Twilight Boundary

After meeting people from the Li family and confirming the identity of Xiang Yatou, both Hu Ma and these Jianghu people felt a lot more relaxed.

At the invitation of the Li family, they continued to mount their horses and walked slowly inside. However, the further they walked, the more frightened they became. They saw that they had entered the barren mountain. The sunset was still hanging at the foot of the mountain, but the surroundings were already dark. With a spooky atmosphere.

From time to time, withered white flags and traces of burnt candle ashes can be seen on the roadside.

Ancient trees tower into the sky, standing on both sides of the road, as if giants are watching the pedestrians under their feet.

There are more and more barren graves on both sides of the road, one after another, scattered randomly.

Everyone is a wanderer, and there are many evil spirits in this world, but not everyone is good at dealing with evil spirits.

Most of the people in the arena are still making a living, and those who are good in the arena are mostly jugglers, or those among the old-year-olds who rely on tricks to make a living and help people move escorts to protect treasures. Even the Blood Food Gang can only be considered half of them. indivual.

And among the Jianghu people who came now, not everyone was used to dealing with evil spirits. Seeing the ghostly environment where the Li family lived, they couldn't help but feel a little frightened.

We went all the way in, and finally arrived in front of Dashuiya Village before dark.

But it was only when we got here that everyone suddenly understood why there was such a weird name as Big Stone Cliff.

They first saw a huge stone in front of them, vaguely round in shape, located halfway up the mountain. It didn't look like it was naturally formed, but more like it was carved by man. However, the stone was almost several miles long. , who can carve such a big one?

Especially since it is located halfway up the mountain, it looks like a manhole cover with something covered.

The Big Stone Yazi Village was built around this giant round stone, forming a circle with various houses located there.

Outside the house, there are terraced fields one after another, and cattle can be seen grazing in the fields.

Seeing the environment here, Hu Ma was surprised. The Li family of Dongzi was such a famous family, with housekeepers and servants, and the head of the family was indeed Miss Qianjin. She was famous and well-known in the entire Anzhou territory.

But looking at it now, it looks like a remote village, isolated from the world, a world of its own, comparable to Dayangzhai in Laoyin Mountain.

"Miss, go freshen up quickly and go to the cave to meet the master!"

"Since something happened to you, I don't know how anxious I am. If there is no news, I will come out to find you personally."

After bringing everyone here, the three elders asked Xiang Yatou to be taken away by several mother-in-laws and maids from the village. When these people saw Xiang Yatou, they were also very excited and looked up and down. While wondering why her hair was tied.

As Xiang Yatou walked in, she looked back at Hu Ma, who just nodded to her to reassure her.

The two were inseparable along the way, but when they got home, they couldn't stay together anymore.

Instead, avoid suspicion.

Anyway, now that we are at home, no matter how courageous those people are, they would not dare to do anything to Xiangya.

"Everyone, it's hard work coming from afar, and you can enjoy the food and wine."

After taking Xiang Yatou in, the three elders of the Li family hurriedly invited everyone to deliver meals in front of the village. They saw a dozen Eight Immortals tables already placed in a wide courtyard, with chicken, fish and some fresh food on them. There are seasonal vegetables and a jar of wine each.

Although the quality was obviously not low, Hu Ma felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at it. Something was wrong. The banquet was not of a high quality...

This is obviously the level at which Dayangzhaizi entertained the Blood Food Gang stewards who came down from the city...

Earlier they said that the Guidongzi Li family was so famous and powerful, so I wanted to come over and plan something.

But why does it look so shabby now?

Is it that the Guidongzi Li family is stingy and unwilling to give out good things to entertain, or are they really that poor?

However, seeing the food and wine available, some of the people in this group were greedy for wine. They were on their way at noon and had not drank. Now they really couldn't hold it anymore. They started to come over while joking, but they were stopped by their companions.

The food and wine were served on the table, but the Li family members did not leave. Instead, they picked up incense burners one after another, placed them on the table, burned incense one by one, and kowtowed towards the big stone.

This doesn't look like it's for living people to eat, but for offering as an offering?

Just when everyone was a little surprised, the three elders waited for the juniors to offer sacrifices and moved away the incense burner, then turned to everyone and said with an apologetic smile: "This is the rule of our big stone cliff. After setting the table, it is necessary." Please let the ghosts and gods enjoy it first, so don’t blame anyone.”

Everyone in the Jianghu felt that it was strange. It was not a festival, so why was there such a rule?

But they all smiled and said it didn't matter, and then they all sat down together.

Hu Ma, the fourth master among the three elders of the Li family, Lady Han, and several prominent people on the Anzhou River and Lake Road sat at the head table, and were pushed to the right side of the Eight Immortals table facing west. This was the VIP seat. Even Lady Han , also sat opposite him.

The elder poured the first glass of wine for Hu Ma himself, thanking her profusely, and then left the job of pouring the wine to the junior who was pouring the wine.

Hu Ma was measured and not overly active, just talking politely.

Suddenly I felt in my heart that it was a good thing that Miss Red Wine invited so many people to come together, otherwise the rules of the Li family in this cave are so strict, and I might be in a panic when I come.

In addition, everyone in Dongzi's Li family was full of joy and thanks, but Hu Ma knew how they really felt. Sitting here, she felt one or two sinister eyes from time to time, and secretly paid attention to them.

On the other hand, the people at the table were all smiling and only spoke words of gratitude, and no one mentioned the awkward things.

The atmosphere was harmonious, as if it was really just the young lady of the Li family who got lost and was brought back, without any of those dirty things.

The troubles and intrigues she was worried about did not exist at all. There was Miss Red Wine sitting across from her, and they played tricks on the people in the opera house. She could not hide what these people wanted to do from her eyes, but she did not remind her during the whole process, which showed that this was really true. It's just a table.

After three rounds of drinking, everyone was full and full, so the Li family invited everyone to stay overnight.

There are also some people in the world who have drunk too much. They just say that they don't believe it, so it's okay to rush back at night.

But the Li family just smiled and said: "Dashitou Cliff is different from other places. Don't refuse, just stay here."

He added: "But remember, after you move in, don't go out at night and don't open the windows."

"It's not that our Li family has too much trouble, it's Guidongzi's rules."

"..."

After hearing what they said, everyone fell silent for a while, even those who had drunk too much wine suddenly woke up a little.

Hu Ma was placed in a clean farmhouse. Although it was a rough wooden bed, it was easy to clean up. He had just been invited and had a few more drinks, but the old man's health was not too much. I was thinking silently:

"As soon as Xiang girl went in, she never came out again. Could something happen? Then the master of the Li family never showed up. What happened?"

"Even the Li family mentioned Guidongzi. It seems that Guidongzi is real..."

"But I don't know where it is, and it is rumored to be so naughty?"

"..."

Just as he was curious, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. Hu Ma was immediately alert, stood up and said, "Who is it?"

"My benefactor hasn't rested yet, has he?"

A young voice sounded outside the door, saying: "My master has asked you to come over and thank you in person."

"master?"

Hu Ma was startled for a moment, then got up from the bed and opened the door.

But outside the door were two juniors from the Li family of Dongzi. They were all wearing black cloth robes. They had strong hands and feet. They seemed to have been working in the fields all year round. Except for the vague yin energy on their bodies, they were different from farmers in other places. , there is no big difference.

Now they were holding a white lantern in their hands to illuminate the road, and behind them was a large stone cliff that was completely engulfed in darkness, without any light at all.

"Then please lead the way!"

It's not that Hu Ma is not vigilant, it's just that when she comes to others, she always has to act calmly.

The master of the Li Mansion said he wanted to thank him in person, so why should he ask Miss Red Wine to accompany him?

He immediately adjusted his robes and followed them out, walking on the hard and rugged mountain road in the village. The two younger members of the Li family did not speak during the whole journey.

Hu Ma didn't say anything, just followed their lantern and walked forward. There was deathly silence everywhere.

I could see that I followed the path in the village and turned all the way in, as if I was heading towards the mountains, where the big rocks were located.

When passing an intersection, the two young men suddenly stopped.

Hu Ma also looked up and saw a circle of celadon bowls filled with white rice with chopsticks inserted vertically at the crossroads ahead, and fires were burning inside these celadon bowls.

No, it's a pile of incense.

It was an unknown number of incense sticks, which were stuck together and burned until green smoke filled the air. The dark red incense dots illuminated the surrounding area slightly.

Watching it in the middle of the night already made people feel hairy, but what was even more shocking was that on another small road that intersected with the road they were taking, there was the sound of iron chains, and then crooked figures came over one by one. .

Hu Ma could actually see their faces clearly. They were all blank and vaguely blue. They were wearing either silk or satin, coarse cloth, or even bare feet.

They were tied with chains and were swaying as they walked.

When they reached this intersection, they all stopped, leaned over, and took a few deep breaths toward the pile of incense.

There seemed to be a bit of nostalgia on the stiff face, and then he continued to move forward reluctantly.

Some greedy ones took a few more sips, which blocked the way back. Someone next to the team tugged on the chain, causing him to stagger and fall forward a few steps. The people behind him quickly followed up. I took a few deep breaths in front of the incense pile and then continued forward.

By this time, dozens of people had passed by, and they didn't finish until the incense pile was almost extinguished.

It was only then that the two guides whispered: "Let's go!"

Hu Ma couldn't help but feel a little curious, and whispered: "Those are..."

"It's a dead person detained from Yongle Mansion."

One of the young people leading the way seemed to have a strange smile on his face, and whispered: "You are going to enter the gate of hell."

"This is the last meal before entering the customs. Of course, it's a meal for the dead."