Chapter 63: An Encounter
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Under the dark night sky, a massive crimson bird circled and descended gracefully. The gusts from its powerful wings stirred up the thick blanket of snow, sending it swirling into the air.
“Thank you, Senior Chi Peng, for escorting us!” Cui Hong landed on the ground and bowed respectfully to the glowing red giant bird, treating it with the deference owed to an elder.
A young man in luxurious attire, named Cui Chong Yi, followed suit with a polite bow, watching as the crimson bird soared away.
“Uncle Hong, is this the place where Chong He is staying? It’s so barren here. That little town ahead—Silver Vine Town—seems utterly impoverished. With its low Fire Spring grade, it can’t produce any valuable spiritual resources. Why not arrange a better place for him?”
“Young Master, please don’t call me Uncle Hong. I can’t bear such an honor,” Cui Hong hastily interrupted. Though he appeared to be in his thirties, his unnaturally long arms—honed by the Heaven-Piercing Technique—hinted at his martial prowess. His face was sharp, like a blade, and his piercing eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously before sighing. “I’m merely following orders.”
Hearing this, Cui Chong Yi nodded, choosing not to press further.
Though not yet twenty, the young man carried himself with a confident air. A tear-shaped mole graced the corner of his left eye, but it belied his cheerful and talkative nature. “Uncle Hong, when we’re out like this, let’s not be so formal. I’ll be training outside for some time, and I’ll need you to look after me. There’s no need for barriers between us.”
Cui Hong didn’t argue further and led him toward Silver Vine Town.
When they reached the town’s outskirts, they stopped at a once-impressive residence. Cui Hong’s face darkened immediately.
“Why is this house empty?” He looked around, his tone sharp.
After asking a few locals, he relaxed slightly. The family hadn’t left Silver Vine Town but had moved to a larger home in the town center.
Following directions, the two made their way to the new house.
At the same time, in Silver Vine Town, a sparrow-like bird flapped its wings and darted into the night sky. “Suspicious targets spotted,” it chirped as it disappeared into the distance.
Inside the town center’s large residence, Cui Hong’s booming voice erupted, shaking the air. “I gave you plenty of Daylight Gold back then! Is this how you repay me? You’re lucky to be alive!”
Cui Chong Yi stood abruptly, slamming his palm onto the table and shattering it into splinters. His expression was thunderous.
“I-It’s not my fault!” a man in his forties stammered, his face pale. “He woke up suddenly, clutching his head and roaring like a madman before running off. I didn’t dare approach him. When I tried to look for him later, he was already gone!”
Cui Hong’s eyes gleamed fiercely, like two golden lanterns emitting tangible beams of light. His long arm shot out and grabbed the man by his collar, lifting him effortlessly.
The man’s face drained of blood as he stammered in panic. “He’s fine! I swear! Just a few days ago, I saw him on the street looking perfectly healthy and full of energy.”
“What?” Both Cui Hong and Cui Chong Yi were taken aback. They had prepared themselves for the worst, only to find a glimmer of hope.
The man hurriedly added, “I saw him with an old man visiting the Wu family. He seemed in excellent spirits—his illness must be completely cured.”
“What’s the Wu family’s background?” Cui Chong Yi asked.
“They were once renowned in the region, known for their unmatched mastery of both spear and bow. They were undefeated in their prime, but they’ve since fallen into decline. My guess is the boy went there to learn an Awakening Method.”
Cui Hong released the man, his expression shifting as he muttered, “He awakened… in such a remote place? I… sigh!” His brow furrowed deeply. The stern middle-aged man from the Cui family had given strict orders to let Cui Chong He live as an ordinary person here.
“Let’s find Chong He first,” Cui Chong Yi said firmly.
Cui Hong headed to the Wu family to investigate.
Meanwhile, Cui Chong Yi stayed outside, wandering through Silver Vine Town to experience the local customs of this remote land.
He didn’t stray far, stopping at a shop less than a hundred meters from the Wu family’s gate. There, he inquired about the prices of local specialties.
“Birds here sure are bold,” he muttered, jerking his head aside as a small black bird narrowly missed colliding with him.
On a tall locust tree nearby, a white owl squinted down at him, murmuring to itself, “Not just the accent of a great family from a major city—his reflexes suggest formidable skill too. Apologies, young man. If I’ve mistaken you, it’s not my fault. You’ll just have to help me with a little task first.”
Outside Twin Trees Village, Old Liu stood without much emotion, seeing Qin Ming off.
“If life out there doesn’t work out, come back early and keep me company in retirement.”
“You really don’t know how to send someone off, do you?” Qin Ming teased. “I haven’t even left yet, and you’re already making it sound like I’ll fail. Can’t you say something nicer?”
He glanced back at Twin Trees Village, where the black and white trees glowed faintly under the light of the Fire Spring, creating an extraordinary sight.
Old Liu sighed. “Don’t underestimate Black and White Mountain. Long ago, this place was a deadly land that stifled all who approached. Someday, it’ll stir up trouble again.”
Qin Ming stared at the mountains, feeling a pang of reluctance. After all, he had spent two years here.
“Any advice for me before I go?” he asked.
Old Liu replied, “The world is mostly good, but you should always be cautious. You seem mature enough not to need my reminders, so I’ll just warn you about two types of people you’ll encounter outside the city.”
Qin Ming hadn’t expected a real answer, but he listened intently.
“First, the elderly traveling merchants. No matter their apparent strength, never underestimate them. To roam the Eternal Night’s lands for decades, they must possess extraordinary skills. Some may not be what they seem, disguising their true identities under the guise of merchants.”
Qin Ming nodded seriously, appreciating the wisdom. He was, after all, leaving with a caravan of such merchants.
“Second, the mountain patrollers. Any who’ve lived to a hundred years or more while frequently traversing the dark forests—don’t provoke them. You can never be certain of what they truly are.”
Qin Ming nodded again, bidding Old Liu farewell.
“That merchant caravan heading out from Emei Town—should I, on my way, take care of that monkey tribe in the mountains for you? Pay them back for the trouble they gave you when you were younger?” he teased.
“Just get going already!”
“Ha!” Qin Ming laughed heartily, disappearing into the snowy expanse.
Qin Ming joined a traveling merchant’s caravan in Emei Town and was surprised to discover a familiar face among the group. The boy before him had once served him and Old Liu tea when Qin Ming had gone to the Wu family to study their secret texts.
“You’re… Qin Ming?” Wu Zheng’s eyes widened in surprise before a smile of delight spread across his face. “Traveling with a familiar face is a rare blessing.”
“Are you heading to Red Glow City as well?” Qin Ming asked.
The seventeen-year-old Wu Zheng nodded eagerly. “Yes, I want to see the world. Everyone in the Wu family who’s achieved something has visited Red Glow City to broaden their horizons.”
Qin Ming almost chuckled but held back. He thought about Old Wu, who had also ventured to Red Glow City. There, dazzled by its splendor, he had spent two daylight gold coins in a single evening, eventually leading to the Wu family’s downfall after an extended stay.
“Keep your goals clear,” Qin Ming advised, his tone steady. “Remember why you’re going there.”
“I want to become the next master of both spear and bow!” Wu Zheng declared, his voice brimming with youthful determination. Already awakened, the seventeen-year-old carried lofty dreams and a bright hope for the future, eager to make his mark in the wider world.
The caravan’s leader, Xu Sheng, was in his early thirties—much younger than the elderly merchants Old Liu had mentioned—which put Qin Ming at ease. Xu Sheng, a well-regarded trader in the area, regularly traveled between Red Glow City and these remote regions. In addition to selling goods, he offered paid escort services, guiding people safely between the two areas.
“The desert ahead is vast and pitch-black,” Xu Sheng warned sternly on their second day of travel, as they neared its edge. “It’s absolutely lightless. Step off the path, and you’re as good as dead. Stay close to me and follow the trail at the mountain’s foot. And for heaven’s sake, don’t speak recklessly near the desert. Doing so invites disaster!”
The desert had no fire springs and exuded an oppressive stillness. Even the most skilled masters faced near-certain death if they became trapped within. The darkness rendered sight useless, and the disorientation would swiftly lead to doom.
At that moment, they were traversing a plain where only night and snow filled the vast expanse. Vegetation had long since vanished, and the approaching desert seemed like a giant abyss, swallowing all light.
“Why can’t we speak near the desert? What’s out there?” someone asked nervously.
Xu Sheng replied grimly, “Even high-level aberrant birds dare not cross the desert—they’d die if they tried. Doesn’t that tell you enough? And any awakener who disrespects the desert is bound to meet calamity. This isn’t a joke; deserts like this hold such dangers across many regions.”
“What’s the cause of it all?” another person pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop.
“You really want to know?” Xu Sheng shot back. “There are dozens of theories. Take just one: some secret sects believe deserts like this are tied to divine rituals. Act recklessly here, and you’ll pay the price.”
The group fell silent at once. If a mere “small punishment” could claim lives, what might a harsher one entail?
“But aren’t ‘gods’ just highly evolved creatures?” someone muttered skeptically.
“For you, they might as well be gods,” Xu Sheng snapped. “Now shut your mouth, or get out of my caravan!”
Meanwhile, Cui Hong sat deep in the mountains, facing a massive white elephant. The creature looked ancient and wise, and it spoke endlessly, its tone calm and measured.
The day before, Cui Chong Yi had been snatched by a massive bird, leaving Cui Hong frantic. He had pursued it tirelessly, tracking it deep into the mountains until he learned that a powerful Purple Lightning Beast had mistaken Cui Chong Yi for something important and carried him off. For now, at least, Chong Yi’s life wasn’t in immediate danger.
Cui Hong’s search had brought him face-to-face with the mysterious elephant. The creature sat cross-legged in the forest like an enlightened master. Most strikingly, it bore four gleaming white tusks.
The sight gave Cui Hong pause, leaving him unsure how to proceed. However, the elephant accidentally dislodged one of its enormous tusks, revealing it to be a fake. Two of the tusks were temporary additions.
Furious, Cui Hong realized how much time he had wasted. He had truly believed he was dealing with a descendant of the legendary six-tusked white elephant.
With a thunderous roar, a battle erupted in the forest.
On the caravan’s third day, Qin Ming experienced the full terror of the desert’s darkness. Even ordinary awakened individuals would become instantly disoriented within it, unable to see their own hand in front of their face.
Qin Ming’s heightened senses kept him sharp, but even he felt unnerved. Thankfully, the caravan followed the mountain’s edge, using the towering peaks as a guide. As long as they stayed on the path, the group could navigate the terrain safely.
Traveling through the mountains themselves was far too dangerous. The area was teeming with aberrant creatures, and the towering peaks were treacherous and nearly impassable.
Suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed ahead. Rocks tumbled from the mountainside, narrowly missing the caravan’s leading members.
“Fall back!” Xu Sheng shouted.
The group retreated, staring in shock as a glowing white elephant emerged, rearing onto its hind legs and battling a lone human. The elephant wielded its trunk like a blade, slashing arcs of brilliant light. In addition to its natural tusks, the creature’s forelimbs resembled human arms, gripping two gleaming ivory tusks like dual swords.
Qin Ming’s eyes widened. Even in the dim desert light, he clearly saw the human fighting the elephant. The creature’s glow illuminated his features.
“A long-armed man in his thirties,” Qin Ming thought, his pulse quickening. “His chiseled features—he looks just like one of the two men I’ve been remembering lately.”
It was him—one of the men who had saved Qin Ming years ago. Startled, Cui Hong, the human battling the elephant, felt Qin Ming’s gaze. Turning toward the caravan, his heart skipped a beat.
He had found the person he’d been searching for.