Chapter 90: First Encounter with Cui Chong He
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Under the cover of night, Qin Ming stood atop the Red Eagle, the wind rushing past him. He heard Cui Chong Yi’s shout and turned back to see his cousin sprinting madly through the town, chasing after him. At the same time, Qin Ming noticed Cui Hong standing at the edge of the town’s firelight, motionless.
With a gentle pat on the Red Eagle, Qin Ming signaled it to lower its altitude and wait on the opposite side of Silver Vine Town.
“Cousin, I swear on my life, I have no ill intentions! Why won’t you trust me anymore? We used to be so close!” Cui Chong Yi’s voice carried a tinge of desperation, almost breaking into a sob.
Finally, Cui Chong Yi spotted the Red Eagle circling just outside the town. It hadn’t flown far, so he dashed forward with all his might.
“Get on!” Qin Ming called, gesturing for him to leap onto the eagle’s back.
The Red Eagle screeched as it soared into the distance, heading towards the shadowy mountains. Cui Chong Yi knew Qin Ming didn’t fully trust Cui Hong, wary that he might attack without warning.
“Chong He—uh, I mean, Qin Ming. I can’t seem to get used to calling you that,” Cui Chong Yi said, his tone conflicted as they stood atop a mountain under the night sky. He glanced awkwardly at his cousin, who remained silent.
Qin Ming’s thoughts drifted back to the days with the Cui Family. Back then, he was unaware of the truth, and most younger family members treated him well—especially Cui Chong Yi, who had always been the closest to him.
But now, as he reflected, Qin Ming realized that the older cousins and siblings had been distant, even indifferent, all along. They must have known the truth long before he did.
Cui Chong Yi sighed. “I’ve come to understand some things. What the family did to you was truly unforgivable. They sent you off with elders destined to die, forcing you to face the elite fighters of the Li Family. It’s outrageous.”
His tone brimmed with anger as he spoke of the incident. He now realized the family’s intentions back then—they wanted Qin Ming gone, erased amidst the chaos.
Had it not been for Cui Seventh, who returned and uncovered the truth, turning against the family, Cui Hong and the mysterious woman wouldn’t have gone to rescue Qin Ming. The incident would have disappeared without a trace.
“Let’s not dwell on the past,” Qin Ming interrupted, his voice calm.
Standing atop the peak, his green robes billowed in the wind as he gazed into the distant night.
Cui Chong Yi lowered his voice, his tone sincere. “Chong—no, Qin Ming, I know many of our siblings will likely turn against you in the future. But as far as I’m concerned, you’ll always be my brother. No matter what happens, that won’t change. If you ever need me, just say the word—I’ll fight for you without hesitation!”
“That won’t be necessary,” Qin Ming said with a shake of his head. He knew Cui Chong Yi’s character was genuine and didn’t want to drag him into potential conflicts.
While Qin Ming wasn’t afraid of being targeted, he didn’t want anyone exploiting familial bonds against him. Hearing Cui Chong Yi’s loyalty, however, brought him some peace.
Nothing would stop Qin Ming from reclaiming the Silk Script—it was his to take back.
Cui Chong Yi sighed softly. He could empathize with Qin Ming’s feelings but struggled to find the right words.
“Cousin, your performance tonight left me in awe. I heard from Uncle Hong that you only recently began your Awakening Path, yet your strength is already this incredible!”
His words were heartfelt, filled with astonishment. He continued, “I knew it—you were always exceptional. Back at home, you mastered everything so quickly, whether it was the zither or chess. You left the rest of us in the dust without even trying.”
“None of that matters anymore,” Qin Ming replied evenly. “I haven’t touched those things in over two years. I’ve likely forgotten most of it.”
Cui Chong Yi understood the underlying meaning. Qin Ming didn’t want to dwell on the past.
“It’s better this way. Focus on the Path of Cultivation without distractions, and there’s nothing you can’t achieve. About that Silk Script, though—sigh, you were so obsessed with it back then. That thing isn’t something you should practice. If you had let it go sooner, you’d already be in the Outer Saint Realm by now.”
Qin Ming glanced at him but said nothing. Some people had deliberately steered him toward practicing the Silk Script. He had been just a child, unable to discern their intentions.
Normally, the Awakening Method of the Silk Script was a dead end.
But he had mastered it.
“Can you help me with something?” Qin Ming asked.
“Of course! What do you need?” Cui Chong Yi quickly responded.
Qin Ming’s voice grew serious. “Could you try to retrieve the Silk Script for me? It’s the last thing my grandfather left me.”
Cui Chong Yi hesitated. “Seventh Uncle mentioned it once. They say the Silk Script was taken by the ancestor for study…” His voice trailed off awkwardly.
Qin Ming clenched his fists, silently cursing. This made reclaiming it even more difficult!
Seeing the shift in Qin Ming’s expression, Cui Chong Yi hurriedly added, “When Seventh Uncle comes out of seclusion, I’ll ask him to help. It shouldn’t be too hard for him to get it back.”
“Let’s hope so.” After all he had been through, Qin Ming no longer placed his hopes entirely on others.
“Cousin, the area you’ve been living in is so remote. I’ve lost touch with the outside world recently. What have you been up to? And how did you get this strong? Don’t tell me you’ve awakened more than five times—that’s dangerous. You need a year to stabilize…”
Cui Chong Yi was clearly trying to make conversation. He even mentioned how he’d once been captured by a White Owl, punished by a Purple Lightning Beast, and forced to help a toothless elephant clean its fake teeth. He fumed at the memory, claiming it kept him awake for two nights straight.
Qin Ming glanced at him twice, sensing that some of his cousin’s misadventures might be related to himself.
“By the way,” Cui Chong Yi said hesitantly, “he’s also in Black and White Mountain… Cui Chong He of the People from the Beyond.”
Qin Ming’s heart stirred slightly but quickly calmed. “The Yin-Yang Great Medicine from Black and White Mountain must be significant to the Disciple of the Beyond.”
“He’s helping a fellow disciple obtain it. He doesn’t need it himself,” Cui Chong Yi explained earnestly. “Though the family holds him in high regard, he’s just a brilliant symbol to me. You, however, are truly my family.”
He lowered his voice. “Most of the old friends who entered the Beyond have arrived as well.”
After Li Qing Yue acquired the Yin-Yang Great Medicine, other renowned disciples rushed to catch up.
“The tension between the factions in the Beyond has been palpable lately,” Cui Chong Yi whispered. “They’re all preparing for a legendary item. It’s said to be ideal for younger cultivators and could bring them closer to immortality. Some of our old acquaintances will probably get involved too.”
This wasn’t the first Qin Ming had heard of such rumors, but he felt detached from the events.
“Cui Chong Yi, Wang Cai Wei, Zheng Mao Ze, and others are nearby,” Cui Chong Yi said cautiously. “They all have powerful escorts. Be careful of Li Qing Xu. He may appear otherworldly in his feathered robes, but he’s extremely dangerous…”
“Understood,” Qin Ming nodded.
With that, he prepared to leave.
“The Golden Thief is going mad. I need to check the other areas,” Qin Ming announced as the Red Eagle spread its wings and soared into the night fog, carrying him far away.
Standing on an official road, Cui Chong Yi watched the figure fade into the starry sky. His expression was distant, his emotions tangled in a mix of admiration and unease.
“My cousin, now away from the Cui family, tirelessly moves through remote regions to prevent the Golden Thief’s chaos from escalating into large-scale bloodshed,” he reflected, his heart heavy with conflicting feelings. His younger cousin faced relentless struggles, while Cui Chong Yi himself trained under the shelter of their family.
“Meanwhile, in Black and White Mountain, Cui Chong He, Zheng Mao Rong, Wang Cai Wei, and others are accompanied by experts from the Beyond, seeking the Yin-Yang Great Medicine. People’s fortunes differ so greatly… I hope my cousin will have better days ahead,” he mused. The thought struck him—if he had been in those situations, could he have withstood the challenges? Likely not.
Emotionally, Cui Chong Yi felt closer to Qin Ming, yet he couldn’t deny that some in their family were exploiting his cousin, offering little kindness. Most of those people were elders, leaving Cui Chong Yi with no choice but to let out a frustrated sigh.
Worry crept into his thoughts. Although he had warned Qin Ming and told him of certain acquaintances in the area, he still feared something might go wrong if his cousin encountered dangerous individuals.
“Experts guarding Emei Town drove off two Golden Thieves but failed to kill them. The two criminals have escaped into the forest,” the Talking Sparrow reported with urgency.
Qin Ming frowned. The presence of multiple Golden Thieves in such a remote area was troubling. Could it be that more outlaws were using this region as a passage? A chill ran through him—was an entire group of Golden Thieves heading to Black and White Mountain? He recalled that some Beyond experts were currently there, accompanying key disciples. Could there be an exchange or connection between the two sides?
His thoughts turned to the mist-shrouded young man he had slain earlier with the White Jade Alloy Blade—a man associated with the Golden Thieves and once escorted by a notorious criminal from Golden Rooster Ridge. This seemed beyond Qin Ming’s ability to intervene directly, yet he took action where he could. In Silver Vine Town, he penned a letter and instructed the locals to send it to Red Glow City via a raptor.
The Talking Sparrow chirped another update. “The two Golden Thieves fleeing from Emei Town are running through the woods, just a few miles from Twin Tree Village. I suspect they won’t enter the village but will head into Black and White Mountain instead.”
“Let’s cut them off!” Qin Ming declared, leaping onto the back of the Red Eagle. These thieves were merciless killers with innocent blood on their hands. Even in their old age, they were nothing more than wicked men who had grown older.
Deep within the forest, the two Golden Thieves suddenly stopped, staring at a blood-red raptor circling above. A young man holding a massive hammer leapt down without hesitation.
The forest erupted with the deafening sounds of wind and thunder. Trees shattered and splintered as Qin Ming launched into battle, offering no words and showing no mercy. His mission was clear: any Golden Thief was to be annihilated, and no innocents would suffer wrongful deaths by his hand.
The two outlaws roared, unleashing the full force of their Celestial Light Technique, determined to fight to the death. Yet they were no match for Qin Ming, who swiftly crushed them with his hammer.
“Someone’s fighting in the forest,” a voice murmured.
A group of disciples from the Beyond emerged nearby, their movements accompanied by their powerful escorts. Both men and women glanced at the scene of destruction.
“The ones who died weren’t strong. They wouldn’t even qualify as Golden Armor Protectors,” a young man remarked, his glowing fingertips sensing the traces of the battle through a secret technique.
The group watched the blood-red raptor vanish into the night sky. None seemed particularly concerned, except for Wang Cai Wei, who cast a lingering gaze upward. In that fleeting glance, the silhouette on the Red Eagle’s back struck her as vaguely familiar.
Qin Ming decided not to act recklessly anymore. He had accomplished much of what needed to be done.
“Truth or deception… it’s hard to tell,” he muttered. “They say the Golden Thieves are slaughtering villages to create a distraction, allowing their leader to escape far away. But if their leader is also taking this route, the situation could become extremely dangerous. I hope I’m wrong.”
The Red Eagle pierced through the fog, landing on the slope outside Twin Tree Village. Qin Ming chose to remain there, hoping for experts from Red Glow City to arrive soon.
His keen eyes spotted movement near the neighboring Twin Tree Village. Illuminated by the glow of the fire spring at the village entrance, a young figure radiated light. The youth seemed almost ethereal, surrounded by a faint mist and shimmering droplets, exuding an extraordinary and otherworldly aura.
The boy stood before the village’s iconic black-and-white trees, appearing lost in thought. Then, as if sensing something, he turned to look toward the slope where Qin Ming stood.
Qin Ming immediately recognized the remarkable perception of this individual. His heart raced as realization struck. That face—there was a resemblance to Cui Father. And with the youth’s flowing feathered robes and the celestial glow of the Beyond enveloping him, there was no doubt.
It had to be Cui Chong He.
Qin Ming hadn’t expected to cross paths with him under such circumstances.