Twilight Boundary-Chapter 593 - 584: The Foundation of the Ten Families

"A Heroic Invitation?"

This name left Hu Ma a bit confused. "What in the world is this?"

"Heh heh, the Iron Gate Yan Family, they're not to be trifled with."

Hearing this, Calculation couldn't help but laugh. "You think sending the Walking Ghost's Great Sword Catching Sect to deliver the life-purchase money was a minor thing?"

"Now it seems the Yan Family has no intention of giving you any face. They've already sent out widespread invitations to their jianghu comrades, summoning them to Gua Prefecture City to have a 'good talk' with your Ghost Walking Hu Family."

"Since they're inviting heroes from all over, this invitation is naturally a Heroic Invitation. Of course, what kind of people they're actually inviting is another matter, as long as they're willing to support the Iron Gate Yan Family. Honestly, even an old fellow like me could go and freeload a meal."

Hu Ma was somewhat surprised. "Are there really that many people who would disrespect the Hu Family?"

"No one dares to disrespect the Hu Family," Calculation said. "But not everyone knows the reputation of the Zhensui Hu Family."

"The Ten Surnames have always preferred to stay out of the limelight, hidden very deeply. But precisely because they're so well-concealed, never mind the common folk and the Jianghu Grass, even many in ordinary Paths are unaware of the Ten Surnames' existence."

"Besides, even those who know of the Hu Family's name are mostly aware of your current predicament. It's rare for someone to actively provoke you, but if *you* go looking for trouble with others..."

"...they might not be so willing to give you face."

"And the Iron Gate Yan Family? They have deep roots, a grand reputation, experts of the Paths, Mountain Spirits, nobles from prominent families—how many of them are drawn by their prestige?"

"Others may not know, but the Iron Gate Yan Family certainly does; they even sent over the ransom money."

Hearing this, Hu Ma chuckled. "Not only do they dare to protect them, but they also want to kick up such a fuss. Quite audacious!"

"That's not just 'quite audacious'..." Calculation squinted, his expression serious. "Seven generations holding official positions, a powerful and established clan. When the Emperor was around, they were an unshakeable, iron-clad family; incoming prefectural officials had to pay their respects to the Yan Family first upon taking office. Across the jianghu, who dared to look them straight in the eye?"

"The Emperor is gone, but they've become even more formidable. Recently, a commoner hero has risen in Gua Prefecture, known as the Iron Threshold King, with forty to fifty thousand soldiers under his command—secretly backed by the three great families of Guazhou."

"The Lord of Gua Prefecture receives Worship, and it's the Yan Family who provides the incense for these rites."

"To take it a step further, even the officials and government officials in the local government yamen are fed and supported by them."

"Do you really think that's just Gua Prefecture? That place is practically a miniature imperial court!"

"Honestly, it's only because the Iron Threshold King is currently just a grasshead king, lacking the courage to ascend the throne and declare himself Emperor. If it ever reached that point, a single imperial edict could make the ghostly gods of Guazhou ignore the Zhensui Hu Family's commands and treat the Zhensui Mansion as nothing!"

Hu Ma frowned slightly. He found it strange at first, but soon understood.

The current Zhensui Mansion is unique, its influence seemingly boundless, not constrained by imperial orders. But if a new Emperor truly emerged, issued an edict, razed mountains and temples, and won the hearts of the people, then the Zhensui Mansion would indeed lose its foundation. This Calculation, while seeming to talk about Guazhou, also appears to be using this chance to give me a reminder.

"And this is just the official side of things."

Seeing that Hu Ma seemed to be taking his words in, Calculation proudly picked up the teacup Wuya had served Hu Ma, took a sip, and continued, "In the jianghu, the Iron Gate Yan Family is no pushover either."

"Never mind that the local Path experts in Gua Prefecture City mostly have dealings with the Yan Family and owe them favors; let's just talk about the Store Manager of the Life Pavilion—he's also the Yan Family's son-in-law."

"This Life Pavilion, don't underestimate it. It's as famous as the Grass Heart Hall in the north, one of the two major legacies in the Siming Path."

"Many doctors throughout the land have connections with it. Previously, the Life Pavilion and the Grass Heart Hall competed for the position of Reasoning Hall Officer of the Siming Path, and the Grass Heart Hall was defeated by them."

"It's precisely because the Grass Heart Hall couldn't secure the position of great hall officer that they refused to serve as a small hall officer under another. That's why they're in their current state, holding no official position within the Path. From this, you can see the capabilities of the Life Pavilion, can't you?"

Hu Ma didn't quite grasp it, frowning slightly.

But Calculation quickly added, "Don't underestimate any Path. People in the Siming Path might have fewer methods to harm others... but don't you dare think they actually have few... What's important is, which one of them isn't widely connected, with friends in every Path?"

"It's precisely because that fine son-in-law of the Yan Family, the Store Manager of the Life Pavilion, has stepped forward that so many jianghu experts have been invited!"

"The current Gua Prefecture is arguably at its most bustling. Are you planning to go there all alone just to kill someone?"

"Sigh..." He shook his head as he spoke. "Whether it's the Paths or the jianghu, it all boils down to the same principle: it's always a case of 'many hands make light work.' I just don't know what that esteemed person from your Hu... Hu Family is thinking."

"The emergence of the Zhensui Mansion was such a grand affair! It was the perfect opportunity to build good relations with the various prominent families and wealthy clans. Why did things suddenly become so strained?"

"Look at the other Nine Surnames. How many of them usually roam the jianghu? Yet, why do they have eyes and ears everywhere?"

"To put it bluntly, the vassal of your vassal is not *your* vassal. The Ten Surnames are too detached from the jianghu. For minor matters, they rely on Hall Officers to mediate, but their very foundation, their ability to stand firm, depends on the support of these powerful families and clans!"

Gazing at Calculation's seemingly profound expression, Hu Ma paused for a moment before chuckling. "What the esteemed person is thinking, I wouldn't know, nor do I ask. I only know that by following this esteemed person, there's meat to eat!"

"Now that I've taken on the role of a sword catcher, I'll just focus on killing honestly. Nothing else concerns me."

Calculation had intended to persuade him to reconsider, but hearing these words, he knew his efforts had been in vain. He sighed, "Are you really only concerned with these immediate matters?"

"Having meat to eat is naturally good, but you also have to check if there's a knife hidden in that meat."

"No one dares to provoke the Zhensui Hu Family, but word about the Four Great Hall Officials of the Zhensui Hu Family has already spread, and it sounds almost like a joke."

"I'm just reminding you: after you arrive in Guazhou, it's not guaranteed anyone will give face to you, the Walking Ghost's Great Sword Catching Sect. In fact, if something inexplicable were to truly happen, and you, the Walking Ghost's Great Sword Catching Sect, were to die in Guazhou, it wouldn't be impossible..."

Hu Ma pondered silently for a while, then nodded. Something seemed to occur to him, and he said to Calculation, "Actually, I came back this time for another matter I wanted to ask your advice on, Brother Calculation. I didn't expect the conversation to drift this way."

"But since we're on the topic, Brother Calculation, you've roamed far and wide, have vast jianghu experience, and understand the rules. For this official business in Guazhou, how about I trouble you to accompany me on this trip?"

"Ah?" Calculation was startled. "I was just advising you to stay out of these troubled waters, and now you want to drag me in?"

"I'm not going!"

Hu Ma said nothing more, just smiled and replied, "As I said, following the esteemed person of our family, there's meat to eat!"

"If you're willing to go, I'll give you this much!"

He gestured with the number "two."

Calculation scoffed, "Twenty Blood Food Pills? What's that worth?"

Hu Ma smiled without speaking. Calculation's expression shifted slightly. "Could it be twenty pounds of Blood Food?"

"Two hundred pounds!"

I almost said two thousand pounds, but seeing Calculation didn't have grand aspirations, I mentally knocked off a zero, Hu Ma thought, watching him with a grin.

"My heavens..." Calculation's face was a mixture of emotions, his lips trembled as if he wanted to haggle, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. Finally, his expression hardened. "Let's get this straight first: this old man will not be doing any killing."

"Those qualified to take action are, at the very least, our Zhensui Mansion's junior sword-catchers. What qualification do you have?" Hu Ma glanced at him and smiled. "I merely saw that you understand things clearly, so I wanted to ask for your advice."

Calculation asked, "You want to ask me how to kill him?"

"No." Hu Ma shook his head. "That scoundrel is definitely going to die. It was decided the moment he refused to be recruited."

"I'm just asking you how to make his death... appropriate."

This unexpected statement made Calculation pause. He looked deeply at Hu Ma and put down his teacup.

"You are indeed starting to get the hang of things," he said.

"Honestly, although I was trying to dissuade you earlier, I actually knew I couldn't. You've already delivered the life-purchase money. Even though it was just a single Copper Coin, that act established a precedent according to the rules. And since the precedent is set, you can only act according to these jianghu rules."

Hu Ma frowned. "Jianghu rules?"

When he had given that Copper Coin earlier, he had only vaguely heard of similar practices in the jianghu, a way to vent frustration, but he didn't truly understand the implications.

"Yes," Calculation affirmed. "Before anything else, you need to understand one principle."

"Whether you're a sword-catching hall officer or a Reasoning Hall Officer, although their titles contain the word 'officer,' they aren't true officials. Strictly speaking, the Four Great Hall Officials under the Ten Surnames are all just Martial Artists. It's only because the Zhensui Hu Family has the Zhensui Mansion that they seem somewhat different."

"But fundamentally, your actions must still adhere to the rules of the jianghu. Otherwise, even if you kill someone, you won't win public acceptance."

"At the level of the Zhensui Hu Family, if you cannot command respect, intimidate all quarters, and establish rules, then killing is utterly useless."

"Makes sense!" Hearing Calculation's words, Hu Ma suddenly felt invigorated, as if the words had struck a chord deep within him. It was only upon hearing this that he felt certain Calculation was genuinely considering things from his perspective.

He rose respectfully and gave Calculation a half-bow, smiling. "Then I must ask for your guidance, Brother Calculation."

"For someone like me, representing the Walking Ghost Path's Great Sword Catching Sect, this is the first time I've received an order from the main family to go kill someone out of town. How can I do it impressively?"

"Easy, easy..." Calculation listened, his eyes narrowing with delight. "Actually, I was planning to help you all along; after all, we're like brothers. And yet, you insist on giving me these two hundred pounds of Blood Food. You see..."

"...anyway, this Blood Food definitely counts, right?"

Hu Ma also smiled. "Of course, you can rest assured!"

A promise is a promise, and the agreed-upon Blood Food certainly counts. If the Blood Food I promised you doesn't count, then how would the Blood Food you owe me count?