Under the night sky, Qin Ming stood atop the back of a crimson hawk. He could hear the anxious shouts of Cui Chongyi and turned to see him sprinting wildly through the town, a shadow in the night in hot pursuit.
At the same time, Qin Ming spotted Cui Hong, standing amidst the flickering flames at the town's entrance.
He gently tapped the crimson hawk, signaling it to lower its altitude as they waited at the far end of Yin Teng Town.
“Cousin, I swear on my life that I mean no harm. Why don’t you trust me anymore? We used to be so close!” Cui Chongyi called out, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.
Finally, he saw the crimson hawk circling above the town and knew it had not left; he hurried toward it.
“Get on!” Qin Ming commanded, allowing him to leap onto the hawk's back.
With a rush of wind, the crimson hawk took flight, carrying them toward the mountains blurred by shadows.
Cui Chongyi understood that Qin Ming didn’t fully trust Cui Hong and feared he might attack them unexpectedly.
“Chonghe—ah, Qin Ming, I’ve always found it hard to call you that,” Cui Chongyi said, conflicted, gazing at his cousin ahead.
Looking back on the past, Qin Ming recalled that he had good relations with the younger members of the Cui family, especially Cui Chongyi, who had been the closest to him.
Now awakened from his dream, he reflected on how the older members of the direct line had treated him with indifference, likely aware of the truth from long ago.
“I know some things too. The family has gone too far, allowing you to travel with those doomed elders to face a multitude of the Li family’s elite fighters,” Cui Chongyi expressed with indignation.
He now understood that the family had intended for Qin Ming to perish amidst the chaos, to be rid of him once and for all.
If not for Cui Qi returning and facing the truth, turning against their clan, there would have been no rescue by Cui Hong and that woman. Everything would have vanished without a trace.
“Let’s not talk about the past,” Qin Ming said.
Standing atop the mountain, he gazed into the distance as the night wind stirred the fabric of his green attire.
Cui Chongyi spoke in a low voice, “Chong… Qin Ming, I know many from the family will change their attitude toward you. But from my perspective, no matter how things develop in the future, you will always be my brother, and that will never change. If you’re in trouble, just let me know, and I’ll rush to your side!”
“There’s no need for all that,” Qin Ming shook his head, appreciating his cousin’s good nature but not wanting him to become mired in unnecessary troubles in the future.
He was not afraid of others targeting him; what concerned him was the potential exploitation of familial ties. Now that he grasped the attitudes of most people, he felt a sense of relief.
From now on, no one would stop him from reclaiming his lost scroll.
Cui Chongyi sighed softly and, though he could understand Qin Ming’s feelings, he didn’t want to leave just yet.
“Cousin, your performance tonight shocked me. I heard from Uncle Hong that you’ve only just begun your new path, yet you already possess such strength.”
His words came from the heart; he was genuinely impressed. He continued, “I always knew that once you set out, you would undoubtedly excel. Back then, anything you learned at home was mastered quickly; you surpassed us in playing the guqin or chess in no time.”
“Those things don’t matter anymore. I haven’t practiced in over two years; I’ve almost forgotten everything,” Qin Ming replied.
Cui Chongyi understood the unspoken meaning behind his words and chose not to dwell on the past any longer.
“It’s better if you focus on your path of cultivation. As long as you remain unwavering, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. As for that scroll, sigh, you were too obsessed with it. It really doesn’t aid your practice. If you had returned to the right path sooner, you would have already attained the External Saint realm.”
Qin Ming glanced at him but ultimately said nothing. Some people aimed to guide him solely for their benefit. As a child, how could he see through it all? He was far from their match.
Normally, this new method of study wouldn’t have led anywhere.
Yet, thankfully, he had truly managed to cultivate the scroll!
“Can you help me with something?” Qin Ming asked.
Cui Chongyi quickly nodded, “What is it?”
Qin Ming spoke earnestly, “Could you try to retrieve the scroll for me? It's the last thing my grandfather left me.”
“Uncle Qi has mentioned this matter. It’s said that the scroll was taken by our ancestor for contemplation,” Cui Chongyi replied, his tone lowering as he continued.
Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn’t help but curse under his breath; this made retrieving it even harder!
Seeing his expression darken, Cui Chongyi quickly added, “Once Uncle Qi exits his retreat, let him help you request it back. It shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Let’s hope so.” After going through certain experiences, Qin Ming had learned not to place all his hopes on others.
“Cousin, you live in a very remote area. I’ve completely cut off contact with the outside world lately and have no idea what’s been happening. Where have you been? How did you become this strong? Have you perhaps undergone five rebirths? That's not good; you need a period of rest within the year…”
Cui Chongyi clearly struggled to find something to say. He then mentioned how he had once been kidnapped by a white owl, suffered at the hands of an awful thunder beast, and even had to help an elephant with its fake dentures, which made him lose sleep for two days!
Qin Ming couldn’t help but look at him; how was it that his misadventures felt somewhat related to his own?
“Cousin, that person… is also in Black and White Mountain,” Cui Chongyi said, lowering his voice and twisting his expression. “Cui Chonghe from the Outer Land.”
Qin Ming felt a ripple in his heart but quickly regained his composure. “The black and white elixir balances yin and yang; it seems they hold great importance for the Outer Land.”
“He is helping a fellow disciple retrieve something; he no longer needs it for himself,” Cui Chongyi informed. Then, with great seriousness, he added, “While he is greatly esteemed by the clan, in my heart, he holds far less significance than you do. To me, he is merely a symbol of radiant glory.”
He then murmured, “Most of those who entered the Outer Land back in the day have returned.”
After Li Qingyue obtained the yin-yang elixir in Black and White Mountain, many renowned disciples in the Outer Land feared falling behind.
Cui Chongyi continued quietly, “Recently, the atmosphere among the various factions in the Outer Land has become quite tense; the most outstanding new disciples are actively preparing for battle because a legendary item has emerged. It’s most suited for younger youths and could aid them in their path to immortality. Some of our old friends will probably also get involved.”
This was not the first time Qin Ming had heard about it; it felt somewhat distant to him.
Cui Chongyi added, “Wang Caiwei, Zheng Maoze, and the others are nearby, all accompanied by elites. You must be careful when traveling around here; you need to watch out for Li Qingxu. Though he appears to be graceful and ethereal, he is extremely dangerous…”
“Mm!” Qin Ming nodded.
Afterward, he prepared to leave.
“The Golden Robbers are going crazy. I need to check on things in other areas,” Qin Ming said, and the crimson hawk swept through the night mist, carrying him away.
Cui Chongyi stood along the official road, watching his cousin’s figure vanish into the night sky, his mind drifting, his heart filled with complex emotions.
“Now, my cousin is roaming the outskirts far from the Cui family, working tirelessly to prevent the Golden Robbers from wreaking havoc and causing a massive bloodbath.”
Cui Chongyi felt a mix of emotions, his thoughts in turmoil. Though younger than him, his cousin endured such hardships, while he trained under the protection of their clan.
“In Black and White Mountain, Cui Chonghe, Zheng Maoze, Wang Caiwei, and the others are accompanied by experts from the Outer Land, as they seek the yin-yang elixir. The encounters of people vary greatly; I hope my cousin has smooth sailing in the future.”
Cui Chongyi wondered how he would fare if faced with such circumstances; he likely wouldn’t have fared well.
Emotionally, he felt closer to Qin Ming, but he knew there were people within the clan using his cousin for their own agendas. Even now, they lacked kindness, and they were all his elders, which made him let out a deep sigh of frustration.
He then grew worried. Although he reminded his cousin about the old acquaintances in the area, he feared he would encounter trouble with some of them.
“The experts stationed at Emei Town have repelled two Golden Robbers, but they did not kill them. The two criminals have since disappeared into the forest,” Yu Que reported with the latest news.
Qin Ming frowned. The appearance of so many Golden Robbers in this remote area was unusual; surely, there wouldn’t be more criminals seeking a route through here?
His heart tightened. Could it be that a batch of Golden Robbers were heading toward Black and White Mountain? He remembered that some experts from the Outer Land were accompanying core disciples there; surely, they wouldn’t have any dealings or connections with each other?
The boy he had earlier dispatched with the jade blade that turned into mist was connected to the Golden Robbers and had been escorted into the mountains by a bandit from Jinjiling.
This was a major event beyond his influence. Qin Ming arrived at Yin Teng Town and wrote a letter, asking them to send news to Chi Xia City via a fierce bird.
Yu Que informed him, “The two Golden Robbers fleeing from Emei Town are currently racing through the forest and are still a few miles away from Shuangshu Village. I estimate they won’t enter the village but will head toward Black and White Mountain instead.”
“Let’s go intercept them!” Qin Ming leapt once more onto the hawk's back. Those Golden Robbers were ruthless, their hands stained with the blood of innocents; though they were now silver-haired, they were merely old villains.
In the dense forest, the two Golden Robbers suddenly halted, startled to see a crimson hawk circling overhead, and a youth leapt down wielding a heavy hammer.
The forest echoed with the roar of strong winds and thunder; many trees crumbled instantly. Qin Ming said nothing as he immediately attacked; one Golden Robber after another would die; he would show no mercy, not allowing regrets to haunt him.
The two criminals roared, unleashing their full strength in a desperate counterattack, but they were no match for him and were swiftly smashed by the heavy hammer.
“So, there are those fighting in the mountains.”
Disciples from the Outer Land appeared nearby, both male and female, all accompanied by powerful experts.
“Those who died were not strong enough; they don’t even qualify to become Golden Armored Guards,” one youth declared, his fingertips glowing as he sensed their presence with secret techniques.
Looking at the crimson hawk that had soared away into the night, they paid it little mind.
Only Wang Caiwei stole a deep glance at the night sky; in a hurried glance, she felt that the tall figure on the hawk’s back looked somewhat familiar.
Qin Ming, now feeling he had done enough, prepared to refrain from casual actions.
“Reality seems muddled; they say the Golden Robbers are ravaging villages to draw attention, creating opportunities for their distant leader to break through. But if that leader is indeed on this path as well, then it becomes incredibly dangerous. I hope I’m wrong.”
The crimson hawk tore through the night mist and landed on the slope just outside Shuangshu Village.
Qin Ming stood guard here, hoping truly powerful figures would arrive in Chi Xia City.
“Hm?” His keen eyes caught sight of several figures appearing near Shuangshu Village.
Under the firelight at the village entrance, the leading youth glowed, exuding an aura of celestial serenity, shrouded in wisps of white mist that shimmered like droplets of light, strikingly otherworldly.
The youth surveyed the black-and-white twin trees at the village entrance and seemed to sense something. He turned toward the slope where Qin Ming stood.
Qin Ming realized this person's sensitivity was remarkably keen.
Then, he recognized who it was; this face bore some resemblance to Cui’s father.
Along with the otherworldly air surrounding him, bolstered by his connection to the Outer Land, complete with the celestial rain, all clues pointed to one person—Cui Chonghe!
Qin Ming had not anticipated meeting him under such circumstances.