Twilight Boundary-Chapter 708 - 699 Gao Yi Zhensui Great Sword Catching Sect

In the Qingyou Valley, Lady Meng herself fetched water from the stream, using a coarse pottery jar to heat it slowly over the fire pit Li helped construct.

She first used a handful of soft grass to clean the coarse porcelain bowls after the meal, placing them back in the food box for easy collection by others.

Then she sat again on the wooden house's threshold, using a piece of cloth torn from her hem, dipped in warm water, to wipe her face. It was a simple gesture, yet her graceful posture under the morning mist naturally exuded a noble and reserved beauty.

Li, leaning against a tree beside her, wondered what would happen when Zhou Datong arrived. He glanced dismissively, then turned his head, thinking to himself, City women eat well, having such a figure, yet they don't use it to carry dung or farm. What a waste.

Next meal, I'll only bring her food, no meat.

He had been guarding here for a while, feeling bored. He knew today was the village's Sacrificial Mountain celebration and wanted to join the fun, but he couldn't ignore Brother Ma Zi's orders and stayed to guard the chubby woman.

As he pondered idly over Brother Ma Zi's newly taught skills and how to practice them, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching outside the silent forest.

Soon, he saw a person in a brocade robe, another in a black robe, and a charming woman in a plain cotton shirt rushing in. Li stiffened in surprise.

As he hurried to intercept them, he saw that they, too, were more startled than himself.

After staring blankly at Lady Meng for a moment, they hurriedly bowed to the woman in the valley, "Aunt Meng, the younger generation of the Zhao family greets you..."

"Ah?"

Sitting on the threshold and wiping her face, Lady Meng was also stunned when she suddenly saw them. She hesitated for a moment, then turned and ran inside, busily tidied herself and arranged her hair. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The appearance of these younger ones signified her rescue. Greeting them wasn't important; maintaining her dignity was.

"What do you want?"

Li hastily grabbed a handful of incense, warily watching them, shouting, "Don't come any closer, or I'll have to take action."

"She… she really is Lady Meng, the one in charge of the Meng Family…"

The group who had rushed in looked at Lady Meng, struck as if by lightning, then turned their focus to the figure behind them—Hu Ma, who was walking slowly from the forest.

Seeing Hu Ma, Li relaxed slightly and listened as Zhao Sanyi eagerly questioned Hu Ma, "How is she here? Could it be, actually, that the Hu Family…"

"Are you trying to say that the Hu Family harbored demon people and brought her from the Salt State?"

Hu Ma snorted coldly, "On the contrary, it was my Young Master who learned she was in the hands of demon people. He spent a thousand jin of Purple Tai Sui to ransom her from them, bringing her to this mountain not long ago."

"The Hu and Meng Families indeed have grudges. Though unwilling to see her humiliated, we can't just release her without reason."

"Thus, I was ordered to confine her here."

"To be honest, though I am a Great Sword Catcher of the Walking Ghost Sect, I'm also a good man unwilling to imprison women and children."

...

"Demon people? Ransomed?"

Zhao Sanyi and company realized this involved the mysterious Young Master Hu.

If the Young Master were present, they would certainly ask in detail, but they faced only a Great Sword Catcher carrying out orders, and felt it inappropriate to question deeply despite their astonishment.

Hearing Hu Ma's implication, they blurted out in surprise, "You… you truly allow us to take this lady back?"

"But wouldn't your Young Master then... take it out on you?"

...

"Ha, my Young Master and I think similarly."

Hu Ma smiled faintly, waving his hand, "Though he hasn't explicitly stated it, I know his character. His main flaw is inheriting the Hu Family's kindness."

"Even with a blood feud, the Hu and Meng Families must fight honorably, using true skill, not dragging others in or bullying women and children, nor resorting to using them to coerce the Meng Family."

"Otherwise, he could have detained Lady Meng in the Zhensui Mansion, torturing her. Why leave her here for me with two meals a day?"

With a snort, he continued, "Frankly, he wanted to release her long ago, but due to the family feuds, it was complicated. By releasing her now, the Young Master might even praise my expertise!"

"This..."

Hearing Hu Ma's lofty words rendered the three descendants of the Ten Surnames speechless, somewhat shocked.

Wrapped in the black robe, Chen Abao suddenly spoke, "The Meng Family showed no mercy despite the Hu Family having only widows and orphans back then..."

"That's them!"

Hu Ma replied coldly, "Hu Family descendants would not stoop to the Meng Family's level of unscrupulousness!"

His indignant words seemed to make Old Yin Mountain tremble.

Especially as Fourth Miss Zhou listened, she felt a shiver down her spine, gazing at Hu Ma standing in the morning light—a tall figure with a shining brow.

Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao's eyes widened, their emotions complex and leaving them speechless, intuitively doubtful yet unable to dispute his words.

After a long silence, Zhao Sanyi finally sighed, formally bowing to Hu Ma, "The Hu Family bears a heavy burden, living in seclusion for years, avoiding others. It's surprising Brother Hu is such an honest man."

"Be it Brother Hu or you, Sword Catcher, you both earn this courtesy from me, Zhao Sanyi of the Trickster Sect."

...

With his bow, Chen Abao pouted, her dark eyes darting about, contemplating something unknown. Fourth Miss Zhou, now also reacting, followed suit with a formal bow, biting her lip as she looked up.

"Naturally..."

Just then, Hu Ma wondered if he'd overplayed it; descendants of the Ten Surnames bowing to him?

Despite this, the act had to continue. So, maintaining a stern expression, he cleared his throat and said, "You can take her. People of wealth can't endure the hardships of the mountains."

"Though I released her on my own initiative, explanations remain necessary."

"Since my Young Master dealt with personal favors and incurred costs to ransom Lady Meng, if you wish to take her, there should be something in return, at least so I can report back to the Young Master..."

...

"Fair enough, fair enough!"

Not waiting for Hu Ma to finish, Zhao Sanyi hurriedly replied, "These are jianghu rules, understood by all."

"Regardless of whether it's white, cyan, red, purple, or gold and silver items, the Meng Family should prepare them properly. Even if they don't, our Zhao Family and the Chen Family will take responsibility for this matter."

"But this is urgent, so you discuss it while I send a message..."

...

Knowing time was tight, he ignored other matters, rushing nearby to pick a broad leaf.

The Zhao Family members were deft-handed; with just a few folds, he had turned the leaf into the shape of a bird. Then, murmuring incantations and making a few gestures in the air, the bird suddenly took flight from the ground, darting into the forest with surprising speed.

This was to promptly inform the elders that Lady Meng had been found.

At this moment, Fourth Miss Zhou, who had been watching Hu Ma, suddenly asked, "Even if Young Master Hu also intends this, by acting on your own and releasing her, will… anything trouble you?"

Hu Ma glanced at her, his expressionless, and coolly responded, "Rules are rules. If the Young Master punishes me, I'll accept it."

"But, he..."

Fourth Miss Zhou seemed hesitant, saying, "Given you're a Shousui, if the punishment proves severe, our Zhou Family..."

Hu Ma cut her off, flatly saying, "Though I am a sword catcher, and my status may differ, my bond with the Young Master is like that of brothers. Even if I am punished, it will be a light one."

"But, can your Zhou Family accommodate my skills?"

...

"This..."

Fourth Miss Zhou fell silent again.

She understood this Great Sword Catcher of the Walking Ghost Sect studied under the Great Mighty Master, a school at odds with the Zhou Family's Righteous Skill, and one with which they harbored old grievances.

By rights, as a member of the Zhou Family, she should be dealing with such an unorthodox practitioner. Moreover, her initial reason for seeking him out was to reclaim her dignity as a daughter of the Zhou Family and to retrieve her stolen twin hammers and Master Ping.

Yet the situation made these words hard to express.

In the delicate atmosphere, Chen Abao suddenly sniffed, scanning her surroundings:

"Huh, strange, where's this sour smell from?"

...

Hu Ma glanced at her, mentally calculating the time, then turned and said slowly, "To lessen my punishment, ensure my Young Master's expenses are well covered!"

"Surely, compensation of less than a thousand jin of Purple Tai Sui would be too embarrassing for you to offer."

"You may take the person, but since this is my responsibility, I won't stay here to oversee it. Later, it should be said that you infiltrated Old Yin Mountain and rescued her. It wasn't that the Hu Family released her out of fear."

...

With that, he left with Li. Fourth Miss Zhou's gaze followed until they vanished.

Once out of their sight, Hu Ma immediately sent Li back to the village. He himself donned the Heaven Measuring Boots and, in an instant, traversed mountains and ridges, finding an ideal spot for casting magic—one in the shade and near water.

Without further consideration, he quickly unfurled the twenty-four altar flags left by Er Guotou, shaking them out onto the ground. He then entered the altar and, in a moment, invoked the fourth incense.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, Young Master Meng reclined in the Taishi Chair, exuding pride and arrogance.

After this day, who will dare to say the Meng Family can only kowtow and possess no true skills!