Twilight's Threshold Chapter 707: Lending a Helping Hand (Third Watch) - Novel Cool

Chapter 707: Lending a Helping Hand (Third Watch)

Chapter 707: Lending a Helping Hand (Third Watch)

In the desolate mountains, within a ghost cave.

Just as Meng Sizhong, a distant relative of the Meng family, was about to enter the cave, a faint and eerie laughter seemed to echo from deep within.

Meng Sizhong was blown by a gust of wind, and his entire body became stiff. Slowly, he managed to crawl to his feet.

As if guided by some unknown force, Meng Siliang stumbled into a village at the foot of the mountain. In a farmhouse, a lamb had just been born and died, left abandoned in the pen. But this dead lamb slowly stood up again.

Its brown, horizontal pupils were eerie and rigid.

Meng Siliang walked straight to the lamb and slowly extended his arms, embracing the strange lamb in his arms.

At that moment, the young officials, family guards, and the entire procession behind him watched in stunned silence. Then, they quietly gave the order, and suddenly, drums and gongs sounded, creating a commotion as if sending off a deity.

Disasters, invisible and intangible, would attach themselves to something upon leaving the ghost cave. This was known as summoning disaster.

The Meng family's descendants, by sending disasters with their bodies, aimed to deliver these calamities to their intended destinations.

This was the act of delivering disasters.

They all knew to be cautious, and so they surrounded Meng Siliang, slowly walking along the narrow path towards the direction of Old Yin Mountain.

Similarly, in ten other places, eleven Meng family descendants, each holding a different disaster object, headed towards Old Yin Mountain from various directions.

In places like Ling Shou Prefecture, thirty miles away, at the end of a small path, a stone stele stood, marking the boundary of the ghost cave. These abandoned ghost caves also had steles, and the surrounding forest was adorned with red cloth strips, tied there by local ghost hunters to warn others of the danger and keep strangers away.

Now, with their drums and gongs, and incense swirling around, they had slowly approached the stele and the forest adorned with cloth strips. Then, they gradually came to a stop.

The arrow was already on the string, and disaster was about to strike the world, just one step away.

...

...

"Young Master Meng, please prioritize the greater good..."

At that moment, several stern-faced and weary individuals entered the Meng family's ancestral mansion, disregarding etiquette and striding in without hesitation.

Meng Siliang, the eldest son of the Meng family, had his head bowed, a cold smile on his face. But when he lifted his head, his expression suddenly changed to one of grievance, "Several respected elders, when my Meng family was being harmed by demons, you were nowhere to be found. But now, why have you all come to our doorstep?"

"Young Master Meng, think thrice!"

The visitors, clearly having traveled a long distance, didn't even catch their breath before speaking urgently, "We are well aware of your family's situation, and we are indeed anxious for your family."

"But the Meng family's success today is the result of generations of hard work. Are you really willing to sacrifice it all in a reckless battle?"

"..."

"So, you're here to stop me from seeking revenge!"

Meng Siliang's anger rose upon hearing this, and he gritted his teeth, "The Hu family has gone too far, imprisoning my father and allowing demons to abduct my mother. As a son, how can I not seek revenge?"

"If the Hu family is heartless, then the Meng family will risk everything to avenge this grudge!"

"..."

The visitors who had come upon hearing this news were now embarrassed, sighing, "We, as part of the same martial world, will also do our best to find the Meng family's matriarch. But whether it was the Hu family's doing or not is still uncertain..."

"As for the Meng family's eldest master, with his abilities, the Hu family has no foothold in the netherworld and couldn't possibly have taken him away..."

"..."

Some of their words were uncomfortable even for them to say, and someone quickly added, "The matter of summoning disasters is of great importance, especially when you've summoned eleven of them at once..."

"Are you here to advise me, respected elders?"

Meng Siliang suddenly flew into a rage, "Enough! Everyone looks down on the Meng family, but we also have our pride. Please leave, elders!"

"You..."

Seeing that he was not receptive to their advice, the visitors frowned deeply.

"Young Master Meng, please listen to me..."

Finally, someone managed to control their anger and spoke gently, "You are the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Ten Surnames. Surely you understand the importance of the Stone Pavilion Ceremony. Moreover, with the eldest master missing and the matriarch not in the mansion, it's time for you to step up and take responsibility. How can you be so impulsive?"

"Me?"

Meng Siliang let out a cold laugh upon hearing this, "I am of a lower generation and have no right to take on such a burden and represent the Meng family at the Stone Pavilion."

Hearing him mention the Stone Pavilion, the others exchanged glances, understanding his intentions. An elder with a long beard smiled, "In the Meng family, who else but you is qualified for this?"

The others also tried to persuade him, "We know that there is no conflict between the Meng and Hu families. After the Stone Pavilion Ceremony, let the two families settle their differences."

"But if you can't control yourself now, the plans we've made will be delayed for another few decades."

"..."

"I'm not unaware of the importance of the situation."

Meng Siliang seemed to be persuaded and slowly lifted his head, speaking seriously, "I don't intend to drag the entire Meng family into a life-and-death struggle with the Hu family. Sigh, these grudges are from the previous generation...

"Actually, in Bright State, the Hu family's young master helped me find my second brother's remains, preventing him from being exposed in the wilderness. I am still grateful to him for that."

"..."

The others listened intently and quickly chimed in, "Well said, well said, but..."

Meng Siliang's voice suddenly turned grave as he fixed his gaze on the few who had arrived. "Then I ask the respected elders to agree to a few matters. If the Hu family is willing, then despite our grievances, we can wait until the Stone Pavilion Ceremony to settle them."

The group focused their attention, all saying, "Please, tell us."

"First, my Meng family has been targeted by demons, and things are unstable. I ask the respected elders to consider the reputation of our martial arts lineage and help us deal with these demons."

Meng Siliang slowly spoke, stating his conditions, "Second, the Netherworld affair is indeed none of their concern. After my ancestor awakens, they can find my father on their own. But the Hu family's wandering ghosts are everywhere, and I want them to use their influence to find my mother."

The others listened, momentarily unsure of how to respond. They slowly spoke, "Please continue."

"Third..."

Meng Siliang paused here, letting out a soft sigh. "I am also willing to prioritize the greater good and suppress the anger within the Meng family. However, my position is not legitimate, and my words carry no weight. I still need the respected elders to witness and agree to this, as well as the agreement for the Stone Pavilion Ceremony."

For a moment, the atmosphere turned deathly silent. After a while, someone slowly spoke, "So, you want us to acknowledge you as the head of the Meng family, and the most crucial thing is..."

"...to ensure you can enter the Stone Pavilion?"

"...

Meng Siliang's face revealed a look of melancholy as he sighed, "The young one only considers the greater good. Can't the respected elders agree to this?"

"Now, it is my Meng family that has been pushed to this point, and we have no choice but to make these three conditions. It's just a matter of saving face. How about this—even with these three conditions, I won't say more. As long as you can fulfill two of them, I'll take a step back. How about that?"

"...

"...

The visitors exchanged glances, and after a long pause, they sighed, "We will discuss it, and we have already sent someone to find the Hu family in Bright State..."

"Then you must act quickly!"

Meng Siliang sighed softly, and a smile appeared on his face again. "Attendant, serve tea to the respected elders!"

"...

"...

"He is indeed clever..."

Hu Ma listened to Zhao Sanyi's words and couldn't help but sigh, "Sacrificing ten clan members to create this precarious situation where the arrow is drawn and must be released. He's also certain that the Hu family can't compete, so the other eight surnames won't stand by and will join forces to pressure us, the wandering ghost sect?"

Zhao Sanyi listened, feeling anxious, "To be honest, no one cares about the Meng family, but the Hu family is essential for the Stone Pavilion Alliance. It's just not right for them to have problems now..."

"That Meng family young master is really determined. He forced a direct blood relative to kneel before the ghost cave and summon disaster. Who knows if he will really release them..."

"Once the disaster is triggered, one disaster will come, and another will be born. If the eleven disasters converge on Old Yin Mountain, your young master won't be able to escape no matter where he hides."

"Can't you help us persuade him?"

"...

"I can't persuade him."

Hu Ma slowly said, "But I can help fulfill one of his conditions."

"What?"

Zhao Sanyi was both surprised and delighted by what he heard. He hurriedly said, "That's great, that's great! If you can fulfill one, and we fulfill another, we can at least complete the task. What can the crazy young master of the Meng family say then?"

Hu Ma listened, and suddenly said, "But if I do this, what if the Meng family still causes trouble and harms our wandering ghost sect?"

"After all, to calm this chaos, I've already gone against the young master's orders..."

"...

"How dare he?"

Zhao Sanyi was furious, "The alliance of our four surnames, Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang, is not a joke. The Hu family is willing to negotiate, but if the Meng family still doesn't understand and insists on their delusions, then they're not even considering the face of the ten surnames."

"That's good."

Hu Ma listened and sighed, raising his hand and pointing forward, "The Meng family's elder lady is in the front courtyard. Take her back, and that's it."

"What?"

This time, Zhao Sanyi was truly stunned.

He blinked, suddenly realizing what was happening. He rushed towards the front courtyard, followed by Chen A Bao and Zhou Si, who paused for a moment before rushing after him.

Zhou Si turned back to look at Hu Ma, feeling that he was truly responsible.

But after they rushed past, Hu Ma gave a cold glance, "Things have come to this point, and if the Meng family wants to back down, they've made a mistake..."

"Since you have the arrow drawn but are holding back, why not let me be the one to release this arrow?"

"...

"...

In the north, at the Ling Shou Prefecture in An Prefecture, in the Great Stone Cliff Village, Fragrant Girl was holding a letter that Hu Ma had given her several days ago. Along with the letter, there was also a copper coin.

"Father..."

Her voice trembled as she spoke to Li Family Patriarch, "Hu Ge has sent a letter, asking for our help..."

"He wants to summon disaster in the name of the Meng family..."

(End of Chapter)

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