Twilight's Threshold Chapter 706: The Negotiator (Second Shift) - Novel Cool

Chapter 706: The Negotiator (Second Shift)

Chapter 706: The Negotiator (Second Shift)

Previously, various methods of coercion had failed to pry open Meng Jia Dachao's mouth, but now, it was his son who had inadvertently loosened his tongue.

Hu Ma seized this opportunity and relentlessly questioned him, covering past events and the Meng family's techniques. He listened carefully, taking detailed notes, and even asked Little Hong Tang to prepare ink and paper.

Unconcerned about the possibility of deception, Hu Ma knew he could verify the information later using his life-bound spirit temple. As he listened, he occasionally asked questions at crucial points, and to his surprise, he learned many of the Shadow Meng family's unique skills, gaining a sudden understanding.

Most surprisingly, he made connections that deepened his comprehension of the New Year Scroll.

The New Year Scroll given to him by his grandmother had three volumes. The first volume was about summoning ghosts and mystical techniques, the second was about the four curses, and the third was somewhat complex. Most of its content overlapped with the Evil Suppression Bureau's existence, and the non-overlapping parts were too profound, seemingly recorded solely for documentation.

However, the latter part of the New Year Scroll began to make more sense as Meng Jia Dachao narrated, and Hu Ma felt a sense of interconnectedness.

Hu Ma, accompanied by Little Hong Tang, emerged from the house carrying the jar, and the morning sun had already brightened the Great Sheep Village. Everywhere, people were bustling, with paper offerings, incense, and wine jars.

The village's youths, their waists wrapped in red cloth, were eating breakfast and preparing for the mountain worship ceremony. Unlike ghost worship, which was best done in the early morning or late evening when Yin energy was strongest, mountain worship required the peak of Yang energy at noon.

Although Hu Ma had made arrangements, his identity posed a problem. Whether it was the Hu family lineage or the cause-and-effect of the Evil Suppression Bureau, neither was suitable for his direct involvement. Instead, he prepared to burn incense at the appropriate time for the mountain worship, a task led by the Second Master.

To be honest, if it weren't for the Second Master's Fire Pit, Hu Ma, being of a lower generation, should not have been the one to lead this ceremony; it should have been the Elder Patriarch.

Currently, unfamiliar faces filled the village inside and out. Hu Ma, without the red silk sash, wore a simple and neat green robe, making him inconspicuous as he strolled out of the village.

He was about to head towards Meng Clan Elder Lady's place when he suddenly heard a peculiar voice from behind, "Old brother, you're in a real bind, and here you are, taking your sweet time. Is it the New Year already?"

Hu Ma recognized the voice and turned to see Zhao San Yi and Chen A Bao, whom he had met in the Netherworld.

The person following them shocked Hu Ma even more, "Is that..."

"What a malevolent spirit! It's you!"

Before Hu Ma could identify him, the woman at the back was already startled, her eyes reddening, her body tensing, and her fists clenching. She seemed ready to strike without a word.

Hu Ma recognized the voice; it was none other than Zhou Si Gals, whom he had fought in the City of the Unrighteous Dead.

"Oh dear, oh dear..."

Zhao San Yi hurriedly stopped Zhou Si Gals as she drew attention with her anger. Chen A Bao, with greasy hands, grabbed Zhou Si Gals' sleeve, saying, "What did we agree on the way here? We said not to make a scene."

"How can I not make a scene?"

Zhou Si Gals, in her anger, was also terrified, "This is a malevolent spirit..."

"You..."

"..."

"The Longevity Technique is useless if you don't have the brains to use it."

Hu Ma, realizing the situation, said nothing but gave Zhou Si Gals a cold look, "You haven't faced the consequences for what you did in the City of the Unrighteous Dead, and now you dare to slander me in my village?"

"How dare you? Do you think being from the Zhou family means I won't hit you hard?"

"..."

Malevolent spirits should perish in the light, yet this one, under the bright sky, dared to smirk at Hu Ma, his face filled with resentment. This shocked Zhou Si Gals.

Of course, she was still scared from their previous encounter in the City of the Unrighteous Dead, which was why Zhao San Yi and Chen A Bao were able to hold her back.

Zhao San Yi took advantage of her momentary shock, "Oh, I told you not to be so impulsive. This isn't a malevolent spirit!"

"When he entered the City of the Unrighteous Dead, I was the one who sent him in. Besides, you must have heard about what happened there. If he were truly a malevolent spirit, how dare he follow the Hu family's young master so openly?"

"..."

Chen A Bao released Zhou Si Gals' sleeve and picked up the fried dough twist from the ground to continue eating, "Even if he is, it proves that this malevolent spirit is a domesticated one!"

"You... What are you saying..."

Zhou Si Gals felt her mind couldn't keep up with the situation, "He... I clearly remember him in the City of the Unrighteous Dead, protecting the demon who imprisoned the Noble Family Zhang. I tried to intervene, but he... he stopped me..."

"I remember his appearance and his eyes. Don't try to convince me; I remember him too well to forget, no matter how he tries to disguise himself."

"What good does remembering him do?"

Zhao San Yi said, "That's a matter between the Hu and Meng families. What business do you have interfering, being from the Zhou family?"

Chen A Bao finished his fried dough twist and licked his fingers, saying, "Exactly, it's not like we're looking for a son-in-law. Why remember it so accurately?"

Their confident demeanor made Zhou Si Gals feel a little guilty, and she blinked her big eyes.

Hu Ma, on the other hand, looked impatient and said, "Regarding the matter of the City of the Unrighteous Dead, you two did indeed help. The Hu family will remember this, and our young master also wants to properly thank you. But you left so quickly that we didn't get to meet."

"Even if you had realized and wanted to ask for a reward, you should have gone to our young master. Why come to the Great Executioner Sect?"

"It's a matter of the Jianghu; coming to our home is not following the rules, right?"

"..."

"Please don't misunderstand..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao San Yi became a little nervous and quickly closed the distance, saying, "We really had no other choice but to come here..."

"Where is your young master now? Please let him come out and meet us."

"..."

Hu Ma stopped and looked at him intently, asking, "Why?"

"Don't you know?"

Zhao San Yi's face was filled with fear. "The Hu and Meng families are going to fight to the death, aren't they?"

"If we don't come to mediate, this world will be turned upside down!"

"The most crucial thing is that this is such a big matter, and I was involved from the beginning. I dug the cave, and if things get out of hand, my elders will probably push me out to take the blame. They might even skin me alive!"

"..."

"It wasn't me who begged you for help in the first place..."

In an instant, Hu Ma understood what they were thinking and turned to look at them, saying, "Moreover, it's the Meng family who wants to fight the Hu family to the death. Why are you looking for me? If you really want to mediate, shouldn't you go to the Meng family's young master?"

"Someone has already gone there!"

Zhao San Yi said nervously, "He's truly a madman. The elders won't let him do this!"

"All of this is for the Stone Pavilion Alliance. We've searched everywhere but couldn't find the Hu family's young master, so we had to come to you."

"Others may not be able to help, but you must have a way. We just want to advise you not to act on impulse at this critical moment. That Meng family's young master is too crazy. As long as you release the Meng family's patriarch first, everything can still be salvaged!"

"..."

Because the Meng family and the Hu family are fighting to the death, are the other eight surnames also starting to worry?

However, instead of letting the Hu and Meng families fight to the death, they came to persuade the Hu family to release their captive first. These seven surnames are also interesting; is it because they witnessed the Meng family's actions, which were truly terrifying? Perhaps, if the Meng family had only summoned one or two disasters, the other families would have been happy to watch the spectacle. But now that the situation has escalated, they are starting to feel anxious.

A cold smile appeared on his lips, and he said, "If you came as mediators, then you've come to the wrong person. To be honest, even I don't know where our young master is."

Zhao San Yi was shocked. "What?"

Hu Ma calmly said, "It's true. We separated at the City of the Unrighteous Dead, and I haven't found him yet."

Zhao San Yi, being familiar with the Trick Sect's reputation in the Jianghu, could tell from Hu Ma's relaxed expression that he wasn't lying, and he truly seemed worried.

Hu Ma frowned and said, "Is it because the Meng family is in a hurry to take action that your elders can't persuade them?"

"Who can persuade the Meng family if they insist on inviting disaster?"

Zhao San Yi's lips trembled. "If we forcefully stop them, won't we offend the creatures in the cave first? At this point, only if one of the two families takes a step back can we avoid both sides being hurt..."

"I don't know what our young master is thinking either..."

As Hu Ma spoke, he led them out of the village, and the surroundings became quieter. He curiously asked, "But you might as well tell me, what is the situation with the Meng family now, and how did your elders persuade the Meng family's young master?"

Zhao San Yi had pinned his hopes on him, so he hurriedly told him everything he knew.

...

...

"Ah, so I really misunderstood?"

On the other side, Zhou Si Gals, who was following behind, listened to Chen A Bao and kept looking at Hu Ma, her expression growing more confused. "I wasn't deceived by the Meng family. I just heard that it was a malevolent spirit, so I had to take action."

"I... I really didn't know that the Hu family was the mastermind behind this and that it involved so many things... Does this mean that the Great Executioner isn't a malevolent spirit?"

"..."

Chen A Bao casually grabbed a handful of fried dough balls from the nearby table and said, "Are you really that simple-minded?"

"Do you want me to open it up and take a look? It's sewn shut."

"..."

"I didn't mean it, I didn't."

Zhou Si Gals said, "I just don't use my brain much after learning my skills, but I used to be quite smart."

"Then consider yourself smart!"

Chen A Bao said, "Now can you tell us why you insisted on coming with us to find the Hu family's young master?"

Zhou Si Gals was at a loss for words.

...

As they walked ahead, Hu Ma listened to Zhao San Yi's account of the Meng family's affairs and was slightly surprised. "Three conditions? The Meng family's young master is quite bold!"

(End of Chapter)

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