Twilight Boundary

After clarifying the situation, Hu Ma finally felt some relief.

The next day, after having breakfast with Yang Gong and the others, he listened to them whispering about who would win or lose tonight. While the people above were busy with the duel, the ones below, although feeling the pressure, were still engaging in plenty of entertainment activities. From the first duel, people had been betting on the outcome. Now it was the final duel; if they didn't bet now, they wouldn't get another chance, so everyone was all the more enthusiastic.

"Originally, it's generally the one who calls the duel first who has a better chance of winning."

"But the day before yesterday and the day before that, it turned out to be the opposite. Still, I reckon... I'll bet on the side that calls the duel first!"

"Me too, I'm betting ten taels of silver."

"This is our last gamble, brothers. I'm betting thirty taels that we'll lose."

"...Keep your voice down. If the Lady hears you, you'll be drained dry before you get the silver."

"..."

Seeing how lively they were, Yang Gong even bet fifty taels himself and enthusiastically invited Hu Ma to place a bet too.

Hu Ma smiled awkwardly, "I don't like gambling with money..."

"...Bet two hundred taels for me. We win."

"..."

"HISS..."

Everyone, including Yang Gong, was taken aback and looked at Hu Ma with admiration. This brother was truly loyal to the Society...

Hu Ma also felt a bit helpless. What were two hundred taels? He'd already gambled his life with the Red Lantern Lady...

A group of people mingled and played cards until dusk. The disciples of Red Fragrance reluctantly went to stand guard. Hu Ma also went to the ring with Manager Xu.

There they saw that this time the attendees were the most complete. Even Incense Master Zheng, who had been absent for two days, was present, sitting properly below the stage. However, his face was still swollen, reportedly from being slapped by his wife at home.

The Green Clothes Gang appeared as if facing a formidable enemy, their aura stern. The Red Lantern Society, likewise, did not seem at ease.

Even though losing this duel meant a tie, if it really came to that, the Red Lantern Lady's reputation would suffer.

After all, she usually occupied the best and most blood food mines, enjoyed the best Worship, and nurtured the most Shopkeepers. Yet, when it came down to it, she ended up in a tie with the Green Clothes Gang. Those above might begin to doubt the Red Lantern Lady's actual strength.

The food and drinks were served as usual, but no one was in the mood to eat or drink.

When the second round of drums sounded, a silver-bell-like laughter was heard from the Green Clothes Gang's side, causing the absent-minded crowd to stop and look toward the stage.

A girl in a bright green garment with a charming small braid was hopping onto the stage.

Strikingly beautiful, she outshone the nearby fire pits.

Most of the gang members, being rugged men, were captivated by her appearance.

Hu Ma thought to himself. Indeed, it's Sweet Potato... This girl looks cute and charming, but she's clearly skilled. And besides... she's married, isn't she? Married to her senior brother and now a rich lady of the rice shop.

While everyone was deep in their own thoughts, Sweet Potato gestured, and at her signal, members of the Green Clothes Gang helped her lead...

...a pig?

Those still captivated by her lovely appearance were suddenly jolted from their reverie, confused.

What was such a beautiful girl doing bringing a pig onto the stage?

And it looked as if it had just been pulled out of a pigsty, covered in mud and stinking so much that those below the stage lost their appetite.

"Greetings to the lords of the Red Lantern Lady's Club..." Sweet Potato held the pig, waved the Green Clothes Gang members away, and with a cheeky grin, looked over to the Red Lantern Society. "I rushed over to pay respects to Old Master Qingyi and the Red Lantern Lady. Haven't eaten well for days, nor have I bathed, so I stink from the journey..."

Someone couldn't help but interject, "Doesn't stink, smells sweet."

Sweet Potato laughed, "I bathed, so of course I don't stink. The smell you sense is from this brother..."

As she said this, she patted the pig, which grunted in response.

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd below. The person who interjected had made a fool of themselves.

Hu Ma thought with some helplessness. A show-off is a show-off no matter where they are... Looking back at the stage, Sweet Potato was grinning as she said, "Since I'm here, I want a good meal. There's wine and meat below, but what I really want is hot pot.

"I wonder if any of the lords in the Red Lantern Society enjoy this too and would come up to join me in boiling a few slices of meat. Look, I've prepared the ingredients myself..."

Although the girl's appearance was pleasing and her words pleasant, this was still a call for a duel, causing the Red Lantern Society's side to become tense.

"HEH HEH, I'll go!"

At this moment, an old voice responded from below the stage. From the crowd emerged an old man in colorful clothes, smiling as he ascended the platform.

Everyone looked, but nobody recognized him. Hu Ma was surprised as well; it wasn't the Bald Shopkeeper he had expected.

"Old Master Fan?"

Among the old-timers at the table, someone recognized him and exclaimed, "This is the famous leader of the Colorful Theater Troupe in the city, also an expert in the Path! The Society invited him over?"

"Last time they mentioned tricks counteracting the Punishment Soul. Is this old man from the trick door?"

Hu Ma scrutinized him closely. Sure enough, the old man dressed like a street trickster.

His attire was quite similar to that of the Tan'er Sect followers from before.

Hu Ma understood immediately. It appeared the Red Lantern Society realized the significance of this final duel. Even after instructing the Bald Shopkeeper, they were still uneasy, so they either offered a hefty price or used some other method to bring in an expert from outside for the duel. Of course, whether he was easily invited was another matter; it was either a hefty price or perhaps some trickery.

"Old Master, please sit, let's start the hot pot..." Sweet Potato had quite a sweet tongue. Clearly, this was a deadly duel. Although everyone was paying lip service, the pressure was immense. Yet, her words sounded genuinely warm and cordial.

As she spoke, she gave a glance, and someone brought up a stove with a pot on top. She and the old man sat down on opposite sides of the stove.

The people below the stage began to worry again. With the stove brought up, would these two resort to burning hands or cutting flesh again?

Surprisingly, Sweet Potato invited the old man in colorful clothes to sit down and then, while smiling, said, "You're the elder, please sit. I'll slice the meat for you. This meat should be eaten fresh, and personally, I love pork belly; it's so delicious..."

As she spoke, she took out a small silver knife, turned around, and petted the pig a couple of times before stabbing it.

Everyone was shocked at the sight.

Then, their expressions turned peculiar as Sweet Potato made an incision in the pig, sliced a piece of meat from it, and tossed it into the hot pot.

The pig, obviously untethered and without any magical Method used to fixate it, just stood there obediently, seemingly unaware. Its big pig head sniffed around, grunting softly.

"What Path is this?"

Below the stage, Manager Xu and others widened their eyes, speculating, "Does it make the pig unable to feel pain?"

"It's likely not that simple. Given that the Green Clothes Gang has already involved so many skilled people, their last act should be more powerful."

"This final duel won't be easy."

"..."

"What?"

Even Hu Ma was startled when he saw the cut Sweet Potato made.

Earlier, when he reported back, he had detailed Sweet Potato and her senior brother's casting methods to the left and right protectors. Though he could only explain like an outsider, it still helped them understand their three trump cards: Yellow Official Paper, Call Soul, and Paper Money Buys Life. What he described were the skills theoretically mastered by the Red Lantern Lady's Club. Given that Er Guotou provided no additional information, the Red Lantern Society would have surely prepared for these three trump cards. Yet, Sweet Potato's technique did not resemble any of those three... Did Er Guotou tell Sweet Potato something else? Or is this unreliable girl about to pull some stunt?

Thinking of what the Red Lantern Lady herself had told him, he grew anxious and stared intently at the stage.

When Sweet Potato carved out the piece of meat, the old man in colorful clothes' expression grew somewhat grim.

He looked at the meat and then at the seemingly oblivious pig, remaining silent for a moment before slowly reaching out and patting the pig's head compassionately. With a sigh, he remarked, "The girl is quite sensible. In that case, I'll return a larger piece to you..."

As he said this, he gently pressed on the pig's head and reached down below the stage; someone handed him a knife.

He took it and carved out a chunk of flesh from the pig's other side, much larger than Sweet Potato's, tossing it—skin and all—directly into the hot pot soup.

Throughout this, the pig seemed to stiffen for a moment but didn't move.

"What a waste of this soup..." Sweet Potato said, looking at the pot and shaking her head. "I really intended to eat it..."

She let out a giggle then, with a swift movement, carved off a large piece of the pig's foreleg.

The old man in colorful clothes was already very serious, clearly under great pressure. He carefully inserted several silver needles into various parts of the pig before delicately slicing into it.

He moved exceedingly slowly, as if fearing that the slightest tremor of his hands might ruin his Magic. By the time he finished, he was already drenched in cold sweat, but finally, he managed to cut the piece free and set it aside, breathing heavily.

"Are they dueling to see who can cut bigger pieces without the pig feeling it?"

"No, it's more than that. They must also ensure the pig stays alive. If it dies under someone's knife, they lose."

"..."

Amidst the crowd's discussions, the two took turns carving. The pig was already blood-soaked and a gruesome sight.

Seeing that the old man in colorful clothes could actually keep pace with her, Sweet Potato suddenly smiled. She pulled out a small silver saw and began sawing at the pig's neck. With a final SKREEEETCH, the pig's head was severed completely, and she casually tossed the saw aside.

Reaching into her pocket, she produced some grass and held it to the pig's mouth, which immediately began to eat.

Only, the grass it swallowed fell out at the neck.

The scene was indescribably eerie. The arena fell deathly silent; even the flames in the braziers seemed to stop flickering.