Twilight Boundary

"If you're so impressive, why are you still living in the suburbs...?"

Seeing Miss Red Wine's subtle, yet slightly confident and boastful expression, Hu Ma felt a bit uneasy.

After all, having witnessed the mystery and terror of that thing with my own eyes and felt the immense pressure it brought, Lady Han's calm demeanor couldn't help but arouse some suspicion.

But since he knew another aspect of Lady Han's identity, there was no reason not to believe her. So, he composed himself and let Lady Han ask Xiang a few more questions.

By dusk, Lady Han had the Golden Armor General bring over a small wooden table laden with chicken, duck, and fish, treating Hu Ma and Xiang to a meal. Afterward, she asked Xiang to go into a small room ahead of time, while Hu Ma remained by her side.

They didn't enter the main hall but stayed in the small courtyard. Lady Han gently pulled down a cloth hanging between two slender trees; it had a bagua pattern on it. Instantly, two rattan chairs and a small tea table appeared before them. On the table was a small incense burner with three incense sticks lit.

"Have some tea!"

Lady Han invited Hu Ma to sit down. She slowly took out a small teapot and two cups from her sleeve, pouring two cups of tea.

How did she fit so many things in her sleeve...?

Hu Ma looked astonished. He picked up a teacup and took a sip. It was indeed strong tea, perfect for staying alert at night. The most astonishing part was that it was still hot. How had she kept it hidden in her sleeve?

"Eat what you should, drink what you should. Just don't ask questions."

Lady Han sat in one of the rattan chairs and said flatly, "In our Path, we are wary of others prying."

Hu Ma understood perfectly, holding his tea and sipping slowly.

The person beside him came from the same place he did, sharing the same worldview.

However, due to the vigilance inherent in Reincarnators, direct conversation was difficult. Even knowing the other party was from the same world, one could only feign ignorance and be extremely cautious in face-to-face situations.

As he was pondering, Lady Han suddenly turned and whispered, "Is Bai still living so cautiously where you are?"

Hu Ma nearly choked, looking at Lady Han with some surprise.

Is it really possible to chat about such topics in reality?

"Don't worry."

Lady Han, or rather Miss Red Wine, casually tugged at something behind a tree and pulled over a screen adorned with small, tinkling bells. "Won't this serve as a sufficient barrier?" she said.

What good does this barrier actually do?

Hu Ma wasn't sure if he was more surprised by Miss Red Wine's methods or her attitude.

Wouldn't Reincarnators avoid talking in the real world unless absolutely necessary? You just put up a screen and start chatting idly? Though this Manor is deserted, it's crawling with evil men who were turned into beasts, isn't it?

Just as Hu Ma was about to remind her, he suddenly let out a surprised "Huh?", vaguely sensing something. He focused his gaze around him, only to realize that he could only clearly see the rattan chair, the tea table, and a few inches of the space immediately surrounding them.

Is this not reality, but some space created by a dharma method?

"Quick to react."

Miss Red Wine, seeing that Hu Ma had realized, smiled faintly. "Bai and I have different personalities."

"She's overly cautious, worrying about this and that. I'm different; I represent another attitude among Reincarnators. But that doesn't mean I'm careless."

"Talking within my Skill is no different from being in one's Lifebound Spirit Temple, so you don't need to worry."

Listening to this, Hu Ma felt somewhat reassured. He looked cautiously at Miss Red Wine and said, "She is Bai, and you are Red..."

Miss Red Wine chuckled lightly. "She took the name 'Bai' because she has fair skin."

"I took the name 'Red' because I was stained red by the blood of the many people I killed before."

"Plus, our personalities are vastly different. Our friendship is a bond forged through life-and-death experiences, but I've never quite agreed with her overly cautious way of living. The fact that she still thinks of us now shows she still has a conscience."

It seems the relationship between Miss White Wine and them is quite complicated too!

Hu Ma thought to himself, not finding it surprising. It would have been strange if Miss White Wine had once been in the same organization as them.

She is so overly cautious... No, so careful. She should be collaborating with people like Er Guotou, who enjoys those nurturing-style games.

As he was thinking, Miss Red Wine continued, "She mentioned in her letter that you're a very reliable person, and that we can confidently help you. This makes you stand out even more."

"Dealing with the Li Family this time won't be difficult. After we're done with this, then what?"

"Is there anything else you need?"

This question left Hu Ma a bit conflicted. After a slight hesitation, he smiled and said, "You're too kind, Senior."

"I'm just delivering this letter as I was passing by. There's no need to discuss any reward."

Though Miss White Wine said the Reincarnator Organization in Anzhou would offer a reward, it's only polite to decline first!

"That's not it. Fair is fair."

Miss Red Wine smiled. "Bai knows my personality. Since she asked you to deliver the letter, she probably knew how I would react."

"According to her understanding, we should all be cautious, hiding ourselves away carefully. But I know hiding is useless. Among those who were purged back then, many were in hiding, but those fated not to escape still couldn't. If the purge happens again, it will surely be the same."

"Especially me. I definitely wouldn't escape. So, it's better to make preparations early."

"Hmm?"

This statement suddenly startled Hu Ma. "No escape? Why do you say that?" he asked.

"I learned my skills too quickly."

Miss Red Wine smiled. "I made a name for myself in the Path and attracted the attention of the Divine Hand Zhao Family."

"Of course, don't be afraid. The Divine Hand Zhao Family doesn't know my identity. They just think I have great talent and, being from the same Path, offered me some benefits. They even had me clean up some scum and vermin for the Divine Hand Zhao Family within the trick door."

"But just that one thing makes it dangerous."

"Because..."

Her voice became somewhat mysterious as she lowered it. "We don't know the reason for the last purge."

"But someone investigated afterward and came up with a theory."

"The vast majority of those who were purged had come into contact with the Ten Surnames."

"Huh?"

Hu Ma had never expected that such an ordinary chat would suddenly reveal something so horrifying.

Anyone who had contact with the Ten Surnames couldn't escape the purge? What about me then?

"Bai has also been quite angry with me over this and parted ways with me because of it."

Miss Red Wine chuckled faintly. "It's because I entered the trick door. The trick door is a den of all sorts; the sinister and malicious, those who practice kidnapping, and those who harm and deceive others are most numerous there. So, I acted a bit heavy-handedly and eliminated several of them."

"Bai advised me back then not to meddle in others' affairs, but I could never resist. Whenever I saw those scoundrels, I just wanted to step in and get rid of them."

"I don't see anything wrong with that. I suffered such hardships in my past life but lacked the skills to fight back. Now that I've learned skills in this world, am I supposed to just sit idly by and do nothing?"

Listening to her words, Hu Ma caught a glimpse of another way of life for a Reincarnator.

But a question also arose in his mind: since Red and White had parted ways, what could Miss White Wine have written in her letter that would make Miss Red Wine willing to go to such lengths to help him?

"Hehe..."

Miss Red Wine glanced at Hu Ma and said with a low chuckle, "Little brother, you are a qualified messenger; you didn't open the letter."

"But you want to know its contents?"

"Once you know, you'll become one of us and will need to face certain things together with us."

"Huh?"

Hu Ma immediately composed his expression and said seriously, "All my friends know that I'm the least curious person there is."

"That settles it then."

Miss Red Wine smiled. "Let's get through this current crisis first and handle the Li Family's matter. Then we'll talk."

"Honestly, your timing is good. Though I may seem reckless, I'm actually very cautious when handling matters, as someone from the trick door."

"In the Anzhou region, I've thoroughly investigated where the experts of the Path reside, where formidable evil spirits lurk, and which places are burdened by ancestral grudges requiring offerings. I have deep connections with many of them. The sole exception is the Ghost Cave Li Family of Lingshou Prefecture—outsiders simply cannot get in!"

"Now, being able to help their family's young lady and get a glimpse into the Li Family's secrets is a rare opportunity."

"The Dongzi Li Family, are they really so mysterious?"

Hu Ma looked at Miss Red Wine. The reputation of this Ghost Cave Li Family was quite significant.

Even the Si Ming of Grass Heart Hall knows of them. But in Mingzhou, it's understandable not to know what they actually do. Yet Miss Red Wine, who is in Anzhou, doesn't know either?

"Their family is considerate towards fellow practitioners in the jianghu, but they don't form deep connections with anyone."

Miss Red Wine furrowed her brow. "I once tried to use a certain matter to establish a connection with the Dongzi Li Family and probe their background."

"It involved a young man in the city who sold tea. He was honest and also had an elderly mother to care for. But just after he got married, he fell gravely ill and died. I wanted to save him, so I went to Lingshou Prefecture to ask for his return."

"There's a legend in Anzhou that the Ghost Cave Li Family of Lingshou Prefecture holds sway over the life and death of people in the vicinity."

"Of course, I didn't know if it was true; I just used the rumor as a pretext to investigate."

"And the result..."

Hu Ma's interest was piqued. "What happened?" he asked eagerly.

"I didn't get to meet anyone from the Dongzi Li Family. I only encountered one of their servants at their boundary stone. He came out and gave me a Copper Coin."

Miss Red Wine said softly, "He told me the man's allotted lifespan had ended. However, since I had come asking, he couldn't completely refuse me, so he gave me the Copper Coin. I took it back and placed it in the mouth of that young tea seller. By then, he had been dead for three days."

"And then..."

She paused slightly, then said softly, "He came back to life. He's still in the city now, selling tea."