Chapter 75: Reflecting on the Past
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
As daylight faded, a hazy twilight enveloped the city of Red Glow. Qin Ming sat silently in his room, his gaze fixed as fragmented memories from the past came rushing back to him, assembling and solidifying before his eyes.
“So, your name is Li Qing Xu,” Qin Ming murmured, observing the image of a youth dressed in feathered robes. At last, he understood the boy’s identity.
The two had met before, though not as close friends—merely acquaintances who exchanged polite nods in passing.
“A direct descendant of the Li Family, possessing an extraordinary gift. For most, it’s nearly impossible to become a disciple of those from beyond the boundaries. Yet he fit that path perfectly and was accepted by an elder whose name resonates throughout the world of the eternal night, breaking all conventions to make him the last disciple.”
Qin Ming frowned slightly. That elder from beyond the boundaries was not someone to provoke—revered even by the millennial clans.
Again, the image of Li Qing Xu flashed before him. Clad in feathered robes that exuded an otherworldly aura, he seemed detached from mortal concerns. Even the purple-glowing bamboo staff in his hand was extraordinary, crafted from mystical bamboo that had once absorbed celestial light from beyond.
The figure faded, replaced by an onrush of scenes. Fragmented images reassembled, surging toward him like a tidal wave.
Though some minor details remained blurred, the main threads of his past memory were now fully restored. Qin Ming pressed his temples, attempting to ease the exhaustion brought on by the influx of recollections.
Scenes from childhood to adolescence played out vividly, as if crashing over him in relentless waves. The experiences brought a flood of emotions that threatened to drown him, clouding his mind in a dense fog of nostalgia.
To stabilize himself, Qin Ming began practicing the technique from the silk manuscript, calming his heart and breaking free from the oppressive cage of memories. Once grounded, he observed his past from a higher perspective, determined to revisit the events with a critical lens.
“I am Cui Chong He, a direct descendant of a millennial clan,” Qin Ming confirmed, piecing together his identity through the memories.
It felt like opening a dusty, yellowed book retrieved from an old room, a record of forgotten times. As Qin Ming metaphorically turned its pages, he was transported back more than a decade to the start of his childhood.
“A poor child, suffering out there. Remember, I’m your Seventh Uncle.” A young man with thick eyebrows and bright, shining eyes patted his head. His smile was kind, his teeth dazzlingly white, almost radiant.
Qin Ming recognized him immediately. This was Cui Hao, one of the people he had been closest to since childhood.
This moment marked Qin Ming’s earliest memory.
“Was I once lost?” he murmured, observing the image of himself as a boy of no more than three or four years, dressed in tattered clothes. He wished to recall more, but it eluded him. For most people, memory only begins at that age.
He saw himself being bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and adorned with fine jade. The transformation was remarkable. Though apprehensive, his young self stood straight, defiant in silence.
The scene shifted again. He was brought to live in the Cui Family estate, where he was taught to read and learn the family rules. Qin Ming remembered how diligently he committed these lessons to heart.
Occasionally, he cried in secret, though he was careful not to let anyone notice.
“Chong He, remember your name and never forget it. Come, I’ll teach you how to write these characters.” An elder took the time to teach him patiently.
“Chong He, come here. This is your younger brother, Cui Chong Xuan. One day, you must protect him. He’s one of your closest family members.” His mother appeared, graceful and dignified, her face beautiful and delicate. A hairpin crafted from feathers that shimmered with golden light adorned her hair, emitting a faint glow that marked it as no ordinary object.
She held the hand of a small child, barely over two years old, who gazed at Qin Ming with curious, bright eyes.
“He’s a year and a half younger than you. You must cherish each other. As the older brother, you’ll need to take good care of him,” his mother instructed.
“Alright!” Qin Ming, nearly four years old, nodded resolutely.
From then on, he settled into life with the Cui Family, fully adapting to his new surroundings.
His father, a strict and authoritative figure, commanded great respect within the household. Young Qin Ming remained quiet whenever he was in his father’s presence.
Perhaps because of this, Qin Ming grew especially close to Cui Hao, who treated him more like a companion than a subordinate. Seventh Uncle often took him out to explore lively streets, ride aberrant beasts beyond the city walls, or board a painting boat along the Mo Yun River at night.
For these antics, Cui Hao was frequently scolded by their father.
As the story of his youth unfolded further, Qin Ming saw glimpses of his eldest brother, Cui Chong Xiao, who was eight years his senior. Though still a teenager himself, Cui Chong Xiao exuded maturity and steadiness, resembling their father.
Only in the presence of young Qin Ming did a spark of boyish playfulness light up Cui Chong Xiao’s eyes. He would smile warmly, approaching with curiosity to observe his younger sibling closely.
It was said that Cui Chong Xiao had become a disciple of a remarkable figure, though the details were kept secret by their father, who forbade anyone from discussing it. What little Qin Ming overheard suggested that his brother had joined an ancient sect linked to divinity. This sect didn’t worship or visualize deities but aimed to subjugate and harness extraordinary “phenomena” and “realms,” transforming these into personal power to attain godhood.
Each spring, Qin Ming’s parents received a highly encrypted letter requiring cross-references with multiple ancient texts to decipher. This task, performed with great care, always brought smiles to their faces—even to their usually stern father.
Qin Ming and Cui Chong Xuan suspected these letters came from their eldest brother, bringing joy to the household.
Once, Cui Chong Xuan attempted to steal one of these letters, hoping to uncover its secrets. But unable to comprehend the codes, he was caught and severely punished by their father. From then on, he never dared to touch them again.
The Cui Family’s direct lineage included many elderly figures, all possessing immense strength. Some had ventured beyond the boundaries, seldom returning, while others pursued the path of awakening. One elder, to amuse the children, once inhaled deeply and drew a four-colored sparrow from a distant tree into his grasp.
These elders, whether stern or kind, placed great emphasis on nurturing the younger generation.
When they greeted Qin Ming warmly, asking him to address them as Fifth Uncle or Seventh Uncle, he would recall a shadowy figure from his early memories—a grandfather he had once desperately sought.
“He has traveled far, to the capital of the Great Yu Kingdom. In the past, he nearly lost himself practicing the technique from the silk manuscript. Now that he has ‘cut all bonds,’ he seeks his own path.”
“I miss him,” Qin Ming whispered, his eyes reddening despite having adjusted to life in the Cui Family. He longed for the old scroll his grandfather had left behind.
“It’s forbidden,” he was told. “The silk manuscript is an ancient relic, easily damaged. Master the first few pages before attempting more. But…it’s a nearly impossible technique to complete.”
From that moment on, Qin Ming committed himself to mastering the manuscript’s technique, training daily, undeterred by wind or rain.
Qin Ming had many cousins, brothers, and sisters. Over the years, some were chosen by the mysterious People Beyond the Boundaries and set on paths vastly different from their kin. Others joined the Secret Sect or aligned themselves with famous schools, while a few remained within the family, committing to the path of Awakening through bodily transformation.
“The Silk Manuscript has a great origin; it was once one of the most renowned texts?” Young Cui Chong Xuan, curious and growing older, learned what his elder brother practiced and expressed his desire to do the same.
But Cui Father reprimanded him sharply. “The Silk Manuscript is difficult to master. One person walking this path is enough. You should choose another secret text.”
As Cui Chong Xuan grew taller, his envy also grew. He protested, demanding why he wasn’t allowed to train in the same method. At one point, his jealousy turned into hostility toward his brother.
“I want to know, is the Silk Manuscript the most powerful Awakening Method?” Cui Chong Xuan, rare in his defiance, questioned his father directly.
Cui Father’s face softened. “Who dares claim the title of ‘most powerful’? The world holds more than one Silk Manuscript. There are equally formidable legacies, such as the Six Imperial Heart Sutra, the Tathagata Method, and the Heaven-Piercing Technique. Focus on practicing the family’s secret texts and build the most solid foundation. Perhaps, in the future, I may obtain a copy of the Six Imperial Heart Sutra for you. If you are exceptional enough, you might even be accepted into the elder’s sect.”
Qin Ming, standing nearby, spoke up. “Father, I also wish to study the Six Imperial Heart Sutra someday. The Awakening Method described in the Silk Manuscript is incredibly difficult… it seems impossible.”
Cui Father’s gaze pierced him as if seeing straight into his heart. “What? Are you losing confidence in yourself?”
“No!” Qin Ming snapped, though his voice carried frustration. He stormed off but later borrowed other secret texts from his cousins, curious to explore other Awakening Methods.
Fifth Uncle from the main branch watched him with a knowing smile. “The choice of which Awakening Method to lay your foundation with is critical. It greatly influences your ultimate achievements. If you start with ordinary texts, stepping into the realm of Awakening and later switching back to the Silk Manuscript will never yield the same results as walking that path from the beginning.”
Qin Ming pondered these words deeply. He consulted both Cui Father and Cui Mother, and their answers mirrored Fifth Uncle’s. After reviewing his cousin’s Visualization Method and Willpower Energy Practice, he discarded them. His resolve to master the Silk Manuscript’s Awakening Method remained unshaken.
In the quiet room of an inn, Qin Ming reflected on his journey. The Cui family recognized him as a core member of the direct descendants, a rising star. Not only within the family but even before outsiders, they praised him openly. It was evident to all that Qin Ming was destined for greatness.
Early on, many speculated that Cui Chong He, his elder brother, would be the future leader of the main branch, receiving focused cultivation. Second Uncle, once drunk, let slip that Cui Chong He had a unique gift, making him highly suitable for venturing into the realms of the People Beyond the Boundaries. Whether or not he mastered the Silk Manuscript, his destiny was to achieve a near-immortal state.
Second Uncle also revealed that Cui Chong He’s departure was delayed, waiting for a famous elder of the Night Shroud World to emerge from seclusion. It was already agreed that he would become the elder’s disciple. When Cui Father learned of this drunken confession, his face darkened with fury. Second Uncle, ashamed of his loose tongue, voluntarily confined himself for penance.
Though the revelation remained a family secret, some information leaked beyond their walls, drawing danger to Qin Ming. Several attempts were made to harm him, but the Cui family thwarted them all.
Despite these challenges, Qin Ming’s treatment within the Cui family was exceptional. As he grew older, even his steed reflected their care: a four-time mutated creature, rare and powerful, provided as his mount. Though its mutations had reached their limit, such a gift for someone yet to achieve Awakening was extravagant and unparalleled.
The Cui family shielded him diligently, ensuring no harm came to him despite persistent external threats. Moreover, Cui Father had long arranged a marriage alliance with the Wang Family of Thousand Star City, promising a direct descendant—a beautiful, cheerful girl—to marry Cui Chong He. Qin Ming had even met her and admired her charm, but as he grew older, his parents began cautioning him to maintain proper boundaries.
Once, while traveling with her in Clear River City, Cui Father became furious and reprimanded him afterward. As Qin Ming matured, the family’s focus on his achievements grew sharper. They praised him as a prodigy but limited his interactions with outsiders, urging him to remain devoted to the Silk Manuscript’s method.
By his teenage years, Qin Ming had met many significant figures: heirs of prestigious clans, direct descendants of millennial families, and even disciples of the People Beyond the Boundaries. The millennial families’ influence was profound, fostering connections with ancient traditions, powerful sects, and even those enigmatic figures.
Around this time, rumors spread that several prominent individuals from the People Beyond the Boundaries would descend into the mortal world to choose disciples. The location was set for Clear River City. Families across the region took action, sending their best candidates, including Li Qing Xu, Li Qing Yue, and the Wang Family’s direct descendant, hoping to earn a place among these powerful figures.
It was during this period that Qin Ming noticed hostility from Li Qing Xu.
Ultimately, the rumors proved true. Renowned elders from the People Beyond the Boundaries appeared, selecting a handful of candidates. One elder, with an impressive reputation, gifted Li Qing Xu a purple bamboo staff, nurtured by Celestial Light.
Qin Ming was confused. Wasn’t there supposed to be a legendary elder who would take him as a disciple? Why had Li Qing Xu been chosen instead?
“Be patient,” Cui Father reassured him. “The elder who favors you has not yet emerged from seclusion.”
However, this period brought numerous assassination attempts against Qin Ming, all of which he survived. Unexpectedly, the Li Family began preparing for conflict with the Cui Family. Qin Ming might not have realized the tension at first, but the elders of the Cui Family had long been aware and made preparations.
“The Li Family has an elder who has recently achieved a breakthrough and might soon approach a near-immortal state. Meanwhile, our ancestor has not appeared for over two centuries. The Li Family seeks to use a confrontation with us to showcase their strength and elevate their status to a true millennial family. They need this battle.”
“Worse yet, they have backing. Someone powerful is pushing them forward.”
As whispers of the impending clash spread, Qin Ming grew deeply worried for his family.
“Our ancestor still hasn’t returned. The situation looks grim. We must protect the family’s core members and retreat. Someone must seek the ancestor at his secluded retreat and bring him back.”
Late one night, the Cui family secretly sent away a group of key members. Another group, led by elders, would take a more dangerous path to divert the Li Family’s attention.
“Chong He, you are my son. The main branch must show responsibility. I must stay here to manage the situation and cannot take that path. Your younger brother is still too immature. You will represent me and accompany the elders on the second route.” Cui Father spoke firmly, his expression complex as he patted his second son’s shoulder.
Qin Ming knew the road ahead was perilous, a mission of near-certain death meant to shield the family from the Li Family’s pursuit. He was accompanied by elderly family members, many of whom had little time left to live.
“Father, Mother, Brother!” Qin Ming called out tearfully, bidding them farewell. He climbed into the bronze carriage and, under the cover of darkness, looked back one last time, catching only the fading silhouettes of his parents.
In the quiet of the inn, Qin Ming sighed deeply.