Twilight Boundary-Chapter 707 - 698: Lend You a Helping Hand (Third Update)

Desolate mountain, Ghost Cave.

Just as Meng Sizhong, a distant member of the Meng family who had experienced a stroke of luck, kowtowed, a faint laugh seemed to emerge from the depths of the cave.

When the wind blew over Meng Sizhong, he was utterly enthralled. His body turned rigid, and slowly, he began to rise.

It seemed an unknown force was mysteriously guiding him. He was led to a village at the foot of the mountain, where in a farmer's sheep pen, a ewe had just given birth to a lamb. Born dead, it lay abandoned in the pen, yet this lifeless lamb slowly stood up again.

Its pupils were brown and horizontal—bizarre and stiff.

Meng Siliang arrived in the village and walked directly to the lamb. Slowly, he extended his arms and embraced the strange creature.

The next moment, the small Hall Officer behind him, the House General, and a group bearing ceremony tents all watched, holding their breath. Then, a secret order was given. Suddenly, gongs and drums banged and suonas blared skyward, creating a commotion as if sending off deities.

Disaster, invisible and formless, once out of the Ghost Cave, would attach itself to something. This was called "inviting disaster."

The Meng family disciples, by personally carrying the disaster, intended to deliver it to its designated place.

This was known as "sending disaster."

They all knew to be cautious, encircling Meng Siliang as they proceeded step by step along a small path toward Old Yin Mountain.

Similar processions with ceremony tents and comparable scenes unfolded in ten other locations. Eleven Meng family disciples, each carrying a different disaster object, headed from various directions toward Old Yin Mountain.

In places like Lingshou Prefecture, a stele stood thirty li away at the end of a small path, marking the boundary of the Ghost Cave. These abandoned Ghost Caves also had steles, and in the woods outside, many red cloth strips were tied to trees.

Local Ghost Walkers had tied them there, signaling danger and preventing humans from approaching.

Now, with horns blowing and drums beating, incense smoke wafting around, they gradually reached this stele and the forest full of cloth strips, then slowly stopped.

The arrow was already nocked; disaster loomed over the world, just one step away.

"Nephew, you must consider the bigger picture..."

At the same time, in the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, several grim-faced, travel-worn individuals strode across the Meng family's threshold, disregarding etiquette.

Young Master Meng, Meng Siliang, hung his head, a cold smile on his face. When he looked up, his expression was suddenly full of grievance. "Dear Uncles, when my Meng family was being harmed by demon people, you were nowhere to be found. Why have you all come to our doorstep now?"

"Nephew, think thrice!"

The few who entered had clearly traveled far. Without even pausing to catch their breath, one said hastily, "We already know of your Meng family's matters and are genuinely worried for your household."

"But it took generations for the Meng family to achieve this foundation. Do you really want to exhaust it over this feud?"

"So you're here to stop me from taking revenge!"

At these words, Young Master Meng's face immediately flushed with anger. Gritting his teeth, he retorted, "It was the Hu Family that went too far! They held my father captive, spread malicious slander, and even condoned demon people to abduct my mother. As a son, how could I, Meng Siliang, sit idly by?"

"If the Hu Family is so unkind, then even if the Meng family must destroy its own estate, we will avenge this enmity!"

Hearing this, the visitors looked awkward. One sighed, "We, as part of the jianghu lineage, will earnestly help find Lady Meng. However, it's uncertain if the Hu Family was indeed responsible..."

"As for Mr. Meng, his skills are formidable. The Hu Family has no base in the underworld; there's no way they could hold him... right?" The speaker sounded unsure. Someone beside him quickly added, "The matter of inviting disaster is of great magnitude, and now you're evoking eleven disasters at once, this..."

"So the Uncles are here to dissuade me?"

Meng Siliang suddenly erupted in anger. "Fine, fine! Everyone bullies the Meng family, but my Meng family still has its filial piety and pride! Esteemed Seniors, please leave!"

"You..."

Seeing him impenetrable to persuasion, the visitors frowned deeply.

"Nephew of the Meng family, please heed my words..."

Finally, someone managed to suppress their fire qi and calmly persuaded, "You are the most outstanding of the young generation of the Ten Surnames. Surely, you realize the importance of the Stone Pavilion Alliance deadline. Besides, with Mr. Meng missing and Lady Meng absent, it's precisely the time for you to take on major responsibilities. How can you act so impulsively?"

"Me?"

Meng Siliang listened, then sneered. "My seniority is low. How could I be qualified to shoulder such significant responsibilities and enter the Stone Pavilion for the Meng family?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Hearing him mention the Stone Pavilion, the others exchanged glances. A bearded elder smiled, saying, "In the Meng family, besides you, who else is qualified?"

The rest also chimed in, "We know of the feud between your Meng and Hu families. After the Stone Pavilion, the two families can resolve the matter personally."

"But initially, it was the Hu family's absence that delayed this for twenty years. If you lose patience now, won't our plans be postponed for decades more?"

"I am not one to disregard the bigger picture."

Meng Siliang seemed slightly moved. He slowly raised his head and responded earnestly, "I, too, don't wish to drag the entire Meng family's great enterprise into a fight to the death with the Hu family. Alas, these grudges belong to the previous generation. Actually..."

"...actually, back when we were in Mingzhou, that brother from the Hu family helped retrieve my second brother's remains so he wouldn't be left exposed in the wild. I still feel grateful to him for that."

The others hurriedly said, "Well said, well said! Then..."

Meng Siliang's voice suddenly grew solemn. He stared at the visitors and said, "Then I must ask the Uncles to agree to a few conditions. If the Hu family is willing, then despite our grudges, we can wait until the Stone Pavilion to discuss further."

The visitors listened intently. One prompted, "Do tell."

"First, my Meng family has been targeted by demon people, and our situation is unstable on all fronts. I wish to ask you Uncles, on account of our shared jianghu lineage, to help us deal with these demon people."

Meng Siliang slowly stated his conditions. "Second, concerning the underworld matter, we indeed don't need their involvement. Once our family's old ancestor awakens, he can surely retrieve my father. However, the Hu Family's Ghost Walkers are spread across the land. I want them to use their network to find my mother."

The others listened, momentarily unsure how to respond. One slowly said, "Please continue."

"Third..."

Meng Siliang sighed lightly. "I also wish to prioritize the bigger picture and suppress the Meng family's fury. But after all, my claim isn't fully legitimate, and my words lack weight. I need the Uncles' endorsement and the promise of entry into the Stone Pavilion."

Silence reigned for a moment. After a long pause, someone finally spoke, "So, you wish for us to recognize your status as head of the Meng family, and most importantly..."

"...ensure you gain entry to the Stone Pavilion?"

Meng Siliang's face showed a trace of sadness as he sighed. "This nephew only cares for the bigger picture. Won't you Uncles agree?"

"The Meng family has been forced to this point; we are acting out of necessity. These three conditions are merely to save some face. How about this: I won't insist on all three. If two can be met, I will take a step back. What do you say?"

The visitors exchanged glances, and eventually, one sighed deeply, saying, "We will discuss it amongst ourselves. Moreover, we have already sent someone urgently to Mingzhou to find the Hu Family people..."

"Then it must be done promptly!"

Meng Siliang sighed gently, an unexpected smile appearing on his face. "Servants!"

"Serve tea to the esteemed Uncles!"

"He's truly clever."

Hu Ma listened to Zhao Sanyi's words and couldn't help but sigh lightly. "Sacrificing ten clan members to create this 'arrow on the string, forced to fire' situation. He figured the Hu family couldn't retaliate effectively and that the other eight Surnames wouldn't sit idly by, expecting them to join forces and pressure our Ghost Walking Sect?"

Zhao Sanyi grew anxious as he listened. "Honestly, no one cares much about what happens to the Meng family. But the Hu Family cannot be absent from the Stone Pavilion Alliance. Things really shouldn't go wrong at this critical juncture..."

"That young master of the Meng family has truly gone all out, forcing his own blood relatives to kowtow before the Ghost Cave and invite disaster. Who knows if he'll actually unleash them..."

"If he so much as flinches and unleashes one, it will lead to another. With eleven disasters heading for Old Yin Mountain, your young master won't escape, no matter where he hides."

"You... can't you really help us persuade them?"

"I cannot persuade them."

Hu Ma replied slowly, "However, of the conditions he stated, I might be able to help satisfy one."

"Huh?"

Zhao Sanyi was both shocked and delighted. He said hastily, "Really? That's great! If you can satisfy one condition and we satisfy another, we should be able to appease him. What more could that mad young master of the Meng family demand?"

Hu Ma listened, then suddenly asked, "But what if I do my part, and the Meng family still insists on unleashing disaster and harming our Ghost Walking Sect?"

"After all, to resolve this turmoil, I've already violated the young master's orders..."

"Would they dare?"

Zhao Sanyi grew angry. "The joint guarantee of our Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang Surnames is no joke! If the Hu Family is willing to talk and the Meng family remains obstinate, it means they're completely disregarding the diplomatic ties within the Ten Surnames!"

"That is reassuring."

After listening to him, Hu Ma sighed. He raised his hand, pointed forward, and said, "Eldest Granny Meng is in the yard ahead. Take her back with you, and that will be that."

"Huh?"

This time, hearing this, Zhao Sanyi was truly dumbfounded.

He blinked, then realization dawned. He immediately dashed towards the yard ahead. Chen Abao and Fourth Miss Zhou, after a moment of stunned surprise, understood the sudden positive turn of events and hurriedly followed him.

Fourth Miss Zhou even glanced back at Hu Ma, thinking he truly had a sense of responsibility.

But after they rushed off, Hu Ma's eyes turned cold. At this point, if the Meng family thinks they can just back down, they're sorely mistaken...

Since your arrow is nocked but you hesitate to loose it, why don't I send it flying for you?

「In the Northern Land, Anzhou's Lingshou Prefecture, Big Stone Cliff Village.」

Xiang held a letter Hu Ma had sent several days prior. Accompanying the letter was a Copper Coin.

"Father..."

Her voice trembled as she spoke to Old Master Li, "Brother Hu sent a letter asking for our help..."

"He wants, in the name of the Meng family, to personally invite disaster..."