Chapter 13: The Waning of Hot Blood
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
As they left behind the quiet, snow-covered town of Silver Vine, Xu Yue Ping moved in silence. Each step felt heavy, weighed down by his troubled thoughts. He led them deep into the heart of the shadowy forest, where ancient trees stood tall and silent, like guardians of an old world. Suddenly, he struck a powerful blow against a massive pine, shaking the snow off its branches, making it fall around them like feathers in the cold night air.
“If I had no family,” he muttered, his breath forming small clouds in the frigid air, “or if I were twenty years younger, I’d have taken Feng Yian away today, even if it cost me my life!” His voice trembled with frustration, and his strong arms shook as if bearing the weight of a mountain. The sting from the slap he had received still burned on his cheek. For a man like Xu Yue Ping, it was a hard pill to swallow.
But he wasn’t young anymore. He had a wife and children to think about. Life’s responsibilities had tamed his spirit, forcing him to endure things he never would have in his youth. Clenching his fists, he said bitterly, “Life has worn away my hot blood.”
Beside him, Qin Ming walked in quiet understanding. He sensed the old man’s inner turmoil but didn’t know how to comfort him. His own heart stirred with a mix of anger and helplessness.
“Uncle Xu,” Qin Ming said softly, trying to sound brave, “don’t let those jerks get to you. Guys like that… they’ll get what’s coming to them eventually.”
For a while, Xu Yue Ping stayed quiet, his breath hanging in the cold air like a ghost. Then, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. “Aye, let’s head back.”
They walked through the forest, their boots crunching on the thick blanket of snow. Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken worries.
“Why haven’t they started sweeping the mountains yet?” Qin Ming asked, hoping to lighten the mood.
“They’re probably still making deals with those strange creatures up there,” Xu Yue Ping answered, his voice grim. “The patrol team has some kind of catalyst liquid they’re working on. In three days, they’ll bring it to our village and dump it into the Flame Spring.”
Qin Ming frowned. “That stuff might make those Black Moon seeds sprout, but it’ll mess up our flame fields, right?”
Xu Yue Ping nodded, his expression darkening. “Three other villages tried to resist. They think there’s something off with those seeds. Each year, the harvest gets worse. But in the end, they gave in. Only Green Mulberry Village is still holding out. The patrol team’s scared of the one who taught Sickly some advanced techniques there, so they haven’t dared to push too hard.”
“It’s almost mid-month,” Qin Ming muttered, glancing up at the starless sky. He knew the patrol team only dared to venture into the mountains together at mid-month and the end of the month.
Just then, from a fork in the path ahead, a massive bull appeared, its fur glowing fiery red in the moonlight—a sight impossible to ignore. The beast stood taller than a grown man at the shoulder, with a glossy coat and a sharp, sword-like horn jutting from its forehead—a sign of mutation.
But it wasn’t just the bull that caught their eyes. The rider on it was something else entirely. He was enormous—if he stood up, he’d be over three meters tall. His long black hair flowed over his shoulders, and his eyes were like steel. He glanced at them briefly as he passed.
“Whoa, that guy’s huge!” Qin Ming blurted out, his voice filled with a mix of awe and excitement.
“He chose a different path in his growth,” Xu Yue Ping said, watching the giant disappear into the distance.
“You mean he did his ‘awakening’ too early and ended up like that?” Qin Ming asked, clearly intrigued.
“Yes,” Xu Yue Ping replied. “It’s best to undergo ‘awakening’ around fifteen or sixteen to build a solid foundation. Too early, and the body can grow out of control, all unbalanced. Most who end up giants like that don’t live long.”
“Because their bodies can’t handle the changes?”
“Exactly. Only the big families have the knowledge and resources to help them through it.”
“A few giants survive and become really strong,” Xu Yue Ping continued. “They can crush most folks with just their strength. But people like us, we couldn’t possibly raise them.”
He guessed the rider and his mount came from Scarlet Dawn City.
Talking about ‘awakening,’ Qin Ming decided to mention Fu En Tao, the leader of the patrol team.
“Uncle Xu, what do you think of Fu En Tao’s skills?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
Xu Yue Ping turned to him, frowning. “You’re not thinking of confronting them, are you? Don’t do anything foolish.”
Qin Ming quickly shook his head. “No way, Uncle Xu. I’m just curious. I’m new here—no way I could face someone who’s gone through a second ‘awakening.’”
Xu Yue Ping sighed with relief. “Good. I was worried you’d get yourself into trouble.”
“The first ‘awakening’ changes the whole body but mainly focuses on strength,” he explained. “The second one boosts agility and speed.”
As they walked, Qin Ming tried to imagine Fu En Tao’s abilities in his mind. They entered the forest several times along the way, hoping to catch some game for families in need.
“That was close,” Xu Yue Ping muttered, shivering slightly. “Even with my ‘awakening,’ I nearly got hurt. The wild creatures are getting restless; it’s high time they swept the mountains.”
Not long ago, a mutated spike leopard had leapt at him from behind—a black blur that was nearly impossible to guard against. If Qin Ming hadn’t reacted quickly, Xu Yue Ping might have been badly hurt.
“This area’s had some mutated plants show up,” Qin Ming noted. “It’s dangerous; we shouldn’t stay here.”
They moved swiftly, dragging the limp body of the spike leopard along the snow-covered path. The beast weighed over four hundred pounds, its hide bristling with five-inch black spikes that ran from its belly to its head. Even lifeless, the creature’s presence seemed to cast a shadow over them as they trudged back to their village.
When they returned, a heavy gloom hung over the air, settling like mist over the snow-dusted rooftops. The village, usually filled with the laughter of children playing in the snow, was unusually quiet. Few dared to come outside on such a grim day.
Once the spike leopard’s meat had been divided among the households, Xu Yue Ping turned toward his home, his shoulders heavy with fatigue and worry.
Near the bright, bubbling waters of the Flame Spring, Qin Ming stood alone, gazing toward the distant mountains. Their dark, jagged silhouettes loomed like ancient guardians on the horizon. His face was set in a determined expression, shadows dancing across his young features.
“In three days, they’ll pour that catalyst into the Flame Spring,” he muttered, his voice low but filled with anger. “They’re pushing us to the edge. I’m not going to just sit and wait for it.”
Determination flashed in his eyes as he turned his back to the village and began to walk toward the wilderness. The night was still young, and he wasn’t planning on doing anything rash—yet.
More importantly, there were still two days left until the middle of the month.
The forest closed around Qin Ming like an embrace. This time, he didn’t carry his hunting fork. After his ‘awakening,’ he found he didn’t need it. A bow slung across his back and a machete hung at his side were his only companions on this cold, lonely journey.
He knew well where the patrol team’s base was, and he set his course in that direction. The wind howled fiercely through the treetops, and the snow fell in steady, thick sheets—a boon that would help cover his tracks.
Each patrol team was tasked with overseeing six to eight villages. Fu En Tao and Feng Yian kept their camp not far into the mountains, a convenient spot for their purposes.
Whenever he sensed the presence of mutated beasts, Qin Ming moved carefully, skirting around them to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. He wasn’t here to pick a fight—at least, not tonight.
After crossing through dense forests and climbing several rugged peaks, he neared his destination.
Ahead, on a distant mountaintop, flickering red lights marked a small Flame Spring. It wasn’t as bright or powerful as the one in his village, but it was enough for the patrol team to use.
Years ago, a powerful mutated beast had claimed this place, but Fu En Tao and his crew had come and slain it, securing the spot for themselves.
Further into the mountains lay the greater Flame Springs, the ones with richer, more potent environments. The strange beings that lived there had no interest in these outer territories.
From a nearby peak, Qin Ming observed in silence. The glow of firelight illuminated a flat clearing where several wooden huts stood. Figures moved between them, casting long shadows in the flickering light. Usually, only two or three patrol members stayed here, coming together only when hunting for rare plants or creatures to undergo a second ‘awakening.’
His eyes narrowed as he noticed a mutant beast with a keen sense of smell—a large golden mastiff, as big as a tiger, prowling the camp. His expression darkened further when his gaze fell upon a Snow Ape, its fur gleaming under the firelight. The creature, now tamed, lounged by the Flame Spring.
Villagers had suffered from Snow Ape attacks before; some had broken ribs, and others had nearly lost limbs.
For a long time, Qin Ming crouched on his perch, watching the mountaintop, his eyes never leaving the movements below. Then, without a sound, he slipped away into the night.
Emerging from the shadowed forest, he cast a glance back toward his village. Under the clear night sky, the entrance glowed with a soft, golden light. The houses closest to it seemed to shimmer, their outlines soft and blurred as if edged with gold. Smoke curled lazily from some chimneys, rising to meet the stars above.
It should have been a peaceful scene. But as Qin Ming entered the village, a sound met his ears—soft, broken weeping.
“Old Uncle Qian didn’t make it,” someone whispered with a heavy sigh. “He’s gone, passed away just now.”
A crowd had gathered outside the Qian family’s home, and many could not hold back their tears.
“He was getting old,” another murmured. “That Snow Ape nearly tore his neck clean off. He was just hanging on until now.”
Qin Ming stood in the shadows, listening quietly. He said nothing. This was the third death caused by them.
Nearby, Xu Yue Ping and Old Liu were there too, their faces like stone. They knew the truth of things and held a bitter hatred for Feng Yian and his men.
The next day, during Uncle Qian’s funeral, the patrol team showed up at the village gate. Feng Yian sighed dramatically and stepped forward, presenting a deer to the grieving Qian family.
Seeing him pretend to be sympathetic, Old Liu could only turn his head away in disgust.
Unaware of the truth, the Qian family thanked him.
A tall man in armor then spoke up, his voice carrying across the gathered crowd. “We’ve dealt with the Blood Bear and the rampaging Snow Ape,” he declared. “Y’all can go hunting safely now.”
Qin Ming recognized him—Shao Cheng Feng.
Once, he and Yang Yong Qing had met him on the road leading into the mountains. Back then, Qin Ming had thought Shao Cheng Feng to be a diligent man, patrolling even late into the night.
Now, as he watched him lie with such ease, taking credit for solving a mess they themselves had caused, Qin Ming felt nothing but contempt.
Afterward, several patrol members sought out Xu Yue Ping. They weren’t there to offer condolences; they came to check on the planting of the Black Moon seeds.
“Brother Xu, you’ve done well,” Feng Yian said, slapping him on the shoulder with forced cheerfulness.
Qin Ming watched from his place by the Flame Spring, his senses keen. Despite Feng Yian’s smile, there was no warmth in it—only a cold, calculated malice.
Xu Yue Ping’s face was blank, but Qin Ming could sense the simmering anger beneath. The memory of the humiliation in Silver Vine Town was still fresh, the wounds to his pride still raw.
Shao Cheng Feng turned to Qin Ming, flashing him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I misjudged you before. Didn’t expect you to be an ‘awakener’ with a golden foundation. When the mountain sweep begins, we’ll likely be fightin’ side by side. Why not join our patrol team now and become one of us?”
Qin Ming shook his head slowly. “No thanks,” he replied curtly.
Shao Cheng Feng’s smile faded, but Qin Ming acted as if he hadn’t noticed.
Soon after, the patrol team took their leave.
“No need to test him,” Feng Yian muttered once they were out of earshot. “We already know that kid’s against us. When the mountain sweep starts, find a chance to get rid of him.”
“Don’t waste him,” Shao Cheng Feng added with a sneer. “The Flame Spring at the Blood Bamboo Grove is about to go out. We can use him to scout ahead.”
Their voices trailed off as they disappeared into the wilderness, their words echoing in the cold, silent air.
That day, Qin Ming sat quietly in his small courtyard, sharpening his machete with slow, deliberate strokes, the blade singing softly with each pass against the stone.