Twilight Boundary-Chapter 558 - 549: Grudges and Entanglements

"Old Master Hu, good fortune to you. Old Master Hu, may you prosper and secure great wealth..."

"Bean Official pays respects to Master. Haven’t seen you for a few days, and Master looks even more striking. Let me kowtow first..."

"Head... head..."

"..."

When Hu Ma returned to Zhu Men Town, she was still two miles away when countless little ghosts swarmed in front of her, scrambling to pay their respects.

The most diligent was a little limping ghost, kowtowing like pounding garlic, immediately bowing four or five times. The other was a little ghost wearing official robes, exuberantly kowtowing in a grand manner.

Behind them followed a group of bizarre-looking characters, some belonging to Incense Master Xu, some to Bald Zhang, and others whose allegiance was unclear. But due to the outstanding performances of the first two, the rest of the ghosts became ashamed and forgot to speak.

At the very back, there was even a headless little ghost that wanted to deliver a message, but its paper head had been blown away by the wind and was chasing it endlessly. It had forgotten to greet Hu Ma as well.

"No need to say anything, I know already. Just go back and let your respective masters be at ease."

Seeing so many bobbing little heads made Hu Ma a bit tired, not having the time to inquire one by one. She offered a comforting word and let them disperse while handing a piece of Blood Food to the limping little ghost.

Consequently, the limping little ghost jumped up and left joyfully, drawing envious looks from the other little ghosts. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Without disturbing anyone, she entered the town directly. From afar, she could see the camp outside the town consisting of several troops. The arrangement was neat, stretching for about twenty to thirty miles, divided into front and rear camps, exuding a certain military dignity.

Walking further in, she reached Zhu Men Town and was surprised to see that, even after just a day, the town showed strict order rather than signs of being empty. It seemed more imposing than the camps outside.

Upon reflection, it made sense. The outside belonged to the food-protection general, but everyone knew he guarded the Red Lantern Lady. So, shouldn’t the Case God Temple inside the town be even stricter than the outside?

Not only were there guards at every intersection, but also fully armed men patrolling everywhere. The only awkward part was that the stringent guards appeared less like they were protecting the Red Lantern Lady, and more like they were confining her to prevent her from escaping secretly.

Arriving before the guards, Hu Ma pondered on smiling and speaking kindly to enter the town. But she was taken aback when she saw Incense Master Xu emerging from the town, looking serious and full of worry. Upon seeing Hu Ma, his face dramatically changed, and he immediately rushed over, hastily dismounted a short distance away, and gazed at her, opening his mouth but unable to speak, staring intently.

Hu Ma smiled and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Incense Master Xu looked at her seriously, lowering his voice, "Among us, no need to beat around the bush. If I talk with you now, do I need to kneel and kowtow? How many times?"

"Kowtow for what?"

Hu Ma looked puzzled, "I’ve always called you Uncle."

"But you’re with that prominent figure..."

Incense Master Xu was anxious, lowering his voice with a mix of tension, excitement, and clear confusion, with a trace of delight evident in his expression. It was rare to see so many emotions on one face.

Hu Ma looked at him and suddenly asked, "What prominent figure?"

"Ah?"

Incense Master Xu glanced at Hu Ma’s waist, seeing the smiling mask still tied there. She was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, but since Hu Ma didn’t acknowledge it, he sighed long, "I understand, the rules, I understand them all."

"Young... young nephew... brother... ah, calling you Grandpa is not a problem..."

"But no matter what, you need to give me some assurance. I called many old comrades from the Manor into this Food Protection Army and fought a few mindless battles. Who would have thought that, reaching this point, entering the city is so difficult..."

"..."

Seeing Incense Master Xu’s anxious, hesitant look, Hu Ma quietly laughed, "Uncle Xu, you’re one of us, so..."

She slightly bowed and continued, "...as a runner for someone, I can’t disclose too much. It’s the critical moment for the Food Protection Army to enter the city. Naturally, the situation is precarious, but do you think what’s inside the city is more formidable, or is that prominent figure more formidable?"

Incense Master Xu’s brow immediately relaxed, and he whispered, "So, does that person know about the things here?"

"Haha, we can’t say whether that person knows or not. Anyway, from the moment people came from the city, the prominent figure understood. Otherwise, why would I persuade you, Uncle Xu, to join this endeavor?"

"Just remember, don’t let their expressions unsettle you or cause you to fail when it truly matters. When this matter is settled, we’ll meet in Mingzhou City, and that’s that."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Incense Master Xu became so excited that his face turned red, repeatedly bowing with clasped hands to Hu Ma, "Please don’t call me Uncle Xu from now on. You call me Nephew, and I’ll call you Uncle. I really didn’t expect that after being down on my luck in the jianghu for so many years, such good fortune would come to me."

Hu Ma was speechless at this but knew that with this assurance given, even if the Red Lantern Lady wanted to leave the Food Protection Army, likely all the Shopkeepers and incense masters below wouldn’t agree. So, she smiled and exchanged a few more words.

Then, without any pretense, she had Nephew Xu find a quiet house in the town for her.

Not saying whom she was waiting for, just leaving one door panel open and the other closed, Hu Ma sat in the hall, ordered some tea, and slowly drank.

This was the custom of the Not Eating Beef Sect.

Once she returned to the town, the Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples knew she was there, even though they didn’t know if it was convenient to pay direct respects.

Leaving one door panel open and the other closed meant that if they saw it, they could come.

"Master Uncle, your Divine Skills are vast, Miao Shan is truly in awe..."

And indeed, before finishing half a bowl of tea, someone arrived; it was Immortal Miaoshan.

Leading a horse herself, pulling a cart full of things, she entered the courtyard, approached, and kowtowed. Only when Hu Ma excused her from the formality did she rise quickly, taking out a wooden box the size of a wine jar from the cart.

She presented it with both hands. Hu Ma took it, opened it to look, then placed it under the table and glanced at the cart behind her, "Why bring so many things?"

"Ah?"

Immortal Miaoshan hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed, "These are my belongings, clothes, and tools I’m used to, money for buying rouge, needles, and threads..."

"...So that box is the only thing I brought for Master Uncle for the task at hand."

"..."

"Alright..."

Hu Ma was a bit helpless, thinking, You’re here for an important mission, did you think it was a house move?

Seeing Immortal Miaoshan gaze at her with joy, sneaking glances occasionally, she chuckled, "Why praise me right away?"

Immortal Miaoshan quickly lowered her voice, "I always knew the Sect Hierarch was extraordinary, but I couldn’t quite grasp it before. Now I know, the Sect Hierarch managed to end up near that silly young master in the mountains..."

"Miao Shan truly admires the Sect Hierarch..."

"..."

Hu Ma wasn’t surprised hearing this.

These past few days, members of the Not Eating Beef Sect had arrived, and perhaps as soon as she entered Zhu Men Town, early arrivals saw her in her identity within the Great sword catching sect. With their intelligence, they surely figured out that identity.

She slightly tilted her head, smiling, "Aren’t you worried about me?"

Immortal Miaoshan paused, "Why worry?"

Hu Ma thought for a moment. It was hard to elaborate in detail.

The name of Hu Family Zhensui Mansion stemmed from subduing evil spirits known as Reincarnators. Logically, the Hu Family should have a deep-seated enmity with Reincarnators.

But seemingly, whether it was Er Guotou or Miss White Wine, they merely regarded the Hu Family as ordinary members of the Ten Surnames. Fear, yes, but only of the Ten Surnames, not especially wary of the Hu Family.

If this generation of Reincarnators were low-profile and unaware of past events, it made sense. But members of the Not Eating Beef Sect were disciples of a previous generation of Reincarnators, who should have suffered losses at the hands of the Hu Family.

If the hatred of that last generation of Reincarnators was inherited by the Not Eating Beef Sect, that would be normal. But now it seemed that the Not Eating Beef Sect held no special sentiment toward the Zhensui Mansion?

Is it that Miaoshan, that ’muddler,’ doesn’t know, or do all Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples not know?

Originally, Hu Ma revealed her identity in the Great sword catching sect intentionally and planned an explanation. But seeing that Immortal Miaoshan wasn’t concerned about it, she didn’t elaborate, simply smiled, "I mentioned Mingzhou would be lively. How do you find it now?"

"Remarkable."

Upon hearing this, Immortal Miaoshan became delighted, praising, "We managed the One Coin Sect for years, making connections with experts on various paths and noble families, always keeping an eye on the world’s situations, holding the Lantern Festival to gain fame, all to build momentum to achieve great things."

"Yet unexpectedly, while we were preparing, Mingzhou suddenly rose with grand momentum exceeding our area. Our fellow disciples were thrilled upon arriving, eager to make their mark..."

"..."

With this, she paused slightly, "They are waiting in various places. Does Master Uncle wish to summon them as the Sect Hierarch?"

"...It’s not that they aren’t proactive, but the Sect has rules. If their status is insufficient, they cannot seek an audience unless summoned."

"..."

"No need for now. If there’s anything, you can communicate on my behalf. Given my identity, I shouldn’t meet too many people."

Hu Ma waved her hand, looking at Immortal Miaoshan seriously, "Don’t just say pleasant things. Haven’t you noticed the difficulties here?"

"This..."

Immortal Miaoshan hesitated, her confidence wavering, speaking softly, "Master Uncle, then I’ll be straightforward; the Food Protection Army has no chance of victory."