Twilight's Threshold Chapter 122: Impure Sacrifice - Novel Cool

Chapter 122: Impure Sacrifice

Chapter 122: Impure Sacrifice

"Let's not talk about it."

Seeing the worried look on Old Qian's face, the Young Incense Master merely waved his hand. He had been with this Ghost Walker for a long time, so he knew the other's abilities well.

Ghost Walkers usually traveled to the south and north, living a hard life. Those who relied on the Blood Food Sect for sustenance were limited in their abilities.

Moreover, he could tell that although the river's surface was calm, the enemies within were far from ordinary. Even the incense they burned themselves could not reach the river. It was already impressive that Old Qian could speak.

Therefore, he frowned in thought for a moment and whispered, "If we need a pair of child sacrifices, it's not a difficult matter..."

As he spoke, he glanced at the fishing villages on both banks of the river and shook his head, "But it's broad daylight now, making things inconvenient."

Old Qian, hearing his words, was startled at heart but quickly hid it, not daring to show it on his face.

He cautiously said, "Why not think of another way, or... at night?"

"The matter should not be delayed. Who knows what will happen by nightfall?"

But hearing this, the Young Incense Master suddenly made a decision. Though he hesitated at first when Old Qian spoke, he adjusted far quicker than Old Qian.

His gaze flickered slightly, and he said, "Where is that Yellow-Haired Girl now?"

Old Qian was slightly startled, "In the village behind, helping the Apprentices cook the meal!"

The Young Incense Master said indifferently, "Call her over!"

Old Qian understood his meaning and could not help but jump, "But she is your..."

"Left and right, it's just a ten-tael silver purchase. I saw her potential and wanted to offer her to the Ancestor. I haven't used her yet."

The Young Incense Master said indifferently, "Using her here won't be a loss."

"Ah..."

Old Qian, hearing his indifferent tone, decided someone's life and death, felt a chill in his heart, but could not help but remind him in a low voice, "But even if we call her, she is just one. We still lack... another child sacrifice, you wouldn't..."

As he spoke, he subconsciously looked at the surrounding Green Robe Gang disciples.

Among these disciples, there were indeed not a few child sacrifices, but he had already broken his body early.

"What are you thinking?"

The Young Incense Master noticed his gaze and sneered, "They are all selling their lives to me. Why would I have designs on them?"

"On the contrary, in this fishing village, if there are any lone fishermen..."

"..."

While pondering, he glanced at the river, empty and desolate. The fishermen were scared away by them and had not yet set out to sea. Moreover, no one came out this day.

If they directly entered the village to snatch people, it would easily provoke public anger, and dealing with it would be troublesome.

Just as he pondered, he suddenly turned his head and saw a man wearing a bamboo hat, just leaving the shore. He had just picked up Little Red Apricot and was preparing to leave, coincidentally seen by the Young Incense Master, his eyes slightly changed.

"Who is that?"

"Seems to be a passerby. My men have already inquired."

The Young Incense Master's heart suddenly moved, "Call him over."

On the other side, Hu Ma, having just heard Little Red Apricot describe how large the jar was, was thinking of a plan. He pretended to leave but didn't walk far when he was suddenly called back.

Turning to look, he saw a man wearing a green robe, made of fine material, smooth and shiny, with a hair bun on his head, leading a few disciples coming over, smiling from afar, "Sir, please accept my greetings!"

"Seeing you in a hurry, where are you heading?"

"..."

Hu Ma, seeing his politeness, also bowed in return, smiling, "I'm delivering a message for the shop, heading to Xiaoliang County!"

The green-robed man smiled, "My apologies, my apologies."

As he spoke, he asked a few questions, which were the same as what his disciples had inquired of Hu Ma, but after clarifying, he suddenly asked:

"Seeing you are not old, sir, have you been married yet?"

"..."

Hu Ma's heart turned slightly, "Not yet..."

Saying this, he caught a slight relaxation in the other's brows and smiled, "But I have two sweethearts in the alley. Why do you ask this?"

Hearing this, the old man beside him was somewhat disappointed.

But the green-robed man, staring at Hu Ma's brows, examined him carefully, smiling, "I see you still have your yang qi unspent. How about this, I have an urgent matter, please come and help, and I will surely thank you greatly afterward..."

"Can this be seen?"

Hu Ma was speechless, still saying, "No need for great thanks, I still have matters here, farewell."

Saying this, he turned to leave, but the green-robed man, subtly signaled.

Behind Hu Ma, the two Green Robe Gang disciples who had blocked his path, suddenly came from left and right, one pressing Hu Ma's shoulder, the other grabbing his arm.

Their actions were proficient, clearly having done this many times.

But unexpectedly, just as they touched Hu Ma's clothes, Hu Ma's arms suddenly went limp, slipping out of their grasp. He smoothly grabbed their waistbands and threw them out.

The two men fell a few feet away, their faces turning green, struggling to stand but failing.

It was because Hu Ma had already used the Soul-Stealing technique of the Age Keepers.

With two arms turned to dead limbs, not only powerless but also capable of injuring a person's divine soul upon contact.

This was still Hu Ma deliberately leaving the hands; otherwise, with a fierce move, he could directly pull out their divine souls.

"Swish," "Swish," "Swish!"

Seeing this, the surrounding people were all greatly alarmed, drawing their waist knives and forming a tight formation in anticipation.

The man in the green robe's expression also changed slightly, staring at Hu Ma with a dead gaze, and said in a low voice, "So you're a martial artist..."

Hu Ma looked at him and smiled, "You're looking for help here, and even resorting to force?"

"It's just a misunderstanding."

The man in the green robe spoke very slowly, as if thinking while he spoke, and said to Hu Ma, "Brother, don't misunderstand, we're clumsy, please forgive us!"

"A misunderstanding is good, then. Farewell."

Hu Ma smiled and bowed to him, turned around, and ignored the knives raised by the Green Robe Gang disciples around him, walking forward in large strides.

Inside, he was also on guard, ready to draw his knife at any moment.

But all the way, he always felt the surrounding people staring at him with a dead gaze, yet no one actually made a move.

Only when he walked out of their line of sight did both sides breathe a slight sigh of relief. That Old Qian looked at him with some confusion.

Seeing the man in the green robe frown, he whispered, "Bad luck, didn't expect to casually catch such a troublesome person. This person doesn't seem to be lacking in skills. Now we shouldn't make more enemies, to avoid being exploited by those few in the temple..."

Old Qian nodded in agreement and added, "But this person is deeply concealing, and might not have good intentions."

"Can't afford to worry about it."

The Young Incense Master whispered, "We can only get the thing as soon as possible and send the brothers back to recover, otherwise, it will drag on and get messier."

"…Where are those few injured brothers now?"

"…"

Hearing him ask this, Old Qian was already startled.

Last night, the Green Robe Gang chased after a few Red Incense Disciples from the Lady Society. Both sides suffered casualties, and the Green Robe Gang had one severely injured, who was now lying in the carriage, his wound already treated, and sleeping inside.

The Young Incense Master and Old Qian came over, looking at the wound on his thigh. Sensing someone approaching, he forced his eyes open, seeing the Young Incense Master, he tried to get up.

"No need to get up. Your injury is too severe, rest easy. Your old mother and sister, I will take care of."

The Young Incense Master came closer to his side and whispered, the man in the carriage was startled and found it hard to believe.

But before he could speak, the Young Incense Master's palm was already pressing on his face, and with a hidden force, he directly knocked him out.

Old Qian watched from the side, already trembling in his heart.

The Young Incense Master gave him a cool glance, "They were originally selling their lives for me. Selling their lives here, isn't that good?"

Old Qian lowered his head, not daring to speak, and the Young Incense Master only said coolly, "Arrange it!"

…

…

"What are these people plotting?"

At the same time, Hu Ma, who had shown a hand in front of them, was also guarding against their further moves, but saw they didn't actually chase after him. He silently pondered in his heart.

Their sudden hostility towards him was perplexing. They made a move but didn't forcefully detain him, indicating they hadn't seen through his identity. But if not, what was the reason? Not robbing or provoking him for no reason?

His mind recalled the question they asked him about marriage...

…Is this to check if I'm a child sacrifice?

While thinking, he made a small circle and walked towards the fishing village on the riverbank. On both sides of the river, there were fishing families living off the water, and this village was even larger than the one on the other side.

When Hu Ma arrived, he saw the cooking smoke rising, and the fishing families were preparing their meals.

Seeing two figures in green robes walking with the people by the river, he silently stood to the side.

"What does the young master want me to do?"

"I… I am cooking for the young master. I… I cook very well, and I never steal food."

"…"

Getting closer, he found the two Green Robe Gang members leading a girl who looked pale and thin, like a bamboo pole, to the river. The girl seemed very afraid, constantly asking the two men, but they didn't answer her.

Seeing her, Hu Ma's heart suddenly brightened, understanding, "Ah, I see…"

"…Child sacrifices, not for offering?"

"…"

Since returning from the village, besides cultivating his own Age-Guarding Sect techniques, he hadn't forgotten to study the Book of Year-Taming, gradually understanding many offerings and sacrifices, and summoning and attracting evil spirits.

He knew offerings could be bizarre and varied, from a bowl of rice to fresh vegetables and fruits, or even chickens, fish, and the three sacrificial animals for a grand sacrifice.

But besides these, there were also impure sacrifices, like child sacrifices, which were one type.

"These Green Robe Gang people are leading the girl away, not stopping me, and asking if I'm a child sacrifice…"

"…They want to sacrifice to the River God?"

"…"

Thinking this, Hu Ma slowly exhaled, his mother’s thoughts indeed aligning with his own…

The Book of Year-Taming also mentioned the method of sacrificing to the River God.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end

Report