stirred up now..."

"..."

"HUFF!"

Hu Ma suddenly woke up. The sense of crisis and oppression from the dream lingered, but upon opening his eyes, he found himself in the Lifebound Spirit Temple.

Three strands of Life Incense floated in from beyond the dark red mist, connecting with his Life Incense. The familiar environment and the familiar voice gave him a strong sense of security, allowing him to slowly exhale and relax.

Steadying himself, he went to the incense burner and said with a smile, "Indeed, the trouble was significant. Fortunately, you all arrived in time."

This was no lie. If Er Guotou and Miss White Wine hadn’t arrived, and if he hadn’t had help from Monkey Wine outside, he wouldn’t have been able to handle the Second Young Master Meng with his current skills.

Of course, it wasn’t simply a matter of skill. He hadn’t yet obtained the Hu Family’s token and was merely an ordinary person. Defeating the Second Young Master Meng was achievable, but killing him was incredibly difficult.

"How could we not have rushed here?" Er Guotou had also waited an entire day, only just managing to contact Old White. His voice was a mixture of annoyance and complaint. "I heard you were in a life-threatening situation, so I specifically borrowed a path from the underworld to hurry over! But you truly don’t appreciate old friendships. I treat you so well, and you still end up screwing me over like this. Doesn’t your conscience hurt at all?"

"..."

What do you mean, I screwed you over?

Hu Ma was momentarily taken aback. But then he recalled that he had summoned Er Guotou from Mingzhou for what must have seemed like no good reason, only to drag him into such a huge mess. The complaint was indeed reasonable.

Thinking this, he chuckled, "We’re all on the same side; of course, I’d think of you in times of trouble. Where’s Miss White Wine?"

"?"

Er Guotou was almost speechless. This kid really doesn’t treat me like an outsider. But for this kind of trouble, it would have been better if you *hadn’t* thought of me...

At this moment, Miss White Wine’s voice also rang out, "I can’t compare to Er Guotou’s ability to borrow paths from the underworld, but I once bought two talismanic armors at a high price in Shangjing. In emergencies, if you attach them to a horse’s legs and activate them with Magic, it can travel a thousand miles in a night.

"However, if it turns out the matter you mentioned isn’t important and you’ve wasted my two talismanic armors, you’ll have to compensate me afterward. Helping you solve the Meng Family issue also requires compensation.

"Altogether, you owe me two big favors..."

"..."

"...Alright!"

Considering how difficult the Meng Family was to deal with, and acknowledging that his friends had used their true abilities to help, Hu Ma didn’t mind these terms.

Excited, he quickly asked, "What about Sweet Potato? Has she arrived too?"

Miss White Wine answered, "She left the earliest, but her skills are somewhat lacking, so she’s probably still on the way..."

"That’s fine then..."

Hu Ma shook his head, thinking it was no longer important since the three most capable people were already here. He took a deep breath and said, "I had no choice this time; the situation was too severe. I had to rely on Monkey Wine..."

"...Right."

Monkey Wine’s voice interjected at the right moment, "Earlier, you just had me convey those three vague messages. Now that we have some free time, shouldn’t we discuss it properly?"

"Yes, I’m much obliged, Brother Monkey Wine."

Hearing Monkey Wine’s words, Hu Ma was filled with gratitude.

Just moments ago, he had been curious why the normally cautious Er Guotou and Miss White Wine had so decisively decided to help against the Meng Family. It turned out Monkey Wine had effectively relayed his messages.

Apparently, despite their usual timidity, they were quite courageous when it truly mattered...

However, while feeling grateful, he was somewhat surprised by Monkey Wine’s current attitude. "You’re also eager to understand? I didn’t expect you to be interested in these matters..."

Monkey Wine said indifferently, "I originally had no interest, and I’ve always preferred not to associate with other Reincarnators, as you all only deepen my doubts about this world.

"However, after seeing that person... that Negative Spirit... and the power it invoked, I’ve started to become interested in certain things in this world. That power was similar to the Witch God, yet it seemed fundamentally different, possessing a captivating quality.

"HUFF, my mistake. I shouldn’t have stayed in the mountains all these years. Who knows how many interesting things I’ve missed..."

"..."

"That’s fantastic."

Hu Ma was actually excited by Monkey Wine’s reaction. The fellow could be terrifying when he went mad, but one had to admit, when things got serious, he was very reliable.

So, he took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and then slowly said, "Everyone, you are the Reincarnators I trust most in this world. I won’t hide it from you. Three days ago, I uncovered some secrets about Reincarnators."

Er Guotou listened, suddenly anxious, and asked, "What?"

Miss White Wine and Monkey Wine also remained distinctly silent, but their silence clearly showed their curiosity had been piqued.

Hu Ma paused for a moment, then slowly said, "It’s a huge secret... concerning the death of the first generation of Reincarnators, and our own survival..."

"How much do you know about the Great Virtuous Master, or rather, a previous generation Reincarnator codenamed Lao Junmei?"

"..."

This abrupt question startled both Er Guotou and Miss White Wine. They paused, then responded almost in unison, "The instigator of the Shangjing disaster? Lao Junmei?"

"..."

"Yes."

Before formally speaking, Hu Ma paused briefly. He swiftly organized his thoughts and then recounted his experience of seeking Magic at the One Coin Sect, where he inadvertently encountered Big Red Robe and the tale it shared.

Among Reincarnators, it was customary to trade favors as currency; not only treasures but also information could be used as such. The information he had just obtained was perhaps the most valuable currency of all.

But Hu Ma knew the matter was critical and dared not delay. He disclosed all the information, omitting only a few personal details, to these Reincarnators he trusted most.

He began, "An information gap has arisen among us Reincarnators. According to Big Red Robe, we should now be preparing to slay Tai Sui and contend for destiny.

"He said they skinned the Emperor to halt this transaction that was weighing down the world.

"He claimed they fought to earn us these twenty years..."

Recalling these words from Big Red Robe still sent a shiver down Hu Ma’s spine; his mind had gone blank when he first heard them. Now, relaying this information to the other Reincarnators, his emotions surged, and he was terrified of omitting any detail. He wracked his brains to provide a complete account, even adding insights from his conversations with the White-Bearded Old Man and Calculation.

"This world is also growing ever lighter..." he added, his voice somber.

As he spoke, he could feel the three Reincarnators listening to him fall into an unexpected, profound silence. His own mood grew increasingly heavy.

"Those are the main points," Hu Ma said slowly. "And there’s one more thing he said, something I don’t fully understand but find deeply alarming: ’Our home... has already been stolen...’"