Twilight Boundary-Chapter 594 - 585 The World’s Greatest Great Freedom
The first night they discussed it, and by early the next morning, they set off.
After all, what Calculation said did make sense. Since they had already paid the money to buy a life, they needed to hurry and claim it back. Delaying too long would only further disgrace the Walking Ghost Family.
Of course, being too quick wasn't good either. There wouldn't be time to instill fear in the opponent or allow them to gather help. Setting a limit of seven days was best. This would give enough time for the news to spread and for the opponent to devise a response before they were finally taken down, thus gaining both substance and honor.
However, what surprised Hu Ma was the second thing Calculation mentioned, "We have to go in secret?"
"Of course," Calculation said, "do you know how many spies the others have arranged, waiting for you on the road?"
"If you were recognized, it would cause real trouble and also be embarrassing. Therefore, you need to arrive unnoticed and do what needs to be done only at the right time. That's the fun part."
"Don't resist. Think about Tie Jun, the Great sword catching sect of the Shousui Path. He came silently, without letting the One Coin Sect catch any wind, and only revealed his presence outside the town."
"Actually, there's some subtlety in this. Although Tie Jun was a Shousui man, he couldn't lead an army across state borders openly, or it would be considered a breach of protocol."
"Alright!" Hu Ma realized this was about the reputation of the Walking Ghost Family, so he had to comply. But he pondered, Concealing my identity didn't seem overly difficult. My face hasn't been publicly displayed much, and besides, I know a bit about disguise from the trick door.
"No need to make it complicated. Even if you haven't shown your face, people have their ways to find you."
Calculation waved his hand and called Wuya over. "Good disciple, show the skill I asked you to prepare."
"Is it the trick that lets you dine and dash without worrying about getting beaten?"
Wuya also responded with a cheerful smile. She took out a prepared sachet, handed it to Hu Ma, and said with a laugh, "Inside this is a type of bug; in the village, we call it the ugly bug.
"People in the village use it to create gu, which can block a person's qi. When a person's qi is blocked, they won't stand out. In the village, some people are envious of others' beauty, so they'd use this gu on them.
"Once affected by this gu, even the most beautiful person would appear plain and ordinary.
"However, there are also some who believe that if a Witch's daughter is too beautiful, it's a bad thing that could attract calamity. So, they deliberately use this gu on their own daughters. But, reluctant to truly harm their children, they put the gu in a sachet.
"When worn, one's appearance becomes ordinary. When removed, they become beautiful again. Shopkeeper Brother is naturally handsome; if he wears this sachet, he won't be recognized."
Calculation, who was busy on the side, interjected, "It's not because you're handsome. Mainly, your Shousui man foundation is strong, and your Path has many skills. They can easily pick you out from a crowd. This gu can mask your vitality. Wearing it will be effective."
Hu Ma glanced at him and said, "You don't need to add that."
He accepted the sachet and put it on, not feeling anything unusual. He gave Wuya a look. The previous night, he had already asked Calculation.
He knew that after the girl woke up, the gu from the Monkey Wine—perhaps administered prematurely—had likely taken effect. It caused her to lose about half a year's worth of memory from before she fell unconscious, so she forgot the tragic events in the valley.
Upon hearing that everyone in her village, including her father, was dead, she was heartbroken. But now, having moved past the saddest time and knowing that the brother who treated her best was alive, she found a glimmer of hope in her heart.
To say she benefited from misfortune would be too cruel, but Calculation did take her back to the village once.
They collected all the usable gu cultivated by the people in the village. Now, her skills in this area surpassed what they were before.
Having prepared, the group set off, taking the road towards Guazhou.
Indeed, just as Calculation had said, they encountered many Martial Artists carrying weapons along the way. Some were heading towards Guazhou, while others had gathered in groups of three or five, stationed at tea houses or at the entrances and exits of villages and town markets.
They stared vigilantly at passersby, occasionally confronting suspicious individuals and questioning them boldly.
In Hu Ma's eyes, even those within the Path who had skills were not much of a threat. In fact, most were just Jianghu wanderers with only basic martial prowess. The idea that these characters might be trying to find the Great sword catching sect of the Walking Ghost Path seemed absurd to him.
Calculation, however, cautioned, "These aren't even those invited by the Yan Family with their Heroic Invitation. They aren't qualified for that."
"They just know the Iron Gate Yan Family is widely distributing Heroic Invitations, so they've come to offer themselves, willingly acting as the Yan Family's eyes and ears. Even if they can't truly help the Yan Family, they hope to become familiar faces, making their future travels on the Jianghu Road smoother."
Hu Ma said, "Didn't they consider that something significant enough for the Yan Family to take so seriously is not something they can afford to provoke?"
"This is the jianghu..." Calculation gave him a peculiar look and said, "If they weren't rash and bold, or if they could make a living in the ordinary world, who would venture into the jianghu?
"You'll understand after you've spent enough time in the jianghu. Among these Martial Artists, finding those who understand how to follow rules and conduct themselves properly is already quite good. Occasionally, you might meet a clever, sensible one. If there's no deep enmity, you'd wish to become sworn brothers with them immediately by burning incense."
"But people, being foolish and reckless, can sometimes be truly troublesome. Take now, for instance. If you were to stroll in openly and get entangled with these people, would you kill them or not?"
Hu Ma listened and found himself in deep agreement. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
The Great sword catching sect of the Walking Ghost Path slew for aura; if other blood was spilled on the way, that aura would diminish.
But seeing how the Iron Gate Yan Family had truly magnified the situation, his own stage seemed to be set up with twice the result for half the effort.
He thought about the many Martial Artists flocking towards the Guazhou Prefecture Mansion, unseen by those in the dark. He wondered how many could guess that Reincarnators were mingling among them, rushing to a grand Reincarnator gathering in Guazhou—or perhaps, the first evil spirit revelry in twenty years?
And thinking of Reincarnators, Hu Ma began to ponder another question. Taking advantage of the uneventful journey, he said to Calculation, "I came here this time primarily to ask you about something."
"You've traveled far and wide, Old Sir, and have seen much. Have you ever heard of the concept of 'Purple Tai Sui'?"
"Purple Tai Sui?"
Upon hearing this, Calculation's expression noticeably darkened. Even in broad daylight, it sent a chill through the air. "Why do you ask about that? Has that harmful thing appeared again?"
Hu Ma frowned slightly. "A harmful thing?"
Calculation chuckled. "If it weren't for that thing, this Yi Dynasty might have lasted more than two hundred years!"
He lowered his voice and said, "You're the Great sword catching sect of the Walking Ghost Path. Surely you've heard that this thing is for achieving immortality?"
Hu Ma's heart tensed slightly. He nodded and said, "I've heard of it, but I don't believe it."
"Not believing is correct," Calculation sneered. "It's all because they're insatiable, each striving to achieve this ultimate Great Freedom, and that's what causes all the commotion."
Hearing this peculiar phrase, Hu Ma was clearly even more perplexed.
Calculation was very satisfied with his reaction. A hint of mockery appeared on his old face as he lowered his voice and said, "Do you think being an Emperor grants Great Freedom?"
Hu Ma thought for a moment and smiled. "Does that even need to be said?"
Calculation said, "Then let me ask you another question. Even an Emperor has worries. Can you understand that?"
Discussing whether an Emperor has worries sounded somewhat ridiculous, but Hu Ma more or less understood Calculation's meaning, so he nodded.
"An Emperor certainly doesn't need to consider whether to use a golden hoe or a silver hoe for farming tomorrow, but he will have other worries: an unstable empire, restless neighboring states, pondering which minister to execute each day, which concubine to sleep with... Perhaps his worries are no fewer than those of an ordinary person."
"Eh? You actually have such insight. You're truly worthy of being someone by the Young Master of the Ten Surnames..."
Calculation looked at Hu Ma with surprise and said, "However, an Emperor's worries are definitely fewer than an ordinary person's, at least fewer than mine."
"But even an Emperor is only considered the second greatest in terms of Great Freedom in this world, precisely because he has worries."
"Therefore, in the eyes of people within the Path, the greatest Great Freedom in this world is actually: Xian'er..."
"It is said that people in the Path continuously learn these skills. After ascending the steps, entering the mansions, and crossing the bridge, they then yearn for Returning. They still want to learn these skills to their utmost extent. And when learned to the utmost, one can become a Xian'er..."
"At that point, all worldly troubles disappear—ageless, immortal, free from sickness, without disaster, calamity, or hindrance. Truly a living embodiment of the ultimate Great Freedom, surpassing all."
He said this, then subconsciously pursed his lips. "Of course, not everyone believes this. But it's hard to say. Believers and non-believers each hold their own views, almost wanting to fight over it. You call him foolish, and he calls you stubborn..."
"After all, if this Xian'er isn't real, why would the person with the most Great Freedom in the world, that most intelligent Emperor, have previously pursued becoming this Xian'er so tirelessly?"
Listening to this, Hu Ma's expression had already become somewhat strange. "So, Purple Tai Sui is the key to becoming this Xian'er?"
"But how come I've heard that eating this thing can kill people?"
"Precisely because eating this thing can lead to becoming a Xian'er, it's not something just anyone can touch..."
Calculation looked deeply at Hu Ma and said in a low voice, "I don't believe in this. But in the eyes of those who do, they also know that eating this thing can easily lead to trouble. However, they have another saying: Immortal Elixirs are not for everyone."
"Eating this thing depends on one's fate!"
"Those with heavy fates, upon eating it, can become Xian'er. Those with light fates, after eating it, will only invite disaster!"
"Heavy and light fates?"
Hu Ma didn't quite believe this ethereal concept, but he thought about Er Guotou eating the Purple Tai Sui and his Lifebound Spirit Temple being reinforced. A strange idea suddenly occurred to him:
Could it be that, to this world, Reincarnators all possess exceptionally heavy fates?
