Twilight Boundary-Chapter 507 - 499 Qingyuan Hu Family

The Red Lantern Society had Red Fragrance, green incense, and white incense; Disciples were classified this way, and Worships were as well. Because of the different color belts tied around their waists, they were called White Belt, green belt, and Red Waist. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Di Guashao had switched from the Green Clothes Gang midway. She didn’t hold a real position and was only granted a Worship position. However, this Worship of hers was not directly cultivated by the Red Lantern Society, so she was merely a White Belt minor Worship. Of course, unlike Disciples and Shopkeepers, those who joined the society halfway just to make a living were mostly White Belt Worships. Their status in the society was not high, but that didn’t mean their abilities were lacking.

Moreover, this wasn’t Shima Town now, but Mingzhou Prefecture, which was the Red Lantern Lady’s domain. Not even jianghu figures dared to provoke the society’s Disciples, let alone a Worship with obvious Strange Skill. Under normal circumstances, when such a title was announced, the other party would eagerly try to establish connections. A White Belt minor Worship was still intimidating enough.

"Red Lantern Society?"

Unexpectedly, the person under the green banner saw the little ghost under Di Guashao spouting filthy language and cursing fiercely. Upon hearing Di Guashao mention some White Belt minor Worship position, they only sneered coldly, "Driving out ghosts in broad daylight, how audacious the Red Lantern Society is!"

It was just early morning; the thin mist hadn’t dispersed, and the sun hadn’t come out, but the roosters had indeed crowed. Hu Ma had withdrawn his Magic at dawn, but Di Guashao, in a hurry to travel, hadn’t yet dismissed the little ghost.

The other party immediately rebuked Di Guashao. Their words were harsh and superior, somewhat disrespectful, and vaguely displayed the demeanor of a government official.

Hearing this, Di Guashao’s eyes widened. "Oh? Such big talk! Looking for trouble with me, are you?"

With her cursing, the little ghosts carrying the sedan chair joined in a chorus of curses.

The believers under the green banner said nothing further. They just pulled out a colorful flag from their sleeves and approached indifferently, seemingly about to act without a word.

Di Guashao didn’t know the other party’s cultivation, but she wasn’t afraid. She also grabbed a handful of paper money, ready to throw it, though her eyes darted around, looking for Hu Ma’s position to see if he was nearby.

"Both sides, stop! Don’t make a fuss, and especially don’t start fighting, lest you scare the villagers out working the fields..."

Amid the tension, a string of shouts was heard from the side, and a sedan chair emerged from a patch of withered grass. Carrying the sedan chair were two sturdy yellow skins, one in front and one behind. Sitting on it was a withered old lady holding a smoking pipe. She seemed to have just returned from drinking somewhere; the sedan chair swayed erratically as they walked, and she swayed along with it.

Arriving before them, she tapped her pipe and said, "We don’t usually care when you all roam around nearby. So why are you so arrogant today, trying to hurt people early in the morning? You be careful now. Seventh Aunt usually lets you off, but if you make me angry, you won’t be able to bear the sole of my shoe!"

The person under the green banner, seeing this old lady arrive, gave a cold smirk. They knew her identity was not to be trifled with but were unwilling to speak softly in her presence. Slowly withdrawing the flag into their sleeve, they snorted coldly and led their people away.

Even Di Guashao felt surprised. Muttering to herself, she looked over at the old lady.

"Well now, this little lady is pretty..."

Seventh Aunt, sitting in the sedan chair, came before Di Guashao. She looked her over with slightly drunken eyes and whispered, "That group just now, so arrogant. They come every day to cause trouble, even measuring the fields under cover of darkness... Seventh Aunt is familiar with your Red Lantern Society, so I came to give you a piece of advice, little lady. They have strength in numbers; even the big figures in your Red Lantern Society avoid them, so don’t you provoke them!"

Saying this while swaying, she crossed the official road and disappeared into the withered grass on the other side.

This left Di Guashao standing there dumbfounded. "It’s only been a few days. How come our Red Lantern Society people can’t be rampant anymore? If I can’t even swagger around here, then what was the point of me joining the Red Lantern Society?"

While pondering this and intending to consult with Hu Ma, she looked up and saw the road ahead completely empty; Hu Ma was nowhere to be seen.

It looks like these newcomers are indeed up to no good this time...

Meanwhile, Hu Ma, having witnessed the arrogance and aggressiveness of those wielding the green lotus banner, realized that the events unfolding in the Mingzhou territory were not as simple as they seemed. He had initially considered entering the Manor to check on Li and the others, but now he decided to bypass it altogether. He turned and headed towards Old Yin Mountain. Upon entering the mountain, he immediately lit three incense.

"I respectfully invite the Mountain Lord to descend..."

Before he finished his sentence, a fragrant breeze arose in the mountain, and he felt his body being lifted. Recognizing this wind, he did not resist, letting it carry him away. His body swayed, and the world spun. His head felt dizzy. Soon, however, a fragrant aroma of wine and meat wafted to his nose, and he heard joyful chatter and laughter.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in a village. Three or five wooden tables stood before him, where people were exchanging cups. He himself was seated beside an incense table. Glancing back, he saw the Mountain Lord sitting properly behind the incense table, with three cups of plain wine arranged before him.

Feasting again?

Hu Ma looked around. The banquet seemed to be a child’s full month celebration. A farmer couple was showing their child to the drinkers. Among the offerings on the Mountain Lord’s table were three red eggs. Naturally, the couple was just being courteous. They were unaware that the Mountain Lord was truly there, sitting behind the table, nor did they know that another person, Hu Ma, was with him.

Hu Ma, however, found it curious. He knew the Mountain Lord loved lively occasions and would go wherever offerings were made, but...

...He even attends a child’s full month banquet?

"They specifically set up a table to offer to me, and I am unengaged, so why not come to enjoy it?"

The Mountain Lord, guessing Hu Ma’s thoughts, answered calmly, glancing at him while speaking, and then nodded slowly, "This time, your abilities have improved significantly; you finally show some signs of a Ten Surnames descendant!"

"Ah?"

Hu Ma was taken aback on hearing this.

What does he mean by showing some signs? This time, in just over a month, I’ve achieved Entering the Mansion, pushed open two Mansion Gates consecutively, cultivated the Great Mighty Sky General Seal, forged the Punishment Official Fierce Blade, and broken through Three Column Tao... This is far more than just a little improvement; it’s a radical transformation. Compared to before going to the blood food mine, I’m a completely different person. You could say I’ve been reborn, and yet your attitude is so nonchalant?

"The destiny of the Hu Family rests with you, so isn’t this progress expected?"

The Mountain Lord, enjoying the offerings of plain wine from the human world in the mountains, cast a nonchalant glance at Hu Ma and said, "Conversely, if you hadn’t made even this little bit of progress, then for this trip where I called you back, I would instead have to worry for you, wondering if you could handle it!"

"I understand."

Hearing the Mountain Lord say this, Hu Ma composed himself. Thinking about being troubled by that banner recently and recalling the strange individuals he encountered down the mountain, his expression turned grave. "Senior, you called me back, saying uninvited guests have come to the family. You mean..."

"Of course, the Hu Family."

The Mountain Lord spoke calmly, "They followed the people from the Truth Sect to Mingzhou Prefecture City. Needless to say, they came looking for you. You’ve felt somewhat uncomfortable these past few days, haven’t you?"

"Yes."

Hu Ma replied softly, but his unease was apparent. "The Hu Family... how are there still people? Weren’t they all dead except for me?"

This was something he had been pondering ever since he first heard the news from Second Young Master Meng.

The Mountain Lord said, "The Ten Surnames are all great surnames. From the moment Tai Sui descended into the world, they received the destiny of heaven, prospered, and multiplied. Their clans are numerous. The ancestral hall of one clan can rival the sum of hearths in other prefectures and counties. How could such a vast and mighty family possibly leave you as the sole survivor?"

Hearing this, Hu Ma felt a surge of conflicting emotions. He had considered this question before. The families of the Ten Surnames boasted such status and wealth. Take the Tongyin Meng Family; even a distant relative not in the direct line could act overbearingly upon arriving at Mingzhou Prefecture City. How could it be that the Hu Family, with such abilities and being the ancestors of Ghost Walkers, was reduced to him as the lone descendant? Yet, everyone he had met had always told him that the Zhen Sui Hu Family had only him left... How did all this add up?

"However..."

Yet, amidst all his doubts, the Mountain Lord sighed gently, saying, "The Zhen Sui Hu Family indeed only has you left.

"The other people with the Hu surname aren’t the same Hu as yours anymore.

"Even though their blood ties to you aren’t distant—they might even be considered your first cousins."

Hu Ma was startled. "Why?"

"They separated from the main family and established their own households," the Mountain Lord said, turning to look at Hu Ma. "And it was a complete separation; they even worship their ancestors separately. Thus, only your family is the Zhen Sui Hu Family, and of the Zhen Sui Hu Family, only you are left."

"Split the family?"

Listening to this, Hu Ma felt even more bewildered. In rural villages, family splitting was very common. When a family had several working sons who grew up and married, they would often separate to live independently, settling accounts clearly even between blood brothers; that’s how it came about. But this kind of splitting was usually most common among small households. Many large families, even when their members were grown, had them live in separate courtyards while still collectively taking care of the elders. Moreover, they shared the same ancestors, so sacrificial ceremonies were naturally held together.

Yet, the Hu Family had split so thoroughly that they even worshipped their ancestors separately? What was even stranger was that the Zhen Sui Hu Family, being part of the Ten Surnames and the main branch, how could it be the one that was split off? He had seen families split, but never the main pillar branch of the clan being split off...

"They were unwilling to bear that responsibility back then, nor did they accept the decree before Zhensui Mansion. So, theoretically speaking, they no longer belong to the Zhen Sui Hu Family lineage..."

The Mountain Lord understood his confusion and sighed, "But indeed, just like you, they are all people from the Qingyuan Hu Family..."