Outside the village, it was dark and hard to see, and not many people were out at this time.
"Uncle Yang?" Just a short distance from the village, Qin Ming spotted a sturdy man.
Yang Yongqing was surprised. "Little Qin, it's not even dusk yet. You're out this early?"
"I wanted to take a chance in the wild and see if I could find any frozen mountain beasts," Qin Ming replied.
Yang Yongqing laughed. "Great minds think alike. I just took a stroll outside the mountain, but unfortunately, I found nothing."
Qin Ming was taken aback. This middle-aged man with a beard had already returned from outside. That was pretty early.
"Uncle Yang, you can't be looking for some rare, spiritual prey like me, can you?" He knew Yang Yongqing was quite skilled, one of the few new hunters in Shuangshu Village.
After chatting for a bit, they noticed a dark shadow moving in the distance.
"Patroller," Yang Yongqing whispered.
In a time without sunlight, the wilderness was especially dangerous, requiring skilled individuals to patrol and keep watch.
A man in leather armor appeared, tall and strong, carrying a bow and arrow, gripping a spear, with long hair flowing. He exuded a wild power.
"Brother Shao," Yang Yongqing greeted him.
Shao Chengfeng nodded. He was around forty, with sharp eyes. He stopped nearby and said, "You’re out with such a young one? This isn't that 'Second Sickly Boy,' is it?"
"Second Sickly Boy is from the neighboring village..." Yang Yongqing explained.
"You guys from Shuangshu Village are really lacking. It's been decades since a new hunter in their prime has appeared," Shao Chengfeng said bluntly.
Yang Yongqing thought it was normal. Looking around, there weren't many who could awaken at fifteen or sixteen. Talent couldn’t be forced.
He spoke up, "I didn’t realize how capable Second Sickly Boy was back in the day. I heard he recently made up for his physical shortcomings, and his fitness has improved again."
Shao Chengfeng nodded. "He really is impressive, but I wonder if he can match the top talents in that bright city over there."
"That’s tough. Every place nurtures its own talents," Yang Yongqing said, feeling a bit emotional. He had seen the prosperity of the city and knew the brilliance that came from advanced powers.
"Indeed," Shao Chengfeng agreed. "I heard two remarkable young talents have appeared there, surpassing the new hunters from previous years. One male, one female, stunning the entire region."
"That really is a gifted place," Yang Yongqing said with envy but no jealousy, as those talents were far from them, making comparisons pointless.
Qin Ming listened attentively, not interrupting.
After a brief chat, Shao Chengfeng disappeared into the night.
No one knew what kind of creatures lived deep within the dark mountains, or how many dangerous groups existed, requiring patrollers to monitor the outer areas and give warnings.
Qin Ming asked, "Are patrollers all skilled people? Do they go into the mountains every day?"
"Some take their responsibilities seriously," Yang Yongqing replied.
Qin Ming was surprised. Did that mean some were not responsible? He didn’t expect this burly man with a beard to answer so subtly.
"The situation in the mountains is quite strange and dangerous right now. I estimate it won’t be long before there’s a 'mountain sweep' operation. There should be some noble disciples involved. Little Qin, you should work hard and strive to awaken during the prime age," Yang Yongqing said, patting his shoulder. "If a certain noble lady happens to take a liking to you, it might change your fate."
After parting ways, Yang Yongqing returned to the village.
Qin Ming processed the information as he headed into the wild.
He moved quickly through the snow that reached his chest, like cutting through waves, snowflakes splashing to the sides.
At this point, the night wasn’t as dark anymore; twilight had arrived, and the mountains and forests were somewhat visible.
Qin Ming stood at the mountain's edge, on high alert, as no one knew what dangers lurked in the unclear areas.
His stomach growled, signaling hunger. Earlier, when he ran into acquaintances, he had forced himself to hold back, but now he couldn’t anymore.
His stomach was churning. Looking at the dark forest, he tightened his grip on his hunting fork and dashed in.
He passed the territory of mutated squirrels, climbed over a low hill, and went further than last time.
Once he ventured deeper into the forest, he noticed many signs, like broken animal bones and large hoof prints. The snow wasn’t too thick to walk through; many creatures had already trampled small paths.
A whimpering sound reached his ears, like a woman crying, which was quite unusual in such a wild forest.
Qin Ming quickened his pace, searching for the source of the sound, and soon got closer to the destination.
In the dark woods, pairs of green eyes stared back at him. There were at least a dozen creatures lurking there.
Those unfamiliar with the truth might be frightened by the crying, but for someone who often roamed the wild, this could be an opportunity.
Qin Ming charged in with his hunting fork, and immediately, flapping sounds erupted as a dozen creatures took to the night sky, all startled away.
These were carnivorous night birds, about two feet long, known for living in groups. Their cries sounded like weeping, and they hunted various small animals, sometimes even attacking humans.
Qin Ming dashed forward, thinking it was a pity; all he found on the ground was a pile of bloody bones and some torn, blood-stained animal skins. A deer had been completely devoured.
Having failed to snatch a meal from the birds, he turned to leave, wary of being attacked by these carnivorous night birds.
In a clearing, the trees were sparse, and there were bloodstains everywhere. The ground bore massive claw prints, indicating a large predator had been feeding here.
As for the leftover remains, they were likely taken away by other carnivorous creatures.
Just as Lu Ze had said, even the outer areas of the mountains had become dangerous, so one could only imagine how perilous it was deeper within.
Qin Ming remained cautious as he left the bloody scene.
Moments later, he spotted many hoof prints in the snow and immediately felt energized, following them eagerly.
In the night, over twenty dark shapes stood ahead, all sizable and creating a sense of pressure when gathered together.
"Knife-horned deer!" Qin Ming exclaimed joyfully.
In the past, deer herds were rare in this area.
He took out his bow and aimed at a large male deer.
These were not gentle deer; adult males had six antlers, flat and sharp, resembling steel knives. If one were to be charged by them, it would surely result in fatal wounds.
Even some predators dared not confront them head-on, often attacking from behind. If a person found themselves among such a herd, the outcome would be grim.
Qin Ming pulled the sturdy bowstring back and shot an iron arrow swiftly, hitting the male deer in the lungs.
Knife-horned deer were known for their ferocity, willing to face various predators. This big male deer, struck by the arrow, didn’t flee but charged straight toward Qin Ming.
The rest of the herd, startled for a moment, followed it in a stampede, snow flying everywhere as their hooves pounded the ground, shaking the entire forest.
Qin Ming remained calm, drawing his bow again and hitting the deer accurately. The arrow struck hard, causing the deer to stagger.
He put away his bow and climbed up a thick tree, finding a spot several meters high to hide.
Once in the dense forest, it became difficult to aim at prey, as many branches obstructed the view.
After running a distance, the male deer stumbled and fell with a thud into the snow.
The deer herd, frightened, halted and then thundered away in the distance.
Qin Ming waited for a moment, and seeing no dangerous mountain beasts around, he jumped down from the tree and approached.
This black-brown knife-horned deer was exceptionally robust, weighing at least seven hundred pounds, and hadn’t lost weight even in winter.
He was very satisfied with such a catch.
The forest was dangerous, and it wasn’t wise to linger. He dragged the knife-horned deer and hurried back along the same path.
He felt the benefits of being a "newborn." With his increased strength, he quickly moved through the snow with such a heavy prey without feeling tired.
The wilderness was filled with various tree species like larch and spruce, towering dozens of meters high into the night sky.
The mountain wind picked up, blowing snowflakes that stung his face.
In the howling cold wind, Qin Ming felt a shiver as a pair of furry paws suddenly landed on his shoulder from behind.
At the same time, he sensed a warm breath on his neck, making the hairs stand on end. He realized it must be a massive mouth, ready to bite down on his neck.
He immediately shrugged his shoulder, crouched down, and rolled into the snow to the side.
Even so, he was still injured; the large paw pressing down on his shoulder was powerful, like a sharp iron hook, tearing through his cotton clothes and injuring both shoulders.
The snow collapsed with a loud crash, revealing a terrifying shadow hidden in the snow, tall and strong, lunging toward him.
Qin Ming reacted quickly, moving like a snake on the ground, narrowly escaping.
The ferocious shadow lunged again, its sharp claws capable of ripping a person's face off, and its wide-open mouth revealed glistening sharp teeth.
Qin Ming didn’t have time to get up, but he remained calm, stretching out his hands to grab the front limbs, firmly controlling them.
Those menacing claws were close to his face, almost touching, but they couldn’t come down.
Facing off, Qin Ming finally got a good look at the creature.
It had a huge donkey-like head, a wide mouth, long black mane on its neck, and a wolf-like body, quite fierce, lunging at Qin Ming's throat.
The scene was extremely dangerous, with the hot breath from its blood-red mouth spraying onto Qin Ming’s face, carrying a strong smell of blood.
He remained composed, gripping the front limbs tightly, using its own claws to block its mouth full of sharp teeth.
At the same time, while resisting, he curled up, gathering strength, and then suddenly kicked out, landing a powerful blow to its abdomen.
Qin Ming was experiencing his new strength, and with one kick, he sent the several-hundred-pound mountain beast tumbling over, rolling on the ground.
"Donkey-headed wolf!" He stared at the black beast in front of him.
This creature, also known as a mountain hybrid, had a donkey head and a wolf body, but it was much stronger than a regular wolf. Normal individuals weighed at least one hundred eighty pounds, and this one was clearly mutated, weighing around four hundred pounds.
An ordinary person would surely die if they encountered it!
Its limbs were long, allowing it to walk upright. Some local elders had seen strange scenes of mountain hybrids carrying prey while walking.
The mutated beast was fierce and cunning. As it rose, it pressed Qin Ming's hunting fork into the snow.
Qin Ming was speechless. It actually showed some intelligence, knowing to separate him from his weapon.
The donkey-headed wolf had a fierce gaze, its thick mane standing on end as it rose tall, roaring loudly and exuding a powerful aura.
Qin Ming was not intimidated at all. He pulled out a short knife and advanced, feeling that in his newly awakened state, he could defeat it even unarmed.
The donkey-headed wolf charged, bringing a foul wind, sending snow flying everywhere. It let out a deep roar that shook the snowflakes from the branches above.
Qin Ming's short knife clashed with its massive claws, producing a sharp ringing sound.
The donkey-headed wolf stood upright, its eyes blood-red, trying to pounce on him to bite.
Qin Ming moved like lightning, the blade flashing as he struck. Blood flowed from its mouth, and its fangs were severed.
He quickly followed up, his right leg sweeping like an iron whip, hitting it hard. With a cracking sound, it let out a piercing scream.
Qin Ming lunged forward, pinning the four-hundred-pound donkey-headed wolf to the snow and repeatedly pummeling it with punches.
With a crack, he broke its neck, and it lay there, motionless.
It was a mutated creature, and its shiny black fur was valuable, preserved relatively intact.
If anyone else had been there, they would have been shocked to see such a fierce mutated donkey-headed wolf being killed by Qin Ming with his bare fists.
Soon, Qin Ming found a remaining iron arrowhead on it.
He could confirm that this was the same mutated creature that had attacked him when he was scouting the red squirrel nest.
At that time, he hadn’t seen it clearly from a distance, but he had shot it that day.
Qin Ming touched his shoulder; the wound wasn’t deep, and the bleeding had stopped quickly. The situation had been quite dangerous; if he had reacted just a moment slower, not only would his shoulders have been torn, but his neck could have been bitten off too.
He was quite exhausted, his stomach growling like a drum, feeling hungry and wishing he could roast a deer leg right there and feast.
However, starting a fire in the night would be like a beacon in the fog, revealing his presence to all creatures in the forest, which was too dangerous.
Qin Ming looked at the donkey-headed wolf beneath him and the knife-horned deer not far away, then at the low hill ahead. Carrying two large beasts would be quite a hassle.
He decided to "lighten his load."
With the knife-horned deer and donkey-headed wolf just killed, their bodies still warm, he quickly skinned them with his short knife, and blood gushed out, staining the snow red.
Though he was a handsome young man, he had strong survival skills in the wild because he had always relied on himself to live.
He swiftly worked, efficiently cleaning the guts of the two prey and burying them in the snow to cover the bloody scent.
"I hope there are no dangerous creatures nearby," Qin Ming thought it shouldn’t be a problem, as this was already the outer area of the forest.
However, just as he reached halfway up the hill, he heard a huge commotion in the distance.
This wasn’t just any noise; it startled many birds in the forest, sending them flying into the night sky, and many mountain beasts quickly fled.
"Did the smell of blood attract a giant beast?" Qin Ming frowned, looking toward the dense forest.
The noise grew closer, accompanied by roars, as the snow on the ground stirred, and the sounds of branches snapping echoed.
Soon, he saw a massive creature, towering like an armored vehicle, strong and fierce, clearing various obstacles in its path.
It was injured and covered in blood; this should be a defeated giant beast that had fled to this area, not specifically targeting Qin Ming.
He gasped. This was a wild boar, frighteningly large, weighing at least fifteen hundred pounds.
Keep in mind, a six-hundred-pound wild boar could rule its group; this one far exceeded its kind, with bristles as thick as steel needles, and its white tusks were longer than an adult's forearm, looking incredibly fierce.
Qin Ming was puzzled. If such a powerful wild boar king had been defeated, what kind of creature had chased it?
He initially thought this giant would pass by the foot of the mountain and leave, but to his surprise, it sniffed the air and charged up the low hill.
It was very sensitive after being injured, and the smell of blood in the forest had triggered it.
Qin Ming realized he was in big trouble, not just because this giant beast was extremely dangerous, but also because the mysterious creature that had chased it might follow.
He could faintly hear sounds coming from the dense forest in the distance.
The wind quieted down, slowly fading away.
The wild boar king, like a small mountain, charged forward, wild and fierce, trampling the snow everywhere. It crashed through branches, leaving them broken all around, and even some dead trees snapped from their trunks.
Qin Ming's expression changed slightly as he climbed up a large tree that required several people to embrace. From the high vantage point, he prepared to shoot its eyes or heart with his bow and arrow as it approached.
The massive wild boar king drew near, its coarse black fur standing on end. When it raised its head, its face became clearly visible, revealing a layer of black scales that shimmered with a cold metallic sheen, making it look even more menacing.
Qin Ming frowned, feeling the oppressive presence of this giant wild boar king. He nocked an iron arrow on the bowstring, aiming downward.
Suddenly, he felt something was off. The forest had fallen silent in an instant; all the birds and predators that had just taken flight were gone, and the fleeing mountain beasts seemed to have vanished. The vast forest was suddenly devoid of sound, which was highly unusual.
At the same time, he saw a light rising from the distant peak. At first, it was soft, but it quickly became brilliant, rising higher.
In that moment, the irritable wild boar king didn’t dare make a sound. It silently retreated, careful not to break any branches, moving cautiously like a little kitten, hiding in the dense, dark woods, eventually burrowing into a hollow and covering itself with snow.
In the Eternal Night era, the sky should have been empty, perpetually dark.
Yet now, the night sky was becoming brighter, resembling a bright moon hanging high above.
Qin Ming's heart raced because he knew that it was actually a bug.