Twilight Boundary-Chapter 416 - 410: Expert Not Eating Beef

When Hu Ma first heard the name "not eating beef," he managed to control his emotions, but after hearing the subsequent words, he just couldn’t hold it in anymore.

What kind of great benefactor was this?

In this world, skills were paramount. When I first entered this Shousui Path, I had no idea how much effort it would take or how many risks I’d face. It was only by a stroke of luck that I finally learned true skills and entered the Shousui Path. Now, having achieved Entering the Mansion, the Cultivation method obtained must be invaluable. If one were to throw Silver at it, how much would it cost to acquire this genuine skill? Impossible to calculate! Even offering this entire blood food mine might not be enough to sway someone. I knew this difficulty, which is why I was constantly worried and deliberately tried to foster a good relationship with Old Master Sun, hoping for an opportunity. But who would have thought someone would give it away for free?

His heart pounded, and he said in a low voice, "Brother, after hearing you speak of such a remarkable person, I must admit, I’m deeply impressed. I wonder if you could introduce me?"

"Introduce?"

Old Master Sun was a bit taken aback and said with a wry smile, "The expert who guided me... I haven’t seen him in almost ten years."

Hu Ma sighed in disappointment. "Alas..."

Old Mr. Sun noticed Hu Ma’s eagerness and lowered his voice. "However, speaking of experts in the Not Eating Beef Sect, there is a senior sister not far from here."

Eh? You’re just stringing me along...

Hu Ma complained inwardly but was clearly moved, smiling. "Then..."

Old Mr. Sun quickly waved his hand. "This expert is open-minded but has a peculiar temper. If you want me to introduce you, old man, I won’t refuse. However, I can only go and ask. If she wishes to see you, she naturally will. Otherwise..."

Why mention a peculiar temper and an open-minded nature in the same breath? Hu Ma thought, but he laughed outwardly. "Understood. That would mean we’re not fated to meet."

Old Master Sun was delighted as well, laughing. "If you can think this way, I am sure there won’t be any problem."

With this promise from Old Mr. Sun, Hu Ma felt somewhat reassured, though he knew he shouldn’t appear too eager. He immediately busied himself pouring drinks hospitably, deliberately switched topics, and chatted only about matters within the Path with Old Mr. Sun.

It had to be said, this veteran Shousui man possessed a wealth of knowledge. Not being guarded toward Hu Ma, he readily shared whatever was asked.

The details and experiences he shared about Shousui men achieving Entering the Mansion, even if not true methods, gave Hu Ma significant insights, earning the old gentleman his deep respect.

On closer thought, there was a reason for this:

It’s always those without substance who try to gain from those who have it. Old Mr. Sun had surmised that Hu Ma’s Master, Second Master Zhou, was an expert, so he wasn’t worried that Hu Ma would covet his meager knowledge. Since the topic came up, he casually shared it. If he knew Hu Ma was actually a standard unaffiliated cultivator, he might not have been so forthcoming.

The banquet continued until dusk. Old Master Sun, quite drunk, finally declined Hu Ma’s invitation to stay the night and left with the coffins. Hu Ma escorted him to the edge of the forest outside the valley before returning.

Being able to spread these trump cards for Entering the Mansion far and wide... that sounds like the style of a Reincarnator... But surely the Beef Avoidance Sect disciples left behind by Great Master Daliang can’t all be Reincarnators, right? Still, putting that aside for now, since I’ve made this connection, a trip is necessary. If I can obtain the Magic, that would be ideal. Even if I can’t get a dharma method, I can learn about past events from these people!

He took a deep breath, marveling at the serendipity of it all. He had almost clashed with Old Master Sun earlier, yet in the blink of an eye, they had become friends. Not only had Old Master Sun resolved the scarcity at the mine, but he had also unexpectedly provided a chance to seek Magic.

If he managed this carefully, perhaps he could soon become a qualified Shousui man of Entering the Mansion status himself.

After chatting with Old Master Sun, he understood that for Shousui men who had achieved Entering the Mansion, their abilities could be roughly divided into three aspects:

One was the Seven Apertures Ultimate Skills. These were the foundation for Entering the Mansion and the very bedrock of their abilities thereafter. Another was the weapon in their hand, for which the requirements were increasingly high. And most importantly, there was the "Qi Eating" method.

This was considered a secret lore for those who had achieved Entering the Mansion, and it was the primary skill Hu Ma needed to learn, as training the Divine Soul was related to this type of dharma method. However, Hu Ma currently knew nothing about it, and his success would depend on what Old Mr. Sun discovered.

Although eager, he knew it was crucial to remain calm. So, Hu Ma settled his mind and meticulously practiced the few trump cards he had learned from Ji Tang of the Beggar Gang.

After all, contact with people from the Not Eating Beef Sect might not be without danger. Having more skills would give him greater confidence if trouble arose.

After a day’s delay, while Hu Ma was still preparing, people arrived in the valley as arranged by Old Master Sun, a caravan of mules and horses delivering grain.

Unexpectedly, Sun Family’s Seventh Son had personally led the team. This young man from the Sun Family was meticulous, gentle, and generous, making it no surprise that Old Master Sun favored him, as he was so attentive in his duties.

They brought the men into the valley, unloaded grain and wine, and herded the cattle and sheep into pens.

After Sun Family’s Seventh Son finished overseeing the delivery and came to pay his respects, Hu Ma smiled and asked, "You’re Changming, aren’t you? Have you also learned the Shousui Path?"

"Not exactly." Sun Family’s Seventh Son blushed slightly. "My father gets angry every time this topic comes up. I have three older brothers and three older sisters. As for my sisters, Father wouldn’t let them learn Shousui, fearing they’d become too burly and find it hard to marry."

"Among my three older brothers, the eldest was crippled by enemies in his childhood and couldn’t learn any skills. My second brother did learn, but Father always considered him a dunce; he still hasn’t even finished refining his Five Organs..."

"So, Father had originally pinned all his hopes on me..."

Hu Ma listened with curiosity and smiled. "And what about you?"

Sun Family’s Seventh Son’s face turned an even deeper red as he said softly, "I... I lost my purity before I even finished lighting the furnace..."

Good heavens...

Hu Ma immediately understood why Old Master Sun, despite his generally good temper, would scold his sons so often. Forget scolding; it was a wonder he hadn’t beaten them to death!

Sun Family’s Seventh Son continued, "So, Father had no choice but to ask an expert to help me acknowledge a godmother. Whenever trouble arises, I go and kowtow to her, hoping for some protection."

"Acknowledged a godmother?" Hu Ma was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood. "So, you follow the Negative Spirit Path?"

Every Path had different methods, but in the initial stages, the distinctions weren’t always clear-cut. Hu Ma himself had acknowledged a godmother for protection; Second Master Zhou had taken him to do so. Every year when he returned to his village, he performed incense-burning rites for his godmother.

In truth, this was a Method from the Negative Spirit Path. However, merely seeking a godmother’s protection wouldn’t make one a Red Fragrance disciple, who truly gambled with their lives.

The Negative Spirit Path itself was a major Path, and Red Fragrance disciples merely followed one of its more extreme branches.

Sun Family’s Seventh Son just blushed and said, "My father says I don’t even count as having entered the Path. I’m just learning to manage the family business now."

"Since you seek stability, keep this talisman with you." Hu Ma took out a folded talisman and handed it to him with a smile. "If you encounter an evil spirit, throw this at it. Just remember, don’t open the talisman to look inside. If you do, it will become useless."

The young man called him Uncle Hu so readily, and they hadn’t even charged for the grain. How could he not offer something in return? He didn’t have much else suitable to give, so he offered this talisman. It was something he’d casually drawn while practicing skills from the Age Suppressing Book. It was a talisman from the "Shackle" curse. It wasn’t very powerful, but if he encountered Wandering spirits or wild ghosts, throwing it could bind them for a moment, providing a chance to escape. As for telling him not to open it, that was because Hu Ma’s calligraphy was poor, and he was afraid of embarrassment.

"Thank you, Uncle Hu." Sun Family’s Seventh Son accepted the talisman without inspecting it and tucked it into his sleeve.

He was presumably born after Old Master Sun had made his fortune. Although the Sun Family came from humble beginnings, Changming now carried an air of wealth. His speech and actions were courteous, yet there was still a hint of a wealthy young master’s arrogance about him.

He certainly listened to Old Master Sun, but whether he truly respected this "Uncle Hu" was another matter entirely!

Still, having become an "uncle," Hu Ma couldn’t be bothered with such trifles. Besides, his gift wasn’t given without reason. After a moment’s thought, he said,

"I know from chatting with your father that your family deals in the salt and iron business. However, I drank a bit too much that day and didn’t get a chance to ask: does your family have connections with any weapon-smithing workshops around here?"

"In the Gunzhou and Liu County areas, there are dozens of blacksmith shops, and more than half of them belong to our family. Among those, three specialize in catering to Martial Artists," Sun Family’s Seventh Son replied. "What kind of weapon does Uncle Hu intend to commission?"

"I don’t need a new weapon made. I want to have a knife repaired." Hu Ma smiled, then took out his saw-toothed knife, drew it halfway from its sheath, and laid it horizontally on the table.

Sun Family’s Seventh Son hesitated for a moment before picking up the knife. He drew it fully from the sheath. Looking at the jagged, gap-toothed blade, he tapped it lightly with a finger. The saw-toothed knife emitted a dull HUM, and suddenly the air in the room seemed to turn several degrees colder.

His expression changed drastically, and his body trembled violently, nearly causing him to stumble and fall.