Chapter 67: The Treasure Pig
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“Chong He, why don’t you come back with me? Maybe there’s still a way to turn things around.” Cui Hong spoke with a tone of measured sincerity.
Qin Ming heard this and immediately took several steps back. The black desert seemed ready to swallow him whole, his outline vanishing into the darkness. How could he even consider returning to the Cui family? Over the past two years, with his faded memories, he had shed all his previous thoughts and reevaluated the past. His perspective, his judgments—everything was different now.
It felt as if he had escaped the original trajectory of his life, breaking free from a turbulent and dangerous river that had once swept him forward. Now, he had a new beginning, and there was no way he would return to that old path.
Instinctively, he kept retreating deeper into the desert. To Qin Ming, stepping back into the Cui family’s quagmire was unthinkable—it would spell his doom.
“Chong He, why are you reacting like this? Why that expression?” Cui Hong’s voice carried a note of regret as he watched Qin Ming retreat like a man facing a predator.
It was painfully obvious. The young man before him now viewed the Cui family as a monstrous flood he wanted no part of, shouting loud and clear that he was determined to live for himself alone.
“Are you trying to force me?” Qin Ming asked sharply, pulling out the white jade alloy blade. “Even if I’m no match for you, I won’t just stand here and let you take me.”
“Hm?” Cui Hong raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting slightly. The stance Qin Ming assumed with his blade carried an air of authority, even mastery. It was remarkable.
For a moment, Cui Hong felt an illusion—a sense that the young man before him, regardless of his actual strength, carried the demeanor of a blade master.
“Interesting,” murmured Meng Xing Hai, who stood further down the rugged, misty mountain road. He peered ahead in curiosity. “He’s only a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, yet he exudes such presence in the way of the blade. How unusual.”
Cui Hong didn’t use his celestial light power. Instead, he casually extended his arm, testing the waters with a light strike. He wanted to see if Qin Ming’s accomplishments in the blade arts were genuine.
The white jade alloy blade, coated in mineral pigment and slightly shorter than an arm’s length, moved in Qin Ming’s hand with a sharp whistle. The blade gleamed like a lightning bolt ripping through a pitch-black stormy night.
With a ripping sound, a corner of Cui Hong’s sleeve was sliced off and fell into the yellow sands. He froze in surprise.
Though he had restrained himself and deliberately avoided using his celestial light powers, he had not expected Qin Ming to land such a precise blow. Who was Cui Hong? A figure far beyond Qin Ming’s level—yet here he was, with a torn sleeve. No one would believe it if word got out.
Cui Hong’s expression grew complicated as he stared at the tall figure now swallowed by the desert’s darkness.
From a distance, Meng Xing Hai wore a look of astonishment. “The Cui family… They truly produce extraordinary talents. I thought I misjudged him, but no—based on pure blade skill alone, this boy is truly remarkable, a rising star in the way of the blade.”
Li Qing Yue’s expression mirrored his. She was well aware that Meng Xing Hai himself was a master of the blade. For him to offer such praise meant Qin Ming’s abilities were exceptional.
Her thoughts flashed back to the night Qin Ming single-handedly stormed Golden Rooster Ridge, cutting down two four-time Awakeners. Afterward, an experienced mountain patroller analyzed the scene and speculated that three individuals—each skilled in blade, spear, and bow—had been responsible.
Li Qing Yue now realized that even the word “skilled” fell short of describing Qin Ming’s mastery of the blade.
“Chong He, you’ve surprised me,” Cui Hong admitted. “Come back with me and give it a try.”
“Give it a try?” Qin Ming scoffed, his voice firm. “Why should I gamble my fate on anyone’s ‘kindness’? The Cui family can end my path to awakening with a single thought. Why would I take that risk?”
He continued, his tone unwavering. “You’ve already dismissed me before, saying that mastering the methods on the silk scroll wouldn’t matter. And now you think my blade skills make any difference? I’m not going back with you.”
Cui Hong fell silent, his eyes narrowing. He decided to take Qin Ming by force. Staying in this dark desert unsettled him, as though inviting misfortune. He did not want to provoke any “legends” by lingering too long.
“Stop!” Meng Xing Hai’s voice cut through the air. In a flash, he appeared in the desert, moving to intercept. Li Qing Yue followed, her steps as light as a fairy’s, gliding over the sands.
Cui Hong had already sensed their presence and didn’t want complications. He lunged forward, his hand reaching for Qin Ming.
But as Meng Xing Hai moved to block him, he suddenly hesitated and withdrew, retreating a few steps with a peculiar expression.
“Aren’t you supposed to repay me?” Qin Ming muttered quickly in the darkness. “I’m about to be taken down—are you just going to stand there?”
BANG!
Cui Hong cried out in pain as his right hand felt like it had been struck by a wild beast. The force sent him staggering back across the sand, nearly ten meters away.
“Hiss!” He drew in a sharp breath, tasting the dust and grit of the desert air. His hand throbbed, the pain reminiscent of the time he’d been kicked by a donkey as a child.
He glanced down and, even in the low visibility, could see the imprint of a hoof on his hand—red and nearly bleeding.
“A hoof print?” Cui Hong muttered in disbelief, scanning the darkness.
From the shadows came a disgruntled voice. “You humans have a saying for this, don’t you? Something about being as tough as a rock in a latrine?”
Qin Ming stayed silent, offering no comment. After all, Cui Hong had saved his life once, whether out of duty or not.
Cui Hong squinted into the shadows and saw Qin Ming cradling a tiny wild pig in his hand. The miniature creature, no larger than a palm, had been the one to kick him.
Li Qing Yue studied the little pig intently with her special vision. To her, it radiated an aura of immense danger, as though a massive beast loomed within the night fog.
“The Mountain Lord of Black and White Mountain?” Meng Xing Hai asked.
Cui Hong’s expression changed instantly. It was the former Mountain Lord himself. Cui Hong had come here seeking a favor, yet now the legendary figure appeared as a tiny pig.
The little pig snorted. “Ah, what a disgrace. I’m just the former Mountain Lord now. You’ve probably met the new one already—profound, mysterious, and silent. He’s replaced me, though he’s kept it quiet.”
Qin Ming stood firm, speaking with Cui Hong only because he had some confidence in his position.
The night before, this tiny pig, despite its thunderous snores, had spoken to him once: “Since fate has brought us together, I’ll repay my debt along the way and resolve a bond left in the great mountains.”
Qin Ming still didn’t know what kind of debt the Old Mountain Boar was repaying. But given its ability to alter its size and speak human language, it was evident that its strength was significant.
Without the Old Mountain Boar, Qin Ming would have no choice but to fight. This would mean resorting to extreme measures, risking the “offense” of this terrifying Black Desert.
“Mountain Lord, are you planning to interfere in the affairs of my Cui Family?” Cui Hong’s voice was sharp, his expression rigid.
The Old Mountain Boar snorted, a mocking tone lacing its words. “Interfere? Me? Against a Millennial Clan like yours? Renowned throughout the vast Black World, a name that suppresses all other beings. How could I possibly overestimate myself? I’ve simply promised to escort him safely through this stretch of land.”
Cui Hong’s face darkened, his expression flickering with uncertainty. He knew he was no match for the Old Mountain Boar. Territory-less Mountain Lords like it were notoriously troublesome. If provoked, they could retaliate recklessly and then vanish into the End of the Great Land, making any attempt to pursue futile.
After a tense moment, Cui Hong finally nodded. “Fine. Since the Mountain Lord has spoken, we’ll wait until this stretch is behind us to resolve the matter.”
Meng Xing Hai, who had been silently observing, spoke up with a calm yet pointed tone. “Brother from the Cui Family, how should I address you? A prodigy of the Blade Path like this—and yet your family is willing to cast him aside? If you’re unwilling to keep him, why not name your price and let me take him instead?”
Cui Hong stiffened, but his expression shifted as recognition dawned. He now knew who Meng Xing Hai was—a fellow member of a Millennial Clan. No wonder Meng spoke with such confidence.
Next to Meng Xing Hai, he recognized the young woman, Li Qing Yue. The memory was vivid: years ago, some of the most elite descendants of noble families had gathered in a grand city to await selection by a Person Beyond the Boundaries, and this Li Qing Yue had been chosen by a figure of great renown.
Meng Xing Hai’s expression grew thoughtful as he pieced things together. He now understood who Qin Ming was. Two years ago, a significant disturbance had spread whispers among the Cui Family, and now, face-to-face, he realized he was speaking with none other than Cui Chong He.
“I’ve heard bits and pieces of the story,” Meng Xing Hai said, his voice carrying an undertone of criticism. “If your Cui Family forces him to waste away in this remote land, word will spread that the Cui Family is heartless and unkind. That won’t look good for a Millennial Clan, now will it?”
Then, pointing toward Li Qing Yue, Meng Xing Hai added, “Surely your Cui Family wouldn’t think of silencing us both, would you? After all, we’ve seen everything.”
Cui Hong’s face paled. Bloodshed between Millennial Clans, especially to the point of war, would lead to catastrophic consequences.
Qin Ming’s fragmented memories stirred, scattered pieces slowly coming together. His voice was resolute as he spoke. “From this day forward, even if it means my death, I will no longer call myself a child of the Cui Family, nor will I step into your circle again. From now on, I am simply Qin Ming.”
Two years ago, he had neither the clarity nor the strength to understand certain truths. But now, even with just faint traces of a clue, he was beginning to comprehend. All he wanted now was to achieve his Fourth Awakening, pierce through the fog, uncover the mysteries of his past, and never again have to depend on anyone else for answers.
Cui Hong’s voice cut through the moment. “The Cui Family is neither heartless nor unkind. I have a feeling that, within a few years, you will be invited back.”
Qin Ming, hearing this, said nothing.
Meng Xing Hai shook his head. “In that case, you should send a flying beast to consult with your Cui Family. If word of this gets out, it could tarnish the reputation of a Millennial Clan.”
Turning back to Qin Ming, Meng Xing Hai added thoughtfully, “I once heard that over two hundred years ago, this land produced a truly extraordinary talent on the Blade Path. Unfortunately, due to lacking the proper Awakening Method in his youth, he wasted most of his life. Even with master-level blade techniques, that elder did not live long. Your aura on the Blade Path, however, carries hints of his Intercepting Blade Intent.”
Qin Ming bowed respectfully. “That was my master.”
The moment froze in stunned silence.
Meng Xing Hai looked incredulous. “Is this boy spinning tales? That master was said to have disappeared after his Blood Qi withered. It’s unlikely he survived long.”
Li Qing Yue’s eyes held an unusual light as she studied her old friend. How had he changed so much in just two years?
“Chong He, watch your words,” Cui Hong warned sharply.
Qin Ming remained calm, recounting the truth he had read in the blade manual. “Though my master lost an arm, after creating his Intercepting Blade Intent, he defeated all his enemies. With no further obsessions, he retreated into the mountains. By chance, he discovered rare spiritual substances that extended his life, allowing him to walk the Awakening Path again. Though he’s nearing the end of his years, he is alive.”
The Old Mountain Boar was the first to react, its eyes wide. “So it’s true—him?!”
Even Meng Xing Hai appeared distracted, his mind racing through possibilities. If the legendary master had found a rare opportunity in the Deep Mountain Marshlands, this could explain his longevity.
Cui Hong stood motionless, his thoughts turning. A two-hundred-year-old Blade Path Grandmaster—this was no trivial matter.
Qin Ming didn’t care whether they believed him. In his current dire situation, he saw no harm in exaggerating. What did he have to lose?
“Well then, shall we leave this matter here for today?” The Old Mountain Boar interrupted, leaping from Qin Ming’s hands to the ground and motioning for him to follow.
Cui Hong’s gaze remained fixed, preparing to take action once they exited this stretch of land.
But the next moment shattered his composure. A familiar, pungent stench filled the air.
Both Meng Xing Hai and Li Qing Yue frowned deeply, holding their breath as they retreated.
In the darkness, Qin Ming watched as the Precious Treasure Pig relieved itself onto the sandy ground, turning the area into a waterlogged pit.
Boom!
The entire Black Desert roared to life again. Black fog surged violently.
“Let’s go! What are you waiting for?” the Old Mountain Boar barked, nodding at Qin Ming to follow.