Under the faint night sky, the mountains in the distance loomed heavily.
Qin Ming had already set off, with dense trees lining the path on both sides as he quickly walked through the snow.
Silver Vine Town was in sight, its soft light shimmering through the thin mist, and the outlines of various buildings could be seen from afar.
The town was bustling with activity, with shops lining the streets filled with all kinds of goods, and the sounds of people buying and selling echoed everywhere.
Recently, many people had come to Chixia City, from nobles to adventurers, and even some mysterious newcomers. They all settled in various towns, making the atmosphere even livelier.
After asking around a bit, Qin Ming found the residence of an old nobleman, which stood grandly in the eastern part of Silver Vine Town. The red gate was impressive, studded with numerous copper nails, and there were guardian beasts on either side of the entrance.
"Qin Ming." Today, many young people had come from different villages, and someone was calling his name.
Qin Ming immediately smiled and responded, walking towards the old nobleman’s house with a few newly arrived newcomers. Someone was already waiting at the gate to guide them.
The residence was large, with multiple courtyards arranged beautifully, featuring rockeries and pavilions, though only a few evergreen plants remained in the flowerbeds during this food-scarce winter.
Despite the lack of food this winter, the old nobleman’s life seemed unaffected, showing clear signs of wealth and a good sense of enjoyment.
The main hall of the residence was spacious and bright. While it wasn't overly luxurious, it was still far superior to an average wealthy household. The massive columns were carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture made of fine mahogany, and the walls adorned with meaningful paintings and calligraphy.
The old butler was meticulous, welcoming wave after wave of young visitors, his smile never fading, as if it were frozen in place. He always maintained politeness and decorum.
“Qin Ming.”
“Er… Zhou Wubing.” When Qin Ming saw it was Zhou Wubing, he almost called him by his old nickname but changed it. Wubing had changed a lot since becoming a newcomer, now taller than most, and he looked like a spirited young man. In such a crowd, it felt a bit inappropriate to call him by the old name.
“I’ll be heading to Chixia City in a while. Do you have any plans? Are you going to leave?” Zhou Wubing’s once dull hair was now shiny black, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
“I also long for the bright cities far away. Let’s see when the time comes,” Qin Ming replied.
The living room was filled with many young people, initially feeling a bit restrained because compared to the gray-bricked houses they lived in, this place was lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and valuable antiques like porcelain and paintings, making them feel out of place.
However, as time passed, they gradually relaxed, enjoying the fruits and snacks sent by the butler.
Qin Ming was more at ease; in this snowy winter, having fresh red berries to eat, he naturally wouldn’t hold back, as he came here mainly to enjoy the food and drinks.
“I won’t compete with you today. My relative said he would take me…” Zhou Wubing lowered his voice but suddenly stopped.
He had spotted an old man with silver hair and a woman in a black fur cloak walking through the courtyard toward a slightly smaller living room.
“That’s the noble lady of the Xie family. Although I haven’t seen her face, her figure seems exceptional. Hmm, why does she have a crow?” Zhou Wubing spoke up, his words more animated than before.
“She doesn’t seem worried about getting married,” Qin Ming murmured softly. He had seen this woman from a distance yesterday when the high-ranking officials of Chixia City were negotiating with some strange beings in the mountains.
Clearly, even though he spoke quietly, the woman in black heard him and shot him a glare.
The brim of her fur cloak was pulled low, with dark hair covering part of her pale cheek. Qin Ming could only see part of her oval face, and her red lips seemed strikingly bright.
“Hehehe…” The crow on her shoulder surprisingly laughed, sounding just like a human.
Qin Ming found it strange, but since entering the residence, he had been careful to blend in, hiding his extraordinary vitality.
“Must be a myna,” Zhou Wubing said, but he too received a glare, this time from the crow.
Zhou Wubing was puzzled. “Why is she dressed like that at home? Oh, I get it. She must be meeting us soon. Noble ladies are particular; they definitely won’t show their true appearance on a first meeting.”
Then he and Qin Ming both received glares from the woman.
Qin Ming whispered, “If you can talk, say more.”
He wanted to see if the woman could hear him if he spoke in such a soft voice.
Then, not only did the woman react, but even the crow cawed with laughter.
Qin Ming immediately shut his mouth, deciding not to say anything more. This woman seemed extraordinary, and her loose black fur cloak couldn’t hide her beautiful figure. Someone like her couldn’t possibly be worried about getting married.
Other young people were also discussing, confirming that the silver-haired old man was indeed the old nobleman, and his daughter seemed to stand out remarkably.
“It feels like we’re far away from them, so there’s no hope.” Someone sighed in the hall. Although they had some ideas when they arrived, they were now more clear-headed.
Those who came here were all newcomers, with senses far beyond ordinary people, able to detect that the noble lady had extraordinary power. Even her crow understood human speech, which was unusual.
Soon after, the old nobleman personally arrived. His name was Xie Jingrui, his silver hair shining and his complexion rosy, dressed in splendid robes.
Seeing the young people standing up, some feeling a bit awkward, he smiled gently and said, “You’re all good kids. At first glance, you seem kind-hearted, much more innocent than those young rascals I’ve seen before.”
Xie Jingrui was straightforward, coming right out to say he genuinely wanted to marry off his daughter but also needed their help.
He knew this group of young newcomers would be heading into the mountains soon, having been chosen by the prominent families of Chixia City to guide them.
“If you discover any rare treasures in the mountain nodes, please do me a favor. Relax, don’t be nervous; I’m not asking you to fight over them, just to pass a message to me.”
The old nobleman Xie Jingrui candidly explained that he could communicate with the nobles of Chixia City and wanted to do business with them, hoping to be the first to buy a particular rare item he needed, worried it might be traded away before he got the chance.
Many organizations and forces had come this time, announcing they would buy rare treasures from the mountain nodes at high prices.
Then, he clapped his hands, and some sharp knives and swords were brought in, all clearly valuable, allowing the young people to each choose one as a token of gratitude for their presence.
“My daughter has been a worry for me. I truly want to marry her off quickly. It’s troubling; I don’t care about the family background when choosing a son-in-law.”
Xie Jingrui sighed, speaking candidly, saying he just wanted someone who clicked with his daughter. He wished he could hold the wedding tomorrow, hoping the Xie family could flourish and prosper.
By the end, he seemed a bit melancholic, which didn’t feel like an act.
Was the noble lady truly worried about getting married? Many began to doubt.
“Young people, I’ve heard of you two. You both have golden roots, which is quite good. Have you considered taking a different path?” Xie Jingrui said kindly, coming to Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing to speak to them.
Soon after, Zhou Wubing was taken by the old butler to the back courtyard to meet the noble lady, but he quickly returned.
“Was it that woman in black? How was she?” Qin Ming asked him quietly.
“She was dressed in black, graceful and stunningly beautiful. But, sigh, she’s not right for me; you might want to consider her,” Zhou Wubing said before hurriedly leaving.
Qin Ming hadn’t come for matchmaking, but he had received a fine bow from the old nobleman and was specifically invited to meet the noble lady in the back courtyard. Out of politeness, he couldn’t leave early.
He guessed that the mysterious woman in black had shot him a couple of glares, not feeling much fondness for him, and figured it would end like Zhou Wubing’s encounter, just a brief meeting.
After a moment, Qin Ming was led to the back of the residence.
In the back courtyard, a woman in black was practicing swordplay, her movements sharp and impressive.
Qin Ming was taken aback.
It wasn’t that she was unattractive; on the contrary, she was very beautiful, not at all like the typical fragile woman. She had a rare spirit about her, a unique kind of beauty.
However, her face was quite large, not much smaller than a basin, and her tall figure was nearly five meters tall, with a sword in her hand that was over three meters long.
Zhou Wubing didn’t seem to be lying; he was just omitting her height and weight.
The woman was named Xie Lingxi, and the sword in her hand was longer than Cao Long.
Qin Ming realized that when the old nobleman mentioned he could help him change paths, he meant he wanted him to follow the path of the Giant Spirit God.
“Do you think I look like a monster?” Xie Lingxi asked.
Qin Ming immediately shook his head and said, “No, you’re on the path to becoming a deity, which is an immortal road. Plus, once you achieve the Giant Spirit body, you can still return to your original appearance.”
“What deity? If there were truly deities, why wouldn’t they lift the sun and let it rise again?” The woman scoffed, then continued practicing her sword.
Qin Ming turned to leave.
“Two years ago, I saw you. We came from Liuguang City, passed through Luoyue City, and then Chixia City. On the way, we discovered you; you were almost dead then,” the tall and graceful Xie Lingxi suddenly spoke.
In an instant, Qin Ming’s body stiffened, and he slowly turned back around.