Chapter 40: Fame Across the Lands
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“Learning a skill never goes to waste. It’s always good to know more. At crucial times, it could save your life. Besides, you pick things up really fast,” Old Liu nodded approvingly, but then sighed. Out here in such a remote place, families with notable backgrounds were pitifully few.
The most important thing was that, even if these families had fallen from grace, they still followed their ancestral teachings and wouldn’t easily share their books with outsiders.
“I’ll ask around and see what I can find,” Old Liu finally agreed.
Qin Ming was thrilled. If he came across another ancient secret manual that held the wisdom of past masters, the rewards would be immense.
He felt confident. Even though fallen families were stuck in their ways, not everyone would be so rigid.
“Hey, Old Man, how’s your health holding up?” Qin Ming asked with concern.
Old Liu had spent half his life trying to obtain the rare red grass from the Fire Bat Cave. But just as he got his hands on it, people from Golden Rooster Ridge targeted him, secretly hitting him with a Yellow Mud Palm strike.
Old Liu sighed. “It’s not gonna kill me. I can heal, but as for being awakened… that’s out of my control now. Whatever happens, happens.”
…
Back home, Qin Ming worked on the fire snake he’d hunted. He cut the meat, laid it on an iron slab, and grabbed his long-handled black hammer, smashing the meat into paste.
“There shouldn’t be any trace of human blood, right? I washed the hammer twice,” he muttered to himself.
Half an hour later, Qin Ming carried a meat porridge pot and returned to Old Liu’s house.
“This is from a little creature I hunted in the mountains,” Qin Ming explained as he handed over the porridge. “It’s not something that’ll help you be awakened, but it’s a nourishing supplement. It’s cold in nature, which should balance out the heat from that red grass.”
Old Liu raised an eyebrow but accepted it. “You’re a thoughtful kid.”
…
The next morning, just as the light of dawn touched the sky, Old Liu was already pounding on Qin Ming’s courtyard door. When Qin Ming answered, Old Liu grabbed his hand urgently.
“Kid, what did you feed me?” Old Liu asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
The fire snake wasn’t like regular snakes—it tasted entirely different. Even Old Liu didn’t know what he had eaten, but his whole body felt revitalized, no longer weak or sickly.
“Let me tell you something, kid. With this body, I could still have another child in my old age!” Old Liu boasted, laughing heartily.
…
That day, everyone noticed that Old Liu was bursting with energy, his voice louder and stronger than it had been in years.
“Black and White Mountain is the talk of the land now,” someone remarked. “The cities are buzzing about it—ten colored beams pierced the night sky and stunned the world.”
While searching for special spots in the mountains, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhi Rou were discussing the recent events. They had excellent sources, keeping in contact with the outside world via messenger birds.
Qin Ming perked up, listening intently. He was always curious about rare materials from the fringes of the world and wanted to learn more about the lands beyond his village.
“Many powerful organizations regret not paying more attention to this place. After assessing the mysterious treasures from this event, they’ve concluded that it’s a heaven-sent gift worth a fortune. Even some ancient sects, which had been in seclusion, are sending people to investigate.”
Black and White Mountain had suddenly become the focus of widespread attention.
“Two hundred years ago, a beam of light shot through Black and White Mountain. Some of the experts who rushed here from the capital are still alive today. Apparently, one old guy was so furious he didn’t sleep for two days and nights. He ran off into the deep mountains to hunt the legendary Six-Tusked White Elephant.”
“The Six-Tusked White Elephant? Isn’t that the mount of some deity worshipped by a secret sect? Even if it exists, it would probably be in the world shrouded in the deepest night mist,” someone replied skeptically.
Qin Ming listened with fascination. The vast and colorful world beyond intrigued him. Just hearing these tales made him long to leave his remote home and explore.
“It’s not just the capital,” someone added. “Word is that even the royal court in the distant and powerful Yu Kingdom has been alerted. The Royal Advisor personally inquired about the event. After all, the merging of the ten-colored beams with the rainbow mist has no precedent in any records.”
Although many had their eyes on the mysterious treasures, they hadn’t been able to track them down. There was strong opposition—interference from highly respected figures beyond the mortal realm.
“Those blessed lands, and the spiritual mountains filled with celestial light, are believed to…” someone began, but they trailed off, leaving Qin Ming wanting more.
Qin Ming desperately wanted them to continue, but though they had a good relationship, it wasn’t close enough for him to press. He knew his place and kept quiet.
After an unsuccessful day of searching for special spots, Xu Yue Ping and Old Liu decided to lead three teams to the nest of the Bladebeak Birds.
Xu Yue Ping admitted he wasn’t sure if the birds’ nest held any spiritual materials, but it was definitely a good place for toughening up young hunters. He was deeply committed to the village and wanted to enlist Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing to help eradicate the pests.
This winter’s food shortage was largely due to the Bladebeak Birds. Before the autumn harvest, they had swooped down from the mountains and stripped entire clusters of grains bare with a single bite from their scythe-like beaks.
Wei Zhi Rou nodded. “The original plan was to sweep the mountains of harmful beasts. Since these birds are such a threat, we’ll go take a look.”
Xu Yue Ping was immensely grateful. Everyone knew that the ‘sweeping the mountains’ mission was just a cover. The real goal was to find the rare resources hidden in the mountains.
Cao Long added, “These new recruits have only seen a bit of bloodshed in the Fire Bat Cave, but they haven’t had any real trials yet. The Bladebeak Birds should be a suitable challenge.”
Soon, the group arrived at a low cliff covered in snow. Bird droppings littered the ground, and cracks in the cliff face housed the birds’ nests.
Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others were well-prepared, carrying metal nets. They cast dozens of large nets, covering the densest parts of the nests.
Despite this, a massive flock of Bladebeak Birds took to the skies, thousands of them escaping the nets. They were truly an infestation.
The birds were fierce and fearless, each about a foot long with enormous, razor-sharp beaks. When their nests were attacked, they charged without hesitation.
Fortunately, everyone was wearing armor. Even though some birds managed to get through, the armor held up against their attacks.
Qin Ming and Xu Yue Ping, along with the others, were no exception. Over the past few days, while helping guide the teams through the mountains, they had been given a set of armor each.
In the end, they managed to kill a large number of Bladebeak Birds. The nets trapped even more in their nests, and by the time they cleared the cliff, the ground was covered in bird carcasses.
Although some of the more vicious birds escaped, they had dealt with the majority. With the nest destroyed, the birds wouldn’t return for a while, and with their numbers reduced, the villagers would be able to hunt them more easily.
Yang Yong Qing, the Black Goat Knight, was sent to inform the villagers to bring sacks to collect the dead birds. Leaving so much meat to waste would be a shame.
Over the past few days, Qin Ming had been keeping an eye on the various groups wandering through the mountains, but he still hadn’t found the two people he was looking for.
“Those two should be in their early thirties,” he muttered to himself. “The woman has a mole above her right eyebrow, and the man has unusually long arms. But no one I’ve seen matches that description.”
Back then, those two had saved him from the hands of the Feathered Youth and brought him all the way to this remote place. They’d left him in Silver Vine Town and once explored Black and White Mountain, but this time, they were nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming had kept his promise, frequently contacting the old noble family and informing them of the unusual treasures found in the mountains by different groups. But despite his efforts, the old noble, Xie Jing Rui did nothing but sigh as none of the treasures he sought had appeared.
Today, Xie Jing Rui himself had ventured into the mountains, going straight into the deepest parts. His presence had alarmed the elders from Scarlet Dawn City, who were all shaken.
Since the departure of City Lord Ling Xu and the tabby cat, no one had dared to go that deep. And let’s not forget there’s still the mysterious mountain lord lurking in the shadows. Even the old yellow weasel, who once roamed the mountains while riding a donkey, had gone on a rampage after being intercepted by the green-clad woman. The being had clearly lost its temper, so no one wanted to tempt fate by provoking such entities.
After half a day, Xie Jing Rui emerged silently, holding two short plant roots in his hand—one black, one white.
He sighed softly, “As I thought, the Black and White Tree roots still exist in the depths of the mountain. After being nourished by the celestial light, they’ve turned into incredible treasures.”
Qin Ming, who was searching for special spots nearby, noticed Xie Jing Rui approaching and asked, “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“I found something, but someone else got to it first,” Xie Jing Rui replied with a helpless smile as he stood among the trees. “It’s a shame. I’m injured and couldn’t fight my way through the chaos. Otherwise, I would’ve gone deeper.”
“Did they leave any clues behind?” Qin Ming asked, realizing how important the roots of the Black and White Tree were to the old noble. Xie had come two years ago, specifically looking for them.
Xie Jing Rui shook his head. “I know who took them. I’ll have to make a trip to Scarlet Dawn City.”
“Could it be Lord Ling Xu?” Qin Ming ventured.
Xie Jing Rui nodded. “I asked Wei Mo, who follows the path of the Giant. He said Ling Xu lingered in that area for a long time.”
“That explains it,” Xie Jing Rui continued, a bitter smile on his face. “No wonder Ling Xu missed out on the most powerful treasure but rushed back to Scarlet Dawn City. They say he was so mad he nearly broke his own leg out of regret for not buying a flying mount. In reality, he just didn’t want anyone to know he had another big score. That guy’s crafty—so much for being all refined in his white robes. He should start wearing black!”
Qin Ming couldn’t help but smile at that. He also found it odd that Xie Jing Rui was talking to him so much before leaving.
Soon, he got his answer. “That purple-eyed raven thinks highly of you,” Xie Jing Rui said, giving him a meaningful look. “Keep working hard. This place is too remote and isolated. You should get out as soon as you can.”
With that, Xie Jing Rui turned to leave. Once he exited the mountains, he’d be off immediately.
“Miss Xie will be leaving with you, I assume?” Qin Ming asked.
Xie Jing Rui gave a brief nod. “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.” And with a flicker, he disappeared into the forest, his speed astonishing.
A distant commotion caught Qin Ming’s attention. When he arrived at the scene, he found a group of noblemen, dressed in fine clothes and mounted on powerful horses, facing off against Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing.
The various families from Scarlet Dawn City weren’t exactly friendly with one another. While the Cao, Wei, and Mu families had teamed up, other noble families had formed their own alliances.
Moments earlier, someone had clashed with Cao Long, only to be quickly defeated and sent flying, leaving everyone shocked.
A young man clad in golden armor, sitting atop a mutated golden leopard, now approached with an imposing aura.
Cao Long’s voice was cold. “Feng Xing, don’t start trouble. That old man from the Wang family tried to steal my uncle’s longevity tree, and I beat him back. You got a problem with that? Are you here to stand up for the Wang family?”
Feng Xing, the young man on the golden leopard, spoke calmly. “It’s been two years, and I’ve heard your strength has skyrocketed. We’ve fought plenty before, so why not have another match now?”
“Oh, you wanna fight? Like I’m afraid of you or something?” Cao Long shot back.
Others from Scarlet Dawn City, though they formed two distinct groups, all knew each other well. Even some neutral nobles were present, and one of them spoke up to try and calm things down.
“Brother Feng Xing, Brother Cao Long, you’re both outstanding figures from Scarlet Dawn City. Let’s not hurt our friendship over this. Your strength is impressive, but if you go too far, who knows what could happen,” a young boy called out, riding a white rhinoceros toward the gathering. His handsome face, framed by silver armor, made him look heroic and dignified.
Beside him was a girl with a graceful figure, sitting atop a black tiger. She wore purple and gold armor, her arched eyebrows and bright eyes giving her an air of radiant beauty. Many young men couldn’t help but steal glances at her.
When the boy and girl arrived, the crowd greeted them warmly. Even those older than them treated the pair with respect. Behind them trailed a large group, all surrounding the two like stars circling the moon.
From the whispered conversations around him, Qin Ming learned why these two attracted so much attention.
They had caused a sensation in Scarlet Dawn City this year when they became new recruits, the brightest stars of the past twenty years. No one who had laid the foundation for greatness over the years could compare to them.
After the young man spoke, Feng Xing, surprisingly, put away his weapon and smiled, exchanging a few words with him.
“Who’s Qin Ming?” the silver-armored boy called out, his handsome face beaming as he searched the crowd.
Qin Ming frowned. How does he know me?
The boy smiled even more brightly. “I visited Master Xu Kong and wanted to spar with his disciples. But Zhou Wu Bing said he was unwell and couldn’t fight. Instead, he kept recommending you, saying you were even stronger than him. So, I’m really curious. Is there someone here stronger than Master Xu Kong’s personally trained disciple? I had to come and see for myself.”
Qin Ming blinked in surprise. Suckly’s nuts. He’s really sick in the head to throw my name out there!