Twilight Boundary-Chapter 688 - 679: The Grand Mountain Sacrifice

"King Yanluo is assembling troops?"

When Hu Ma heard the Second Master speak, he immediately understood that what he was saying didn't make sense.

He had just returned from the underworld and knew there was no King Yanluo there. Moreover, the underworld was in a state of expansion because of the broken cycle of reincarnation. Even if there was a King Yanluo, he wouldn't be short of people, let alone overcrowded.

However, even though he thought this, he didn't interrupt the Second Master. He merely displayed a curious expression.

He wanted to hear how people like the Second Master, who were born and raised in the village, viewed the Black Wind Disaster.

"In my lifetime, I've only seen the Black Wind Disaster three times. It's truly terrifying!"

When he said this, the Second Master looked quite emotional. "Whenever there's news of the Black Wind Disaster approaching, every household shuts its doors, burns incense, and prays to their ancestors, hoping the Disaster won't sweep through their village."

"But if it truly strikes, there's no escape. You can only tough it out. Those who survive, it's all just luck!"

"It's said that only families with great blessings and flourishing descendants can endure such a Disaster. However, even if they can endure, it greatly depends on various circumstances."

"The best scenario is when the Black Wind Disaster comes but doesn't blow into your village. If you only hear the commotion, that's alright. If it does reach your village and lasts just one or two sticks of incense time, then with some effort, grit, and determination from the villagers, you can withstand it."

"The scariest part is when it sweeps through half of Old Yin Mountain, wailing all night long, leaving nowhere to hide."

"Counting back, it must have been fifteen years ago when our village encountered the most severe one, as if half of Old Yin Mountain's Black Wind Disaster swept entirely into our village."

"It was as if once the Black Wind Disaster arrived, it refused to leave."

"The wailing continued endlessly, and the livestock outside mooed and baahed endlessly, but after a while, they fell silent."

"There are actually customs in the village for when the Black Wind Disaster strikes: hide if you can, but if it's too severe, hiding isn't an option."

"At that time, the young and robust gather to beat drums and gongs. The old and the young burn incense by the fire pit asking for ancestors' protection. It's said that if the noise is loud enough, it can drive the Disaster away. But that Disaster came so fiercely that no one dared step outside..."

"..."

At this point, he seemed to feel a bit of regret. "Back then, I was at the door and saw Brother Hu Shan, your father, strapping on the drum alone and heading out of the village. I wanted to go help him, but he said I was more of a hindrance and wouldn't let me go."

"That night, the drumming sounded throughout half the night outside the village."

"In the latter half of the night, the drumming stopped, and the wind subsided. As dawn broke, we dared to take pond ash outside to search, but all we found at the village's edge was the drum. We never found him."

"The people in the village speculated that perhaps something took him to be devoured, or even that he might have run away?"

"..."

As he spoke, he looked at Hu Ma with a hint of sympathy, sighing, "But after a few years, people stopped talking about it."

"If he truly wasn't dead, who could go fifteen years without returning to see their elderly mother or their own son?"

"..."

In the pitch-black night, amidst ghostly cries and deity wails, the world turned upside down. A man bearing a large drum all alone, alongside a village sinking into despair...

Hu Ma felt no particular sentiment toward the father he had never met or heard much about, but after hearing the Second Master's account, he did feel a heavy, complex emotion, leaving him uncertain of what to say for a moment.

"In the end, it's because our village lacks unity and blessings. Otherwise, who would be afraid?"

As the Second Master spoke, he appeared somewhat dissatisfied. "That's why we must perform the Sacrificial Mountain ritual, so that folks from all surrounding villages watch out for each other. If trouble arises, we all face it together. Why should we fear the Black Wind Disaster?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing the Second Master's confidence, Hu Ma was somewhat surprised. "Can this really block it?"

"Of course, it can!" replied the Second Master. He then widened his eyes and added, "As long as people are united, there's nothing that can't be blocked."

"Back when that Black Wind Disaster hit, there wasn't enough food in the village, and people's hearts were scattered. The Zhou, Cui, Li, and Zhao families each looked after themselves. When the Disaster came, they all hid, praying to their ancestors. Who cared about anyone else?"

"But now we perform the Sacrificial Mountain ritual precisely for this reason."

"This time, during the Sacrificial Mountain ritual, it's not just about us burning incense and making offerings. We need to invite people to come and witness the ceremony."

"It's said that blessings can block disasters, but these blessings are intangible and untouchable. What are they?"

"They are joy!"

"During such significant events, your reputation grows. When a village hosts the Sacrificial Mountain, more attendees enhance the event's prestige. Neighbors view it as respectable, giving your family face, ensuring that illness and disaster avoid your path."

"Moreover, it's not about taking advantage of others. When many contribute, the fire burns higher. Celebrating brings joy, and the more people that come to burn incense and kowtow, the more joy they share, the greater the happiness!"

"No matter what disaster comes, it can be blocked."

"..."

Good grief...

Listening to all this, Hu Ma was somewhat astounded. Something that Path members couldn't explain clearly, the Second Master made sound simple.

If the matter of blessings were truly this easy, wouldn't everyone strive for them?

Nevertheless, he wouldn't spoil the Second Master's enthusiasm, so he smiled and said, "The Second Master makes sense."

"When performing the Sacrificial Mountain, naturally, the more lively, the better."

"This mountain lord has been craving offerings for many years. This time, we'll honor him well."

"..."

The Second Master listened, his expression turning strange. "That's the right attitude, but why does it sound unpleasant?"

"Do you think you can just say whatever about the Mountain God without fear of tripping over your own feet in the future?"

"But you must take this matter to heart."

"The Sacrificial Mountain is a big event, and the people who come to support it are crucial. In the surrounding ten villages, you don't need to worry. My reputation is enough."

"Plus, regarding the matter of distributing Blood Food you mentioned earlier, I've made arrangements. Later, I'll take them from the village together when I go, so everyone shows respect to me. The formalities are essential. However, those influential outside figures are up to you..."

"...Can you invite some capable people under the food-protection general to support the event?"

"..."

"Rest assured, rest assured."

Seeing the Second Master somewhat unsure, Hu Ma smiled and assured him, "We've been out in the world for a few years and made some friends."

With that, the matter was settled. The Second Master was so delighted he walked as if he were carried by the wind.

That night, they followed tradition with a feast. This was their customary celebration whenever they succeeded and returned to the village.

During the flowing banquet, even though Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu had been back in the village for two days, they insisted on showing off their armor and were determined to seat Hu Ma beside the Old Clan Chief, the most honorable position for the juniors.

The villagers, although they wouldn't say it openly, found it strange that a mere commoner was seated above those who had become generals.

Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu had explained to their families several times and took this opportunity to tell the villagers, "Our skills were learned from Brother Ma Zi, but Brother Ma Zi didn't let us acknowledge him as our master. He only said we are fellow students, with the Second Master still our master."

"But even among brothers, there's a hierarchy. If Brother Ma Zi doesn't sit above, we'll have to stand while eating." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"..."

Zhao Zhu added, "Exactly, if the food-protection general came, even he would sit below Brother Ma Zi."

This statement inexplicably added a shine to the Second Master's face, and suddenly, the villagers showed profound respect.

But they thought privately that Zhao's children remained so blunt, giving up seats but still daring to speak so casually about the food-protection general.

Hu Ma unreservedly sat down. The villagers noticed not only Hu Ma taking a higher seat but also Zhou Datong sitting at the head. Even Li, who had also become successful, was now being called 'Brother' by Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu, who all seemed quite attentive to him.

At this feast, the Second Master discussed the Sacrificial Mountain ritual, filling the entire village with joy.

In the following days, they celebrated the New Year. With Granny no longer in the village, it felt less significant for Hu Ma, as he only followed the arrangements made by the elders.

Besides inviting the ancestors home for the New Year on New Year's Eve and sending them back to the pond on New Year's Day, the young and robust in the village found themselves too busy to visit relatives. The Old Clan Chief personally took up the pen, writing dozens of invitations.

As for inviting those important individuals from outside, Hu Ma considered it carefully, listing a few names for Little Hongtang to deliver the messages.

These included Xu Wensheng, Master Xu, the Logistics Manager under the food-protection general; Bald Zhang, the Great Commander; along with other Red Lantern Society members they knew, and mutual friends the brothers made during their time with the food-protection general.

It was just to make the Second Master happy by supporting the event. That should suffice, right?

In Mingzhou, the food-protection general was discussing post-holiday military affairs with several Old Generals of the White Armor Army, when suddenly the candle on the table flickered, and a ghostly wind blew in.

Little Hongtang walked into the tent under the sharp gaze of the formidable battlefield veterans and handed the invitations to Xu Wensheng, Bald Zhang, Lady Cui, and others.

"Hey, Brother Huma invites you all to come and share in the joy..."

"..."

In an instant, everyone in the tent was stunned. The food-protection general was the first to react, slamming the table and rising. "Who?"

"How could my brother Hu Ma not invite me?"