Chapter 36: A Graceful Exit
Translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming stopped chipping at the stone as soon as he realized how risky it was to continue here, hidden among the tall evergreens. He imagined how awful it would be if, with one more strike, the stone suddenly flared up with a bright, magical light. Everyone would spot him at once—he’d be finished for sure.
By now, the chunk of stone was small enough to tuck into his coat sleeve. Still, he knew better than to carry it openly out of the forest. Instead, he slipped it beneath a thick layer of fallen branches and pine needles. Let it stay there for now. Then he moved quietly toward the fringes of the mountain, feeling the biting chill of the air and the gentle crunch of snow under his boots.
The paths out of this forest were all closely watched. He had seen men and women from big families or powerful groups placing scouts along the exits, each one hoping to snatch up the rare treasures that sometimes emerged from the mountain’s hidden nodes. This made everything trickier.
Soon, he caught sight of the tall woman in the fur-trimmed cloak again. She stood perfectly still in the snow, black hair dancing in the wind. He still couldn’t make out her features; her face remained turned away, unreachable.
“He’s come out alive, after all,” croaked a strange crow perched nearby. Its eyes gleamed purple, filled with shifting, mystical symbols that never stopped shimmering. It watched Qin Ming as if judging him, though Qin Ming tried to keep his face calm and unreadable. Inside, his heart fluttered with nervous energy. Who knew how many sharp eyes had followed his steps out of the forest? If he’d tried to carry the stone outside, they would’ve sniffed it out in seconds.
The crow hovered above, letting out irritated squawks. “This is mad. A ten-color node popping up in a place like this—and mixing with the Five-Colored Glow, no less! If I’d known, I would’ve asked your master to show up, or even dragged old Grandpa Crow from the depths of the Black Fog World. That would’ve put these fools in their place!”
The woman in the black cloak spoke softly and calmly, “Patience. Right now, the mighty ones are all thrown into chaos. We must wait for the right time.”
Qin Ming emerged from the forest and spotted Mu Qing, Cao Long, and the others. These fine aristocratic sorts were growing more cautious by the hour, hardly daring to move now. Everyone was on edge.
“Hey, kid, where’d you run off to?” called Yang Yong Qing, the Black Sheep Knight, sounding almost protective. “The mountains are crazy dangerous right now.”
Qin Ming shrugged and forced a casual grin. “I was chasing that weird talking sparrow, but it totally vanished on me,” he said in a slightly lighthearted, teenage tone.
Cao Long frowned. “You saw it? Where did you lose it?” It was clear he still held a grudge against that troublesome bird.
All around, whispers passed between villagers and visiting warriors. The deep heart of the mountains glowed so brightly, people could see it from nearby villages. The old folks stood outside their doors, gaping at the spectacle. It was nearly as bright as day. They had never seen anything like it before.
Soon, the shallow night would end, and yet no one had found any real answers in the mountain. Qin Ming, always responsible, checked in with his employers—the people who had hired him as a guide—and confirmed that they wouldn’t be venturing any deeper for now. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Uncle Xu, Grandpa Liu, we’re heading back! Let’s go!”
“Already?” Old Man Liu grumbled, stamping his cane in the snow. “Why leave so soon?”
Qin Ming gave him a cheerful smile. “Because I’m starving!” he said. “We’ve been out here ages without so much as a bite!”
Wei Zhi Rou, Cao Long, Mu Qing, and the others exchanged looks. Such a pure-hearted response! With all this chaos, rare treasures, and strange lights, he was still focused on a simple meal. It was… oddly refreshing.
Old Man Liu chuckled. “I suppose it’s no use staying around, gawking for days. We might as well get something warm in our bellies.”
Yang Yong Qing and Xu Yue Ping agreed. The shimmering colors on the mountain might be stunning, but this realm of fierce competition wasn’t really theirs.
That evening, Qin Ming wandered to the village entrance and sat beneath the black-and-white twin trees. He gazed toward the distant, glowing mountain. The brilliant colors refused to fade; it looked like enchanted daylight. He couldn’t help feeling drawn to it, though he knew better than to get too close.
As he sat there, he heard a soft voice behind him. “So this is Black and White Mountain.”
Startled, Qin Ming turned and saw two young women approaching through the snow. He hadn’t noticed them before—how had they gotten so close?
The second girl spoke, sounding a bit sad. “What a pity. Five hundred years ago, it still had that perfect black-and-white scenery. Now it’s never been the same since its collapse.”
Qin Ming blinked in surprise. He’d lived here all his life and knew these hills and valleys only as East Ridge and West Valley. He’d never even heard of it being called Black and White Mountain. Yet here they were, these strangers, talking about ages past as if they were reading from a history book.
The pair of girls stood out. They were tall and graceful, dressed in surprisingly light clothing for such chilly weather. Wind played with their loose sleeves and hair. Qin Ming guessed it wasn’t the hot season when the Fire Spring warmed the earth, so their attire seemed odd. Yet they looked perfectly comfortable.
They approached the twin trees near the Fire Spring and studied them, as if searching for something ancient and hidden.
“These two trees must have sprouted from seeds left behind by the original Black and White Mountain,” the first girl said. She wore a white dress that glowed softly in the firelight. She looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, her face round and sweet, her brows gently curved. She was lovely in a gentle, natural way. Qin Ming couldn’t help thinking he’d never wear white clothing out here; it would stand out too much in the wilds.
He also noticed the girl in white seemed to follow slightly behind the other girl, who wore plain green robes. The girl in green was more subtle, as if surrounded by a gentle mist. She moved quietly, lightly, as though she might simply vanish into thin air.
Deciding he shouldn’t just sit there, Qin Ming got up and greeted them politely. They acknowledged him with a nod. Then the girl in green spoke for the first time, her voice soft and musical. “What is this village called?”
“Twin Trees Village,” Qin Ming replied. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “What was Black and White Mountain like long ago?”
She answered, her tone distant, “One side dark as midnight, the other bright as day, with a thick mist dividing them. A forbidden place, they said, until it all collapsed.”
The girl in white gave Qin Ming a grin. “You’re lucky, kid. My lady hardly ever says this much.”
Qin Ming noticed that the way the girl in white spoke to the girl in green didn’t quite sound like a servant addressing a master. It felt more like a friend teasing another, though the green-robed girl remained quiet, simply regarding the twin trees one last time before turning toward the distant mountain. Her steps were light, but Qin Ming sensed a firm resolve in her gaze.
“May I know your names?” Qin Ming called after them, curiosity nibbling at him.
The girl in white laughed, her voice ringing like tiny bells. “Don’t get any funny ideas, kid. We’ll be gone soon, and besides, we don’t belong to your world. It’s pointless to ask.”
Qin Ming furrowed his brow. “What does that mean—‘worlds apart’? You’re acting like you don’t live among people at all.” His tone grew a bit more casual, the way a teenager might question something weird he didn’t understand.
The girl in white giggled. “You really are adorable. Keep moving forward on your own path. Maybe, if you’re lucky, in some far-off future, you’ll catch a glimpse of us again.”
“Enough,” said the girl in green, her gentle voice carrying a hint of rebuke. “Mind your words.”
Without another sound, the girl in green strode off toward the mountain. The girl in white followed but in a different direction, calling over her shoulder, “I’m summoning the Golden Roc now.” Just like that, she darted away, swift as a gust of wind. A fine mist curled around her, protecting her from the falling snow. In seconds, she was gone, leaving Qin Ming wide-eyed with astonishment.
Soon after, day came again. Qin Ming resumed his guide duties for Mu Qing, Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and the others, who had finally grown restless enough to try venturing near the mountain’s glowing nodes. Other groups had managed to collect a few strange plants or shining minerals, though at a terrible cost. Some of their companions had breathed in too much of the glowing mist and were paying the price.
Awakeners and adventurers scoured the mountain slopes, not wanting to miss any chance at treasure. Meanwhile, the deeper part of the mountain still shone like a strange new sun. The mighty warriors, the “higher beings,” had spent an entire night and day beneath that eerie glow, their eyes red and weary. They all wanted the same thing: to snatch the mysterious, precious objects born from this melding of strange lights.
But the coveted “fish” in this metaphorical pond had turned out to be as sly and elusive as a fox. The two strange phenomena in the mountain merged, dove underground for hours, then resurfaced miles away, still shrouded in bright light and swirling mist. No one could get close enough to see its true form.
In the end, patience snapped. The high-ranking experts—Ling Xu, Old Weasel, and others—threw themselves into the underground nodes, hoping to intercept the prize within the spiritual earth veins. Their clever fishing trick had failed. They were now just as desperate as everyone else.
The battles underground were fierce. Several beings of great strength lost their lives in those cramped, shadowy tunnels. When they vanished, those watching outside breathed in relief. The scuffle grew vicious. Groups that once schemed quietly now fought openly, blades flashing and voices raised.
Just outside a node, an old man from the Cao family emerged, covered in blood and holding a small purple-misted sapling. Another elder—Old Man Wang—attempted to snatch it away, screaming about how it could extend life by ten years. A wild chase began, and the old man from the Cao family, desperate, chewed the precious plant to bits on the spot. Old Man Wang’s followers urged him to cut the old man open to reclaim the life-extending treasure!
Cao Long, mounted on a massive red-furred bull and wielding a shining halberd, defended his uncle, warning Old Man Wang’s group not to push their luck. The scene was bizarre—old warriors, rare treasures, and talk of slicing open bellies, all while goats and dogs cringed in the background.
Cao Long’s decisive blow frightened off the attackers, and the immediate danger passed. In that calmer moment, Qin Ming took the chance to ask around. He questioned Mu Qing’s and Cao Long’s companions, trying to learn more about different kinds of materials and their properties. For them, this knowledge was everyday stuff, but for Qin Ming and the villagers, it was all new and fascinating.
He learned that spiritual plants and earth liquids were the easiest to harvest, while others—like those special materials trapped in stone—were subtler and trickier. Sometimes such treasures were simple alloys or minerals that glowed only in the presence of celestial light. Once that glow faded, they wouldn’t stand out as much.
This reminded Qin Ming of the stone he had buried. Perhaps he could safely chip it open now. As the shallow night wore on, he slipped into a snowy hollow and carefully tapped at the stone’s shell. A thin, bright thread of celestial light escaped and brushed against him, sending a warm tingle through his veins. Beneath the outer shell lay something that looked like pure white jade, smooth and faintly shining.
“White Jade Alloy, maybe?” he muttered quietly, trying to recall the bits of information he’d picked up. It was rare, often used in forging mystical tools and weapons, but not incredibly priceless. Several pieces could sometimes be found in a single burst of celestial radiance.
He replaced the shell and buried the stone again. There was no need to rush. He’d come back for it later if he got the chance.
By nightfall, Qin Ming finished his guiding duties and was making his way down the mountain when the earth began to tremble. A blinding light flared in the distance, brighter than before, sharp enough to sting the eyes.
“W-What’s happening?” people shouted, shielding their faces.
Deep in the mountain, a strange figure emerged from a crack in the earth. A young woman darted through the forest like a beam of light. She carried something wrapped in stone, and although hidden, it still shone so fiercely that no darkness could survive around her. She summoned a giant golden bird, hopped onto its back, and took to the sky.
But six higher beings blocked her way—winged creatures and strange moonlit beings swooped in, trying to snatch her prize.
Qin Ming’s jaw dropped. It was the girl in green from last night! She looked younger than many warriors he’d seen, yet somehow, she’d managed to seize that mysterious treasure right out from under everyone’s noses.
Forced back by her pursuers, she snapped the stone in her hands, revealing a dazzling core of ten interwoven colors. The glow tore through the darkness. Before anyone could react, she pressed it against the red gem on her forehead, and the entire light vanished into her. Now, empowered by its energy, she skimmed the treetops, trying to escape the six powerful pursuers who shrieked and howled after her.
Qin Ming ducked and hid, using his Light Shroud ability to blend into the snowy shadows. He waited a long time until the noises faded. When at last he crept out, he found the two discarded pieces of stone the girl had snapped apart.
“Huh?” Qin Ming murmured, holding one half in his hand. Since breathing in that celestial mist before, he’d developed a strange sense. Now he felt a soft pulse—very faint—coming from the broken shard he held.