Twilight Boundary-Chapter 420 - 414: Circle Test

"So, is this gathering actually a meeting of experts qualified for Entering the Mansion?"

Hu Ma looked closely and could discern that these people had extraordinary bearing, and their expressions were imposing. It seemed they truly possessed valuable skills.

Old Master Sun was someone who valued competence and loved to display his importance. For him to have people like these sitting at his table, it meant they had some tricks up their sleeves; otherwise, they wouldn’t have earned such respect and an invitation.

However, this made Hu Ma a bit curious. Could it be that this small Shima Town had suddenly gathered seven or eight experts at the Entering the Mansion level? But on second thought, that didn’t seem likely. Even with Old Master Sun’s connections, it wouldn’t be easy to gather such a group.

Another aspect was the identities of these people. With just a little listening, Hu Ma could tell these weren’t ordinary Martial Artists.

What are Martial Artists? They are those who make a living in the jianghu. Earlier, when Hu Ma worked with sweet potato spirits and went to see Young Master Lu from the rice shop, he encountered a group of them. Some were skilled at killing, others specialized in resolving matters for people, earning Silver by exerting themselves—those were Martial Artists.

But the ones at this table were all people with status and background. Most importantly, they wielded no small amount of power, qualifying them as magnates of the jianghu, individuals who could shake the town with a mere stomp of their foot.

It seemed they were giving face to the One Coin Sect.

The reason for this trip was the upcoming birthday of the One Coin Sect Leader. It must have been why these influential and capable individuals had gathered, and then Old Master Sun invited them to sit together.

The fact that the One Coin Sect could invite such people truly demonstrated their exceptional foundation, likely much stronger than his own Red Lantern Society. After all, these people, in a sense, could actually start a rebellion.

However, even though he knew these people were extraordinary, Hu Ma didn’t feel intimidated. He greeted each person with a smile and then took his seat.

What a joke. We are Shousui men. Sitting this close, the ones who should feel pressured are the others.

"Clear the fruits! Serve the dishes, serve the dishes!"

Old Mr. Sun introduced Hu Ma to the others. After everyone had settled down, he clapped his hands, signaling the servants outside to officially start the banquet.

A stream of well-prepared, rare delicacies flowed onto the table. It was only then that Hu Ma understood why Old Mr. Sun had thought he was deliberately being critical of him at the mine earlier.

This old fellow certainly knew how to eat well. As a Reincarnator, with abundant resources in his past life, what grand scene hadn’t he witnessed? Yet he had never seen the likes of the food these people were eating now.

They were clearly in a town nestled in the mountains, a place where all sorts of characters mingled, yet they had managed to lay out such a sumptuous feast.

Once the dishes were served, drinks were eagerly offered, and people began to mingle and get acquainted.

Hu Ma, being new and having been reminded by Old Mr. Sun that there would be tests at this banquet, acted with discretion. However, he could feel curious glances occasionally darting his way; perhaps Old Master Sun had boasted about him, and these people were now trying to size him up.

"I’ve heard, Manager Hu, that you studied under a reclusive prodigy from Old Yin Mountain?"

After two rounds of drinks, Bai Shanzi, a portly, middle-aged man holding a white fan, who sat opposite Hu Ma, laughed and said, "He must indeed be an extraordinary figure; otherwise, how could he have trained such an outstanding Disciple as Manager Hu?"

"Although I haven’t learned the skills of a Shousui man, I greatly admire experts from all walks of life. If given the chance, I’d like Manager Hu to introduce me so I can pay my respects to such an expert."

"Certainly," Hu Ma said, setting down his wine cup with a smile. "However, our Master is very unassuming. I’m afraid even if you were to meet him, you might not recognize him."

Upon hearing this, Bai Shanzi laughed heartily. "Are you implying I lack discernment?"

"But in all honesty, the skills of a Shousui man are deeply concealed. They possess the power to rival armies, yet it doesn’t show on the surface. If not for Old Mr. Sun’s introduction, I wouldn’t have recognized your abilities, Manager Hu, even if you were sitting right in front of me."

"If you wouldn’t mind, I’d actually like to ask Manager Hu to demonstrate an impressive skill for us, to broaden our horizons!"

...

Those at the surrounding tables reacted differently to this.

Old Master Sun seemed to frown slightly. He knew there would be tests, but he hadn’t expected Bai Shanzi to be so direct.

The others merely smiled and watched. Although they had been courteous, they were all heroes who possessed trump cards. Seeing such a young man suddenly seated among them, they couldn’t help but scrutinize him, regardless of whether they believed Old Mr. Sun’s words.

"I am young and haven’t learned much. If you ask me to make a fool of myself, that would indeed be putting me in a difficult position," Hu Ma replied, not angered, but with a calm smile.

Firstly, he was already prepared. Secondly, in such a place, among strangers, and given his youth, how else could he earn their respect? Even his status within the Red Lantern Society might not be enough; he had to make them respect his abilities.

So, although Bai Shanzi’s words were somewhat pointed, there was no reason to get angry. However, if Bai Shanzi spoke like that again after Hu Ma had showcased his skills, it would be considered a provocation.

Furthermore, he didn’t mind showcasing a trump card, but as a guest, he couldn’t be the first to act. If they understood etiquette, Bai Shanzi should have demonstrated a skill first—casting a brick to attract jade, as it were—then they could all compare abilities.

Just saying a word and expecting me to perform? That’s like treating me as a monkey for amusement!

Bai Shanzi, noticing Hu Ma’s composure, nodded inwardly and seemed to ponder how to propose the challenge.

Just then, a commotion faintly arose from the street outside, accompanied by a few shouts.

The town was built on a mountainside. Their windows were low, but their position was elevated, allowing them a clear view of the street below where a group of people were scuffling. Vaguely, they could see a band of fierce-looking men clad in animal skins and carrying weapons.

They had grabbed a scantily clad little lady, slapped her across the face several times, and were now cursing at a group of pimps who had gathered but dared not approach. "All of you, stand right there for your grandpa!"

"Everyone knows there’s no government in Shima Town! If you have Silver, you can sleep with women. We brothers came down from the mountains looking for a good time, and we brought plenty of Silver. So why can’t we sleep with this woman?"

...

One of the pimps tried to sneak up from behind with a Bangzi to launch a surprise attack, but the ruffian, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, kicked him away, sneering, "You think that pathetic bit of skill can get you near us? I’ve taken more lives than your mother has slept with men! Are you trying to rebel?"

Seeing these seven or eight tall, menacing figures radiating hostility, the onlookers were too frightened to utter a sound.

"Shima Town is lively, but trouble does flare up from time to time," Bai Shanzi sighed. "These people never understand. While it’s true there are no meddling government officials here, that doesn’t mean there are no rules."

As he spoke, he suddenly unfolded his fan and, with a flick of his wrist, waved it gently in the direction of the commotion.

The distance to where the men were causing trouble was at least over fifty yards. The breeze from such a small fan, even if magnified tenfold, shouldn’t have reached that far.

Yet, unexpectedly, he had used a subtle force. The wind he generated didn’t dissipate but shot across the distance, striking a bamboo pole near the troublemakers. The pole swung sideways, smacking their leader squarely in the face.

"Who is it? Who did that?"

The fierce man, dazed by the blow, thought someone had attacked him and immediately drew his knife.

The servants nearby, witnessing this, were startled and quickly tried to move away.

Unable to find anyone who looked like his assailant, the fierce man grew even angrier. He yanked the woman he was holding towards him and raised his knife, about to chop off one of her arms to vent his fury and demonstrate his ruthlessness. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

At Hu Ma’s table, the Store Manager of the Wanma Gang sneered, picked up a chopstick from the table before him, and gently snapped it in two.

CRACK!

Before the fierce bandit could bring his knife down, his arm suddenly broke and fell limp, dangling at an angle identical to the snapped chopstick lying on the table.

"Boss! Boss!"

The group of fierce bandits, realizing something was terribly wrong, crowded around their leader, shouting. One of them pulled a black wooden doll from his waist, while another produced a bamboo tube filled with child’s urine mixed with black dog blood, which he began to sprinkle around.

Though they conducted their business in the mountains, they clearly knew some evil skills. Aware now that they had run into trouble, they desperately sprinkled the mixture while trying to push their way out of the crowd.

But they had no idea what kind of individuals they had encountered. Across from Hu Ma, Grandma Wu’s godson-in-law seemed to find the situation amusing. He picked up a bowl, brought it to his lips, muttered a few words, and then slammed it upside down on the table before him.

Instantly, the group of fierce bandits began to move like headless chickens, merely stumbling around in circles within a small area, no matter which way they tried to go.

One particularly gaunt bandit, clearly realizing the gravity of their situation, hastily put away his black wooden doll and began bowing repeatedly in all directions. "We brothers are from the mountains and didn’t understand the rules!"

"If we have offended any expert, please forgive us! Please let us leave!"

...

As he spoke, he took off all the money bags he carried and placed them on the ground in front of him. Then, he retreated several steps, waiting and trembling.

"A bit late to be scared now, don’t you think?"

Laughter erupted at Hu Ma’s table. Another man, with the affluent appearance of a noble, chuckled, picked up a plate of fried soybeans from the table, and casually tossed them out the window.

Vaguely, it seemed as if each soybean transformed into a tiny child dressed in red shorts. Giggling, they brandished miniature weapons and charged towards the group of evil bandits.

The bandits were flabbergasted. They drew their weapons and fought desperately against these little children, but they soon found themselves exhausted and drenched in sweat, unable to land a single blow on the tiny figures. Instead, their own arms and legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Substituting Peach for Li, the Universe in a Bowl, Planting Beans into Soldiers..."

The more terrified and panic-stricken the bandits outside became, the more jovial the mood grew at the table, fueled by the wine. Bai Shanzi snapped open his fan, waved it a few times, and laughed. "We’ve merely shown our humble skills, casting a brick to attract jade."

"Now, it’s time to see what you gentlemen from the Age Guard Path can do to broaden our horizons!"