Twilight Boundary

The old shopkeeper was sitting in the courtyard, smoking with a somber expression. Upon seeing Hu Ma enter, he was momentarily stunned before suddenly standing up.

His expression seemed to completely change from doubt to joy, as if the dark clouds in the sky had parted.

"Good, good, good..."

He immediately stood up, walked over to Hu Ma, looked around, and said anxiously, "I was just worried about something important, fearing you wouldn't catch up. I didn't expect you to refine it so soon."

"How well is it coming along?"

"I can use some strength, but it's still a bit rigid, not completely refined yet."

Hu Ma responded, twisting his toe a few times and cracking a bluestone slab in the courtyard.

"Very good, very good..."

The Shopkeeper saw this, the joy on his face unmistakable. Even Sister He in the house cast her gaze over, and one could sense a bit of pleasure in her eyes.

The old shopkeeper asked a few more questions, and Hu Ma answered them all without revealing the slightest hint. The Shopkeeper was pleased and laughed, "You really put in a lot of effort. It wasn't for nothing that I taught you this dharma method."

"You have a lot of talent. I've taught three apprentices before, and none of them did as well as you."

"Haha, if it weren't for some matters weighing on me, I would have considered taking you in as my final Disciple."

Seeing the Shopkeeper praise Hu Ma like this, it didn't seem insincere.

Of course, the three apprentices he took before weren't taught so diligently, nor did they have Blood Food for nourishment.

Indeed, a lot of effort went into it, Hu Ma acknowledged internally. I've been pondering every day how to hide my true level…

With an ample Blood Food supply and the illumination of the Lifebound Divine Statue, he had refined life into his two hands and two legs. What he showed the Shopkeeper was deliberately slowed progress on his right leg; his left leg had actually long been fully refined.

But this couldn't be revealed, so Hu Ma planned daily what his normal progress should be.

Now, with the right leg half-refined, it barely counted as completed, which was just right.

"I've truly been worried, fearing you couldn't learn it."

The old shopkeeper sighed, told Hu Ma to sit down, called an old servant to bring tea, and said to Hu Ma, "But you didn't waste the Blood Food I've given you. Reaching this level, I can share my trump card with you."

"Once you've learned it, I can arrange for you to do that job."

Hearing this, Hu Ma was curious, "Trump card?"

Shopkeeper Wu nodded and said solemnly, "In our Shousui man's Path, regarding Ascension and Entering the Mansion, everyone has their own skills."

"Of course, it's not just us. Other Paths also have their concepts of Ascension and Entering the Mansion, but everyone's methods differ."

"Simply put, if you've glimpsed the dharma method of surviving death—whether refining a hand, a leg, or those tricky starting points like an eye or an ear—this all counts as Entering the Path. In the trade, it's called Ascension."

"When you've refined all four limbs, that's Second Tier Ascension. If you're talented enough to refine life into your five viscera, that's Third Tier Ascension."

"At that level, within our Shousui man's Path, you're considered quite skilled."

"As for the mind and Divine Soul, those are hard to refine. But once refined, it's not just Ascension but Entering the Mansion Gate."

"Of course, that's not something we can aspire to. I've been refining for thirty years and only reached the Third Tier; opening the Mansion Gate isn't something I dare to imagine."

Sounds like a level system? If this concept of levels applies to other Paths besides the Shousui man, then… what tier has Granny reached? Hu Ma wondered.

As he pondered, the old shopkeeper looked at Hu Ma again seriously and said, "In our Shousui man's Path, this Ascension and Entering the Mansion involves the same refining method, but how one practices exorcism involves individual experience and understanding. That unique aspect is called a trump card."

"Besides the Shousui man's dharma method, I also have a trump card, passed down from my Master."

"I wanted you to quickly refine a hand and a leg because that's the minimum threshold to learn this trump card."

"This trump card is called the Four Ghosts Salute."

"An unexpected surprise?" Hu Ma was taken aback and quickly stood up. "Thank you, Shopkeeper."

"No need to thank me." Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand and sighed, "Because the time when I'll need you has just arrived."

"Teaching you this trump card is to increase your chances of success. Of course, time is tight, and how much you can learn is uncertain."

Has it come? Hu Ma was deeply surprised; he had people watching outside, and there had been no sign of movement.

"Oh, take a look at this!" BroughttoyoubythefolksatMV|LEMPYR.

Shopkeeper Wu sighed again, stood up, entered the main room, and took out a letter in a light yellow envelope. It had a hole in it, as if it had once been pinned to something.

The signature was just a finely drawn altar. Above the altar was a roughly sketched, enigmatic rune, seemingly the character for 'Order' or 'Command'.

He glanced at it. The scrawled words read something like, "My dear friend, I know you miss us. We'll visit in seven days. Do prepare some food and wine." He looked at Shopkeeper Wu, puzzled.

"Last night, I was sleeping when a flying blade nailed it to my desk."

Shopkeeper Wu slowly shook his head. "This group disappeared for a year and grew more skilled."

A note delivered by night? Hu Ma was indeed surprised.

The previous night had been peaceful; neither he nor the outer courtyard staff had noticed anything.

And the old shopkeeper, residing in the inner courtyard, had also been completely unaware?

If the opposing party could sneak into the inner courtyard so quietly, nail a letter inside the Shopkeeper's room, and leave so brazenly, wouldn't it also mean they could potentially…

"Don't worry." Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand. "It isn't difficult for them to quietly deliver a letter; quietly killing me isn't easy either."

I'm not worried about you… If they're that skilled, couldn't they easily slaughter the Manor's staff? Could that even include me? Hu Ma thought.

Of course, he couldn't say this. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "What did it say?"

The Shopkeeper sneered. "It said they knew I missed them and would visit in seven days."

"They also mentioned they're short two people and would seek compensation from me."

The Shopkeeper said it nonchalantly, as if he didn't take it seriously.

But hearing this, Hu Ma felt a bit uncomfortable. The whereabouts of the Tan'er Sect remained elusive despite his efforts.

Yet the outcome was a straightforward challenge?

But this seemed stranger still. Their goal was clearly to reclaim Blood Food; wouldn't it be more effective to work quietly?

Why make such a public spectacle?

"Hah, that's exactly where they're being cunning..."

The Shopkeeper sneered. "I know why they're coming back. Initially, they probably assumed I wasn't aware. But after losing two people, unable even to summon back their souls, they must have guessed."

"Knowing I awaited them, they outright issued this challenge letter, setting a date. But whether they'll truly show up, or when they'll come, is uncertain."

"Perhaps they'll actually appear on the set day, perhaps they'll complete their task in advance, or perhaps they're just trying to make us anxious for a day or two, drain our energy, and then strike unexpectedly."

"After all, it's foolish to expect this low-class group to keep their word…"

Or perhaps, it's just probing? Are they issuing a challenge letter to see whether the Shopkeeper will report to the city? Hu Ma suddenly thought. After all, anyone else would likely think to request aid from above. Only this Shopkeeper Wu was stubbornly incomprehensible.

"You don't need to be afraid either." Shopkeeper Wu looked at Hu Ma and said, "I've waited for them for a year and prepared for a year. Whatever tricks they play, I don't care. No matter when they come, I'll go and meet with them."

"But, precisely because of this, I have an urgent matter to entrust to you. From the start, I taught you the Shousui man's skills specifically for this purpose."

Hu Ma's heart sank slightly. He looked up at the old shopkeeper and said, "Please, just tell me."

"Since I've received your dharma method, and you're still going to teach me your trump card, whatever it is, I'll do my utmost."

"You're a good lad. It's a pity we met at the wrong time."

The Shopkeeper sighed when he heard Hu Ma's words. He waved a hand, signaling him to stop, and looked outside the Manor. It was still early, and the large Red Lantern sat by the gate.

"It's simple, actually. Help me guard this lantern."

Sensing the surprise in Hu Ma's eyes, the old shopkeeper explained, "Normally, when enemies come calling, the first thing they do is try to extinguish our Red Lantern. This is the obvious sign of victory or defeat, but in the unseen realm, it's also crucial."

"I plan to meet these foes. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I don't want the higher-ups to know. But if I truly can't hold my own, I will need to call Red Lantern Lady for help..."

"Similarly, the Tan'er Sect people will also try to extinguish my lantern, cutting off my retreat."

"So, what I want you to do is this: on that day, you need to lead people to guard it here. Don't open the main gate, don't leave the Manor. No matter what happens, you must protect this lantern and not let it go out. If you do that, the task will be considered accomplished."

"I guard it?" Hu Ma was greatly surprised. Doubt welled up inside him, but he hid it well, instinctively asking, "Then what about you, Shopkeeper...?"

"Don't ask where I'll be going." The Shopkeeper's face suddenly turned stern. He paused, his gaze cold as he looked at Hu Ma. "In any case, remember what I said before: just help me with this, and you won't owe me anything anymore."

Hu Ma, upon hearing these words, stood stunned for a moment before slowly speaking, "I've already promised you, Shopkeeper. I won't go back on my word."

Hearing this, the Shopkeeper's expression softened, and he smiled. "In that case, let me tell you about my trump card!"

[Either no bonus chapter or two at once!]

[Thanks to Chu Liu Fufeng, Thanks to Born to Love Discussion, Thanks to Not Good Directly Running, Thanks to Ordinary George, and other big bosses!]

[Text inside the brackets isn't charged!]