Granny really had found a good method for him.
With a sufficient supply of Blood Food, Hu Ma no longer experienced the coldness in his limbs; instead, the fire qi within him grew stronger. He gradually realized the connection between his condition and the Tai Sui. After eating Tai Sui meat, even just the White Tai Sui, a warm sensation would rise within his body. Of course, it was quite weak, especially with such a small amount, making it almost negligible.
But after consuming Green Tai Sui, the warmth generated in his body could persist for one or two days, provided he wasn't practicing. If he did practice, the energy would be consumed within half a day. Eating Blood Tai Sui was even more different; Hu Ma would feel his body thrumming with immense energy for a couple of days, feeling incredibly vigorous. Practicing also became much more effective.
During this period, he felt the stove fire in his abdomen changing almost daily. From an initial, subtle flame, it grew into a brazier within a few days. After several more days, he felt as if a true, roaring stove was burning in his lower abdomen. His body was constantly warm and brimming with energy, as if he possessed limitless strength.
Every morning when he woke up, that flag of his was standing straight up. Of course, Second Master didn't raise pigs here, and he hadn't returned to the village, so he didn't know if he'd salivate at the sight of a pig's backside...
However, with this vigorous stove fire in his abdomen, the bone-chilling cold he occasionally felt had indeed lessened considerably, and the bizarre shadows he used to see constantly seemed to have disappeared. He no longer required constant surveillance in his daily life and could even occasionally wander outside the Manor. Of course, he still didn't dare take a single step outside after dusk. Moreover, he dared not approach the eerie and terrifying woods, day or night.
The good news was that Second Master's method was effective. He had, to some extent, avoided infestation by the evil spirit, and his fire qi had grown fierce. The bad news was that he couldn't manage without the Tai Sui. Without it, his fire qi couldn't be enhanced and would instead gradually weaken.
So ultimately, it all came down to the Tai Sui. Or rather, Granny.
Yet Hu Ma couldn't fathom where Granny managed to procure so much of this precious Blood Tai Sui. And how much more could she bring him? He didn't know the answer to this question. All he could do was ensure not a single shred went to waste.
In the stillness of the secluded room, Hu Ma sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly practicing to draw the fire qi into his internal stove. Hu Ma wasn't diligent in practicing martial arts, but he was extremely diligent when it came to this energy cultivation.
Whenever he had the chance, he would practice, drawing the heat into his internal stove to store it. Only in this way, if his supply of Blood Food were to run out one day, the accumulated stove fire would help him last a bit longer. After all, if he didn't practice, even if his vitality was sealed by the Liu'er Talisman and didn't dissipate, it would still gradually deplete through daily activities or intense exertion. Only by directing it into the internal stove and accumulating it could it be effectively utilized.
Of course, his behavior led some to say he was merely putting on an act. After all, at such a lively and active age, boys were typically enthusiastic about practicing martial arts and fighting; to have them quiet down and practice energy cultivation seemed to go against their nature. Hu Ma, however, paid them no mind. He simply estimated daily the minimum heat needed to sustain himself and directed the rest into his internal stove.
But during his practice this day, he suddenly heard a discontented voice, "You two, go fill up the water vats."
Opening his eyes, he saw a tall, skinny teenager glaring at him, his demeanor arrogant and commanding.
"Ah?"
Nearby, amidst a pile of bedding, Zhou Datong also jolted awake, sucking back a mouthful of saliva.
"I said, I want you two to go fetch water and fill the vats," the tall, skinny teenager repeated, his frustration evident as he looked at them. With a stern face, he continued, "Everyone else is practicing martial arts, studying pharmacology, or following Second Master to patrol the woods. Only you two lazybones are hiding in your room, slacking off. If you don't put effort into learning skills, fine. But ordering you to do some chores should be acceptable, right? The kitchen's out of water. Go to the spring and fetch a few loads of water. Don't stop until the vats are full."
The spring was over a mile from the Manor, and two buckets filled with water would weigh fifty or sixty pounds. Hu Ma frowned slightly.
Before he could speak, Zhou Datong beside him started whining, "I told Second Master, someone stole my blanket last night, I caught a cold, and I have diarrhea..."
"Diarrhea? Even if you shit your guts out, you still have to go!" the tall, skinny teenager retorted coldly. "Learning skills requires effort. How can you two be so lazy? Try not going, and see what happens!"
With that, he slammed the door, glared at both Hu Ma and Zhou Datong, then turned and left.
The teenager's name was Cui Xie'er, a child from the Cui Family in Dayang Village, and he was the eldest among the youths learning from Second Master. He had already accompanied Second Master to worship the Tai Sui the previous year. Because he had learned his skills proficiently, he usually didn't need to join the other youths running in the mountains or practicing martial arts. Instead, he cooked, did chores, and generally assisted Second Master, acting as a sort of Big Senior Brother figure among the youths. He had long since learned all the necessary skills; staying here was essentially to help Second Master manage various affairs, big and small.
Hu Ma had only been here a short time, had made few friends, and was careful to avoid making enemies. Yet, it seemed this Cui Xie'er had an instinctive dislike for him. In the mornings, when porridge was served, Hu Ma's portion of dried meat was always a little smaller than others', and sometimes he got none at all. In his first few days, Cui Xie'er had often taken the lead in making snide remarks.
However, because Hu Ma maintained a low profile, didn't proactively interact with others, and said nothing even when his morning portion of cured meat was missing, Cui Xie'er initially found no angle to pick on him. But he was relentless. Gradually, his actions became more excessive, and now he was brazenly ordering Hu Ma around.
"Well, shall we go?" Zhou Datong blinked, looking at Hu Ma with uncertainty. He was genuinely afraid of Cui Xie'er, who could be quite ruthless during martial arts practice. Zhou Datong didn't get the same treatment as Hu Ma, who, by making it clear he wouldn't learn martial arts, avoided beatings.
"Alright, let's do it," Hu Ma sighed. Heavy physical labor wasn't ideal for his current condition, but this level of exertion was still manageable. Besides, he wanted to take this opportunity to ask Zhou Datong about a few things.
Actually, the Old Clan Chief's grandson from the village was the first friend he had made here. Second Master had even said something like, "How could you two not become friends?" Hu Ma, in his previous life, had been spoiled and was known in the village for being unambitious. Zhou Datong, on the other hand, was purely mischievous, always dashing about causing trouble, and was notorious as the village prankster. In simple terms, these two were the "sleeping dragon and young phoenix" of Dayang Village.
However, back in the village, Hu Ma's former self hadn't befriended Zhou Datong; in fact, they couldn't stand each other. But things were different now at Second Master's place. Zhou Datong, receiving special attention from Second Master and being one of the youngest in the group, had mellowed considerably. Hu Ma, meanwhile, had undergone an internal change in personality and was no longer so difficult. Paired up to learn martial arts, they had gradually become familiar. Of course, Hu Ma also befriended him because he found the fellow rather simple-minded, yet surprisingly full of gossip, making it easy to coax information out of him.
The two of them picked up a carrying pole, hooked on two buckets, and walked out of the Manor.
"What's with that guy? Seems like he has a problem with me?" Hu Ma asked Zhou Datong softly once they were alone. As someone who had lived two lives, he was naturally low-key. Coupled with his poor health, he certainly wouldn't pick fights unnecessarily and waste energy. Even if he didn't join the mountain runs or practice martial arts, that was his own business and didn't take anything from others. Yet this Cui Xie'er had seemed to have an issue with him from the moment he arrived, and now he was bullying him outright.
Zhou Datong looked at Hu Ma in surprise. "You've forgotten about Sister Cui's incident?"
"Sister Cui? What incident?"
Hu Ma felt a profound sense of helplessness. Everyone knew he was forgetful, but they all assumed he had only forgotten a small part. In reality, he'd forgotten everything, okay? But he didn't let it show, always pretending to somewhat understand.
"It was a few years ago," Zhou Datong began to explain. "Sister Cui, Cui Xie'er's older sister, Cui E, went out of the village to harvest rice. When she came back, she fell ill. She couldn't even consume soups. Worshipping at the Old Fire Pit didn't help either. So, the Cui Family sought out your Granny. After taking a look, your Granny said that the Mountain God had made a marriage proposal. She advised them to discard any recently acquired items and lock Sister Cui inside the house. The doors and windows were to be wrapped with red thread. Regardless of any noises from inside at night, they were not to open the door. Granny said she would go talk to the Mountain God and see if things could be settled. As a result, Sister Cui cried and wailed for half the night. The next day, they discovered she had hanged herself."
Hu Ma was silent for a moment, then, slightly startled, he instinctively said, "Ah? Even if Granny couldn't save her, it shouldn't be her fault, should it?"
"Anyway, the Cui Family was quite unhappy about it. Didn't they block your home's entrance and scold you all? It was my grandfather who dragged them back," Zhou Datong continued, his voice a low murmur. "I heard the Cui Family grumbling later, saying there was no such thing as a Mountain God. They said all the powerful evil spirits around the village were known. If there was something unknown, the ancestors from the fire pit would have sent a message in a dream. But this Mountain God? Only Granny ever mentioned him. We don't know the exact details, and your Granny never brought it up with the Cui Family afterwards."
If you don't know, then I'm even more clueless… Hu Ma sighed internally. At least he finally understood why Cui Xie'er held a grudge against him.
"But," he looked at Zhou Datong beside him, "it's one thing if he's unhappy with me, but why is he so rude to you too?" After all, this little chubby fellow was the Clan Leader's grandson. Did people around here have so little respect for the offspring of prominent village figures?
The mere mention made Zhou Datong look pitifully aggrieved. "I don't know why either," he said. "It's like beating me up gives them special bragging rights or something?"
This village second-gen really has it rough... Hu Ma silently considered the implications, weighing various factors, and an idea gradually formed in his mind.