Twilight Boundary

"Buying life?"

Yang Gong and Manager Xu, hearing this, were both taken aback; they evidently hadn't heard much about such matters.

"It's a method from the Execution Soul Path."

The old man in green released the hand he had placed on Hu Ma's pulse, carefully examining him, and said, "They cast spells on some items, and whoever picks them up from the ground is said to have their life bought. Some Great Evil Spirits or yin objects use this method when they want to get married."

"But this kid didn't encounter a simple life-buying method; he encountered an expert."

"These people refine ordinary paper money using a Secret Technique, giving it the ability to buy life. In combat, they scatter the paper money on a person. If it hits their head, their life is bought. This kid..." He paused, then continued, "You must have taken Blood Food Pills before, right? Did your cultivation surpass one Column?"

Hu Ma knew what he was referring to and quickly said, "Yes. I performed a meritorious deed for the Society earlier, and the Lady rewarded me with three Blood Food Pills. I took them, and my cultivation broke through, but now..."

"It's a good thing your cultivation broke past one Column; that's what saved your life," the old man in green stated. "Otherwise, your life would have been completely bought."

"What?"

Manager Xu and Yang Gong, beside him, looked alarmed.

Hu Ma feigned panic along with them but felt slightly relieved internally. I know my own situation best; I was only worried about being exposed by experts in the Society. Now that the old man had spoken, that worry dissipated. Though the situation seems dangerous, as long as I keep up with the Blood Food, my cultivation will soon recover with no other impact.

But Hu Ma understood, while Manager Xu and the others did not. Manager Xu quickly asked the old man, "What should we do?"

The old man in green looked somber, sighed lowly, and said, "There's no other way. His life was bought by the paper money, and a hole was opened at his Heavenly Gate. Wandering ghosts will come for him. I must seal this hole, but this task is not easy... I can only use my ancestral plaster... Old Xu, I'm doing this for your sake. Three Blood Food Pills later; I'll consider it a loss if it's even one short."

"What?"

Upon hearing this statement, the three present were surprised, delighted, and dumbfounded all at once.

Manager Xu was surprised, taken aback that the old man in green was actually asking for three Blood Food Pills.

Yang Gong was pleased; finally, there was a Method to save Hu Ma.

But Hu Ma was dumbfounded. This old man is just talking nonsense! This Paper Money Buys Life affair targets only that single moment; once it's done, it's over. So, the old man was right that I was lucky my cultivation was profound enough to save my life. If it had truly been someone with cultivation less than one Column, those three pieces of paper money could indeed buy their life. Once their cultivation was emptied, they would die. But the crucial point was, if one's life wasn't completely bought, there would be no further consequences; there was no such thing as a hole being torn open. This old man is talking utter nonsense... Is he trying to push his plaster?

"The plaster, bring it quickly..." By this point, Yang Gong couldn't hold back any longer and said, "It's only three Blood Food Pills? I'll pay."

"No, no..." Hu Ma hurriedly said, "Three Blood Food Pills, that's... that's too expensive, isn't it?"

"Expensive?" Manager Xu, Yang Gong, and the old man in green all looked at Hu Ma with serious expressions. "This is a matter of life and death; how can it be expensive!"

Hu Ma was suddenly at a loss, wanting to speak but unable to. He had to say, "I can't afford it..."

"Is this the time to be joking!" Yang Gong said. "We're brothers; why would I ask you to pay?"

Hearing this, Hu Ma felt moved but also a bit stifled. He could only look at the old man in green and said, "Sir, could you make it cheaper..."

The old man in green waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. Consider it me giving face to Red Fragrance Senior Brother Yang. Two pills will do. Now, just sit tight while I go fetch the plaster, warm it over the fire, and stick it on his forehead. Seal his Heavenly Gate, and his life won't be bought."

With that, two in the room were happy, and one was vexed.

Manager Xu and Yang Gong were pleased; one was happy he wouldn't have to give up his Blood Food Pills, and the other was happy Hu Ma would be saved.

Hu Ma, however, was vexed—this old man was truly bluffing! It's not good for a person to harbor too many secrets. When faced with a deceiver, one feels angry but can't speak out. Although I knew what was going on, I couldn't say anything. Theoretically, I wasn't supposed to understand these things now. I could only pretend to be ignorant and let this old man in green spout nonsense, swindling two Blood Food Pills from my brother... Once this plaster is stuck on my forehead, will it really seal my Heavenly Gate? I'm being a complete sucker!

Hu Ma soon had the plaster stuck to his forehead.

He had no choice but to apply it. The old man was chanting spells and making gestures at him, looking incredibly dedicated. According to the old man, he was going against his ancestral master's decree by taking out his precious remedy to save an outsider's life... I'll remember you. Since my reincarnation, I've never suffered such a huge loss. You're the first one to do this to me.

"All's well now..."

But Yang Gong and Manager Xu, seeing the plaster on Hu Ma's forehead, finally felt relieved. Especially Yang Gong—completely oblivious to having been made a sucker, he was beaming with joy.

"Oh dear..."

But before they could speak, they heard a startled cry from the courtyard, followed by a voice saying, "It's him, it really is him! My goodness, he's here! Brother-in-law, quick, go call my brother-in-law, he's really here!"

Those inside speaking were all startled by the voice. Turning their heads, they saw a man dressed in green robes with a scruffy beard, looking as if he hadn't slept for days and nights. His eyes were full of joyous surprise, staring at Hu Ma intently, nearly bursting into dance. He was none other than Sun Niuzi, who had previously gone to the Manor in Green Stone Town to gain experience but was caught and conscripted.

Hu Ma furrowed his brow and said, "What's the deal? He seems rather happy."

Yang Gong, with a sinister expression, drew his sword with a SWOOSH and said, "I'll dig it out and see if he's really happy."

"What?"

Sun Niuzi, who feared Yang Gong the most, scrambled away.

Even Manager Xu hastily held Yang Gong back and shook his head, saying, "No one can touch him now." As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Ma, seemingly hesitant to say more. He wanted to mention that Hu Ma had returned at a bad time, but considering Hu Ma's recent injury, he couldn't say it aloud. After all, if Hu Ma hadn't come back, wouldn't he have died outside from that evil skill anyway?

"COUGH. Some annoying people are coming. I'll head back first; you guys can chat." The old man in green, seeing this, also hurriedly grabbed his leftover plaster, stood up, waved to them, and left.

For a while, only Hu Ma, Yang Gong, and Manager Xu were left in the room, and it was quiet.

Yang Gong frowned and said to Manager Xu, "The people are already set; it can't be changed, right?"

Manager Xu also frowned, seemingly uncertain.

Hu Ma knew what the matter was but feigned confusion, saying, "What are you talking about?"

Manager Xu looked at Hu Ma, sighed softly, and said, "I wanted to tell you earlier that your leaving was actually a good thing... As it turns out, while your Shopkeeper position was schemed away, you also avoided a disaster. Word gets around describing you as lucky. Who would've thought you'd come back after all this? Haven't you noticed the current unrest? It's precisely when things are the most unstable in the Society!"

Hu Ma focused intently and said, "I heard some things on my way back. Our Red Lantern Lady is engaged in a duel?"

"It's not just the Red Lantern Lady engaging in a duel..." Manager Xu glanced at Yang Gong and then lowered his voice. "It's the Red Lantern Lady's Club engaged in a duel with the Green Clothes Gang. Each side sent out ten people, battling once a day. Seven days have passed now. Our Lady has won only three matches, whereas the Green Clothes Gang has won four. Everyone in the Society is on edge..."

Hu Ma was astonished and hastily said, "How could that be? I heard Martial Artists talking about the duel on the way, but everyone said the Green Clothes Gang was far inferior to us. How did they gain such an advantage?"

"Because the Green Clothes Gang has gone mad," Manager Xu said. "I see that gang, the ones who worship Evil Ghosts; to win this round, they've laid bare all their resources. Besides, they issued the challenge, and our Society couldn't refuse. This way, they had more prep time and came up with some underhanded tricks, bringing many capable experts aboard. But for all the price they've paid, even if they win, they'll have to make up for it with two to three years of Blood Food."

"The focal point was yesterday's match," Yang Gong said. "We should have won, but we were unexpectedly tricked by the opponent and lost the round."

Hu Ma became serious and said, "Tell me more. I only know there's a duel, but not the specifics."

Yang Gong and Manager Xu exchanged a glance, and Manager Xu began to explain.

Hu Ma listened intently. Although he already knew some of it from Er Guotou, learning the details still shocked him.

"The Green Clothes and Red Lights Fighting is, in fact, a duel between two Blood Food Gangs." What Manager Xu said wasn't much different from what Er Guotou had explained, except Er Guotou had been more straightforward:

"What do Blood Food Gang duels involve? It involves Shopkeepers, Worships. Don't be fooled by the grand names of the Red Lantern Lady and the green-clothed evil ghost; though the Blood Food Gangs are named after them, these figures are actually just overseeing them for those higher up. The true essence of a Blood Food Gang lies in these Shopkeepers, Worships, and the Disciples who live off Blood Food. So, this duel isn't just about two groups of people grabbing blades and fighting; it's about each side showcasing their abilities one by one. When it comes to actual fighting, it's the Red Fragrance Disciples who step up."

"And this time, the duel is just like that. The Green Clothes Gang sent a challenge to the Red Lantern Society, demanding both sides display their capabilities to determine the ownership of several major blood food mines. Because the ancestors of both sides have reasons why they cannot afford to lose, both have invested heavily. Our Red Lantern Society had little prep time; the people participating were selected by Shopkeepers from various Manors. The Green Clothes Gang, however, brought in Worships they had recruited from all corners. That's where we've suffered this time."