Chapter 19: No Rest for the Weary
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Qin Ming stood still, unfazed by not being chosen. He felt quite calm about it.
Xu Yue Ping, however, seemed more anxious for him, but there wasn’t much he could do. Yang Yong Qing also felt it was a shame. He had once joked with Qin Ming, saying that during the mountain sweep, some noble girls might come down, and he should make a good impression.
Wei Zhi Rou, who was always smooth with her words, warmly greeted Qin Ming. She didn’t hold back on the compliments and said she would have liked to invite him to join her group, but Cao Long and Mu Qing wouldn’t agree. She mentioned that he could come to Scarlet Dawn City after the mountain sweep was over.
Qin Ming, ever relaxed, responded with a smile. “If I ever leave here, Scarlet Dawn City would be my first choice.”
“I choose Qin Ming,” said Mu Qing suddenly.
Qin Ming’s body tensed, almost imperceptibly. Earlier, when he hadn’t been chosen, he didn’t care much and felt quite at ease. But now, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
Not only was it unclear whether Mu Qing was male or female, but it was also hard to say if Mu Qing was even human. The idea of going into the mountains with Mu Qing made Qin Ming feel a bit uneasy. He suspected that Mu Qing might be some kind of advanced creature that had joined Scarlet Dawn City. After all, no matter how much a human body evolved, it shouldn’t grow a fluffy, golden tail, right?
What could he do? In this situation, there was no room for hesitation. He nodded and agreed.
Mu Qing seemed pleased with him. Seeing that he only had a woodcutter’s machete, Mu Qing asked, “You lack a proper weapon. What kind are you used to?”
Qin Ming replied, “Haven’t really decided yet.”
After thinking for a moment, Mu Qing said, “Some of the monsters in the mountains have tough scales and thick hides. Regular swords might not cut through them. I’ll give you a long-handled hammer. If you use it well, it has a lot of power—could smash a head in one blow. But it’s a heavy weapon; not sure if you can handle it.”
Mu Qing gestured to someone in the back, and soon a long-handled hammer, forged from dark iron, was brought over.
Qin Ming took it and swung it a few times with ease, leaving trails in the air and making a humming sound as it sliced through. He moved it like he was twirling a spear or dancing with a sword.
“Good!” Mu Qing nodded, noticing his considerable strength.
Wei Zhi Rou was slightly surprised. She had high standards, and just from the way Qin Ming swung that heavy hammer effortlessly, she guessed his strength was around six hundred pounds. She had always thought Xu Yue Ping exaggerated about Qin Ming, but now she saw he hadn’t.
Still, she didn’t feel regret. The one she had chosen, Zhou Wu Bing, had a weakened vitality years ago. But as it regenerated, his potential seemed vast. Once stable, he could probably lift over six hundred pounds, which made him quite gifted. Even Xu Kong valued him and took him on as a personal student.
Cao Long, however, remained indifferent. He was following the path of the giant—born with natural strength!
Mu Qing added, “I’ll also give you a short sword. In case a dangerous creature gets close, you’ll need a sharp weapon for close combat.”
“Thanks a lot!” Qin Ming accepted it. Now, he finally had better weapons than the mountain patrol team.
Next, Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing chose their people quickly.
Old Man Liu, who was over seventy, initially wasn’t picked by anyone. But he volunteered, saying he knew the mountains like his own backyard. Surprisingly, all three groups wanted him after that info.
“I want to be on the same team as Little Qin. We’re from the same village and know each other well,” Old Man Liu said.
Soon, the Cao family, Wei family, and Mu family finished selecting their people.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the higher-ups will soon hold a final negotiation with the mysterious beings in the mountains. Until then, all we can do is wait.”
Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing were going to take their teams back to Silver Vine Town, where they were currently staying. They asked those chosen to prepare themselves once they returned.
Not long after, people saw dozens more emerge from the dense forest, joining the three teams as they left. They were all young and strong, clad in armor.
On the way back, Xu Yue Ping sighed, “Looks like the people from Scarlet Dawn City are just treating us as guides. They’re polite, but they don’t think much of our skills.”
Yang Yong Qing chimed in, “The young ones in those three teams are here to train themselves. But those dozens of experienced young warriors are the main force for mountain sweeping and exploring the mysterious areas.”
Old Man Liu didn’t mind much. “They have advanced techniques. How can we compare with that?”
Xu Yue Ping shook his head. “I’ve been to Scarlet Dawn City. Only a select few core members of noble families have access to complete advanced scriptures.”
Based on his judgment, the so-called generous rewards this time wouldn’t include the family’s secret teachings—it would undermine their foundation.
“I guess they’ve gathered fragments of high-level texts from elsewhere. They’re not from their own family’s heritage. But for those in the new generation, they’re enough to reach mastery,” he speculated.
Yang Yong Qing was hopeful. “Advanced Qi techniques are so rare. Even if incomplete, as long as they cover the new generation’s path, it’s enough to drive people mad.”
Qin Ming murmured, “Advanced texts are so valuable, yet the three big families of Scarlet Dawn City are willing to offer them. Shows how much they value that glowing spot in the mountains. What’s really going on there?”
“You’re wrong. It’s more than just three families. At least ten have come,” Old Man Liu corrected.
Soon after, they were back in the village.
…
As the night grew near its end, Qin Ming arrived at Old Man Liu’s door, carrying a big chunk of donkey meat. “Here to scrounge a meal,” he said, though really he wanted to ask about the Blood Bamboo Grove.
Old Man Liu’s house was near the village entrance, close to the Flame Spring. In the night, the blue-brick, grey-tile house was tinged with a soft red glow.
As soon as Qin Ming stepped into the yard, he spotted a yellow dog darting out of its kennel. The dog was as tall as an adult’s shoulder, its yellow fur shimmering brightly. It bared its white fangs.
Qin Ming immediately thought of the golden mastiff from the mountain patrol team and couldn’t help but give the yellow dog another look. It was well-fed and sturdy—it probably had good meat on it too.
Sensing something, the dog, which had been growling moments ago, suddenly tucked its tail between its legs and dived back into its kennel.
“Hey, Little Qin, why’d you bring meat to my house?” Old Man Liu, though old, was still sharp. He appeared in the courtyard immediately.
Qin Ming grinned. “Mr. Liu, how about I trade you two horned deer for this yellow dog of yours?”
“Woof, woof…” The big dog in the kennel whimpered, its tail between its legs, glancing at its owner as if pleading.
“This old dog’s got a lot of spirit. It’s scared of you—means you’ve been hunting in the mountains too much lately and got that killing aura,” Old Man Liu chuckled. He shook his head, still smiling. “I’m not trading it. This dog’s almost ready to mutate, and it’s been bringing us wild game from time to time.”
“It’s that smart?” Qin Ming was amazed.
Old Man Liu stroked his goatee. “Of course! Two months ago, it was so old it could barely walk. Then it disappeared for a few days, came back better, and now it’s stronger. I bet it’ll mutate before Yang Yong Qing’s black goat.”
“A dog returning to the mountains—either to die there or to grow strong again. Guess there’s some truth to that old saying,” Qin Ming mused, staring at the big yellow dog.
Old Man Liu laughed heartily. “You know, the last time you went into the mountains, fell into that crack, nearly died, then got real sick, but came back stronger. It’s like a dog returning to the mountains and coming back alive.”
Qin Ming wanted to smack him. This old geezer really didn’t know how to talk without a jab. No wonder he didn’t marry the prettiest girl back in the day.
Old Man Liu lowered his voice, “That crack you found is worth keeping an eye on.”
The noble families of Scarlet Dawn City were all looking for those special points, so there had to be something significant about them.
Qin Ming shook his head. “Not planning to go near that area again unless I can get a second awakening.”
He smoothly asked for advice, “Mr. Liu, you know so much about the legends of the spiritual beings in these mountains. Mind sharing a bit?”
“You rascal, I knew you were up to something.” Old Man Liu chuckled, tapping Qin Ming’s forehead. Then he turned serious. “If it were that easy to get spiritual beings, do you think I’d be stuck where I am now? You’ve built a golden foundation. You’re bound to get a second awakening. There’s no need to take such risks.”
Qin Ming said, “Didn’t you say young people should have some guts? What’s the point of living if you don’t do anything bold and wild? I want a second awakening sooner, so I can see the view from higher up.”
“Did I really say that?” Old Man Liu eyed him suspiciously. He wasn’t drunk last night—they’d only had half a cup of that spicy old wine each.
“Something like that,” Qin Ming replied with a grin.
“When you’re young, you should aim high because as you age, your dreams tend to shrink. You need to start high,” Old Man Liu said.
The cold wind whipped snow against the windows, and steam rose from the donkey meat stew on the Liu family’s dining table. Qin Ming chatted with Old Man Liu late into the night, learning the names of some spiritual beings, all located in extremely dangerous places, and also discovering where the Blood Bamboo Grove was.
Qin Ming had already guessed that Feng Yian and Shao Cheng Feng had their sights set on the Blood Bamboo Grove, which was probably within the range of the mountain patrol team.
Sure enough, Old Man Liu mentioned that the Blood Bamboo Grove was only six miles from the patrol team’s base.
It was home to a type of snake, bright red like it was carved from ruby. Its blood and gall were rich in life force and spirit.
But the snake was deadly dangerous. Its venom was potent enough to kill even those who had undergone an awakening if they were bitten.
“If you’re lucky enough to catch one, cut off its head and remove the venom glands. Otherwise, it’s not a tonic; it’s more like a death potion.”
Old Man Liu explained that besides its venom, the snake’s body was as hard as iron and shockingly strong. It could leap and strike with the speed of an arrow, piercing through its prey in an instant.
People called it a Blood Snake, while others named it the Arrow Snake.
If you spotted one over ten feet long in the mountains, the best option was to run.
Old Man Liu recalled that the snake den had been there when he was young. Decades later, there were surely Blood Snakes that had mutated twice.
Qin Ming said, “Let’s hope there aren’t any stronger, older snakes.”
“Swords and knives might not even cut through a Blood Snake’s body—they’ll just spark off it. Among creatures of the same level, it’s one of the fiercest, without much of a weakness.” At this, Old Man Liu jumped up, nearly knocking over the table, startling his wife and nearly making his youngest grandson cry.
“Old man, what’s got into you?” his wife glared at him.
Old Man Liu’s face was flushed as if he’d regained his youth. He excitedly waved his arms. “How could I forget? If the Flame Spring in the Blood Bamboo Grove has gone out, all the Blood Snakes there will freeze. They’d be ripe for the picking!”
He looked like he wanted to sprout wings and fly straight into the mountains.
Qin Ming immediately chimed in, “Why don’t we head in tonight, the two of us, and grab some spirit-filled Blood Snakes?”
“Great idea!” Old Man Liu nodded vigorously but suddenly seemed to remember something. He slumped back down, sighing. “If I thought of it, so did Feng Yian and Shao Cheng Feng. Those rascals are guarding the mountains, desperate for a second awakening. No way they’d miss the spirit creatures right in their territory.”
The old man looked utterly deflated. His excitement was wasted. He sat there, slapping his thighs in frustration, cursing the mountain patrol team under his breath.
“Those lucky dogs! Are we really going to get another one or two like Fu En Tao? They’ve got all the luck! Makes me want to throw a bucket of golden poop over them and give them a stink they’ll never forget.”
…
That day, Qin Ming was truly non-stop. In the middle of the night, he braved the snow to enter the mountains, cutting down Fu En Tao, Feng Yian, and their lot with a woodcutter’s machete. Then, he met with the nobles from Scarlet Dawn City during the shallow night. Afterward, he spent an entire night awake again listening to Old Man Liu brag about his strange encounters and mysterious sights in the mountains.
By the time Qin Ming returned home, he was tired, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, he woke up early, had a quick breakfast, and went straight back into the mountains.