Twilight Boundary

At the moment he stepped out, Hu Ma had already transformed into a dead spirit, half-human and half-ghost. Striding forward, he merged into the night and headed in the direction of Old Yin Mountain.

The journey was quiet. He took long strides, running for over twenty li, and from afar, he could already see the massive silhouette of Old Yin Mountain, black and imposing on the earth, reaching toward the sky, silent and still.

Like a Netherworld crawling upon the ground, it possessed a certain immense and mysterious aura.

The wild and untamed pine and cypress at the foot of the mountain seemed to form a clear boundary with the world outside, delineating the line between humans and evil spirits.

Now this area belongs to the domain of Old Yin Mountain, but it's still several days' travel to reach Dayang Village! Hu Ma thought silently as he walked. But according to what the elder had the Yellow Immortals convey, as long as I enter this realm of Old Yin Mountain, no matter which side of the mountain or how far I am, if I burn incense and recite his name, he should appear, right?

This Old Yin Mountain was originally his home, but now with matters on his mind, an unseen pressure settled upon him as he drew near.

Outside the mountain, except for that one rogue family, all other evil spirits were very obedient. However, once he entered the territory of Old Yin Mountain, it suddenly felt bustling.

Countless creeping things, startled by his presence, stealthily stretched and secretly watched him.

Even though he was now half-human and half-ghost, a part of him was still alive, and this living aura allowed those hidden things to detect him.

Hu Ma took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and walked forward silently.

He knew that many powerful beings dwelled in Old Yin Mountain, and his own abilities were likely insufficient to face them.

But thinking that this was also his home, his own territory, he couldn't afford to falter, lest he be looked down upon by the "neighbors."

Seeing that he had reached the edge of the forest, and judging the place to be suitable, he sought a secluded spot to perform the incense-burning. But unexpectedly, he suddenly heard a malicious laugh.

Hu Ma's heart tightened, and he whirled around, only to see a peach tree not far away, blossoming with flowers under the pitch-black night.

But it was only a glimpse, and then the peach tree vanished.

In its place, among the shadowy trees, a small farmhouse appeared. It had two elegant grass huts and, in front of a fenced yard, a wicker chair. Half-lying, half-reclining on the chair was a beautiful, dignified woman, her silk robe partly undone.

She slowly stretched out her two long, jade-like legs on the chair, the exquisite parts tantalizingly visible, and chuckled softly as she looked at Hu Ma.

"Young master, traveling so late at night, where are you headed?"

"Such a late hour, a lone man and a lone woman… why not enter my courtyard to pass a delightful evening?"

…

This was Hu Ma's first time encountering such a situation. He couldn't help but widen his eyes and take a closer look, marveling for a moment before he smiled. "I have matters to attend to. Perhaps another day!"

"If you're really in a hurry, why don't I introduce you to a sixty-year-old furnace later?"

…

The woman was somewhat surprised. She looked at Hu Ma intently, then suddenly spat and rolled off the wicker chair.

A gust of eerie wind swept through. The grass huts, the wicker chair, and the half-dressed woman all vanished.

Why on earth did she spit at me? Hu Ma thought to himself. It's just that I have things to attend to today; otherwise, I would have definitely taught you a lesson.

He turned and continued on, walking a little further before finding a concealed mountain nook. Then he took out three incense sticks from his pouch, lit them, and placed them in the ground.

Then he murmured softly, "Please, mountain lord, descend!"

"Please, mountain lord, descend!"

"Please, mountain lord… Ah, elder, you've arrived?"

…

The fragrance of incense drifted and curled, burning quietly, the red glow of its tip flickering.

Hu Ma's low calls, carried faintly by the night breeze, sounded peculiarly mysterious, as if summoning something already lurking nearby.

Squatting atop trees, hidden behind shrubs, unseen things gazed upon him eerily and strangely.

But Hu Ma had called out twice, and before he could finish the third call, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted around him.

There seemed to be a scent of incense candle and sandalwood smoke; the surroundings abruptly became tranquil, as if all the things that had been secretly spying on him had vanished.

Hu Ma sensed something unusual. He quickly turned around and saw that, at some unknown point, a tree stump had appeared behind him. Sitting atop it was a dark shadow he couldn't discern clearly, watching him with a gentle smile.

Undoubtedly, it was indeed the old tree stump he had seen outside Juehu Village before.

It had somehow traversed hundreds of li to meet him on this other side of Old Yin Mountain.

"Your power has improved somewhat."

Hu Ma couldn't see the figure on the old stump clearly, nor did he dare to rudely stare at it. However, he could distinctly hear its voice, which carried the warmth and gratification of an elder. "It appears you haven't wasted your time these past six months or more."

Hu Ma quickly bowed, as respectfully as if greeting an elder. "Yes."

"Granny did say before she left that the Hu Family still has enemies. I understand the danger, so I've never dared to slack off."

…

"Regarding that, you don't need to be too afraid."

The shadow atop the stump chuckled lightly and said, "Your granny's cultivation is extremely high, and her seniority is considerable. With her return, she can stabilize the situation, at least for a short time."

"Of course, the Meng family is not to be underestimated. They can always devise methods your granny might not have anticipated. Right now, they don't dare enter Old Yin Mountain to find you, but they are also certain you won't stay hidden in Old Yin Mountain forever."

"But you needn't worry. Your granny sought me out before she left, calling in an old favor."

"I owed her a debt of gratitude, so I promised her that if anyone truly came looking for you, I would watch over you for her sake."

…

"Yes."

Hu Ma heard the protective intent in the elder's words and felt somewhat reassured.

He had been uncertain before, but the elder's words now made it clear: it seemed the person the Tongyin Meng family was looking for was indeed him.

Did this also confirm that the Hu Family's enemy was this Meng family?

Yet, some confusion remained. They had previously sent a ghost into Old Yin Mountain to hunt him down. Why did they not dare to enter Old Yin Mountain to find him now? Was it because Granny had done something after her return?

Furthermore, if the Hu Family's enemy was the Tongyin Meng family, did that also mean the Hu Family was one of the so-called Ten Families?

What exactly had happened between the two families to lead to such a relentless, life-or-death enmity?

And if his Hu Family was one of the Ten Families, were there any other members left? Was he truly the only one remaining?

These questions had long been simmering in his heart. He had always wanted to ask, but he never had the chance.

Without Hu Ma needing to speak, the old tree stump seemingly already sensed his thoughts and said softly, "I only promised your granny that I would look after you if the Meng Family came seeking you."

"But I have no intention of getting involved in the strife of the Ten Families, nor will I interfere with your learning of skills. Besides, I cannot leave Old Yin Mountain, so if something happens to you outside, I can't help."

"However, the matter of the Tongyin Meng family is different. I owe your granny a favor, so I cannot ignore it."

…

"I understand."

Hu Ma understood at once that this Old Stump elder was reminding him. Their agreement with Granny seemed confined to matters concerning the Tongyin Meng family. This implied that for everything else, it was best if he didn't seek the elder's help?

After a slight pause, he said, "I came into the mountains this time because the Meng family has already started making moves. They sent a green-clothed evil ghost to handle this task."

"Currently, they've already roused many people from various Paths in Mingzhou City, and now they've begun using a mirror of unknown purpose in the Manors under the Red Lantern Society, scanning people one by one..."

"I, your junior, don't know how to handle this matter, so I came to seek your guidance, elder, and ask for your instruction."

…

"True members of the Meng Family would not lower their status to come personally. So, the one who came is likely just a distant relative; no need to worry too much."

The old tree stump continued, "Moreover, among the Ten Families, there is the Stone Pavilion Alliance. Although the enmity between the Hu Family and the Meng Family is great, now that your granny has returned to the ancestral hall, the Meng family should not move against you."

"Hm?"

Hu Ma was taken aback by these words. The Meng family wouldn't attack him anymore?

Then why were they still seeking him?

Also, what was this Stone Pavilion Alliance the elder mentioned?

"The Ten Families once made an alliance within the Stone Pavilion, an agreement that involves many matters."

The old stump explained calmly, "One of the articles is that they must not attack each other. Although alliances are often made to be broken, that shouldn't happen right now."

"Of course, you shouldn't be careless either. When they come looking for you, it might not be to take your life. They might have other purposes, perhaps even some benefit for you."

"But regardless of their purpose in doing so, it will lead to one thing."

"It will disrupt all of your granny's arrangements."

…

Hearing this, Hu Ma felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly asked, "Then what should I do?"

He couldn't understand what the Stone Pavilion Alliance entailed, nor could he fathom why the Meng Family, if they couldn't kill him now, were still seeking him.

Moreover, he was uncertain about his granny's plans for him. Before she left, she had only told him to learn skills and said nothing else.

However, regarding the mysterious and eerie Ten Families, the one thing he was sure of was that Granny wouldn't harm him.

So, no matter what he did, disrupting Granny's plans was absolutely unacceptable.

"Continue doing what you're doing."

The old stump advised, "Some of your granny's arrangements and thoughts are beyond even my comprehension, but I know how much painstaking effort she has invested. Listening to her will never be wrong."

"No matter what intentions the Meng Family has, avoiding them is the right course of action."

"And never mind what they've come to do. If they can't find you, they'll eventually give up and move on, and that will be the end of it."

"If they stubbornly refuse to give up, then…"

…

He paused slightly at this point, and Hu Ma, curious, immediately looked up.

Then he heard the old tree stump chuckle softly. "…then, I'll have to pay them a visit myself."