Twilight Boundary-Chapter 599 - 590 Show Off Divine Skills

Hu Ma couldn't hold it in anymore and urgently connected with Miss Red Wine. The moment that whiff of incense passed through layers of dark red mist and connected, the outside sounds suddenly disappeared.

It was only visible to the naked eye that outside the dark red mist, strands of incense smoke meandered like spirit snakes, seemingly trying to enter. It appeared that many Reincarnators were attempting to connect and communicate with him.

"The Lifebound Spirit Temple has such a use too?"

Hu Ma didn't have much experience with this sort of thing, so he found it novel. But since he had business to attend to, he said to Miss Red Wine, "Are all your people from Anzhou here?"

"..."

"Most of them are already here," Miss Red Wine lazily replied. "There are still a few who went far away to notify others and are on their way back."

"That should be enough."

Hu Ma thought of the group of Reincarnators from Anzhou surrounding Miss Red Wine. He had met quite a few of them; they were all capable and reliable people. He hurriedly said, "I need some people to help me investigate a few matters. Could I ask you to find a few trustworthy individuals for me?"

"Consider it a bounty. Each person's Blood Food reward will be... twenty pounds!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He thought it over carefully and decided not to set it too high, since he would really have to pay it.

"So generous?"

Even Miss Red Wine was a bit surprised. Twenty pounds of Blood Food was indeed a lot, enough to refine a hundred Blood Food Pills.

So she laughed. "Everyone is waiting for the meeting now, and since they're idle anyway, of course, there's no issue."

"What do you want to investigate?"

"..."

"Investigate the Iron Gate Yan Family of Gua Prefecture."

Hu Ma thought for a moment and then said slowly, "First, there's this toad disease in Gua Prefecture City. I suspect it's related to the Snake God Temple by Green Water Lake, and I hope someone can help me investigate this clearly."

"Second, the Iron Gate Yan Family is very close with the snake ghost, but I believe there's some hidden truth there. I'd like to find someone capable to help inquire into it deeply and investigate the Yan Family."

"And then..."

"..."

He paused for a moment before slowly saying, "The day after tomorrow, at midnight, find a few people with sharp blades to go kill with me."

Upon hearing this, Miss Red Wine was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "That's all?"

"It's always nice when your own people are generous. Earning a hundred pounds of Blood Food this way is really easy..."

"..."

"..."

What is this guy planning to do?

His reputation as a Walking Ghost of the Great Sword Catching Sect is probably useless in Guazhou...

With countless eyes waiting to find him, not to mention investigating these matters in complete darkness, how is that possible?

「The next morning」

When they got up, the young Master of the mansion was recovering but wasn't fully well yet. The Old Master, afraid of any relapses, very warmly insisted that Hu Ma and the others stay a few more days, hosting them with good food and drink.

This meant Hu Ma and the others didn't have to worry about lodging for the night. However, Calculation couldn't help but worry about Hu Ma after recalling his attitude the previous day.

Should he advise him? This kid frequently asked him questions but seldom listened. If he didn't advise him... what if Hu Ma didn't give him the two hundred pounds of Blood Food?

But despite Calculation's concerns, Hu Ma remained exceptionally calm. After getting up that day, he merely practiced his forms and instructed Zhou Datong. Then, he sat in the courtyard chatting over tea with the Old Master, passing the entire morning this way.

He finally had lunch and even took a short nap afterward. Upon waking, surely he'd go out and handle business?

But no. He was actually sharpening his knife!

This left Calculation exasperated. Could this kid just be talking tough while actually planning to give up completely?

Calculation did not know that on this day in Guazhou, while numerous jianghu figures appeared to be drinking and making connections, more turbulent undercurrents were secretly emerging, sparked by a particular bounty.

"That Ghost Walking Hu Family? What are they, daring to provoke Master Yan of Guazhou?"

Someone mingled among the crowd of Martial Artists, cursing the Hu Family more harshly than anyone. They even casually snatched a purse from a passerby to treat everyone, getting a group of martial heroes drunk. Then, fueled by alcohol, they ranted about the Yan Family while gossiping about the Hu Family's reputation.

They exposed all of the Yan Family's secrets, their various overt and covert forces, and even the promises the Yan Family had made to these Martial Artists who came to help.

Someone volunteered to help the Yan Family, skillfully displaying a trump card that even impressed the Yan Family's steward.

Someone else entered the Iron Threshold Army camp and caused various disturbances.

Another went to the Life Pavilion, claiming to have warts all over his body and specifically demanding the Store Manager come to examine them...

「As night descended」

Things grew even livelier. In a cemetery ten miles north of the Iron Gate Yan Family Mansion, someone set up a table under a locust tree. Chanting spells and shaking a banner, they soon summoned several gambling ghosts, who noisily started to gamble.

This stirred the curiosity of countless Corpse Guardian Ghosts in the cemetery. They poked their heads out to watch the affair, some eagerly clutching their burial goods, wanting to join in.

The person organizing the gambling watched the ghosts while glancing towards the Yan Family's estate. I've heard that the Yan Family has served as officials for seven generations and maintains extremely strict family discipline. But I refuse to believe that after so many generations, there isn't a single black sheep among them.

And indeed, the gambling ghosts grew more intense, their noise escalating.

Around midnight, a sudden cold wind blew through, and a little ghost could be heard shouting, "Master Yan is here!"

Turning his head, the organizer saw a wealthy-looking ghost being led over. The ghost's face was covered with yellow paper, and he reeked of incense. He instructed the little ghosts to be cautious and not to reveal his presence, then sat down at the gambling table and immediately joined in.

After gambling for half the night, he had lost everything and even accumulated a substantial debt. Master Yan attempted to flee, but the organizer stepped forward and scolded, "Debts must be repaid! Even in death, you must acknowledge them."

"If you don't acknowledge this debt, tomorrow I'll storm the Yan Family's gates and see if your ancestors don't find you so shameful they kick you off the ancestral shrine!"

"..."

"..."

「Meanwhile, outside the city」

At the Iron Threshold Army camp, the recent influx of jianghu guests into the city meant all the brothels were full. The army officers had nowhere to enjoy themselves. Furthermore, the Iron Threshold King, fearing they would cause trouble if they drank too much, had ordered them not to enter the city.

But as night fell, a curvaceous and enchanting woman arrived outside the military formation with a carriage. She found a spacious, empty area and had the coachman stop. Then, she took several wooden posts from the carriage and pounded them into the ground one by one.

She sent the coachman back and walked a couple of rounds between these posts. With a flip of her hand, she revealed a talisman paper emitting a strange, pungent fragrance, which she wound around the wooden posts a few times.

After secretly casting a spell, giggles scattered through the night. Affected by the spell, several army officers emerged from the camp in a daze. Soon, they saw the open space and the numerous posts standing there.

Their eyes instantly lit up. "Since when did such a tall building, such an exquisite establishment, get built outside our camp?"

Drooling, they rushed forward, hugging and licking the wooden posts.

The voluptuous woman laughed happily, swinging her handkerchief lightly. She spoke softly, "Am I good or not, my dears?"

The officers, nuzzling the posts, all shouted in unison, "You are! You are! You smell so wonderful!"

"Then tell me, am I better, or is the Iron Threshold King better?"

"Of course, you're better! You're our darling, our treasure! You're better than Silver!"

The voluptuous woman laughed even more joyfully, her voice growing even softer. "So, if the Iron Threshold King decides he wants to kill me, will you help me?"

"We will! We will! Whoever dares to hurt you, we'll cut them down!"

"..."

"..."

「Meanwhile, at Green Water Lake」

Someone quietly arrived, effortlessly finding the Snake God Temple, which thrived with incense offerings.

The temple gates were closed, and no incense burners were in sight. Instead, numerous Martial Artists had gathered there, grilling dog meat. Aware that someone planned to trouble the Snake God, they had specially stationed themselves there to prevent his temple from being ruined.

"That Ghost Walking Hu Family is unreasonable! I've heard they use harsh measures and love smashing people's temples..."

The newcomer overheard some of their chatter from afar. He then jovially approached the group, reaching into his clothes as if picking fleas. Upon nearing the loudly debating martial heroes, he flicked a "sleep-inducing bug" at them.

Soon, this rowdy group of Martial Artists was fast asleep, not even waking when their hair caught fire.

The man then swaggered into the Snake God Temple. Glancing around, he saw it was exquisitely built. In front of the altar, besides prayer cushions, there was a bench wider than usual, seemingly meant for someone to sleep on.

The temple attendant was absent. Even the statue of the Snake God was covered with a red cloth, indicating the Snake God wasn't present. The temple had clearly been carefully cleaned, leaving no clues.

But the man was unconcerned. He casually scanned his surroundings, and an idea formed in his mind.

He lit incense and bowed a few times to the temple's beams, chanting, "House Beam God, House Beam God! Though you are but a humble spirit, I call upon you as a god! You are high above and all-seeing. I have questions for you, and in return, I offer you sacrifices!"

"..."

After finishing his prayers, he stood up and took out a limp mask. He leaped up and hung it on the beams.

The beams were ordinary wood, and the mask itself didn't seem spiritually charged. Yet, once it was hung on the beams, a strange scene unfolded: the mask blinked, as if a face had truly formed on the beam, and it suddenly came alive.

It spoke, "Who is it? Who worships me?"

The man chuckled. "House Beam God, it is I, with questions for you. You're high above; have you seen everything that happens in this temple?"

The mask on the beam replied, "Seen it, seen it all! Ever since the temple was built, I've been here. All words have reached my ears; nothing has escaped my eyes..."

"Very well."

The man then laughed. "I ask you, House Beam God, what is the deal with this toad disease?"

"And the Iron Gate Yan Family, who helped build this temple—were there any secret dealings between them and this earth god? Were any unspeakable words exchanged?"

"Whatever you know, just tell me, and I will offer you roasted chicken to eat!"