Chapter 29: A Change in the Mountain
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Under a sky that was darker than ink, Lin Xu and the striped tabby cat bolted silently through the snowy woods, vanishing so swiftly that it was as if they’d never been there at all. Wei Mo, looming over ten meters tall and decked out in armor that looked as ancient as the mountains, also disappeared in a blink—so fast that no one managed to do more than gasp.
Only the old white weasel took his time. With a careless wave, he called for his donkey and rode it at a lazy pace, heading deeper into the mountainous wilderness. He seemed in no hurry at all.
All around, the strange creatures that had been hiding in the forest slipped away as well. In a flash, the skies above the slopes filled with flapping shapes, while shadowy figures bounded up craggy cliffs and vanished behind rocky ledges.
Out in the open field before the mountain, everyone else began to disperse—nobles from Red Glow City, roving members of the Mountain Patrol, and local Awakened ones alike. As they hurried off, they chattered excitedly, unable to contain their wonder. Meetings with such powerful beings were rarities, the kind of tales you might tell your grandchildren one day.
“Who on earth was that woman in the feathered robe? I’ve never heard of her in Red Glow City, but she was incredible!” called out one young man, his eyes still shining with awe.
“Probably someone the city lord brought in from far away,” another guessed, shrugging. “Power like that doesn’t just show up at your doorstep.”
Many of the younger onlookers were the most thrilled, as if they’d just peered through a secret door into a bigger, brighter world. “So, d’you think we could ever get that strong?” one of them asked, voice full of hope.
A sharp bark of laughter answered him: “Keep dreaming. There’s a limit for folks like us. The city lord stands at the top, and he’s got no rivals. If you push yourself for twenty years, maybe—and I mean maybe—you could land a job guarding his front gate.”
…
Even the nobles who had already begun their journey home found themselves caught up in the buzz. Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing listened as Cao Long’s younger cousin chattered on, unable to contain himself.
“Hey, big bro,” the cousin said eagerly, “what level are you at now? You’re on the Giant Spirit God path, right? I mean, you’re already over three meters tall! That Wei Mo guy was, what, ten meters? You can’t be that far behind him, can you?”
Cao Long shot him a furious glare. “Shut it! We’re not far enough from the mountain for that kind of talk. You have no idea what you’re saying. Wei Mo was over twenty meters tall twenty years ago. Now he’s doing some weird reverse growth thing. None of us can even guess what level he’s really reached.”
Just then, a silver-haired elder from the Mountain Patrol strode toward them, his face solemn. “Is anyone here from the Wang family of Red Glow City?” he asked, voice low and firm.
A hush fell. At once, everyone realized this was about Wang Nian Zhu, the man rumored to have slain a whole nest of blood snakes. He’d apparently also wounded some Mountain Patrol members along the way.
“Nian Zhu’s missing,” said a middle-aged man from the crowd, clearing his throat. “We’re looking for him too.”
The elder narrowed his eyes. “So he fled out of guilt?” His gaze was piercing, and though his face was lined with age, he looked unsettlingly energetic.
The man shook his head. “We don’t believe he’d run away like that. We’re searching for him. I’m sure there’s some misunderstanding.”
They moved off to speak in private. Everyone else gave them space, listening quietly, though they strained their ears for any scrap of new gossip.
…
In Twin Trees Village, Qin Ming, Old Man Liu, and Xu Yue Ping watched gentle snowflakes drift down, huddled cozily indoors. They were enjoying a warm meal of donkey meat simmering in a copper pot, along with some wine they’d liberated from a Mountain Patrol supply stash. The scent of cooking and the faint, sweet burn of alcohol made the small home feel comforting.
Qin Ming, who’d never really been much of a drinker, felt a bit light-headed. It was strange, he thought, that this Wang Nian Zhu—someone he’d only heard of after the man’s death—still stirred up so much trouble, even from beyond the grave.
He sipped his wine quietly, letting his mind drift. He’d managed to complete his Second Awakening, and though he was proud of that, his thoughts were already wandering toward Falling Moon City. He knew he’d have to go there one day. That inevitability weighed on him, no matter how calm he appeared.
He still couldn’t forget that night two years ago—when flames swallowed his entire village. He remembered a boy wearing a feathered robe, drifting through the ruins, remote and uncaring, while everything burned. The image haunted him. If only he hadn’t learned these terrible secrets, maybe he could have kept living a quiet, simple life. Now, he felt driven to hurry forward, to become stronger, faster, and wiser than ever before.
Old Man Liu squinted at him, setting his bowl down. “Qin, lad, have you gotten even stronger? Seems you’re taller, too,” he said, peering closely. For all his years, Old Man Liu’s eyes were still sharp.
Xu Yue Ping nodded in agreement. “You do look different. Your eyes are clearer, and I swear you’re a bit more handsome. Don’t go getting a big head about it, though.”
Qin Ming smiled and shrugged as casually as he could. He tried to sound like any normal sixteen-year-old. “Aw, chill out,” he said. “I’m still growing, right? Sixteen’s not old. Sometimes you wake up and you’ve shot up half an inch, no big deal.”
He wasn’t lying. After the Second Awakening, he’d gained only a tiny bit of height. It wasn’t the sort of dramatic growth that would turn him into a giant, but he felt a world stronger. He could lift nearly a ton with his arms, move quicker than before, and bend with a new, cat-like agility.
The night wore on, and outside, the world fell quiet. Snow shimmered over rooftops, and the distant mountains sank into inky darkness. Suddenly, silver lightning split the black sky in the heart of the mountains. A fierce red glow burst forth, and a towering figure gripped a massive black spear and let out a roar that made the earth tremble. The creature’s rage triggered a huge avalanche that thundered down the slopes.
“It’s starting,” said a voice that carried from a high slope overlooking the scene. There, a woman in a black fur cloak stood watching, her eyes gleaming with interest. Next to her perched a purple-eyed crow, its voice surprisingly clear.
“They won’t hold out,” the crow croaked. “They’ll pull back tonight. If they hurry, we can head into the mountains in two days to find where the five-colored mist appears.”
Standing behind the woman and the crow were several dark silhouettes. One of them spoke up: “The high-level folks in Red Glow City and the natives of these mountains have teamed up. Those outsiders don’t stand a chance now. Some of those powerful beasts might even become rare spirit materials.”
The woman’s gaze never left the distant slopes. “You, Liang Yun,” she said, picking out a young man from the group, “once the mountain sweep begins, I want you to test someone for me. If you win, don’t kill him. If you lose, well, don’t bother coming back with me to Flowing Light City. You might as well head back to your old noble life in Red Glow City.”
You Liang Yun stiffened. He’d come from a noble family but wanted to follow her teacher’s path. Now he felt a chill. Who was she sending him after?
Still staring at the mountain, the woman continued, “His name is Qin Ming. He’s one of only two people here who have managed to form a Golden Foundation during their Awakening. Your clan’s around, so you’ll be able to track him down soon enough. Remember, just test him—no dirty tricks.”
You Liang Yun bowed his head. “Understood,” he said, his eyes flashing coldly. He vanished into the night soon after.
The purple-eyed crow tilted its head, watching him go. “You Liang Yun lifted about six hundred and fifty pounds during his first Awakening,” it said in a measured tone. “Not as strong as that boy or that girl in Red Glow City. When he formed his Golden Foundation, nothing unusual happened.”
The woman nodded thoughtfully. “Qi Huai En,” she said to another figure in the shadows, “follow him. I want to see if You Liang Yun’s really worth bringing to my teacher. If he fails, there’s no point. I also want to know more about Qin Ming. If he’s promising, he might make a good backup candidate.”
…
Outside the mountain, sharp-eyed Awakened ones watched from hilltops and rooftops, scanning the darkness for clues. They could sense that something tremendous was unfolding inside those slopes. Monster cries split the night air—birds and insects scattering into the sky, apes shrieking in alarm, tigers roaring from deep in the forests. It was pure chaos out there.
In Silver Vine Town, an old nobleman got the news immediately. He looked far younger than his years, his silver hair gleaming under the faint moonlight, and his face was so healthy it nearly glowed. Pulling on a tiger fur coat, he moved silently and swiftly, appearing atop the highest point of his mansion like a ghost in the fog. Gazing toward the distant peaks, he murmured to himself, “Please, let the special node give birth to the treasure I need.”
…
“Seems like someone’s throwing down up there,” Qin Ming muttered that same night, standing on the roof of his little home in Twin Trees Village. He squinted toward the mountains. Although he could feel their distant rumblings, the trouble didn’t spill over to the village. Whatever battle raged inside the mountain, at least it was contained—someone powerful must’ve been controlling the situation.
By morning, news spread like wildfire: the mountain had changed somehow. Soon, people from Red Glow City and local Awakened ones would be allowed to venture in, hoping to snatch precious resources from newly formed special nodes deep inside.
After finishing breakfast, Qin Ming settled into his training. He practiced the Awakening Techniques from the silk manuscript, feeling his body heat up like a furnace, strength surging through every muscle. Then he moved on to the combat techniques from his blade manual, though he preferred swinging his long-handled black metal hammer. Lighter than it looked—at least to him—it felt more like a toy than a weapon now.
Just then, Xu Yue Ping pushed the door open and stepped inside. He paused at the sight of Qin Ming casually twirling a hammer that would’ve made most grown men break a sweat. Xu Yue Ping’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he laughed it off. “Qin,” he said, “put that thing down. Your future father-in-law wants to see you.”
Qin Ming blinked, his grip on the hammer loosening. “Huh? Future father-in-law? What’s that supposed to mean?” He tried to sound casual, but he couldn’t help his puzzled grin. It was the kind of silly phrase a teenager might toss around, and he went along with it.
Xu Yue Ping snorted. “I’m talking about that old nobleman in Silver Vine Town. He sent word he wants a meeting. Look, you and Zhou Wu Bing are the only two here who built a Golden Foundation. He probably just wants to see what kind of Awakened talent he’s dealing with. Everyone from Red Glow City’s been paying visits, so we can’t exactly ignore him.”
Qin Ming gave a lopsided grin. “Well, guess I’d better show up then. Maybe he’s got some fancy snacks or something.” He tried to sound like a carefree teen, but inside, he was curious—and a bit wary.
Xu Yue Ping shook his head, chuckling. “You’re impossible. But fine, go ahead. Just be polite. Even if he’s got some agenda, he’s not going to do anything too wild with so many big shots around. Worst case, you nod, smile, and come home with a full belly.”
Qin Ming leaned the hammer against the wall and stretched. “Sure, I’m down,” he said, smirking. “If he’s got a daughter who can’t find a husband, maybe I’ll get to meet her. Could be interesting.”