Chapter 31: Piercing Through the Night
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming felt as though someone had just looked straight into his heart. For a moment, a memory from two years ago flashed before his eyes. He saw his hometown in flames, the heat so intense and the smoke so thick it made him choke. He could picture the half-collapsed walls, lifeless bodies scattered on the ground, and a mysterious person dressed in flowing white robes standing amid all that ruin. But just as quickly, he forced the memory away and steadied himself.
He turned around, calmer now, careful not to let his thoughts show on his face. The woman before him, Lady Xie Ling Xi, had seen him back then, when he had been on the brink of death. But there was no way she knew the truth of his past. If they had been meant to truly meet, wouldn’t it have happened sooner? After all, Silver Vine Town wasn’t too far from here.
Putting on his most earnest expression, Qin Ming asked, “Hey, Miss Xie, can you tell me what happened back then? Like… who took care of me? I’ve got this scar on my head, and my memory’s kinda fuzzy.”
Xie Ling Xi’s long, glossy black hair nearly brushed the ground as she leaned her enormous sword—easily more than three meters in length—against the earth. Her eyes were bright, almost sparkling as she studied him. “There were a man and a woman who found you. They looked about thirty. To be honest, they didn’t think you’d survive. I overheard them saying that if you couldn’t make it, they’d just leave you to fate.”
Qin Ming frowned, lowering his voice. “So I was that close to dying, and they still dragged me along? Seriously, why bother?”
Xie Ling Xi’s features were sharp and delicate at the same time, giving her an almost otherworldly air. “I only heard bits of their conversation,” she said. “They wanted to take you far from the big cities. They seemed to think that if you pulled through, you’d be better off living somewhere quiet and peaceful.”
Just then, a slim maid approached with a tray holding two cups. She spoke softly, “My lady once gave you a pill to help restore your qi and blood. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a small act of kindness.”
Qin Ming’s eyes widened. “Oh… thanks, Miss Xie,” he said, bowing a little awkwardly. He wouldn’t have known about the pill if not for the maid’s words. It struck him that Xie Ling Xi had never taken credit for it herself.
“Leave us,” Xie Ling Xi commanded, waving the maid away.
Qin Ming bowed again, hopeful. “Miss Xie, do you remember anything else about that time? Honestly, any clue would help. I’d owe you big time.”
She tapped a finger against the hilt of her sword, thinking back. “You were in terrible shape—covered in blood, your clothes all torn. Even when they were new, they looked pretty plain.”
Qin Ming nodded slowly. During his second awakening, he’d caught brief glimpses of those days—ragged clothes, patches everywhere. His childhood had been rough, but what he still couldn’t understand was why his entire village had been burned to nothing.
Xie Ling Xi considered this a moment longer. “Those two people who saved you seemed really interested in that spiritual mountain nearby. Something about it being activated by a special light in the sky. They brought you to this region only because it was on their route.”
She explained that she had only crossed paths with them twice while traveling and had picked up just a few stray details. She could guess no more.
As Qin Ming thought it all over, questions swirled in his mind. Who were these two strangers who had saved him, yet didn’t seem to know him well? And what was that mysterious ‘spiritual mountain’ that reacted to sky-borne light? He didn’t want to push Xie Ling Xi too hard with more questions. Not yet, at least.
…
Meanwhile, in the front courtyard, a Purple-Eyed Crow perched on a window ledge, watching a woman draped in a black fur cloak. The crow’s purple eyes gleamed mischievously. “Heh heh heh. Those two kids think you’re some high lady of the Xie family. Caw, caw, caw…”
The woman sighed, reaching out a glowing, slender finger toward the bird, which flapped its wings just out of her reach. “Your laugh is horrible,” she said plainly.
The crow puffed up its feathers. “Who’d have thought we’d find two talented youngsters all the way out here? And that other boy with the attitude—if he heals, he might be worth noticing.”
The woman took a small sip of tea, her eyes half-closed. “That rude kid already has someone powerful behind him. The way he’s recovering suggests strong support.”
The crow tilted its head. “When that strange light split the night sky two years ago, dozens of places received some kind of blessing. This area seemed barely touched… but maybe we’re wrong. We’ve just found two promising youths right here in this quiet spot.”
The woman’s lips curved into a small, thoughtful smile. “My teacher is clever. The light that appeared two centuries ago might not have fully shown its power here until now. Perhaps it gathered slowly, blending into something rare.” She lowered her hood and rose to her feet, her cloak swirling gracefully around her. “We’d better leave. Master Xie will be busy enough when he finds out his daughter chose the Path of the Giant Spirit God without telling him. He’s in for a surprise.”
…
Back inside, Qin Ming knew he needed to learn more, even if he risked sounding foolish. “So,” he said, trying to appear casual, “about that ‘light of the sky’ thing—what is it, exactly?”
Xie Ling Xi didn’t seem to mind explaining. “The sun set long ago in these lands, and the moon and stars vanished. The ‘light of the sky’ is a rare beam that shines down once every few decades. Wherever it touches, rare things might bloom or awaken.”
Qin Ming thanked her, grateful that she answered so directly without any trace of haughty pride. “Miss Xie,” he said with a lopsided grin, “you’re honestly pretty nice. And you know, you’re actually super pretty too. It’s weird—if you were… well, I mean, if you were normal-sized instead of giant, you’d have the perfect face.”
She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Not like who?”
Qin Ming shrugged, a playful gleam in his eyes. “Oh, just not like some people who give you a death stare the second you look their way.”
Xie Ling Xi chuckled. “You mean my uncle, the one loitering in the front courtyard?”
Outside, just beyond the door, the woman in the black cloak paused. Overhead, the Purple-Eyed Crow burst into another round of cackling. “Caw, caw, caw…”
Qin Ming rolled his eyes. “Ugh, that laugh is the worst.”
…
He didn’t stay for dinner. He’d learned so much today, and pushing his luck didn’t feel smart. Returning toward Twin Trees Village, he turned Xie Ling Xi’s words over in his mind. “Once I reach my third awakening,” he whispered to himself, “maybe I’ll remember everything.” His eyes shone with determination.
He realized that the noble family he’d met was far more than they seemed. Xie Ling Xi was astonishingly powerful, nearly five meters tall, already traveling far along the Path of the Giant Spirit God.
“What about the two who saved me?” Qin Ming wondered. “The woman had a red mole above her right eyebrow, and the man had long arms. Will they come back here for resources?”
He’d also heard news: Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing planned to head into the nearby mountains in two days. Apparently, Red Glow City’s leaders had struck a deal with the mighty beings who lived deep in the mountains. The creatures would abandon their old hunting grounds in the outer areas, letting outsiders gather herbs and hunt freely—though going too far in was still dangerous.
The powerful beings promised not to hunt anyone secretly. Still, it was risky. When Mu Qing and the others mentioned their plans, Qin Ming said, “Sure, I’ll guide you, but I’m not going deeper in than I have to. I’m not crazy.”
Mu Qing, Cao Long, and Wei Zhi Rou exchanged nervous looks. “We’re not that bold, either,” Mu Qing sighed.
As the two days passed, more people arrived, each preparing to enter the mountains. Groups like the Three-Eyed Sect and Golden Rooster Ridge showed up too. Everyone knew the outer areas weren’t truly safe, just safer than before.
The Three-Eyed Sect, usually so intimidating, came forward to make a polite suggestion. “We’re all locals here. How about we agree that if anyone finds something special, we keep it within our own little community?” one of them said.
Old Man Liu, not one to hold his tongue, snorted. “Scarface, why not just admit you mean: if we don’t share, you’ll wait until all the outsiders leave and then take revenge?”
Scarface shrugged, a grin tugging at his scarred cheek. “Yeah, that’s exactly it. But the boss said to be polite about it. Anyway, you’ve been warned.”
The people from Golden Rooster Ridge also arrived. They had once been bandits but were now supposedly pardoned. Still, no one trusted them completely. The Golden Rooster Knights, with their fierce, mutated mount-beasts, were known for deadly ambushes.
…
Away from the main roads, You Liang Yun sat quietly, a jade jar before him. The rare substance inside it could trigger his second awakening, and he’d planned to wait. But with the mountain adventure coming up, he couldn’t risk missing his chance to catch up to someone special.
“Are we ready?” he called through the open window to his companions outside.
A voice replied, “Yes, and remember: when we’re in the mountains, don’t approach him right away. Let him get comfortable with Mu Qing and Cao Long first. Then it’ll be your turn.”
“Got it,” You Liang Yun said, determined. He lifted the jar, prepared to accept its power.
Two days later, everyone headed toward the mountains. Qin Ming couldn’t help laughing when he saw Old Man Liu wearing armor, a huge cleaver on his back, riding a massive, earth-colored dog. Nearby, Yang Yong Qing looked equally odd, mounted on a giant black goat with a pair of blades strapped to its sides.
“Let’s get going!” Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing called, leading a group of young hunters from Red Glow City down the trails.
Above them, a talking sparrow circled, screeching noisily. “Humans! Humans down below!” it cried, trying to cause trouble.
“Shoot it!” snapped Cao Long, raising his bow.
The sparrow squawked again, “So many humans! Even taller than a three-meter bear!” This made the group hesitate for a second, and Cao Long’s face burned with embarrassment as he tried to aim.
Suddenly, a strange sight appeared deep in the mountains. Columns of colorful smoke—red, blue, green—spiraled into the sky. It could only mean one thing: some very rare resource had just matured.
“By the mountain gods!” someone yelled. “The Five-Colored Smoke! It’s here! Hurry!”