Twilight's Threshold Chapter 50: The Hardship of Learning - Novel Cool

Chapter 50: The Hardship of Learning

Chapter 50: The Hardship of Learning

The four young men eagerly unloaded their bedding from the cart and entered the eastern room, where a long, wall-hugging brick bed could easily accommodate all five of them. They marveled at the windows covered with white paper, the sturdy furniture, and the spacious room, their excitement palpable as they explored their new surroundings.

But soon, their excitement waned, and they found themselves at a loss for what to do next. It wasn't the right time to heat the brick bed, and the steward hadn't given them any other tasks. The city was bustling, but they dared not venture out to explore.

"Should we just go to sleep now?" one of them wondered aloud.

Elder Second Brother glanced outside and said, "No one will bring us dinner tonight. Just wait here for a moment."

He retrieved a carrying chain from the cart and left the house. It didn't take long for him to return with two lotus leaf-wrapped lamb buns and a small jug of liquor, which he placed on the stone table in the empty courtyard.

The young men quickly gathered around, grabbing the greasy buns and devouring them with bright eyes. If it weren't for the heat, they would have eaten two at a time.

Elder Second Brother watched them with a smile and, feeling playful, said, "Come, have a drink with me."

Zhou Datong's eyes lit up, but he was cautious. "Are you sure you're not tricking us? Once, I sneaked a drink at home, and my grandfather broke a broom on me."

"That was before," Elder Second Brother chuckled. "Now that you're in the city, you're all grown men. It's time to taste the real thing."

"Remember, you must bring honor to our village."

"..."

The young men eagerly grabbed the wine jug, taking a swig that made their tongues stick out like those of hanged men from the spiciness.

Hu Ma also took a sip, feeling the burning sensation and the slightly rough taste. Compared to the carefully blended, smooth, and sweet liquor from his past life, this one was far from perfect, but he consoled himself: at least it wasn't made with industrial alcohol. This was genuine grain liquor.

After eating the buns and drinking the liquor, the young men, exhausted from the long journey, soon grew drowsy and lay down on the brick bed, falling into a deep sleep. Elder Second Brother then pulled out a handful of peanuts from his pocket and sighed, "I was thinking of returning in the next couple of days."

Hu Ma was taken aback. "So soon?"

"I'll be at ease once I see you all settled," Elder Second Brother explained. "Staying here isn't practical. I've already helped and arranged everything. The village is busy preparing for the spring mining season."

Hu Ma nodded in agreement, holding the wine jug with both hands and offering it to Elder Second Brother. "Thank you, Elder Second Brother."

"We don't need such formalities, do we? It makes us seem distant."

Elder Second Brother took a sip, then stood up and went to the cart. He rummaged through a bag of herbs and pulled out a cloth bundle, which he handed to Hu Ma.

Inside was a well-smoked piece of salted meat, weighing about two or three pounds.

Elder Second Brother said, "Before I left, the chief entrusted me with four pieces of taishou. I kept one for myself, and the steward can keep the other three or distribute them to other stewards. We can't go around giving gifts as soon as we arrive; it would only make people dislike us and refuse to help."

"This last piece is in case you all don't get enough to eat and fall ill. Keep it hidden and use it to help whoever needs it most."

"Only five of you have come out this year, and we can't afford to lose any of you."

"..."

"Is the village really entrusting this valuable item to me?"

Hu Ma understood the significance of the salted meat. Although Elder Second Brother had given away three pieces and handed him the fourth, this was one of the village's most precious reserves.

The Da Yang Village, despite relying on taishou for their livelihood, could only obtain white taishou or scraps. A whole piece of green taishou was a rare treasure, stored for years and never touched.

"You're the most reliable one," Elder Second Brother said, looking at Hu Ma. "First, you're used to eating that stuff and wouldn't be tempted by this. Second, you've become more mature and dependable after what you've been through."

"Besides..."

Elder Second Brother lowered his voice. "Others may not know, but I do. You have a unique talent, and these young men will look up to you."

"That puts a lot of pressure on me..."

Hu Ma chuckled bitterly, peeling a peanut and popping it into his mouth. It was crunchy and delicious.

Elder Second Brother watched Hu Ma peel the peanut naturally and sighed, "You've been spoiled by your grandmother, even eating peanuts without the skin..."

Shaking his head, he took another sip of the liquor and said, "I could tell from the beginning that you had high aspirations and wanted to learn a true craft. Now that you've joined the Blood Food Gang, you've taken the first step. But there's something important I need to tell you."

Hu Ma listened attentively.

Elder Second Brother continued, "Material wealth is fleeting. What's truly important in life?

"Skills are the most important thing."

"Who wouldn't want to learn such skills?"

"But it's not as simple as wanting to learn and someone teaching you. Back when I was young, there was an old master who watched me for thirty years, and I was still a pure yang child. He said he would teach me his skills."

"I was thrilled. I traveled far and wide with the old master for several years, using my pure yang body to help him clear out many evil spirits and demons. I thought that with my hard work, I could learn some truly powerful skills..."

"..."

"Hearing this, Hu Ma couldn't help but be taken aback. 'He didn't teach you?'"

"He did teach me..."

"Elder Two sighed and said with a bitter smile, 'But it was only the basic things you've already learned.'

"Maybe I was just too stupid to learn anything else."

"..."

"Hu Ma sensed the disappointment in Elder Two's words and felt a heavy heart, understanding the old man's intentions in sharing this story."

"Calling himself stupid was just self-deprecation. If it were truly because Elder Two was stupid, the old master could have at least taught him the full set of techniques. After all, these were external cultivation methods that didn't require much intelligence, just hard work and dedication."

"But in reality, Elder Two never even learned the full set of techniques."

"Ah, well, just be careful. Maybe this Red Lantern Society is different from the wild teacher I followed back then..."

"Elder Two sighed deeply and lowered his voice, 'For the children of this village, getting into the Red Lantern Society as a helper is considered a great achievement. But you're different. You have high aspirations and want to climb the ranks.'

"I may not have the skills to teach you, but I want you to succeed."

"I've left you a piece of green toadstool, about the size of a thumb on its tail tip, covered with black ash. When you have the chance, secretly cut it off and keep it safe."

"It's a valuable item. When you need to, give it as a gift to show your sincerity and ensure they don't refuse to teach you."

"..."

"Hu Ma was deeply moved, realizing that Elder Two had given him the best he had. Gratitude welled up in his heart, but all he could say was, 'Elder Two, once I learn the skills, I will definitely repay you.'

"..."

"Get you a beautiful bride and build a grand courtyard for you!"

"..."

"Elder Two, blushing, felt embarrassed, 'What nonsense, I'm so old...'

"..."

"I don't need a beautiful bride!"

"..."

"That night, after their conversation, Hu Ma and Elder Two went to sleep together in the house."

"The next morning, Elder Two packed some herbs from the cart and a few jars of the village's homemade black ointment, sold them at the herbalist's shop, and exchanged them for some silver and salt. He also left a jar for Hu Ma."

"He warned, 'Our village's homemade black ointment is the best. The shopkeepers dilute it with who knows what before selling it!'

"After all the preparations were done, he left before sunset, driving the cart away."

"Once the children were handed over to the Red Lantern Society, they belonged to them."

"The young men of the village, who hadn't expected Elder Two to leave so soon, were somewhat stunned and uneasy."

"Despite their usual rambunctiousness, they felt uneasy without an adult around."

"However, Hu Ma had been mentally prepared and simply waited patiently."

"They stayed in the empty house for a couple of days, and gradually, more groups of young men were sent over. Some were dressed in fine silk, looking prestigious, while others were robust and well-built."

"Seeing these newcomers, the village boys lost their confidence and dared not be as rowdy as usual."

"Unexpectedly, a few days later, more groups of young men were sent over, but they were dressed in tattered clothes, barefoot, and malnourished, looking even poorer than those from the village."

"Once there were more people, the place became lively."

"The young men vied for living quarters, fought over food, and sneaked out to buy sweets and clay figurines, or to watch performances. Only the village boys and the ragged newcomers remained the most well-behaved, never daring to compete with the well-dressed young men for food or other things."

"This Red Lantern Society accepts a diverse group of apprentices..."

"Hu Ma silently observed all this and didn't dare to underestimate anyone or anything in this world just because he was a reincarnated being. He speculated about the backgrounds of each group."

"Brother White Spirit, have you arrived?"

"A few days passed, and on the fifth night, as Hu Ma was just falling asleep, he found himself back in the misty temple, hearing a familiar voice."

"I've arrived."

"It wasn't a zero day, and hearing Brother Two Pot's voice, Hu Ma felt both surprised and relieved. He deliberately laughed and asked, 'Where are you? Do you want to meet?'

"Since you're here, you'll definitely see me within three days."

"Brother Two Pot chuckled, 'But whether or not you, a reincarnated being, meet me isn't important. There are some important matters I need to clarify for you to avoid falling into the Red Lantern Society's trap.'"

(End of Chapter)

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