Twilight Boundary-Chapter 396 - 392: The Onslaught of Evil Qi

"Red Lantern?"

In the valley, a fierce battle raged. Four extraordinary individuals were poised to defeat Wu Song and seize the mine veins. Suddenly, an unexpected person emerged. This caused both sides, who were about to join forces to kill Wu Song, to pause and catch their breath. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

No matter how anxious and flustered they were, they couldn’t help but divert some attention to glance at Hu Ma and the red lantern.

Then, they turned their focus back to Wu Song. The Magic King of the One Coin Sect had invoked the Nine Heaven Lotus Holy Mother to descend upon him and was already chanting rapidly, surrounded by wailing little ghosts, burning paper money, and flickering ghostly flames.

Wuya screamed silently, awakening the dormant gu insects on the ground. Like a black tide, they crawled toward Wu Song’s three avatars.

As for the Wugong Clan Chief, his attention remained fixed on the mine veins. He only produced insect-like calls that reverberated through the valley, surging in waves toward Wu Song, like waves crashing against a shore.

It wasn’t just Wu Song; even the ordinary Meat Cutting Craftsmen in the valley grew dizzy and nauseous from the echoing insect calls. Many were now so weak their bodies felt limp.

"Is no one going to pay attention to me?"

Hu Ma noticed everyone glance at him only to turn away again. He was momentarily startled, then irritated. He picked up the red lantern and, with the stride of a master, walked forward.

"So, you are the disciple of Second Master Zhou of Old Yin Mountain?"

Before he could take two steps, a loud shout suddenly reached him, and a seemingly towering figure appeared before him.

It was Old Master Sun, Second Master Zhuang’s Master, who first blocked his path. His face was a ghostly blue, hardly like that of a living person, and layers of malicious aura rolled off him. His fierce eyes locked onto Hu Ma, and he unexpectedly unleashed a barrage of curses, "You ignorant brat, why aren’t you getting out of the way? You’re a Shousui man! Don’t you know how hard it was to learn your skills? How could you be so reckless with your life, wasting all the painstaking training your Master gave you, throwing your own life away!"

"Eh?"

Hu Ma hadn’t anticipated being berated the moment he showed himself. What he expected even less was that this Old Shousui, while scolding him so blatantly, wasn’t doing so out of typical enmity. Though it seemed absurd, Hu Ma thought he detected a hint of protectiveness in the old man’s words.

Remembering Old Master Sun’s similar treatment of Zhou Datong and the others earlier, it was initially surprising, but on reflection, it made perfect sense.

This was likely the mutual appreciation that arises between people on the same Path.

With this realization, his anger subsided. Instead, his eyes swept across the scene, and he smiled, saying, "I am the manager under the Red Lantern Lady, here to handle matters for Her Ladyship."

"She sent me to this mine, so my duty is to oversee what’s hers here. Old Sir, you and your group barging in, dueling, and killing here is a show of disrespect. But seeing as you haven’t laid hands on my fellow disciples, I’ll let it slide for you. Why haven’t you all retreated quickly yet?"

Old Master Iron Bridge Sun became instantly furious. FWOOM! Firstly, although he was an Entering the Mansion Shousui, he hadn’t exerted much force in the recent duel. After all, the Witch’s methods were bizarre and dangerous, and he had to guard against mishaps. Secondly, the Nine Heaven Lotus Holy Mother had already possessed the Magic King. Trying to steal the spotlight now would be disrespectful to the Guest. Therefore, it was appropriate for him to deal with this emerging manager from the Red Lantern Society. Besides, a quick slap would teach the boy his place and prevent him from needlessly provoking those important figures and getting himself killed.

With a shout, he launched a vigorous palm strike. Using his Entering the Mansion skills, his body seemed to transform into that of a demon, power surging and malicious energy roiling. The force of his palm was so immense that the mere gust of wind from it could kill an ordinary person.

This was undeniably the capability of an Entering the Mansion Shousui—not like Ji Tang of the Beggar Gang, who had only just Entered the Mansion, but an Old Shousui with a true trump card.

Clearly human, yet refined as if possessing a demon’s physique.

WHOOSH!

Hu Ma remained inwardly alert but appeared outwardly calm. Holding the red lantern in one hand, all his Three Column Tao flowed into the incense burner, and his qi and blood surged. He freed his right hand and unleashed the Big Stone Breaking Hand, meeting the attack head-on.

The Entering the Mansion Old Shousui had his whole body refined to a deathly state, wielding demon-like power, while Hu Ma had his whole body refined to a living state, his qi and blood surging as he clashed head-on with his Yang-attribute trump card.

BOOM!

Their palms collided, immense force creating ripples that spread to both their bodies.

Hu Ma felt his bones compress and grind, as if his frame would shatter. However, because he had tempered his entire body with the Zhensui Mansion’s malicious qi before Entering the Mansion, his foundation was incredibly solid. Thus, despite having just Entered the Mansion, his physique displayed extraordinary resilience.

Even though the yin qi almost suffocated him, he forced himself to endure, maintaining his composure without significant change in his face.

"Eh?"

Hu Ma withstood the impact. The Entering the Mansion Old Shousui, however, was startled. He abruptly withdrew his palm and retreated, the ghostly blue pallor on his face instantly fading.

It wasn’t that he had lost; he was frightened.

As an Entering the Mansion Shousui man, he hadn’t intended to kill the youngster. Though he used his trump card, he had held back his full power, merely intending to show Hu Ma the stakes and scare him away.

He never imagined the opponent would also use a trump card, and one that seemed no weaker than his own. That meant...

Damn it, could this brat also be a Shousui who has Entered the Mansion Gate? Curse Zhuang Erchang and his lack of insight! Claiming to lose when fighting others—he, an Ascension tier, went to fight an Entering the Mansion tier? He even fooled me.

At this point, who was stronger was no longer the primary concern.

Just seeing Hu Ma had Entered the Mansion Gate was enough to startle him. He withdrew his hand, his expression alarmed.

His heart overflowed with questions: So young and already Entered the Mansion, then how powerful must his Master be? Could this kid be the apprentice of the Great Blade-holding Master? His Master couldn’t be from the Yangming Zhou Family, could he? Damn it, his Master really is named Zhou, isn’t he called Second Master Zhou?

"Allow me, Old Sir!"

Hu Ma quickly retracted his palm, hiding it behind his back. His right hand throbbed with an icy chill, the blood vessels feeling as if they were about to burst.

Yet, his imposing manner didn’t diminish in the slightest. Riding the momentum of having repelled the Entering the Mansion Shousui man, he abruptly turned towards the Magic King of the One Coin Sect and Wuya, who had resumed their battle with Wu Song. "Are you all deaf?" he yelled. "Didn’t you hear the Red Lantern Lady’s orders?"

Looking ahead, it was clear Monkey Wine was at a disadvantage. His three avatars were under a coordinated attack from the Magic King, Wuya, and the gu insects. Old Master Sun’s absence was inconsequential. After all, the old fellow had just been slacking off anyway.

In that brief interval, the three attackers had closed in. The three Witch avatars were clearly showing signs of collapse. If Hu Ma didn’t intervene soon, it would be too late.

With an angry shout, his eyes suddenly focused. An invisible, cold power condensed and struck fiercely at the Magic King’s back.

WHOOSH!

Once a Shousui man Entered the Mansion, they gained the gaze attack ability. A concentrated stare could petrify an ordinary, weak-willed person. Even an ordinary wandering spirit, if it drew near, could have half its soul scattered by a single glance, forcing it to flee in disarray.

Against those on the Path, its effect was diminished. However, with the Lotus Holy Mother currently possessing the Magic King, Hu Ma’s gaze instantly enraged her.

A Guest would not tolerate such impudence from an ordinary person. The Magic King spun around instantly, his eyes showing only the whites. He exhaled, and suddenly, paper money filled the air, swirling like heavy snow, transforming the surroundings into an eerie, unearthly scene, no longer like the human world.

The lantern in Hu Ma’s hand flickered, threatening to go out.

Sensing the assault of chilling yin qi, Hu Ma was truly on guard.

This was his first confrontation with a Guest in his capacity as a little shopkeeper of the Blood Food Gang. Although it was only a descended Guest, and he didn’t know how much of her mana the Magic King could channel, the pressure was nonetheless unprecedented.

He steeled himself, preparing gravely.

Outwardly, however, he withstood the blast of yin qi, his expression unchanging, maintaining his composure. The red lantern in his hand swayed, and his face suddenly turned grim.

Whether the lantern went out or not was actually unimportant, because Hu Ma hadn’t summoned the Red Lantern Lady at all.

Normally, the Red Lantern Lady wouldn’t personally attend to matters at the blood food mine. Of course, Hu Ma, being in her favor, had ways to call her, but he felt it was unnecessary.

What if she came, saw such a grand setup, and immediately knelt in homage?

But even though the Red Lantern Lady hadn’t been summoned, maintaining an imposing presence was crucial. With a sharp cry, Hu Ma tossed the red lantern backward. Little Hongtang, who had been hovering nearby but afraid to approach, immediately leaped up and caught it.

The next moment, Hu Ma suddenly reached into his sleeve and drew out a black bone. He brought it to his lips, took a deep breath, and blew. Instantly, the sky and earth grew dark.

Billowing malicious energy surged, sweeping across the valley. Numerous fire pits and oil lamps, which had remained lit even during the fierce assault of the Gu Bees, were still burning brightly.

But in that instant, all these flames abruptly turned a ghostly green, casting an eerie, wavering light, like a Ghostly Forest.

Across the valley, only the lantern held by Little Hongtang emitted an eerie crimson glow. It traced strange, unsettling arcs in the air, outlining a terrifying and bizarre atmosphere amidst the roiling malicious energy.

However, only a Reincarnator would understand that these movements traced the letters "OK."