Twilight Boundary-Chapter 626 - 617: Sneaking into the City of the Dead

"City of the Dead?"

Startled by Hu Ma's sudden mention, Er Guotou was taken aback. "Why are you inquiring about this ghostly place?"

Hu Ma pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "For an investigation."

"If the information I received before is correct, Noble Zhang and Tongyin Meng forging the Demon Detection Mirror is related to this place."

「...」

Hu Ma hadn't yet decided whether to fully disclose everything to Er Guotou. Zhao Sanyi from the Divine Hand Zhao Family and Chen Abao from the Black Magic Chen Family had both approached him, suggesting he pass a message to warn the Hu Family. However, the two of them were probably still not completely trusting of this Shousui man's Great Sword Catching skill and spoke rather vaguely at the most crucial part, saying only: If the Hu Family brother wants help, he should go to Guli Village, thirty miles outside the City of the Dead, to meet with them... They probably assumed that just mentioning the City of the Dead would instantly make the "Hu Family descendant" understand.

But what the hell, I don't understand... I am a Shousui man, and the City of the Dead is in the underworld, a place that requires entering the underworld to see. In all my Cultivation so far, I haven't entered the underworld even once. Besides, for a Shousui man to enter the underworld, their Divine Soul must leave the body, rendering this skill useless. Even the Age Suppressing Book mentions many advanced ghost skill dharma methods, but none allow a person to enter the underworld with their physical body. Of course, one can't blame the Hu Family ancestors for this; they probably didn't foresee a Shousui emerging from the Hu Family. However, while I don't understand, old brother Er Guotou does... He's from the Walking Ghost Sect, with broad experience and great skills, having even achieved Shangqiao. What could be more convenient than asking him?

"Related to this ghostly place?"

Hearing Hu Ma mention the Demon Detection Mirror made Er Guotou suddenly serious. He said softly, "This complicates things a bit."

"The City of the Dead is not a good place to visit. Although well-known, and everyone knows it's in the underworld, legends say only the Ten Surnames and their trusted Inquiry Hall Officers can find it. You... why don't you ask that noble from the Hu Family?"

「...」

"That's the problem..." Hu Ma sighed deeply. "I've already asked him, but he... doesn't know either!"

"What nonsense?" Er Guotou was dumbfounded. "You can't mean to tell me that the Hu Family descendant is actually a fool?"

"I wouldn't say that..." Hu Ma felt a bit awkward but became serious. He sighed heavily and said softly, "He's actually very smart, very kind, knowledgeable, broad-minded, and resourceful..."

"It's just unfortunate that their Hu Family has paid too high a price for the Zhensui Mansion. Outsiders think there's only a single descendant left, not realizing that even he almost lost his life to ghosts sent by the Meng family to Old Yin Mountain."

"Or rather, he did lose his life. It was thanks to the previous generation's Great Sword Catcher from the Walking Ghost Sect who saved him, though that Great Sword Catcher also... sigh!"

"Nowadays, he actually..." Hu Ma paused momentarily, as if making a firm decision, then whispered, "struggles with every trip out of Old Yin Mountain."

"What?" Er Guotou was shocked. "What do you mean by that?"

"It's all because of what the Meng family did to him before..." Hu Ma, with a worried expression, sighed and said, "Others only consider the Hu Family mysterious because he's forced to be mysterious."

"Regarding ghost skills, I think he might not even surpass you, old brother. Now, he only accepts the Zhensui Mansion to maintain the facade of the Walking Ghost Family, considering nothing else and focusing solely on revenge against the Tongyin Meng family."

"Sigh, I often hear him secretly lament that he was once a prodigy—recognizing words at three and consulting ghosts at five—but is now reduced to a worthless man, hiding in Old Yin Mountain, playing with ghost realm tricks, unable to rely on real skills to duel his opponents..."

「...」

"Oh, this..." Er Guotou listened and remained silent for a long time, as if countless questions in his heart were suddenly resolved. However, amid this newfound clarity, he felt something vaguely familiar about the situation. Why does this sound a bit familiar?

"But a member of the Ten Surnames and the Master of Zhensui Mansion, reduced to this state because of a private vendetta with the Meng family—this is our opportunity." Hu Ma sensed Er Guotou's change in mindset and seized the chance to say, "Now, he imprisons himself in that little mountain village, living under the protection of the mountain lord of Old Yin Mountain. Though the Zhensui Mansion has opened with great momentum, he can't manage everything."

"Otherwise, could you have so easily taken the Purple Tai Sui?"

"Heh heh, nowadays, he doesn't even go by Hu. He's... a Bai!"

「...」

"Damn, so that's how it is!" Er Guotou, hearing this, felt all suspicion vanish and even grew a bit excited. "I knew it! How could he dare keep the surname Hu?"

"Even I, originally a Hu, dared not claim the surname again after the Meng family visited Mingzhou!"

"As a descendant of the Hu Family, controlled at every turn and facing peril at every step, changing his name is the safest!"

「...」

"Huh? You're a Hu?" Hu Ma was a bit surprised. So Er Guotou and I are like half-brothers... On the surface, he said, "I think he's too cautious. So what if his surname is Hu? Isn't my surname Hu as well? Back then, he was willing to give me a hand and offer me a chance, partly because my surname is Hu."

「...」

"Haha, that's because you're too careless! In my opinion, you should've changed your name long ago. In fact, at first, I suspected you were that Hu Family's..." Er Guotou laughed heartily, causing Hu Ma's heart to jolt.

"Just kidding." Er Guotou chuckled. "When I arranged for you to enter the Red Lantern Society, I discreetly checked your background through Old Yin Mountain. I researched your ancestors up to eighteen generations. Of course, I knew you were unrelated to that Hu Family."

"Moreover, that man at least comes from the main family of the Walking Ghost Sect. Even if ruined, he would rather die than walk the Shousui Path. The two are too divergent; they don't mesh!"

He checked on me? Listening to Er Guotou, Hu Ma felt a bit perplexed. How did he inquire about eighteen generations of my ancestors? The Hu Family at Old Yin Mountain has only been passed down for three generations... Furthermore, why can't the Walking Ghost Family learn Shousui? What does he mean by this divergence?... Initially, I intended to bluff Er Guotou a bit, laying this groundwork for future partnership discussions, but now I find myself more perplexed.

Yet, at this critical moment, he refrained from mentioning it further, just pondering lightly, "So..."

"The City of the Dead is not an easy place to reach, only accessible to the Ten Surnames and their most trusted entourage." Er Guotou's voice grew more solemn as he said softly, "But since you've found me..."

"...I can indeed get you there!"

「...」

Hu Ma was slightly startled. "Eh?"

Er Guotou laughed. "Don't forget the Yin Yang Two Sceneries Plate is in my hand!"

"Our sect has the inheritance; this item originally belonged to the Hu Family of the Ten Surnames. With it, I can find treasures the Hu Family left in the underworld. So, what's the City of the Dead in comparison?"

"But do you truly want to go?"

「...」

Hu Ma blinked once, speaking earnestly, "Indeed."

"Publicly, this involves the life and death of Reincarnators, so I have to make this trip. Privately, the Hu Family descendant is a pitiable person, and he helped me. Without him, I might never have had the chance to meet you."

"Since he cannot make this journey personally, I, as a Great Sword Catcher of the Walking Ghost Path, must undertake it for him. If I can handle this task smoothly, it benefits us all!"

"Old friend, you won't refuse to help me, right? Miss Red Wine did mention that 'top priority...'"

「...」

"Alright, alright, that priority is for outsiders. Our friendship doesn't require you to dangle that in front of me." Er Guotou sighed, already understanding without Hu Ma needing to state it explicitly. "Moreover, with the second cleansing concerned, how can one not take it seriously? Finding the City of the Dead isn't the issue; the problem is how I'll get you there."

Hu Ma, hearing this, perked up a bit. "I've already opened the three mansion gates. I should have the ability to travel between yin and yang physically."

"It's not that simple," Er Guotou said. "I've heard about Shousui men traveling between yin and yang, but have you actually done it?"

Hu Ma was slightly stunned. "No. For a Shousui man, traveling between yin and yang is related to the Bridge Crossing Opportunity. Theoretically, I can, but without guidance, I haven't tried."

"That's the problem." Er Guotou pondered, slowly explaining, "First, the underworld isn't what you think. It's not a place, nor can it be described as some kind of netherworld or ghost realm. If I had to describe it... it's like a lake, an ocean."

"Speaking of entering the underworld, each Path has its methods. Ghost Walkers can use the paths of the underworld to travel, which is like taking a quick dive. But it's just a shallow swim; I have to come out before even reaching the Ghost Gate."

"If I were to go deeper, my Divine Soul would have to leave my body. Shousui men do indeed have the ability to traverse yin and yang, but the deeper you go, the harder it is to return."

"With just your three mansion gates, you might take a couple of symbolic laps outside the Ghost Gate, but actually trying to enter the Ghost Gate? Not to mention whether your cultivation can withstand the yin qi there, the underworld officials guarding the gate also have to let you pass. Truth be told, Shousui men appear like big fireballs in the underworld—too conspicuous. You'd get chased away the moment you approach the Ghost Gate..."

「...」

Hu Ma hadn't expected it to be so complicated. Frowning, he asked, "Is there no other way?"

Er Guotou chuckled. "While entering the City of the Dead deep in the underworld is indeed challenging, since we're on the Walking Ghost Path, don't we excel not just in skills but also in our vast knowledge and Methods?"

"I actually do know a way..."

「...」

Hu Ma was genuinely fond of Er Guotou. Feeling energized, he said, "Old brother, you're amazing! Sometimes I think you resemble Young Master Hu more than Young Master Hu himself..."

"Heh heh, that's too much..." Er Guotou chuckled softly, a hint of pride in his voice. "It's simple enough. If the Ghost Gate isn't practical, then the only way is to be smuggled in..."

"Either find an expert from the Haishou Path to help open a way into the underworld, directly reaching the Netherworld, or seek the legendary Ghost Cave, which connects directly to the depths of the underworld, and just dive in!"