Twilight Boundary-Chapter 595 - 586 Witch Observes the Gu (First Update)

Hu Ma had heard quite a lot about destiny. He always felt that Calculation seemed to have hinted at something, but he couldn't be sure if it was true. This old fellow had discussed various aspects of destiny before, mentioning what would happen when different fates met, but it always seemed more like hindsight than an accurate prediction. And as for the Purple Tai Sui, which could supposedly grant immortality, if it still had to consider destiny, then what about the Reincarnators hidden everywhere, each with a different identity? How could their destinies be calculated? Why did the Purple Tai Sui specifically influence the Lifebound Spirit Temple of a Reincarnator?

He had detoured to this Blood Food mine because he knew this old man was knowledgeable about many things. Hu Ma wanted to ask for clarity, but even after inquiring, he remained confused. The only thing I can be certain of now is that there's indeed no description or record of the Purple Tai Sui within the Zhensui Mansion. I discussed this with Er Guotou earlier, worried I might have missed something, so I checked again. But, indeed, there was none. On the desk in the Zhensui Mansion lay several scrolls—some from the Ghost Record, some from the Golden Armor Collection, and the Delivering Yin Book—each with its unique use, ready for further study. Yet, the Tai Sui wasn't mentioned at all, as if it didn't belong to the same category of things. This suggests that the Purple Tai Sui really seems to be related only to the lineage of the Old walking ghost, and the Zhensui Mansion is separate from that.

Hu Ma thought silently, Granny's image flashing in his mind. Back in the village, Granny seemed to know a method to find the Blood Tai Sui; that's how she could bring me fresh Blood Tai Sui every day. If the Blood Tai Sui can be found, can the Purple Tai Sui be found too? Granny was from the lineage of the Old walking ghost; she must know something about these things... Mulling it over, he only felt more confused and uncertain, finding it hard to reach any conclusion. Fortunately, Er Guotou had said that the next time they needed to enter, they would have to wait until mid-July of next year. So, not being able to settle the matter now was acceptable...

A Reincarnator faced far too many problems; for now, he could only focus on handling the matters at hand.

Having decided on his course of action, he set off for Guazhou with Calculation, Wuya, and Zhou Datong. Their group numbered four. Along the way, they encountered people from all walks of life, a motley crowd with many watchful eyes. It seemed the best disguise for navigating the jianghu was to be inconspicuous. Hu Ma, dressed in a black cloth robe and carrying the Punishment Officer's Great Saber, was quite distinct. However, because he wore a sachet, he didn't attract any attention at all. He observed those martial artists; they even lifted the covers of night-soil carts for inspection, yet no one gave him a second glance.

Hu Ma found their behavior rather bizarre. Do these guys think the Great Sword Catchers of the Walking Ghosts would hide in a dung bucket to sneak through? I'm a Shousui man, not some trickster!

After three days of travel, they arrived before Guazhou Prefecture. From afar, it was an impressive city. The city walls were several feet taller than those of Mingzhou Prefecture. Following the official road, they saw the lively scene before the Guazhou Prefecture. It bustled with merchants and mule teams. Martial Artists, some in sedan chairs, others riding large mules with swords at their sides, were coming and going. In front of the city, one could even see a line of soldiers dressed in black robes with black iron breastplates. These were the formidable Iron Threshold Army, which held considerable sway in the southeastern region.

Unlike the Mingzhou Food Protection Army, which had risen from obscurity to renown through fierce fighting within a single month, the Iron Threshold Army's emergence seemed to align with the times, a natural development. They first gained momentum in Guazhou, recruiting ten thousand soldiers. Then, they cleared out bandits in the surrounding areas, slew spirits, and even vied for dominance with a powerful band of ship pirates on the lake south of Guazhou. Aided by ghostly gods, they eventually subdued these ship pirates. Riding this wave of impressive momentum, their leader proclaimed himself the Iron Threshold King in Guazhou, winning the unanimous support of the local dignitaries and common folk.

Currently, the Iron Threshold Army and the Food Protection Army were separated by Old Yin Mountain, eyeing each other from a distance. However, both forces had risen only recently and were not yet ready to expand. Otherwise, they would inevitably clash sooner or later, with the victor claiming the fortune of Old Yin Mountain. However, unlike the Food Protection Army, the Iron Threshold King had declared his kingship early on, as soon as his influence began to grow. Whether this was good or bad, others found it hard to say. But once he proclaimed himself King, he possessed a royal aura, and in Guazhou, no spirits or ghostly gods dared to cause trouble.

Even from outside, the city exuded this atmosphere. Inside, the excitement was even more palpable. The wide main street running through Guazhou Prefecture was extremely crowded, teeming with people shoulder to shoulder. All around were individuals from all walks of life. Those martial artists who usually lorded over their own territories, living well, had arrived in groups of three to five, drawing out Guazhou's residents to do business as well, making the scene resemble a temple fair. The influx of these martial artists, whatever other impacts it might have, had certainly caused an explosive boom in business for eateries, inns, and even brothels.

Even Calculation was somewhat amazed. "This is even more impressive than I imagined, little shopkeeper..." He glanced at Hu Ma. "What do you see?" His expression carried a hint of pride, as if to say his prediction had been accurate and the nobleman's two hundred pounds of Blood Food hadn't been spent in vain.

But Hu Ma glanced around the city, smiled, and said, "I see a land teeming with evil spirits!"

Seeing this multitude of people, his mood was indeed... excited!

Who knew how many Reincarnators were hidden among these crowds, filled with people from all walks of life and all sorts of evil spirits? News had already spread, thanks to Miss Red Wine and others, that all Reincarnators were to gather in Guazhou for a meeting. Although the meeting was still a few days away, many Reincarnators from various places had likely already arrived. Now, these individuals were all hidden among the throngs of Guazhou's populace. Hu Ma understood this well and felt an urge to find a place to rest and send out a call. Normally, calling out to Reincarnators was only effective in familiar or designated locations, and even then, it relied on luck! But things were different now. Hu Ma was quite certain that if he entered his Lifebound Spirit Temple and called out, an untold number might respond! With this thought, Hu Ma started to feel as if everyone he saw could be a Reincarnator. There was a wealthy young man on the street corner, extravagantly dressed in a silver-threaded robe and embroidered leather boots—who else but a Reincarnator would be so fashionable? Then he looked nearby: a girl was huddled inside a wide black robe, only her small head visible... Who else but a Reincarnator could look so dejected? And the storyteller in the teahouse, the old man playing chess on the street, the woman waving a handkerchief from a brothel window... Well, perhaps not the woman. Unless a Reincarnator had a peculiar preference, they probably wouldn't enter that line of work.

"Evil spirits?" As Hu Ma was marveling, Calculation gave a start, then sighed and said, "You members of the Walking Ghost Family certainly have a strong way of putting things!"

"Just because they're helping the Yan Family, you call them evil spirits?"

"..."

Hu Ma didn't explain, just chuckled. "Let's find a place to rest first!"

"Guazhou Prefecture is so bustling, the inns must be full. It would be unseemly for us, the Great Sword Catchers of the Walking Ghosts, to sleep on the streets!"

"..."

"I'll go!"

Seeing they needed a place to stay, Zhou Datong immediately volunteered. His eyes scanned the street and landed on a woman who had the air of a widow, leading a child and carrying wine, emerging from a mansion. He quickly approached with a smile, bowed deeply, and said, "Big sister, we are traveling merchants. Is this mansion yours? Might we trouble you for a night's lodging?"

"Rest assured, we will pay in silver!"

"..." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The woman was taken aback by Zhou Datong's words.

Before she could reply, five or six heads popped out from behind the mansion door. They were all bare-chested and armed, shouting, "What do you think you're doing?"

Zhou Datong, startled by these martial artists, stammered, "J-just looking for a place to stay."

The men inside sneered. "As if that's all you want! This house is full. Go find somewhere else!"

Zhou Datong returned dejectedly. Looking rather embarrassed, he said to Hu Ma, "No room..."

Hu Ma felt rather exasperated. What strange tastes these people have.

Just then, Wuya, who had been quietly following along, mostly listening but rarely speaking, smiled and said, "Teacher, Shopkeeper Brother, Datong Brother, why don't you follow me? I'll find us a place!"

"..."

As she spoke, she raised her arm, rolling up her sleeve slightly to reveal her pale skin. She let out a soft whistle, and a small, emerald-green snake emerged from her sleeve, peering about. This snake was noticeably smaller than the one she had previously, the one afraid of heights; it seemed newly hatched. After sniffing the air for a moment, it nodded in a particular direction, and Wuya set off that way.

The others followed. After winding through several streets and alleys, they went deeper into the city, eventually arriving at a large residence beside a pond shaded by a large willow tree.

Wuya looked down at the little snake and made a soft hissing sound, as if confirming something with it. Then, she turned to Hu Ma and said, "Shopkeeper Brother, let's stay here tonight!"

With that, she stepped forward to knock on the door.

Hu Ma didn't intervene, merely watching curiously as she went. Only after she had gone did he turn to Calculation and ask, "What's our young sister doing?"

"Heh, that's the custom of their Witch folk..." Calculation chuckled softly. "Because their dress and speech are quite different from ours, travel can be inconvenient for them. So, Witches skilled in raising gu have a custom: upon arriving at a new place, they first sense the gu energy. If they find a household that has recently suffered misfortune or has some troublesome infestation, they'll offer to stay the night. This way, they can help the occupants, accumulate some yin virtue, and also find convenient lodging for themselves."

Hu Ma was surprised. "Someone in this household is afflicted by gu?"

"Not necessarily gu. Only creatures deliberately cultivated by someone are called gu. This house might have some natural pests or imbalances causing a persistent, strange ailment, which her snake bug detected." Calculation explained, "This world is full of peculiar people and strange creatures, many of them hidden away. Witches often travel the jianghu by offering to cure such illnesses."