Twilight Boundary
Chapter 49 Jianghu Experience

Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Jianghu Experience

"The journey’s started, and we’ll be on the road for several days, so you kids be patient!"

Hu Ma and the few other young lads following Second Master set off. Gradually, they caught glimpses of scenery that couldn’t be seen in their village.

A robust yellow ox pulled the cart. Its coat was sleek and shiny as it hauled the large, wooden-wheeled cart along the rugged mountain path. The cart moved slowly; if truth be told, the boys on it could probably have run faster than the ox cart itself.

But since they had set off a few days early, they weren’t in a rush. So, they watched the scenic landscape unfold and listened to Second Master’s boasts along the way.

「A couple of days later」

They had gradually left the Old Yin Mountain region and reached the official road. The road was somewhat smoother but still far from ideal, remaining uneven and bumpy.

Along the way, Hu Ma learned a great deal and realized that in this world, long-distance travel was a significant undertaking.

The primary fear was encountering evil spirits.

However, their cart was filled with young lads whose inner fires had been lit, and with Second Master—an old hand with sixty years of power—they traveled smoothly without incident.

Of course, they were cautious. Every evening before nightfall, they found a place to rest. They also stuffed the pond ash brought from their village into their chests, as common evil spirits generally found it hard to approach them.

They didn’t encounter any evil spirits, but they did run into a band of highwaymen.

There were no classic lines like, "This mountain is mine to rule, these trees I planted here!" Instead, a pile of boulders and a fallen dead tree blocked the road, and a group of shabbily dressed people emerged.

Some held dung forks, others carried pickaxes, and some even brandished sticks or stones. From afar, they bowed towards the people on the ox cart, calling out, "Kind travelers, please help us out."

"Our village has suffered a disaster and won’t last until spring. Please, be kind and share some food to feed our children."

"After next year’s autumn harvest, when we have grain again, come back here, and we’ll repay you double!"

The lads on the cart were bewildered, but Second Master simply waved his hand broadly and jumped off the ox cart. _{fre.ewebnov el.com}

Then, his voice tinged with a sob, he cried, "Fellow villagers, our village is poor too! Look, we’re even preparing to sell our children in town."

"However, we do have some dry rations in the cart. If you wouldn’t mind, please take some."

"These are hard times. We folks in Old Yin Mountain can only survive by helping each other out."

Second Master gave them three large bowls from a sack of coarse rice. Even though the highwaymen could see there was still half a sack left on the cart, they didn’t ask for more.

They even eagerly helped clear away the stones and deadwood, and offered directions, "About twenty li past this fork in the road, there’s a burial mound. It’s haunted by grave-robbing, man-eating wild dogs and restless Yin Ghosts. You must be careful! Don’t dare to venture there at night."

"Thank you, thank you! Till we meet again."

Second Master cupped his fists in farewell. From a distance, they watched the men put the stones back in place.

Hu Ma watched Second Master’s every word and action closely. His intuition told him that such worldly experience might be just as valuable as the martial forms he was learning.

Meanwhile, once they were a safe distance away, the lads on the ox cart grew restless, some eagerly suggesting they should have fought. Even though there were only six of them, they felt they could have taken on the highwaymen. This earned them a smack on the head from Second Master, who chided, "Don’t ever say that again."

"If you try to get by in the jianghu purely through fighting, when will it ever end?"

Continuing to gain experience along the journey, they arrived at the gates of Mingzhou Prefecture on the morning of the fourth day.

Hu Ma gazed from afar: a great city rose abruptly from the plains. It looked rather imposing from a distance, but up close, the city walls seemed quite crude and dilapidated, marked with signs of repairs and even traces of axe blows and fire.

Although the sun was still a finger-width above the horizon, the main city gate was already closed, leaving only the small side gates open.

Second Master jumped off the cart beforehand, leading the ox to the city gate. The city guard, dressed in ragged clothes and looking listless, grew impatient upon seeing an old man with a few young boys. He waved dismissively, "It’s too late today! You can’t enter the city. Wait outside!"

Second Master hurriedly put on an appeasing smile, took out the token the manager had given them, and said, "Officer, if you please. We’re going to the Red Lantern Society to pay our respects to the Lady."

"These children on the cart are all new hands for the Red Lantern Society."

"The Lady’s Society?"

The city guard’s demeanor changed. He gave Hu Ma and the others a once-over, then stepped aside and pointed out the way, "Stick to the side of the road, and watch that ox—no droppings on the street! Head to West City. You’ll find the lanterns of the Red Lantern Society in Diao Gan’er Alley."

Second Master eagerly assented, urging the ox cart into the city.

It was approaching nightfall. Back in Dayang Village, the villagers would have long since returned home. They’d probably have finished dinner and be in bed, engaging in one of their few forms of evening entertainment.

But the city presented a completely different spectacle. Ornate lamps glowed on the decorated buildings lining the streets, which bustled with people. Passing merchants in silk robes rode in sedan chairs or on tall horses, parading down the middle of the street like Mountain Gods. Hawkers and peddlers loudly cried their wares, trying to attract customers.

All the young lads from Dayang Village, Hu Ma included, were wide-eyed as they took in the sights.

The other lads had never seen anything like it. Hu Ma, however, had seen similar scenes in movies and TV shows from his past life, yet this felt different—imbued with a raw, unpolished authenticity.

Their eyes especially widened when they saw a robust man hurrying past their cart, carrying a woman with bound feet who lolled lazily on his back. Hu Ma also looked over.

Second Master, noticing their expressions, gave a cold smile and flicked his whip in their direction. "What are you gawking at? That’s a pimp carrying a prostitute to serve the Old Masters in the taverns."

"You all better remember: before you’ve learned real skills, none of you are to get involved in that sort of thing."

They even do takeout for this?

Hu Ma felt his horizons had broadened, while the other boys grew even more excited. "Second Master, how does that ’thing’ work?"

Second Master perked up and began to boast, describing in meticulous detail everything from listening to songs and pouring wine, to playing dice games, and even the state of unwashed bound feet after a month.

But just as he reached the crucial part, he abruptly stopped. One boy, not yet satisfied, piped up innocently, "And then what? After they get into bed?"

Second Master’s expression turned awkward. He slapped the boy and scolded, "Why are you asking so many questions?"

"You’re learning the wrong things!"

They progressed slowly through the city, taking well over an hour to reach Diao Gan’er Alley in West City. Things were different here: many passersby wore black clothing with wide belts.

Red lanterns adorned the streets and alleys, but unlike those for festive occasions, these cast an eerie glow. At the alley’s entrance, Second Master stopped the cart and looked around. Soon, two men in black approached and asked their business.

Second Master truthfully explained their purpose. The men’s expressions softened, and one pointed to a residence up ahead, "Go on over there."

After driving the ox cart over, Second Master had the lads get off as well. He told them to straighten their clothes and wipe the dust from their faces. Then, with an obsequious smile, he cautiously peeked into the courtyard.

In the square courtyard, an older man in a short robe, sporting a Moustache, sat under a pomegranate tree smoking a long-stemmed pipe. Spotting Second Master, he was about to ask something when Second Master quickly approached, explained their arrival, and presented the token from the manager.

"It’s still a few days before the altar is opened to pay respects to the Lady. Why have you brought them so early?"

The older man with the Moustache glanced lazily at the token.

"The mountain roads are difficult to travel; we were afraid of being delayed, see?" Second Master replied with a smile, then took a coarse cloth bag from the cart, opened it, and offered it over.

Seeing the grimy cloth bag, the older man initially showed some disdain. But a quick glance inside revealed three strips of dried, cured meat, which piqued his interest. He allowed Second Master to hand it over, then reached in, squeezed a piece of the meat, and popped it into his mouth.

He smacked his lips, and his eyes suddenly brightened.

He quickly accepted the bag and stood up, smiling and cupping his fists. "You’re too kind, my friend!"

"These are our own lads; why go to such trouble?"

"This... these strips of cured meat, well, it’s more than I can eat myself. I’ll hold onto them for now and help you distribute some to the right people later on."

"Indeed, indeed." Second Master showed no sign of suspicion or small-mindedness, readily agreeing, "Our village is poor and doesn’t have many fine things."

"It’s just a bit of cured meat. We hope you won’t find it too lacking."

After accepting the cured meat, the older man called a young attendant in a green jacket from inside the house, who took the meat to be stored in a jar in an inner room.

He then straightened his lapels, grabbed a key, and led the way, saying with a smile, "Space has already been set aside for you. Come, I’ll take you to where you’ll be staying."

"On the twenty-ninth, we’ll follow the incense master to open the altar and pay our respects to the Red Lantern Lady. That day is our Lady’s birth anniversary."

"After paying respects to the Lady, we’ll arrange assignments for you lads. But don’t you worry, I’ll definitely help you find good spots with decent Shopkeepers, where you can earn wages and learn a trade."

The group responded eagerly as the man personally took a key and led Hu Ma and the others to a residence a street away.

The place looked dilapidated, as if it had been abandoned for a long time. However, it had a respectable main hall, east and west wing rooms, as well as a gatehouse and stables—clearly a property acquired by the Red Lantern Society.

The manager didn’t take them into the main hall but instead unlocked the door to the west wing. Inside was a simple table and chairs, and a brick kang bed built against one wall.

Great, another communal sleeping platform... Hu Ma thought, though after looking around, he felt it was acceptable. At least it’s more spacious than at Second Master’s place.

Turning his head, he saw Second Master escorting the manager out of the courtyard. We came to this city for the incense-burning, Hu Ma mused. After that, who knows where I’ll be sent to work? That fellow Er Guotou seems to have so much pull; he must be a real figure of authority within the Red Lantern Society. I wonder if I’ll even get to see him during our stay here...