Twilight Boundary-Chapter 712 - 703 Second Master Fights the Disaster

In various places, customs and traditions differed, as did the skills and reputations of the Ghost Walkers. However, their habits were quite similar. It was their custom to walk among the villages, where they often gained considerable prestige. Now, taking advantage of the New Year, they had received the altar decree to lead the local people in incense-burning ceremonies. This became such a normal occurrence that no one found it unusual, nor would anyone question the propriety of Ghost Walkers undertaking this task.

Of course, the scale varied. Some Ghost Walkers with great prestige led their entire village, or even neighboring villages, in the rites. Those with lesser renown brought the thirty to fifty families whom they had helped and who believed in them. Some only led three to five families, or even just their own family members—young and old—setting up the incense table, burning memorial scriptures, presenting offerings, and worshipping devoutly, each in their own way.

Thus, like scattered stars, like single threads, the incense smoke spread in all directions, endlessly heading towards Old Yin Mountain.

This, in turn, made the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony at Dayang Village even more profound and standardized. The fragrance of incense gradually enveloped Old Yin Mountain, adding to its solemnity and majesty.

The Calamity was indeed heading towards Old Yin Mountain, and the eerie transformations emerging from Old Yin Mountain were the very antithesis of this disaster. In stalling the advance of the Disaster Senders, the mountain had already angered these calamities, beings born into the mortal world from some obscure, nether realm.

Although the calamities had arrived in the mortal world, they still followed the rules of the underworld. Thus, they ignored distance and did not affect the nearby common folk. For them, their influence fell first upon those who had invited them, and second, upon those whom they were destined to seek. Until these two parties had fallen, the calamities would not affect others in this world—though, of course, one mustn't get too close.

Unable to affect the surrounding villagers and with their path to Old Yin Mountain blocked, the calamities grew restless. They opened their murky, pale eyes, and their mouths even parted slightly.

Then, the Disaster Senders, one by one, began to bleed from their Seven Apertures. Yet, their steps could not be halted; they suddenly lurched forward again with unstoppable momentum.

Within Old Yin Mountain, the strange winds sweeping across the flatlands intensified more than tenfold. Towering ancient trees were already being blown askew, and the wind carried with it countless bizarre sounds—the roars of beasts and the wails of ghosts.

The common folk currently performing the Sacrificial Mountain rites clearly felt the sky above them darken even further. The wind grew fiercer, making it difficult for them to even open their eyes. The straw dragons erected by the villagers toppled this way and that, while incense and paper money scattered everywhere on the wind. Even though it was a sacred and crucial moment of the Sacrificial Mountain ceremony, they couldn't help but feel a thick shadow cast over their hearts.

Many people lifted their heads in astonishment, as if an unwelcome suspicion had begun to dawn on them.

At this very moment, Second Master, the Main Sacrificial at the incense table, seemed to hear the prayers of the Ghost Walkers amidst the swirling incense smoke. He slowly put down the ritual text in his hands and suddenly bellowed, "Invoke the disaster god!"

Upon these words, the Old Clan Chief, Elder Old Yangpi, and other village elders standing behind him were visibly startled, their expressions changing slightly. They, too, had sensed the strangeness of the wind, as if some force were interfering with their Sacrificial Mountain. However, most mountain folk preferred to avoid trouble. Sometimes, even if they sensed something amiss, they would grit their teeth and carry on with the ceremony. Let the ghosts and gods deal with their own affairs.

But they hadn't expected Second Master to have such a temper, shouting out before even finishing the ritual text. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

They were, however, familiar with what Second Master was doing. Granny Hu had performed a similar rite in the village before. So, they exchanged glances and hurriedly called for the young men of the village to make preparations.

Even the common folk from surrounding villages and the knowledgeable guests reacted, whispering amongst themselves. Some elders quietly pulled their children and youngsters to the front, urging them to watch carefully. While elders were needed at the front during the main Sacrificial Mountain ceremony, for this kind of ritual, it was fine for children to be closer, as it could help ward off evil spirits from them.

Soon, two straw effigies were fashioned and placed before the incense table, beside Second Master.

Second Master rose and strode to the willow tree behind the incense table, which stood next to Hu Ma's godmother.

Casually, he tore a few willow branches from it, wove them into a whip, and then lashed out at the straw effigies.

He chanted with each strike:

"I strike you, disaster god, so you dare not enter the village!"

"I strike you, plague ghost, so you keep your distance!"

"I strike you, misfortune god, so you can't cross our thresholds!"

"I strike you, vile spirit, may your mouth be twisted!"

"..."

A curse, then a lash.

This was another village tradition. It was called "invoking the disaster god," but in reality, it was "striking the disaster god." If strange occurrences plagued such Sacrificial Mountain or ancestral rites, a respected elder of the village would be invited to "strike the disaster." It was said that after this was done, the troublesome ghostly gods would behave themselves and dare not cause further mischief.

However, such Sacrificial Mountain rituals were mysterious and solemn, seldom involving this striking of disaster gods. Second Master, however, paid no heed to convention. The more something disturbed the Sacrificial Mountain, the harder he believed it should be struck; otherwise, it would be disrespectful to the Mountain Master.

As it happened, with each lash of his willow whip, the strange winds that had been raging in Old Yin Mountain gradually subsided.

"This…"

Unlike the joy of those participating in the Sacrificial Mountain, the Madman from the theft disaster sect in the woods was dumbfounded.

"Ah, this—how is it different from what I imagined?"

"Have the elders in this village always been so fierce?"

"..."

His eyes were fixed on the battle between the eagle and the snakes on the cliff. He watched as the ferocious snakes surrounded the large eagle, coiling and preparing for a fatal strike. Yet the large eagle protecting its fledgling fought back even more fiercely. It not only thwarted the snakes from approaching the nest but even swatted away any that drew near. This left the snakes visibly uncomfortable, some even curling into balls.

"The ones offering sacrifices to the mountain aren't just from Old Yin Mountain! This... this incense! It already surpasses that of any single state or region…"

He looked as if he were witnessing a grand spectacle, a mix of shock and delight playing on his face. After his initial exclamation, he began clapping his hands ceaselessly in joy, shouting, "Wonderful, wonderful! This is the Ghost Walking Hu Family borrowing incense for Old Yin Mountain…"

"Not only are they borrowing incense for Old Yin Mountain, but they're also striking the disaster! The Hu Family isn't just trying to block the disaster; they're aiming to provoke those things…"

"The Meng family is doomed, the Meng family is doomed! If the disaster can't be delivered, the backlash will become even fiercer…"

"..."

Hu Ma, Zhao Sanyi, and the others listened intently, their lips pursed. This Madman from the theft disaster sect appeared unhinged, but he was indeed the most knowledgeable person present regarding disasters.

Hu Ma knew even more clearly that with the involvement of the Ghost Walkers, the incense offered to the mountain lord had increased more than tenfold compared to before. However, even so, he didn't expect this to be a one-time resolution; the main challenge still lay ahead. The fact that there's now a give-and-take shows my plan is working.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Meanwhile, in Old Yin Mountain, as the short-tempered Second Master stopped reciting the ritual text and began to "strike disaster" with willow branches, the Meng family's eleven Disaster Senders were so horrified their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Especially Meng Sizhong and the other ten Meng family Disaster Senders; even though they were already disoriented and not fully conscious, they were now so frightened they nearly collapsed to their knees.

Not only did they feel inexplicably blocked, as if their path were obstructed, with each step forward becoming increasingly heavy, and the image of Old Yin Mountain in their vision growing more distant—that was bad enough. But worse still, they suddenly felt the calamity they carried within them begin to writhe and change. It shuddered violently, as if being lashed by invisible whips, letting out pitiful, shrill wails.

Both those bearing the calamities and those sending them were petrified, their hearts constricting with fear. How could such a thing be happening?

As the calamity was struck again and again, amidst its miserable screams, a hazy black qi suddenly erupted, swirling into a furious wind that spun ceaselessly around the Disaster Senders.

In an instant, the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, along with the various Meng family residences and courtyards scattered in different locations, were all enveloped by layers of dark clouds. Their blood relatives and those who made offerings to the ancestors all began to experience various strange transformations.

Some, in a daze, saw their ancestors enter their homes, only to cup their hands in a gesture of farewell before departing.

Others found their vision blurring, seeing themselves with yokes around their necks, or black qi coiling around their ankles.

"Quick, hammer it in!"

In the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, Young Master Meng, supported by the Inquiry great hall officer and disregarding all else, found a sharp nail and drove it hard into his own forehead.

Disasters were intangible and wouldn't cause immediate visible changes, yet every one of them was now "shadowed" by it. Many knew that once "shadowed," disaster would follow as closely as one's own shadow, ready to strike at any unforeseen moment.

This was the price for invoking disaster. The Meng family had begun to pay this price with the karmic fortune of their entire bloodline.

The Meng family were masters of their Path, their Magic profound, yet none could escape. This was, after all, a contract signed by the Meng family themselves.

They understood this, but they could only repay the debt; escape was impossible. There was a saying that when disaster struck, if one could sever ties with the Meng family and the disaster-seeker, with ghostly gods as witnesses to the clear division, one might be able to escape. The Zhen Sui Hu Family and the Qingyuan Hu Family had done just that in the past.

But the Meng family members dared not. They dared not betray their main family at such a critical juncture, and no ghostly gods would dare to act as witnesses for such a severance.

Thus, the entire great family could only huddle together to face death, with no escape. This, however, had one effect: it made the disaster even fiercer. The murky black mist caused the clouds in the sky to twist into sinister shapes.

From eleven directions, these sinister shapes clawed their way towards Old Yin Mountain, domineering and oppressive, pressing down on people's hearts like a physical weight.

There was another path that also looked quite formidable, but it seemed to be wandering aimlessly, as if lost.

...

"It's here!"

Detecting this movement, the Madman from the theft disaster sect, who was in the woods, jumped up. As the vicious snakes collectively dove towards the eagle's nest, he exclaimed, "Tongyin Meng should be renamed Invoke Disaster Meng from now on…"

"Such a fierce disaster! Even the Sun Family has never encountered anything like this…"

"..."

At the same moment, Hu Ma's right eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably. He quickly reached up to cover his eye, thinking to himself, Left eye for wealth, right eye for luck. It seems like I'll be making a fortune today…