Twilight Boundary-Chapter 580 - 571 Borrowing Someone’s Head for a Moment

"What?"

As soon as the words were out, everyone present was shocked, their faces turning pale in an instant. Yet, Hu Ma's cousin from the Hu Family slowly closed her eyes, seemingly having anticipated this scene for a long time.

It's not that I wanted to take this step, but I simply had no other choice...

Hu Ma looked at the few of them, patiently explaining, "I just established rules in the name of Zhensui Mansion, and the people of the world were watching. Yet, you all brought hungry ghosts into Mingzhou, using the city's people as a sacrifice for setting up the altar and summoning the Official Zhou Lord."

"In every respect, each one of these actions is a major crime. If I don't kill you now, how will the people of the world view me? How can I make them willingly trust Zhensui Mansion?"

"To put it simply..."

He smiled serenely, his gaze sweeping over their faces, and said with a laugh, "I intend to use the heads of a few relatives from the Qingyuan Hu Family to earn the trust of the people of the world. From the perspective of Zhensui Mansion, doesn't this make sense?"

"No, how dare you..."

Even though he had explained so thoroughly, these relatives from the Hu Family jumped up in anger, repeatedly saying, "How dare you?"

"We are, after all, your elders. Do you know what it would do to your reputation if you killed us?"

...

But before they could finish, Hu Ma's face darkened, and he shouted, "All for the sake of long-term matters, yet you're unwilling to make even this small sacrifice. It really disappoints me."

"Someone, these demon people have caused chaos and have now confessed to their crimes! Drag them out and chop them up as an example!"

... 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

BOOM!

With his shout, a fierce wind suddenly began to gust outside the banners, causing them to rustle loudly. The enclosure, laid out with the Meng Family's ceremony tent, now seemed to be uprooted, filled with the sounds of countless ghostly gods rampaging and charging.

Even the Eldest Son of the Meng Family turned pale and whispered, "Brother, you are all of the same clan and kin. Why strike so hard?"

SWISH!

At the same time, with chaos erupting outside the banners, several members of the Hu Family inside jumped up in urgency, with someone even rushing toward Hu Ma, eager for one last desperate attempt before death.

"Sometimes, the dead are more useful than the living."

Facing the angry and fearful face, Hu Ma casually raised his hand, grabbing the person's neck. With a twist of his wrist, he tossed him outside the banners. At the same time, he glanced coldly at the Eldest Son of the Meng Family and said, "Brother, haven't you heard?"

Seeing his ruthless methods, the Eldest Son of the Meng Family was also terrified. He wanted to speak but already witnessed two large golden hands forcibly tearing into the ceremony tent, shredding it to pieces.

Beneath the banners, the Meng Family's maids, servants, and their long, thin ghostly shadows naturally wouldn't let them enter easily without the Eldest Son's orders, urgently trying to block them.

Unexpectedly, their collective effort tore the banners to shreds, allowing the blazing sun to shine down. Those long, thin ghostly shadows screamed miserably, struggling and trembling as they were dried up by the sun above, turning into puddles of blood.

Now, with Zhensui Mansion at the side, rules between the living and the dead were established. Yin souls feared sunlight; bereft of the banners' cover, they only faced death.

Soon after, several Golden Armored Warriors reached over, grabbing Second Master Hu, Fourth Master Hu, Cousin Hu Xi of the Hu Family, and Third Master Hu, whose neck had already been twisted by Hu Ma, and pressed them before Zhensui Mansion.

"It shouldn't have been, it shouldn't have been..."

The three uncles of the Hu Family remained unwilling, shouting loudly. In contrast, their cousin from the Hu Family gave them a bitter smile. "What shouldn't have been? Haven't you always hoped for a qualified Master of Zhensui Mansion? Seeing how ruthless he is now, who could be more suitable?"

Zhensui Mansion did not execute the living, but Ghost Walkers were an exception.

Now, in front of Zhensui Mansion, under the watchful eyes of the Four Great Hall Officials, the Food Protection Army, the strange people who do not eat beef, the nobles gathered on the city walls of Mingzhou City, and the Eldest Son of the Tongyin Meng family, the most conspicuous Chopper was chosen. There they were pressed down, and the blade rose and fell directly.

Even though it was only the Qingyuan Hu Family, and not directly related to Zhensui Mansion, they were still among the most elite nobles, separate from the Ten Surnames. Yet now, they met their end under the Chopper, the scene so grim it seemed to stain even the sun with the color of blood.

Zhensui Mansion reopened, and the first living people they killed were from the Hu Family.

An unseen influence permeated the air; the world seemed somber. It felt as if even the bloodlust of the Food Protection Army, fresh from battle, was suppressed. The surging murderous intent intensified severalfold in an instant, making the bright daylight feel like the dead of night.

"You... you..."

The thudding of several heads hitting the ground released a torrent of murderous intent, smothering everyone into silence. Even the Eldest Son of the Meng Family, who had been watching with a smirk, was surprised, retreating backward.

He had seen his family's ceremony tent torn apart, and even the Protector Gods by his side were burned away by the sun. Naturally, he understood that this young master of the Hu Family was not only ruthless but had murdered several relatives.

Hu Ma had publicly torn apart the Meng Family's ceremony tent, an act that also led to the death of Meng's own Protector Gods. This, too, was a deliberate move to vent his anger.

But given Hu Ma's brutal methods, the deaths of a few Protector Gods seemed almost inconsequential by comparison. The Eldest Son of the Meng Family stared at Hu Ma, his expression serious. He tried to speak several times, but ultimately, he just cupped his hands in salute, bowed deeply, and lamented, "The Hu Family... truly ruthless."

"Brother, I now wish only to express my admiration. I must admit, I underestimated you before, as did my elders in the Meng Family. Everyone knows the Zhensui lineage is ruthless, but now I see you are the most ruthless of all."

"But your methods are rather shallow. Blood is thicker than water, reputation is greater than the sky. Do you really think that by killing your relatives, this reputation will get people to help you?"

...

"That doesn't seem to require Brother Meng's concern."

Seeing the face of the Eldest Son of the Meng Family, Hu Ma smiled and said, "Brother Meng did not travel all this way just to remind me of this. I am truly grateful."

"It's just that, with your Meng Family's concern for the Hu Family's affairs, I heard something's happened to your own family at Shima Town nearby. Haven't you even bothered to ask about it?"

...

At these words, the Eldest Son of the Meng Family's expression changed. He was indeed deeply concerned about this matter, but due to its urgency and importance elsewhere, he had to come to Mingzhou. Now, upon hearing Hu Ma mention it, he was anxious and said in a deep voice, "Do you know about the incident with Sili?"

"Brother Meng is so concerned about my Hu Family's business, leaving his own brother's matter unresolved. How can I not repay in kind?"

Hu Ma, face full of smiles, addressed Meng Siliang, "So, while Brother Meng was coming to Mingzhou to help our family's affairs, I also sent someone to Shima Town to investigate your Second Young Master's death for you."

At this point, the Eldest Son of the Meng Family couldn't hold back any longer. With a stern expression, he said, "Who killed him? Brother, please tell me. The Meng Family will certainly offer a generous reward..."

Hu Ma looked at him, his smile gradually disappearing, then said, "It was me!"

The Eldest Son of the Meng Family's face changed dramatically. "What?"

Hu Ma said flatly, "He was right under my nose, doing devious things, so I had him killed."

"You..."

The Eldest Son of the Meng Family had already suspected something, but he had no evidence. Moreover, he hadn't expected Hu Ma to admit it under such circumstances. His eyes were now full of resentment, burning with anger.

Yet Hu Ma laughed again, and with politeness and warmth, he said with a smile, "Ah, right. I didn't just find out who killed him; fearing you wouldn't be able to find the body, I even brought his head for you. So Brother Meng could take it..."

"Such a gift is indeed significant. I wonder how Brother Meng plans to thank me for it?"

...

As he spoke, he lightly raised his hand, and Little Hongtang walked over with a wooden box, directly handing it to the Eldest Son of the Meng Family, saying, "Here, it's yours!"

"You..."

Even when his ceremony tent was destroyed by Hu Ma earlier, this Eldest Son of the Meng Family had maintained a somewhat detached demeanor. The only reason he was struggling to maintain composure now was that Hu Ma's methods had far exceeded his expectations.

But at this moment, his expression truly faltered as he stared fiercely at the box handed over by the little ghost in red clothes.

An infinite rage burned within him; he wanted to swat the box away, to crush it underfoot. But seeing Hu Ma standing on the altar, the Demon Suppression Golden Mace before him, and sensing the ominous aura emanating from the man, he finally forced himself to endure. Slowly, he reached out and took the box from the little ghost in red clothes. Upon opening it, two hot tears streamed down his cheeks. He let them fall for a moment before lifting his sleeve to wipe them away, then took a deep breath.

Looking at Hu Ma, he said, "For this great gift to my Meng Family from Brother Hu, I... thank you. And I assure you, the Meng Family will remember your kindness."

"It shouldn't be long. Come mid-July of next year, when the underworld gates open and the Ten Surnames gather again at the Stone Pavilion, a conclusion should be reached. This applies to the 'kindness' you've bestowed today, and to the twenty years of enmity between the Hu and Meng Families."

...

Hu Ma frowned. "Stone Pavilion?"

"Yes."

The Eldest Son of the Meng Family began to smile faintly, a touch of gloom in his expression. "Brother, wielding the Demon Suppression Golden Mace, setting the rules of the world, more ruthless than anyone... you've indeed got impressive skills, commanding respect."

"But so what?"

"Don't you know, regardless of everything else, now that the Zhensui Hu Family has re-emerged in the world and the Mansion Gate of Zhensui Mansion is open, the time for the Ten Surnames to gather at the Stone Pavilion is also nigh?"

"This was agreed upon long ago. If Brother Hu fails to show, not only will the other Nine Surnames be unhappy with you, even Grandma Bai in the ancestral hall may find her rest uneasy..."

...

"Hmm?"

At these words, Hu Ma's face suddenly changed. He cast a cold glance at him, hearing a subtle threat towards Granny in his words, anger surging within.

Moreover, indeed no one had told him this before. But on second thought, possessing the Hu Family's token and reopening Zhensui Mansion already meant preparing to face the Ten Surnames and understanding the involvement of the previous generation of reincarnators, right?

Resolving himself, he nodded slowly. "No need for your concern. I will go."

"I only hope your Meng Family is ready too, for our Zhensui Mansion can bind gods and slay ghosts. It remains to be seen..."

"...whether it can slay your family's Xian'er?"