Twilight Boundary
Chapter 51 Three Incense Sticks at the Base of the Red Lantern Altar

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Three Incense Sticks at the Base of the Red Lantern Altar

"Tell me!"

As soon as Hu Ma heard him speak, he became serious.

He also knew that his coming to the city brought him closer to the Reincarnator codenamed Er Guotou. If he wanted to meet him, it was indeed easier to arrange, but he vaguely guessed that these Reincarnators seemed to be quite cautious about meeting in reality, so he didn’t hold too much hope.

Now hearing that Er Guotou was going to advise him on some matters, he dared not be negligent. In moments of confusion, he knew the importance of this information.

"Now that you’ve arrived, you should have discovered that the Red Lantern Society has opened the altar, and the recruits they accept really vary greatly."

Er Guotou laughed. "Strictly speaking, the Red Lantern Society has quite a few employees in various trades, but it’s rare for them to recruit from the village."

Hu Ma had also noticed this problem for a long time.

He had been silently observing these past few days and found that the recruits this time were generally divided into several categories. The first was those with robust and strong physiques. They seemed to be descendants of the Red Lantern Society members, raised in the city, and were trained from a young age with a solid foundation.

After all, the Red Lantern Society had been operating in Mingzhou Prefecture for decades, with considerable influence. Many of the members had established families and had already given birth to the second generation of the gang.

Some of the others were the offspring of merchants and common folk, dressed in rich clothes; they were the most enthusiastic about play, made a racket, and drew the most attention.

They joined the society, presumably seeking protection or to learn some skills.

As for those in ragged clothes, it was unknown where they came from.

"When you first join, don’t really think of this as some kind of gang where you lick blood off a blade..."

Er Guotou said with a smile, "The Blood Food Gang makes a living off the blood food mine; at its core, it’s a business. Once you join the Blood Food Gang, they won’t just feed you for free. They’ll first think about how to use you, and only then consider teaching you skills."

Hu Ma let out a light sigh and smiled. "I understand that."

"That’s good. Among us Reincarnators, who have lived twice, there are some who still don’t get it."

Er Guotou acknowledged this with a sigh and said, "Then there are some matters you must be aware of. When you join the Red Lantern Society, the first thing is to open the altar and do the incense-burning. Which incense you burn decides which path you will take."

"You must be cautious here. The Red Lantern Altar has three incense: white incense, green incense, and Red Fragrance."

"Red Fragrance is naturally the best; you learn skills fast, and the food is good. White incense is the most stable, but what I want to remind you is..."

Hu Ma, his heart stirring slightly, asked, "Burn green incense?"

Er Guotou laughed. "Yes, only green incense is the right path."

"Only by burning green incense will you have the chance to access what you want to learn. Of course, green incense is also relatively safe."

"Got it..."

Hu Ma let out a long breath. "Brother, could you teach me more?"

Er Guotou laughed. "What more is there to say? The sooner you learn some skills, the sooner we can cooperate on other matters..."

「That night, after the chat with Er Guotou, Hu Ma then had a clearer picture.」

He patiently stayed there, quietly waiting. Every three days, he would take a Blood Food Pill and continue his practicing slowly to strengthen his foundation.

Gradually, a few days passed, and the surrounding houses were filled, bustling and noisy all day long.

The day was approaching February 28th. That night, several robust fellows suddenly came to the yard, escorting a manager.

It was the old man with the moustache. He said with a smile, "Tomorrow is the day to open the altar. You must have been impatiently waiting."

"Rest early tonight, and tomorrow change into clean clothes. Our incense master will set the tables for you..."

The youths, hearing that tables would be laid for them, were overjoyed, excited and eager.

The next day, the youths gathered early. Many took out clothes from their bundles to change into, or helped each other with haircuts to look more lively.

They waited for most of the day. It wasn’t until dusk that the manager finally came over. He led the youths out, threading through three or five alleys, until they saw a large open space ahead, surrounded by red lanterns.

In the center of the lanterns were a dozen tables: some covered with red cloth, some with green cloth, and some with gray cloth. Probably because white cloth was rare in these times.

When everyone had arrived, the moustached manager came over from beside a stage lit with big red lanterns.

He addressed the youths, "Under the Red Lantern Altar are three incense; everyone’s fate is their own. You are fortunate to have joined our Red Lantern Society. Today, our incense master will personally open the altar for you and has set the tables..."

"But the offerings at our tables also vary greatly."

"Look at these tables before you. If you want to eat meat and drink wine, sit by the red cloth tables. If you want to eat steamed buns, sit by the green cloth tables. And if you want to eat dark bread, feel free to sit by the white cloth tables. It’s that simple."

"After One Incense, service at the tables will begin. So, show your abilities, won’t you?"

The youths, hearing this, were all momentarily stunned.

Before anyone else could react, those robust youths in black robes suddenly rushed forward without a word.

They were already members of the gang, probably taught and prepared by their elders at home. Not only them, but some of the richly-dressed youths also immediately eyed the red cloth tables and sprinted forward, as if they had gotten word through some channels beforehand.

The ragged group was the slowest to react, but when they realized what was happening, their eyes turned red.

With a shout, they all rushed toward the red cloth tables.

"Damn, you have to fight for food here?"

Zhou Datong, by Hu Ma’s side, was dumbfounded. "How’s this worse than Dayang Village?"

The other youths were equally tense. Watching as everyone else surged forward, they grew nervous and worried.

"Follow me. Don’t anyone get separated."

Hu Ma, having already prepared, whispered this command, then darted forward, with the other youths hastily following.

However, Hu Ma showed no intention of rushing for the red cloth tables. Instead, after taking a few steps, he claimed a corner green cloth table, directing everyone to surround it and stay put.

Around the red cloth tables, it was chaos, a sea of heads bobbing and shouts ringing out, but beside the green cloth tables, it was calm.

They easily claimed their spot, needing only to defend it while watching the others scramble.

By the red tables, the fighting grew fiercer, with people occasionally getting thrown out.

The robust youths struck hard. The richly-dressed youths were nimble but clever. However, the most eye-catching were the ragged youths.

Usually, they were honest and submissive, living in the worst stables, waiting to grab leftover soup and water after the Dayang Village youths were done. But now, they suddenly exploded with astonishing ferocity, attacking fiercely and persistently. They were also the most numerous, with dozens of them fighting tooth and nail over those few red cloth tables.

Hu Ma watched with cold eyes, becoming increasingly alarmed.

These ragged youths, in terms of foundation, were actually far inferior to the others; he even doubted whether they had ever consumed Blood Food.

Yet, naturally, they possessed a mad-demon-like ferocity. Soon enough, they had gained the upper hand at several tables, pushing the others back.

At the same time, Hu Ma noticed that not everyone scrambling for the red cloth tables was so committed. Some made a token effort and then retreated. Others had, from the very beginning, sat at the green or even white cloth tables, watching the spectacle coldly.

As One Incense was about to burn out and the numbers by the red tables stabilized, those who had failed to claim a red cloth table grew anxious.

The green cloth tables immediately became desirable, and those defeated at the front turned to fight over them.

But Hu Ma and his group had reacted quickly, taking a green cloth table early on. The five of them guarded it, advancing and retreating together. Having endured less fighting and bided their time, they managed, with difficulty, to hold on.

Others, seeing this table was hard to take, subconsciously moved to adjacent tables.

Before long, when the One Incense time was up, many were still left clamoring without a seat, unsatisfied and resentful, glaring at everyone.

"Alright, alright..."

The manager at the front clapped his hands with a smile. "Even coarse bread can fill the stomach. No need to fight today."

Only then did attendants bring in stools, giving everyone a place to sit.

Scanning around, Hu Ma saw that those by the red cloth tables were mostly ragged youths. Each had wounds on their faces but exuded a measure of grittiness. By the green cloth tables, the youths were similarly dust-covered, with footprints from kicks and torn clothes.

By the white cloth tables, there were mostly richly-dressed youths and a few ragged ones; the latter looked the most severely injured, but their faces also showed the strongest resentment.

Hu Ma’s group of five sat by the green cloth table, their clothes relatively neat.

"Alright, bring out the items!"

The moustached manager, seeing the noisy youths seated, clapped his hands cheerfully.

Around them, a procession of baskets was brought forth.

Surprisingly, the baskets did not contain food, but instead columns of incense.

Those at the red cloth tables received blood incense, mixed with vermillion, its color as red as blood. The green cloth tables were given green incense with a greenish hue. The incense brought to the white cloth tables was of an uncertain mixture, half yellow, half white.

The youths looked on in a daze, each receiving a stick of incense. In front, beside the stage, a large cauldron full of incense ashes and talismanic paper scraps had been placed.

"Welcome the incense master..."

As the cauldron was set in place, two rows of young girls in white, carrying red lanterns, led out a richly-dressed man. He ascended the red-clad stage and sat between two lanterns glowing blood-red, nodding slowly to the crowd.

Then, the moustached man’s high-pitched, slightly sharp voice resonated through the venue: "Under the Red Lantern Altar are three incense; everyone’s fate is their own!"

"Offer the incense!"