Twilight Boundary-Chapter 384 - 381 Old Ayan

The enemy had already deployed two types of gu, both of which had been dealt with, but no one present dared to relax. Besides these two, there were ten more types of gu that could be unleashed at any moment. At this thought, when they looked outside the valley, their gazes turned somewhat unfocused.

"It seems we need to stay sharp."

Hu Ma, from afar, exchanged a glance with Calculation and understood the situation. In a low voice, he said, "Wugong Clan Chief is righteous for coming to help us dispel the gu and save our people, but we can’t just rely on him and his kin. Our own miners must also get moving. We’ll divide them into two shifts to guard against any unexpected events."

Saying this, he personally began assigning roles, dividing everyone present, including all the Meat Cutting Craftsmen, into two teams.

Zhuang Erchang led one team, with Zhou Datong as his deputy. He took Zhao Zhu and half of the Meat Cutting Craftsmen to patrol during the day. Hu Ma himself led the other team, with Zhuang Erchang’s two apprentices and the more courageous among the remaining Meat Cutting workers, who would be responsible for night patrols.

As the Shousui man, it was expected of him to take action at such a time, and no one dared to complain. As for the Meat Cutting Craftsmen, Hu Ma offered some reassurance, "I know you all came here to work, and it’s terribly unfair that you’ve been dragged into this mess."

"But since we’re in it, staying alive is paramount. So, let’s all help each other out and prevent anything from slipping past our watch. And don’t you worry, men, even though there’s no mining these days, you’ll still get your wages!"

His generosity greatly motivated the Meat Cutting Craftsmen, lifting their spirits.

To put it simply, this world was different from his previous one. In his past life, Meat Cutting workers staying in the valley would have received their wages whether or not they went down the mine.

But at this blood food mine, although people were here, you only received your daily wage of one tael of silver when you actually went down into the mine. When not mining, simply being able to eat a bowl of rice with meat in it was a sign of the mine’s Old Master’s kindness.

With these arrangements made, the entire mine began to cooperate with Wugong Clan Chief, patrolling the valley day and night to prevent any incidents. Seeing his words had an effect, Hu Ma felt slightly relieved but dared not truly let his guard down.

Taking an opportune moment, he found Calculation and asked in a low voice, "Given the current situation, is passively defending like this really our only option?"

"The enemy’s gu are impossible to defend against effectively. Listening to their instructions and defending like this is the safest way."

Calculation had been frowning for days. He said in a low voice, "To deal with a gu user, one way is to meet force with force, countering every move they make. Once they’ve exhausted their tricks, they’ll give up."

"Or, we could throw caution to the wind, rush out directly, find that gu user, and chop him down—no, that’s not right. The safest approach is to destroy the basin he uses for gu refining."

Hu Ma listened, slightly stunned. "Destroying his gu refining basin is even more important than killing him?"

"That’s right."

Calculation said softly, "Some gu can still harm people even after you’ve killed the gu user. It’s like killing the person who poisoned you, but the poison in your own body still isn’t cured—same principle."

"But destroying their gu refining basin is different. That basin is their lifeline. Many who refine gu have only one basin, because the more it’s used for refining, the more vicious and malevolent it becomes, much like a Magical Treasure. The longer it’s used, the more potent the gu refined in it becomes."

"So, very few Gu Masters will use two basins to refine gu, as it would divide their focus and energy. Therefore, this basin is inextricably linked to their gu insects."

"Once you destroy his basin, you don’t even need to kill him. His own gu insects will rebel, and he’ll be the first to suffer their backlash."

As he explained, something suddenly occurred to him. He blinked and looked at Hu Ma with anticipation. "Young Brother Hu, with your skills..."

"Don’t even think about it."

Hu Ma glared at him. "That madman outside has set up twelve Paizi Formations, and there are still ten types of gu he hasn’t used! You want me to brave all those risks, run out there, find that gu-deploying maniac, and fight him to the death?"

"Why don’t you go?"

COUGH, COUGH...

Calculation looked a bit embarrassed. "This old brother of yours, I came to the mine with you to handle the accounts. Besides, I’m getting on in years and not cut out for all this fighting and killing..."

"Then you’d better think of a more practical solution, old man!"

Hu Ma pushed him aside and went back to his room to rest.

Actually, if it weren’t Monkey Wine deploying the gu outside, Hu Ma would have considered other tactics, even if not a direct assault. But since he knew who was behind it, he might as well play along. He didn’t even ask Monkey Wine about the sequence of the gu attacks, lest he learn too much beforehand and inadvertently reveal his own knowledge. If he were truly unlucky enough to be afflicted by a gu, it would only prove his own skills were still lacking. In that desperate situation, he would have no choice but to ask Monkey Wine to help him dispel it. Of course, he still had to be vigilant. It was best not to be afflicted by any gu; otherwise, Monkey Wine would discover who he was. Although Monkey Wine had essentially revealed his own identity to Hu Ma, and logically, Hu Ma should have reciprocated, that fellow seemed rather simple-minded. Hu Ma hadn’t asked; Monkey Wine had volunteered the information. I know you, but you don’t know me. In the exchanges between Reincarnators, this was a significant advantage, one not to be squandered. After all, while he was inclined to believe Monkey Wine was more reliable, the man was undeniably unhinged, and there was no telling what he might do...

So, for these few days, he truly bided his time, merely patrolling at night, patiently observing this Gu Fighting between the father and his children. And while cooperating with the defense, he didn’t forget to consume Blood Food, seizing every moment to improve his own abilities.

The situation is unclear, and dangers lurk in the shadows. The stronger I am, the better!

Currently, his limit for refining Blood Food Pills was three per day. Any more, and the blood energy would become too abundant, overflowing and dissipating before he could channel it into his mind and meridians. He had no choice—a single gulp couldn’t make a man fat.

Four days passed like this. The mad Witch outside did indeed send gu into the valley from time to time to harm people.

However, the Shousui men and the Meat Cutting workers in the valley, cooperating with Wuya and Nengneng under the guidance of Wugong Clan Chief, successfully countered several of the enemy’s gu.

There were Flying Sound Gu, Eye Blinding Gu, Heart Chaos Gu, and others. Each gu attack was bizarre and terrifying, causing panic, but their responses were adequate. They had scares but no real harm, which boosted everyone’s confidence considerably.

Even Wugong Clan Chief said in a low voice, "I’ve been performing Gu Worship for several days; the gu is almost ready."

"Once this gu is complete, Wu Song will be suppressed, powerless to resist. Although my gu isn’t fully formed yet, its aura has already begun to emanate, subtly constraining the gu Wu Song sends. Thus, his gu are also weakened."

"But we mustn’t be careless. The closer my gu is to completion, the more potent the gu Wu Song will unleash."

Everyone nodded silently, patrolling with even greater diligence. When they met during shift changes, their faces bore more smiles, unlike the crushing pressure they had felt before.

But on this very day, just as they had gathered and were about to have another group go for their meal, an old woman’s sinister laughter suddenly echoed from outside the valley. It was so abrupt that everyone’s hair stood on end.

Hurriedly, they turned to look and were all startled. On the small path in the forest outside the valley, an old Witch with a strange, swaying gait had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. She wore grimy silver ornaments on her head and carried a little girl on her back.

She was covered in mud, her face a deathly green, a stiff grin plastered on her perpetually open mouth. From time to time, a string of sharp, eerie laughter escaped her lips as she moved with surprising swiftness towards the valley.

"Not good! It’s the Vengeful Ghost Gu!"

In the hut, Wugong Clan Chief, who had barely spoken these past few days while patiently performing Gu Worship, as if his gu had reached a critical stage, heard the laughter. His expression changed drastically, and he shot his head up.

Beside the hut, Wuya and Nengneng, who were holding large bowls and eating, hastily put them down and jumped to their feet.

Upon seeing the old woman, both clearly recognized her, and fear flashed across their faces.

They glanced quickly at Wugong Clan Chief in the hut, then stomped their feet hard. One grabbed the drum at his waist, the other picked up a piece of charred ox bone, and they hurriedly rushed out to meet the approaching old woman.

"What’s going on?"

Sensing trouble, Hu Ma also took two steps forward, positioning himself beside the hut. He asked in a deep voice, "This gu seems different from the ones before. Is it very powerful?"

Wugong Clan Chief explained urgently, his voice laced with fury, "The Vengeful Ghost Gu is the most malevolent of things! It must be fed with the blood of the living every single day... It’s all Wu Song’s wicked doing! This kind of gu is forbidden in our village.

"But back then, Old Ayan wasn’t watching her granddaughter closely, and the girl drowned in the pond. Wu Song... that madman! He insisted that Old Ayan had deliberately killed her granddaughter. So he took the granddaughter’s corpse and planted it on Old Ayan’s back, refining her into this thing that’s neither human nor ghost...

"The old and the young, bound in mutual hatred, eternally tormented. They must be fed with the lives of the living to find even a sliver of peace... That is the Vengeful Ghost Gu."

"Hmm?"

Even in his haste, Hu Ma felt something was off about this brutal story.ŸŸŸ However, before he could think further, he suddenly saw Wuya and Nengneng, who had just rushed to the valley entrance, sent flying backward.

The old lady carrying the child moved with feet that blurred, her speed like lightning.

Wuya and Nengneng, blocking the valley entrance, were about to beat the drum and burn the ox bone. But before they could begin casting their magic, the old lady had already charged up to them. She raised her hands, which looked withered and frail, yet she struck the two living men, sending both Wuya and Nengneng flying deep into the valley.

Following closely, she, too, entered the valley.

Her face a ghastly green, she raised her hands, nails curved like withered claws, and lunged straight for the nearest worker.