Twilight Boundary-Chapter 552 - 543: Forcing a Trump Card

"Just an outsider?"

Hu Ma had spoken these words purely for business, with a tone of mere narration.

After all, he was just a little shopkeeper for the Blood Food Society, conveying some thoughts from the noble in the mountains.

It was not his own concern, so there was no need for too much emotion in his words.

However, his indifferent tone unexpectedly struck a powerful blow, making that Hu Family distant relative pale and stagger backward.

She could not imagine this outcome. It seemed as if being regarded as an enemy was far better than this result.

BOOM!

When these words were spoken, the remaining few Truth Sect followers nearby, along with those who came to gather information for the city’s nobility, broke into a cold sweat.

"Damn it..."

"Mingzhou Prefecture has been devastated by these people! The Great sword catching sect under that noble has confirmed this identity, so what was the point of everyone’s earlier bets?"

"So mighty, riding into Mingzhou, entering the government, taking grain and grass, claiming the Mandate of Heaven, yet damn it..."

"...it’s fake?"

Once this suspicion turned into reality, countless little ghosts were released.

One by one, with pale faces, they ran toward Mingzhou City, causing unsettling winds to swirl through the grand mansions all over the city: "Disaster, disaster! Old Master, stop sleeping with Madam! The Heavenly Destiny General in the city is a false Mandate of Heaven..."

Everyone anticipated the outcome of this revelation. Surely the Hu Family cousin also knew that a single word from this sword capturer had shattered the foundation of the Truth Sect.

After all, only a few Altar Masters and followers had come from the Truth Sect. Though their numbers were not insignificant, they couldn’t stir much turmoil in Mingzhou; their momentum relied on the Mingzhou nobles who had backed them.

Once this news spread, there would be no need for the Food Protection Army to attack. The nobles simply recalling their own soldiers would be enough.

They might even face a backlash, directly subdued by the city’s own people, meeting a fitting end...

Yet, amid this chaos, some with greater wisdom and insight contemplated another statement Hu Ma had made: "Regardless of origin, whether inside or outside the Path, or the depth of one’s cultivation, all can potentially become officials in Zhensui Mansion?"

"This is the crucial point. Compared to this, the matters of a single state or prefecture are trivial. The noble of Mingzhou never communicates with outsiders. He only appears sporadically, like a dragon seen one moment and gone the next, always acting as necessary. He moves without hesitation, whether it’s eliminating the green clothes or slaying five evil spirits. But now, this is the first declaration he has made to the world, delivered through his sword capturer. Could this not also represent something?"

...

...

He... is he truly so cold towards us, his own blood relatives?

Everyone had their own focus, but panic was all that filled her heart, her voice trembling uncontrollably as she cried out to Hu Ma, "We’re outsiders? Then who could possibly be his own people?"

"He acts so immaturely! Does he really understand what it takes to uphold Zhensui Mansion and what he must face?"

...

"He certainly didn’t realize what he was up against."

Facing her indignation, Hu Ma slightly lowered his voice, stating flatly, "After all, when relatives arrived, they didn’t come to pay respects openly. Instead, they first used altar methods to disturb his mind."

"Instead of reasoning on behalf of their own family or seeking justice, they first allied themselves with the Truth Heretics. They brought no blessing to the rare peace in Mingzhou. Instead, they introduced sources of chaos, seeking to cut off the Zhen Sui Hu Family’s retreat from the very beginning!"

At this point, his voice turned somewhat cold and hard; all these were reasons.

Any one of them was enough to show his dissatisfaction with these relatives.

The two most important reasons, however, were not to be spoken aloud. Firstly, in the past, why was it that only this branch of the family had to bear the cost of taking over Zhensui Mansion?

Secondly, knowing full well the deep blood feud between the Tongyin Meng family and the Zhen Sui Hu family, how dare they still collude with the Meng family?

These relatives probably still don’t know that back in Shima Town, I already knew who was hiding behind this farce. I didn’t want to see them because I knew that no matter what they might say upon meeting, their words would ultimately point towards the Meng family, which harbored the greatest hostility toward the Hu Family.

Anything the Meng family is involved in, no matter how friendly it appears on the surface, is bound to be rotten to the core.

"Now is the time for you to show your worth!"

Hu Ma, clutching his great saber, stepped forward slowly. The Punishment Officer’s Great Saber in his arms suddenly vibrated, and a cold shout echoed through the desolate, lonely night: "All the courage of Mingzhou rests on you! Since you’ve come, what are you waiting for?"

Others might not understand what this meant, but Yang Gong suddenly grasped it clearly. He was puzzled as to how Hu Ma had become a great hall officer of the Walking Ghost Path. Yet, in some respects, he didn’t quite understand what being a great hall officer there signified...

Reflecting on it, he even felt a little dissatisfied: My brother Hu Ma, with such insight and ability, why should he work under others as a sword capturer? It should be others working as sword capturers for him!

Of course, thoughts were just thoughts. Upon hearing Hu Ma’s shout, he immediately comprehended. The things Hu Ma had explained to him that one night weren’t enough to completely transform him, but it was as though his vital meridians had been cleared.

He fully understood what he needed now. Seeing the opportunity present itself, he immediately brandished his saber and shouted, "Men, charge with me!"

"Kill all the Truth Sect followers! Protect Mingzhou’s grain supplies! We can’t let anyone starve!"

...

The dignified Food Protection General’s shout was incredibly powerful. Immediately behind him erupted a chaotic chorus of high-pitched war cries and shouts.

Among them, quite a few were highly motivated upon seeing Hu Ma’s current status. Yet, on the surface, it appeared as though, upon the Food Protection General’s command, even the jianghu experts were willing to obey, fiercely swinging their weapons and charging at the Truth Sect’s soldiers.

The Truth Sect’s forces, as it happened, had already been driven by the Food Protection General towards Zhu Men Town.

Now, seeing the enemy’s overwhelming momentum, who would dare to confront their spearhead? With a cry, they broke ranks, disobeying orders, clutching their heads as they fled.

There were even large groups who, seeing the dense mass of people pressing in from behind and realizing they couldn’t escape to the front, simply threw down their weapons and tools in unison, then knelt together in surrender.

This immense impact even took the Food Protection Army by surprise. However, unbeknownst to them, these enemy forces were already being shadowed. With the Truth Sect having lost their nerve, this outcome was entirely expected.

Meanwhile, Hu Ma stood holding his saber, watching coldly from the side as columns of soldiers bypassed him and rushed forward.

His gaze was fixed only on the Hu Family cousin opposite him, or rather, toward Mingzhou Prefecture.

Given such momentum, the Heavenly Destiny General and the few remaining stragglers of the Truth Sect stood no chance against this great army. Yet, he knew the other side still had tricks up their sleeve.

He simply couldn’t be bothered to play along with them and intended to use the Food Protection Army’s thunderous advance to force them to show their hand.

"How dare you all deceive me like this?"

Just then, Zhong Benyi, the Heavenly Destiny General, witnessing his forces fleeing or surrendering all around him—like a mountain toppling over, the situation irretrievably lost—was filled with immense anger. Remarkably, he leaped onto the back of the Red Fire Bull, swinging his Meteor Hammer as he charged forward.

Others had their soldiers cover the commander’s retreat; he, however, charged forward alone to cover his soldiers’ retreat.

Most crucially, riding atop the Red Fire Bull, his Meteor Hammer swinging powerfully, he was truly a force that ten thousand men could not approach. He single-handedly held off some fifty men. Though surrounded by swords and spears, none could get near him.

This skirmish, in turn, blocked the path of the other forces, making it seem as if he, alone on his mount, had managed to slightly stall the Food Protection Army’s charge.

This man isn’t a Shousui, but he certainly has excellent skills in battle formations.

Hu Ma glanced at the Heavenly Destiny General, noting some new tricks about him. He briefly gestured towards him with the Punishment Officer’s Great Saber in his hand, then dismissed him from his thoughts.

Compared to this so-called Heavenly Destiny, who had been forcibly pushed to the front, he was more interested in what fine gifts those in Mingzhou City had prepared for these distant relatives of his.

Despite their provocations, he hadn’t shown himself. Now, by forcefully protecting the Red Lantern and pressing forward with a large army, he aimed to see just how long they could hold out before revealing their cards.

「...」

"Is there no other way?"

In Mingzhou Prefecture, things were indeed as Hu Ma had thought. Inside a long-sealed grand mansion, on a high floor, three plainly dressed, gaunt men stood.

Two were seated at a square table, in Taishi Chairs. One stood by the door, listening intently to the faint, heaven-shaking shouts from outside the city. The more he listened, the more his brow furrowed in disappointment and utter despair.

"We had so many opportunities. How did things end up like this?"

"His temperament isn’t like our Hu Family’s—obstinate and domineering. He’s more like that Aunt Bai..."

...

"After all, he was raised undisciplined outside, and now he understands the importance of Zhensui Mansion, so he inevitably overestimates himself. He views us not as helpers but as thieves, harboring deep-seated hostility from the very beginning."

"And don’t you think our methods were wrong. Even if we had come at the start and knelt before him, he wouldn’t have shown us any kindness."

"So, perhaps for a child like him, rather than gentle persuasion, it’s more effective to make him understand the severity of the situation."

...

"But he’s our own kin, after all. Even if he’s a bit willful, we must find a way to persuade him."

Seeing that the two of them had reached a decision, the one standing by the door smiled faintly and gently pushed open the door panels.

The two men in the Taishi Chairs exchanged a glance, then rose simultaneously and walked out side by side. Now it could be seen that they were standing on a high floor of a building in Mingzhou Prefecture, from which they could overlook the entire Mingzhou City. Standing left and right, they clasped their hands before them and slowly bowed.

"To inquire into matters of ghosts and gods, please call upon the Six Towns Altar!"

"Hu Fengyue, the Senior Family Second of the Qingyuan Hu Family, receives the order to set up the altar in Mingzhou Prefecture! Here, I offer triple sacrifices, seek to understand the people’s hearts, and act according to the will of heaven and earth, respectfully inviting the Lord of Official Zhou and Lord Qiangwu to descend in their golden bodies here..."