Twilight Boundary-Chapter 691 - 682: Incense-Burning Attracts Disaster (Three More Requests for Votes)

"The Hu Family, the Hu Family, their actions are truly excessive..."

At this moment in Salt State, within the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, everyone from top to bottom, including servants, knelt on the ground. Dozens of House Generals and personal maids were hung on wooden racks, exposed to the sun for several days, having already perished, with flies buzzing around.

These were the people who once served Eldest Granny Meng in the mansion. Young Master Meng, Meng Siliang, enraged by their failure to protect Eldest Granny Meng, had them all hanged several days ago.

Now, Young Master Meng sat on a locust wood chair in the courtyard, his eyes red and swollen, tears glistening, occasionally wiping them with his sleeve. Surrounding him were a clan leader from the Meng Family who hadn't descended to serve, as well as the Four Great Hall Officials, the steward, and House Generals.

Currently, everyone knew the Eldest Young Master was heartbroken and worried about Eldest Granny Meng's safety. He was in a towering rage, and they dared not even breathe loudly.

"The Hu and Meng Families have always engaged in a gentleman's contest, a duel from afar. There might be victories and defeats, yet face is never lost..."

In the dead silence, Young Master Meng Siliang spoke, his voice trembling, his eyes brimming with tears, "But how could the Hu Family act so ruthlessly?"

"Not only did they spread rumors outside that Young Master Hu defeated the Old Master in a duel, but they also indulged demon people to abduct my mother..."

"Consider my mother; although she is the wife of the Meng Family Head, she has always been magnanimous and values her reputation above all. Now that she has been abducted by these demon people, her whereabouts unknown, how will outsiders view our Meng Family? And those various House Generals, Hall Officers, unruly and defiant as they are, how will they secretly ridicule my Meng Family?"

"..."

Listening to his words, the clan leader beside him sighed softly and said, "Siliang, it is time to make a decision."

"I have always been stationed outside, managing the movement of soldiers and provisions. As soon as trouble arose, I rushed back immediately. I know best what is happening externally."

"I'm afraid the Meng Family's enterprises are on the verge of ruin!"

"We are currently mobilizing forces from all regions to search for Eldest Granny Meng's whereabouts and to capture the demon people causing this chaos. But across the realm, despite having supported so many soldiers and guests, who would have thought that every single one of them reports being unable to find any trace..."

"I refuse to believe there are so many demon people of great ability in this world who, after committing such atrocities, could simply vanish into their graves like Evil Ghosts."

"Ultimately, it's clear that when trouble befell the Meng Family, many harbored ulterior motives, merely going through the motions without any real effort!"

"Never mind those grasshead kings; even the case gods and Lords from various places seem to be evasive, not honoring the Imperial Decree. They act this way only because the Old Master met with misfortune in the underworld and left no final instructions. Furthermore, the Yin Sealing Scroll was stolen, making it impossible to create a new one quickly."

"In my opinion, if the Meng Family continues in this chaotic state, let alone plotting great endeavors, I fear we won't even be able to preserve our current foundation. As the eldest son and grandson, it is up to you to make a decision."

"What should be done about those rebellious demon people, the Lords and wandering gods who disobey the Imperial Decree, and the grasshead kings who delay coming to Salt State to protect us...?"

"..."

Hearing his words, a woman dressed in a white robe, her face also veiled with white cloth, grew somewhat apprehensive. She was the Inquiry great hall officer of Tongyin Meng, and she said in a solemn tone, "I, however, believe that inaction is preferable to rash action at this moment."

"The Meng Family is unlike Noble Zhang; if their Dragon Cave is destroyed, their entire Man Clan cannot escape. The Meng Family worships the Ancestor. As long as the Ancestor remains, the Meng Family will not fall."

"No matter how the demon people cause chaos or provoke, they haven't harmed the Meng Family's core. No matter what strange things outsiders say, or how provocateurs act, as long as the Ancestor awakens, what belongs to the Meng Family will remain the Meng Family's. No one can take it away!"

"As for the Old Master and the Lady, I think..."

"..."

As she was speaking, Young Master Meng Siliang suddenly turned to look at her, his gaze chilling, and her remaining words abruptly died in her throat.

"Wait for the Ancestor to awaken?"

Young Master Meng Siliang looked up, his eyes filled with sorrow and resentment. "I desire the Ancestor's awakening more than anyone, to take charge of the situation. Aren't Second Uncle and Third Uncle also below, awaiting his venerable words?"

"But who knows when he will awaken?"

"After all, the Ancestor resides in the deepest part of the underworld. The duration of one of his naps could span who knows how many days and nights in our realm..."

"I can wait, the Meng Family can wait, you all can wait, but my mother... can my mother wait?"

"..."

Hearing his teeth-gritting words, those beside him grew worried, all saying, "Eldest Young Master, please reconsider..."

"With demon people causing havoc and the City of the Dead in turmoil, although we all suspect the Hu Family's involvement and there are related rumors in the jianghu, there is still no concrete evidence. Moreover, with the Stone Pavilion Alliance imminent, if we act rashly against the Hu Family, I fear our Meng Family will become a subject of reproach..."

"..."

The steward also trembled, mustering his courage to say, "Besides, besides, if the Old Master and the Lady are truly in the Hu Family's hands..."

"If we do something... then they, wouldn't they suffer even more?"

"..."

"Silence!"

Hearing his words, Young Master Meng Siliang, whose eyes were already red and swollen, suddenly glared, his voice cold and menacing, "I haven't even called you to account yet! How were you managing the household that the Lady could be abducted right from within the mansion?"

The steward wanted to say that it was because you were deceived again, insisting on leading men out to find those demon people, that they seized the opportunity. But he dared not speak, merely shrinking his neck, lowering his head, and muttering incessantly, "This old servant deserves death, this old servant deserves death!"

"Then you can go and die!"

Meng Siliang stood up, not sparing him another glance. Instead, venomous fire flared in his eyes as he said in a chilling voice, "No matter how much you all say, is my Meng Family to suffer such an outrageous humiliation and just cower here in Salt State City, doing nothing?"

"Do you know what I detest most of the talk in the jianghu?"

"It's that everyone says my Meng Family, apart from kowtowing, is capable of nothing!"

"..."

The Divine Fragrance Hall Official beside him, already concerned, suddenly said, "This matter is of grave importance. Perhaps we should invite Second Master up to discuss it?"

"What for?"

Meng Siliang shot him a cold look. "Someone must attend to the Ancestor; he needs to be below, serving and awaiting the Ancestor's decree. Matters above are naturally handled by those in charge above."

"Do you think I am only fit to serve the Ancestor below and cannot handle matters up here?"

"..."

Hearing this, the others dared not speak. After uttering these words, a hint of sinister malice and resentment flickered across his face as he muttered to himself, I, too, have long awaited this day.

"When that Hu Family bastard in Mingzhou delivered my brother's head to me, humiliating me before the hungry ghosts of Official Zhou and the countless commoners of Mingzhou, he should have anticipated this day would come. He has finally fallen into my hands!"

"The Meng Family could slay his father and drive his Granny to her death; can we not deal with him?"

"..."

Hearing his dark words, even the usually taciturn Great Sword-catcher of the Meng Family couldn't help but speak slowly, "The Ancestor is currently not receiving Worship, the Hu Family's Zhensui Mansion has opened its gates, and walking ghosts everywhere have greatly increased their abilities. Attempting to move against the Hu Family, I fear..."

Before he could finish, Meng Siliang suddenly asked, "Of the Thirty-Six Ghost Caves, how many are currently in the Meng Family's hands?"

The Reasoning Hall Officer beside him quickly looked up and said in a low voice, "Seven!"

"Of the Thirty-Six Ghost Caves, thirty have long been unguarded and were divided among the Ten Surnames. Tongyin Meng can dispatch seven of them, and three more are still unassigned."

"..."

"Then it's simple, isn't it?"

Young Master Meng lowered his head, slowly picking at his fingernails, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The Hu Family now has only him left. But my Meng Family, within five degrees of kinship, how many descendants do we have?"

"Even if we must trade ten of ours for that one of his, it would be sufficient."

"Besides, as everyone knows, the Hu Family is blessed with life but devoid of fortune. It's like a neck exposed under someone else's blade, just waiting for someone to strike. What I don't understand is why, after all this time, the Old Master allowed the Hu Family to survive!"

"..."

"Eldest Young Master, are you thinking of... inviting the Yin Wind?"

Hearing this, the surrounding people suddenly guessed his intention. They all dropped to their knees in unison, their voices grave, "Eldest Young Master, reconsider!"

"These are extreme measures! And it means dealing with the Benefit Sun Family. Even if the Old Master were here, he would be unwilling to associate with those demon people... Moreover, even if it succeeds, the price the Meng Family would have to pay is far too great..."

"..."

"Hasn't the Benefit Sun Family always been shamelessly fawning over our Meng Family, seeking an alliance?"

Young Master Meng Siliang said sinisterly, "As for the price? The Hu Family is down to its last member; they don't fear the price, so should my Meng Family, with its numerous descendants, flinch?"

"Relay my command! Within the Meng Family, select ten who have reached sixteen years of age. Each is to take One Incense. Go!"

"..."

"Eldest Young Master, you... are you truly disregarding the Old Master and the Lady?"

The steward nearby finally couldn't hold back. He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, kowtowing as he cried out.

Young Master Meng, however, turned his head and looked at him in feigned surprise. "Oh? Why haven't you gone to die yet?"

"Perhaps you fear the journey is lonely? Shall I have your family accompany you?"

"..."

"..."

"A devastating catastrophe?"

「Meanwhile, in Old Yin Mountain」

Hu Ma observed the terrified expressions of the couple. After a long moment, he merely smiled faintly and said, "From the sound of it, your Meng Family truly does possess some hidden Method to deal with our Hu Family..."

"Is it just us?"

Eldest Master Meng, having said this much, no longer held back, roaring, "Among the other Nine Surnames, which one *doesn't* have a Method to deal with your Hu Family?"

"Back then, to obtain Zhensui Mansion, the Hu Family was excessively ruthless to itself. Especially after you killed the Lord of Official Zhou, it became even clearer that the current Hu Family shoulders Zhensui alone—blessed with life, but devoid of fortune. No matter how fierce and rampant you are in this human world, your Life Gate is in the hands of others."

"If that rebellious son of mine chose a different path, it might have been manageable. But if he truly heeded the Benefit Sun Family's bewitchment and went to the Ghost Cave to perform incense-burning and invoke disaster... then... then all will be lost!"

"Though my Meng Family might be devoured by other jackals and wolves, your Hu Family will undoubtedly be annihilated before ours!"

"..."

"I understand now..."

Hu Ma listened, remaining silent for a long time before slowly raising his head to look at Eldest Master Meng. "So, the Meng Family is not as stable as you claim. It has finally reached the point of gambling its fate against the Hu Family?"