Twilight Boundary-Chapter 588 - 579: Door-to-door Killing

"Shopkeeper, don't be anxious. I've heard of this Yan Family."

Aunt Zhang, upon hearing Hu Ma's words, was already a bit worried and hurriedly said, "This Guazhou is on the other side of Old Yin Mountain. It sounds distant, but if one goes through the mountains, it's only a few days' journey. It's a large place with vast fields and countless powerful families."

"And the Yan Family of the Iron Gate has held official positions for generations with extraordinary status. When I was invited to Guazhou for expelling evil, even the Five Evil Gods were restrained there."

"The matter this time is, firstly, that the Yan Family has been reasonably polite. Secondly, since it's not in the Mingzhou territory, we know nothing about it. What do you think about this?"

"Aunt, you shouldn't worry."

Hu Ma, hearing this, turned to Aunt Zhang and smiled. "The noble person in the mountains already said we should first handle Mingzhou affairs because they're nearby. But come to think of it, there aren't many disobedient ones in Mingzhou. It's outside where the big issues are."

"We need to broaden our perspective. We're from Mingzhou, but Zhensui Mansion is for the entire nation. What's the difference between Mingzhou and Guazhou?"

"What Seventh Aunt just said makes a lot of sense. Since we've made a name for ourselves at Zhensui Mansion, how can we be easily bought away? Back in the day, when the Five Evil Ghosts were so malicious and did all sorts of evil deeds, if a family like the Yan or Song Family popped up to protect them, wouldn't we have slayed them?"

"No."

Aunt Zhang, with a conflicted expression, said, "I'm not confused. I naturally know that things need to be done. It's just, I'm worried about you... In the past few days, as I've named names on the altar, I could feel the obstacles increasing."

"Our Ghost Walker's altar sees things the clearest. Whether the feng shui is good or there's heavy resentment, we can perceive it. When I name the Mingzhou spirits and evil ghosts, I can only detect some resentment, enough to keep it under control..."

"But when I name the external spirit evils..."

Seeing her speaking with difficulty, Hu Ma laughed. "How?"

"It's simply overflowing with resentment, dissatisfaction from everyone. I truly don't know how many people we've offended with our recent actions."

Aunt Zhang sighed. "And I'm just on the altar, which is fine. Everyone knows I'm naming names for Zhensui Mansion, so no one dares to truly harm me on the altar. But if you go to Guazhou on a sword capturing mission, there's no guarantee..."

"Moreover, not to mention the Iron Gate Yan Family, I'm afraid others dissatisfied with us will also rush over upon hearing this news to cause trouble..."

Looking at Aunt Zhang's worried expression, Hu Ma understood that she genuinely feared he would suffer. He smiled at her and said, "Don't worry, Aunt, I have it all figured out."

Saying this, he looked at the box and smiled. "If we can truly let all those dissatisfied have a look, then that's a relief."

"Originally, I only planned to ask Little Hongtang to help deliver this item, but now that's unnecessary. Since the Guazhou Yan Family has such a big stance, we must give them a proper display!"

With that, he hoisted the box. Under Aunt Zhang's worried gaze and Seventh Aunt's proud one, he turned and walked into the night. He was silently chanting in his heart. The Demon Suppression Golden Mace from the manor faintly resonated.

Before long, two Golden Armored Warriors silently appeared in front of him, as if suppressing even the wind in the night.

Hu Ma handed the box to them, saying softly, "Deliver this to the Yan Family of Guazhou. Don't worry about anything else."

The Golden Armored Warriors accepted the order, carried the box one on each side, and marched away. They appeared silently, but now on their mission, their steps were like thunder, shaking the surroundings and startling many ghosts lurking by the roadside.

At the forefront, a ghost, sent by Master Yan of the Guazhou Yan Family to deliver the ransom money, was advancing, surrounded by paper men playing music. When it reached the front of Old Yin Mountain, it planned not to traverse it directly but to take the path through the underworld, when it suddenly heard this earth-shattering noise.

The moment the heavy, thunderous footsteps sounded, the music beside it turned hoarse and dim. Immediately following, the lifelike paper men crumbled as if they'd been crumpled into a ball, whimpering until they fell silent.

This wasn't because they were disrespectful or had angered something, but simply because they were in the way.

The ghost turned sharply. Seeing the Golden Armored Warriors striding over, it panicked deep down and involuntarily knelt. It wasn't that it wanted to kneel, but it was compelled by the overwhelming awe.

Trembling and kneeling by the roadside, not daring to lift its head, it happened to see the box in the hands of the two Golden Armored Warriors. Its Divine Soul nearly scattered. It desperately wanted to report back but found itself unable even to stand.

「Meanwhile, in Gua Prefecture City, within a lavish and opulent estate, there was a pavilion surrounded by lakes in a richly adorned garden.」 A man in splendid attire was sitting opposite a neatly dressed man in white, playing chess, drinking, chatting, and laughing.

Seeing the man in white appearing slightly unsettled, the luxuriously dressed man chuckled. "Mr. Chun Sheng, don't worry. We've been close friends for many years, and I owe you a great debt. Now that you're in trouble, how could I turn a blind eye?"

The man in white awkwardly cupped his hands. "It's not that I don't trust Brother Yan, but that Old Master Hu even kills relatives. We..."

"That's Old Master Hu. He's harsh and cold-hearted, but he can't keep up such a facade, can he?"

The elegantly dressed man laughed again. "I heard he grew up in Mingzhou Mountain, so his vision might be limited, but he should at least know manners. If he acts personally, he'd lose face. If the matter is handled by his Four Great Hall Officers..."

With this, he couldn't help but smirk. "Mr. Chun Sheng, haven't you heard? The Four Great Hall Officers of Zhensui Mansion have become laughingstocks in the Paths."

The man in white remained uneasy. "Even if they're laughingstocks, but..."

"Rest assured, Mr. Chun Sheng."

Master Yan of the Iron Gate Family, with a serious expression, said, "The matters of Zhensui Mansion are divine decrees, and no one disrespects the Hu Family among the Ten Surnames. But this world is not the Hu's alone. If Zhensui Mansion sets the rules, they too must abide by them."

Just as he spoke, thunder suddenly boomed in the sky, startling the two so much that they overturned the chessboard. They rose hastily to hear the chaotic shouting of servants in the distance.

They rushed over, asking what was happening. A servant replied, "Master, we don't know either. We were just sleeping and suddenly heard thunder. Something fell down, collapsing half of the main hall."

"What?"

They hurried to look, and their faces changed drastically upon seeing the perfectly intact box, which had crashed through the roof and landed in the main hall. It seemed they even forgot to breathe.

"The ransom money is returned. This means they're not agreeing..."

Mr. Chun Sheng's expression turned grim; his body even began to react uncontrollably as water stains started to seep out from him. His voice was ice-cold. "And the letter hasn't even been opened. They're not intending to show face to the Yan Family. So, these copper coins..."

"Are the sword capturer's blood money!"

Master Yan, a flicker of iron in his complexion, spoke slowly. "My Yan Family has held official positions for seven generations. My ancestor didn't bow before the emperor, and the stone lions at our gate have kept Man City's evil spirits at bay. Yet he dares to..."

While speaking, his face turned cold. He shouted, "He's just a sword capturer under Zhensui Mansion! How dare he be so domineering? Does he intend to violate the rules and come into the Yan Family to kill?"

"Fine, fine, fine! Hasten and invite Mr. Liu from the south of the city, Master Gongyang from outside the city, and then immediately send for Aunt Li from Skillful Hand Restaurant."

"Is a lowly sword capturer from Zhensui Mansion going to come straight to my Yan Family and act so wildly?"

「At the same moment, another person, feeling differently, was riding a green mule into the city.」 But looking at the city's scenery and the red lanterns hanging high on the city walls, he felt as if everything was unfamiliar.

His eyes even glazed over. He looked around dumbly, his expression as if struck by lightning. "What? Little Red Lantern from my family has truly become a Mansion God and even entered Mingzhou City?"

"What? How did she become the protector of the Food Protection Army too? Since when did Mingzhou City become the territory of the Food Protection General?"

"What the hell, how did so many motherly figures appear? Over a hundred kids born already?"

The shock this brought him was truly beyond imagination. He couldn't even make it to the temple at Zhu Gate Town and hurriedly ran to the inn, eager to use the Lifebound Spirit Temple to ask what was going on.

「Meanwhile, Hu Ma, who had sent the Golden Armor General with the box back to Guazhou, was now in the manor at Green Stone Town.」 He was holding the Punishment Officer's Great Saber, slowly polishing it. Though the saber was already clean, he was merely using the act of polishing it as a guise to quietly ponder what he still lacked.

"In the past period, I've chopped down quite a few evil spirits and specters. The Dharma Form of the Great Mighty Sky General Seal has almost completed, but it still lacks a vital force needed to push open this third Mansion Gate..."

"How much more is needed to replenish this force?"

Just as he was pondering, he suddenly felt a connection. He quickly put down the saber, took several deep breaths, and quietly began practicing. He immersed himself in the Lifebound Spirit Temple. Upon entering, he sensed someone had connected with him. A voice calmly said:

"I'm back."

Miss White Wine spoke with her typically calm tone, yet there seemed to be a touch of heaviness. "This is a major issue, and Red Wine has returned with me. Their group from Anzhou is also nearby now."

"Plus, with those we invited from other places, this is quite a stir. Are you prepared for this?"