Chapter 62: Turmoil
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The entire mansion glowed as brightly as daylight. Though it was the season of snow, warmth filled the air, making it feel more like spring or summer. In the gardens, vibrant flowers bloomed, and the greenery between the courtyards glistened with dew-like freshness.
In the spacious hall, a dignified middle-aged man stood in silence, exuding an aura so commanding that it felt like a towering mountain pressing down. Cui Hong, who stood respectfully with hands at his sides, felt the weight of this quiet moment.
“Leave him enough Daylight Gold so that he may live a prosperous life there, free of worry,” the middle-aged man finally said.
Cui Hong, a man with long arms, immediately nodded in agreement but cautiously asked for clarification. “If he has already Awakened, do we need to…?”
The man interrupted him calmly, “The method from the silk manuscript cannot be practiced.”
“If he has abandoned the manuscript,” Cui Hong hesitated before continuing carefully, “and in that desolate, impoverished region turned to another method for survival, embarking on a path of Awakening…”
The middle-aged man rose from his seat and stood before a thick pillar engraved with cloud patterns. Gazing out at the meticulously arranged pavilions and scenic gardens, he said, “Let him live as an ordinary person. Let him take root there, live in prosperity, and find peace. That will be enough.”
Although Cui Hong nodded, he felt uneasy. The matter seemed manageable now, but who could predict whether trouble might arise in the future? Before leaving, he added, “If he’s already gone and hasn’t survived, I will ensure he receives a proper burial.”
The middle-aged man responded with a simple hum, dismissing him with a gesture.
The destruction of Golden Rooster Ridge swept through the region like a hurricane, leaving the surrounding villages outside the mountains rejoicing. For those entrenched in the area, such as merchant guilds and the Mountain Patrol Group, the news was shocking. Even the aberrant creatures within the mountains seemed to stir at the event.
“The scene was utterly gruesome,” someone reported. “I went to see it myself—beasts were feasting there, and not even a single intact bone remained.”
“Golden Rooster Ridge was always self-serving. Last time they came to collect a protection tax, they claimed they were guarding us by fighting aberrations at the Great Canyon and nearly got wiped out. I didn’t believe them then, but now? Now I do. They really did wipe themselves out—fed the mutated creatures, no less!” The speaker’s mocking tone revealed just how little sympathy the group commanded. News of their demise was greeted almost universally with cheers.
“Which great hero accomplished this? I must bow to them!” someone exclaimed passionately.
People knew the two bandit leaders of Golden Rooster Ridge were Four-time Awakeners. A select few even knew of the Five-time Mutated Old Golden Rooster, a creature considered one of the most dominant forces in the region. Yet, all of them were wiped out in a single night.
Merchant guilds and Mountain Patrol veterans sent teams to investigate.
“On the remains left by overfed aberrations, there are blade marks, spear wounds, and arrow holes,” one person analyzed. “This suggests three powerful figures worked together to annihilate Golden Rooster Ridge.”
A patrolman added, “The blade-wielder must be a renowned master. The cut bones show no cracks, with surfaces as smooth as mirrors. The spearman is equally extraordinary—every strike carried consistent force, as if each puncture was meticulously crafted. As for the archer, they’re likely the weakest of the three. Though their precision is terrifying, enough to take down most of the bandits, their arm strength is under two thousand pounds.”
When Qin Ming heard these assessments, he was left speechless.
Larger organizations soon took notice. Golden Rooster Ridge was a known stronghold for the Golden Bandits, whose influence spanned far beyond the Red Glow City region. Whoever dared to destroy one of their bases clearly had no regard for their reputation.
Rumors emerged that not all of Golden Rooster Ridge’s inhabitants had perished. Two survivors, who had been away that night, managed to escape and sought refuge with the Golden Bandits. Before leaving, they left a message behind.
“Our leader died so miserably! When we returned to the stronghold, we heard their shouts from afar—they mentioned the City Lord and a Protector from Beyond.”
The pieces of the mystery began to fall into place, and speculation grew.
Further reports surfaced from the aberrations. On the night of the incident, Red Glow City’s new City Lord, Meng Xing Hai, had passed through the area and entered the mountains to meet the Old Mountain Lord. Simultaneously, residents of Green Pine Town claimed to have seen a person from Beyond the Boundaries accompanied by two golden-armored Protectors lodging at an inn.
“This new City Lord is formidable. We’ll need to tread carefully when dealing with him,” someone remarked.
“Even the Outsiders got involved? Hmm, there are whispers that Meng Xing Hai was seen with a feather-cloaked woman. Seems like it was them after all.”
Organizations were abuzz, not because they cared about Golden Rooster Ridge, but because they wanted to understand Meng Xing Hai’s character.
Li Qing Yue was also paying attention, curious about Cui Chong He’s motives for orchestrating this and the resulting consequences. To her dismay, she found herself inadvertently implicated.
As a witness, she knew the true culprits but was now saddled with an undeserved accusation. Even worse, Meng Xing Hai had been dragged into the mess, painted as an overly aggressive new City Lord. People speculated he was preparing to target the Golden Bandits next.
“Uncle Meng, I’m so sorry. You helped me fetch Yin-Yang medicine from Black and White Mountain, and now people are misjudging you…” Li Qing Yue said apologetically.
Meng Xing Hai, dressed in plain blue and appearing scholarly despite being in his late thirties, shook his head firmly. “It’s fine. I’ve corresponded with Ling Xu, the City Lord of Ling Xu City. He originally intended to use Golden Rooster Ridge to lure out the Golden Bandits for an ambush. I was planning to do the same, so I don’t mind the misunderstanding.”
He added, “What I got from the Old Mountain Lord was a branch of the Black and White Tree. Ling Xu has the roots—I’ll get a share for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Meng.”
“No need to thank me. Honestly, a word from your family or your master could solve this.”
Li Qing Yue shook her head. “Yin-Yang medicine is crucial for those Beyond the Boundaries. Right now, several powerful mountain sects have their eyes on it—some have sent letters requesting it, and others are already on their way. If we’re late, we might lose our chance entirely.”
Meng Xing Hai sighed, “Your path is truly enviable, so dazzling it’s hard to compare. It won’t be long before you catch up to me.”
The destruction of Golden Rooster Ridge sent ripples across the region, affecting everyone from major organizations to local powers. Reactions varied widely.
For instance, the Three-Eye Sect, known for its usual arrogance, suddenly changed its approach. They began sending representatives to nearby villages, asking if any aberrations were wreaking havoc in the area and offering to eliminate them. Their attitude was surprisingly friendly—almost overly so.
They even delivered food supplies to the most impoverished villages, providing much-needed relief.
At first, people thought the Three-Eye Sect had lost their minds. It was one thing to stop exploiting the locals, but to actually start helping them? That was unheard of.
Before long, however, the truth dawned on everyone: the local leaders of the sect were scared. They feared following in the footsteps of Golden Rooster Ridge, annihilated without mercy. Now, they were scrambling to build goodwill as a shield against the same fate.
“I’m telling you,” one villager declared, “the hero who wiped out Golden Rooster Ridge wasn’t just anyone. He rode a Purple Lightning Beast and carried a Sky-Cleaving Spear. He looked so heroic—charging in alone, taking down the bandits, and slaying Old Golden Rooster. He even passed through our Green Pine Town once, and just the sight of him sent the Three-Eye Sect fleeing in the dead of night.”
The tale, though credible, was difficult to investigate further. Every lead seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only scattered rumors.
Some tried to contact the aberrations for information. Yet when the subject of the Purple Lightning Beast came up, certain mountain monsters grew hostile and refused to discuss it. It became clear that the beast had a significant and mysterious background.
“Is this mess never going to end?!” roared the Purple Lightning Beast deep in the mountains. Its fur bristled with frustration as it summoned a white owl for answers. “Have you found any trace of that outsider? If not, send more people immediately!”
The owl replied calmly, “Black and White Mountain isn’t exactly our territory. Investigating there will take time.”
Meanwhile, Qin Ming had been rigorously practicing the Yellow Mud Palm technique. He had gone beyond basic mastery, reaching a level of skill that was genuinely terrifying. When he activated the soft force and unleashed the power of Celestial Light, the results were devastating.
To test its strength, he targeted a wild ox. With a gentle tap of his right hand, the ox’s tough hide remained intact, but everything beneath—flesh, organs, and bones—was obliterated.
“This technique isn’t suited for sparring,” Qin Ming muttered. “One hit, and there’s bound to be serious injury or death.”
What he anticipated most, however, was the Yellow Mud Palm infused with the essence of the earth. That, he believed, would elevate it to the ultimate skill he sought to master.
Before departing, Qin Ming wanted to track down one or two ancient books. He asked Old Liu for help, though the search led to a declining household with exorbitant prices. Learning that the Wu family had paid fifteen Daylight Gold pieces for a manuscript, the household immediately demanded fifty.
“Could you at least find out what kind of Celestial Light Force their manuscript contains?” Qin Ming asked.
“No need to ask,” Old Liu replied. “Everyone knows it’s Nail Force. It’s very powerful, but their price is outrageous.”
“They could lower it to one Daylight Gold, and I still wouldn’t bother,” Qin Ming said.
He reflected on how limited the secret manuals in this remote region truly were. Only a handful circulated, and he had already mastered Nail Force. It was the very technique a rugged man described in an old blade manual as one that fell short of producing the mythical Rulai Force he had dreamed of.
Two days later, Qin Ming prepared to set out on a journey, avoiding unnecessary attention. Before leaving, he visited the neighboring yard.
Lu Ze had made a remarkable recovery after eating Fire Snake meat. Not only had his injuries healed quickly, but he had experienced his first awakening.
Qin Ming informed him, “I still have a twice-mutated Fire Snake stored in my cellar for you. Make sure to eat it before spring arrives. If your potential isn’t too bad, you might achieve a second awakening.”
Back when Qin Ming had brought home two large snakes and six smaller ones, he hadn’t even finished one himself. Instead, he shared some meat soup with Old Liu to help him recover from his injuries.
Lu Ze and his wife were stunned. They instantly realized who had wiped out the Mountain Patrol Group.
“Qin, are you really leaving?” they asked, reluctant to see him go.
Qin Ming nodded. “I want to explore the world beyond.”
“Uncle, will you come back?” Wen Rui, their child, asked tearfully, clinging to him and refusing to let go.
Wen Hui, barely two years old and still struggling with speech, also understood he was leaving. She looked up and called out to him in her toddler’s voice.
“I’ll be back,” Qin Ming assured them, gently patting the children’s heads.
Before parting, he handed some handwritten techniques to Lu Ze. “Practice these well,” he advised. “You can also pass them on to Wen Rui someday. Start with Light Shroud. If you manage to awaken again soon, it’ll help you conceal your abilities.”
Qin Ming declined their offer to see him off. Carrying his White Jade Alloy Blade, he disappeared from the village with remarkable speed.
Far away, Old Liu waited in the snowy wilderness to bid him a quiet farewell.
At the same time, a massive predatory bird carried Cui Hong and a young man dressed in luxurious clothing. They soared through the night mist, crossing the vast expanse of land until they reached the Black and White Mountain region. After circling the area, the bird slowly descended toward the snowfields outside Silver Vine Town.