Chapter 28: The Feathered Garment Immortal
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming stood silent and still, like a statue carved from stone. Yet inside his mind, fragmented memories began to surface. At first, they were shrouded in dust and swirling black mist. Then, like lightning splitting the sky, they tore through the darkness, sweeping away the haze and revealing scenes stained with blood.
It was a dark night, flames roaring up to the heavens. A young man clad in a feathered robe, ethereal as an immortal, stood amidst the inferno. But beneath his feet lay corpses and pools of blood…
Qin Ming raised a hand to his head, his body trembling slightly. The image of the feathered garment had left an indelible mark deep within his subconscious. Now it pierced through him, awakening old memories like a gust of wind blowing away the sands that veiled his heart.
He closed his eyes, struggling to control the emotions surging within. His body relaxed, and he slowly opened his eyes. This wasn’t the right place or time; he couldn’t afford to appear unusual. He dimmed his presence, blending into the crowd, harmonizing with the light and shadow around him.
His eyes regained their clarity, his hair fluttering gently in the wind. He stood straight as if nothing had happened, but inside, countless fragmented images began to surface. He calmed himself, breaking free from the cage of his own emotions. He examined the past with cool detachment, like an outsider quietly observing the bloody scenes that had once unfolded before him.
In the dark night, flames leaped skyward; the entire mountain forest was ablaze. The raging inferno seemed ready to devour the very night sky. The village at the foot of the mountain was equally ravaged, flames spreading unchecked. Houses collapsed, and bodies lay strewn across the streets; blood flowed through the alleys.
Amidst the scorching flames and crumbling walls, a young man’s hair fluttered. His feathered robe billowed like that of an immortal; his eyes and brows seemed to glow with an ethereal light, transcendent and otherworldly. A faint light flowed around his body. His white shoes and socks remained untouched by dust. Even among the ruins and encircling flames, he seemed detached from the mortal world.
Fourteen-year-old Qin Ming collapsed to the ground, his nose and mouth filled with the acrid stench of smoke and ash. Screams echoed in his ears, merciless flames filled his vision. The beams and pillars of the house behind him burned and cracked, crashing down with a deafening roar. He saw familiar faces lying lifeless; the entire village was engulfed in a sea of fire.
The feathered-robed youth held a glowing purple bamboo staff, stepping over rubble as he approached Qin Ming. Though his demeanor was extraordinary, his eyes shimmering like starlight, his actions were merciless. He swung the staff, striking Qin Ming’s head with a single blow. Blood flowed instantly, and Qin Ming felt the world spin, the night sky appearing to blaze with even greater flames.
His clothes were in tatters; he’d already been injured before. With this blow, he choked violently amidst the flames, unable to rise. The youth wielded the bamboo staff again, striking Qin Ming repeatedly. The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed in the air.
“I thought I’d just gotten hit on the head,” Qin Ming murmured. “Didn’t know there was more to it than that.”
He watched these past events unfold, remaining calm, as if he were watching someone else’s story. In the village, shadowy figures darted about, swiftly dispatching any survivors. Only the feathered-robed youth stood still, using only his glowing purple staff against Qin Ming.
“He could’ve smashed my skull with one blow,” Qin Ming thought. “But he didn’t. What kind of grudge does he have against me? Why make me suffer like this?”
He etched the youth’s face into his memory. Though he was handsome, almost otherworldly, the firelight revealed a ruthless side to him.
“My arm was broken,” Qin Ming realized. “No wonder I didn’t know about it later. How long was I unconscious when I was fourteen?” His chest ached. “He must’ve cracked my ribs with that bamboo staff.” He quietly watched the bloody scenes in the firelight.
“Was he planning to torture me before killing me?” Even after more than two years, Qin Ming could still feel that helplessness and intense pain.
The feathered-robed youth seemed disdainful, avoiding any physical contact, only using the bamboo staff. He struck Qin Ming’s head twice more. Qin Ming clearly heard the sound of bones cracking, felt the blood splattering, dripping onto his neck, some sliding down his cheeks.
Both were youths, but what a contrast they made. One was elegant as jade, transcendent; the other was burned, in tattered clothes, face covered in blood, lying in the dust.
In the end, Qin Ming’s consciousness began to fade. He vaguely saw two figures rushing out from the ruins, suddenly forcing the feathered-robed youth back. They grabbed him and fled quickly into the darkness.
As they moved, his vision blurred. He saw a huge city stretching across the land, shining brilliantly.
“Falling Moon City—better steer clear,” the two whispered. They didn’t take him into the city but detoured far around it, moving swiftly.
Through the haze, he heard their sighs. “Three fractures in the skull, scalp and flesh beaten to a pulp. It’s too serious—he probably won’t make it. His arm and chest…”
Finally, Qin Ming slipped completely into darkness.
Now, he quietly experienced that boundless darkness, motionless. “Someone took me away, brought me to this remote place,” he thought. “Three severe head injuries, almost shattered. No wonder I forgot so much, only remembering wandering after I woke up.”
He realized he might have been unconscious for over three months because when he woke up, the fractures in his arm and chest had healed. If he hadn’t seen someone wearing a feathered robe again today, he still wouldn’t have remembered these things, only recalling the scene of his head being struck, blood splashing amid the flames.
Though he felt a bit suffocated, he wasn’t overly angry. What was done was done; what good would it do to be sad, angry, or upset? What he needed was to solve the problem effectively in the future—to find and deal with that feathered-robed youth!
“A feathered robe fluttering like an immortal—his background isn’t simple,” Qin Ming sighed softly. “Seeing so many experts in the sea of fire, this probably involves a very powerful organization.” Then, he regained his composure.
He even began to reflect. If he were that feathered-robed youth, he wouldn’t torture his opponent like that; he’d finish it with one blow, eliminating future troubles.
“Falling Moon City!” Qin Ming’s eyes seemed to pierce the night sky as he silently repeated the name of that city. The village where it all happened shouldn’t be far from Falling Moon City.
Old Liu was quite excited, whispering, “So strong! Who is this woman in the feathered robe? She doesn’t even fear the Moonbug, confronting it head-on in the night sky.”
Others in the snowfield felt the same. She was the only female expert to appear, and they were all curious about her identity. She stood on a blue bird, hovering in the air, where the light was hazy and mysterious.
An old man remarked, “They likely won’t fight. Experts like them are usually just for deterrence. If they really start fighting, it would be all-out war.”
Just as he finished speaking, from the majestic mountains shrouded in the faint night, above the endless wild forest, the Moonbug suddenly emitted a dazzling light. Like brilliant lightning arrows, they shot toward the feathered-robed woman on the blue bird.
Many faces paled. Was a massive battle about to erupt?
Only the four beings sitting in the snow remained calm; none of them stood up.
In the night sky, the feathered-robed woman raised her delicate hand, summoning wind and snow, which transformed into countless crystal-clear raindrops. In an instant, the sky became a curtain of rain, blocking the Moonbug’s light arrows.
Amidst the sounds of clashing, the light arrows were halted, revealing their true forms—silver-white insects, seemingly forged from refined metal, darting through the night sky, trying to tear apart the rain curtain.
The rain transformed; droplets elongated into glowing threads that sliced through the night. With muffled sounds, the silver bugs were either cut apart or pierced through. Many shattered like bubbles, disintegrating into nothingness.
Only two luminous insects remained undamaged, falling toward the mountains below. A rumble echoed—it was as if a violent earthquake had occurred. An avalanche followed, a vast expanse of white consuming the slopes.
Everyone watched in shock, not daring to utter a word. The Moonbug hung high, like a bright moon over the mountain forest. It didn’t strike again. The feathered-robed woman also stood quietly, her clothes fluttering. She remained calm and even retreated a distance.
Clearly, this was a test by the high-level figures. If one side wasn’t up to par, the so-called final negotiation would be unnecessary.
Qin Ming gazed at the woman from afar, thinking it couldn’t be such a coincidence; people wearing feathered robes weren’t necessarily related to that youth. But he couldn’t help wanting to ask.
He turned to Mu Qing. “Hey, is there some big deal about people wearing feathered robes?”
Entirely shrouded in a black robe, Mu Qing glanced at him. “Those who come from beyond are usually transcendent, detached from worldly affairs. I don’t know her specific background either.”
Qin Ming nodded and didn’t press further.
Ahead, the atmosphere among the four figures seemed to ease; they even exchanged smiles. Though the crowd couldn’t hear their conversation, they guessed things were going well. Many thought it was due to the earlier confrontation between the Moonbug and the feathered-robed woman, which had promoted smooth negotiations.
Ling Xu spoke, “We’ll help you drive away those migrating anomalies. We’re not greedy; if there are special resources in those nodes, give us a share—that’s all. Also, the anomalies that have recently expanded must retreat.”
The snow-white old weasel, twirling prayer beads in one hand, replied, “Why should we share with you? We might as well unite with the newly arrived high-level beings to deal with you; wouldn’t that make more sense?”
Ling Xu remained calm. “No need for tests between us. Our time is precious. Hear me out. We only want the special resources that might be found in those nodes. But those newly migrated beings—they don’t just want those; they’re eyeing your territories. They claim they’re just passing through, staying for a few months. Do you believe that?”
“Fine, we agree,” the old weasel said.
“Good, straightforward!” Ling Xu replied with a nod.
Both sides stood up. The general terms were set without any procrastination. As for the details, others would handle those; it wasn’t their concern.
“It’s over already?” People were stunned to see the high-level figures conclude so quickly.
“Return and wait,” the tabby cat carrying the red sword instructed. “Be ready to enter the mountain at any time.”
The people from Scarlet Dawn City were ecstatic; the agreement was real!
Qin Ming noticed a crow flying nearby, conspicuous against the snow. It landed on a protruding green stone. Standing there was a woman draped in a fur cloak, her black hair fluttering. She glanced in his direction.
The crow spoke, “Why is that kid’s aura even weaker than last time? Something’s off. I bet he’s practicing a method to conceal his vitality—probably thinks he’s too conspicuous. Told you he’s not simple, didn’t I? Have you found a suitable candidate? Don’t you want to take another look at this one?”
The woman replied, “The person I’ve chosen is like a blazing sun, ready to break through dark clouds. But it’s not wise to reveal him too early; he might attract unwanted attention. I’ve sent him away for now.” She glanced again toward Qin Ming. “I’ll have someone test him later to see if he can be one of our backups.”