Twilight Boundary

Having encountered the people from the Li Family and confirmed Xiang's identity, both Hu Ma and these martial artists felt considerably relieved.

At the invitation of the Li Family members, they remounted and proceeded slowly inward. However, the farther they ventured, the more apprehensive they became. They found themselves entering a desolate mountain; the evening sun still clung to the mountainside, but all around them, shadows had already fallen, creating a somber and eerie atmosphere. Along the roadside, they occasionally spotted withered white banners and the traces of burnt candle wax. Towering ancient trees flanked the road, standing like giants watching the travelers below. The number of desolate graves on both sides of the road also increased, scattered sporadically.

Everyone present was a martial artist. In an era rife with evil spirits, not everyone was adept at dealing with such entities. Most in the jianghu focused on making a living. Those who truly thrived were often from the Trick Door, or among the Shousui people who relied on their skills to escort valuables and protect treasures. Even the Blood Food Gang was considered only half-proficient in such matters. Indeed, not all the martial artists who had come were accustomed to dealing with evil spirits. Seeing the deeply unsettling environment of the Ghost Cave Li Family's residence, they couldn't help but feel a chill.

As they journeyed onward, they finally arrived before Big Stone Cliff Village just as night began to fall.

It was only upon reaching this place that everyone suddenly understood why it bore the peculiar name Big Stone Cliff.

First, they saw a massive stone ahead, vaguely circular, situated on the mountainside. It did not look naturally formed; rather, it seemed as if carved by human hands. But who could have sculpted such an enormous stone, stretching for several li in both length and width? Particularly as it rested mid-mountain, it resembled a lid, concealing who knew what beneath.

And Big Stone Cliff Village itself was built around this gigantic circular stone, forming a ring of various houses.

Outside the houses were terraced fields, where yellow oxen could be seen grazing.

Seeing the surroundings, Hu Ma was astonished. The Dongzi Li Family has such a renowned reputation, with managers and house slaves, and the family heads are indeed ladies of high status, famous and respected throughout the Anzhou region. Yet now, it looked more like a remote, self-contained village, its isolation rivaling even that of Dayang Village in Old Yin Mountain.

"Miss, quickly go freshen up, and then head to the cave to see the Old Master!"

"Since your incident, the Old Master has been extremely worried. If there had been no news much longer, he was prepared to come out and find you himself."

Having brought everyone here, the three elders instructed Xiang, allowing a few of the village's grannies and the maids who had gathered around to lead her away. These people were overjoyed to see Xiang. They eagerly sized her up, curious as to why her hair had been cut short.

As Xiang walked inside, she glanced back at Hu Ma. Hu Ma simply nodded to her, signaling her to be at ease.

The two had been inseparable during the journey, but now that they had arrived at her home, they could no longer remain together.

In fact, they had to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Fortunately, now that she was home, those people wouldn't dare harm Xiang, no matter how audacious they might be.

"Everyone, you've traveled far and endured much hardship. Please, enjoy some wine and food."

After escorting Xiang inside, the three elders of the Li Family promptly invited everyone to a meal set up in front of the village. In a spacious courtyard, more than a dozen square tables had already been arranged, laden with chicken, fish, fresh seasonal vegetables, and a jug of wine on each.

Although the quality was clearly not low, Hu Ma's heart sank as he observed it. Something isn't right here. The spread lacks sophistication. It's on par with what Dayang Village would prepare when hosting a manager from the Blood Food Gang from the city.

He'd heard so much about the grandeur and power of the Ghost Cave Li Family, which was why he'd wanted to come and see if he could make something of it. But why did it all seem so modest now? Were the Ghost Cave Li Family just stingy, unwilling to offer their best to guests? Or were they genuinely this poor?

However, upon seeing the wine and food, some martial artists among the group who were fond of wine, having been too busy traveling at midday to drink, could no longer resist their craving now that evening had come. They joked and were about to approach the tables when their companions stopped them.

Once the wine and dishes were served, the Li Family members did not leave. Instead, they first brought out several incense burners, placed them on the tables, lit incense in each one, and kowtowed in the direction of the great stone.

This hardly seemed like a meal for the living; it looked more like an offering to the ghostly gods.

Just as everyone was looking puzzled, the three elders waited for the younger family members to complete the offerings and remove the incense burners. Then, they turned to the guests with an apologetic smile and said, "This is a custom of our Big Stone Cliff. When a feast is laid out, we must first invite the ghostly gods to partake. We hope you don't mind."

All the martial artists found it strange. It wasn't a festival or special holiday, so why such a custom?

Nevertheless, they all smiled and said it was no problem, then took their seats together.

Hu Ma sat at the head table with Fourth Master and Lady Han from the Li Family, along with a few prominent figures from the Anzhou jianghu. He was guided to the seat on the right side of the square table, facing west—the seat of honor. Even Lady Han sat opposite him.

One of the elders personally poured Hu Ma the first cup of wine, expressing profuse gratitude, before a younger family member took over the task of pouring.

Hu Ma observed the proprieties, not being overly effusive, and merely engaged in polite conversation.

He suddenly felt a pang of gratitude that Miss Red Wine had invited so many people. Otherwise, with the Dongzi Li Family's daunting customs, he might have found it quite unnerving to come alone.

Moreover, while the Li Family members were all smiles and thanks, Hu Ma knew what they were truly feeling. Sitting there, he occasionally sensed a couple of sinister gazes, and he made a mental note of it.

Yet, the people at this table were all beaming, speaking only words of gratitude, and no one mentioned the awkward business.

The atmosphere was congenial, as if it were truly just a matter of the Li Family's young lady having been lost and now returned, with none of that sordid mess involved.

The troubling schemes and hidden malice he had worried about were entirely absent. With Miss Red Wine sitting opposite him—the people of the Trick Door had sharp eyes, and these people wouldn't be able to hide anything from her—she gave no indication of anything amiss. This suggested it truly was just a feast.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was full and satisfied. The Li Family members then invited them to stay the night.

Some of the martial artists, emboldened by drink, declared they didn't believe in such superstitions and saw no harm in traveling back by night.

The Li Family members merely smiled and said, "Big Stone Cliff is different from other places. Please don't refuse; it's best if you stay."

They added, "But remember this: once you've settled in, do not go outside at night, and do not open your windows."

"This isn't our Li Family being difficult; it's a rule of the Ghost Cave."

"..."

Hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment. Even those who had drunk a fair bit sobered up somewhat.

Hu Ma was given a clean farmhouse. Though it had a coarse blanket and a wooden bed, it was tidily arranged. Earlier, at their hosts' urging, he had drunk a few extra cups, but thanks to his Shousui physique, he wasn't overly affected. He silently pondered:

Xiang went in and hasn't come out since. Could something have happened to her? And the Old Master of the Li Family still hasn't shown himself. What's going on with that?

Even these Li Family members mentioned the Ghost Cave. It looks like the Ghost Cave is real...

But I wonder what kind of place it is, to be spoken of so mysteriously?

"..."

As he was pondering these questions, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. Instantly alert, he sat up and called out, "Who is it?"

"Benefactor, you haven't rested yet?"

A young voice came from outside the door, saying, "The Old Master has sent for you. He wishes to thank you personally."

The Old Master?

Hu Ma paused for a moment, then rose from the bed and opened the door.

Outside stood two young members of the Dongzi Li Family. They were dressed in black cloth robes, their limbs sturdy, looking as if they were accustomed to working in the fields. Apart from the faint, elusive yin qi about them, they were hardly different from farmers in other places.

They each held a white lantern to light the path. Behind them, Big Stone Cliff was completely swallowed by darkness, without a single glimmer of light.

"Then, please lead the way!"

Hu Ma was not without vigilance, but having come to their home, he had to appear composed.

The Old Master of the Li Residence said he wanted to thank me personally. Surely I don't need to ask Miss Red Wine to accompany me, do I?

He straightened his robes and followed them out onto the village's hard, rugged mountain path. The two young members of the Dongzi Li Family walked in silence.

Hu Ma also remained silent, simply following the light of their lanterns. An unnerving, deathly quiet enveloped them.

It appeared they were taking a village path that wound inward, seemingly leading towards the mountains, to where the Big Stone was located.

Upon reaching a fork in the road, the two young men suddenly stopped.

Hu Ma looked up and saw that at the crossroads ahead, a circle of blue porcelain bowls was arranged. Each bowl was filled with white rice, with chopsticks stuck upright in them. And within this circle of bowls, a fire was burning.

No, it was a pile of incense.

Countless sticks of incense were bundled together, burning with a dense, coiling green smoke, their dark red tips casting a faint glow on the surroundings.

Seeing this in the dead of night was already enough to make one's skin crawl. But what was even more startling was that on the other path, the one intersecting theirs, there was the sound of iron chains, and then, one by one, lurching figures approached.

Hu Ma could see their faces clearly: all were vacant and lifeless, with a faint bluish tinge. They were dressed in various attire—some in silk, some in coarse cloth, and some were even bare-chested and barefoot.

Iron chains bound them, and they swayed unsteadily as they walked.

When they reached the crossroads, they all stopped, bent down, and took deep breaths towards the pile of incense.

A flicker of what seemed like longing appeared on their stiff faces before they reluctantly continued onward.

Some, more greedy, took several extra breaths, obstructing those behind them. Beside the procession, someone would then yank the chain forcefully, causing the lingerer to stumble forward a few steps. Those behind would quickly catch up, take deep sniffs at the incense pile, and then follow the others.

Dozens of figures passed by in this manner, and they only finished when the incense pile was nearly extinguished.

Only then did the two guides whisper, "Let's go!"

Hu Ma couldn't help but feel a prickle of curiosity and asked in a low voice, "Those were..."

"They are the dead, detained from Yongle Prefecture," one of the young guides replied, a strange, faint smile on his face as he whispered, "They are to enter the Ghost Gate."

"This is their last meal before entering the gate—a meal for the dead, of course."