Twilight Boundary-Chapter 496 - 488: What is Not Eating Beef

"Do you need my help, Senior?" Sweet Potato, filled with bitterness, was delighted when she suddenly heard Hu Ma say this. "What kind of help?"

Hu Ma pondered for a moment, then said, "It’s not the right time to discuss it yet. Just come to the eastern woods in a few days and meet me."

"Alright, alright, alright. Senior, wherever you point, I’ll attack. I’m very obedient..." Receiving this unexpected joy, Sweet Potato immediately agreed repeatedly. "In our Red Lantern Lady’s Club, the one I admire the most is you, Senior. A few days ago, when that person brought us a message with something called Monkey Wine, they complained about you having matters in Shima Town!"

"They say you have thick eyebrows and big eyes, look honest, but actually are the most daring and trouble-prone... I don’t agree with that! Obviously, Senior, you are the most charismatic one..."

"..."

"Enough, enough..."

Hu Ma hurriedly stopped Sweet Potato’s flattery, arranged a meeting time, and then severed the connection.

Inwardly, he felt a bit helpless. What to say? This young girl Sweet Potato truly became proactive when something came up. Her excitement was a bit frightening...

Not only Hu Ma, but Miss White Wine and Er Guotou also instinctively avoided her in the past. However, things had changed. With the Reincarnators having encountered a significant matter, such proactive individuals could no longer be excluded.

Of course, information about the Reincarnators, the most confidential details, was still cautiously withheld. Who knew what uncontrollable actions she might take when she got too excited?

The meeting with her wasn’t solely to appease her for fear she might target the One Coin Sect.

Indeed, Hu Ma did have a use for her.

First, Wuya was still asleep, requiring someone from the Execution Soul Path to take a look. Though Sweet Potato hadn’t joined the Execution Soul Path officially, her skills might not be up to par. However, being part of the Execution Soul Path, she likely knew much more about its matters than he did.

Furthermore, the issue with his left arm also needed proper resolution. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Currently, that thing was tightly contained, unable to escape or cause trouble. But how to ultimately deal with it? Hu Ma had only a vague idea and also needed cooperation from someone in the Execution Soul Path.

The Shousui man, whether refining the physical body or the Dharma Form, was straightforward and rough, unable to handle delicate work like this. Sweet Potato’s current abilities might not be significant, but she could help him gain more contact with the Execution Soul Path.

Having thought through everything, Hu Ma withdrew from the Lifebound Spirit Temple. Realizing it was still early, he lay down and slept again.

「At daybreak,」 he packed his belongings. Although he had gone through many experiences with the One Coin Sect and even nominally became their Sect Hierarch, Hu Ma didn’t take much with him.

Only the scroll of the Great Mighty Sky General Seal, the painting that allowed entry into the Ghost Cave, and the blank seal that fell from the old elm tree. According to Big Senior Brother, the first two were now his, while the third was a symbol of identity.

After rising and brushing his teeth, he had the inn send up some food, filled his belly, and fed the horse.

When it was time to set off, Sun Family’s Seventh Son arrived. He was accompanied by an old Master in an apron, eyes bloodshot and exuding a burnt aroma, along with two apprentices. Upon inquiry, this was the Master who had helped him forge the blade.

The blade’s handle had been sculpted and properly affixed, wrapped with red string.

They had come with Sun Family’s Seventh Son to deliver the blade.

"Master, thank you for your hard work..."

Although Hu Ma had only galloped past the window on horseback when he previously went to collect the blade, he vaguely knew what had happened in the forge when the Evil Blade emerged.

He politely bowed deeply to the Master and then took ten taels of Silver from his bundle, along with three Blood Food Pills as a gift. He was practically out of money, having given ten taels to the One Coin Sect earlier.

The Blood Food Pills were a tribute from Sun Family’s Seventh Son; he had only received seven in total, so not many were left.

Little Hongtang usually received Blood Food Pills after helping with tasks, but this time, all she got was a candied hawthorn stick after signaling for half a day.

"There’s no need, there’s no need..."

To his surprise, the Master refused to accept it, waving his hands repeatedly. "It’s a blessing to serve you, Young Master," he said. "You giving me this job is my honor. Accepting money would diminish that honor."

"..."

The two apprentices nearby could hardly hold back their thoughts. That blade almost cost you your life when it came out of the forge!

And this is a blessing?

Hu Ma was somewhat surprised too. Glancing at Sun Family’s Seventh Son, he saw him smiling and nodding. He realized that this Master was essentially a Sun Family blacksmith and would be rewarded by them, so there was no need for him to insist.

He put the ten taels of Silver back. As he was about to take the blade, the Master approached again and softly said to Hu Ma, "Young Master, may I have a word with you in private?"

Seeing his caution, Hu Ma stepped aside with him. The Master sighed lowly and advised, "Strictly speaking, I am just a blacksmith and shouldn’t meddle. However, this blade is extraordinary, so I must remind you, Young Master."

"This blade is no ordinary weapon; it carries a fierce, demonic aura. When not in use, Young Master, refrain from keeping it on your person. It’s best to find a Case God Temple with thriving incense and enshrine it there to suppress its murderous aura."

"Before using it, prepare a live chicken and strong wine. Test the blade with them first to arouse its fierceness. Afterward, you must purify it with intense fire and then enshrine it back in the temple."

"..."

"Yes, yes."

Hu Ma saw the Master speaking sincerely and agreed with a smile, though he didn’t particularly take it to heart.

This blade is indeed fierce and wicked, but I can keep it in check.

The Master, though a craftsman, specialized in dealing with Martial Artists and had a good eye for discerning expressions. He noticed Hu Ma’s perfunctory attitude despite his polite words and sighed. "Others may not know, but I do," he said.

"You, Young Master, are no ordinary person. Otherwise, you couldn’t possibly control this blade, let alone have it go out, return, and then suddenly have its fierceness subdued, as if intoxicated..."

"But, Young Master, please heed my warning. You may be able to control it, but blades are inherently malevolent. The wickedness of this blade, its heavy murderous aura... I’ve been forging tools my entire life, and I’ve never seen anything like it."

"However, while a murderous aura can seize fortune, it destroys blessings."

"Young Master, if you use this blade and can control it, your fortune will indeed improve, but your blessings will suffer greatly!"

"So, if you can, keep it restrained. It’s better to do so, lest you look back in the future and find it’s too late to mend things."

"..."

Hearing this, Hu Ma was slightly taken aback.

It stirred a faint, long-standing doubt deep within him.

He paused briefly and then, more sincerely this time, told the Master, "I will remember your words."

"How should I address you, Master?"

"..."

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing..."

The Master saw Hu Ma respond earnestly and inquire about his name, considering it a great sign of respect.

In the future, should this blade gain fame, my reputation as a master craftsman will rise as well.

He quickly imitated a Martial Artist’s greeting with clasped fists and said, "This old one’s surname is Hong, and my given name is Fang!"

Hu Ma replied, "Master Hong, my regards."

As he spoke, he also introduced himself by his capacity as the green incense manager of the Red Lantern Society. They exchanged names, thus forming a connection.

This Master Hong Fang swiftly had the blade, together with its scabbard, brought over. The scabbard was carved from wood over a hundred years old, grown on a sunny hillside. It was still unpainted and appeared humble and unremarkable.

But the material was excellent, perfectly housing half of the blade. It seemed more suitable for enshrinement than for carrying at the waist.

If Hu Ma wished to carry it in the future, he would either have to hold it or strap it on his back.

In addition to the scabbard, there was a cloth for wiping the blade and a sharpening stone, both well-known items, presented as gifts by this Master Hong.

After Hu Ma received them, this Master Hong curiously asked, "Manager Hu, have you named this blade yet?"

Noticing this Master and his apprentices were deeply interested in this question, and that Sun Family’s Seventh Son nearby was also listening intently, Hu Ma chuckled. He recalled how the blade, shortly after being forged, had accompanied him to cut down Erlang’s infantry and had also drunk the blood of Meng family disciples.

Smiling, he said, "I’ve provisionally chosen a name. It might not sound very pleasant, but I’ll call it ’Punishment Officer.’"

"Ah?"

Master Hong, who had already gauged Hu Ma’s extraordinariness by observing him through the tool he forged, was startled upon hearing this name.

「At that moment,」 they saw from the other end of the town, on the stone-paved road, two tall, long-legged horses with green manes pulling a large cart approaching.

The cart bore nothing but a copper coffin. Escorting it was Bai Shanzi, a follower from Immortal Miaoshan’s side. Hu Ma had agreed with Immortal Miaoshan and Big Senior Brother the day before that everything should be handled low-key, so they didn’t need to come see him off personally.

Regarding this Lantern Festival, whatever secrets others might have gleaned was their own business. But on the surface, at least, Hu Ma remained merely a minor manager at the blood food mine of the Red Lantern Society, who had chanced upon some fortune and was now quietly departing again.

「Back at the main mansion of the headquarters,」 Big Senior Brother and Immortal Miaoshan, though not present to see him off, unmistakably observed the proprieties. They stood facing east from afar, as a farewell gesture. Immortal Miaoshan glanced back at Big Senior Brother several times, her serene, aloof face filled with clear, simple curiosity:

"Big Senior Brother, what have you been discussing with the Sect Hierarch these past few days? Why isn’t he, as the Sect Hierarch, staying to oversee the general situation? Why does he instead want to return to the blood food mine to continue being a minor mine head?"

"..."

"We talked about many things, mostly the Sect Hierarch asking questions."

Big Senior Brother sighed gently. "He inquired about the general situation of the world, Path cultivation techniques, the strengths and weaknesses of the Ten Surnames, and the peculiar people appearing in this town. He even asked about some difficult matters in cultivation, much like a student earnestly seeking knowledge."

"And I, in fact, only asked him one question: What is ’not eating beef’?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Immortal Miaoshan was momentarily stunned. Shouldn’t this be the question the Sect Hierarch asks us? We’re the ones who practice ’not eating beef’...

However, knowing in her heart it wasn’t that simple, she hurriedly asked, "What did the Sect Hierarch say?"

"He said..."

Big Senior Brother paused, then smiled and said, "The common people are like cattle and horses, burdened by the world, capable of carrying people or overthrowing them. It’s not that they can’t be eaten, but that we dare not eat them..."