Twilight Boundary-Chapter 773 - 764: The City of the Undying

"Brother Hu, mind your words."

What was originally a joyful gathering suddenly turned tense due to the unexpected development. Hu Ma's reprimand was devoid of any pleasantries, causing everyone's expressions to change drastically.

Most were merely vassals of the Ten Surnames and dared not say anything to Hu Ma. Nonetheless, the Eldest Son of the Zhu Family was displeased and retorted, "The Wang family has honed medical skills, saving countless lives. When did it become a boastful tactic in your eyes?"

"Just now, that Pill could resurrect the dead and regrow flesh and bones. You witnessed it yourself."

"Even if Magic is flawed, its marvel can be seen. Once this Pill is perfected, how many could it save?"

"..."

"How many could it save?"

Hu Ma looked at him coldly and said, "I know how Purple Tai Sui was obtained; surely you're not ignorant of it?"

"How many living people were sacrificed for just one Blood Pill? Yet, in your mouth, it has become a Splendid Technique for saving lives?"

"On my way back, I saw plagues rampant, wars unceasing, and countless dead. If you truly have even a shred of medical compassion and benevolence left, why not first consider saving those who shouldn't have died, instead of reviving those who perished twenty years ago? What kind of tactic is this?"

"..."

These words, filled with both forcefulness and accusation, left everyone speechless.

Especially the young Master of the Wang family, who had thought this was a marvelous technique, but unexpectedly faced such a rebuke.

Still shaken, his face flushed with embarrassment, he was unable to utter a word.

Amidst this awkward atmosphere, suddenly someone nearby sneered. When everyone turned to look, they saw someone dressed in rags, with a sallow complexion—a member of the begging Zhang family.

The Zhang family was now mired in difficulties, struggling for survival. This one had been left behind in advance and already exuded an aura of decline. While everyone else dreaded Hu Ma's status, he sneered from the side:

"The Hu Family's virtue is so grand!"

"Upon reaching Shangjing, it's said everywhere that the Hu Family made great contributions, earning a prime spot on the Merit Book of the Daluo Dharma Sect. Yet all I see are the reincarnated evil spirits, subdued for twenty years, now returning in force and wreaking havoc at the bridge."

"It makes one curious: if the Hu Family is supposedly first in merit among the Ten Surnames, where are these deeds and virtue?"

"What gives you the right to stand above the other Ten Surnames?"

"..."

Hu Ma's gaze turned icy as he looked at him, noticing the change in the expressions of everyone present.

He realized this wasn't just the perspective of the begging Zhang family; many others likely thought the same.

With a cold laugh, he stood up and said, "The merits and demerits of the Hu Family are not for high and mighty noblemen like you to know." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"It's just that I am a countryman and indeed do not understand your etiquette."

"Ha, a bunch of jianghu mud-legs! The so-called Ten Surnames barely have a history of a little over a hundred and twenty years. Counting from the start, only twenty years have passed since you no longer had to kowtow to others."

"The dust on your knees hasn't even been brushed off, yet you sit atop high platforms, proclaiming yourselves noblemen?"

"In that case, the Hu Family truly dares not boast of your kind of merits, nor can we Hu Family members learn your etiquette."

"..."

"WOW!"

These words stirred chaos in the crowd; all faces were marked with indescribable embarrassment.

This equated to scolding everyone present, including the Hu Family members themselves.

At this point, further conversation seemed impossible. Hu Ma recalled what Miss White Wine had instructed: regardless of what he saw, he should not make a fuss. A deep sense of strangeness arose in his heart. Still, he turned around, intending to leave.

Unexpectedly, someone behind him chuckled coldly and said sinisterly, "They say the Hu Family has been biding its time, striving to eliminate all evil spirits in one fell swoop."

"But why do I now hear such nonsense from the Young Master Hu, lacking all reason and logic? It sounds less like the Hu Family suppressing the evil spirits with the Demon Suppression Golden Mace, and more like those evil spirits have caught all the Hu Family members in their net!"

Hearing these words, Hu Ma halted, turned, and looked at Zhu Youqin from the Zhu Family.

He calmly said, "Do you understand the principles of those evil spirits?"

"They're just odd theories; who doesn't know that?"

Before Zhu Youqin could respond, a man from the begging Zhang family beside him laughed coldly and said, "It's not just your Hu Family that understands those evil spirits. Our Zhang family also raised one once, and I've heard plenty of such talk from those demon people at our mansion."

"Ultimately, it's all just self-deception—claiming not to kneel to others, speaking of all lives being equal, without any talk of class disparity—"

"Nonsense!"

"The Zhang family has members with deep insight. When they engaged in philosophical debates or questioned those beings about the other world, even they couldn't hide it: it was the same noblemen and masters everywhere, the same herds of people oppressed like cattle and horses. It's clear that status is preordained by fate; their pleasant talk is mere deception."

"Compared to us, how can their principles distinguish what is superior or inferior?"

"..."

When he finished speaking, even Miss White Wine couldn't help but furrow her brows. She seemed reminded of experiences from a past life, finding it difficult to argue.

However, facing the words from the man of the begging Zhang family, Hu Ma slowly began to speak, "It can be distinguished."

"Hmm?"

The man from the begging Zhang family raised his head, coldly staring at him.

Ever since Hu Ma learned of his identity, he had felt somewhat distanced from his past life dreams. Yet now, the gift Lao Junmei had given him suddenly became clear in his mind. Without any deliberate effort, he merely spoke calmly:

"People aren't afraid to kneel; what they dread is becoming accustomed to kneeling, never thinking to stand up."

"Noblemen and masters like to sit on the heads of others; that's a habit they can't change. But the real fear is when others make a habit out of kneeling."

"Mr. Longjing wouldn't hide what you're talking about, and neither will I. But while he couldn't answer your questions, as an observer, I can. In their world, there is indeed such class disparity..."

"But the noblemen in their world have experienced the power of the common people, and the common people have tasted what it's like to no longer be cattle and horses."

Speaking up to this point, he spoke without force, yet his voice bore a certain weight. "That's enough."

"Once cattle and horses have experienced being human, they will never forget the taste of it."

"Noblemen and masters will certainly always exist. But as long as the cattle and horses remember that taste, the rule of those noblemen and masters is not inherently legitimate."

"Those principles are etched into their very bones. Though not always fully achievable, as long as these ideas once existed, then all noblemen and masters can only act stealthily, rather than brazenly claiming divine right and natural order..."

"You all are the same!"

Saying this, his gaze turned cold, sweeping across everyone's faces. "You are thieves. It's just that the true masters haven't considered calling you to account yet."

A sudden silence descended. Everyone's expressions changed, becoming exceptionally oppressive and even dazed.

"Brother Hu, your odd words do seem to have some reason to them."

At this moment, Zhu Youqin said sinisterly, "But there's one thing wrong in what you said."

"In this world of competition, the capable take their place. The current status and identity of the Ten Surnames were acquired through skill."

"..."

"Acquired?"

Hearing his words, Hu Ma couldn't help but laugh. "Have you ever fought against the Douyi?"

"Have you ever planted a single grain for the common people?"

"The Douyi merely seized the possessions of the world's people, and you, in turn, stole from the Douyi. How does that qualify you as capable?"

His every question struck them to the core, making their expressions increasingly unpleasant.

Just now, Hu Ma had dampened everyone's enthusiasm. Even Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao had felt a tinge of displeasure in their hearts. However, they had known Hu Ma longer and thus wouldn't speak against him with the others now.

But now, hearing Hu Ma's words, the displeasure in their hearts inexplicably dissipated. Watching Hu Ma, their expressions showed an unprecedented mix of confusion and oppression.

Only Fourth Miss Zhou, listening intently, couldn't help but clench her fists, her gaze becoming resolute.

Facing their expressions, Hu Ma smiled and said, "I am a countryman, used to speaking straightforwardly. Please don't mind, everyone."

"However, upon returning to the Capital this time, I also wanted to see if the descendants of the Ten Surnames truly possess knowledge worthy of these splendid ceremony tents."

"Having taken a look now, I see they merely have Skill without true understanding, only knowing how to grandstand and lacking any real ambition. If tossed out into the world, they'd struggle to survive, yet they still brag about their Immortal techniques?"

"..."

After saying this, he waved his sleeve and turned to leave the pavilion.

But as if unwilling to let him go, someone in the pavilion shouted, "Even if you believe their principles, they won't consider you one of their own!"

"If you weren't currently in Shangjing, do you think those evil spirits would spare you so easily?"

"..."

"You're mistaken."

Standing outside the pavilion, Hu Ma looked at them and said earnestly, "Their principles, once I've learned them, become my own principles."

Having said these words, he continued forward without stopping.

He used the Shrinking Ground technique and reached the street, his eyes bright and observant as he looked around.

In Shangjing City, people bustled everywhere, smiling faces all around. Yet, surrounded by this lively crowd, Hu Ma only felt the oppressive air weigh even heavier.

Flashes of the revived Lady Su, saved by the young Master of the Wang family, repeatedly crossed his mind. He increasingly sensed an indescribable sinister aura emanating from Shangjing City's jubilant and crowded pedestrians. After a long while, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. His Five Organs resonated together, and Thunder Sound surged around him.

With the reinforcement from his nine columns of Tao cultivation, this Golden Toad's deep sound burst forth like the blazing sun, dispelling layers of sinister air.

A few pedestrians passing by him suddenly stumbled. One among them had flesh literally falling off their body, causing those nearby to cry out in shock. However, this person remained oblivious, continuing on their way.

After a few steps, the fallen flesh climbed back onto their body, rendering them indistinguishable from ordinary people as they blended back into the crowd.

Hu Ma confirmed his suspicion, standing stunned in place.

Behind him, Miss White Wine's voice suddenly rang out: "Shangjing City hasn't seen a death in a long time. Even those who had died have begun to live again."

"This, then, is the reason for Shangjing City's liveliness, and it is also the matter I am currently investigating."