Chapter 264 Ghost Gate
"As expected, Xiang's fainting was related to the old housekeeper..." Hu Ma let out a low sigh. He found it rather absurd. At first, when Xiang inexplicably fainted, everyone suspected the old housekeeper, but his performance was so convincing that it dispelled everyone's doubts.
It seemed Xiang's memory was already recovering. Upon seeing him suddenly, she must have recalled many things, so the old housekeeper had no choice but to act immediately.
Otherwise, if Xiang were conscious, he would have had too many things he couldn't explain, let alone trick the rest of us.
Once he was certain that Xiang had truly awakened, he quickly reached out and pulled her out of the coffin, asking with some concern, "So how much do you know about what's going on in your family?"
"I remember everything..."
Xiang looked panicked; her body was weak, yet tears welled in her eyes with urgency. "Father is still waiting for me in the cave."
"If I don't return soon, the things in the Ghost Cave will come out, and none of the Li family will survive..."
"..."
"What?"
Listening to Xiang's disoriented and anxious words, Hu Ma felt a bit dazed.
The housekeeper's earlier words made it sound like the entire Li family was hiding from some cursed fate, which was related to Xiang being "exiled."
But as soon as Xiang woke up, she claimed that if she didn't return, the Li family wouldn't survive?
His mind was filled with too many incomprehensible things. But seeing Xiang, who had just awakened and was still a bit muddled with red, tearful eyes, he decided to take action.
Taking a deep breath, he said to Xiang, "Don't worry now. Take your time to think things through and tell us, but for now, let's leave this place!"
They quickly packed up the carriage again. The housekeeper's corpse was placed directly into the coffin, which they then left behind. It was dark, and Xiang, having just woken up, was still confused. She didn't know the body was the housekeeper's.
The group hurriedly descended the hillside and reached the main road.
Choosing a direction required careful thought, as the housekeeper had mentioned that other Li family members awaited up ahead—meeting them could cause trouble.
So Hu Ma decisively led the group toward Dongchang Prefecture again.
After all, he had killed all the Beggar Gang members who had followed, and Godmother Cui and the others were dead, making this place safer.
It was already deep into the night, and the city gates were long closed, but Hu Ma had his ways.
Finding a low spot, he listened closely. Hearing no patrol above, he used his Ghost Ascending Stairs skill to bring them into the city. The carriage and donkey were hard to manage, so they were temporarily tied in a secluded spot to be retrieved the next day.
Once inside the city, avoiding the night watchman, they woke up an inn.
They paid with Silver, had hot water brought up, and ordered a few bowls of noodles before finding the time to ask in detail.
Xiang was only frazzled now, perhaps overwhelmed by the situation, and said to Hu Ma, "Young sir, I understand. I know how I got out."
"But they all misunderstood..."
"The Li family can't escape from the Ghost Cave. Guarding it isn't a duty; it's a debt..."
"..."
"A debt?"
Hu Ma was more puzzled and asked, "How so?"
"I remember..."
Xiang, overawed by terror, sobbed, "I remember Father telling me before I got lost that the Li family, and those originally sent there, were all prisoners sentenced to execution."
"We, the Ghost Cave people, are not officials but prisoners, sent to watch the Ghost Cave. Guarding it is our family's fate..."
"Prisoners?"
As he listened, Hu Ma vaguely realized these matters might involve something he hadn't considered before.
To the people of this era, the Emperor seemed too distant now!
Their only understanding of him was that people were skinned alive.
Even the government was just a name now, not truly in charge. Who ruled Mingzhou Prefecture?
Obviously, we in the Red Lantern Society did!
But somehow, in such a world, such a remote place still had people guarding an imperial decree?
The more he listened, the more he felt this wasn't as simple as he'd thought.
Taking a deep breath, tense, he slowly asked Xiang the most crucial question, "What exactly is inside the Ghost Cave?"
"It's..."
Xiang opened her mouth, hesitating on this question.
But facing Hu Ma's earnest expression, she couldn't lie and spoke, "It's the underworld."
"The Ghost Cave is the Ghost Gate."
"Throughout Lingshou Prefecture, no, even all of Anzhou, the dead enter the Ghost Cave!"
"..."
"What?"
Hu Ma was genuinely shocked and stood up immediately.
He instinctively looked toward Aunt Zhang, seeing her eyes wide open; even such a great walking ghost was frightened.
Did a Ghost Gate truly exist in this world?
Hadn't rumor said the Ghost Gate was closed?
So why did Lingshou Prefecture have such a place, with living people guarding it for generations?
His mind swirled with questions. But Xiang looked at him and said, "Young sir, I want to hide nothing from you. You are a good person, the only good person I met since I left home."
"But Father told me at the time that I couldn't tell outsiders about the cave. This is something that even most people in our Li family don't know..."
"Father said some secrets are not for the living to hear, or knowing too much would lead the things in the Ghost Cave to take you away."
"..."
Hu Ma quickly regained his composure.
He did love to inquire about matters, but he also believed that in this world, anything was possible.
Maybe some things were best left unknown, lest one offend something that could bring disaster by prying.
"I need to go back as soon as possible."
Xiang's anxiety was apparent. "My family doesn't understand Father. I'm afraid... I'm afraid of what they might do."
"PHEW!"
Seeing her worried expression, Hu Ma gently nodded.
Sending her back was necessary. Of course, outwardly, he had to feign some hesitation. A typical little shopkeeper from the Blood Food Gang, having stumbled into so much trouble merely by trying to do a good deed, would naturally consider backing out.
But in reality, for him, although the Li family's affairs were troublesome, the more complicated they became, the more compelled he felt to go to Anzhou. Matters had reached a point where he couldn't simply retreat even if he wished; his investment was too great.
So he needed to move forward and assess the situation.
Of course, that was the thought, but the Li family's situation was too complex and involved secrets; he couldn't afford to be reckless.
He would first go to Anzhou, meet with Miss Red Wine and the others, and then make a plan.
After a long silence, he lowered his head and told Xiang not to be afraid, that he would take her home. Since she was awake, they needed to quicken their pace.
Hu Ma first let everyone rest and sleep, then called Aunt Zhang, the obedient carter, and the two workers who had been with them and said, "Everyone has worked hard on this journey."
"Now that she's awake, we can travel light. I'll take her directly to Anzhou. If any issue arises, it will be easier for just the two of us to escape."
"This job ends here. You all can take your silver payment now, or I can write a note for you to collect it at our Manor upon returning. For this trip back, don't skimp. Hire horses and carriages, and all the Silver Coin for it will be on my account."
"..."
The carter and two workers were surprised they could go back.
They should have offered polite refusals, but recalling the dangers along the way, they couldn't bring themselves to say such words.
They were truly terrified.
After instructing the carter and workers, Hu Ma looked at Aunt Zhang and said, "Aunt, we needn't speak politely."
"Though you refused to be my Master during this journey, you taught me much. You even helped as a Ghost Walker to guard a Magic Altar, suffering great losses this time."
"I won't say much else, but you won't lack the Silver for this trip."
"Once you're back in Mingzhou, live peacefully. Don't engage in Ghost Walks or set up Magic Altars until I return. I know several elders in the Mixed Blood Food Gang who might be able to help solve your troubles."
"..."
Aunt Zhang was clearly surprised by Hu Ma's words.
She had initially thought Hu Ma was just trying to comfort her. After all, she alone knew the truth of her own affairs. How could anyone from the Blood Food Gang possibly find a way to deal with the Five Evil Gods she had summoned to her Magic Altar?
Yet, seeing Hu Ma speak so earnestly with clear eyes, she couldn't help but believe him, nodding. "I understand. I'll rest when I return."
Finishing the instructions, Hu Ma took out a Blood Food Pill for Aunt Zhang to swallow.
Aunt Zhang was startled. Such an expensive item! She had already taken one before; why another?
Hu Ma insisted she take it. He then helped arrange for them at the Mule and Horse Market in Dongchang Prefecture, where a large caravan was preparing to leave for the south. He paid for Aunt Zhang and her group to accompany them.
Not only did they travel together, but they also had to retrieve their donkey from outside the city and take it back to Mingzhou. Hu Ma intended to ride a horse with Xiang and couldn't manage the donkey as well.
Luckily, the local people were honest, and the donkey hadn't been taken.
After arranging their return, Hu Ma let out a deep breath, went back into the city, and hired some fine horses.
Using methods he'd learned from Housekeeper Zhou, he disguised them simply, and the two exited the city through a side gate.
Picking the shortest route, they headed straight for Anzhou.
Traveling as a pair and riding fast horses was tiring but clearly quicker.
They were cautious along the way, avoiding unknown troubles. Traveling by day and resting at night, they didn't delay and managed to reach Anzhou's borders by the seventh day.