Chapter 40: Fame Across the Land
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Old Man Liu eyed Qin Ming with approval. “It never hurts to learn a few new skills,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. “You pick things up quickly, and one day, these skills might just save your neck.” He sighed, looking off into the empty countryside. Here, it was rare for a family to have real knowledge. Even if they had old books and secret arts, they guarded them jealously, bound by tradition.
“Still, I’ll ask around for you,” he promised, giving Qin Ming a hopeful smile.
Hearing this, Qin Ming’s eyes lit up, bright and eager. Another ancient manuscript would be a huge break for him. He was sure some of these old families would realize that clinging to the past forever wasn’t going to help them anymore.
Qin Ming leaned in, voice lower, warm with concern. “Hey, Old Man Liu, how’re you holding up these days?” he asked, sounding like a teenage boy trying to show he cared. “You feeling any better?”
Long ago, Old Man Liu had fought hard to snatch a bright red herb from the Fire Bat Cave. That herb shimmered with hot energy. But someone from Golden Rooster Ridge had attacked him with a sneaky strike called the Yellow Mud Palm. Old Man Liu sighed, frustration etched on his face. “It’s not going to kill me. The wound can be treated, but as for reaching another Awakening? That’s out of my hands now. I’ll leave that to fate.”
…
Back at his own place, Qin Ming worked on the Fire Snake he’d hunted. He carefully sliced the meat, then placed it on a sturdy iron plate. With his long-handled black iron hammer raised high, he pounded it into fine mince. He paused, muttering to himself, “I washed this hammer twice… so no weird human-blood smell should be on it now, right?”
About half an hour later, he carried a clay pot of fragrant meat porridge over to Old Man Liu’s house. “Hey, Old Man Liu,” he said, trying to sound casual but friendly. “This porridge is from this small spirit critter I caught up in the hills. It’s not gonna give you another Awakening or anything, but it’s good and kind of cool-natured. Should help settle all that heat from that red herb you took.”
Old Man Liu eyed the jar suspiciously, then finally accepted it. He sniffed it, shrugged, and said gruffly, “You’ve got a decent heart, kid.”
…
The next morning, just as dawn’s pale light touched the rooftops, Qin Ming was startled awake by a furious pounding at his gate. He opened the door to find Old Man Liu practically shaking with excitement. The old man grabbed Qin Ming’s arm and demanded, “Qin, what did you feed me yesterday?!”
Fire Snake meat was no ordinary meal, and Old Man Liu could tell something was off—though he couldn’t quite guess what it was. All he knew was that he felt incredible, bursting with energy. The old man puffed out his chest and roared with laughter. “I feel so good right now, I could father another kid!” His laughter rang through the quiet street, and everyone around took notice. That day, Old Man Liu’s voice boomed like thunder, and he moved with new spring in his step.
…
Later that morning, rumors swept through the village like a sudden gust of wind: “The Black and White Mountain is famous now, all over the land! The big cities can’t stop talking about it! They say ten-colored rays of light tore right through the night sky—everyone was stunned!”
Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhi Rou, three well-informed travelers, were out searching for special spots in the surrounding mountains. They traded news they had gathered, thanks to messenger birds that kept them in touch with the wider world.
Qin Ming hovered nearby, listening closely. He was fascinated by these strange events, always eager to learn more about the bigger world beyond his small village.
Mu Qing shook her head with a thoughtful frown. “A lot of big groups regret ignoring this place. Once they studied that mysterious substance, they realized it was a heavenly gift, worth a fortune. Even old sects—those hidden away for decades—have been startled. They’re sending their own people to check it out.”
The once quiet Black and White Mountain had suddenly become the hottest topic, its name whispered by countless tongues across distant lands.
Wei Zhi Rou added, “Two hundred years ago, a beam of light shot down from the heavens and pierced Black and White Mountain. Some experts who came from the capital back then are still alive. I heard one old scholar was so upset he missed out on something great that he couldn’t sleep for two nights. Now he’s headed off into the deep mountain swamps to chase the legendary Six-Tusked White Elephant.”
Cao Long raised an eyebrow. “The Six-Tusked White Elephant? Isn’t that supposed to be some deity’s sacred mount? If it’s real, it’s probably hidden way inside the night-shrouded valleys.”
Qin Ming’s heart raced as he listened. All these wonders and legends made him want to leave his small hometown and see the wide, magical world for himself.
Cao Long spoke again, voice lowering a bit. “It’s not just the capital. Even far-off Yu Kingdom’s Imperial City is curious. The State Teacher asked about those rainbow lights in person. After all, ten-colored beams and five-colored glows appearing together? That’s never been written down before.”
Plenty of people had tried to claim these strange treasures, but in the end, none succeeded. They were all blocked by powerful forces. The atmosphere around Black and White Mountain grew tense with possibility.
Cao Long trailed off, mentioning sacred grounds and spiritual mountains drenched in Celestial Light. Qin Ming wanted them to keep talking, but he knew his place. He got along with them, but they weren’t exactly his best mates, so he stayed silent and just listened.
…
Later, when they didn’t find any promising “special nodes,” Xu Yue Ping met with Old Man Liu and decided to lead three squads into the territory of the Flying Sickle Birds. “I’m not sure we’ll find any spiritual materials there,” Xu Yue Ping admitted honestly, “but it’s the perfect place to train those who’ve just had their first Awakening.”
He cared about the people of the village and wanted Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing to help get rid of the troublesome birds. The Flying Sickle Birds had been a real pain, stealing precious grain just before the harvest. They’d swoop in at dusk, snatching food right out of the fields.
Wei Zhi Rou nodded firmly. “We’re here to clear out beasts anyway. If these birds are hurting the crops, we’ll handle them.”
Xu Yue Ping gave a grateful smile. Everyone knew their “mountain-clearing” task was partly a cover for hunting mysterious materials, but making the mountains safer was still a good cause.
Cao Long grinned. “These newly Awakened villagers need a real challenge. The Fire Bat Cave was a start, but it didn’t push them too hard. The Flying Sickle Birds will give them something to sweat about.”
…
They marched up to a low cliff where the birds nested. Snow blanketed the ground below, and the cliff was speckled with little crevices stuffed with nests. Mu Qing and Cao Long’s team came ready with metal nets. With a synchronized heave, they hurled the nets upward, trapping a big chunk of the nesting area.
But even so, countless birds, easily a thousand of them, burst into the sky. They formed a wild, shrieking cloud overhead. Each bird was about a foot long, with a wickedly sharp beak. They swarmed down, furious and fearless, aiming right at the intruders.
Luckily, everyone wore armor, and when the birds tried to break through, they met with shields and blades. Qin Ming, Xu Yue Ping, and the others had also received armor as payment for helping guide the teams. They stood their ground, fending off the flapping, screeching swarm.
In the end, a huge number of the Flying Sickle Birds were cut down, especially those caught under the nets. Their bodies lay scattered across the snowy ground. The survivors fled, terrified, and wouldn’t dare return anytime soon. With their numbers thinned, the villagers could safely hunt them later.
Yang Yong Qing, the Black Goat Knight, rode off to tell the villagers to come with sacks and collect the bird meat before it went to waste. It might not be the finest meal, but it was food, and nothing was more precious in these hard winters.
…
Over the next few days, Qin Ming kept watch on the different groups roaming the mountains. He was looking for two specific people: a man and a woman who had once saved him from the Feather-Clad Youth and then disappeared. “They’ve gotta be in their thirties,” he muttered quietly to himself, “The lady has a mole over her right eyebrow, and the man’s got these weirdly long arms. But I haven’t seen a hint of them anywhere.”
At the same time, Qin Ming kept in touch with Old Noble Xie Jing Rui’s people, reporting what he’d learned in the mountains—who got hold of unusual materials and who didn’t. When Old Noble Xie Jing Rui heard that nothing special had turned up, he sighed, disappointed. He decided to go deeper into the mountains himself, slipping away so quietly that it startled everyone.
The old hands who worked for Red Glow City were uneasy. Since Ling Xu and that Tabby Cat had left, no one dared venture too far. There was the strange Mountain Lord to consider, and there was also a crazed Old Weasel who’d once run around lifting a donkey above its head before being stopped by the Green-Clad Woman. It was too dangerous to plunge in blindly.
Half a day later, Old Noble Xie Jing Rui came back from the depths of the forest, holding two short roots—one black, one white. He sighed. “So, the Black and White Tree’s remnants really are in there. After soaking up Celestial Light, they’ve turned into priceless treasures.”
Just then, Qin Ming spotted him and hurried over. “Hey, did you find what you were after?” Qin Ming asked, sounding like a curious teen. “Any luck?”
“I found something,” the old nobleman replied, giving a tired nod, “but someone else took the best bits first. I’m injured and can’t fight as I’d like. If I could, I would’ve pressed on.”
“No clues at all?” Qin Ming pressed, curious. He knew these Black and White Tree roots mattered a lot to Xie Jing Rui, who had been searching for them two years ago.
“I know who took them,” Xie Jing Rui said darkly. “Now I must head to Red Glow City.”
Qin Ming frowned. “Let me guess… Was it City Lord Ling Xu?”
The old nobleman nodded. Word had it that Ling Xu had hurried back to Red Glow City after failing to grab the most mysterious material. He’d been furious—rumor was he nearly slapped his own leg off in anger. But apparently, he’d managed to seize some other big treasure. He was tricky, that one, pretending to be all proper in white robes, yet always snagging secrets under everyone’s noses.
Qin Ming gave a crooked smile. He never expected the old nobleman to be so chatty with him. Then he realized why: “That Purple-Eyed Crow really thinks highly of you,” Xie Jing Rui explained. “You’ve got promise, Qin. Don’t waste it here in the backwoods. Leave as soon as you can.” With that, he prepared to leave Silver Vine Town and head out of the mountains.
Qin Ming hesitated. “What about Miss Xie? Is she going with you?”
“Yes,” said Xie Jing Rui. “Until next time.” And then he vanished into the forest, so silent it was as if he’d never come at all.
Just then, shouts rang out somewhere deeper in the wood. Qin Ming followed the sound to find a standoff. A group of finely dressed nobles from Red Glow City had surrounded Cao Long, Wei Zhi Rou, and Mu Qing. It seemed the powerful families didn’t always get along. There had already been a fight—someone tried to steal from Cao Long’s family and got knocked down in one blow.
Now a young man in shining golden armor, perched atop a sleek Golden Leopard, pushed forward. He radiated confidence. Cao Long narrowed his eyes. “Feng Xing, don’t start anything. The Wang Family’s elder tried stealing my uncle’s Longevity Tree. I chased him off fair and square. You gonna stand up for a thief?”
Feng Xing, looking calm and controlled, gazed down from his leopard mount. “It’s been two years since we last met, Cao Long. Word is you’ve grown a lot stronger. We used to fight on the same side—how about we see what you’re made of now?” His words sounded polite, but everyone knew they were a challenge.
Cao Long let out a harsh laugh. “You think I’m afraid of you? Bring it on,” he snapped.
Others gathered around, and someone tried to break the tension. “Gentlemen, please, you’re both top talents in Red Glow City. No need to fight each other. Your strength is too great—one slip, and who knows what might happen.”
Just then, another pair arrived. A young man in gleaming silver armor rode in on a White Rhino, tall and handsome, and beside him, a girl in purple-gold armor, perched on a Black Tiger. She had bright, curious eyes and an elegant air that made everyone stare.
Even the older nobles greeted these two with deep respect, not just because they were good-looking, but because they were known to be Red Glow City’s brightest stars. They had Awakened that year and were said to be the most gifted in two decades.
As the murmurs rose, the silver-armored youth suddenly called out, “Who here is Qin Ming?” His voice was clear, echoing through the crowd. He scanned the faces until his gaze landed on Qin Ming.
Qin Ming tensed. How did this guy know him?
The young man—Nie Rui—flashed a friendly smile. “I visited Master Xu Kong recently, hoping for a spar. But Zhou Wu Bing said he wasn’t feeling well enough, and all he did was praise you, saying you’re stronger than he is! I got curious. Is there really a young man here who’s better than Master Xu Kong’s own disciple? I came to see if it’s true.”
Qin Ming’s jaw nearly dropped. That guy, Er Bing Zi, must’ve lost his mind, talking him up like that!