Twilight Boundary-Chapter 619 - 610: Demon Detection Mirror

Such a narrow mindset. "What if some infiltrated?" they ask. This whole thing was our initiative from the start...

Hu Ma chuckled coldly to himself, though he also noticed that these two didn't seem to be here to cause trouble, which made him slightly relieved.

Yet, regarding the topic they brought up, he dared not be careless. He let out a sinister laugh and said, "I know what you're talking about..."

"Evil spirit?"

"Heh, so Old Master Yan who became an Immortal isn't an evil spirit?"

"This evil spirit is hiding in Gua Prefecture City, releasing toad gu to harm people, refining immortal qi to prolong his life. No one cares, no one asks, so our Zhensui Mansion's sword-catchers came over. Our Zhensui Mansion is weak; even the Yan Family pays us no mind."

"Thus, our young master opened the Mansion Gate, trusting only in the justice of this world, believing that the just will naturally prevail. He believed correctly, and indeed, it drew various Jianghu Strange People to help us."

The more he spoke, the heavier the resentment in his voice became. Suddenly, he raised his voice, "But what about you?"

"When Old Master Yan was hiding and harming people, you Ten Surnames didn't step in. We at Zhensui Mansion had just dealt with the matter and righted the wrong, and here you are before me, prattling on about whether it's an evil spirit or not? Then you tell me, where exactly is this evil spirit?"

"Or why not just say outright that our Zhensui Mansion is colluding with the evil spirit..."

"..."

He had thought of these words from the beginning, secretly rehearsed them alone, so now that he said them, he was naturally righteous and imposing.

"Ah, this..."

Those two hadn't expected Hu Ma to speak this way and were both stunned. Zhao Sanyi looked a bit embarrassed and said, "Hall Officer, your words are too harsh."

"Anyone could potentially collude with an evil spirit, but how could the Zhen Sui Hu Family?"

"I'd rather believe our Zhao family is colluding than suspect the Hu family..."

"Moreover, even if there really were an evil spirit within the Hu family's ranks, they couldn't all congregate here in one night. If we're truly talking about evil spirit activity, there have been signs. In fact, these past few days, around the West Mountain Road and Wazhou area, that's where evil spirits are likely appearing. In just a few days, they've caused unrest among the ghostly gods, several great clans have been annihilated, and various grasshead kings are fighting to the death..."

"Right now, everyone's attention is focused there, worried it's an evil spirit causing trouble. We're just reminding you not to let such things infiltrate your ranks."

"..."

Indeed, the name Zhensui Mansion is quite effective...

Hu Ma squinted slightly. The reaction of these two matched what the mountain lord had mentioned before.

Zhensui Mansion was originally known for purging those of evil spirit origins, and it held the foremost untarnished reputation in the world.

The higher one's status and the more they understood Zhensui Mansion, the more firmly they believed that the Hu family would never have any dealings with evil spirits.

If not for this foundation, his earlier plans would have been truly difficult to implement.

But what on earth was this West Mountain Road and Wazhou they mentioned...?

Wait, the list I gave to Sweet Potato... that seems to be the place...

Surely not?

A sudden chill coursed through him. He quickly convinced himself that Sweet Potato couldn't be that formidable. After a moment to compose himself, he nodded and, softening his tone, said:

"Did the two of you esteemed guests come just to give Zhensui Mansion this warning?"

As he spoke, his attitude indicated he considered the matter closed. However, the two opposite him remained silent for a moment. Zhao Sanyi, the one with the red rooster crown, frowned slightly and said, "That was just a casual reminder."

"To be honest, we came for another matter."

"..."

Hu Ma was slightly taken aback and looked up at them. Then, Chen Abao said, "And initially, we weren't trying to see you at all."

"It was only because we know the underlying situation of this Gua Prefecture City that we thought a minor sword-catcher like you wouldn't be of much use, and that ultimately, that senior from the Hu family would personally step in. We misjudged..."

"The capabilities of the Zhen Sui Hu Family are indeed not something that riffraff families like ours among the Ten Surnames can..."

"..."

"That's enough, that's enough..."

Zhao Sanyi hurriedly cut Chen Abao off, turned to Hu Ma, and after adjusting his composure, regained his earlier grave expression. He said earnestly, "Going directly to Mingzhou is inconvenient; there are people there we don't wish to meet. So, we must ask you to deliver a message."

"Since you are a Great Sword-Catcher of the Walking Ghosts, you are also trustworthy."

Hu Ma gave an imperceptible nod. The position of sword-catching hall officer was significant. Even among the Ten Surnames, it was second only to the direct heir of a main family.

It could be said that, compared to those from collateral branches, he was more representative of the main family and naturally qualified to deliver a message.

"Whew..."

Zhao Sanyi exhaled softly before continuing slowly, "Next year, on the fifteenth of the seventh month, the Ghost Festival, is when the Ten Surnames will reconvene at the Stone Pavilion. The Hu family hasn't shown up for twenty years, but now that Zhensui Mansion is open, that brother of yours will likely attend. Please relay a message to him for me: be wary of the Tongyin Meng family."

"?"

Hu Ma was taken aback. For them to be so solemn, he'd thought they were about to say something significant, but this was rather laughable.

Everyone in the world knows about the deep feud between the Hu family and the Meng family.

Warning him to be cautious? Did that really need to be said?

He maintained a polite facade and said mildly, "I will pass on the message, but these words..."

"I haven't finished speaking. What message are you passing on?"

Zhao Sanyi interrupted him, taking a few steps closer before lowering his voice, "What I want you to remind him is that the Meng family in Mingzhou—the one that executed their own relatives, opened the Zhensui Mansion gate, and has been eagerly awaiting the Hu family's return to the Stone Pavilion—naturally won't cause him trouble anymore..."

"Of course, the commotion in Guazhou this time was so significant that it might make the Meng family re-evaluate the Hu family's capabilities..."

"...But don't actually believe the Meng family has become so honest."

"You might not know how the Hu family managed to completely secure Zhensui Mansion for themselves, but your young master certainly does. Nowadays, all Ten Surnames acknowledge that Zhensui Mansion belongs to the Hu family. But what if..."

"...what if this most crucial responsibility of the Hu family is snatched away by the Meng family?"

"..."

"The Hu family's most crucial responsibility..."

Hu Ma was stunned for a moment, then a jolt went through him. His eyes fixed on Zhao Sanyi's face. "Zhensui?"

The Hu family's name was built on those two words, "Zhensui"—suppressing reincarnated evil spirits. This was the bedrock of the Hu family. So, the purpose of their warning was...

"Correct."

At this point, Chen Abao, who was entirely wrapped in a black cloth robe, also narrowed her eyes and whispered, "Back then, the Hu family managed to oust the Meng family and take sole control of Zhensui Mansion because the Hu family cleansed that horde of evil ghosts that crawled out of hell."

"Among the Ten Surnames, only the Hu family could deal with these evil spirits. This, this is the primary reason acknowledged by all Ten Surnames why Zhensui Mansion must be entrusted to the Hu family, and can only be inherited by the Hu family!"

"But now, the Meng family has begun preparations—or rather, they have been preparing for many years."

"The Demon Detection Mirror is already under construction. Before the Ghost Festival on the fifteenth of the seventh month next year, it will be delivered to the various Lords. At that time, the mirror will illuminate One State, and all those reincarnated evil spirits in hiding will be exposed, with nowhere left to run..."

"..."

Reaching this point, she paused, her eyes narrowing as she said softly, "If the Meng family intends to seize Zhensui Mansion, will the Hu family still have any reason to cling to it so tightly?"

"..."

The shock in Hu Ma's heart at this moment was indescribable, like a tidal wave crashing over him, threatening to drown him.

Demon Detection Mirror?

He wasn't sure what that thing was, but if this were true, wouldn't all Reincarnators be facing imminent disaster?

As a Reincarnator himself, hearing this news was far more shocking than it would be for a Great Sword-Catcher of the Walking Ghosts.

Yet, the more alarmed he became, the calmer he forced himself to remain. He knew this was a rare opportunity and wanted to glean more information. So, after listening, he merely frowned slightly and said, "The Meng family didn't have this capability before. Do they have it now?"

Chen Abao pursed her lips and said, "Isn't it because of the Noble Zhang Family and that traitorous..."

"Shut up!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Just as she was about to blurt it out, Zhao Sanyi, startled, reprimanded her, "Have you no sense of discretion?"

Sighing, he turned to Hu Ma and said softly, "You needn't say more. Your young master will understand the gravity of this matter. The gathering at the Stone Pavilion is imminent; you absolutely must not be careless..."

Hu Ma remained silent for a moment, then said slowly, "On behalf of my young master, I thank you both for the warning. This message will be delivered."

"However..."

He took a deep breath, then raised his eyebrows slightly and whispered, "Why would the two of you so easily reveal such a confidential matter to me?"

"Please speak plainly. When I return, if my young master asks, I will have an explanation."

"..."

"This..."

Seeing Hu Ma ask so directly, Zhao Sanyi hesitated slightly. In contrast, Chen Abao let out a cold chuckle and said, "It's not just about telling you. Go back and tell your young master, if he needs help, then..."

"Teacher, what are you doing?"

At the same time Hu Ma's heart was reeling from the shock, as he hurried towards the Zhao Mansion, Calculation, who had returned earlier with Wuya, was solemnly setting up an incense table. For the first time, he had paid out of his own pocket for a chicken, fish, and a pig's head, and offered high-quality incense.

He reverently placed his ancestral master's spirit tablet upon it, kowtowed several times, and then took out his copper coins.

Shaking them repeatedly, he bent down to look, his brow gradually furrowing.

Wuya, standing beside him, was already overcome with curiosity. It was a long while before Calculation finally let out a slow sigh and said in a low voice, "I always felt it was too strange that the ancestral master had me follow that little shopkeeper. It was baffling."

"Especially after witnessing this matter of justice overcoming the Yan family's iron threshold, I couldn't help but dwell on some unsettling thoughts..."

"So, I had to ask the ancestral master."

"..."

"Isn't it right for justice to overcome the iron threshold?"

Wuya had never quite understood Calculation's worries, but seeing his grave expression, he didn't dare to argue. Recalling the ancestral master's previous temperament, he asked softly, "This time, the ancestral master... he didn't refuse to speak again, did he?"

"..."

"No."

Calculation sighed. "He spoke."

Wuya suddenly grew anxious and quickly asked, "And then?"

Calculation's face instantly wrinkled tenfold, his expression filled with sorrow, even a hint of despair. "It was the first time he answered me so definitively..."

"...No!"