Twilight Boundary

Chapter 330 - 328: Gold and Silver Baby Dolls

"The time is almost right..."

While these events were stirring, throughout Mingzhou, countless skilled individuals had noticed the problem but dared not interfere. In Zhu Men Town, Er Guotou, the Right Protector of the Red Lantern Society, was also troubled. The job Old White gave me isn't easy!

To deal with these Five Evil Envoys, the safest way is to not show up at all, ensuring that no information will be leaked, swiftly take them down, and leave with the treasure.

However, this approach is troublesome because it makes it inconvenient to request credit from the esteemed person in the mountains afterward.

The other way, then, is fishing.

In essence, I'd pretend to be looking for trouble with the Five Evil Envoys, but in reality, I'd be luring them to cause trouble for me. I'd take the opportunity to eliminate them, and it would also be easier to explain when asked later. This would also let the esteemed person in the mountains know that I helped him.

But how should I handle this?

The Right Protector couldn't help but worry. He had many identities and was well hidden, but this created complications when it came to getting things done.

The Red Lantern Society wasn't his personal domain.

Even though he had been taking care of the Red Lantern Lady since she was a little evil spirit, to this day, the Lady still believed every decision within the society was her own idea, while he was just a pitiful little follower, offering a word of advice at crucial moments.

Even within the society, in the eyes of his subordinates, his prestige as Right Protector was not as great as that of the Left Protector.

The benefit, of course, was that he was well hidden and not easily exposed.

The downside was that every time he wanted to do something, he had to think long and hard to ensure things went smoothly and according to his wishes.

Slowly pondering how to deal with that particular group of Five Evil Envoys, this unfortunate Right Protector paced through a broad courtyard and arrived at the hall where the Left Protector usually cultivated, knocking respectfully.

When he heard the "Come in" from inside, he hurriedly put on a smile, bowed, and entered the room, chuckling, "Little lady, still busy?"

Inside the room, the Left Protector was changing clothes, her voluptuous body on full display before him. She glared at him, "What 'little lady'? Be careful, we can't let the Lady know about our affairs."

"If both the left and right protectors are sleeping together, how can you expect the Lady to trust us in the future?"

The Right Protector paused, then quickly said, "Yes, yes..."

The Left Protector nodded quickly, thinking to herself, It's fine. After all, you don't know about my affairs with the Lady, do you?

"Go lie on the bed first."

The Left Protector finished dressing and said to Er Guotou, "I'll give you One Incense of time."

"No need, no need..."

The Right Protector hurriedly said, "This time I came to discuss proper business with you."

"The last batch of Blood Food from Green Bull Valley is to be divided between us. If it goes into the public accounts, at least half will have to be given to the Divine Incense Distributors, so we must handle this very carefully!"

The Left Protector shot him a sidelong glance. "So what? It's not the first time. It'll be fine if I personally go and retrieve it, won't it?"

The Right Protector was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you for your hard work! You should get at least twenty percent more."

"Me seven, you three?"

The Left Protector was surprised at his generosity, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "Finally, I see you being generous for once. How about I give you two Incenses of time later?"

The Right Protector sidled up to her, wrapped his arms around her slim waist, and whispered, "Just two Incenses? What can be done in that short time?"

In less than the time it takes for One Incense to burn, the Left Protector had changed into casual clothes and tied up her hair. Looking valiant and spirited, she walked out of the hall with a few trusted followers, hurrying out of Zhu Men Town while the Red Lantern Lady was still asleep.

She rushed along the agreed-upon path. She knew this Mingzhou area well, but for some reason, the further she went in this direction, the more uneasy she felt, without knowing exactly what was happening.

After finally reaching the agreed-upon place and waiting for a long time without seeing anyone, she was deep in doubt. Suddenly, the Bald Shopkeeper, who helped her transport the Blood Food, approached. He was covered in blood, his face pale, and he shouted, "Sister Yin, something terrible has happened!"

The Left Protector's expression changed instantly. She reined in her horse and rode up to him. "We always take this path; it's familiar. What could possibly happen?"

"Just over there."

The Bald Shopkeeper pointed and exclaimed, "Ahead, a group of bandits unexpectedly appeared! They slaughtered our escorting brothers and robbed our transported Blood Food."

"Fortunately, I have some cultivation, so I managed to escape."

"What?"

The Left Protector was shocked. Looking into the distance, she saw only a dark, oppressive mass. "There are just a few wealthy village households ahead. The Green Mountain Gang, who deal in mules and horses, are based there. They are known for being the most law-abiding. Where did these bandits come from?"

This batch of Blood Food was special, and she didn't want to give it up. Coupled with the skills she had learned from the Execution Soul Path, she was both skillful and bold. She unfastened a white chain from her waist and commanded, "Take me there to see!"

The Bald Shopkeeper dared not disobey and led her over.

From afar, they saw a Manor where many oil lamps were lit. It was surrounded by a dense crowd of kneeling people, all stark naked, without a single piece of clothing on them.

In the midst of the crowd stood a strange altar. A man in tattered clothes sat upon it, his head tilted back as he drank. He was surrounded by heaps of cloth, grain, gold, silver, carts, and even piles of torn clothing.

The Left Protector, on her guard, cautiously moved forward and bowed. "May I ask who you are, sir? Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding?"

Before she could finish speaking, the man on the altar suddenly turned his head sharply to look at her, his gaze cold and fierce. "The Five Evil Altar has risen! Fate wanes, and life thrives..."

Before his words had faded, the eyes of the men kneeling around the altar suddenly turned red. They grabbed weapons and charged at the Left Protector. By the light of the surrounding oil lamps, the Left Protector could now see them clearly.

These were not bandits; they were clearly members of the Mule and Horse Gang. Some of them had even interacted with the Red Lantern Society before, and their faces were familiar to her.

But now, they seemed crazed, their eyes red, attacking recklessly. Among them, she could even see some members of the Red Lantern Society, their faces full of ferocity.

"Seeking death!"

The Left Protector was highly skilled and possessed a fiery temper. Upon seeing this, she immediately swung her white chain, lashing out.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

As the white chain twirled, those at the forefront of the charge were felled like straw before they could even get close to her group.

The Left Protector was about to shout and question, to understand what was happening here.

However, the man sitting and drinking on the altar, seeing her skill, suddenly grinned wickedly. With a tug on a red string in his hand, he pulled out two strange objects: one a gold doll, and the other a silver doll.

Whip marks were visible on both dolls, as if they had been severely beaten. Their heads were covered with black cloth, deliberately, it seemed, to prevent them from seeing what was in front of them.

He blew a breath onto the two dolls. Suddenly, they raised their heads. Their bodies flashed with gold and silver light, then transformed into a shimmering mist that slowly billowed forward.

The golden and silver mist bewildered the eyes and clogged the senses.

The Left Protector was skilled, but before she could truly engage with her opponent, she was dazzled by the flashing gold and silver. Her vision blurred, and though she hastily tried to retreat, her mind was already growing muddled.

The white chain in her hand silently fell to the ground, and she, as if stupefied, walked forward in a daze.

Fortunately, the Bald Shopkeeper following behind was quick-witted. Though less skilled than the Left Protector, being a Shousui man, he had more resilience. Seeing things turn bad, he shouted a warning and hurriedly fled to deliver the news.

"Not good..."

A few moments later, in Zhu Men Town, the Right Protector received the news. He was instantly shocked, rushed out, and headed straight for the Lantern Hall.

Inside, the Red Lantern had just been lit. The Red Lantern Lady, who hadn't even finished stretching lazily, was startled by the Right Protector's abrupt entrance. "Has that esteemed person come looking for us?"

"...No."

The Right Protector was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Lady, something terrible has happened! The Left Protector is in danger!"

Upon hearing the Right Protector's words, the Red Lantern Lady initially relaxed slightly—thankfully, it wasn't the esteemed person coming to cause trouble for her. Then she realized something was amiss. "In danger?"

"Who could put the Left Protector in danger? Could it be that the esteemed person has made a move?"

The Right Protector was dumbfounded and quickly replied, "...No, it has nothing to do with that esteemed person! It's someone from out of town who has come to Mingzhou Prefecture to engage in Evil Creation, stealing our Blood Food, harming our Left Protector, and causing chaos in several villages! Bandits are rampant everywhere..."

"What?"

The Red Lantern Lady flew into a rage. "How audacious of them!"

The Right Protector added, "Not only that, this person is destroying the feng shui of Mingzhou right under the esteemed person's nose! This is a clear attempt to embarrass that esteemed person!"

"How audacious!"

The Red Lantern Lady's anger intensified. "I don't care who it is! Gather the soldiers and eliminate them! Show that esteemed person what we can do!"

"Yes, Lady!"

Er Guotou immediately went out and loudly issued instructions, "All Incense Burners, take red lanterns and deliver the orders! Every Manor, and all martial artists allied with us, are to follow the Lady! It's time for expelling evil!"

Instantly, the sound of galloping hooves filled the air as red lanterns, one after another, streamed out of Zhu Men Town. In the deep darkness of the night, they resembled long, crimson dragons.

Within a single night, all seventeen Manors under the Red Lantern Society, along with countless martial artists loyal to the Red Lantern Lady and who looked to her for leadership, mobilized. A vast force surged out to capture the one responsible for the Evil Creation.

「Meanwhile」

At this very moment, a woman carrying a child was slowly walking down a mountain path.

The night was deep and silent, yet she showed no fear. Wherever she passed, evil spirits kept a wide berth. Even the woods on both sides of the path, thick with yin qi, seemed to subtly retract their menacing claws.

Just then, something suddenly jumped out from the side of the road, limping. Its voice was young and female, shouting loudly, "This mountain is mine to command, these trees I myself did plant!"

"If you wish to pass, leave a toll!"