Twilight Boundary-Chapter 576 - 567: Eldest Son of Meng Family

"Damn it!"

"It's the Meng family deceiving us! This Mandate of Heaven, it was no longer in Shangjing long ago! We've been fooled for twenty years!"

To those familiar with the Path, Hu Ma's mace strike shattered the Official Zhou Lord's golden body and awakened the hungry ghosts. However, they didn't know that the most terrifying development was the awakening of a group of people from their long dream.

With the Official Zhou Lord's miserable scream, his golden body shattered. Across the world, various noble families, strange people of the Path, and big ghosts and demons were all jolted awake at that moment. It was as if they had been roused from a nightmare; a chilling tremor arose from the depths of their Divine Souls.

They all raised their heads, looking toward Official Zhou's direction and sensing the change there. Their first reaction was fear, followed immediately by panic and anger.

"The former Emperor was flayed, but this world still bears the Dou Clan's name. Everyone knows the Dou Clan's royal bloodline is gone, and a new Emperor is destined to emerge. Yet, for these twenty years, people have believed that fortune still favored the Dou Clan."

"But who the hell could have thought this was all a scam!"

"Zhensui Mansion, which disappeared twenty years ago, has now resurfaced. Its first act was to strike down Shangjing's subordinate Mansion God! This... this means Zhensui Mansion hasn't been subject to imperial authority for twenty years..."

"No wonder the Ten Surnames suppressed the grasshead kings everywhere. Were they just worried someone would seize the Mandate of Heaven early?"

"How could this mace be so domineering, so unreasonable?"

As Hu Ma struck with this mace, all the ghostly gods within and outside the city, indeed in this whole world, were terrified. The most panicked and bewildered were the members of the Hu Family themselves. They exclaimed, "The new Emperor hasn't been chosen yet, so the world's fortune still lies with the Old Emperor's lineage..."

"But how can he disregard the imperial edict?"

Hu Ma knew the reason. He understood it involved some deep secrets of Zhensui Mansion, impossible to disclose or explain to them, so they were left perplexed.

"It's quite simple..."

But amidst their panic, they heard a soft sigh nearby. Turning abruptly, they saw a young noble in green clothes, who had a faint, enigmatic smile as he whispered,

"This means your Qingyuan Hu Family's understanding of Zhensui Mansion is completely wrong, absurdly so..."

"But you're not the only ones who are wrong..."

When he raised his head, an inexplicable resentment burned in his eyes. Clenching his teeth, he said, "Our Meng family also misjudged..."

"It's the State Preceptor!"

"He... he deceived us all!"

He spoke slowly, his expression twisting, even showing fear. "No wonder Zhensui Mansion had to be hidden for twenty years. No wonder the State Preceptor, who received the Old Emperor's posthumous edict, also hid away..."

"No wonder this branch of the Hu family willingly avoided great wealth and power, even at the risk of their line's extinction and the obliteration of their Divine Souls, just to take up this Demon Suppression Mace..."

"Such a powerful weapon, yet free from the constraint of imperial orders—who knows what consequences it will bring?"

Seeing this person appear, the three Hu family uncles, who had been somewhat relieved amidst their suspicion, suddenly grew even more doubtful. They trembled as they said, "Nephew Meng, what you're saying... this is... this is..."

The young noble remained silent for a long time, as if gradually digesting the resentment and distortion on his face. Then, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze returned, and he sighed softly.

He said to Second Young Master Hu, "Uncle, rest assured. I came on orders from my elders, and I will keep my word. Though we lost this time, it's not our fault."

"If we speak of losing, we didn't lose to him; we lost from the very beginning."

"However, since we've lost, the Meng family's promises are now hard to fulfill. But you don't need to worry. I'll plead with him not to go too far, to at least let you return safely..."

Go too far?

Hearing his words, the three Hu family uncles' expressions almost twisted uncontrollably, a flash of jealous anger crossing their faces. So much effort consumed by this matter, and you dismiss it with such a light phrase? We're the ones with the surname Hu! Do we need you, a Meng, to come and plead for us?

For a moment, they felt both suppressed and anxious. But the series of shocks had been too overwhelming, leaving them unable to say anything.

The young man in green clothes, after saying this, lifted the hem of his robe. He leisurely walked up the wall of Mingzhou City and looked down on the chaotic battle formation outside, sighing once before gently clapping his hands.

"Zhensui Mansion, Demon Suppression Mace... truly heavy indeed..."

Outside Mingzhou City, the sky had already brightened. The hungry ghosts had returned to life, and the slaughter had ceased. Yet the field, littered with severed limbs and rivers of blood, still evoked a primal sense of horror.

All eyes turned to the nobleman who had wielded the mace, changing the very colors of heaven and earth. Their throats were choked with unspoken words they dared not utter.

Under their gaze, Hu Ma too was looking down at the Demon Suppression Golden Mace in his hand, feeling its immense weight. For a moment, it seemed he had lost the courage to lift it again.

This mace was not solely the Hu Family's possession. The cause and effect associated with it were far beyond what the Walking Ghost Family alone could bear. As a Reincarnator, he was already burdened by problems left by the previous generation of Reincarnators. Now, it seemed, another great burden had been added.

But perhaps this wasn't entirely a bad thing?

As he pondered this, a shrill sound of wind and percussion instruments suddenly came from the direction of Mingzhou City. Two rows of white banners emerged from the city in formation. Beneath the banners were tall, slender shadows, their forms indistinct.

Between the banners, there was no palanquin. Instead, a young man in green clothes walked with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a smile and, though appearing to move slowly, approached the crowd with surprising swiftness.

Both the awakened hungry ghosts and the Food Protection Army, arrayed nearby, felt an eerie, bone-chilling cold. Ghosts and evil spirits usually preyed under the cover of night. Yet, under these white banners, an unsettling chill permeated the air even in broad daylight.

"Brother, my respects..."

As everyone's hearts trembled, unsure of what might happen next, the green-robed young man from between the banners arrived about thirty meters in front of the mace-wielding nobleman and stopped abruptly.

With a broad smile, he cupped his hands in salutation from afar, bowing deeply. "After twenty years, Zhensui Mansion reappears in the world! Brother Hu, your style and courage are extraordinary! Meng Siliang, a junior of the Meng family, comes to offer congratulations!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

His complexion was pale, as if he seldom saw the sun, making him appear somewhat younger. However, his brow and demeanor revealed he was nearly thirty. Now, facing Hu Ma, he addressed him repeatedly as "Brother" with considerable intimacy.

He was polite, but many bystanders, upon hearing him introduce himself and call this noble "Brother," felt a jolt.

This bastard, he wouldn't be from *that* Meng family, would he?

Normally, we never get to see even one of these high-and-mighty main family members. What have we done to deserve seeing two in one day?

"Finally decided to show yourself..."

Seeing the young noble appear, Hu Ma's heart settled somewhat. He had long known the Meng family was behind this matter, only unsure when, or even if, they would appear. Now, he actually felt more at ease.

He scrutinized the Eldest Son of Meng Family carefully. But just as his own face was obscured by the Magic Altar, preventing anyone from seeing it clearly, this noble also had a peculiar quality. At first glance, one seemed to perceive his features, but in the next moment, they were forgotten.

It seemed the Ten Families all had their precautions. Especially in such public appearances, they would not easily let others see their true faces, lest they invite certain harmful dharma methods.

Thus, facing the other's warm and kind expression, Hu Ma also suddenly broke into a smile. He nodded back with equal warmth and friendliness, saying, "Brother Meng, I've long heard of your great reputation. My respects."

"I rarely leave Old Yin Mountain, but I've heard plenty about the Meng family's activities. I was just thinking of paying a visit to the Meng family when I had the chance, but I didn't expect to meet you here first. May I ask, what wind blew someone of your status to this place?"

"You're too kind, too kind."

The Eldest Son of Meng Family seemed somewhat surprised by Hu Ma's politeness, his smile growing more affable. He said, "I am merely acting on the orders of my family's elders, traveling around to witness the suffering among the people."

"As members of the Meng family, we always bear the world in our hearts. Wherever we go, we eradicate wickedness and expel evil."

"Now, having arrived in Mingzhou, I found yin and yang in disorder, spirits harming humans, ghostly gods without masters and disregarding summons, and innocent people dying unjustly in large numbers. I was about to intervene, but unexpectedly, I encountered Brother Hu here."

"I saw Brother's actions earlier, striking down the Official Zhou Lord with a single blow of the mace. It was truly awe-inspiring, and I admire it greatly. Yet, I have a slight confusion. Previously, you issued the Seven Killings Order, breaking all the rules..."

He paused, then looked up at Hu Ma and smiled. "Aren't you worried that the ghostly gods of the unseen world have taken note and will sooner or later come knocking at your door?"

Hu Ma raised the Demon Suppression Golden Mace in his hand. The Eldest Son of Meng Family's expression immediately changed slightly.

Then he heard Hu Ma laugh. "Underworld retribution?"

"I've always believed in that, so I refrain from wicked deeds. Now, I'm actually rather looking forward to it. I wonder, when will these ghostly gods come to settle accounts with me?"

The Eldest Son of Meng Family forced a smile. "Ordinary people possess three souls. Their sins and karmic ties are all recorded upon them. When they breathe their last, they enter the underworld to have their good and evil deeds weighed. Every action, every consequence—none can escape it..."

"Excellent."

Hu Ma smiled, gripping the Demon Suppression Golden Mace in his hand. "I was just about to ask Brother Meng to help me witness something."

The Eldest Son of Meng Family, sensing something was amiss in Hu Ma's reaction, said gravely, "Witness what?"

Hu Ma smiled at him. He slowly let go of the Demon Suppression Golden Mace in his hand. As the mace's tip touched the ground, the earth instantly boomed and trembled. Even the banners behind the Eldest Son of Meng Family suddenly shook violently, and the slender shadows beneath them struggled to remain standing.

Then, Hu Ma flicked his wide sleeves. The air around him grew hazy and indistinct, as if he were standing in a high court. His voice turned cold, "Help me witness whether these so-called ghostly gods of heaven and earth dare to convict me!"