Twilight Boundary
Chapter 43: Rise Above the Rest

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Rise Above the Rest

In her past life, Hu Ma had heard of names like the Pai Gang, Cao Gang, and Salt Gang. If she considered these through the perspective of her past life memories, they often bordered on black or gray dealings. In reality, however, they were merely struggling people banding together for warmth, just trying to make a difficult living.

This world was quite different from her past life, but these Blood Food Gangs, which centered their business around "worshiping Tai Sui," somewhat resembled them.

They couldn’t be simply categorized. One could say that in this world, these Blood Food Gangs were essentially providers of sustenance. The village received some additional income by relying on their annual rituals to worship Tai Sui. For those from the village who joined the Blood Food Gang as workers, it was truly a leap to success.

After all, joining the Blood Food Gang was different from being a temporary Meat Cutting worker. It was the distinction between being a formal employee and a temp.

For the people from the village, it was truly a good background. After all, throughout dynasties, those who scraped food from the soil were the most suffering, bar none.

Thinking it was better to say less, Hu Ma didn’t ask many questions. She joined Zhou Datong, and they quickly headed to the Manor. From a distance, they saw that the road was bustling. The Manor itself was even more lively, with countless people scrambling to squeeze into this usually overlooked place.

The Second Master was standing at the entrance of the Manor, kicking out those trying to push their way in.

"Lai Zi, don’t push! This Red Lantern Society altar opening has nothing to do with you this time."

"You used to help me light the stove, sure, but now that you’ve married, why are you here?"

"..."

Many in the crowd were unwilling to give up. Someone shouted, "Second Master, I haven’t married..."

"I’ve gambled away all my wages from meat cutting over the past two years! I couldn’t even get a wife! If you let me join the Red Lantern Society, I’ll buy you a pig’s head as a gift during the New Year!"

"..."

The Second Master glared at him. "If you didn’t get a wife, then how did you relieve that fire of yours?"

Hearing this, the one clamoring to get in was crestfallen, on the verge of tears. "It’s all Lai Zi’s wife’s fault..."

Good heavens, it got even livelier. Fights broke out, shoes went flying, people groped others’ wives, and some looked for any chance to sneak in.

News of the Red Lantern Society’s upcoming altar opening had spread. Logically, the Red Lantern Society would select people from those currently learning from the Second Master, so those who had studied with him in previous years also tried to squeeze in.

What if the Manager found me suitable?

The Second Master knew that the Manager was not easily deceived and kicked each person out.

Hu Ma and Zhou Datong, being genuine apprentices, still nearly couldn’t get in. Fortunately, they were small-framed. While Lai Zi and Ergou were fighting, Hu Ma and Zhou Datong managed to squeeze into the Manor. In doing so, they accidentally bumped into someone who was helping the Second Master maintain order. The person sneered at Hu Ma.

"You’ve only been learning from the Second Master for less than a month. Why are you here?"

Hu Ma looked up and saw that it was Cui Family’s third son. She had no goodwill towards anyone with the surname Cui in this village. She sneered but said nothing.

"Hah, the outsider’s getting arrogant now, not even calling me Uncle..."

Cui Family’s third son was dissatisfied, but the surrounding chaos didn’t allow him to say more to Hu Ma.

The commotion lasted until midmorning when the crowd surged. The Manager had arrived, accompanied by the Clan Leader and a group of village elders.

The villagers were not afraid of the Second Master, but they deeply feared this Manager from the city. They hurriedly made way, sheepishly watching the Manager walk into the Manor.

"So lively..."

From a distance, Hu Ma observed him. This Manager was about forty years old and somewhat chubby. He was dressed in brocade, rode a blue donkey, and was accompanied by two followers, presenting an impressive sight.

He entered the Manor, dismounted with the help of his attendants, and laughed. "But our Red Lantern Society, I’m afraid, cannot support so many people."

Usually, in Hu Ma’s eyes, the Old Clan Chief carried himself with the demeanor of a village leader. Now, however, he was all smiles, almost ingratiating, as he said, "Please, choose the best and take them for training."

"Of course."

The Manager laughed. "In Mingzhou Prefecture, there are at least thirty, if not a hundred, gangs relying on Blood Food for sustenance. Yet our Red Lantern Society is renowned for its great skills and good treatment of people."

"If you join us, you’re like family. We cover your food and lodging and even pay you wages. Most importantly, we teach you skills. However, whether you can get in still depends on your usual effort and hard work."

These words left the youths filled with trepidation.

Previously, they had followed the Second Master just to become miners and earn some wages. Lighting the stove fire was necessary, but it didn’t need to be too strong; changing the talisman once was usually enough.

But now, to be chosen by the Red Lantern Society, the stronger the stove fire, the better the chance.

Many who usually slacked or often couldn’t resist indulging themselves were now filled with deep regret.

"Alright, you all look spirited."

The Manager stepped before the young men, smiling. "Stretch out your hands."

The youths looked at each other. The Second Master kicked the one at the front, making him stumble. "Why aren’t you reaching out?"

Only then did the youths react, hurriedly extending their hands. Those with dirty hands quickly wiped them on their clothes before sheepishly presenting them.

"Let’s start with you!"

The Manager came to the leftmost boy, who had a dirty face, and extended two fingers to gently hold his palm.

Without any visible action from the Manager, the young man whose palm was held suddenly shivered. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.

The Manager frowned. "This one is not suitable."

The Second Master quickly helped the boy up. Seeing he was alright, he smiled apologetically. "He’s only been learning for a year; his foundation isn’t deep."

"Then let’s wait until next year!"

The Manager moved on to the second boy, who naively thought there was still a chance next year.

His family, however, were deeply distressed. They knew that "next year" was merely an excuse. The Red Lantern Lady’s Club had been flourishing in recent years. Why would they need to find workers in a place like Dayang Village? Missing this year likely meant no chance for a lifetime.

When he reached the second boy, the Manager again touched him with two fingers, and the boy shivered. He seemed a bit weak but managed to stand firm.

"Not bad."

The Manager praised him and continued forward.

He went to each youth, merely pinching lightly with two fingers. Some shivered all over and fell. Others turned pale but managed to stand firm.

He quickly tested over a dozen people, and seven or eight of them were still standing. The remaining ones grew increasingly nervous, fearing the Manager might select enough people before he even got to them, leaving them with no opportunity.

"Ahem, stand properly!"

Hu Ma and Zhou Datong had arrived late and were in the latter half of the line. Hearing a light cough, someone suddenly stood in front of them.

Looking up, it was the tall and thin Cui Xie’er.

This fellow had originally been helping the Second Master maintain order, so he had positioned himself at the end. Now, he had cut in front of Zhou Datong.

Hu Ma chuckled inwardly but said nothing.

It was soon Cui Xie’er’s turn. He solemnly extended his hand as if surrendering his fate.

But when the Manager pinched with two fingers, Cui Xie’er shivered violently and let out a muffled sound from his throat. Yet, he stood firm without wavering. The Manager gave him an intrigued look, smiled noncommittally, and then moved on.

When it was Zhou Datong’s turn, he eagerly exclaimed, "Grandpa Qian!"

He had already met this Manager with the Old Clan Chief the day before.

"Fatty, you’re good."

The Manager, upon seeing him, laughed. "I tested you yesterday. No need today. Just wait!"

Zhou Datong immediately beamed and stood aside.

In the crowd, the Old Clan Chief clearly breathed a sigh of relief, stroking his short beard with a look of satisfaction.

"Your turn."

The Manager smiled at Hu Ma, who was at the end of the line. He nodded, then used his thumb and index finger to pinch the edge of Hu Ma’s palm.

Hu Ma had only seen her companions’ reactions and didn’t know what was happening. Now, as he pinched the edge of her palm, before she could make any special preparations, she suddenly felt a cold yin qi seeping into her hand.

It felt as if she had collided with an evil spirit. Eerie whispers filled her ears, as though her entire being was about to be dragged into another world.

But then, her internal stove fire blazed to life.

As the cold yin qi invaded, the stove fire within her abdomen was naturally stimulated, flaring outwards. It barely contended with the yin qi, pushing it all the way back and expelling it from her palm.

In reality, this burst of fire was only from Hu Ma’s second incense stick’s worth of power. Her first incense stick had also reacted, but Hu Ma realized that the second would be enough, so she controlled it and didn’t draw upon the first. In other words, she had only used half an incense stick’s worth of her cultivation.

"Oh?"

The Manager’s two fingers were flicked away. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes, which then gradually softened into a smile.

Others didn’t know what happened. They only saw that the Manager seemed to barely make contact with Hu Ma, or perhaps just touched her lightly, quite different from how he handled the others. He quickly withdrew his hand, leaving the result unknown.

But since all the youths had been examined, everyone craned their necks, waiting to hear the outcome.

"Times have been good these past few years..."

The Manager straightened up, took the cloth offered by his attendant, wiped his hands, and spoke to the crowd with a smile. "The foundation of the youth in your village is getting stronger and stronger. If it were up to me, I’d love to take all of them back."

"But alas, I’m just following orders and can only choose a few of the relatively good ones."

"So, let it be then. You, boy, you, you, and you..."

He pointed at several people. When he said "and you," his finger skipped over Cui Xie’er and pointed at Hu Ma’s face.

With a smile, he said, "Just you lot. In a few days, go to the city for the incense-burning!"