Twilight Boundary-Chapter 697 - 688: Into the Fire Pit

"So that was the purpose?"

Upon hearing the shout from Tie Shoupeng, Hu Ma and the others in the crowd felt as if their minds had suddenly cleared. Though they couldn't discern what trick this man had fallen for, his purpose was now apparent.

Could it be that he, or the thing he carried, was here for Dayang Village's Sacrificial Mountain ceremony?

"Elder brother, I haven't seen much of the world. Could it truly have such an effect?"

Realizing this, Hu Ma immediately lowered his voice and asked Old Altar Master Tang, who was seated beside him.

Old Altar Master Tang nodded slightly. "There's indeed such a saying in the old customs. Celebrations must be harmonious to be truly joyous. A celebration can ward off misfortune, but it can also be spoiled by bad luck."

"Especially since the village is preparing for the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony, with heaven and earth as witnesses and the ghostly gods taking note, it must be perfectly harmonious. If anything goes wrong, it means the event isn't proceeding smoothly; something doesn't want to see us complete our Sacrificial Mountain ceremony."

"And because the Sacrificial Mountain is such an important event, it requires adherence to rules and respect for proper status. If the village gets caught up in something like this, even its reputation would suffer."

"It's said that the Mountain Master doesn't accept such improper offerings. Forcing the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony could not only fail to bring blessings but might invite disaster instead..."

His words made Hu Ma's brow crease. He looked around at the dark, ominous Old Yin Mountain surrounding the village, a strong sense of oppression growing in his heart.

The Sacrificial Mountain ceremony in Dayang Village, although said to ward off disasters, was actually meant to please Second Master.

Whether it could really avert disasters, there was no such claim even within the Path.

Then who exactly, not even believing this disaster-warding claim themselves, would want to come and disrupt the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony, lest they truly evade disaster?

At this moment, he no longer suspected anyone else. Undoubtedly, the people behind Tie Shoupeng were targeting him. Otherwise, no one would care enough to disrupt a Sacrificial Mountain ceremony in a village deep in the mountains.

"Everyone, sit down! Don't... don't move..."

While Hu Ma was deeply pondering the crux of this realization, Second Master saw the villagers growing agitated, about to grab weapons and drive Tie Shoupeng and his apprentice away. He broke into a sweat and hurriedly stretched out his hands to stop them.

Internally, it seemed he had made a difficult decision. He forced a smile at Tie Shoupeng and said, "Master Peng, you're joking..."

"I did indeed call you Master. It's just that, these children..."

He turned, glanced at Hu Ma and the others, and said, "You see, the children have all become skillful, but their abilities are far beyond what an old village peasant like me could teach."

"In truth, they merely call me that to humor me. I know my own limitations; I have no real skills and can't truly be their master."

"Therefore, it's right for me to kowtow to you, but they shouldn't have to, should they?"

"Indeed, they learned a few moves from me, but those moves weren't even from our Path. I've never been fortunate enough to enter the Path myself, never even touched the Path's trump cards, so how could there be any talk of... unauthorized transmission?"

"Huh?"

Tie Shoupeng's expression changed instantly. He had never expected Second Master to say such a thing, and his subsequent words caught in his throat.

However, Hu Ma, listening nearby, also had a change in expression.

The Old Clan Chief, so anxious his eyes had turned red, scolded Second Master, "Old Second, what nonsense are you spouting again? Why do you turn coward when things get serious? I'm your elder brother! If I don't teach this old bastard who's bullying my brother a lesson today, I'm not a man!"

"Brother..."

Second Master felt both saddened and aggrieved. He said urgently, "There are many guests in the village, and besides, we're at a crucial moment..."

The Old Clan Chief immediately understood he was referring to the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony. His anger subsided slightly, but he still felt uneasy.

"Well said!" a loud voice suddenly shouted from the side. It was Bald Zhang. He squinted his eyes and said coldly, "Everyone here is of the Path. Don't we understand the rules?"

"What unauthorized transmission? That refers to one's own unique skills, one's trump card."

"Can those few unrefined tricks you know even be considered under these rules?"

"When our Red Lantern Lady's Club recruits a few hands into the Manor, we have to explain these forms meticulously. You damn..."

"...you're worse than the Blood Food Gang!"

As practitioners of the Shousui Path, possessing skills, lineage, and disciples, they could clearly see the intricacies of this situation.

Regardless of anything else, Tie Shoupeng, for some unknown reason, was now trying to forcibly claim this status. He wasn't targeting Second Master, but clearly aiming for Hu Ma and the younger ones.

If Tie Shoupeng truly established this status, he would have to be given the seat of honor, and he would light the first stick of incense during the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony. If they let him, he would take the primary share of the blessings.

If they didn't let him, Dayang Village of Old Yin Mountain would lose all face.

Second Master already felt that Hu Ma and the others hadn't truly learned anything significant from him. More importantly, he didn't want them to acknowledge this "grandmaster" because of him. For this reason, he would rather the youngsters not acknowledge him as their master.

"You..."

Tie Shoupeng, mocked by Bald Zhang and seeing a certain determination in Second Master's dejected demeanor, seemed momentarily bewildered, like a puppet that had suddenly jammed.

In that same instant of pause, Hu Ma abruptly sensed something was wrong, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

WHOOO...

Just then, from deep within Old Yin Mountain, a moaning wind suddenly rose, shaking the trees and sending dead grass flying, making the eerie night feel even more profound.

He felt a slight urge to act and prepared to rush out of the village, but he saw that this gust of wind, which had come quickly, disappeared just as fast. It ceased in an instant, and the candles and fire pits at the tables in the village gradually stabilized.

He saw Little Hongtang, who had just gone out on patrol, returning from a distance, a slightly puzzled expression on her small face. Hu Ma was slightly surprised, thinking, Who could have come just now that even the Mountain Master couldn't capture?

At that moment in the village, everyone, dizzied by the gust of wind, sensed that the village might not be peaceful and grew alert.

As the palpable tension among the crowd grew, and with Second Master's decision leaving Tie Shoupeng speechless and seemingly dumbfounded, Hu Ma sighed lightly and stood up.

"Second Master, what you said isn't right."

He walked to Second Master's side and supported him. His opening words surprised everyone around.

Then they all looked at Hu Ma, who smiled at Second Master and said, "Of course, you are my master. Back then, Granny personally took me to the Manor outskirts to kowtow to you. If you aren't my master, then who is?"

"Ask Datong and the others—who among them would dare not recognize Second Master as their master?"

Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu, still clad in armor, immediately nodded vigorously upon hearing this. Zhou Datong shouted angrily, "Anyone who bullies our master will have their head twisted off!"

Listening to Hu Ma's words, Second Master was deeply moved, his old eyes slightly reddened. He patted the back of Hu Ma's hand and said, "The sentiment is enough. You all have bright futures; don't let me hold you back."

"If we have great prospects but let Second Master suffer humiliation over trivial matters, what's the use of those prospects?"

Hu Ma, his face cold, lightly patted Second Master. He then turned his gaze toward Tie Shoupeng. Though he didn't activate his Dharma Form, his imposing stare made others feel as if his figure was becoming immense, like a fearsome god standing before them. He said in a deep voice,

"Datong, please help our Old Master inside to rest, and keep him company."

Tie Shoupeng has fallen victim to some trick. It runs deep and isn't obvious.

Logically, it would be best to identify the problem before devising a solution. However, he couldn't bear to see Second Master being marginalized here, so he decided to act first. Any problems could be sorted out later.

Old Master Sun and Altar Master Tang understood his intention and could only sigh; it was indeed a measure of last resort. The Old Clan Chief and the villagers, however, cheered in unison, and Zhou Datong leaped forward, ready to apprehend the man.

Yet Tie Shoupeng remained motionless, simply watching coldly, his gaze growing ever more sinister.

"No!"

Unexpectedly, Second Master suddenly gripped Hu Ma's hand tightly, shaking his head. "Hu boy, if you still acknowledge me as your Second Master, you can't take him down."

Hu Ma wanted to whisper to Second Master that there was something wrong with Tie Shoupeng, but Second Master also whispered, "My eyes aren't blind. I can see something's off with Master Peng. But what he said today has also been a thorn in my heart."

"Our village has its own rules and its own ways. We're not afraid of his accusations!"

As he spoke, his gaze slowly moved from Hu Ma's face to Zhou Datong and the others, then to the guests from all directions and the village kinsfolk, as if he had made some fierce resolve.

His deep-seated despondency vanished in an instant, and his voice became louder, more resonant, as he declared loudly, "I, Second Master, may not be clever or very capable, but in my entire life, I've done nothing to trouble my conscience, and I'm not afraid to argue this point."

"Master Peng, I followed you for eight years and three months and learned a few skills from you. But today, I'm not afraid to say it:"

"I called you boss and respected you as an elder."

"But I, Zhou Huai, do not acknowledge you as my master! And these youngsters I taught have nothing to do with you! I'm not afraid of God Himself hearing these words!"

With that, he suddenly turned to the Old Clan Chief. "Elder Brother, if you care for your younger brother, have someone light the fire pit! Today, I will walk the fire pit!"

"If I, Zhou Huai, have done wrong, then let this fire pit burn me to death! But if I walk through it unharmed..."

"Master Peng, then let's drop this talk of status!"

Beside them, the drunken Old Clan Chief sobered up considerably. Old Yangpi and other elderly men from the deep mountains, who had come forward to help, all exclaimed in shock, "Walk the fire pit? That... that hasn't happened for many years..."

"You... you don't want to live anymore?"

Even Tie Shoupeng's stiff body shivered slightly, as if he were caught in a violent ague.