Twilight Boundary

"Wait!"

As soon as Great Incense Master Zheng spoke, those green-clothed children grinned, picked up their chains, and approached, seemingly intending to take Zhou Datong and the others away.

None of them understood what the mirror had revealed, but being targeted by these ghostly people sent chills running through their hearts. Caught in such an eerie situation, they felt helpless and panicky as they looked toward Hu Ma, who was standing to the side.

Even someone as brave as Zhou Datong was visibly flustered now.

But before the green-clothed children could actually reach them, Hu Ma suddenly stepped forward, blocking their path.

He had no choice but to step forward.

He had been paying close attention to the affairs of these green-clothed children for some time, aware of the significant disturbances they caused in Mingzhou City. Many people had been taken away after being exposed by their mirrors.

Even in the various Manors under the Red Lantern Society, the same pattern occurred: many workers were taken away after being exposed by the mirrors. Once gone, they disappeared without a trace, with no inquiries made, their whereabouts unknown, their fates—whether dead or alive—a mystery.

Even asking the Red Lantern Lady yielded no news.

He didn't know what was happening with Zhou Datong and the others or why they had been exposed by the mirror.

They were clearly just ordinary, innocent young men from the village; why were they singled out like this?

Could it be that this person, Zheng, had tampered with something?

His gaze suddenly turned toward Incense Master Zheng, cold and sinister. He gritted his teeth, determined not to let them take Zhou Datong and the others, no matter what this Zheng fellow had done.

If they go with them, what good could possibly come of it?

His mind raced, but his face wore a smile.

He stared at Incense Master Zheng and said, "We wouldn't dare obstruct Old Master Qingyi from his duties, but everyone in this Manor serves the Red Lantern Lady. You're taking people away just by shining a mirror on them; surely, you should offer some explanation first?"

"Explanation?"

Great Incense Master Zheng saw Hu Ma step forward and gave a faint smile, saying slowly, "Old Master Qingyi has ordered us to use the yin mirror in Mingzhou City to find those whose yin virtue is deficient. One look in the mirror, and their yin virtue becomes evident.

"Anyone who reaches the red line must be taken back for questioning and further deliberation.

"This is how things are done in Mingzhou City, by the Red Lantern Society, and even by the green clothes gang. And you want an explanation?"

...

"Red line?"

Hu Ma's demand for an explanation was mainly to buy time; he didn't actually expect a real justification.

But hearing his words, his curiosity was piqued. He glanced at the bronze mirror and indeed saw a faint red line marked along its edge.

He couldn't understand the talk about "deficient yin virtue," nor did he have the luxury to dwell on it. He immediately latched onto the point, saying, "I wouldn't dare question Old Master Qingyi's orders, but if I saw correctly just now, they are still quite far from that red line, aren't they?"

This was true. Among these people, only Zhou Datong was close to the three-foot red line, and even that was just barely.

As for Zhou Liang, he was still half a foot short, while Zhao Zhu and Li were even further off.

Incense Master Zheng listened to Hu Ma's words, his expression unchanged, and said flatly, "Old Master Qingyi is benevolent; he only instructed us to find those who have reached the red line."

"However, when we carry out our duties, we must be cautious. We also take those who are close to it, to prevent any omissions."

"Since you haven't reached it, what are you afraid of? At most, it's just some questioning, and then you'll be released."

...

To hell with 'you'll be released'!

Hu Ma cursed inwardly, anxiously calculating his options, but his smile became even more natural and friendly. He quickly said, "I'm just afraid it will be too much trouble, and that Old Master Qingyi and my martial brothers will be inconvenienced. If you're not sure, why not shine the mirror on them again?"

"If they truly reach the red line, there's no need for my martial brothers to act; I'll tie them up myself and send them over."

"But taking people away in such a confused manner, Incense Master Zheng... you are, at least, a member of the Society. If the Lady finds out later how you treat our own workers..."

"...she wouldn't be pleased, would she?"

...

He babbled on, not actually expecting these words to intimidate Incense Master Zheng.

Others, unaware of the truth, might assume that Great Incense Master Zheng was using Old Master Qingyi's authority to throw his weight around. But Hu Ma knew that the Meng family's influence lurked behind this matter; how could the Red Lantern Lady dare to intervene?

He was just stalling for time, already thinking about how to escape, lead Zhou Datong and the others out of the Manor, and hide in the Old Yin Mountain. He decided he would give up his position as Shopkeeper in the Red Lantern Society.

Zhou Datong and the others' lives mattered more. Besides, he had learned quite a few skills; at worst, he could find another opportunity to start anew.

The only concern now was, facing these green-clothed children, Great Incense Master Zheng, and that mysterious Evil Ghost mask on the sedan chair—which seemed to be of the same nature as the Red Lantern Lady's lantern—how capable were they of fighting their way out?

As Hu Ma mulled over these things, the green-clothed children seemed to grow restless.

They were already displeased with people from the Red Lantern Society, and having handled so many assignments, they had never encountered such a troublesome situation.

They exchanged glances, sneered coldly, and swung the chains in their hands. If Incense Master Zheng hadn't been standing in their way, they probably would have rushed forward to seize the men already.

"Hmm, that's right..."

But no one expected this. Great Incense Master Zheng, who had been watching Hu Ma all this time, seemed to ponder for a moment.

Finally, he sighed softly and murmured to himself, "After all, I am also a member of the Red Lantern Society. These workers were all recruited by me personally. How could I truly show them no consideration at all?"

As he spoke, he glanced blankly at Hu Ma. But when he turned to face the green-clothed children, his face was already wreathed in a smile.

He said, somewhat ingratiatingly, "Martial Brothers, shall we leave?"

"What?"

Suddenly hearing this, not only the green-clothed children but also Hu Ma and the people in the Manor were greatly surprised.

What kind of trick was this?

Hearing this, no one dared to relax. Instead, they suspected this Zheng fellow was about to make his move, and everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

"I mean it."

Great Incense Master Zheng offered the green-clothed children a deep bow and said, "Over this period, in Mingzhou City and at the various Blood Food Gangs, we have scanned many people and taken quite a few back.

"The workers in this Manor, although indeed somewhat superior to ordinary people, are still quite a distance from those who exceeded the red line.

"There are already many people over there, so many that they can't even interrogate them all efficiently. There's no need to make things more complicated.

"Martial Brothers, you've worked hard, and seeing as all seventeen Manors have been checked with the mirror, there's no reason to create extra problems here, is there?

"Furthermore, if no one has been found to exceed three feet, there's no need to even bother Old Master Qingyi."

...

As he said this, the green-clothed children exchanged glances, and the chains swinging in their hands gradually stilled.

Their abilities were not necessarily inferior to Incense Master Zheng's, but having followed Old Master Qingyi for too long, they had become quite different from ordinary people. Both their speech and actions lacked spiritual light, so throughout their journey, they had mostly deferred to Incense Master Zheng's judgment.

Moreover, this Incense Master Zheng had deliberately curried favor with them, ensuring their comfort during travel and rest.

Now, hearing him speak, they actually nodded slowly.

On Hu Ma's side, he had already prepared to kick the dirt from the ground into their faces, only to find they were actually leaving.

Were they really letting Zhou Datong and the others go?

This turn of events, far from bringing relief, felt rather eerie.

Seeing Incense Master Zheng make a gesture of invitation, the green-clothed children lifted the sedan chair and genuinely began to depart. Hu Ma's mind raced, trying to guess Incense Master Zheng's intentions.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He quickly took two steps to catch up with them, laughing, "Old Master Qingyi, please go slowly. Martial Brothers, go slowly. Let me see you off..."

He suddenly thought that this Zheng fellow might be using a delaying tactic, saying he was leaving but actually preparing to strike.

As a practitioner of the Shousui Path, Hu Ma was more effective the closer he was to his opponents; at this critical moment, he couldn't let them increase the distance.

Some of the more astute workers had already picked up their knives and pitchforks, following closely behind.

To Hu Ma's surprise, as he escorted Incense Master Zheng and the others out of the Manor and watched them head towards the edge of town, they genuinely seemed to be leaving, showing no intention of making a move. This left him with an inexplicable sense of unease.

"Shopkeeper Hu, are you worried I'll forcefully take your workers?"

At this moment, Incense Master Zheng was walking slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile on his lips as he looked at Hu Ma. "Or perhaps, you think it was I who tampered with things so that your workers were revealed by the mirror?"

Meeting his gaze, Hu Ma's heart sank slightly, but he remained silent, watching him.

"It's understandable; I would think the same in your place."

Incense Master Zheng didn't wait for him to reply, merely laughed softly, as if sharing a secret with Hu Ma, their rapport appearing extremely close.

Even some workers in the Manor believed it was because of Hu Ma's good relationship with this Incense Master Zheng that he had interceded, allowing Zhou Datong and the others to stay.

But what Incense Master Zheng said next left Hu Ma greatly surprised: "Honestly, I didn't tamper with anything.

"Even if I had the ability, I'd only use it against you; I genuinely want you to taste the ordeal of the boiling oil. But these workers? They don't interest me.

"They were genuinely revealed by the mirror, and they truly met the criteria to be taken away."

...

"Then..."

Hearing Incense Master Zheng's words, Hu Ma was momentarily stunned; he had a feeling that Zheng wasn't lying about this.

But if that was true, why would he be so kind as to actually let Zhou Datong and the others go?

As they reached the edge of town, the ghost qi around the green-clothed children grew increasingly thick and cold. The lifted sedan chair trembled slightly, like a bride's sedan chair on her wedding night journey.

At this point, Hu Ma had no reason to continue following them. Besides, he could see they genuinely didn't intend to cause trouble. He stopped, but his mind was filled with questions as he watched their retreating figures for a long time, unable to turn away.

Incense Master Zheng, walking further and further away with the group of green-clothed children, was about to disappear from sight when he suddenly turned his head and smiled at Hu Ma.

Seeing that smile, as if a scheme had succeeded, Hu Ma's heart jolted with a sudden realization:

Damn it!