Twilight Boundary

"After asking so much, you still won't say?"

Miss White Wine, amidst the surprise of Hu Ma and the others, only smiled faintly and said, "You're quite the cautious old hand."

Hu Ma and Gua Shao were bursting with unspoken questions. Hu Ma barely managed to hold back, but Gua Shao couldn't help but want to speak, "Wait, what you two were just saying..."

But before she could finish, Er Guotou suddenly laughed and said, "Miss White Wine, your questions are too abrupt..."

"But what about you? A... young lady like yourself, if you truly went all out, how many evil spirits on the level of the Red Lantern Lady could you handle?"

Faced with his question, Miss White Wine surprisingly didn't hesitate for a moment and simply said, "I came to Mingzhou because it's relatively safe here. There are no evil spirits in Mingzhou capable of harming me."

Hu Ma and Gua Shao, hearing this, were even more shocked. For a moment, they felt this conversation was veering far from what they had imagined.

"Including that person from the Meng family?"

Er Guotou, seeming a bit annoyed, perhaps because something had been uncovered, retorted with a faint smile, "Surely Miss White Wine wouldn't deign to notice a mere disciple from a collateral branch of the Tongyin Meng family?"

"I don't know. I daren't engage with anyone connected to the Tongyin Meng family, so I'm unfamiliar with their capabilities."

Miss White Wine calmly continued, "But if someone in Mingzhou were to suddenly target me, I believe, at the very least, I could escape into Old Yin Mountain."

Er Guotou chuckled twice and said, "Then I'll be honest too. I also have that confidence. I'm staying in Mingzhou Prefecture because I have that assurance. Besides, our Lady..."

"...is actually quite endearing when you humor her."

"Huh?"

Listening to their exchange, Hu Ma and Gua Shao simply couldn't hold back any longer. What on earth was going on?

Had these two, in their disagreement, just blurted out something crucial?

Hu Ma still had the presence of mind to restrain himself, but Gua Shao could bear it no more and exclaimed loudly, "Wait, you two, what were you just talking about?"

Miss White Wine nonchalantly said, "Just some standard operating procedures."

"Gua Shao is new, so she might not understand. Most Reincarnators prefer to make a living by aligning with factions weaker than themselves. Securing a stable existence in this world is paramount; everything else is illusory."

"Because we inherently have many opportunities, and with the illumination from our Lifebound Spirit Temple, our learning speed for abilities is generally not slow. However, we must also admit that if our abilities advance too quickly, we easily become targets for the Ten Surnames..."

"Mr. Er Guotou is a prime example. A man capable of venturing into Old Yin Mountain's Fox Coffin Village alone, yet he hides himself away in the little Red Lantern Society..."

Er Guotou responded with a dry chuckle.

After a moment, Gua Shao couldn't help but interrupt, "Wait... so you two usually pretend to be so cautious, but you actually possess the ability to basically run wild in Mingzhou Prefecture?"

"The green-clothed evil ghost and the Red Lantern Lady—you act respectful towards them on the surface, but in reality, you're not afraid of them at all?"

"...Then why wouldn't you heal my leg injury?"

This sudden question made both Miss White Wine and Er Guotou slightly embarrassed.

Er Guotou was silent for a moment before he laughed and said, "Abilities are abilities, safety is safety. By the time I'd been in this world for ten years, I realized my skills were improving far too quickly."

"Of course, I could go to larger cities, seek greater Paths, and more advanced dharma methods, but it's not safe..."

"...No, really, why should we pursue such advanced dharma methods in this world?"

"In this era, the greater your ability, the easier it is to be targeted. Do you really think that by reincarnating for a lifetime, we're all meant to achieve some grand hegemony, save the world, or die as solitary heroes?"

"It's about living, my friend!"

"How to pass these few decades is what truly matters..."

"The moment I realized how dangerous this world was, I made my decision. So, after entering the Mansion Gate, I immediately suppressed my progress. It took me a long time to choose our endearing Red Lantern Lady, and with her, I started messing around with the Blood Food Gang in Mingzhou Prefecture..."

"Hiding in the Red Lantern Society is so comfortable! You have everything you need, it's stable, and even if trouble arises, it can't threaten me..."

"Otherwise, what?"

Er Guotou sounded a bit angry as he continued, "Must I involve myself in some grand strategy, risking this little life of mine against the people of the Ten Surnames?"

"What if I die?"

"Anyway, after thirty years in this world, I've come to understand: this world is no damned game. Life and death, fine wine and beautiful women—these are all tangible realities."

Sensing Er Guotou's slight displeasure, the others found it difficult to say anything.

Miss White Wine also said calmly, "This kind of behavior isn't unique to you. Many Reincarnators share your attitude: find a leader weaker than yourself, monopolize any benefits, and let their leader take the fall when trouble arises..."

"But no matter how remote a place you hide in, you'll inevitably have dealings with the Ten Surnames."

"If a second cleansing were to occur, even those in hiding would find it very difficult to escape such a crisis."

"After all, hiding is easy, but your cultivation will indeed stagnate. I initially thought you were different. After all, when I first met you, you were risking your life, entering Old Yin Mountain to seek that treasure from Fox Coffin Village..."

Er Guotou just gave a bitter smile upon hearing this. "If I hadn't believed that nothing in Mingzhou Prefecture, or even Old Yin Mountain, could truly trouble me, why would I have gone to such a dangerous place?"

Listening to this, Hu Ma was indescribably astonished, but then he suddenly understood.

That's right. Couldn't something be seen from the very beginning, when Er Guotou went to Old Yin Mountain's Fox Coffin Village?

Previously, I didn't know how dangerous Old Yin Mountain was, but now I do. Yet Er Guotou dared to venture into Old Yin Mountain alone to seek an opportunity.

Most importantly, when he encountered trouble and contacted me for help through the Lifebound Spirit Temple, he said he was out of Blood Food but could survive in a very dangerous situation for two months without dying. How powerful must someone be to achieve that?

Shousui men are renowned for their physical resilience, but if I were trapped, it's debatable whether I could even last half a month...

"But don't just talk about me. What about you?"

As he was thinking, Er Guotou, still with a bitter smile, shifted his gaze pointedly towards Miss White Wine. "You deliberately came all the way from a major city like Shangjing to Mingzhou Prefecture and stayed for so long. Wasn't it because it's safe here?"

"Initially, that was indeed the reason. That's why I chose to handle a matter of great personal significance here."

Miss White Wine stated calmly, "However, now that I've confirmed this place isn't as safe as I imagined, some plans will have to change accordingly."

"Hey, wait a minute..."

Listening to their words, Hu Ma was already finding it hard to hold back, and Gua Shao was even more agitated, jumping in, "So, you two actually possess great abilities..."

It wasn't just her; Hu Ma, too, was inwardly seething by now.

I knew long ago these two were highly capable, but who could have imagined they were even more formidable than I thought...

The Red Lantern Lady... what even is she? A Great Evil Spirit who'll take your life at the slightest disagreement, one you can't even hope to resist! And you think she's 'endearing when humored,' so you just tag along with her?

So, while the rest of us are playing a survival game in this world, you two are playing a nurturing simulation with her?

And as these thoughts raced through his mind, he heard Gua Shao, utterly astonished, suddenly change the subject as she spoke, "Holy crap! Then what about Old White? How far have your abilities progressed?"

"Me?"

Hu Ma, who had been holding it in, felt a wave of helplessness and thought to himself, I'm right there with you, thinking, 'What the hell?'

"That, I wouldn't know."

At this moment, Miss White Wine spoke faintly, "Old White has always been the most mysterious among us. Perhaps... the mysterious person who just slew the green-clothed evil ghost and drove away the Meng family members might very well be him..."

"?"

Hu Ma felt his heart sink.

Don't just throw out wild guesses like that!

"That makes sense..."

Yet, Er Guotou chimed in seriously at this point, "I've also always been very curious about Old White's identity. He saved my life and also helped Miss White Wine. I believe his cultivation is undoubtedly high. Perhaps only someone of his caliber could be that mysterious person..."

Gua Shao was already astounded. "Huh?"

Hu Ma instinctively wanted to refute it, but then he suddenly caught himself, merely letting out a couple of dry laughs. "Well, perhaps I really am..."

His words seemed to put the other three at ease. Gua Shao chuckled a few times and said, "Anyway, now that I know all you seniors are so formidable, does this mean we can basically run wild in Mingzhou Prefecture?"

"This Red Lantern Society, and Grass Heart Hall too, I'm not too happy with them right now. Can I just go and dismantle them later?"

This remark made everyone present feel a bit apprehensive again. Hu Ma remained silent, while Er Guotou and the others hastily said, "You should keep a low profile! Learn from me; being a Shopkeeper in the Red Lantern Society is quite good..."

Miss White Wine also said, "You genuinely need to be careful."

"I've said all this today merely to emphasize the importance of caution. Now, let me add a piece of advice:"

"Never, ever feel a sense of superiority in this world simply because you are a Reincarnator."

"You've just entered the Path, so your abilities will certainly advance faster than others. It's easy to fall into the delusion of being indispensable, thinking there's nothing in the world that can challenge you."

"However, the more abilities you acquire, the more fearful you will become."

"Er Guotou's approach is actually the most rational. Many Reincarnators don't pursue greater abilities or status. That's because the higher you climb, the more terrifying existences you discover in this world, and the more likely you are to be targeted by its powerful figures..."

"If you truly become a target, you will understand just how terrifying the people of this world can be..."

"All right..."

Being warned so sternly, Gua Shao was noticeably more subdued, muttering quietly, "You all possess such great abilities yet are so cautious; of course, I'll listen to you..."

And at that moment, Hu Ma also felt a chill in his heart. Why did it feel like this advice was directed more at him?