Night Without End-Chapter 21 - 13: The Passion Fades

Xu Yueping remained silent until they left Yinteng Town, where he charged into the dark forest and slammed his fist heavily into a large tree, causing the snow on its branches to flutter down.

"If I didn't have a wife and kids, or if I were twenty years younger, I would have taken Feng Yi'an with me today even if it cost me my life!" He panted heavily, feeling extremely oppressed, and his arms trembled slightly.

He had been humiliated in the private room earlier, and there were still finger marks on his face. As a man, he couldn't swallow this insult.

However, he had a family and was no longer young. The burdens and obligations on his shoulders made him endure. He clenched his fist and whispered, "Life has ground away my fiery blood."

Qin Ming didn't know how to comfort him, and his own emotions were fluctuating along with Xu Yueping's.

"Uncle Xu, don't be too hard on yourself. Their misdeeds will eventually be punished."

It took a long while before Xu Yueping let out a turbid breath and said, "Let's head back."

Tiny snowflakes were still floating in the night sky. On the way back, the two didn't talk much, with Qin Ming trying to find topics to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

"Why hasn't the mountain been swept yet?"

Xu Yueping said, "The higher-ups are probably still negotiating with the mystical creatures in the mountains."

Then, his face turned ugly as he mentioned that the Patrol Team had a type of catalyst liquid that was being adjusted and would be delivered to Shuangshu Village in three days to be poured into the Fire Spring.

It was obvious that the catalyst liquid, which was beneficial to Black Moon's germination, would be harmful to the Fire Spring.

"Have the other villages all agreed?" Qin Ming asked.

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Xu Yueping sighed, "There were complications with three of the villages. Based on the continuous decline in the Fire Field's yield over the past few years, they guessed there might be issues with the seeds, but they eventually succumbed to the pressure and agreed. Only Qingsang Village next door is left. The Patrol Team is wary of the man who taught the sick boy advanced cultivation techniques and didn't dare to push too hard."

"The middle of the month is coming soon." Qin Ming looked at the dark sky.

He knew that members of the Mountain Patrol only appeared together in the mountains during the middle and end of the month.

At that moment, a giant bull with reddish-brown fur appeared from an intersection on the opposite side, attracting everyone's attention.

It was much taller than an adult man; its dense, long hair was shiny and emitted a red glow. Besides the two normal curved horns, it also had a straight and sharp horn in the middle of its forehead.

Clearly, this was a mutated beast.

But what was most appealing was the man riding on top, unusually tall, likely exceeding three meters if he stood on the ground, with long black hair over his shoulders and eyes sharp as blade edges, glancing briefly at the two men.

The fiery red mutated giant bull quickly trotted, crushing the snow and heading towards Yinteng Town.

"There is someone so tall." Qin Ming was surprised.

"He follows a different path," said Xu Yueping, looking at the fading figure.

"Due to an early rebirth, it caused premature body development?" Qin Ming inquired.

According to the experiences summarized by predecessors, the best age for bodily rebirth is fifteen or sixteen, which can lay a Golden Foundation.

If the rebirth happens too early, it's very easy to become unbalanced, especially when the body is already in a rapid growth phase, and another "rebirth" can lead to hormone disruption, resulting in gigantism.

Most crucially, such giants often perish young.

This is because their massively transformed bodies tend to go out of control.

Xu Yueping said, "Only the larger noble families with the experience of the ancients and plenty of resources can allow such individuals to grow."

A minority of giants can survive and, once they rise, are incredibly powerful, capable of overpowering multiple foes with brute strength alone.

"These individuals follow the path of The Immortal of Colossal Spirit," said Xu Yueping, emphasizing that regular households simply cannot afford to cultivate such individuals.

He guessed that the man and beast they just saw were likely from Chixia City.

When discussing the issue of bodily rebirth, Qin Ming mentioned Fu Entao, the leader of the Mountain Patrol.

Xu Yueping turned to look at him and said, "Xiao Qin, you're not thinking of confronting them, are you? Please, don't do that."

Qin Ming shook his head and said, "Uncle Xu, you are overthinking it. I'm just a newcomer; what qualifications and strength do I have to face Second-time Rebirth individuals?"

Xu Yueping breathed a sigh of relief; he was indeed worried that Qin Ming would act impulsively and risk himself.

"The initial rebirth is said to be all-encompassing, but in reality, it focuses more on strength. The second rebirth leans slightly towards suppleness and speed in terms of physical qualities."

They chatted along the way, and Qin Ming slowly constructed a mental image of Fu Entao's areas of expertise and his level of strength.

The two entered the dense forest several times on their way back, not wanting to return empty-handed, hoping to bring back some prey for their families in need of food.

"That was close; even I, a newcomer, almost got injured. The creatures in the wild are sometimes agitated; it really is time for a mountain sweeping." Xu Yueping was frightened after the fact.

Just now, a mutated "thorny leopard" had attacked him from behind like a bolt of black lightning, completely unexpected. If it hadn't been for Qin Ming's intervention, he would have been taken down.

"This area has recently seen mutated plants; it's dangerous, and we shouldn't stay for long."

The pair did not delay, dragging the mutated thorny leopard along; it weighed around 450 pounds and had five-inch-long black spikes from its belly to its head.

Upon returning to the village, Qin Ming immediately felt an oppressive and gloomy atmosphere, even the children who usually enjoyed chasing each other in the snow were few.

Xu Yueping distributed the leopard's meat among the households before heading home, looking very tired, mainly from a psychological perspective.

Qin Ming stood by the bright Fire Spring, gazing out at the wilderness, with the dim mountain silhouettes barely visible in the distance.

"The catalyst liquid will be brought here in three days to be poured into the Fire Spring. Your coercion leaves us no time to breathe," he murmured to himself.

He walked towards the wilderness, preparing to head into the mountains.

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"Let's scout the path first." It's still early in the night, and he's not planning any extreme actions.

The most important thing is, there are still two days until the middle of the month.

"Do you really have to drive people to a dead end? Ignoring next year's famine, regardless of others' lives and deaths." Qin Ming strides into the forest.

This time he didn't carry the Hunting Fork, as after a full rebirth of his body he no longer needed it, instead only bringing a bow and arrow and a Chopper.

He knows the location of the Patrol Team's base, and walks firmly in one direction.

The wind is very strong, and the snow is still falling; this kind of mountain environment is in his favor and can erase the traces he leaves behind.

Each Patrol Team is responsible for a region covering the area of six to eight villages, and the resting spot for Fu Entao and Feng Yi'an is just ahead, not requiring them to venture deep into the mountains.

On the way, whenever he encounters mutated fierce beasts, Qin Ming tries his best to avoid them, not wishing for unnecessary complications.

After crossing a vast area of forest and several mountain bodies, he approaches his destination.

A mountain peak emits specks of red light, there lay a mini Fire Spring, barely reaching the first level, not as bright as Shuangshu Village's, but as a Patrol Team's base, the conditions are more than sufficient.

Previously, this area was occupied by a strong mutated creature, which was surrounded and killed by Fu Entao years ago.

Deep within the mountains lay the Advanced Fire Springs, with excellent environments, and the mysterious creatures residing there look down on the dim Fire Springs outside the area.

Qin Ming observes from a neighboring mountain peak. Across from there, the Chixia flows, and several wooden huts have been built on flat land, with figures moving about.

On ordinary days, at most two or three Mountain Patrols would appear around here.

When they act together, it's only to find Mutated Plants and spiritual creatures, hoping for a Second Rebirth.

"He's raised a mutated creature with an acute sense of smell." Qin Ming frowns, spotting a large Golden Mastiff, its size comparable to that of a great tiger.

His expression then darkens, as he notices a Snow Ape with glimmering fur, an Alien Species clearly being bred, bathing in the Fire Spring.

Some villagers had been attacked by the Snow Ape before, with some suffering broken ribs and others nearly getting their arms torn off.

Qin Ming watches the mountain peak silently for a long time, until he eventually vanishes into the night.

He walks out of the forest, gazing at Shuangshu Village from a distance.

Beneath the night sky, the village entrance is suffused with Chixia, nearby houses seemed edged with gold, showing hazy outlines, with smoke curling upward from some homes.

This should have been a soft and beautiful scene, yet as Qin Ming enters the village, he hears crying.

"Uncle Qian couldn't hold on, he just passed away, sigh!"

The Qian Family's doorway is filled with villagers, some unable to help but sigh.

"Old Qian was of age. That Snow Ape nearly snapped his neck, he barely made it to now."

Qin Ming listens quietly, not making a sound; this is already the third death in this incident.

Xu Yueping and Old Man Liu also arrive, their faces solemn. They know the truth and feel an immense hatred for Feng Yi'an and the others in their hearts.

The next day, during Uncle Qian's funeral, the Patrol Team shows up at the village entrance. Feng Yi'an, sighing, steps forward, handing a deer to the Qian Family.

Watching him feign concern and comfort the Qian family, even Old Man Liu, the eldest, feels disgusted and turns his face away.

The Qian Family, unaware of the truth, still hold gratitude towards him.

Qin Ming silently clenches his fists. A deer in exchange for a life?

The hidden cruelty is blatant. Uncle Qian's life was far too cheap.

A tall man dressed in armor speaks up, "Whether it's that Blood Bear or the rampaging Snow Ape, both have been killed by us. Everyone can rest assured when going hunting in the mountains."

Qin Ming recognizes him, his name is Shao Chengfeng.

Once when entering the mountains, Qin Ming and Yang Yongqing had encountered this man on their way.

At the time, he thought Shao Chengfeng was responsible and hardworking during his late-night patrols.

Now, this man is blatantly lying, covering up his misdeeds with self-praise, which is downright despicable.

Afterward, several people from the Patrol Team approach Xu Yueping. They weren't there to console the villagers but to personally inspect the planting of the Black Moon.

"Brother Xu, you've worked hard." This time, Feng Yi'an is very satisfied, patting Xu Yueping's shoulder.

Qin Ming stands by Fire Spring, feeling although the man is smiling, there is no kindness in it.

Xu Yueping's face is expressionless. Remembering the humiliation he suffered in Yinteng Town, he feels pain both on his face and in his heart.

Shao Chengfeng laughs, "Last time I misjudged. I didn't expect Brother Qin to be a newcomer with a Golden Foundation. After the Mountain Sweeping Action starts, we'll likely fight side by side. Why don't you join our Patrol Team right away, become one of us in advance?"

Qin Ming immediately declines, even as the other man's smile fades, he pretends not to notice.

Soon after, the Patrol Team leaves.

"There's no need to test, we know that kid has hostility towards us. Find an opportunity to get rid of him once the Mountain Sweeping begins!"

"Don't waste it, the Fire Spring in Blood Bamboo Forest is about to extinguish, just use him to scout the way."

The men converse casually as they disappear into the wilderness.

That day, Qin Ming sharpens the Chopper carefully in the courtyard.

Thanks: Snake Skin 2nd Generation, Man Man Manzi, Xun Fang, Why is it so hard to find a good book, Will you marry me when your hair grows long enough to reach your waist?—Thank you for the support from the Alliance Hierarchs!

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