CHAPTER 474: CHAPTER 468 I’M HERE TO KILL YOU

"It’s not that I cannot see clearly or handle things properly. It’s just that the Beef-eating Demon People’s Magic is too wicked; it cannot be explained by common sense..."

At the same time, when the Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer charged straight at Shima Town, and the myriad demon people engaged him fiercely in a duel outside Shima Town, about twenty miles away by a desolate and broken-down village, Second Young Master Meng also sighed softly.

Earlier, the Magic was destroyed, and things backfired, causing him several major losses. This filled him with irritation and anger, yet when the Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer charged out, he actually managed to slowly suppress this anger.

He sighed softly again, a hint of self-mockery appearing on his face. "After all, it’s just my unfortunate timing, encountering so many Beef-eating Demon People gathered here. But no matter what, if I mess up this task..."

"...the family won’t listen to my explanations. My chance to contend for destiny in life will be gone, and I might even be sent by my elder brother to the underworld to serve the ancestors!"

"..."

Beside him, the maid who had been protecting him closely also realized the severity, urgently saying, "Young Master, what should we..."

"Borrow soldiers!"

Second Young Master Meng gritted his teeth, a cold glint seeming to flash in his eyes as he whispered, "Prepare the incense table for me. I need to borrow ghost soldiers from the Mansion God!"

"By borrowing ghost soldiers, the commotion will be too great. It will be impossible to hide from that one in Mingzhou. My task will completely fail. Yet, borrowing the ghost soldiers, flattening this rebellious land, and killing all these Beef-eating Demon People would at least have some justification!"

"At least I won’t have to worry about serving down below at such a young age."

"..."

Hearing these words, even the head maid beside him was clearly shocked, and she hurriedly advised in a low voice, "Young Master, the cost of borrowing ghost soldiers is too high. Even with your status, you can’t avoid the repercussions..."

"Do I have another choice?"

This Second Young Master Meng bit his teeth harder, his face appearing somewhat twisted in the flickering lamplight around him, as he glared fiercely in the direction of Shima Town.

His hatred for the demon people in Shima Town was even stronger than that of the Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer. He was eager to personally punish the traitors, but as a son of a noble house, one does not sit in a precarious position. With the situation there unclear, he naturally wouldn’t personally venture into the town to take such a risk.

But even so, if he didn’t borrow ghost soldiers, would he, a dignified Young Master of the Meng Family, just stand here and wait for the outcome?

Even if that big-headed Iron Steed Grand Hall Officer managed to drive away those demon people, what benefit would it be to him?

"Stop dithering! Set up the incense table!"

Seeing the Young Master so furious and decisive, the head maid showed a flash of worry on her face. She had wanted to advise him to reconsider or at least consult the Chief Steward first, but now she could only remain silent.

She personally went to move the incense table, laying a black cloth over it, then placing three exquisite trays, two candles etched with strange patterns, and an incense burner upon it.

Then she turned to look at this Young Master Meng, asking with concern, "Young Master, from which Lord do you plan to borrow soldiers?"

Second Young Master Meng also picked up the pen but hesitated, deep in thought for a long time before softly replying, "On West Ridge Road, only two Lords can lend three thousand ghost soldiers."

"Forget the Mingzhou Lord. The Gunzhou Lord is not aligned with the Meng Family. Moreover, that Lord was previously bullied harshly by the Five Evil Gods, his yin souls were stolen, and he likely couldn’t muster three thousand ghost soldiers. So..."

"At this time, and this distance, the only one who could lend me three thousand ghost soldiers is that one..."

"..."

Muttering thoughtfully, he made his decision. He took a blank life paper and, after a brief pause, lifted his pen and wrote: "Tongyin Meng Family’s Second Son, Sili, burns incense in obeisance to the Supreme True Lord of the West Ridge Underworld, praying to borrow three thousand ghost soldiers to serve under my command, to punish traitors and uphold righteousness, offering incense and fruits of true destiny..."

Seeing him so set on it, taking it so seriously, and finishing the life paper with such ruthless determination, then proceeding to the incense table to prepare for the ritual to borrow soldiers, the maid could only retreat silently to one side, her face already filled with worry.

With his status as a member of the Meng Family, borrowing ghost soldiers from a Lord wouldn’t be difficult. However, once the ghost soldiers were borrowed, no one could control the ensuing situation...

Unexpectedly, just as Second Young Master Meng was about to burn the life paper over the incense candle, a sudden sound of crows taking flight came from the nearby woods, and the air seemed to turn chillingly grim.

The candles on the incense table suddenly extinguished. Second Young Master Meng sensed something was wrong and whipped his head around to look.

"A dignified scion of the Meng Family, one of the Ten Surnames..."

From within the woods, the sound of heavy hoofbeats slowly approached. The inky blackness of the night seemed to deepen, so much so that even the light from the lanterns hung around them in the woods could not penetrate that area.

They could only vaguely discern a dark figure on horseback emerging from the woods, looking steadily towards them. The voice carried a hint of mockery, "Is this all you amount to?"

"Hmm?"

Second Young Master Meng’s face instantly turned as cold as frost.

The maid beside him, however, was already enraged. She shouted at the figure on horseback, "How audacious! What stray cur are you? Seeing a nobleman of the Meng Family, you don’t dismount and pay respects, but instead spew such vile words?"

"No need for such airs."

The man on horseback was completely unaffected by the maid’s stern reprimand. He even seemed to chuckle. "In my presence, he doesn’t qualify for the title ’nobleman.’ I didn’t come here to argue with a big-footed maid; I came to kill you."

As he spoke, he drew the Evil Blade in his hand, and the horse beneath him snorted, a sound of excitement.

It began to move faster, closing in on them.

"What?"

The maid was stunned by his words, her head even spinning slightly.

Behind her, Second Young Master Meng Sili was even more astonished, finding it hard to believe. If it weren’t for fear of losing his composure, he would have dug out his ears—not as a deliberate gesture, but because he genuinely thought he had misheard.

Has the world gone mad? For someone to randomly appear in this desolate wilderness claiming to kill me?

When had the reputation of the Tongyin Meng Family become so worthless?

Amid the absurdity, he even found himself chuckling. My heart is already filled with so much repressed anger, I was on the verge of going to that town to kill someone myself! It was only my status that prevented me from doing something so undignified.

And now, such an audacious person has delivered himself right to my doorstep! It’s as if heaven knew how hard I was struggling to restrain myself and sent someone for me to vent my fury on.

"SHREEE..."

Just as the man on horseback uttered those words and even began to urge his horse closer, the maid, though no less shocked than Second Young Master Meng, reacted instantly. She suddenly pulled a white bone whistle from around her neck.

Clamping it between her teeth, she blew with all her might. The sound was strange and piercing, instantly traveling far into the dark night.

"Calling for backup?"

Hearing the whistle, the dark figure on horseback narrowed his eyes.

For Hu Ma, his emotions at this moment were extremely complex, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.

That’s a member of the Meng Family...

Before this Lantern Festival began, I hadn’t really thought I could do anything to this Meng Family member. Even though I knew this fellow was here to deal with the Hu Family, my main thought was to run.

After all, I haven’t taken over the Zhensui Mansion yet. Facing a scion of the Tongyin Meng Family, who also had a Great Hall Officer from the Shousui Path by his side, the power disparity was too vast. There was no way I could gain an advantage.

But fate is truly wondrous...

The Beef-eating Demon People appeared, my own abilities have grown considerably, and as luck would have it, that Shousui Great Hall Officer has been engaged by the Beef-eating Demon People. I’m free, and I know this Meng Family scion is clearly right here. How could I possibly resist?

What’s the point of learning all these skills if not to be able to cut down someone when you want to?

Thus, Hu Ma suppressed the raging excitement in his heart and quietly approached.

Seeing that he was about to make a move against a Meng Family member, even Master Ma held back, treading lightly to cooperate with him.

By now, he was within ten zhang of Second Young Master Meng, mounted on his fierce horse, gripping the Evil Blade. For a Shousui man, a distance of ten zhang was practically face-to-face.

Besides, Monkey Wine has received the signal; he must be making preparations in the shadows too, right?

He took a deep breath, feeling his scalp tingle with an exhilarating numbness, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Then let’s start with you and test the mettle of the Meng Family!

"Go!"

The moment the whistle sounded, he suddenly squeezed his horse’s flanks. Master Ma understood, and with a powerful kick of its four hooves, it charged directly at Second Young Master Meng.

Airborne, Hu Ma unleashed all his skills. The Evil Blade in his hand instantly flashed upwards, followed by a rolling demonic wind and baleful qi, incomparably fierce, carrying the earth-shattering power of an Entering the Mansion Shousui man, as he ruthlessly slashed towards Second Young Master Meng beside the incense table.

Facing this sudden close-quarters slash, even the head maid’s face couldn’t help but pale slightly.

Apparently, she hadn’t expected this person to be so incredibly skilled.

Though panic welled in her heart, she gritted her teeth. With a flick of her wrist, she drew a white Bone Sword. Judging by her stance, her technique was also formidably precise as she moved to intercept Hu Ma.

"SLAP!"

But just then, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. The head maid found herself unable to move, pushed aside against her will.

"Stay aside!"

Then, Second Young Master Meng from behind her, his face grim and blazing, stepped forward to meet Hu Ma. He growled in a low voice, "You blind demon! Did you really think this Young Master is defenseless, to be offended by you as you please?"

As he spoke, he suddenly strode forward, directly towards Hu Ma, not even blinking in the face of that ferocious, malevolent aura.

A pampered hand shot out, aiming to directly grab the Evil Blade in Hu Ma’s hand.

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