Twilight Boundary

"Thankfully, no one saw me..."

The lone and aloof Hu Ma glanced at the bustling entrance of the manor and couldn't help but clear his throat as he turned away and went back.

Thankfully, no one saw him.

He hadn't paid attention in a while, but was the yellow-haired girl so popular in the manor?

He vaguely remembered Zhou Datong mentioning that after she was rescued by him, she temporarily found shelter, helping out at the small tavern in the town.

To put it bluntly, it was just a place for her to stay for now. Technically, the tavern wasn't hiring; it was run by a couple who could manage on their own. But Xiang was kept on because she was diligent, obedient, and could read and do the accounts.

Now, everyone around was familiar with her and called her Xiang.

During this time, Li was bitten by something while dealing with an evil spirit. He had to lie in bed for a few days, and then a few more—resting quite comfortably, as it happened. As a result, the workers in the manor had no one to cook for them. So, Xiang would push a small wooden cart from the tavern each day to deliver their meals. After they finished eating, she would collect the dishes and take them back to wash.

Wasn't this extravagant? he wondered.

Even though the tavern didn't charge much, eating out every day wasn't as cheap as cooking at home.

But since the workers had worked hard during the evil spirit trouble, Hu Ma didn't complain, letting them relax for the time being.

Because of this, every mealtime, the manor bustled as if it were New Year.

"Xiang, have any ruffians bullied you lately?"

"Nope!"

"It's such a shame those ruffians aren't troublesome anymore after one beating. I was hoping to help you out again..."

"Xiang, you're getting better and better at cooking, much better than Brother Li..."

"Brother Li just throws everything into the pot like how we feed pigs in our village..."

"Xiang, I heard you fainted before; are you feeling better now?"

"I didn't faint; I just took a nap..."

"..."

While the outside was lively, Hu Ma sat inside on a chair, drinking tea. Before long, he heard a knock on the door.

He was slightly startled and saw Xiang carrying a red lacquered food box, standing timidly outside the inner courtyard. Normally, Hu Ma focused on his work, so meals were left on the table in the main room. Sometimes, when he was busy with important matters, the door to his room would be closed, and the food left in the courtyard.

He didn't mind eating cold food now and then.

Unexpectedly, Xiang brought the food this time, and he happened to not be busy, so they met.

He nodded slightly, and Xiang's face instantly lit up. She carried the food box inside and asked, "Do you want to eat now, Sir?"

Hu Ma nodded and said, "You don't need to call me 'Sir.' Just call me 'Brother,' or 'Shopkeeper.'"

"Ah?" Xiang seemed a bit troubled as she quietly replied while setting the dishes, "I can't do that."

"I... If I don't call you 'Sir,' I can't stay in town. Everyone here treats me well, but I know it's because... they respect you."

"..."

Hu Ma reflected on this for a moment before understanding.

This girl wasn't actually slow-witted. When he first rescued her, she seemed a bit unresponsive because she had been terrified and might have been affected by some trick those kidnappers played, making her mind unclear.

Although she worked in town now, she had settled down and rejuvenated for a while. Her once thin and gaunt face now showed a hint of vitality.

Her features hinted at the makings of a beauty.

With a settled mind, she grew more astute. She knew she had been incredibly lucky.

Finding a foothold in this town was all thanks to Hu Ma.

Hu Ma had saved her without harming her. Being a girl who matured early, she understood how rare such kindness was.

Hu Ma didn't fuss over such a small issue, letting her address him as she wished.

Picking up his chopsticks to eat, he noticed Xiang tidying up the room and collecting his dirty clothes but still not leaving. He realized she had something to say and turned to her, "I have a habit of washing my clothes myself; you don't need to do these things for me."

"If there's something you want to say, feel free to say it."

"..."

Hearing his words, Xiang nodded repeatedly and hesitantly said, "Sir, during this time, I've remembered some things."

"My family, my home is at Big Stone Cliff, Black Hole Ridge, Lingshou Prefecture, Anzhou... I remember two big flowering trees in front of my home."

"..."

"Hmm?" Hearing this, Hu Ma looked up in surprise and smiled. "That's wonderful."

"Now that you know where your home is, you can ask someone from the Mule and Horse Market to send a letter. Then your family can come and get you."

"..."

Previously, Xiang seemed unclear-headed, with vague memories of her past, only remembering living near some Big Stone Cliff, without knowing the state or prefecture.

Hu Ma had even asked Manager Xu to inquire because of his connections, but no one knew where this Big Stone Cliff was. Eventually, the matter was shelved.

He even thought it didn't matter whether they looked or not.

She was just a girl he had picked up along the way; keeping her around wasn't an issue for him, now a Shopkeeper. It wasn't as if he couldn't afford to support her.

Unexpectedly, she started remembering her address bit by bit.

Delighted by this surprise, he asked her, "Try to remember more, like your family members' names or how many there are. Do you recall anything else?"

Xiang scratched her head in frustration, saying, "No, I don't..."

"I remember my adoptive mother hammering a nail into my head. Now, whenever I try to recall home, it feels like that nail makes my head hurt, muddling my memories..."

"But recently, it felt like someone blew a gust of air here, chilling my head, and I started to remember gradually..."

"..."

"Blew a gust of air?" Hu Ma was slightly taken aback. Could it have been during the commotion caused by the green-clothed evil ghost?

The green-clothed evil ghost had turned this place upside down, stirring up more than just the evil spirits and affecting many people.

Yet, Xiang's words struck him as peculiar—a nail hammered into her head?

He urged, "Come over, let me take a look."

"Hmm." Xiang approached, crouching in front of Hu Ma and offered her head.

Hu Ma parted her hair for a look but found no nail hole or scar, which puzzled him.

Xiang took a step back, blushing as she said, "I've touched it myself and can recollect the nail in my head, even feel it at times, yet there's no wound."

Perhaps that's some trick by the kidnappers?

Hu Ma pondered silently, forming a vague guess.

He had suspected earlier that the kidnappers might have used some magic on Xiang, which led to her loss of memory about her home; given her age of at least thirteen or fourteen, there was no reason for such forgetfulness.

Possibly, after her kidnapping, the kidnappers, who knew some evil skills, hammered a nail into her head, fearing she'd recall home as she grew older.

However, whatever skill she was afflicted by seemed to have been loosened inadvertently by the breath from the green-clothed evil ghost, allowing her to slowly piece together details about her family.

"No matter what, it's good that you've started to remember."

Unfamiliar with the matter, Hu Ma simply comforted her, "At least you've remembered the place. Write a letter when you can, and I'll find someone reliable in town to deliver it so your family can come for you. I'm sure more memories will resurface by then."

"Sir..." Hearing Hu Ma's words, Xiang trembled slightly with emotion. "You really want me to go back?"

Hu Ma smiled at her. "What, do you want to spend your whole life in this town?"

"I..." Xiang spoke, tears welling up as she wiped them with the back of her hand, her voice trembling, "Sir, you're such a good person..."

I can't really consider myself a good person, though I've earned quite a good reputation around here lately.

Hu Ma merely smiled back, saying, "Don't cry. Helping you find your family is my small act of yin virtue."

"Since you remember now, write a letter, and I'll arrange for someone reliable to take it back to your family. Your folks will come, and everything will be fine."

"..."

Seeing that Hu Ma wasn't just saying this but was serious about having her write a letter, Xiang felt even more moved, tears streaming down her face. Unexpectedly, she tried to kneel down to kowtow to Hu Ma, only for him to quickly stop her.

Seriously, why do folks here have such a habit of kneeling... I'm not stuffy, but in these strange times, accepting such gestures might not be the wisest.

Though he convinced her not to kneel, Xiang was still visibly grateful, eyes red as she helped tidy the room and his clothes.

Hu Ma had told her she didn't need to, but she wouldn't listen. Understanding her sentiments, he let her be, since it was his time for a break anyway. If it had been during his cultivation, he would have had to send her away.

He continued to look at the recent accounts while eating and didn't speak to her further.

After finishing his meal and intending to take the dishes out, he suddenly noticed there was no sound behind him. Turning around, he saw Xiang sitting in the room where Sister Wu He used to stay, leaning against the windowsill with her eyes closed, fast asleep.

She clutched one of his shirts, a string of thread in her mouth, as if she wanted to mend it for him. But as she sewed, she had drifted off.

How tired must she be...

Intending to wake her, Hu Ma noticed the calluses on her hands and paused.

This girl had been working hard lately. From her previous accounts of her family, she likely came from a wealthy home that could afford a manager, where such chores weren't necessary.

But in this town, lacking security, she diligently busied herself with this and that, partly as a way to win favor. How could she not be exhausted?

Still, is her heart too naive, to fall asleep so easily in front of me, a grown man? Does she still think of me as before?