Twilight Boundary

"Yes, Dad, then I..." Xiang trailed off. She stood up, still visibly hesitant, and subconsciously began to speak to Old Master Li.

"Don't be in a hurry." Old Master Li chuckled. "You are the next gatekeeper, but there's no rush to come in. Although your fate can't be changed, I've come to understand that as long as I'm alive, the debt of the seventh generation is still ongoing and hasn't reached you yet! Stay outside for now. This period has been hard on you."

"..."

Xiang's eyes were red as she nodded silently. Then, she walked over to Hu Ma and took his hand.

According to the two young Li Family members outside the cave, if the red thread broke, one could not leave the Ghost Cave. However, now that Xiang was leading Hu Ma out by the hand, he felt nothing unusual. Occasionally, he sensed something in the depths of the well, seemingly eager to emerge. But with a low sigh from Old Master Li, who bowed towards the well several times, everything quieted down.

"Brother Hu, my father..." Xiang whispered as they walked through the dark passage, "He could actually leave the cave and live outside now, and I would take his place guarding it. The Li Family has always been like this, generation after generation. Sometimes, the older generation leaves later, or the younger generation enters earlier. I was actually ready to go into the cave to replace my dad six months ago. But... but he didn't agree..."

"..."

What could Hu Ma say? As an outsider, it was truly difficult to describe the peculiarities of the Dongzi Li Family. The debts of ancestors were to be repaid by their descendants. Seven generations had already repaid, yet it was still not enough. The eighth generation had to follow, perhaps even repaying for eternity.

So, who exactly is collecting these debts?

He shook his head, temporarily setting these thoughts aside. The affairs of the Dongzi Li Family were too mysterious, too bizarre, and seemingly connected to some ancient matters of the court—not something he could comprehend merely by thinking. What he needed to figure out now was how the three red threads on his arm had been severed.

Could it be that some members of the Li Family deeply resented him for bringing Xiang back, so much so that they dared to harm him even in the presence of the Li Family Head? If so, he truly couldn't afford to be polite with them any longer. After all, he had just confirmed that the Li Family Head didn't meddle much in affairs, but that didn't mean they couldn't handle things.

Just as he was about to exit the cave, thinking of finding the two guides, he unexpectedly felt a bone-chilling gust. The darkness before him grew thick and viscous, and vaguely, strange figures appeared in the night. Hu Ma looked and was mildly surprised. They were all servant ghosts, wearing tall hats and bound in chains—exactly the kind he and Xiang had avoided earlier. One was even noticeably shorter than the others, likely the one Lady Han had whipped.

They lined up in front of the Ghost Cave.

Opposite them, several people held torches. Influenced by the servant ghosts, the flames burned a ghastly green, casting an eerie, dim light all around. Under the torchlight, several people were forcibly holding down a kneeling young man, who appeared to be pleading for forgiveness.

Hu Ma hadn't seen him before, but as soon as he emerged, he met the young man's furious and resentful gaze and immediately guessed his identity. He must be the so-called Third Young Master. Knowing that Old Master Li had everything under control, Hu Ma understood this man's fate. Their schemes and betrayal had been seen through; that didn't mean they wouldn't face punishment.

Behind the young man stood a stout, short man—seemingly the Third Uncle who had previously welcomed him and the other Martial Artists—along with several others. Though dressed plainly, they looked elderly, suggesting they held considerable seniority and status within the Dongzi Li Family.

Are they presenting a scapegoat to plead for leniency?

Hu Ma glanced silently. He understood the situation but chose not to say anything, intending to walk past them.

The stout Third Uncle, facing the Ghost Cave, shouted loudly, "Li Xiangguan, a male elder from the third branch of our Altar-guarding Li Family, harbored malicious intentions and plotted against the main family! He has now been brought before the cave. We request the Old Master's judgment!"

Hearing this, Hu Ma slowed his pace, curious as to how Old Master Li inside the cave would handle the matter. A brief silence ensued from within, followed by a voice: "Bring them in. Punish them by making them servant ghosts, guiding souls for ten years."

The kneeling young man's face instantly turned ashen, and he instinctively tried to struggle.

But the stout older man glared at him and called into the cave, "Old Master, he is still young, you see..."

"Still haven't brought them in?" a voice interrupted from within the Ghost Cave before he could finish.

The row of servant ghosts in front of the cave suddenly floated up lightly. Their chains swayed gently, then automatically fastened around the necks of everyone present—not just Li Xiangguan, but also the stout older man, several elder relatives who had been preparing to plead, and even the female family members.

"What is this..."

Everyone was utterly shocked, staring dumbfounded at the servant ghosts, their minds reeling.

"I wasn't referring only to him," the voice from within the cave stated blandly. "I meant all of you who condoned and knew of this matter. Regardless of age, status, whether you are core family or extended, man or woman, all shall be detained before the altar, punished as servant ghosts, and guide souls for ten years. If anyone disobeys, their Living Soul will be torn out and cast into the Ghost Cave."

"..."

A stunned gasp rippled through the crowd.

In that instant, everyone at the cave entrance was utterly stupefied, then suddenly descended into panic and wailing. The kneeling young man, in particular, was dumbstruck. Initially the most resentful, he now found himself unable to utter a word.

The servant ghosts paid no attention to their reactions. When the person inside the cave remained silent, those outside could, by rule, command the servant ghosts to guide souls. However, as soon as the person inside spoke, the servant ghosts obeyed only him and immediately began hauling everyone into the cave. The once deathly silent entrance to the Ghost Cave erupted into a turbulent, chaotic scene as they were all dragged inside.

The commotion piqued the curiosity of the Martial Artists staying in the village. Though bound by rules not to run out and watch the spectacle, they each opened a window to listen in.

This is the true authority of the Dongzi Li Family Head... Even Hu Ma couldn't help but sigh. Those guarding the cave could ignore affairs, even feign ignorance, allowing outsiders to deceive them, making outsiders think they were pushovers. But with just a single word from inside, the outside would undergo a complete purge.

Xiang glanced at her relatives being dragged into the cave. She seemed somewhat soft-hearted but said nothing.

Having exited the cave, she still held Hu Ma's hand. The candle in Hu Ma's hand had long since burned out, and he carried no lantern, yet she walked with remarkable steadiness through the pitch-black darkness.

She led Hu Ma back to the village and into the dwelling where he was staying. After seating him, she lowered her head and walked out. Hu Ma noticed she had something on her mind, though he was unsure what she was up to. Still, she was now the esteemed young lady of the Dongzi Li Family; her status had changed, and she was due proper respect. So, he simply sat there obediently, listening to the faint sounds from outside.

Before long, the wooden door was gently pushed open, and Xiang walked in carrying a wooden tray. To Hu Ma's surprise, on the tray were a bowl of noodles and a cup of tea.

Had she just gone out to cook?

"Sir..." Xiang said as she approached the table and set down the tray for Hu Ma.

Hu Ma quickly looked up at her. "That form of address isn't appropriate..."

"It's alright, I'll speak softly," Xiang said in a low voice. "Sir, this is the last time I will serve you. Consider it my thanks for escorting me all this way back."

"This..." Looking at the bowl of noodles, Hu Ma suddenly felt a wave of complex emotions. He looked up and saw Xiang's face, which appeared somewhat forlorn in the dim light of the oil lamp.

He sighed softly to himself and then said abruptly, "Miss Xiangyu, is it that... by bringing you back, I've actually harmed you?"

"..."

He had asked a similar question before Old Master Li, but he still wanted to ask Xiang herself. If she were truly unwilling, then perhaps...

"Huh?" Hearing his words, Xiang grew flustered and hurriedly waved her hands. She raised the back of her hand to rub her eyes, then looked at Hu Ma earnestly and said softly, "Sir, please don't misunderstand. I'm different from my dad. He carries a debt. But I, from the moment I was born, have always felt this was my duty. I've always known, deep down, that I was meant to stay in there. Others wanted to spend as little time inside as possible, but I... I actually wanted to go in sooner. I... I don't know how to describe it..."

"..."

She hesitated, then answered in a low voice, "It's as if... that place draws me in. Before, when I had lost my memories in Mingzhou, I would hear those pitiful souls crying, and I would unconsciously go to guide them in my dreams. It wasn't just that I couldn't bear their suffering; thinking back now, it feels as if that was something I was inherently meant to do... I..." She paused, then added gently, "I've never even felt much attachment to the world of the living. I've always found it all rather mundane and uninteresting."

This answer was quite unexpected. It made Hu Ma recall something peculiar about Xiang. Back at the Manor, he had discovered her ability to guide souls in her dreams. Any ordinary person encountering such a thing would likely have been terrified, wouldn't they? Yet, she wasn't. Even when she couldn't remember anything, she had treated it all as if it were perfectly natural, without a hint of hesitation or fear.

Was it her innate disposition, or was it the influence of the Yin Talisman?

"However, it's not that there's... completely nothing..." Amidst Hu Ma's surprise, Xiang seemed to gather a great deal of courage, then looked over at him and said softly, "The only exception, maybe... maybe it was when I was in Mingzhou, with no memories and no pressure. When I could do some work each day, laugh with Brother Datong and the others, and mend clothes for you, sir..."

"..."

Listening to her words, Hu Ma suddenly found himself at a loss for what to say.