Twilight Boundary-Chapter 731 - 722: Escorting the Coffin Northward

"Brother Hu Shan’s remains?"

Compared to Hu Ma’s calm demeanor, Second Master was much more moved.

He had always felt that much of the Hu Family’s misfortune was related to this silent Hu Shan from back then. Hu Shan had shielded Dayang Village from disaster and should have been buried in the pond. However, because no body was found and his life and death were unknown, no one from the Hu Family was buried in the pond back then. Consequently, during the turbulent period of Hu Ma’s transformation, the fire pond in the village was unable to protect him. Moreover, my own insight was limited at the time, similar to the people from other villages. We all believed that our own ancestors belonged only to us and couldn’t easily provide protection to outsiders. So, even though I felt somewhat indignant on Granny’s behalf, I didn’t know how to voice it to the villagers. But now, having performed the fire-walking ritual for the Sacrificial Mountain and witnessed the birth of the pond god, I understand many things. Guarding one’s own village and excluding outsiders was actually a lie. Where this lie originated is no longer traceable, but this custom actually prevents a True God from being born in the pond.

His heart grew complex for a moment. He hurriedly supported the bones in Hu Ma’s hands, ushered him inside, helped burn incense, and settled the soul.

Then he turned to Hu Ma and said, "Should they be buried in the village, or..."

Nowadays, if someone from the Hu Family wanted to be buried in the pond, no one would oppose it; on the contrary, it would seem right and proper. But Second Master had already noticed that Hu Ma possessed considerable skills, and his identity was probably unusual. His biological father might have a better resting place...

"In the village will do." Hu Ma nodded and said, "A place where the birth of god blesses All People—what place could be better than here?"

Back then, Granny was also buried in this pond. Although her soul had departed, her remains had merged with the ashes in the pond. It’s also fitting for my biological father to be buried here. When I eventually go to Shangjing, I might be able to bring Granny’s memorial tablet back to the village. The ancestral hall in Shangjing is the work of the Daluo Dharma Sect, and I don’t feel at ease leaving Granny there.

"Eh?" Second Master agreed and was about to go make preparations when Hu Ma noticed the three incense sticks.

During their conversation, these three incense sticks had burned down from left to right, forming a progressively lower pattern. The height difference became increasingly obvious. Hu Ma, having learned the Observing Incense Technique from the Age Suppressing Book, couldn’t help but frown; this was an incense form signifying disapproval.

My biological father lost his Living Soul early. Moreover, having died to suppress a disaster came at a great price; he likely didn’t even have the chance to enter the underworld, and his Guardian Soul vanished as well. It can be understood that only a set of bones remains. In the Path, it’s said that the worst fate is to have one’s soul scattered, and this refers to such a state. Yet, in the unseen realm, there will still be some strange influences. This influence is something people of the Path cannot comprehend and is probably related to the legendary Karma Soul. This incense form reflects the attitude of the deceased. He doesn’t seem to want to be buried in this pond. Of course, it might also be a coincidence.

"Your father... is he trying to tell you something?" Second Master had also noticed the incense form. He looked somewhat astonished but couldn’t quite understand it, so he cautiously asked Hu Ma.

One usually doesn’t pay attention to the incense form; no matter how it burns, no one notices. But once seen, it must be taken seriously. This glance might have been predestined by the unseen, akin to a message from one’s ancestors: if unheard, it’s as if it was never said; but if heard, one must consider the reason behind it.

Hu Ma also frowned slightly before saying softly, "Perhaps I should take him back to the ancestral hall."

I vaguely understand now. Granny remained in Dayang Village partly to protect me and partly because she approved of Dayang Village and was willing to stay here. Among the Hu Family elders, only Granny had stayed in Dayang Village the longest. But as for my biological father, while he wouldn’t act arrogantly before the Dayang Village folk and would do his best to save people, deep down, he probably still identified more with the ancestral hall in the north and didn’t want to remain in Dayang Village.

"Then, Second Master, please help me prepare a coffin and a shroud. I will escort his coffin back north!" Hu Ma said slowly, "It’s just as well, as I also need to go north to offer incense for Granny."

Second Master didn’t quite understand. Granny was clearly buried in the village, so why go north for incense-burning? But he didn’t pry into such personal matters and readily agreed.

That night, he went out and woke a few villagers skilled in carpentry. They helped the Hu Family prepare all the necessary wood, the shroud, and the corresponding sacrificial items. However, at Hu Ma’s request, they didn’t disclose for whom these preparations were being made.

When Hu Shan left all those years ago, he hadn’t disturbed the village. Since he hadn’t wanted to stay in the village, there was no need to make a fuss about him there now.

After a busy night of preparations, by the next day, Hu Ma, with Second Master’s help, placed his biological father’s remains into the coffin, performed the Sealing Coffin rites, and made offerings. The villagers, unaware of the details, did not come to pay respects, except for the few who had lent a hand. The occasion felt quite somber and deserted.

But Second Master remembered that Hu Ma’s biological father had been a good person when he was alive. It shouldn’t be so desolate, he thought.

Seeing Hu Ma had already offered incense, and that Fourth Miss Zhou was craning her neck to watch from the side, he beckoned her over. "Young lady, why don’t you come over and light an incense stick as well?

"Well, by Hu Family rules, it would be appropriate for you to kowtow too.

"But, since we haven’t met your elders, we’ll skip the kowtow. Just lighting an incense stick will make things a bit livelier!"

"..."

"Huh?" Fourth Miss Zhou knew this was Hu Ma’s father. Caught off guard by Second Master’s words, she instinctively wanted to ask Zhao Sanyi if this was proper, only to realize Zhao Sanyi had left long ago. Feeling conflicted, she said, "This... Isn’t this inappropriate?"

Second Master said, "You’re a young lady who has come all this way to our village. What’s inappropriate about it?" As he spoke, he handed her the incense.

Even Hu Ma looked a bit surprised, thinking it was inappropriate for Fourth Miss Zhou to offer incense to his biological father. "Isn’t this inappropriate?" he said.

Second Master glared at Hu Ma. "She’s a young lady who has come all this way to our village. What’s so inappropriate about it?"

Fourth Miss Zhou, however, was a straightforward person. Seeing Second Master hand her the incense, and thinking that this Walking Ghost, the Great Sword-Catcher, was an exemplary person, his father must surely be an extraordinary man as well. Setting other things aside, offering an incense stick was the proper thing to do.

So, she came forward confidently to offer incense. Although she didn’t kneel and kowtow, she still made a deep bow with clasped hands, displaying great courtesy.

After the incense was lit, paper money burned, and the coffin sealed, it was placed on the cart. Only Hu Ma could escort the spirit north.

After finishing these arrangements, Hu Ma turned to Fourth Miss Zhou and asked, "Why haven’t you gone back yet?"

Fourth Miss Zhou had stayed for a couple more days, sleeping in Granny’s old room and joining them for meals without needing to be called.

She had even enthusiastically helped with the preparations for Hu Ma’s biological father’s burial. Moreover, when they were preparing the timber—logs so thick it took arms to encircle them and weighing over a Thousand Jin each—she alone could carry two of them. This had startled Second Master, who thought she would definitely be a great hand at farming.

Now that Hu Ma finally had a moment to speak to her, she bit her lip and said, "I can’t leave. I haven’t gotten my things back from you yet!"

"Those two hammers? Or Master Ping?" Hu Ma looked at her and added, "That bottle is already crushed; I can’t give it back to you. But as for those two hammers, I never intended to keep them. They’re under the bed. If you want them, just take them back!"

"..."

"Who do you think I am?" Hu Ma genuinely hadn’t meant to make things difficult for Fourth Miss Zhou, but she seemed displeased by his words.

Crossing her arms, she said, "We of the Zhou Family don’t need anyone’s pity. You defeated me and took my weapons. Naturally, I have to defeat you before I can take them back fair and square!"

"..."

Hu Ma frowned. "Then let’s do it! Do you want a light spar, or would you prefer to go all out in a proper fight?"

If it’s just sparring, we can do it in the village. But for a full fight, we’d need to find a place outside; there isn’t enough room to maneuver in the village.

Faced with Hu Ma’s straightforwardness, Fourth Miss Zhou became hesitant. After all, I’m a girl, and I’m observant. Over the past few days, I’ve noticed that despite Hu Ma’s calm expression, there’s an underlying sense of despondency. I don’t know about the State Preceptor’s affairs; I just assume Hu Ma is grieving his father’s death, and this is a distressing time for him. How could I, in good conscience, challenge him now? ...Besides, I can’t beat him right now anyway.

So she pouted and said, "Not now. I don’t feel like fighting you at the moment."

Hu Ma was even more puzzled. "Then what do you want to do?"

Fourth Miss Zhou replied with a bold air of justification, "I haven’t decided yet!"

"Then take your time to think about it!"

I wanted to find an excuse to return the two hammers to her, but she seems rather clueless about it.

Hu Ma couldn’t be bothered with her and let her take a large bowl to join Second Master for food. He had no appetite, so he returned to his room to pack his things. After all, on this journey, who knew what he might encounter? Of course, he had to bring everything useful he could.

As he was sorting through the items in his room, Little Hongtang squatted on a roof beam, watching him with curiosity. She seemed to sense the gloom in Hu Ma’s heart and had been much more obedient these past two days, merely following him around.

When Hu Ma turned and saw her, he sighed inwardly, forced a smile, and said, "Little Hongtang, do you miss Granny?"

Upon hearing this, Little Hongtang replied happily, "Yes, I do!"

"Then let’s go see Granny!" Hu Ma also showed a genuine smile, tossing aside the various odds and ends he had been holding.

No need to pack anymore. A Shousui man carries all his skills and necessities with him. What else is there to pack? Anyway, as long as I see Granny, everything will become clear.