Twilight Boundary

"Good..."

The people from the Red Lantern Society were stunned for a moment before they realized Shopkeeper Hua had won, and won cleanly and decisively.

For a time, they all stood up, cheering loudly. Even the red lanterns next to the stage seemed a bit celebratory in their redness.

Up to now, nine rounds had been fought, with the Red Lantern Lady's Club winning five. Even if they lost the next round, it would be a tie. Of course, for the Red Lantern Lady, a tie in the end would be unacceptable, but the members still breathed a sigh of relief.

On the side of the green clothes gang, however, there was complete silence. Many got up and left, leaving the old man's corpse on the stage.

Compared to the excitement of the previous night, morale had hit rock bottom.

Next round, Sweet Potato is coming...

Hu Ma got up, thinking to himself, I wonder what move she has prepared, and how Er Guotou plans to win against her.

As he thought about it and prepared to leave, he unexpectedly saw a flash of red light coming towards him. At the front was a group of Incense Burners with covered faces and a mysterious aura.

And in their hands, they actually held a small, delicate red lantern.

Although this lantern didn't look large—smaller even than the lanterns carried by patrols in the Manor—it was beautifully decorated and exquisitely crafted. But the light emanating from it was a deep, blood-red hue with an indescribably eerie quality.

"What is this..."

Caught in the lantern's glow, Hu Ma was startled, feeling as if his entire being was being scrutinized by some invisible gaze.

A primal sense of danger caused the hairs on his body to stand on end. He felt a little at a loss, warily watching the group of Incense Burners.

"The Lady wishes to ask you something..."

At this moment, the Incense Burner in front, who held the red lantern, suddenly spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, as if emerging from an ice cellar.

"So..."

Hearing his words, Hu Ma was suddenly jolted into realization, Is this... the Lady's true form?

He recalled once holding a red lantern through which the Red Lantern Lady's power had descended, but he could feel that the powers were on entirely different levels. He immediately had his suspicions and hurriedly nodded, preparing to perform a bow of respect.

But the Incense Burner waved his hand indifferently, saying, "No need."

"The Lady wants to know if you brought back the news that the person from the Execution Soul Path would be representing the green clothes gang in the duel?"

"..."

Hu Ma's heart was already tightly clenched, but outwardly he had to appear more solemn. In a deep voice, he said, "Yes, I have already truthfully reported all relevant information to the two protectors."

He dared not stare directly at the red lantern but could feel its eerie light flowing with an almost human-like emotion.

The Incense Burner was silent for a moment, seemingly listening to the Red Lantern Lady, then suddenly intensified his tone, saying, "Is this news true?"

Hu Ma, caught in a predicament, could only say, "It is true."

The strange red glow of the lantern seemed to soften slightly. The voice of the Incense Burner also became a bit gentler, softly saying, "The Lady says this matter is of great consequence and cannot afford any mistake."

"If the news you brought back is true, you will be heavily rewarded."

"If it is false..."

"..."

He paused slightly, then let out a cold snort, saying, "I need not remind you of the consequences, do I?"

What could the consequences be?

Skinning? Drawing tendons? Or becoming gelatinous like the demon people of the Tan'er Sect?

Hu Ma felt truly helpless inside, but under the red lantern's glow, he dared not show it, only responding, "Yes."

The Incense Burner finished speaking and proceeded forward with the lantern, seemingly indicating that the Lady's inquiry was complete. After he had walked over a dozen feet away, the red glow shifted ever so slightly. He suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Hu Ma. A slight smile appeared on his face as he said, "Oh, and the Lady says she remembers you!"

"..."

She remembers me?

Hu Ma waited until the red lantern walked far away before standing upright, feeling cold sweat soaking his back.

How did the Red Lantern Lady remember him? Was it from that time at the Manor when he invited her over to deal with the Tan'er Sect?

This lady has quite a memory!

Logically, being remembered by the boss shouldn't be bad, but just thinking of the eerie blood-red light inside that lantern, Hu Ma felt a chill running down his spine.

Now he finally understood how important the Red Lantern Lady considered the outcome of this duel.

Though she had already won five rounds and was in the lead with four losses, she was determined not to give up the final one, striving with all her might to win, to the point where she personally came over to confirm the information with him.

But with the Red Lantern Lady's personal assurance that if the news were true, he would receive a hefty reward, just how hefty would it be?

Er Guotou needed to orchestrate a great merit for himself, and now it seemed a bit too great, didn't it?

The risks were increasing as well. If Sweet Potato or her senior brother didn't show up for that last match, he'd be in deep trouble...

"Nephew Hu, how about it?"

At this point, seeing the Red Lantern Lady depart, Manager Xu and others hurried over.

They had seen the Incense Burner bring the lantern to speak with Hu Ma, but unfortunately, they couldn't hear the conversation due to the lantern's glow. However, they noticed the Incense Burner smiling when leaving and heard the mention of the Red Lantern Lady remembering him.

It didn't sound bad, did it?

"It's nothing much."

Seeing their curiosity but reluctance to probe, and knowing the gravity of the situation, Hu Ma decided not to elaborate. He simply said, "The Lady asked me a few things."

Manager Xu and the others exchanged glances, each thinking, What a privilege! The Lady herself came to ask you something?

But they dared not inquire further, and Hu Ma didn't dare to share more, merely offering some vague responses before hastily returning with Manager Xu to sleep, too preoccupied to even think about drinking with Yang Gong as previously planned.

Things seem pretty serious!

Originally, he had just intended to relay a message and earn some credit for his toil, but now it seemed the Lady had taken it too seriously, increasing the risk for him as well.

Had Er Guotou truly persuaded Sweet Potato?

Earlier, he'd agreed to return because Er Guotou claimed to have reached an agreement with Sweet Potato, but after all, he hadn't asked her in person...

Sleep, sleep, meet up with Sweet Potato early, and only feel relieved after directly asking her.

Previously, due to the distance, he couldn't connect with her, but now that only the final round remained, she would have to get here no matter what, and he should be able to contact her directly.

"Old White calling Sweet Potato, can you hear me?"

That night, Hu Ma entered the Lifebound Spirit Temple, placing his palm on the incense burner, calling out quietly several times. He was worried, but suddenly saw a wisp of Life Incense connecting beyond the red mist. Sweet Potato's voice, filled with excitement, promptly followed. "Senior, you're around here too? I was just thinking of thanking you for introducing me to such a good opportunity."

"I'm just here to join the fun."

Hu Ma, concealing his inner worries, lowered his voice to a raspy laugh, saying, "It seems Er Guotou already contacted you. But earlier you mentioned you wanted to win that round. Now you're planning to lose, don't you hold it against me?"

"Why would I blame you?"

Sweet Potato replied in surprise, "Didn't Senior Er Guotou tell you what great benefits he promised me?"

"I wanted to win to get a reputation, to strengthen my position. Now I have a chance to cash in, isn't that even better?"

"Let me tell you, I had actually considered letting my senior brother fight, but now I'd rather go myself and first curry favor with our Red Lantern Lady."

"Maybe in the future, when I join the Red Lantern Society, Senior Er Guotou and I will be counting on you to look out for us."

"..."

"Phew..."

Hearing her response, Hu Ma finally felt a bit at ease.

It seemed that Er Guotou was reliable when it came to major matters. Had it been empty promises, he would have been in big trouble.

After setting his mind at ease, he suddenly noticed something strange in Sweet Potato's words and curiously asked, "Me?"

"Take care of you all?"

"..."

"Yes..."

Sweet Potato replied mysteriously, "Senior Er Guotou told me you're a hidden expert within our Red Lantern Society. Even Miss White Wine received your help, and he certainly did as well. If not for your care, he'd have lost his life on Old Yin Mountain..."

"I'm really lucky to have met you..."

"Senior, Senior, since we've cooperated before, when I enter the Red Lantern Society, I'll be counting on you..."

"..."

What the heck?

Hu Ma found it all rather bizarre, What did Er Guotou say to her?

Moreover, aren't you still with the green clothes gang? Why do you keep mentioning our Red Lantern Society...

Does it mean Er Guotou didn't reveal the plan to you but directly convinced you to switch sides?

"..."

"We're all just trying to survive in this world by looking out for each other..."

Suddenly becoming a mysterious hidden expert within the Red Lantern Society, Hu Ma, who wasn't thin-skinned, felt a twinge of embarrassment from Sweet Potato's words.

But as the conversation progressed to this point, he had no choice but to play the role of an expert. "We're all just trying to survive in this world by looking out for each other..." he casually remarked, before disconnecting.

Still feeling uneasy, he thought about asking Er Guotou how he negotiated with Sweet Potato, but before he could, he called and Er Guotou connected instantly. He began with a cheeky smile, "No need to thank me, brother."

"That Sweet Potato girl is smart and sensible, and her words sound sweet. Seems like the cute and lovable little Junior Sister type!"

"We're brothers; don't I know how to play wingman for you?"

"..."

Hu Ma was speechless. What was going on in Er Guotou's head all the time?

When life is too comfortable, does one stop thinking about other things?

I'm not like you. I still have to survive, learn skills, and quickly get my kidneys revitalized...

... Otherwise, what's the use of meeting girls here?