Twilight Boundary-Chapter 644 - 635: Connecting Yin Veins Divine Descent Platform

"Reincarnator?"

Just that one sentence made Hu Ma's heart instantly sink.

No matter what, before actually seeing this person, he had always harbored some hope, but all that anticipation and hope vanished the moment he heard the other person's words.

He walked slowly into the main hall, step by step, his footsteps heavy.

At this point, there's no rush to say anything. If a fierce battle is inevitable, then as a Shousui, every step I take into the main hall is an advantage. Even if the other person has something set up, I have to get closer.

Distance itself was the advantage of a Shousui man.

With each step into the main hall, his eyes slowly observed.

He saw the man in a spotless white robe, possessing an ethereal cleanliness amidst the dim and eerie City of the Dead.

Inside this intricately classical hall, he saw a phonograph placed next to a potted plant in the corner and caught the full face of this person—an elegant yet desolate middle-aged man with already graying sideburns.

Indeed, he had the detached and aloof air typical of a Reincarnator. Only one thing differed from what Hu Ma had previously imagined: he had thought the codename Tieguanyin would belong to a woman.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hu Ma said slowly, continuing to approach the other man.

This sentence had to be stated upfront, even if neither the speaker nor the listener believed it.

After saying it, he scrutinized the man while speaking softly, "Are you the one helping the Meng family forge the Demon Detection Mirror?"

The elegant man slowly turned his head. As Hu Ma closely examined him, he, in turn, carefully observed Hu Ma, a trace of emotion in his eyes. He sighed lightly, "Of course, it's me."

"Only a Reincarnator can find another Reincarnator, isn't that right?"

"Under my guidance, the Noble Zhang Family and the Tongyin Meng Family have already established a matrix of underworld energy exchange in this City of the Dead. You could also understand it as a Divine Descent Platform for housing the Demon Detection Mirror."

"Now, only one crucial piece is missing. Just as Reincarnators can connect to each other through their Lifebound Spirit Temples, this matrix links the earth veins and breaks into the netherworld, reflecting the underworld into the mortal realm. Those with Lifebound Spirit Temples will naturally manifest in the mirror, with nowhere to escape, above or below."

…

Listening to his words, my heart feels heavy. This is the worst-case scenario a Reincarnator could imagine. The response can only be the most decisive.

However, in this worst-case scenario, there was an unexpected piece of good fortune—he was already within seven steps of this person. For a Shousui man, this provided enough certainty to kill him with a single strike.

The most crucial point, which also surprises me, is that despite being so close, this person has no reaction. There are no unusual arrangements around him—he doesn't even have any cultivation... He's just an ordinary person.

Of course, Hu Ma dared not relax inwardly.

To kill him with a Shousui man's skill and a single strike would be the most straightforward method.

Additionally, affixing the Red Talisman to him or directly calling for the Demon Suppression Golden Mace to smash him were options.

Three layers of backup would ensure the task was done safely, which was why Hu Ma had dared to enter willingly.

After all, I'm facing a Reincarnator. I've made up my mind. Before taking action, he took a deep breath, surprisingly calming himself a bit, and looked at him serenely, saying, "So, you are Tieguanyin?"

The elegant man nodded lightly, a mocking smile on his face, "You even know that codename?"

Hu Ma didn't follow his line of questioning, instead slowly saying, "I'm just here to do a job: to kill someone named Tieguanyin."

"However, before I act, someone asked me to deliver a message to you."

…

The elegant man was slightly startled. "What is it?"

Hu Ma spoke slowly, "They said there's no disrespect intended. Even though they truly intend to kill you, they also understand that these past twenty years have surely not been easy for you."

"Hmm?"

The elegant man's expression suddenly froze, strange emotions seeming to flicker deep in his pupils.

Hu Ma took a deep breath. Some things can't be said if safety isn't ensured. But I believe he understands. No matter who it is, human or evil spirit, falling into the hands of the Noble Zhang Family and enduring twenty years couldn't have been easy. We're all ordinary people; we can't demand everyone be so unyielding. Moreover, we all know that if it were us, we might not withstand it, perhaps even crumbling sooner… So… you've had it tough, brother. You've surely suffered greatly these past twenty years.

After conveying the message, Hu Ma was already prepared to take action.

Having confirmed he had found this Reincarnator and that the other party had betrayed them, he had three methods of handling the situation. One was to capture him, wrap him in a black robe, and, taking advantage of the chaos in the City of the Dead, take him away.

The second was to utilize the power of the Zhensui Mansion, summon the Golden Armored Warriors, apprehend him, send him back to the mortal realm, and then slowly get some information from him.

After all, Tieguanyin was key to many matters, and Hu Ma needed to get some information from him.

The third, and worst option, was that if he couldn't ensure he could take him away, he had to kill him on the spot.

Even if it means losing an important clue about Reincarnators, I can't let him stay here.

But just as Hu Ma was contemplating his next move, Tieguanyin, who had just heard the words, gave a slight nod after the tremor in his pupils. The serene smile on his face seemed to melt slightly, and he sighed lightly,

"I haven't felt a fluctuation of emotions in twenty years.

"But in this short time, I've felt it twice.

"Once when you came in, and the second just now, when I heard your words."

…

As he spoke, his smile turned a bit bitter. He gently waved his hand, "However, whether you want to kill me or take me, there's no rush at this moment.

"You've noticed, I'm just a cripple, and you must be a Shousui. At this distance, killing me is akin to slaughtering a chicken. Moreover, the people in this city won't react so quickly, so we have some time to talk.

"I know there must be many things you're unclear about."

…

His words indeed struck a chord with Hu Ma. Though the vigilance in his heart remained, he truly focused his gaze on him.

"You said I've had it tough..." Tieguanyin sighed softly, saying, "Indeed, only one of our own could say such a thing.

"However, my bones are not as hard as you imagine. Falling into the hands of the Noble Zhang Family, they had quite a few tricks, but I endured, not because of my skills.

"It was merely because my body had already lost sensation; their torture was ineffective, and I could hide in the remnants of my Lifebound Spirit Temple. They couldn't torture my Divine Soul or fathom my depths."

…

He smiled as he spoke, "If discussing the method for extracting a Lifebound Spirit Temple, they were not without one.

"But once they did that, the Lifebound Spirit Temple would be destroyed; it wasn't worth their while."

…

Hu Ma listened, feeling somewhat surprised. "Then why did you…?"

"Because they used the honey trap..." Tieguanyin, reaching this point, surprisingly laughed. "In this world, people are not fools…

"In fact, starting from the third year, they used the honey trap on me.

"They did everything possible to heal my already collapsed body. They sent over various women—tall, short, fat, thin, all types available—so I could always find one I liked. They cared for me, comforted me, and even gave me a son.

"Damn it, who could withstand that?"

…

Upon hearing this, Hu Ma's heart sank slightly.

A child is the greatest vulnerability of Reincarnators, the thing that can root them in this world, even if they don't fit in. This was not a secret, just something Reincarnators sometimes subconsciously avoided mentioning. Because this vulnerability is insurmountable.

"If…" he slowly began, "if you had already joined the Zhang family, why over these many years…?"

"I've done quite a bit for the Zhang Family over these years," Tieguanyin laughed. "I guided them in Nightmare Magic, helped cultivate promising individuals within the Zhang Family, teaching them everything I knew.

"I even imparted knowledge from my past life. I told them about our world, our understanding of things, and what we revered. Sometimes, I only regretted not learning or understanding more in my past life…

"Because I clearly saw them become enthused, and fearful, as I spoke.

"If I'd learned more, more thoroughly, maybe I could truly have destroyed their confidence with these things."

…

"But..." Listening to his account, Hu Ma felt a slight shock, but his pressing questions weren't being addressed.

"But why didn't I help them kill other Reincarnators over these twenty years?" Tieguanyin laughed. "That would require someone with a complete Lifebound Spirit Temple. I cannot do that. Twenty years ago, when the Noble Zhang Family captured me, my Lifebound Spirit Temple was already destroyed.

"I could hide in it, but I couldn't contact others.

"And this is also why, despite having helped the Noble Zhang Family and the Tongyin Meng Family build that Divine Platform, the Demon Detection Mirror still hasn't been successfully created…"

…

"The Lifebound Spirit Temple was destroyed?"

Hearing this news, Hu Ma felt a sudden tremor.

I suddenly thought of some dire and dangerous things. His gaze abruptly fixed on the man's face.

"If so, then this Demon Detection Mirror…"

…

"It's obvious, isn't it? It's just a conspiracy." Tieguanyin smiled a little and slowly began to speak, "They're waiting for someone with a complete Lifebound Spirit Temple to come. Now, haven't you arrived?"