Chapter 31: Penetrating the Night
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
For a fleeting moment, Qin Ming felt as though someone had peered directly into his soul. The fire from two years ago—the one that had devoured his entire village—blazed to life in his memory. The scorching heat, the thick stench of burning wood, the sight of collapsing walls and bodies scattered like broken dolls, flashed before his eyes. And then there was the boy, standing in light, untouched by the chaos, wearing robes so delicate they seemed to float in the air.
But as quickly as it came, the memory vanished. Qin Ming steadied himself, his heartbeat slowing as his composure returned.
The woman before him had seen him on the brink of death two years ago. Back then, he had been at his lowest, broken and vulnerable. Yet, how could she know the truth of what had happened to him? If there was any real connection between them, surely they would’ve crossed paths before now. Especially considering they both had been in the area near Silver Vine Town this entire time.
With a polite bow, Qin Ming asked, “Miss Xie, could you tell me what really happened back then? Who helped me? I was badly injured—my head was a mess. I still don’t have a clue about what went on during those days.”
Xie Ling Xi, a tall woman with striking features, casually thrust her massive three-meter sword into the ground. She glanced over her shoulder, her expression calm. “There were two people with you—a man and a woman, both in their thirties, I’d say. From what I overheard, they didn’t think you’d make it. In the end, they pretty much left you to fend for yourself.”
Qin Ming’s brow furrowed as he muttered to himself, “Barely holding on, yet they dragged me along on some journey? What for?”
Xie Ling Xi’s long, dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, her bright eyes reflecting the stars above. “I didn’t hear much of their conversation, but they seemed to be taking you somewhere remote—far away from the bustling cities. They probably hoped you’d settle down there if you managed to survive.”
Just then, a slender maid entered, carefully balancing a tray with two teacups—one much larger than the other. In a soft voice, she said, “My lady once gave your group a pill to restore strength and blood. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it was a kindness.”
Qin Ming blinked in surprise and quickly bowed again. “Thank you, Miss Xie. I hadn’t realized you helped me.”
Xie Ling Xi waved dismissively, “That’s enough,” she said to the maid, who promptly left.
With his hands clasped in gratitude, Qin Ming pressed further. “Do you remember any other details? I would be incredibly grateful if you could recall anything more.”
“You were dressed in rags, soaked in blood,” Xie Ling Xi recalled thoughtfully. “Even if your clothes had been new, they’d still have been plain.”
Qin Ming nodded, his thoughts drifting back. After his second awakening, he’d seen flashes of his childhood self—patched-up clothes, a life of hardship. His teenage years were no different. But none of it explained why his village had been reduced to ashes. Why had the fire consumed everything?
“The pair traveling with you,” Xie Ling Xi continued, “seemed more interested in a spiritual mountain nearby. It had been activated by the celestial light. They mentioned taking you somewhere remote so you could hide away. You were more like an afterthought to them.”
Qin Ming remained silent, deep in thought. Who were those two people? They didn’t seem close to him, yet they’d saved him. And what was this spiritual mountain, awakened by celestial light? He wanted to ask more but didn’t want to push his luck.
…
In the front hall, a purple-eyed raven perched on a wooden beam, chuckling softly. Across from it sat a woman draped in a black fur cloak. “Those boys thought you’re the young lady of the Xie family,” the raven croaked, its voice harsh.
“Your laugh is awful,” the woman muttered, extending a slender finger that glowed faintly. The raven flapped its wings, dodging the light.
“Who would’ve thought,” the raven continued, “this backwater place would produce two promising youngsters? That sick, mouthy boy—if he ever gets better, he’ll be something else.”
The woman sipped her tea, eyes narrowing. “That boy with the sharp tongue is already being trained by someone impressive. Someone’s trying to get him back to full health.”
The raven cawed, “Word is, two years ago when the celestial light burst across the sky, this area got the least of it. But maybe that’s not entirely true. You’ve found two promising boys from nearby villages, haven’t you?”
Setting her cup down, the woman pulled her hood lower over her face. “My teacher’s insights are never wrong. The celestial light from two centuries ago likely didn’t fully release here. It’s been building, and now, with two new lights converging, this land might yield extraordinary things.”
She stood, tugging her cloak tighter. “We should go. Brother Xie will be busy today. I didn’t expect his daughter to act so recklessly, choosing the Giant’s path without consulting him. No wonder he’s stressed.”
…
Qin Ming couldn’t hold back anymore. “Miss Xie, could you explain this celestial light? What is it exactly?”
Xie Ling Xi had no obligation to answer. Qin Ming knew that. If she refused, he’d simply leave. But it was worth a try.
“The sun set and never rose again,” Xie Ling Xi began, her voice calm, “and the moon and stars disappeared. Celestial light is the only thing that pierces the darkness now, appearing once every few decades, or even centuries. Wherever it touches, rare materials are born nearby.”
Qin Ming couldn’t help but feel thankful. She wasn’t aloof or arrogant like some people in power. She was kind enough to share what she knew.
“Miss Xie, not only are you beautiful, but you’re really kind too,” Qin Ming said earnestly, then added with a grin, “not like some people…”
“Unlike who?” Xie Ling Xi asked, raising an eyebrow.
Qin Ming chuckled, “You know, the kind who glare at you like you’ve insulted their whole family just for glancing at them.”
Xie Ling Xi’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “You mean my little senior auntie, don’t you?”
At that exact moment, the woman who had just left the mansion paused in her steps, and the raven circling above burst into a fit of laughter. “Caw, caw, caw!”
…
Even though Qin Ming had learned a lot, he couldn’t bring himself to stay and ask for food. The information he had gathered today was enough to make the trip worthwhile.
As he neared Twin Trees Village, Xie Ling Xi’s words kept echoing in his mind. He thought about everything as he walked, the pieces slowly falling into place.
“I think,” he murmured to himself, determination sparking in his eyes, “with my third awakening, I’ll get my lost memories back.”
Qin Ming had figured out that the noble family wasn’t ordinary at all. Xie Ling Xi’s strength was beyond imagination—she was nearly five meters tall, meaning she had advanced far down the path of the Giant.
“The woman that brought me along back then… she had a red mole on her right eyebrow. And the man, he had freakishly long arms. I wonder if they will come back to the mountains for more rare resources this time around.”
As these thoughts churned in his mind, a message arrived from Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing: We’re heading into the mountains in two days.
Finally, clear news. The higher-ups in Scarlet Dawn City had struck a deal with the powerful creatures of the mountains. The areas once claimed by outsiders were being given back. Now, people from outside the mountains could hunt and gather herbs there again.
However, going deeper into the mountains was still dangerous. Only the bravest—or most reckless—would venture into the more perilous areas. The higher beings had promised not to hunt humans in secret, but other deadly creatures were still lurking.
Qin Ming quickly replied to Mu Qing and the others: “I can guide you, but only through the outer regions. No way am I going into the unknown areas.”
“Ugh, we’re not risking that either,” Mu Qing and Cao Long sighed in unison. “The old monsters roam in there. We’d be walking into a death trap.”
But there was a bigger issue—people from other regions were already flocking to the mountains, and even the outer areas weren’t safe anymore. Word had spread fast, and in special zones, rare resources had begun to appear, ripe for the taking.
In the next two days, Qin Ming saw movement from every direction. It wasn’t just outsiders from distant lands—local organizations were mobilizing too, like the Three-Eyed Sect and Golden Rooster Ridge.
The Three-Eyed Sect, especially, carried an air of mystery. Rumors floated around that they had members stationed in far-off cities, and this region was just one of their many bases. Normally, their local members acted like big shots, always dropping names of powerful backers whenever a conflict flared up. They’d boast about top-tier experts supporting them, daring anyone to challenge their authority.
But today was different. One of their men approached Xu Yue Ping, calm and non-threatening, ready for a talk.
“We’re all locals here,” the scar-faced man said, a strange smile on his lips. “If we find something valuable, it should stay within our community. Look at that mountain over there—it’s not going anywhere. It’ll outlive us, and even when we die, we’ll be buried beside it. The Three-Eyed Sect is like that mountain. We’re rooted here. We endure.”
Old Liu, who had been listening quietly, finally lost his patience. He scoffed, interrupting the man, “Scarface, you’re better off just threatening us like you used to. Roll up your sleeves, slam your knife down, and stomp your foot on a chair. Say it like this: If we find anything valuable in the mountains and don’t hand it over, you’ll come after us once the Scarlet Dawn City folks leave. Isn’t that what you really mean?”
Scarface gave a lazy shrug. “Yeah, I’d love to put it that way. But I’ve been told to be nice this time. You get the picture. I’m done.”
With that, Scarface turned and strolled away, his usual arrogance nowhere in sight.
Not long after, the group from Golden Rooster Ridge arrived. They used to be notorious bandits, though they had been pardoned in recent years. Still, the surrounding villages viewed them with suspicion. Their Golden Rooster Knights were particularly feared—trained in stealth attacks and mounted on second-generation mutated beasts. Their mounts, golden feral chickens, were as fierce as the knights themselves, making them a deadly combination.
…
“We’re heading into the mountains soon,” You Liang Yun muttered, sitting in a quiet chamber. On the desk in front of him lay a jade jar filled with a spiritual substance. Once he consumed it, he’d be able to reach his second awakening. With two days left before the expedition, it was just enough time for his life force to ascend to a new level.
Originally, he hadn’t planned to take this step so soon. He had wanted to further refine his awakening foundation. But now, his expression flickered between cold determination and doubt. If he didn’t follow that woman to Glimmer City, he’d be left with nothing but regret.
“Got everything sorted out?” he asked the people waiting outside the chamber.
“Yes, it’s all clear. Don’t approach him in the first two days after entering the mountains. He’ll stick with Mu Qing and Cao Long’s group. Wait until they’ve scouted the terrain, then make your move.”
“Good.”
Two days later, the different groups began their journey into the mountains.
Qin Ming was struck by the bizarre sight before him. Old Liu had donned a full suit of armor, a massive broadsword strapped to his back, and sat astride a huge, brown dog. And as if that wasn’t strange enough, Yang Yong Qing—armed with twin swords—was mounted on a black goat that stood taller than most men, forming something like a Black Goat Knight.
“Move out!” Cao Long commanded. He, Wei Zhi Rou, Mu Qing, and their team set off, representing just a small part of Scarlet Dawn City’s younger forces. Far larger groups were on the move, sent by various families and organizations.
“Watch out! Humans incoming!” came a loud screech from above. A sharp-eyed jay, flying high above, was warning the mountain creatures about Qin Ming’s group.
The bird could mimic human speech, was extremely clever, and flew at incredible speeds. Now it was broadcasting their presence to the creatures in the mountains, calling humans “two-legged beasts,” a term the mutated beings understood.
“Shoot it down!” Cao Long barked.
“There’s a giant two-legged beast down there—bigger than a three-meter-tall bear!” the speaking bird taunted. It had clearly mutated, not just warning the mountain creatures but stirring trouble among the human groups, hoping to incite chaos.
Cao Long’s face twisted with anger as he drew his bow, aiming to silence the bird.
…
Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the mountains. Rainbow mist billowed into the sky from deep within, stunning everyone.
They had only just entered the mountains, and already one of the most mysterious treasures was about to reveal itself?!
“My gods!” someone shouted. “The treasure in the area blessed by the five-colored mist is manifesting! We have to get there—now!”