Chapter 57: Lone Rider at Golden Rooster Ridge
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Qin Ming felt something and glanced towards the deep mountains from where the Lightning Beast had charged out, but he decided not to investigate. The most important thing right now was to keep moving.
In the depths of the mountains, a man in his late thirties, dressed in green robes, stood on a cliff, gazing out into the distance.
Across from him, shrouded in mist, a mighty mountain stood, half-covered in hazy fog. Somewhere in the fog, a higher being emerged.
“The new Lord of Scarlet Dawn City, why aren’t you heading to your new position? What are you doing here?”
“I was passing through and thought I’d visit the mountain master,” the man in green robes replied.
…
After galloping for several miles, the Violet Lightning Beast grew restless again. Its fur shimmered with purple mist, and the ride became rougher and bumpier. Sometimes, it even slowed abruptly, a challenge for any rider to stay on. Anyone less skilled would have surely fallen off by now.
Seeing that the beast was acting up again, Qin Ming pressed the long, Phoenix-patterned blade against its neck, slicing off a few glowing strands of purple mane. The beast’s neck began to bleed, a shallow but sharp cut.
“You won’t take me there? Then I’ll take you somewhere instead!” Qin Ming didn’t actually intend to fully tame the beast.
He felt no guilt about this either. After all, the beast had kicked at him first. If it were an ordinary person, that blow would’ve shattered their skull.
“If you don’t shape up, it’s the end of the road for you!” Qin Ming pressed the blade down again. This time, the Violet Lightning Beast seemed genuinely frightened, its blood soaking through the mane on its neck.
After that, the beast quieted down and obediently picked up the pace. They were now only a few miles away from Golden Rooster Ridge.
Qin Ming became lost in thought. Even without using his Celestial Light energy, he could sit securely atop this creature, guiding it as if it were the most natural thing. He’d never ridden anything in the Black and White Mountain region before. Especially now, riding bareback without a bridle.
Images flashed through his mind—racing towards a massive city on another beast, one that looked even more impressive than the Violet Lightning Beast. He shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. By some instinct, he used his long blade like a whip, tapping the beast’s hindquarters with the flat of the blade.
Startled, the beast bolted ahead, fearing another cut. It moved like an arrow shot from a bow, a streak of purple light slicing through the thick night.
Qin Ming rode atop the beast, rushing through the long night as they approached Golden Rooster Ridge.
Ahead, lights glowed brightly. Even in the dead of night, Golden Rooster Ridge was never dark. Here, the Flame Springs were nearly at level two, comparable to the one in Silver Vine Town.
The road leading up the ridge was wide, flanked by dense forests on either side. There were no creatures lurking in the woods, knowing full well that the bandits here were not to be messed with.
However, Golden Rooster Ridge was much quieter than before. Many had died when they went to the great ravine Valley to fight for the mysterious resources, leaving only about thirty people behind—those with connections. And this remaining lot was said to be even more ruthless.
As Old Liu once put it, “These bandits left here—swing a sword at any of them, and you won’t accidentally kill a good person. Honestly, they could stand to die a few times over.”
Qin Ming sheathed his long blade and grabbed the hard bow strapped to his back. Riding atop the Violet Lightning Beast, he charged into the bright area where the Flame Springs bubbled.
The first to notice him wasn’t the bandits, but a large golden rooster used as a lookout. This creature, having mutated twice, was quite reliable. Hiding among the trees, it screeched at the intruder, “Cluck!”
Qin Ming’s first iron arrow shot straight for it, the sharp tip piercing through the bird’s skull, silencing it instantly.
“What happened?” some drunken voices slurred from the bandit camp.
Some older bandits snapped awake, shouting, “We’re under attack!”
They leaped up, looking out towards the road leading to the camp. There, in the faint purple glow of pre-dawn, a rider on a beast sped towards the gate, like dawn itself ripping apart the night.
In the past, the watchtower and outer walls would have been manned by archers. But now, Golden Rooster Ridge was a shadow of its former self, and those left behind rarely bothered with such duties. It was cold, snowflakes drifting from the sky. Most of the remaining bandits were inside, drinking and gambling.
Qin Ming rode the beast straight towards the sturdy gate. With a deafening crash, the Violet Lightning Beast shattered the gate with its powerful hooves. Man and beast charged into Golden Rooster Ridge.
“Everyone, get up! We’re under attack!” The camp erupted into chaos. Even the most inebriated bandits knew something was wrong.
The bandit camp was well-lit. The level-two Flame Springs cast a fiery glow, making it a prized location—much better than the villages outside the mountains.
Qin Ming, clad in gleaming armor, had his face obscured by the visor of his helmet, with only his eyes, nose, and mouth exposed. To the bandits, this rider, glowing with purple light, seemed unstoppable. He had an incredible force behind him, charging like a storm.
Qin Ming drew his bow, releasing arrow after arrow. Each arrow flew through the fiery haze like a flash of cold lightning.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
In just a moment, five bandits were down. Some hadn’t even had time to react before an arrow pierced their foreheads. Two were even struck down by the same arrow, their chests pierced clean through.
“Shoot back! Fire arrows!” someone shouted, gathering men and sounding a whistle to command their trained golden roosters to attack the intruder.
Qin Ming had mastered the secret archery skills of the Wu family. His skill with spear and arrow was no joke. Each shot seemed almost alive, and his keen eyes locked onto targets with ease. The bandit leader barely had time to issue orders before Qin Ming’s special heavy arrow shot through his head.
The Flame Springs lit the scene, blood and shattered bone splattering in every direction. It was a terrifying sight. Some of the bandits froze in fear.
But they were seasoned criminals, vicious and hardened. In seconds, they snapped out of it and began to fight back, some drawing their bows.
Meanwhile, five mutated golden roosters rushed in, wings spread, their sharp beaks and claws lunging at Qin Ming and his beast.
Already frustrated from being forced up the mountain, the Violet Lightning Beast was in no mood to deal with these lower-tier creatures. It roared, standing on its hind legs—though it had a horse-like head, its body was like that of a fierce leopard, strong and powerful. It stomped down, killing two of the golden roosters instantly. One’s head was crushed, while the other was trampled completely. Then, it swung its head, teeth bared, biting through the neck of a third rooster, quickly ending it.
Throughout all this, whether rearing up or leaping, Qin Ming stayed glued to the beast’s back, steady as if he were on solid ground. He continued to fire arrows, keeping the bandits’ arrows at bay.
Two senior bandits had quietly approached but didn’t immediately attack. They knew that anyone daring enough to storm in alone was no ordinary foe. This rider looked formidable.
In truth, they had underestimated Qin Ming. Judging his level by the force of his arrows, they hadn’t considered that the bow’s limit was far below his actual strength.
They realized their mistake moments later, as one of them drew his bow to shoot at Qin Ming.
With a flick of an iron arrow, Qin Ming sent the bandit’s powerful shot spinning away in a burst of sparks. The two bandits exchanged uneasy glances.
Qin Ming wasted no time, drawing his bow to shoot at them.
Thud!
The two bandits dodged, but a young man beside them took an arrow through his skull, collapsing without a sound.
One of the senior bandits roared in rage—the young man had clearly meant something to him, his death igniting a murderous fury.
Qin Ming shot arrow after arrow.
In those few moments, Golden Rooster Ridge had lost over ten men. With only about thirty left, nearly half had been wiped out.
Qin Ming drove the Violet Lightning Beast towards the nearby wooden huts, putting away his bow and gripping his sharp lance.
Man and beast charged, making the bandits shiver. It felt as if they were facing an entire army. The mount was a terrifying force, instantly killing several twice-mutated golden roosters. And the armored rider, with his piercing arrows, struck fear into anyone who dared meet his gaze.
Drawing near, Qin Ming thrust his lance, shaking it violently. He lifted an entire wooden hut, shattering it to pieces.
Two men stumbled out, panicked, raising their blades. But they were no match for the lone rider. In moments, blood sprayed, and Qin Ming pierced them both, charging again towards the two senior bandits.
The Violet Lightning Beast reared up, its powerful hooves shattering another hut, splintering it completely.
Qin Ming felt something behind him. He spun, thrusting his lance.
An older bandit—one he’d seen at the great ravine valley, a survivor of three mutations—charged at him from above, riding an unusually large golden rooster. This mount had undergone three mutations, gliding down from higher ground in an attack.
“Golden Rooster Ridge’s got some skill, breeding these mutated beasts,” Qin Ming muttered, unafraid, his lance spinning into dozens of shadowy afterimages.
The old bandit swung his blade desperately, his arm trembling from the force. He realized, with growing dread, that his opponent was far superior. His attempted ambush had failed, and now death seemed inevitable.
Survival instincts at his level were keen—he could sense the end coming.
In fact, death came even faster than he feared. Qin Ming’s lance not only deflected the old man’s blade but also punctured the mutated golden rooster in dozens of places, killing it instantly.
“Ah!” the old man cried, trying to escape mid-air.
But Qin Ming’s strength surpassed his by far. The old bandit couldn’t tell which lance was real among the many shadows. In a flash, he was skewered through the chest.
Qin Ming lifted him and then tossed his body like a ragdoll, sending it crashing into another hut. Those inside scrambled back, terrified.
This was one of their strongest fighters, second only to the two senior bandits, yet he’d been defeated so easily.
At Qin Ming’s signal, the Violet Lightning Beast slowed, snorting heavily, ignoring the others as it advanced towards the two remaining senior bandits.
Both bandits looked grim. One drew a broad sword, the other a long spear, and they stepped forward.
Suddenly, another elder appeared silently from the shadows, attempting a surprise attack from behind to aid the senior bandits.
Qin Ming held his lance steady, pointing it at the two bandits ahead, while his left hand swiftly drew the long, Phoenix-patterned blade from his back. It flashed like a bolt of lightning, slicing through the night, knocking the attacker’s sword twenty meters away.
The force behind Qin Ming’s strike was immense. The blade, after deflecting the sword, moved even faster, slashing through the elder’s shoulder, killing him instantly.