Chapter 46: A Bountiful Harvest
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Huang Jing Jun was beyond terrified. His elder brother, the once proud and unbeatable warrior, had been defeated, even losing an arm in the process. Now, who could save him? In front of him stood the same young hunter, his long blade still dripping with blood. But somehow, the boy seemed utterly transformed.
Just moments ago, Huang Jing Jun had tried to manipulate the boy, tricking him into gathering herbs in the dangerous light. He had found the young man laughable—naive even—still asking questions as if death wasn’t standing right at his door.
But now, as he looked back, he realized the truth. The faint smirk on the boy’s lips and the way he kept asking questions weren’t innocent gestures. He had been mocking them all along.
…
The three-colored flower was nearly ripe. A soft mist swirled around it, the intoxicating scent growing stronger with every moment. It seemed to sharpen the senses, clearing the mind and lifting the spirit.
Drawn in by its beauty, Qin Ming glanced quickly at the ground. Buried beneath a pile of rocks was a jade box—his only chance to store the precious bloom. He couldn’t afford to miss the perfect moment to pick it. What if the flower wilted right after it bloomed?
Huang Jing De, meanwhile, clutched at his bleeding arm with his remaining hand. His right side was soaked in blood, his armor sticking to his skin. Every step left a crimson footprint as he stumbled backward, trying to escape.
As Qin Ming turned away, Huang Jing De didn’t think of attacking. No, he only thought of survival. He cast a glance at his younger brother, then began his retreat. If he could just make it out alive, even crippled, it would be better than dying here.
But Qin Ming wasn’t about to let that happen. He wasn’t foolish enough to let a three-time awakened master escape right in front of him.
Without looking back, Qin Ming hurled a long-handled black iron hammer with his left hand. His strength was terrifying. The force of the throw was enough to dent a city wall.
A scream tore through the air as Huang Jing De collapsed, the sickening sound of bones snapping echoing in the clearing.
In agony, he felt his spine shatter, the pain overwhelming. His vision blurred, the world spinning, before he crashed to the ground helplessly.
Qin Ming calmly retrieved the jade box. He wasted no time. The three-colored flower was now fully blooming, its petals opening before his eyes, brilliant and stunning in their beauty.
He stepped forward, entering the soft mist that surrounded the mystical plant. Its fragrance was rich, almost intoxicating, drawing him closer. The flower, no more than a foot tall, glowed with a magical light. Despite its size, the petals spread wide, forming a bloom the size of a clenched fist.
Ethereal light rose from the ground beneath the flower, making Qin Ming feel slightly uneasy, a tightness growing in his chest. The silver petals shimmered, traced with threads of crimson, while the edges were a transparent, glowing blue.
The petals were sharp, each one shaped like a willow leaf, yet with razor-like points. They layered upon each other like a miniature forest of blades—gorgeous, yet undeniably dangerous.
“It’s ready,” Qin Ming whispered.
He knelt and gently pushed the rubble aside, careful not to damage any part of the flower. Using his hands, he dug out the plant from root to leaf, revealing its full glory—every inch of it glowing with the same vibrant three colors.
With a satisfied snap, he closed the jade box, sealing the precious treasure inside. A smile spread across his face, and he let out a long, relieved breath.
“This really is my lucky day,” Qin Ming said, a grin breaking out. He had dealt with the scum from Golden Rooster Ridge, avenged his anger, and now he had the jade metal and this rare flower in his hands. It was almost too good to be true.
Nearby, Huang Jing Jun was coughing up blood, his body trembling with rage and pain. The words that Qin Ming had just spoken were the exact same ones they had taunted him with earlier. Now, it seemed, the tables had completely turned.
“Thanks for the gifts, by the way,” Qin Ming said, his tone almost lighthearted. “I’ve been out here for days without finding anything worthwhile. But now, this? It’s like a dream.”
Huang Jing De could do nothing but glare, fury blazing in his eyes. Everything he had ever wanted was slipping away. He had been so close to harnessing the mystical energy of the flower, and now it was gone—stolen from him.
Qin Ming didn’t wait. With practiced efficiency, he moved over to the two brothers, finishing them off with quick, lethal strikes. There was no hesitation. No mercy.
After checking their bodies, Qin Ming found something unexpected. A small amount of wax in Huang Jing De’s belongings caught his eye. He paused for a moment, realizing it was used for sealing the jade box, keeping the flower safe from creatures with a keen sense of smell.
“Smart,” Qin Ming said, impressed. “They thought of everything.”
He collected their belongings, gathering the weapons as well, but reluctantly set aside the long knife and silver spear. They were too noticeable—far too dangerous to carry openly.
By now, the underground was a mess. The entire place had erupted into chaos, with creatures breaking in from every direction. Qin Ming knew it was time to leave. He moved to an area filled with howls and growls, a signal to the fierce mutated beasts lurking nearby.
It didn’t take long for the beasts to descend on the bodies of the Huang brothers and the old man from Golden Rooster Ridge. They quickly became “nourishment” for the hungry creatures.
Above, the sky was filled with raptors circling overhead. Giant silver eagles with wingspans stretching over ten meters soared, along with other flying beasts, watching over the valley like predators.
Deep underground, in the heart of the chaos, even figures like Cao Long, Mu Qing, and Wei Zhi Rou looked grim. They had gathered closely with the elders of their clans, preparing for what would come next.
“We’ve already seen beasts that have mutated four, maybe even five times out there!”
“Let’s stick to the underground,” one of the elders suggested firmly. “We’re deep enough in the valley, away from the exits. The beasts won’t stay down here for long. And when word spreads, people from Scarlet Dawn City will come to help us.”
The underground caves echoed with unsettling noises. Even Qin Ming felt the pressure of the chaos surrounding him. In such a situation, trying to take advantage of anything would be stupid. The danger was real—some of these beasts weren’t just ferocious; they were monsters, tearing people apart like they were nothing.
Qin Ming had already crossed paths with several mutated creatures on his way. He had to kill them, but he couldn’t afford to go any deeper into the valley. He needed to get out, and fast.
He retraced his steps, heading toward the area where the mountain folks had vanished. They were known for their survival skills, so if anyone had found a way out, it was them. After all, they roamed these mountains all the time and knew the terrain better than most. The fact they had managed to escape the chaos said a lot about their abilities.
It wasn’t long before Qin Ming faced yet another enemy. This time, it was a massive white bear, its eyes filled with rage. Blood dripped from its mouth, and its claws were sunk deep into two corpses as it charged toward him.
“I definitely can’t take this thing down!” Qin Ming thought, heart racing. The bear was far more powerful than the beasts he’d faced before.
Without a second thought, he turned and sprinted. This wasn’t his first time fleeing for his life. When he was only fourteen or fifteen, he had survived similar close calls while living in the mountains. But back then, the creatures he fought were just ordinary beasts—and he wasn’t alone. People like Lu Ze and Xu Yue Ping had his back.
Now, it was just him against a monstrous mutated giant.
The underground tunnels became his salvation. They were narrow and winding, too tight for a massive creature like the white bear to follow him for long.
Frustrated, the bear roared, slamming its heavy claws against the rock walls. The entire passage shook violently, loose stones tumbling down. The two corpses it had been carrying were now nothing more than broken remnants of their former selves.
Qin Ming knew the factions from Golden Rooster Ridge and the Three-Eyed Sect must have suffered heavy losses by now. If any survivors remained, they had likely fled toward the Huang family’s territory.
The underground paths were filled with blood, the air thick with the roars of beasts and the shouts of desperate humans. Every clash led to one side’s inevitable demise.
As Qin Ming ventured further down a narrow passage, he stumbled upon a grisly scene. An elder from the Three-Eyed Sect had met a brutal end, his chest pierced clean through by the long, sharp horns of a giant golden bull.
The elder, who had awakened three times, had been unlucky. He had no sense of direction in this maze, wandering aimlessly. Otherwise, with his power, he would’ve reached the Huang family’s stronghold already. But here he was—lost and helpless.
The golden bull’s massive horns held five corpses skewered like trophies. With a violent swing of its head, it flung the bodies against the rock walls. Sickening thuds echoed as they hit, leaving dark red splatters behind.
At its feet, more bodies lay crushed under its enormous hooves.
Once smooth and shining, the bull’s golden fur was now slick with blood. Spotting Qin Ming, it snorted, flames billowing from its nostrils as it prepared to charge.
“Oh, this is bad!” Qin Ming muttered under his breath, turning on his heel and sprinting back toward the narrow tunnel.
There was no point in cursing a beast this terrifying. His only hope was that it would leave soon. The overwhelming feeling that his life was no longer in his control gnawed at him. Qin Ming clenched his fists in frustration. He longed to grow stronger, to never feel so powerless again.
But here, in this cursed place, one small mistake could cost him everything.
A loud “BOOM!” shook the ground as the giant bull’s horns smashed into the rock wall, sending chunks of stone flying in all directions. The walls cracked under the impact, and dust filled the air.
The bull roared in fury, flames spewing from its mouth, heating the rock walls until they glowed red-hot. Waves of scorching air surged through the tunnel.
“No wonder that elder didn’t stand a chance,” Qin Ming thought, retreating further into the tunnel. His heart pounded, each breath heavy with tension.
After what felt like an eternity—though it was only about fifteen minutes—the bull gave up. Frustrated by its inability to reach him, it stomped away.
Qin Ming waited, his body tense until everything grew quiet outside. Only then did he dare to venture back out. He still ran into a few beasts, but none as deadly as the golden bull.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of cautious movement, Qin Ming squeezed through a narrow crack in the rocks. Beyond it, the path opened up, becoming somewhat easier to navigate. This was where the mountain folk had disappeared.
“I gotta hand it to those hunters,” Qin Ming said aloud, shaking his head in admiration. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have found this exit so fast.”
A mix of emotions filled him—respect, awe, and a little bit of envy. Those hunters had been in the worst possible situation, and yet, they had survived and found a way out.
But, of course, they had the advantage of leaving right when they entered the underground. If they had been caught in the chaos like the Golden Rooster Ridge and Three-Eyed Sect, they wouldn’t have had time to find an escape route.
Qin Ming let out a long sigh of relief. “At least I made it out alive.”
The mountains were eerily quiet as he continued. He saw hardly any creatures, but he kept his guard up. Most of the dangerous beasts had probably gone deeper into the valley ravine.
Then, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, a thought hitting him like lightning.
“If I remember right, the lairs of that white bear and golden bull are less than ten miles from here,” he realized. “They’re some of the strongest beasts in these parts.”
A grin spread across his face as a plan formed in his mind. “Well, while they’re away, I might as well check out their nests.”
Without hesitation, he turned sharply, his steps quickening as he sprinted in a new direction.
He had nearly died at the claws of the white bear and the horns of the golden bull. But now, with those terrifying beasts away, it was his chance to see what treasures they had hidden away.
“Time to pay them a visit,” Qin Ming muttered, excitement gleaming in his eyes.