Twilight Boundary-Chapter 724 - 715: The Hu-Meng Family

"Time to go!"

Having confirmed the major task was accomplished, Hu Ma finally felt at ease.

His palm pressed slightly heavier on Cui Magu's head, and in an instant, the ethereal shadow of the bridge behind her abruptly vanished.

Hu Ma used the gravity of fate to pin her to the human world. Simultaneously, the numerous magic bodies crawling over him, and even those on Zhao Sanyi and others, swiftly flew back into her. They overlapped within her body, gradually returning to their original forms.

Then, Hu Ma reached another hand to the back of her head, twisted his wrist, and snapped her neck.

He let her fall and then gently dusted off his hands.

His actions were decisive and straightforward, mirroring exactly how he felt at that moment.

The success of the Reincarnator in seizing the bridge meant that from now on, even when facing the Ten Surnames, he would have some confidence.

Of course, this was only the beginning; the trouble ahead was enormous, but that wasn't something he needed to worry about anymore.

The Reincarnator had his own means to solve other troubles.

He, on the other hand, needed them to share more information related to the "bridge."

Meanwhile, looking again at Old Yin Mountain, the strange wind had ceased, and incense burned everywhere. The Sacrificial Mountain, which had stretched from dawn until dusk, had finally reached its end. However, despite its conclusion, some changes had left permanent marks.

In this moment, Hu Ma only felt a sense of unprecedented relaxation, with a few of his goals accomplished.

But this scene, however, was witnessed by Zhao Sanyi and the others nearby.

They had been under the sway of Cui Magu's magic bodies, which perched on their backs, muddling their minds and making it difficult to discern reality from illusion. Yet, as her magic bodies were forced to return to her, they shook off the disturbance. The very first thing they saw upon regaining clarity was Hu Ma twisting Cui Magu's neck.

A cry about to escape their lips was swallowed back down, leaving them with expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

"The Negative Spirit's Great Sword Catching Sect actually really..."

"..."

Amid their terror, Hu Ma suddenly turned and offered a deep bow towards them, sighing, "Thank you, three, for your righteous intervention. Otherwise, my life might have ended here!"

"Huh?"

His words left the three of them bewildered. "What did we... do?"

Hu Ma laughed. "If it weren't for the enormous pressure you put on this member of the Negative Spirit's Great Sword Catching Sect and how you divided her magic bodies, how would I have been her match?"

"Luckily, she got distracted dealing with you, unwittingly letting me get the upper hand."

"..."

They were all stunned there on the spot.

They had acted merely out of outrage at the arrogance of the Negative Spirit's Great Sword Catching Sect member, wanting to speak a fair word.

Now it seemed as if they had teamed up to take down the Meng family's Great Sword Catching Sect member?

"No doubt about it, I saw it clearly," a voice beside them chuckled amidst their confusion. "Pity that member of the Meng family's Great Sword Catching Sect..."

"No matter how formidable, how could she withstand the combined might of the Zhao, Chen, and Zhou surnames?"

"..."

As soon as he spoke, Hu Ma looked over at him.

The others were easy to deceive, but the Madman was not.

The Madman hadn't gotten involved. Meanwhile, Cui Magu, to prevent any surprises, had ensured no one witnessed the Negative Spirit simultaneously bowing to the Hu family's sole heir. She had cast a spell to shield their vision.

Theoretically, no one else knew what had transpired. Yet, Hu Ma couldn't shake the feeling that this Madman, now behaving so sanely, possessed an unnervingly perceptive gaze, as if he had seen through everything.

Though killing someone from the theft disaster sect could spell trouble, for safety's sake, maybe...?

"Brother, I like you!" Facing Hu Ma's gaze, the Madman from the theft disaster sect grinned, reciprocating with a deep bow to Hu Ma. "If you have the chance, you should visit the Sun Family. While we rarely entertain guests, I'm certain you're an exception..."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice. "After all, I have never seen someone like you with three lives."

"Hm?"

This sudden remark left Hu Ma momentarily stunned.

Three lives? What did he mean?

But the Madman clearly had nothing more to say. He just slightly raised his head, glancing at Old Yin Mountain, which now exuded a newfound gravity and mystery. A hint of fear even passed over his face as he shook his head.

"They're coming, they're coming, the real root of disaster is here..."

"They're here, and I must leave..."

"..."

With that, he unexpectedly grabbed Hu Ma's hand, slipped something into it with a low laugh. "You caught me before; by the laws of the jianghu, I owe you my life. Take this!"

Stepping back, he laughed loudly and suddenly leapt onto the cliff.

Beside the eagle's nest, two eagles had battled a group of pythons and already triumphed. Most of the pythons lay dead or wounded, with only two barely breathing. He pulled a black cloth bag from his sleeve, collected these remaining pythons into it, then crossed over the high cliff and leisurely departed.

Hu Ma looked at what was in his hand, finding another black bag, exquisitely crafted, identical to the one used on the cliff to collect the pythons. What was it for?

And what about the root of disaster he spoke of...?

He looked up, finding the whole forest now serene and mysterious, its haze obscuring how much was hidden within.

He sighed softly, unconcerned. Returning the spirit to the people and taking the Meng Family Bridge—this time, he had clenched his teeth and achieved several significant feats. Such feats would inevitably lead to many unforeseen consequences and changes.

The greater the event, the less likely one could grasp all changes and surprises. But the advantage lay in this: starting from this moment, whatever he encountered, he would have the confidence to handle it.

Peace of mind. There's no need to go back and face the heart-wrenching scenes at the house.

As everyone remained silent, someone unexpectedly sighed softly. It was Lady Meng, an ordinary person who had kept her distance during the magical duel.

But undoubtedly, as the Lady of the Meng family, she understood what had happened. Her face was now pale. Lost and dejected, she let out a bitter laugh and turned back to the wooden hut that had held her captive.

Zhao Sanyi, conflicted, stepped forward. "Aunt Meng, you..."

"Dear child, enough." Lady Meng did not turn back, only sighing lowly. "If you're still willing to call me Aunt Meng, then don't come and see me in such a pitiful state!"

"Just wait until I'm dead to take care of my remains."

"..."

Everyone heard her, remaining silent.

She was the biological mother of Young Master Meng Siliang and served as Lady Meng. Though she didn't bear the Meng surname, the twelve calamities also offered no reason to spare her. Now, all she could do was return to wait for death.

"You folks, since you came here and gave me a hand, why not come to the village for a sit?" Hu Ma watched Lady Meng return to the hut and close the door without a word, then turned to Zhao Sanyi and the others, speaking plainly. "After the Sacrificial Mountain, the village will host a feast."

"Though it's only mountain food and homemade bitter wine, it's a token of goodwill."

"..."

Zhao Sanyi, Chen Abao, and Fourth Miss Zhou were all conflicted, but eventually nodded. Before leaving, however, they bowed deeply towards the small courtyard where Lady Meng had returned, as a gesture of farewell.

They didn't hold a deep bond with the Meng family, and their sympathies in this matter lay with Hu Ma. However, being part of the Ten Surnames, they couldn't help but feel a shared sorrow for the Meng family's plight.

Hu Ma finished packing up the altar items, ready to leave, but noticed the sealed jar containing Eldest Master Meng. This jar could be left here to perish on its own, or he could take it away. He could even give the jar to Lady Meng, allowing them to remain together in a way.

But just as he contemplated this, he heard a deep, mournful voice emanating from the jar. "Hu family youngster, I... I have something to say!"

The jar, sealed by Hu Ma, allowed only him to hear its voice; others couldn't. So Hu Ma picked up the jar, listening to Eldest Master Meng's woeful voice. "Is the Meng family... my Meng family, destroyed?"

Hu Ma, using his Ghost Whisper skill, casually replied, "The things from the cave couldn't find me, so they naturally sought out the Meng family to settle their debts. A total of twelve calamities; you know better than I how they'll settle things."

"Miscalculated, miscalculated! A century-old foundation collapsed in one day..." Eldest Master Meng's voice carried an indescribable despair. Within this despair was a self-derisive, bitter laugh.

"But those people won't let you go. Your actions, which destroyed my Meng family, more importantly, ruined their schemes to become immortal..."

"What Ten Surnames, what aristocrats? They're just a group of people driven mad by their desire to become immortal..."

"They will come for you..."

"..."

Hu Ma held the jar, slowly replying, "Let them come. Since I left the forest, every single thing has been a challenge thrust right in my face. I'll deal with whatever comes my way."

"No..." Hearing Hu Ma's indifferent words, Eldest Master Meng suddenly spoke. "I'm not trying to scare or threaten you... Things have come to this; what use would threats be?"

"I... am asking you to avenge the Meng family!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Hu Ma was taken aback. "Hm?"

"Everything's been orchestrated by the State Preceptor!" Eldest Master Meng's voice was filled with regret and bitter conviction, his words tinged with gritted teeth. "I should have known! From the moment he suggested the Ten Surnames replace the Twelve Ghost Altars with the ancestral hall, he began to deceive us!"

"Whether the Meng family or the Hu family, we were just his stepping stones to immortal-ascension! You will avenge the Meng family!"

"The Meng family's plight today isn't your doing. It's simply because he was done using us, so he cast us aside. Your Hu family faces the same fate..."

"So, I want you to remember my words. No matter how much you resent the Meng family now, sooner or later, you will understand. When that time comes, I want you to avenge the Meng family for me!"

"..."

Listening to the voice from the jar, Hu Ma felt a rising oppression, his expression gradually becoming heavy.