Chapter 36: A Graceful Exit
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming stopped peeling the rock’s outer layer. The forest around him was not the place to act rashly. If a beam of light shot out from the stone, it could easily spell his doom. Now that the rock had shrunk to about half its original size, it could barely fit inside his leather cloak’s sleeve. But he didn’t take that chance.
Instead, Qin Ming exited the mountain, leaving the stone hidden in the thick forest. He noticed something odd—eyes were watching the mountain’s exit. Different organizations kept a close watch, all for the unique resources hidden at key locations. They weren’t about to let anyone get away with a valuable find.
As he moved forward, he saw her again—the tall woman draped in a fur cloak, standing amid the wind and snow. Her long black hair danced in the breeze, but her face remained hidden from view.
“He’s still in one piece,” a voice remarked. A purple-eyed raven circled above, spotting Qin Ming and fixing its gaze on him, strange symbols flickering in its eyes. It stared at him a moment longer as if intrigued.
Qin Ming kept his face calm, but inwardly, he was uneasy. There were probably countless pairs of eyes watching those leaving the mountain. If he tried to take the stone with him, it would definitely raise suspicion.
The purple-eyed raven hovered above and cawed, “This place makes no sense! How can there be a ten-color node? And it’s merged with the rainbow mist! I’m so hungry I could cry! We should’ve had your master come here in person. Let’s see who dares stop us then!”
The woman in the black cloak beside it said calmly, “Don’t be reckless. Every powerful being here is already out for blood. We’ll wait for the right moment.”
Outside the mountain, Qin Ming found Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others. He noticed how cautious the nobles’ children were—they weren’t about to make any rash moves.
“Where’d you run off to, kid? The mountain’s too dangerous right now,” Yang Yong Qing asked while still riding his black goat.
“I was chasing that talking bird, but I lost it,” Qin Ming replied with a smile.
Cao Long perked up at this. “Where did you lose it? That bird’s really gotten on my nerves. I haven’t forgiven it yet.”
That day, the commotion deep within the mountain was so great that even the villagers nearby were staring in awe. They had never seen anything like the dazzling display lighting up the sky as if it were broad daylight.
The shallow night was nearly over, but the mountain remained in turmoil.
After checking with his employers, Qin Ming confirmed they weren’t going to venture into the mountain and called out, “Uncle Xu, Grandpa Liu, let’s head back.”
“Huh? Why go back so early?” Old Liu protested, still fascinated by the sight.
“Because it’s time to eat! We’ve been hungry all day!” Qin Ming replied cheerfully.
Wei Zhi Rou, Cao Long, and Mu Qing glanced at him, thinking to themselves how pure-hearted and down-to-earth he was. Despite the chaos in the mountains, Qin Ming’s thoughts were only about one thing—food.
“You’re right. Even if we watched for three days and nights, it wouldn’t make a difference to us. Let’s go eat,” Old Liu agreed.
Yang Yong Qing and Xu Yue Ping also followed suit. Despite the colorful spectacle in the mountains, that was not their world to meddle with.
That night, Qin Ming sat at the village entrance under the twin black and white trees, gazing toward the mountains. They still glowed brightly, with the colors swirling in a fresh and enticing way, almost beckoning one to come closer.
“So, this is Black and White Mountain, huh? Shame it collapsed five hundred years ago, lost all its former glory,” came a voice, surprising Qin Ming.
He turned and saw two women standing in the snow. Their elegant figures stood tall as their clothes fluttered in the wind. It was astonishing to hear them mention such a thing—Qin Ming, a local, had never heard of the mountain being called that. Usually, it was just referred to as the East Ridge or West Valley.
The women approached the village, their thin clothing a stark contrast to the harsh cold. It wasn’t even close to the hottest summer when the Flame Springs flared up.
They glanced at the twin trees near the village entrance, observing them carefully.
“Hmm, this village has black and white twin trees. Must be seeds left over from Black and White Mountain,” said the younger of the two.
She wore all white, standing out against the night’s fiery glow. Her face was youthful, with a hint of baby fat, and her arched brows and large, bright eyes gave her striking beauty. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen years old.
If it had been Qin Ming, he certainly wouldn’t have chosen to wear white. Not in these mountains. It was far too eye-catching for survival.
Soon, Qin Ming noticed something strange. The girl in white clearly followed another woman who was leading the way. Yet, it took him a moment to realize there was someone ahead of her. It was odd that he hadn’t noticed the woman in green sooner.
The woman in green stood still, her simple attire blending into the snow. But around her was a thick cloud of mist, giving her an ethereal presence as though she could float away at any moment.
Realizing he shouldn’t just sit by the Flame Spring any longer, Qin Ming stood up and greeted the women.
They nodded in return. For the first time, the woman in green spoke. “What’s the name of this village?”
“Twin Trees Village,” Qin Ming answered, then asked curiously, “What’s the story behind the old Black and White Mountain?”
Her voice was soft but melodic as she replied, “Half the land was dark as night, the other half bright as day, divided by thick fog. It was once a deadly place until it collapsed.”
The girl in white chuckled. “How lucky you are, boy. It’s rare for my lady to talk so much.”
It was clear from her playful tone that their relationship wasn’t a strict master-servant one. She wouldn’t have dared joke like that otherwise.
The woman in green said nothing more, giving the twin trees one last, long look before turning and walking toward the mountains. Her steps were light, but her movements showed a sense of unwavering determination.
“What should I call you, ladies?” Qin Ming called after them.
The girl in white laughed again. “Don’t get any ideas, boy. We’ll be gone soon, and we’re worlds apart.”
Qin Ming, always straightforward, shot back, “I was just asking for your names. How far away could you possibly be? Don’t tell me you don’t even live in this world.”
She giggled. “Oh, you’re a funny one. Maybe, if you ever stand on the mountaintop, you might get a chance to glimpse us from afar.”
“Enough of your nonsense,” the woman in green scolded.
Qin Ming watched them leave, speechless. What kind of people were they? For a brief moment, he felt like smacking the girl in white to ask what she was rambling about.
“You head back. Summon the Golden Roc. I’m going into the mountains,” the woman in green commanded.
“Got it!” The girl in white turned and sprinted off in another direction.
Qin Ming’s eyes narrowed. The girl moved impossibly fast, her figure shrouded in mist, blocking out the snow. In the blink of an eye, she was swallowed by the horizon.
The next day, Qin Ming took his duties seriously as a guide. Mu Qing, Cao Long, and Wei Zhi Rou finally grew restless and began exploring the outer regions of the mountain.
So far, four different organizations had already managed to gather some of the mountain’s mysterious resources, though not without paying the price of members being severely injured.
The air was thick with tension as every newcomer grew increasingly eager. They scoured the mountain, hoping to find a way into the hidden underground nodes.
But deep in the mountain’s heart, the chaos continued. The powerful figures and high-ranking beings from large organizations had been battling day and night, their eyes bloodshot. They had come to capture the rare resources, but now, it seemed they were the ones being played.
The two phenomena had fused into one, and they kept shifting locations. Sometimes, they would sink deep underground, disappearing for a long while before bursting back up again in a blinding flash of light, surrounded by thick fog. So far, no one had been able to get close enough to see exactly what it was.
But now, the competitors had grown desperate. Braving the dangerous erosion from the node space, they ventured underground, determined to intercept the phenomenon at its spiritual roots before it could vanish again. Even figures like Ling Xu and Old Weasel, who had set the stage for this, were no longer in the mood for patience. Instead of fishing for opportunities, they found themselves diving headfirst into the chaos, scrambling into the underground world.
There was a growing sense of urgency. After the mysterious resources had fused, everyone had the same thought—it had likely completed its transformation and was about to surface. It was now or never. The competition became fiercer, and several higher beings had already perished underground, never to return.
When they disappeared beneath the surface, those watching from the foot of the mountain let out sighs of relief.
“Old Wang, don’t push your luck! I’ve already claimed this spiritual sapling! Are you really going to rob me?” shouted a bloodied old man, stumbling out of the node space. He was clutching a tiny sapling about a foot tall, which emitted a faint purple mist.
“Stop him! That old man from the Cao family dug up the longevity tree! It can extend life by ten years!” roared the elder Wang in pursuit.
“Uncle Qi, over here! Let’s see who dares stop you!” Cao Long bellowed, sitting atop a massive, blood-red bull, far larger than any grown man. He gripped a gleaming spear in his hands.
“Good boy! Bring your men and hold them off for me!” Uncle Qi panted as he ran, his black armor shattered. Without hesitation, he stuffed the small tree into his mouth, roots and all, chewing it up along with the dirt that clung to it.
“Old Wang, I’ve already eaten it! What are you going to do about it?” Uncle Qi laughed loudly.
“Everyone, cut him open! The effects are still intact!” Elder Wang screamed.
Nearby, six or seven elders closed in, their eyes gleaming with desperation. To them, extending their lives was worth more than any mystical treasure.
“Old Wang, you really are rotten to the core! No wonder your son, Wang Nian Zhu, is a wanted criminal—you’re just as bad!” Uncle Qi shouted angrily, glaring at the advancing elders. “If you try anything, don’t blame me if I disgust you all!”
Uncle Qi’s gaze darted to Old Liu’s yellow dog and Yang Yong Qing’s black sheep. “If you push me, I’ll gut the sheep right here and drink its urine! Let’s see if you still want this longevity elixir after that!”
Old Liu and the others were stunned. This guy was serious. But why was he glaring at the yellow dog?
Meanwhile, Yang Yong Qing’s black sheep began to urinate in fright, clearly having attained enough awareness to sense the danger. Even Old Liu’s yellow dog reacted, defecating on the spot.
“I—what’s with your reactions?” Uncle Qi fumed, exasperated.
“Alright, Uncle Qi, if you’re really that hardcore, we’ll back off and watch. Do you dare go through with it?” one of the elders taunted.
“Enough!” Cao Long interrupted, urging his massive bull forward. With a swift strike, his spear cleaved through Elder Wang’s sword, sending the elder flying through the air, bloodied hands outstretched.
“Well done, nephew! You’ve gotten so strong! Your time in that great city wasn’t wasted after all!” Uncle Qi beamed with pride.
The other elders, seeing Elder Wang defeated so easily, quickly backed away, unwilling to risk any further confrontation. Thanks to Cao Long, their group was now relatively safe.
During the chaos, Qin Ming seized the opportunity to ask the Mu, Cao, and Wei family members about the mystical treasures and their properties.
For the people of Scarlet Dawn City, these were open secrets now. A few casual words were enough to enlighten Qin Ming and his companions, like Xu Yue Ping, with valuable knowledge.
“Plants and spirit liquids are the easiest to collect,” one elder explained. “But the treasures encased in stone are tricky. They’re often overlooked. If you’re not paying close attention, you might miss them entirely.”
Qin Ming absorbed this information, realizing that many of his previous doubts had been cleared up. Unless they were dazzling enough to illuminate the heavens, the special treasures tended to fade into obscurity once their glow diminished.
With this new understanding, Qin Ming decided it was time to examine the stone he had picked up. As the shallow night drew to a close, he crouched in a snowy hollow and peeled back the stone’s outer layer. Sure enough, faint rays of light seeped into his body, making him feel invigorated.
Beneath the stone’s surface lay a patch of translucent white, glowing like fine jade.
“Is this what they call lamb-fat jade metal?” Qin Ming muttered to himself, recalling the name from overheard conversations. It was a rare material, often used to forge weapons with mysterious properties.
Of course, lamb-fat jade metal, while valuable, wasn’t priceless. Whenever the heavenly light touched down, people could gather materials of similar quality, sometimes finding multiple pieces in the same location.
Satisfied that the stone didn’t contain any consumable spiritual substances, Qin Ming carefully reburied it. There was no need to rush—he could retrieve it later.
As night fell, Qin Ming finished his guiding duties and prepared to leave the mountain. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the ground. In the distance, a surge of rainbow light burst forth, far brighter than before. It was so intense that it hurt to look at, bringing tears to people’s eyes.
“What’s happening?” Qin Ming and everyone else were shaken by the spectacle.
Deep within the mountain, mysterious treasures were emerging, and someone had already grabbed hold of one, racing out from the underground fissures.
A woman was darting through the forest, but there was no hiding her presence. Even though the treasure was encased in stone, its powerful energy pulsed outward, lighting up the surroundings. It would be a while before the glow would fade completely.
She called upon a massive golden bird, leaping onto its back. The bird spread its wings and soared toward the sky, carrying her far into the distance.
However, her escape was blocked by six high-level beings: a Moonbug, a winged humanoid, and several others, including a woman standing on the back of a blue bird.
“Is it her?” Qin Ming wondered, recognizing the woman in green. She was the same person he had seen at the village entrance the night before. Young as she was, she was bold enough to steal treasure from under the noses of such powerful beings.
Forced back into the forest by her pursuers, the woman in green fought valiantly. Qin Ming quickly turned and ran, using his concealment ability to blend into the surrounding light and dust.
“Shiiing!” The woman, still airborne, snapped the stone in her hand. From within, a brilliant light burst forth, weaving through the air like a rainbow, ripping apart the night sky.
Whatever she had found, its core was wrapped in radiant mist. She pressed it against the small, glowing red mark on her forehead, and the light instantly fused into her skin. Standing on the back of the golden bird, she defied gravity, skimming the treetops as she shot toward the horizon.
“After her!” shouted the leaders of the powerful factions and high-level beings as they all gave chase.
Qin Ming didn’t know how much time had passed before he finally let out a breath. Emerging from the dense forest, he found the two pieces of the broken stone the woman had left behind.
“Huh?” he gasped. After enduring the harsh energy and adapting to the intense environment underground, he had developed a unique sense of perception. Now, in his left hand, he could feel a faint, almost imperceptible pulse coming from the stone.