Chapter 7 Encounter

{ "translation": "Outside the village, darkness enveloped the area, making it difficult to discern the surroundings. At this hour, few ventured out. \"Uncle Yang?\" Just a short distance from the village, Qin Ming spotted a sturdy man. Yang Yongqing was surprised: \"Little Qin, it's still early; why are you out so soon?\" \"I want to go into the wild and try my luck, see if there are any mountain beasts that have frozen to death,\" Qin Ming replied. Yang Yongqing laughed: \"We're on the same wavelength. I just took a stroll outside the mountain, but unfortunately, I found nothing.\" Qin Ming was astonished; this middle-aged man with a full beard had returned from outside, which was quite early. \"How could Uncle Yang be like me? You aren't chasing some rare spiritual prey, are you?\" He knew Yang Yongqing was formidable, one of the few new awakeners in Shuangshu Village. As the two exchanged a few words, they noticed a dark shadow moving in the distance. \"Mountain patroller,\" Yang Yongqing whispered. In an era without sunlight, the wilderness was particularly dangerous, requiring skilled individuals to patrol the mountains for warnings. A man dressed in leather armor appeared, tall and broad, carrying a bow and arrows, gripping an iron spear, with long hair cascading down his back, exuding a wild power. \"Brother Shao,\" Yang Yongqing greeted him. Shao Chengfeng nodded; he looked to be around forty, with sharp eyes. He stopped nearby and said, \"You're taking such a young one out; it wouldn't be that 'Second Sickly Boy,' would it?\" \"Second Sickly Boy is from the neighboring village...\" Yang Yongqing explained. \"Your Shuangshu Village is lacking; there haven't been any new awakeners in the golden age range in the last few decades,\" Shao Chengfeng said bluntly. Yang Yongqing found this normal; looking across the region, few could awaken at fifteen or sixteen years old. Talent couldn't be forced. He spoke up: \"I didn't expect Second Sickly Boy to be so impressive. I heard that after he replenished his physical deficiencies, his physique improved even further.\" Shao Chengfeng nodded, saying, \"Indeed quite remarkable, but I wonder if he can compare with the top talents in that bright city over there.\" \"It's tough; different places nurture different people,\" Yang Yongqing felt some sentiment. He had witnessed the prosperity of the city and knew about the brilliance brought by advanced power. \"Indeed,\" Shao Chengfeng acknowledged the situation, saying, \"I've heard that two incredibly talented youths have appeared there, surpassing the golden age new awakeners of previous years, one male and one female, stunning the entire region.\" \"Such a place indeed teems with talent,\" Yang Yongqing could only feel envy, not jealousy, as those individuals were far removed from them, making any comparison meaningless. Qin Ming listened attentively throughout, not interjecting. After a brief halt, Shao Chengfeng vanished into the night. No one knew what level of beings resided deep within the pitch-black mountains, or how many dangerous tribes existed, requiring patrollers to monitor the external areas for early warnings. Qin Ming spoke up, \"Are all mountain patrollers formidable individuals? Do they go into the mountains every day?\" \"Some are quite responsible,\" Yang Yongqing replied. Qin Ming was taken aback; did this imply that some were not responsible? He hadn't expected that this bearded, robust man would respond so subtly. \"The situation in the mountains is quite abnormal and dangerous. I estimate that it won't be long before there’s a 'mountain sweep operation' from above. There should be highborn disciples accompanying it. Little Qin, you should work hard to strive to awaken in the golden age,\" Yang Yongqing patted his shoulder and said, \"If you happen to catch the eye of some noble lady descending, perhaps you can change your fate.\" The two parted ways, with Yang Yongqing returning to the village. Qin Ming processed this information as he headed towards the wilderness. His speed was exceptionally fast, moving through the chest-high snow as if breaking waves, snowflakes splashing to either side of the path. At this point, the night was not so dense; twilight had arrived, and the mountains and forests were becoming vaguely visible. Qin Ming stood outside the mountains, raising his vigilance, for no one knew what dangers lurked in the obscured areas. With a gurgling sound, his stomach growled, signaling hunger again. Earlier, when he had met familiar faces on the road, he had forced himself to hold back; now, he could no longer suppress it. His stomach churned, and gazing at the dim forest, he tightened his grip on his hunting fork and dashed in. He passed the dwelling of mutated squirrels and scaled a small hill, going even farther than last time. After delving a bit deeper into the forest, he discovered many signs, such as shattered animal bones and large hoof prints. He didn't have to worry about the deep snow hindering his movement; many creatures had already trampled small paths. A whimpering sound echoed, resembling a woman crying, which was quite unusual in such a desolate forest. Qin Ming sped up, searching for the source of the sound, and soon approached the destination. Amidst the pitch-dark forest, pairs of emerald green eyes stared back, with shadows swaying, revealing at least a dozen creatures. Those who didn't know the truth might have been frightened by the crying, but for someone who had long roamed the wilds, this could be an opportunity. Qin Ming charged forward with his hunting fork, immediately causing a flurry of sounds as a dozen creatures swiftly took to the night sky, all startled away. These were carnivorous night birds, about two feet long, preferring to live in groups, their cries resembling soft weeping, preying on various small animals and sometimes even attacking humans. Qin Ming rushed forward, thinking it was a pity that only a pile of bloody bones and a few blood-stained scraps of animal skin remained; a deer had been completely devoured by them. Failing to snatch food from the birds, he turned to leave, wary of the carnivorous night birds attacking him. In an open area, with sparse trees and bloodstains, there were paw prints larger than a sea bowl, indicating a large beast had fed there. As for the leftover remains, they had likely been taken away by other carnivorous creatures. Just as Lu Ze said, even the external areas of the mountains had become dangerous; one could only imagine how perilous it was deep within the mountains. Qin Ming remained alert as he departed the bloody site. Moments later, he discovered numerous hoof prints in the snow and immediately became energized, following them closely. In the night, over twenty dark shadows stood ahead, all sizable and gathered together, exuding a sense of pressure. \"Blade-Horned Deer!\" Qin Ming's face lit up with joy. In the past, deer herds were rare in this area. He drew his bow and aimed at a large stag. This was not a docile deer; adult males could have six antlers, situated on either side of the head and in front, all flat and sharp, resembling six steel blades. If one were to be charged by them, it would undoubtedly result in fatal wounds. Even some ferocious beasts dared not charge them head-on, usually attacking from behind; if a person fell into such a herd, the outcome would be dire. Qin Ming pulled the sturdy bow into a full moon shape, and with a whoosh, the iron arrow shot forth like lightning, piercing the stag's lungs. The Blade-Horned Deer were notoriously fierce, willing to confront various predators. This large stag did not flee after being struck; instead, it charged directly at Qin Ming. Startled, the deer herd followed suit, galloping forward, the snow flying everywhere, with the sound of hooves echoing, causing the whole forest to tremble. Qin Ming remained calm, drawing his bow again, still hitting accurately. The force of the iron arrow was tremendous, fully embedding itself, causing the stag's body to shake several times. He put away the bow, skillfully climbed a thick tree, and concealed himself several meters high. Once in the dense forest, it became difficult to aim at his prey from the trees due to many branches obstructing his view. After running for a while, the large stag stumbled and fell into the snow with a loud crash. The deer herd, startled, all halted, and then, with a roaring sound, they fled. Qin Ming waited a moment, and seeing no dangerous mountain beasts appear, he jumped down from the tree and approached. This black-brown Blade-Horned Deer was exceptionally robust, weighing at least seven hundred pounds, even in winter, it had not lost weight. Being able to achieve such a haul made him very satisfied. The forest was perilous and not suitable for long stays. He dragged the Blade-Horned Deer and hurriedly made his way back along the original path. He experienced the benefits of being a 'new awaken,' feeling an incredible increase in strength, allowing him to swiftly move through the snow with such a heavy prey without feeling fatigued. The variety of trees in the wild was vast, such as larch and spruce, towering dozens of meters high, reaching into the night sky. The mountain wind grew stronger, whipping up many snowflakes, hitting his face painfully. In the whistling cold wind, Qin Ming felt a shiver, and suddenly a pair of furry claws rested on his shoulder from behind. At the same time, he sensed a wave of heat behind him, brushing against the hairs on his neck. He realized that it must be a massive mouth, closing in, aiming to snap his neck. He instinctively shrank his shoulders, crouched down, and rolled into the snow on the side. Even so, he was injured; the claws pressing down on his shoulder were powerful, comparable to sharp iron hooks, shredding his cotton clothes and injuring both his shoulders. The snow collapsed, and a terrifying black shadow lurked within the snowdrift, tall and strong, lunging forward after springing up. Qin Ming reacted swiftly, darting across the ground like a snake, narrowly escaping. The ferocious black shadow lunged again, its sharp claws capable of tearing off a person's entire face, along with its gaping mouth displaying glimmering sharp teeth. Qin Ming had no time to rise but remained calm, extending both hands to suddenly grasp the front limbs, firmly controlling them. The menacing claws were perilously close to his face, almost touching, yet they could not come down. Facing each other, Qin Ming finally caught a clear glimpse of this creature's appearance. It had a massive donkey head, a broad mouth, long black mane behind its neck, and the body of a mountain wolf, incredibly fierce as it lunged for Qin Ming's throat. The scene was extraordinarily perilous; the hot breath spewing from that blood-red mouth reached Qin Ming's face, carrying a heavy stench. He remained composed and gripped the front limbs tightly, using its own claws to meet its mouth full of sharp teeth to block it. At the same time, as he struggled, he curled up, gathering strength in his legs, then suddenly kicked out with force, striking its abdomen. Qin Ming was undergoing a rebirth, his power extraordinarily great; with one kick, he sent this several hundred-pound mountain beast flying, rolling on the ground. \"Donkey-Headed Wolf!\" He fixated on the black beast before him. It was also called a mountain hybrid, with a donkey's head and a mountain wolf's body but much more formidable than a mountain wolf. A typical individual weighed at least one hundred and eighty pounds, and this one was clearly mutated, weighing around four hundred pounds. Ordinary people encountering it would surely die! Its limbs were long, allowing it to walk upright; some elderly locals had seen strange scenes of mountain hybrids carrying prey while walking. The mutated creature before him was vicious and agile, and as it rose, it directly pressed the approaching hunting fork into the snow. Qin Ming was dumbfounded; it indeed had some degree of intelligence, understanding how to separate him from his weapon. The Donkey-Headed Wolf had a ferocious gaze, its thick mane bristled, and it suddenly rose up, towering much higher, roaring with an imposing presence. Qin Ming was not intimidated at all, pulling out a short knife from his back and advancing forward. He was in the midst of a transformative rebirth and believed he could defeat it even unarmed. The Donkey-Headed Wolf lunged at him with a foul wind, sending snow flying as it emitted a deep roar, shaking the snowflakes off the branches. Qin Ming's short knife clashed with its massive claws, producing a crisp ringing sound. The Donkey-Headed Wolf stood upright, its blood-red eyes intent on grabbing him to bite. Qin Ming's movements were like lightning; the bright blade flashed, and blood flowed from its mouth as its fangs were severed. He quickly followed up, kicking his right leg like an iron whip, landing heavily on its body, accompanied by a crunching sound as it let out a piercing scream. Qin Ming pounced on it, pinning the four hundred-pound Donkey-Headed Wolf to the snow and raining down punches. With a crunch, he broke its neck, leaving it twisted and motionless. This was a mutated creature; its slick black fur was highly valuable and had been relatively well-preserved. Had there been outsiders present, they would have been astonished that such a ferociously mutated Donkey-Headed Wolf was brutally killed by Qin Ming's fists. Soon, Qin Ming discovered a remaining iron arrowhead on it. He could be sure this was the mutated creature that had attacked him the last time he raided the red squirrel's nest. Initially, the distance had been too far for him to see clearly, but he had shot that creature that day. Qin Ming touched his shoulder; the wound wasn't deep, and the bleeding had quickly stopped. The encounter had indeed been perilous; had he reacted just a moment slower, not only would both shoulders have been torn, but his neck would have been bitten through as well. He had expended considerable energy; his stomach was rumbling like a drum, and he felt a gnawing hunger. He longed to roast a deer leg right there and feast heartily. However, starting a fire in the night was like a lighthouse in the fog; it would expose him to all creatures in the forest, which was too dangerous. Qin Ming looked at the Donkey-Headed Wolf beneath him and the Blade-Horned Deer not far away, then glanced at the low hill ahead, realizing it would be quite troublesome to carry both large beasts over the mountain. He decided to \"lighten his load.\" After the Blade-Horned Deer and Donkey-Headed Wolf had just perished, their bodies still warm, he swiftly skinned them with his short knife, causing blood to gush out and dye the snow red. Although he was a handsome young boy, his ability to survive in the wild was quite strong, as he had always relied on himself to survive. He quickly worked with the knife, efficiently cleaning the entrails of the two prey animals, and buried them in the snow to cover the bloody scent. \"I hope there are no dangerous creatures nearby,\" Qin Ming thought the situation was not too concerning, after all, this was already the external area of the mountains. However, just as he reached halfway up the mountain, he heard a massive commotion from a distance. This was no ordinary noise; it startled many birds in the forest, causing them to shoot up into the night sky, while numerous mountain beasts fled rapidly. \"Has the smell of blood attracted a giant beast?\" Qin Ming furrowed his brows, gazing towards the dense forest. The sound drew closer, accompanied by roars, the snow on the ground was stirred up, and the sound of tree branches breaking could be heard intermittently. Soon, he saw a colossal creature, towering and robust like an armored vehicle, ruthlessly overturning various obstacles along its path. It was wounded and stained with blood, presumably a defeated giant beast that had fled to this area, not heading towards Qin Ming. He gasped in surprise; it was, in fact, a wild boar, shockingly large, weighing at least fifteen hundred pounds. It must be noted that a six hundred-pound wild boar could reign supreme within a group; this one far exceeded its kin, with coarse, needle-like fur and white tusks longer than an adult's forearm, looking incredibly ferocious. Qin Ming felt a twinge of doubt; if such a majestic wild boar king had been defeated, what sort of creature had been pursuing it? He initially thought the giant would pass by the foot of the mountain and leave, but to his surprise, its nose twitched and it charged up the low hill. After being wounded, it became extremely sensitive; the scent of blood in the forest stimulated it. Qin Ming realized he was in serious trouble, for not only was this giant beast extremely dangerous, but the mysterious creature that had been hunting it might also be following. He had vaguely heard noises coming from the dense forest behind. The wind grew weaker and gradually faded away. The mountain-like wild boar king charged forward, wild and fierce, trampling the snow, careening forward, uprooting branches and leaving destruction in its wake, with some dead trees even snapping from the trunk. Qin Ming's expression changed slightly as he climbed up a large tree that required several people to embrace, positioning himself high up, ready to shoot its eyes, heart, and other vital points with his bow and arrow as it approached. The massive wild boar king drew near, its coarse, hard black fur standing upright. When it raised its head, its face became clearly visible, and to his shock, it had a layer of black scales that shimmered with a cold, metallic sheen, making it look even more ferocious. Qin Ming frowned, completely fixated on this oppressive giant wild boar king. He placed an iron arrow on the bowstring, aiming down. Suddenly, he sensed something was off; the forest had become eerily quiet in an instant. The birds and raptors that had just shot up into the night sky were nowhere to be seen, and the fleeing mountain beasts seemed to have vanished. The vast forest had suddenly fallen silent, an odd occurrence. Simultaneously, he saw a light rising from the distant mountain peak, initially soft, but quickly becoming brilliant, gradually ascending higher. At this moment, the irritable wild boar king dared not make a sound; it retreated silently, wary of snapping branches, moving cautiously like a little kitten, hiding in the densely wooded dark areas, ultimately burrowing into a depression and covering itself with snow. In the Eternal Night Era, there should have been nothing in the sky, eternally shrouded in darkness. Yet in the current night sky