Twilight Boundary-Chapter 765 - 756 Hu Family’s Foundation

"The State Preceptor is too courteous..."

By this time, Hu Ma had no choice but to dismount from the carriage.

The City Guard had come to welcome them, members of the Ten Surnames guided the path, various family branches opened their doors, and the State Preceptor himself personally held the horse's reins.

Though he didn't fully understand the rules of these nobles, it was clear they were intentionally honoring the Hu Family, perhaps even excessively so.

He could only jump down from the carriage, place his hand on the State Preceptor's, and say with a smile, "You have the wrong horse."

"My father is behind me; there's a distinction between elder and junior. While escorting my father back, I should lead the way. However, upon reaching our hometown, I should position myself behind the coffin."

"The State Preceptor respects our Hu Family for its arduous contributions, but he shouldn't disrupt etiquette for a junior like myself..."

"..."

As he spoke, he moved to the back of the coffin and raised his hand to steady it. Meanwhile, the carriage he had been riding in was pulled to the side.

The State Preceptor, slightly surprised, merely smiled faintly and took the reins of the horse pulling the coffin.

In matters such as funerals and weddings, various etiquettes often intertwined. Nominally, these were called rites, but fundamentally, they were a display of influence and authority.

Younger individuals often dared not dispute such formalities with their elders; this exchange of words, where one spoke and the other responded, was also a form of duel.

However, the State Preceptor listened to Hu Ma and conceded on this point. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Hu Ma then turned to the crowd at the city gate. Whether he knew them or not, he could guess their identities. He gave a deep bow and said, "Uncles and elders, your welcome is overwhelming. Although I am a descendant of the Hu Family, my late father is not yet buried, and we still owe One Incense to the ancestors in the ancestral hall. Without these rituals completed, it is not yet time for me to assume the role of Hu Family Head."

"For now, I am merely a junior of the Hu Family, and you are my seniors. There is no need to overwhelm me with such excessive courtesy."

"..."

Hearing this, the crowd smiled and nodded without speaking, parting to make way.

The city gates had long been wide open, yet no one tried to precede Hu Ma—or rather, his father, Mr. Hu Shan—in entering the city.

As the carriage wheels rolled, just about to enter the city, Old Calculation had already jumped down from his donkey.

He peered past the crowd to glance at the State Preceptor but, not daring to speak, he ducked his head and quietly followed behind the carriage. The other attendants were even more intimidated by the scene and dared not utter a word.

In the crowd, the most composed was Immortal Miaoshan. She had also dismounted and was looking around with an expression of fresh curiosity.

The most bewildered was Fourth Miss Zhou.

Long before coming to Shangjing, she had been preoccupied with her own affairs, particularly the matter of this 'walking ghost Great sword catching sect' identity. Her father wasn't bothered; he always said that as long as she could get married, he wasn't picky about the other family's background. Her mother, however, loved to nag, always insisting on finding someone of matching social status. She wondered if her mother would approve of someone with the identity of a 'walking ghost Great sword catching sect' member...

But amidst these thoughts, she witnessed Hu Ma's entry into Shangjing and the profound respect afforded to him by the Ten Surnames.

She also heard what Hu Ma said at the city gate.

The entire situation left her utterly bewildered. After a long moment, she turned to Immortal Miaoshan in disbelief and asked, "What were they just talking about?"

"Something about Hu Family descendants?"

"..."

Seeing her bewilderment, Immortal Miaoshan and Old Calculation, who had intentionally hung back, were also perplexed. Little Hongtang's eyes widened as she turned to look at Fourth Miss Zhou.

After a moment, Old Calculation lowered his voice. "You... you really didn't know all this time?"

Fourth Miss Zhou stomped her foot. "He never told me!"

"Well..."

For a moment, no one knew what to say. They all hastily and quietly entered the city.

Only Fourth Miss Zhou remained muddled, stumbling along as if in a dream, following them in a daze.

「Upon entering the city」

they saw orderly streets stretching into the distance, lined with rows of houses. The streets had long been cleared, and though shops flanked both sides, none facing the main thoroughfare were open.

Only in the side alleys were people crowded together, craning their necks to watch the arriving procession from afar.

Looking ahead, they saw an archway. Beneath it, a mourning platform had been erected. A dense, somber crowd, all in mourning attire, created a sea of white from a distance. At the forefront on the left stood an elderly man, apparently of high status, who wasn't in full mourning garb but wore a white band on his arm. Leading on the right was a middle-aged man.

He was dressed in light-colored silk and also hadn't donned full mourning attire, though a hemp mourning cloak was draped over his shoulders.

Seeing the coffin enter the city, these two individuals approached from a distance, followed by the others in mourning.

Someone began scattering paper money, and the Blowers started to play their instruments, the sound rising in the air.

Seeing this scene, Hu Ma frowned slightly.

Just then, someone quietly approached from the side and whispered, "Young Master Hu, this old man's surname is Tao, and my given name is Kui. I am an Inquiry great hall officer of the Zhou Family."

"Knowing that the Hu Family has just returned to Shangjing, and that you, Young Master, may be unfamiliar with many matters, I have been sent by my lord to offer assistance and some clarification."

"Those two individuals ahead are relatives of the Hu Family."

"The one on this side is the Old Master of the Qingyuan Hu Family; he arrived in Shangjing just a few days ago."

"Although they are no longer listed on the same family register as the Zhen Sui Hu Family, in terms of blood relations, you should address him as Second Ancestor. The one on the other side is the Mr. from the Ren Family, and he..."

"...according to seniority, is your maternal uncle."

"The Zhen Sui Hu Family is a separate lineage, but their coming to see Mr. Hu Shan off is in accordance with proper etiquette."

"..."

Hu Ma listened, taking a moment to process the information.

The Old Master of the Qingyuan Hu Family... so that was the branch of the Hu Family that had received the 'good fortune.' He had even killed several members of their branch himself. He hadn't expected them to show up now.

And that person from the Ren Family... His birth mother had long severed ties with her family. He never thought he would meet someone from his maternal kin.

However, the Lord of the Zhou Family was indeed considerate, likely fearing his ignorance and thus sending someone to guide him.

Since they had come in the name of mourning, he certainly wouldn't show any displeasure, only adhere to the proper rituals.

Surrounded and guided by so many people, the procession moved forward. Hu Ma witnessed more of this grand and imposing city, which, despite its magnificence, was shrouded in an inescapable, eerie ghost qi.

Now, on either side of the city's wide roads, funeral platforms had been erected intermittently. People offered incense, burned paper money, swept the grounds, recited scriptures, and prayed for blessings—a myriad of scenes. The Zhou Family Inquiry great hall officer beside him constantly explained: this person was from that family, that one from another branch, this one an old acquaintance of his ancestors, that one a descendant of the Bai Family...

Proceeding onward, surrounded by a sea of white mourning colors, Hu Ma walked slowly, a contemplative mood settling over him.

The Hu Family, in Old Yin Mountain, had clung precariously to life, nearly wiped out.

And now, having just returned to Shangjing, so many relatives had unexpectedly emerged...

In the coffin lay the bones of someone who had died in Old Yin Mountain, remains that had gone unclaimed and unmourned for over a decade. Yet now, upon returning to Shangjing, the streets were filled with white silk—a level of honor he had never received in life.

He was new to Shangjing and unfamiliar with the routes. However, the funeral platforms on either side seemed to guide the way. Curious, he lowered his voice and asked the Zhou Family Inquiry great hall officer, "With so many people lining the path, where are they guiding us?"

The Zhou Family Inquiry great hall officer replied, "To the Hu Family estate, naturally."

"Young Master Hu, surely you know that the Hu Family also has a residence in Shangjing?"

Hu Ma was taken aback.

"I... I genuinely didn't know!" he admitted, surprised.

Weren't the Hu Family's holdings reduced to just those one or two thatched huts in Old Yin Mountain?

How could they possibly have a grand residence in Shangjing as well?

And yet, it seemed they did.

「As they journeyed deeper into the city」

they reached the high-walled eastern district and, from a distance, saw a large estate.

Two large white lanterns hung before the main gates, inscribed with a word signifying 'Condolences.' A group of servants Hu Ma had never seen before knelt at the door, wearing mourning clothes.

An elderly-looking servant approached from a distance, kowtowed before Hu Ma, and addressed him respectfully:

"Master, you have returned."

"This old servant has guarded the Hu Family estate for twenty years. The main gates have remained closed for two decades; only today were they opened."

"..."

Because Mr. Hu Shan had not yet been interred, in the eyes of others, Hu Ma was still merely "Young Master."

But to this old servant, who now had no other master, Hu Ma was "Master."

Hu Ma took a deep breath and nodded. Servants had already removed the door threshold, allowing the pallbearers to escort the spirit into the residence.

Instantly, a chorus of wails arose from within the courtyard.

The criers were all servants, purchased from a broker only after word came that Hu Ma was returning to Shangjing.

Their wails were loud, but they lacked genuine sorrow.

Or perhaps, everything he had heard on this journey was tinged with falsehood. After all, his father had been dead for over a decade; even Hu Ma himself couldn't muster truly genuine tears.

The carriage entered the courtyard. The coffin was unloaded and placed on a platform draped with a white mourning canopy. With this, Hu Ma's task of escorting the spirit from the north had temporarily concluded. What remained was the actual funeral procession to the ancestral hall.

By now, everyone who had accompanied the funeral procession had arrived at the Hu residence, where a steward was serving tea.

Hu Ma had just been led into the main hall and seated when an invitation was presented to him.

The person delivering it said in a low voice, "The Wang family invites Young Master Hu to a banquet at the Life-Knowing Pavilion to welcome him."

"I'm not going."

From what he had observed on the journey, Hu Ma had already discerned a few things.

The main branches of the Ten Surnames were mostly not based in Shangjing. Only the Undying Wang Family, whose ancestral holdings were here, still resided in the capital.

Currently, representatives from the various branches of the Ten Surnames had rushed here from other regions. Although they all had some assets and personnel stationed in Shangjing, they were largely unfamiliar with the city. Consequently, the Undying Wang Family, also one of the Ten Surnames, had effectively become the hosts in Shangjing.

The Ten Surnames wished to invite him to a banquet, so they had issued the invitation in the name of the Wang family.

Hu Ma could guess what the Ten Surnames wanted to discuss with him, but he refused outright.

"I personally escorted my father's coffin all the way from Old Yin Mountain. My birth father has not yet been interred, and the One Incense at the ancestral hall has not yet been offered. How could I possibly be in the mood for a banquet?"

He waved his hand. "Decline it!"

"Tell them, they've waited twenty years; what difference will a few more days make?"

"As for those few branches of relatives, there's no need for me to see them yet either. Inform them that tomorrow morning, I will escort my father to the ancestral hall and prepare offerings to pay respects to Granny."

"Until then, I will see no one, no matter who it is!"

"And whatever the matter, it will not be discussed!"

"..."

Hearing this, the old servant beside him nodded quickly and went to relay the messages.

Those nearby were somewhat surprised by his firm stance. Just then, a small, cold hand grasped Hu Ma's arm. Little Hongtang looked up at him timidly.

"Brother Hu Ma," she whispered, "I... I can sense Granny. She's very close to us. She's watching us..."

"..."

Hu Ma patted Little Hongtang's head and said with a gentle smile, "We'll see Granny soon. Nothing is more important than that."

"Right?"