Twilight Boundary-Chapter 710 - 701: Twelve Disasters

"Thank you for making this trip. When we return to the Meng family, there will certainly be a generous reward."

Eldest Granny Meng had changed completely by the time she emerged.

When she was abducted, she didn't have time to tidy her clothing. Upon arriving at this village, Hu Ma hadn't paid much attention to such details either. It was only after being confined for two days that she requested Li to bring her some clothes.

Li, though finding it troublesome, still fetched a cotton jacket his grandma wore and a pair of winter pants for her from the village. After all, it was cold in the mountains, and he feared she might catch a cold.

However, Eldest Granny Meng clearly wasn't too keen on wearing them. She had torn the cotton padding out of the jacket, leaving only a single layer of fabric, which she washed twice before putting it on. During the brief period she was inside, she had already changed back into her own clothes, her hair neatly combed and secured with a wooden hairpin.

Even though she had recently experienced abduction and imprisonment, she still appeared noble and gentle. Astonishingly, she wasn't in a rush to ask questions or urge anyone to take her away.

"Aunt Meng, you've been through a fright. Let's go back now; your family must be anxious."

Zhao Sanyi, having just returned after delivering the message, was eager to escort Eldest Granny Meng back, finally hoping to bring this situation to a close.

"Yes!"

As Eldest Granny Meng spoke, she picked up the nearby basket containing empty bowls and chopsticks. "Please give this basket to the child who looked after me these past few days," she said. "The clothes he sent, I've folded them in the house. It's just a pity my hands are clumsy, and I couldn't sew the cotton back in."

"Later, I'll need to ask Young Mr. Zhao to thank him on my behalf and compensate his grandmother for the clothes."

Zhao Sanyi murmured, "Yes, yes, it shall be done..."

Even Zhao Sanyi was somewhat surprised by Eldest Granny Meng's calm demeanor. He understood the gravity of the situation and was eager to have her return to Salt State.

This delicate Lady Meng possessed no cultivation skills herself. How to quickly arrange her return was indeed a problem. They were eager to leave this place and find a suitable location to perform the dharma method.

But when the group reached the edge of the valley, Fourth Miss Zhou appeared hesitant, constantly glancing into the forest.

Eldest Granny Meng noticed and smiled. "Zhou Ying, you've come as well. You've worked hard for my sake."

"How is your mother lately?"

Fourth Miss Zhou replied absently, "Aside from her usual scolding, she's fine!"

Lady Meng smiled and nodded. "The Ming King Drumstick I gifted you before, do you still like it?"

"I see you don't have it with you now."

Her intention was to bridge the distance between them, but she hadn't expected this reaction. Mentioning it seemed to be a mistake. Fourth Miss Zhou's face flushed with a mix of shame and annoyance. "Once you gifted it to me, it's mine. Why do you ask?"

"Oh?"

Lady Meng wasn't angry. She suddenly sensed something was off about the girl's reaction and grew suspicious.

At that moment, Chen Abao, who was munching on sour jujubes, sniffed the air again. "There's that sour stench again..."

Fourth Miss Zhou clearly grew angrier, stomping her foot. "You still say that!"

"No, I'm serious."

Chen Abao found the smell increasingly peculiar. He ignored the jujubes in his hand, extended his nose, and sniffed around the edge of the valley for two circuits. He came to a small, soft mound of earth, kicked it lightly with the tip of his foot, and said, "It's right here!"

Everyone was finding this rather strange when suddenly, a sound like muffled thunder rumbled above their heads. A blackened, burnt-looking hand abruptly shot out from the mound.

Everyone was startled and retreated, except for Fourth Miss Zhou, who took a step forward, her expression full of vigilance.

Then they saw the hand dig away the surrounding soil from within the mound. A blackened head emerged, its owner gasping for air. The next moment, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Excellent, excellent! Disaster has come, calamity is here!"

"This time, the Meng family... is about to face a great calamity!"

Such a bizarre person emerging from the ground and shouting like that startled everyone present.

Lady Meng, especially, was shocked. She suddenly reacted, "What did you say?"

Before the person from the earth could fully emerge and clarify his words, everyone suddenly realized that the sky had darkened without them noticing.

It was approaching noon, which, even in this deep mountain forest, should have been the brightest time of day. Yet, in the short time they watched this person emerge, the sky had turned extremely dark, as if night had suddenly fallen.

Then, a strange wind blew in from outside the forest. Branches and leaves rustled violently, and grass and vines swirled in the air, sounding like the wailing and weeping of countless ghosts throughout the woods.

Lady Meng, buffeted by the wind, staggered and suddenly fell to the ground. Her freshly combed hair came undone, sliding down to chaotically cover her face. Her elegant head felt as if it were being pressed down by an invisible, heavy weight, and she couldn't lift it.

Having just endured such hardship yet maintained her dignity and composure, she now seemed to have completely lost her bearings. Her cries became shrill. "It's ruined, ruined! The Meng family's vast foundation... destroyed at the hands of this beast!"

"My dear heavens..."

Zhao Sanyi reacted more quickly. Seeing the strange winds blowing from all directions, he instantly understood something. He slapped his thigh, his face turning deathly pale. Without a word, he leaped up and rushed towards Dayang Village.

Chen Abao and Fourth Miss Zhou also realized what was happening. One floated and the other ran, following closely behind him.

This time, they hadn't gone far before they saw Hu Ma.

The walking ghost of the Great Sword Catching Sect stood motionless in the forest. Only when he heard their footsteps did he slowly turn around.

His face was deathly white, completely devoid of blood. He stared fixedly at Zhao Sanyi's face and slowly asked, "Is it... Has the message about releasing her... still not reached the Meng family?"

Zhao Sanyi's voice trembled. "N-no... it has been delivered."

PFFT! Hu Ma suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. "You three... you've brought ruin upon me!"

The Meng family... did they release the disaster after all?

Clearly, this walking ghost of the Great Sword Catching Sect had already conceded, agreeing to send Lady Meng back. This represented a significant concession from the Hu Family in the dispute between the Hu and Meng Families, a clear show of sincerity.

The Meng family, even if still dissatisfied, could have continued negotiations. But to release the disaster at this critical juncture? What in the blazes, isn't that going too far?

Has the Meng family become so arrogant as to completely disregard the Hu Family? To completely disregard the Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang families who acted as mediators?

Zhao Sanyi recalled his earlier words to Hu Ma, how he had beaten his chest and guaranteed things. Now, he felt utterly humiliated. Gazing at Hu Ma, who had been angered to the point of vomiting blood, Zhao Sanyi felt his hands tremble, unsure whether to offer support or not.

The eerie wind in the forest grew more vicious, making everyone feel dizzy and disoriented.

Only Lady Meng's feeble gasps could be heard, along with the violent quivering of the pickle jar beside Hu Ma—a jar whose purpose was unknown—as if it contained countless curses from shattered defenses.

「Salt State, Meng Family Ancestral Mansion.」

The terrifying, oppressive pressure arrived with shocking ferocity.

Young Master Meng, who had believed he held the upper hand and was entirely focused on how to handle the four lords representing the Ten Surnames, jumped up in bewilderment when the teacup in his hand inexplicably shattered. He suddenly sensed something was terribly wrong.

Outside, the sky had darkened at some unknown moment. Clusters of ominous clouds seemed to press heavily down upon the Meng Mansion. All he could hear was an intangible, sinister laugh.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

No lightning was seen, yet muffled, somber thunderclaps rumbled one after another behind the dark clouds—twelve in total. Outsiders might not have understood, but those within the Meng Mansion felt as if the thunderclaps pounded directly into their minds, making their heads heavy and slowing their thoughts by half.

"This is terrible! The incense in the Ancestral Hall... it's all drifting outwards!"

The next moment, a wave of terrified cries from the servants echoed from the direction of the Ancestral Hall.

WHOOSH!

Then, the two lanterns hanging in the Meng family's main hall suddenly burst into flames. The fire burned with an eerie, faint light, and in no time, only ashes remained.

Eerie wails echoed from the well in the courtyard, as if countless little ghosts were desperately trying to scramble out and flee.

Could it be...

No one understood better than Young Master Meng. At this moment, his gaze was somewhat dazed. It can't be...

How... how is this possible?

CRASH!

The lords from the Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang families suddenly slammed the table and rose, looking at him in disbelief.

"The Lady has been met, and we agreed to the other conditions. So why did you...?"

"...why still release the disaster?"

"I..."

Young Master Meng was so panicked he couldn't speak for a moment. His head throbbed, dazed, as if an incredibly heavy weight had suddenly pressed down on him.

The pressure felt even heavier than when they had tried to invoke the disaster earlier. The composure he had shown just moments ago contrasted sharply with the severe shock in his heart now. Impossible, this is impossible! Could someone have disobeyed orders and forcefully released the disaster?

No, even if they disobeyed orders, they wouldn't have the ability to release this disaster. Who on earth could possess such power...

Outside, the dark clouds grew ever thicker, and the rumbling of thunder was incessant. He suddenly thought of something and, exasperated and furious, cried out, "That's it! The Hu Family! It must be the Hu Family causing trouble!"

"The Hu Family is so ruthless! To actually help my Meng family release disaster..."

By the time he shouted this, his eyes were bloodshot and his hair disheveled. He looked like a Madman.

"Young Master Meng, apart from shouting 'Hu Family' and blaming everything on the Hu Family, what else do you know?"

Meanwhile, the four Lords from the Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang families had also risen. Their expressions were dark with anger, their hands trembling with rage. Yet, upon seeing the ominous dark clouds hanging over the Meng Ancestral Mansion, they seemed to lose any desire to voice their grievances.

Instead, a trace of weariness appeared on their faces. They merely waved their hands slowly and sighed, "The tide has turned against you. You're on your own now."

Saying this, they didn't even bid a formal farewell, quickly striding out of the Meng Mansion. Their figures disappeared in an instant.

It was as if they feared that some filth from the Meng Mansion might contaminate them.