Twilight Boundary

His heart chilled slightly, and his hand paused in the motion of reciting the killing curse. The knife of the man in the soap clothes was also raised in midair, but did not fall.

Hu Ma, catching sight out of the corner of his eye, noticed that the flame in front of him, which had been burning vigorously, suddenly began to diminish rapidly, as if it were about to disappear. Fortunately, at that moment, the old tree stump let out a gentle sigh, and the flame stabilized, then grew strong again.

Hu Ma immediately understood that the Meng family member had arrived.

He already knew that once he decided to use the spell from the Age Suppressing Book to deal with this green-clothed evil ghost, that person was bound to come.

However, looking around now, he saw no one in the vicinity, but in the rice circle, there seemed to be a talisman glowing faintly on the green-clothed evil ghost.

The golden light emitted from the talisman vaguely transformed into a small figure, bowing slightly toward him and saying lightheartedly, "I hurried here specifically to visit the descendants of the Hu Family."

"Never expected, in failing to invite a brother to show himself, instead, I got to witness the long-missed Age Suppressing Secret Technique, what a privilege..."

...

Seeing this person present, Hu Ma's heart was already pounding, yet he forcibly suppressed his tension and looked at him coldly, "Commanding evil ghosts, harming the people, forcing me to show myself..."

"...was this your doing?"

...

"How could that be?"

The figure smiled faintly and said, "I am from the Meng family. Though I can commune with spirits and drive ghosts, why would I do such harmful things to the area?"

Hu Ma could guess the nature of such a person, brazen yet concerned with maintaining appearances. He commanded the green-clothed evil ghost to do such things but would not admit it, as if he cared about his family's reputation.

Of course, it was also possible that he was just a collateral branch outside the five branches of the Meng family and truly feared the bad reputation.

Unwilling to cooperate with him, Hu Ma merely sneered and said, "You've done the deed and still care about face?"

"So tell me, why go through so much trouble to bring me out?"

...

The figure's expression turned serious. "I came to visit because there is an important matter to discuss."

"I hope brother won't mind sparing a moment to meet."

...

Hu Ma sneered, "I will meet with your Meng family, but right now, I don't have time."

"If you're unwilling to meet, at least listen to what I have to say."

The Meng family member was not surprised by this, and instead immediately said, "Brother, to be honest, before I came, I had already met Grandma Bai. The old lady is known to be stubborn, holding onto old grudges, unwilling to consider the bigger picture, but you must understand the significance, brother..."

"The other nine surnames have been waiting for the Hu Family's return to proceed with that major event."

...

"Return?"

Hearing his words, Hu Ma was indeed shocked internally.

The Grandma Bai he spoke of must be Granny who returned to the ancestral hall, right?

How is she now?

Moreover, why does this Meng family member speak so strangely, talking about waiting for me to return? Wasn't it the Meng family who wanted me dead earlier?

If I weren't foolish, I wouldn't go back. He should understand this logic; why would he still say such things?

The other nine surnames waiting for the Hu family to return for that major event...

...what major event?

He felt an urgent need to inquire but immediately reminded himself, realizing that this Meng family member seemed to think he knew something.

In fact, the reincarnated self knew nothing about the Hu and Meng families; even in the eyes of the elder tree stump, he was ignorant of such grudges due to memory loss. But they were unaware of this.

If he asked directly, the other would become alert, yet he didn't want to miss this opportunity. Thinking rapidly, he sneered and said, "You Meng family have great abilities. Why need me to return? Can't you do it yourselves?"

...

The Meng family member heard the sarcasm in Hu Ma's words and smiled bitterly, "Brother, you must be joking..."

"To achieve that major event, how can it be done without you?"

...

"Me?"

Hu Ma found it even stranger but wanted to probe further. He felt the gaze of the old tree stump upon him.

He knew this was the elder reminding him not to delay.

So he paused briefly and said coldly, "You use this method to force me out, and it's just to say this?"

"Well, I also have something to tell you."

...

The Meng family member was slightly startled and quickly said, "What?"

Hu Ma took a deep breath and shouted, "Get out of Mingzhou Prefecture immediately, and never come back!"

This shout carried the resentment of the past few days, his tone harsh. If his cultivation were higher, if the old tree stump were willing to help, Hu Ma would have already thought to keep this Meng family member here and directly chop off his head.

However, despite the shout, he still felt uncertain, worried that he might not intimidate him. Unexpectedly, the Meng family member only sighed softly upon hearing it.

"Having delivered this message, I will indeed leave."

He said quietly, bowing again toward Hu Ma. Hu Ma wasn't afraid since the elder tree stump stood in front of him, though he didn't know whether the man was being genuinely courteous or secretly up to something.

He just heard him lower his stance, saying, "Brother, there's no need to get so angry. I just hope you understand that the matters between the Hu and Meng families are trivial."

"But the matters decided inside the Stone Pavilion cannot be ignored just because of a moment's stubbornness..."

...

Wasn't it an alliance established inside the Stone Pavilion? Could there be other matters?

Hu Ma was curious yet knew he couldn't delay, aware of the Meng family's great abilities and many methods. Though appearing safe now, he couldn't guarantee they wouldn't have some way to spy on him. He immediately shouted, "When did the matters of the Hu Family become your concern?"

"Get out now!"

...

"You..."

The golden little figure, after being scolded twice, also seemed to struggle to keep his temper.

He came to deliver a message, trying his best to remain polite. But being scolded once, he could pretend not to hear; being scolded twice stirred irritation.

Regarding this, he was not as composed as Incense Master Zheng. When Incense Master Zheng was first scolded by people like Hu Ma and Yang Gong, he felt the anger too, but after being scolded many times, he managed to remain calm and unconcerned.

Despite struggling to keep his temper, he intended to endure it, seeing that Hu Ma clearly did not wish to communicate further. Having delivered the message, he planned to leave.

But just at this moment, Hu Ma noticed he seemed to be leaving and sensed his indignation, suddenly saying in a low voice, "Wait."

The golden little figure paused slightly, turning his head towards Hu Ma, or more precisely, the fire basin, "Brother..."

Hu Ma asked, "What is your name?"

The golden little figure's expression changed slightly and said indifferently, "I am a member of the Meng family, here sincerely to deliver a message. Brother need not ask my name..."

"As just a messenger, there's really no need to ask for a name."

Hu Ma coldly said, "But for causing chaos throughout a prefecture, harming countless people, a name is needed to know who to hold accountable."

"You..."

The golden little figure was sharply taken aback. Even though it was an illusory figure, his expression visibly chilled as he said in a low voice, "It was the green-clothed evil ghost causing trouble, and the shopkeeper under the Red Lantern is a walking ghost. It has nothing to do with me..."

This bastard's dignity plummeted...

Hearing this, Hu Ma understood a lot. As expected, the Meng family indeed dared not bear the reputation of causing chaos throughout a state.

But with that thought, his tone became even harsher, shouting, "Whether it is or isn't, you know yourself. Now, I only need you to give me your name."

The golden little figure's expression changed dramatically, suddenly saying, "The message is delivered. Goodbye!"

With those words, he transformed into a streak of golden light, seemingly vanishing among the swirling gusts of wind within the Magic Altar—a space that could trap the green-clothed evil ghost but seemed insignificant to him, allowing him to come and go as he wished.

"Enter my Magic Altar and think you can leave just like that?"

But at that moment, Hu Ma coldly commanded, the wind within the Magic Altar suddenly roared, "Hold him for me!"

Simultaneously, the old tree stump seemed to give Hu Ma a slightly approving glance. Whether he did something or not was unknown, but that seemingly departing golden little figure suddenly collided with something and began to bewilderingly wander in circles within the Magic Altar.

The golden little figure, thoroughly startled, exclaimed, "Brother, the Ten Families have the Stone Pavilion Alliance. Do you intend to kill me?"

Hearing the panic in his words, Hu Ma felt reassured.

Initially, he only wanted to drive him out. After all, he was a Meng family member, a stature that the little shopkeeper of the Red Lantern Society couldn't hope to reach. Scaring him away would have been satisfactory.

In usual times, kowtowing to him might not even merit a response.

But now, due to his ritual, the other had intervened with the green-clothed evil ghost for conversation.

That did make a connection, representing that part of him was within the Magic Altar. With the elder tree stump overseeing, how could he just come and go as he pleased?

Regarding the Stone Pavilion Alliance, he didn't know what it entirely encompassed, so going along with his words might expose him.

Recalling the old tree stump's previous words, he immediately sneered at the other, coldly stating, "The Ten Families have their Stone Pavilion Alliance. How is that your concern?"

...

"Huh?"

This golden little figure, or rather, the Meng family member, was indeed terrified. Did he realize I am not from the main family?

Originally confident, well-prepared to speak with Hu Ma, he believed he had everything arranged, remaining calm. But now, unexpectedly hearing these words, it felt like some aspect of his facade was being exposed.

His courage faltered, exacerbating the urge to escape. Yet, within the Magic Altar, the soap clothes swayed, chains clanged, effectively binding him down.

The golden little figure seemed momentarily out of control, compliantly kneeling within the Magic Altar, saying, "My name is Meng Sizhong, I reside at Stove Mountain's Blind Ridge, my birth date..."

But even as he spoke, the golden little figure abruptly cracked, bursting into sparks.

Normally, even a strand of Divine Soul held within the Magic Altar could be forced to reveal its origin and comply. Now, this bursting indicated some method was used to forcibly sever the connection, demonstrating the Meng family's substantial capabilities.

Hu Ma's heart chilled slightly; this Meng family member was not to be trifled with. He memorized the name nonetheless.

PFFT...

At the same moment, within a certain large courtyard in Zhu Gate Town, personally overseen by the Red Lantern Lady, a prestigious Meng family member suddenly opened his eyes. His face was pale, his eyes filled with shock and anger, as he quietly uttered:

"Hu..."

Only one syllable emerged before he spat out a mouthful of blood. He closed his eyes for a long while before finally continuing:

"Hu family, so overbearing..."