Twilight Boundary

Hu Ma and Lao Ban speeded up their journey, but it was not until almost dusk that they saw from a distance a sizable town hidden among the mountains and forests. It was extremely lively with pavilions and buildings and mules and horses passing by.

When they arrived next to the town, they saw a stone carved horse standing on a stone plate, which was lifelike. The horse was surrounded by a circle of gravel. On both sides, there were traces of someone burning incense, and it seemed that someone was burning it. Worship this stone horse as a god.

"This is Shima Town."

After walking for a long time, Lao Abacus was already wilting. When he arrived in front of the town, he cheered up and said to Hu Ma: "This is also a big city in the past, and it has quite a history!"

"It is said that there was a plague here before, and the people around suffered heavy casualties. A general from the previous dynasty resigned and returned to his hometown. He saw that there was a plague ghost causing trouble in the countryside, so he rode a horse and sword, came over to eliminate the ghost and killed the plague ghost. But this old man The general is also dead."

"The people were grateful for the old general's merits and buried him near the village. His horse was nostalgic for the Lord and could not leave. It stayed by the tomb and turned into a stone horse."

"Now that time has passed, even the old general's tomb can't be found, but this stone horse has remained."

"..."

Hu Ma listened, although she found it interesting, it was difficult to tell whether it was true or not. Such rumors existed everywhere. Even though there were many more strange powers in the world, there were only a lot more rumors spread.

He just listened, looked up at the town, and sighed softly: "Although this town is in the mountains, it is quite lively."

"hey-hey……"

The old abacus took a look and whispered: "It used to be an ancient city, but now it has become a den of bandits. The Qian Cult made such a fuss that all the officials in the surrounding cities were driven away, and the granaries were also destroyed. Sold out.”

"But they are also afraid that the government will send people over, so they spend less time outside. They usually spend time in the mountains, building altars, building wild temples, and attracting believers. When the place becomes lively, it attracts merchants and merchants from all walks of life. The people around here also come here to do business.”

"There are no taxes here, and there are no royal laws. When you come and go, it's much more lively than outside!"

"..."

"Good guy, are you really bent on rebellion?"

Hu Ma couldn't help but think to herself, in this world, the government is already low-key enough.

Usually I don't care about this or that, I just want to collect some taxes, but if no one insists on paying, I usually don't make much noise. Just like this, I have to drive this government away. It's like I don't care about anything else. Well, it seems like you have to take up this rebel status first.

He could understand the Red Lantern Lady Society's way of survival, but he didn't quite understand the practices of this money sect.

I just happened to take this opportunity to understand.

"Let's go, my old man is already empty in his belly. Then Mr. Sun, should the table be set by now?"

Old Abacus urged, while he and Hu Ma entered the town, he said: "The place is big, and there are many experts. In addition, there is no one to look after here, and the three religions and nine streams are mixed together."

"Not only the people from Yiqian Cult, but also some fierce gangsters outside who have no place to live or people who do shady business, also like to come here. Although you are very capable, you must be careful."

Hu Ma said: "I know."

He got off the donkey and led him into the town. In the outside town, people would be interrogated when entering, but not here.

Lao Abacus only confessed once and didn't ask any more questions.

Even though he was good at this, he had already discovered that Hu Ma had many secrets, and the ability to keep the year old when he entered the house was not at all what a young shopkeeper of the Red Lantern Society should have. However, he was curious, but not Will make random inquiries and inquiries.

Of course, due to courtesy, Hu Ma did not inquire about some of his affairs.

The two of them walked along the street and saw that the surroundings were lively and busy. It was clear that night was approaching, but they had no intention of closing the stalls. Instead, they turned on the lights to do business. It looked like it was even more popular than the city outside. Some.

And when they arrived at the Sifang Inn that Mr. Sun had agreed upon, they were shocked to see the lights at the door, the seductive woman, the cuckold turtle man, and the old abacus.

He sighed deeply: "Although this place is lawless, it is really a nice place to go, even better than the city."

Hu Ma glanced at him and said, "How can I see you?"

Old Abacus took a deep breath and said, "The little ladies here have shorter skirts and whiter legs than those in the city."

"...This rouge is very good. It smells better than the ones in the city!"

"..."

"Seeing the big from the small is a good reference!"

Hu Ma praised him, led his horse to the front of the building, and smiled at Mr. Turtle, who was soliciting business at the door, and asked, "Big teapot, is Mr. Sun from Liu County hosting a banquet here?"

The Turtle Man hurriedly came up to him. He first shouted at someone and took the animal from Hu Ma's hands, took it to the back and fed it properly. Then he nodded and bowed, and led him and Lao Abacus inside.

Along the way, I saw that the place was very spacious, and the rows of large houses were all brightly lit. From a distance, I saw people eating and drinking inside. Most of them looked like merchants, but there were also quite a few who looked fierce and showed their wealth. The true nature of the guest.

"Brother Hu, you are finally here. We are good friends at this table, and they are just waiting for you to come and start the dinner."

Halfway through, Mr. Sun came out to greet you and said with a smile, "I heard your footsteps from a distance and came out to pick you up."

After saying this, he greeted Hu Ma and Lao Abacus, then lowered his voice and said to Hu Ma: "I have already handed you the words, and I also got senior sister's nod, so I invited you here."

"Tonight, I can introduce you to you, but you can't be underestimated at this table!"

"..."

"Can you hear my footsteps from far away?"

Hu Ma agreed with a smile and followed Mr. Sun inside, but she was sighing in her heart.

Last time I was drinking in the mine, I heard Mr. Sun say that this is one of his unique skills, called "earth listening". It was specially refined after refining the seven orifices.

Nowadays, in this bustling place with countless people walking around, accurately hearing the sound of one's own footsteps is just a small test. The real skill is to listen to the sounds coming from the military camp.

It is said that one can hear movements dozens of miles away by lying down on the ground, and can judge the general figures, how many are riding horses, how many are walking, and how much luggage they are carrying. Of course, Hu Ma only heard what Mr. Sun said and has not had the chance to see it in person. Take a look.

"so……"

Hearing what Mr. Sun said, Hu Ma had already made some guesses after Mr. Sun's messenger handed over the letter. Hearing the words, he nodded and whispered: "The person you are talking about does not eat cows. Senior sister, are you also related to Yiqianjiao?"

"Guessed it?"

Mr. Sun smiled and said: "It's not just related. The senior sister I'm talking about is actually the leader of our Yiqian Sect, the Supremely Good and True Mysterious Fairy."

"Otherwise, you would think that my old man would be able to earn a fortune so easily?"

"To put it bluntly, it's not them we believe in, but the masters who don't eat cows. That senior brother gave me guidance back then, and now I know that the people behind Yiqian Cult are people who don't eat cows. Why can't I help?"

"... Of course, the Yiqian Sect is quite powerful and well-known. The few worshippers in the sect may not be as good as your Red Lantern Empress, but they are all responsive to requests."

"..."

"Good guy..."

Although he had already guessed it, Hu Ma felt quite surprised when he heard it. A person who did not eat cows actually came over and became the leader of Yiqian Sect?

Or is it that people who don’t eat cows secretly saved up this money?

Like a branch?

If you talk about it this way, then it is more likely that the leader of the Qian Sect is also a reincarnation...

He was thinking silently in his heart, but on his face, he followed Mr. Sun inside and said with a low smile: "The situation with the Dharma King of Yiqian Sect was not pleasant because of the matter in the mine earlier..."

"It doesn't matter."

Mr. Sun said: "I opened the matter up. I gave her a few kilograms of blood food to replenish her body, and just said it was from you. How can she hold a grudge?"

"Now, she is just afraid that this matter will spread, ruining her and the reputation of the Lotus Mother. As long as we don't mention this, how can she go around talking nonsense? It's really made known to everyone, in the hall The guest will not spare her mouth!"

"..."

Hu Ma was moved by what he said: "Brother, he is so thorough in his work..."

However, I was thinking silently in my heart, what did the old man mean when he told me not to be underestimated at this banquet?

Is it possible that there is still a test on this table?

As he was talking, Mr. Sun had already led him to a three-story building, which faced a street. It looked very lively. Mr. Sun led the way. Going up, he saw that the three floors were all full. Got people.

Those sitting on the lower floor seemed to be some servants, and those sitting on the second floor were the leaders of various circles. Old Abacus waved his hand and sat here, leaving Hu Ma to follow them upstairs.

When we got upstairs, we saw people sitting at a table by the window facing the street. People standing far away stood up, smiling and clasping their hands.

"Come on, come on, let me introduce to you, this is Brother Hu that I'm talking about."

Mr. Sun brought Hu Ma over and said to everyone with a smile: "The manager of the Red Lantern Society has been in charge of a blood food mine at a young age. What I value most is that he is an expert in our Shou Sui sect. His ability is no weaker than mine."

Then he introduced to Hu Ma: "This is the old altar owner of Dashanbao, that is the big shopkeeper of the mule and horse shop, this is the second gang leader of the Bamboo Gang, and this is Grandma Wu's uncle. The famous matchmaker is marrying Wu." My grandma’s goddaughter is my wife…”

"...Oh, this one is the most powerful. The coffins in Shima Town are all his business!"

"..."

Listening to this, Hu Ma also felt that all kinds of religions were present, some even sounded outrageous, especially who was Grandma Wu's uncle?

It seems that the vitality is not broken, but why is the complexion sallow and thin?