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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 13: [The Passion Is Gone]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Xu Yueping remained silent until they left Yinteng (Silvervine) Town.
He then plunged into the dark forest, slamming his fist against a massive tree trunk.
Snow cascaded down from the branches.
"If I didn't have a wife, children, and elderly parents, or if I were twenty years younger, I'd have taken Feng Yi'an down with me today, even if it meant dying!" He gasped for breath, his heart heavy with suppressed rage.
His arm trembled slightly.
He had been humiliated in the private room, and the marks of the slap still burned on his face.
As a man, he couldn't swallow this insult.
But he had a family and was no longer young. The burdens and responsibilities of life forced him to endure.
Clenching his fist, he whispered, "Life has worn away my youthful passion."
Qin Ming didn't know how to comfort him.
Even his own emotions were fluctuating with Xu Yueping's.
"Uncle Xu, don't let them anger you so much. Those who do evil will eventually be punished."
After a long moment, Xu Yueping exhaled a turbid breath. "Let's go back."
Tiny snowflakes continued to fall through the night sky.
The two men spoke little on the way back.
Qin Ming tried to find topics to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"Why haven't they started the Mountain Sweep Operation yet?"
Xu Yueping replied, "The higher-ups are probably still negotiating with the mysterious creatures in the Great Mountain."
His expression darkened as he mentioned something else.
"The Mountain Patrol Group was currently preparing a special catalytic liquid that would be delivered to Twin Tree Village in three days to be poured into the Fire Spring."
It was obvious that this catalytic liquid, designed to aid the germination of the Black Moon Medicine Herb, would be harmful to the Fire Spring.
"Have all the other villages agreed?" Qin Ming asked.
Xu Yueping sighed. "Three villages had some reservations. Based on the continuous decline in Fire Field yields over the past few years, they had also suspected the seeds were the problem. But ultimately, they succumbed to pressure and agreed. Only Qing Sang (Green Mulberry) Village next door remains. The Mountain Patrol Group is wary of pressuring them too hard, fearing the person who taught Er Bingzi the Advanced Cultivation Technique."
"The middle of the month is approaching," Qin Ming said, gazing at the dark sky.
He already knew that the Mountain Patrolmen only appeared together in the mountains during the middle and end of each month.
At that moment, a giant bull with crimson fur emerged from a fork in the road ahead, impossible to ignore.
Its back towered over an adult man, its thick, glossy mane radiating a fiery glow.
In addition to its two normal curved horns, a straight, sword-like horn jutted sharply from the center of its forehead.
Clearly, this was a mutant creature.
But the most captivating sight was the man riding atop it. He was extraordinarily tall, likely exceeding three meters if he stood on the ground. His long black hair flowed past his shoulders, and his eyes, like blades, swept over the two men.
The fiery red mutant giant bull trampled through the snow at incredible speed, charging toward Yinteng (Silvervine) Town.
"I've never seen anyone so tall," Qin Ming exclaimed in astonishment.
"He's walking a different path," Xu Yueping said, watching the receding figure.
"Did premature Awakening cause his early development?" Qin Ming asked.
According to the accumulated wisdom of their predecessors, the optimal time for Awakening was between fifteen and sixteen years old, when one could lay a golden foundation.
If Awakening occurred too early, it could easily lead to imbalance.
The body was already in a period of rapid growth, and adding Awakening could disrupt growth hormones, ultimately resulting in gigantism.
Most critically, such Giants often died young.
Their bodies underwent drastic changes, and control often slipped away.
Xu Yueping explained, "Only the larger Noble Clans possess the wisdom of their ancestors and can invest vast resources in these individuals, allowing them to mature."
A few Giants survive their Awakening, becoming incredibly powerful. They can defeat ten opponents with sheer brute force.
"These people follow the path of the Giant Spirit God," Xu Yueping said, emphasizing that ordinary families simply couldn't cultivate such individuals.
He speculated that the lone rider and their mount might have come from Chi Xia City.
When the conversation turned to Awakening, Qin Ming brought up Fu Entao, the leader of the Mountain Patrol Group.
Xu Yueping turned to him, saying, "Xiao Qin, you're not thinking of seeking them out, are you? Don't even consider it."
Qin Ming shook his head. "Uncle Xu, you're overthinking. As a First Awakener, what right or ability do I have to face a Second Awakener?"
Xu Yueping breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been genuinely worried Qin Ming might act impulsively and put himself in danger.
"While the first awakening is comprehensive, it primarily focuses on strength. The Second Awakening leans slightly more towards flexibility and speed-related physical attributes."
As they chatted, Qin Ming gradually formed a mental picture of Fu Entao's strengths and overall power level.
During their return journey, they entered the dense forest several times, unwilling to return empty-handed.
They hoped to catch some prey to share with families struggling with food shortages.
"That was close! Even I, a First Awakener, almost got hurt. The wild creatures are restless these days; we really need a Mountain Sweep Operation," Xu Yueping said, still shaken.
Just now, a mutated Spike Leopard had attacked him from behind, a blur of black lightning that was impossible to defend against.
If Qin Ming hadn't intervened, he would have been pinned down.
"This area has recently seen Mutated Plants. It's too dangerous to linger," Qin Ming said.
Without delay, the two men dragged the Spike Leopard along. It weighed 450 pounds and was covered from belly to head in five-inch-long black spikes.
Back in the village, Qin Ming immediately sensed a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Even the children who usually loved playing in the snow were scarce.
Xu Yueping distributed the Spike Leopard meat to each household before heading home, utterly exhausted, mostly mentally.
Qin Ming stood by the bright Fire Spring, gazing into the wilderness.
Faint mountain shadows loomed in the distance.
"The catalyst liquid will be delivered in three days. They'll pour it into the Fire Spring. You're really pushing us to the brink, aren't you? Giving us no time at all," he murmured.
He turned toward the wilderness, preparing to enter the mountains.
"I'll scout ahead first," he thought.
It was still Shallow Night, and he had no intention of taking any drastic action just yet.
Most importantly, there were only two days left until the middle of the month.
"Do you really have to drive people to the brink? Ignoring next year's famine, disregarding the lives of others?" Qin Ming strode into the forest.
This time, he wasn't carrying his hunting fork.
After his complete Awakening, it was no longer necessary.
He only brought his bow and arrows and a woodcutting knife.
He knew the Mountain Patrol Group's base and walked steadily in one direction.
The wind was fierce, and snow still fell.
This harsh mountain environment was advantageous to him, erasing any traces he left behind.
Each Mountain Patrol Group was responsible for a territory encompassing six to eight villages.
Fu Entao, Feng Yi'an, and their group's resting place was just ahead, not far into the Great Mountain.
Whenever he encountered a mutated beast along the way, Qin Ming avoided it, not wanting to complicate matters.
After crossing vast stretches of forest and traversing several mountains, he neared his destination.
Faint red light emanated from a peak, revealing a miniature Fire Spring.
It was barely at the first level, dimmer than the one in Twin Tree Village, but still more than adequate as a base for the Mountain Patrol Group.
This location had once been occupied by a powerful mutant creature, which Fu Entao had led a team to kill several years ago.
Deeper within the mountains lay advanced Fire Springs with superior environments, making the dim Fire Spring on the outer slopes unappealing to the mysterious Spirits residing there.
Qin Ming observed from a nearby peak.
Across the valley, fiery clouds flowed, and several wooden houses stood on a flat expanse, with shadows moving within.
Normally, only two or three Mountain Patrolmen would be active in the area.
They usually worked together only to search for Mutated Plants and Spiritual creatures, hoping for their Awakening.
"They've raised a mutant creature with a keen sense of smell," Qin Ming frowned.
A Golden Mastiff, its bulk rivaling a tiger's, stood guard there.
His expression darkened further when he spotted a Snow Ape with gleaming fur, clearly a captive exotic creature, soaking in a Fire Spring.
Some villagers had been attacked by Snow Apes, suffering broken ribs or near-fatal arm injuries.
Qin Ming watched the peak silently for a long time before vanishing into the night.
He emerged from the forest and gazed at Twin Tree Village.
Under the night sky, fiery clouds danced at the village entrance, casting a golden glow around the nearby houses, their outlines blurred.
Smoke curled from some chimneys.
This should have been a scene of gentle beauty, but as Qin Ming entered the village, he heard weeping.
"Uncle Qian didn't make it. He just passed away. Alas!"
A crowd of villagers stood outside Uncle Qian's house, some sighing in despair.
"Lao Qian was old. That Snow Ape nearly snapped his neck, and he barely held on until now."
Qin Ming listened quietly, without speaking.
This was already the third death in this incident.
Xu Yueping and Old Liu had also come, their faces grim.
They knew the truth and were filled with hatred for Feng Yi'an and his group.
The next day, at Uncle Qian's funeral, members of the Mountain Patrol Group appeared at the village entrance.
Feng Yi'an sighed and stepped forward, handing a roe deer to Uncle Qian's family.
Watching his hypocritical performance as he comforted the Qian family, even Old Liu, the oldest villager, felt disgusted and turned his face away.
Unaware of the truth, the Qian family remained grateful to him.
Qin Ming silently clenched his fists.
A roe deer for a human life?
The hidden truth was bloody and cruel.
Uncle Qian's life had been worth so little.
A tall man in armor spoke, "Both the Blood Bear and the vicious Snow Ape have been killed. Everyone can now safely enter the mountains to hunt."
Qin Ming recognized him as Shao Chengfeng.
Once, while entering the mountains, Qin Ming and Yang Yongqing had encountered him on the path.
At the time, Qin Ming had thought Shao Chengfeng was a responsible and hardworking Mountain Patrolman, patrolling the mountains late at night.
Now, seeing him brazenly lie and take credit for his own misdeeds, Qin Ming found him utterly despicable.
The Mountain Patrol Group soon found Xu Yueping. They weren't there to comfort the villagers but to personally inspect the planting of the Black Moon Medicine Herb.
"Brother Xu, you've worked hard," Feng Yi'an said, clapping Xu Yueping on the shoulder, clearly satisfied.
Qin Ming stood by the Fire Spring, sensing no genuine goodwill in Feng Yi'an's smile.
Xu Yueping remained expressionless, the humiliation he had suffered in Yinteng (Silvervine) Town still stinging his face and heart.
Shao Chengfeng chuckled. "I misjudged you last time. I didn't realize Little Brother Qin was an Awakener with a Golden Foundation. When the Mountain Sweep Operation begins, we'll likely be fighting side by side. Why don't you join our Mountain Patrol Group now? Become one of us ahead of time."
Qin Ming immediately declined.
Even as Shao Chengfeng's smile faded, Qin Ming pretended not to notice.
Soon after, the Mountain Patrol Group departed.
"No need to test him — it's clear that kid is hostile to us. We'll find a chance to eliminate him once the Mountain Sweep Operation starts!"
"Don't waste him. The Fire Spring in the Blood Bamboo Forest is about to go out. We can use him to scout ahead."
The group chatted casually as they disappeared into the wilderness.
That evening, Qin Ming meticulously sharpened his wood-chopping knife in the courtyard.
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END OF CHAPTER
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