Twilight Boundary-Chapter 680 - 671: The Li Family’s Cave

"PHEW..."

"Xiang, or rather the Dongzi Li Family, is still very loyal to the Jianghu path..."

Seeing this team of High Hat servant ghosts appear, Hu Ma felt a bit relieved. Ever since entering the underworld, he had already thought of this backup plan.

The Ghost Cave was the most suitable and reassuring way to bypass the Ghost Gate and enter or exit the underworld. However, coming down from the mortal world required a long journey to Lingshou Prefecture, which took time. But going up only needed a word.

When he had sent Xiang home before, he had done a favor for the Dongzi Li Family and given them such a copper coin.

Either it wouldn't be used, or if it was, having the Dongzi Li Family take him and Sweet Potato Shao up together shouldn't be a problem.

However, upon seeing the High Hat servant ghost bring only one sedan chair, Hu Ma frowned slightly. When he saw Sweet Potato Shao still poking her head around, looking amazed at her connections even down here, he said, "Your legs are giving you trouble. You take it!"

"My legs were fine, but on this trip down, I got bitten by a little ghost again..."

Sweet Potato Shao said, yet she sat down without any hesitation. Then she turned her head and said, "We're jianghu folk, why stand on ceremony? Senior, come sit on my lap."

Hu Ma was rather exasperated. Is it because her leg never fully healed, and she was too busy causing trouble, so new injuries just piled onto old ones?

Amidst their polite deferrals, the High Hat servant ghost looked around. Suddenly, starting from the one carrying the lantern at the front, they split down the middle, one by one. A cluster of shadows thus divided into two, and one team of servant ghosts became two teams.

Even the single sedan chair they carried became two. Then, still smiling courteously, they invited Hu Ma to sit in a sedan.

This time, Hu Ma didn't stand on ceremony. He called Little Hongtang over to sit in his lap, and then they set off.

"Brothers, you all stay down here and behave yourselves! Wait for Grandma to go up and learn from the Walking Ghost Path, research how to perform setting up the altar, and I'll definitely invite you all up for fine food and strong drink..."

As Sweet Potato Shao was carried away in her sedan, she bid farewell to that motley crew with genuine emotion.

Hu Ma, listening beside her, suddenly felt a surge of vigilance. No, I should teach Sweet Potato Shao myself, to prevent her from learning from others...

It was strange, though. That motley crew was actually crying. Could this really be genuine emotion?

Compared to that scene, he cast a curious glance at Little Hongtang. The little girl was sitting obediently in his lap in the sedan, but Hu Ma was quite surprised internally. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It was only now that he realized for the first time: Little Hongtang, in the mortal world, was no different from other little servant ghosts, but here in the underworld, her weight was almost comparable to a living person…

The Divine Souls of Yin Ghosts are all light. Even if a little servant ghost follows a master and receives more incense, this amount of weight is a bit too exaggerated, isn't it?

He was becoming more and more curious about this ancestral little servant ghost left by Granny.

Although Little Hongtang had always been with him, speaking of which, his understanding of her was actually very shallow…

...

The High Hat servant ghosts' short legs moved quickly, and soon both sedan chairs disappeared into the dense fog. Long after Hu Ma and the others had left, a faint shadow suddenly appeared at the edge of the City of the Dead.

Er Guotou, looking shifty-eyed, wore an indescribably strange expression. He occasionally gritted his teeth, sometimes shamefully slapped his own face.

"Is what this young brother said true?"

"If he's that foolish young master of the Hu Family, then what was I asking around Old Yin Mountain for?"

"Oh God, have I been moving his family's things right under his nose all this time?"

"If he's really from the Hu Family, should I trust him?"

"That matter... should I tell him?"

"..."

"..."

Hu Ma didn't know Er Guotou hadn't gone far. While Er Guotou was lost in confusion, anxiety, panic, and crippling embarrassment, Hu Ma was also pondering internally.

Ever since Er Guotou took the Yin Yang Two Sceneries Plate and then the Purple Tai Sui, there were the hints from Divine Hand Zhao and Black Magic Chen, and then that shout from Eldest Master Meng…

... He couldn't help but laugh.

A problem that had long troubled him was how to handle his identity. Before Entering the Mansion, the ways he managed his three identities were gradually becoming unsuitable as his abilities grew and the matters he participated in became increasingly significant.

Especially since the Meng family had suffered a great loss this time, it was about time for the Zhen Sui Hu Family members to show themselves. One could only say…

…Brother Er Guotou, you were far too considerate.

He wasn't worried about this fellow slipping away; anyway, he definitely wouldn't be able to resist contacting him.

Besides, even if he really ran, could he escape Mingzhou Prefecture's Lord, Little Red Lantern?

However, he didn't dwell on it. In the underworld, there was no distinction of space. A hazy mist dispersed, and Hu Ma soon felt the sedan chair seem to float upwards.

When a sensation like suddenly emerging upwards from water occurred around him, the sedan chair beneath him abruptly stopped. A faint, ethereal glow also leaped into view from the darkness ahead.

He stepped down from the sedan chair and took a deep breath. The feeling of having his feet firmly on the ground was surprisingly reassuring.

After straightening his robes, he led Little Hongtang and Sweet Potato Shao forward. After just a few steps, he saw a cave-like space ahead, lit by a single oil lamp.

To the left and right of the oil lamp, he saw a scholarly man in a wide-sleeved robe and a slender, fair-skinned girl in green clothes, both sitting cross-legged. When the girl saw Hu Ma emerge from the depths of the cave, her eyes visibly brightened, and she straightened up slightly.

Then, seeing Sweet Potato Shao peering out curiously from behind him, her expression turned to one of curiosity as well.

The man also smiled. "My young friend, it has been a while."

"I thought the Jianghu Road was long and that you would use this copper coin in the realm of the living. Unexpectedly, I received your message from the underworld."

"..."

Hu Ma hurried forward, greeting the two and laughing. "My skills were lacking, and I had nowhere else to turn. I had to rely on my thick skin to come and trouble you, Senior, and Sister Xiangyu. I feel quite apprehensive, wondering if I've caused you any inconvenience."

He then introduced, "This is my adopted sister. Her husband's surname is Lu."

Sweet Potato Shao, usually casual, was on her best behavior in this unfamiliar place. Upon introduction, she courteously greeted them.

With a laugh like silver bells, she said, "This young woman was framed by an evil man and thrown into the underworld. Thanks to my righteous big brother's loyalty, he specifically came to lead me up here. Of course, being able to return to the mortal world is all due to the Old Master's compassionate rescue. I will remember it well."

She then turned to Xiang and said, "This sister is also beautiful. When my big brother mentioned you down below, he described you as a peerless beauty, so lovely and charming. I didn't believe him then, but now that I see you, I realize my big brother was actually holding back in his description..."

This remark made Xiang blush. She stole a glance at Hu Ma and lowered her head.

Hu Ma was astonished. In the jianghu, one speaks human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts. Flattery is something everyone loves to hear, but you can't just heap it on indiscriminately like that…

"Haha, well said, well said..."

These words greatly pleased Old Master Li. He smiled at Xiang and said, "Have a banquet prepared. Set it up right here."

While arranging for Xiang to see to it, he turned to Hu Ma and said, "Young friend, you are familiar with our place. Our Dongzi Li Family doesn't usually hold banquets here."

"However, seeing the complexions of you two, it seems you've spent a considerable time below. Suddenly returning to the mortal world, eating regular food of the living might not be good for you immediately. So, we'll arrange it here first, allowing you to adapt to the air of the human world, and you can also chat with me."

Hu Ma said, "I am immensely grateful."

Before long, Xiang herself brought a food box. Judging by the short time, it must have been prepared just moments ago; she merely fetched it.

The contents of the food box were simple, yet strange. There was wine, meat, and rice. However, the meat was steamed and then cooled, already covered with a layer of congealed fat. The rice was also half-cooked. The wine, though, seemed normal, just as if it had been chilled in well water.

Hu Ma and Sweet Potato Shao exchanged glances. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. It was cold to the touch, but when he ate it, it burned his mouth like a hot coal.

Only then did he understand that things in the underworld were indeed vastly different from the world above.

They were people of the Path, each with their own abilities, but this descent and ascent had both invisibly affected them profoundly.

"Young friend, if we count, it has been less than two years since we last met. Your abilities have progressed so remarkably! The young are truly formidable!"

After Hu Ma and Sweet Potato Shao had eaten a few mouthfuls, Old Master Li raised his wine cup and said with a laugh.

It was clear that the Dongzi Li Family was extremely well-mannered.

Logically, two living people emerging from the underworld must have some urgent business, but he didn't inquire about the specifics, merely engaging in casual conversation.

Hu Ma had chosen to return to the mortal world here for several reasons: to bring Sweet Potato Shao, to help Monkey Wine find some Golden Silk Tai Sui, and because he had matters he wished to ask about. Naturally, he was willing to converse.

He also raised his cup and said with a smile, "The affairs of the jianghu are fraught with peril at every step. That I could learn these skills, I still owe to the kindness of the Li Family."

"If you hadn't guided me in a few trump card techniques and gifted me two loads of Blood Food back then, I fear I wouldn't be where I am today."

"..."

Not concealing the curiosity on his face, he then asked, "In the underworld, it's difficult to distinguish day from night. I went down this time to handle some private matters, but it also delayed me quite a bit. I wonder, in this mortal world, what year and month is it today?"

Old Master Li chuckled. "The year-end is upon us."

"It's been almost a month?"

Hu Ma listened, somewhat surprised, and then laughed. "Well then, in that time, has anything new happened?"

"New things..."

Old Master Li smiled. "Rebellions are stirring, the world is in great turmoil, figures of all kinds—dragons and snakes—are rising up, and talented individuals are emerging in droves. Perhaps these could all be considered new things?"

"But if you want to talk about the most shocking event..."

"There is a great clan in Salt State, surnamed Meng, known as the Tongyin Meng. They are one of the most prominent families in the Path; a single word from them can stir up a bloody storm in this world..."

"...But the primary wife of this Meng family's Lord was actually kidnapped by demon people. Does that count?"