Twilight Boundary-Chapter 775 - 766: Gathering for a Major Event

Listening to Miss White Wine’s straightforward confession, Hu Ma let out a low sigh.

So, everything was related to those Reincarnators in Shangjing who were secretly investigating the Twelve Ghost Altars?

Was it because they were at a critical stage of the investigation at that time that they had Miss White Wine look after me, so as not to alert the enemy?

Now that they’ve discovered my true identity and connection to the Daluo Dharma Sect, they have also decided not only to stop looking after me but even to mobilize everyone in the Reincarnators’ circle to kill me?

What on earth is their goal?

A myriad of possibilities flashed through my mind. Vague answers also began to emerge gradually. If there were Reincarnators who knew early on that the Purple Tai Sui was the target, then had they already become a faction targeting the harvesting of the Purple Tai Sui?

Worried that I might become an obstacle in their path to harvesting the Purple Tai Sui?

"Are you feeling hurt?"

Seeing Hu Ma fall silent, Miss White Wine tilted her head slightly after a moment, examining Hu Ma’s face.

She didn’t realize that, with her temperament, suddenly making such a gesture created a bit of a contrast.

"What you said to those descendants of the Ten Surnames just now was pretty good."

Gazing at Hu Ma’s face, she suddenly smiled and said, "Some truths, even I hadn’t thought of them until you mentioned them."

Hu Ma gave a bitter smile, then sighed softly. He raised his head to look directly at her and said, "Perhaps it’s because you were born with these things that you don’t know their importance."

"Only someone like me, who doesn’t have them but has caught a glimpse, truly sees their value and might... even greedily want to possess them?"

"No need for greed. You’ve experienced it; no matter in what form, if you’ve seen it, then it’s yours."

Miss White Wine said seriously, "I don’t think you’re a traitor or a spy, but I fear I can’t persuade them."

"I don’t even have the confidence to persuade Er Guotou and Sweet Potato. So, when they asked me to find the Mingzhou Reincarnator to resolve this issue, I couldn’t even communicate with those two. I was afraid they’d do something I couldn’t accept."

"Fortunately, their final choice was similar to mine..."

"No need to comfort me!"

Hu Ma picked up on the subtle pressure in Miss White Wine’s words and laughed, saying, "The people sent to assassinate me previously also offered me a choice."

"They said they could erase my memories of this world, turning me completely into one of the Reincarnators. To be honest, in my state of mind at the time, the offer tempted me for a moment."

"But I still refused."

"I like the Reincarnators’ circle, but I also need to face my own thoughts."

"One doesn’t discover what they ultimately want to do by walking towards certain people; rather, it’s knowing what you want to do that leads you to encounter certain people. So, regardless of what the future holds or how the Reincarnators treat me, I will do what I must."

"This doesn’t mean I will throw in my lot with the Ten Surnames."

"I came to Shangjing this time having made my own decision, not to align myself with any particular faction."

He felt an inexplicable sense of relief after saying those words.

Looking up at Miss White Wine, he said, "Of course, I’ll remember you all. In my eyes, you are not evil spirits."

"More like..."

Suddenly, Mr. Longjing’s words flashed through his mind, and his smile turned half-serious, half-teasing. "Immortals descended from heaven—proud, dashing, smart... and interesting."

Watching Hu Ma’s smile, Miss White Wine seemed momentarily dazed. It was as if she hadn’t expected to see such a smile on Hu Ma’s face or hear such candid words from him under these circumstances. She didn’t respond for a long time. Then, slowly, she reached out her hand.

Hu Ma was also somewhat surprised. Gazing at her outstretched hand, he hesitated for a moment, then extended his own.

Around them were the bustling yet oppressive streets of Shangjing, filled with residents of Shangjing City wearing stiff smiles and dressed in silks and satins.

And so, in that place, they shared a handshake—a gesture perhaps only those from a previous life would perform.

The gesture was relaxed, a spur-of-the-moment act, yet it seemed to carry a profound, weighty significance.

Miss White Wine laughed softly and said, "I always thought I would never fit into this world, but I didn’t realize I had already made a friend long ago."

"I don’t know what the future holds."

"I still don’t understand the goals and intentions of Nu’er Hong and her group."

"But back then, during the Pan Mountain King’s battle formation, when I hadn’t yet understood the truth of it all and they wanted to kill you merely because of your identity—that is something I would not do, and I will never regret not doing it."

"The road ahead is long. Neither of us knows what our identities will be in the future, but for now..."

Hu Ma met her gaze and, with a smile, finished her unspoken thought: "But for now, we are still friends."

His gaze swept towards the distant streets as he reminded her, "Shangjing City itself is an exceedingly bizarre place, and it has already gathered most of the experts from the Ten Families Sect."

"From the moment I left Life-Knowing Hall, I’ve been wary of anyone following me. Though I haven’t detected anyone, one must be cautious of methods that even we might not be able to guard against. Us talking here is enough to arouse suspicion."

"Especially this handshake..."

"Aren’t you worried it might bring some trouble?"

"I have my own ways to protect myself."

Miss White Wine smiled faintly and said, "Besides, I’m used to being cautious. Occasionally, one must do something bold."

"I don’t plan on leaving Shangjing for now. Since I’ve discovered the Wang family’s involvement, I should investigate it thoroughly."

"You, on the other hand, should be careful. The Reincarnators are likely to arrive in Shangjing soon."

"Come to Shangjing?"

Hu Ma took a deep breath and said, "Do they now have enough capability to face the Ten Surnames?"

Even if the Reincarnators were all coming for him, Hu Ma still felt they were being too reckless. The Reincarnators had only just resolved the Shangqiao issue and no longer needed to hide in the shadows as they did before.

But even I am unsure of the Ten Surnames’ true trump card, so where does their confidence come from?

"After all, having successfully wiped out the Meng family and seized the bridge previously, they probably believe they’ve accurately gauged the strength of the Ten Surnames."

Miss White Wine sighed lightly at his words and said, "Besides, the Reincarnators really don’t have a choice."

"The Daluo Dharma Sect’s evil-expelling ritual is imminent. News of it has even been spread throughout the world by word of the Ten Surnames. If they don’t come now, it will likely be even harder to escape once the Daluo Dharma Sect is fully prepared."

Hu Ma nodded, gradually making a decision. He spoke up, "Miss White Wine, for now, we can still cooperate, right?"

"I’ve set something up. I’ve already invited Brother Er Guotou and have also sent word to Miss Sweet Potato."

"Are you interested in joining in?"

Miss White Wine looked slightly surprised. Gazing into his eyes, she nodded. "As long as it doesn’t interfere with my own affairs, I can."

「Meanwhile, at Life-Knowing Hall」

Hu Ma had thrown down some weighty words before turning and leaving, which left the remaining people almost breathless.

The first to flare up in anger was Zhu Youqin of the Guan Mountain Zhu Family. He said coldly, "Their Hu Family is favored by the State Preceptor; he was even given a divine artifact like the Zhensui Mansion! Previously, he disregarded the Stone Pavilion Alliance and invited a band of Wild Gods from Old Yin Mountain, and no one said a thing about it."

"Even on the way back to Shangjing, he eliminated thirty to fifty thousand troops of the Pan Mountain Army over a mere disagreement, refining them into ghost soldiers. Such a malicious act, and still no one has held him accountable for it!"

"And now, when the Ten Surnames enter the Stone Pavilion, their turn is even before ours!"

"What else is he dissatisfied with?"

"In this very pavilion, we treated him with courtesy, even invited him to take the seat of honor. Yet, he spouted nothing but bewitching and heretical nonsense! For such a person, not eliminating him as an evil spirit is already giving the Hu Family face. Can we truly expect the Hu Family to be of any use?"

These words clearly voiced the frustration in everyone’s hearts. While no one openly agreed, many nodded subtly.

"What do you mean, ’heretical words’?"

At this moment, a clear, crisp voice spoke up. It was Fourth Miss Zhou, sounding somewhat dissatisfied. "From beginning to end, he only asked us not to disregard the lives of ordinary people."

"Regardless of whether an evil spirit said those words or he did, just consider the statement itself. Is it wrong?"

"Heh-heh..."

Seeing that Hu Ma had already left, yet someone still refuted him, Zhu Youqin couldn’t help but sneer, "Fourth Miss Zhou, are you so worried you won’t be able to marry that you’re desperate to flatter him? No matter what absurd things he says, you rush to show your support?"

Facing his sneer, Fourth Miss Zhou’s expression turned cold.

After a long moment, she slowly said, "Right now, there are only six steps between us. If I wanted to kill you, do you think you could escape?"

Zhu Youqin’s expression changed, and his body twitched slightly. But Fourth Miss Zhou suddenly narrowed her eyes as well.

The sheer murderous intent radiating from her actually intimidated him, rendering him completely motionless.

"Don’t let a momentary squabble ruin the good relations between our families."

At this point, Zhao Sanyi, who had been silent until then, also sighed and said, "The words of this young brother from the Hu Family... indeed, it’s the first time even I have heard such things. But upon reflection, they are quite interesting..."

"Tell me, if we were to truly consider it, if this world had to choose a master, would it be us, the Ten Surnames? Or the Douyi of the past? Or the Royal families of the various dynasties..."

"...or perhaps, the common people struggling outside?"

His words left everyone silent for a moment. It wasn’t because they were deeply touched, but because it requires immense courage for anyone to brazenly proclaim that the world is theirs.

BUZZ...

Just then, however, gusts of strong wind suddenly swept through the Stone Pavilion. Sensing that this wind was ominous, everyone rose slightly and looked around.

From a distance, they saw a young Taoist acolyte running hastily from the direction of the Daoist temple, shouting at the top of his lungs, "The State Preceptor has come out of seclusion!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Where are the Lords of the Hu Family? Please have them come quickly..."

"The evil spirit is making a move! It’s time to ask the Hu Family to lend their strength..."