Chapter 92: Times Change
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Everyone present knew the complex ties between Qin Ming, Wang Cai Wei, Cui Chong He, and Li Qing Xu. The four of them had never gathered in one place before. The air seemed thick with anticipation, and some onlookers exchanged enigmatic glances, clearly waiting for the inevitable drama to unfold.
“Perhaps you should leave first,” suggested Lu Zhen Yi quietly to Qin Ming.
“Sometimes it’s better to address things directly,” Zheng Mao Ze said as he approached. His large, rough hand landed firmly on Qin Ming’s shoulder, exuding both friendliness and confidence. “I heard about your injury two years ago—it was just a misunderstanding. I’ll speak with Li Qing Xu later. That matter didn’t even concern you.”
The history between these figures wasn’t lost on anyone. Li Qing Xu had known Wang Cai Wei for years, but her family had arranged an alliance through marriage with the Cui family, making Cui Chong He her fiancé. Yet, it was well known that Wang Cai Wei had once traveled with Qin Ming.
Such a tangled web of connections among ancient, illustrious families was bound to spark gossip. If word got out, this would become the talk of the streets. Even the familiar faces here couldn’t suppress their curiosity, eager to see how this confrontation would play out.
Lu Zhen Yi and Chen Bing Yan maintained their composure, but several others—less acquainted with Qin Ming—made no attempt to hide their interest. Their fiery gazes betrayed their excitement, hoping to witness the inevitable drama.
Qin Ming’s expression remained calm, but Zheng Mao Ze’s overly familiar gesture—resting his hand on Qin Ming’s shoulder—betrayed his intentions. He wasn’t offering help; he was trying to keep Qin Ming from leaving.
“Big Zheng, since you’ve brought it up, let me say this: Your younger brother has been stirring trouble lately,” Qin Ming began. His voice was steady but sharp. “He’s been spreading rumors and giving certain people ideas. Is he trying to get someone to take me out, or is he plotting to lure Cui Chong He out of the wilderness to harm him? What exactly is your brother up to?”
“What’s going on?” some of the Disciples of the Beyond murmured, surprised that Qin Ming’s words had dragged Cui Chong He into the conversation. Even strangers turned to listen, curious about this unexpected twist.
Zheng Mao Ze’s expression darkened. He regretted his earlier approach. Despite Qin Ming’s setbacks, it was clear the fire in his bones hadn’t been extinguished. He was as difficult to deal with as ever.
“Qin Ming, don’t speak nonsense!” Zheng Mao Ze snapped. His playful tone from earlier was gone, replaced by a stern seriousness. This wasn’t a matter to be taken lightly or spread carelessly.
Qin Ming didn’t press further. He had only intended to strike back, and this much was enough. He sighed inwardly, knowing he’d rather not have crossed paths with this crowd at all.
At this point, Qin Ming wanted nothing to do with this circle. He had come here solely to meet Ling Xu and report the latest information gathered by the Talking Sparrow’s bird siblings. Once his task was complete, he had planned to leave immediately.
But fate—or perhaps someone’s deliberate interference—had other plans. It seemed suspiciously convenient that so many Disciples of the Beyond had shown up here.
Qin Ming suspected there was more at play. He began to sense the depth and murkiness of this situation. If certain people from the Beyond were supporting the Golden Thief, tonight might not go as planned.
His only reason for returning to Black and White Mountain was to resolve lingering threats from Golden Rooster Ridge and ensure Twin Tree Village remained safe. He didn’t want to be drawn into these complicated affairs. This wasn’t territory he had the luxury of navigating.
“If you’re in a hurry, I can escort you,” Chen Bing Yan offered.
“What’s the rush? It’s rare for old friends to gather,” said Zeng Yuan with a smile, breaking his earlier silence.
Qin Ming glanced at him sharply. Their relationship had once been amicable, but now Zeng Yuan seemed as intent as Zheng Mao Ze on preventing his departure.
The group understood the situation well. Zeng Yuan had grown close to Li Qing Xu, and several unfamiliar faces stood by silently, observing. They knew Qin Ming’s Immortal Connection was severed, but they weren’t about to provoke him. For now, they simply waited for the moment when the four figures would all meet.
From a distance, Ling Xu called out, “Qin Ming, you should get moving. We’re short on people tonight. You’ll need to make another trip.”
Qin Ming nodded and addressed the group, saying, “Everyone, duty calls. I have to leave now.”
Despite their reluctance, neither Zheng Mao Ze nor Zeng Yuan dared press further. After all, they couldn’t risk angering a City Lord, especially not someone like Ling Xu, whose fearsome reputation preceded him.
“See to it that Qin Ming is escorted,” Ling Xu ordered. A gray-robed man hurried over from the distance.
“I’ll go with him,” said the Tabby Cat, who was carrying the Red Long Sword. It moved gracefully, padding ahead with a light step.
Qin Ming knew this was no coincidence. Even he suspected as much, and it was clear that Ling Xu and the others were fully aware that the arrival of the Disciples of the Beyond wasn’t a chance encounter. Someone had deliberately arranged for them to be here, waiting.
Outside the town, the three-foot-tall Tabby Cat transformed into a streak of lightning, searching the surroundings. Before long, it dragged a blood-soaked figure in black from the forest.
“We were ambushed,” the injured man said weakly. “There’s a group assisting the Golden Thief nearby. They’ll likely pass through this area.”
The Tabby Cat turned to the gray-robed man. “Action is imminent. Get him out of here.”
Without hesitation, Qin Ming summoned the Red Eagle, leaping onto its back. This wasn’t the time to talk about lending a hand. It wasn’t necessary. Top-tier battles were best left to the highest-level experts. Adding another body would only create more bloodshed.
The gray-robed man mounted a smaller but more powerful Silver Aberrant Bird and escorted Qin Ming out of the Silver Vine Town area.
In the inky darkness of the night, a sound broke through the sky—the tolling of a bell.
“Clang!”
The sound echoed through the mountains, one wave louder than the last. In the fog-drenched peaks, purple mist churned, and the bell rang out like the charge of a thousand troops.
It wasn’t just a bell; it was a set of bronze chimes, reverberating with mysterious energy that locked down the mountain range.
The gray-robed man turned, his expression tense, watching the distant peaks.
“Is the battle starting? Weren’t you short on people?” Qin Ming asked.
“It’s unclear if the Beyond has one or two groups backing the Golden Thief,” the gray-robed man replied, frowning.
“Then you should return. Don’t worry about me. No high-level expert will waste their time on someone like me,” Qin Ming said calmly.
“City Lord Ling told me to escort you,” the man hesitated.
“I know this area of Black and White Mountain like the back of my hand. Go back. I’ll be fine,” Qin Ming insisted.
“Fine!” The gray-robed man, clearly anxious about the unfolding events, turned back reluctantly.
Back in Silver Vine Town, some Disciples of the Beyond gazed toward the distant mountains.
“City Lord Ling, who’s ringing the bell?” someone asked.
“How should I know? Just listen,” Ling Xu replied.
Experts connected to the Golden Thief were growing uneasy. They had come to intercept Ling Xu, but now it seemed the tables had turned. Ling Xu was holding them here while someone else moved to strike at the Golden Thief’s leader.
Whether the leader survived was one thing, but what really mattered was ensuring certain items didn’t fall into the wrong hands.
The scout sparrow darted back, its movements frantic. “It’s bad! I saw a reckless bird, incredibly fast in flight, carrying someone on its back to chase us!”
Qin Ming stood atop the mountain peak, his brows furrowed. Was someone truly targeting him?
It was obvious that the true experts didn’t know his identity—he was just a young man, not worth their attention.
With a soft sigh, Qin Ming muttered, “Times change, and people’s hearts are unpredictable.”
Instead of heading toward Red Glow City, he chose the opposite direction, hoping to avoid drawing attention during this chaotic moment.
“Wait here. I need to dig something up.” Passing through a particular area, he paused as a memory surfaced. Directing the Red Eagle to wait atop a nearby peak, he entered a dense forest.
After carefully surveying his surroundings, he began to dig into the earth.
The terrain of the Black and White Mountain region was high, and the snow melted slowly here. As he dug about two meters down, the ground was still frosty, with shards of ice mixed into the soil.
“Good, it hasn’t rotted.” Qin Ming pulled out a frozen rabbit, inspecting it carefully. It was in pristine condition, showing no signs of decay.
Instead, it seemed to emanate faint traces of freshness.
“Beneficial to flesh and blood?” Qin Ming murmured, pulling out a small cloth fragment from the frozen ground.
The fragment was no larger than his palm, interwoven with metallic threads and embroidered with cloud patterns. While it hinted at a larger, intricate design, the piece was too small to discern its origin.
Years ago, he had killed a man who could turn into mist and retrieved this fragment. The man had used it as protection and nearly escaped because of it.
“No issues? Then it’s mine now.” Qin Ming pocketed the fragment and reunited with the Red Eagle.
The scout sparrow returned from the distance, alarmed. “This is bad! Some of my bird brothers and sisters have turned against me under duress. They’ve been forced by the techniques of the Beyond disciples and are searching for us in reverse!”
Qin Ming’s expression darkened. The birds, which served as vital nodes of information, were now being manipulated against him—a serious disadvantage.
“Into Black and White Mountain!” Qin Ming commanded.
He avoided seeking out Ling Xu or the tabby cat. The danger in that direction was too great—he could see, even from a distance, the blinding red sword light soaring into the sky near Silver Vine Town.
“Skirt along that ridge and head toward the desert!” Qin Ming’s path was perilous, brushing close to the edges of danger.
Soon, the Red Eagle rose into the night sky, shrouding its movements within the cover of night fog.
“The Cloud-Piercing Crane has been completely taken over. It’s following right behind us. We’re done for—it’s a master tracker. We can’t escape!” the sparrow exclaimed in despair.
Behind them, the Cloud-Piercing Crane flew at an astonishing speed, leading the pursuit.
Qin Ming swiftly drew his bow, releasing an arrow that whistled through the air and struck one of the crane’s wings. With a burst of blood mist and scattering feathers, the crane spiraled downward, crashing into the terrain below.
“Qin Mountain Lord truly is kind,” remarked the sparrow. “Even now, you’ve spared my crane brother’s life.” Then, almost wistfully, it added, “I suppose this is where we part ways…”
“Go,” Qin Ming said, waving his hand.
But the sparrow hesitated before gritting its beak. “I’ll stick with you a while longer!”
A black raptor descended from the sky, carrying a graceful figure cloaked in shadow—a veiled woman.
Once more, Qin Ming readied his bow. The arrow he loosed was fearsome, tearing through the night fog as it streaked toward the black raptor’s head.
But under the dim light, the veiled woman raised a crystalline hand. With a flicker of shimmering brilliance, she caught the arrow, neutralizing its force.
“A Beyond disciple!” Qin Ming’s pupils constricted.
“Push harder,” he urged the Red Eagle. “We need to reach the desert. Only then will we have a chance. Otherwise, we’ll die here.”
In the distance, another raptor appeared. Its rider was a golden figure, glowing faintly—a Golden Armor Protector.
Qin Ming knew the night would be long and difficult.
Outside Silver Vine Town, Ling Xu and the tabby cat vanished into the distance, chasing after another group of Beyond disciples trying to enter the mountain.
“What a lively night,” mused Li Qing Xu, a feather-cloaked youth who appeared on the scene. He wielded a glowing purple bamboo staff, his pristine white shoes untouched by dust, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.
His presence drew the attention of many Beyond disciples. Those nearby greeted him warmly, recognizing his extraordinary talent.
“Earlier, Cui Chong He’s substitute—Qin Ming—appeared,” Zeng Yuan informed him with a chuckle. “No immortal fate for him. He’s trudging down the crude path of bodily mutation.”
“It’s hard to believe he once walked the same path as us,” another added, laughing. “Now, he’s reduced to lugging around a blood-stained hammer in some backwater.”
“I’d wager his current strength isn’t even enough to join the ranks of the Golden Armor Protectors,” a third remarked.
For Qin Ming, the night grew grimmer. The raptors in pursuit were faster, having undergone more mutations.
Yet, with each arrow he fired, Qin Ming managed to slow their advance, keeping them from catching up.
“My iron arrows can drain her strength,” Qin Ming thought, his confidence growing. “She isn’t invincible!”
But the situation was dire. The Beyond disciple chasing him was formidable, and the distant Golden Armor Protector loomed like a shadow over his escape.
“Why hasn’t there been a thunderstorm lately?” Qin Ming muttered. For once, he desperately longed for the terrifying lightning that sometimes struck the Thunderfire Refinement Temple.
“Once this is over, I’ll plant a giant iron rod there myself!” he muttered darkly. He knew it was a foolish thought—Meng Xing Hai would pummel him for even trying.
Still, the thought of growing stronger spurred him on. If he survived, he would master the techniques Ning Si Qi had given him and delve into the rare manuals Meng Xing Hai had promised.
“Almost there!” Qin Ming exclaimed as the desert loomed ahead—a vast, black expanse like a yawning abyss.
But the Red Eagle hesitated, terrified of venturing into the dark void.
“Don’t worry. Land now! We’ll move on foot,” Qin Ming ordered.
Suddenly, the black raptor surged ahead, descending first. The veiled woman dismounted, blocking Qin Ming’s path.
Standing in the desolate expanse, Qin Ming placed his hammer and bow on the ground. Slowly, he drew the White Jade Alloy Blade from his back.
“You’re not going to let me live, are you?” he said quietly.
He knew this veiled woman was more dangerous than any opponent he had faced before.
With lightning speed, Qin Ming launched forward, unleashing his strongest Sky-Severing Blade Intent. Like a thunderstorm erupting on a rainy night, his blade cleaved through the darkness.
“You’re not even worthy of joining the Golden Armor Protectors,” the veiled woman scoffed, waving her hand. A golden light shot out, aiming to suppress the black blade.
But in that moment, Qin Ming’s blade cracked. Its dark coating peeled away, revealing a brilliant white blade blazing with radiant light. It shone like the burning sun, banishing the night.
A sickening splatter echoed through the desert as blood sprayed into the air.