Twilight Boundary
Chapter 65: Yellow Immortals Bestow a Sword

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Yellow Immortals Bestow a Sword

The silent night bore no light, and evil spirits roamed wildly. Hu Ma, out of desperation, came up with such an idea, yet he did not know how many evil spirits Little Hongtang had truly attracted. He was only aware that usually, the Red Lantern Lady’s Club behaved tyrannically, driving many evil spirits beyond the reach of the red light of the Red Lantern Lady’s Club.

However, those who dared to linger within the range of the Red Lantern Lady’s glow for so long were undoubtedly either incredibly bold or significantly powerful.

Now, drawn by the scent of "Blood Tai Sui" in Little Hongtang’s hands, although the substance had been seized and consumed, these evil spirits, once disturbed, would not easily settle down.

Currently chaotic and frenzied, they moved instinctively, drifting back and forth, running here and there amidst the darkness surrounding the village.

Hu Ma could feel the unrest in this nightscape, something he usually wouldn’t dare provoke.

Yet now, he boldly plunged into it.

He stepped along the rural dirt road, his footsteps deep one moment and shallow the next, but with increasing steadiness and speed. Despite it being an area encroached upon by evil spirits, he walked with a demeanor as though he owned the place, striding toward the village.

Just at that moment, he suddenly saw a slender figure walking ahead.

That person seemed to walk slower than him, just ten or twelve yards ahead, silently advancing.

On such a quiet night, one can still meet someone traveling?

Hu Ma suddenly felt alert and slowed his pace. He noticed the other’s steps also seemed to slow, as if waiting for him to catch up.

"Brother, what’s your name?"

Hu Ma didn’t recklessly rush up, stopping to loudly address the shadowy figure.

The figure suddenly halted but did not turn around. Only the night wind blew from ahead, vaguely carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

After a brief hesitation, Hu Ma took out a Fire Stick from his coat.

Once kindled, he handed it to Little Hongtang beside him, signaling her to take the stick and run ahead to illuminate the way.

In such a pitch-dark night, Little Hongtang held the Fire Stick aloft. It appeared like a flame floating unsupported in the air, drifting steadily forward. Unexpectedly, it illuminated a face—ghastly, rigid, with a bright red tongue sticking out.

Looking at those cold, ghostly eyes that seemed to mock him, Hu Ma felt a shiver run down his spine.

It turned out to be a person with a face on the back of their head; or rather, their head had been twisted a full 180 degrees.

Just moments ago, it seemed I was pursuing him. He didn’t turn back, which means he was staring at me all along!

If I had truly foolishly rushed forward, wouldn’t I have been sprayed with a face full of yin qi?

The Second Master had said that when traveling at night, being blown by evil spirits could weaken one’s stove fire by thirty percent. For ordinary people, a single breath of yin qi could directly stupefy them.

Once sure it wasn’t human, Hu Ma suddenly tensed up. He exhaled softly, placing the knife Zhou Datong had lent him in front, ready to draw at any moment. He looked at the stiff, pallid face and shouted in a low voice, "Friend, I realize it’s midnight, and I’ve encroached upon your path."

"But I have urgent matters to attend to, and I need to pass through. Would you please step aside, so we can go our separate ways peacefully..."

...

HEHEHEHEHE...

Hu Ma registered the chilling sound as the figure stopped, staring at him fixedly, as if waiting for him to proceed.

Hu Ma felt an icy chill run down his spine. He was terrified, but I must silently recall the skills the Second Master taught me. I absolutely cannot show fear now! Thus, he resolutely drew his knife partway and stepped forward, pressing on.

"I’ve spoken kindly, but if you won’t listen..."

With his internal stove fire flaring, energy flowed into the knife. He advanced step by step, moving like a living furnace.

He could see he was getting closer to that eerie, pale face, yet the figure seemed to become fainter. By the time he reached the spot where the figure had just stood, it was gone. All that lingered was the faint sound of laughter in his ears, raising goosebumps all over him.

Steeling his nerves, Hu Ma paused. He looked into the dark abyss of the night and said in a deep voice, "Thanks, brother. I’ll burn some incense for you next time!"

These were the customs the Second Master had taught him.

The Second Master, throughout his life, backed by his stove fire for sixty years, was never afraid of evil spirits.

However, influenced by the village, he seldom provoked evil spirits. When he did encounter them, he mostly observed courteous etiquette first.

Such was Hu Ma now. He didn’t know what he had encountered, but paying attention to etiquette first was never wrong.

Sure enough, despite his heart pounding with fear, he encountered no further trouble.

He strode briskly through the rural countryside and soon heard a creaking sound. Realizing this meant another issue had arisen, he signaled to Little Hongtang and carefully stepped off the path, approaching the source of the creaking sound.

He soon arrived at the bottom of a slope, where he saw five or six figures gathered, hunched and trembling, engaged in some unknown activity.

Are these Manor workers?

Hu Ma recognized their attire at once and called out softly, "What are you doing?"

Suddenly, all the shivering people stopped simultaneously, and the creaking noise vanished abruptly.

Hu Ma saw each rigid figure slowly turning to gaze at him.

In the dense night, he couldn’t clearly make out their faces. He could vaguely discern that they seemed to have their fingers to their mouths, CRUNCH CRUNCH, nibbling on them. The eyes of many started to light up gradually, and they uttered strange, piercing sounds:

"Another one..."

"It’s him, it’s him! This boy injured one of ours, I remember..."

...

These workers have all been enchanted...

Hu Ma stared at this horrifying scene, thinking silently.

He identified the sharp voice, recognizing it as from that particular group of Yellow Immortals who had once enchanted someone in town.

Previously, he had injured a member of their family, and Xu Ji, even more ruthlessly, had wielded the Wooden Sword to kill one. This caused the rest to fear the authority of the Red Lantern Lady and move away obediently.

To think I’d run into them here! Talk about bad luck and enemies crossing paths!

These workers had been enchanted, and clearly, they held a grudge against him, intending to attack as soon as they saw him.

Should I make the first move, or what?

A series of thoughts flashed rapidly through Hu Ma’s mind as he clutched the knife hidden in his clothes, yet his voice unexpectedly softened.

"So, it’s the Yellow Immortal family..."

He intentionally made his voice sound composed and proud, loudly announcing, "Earlier, I helped bury your family member and allowed you to conduct your grave offerings. I had thought the matter between us was resolved, only to run into you again here."

"Since it is so, I have something to say."

"Indeed, I did harm one of your kin earlier, but my actions were justified. It was your family who first caused trouble, and moreover, you disrespected our Red Lantern Lady."

"After that, we agreed to mind our own affairs independently. Everyone walks their own path."

"Today, I am here on urgent business and have come across you immortals. If you’re dissatisfied, I can personally offer my apologies."

"But if you won’t even grant me this bit of courtesy, then let us draw blades and test our strength!"

...

While speaking, he suddenly channeled energy into his chest, exhaling a breath upon the knife in his hand.

This technique was the True Yang Arrow.

The Pure Fire Stove kindled, its power flowing into the knife, causing it to glow like a red-hot iron for a fleeting instant.

In that moment, Hu Ma even managed to see the workers’ fingers, gnawed clean, and their stiff, pallid faces. Upon seeing the blade in his hands, they simultaneously stepped back.

What was truly startling was that from within the waist-high grass behind them, countless unseen entities, startled by this, went SQUEAKING AND CHATTERING as they rapidly fled into the distance.

Seeing this, Hu Ma felt more confident. He deliberately brandished his knife and declared loudly, "We’re bound to run into each other. Let’s leave each other some face."

"Today, don’t block me from saving someone, and I’ll return with a plump chicken as a thank-you visit!"

...

RUSTLE RUSTLE... Strange noises mingled in the surrounding grass, as if they were discussing something.

After some time, from amidst the enchanted workers, a voice unexpectedly called out, "Will you bring a rooster or a hen?"

In the memories from my past life, it’s said the Yellow Immortals prefer roosters?

Quickly pondering but still unsure, Hu Ma yelled back, "I’ll bring a pair, one rooster and one hen, how about that?"

The grass burst into an uproar, as if a bomb had gone off. After a long commotion, a sharp voice chimed in, "You’re a sensible child. We won’t trouble you. Take your people and go..."

Occasional voices shouted, "Make sure the chickens are plump, and bring some brown sugar..."

"Rooster blood, sugar egg, wouldn’t trade it for anything a god could offer..."

...

Rather picky, aren’t they...

Hu Ma merely stayed vigilant, silently watching as the grass swayed with something rapidly retreating. The surroundings gradually grew quieter, except for the workers, who still stood vacantly.

They had been moving just moments before, like puppets whose strings had been cut.

Just as he was about to approach and call to them, the grass rustled again. He halted instantly, tensing his grip on the knife, only to see something thrown out from the depths of the grass with a SMACK, landing at his feet—it was a red Wooden Sword.

"It’s yours now..."

A sharp voice unexpectedly sounded beside him, then swiftly vanished back into the depths of the grass.

Good neighbors indeed...

Hu Ma immediately recognized this Wooden Sword as the one Xu Ji had previously brandished with such pride.

To think this group of Yellow Immortals would actually gift it to me!

Such well-mannered folks!

If he had just picked up this Wooden Sword, it would still be considered Young Master Xu Ji’s; he would have merely found it.

But since it was a present from this group of Yellow Immortals, the sword was now his.

So, what’s the difference between the two situations?

...Ultimately, there’s no real difference!

Hu Ma held it in his hand, giving it a slight test. He felt that this item was unlike his usual practice sword or Zhou Datong’s knife. It was ethereally light yet carried a weighty, mystical presence.

My own stove fire can flow into it at any time, and I can control it as easily as moving my own arm!

This delightful surprise bolstered his courage. Suddenly, he brandished the long sword, sweeping it around him.

WHOOSH...

An invisible fiery intent surged, instantly stripping away the sinister aura from the motionless workers around him.

Each of them opened their eyes in bewilderment.