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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 4: [Interception]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Qin Ming withdrew his gaze, slung the deerskin bag over his shoulder, and retraced his steps.
Today's harvest had been bountiful, leaving him quite satisfied. With this half-full bag of food, he wouldn't go hungry for a while.
The path was treacherous, riddled with snow-covered hollows and hidden rocks, but Qin Ming's spirits remained high.
Now that he had ample food, he could focus on his training. If he continued practicing those specific movements diligently, he might make further progress.
He also eagerly anticipated the arrival of early spring, the season of vibrant life.
Despite the current icy wilderness, where withered grass and trees stood desolate and all living things lay dormant, the landscape would transform dramatically once the barren period ended.
The Fire Springs in the mountains' dangerous zones would erupt, Earthlight would begin to rise more frequently, vegetation would sprout anew, and all life would revive, creating an entirely different spectacle.
As he neared the edge of the dense forest, Qin Ming abruptly stopped, dropped the deerskin bag, gripped his hunting fork with both hands, and whirled around.
In the darkness, a pair of red eyes materialized, their eerie glow rapidly closing the distance.
His hair stood on end.
Although the creature was still some distance away, he could sense its massive size and ferocious nature.
A pungent, bloody stench drifted over with the cold wind.
He plunged his hunting fork into the snow, swiftly retrieved his bow and arrow.
His astonishing arm strength allowed him to draw the impossibly stiff bow to its full arc in an instant.
The powerful iron arrow shot forth with a resounding twang of the bowstring.
In the distance, the ferocious creature charging toward him suddenly paused, seemingly struck by the arrow.
Qin Ming maintained razor-sharp focus, drawing and firing repeatedly.
His exceptional archery skills shone as one deadly iron arrow after another vanished into the night.
A muffled growl echoed from the dense forest, and the red eyes disappeared.
Accompanied by the snapping of dry branches, the creature retreated behind the trees.
Qin Ming dared not relax.
Though wounded, the unknown creature wasn't fatally injured, and its ambush from the forest would make it even more dangerous.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his deerskin bag and hunting fork, sprinting out of the forest onto the open snowfield.
He refused to linger in the dim, enclosed environment, fearing a surprise attack.
He suspected it was a particularly tenacious mutant creature.
A loud commotion erupted from the forest—the sound of snow being violently disturbed—clearly indicating the creature was relentlessly pursuing him.
Qin Ming immediately drew his bow.
Some iron arrows thudded into thick tree trunks, sending showers of snow cascading down like waterfalls.
The creature was forced back again, vanishing into the forest without a sound.
A typical wild beast would either have been frightened off or, if wounded, would have charged in a frenzy.
But this mutant creature lingered in the shadows, still waiting and searching for an opportunity.
Qin Ming stood with his bow and arrow aimed at the dense forest, locked in a silent standoff with the dangerous creature.
The snow-covered ground churned as a massive black shadow flickered through the trees, its red eyes burning with a chilling intensity that seemed even more oppressive in the darkness.
Yet, in the end, it was Qin Ming's astonishingly powerful arrows that held it at bay.
With a frustrated, low growl, the creature retreated into the dense forest.
Qin Ming's expression remained grave.
Though the forest was dark, he had glimpsed a figure that could stand upright and run—a mutant creature of unknown origin.
He slowly backed away, scanning the silent surroundings, his vigilance unwavering.
Even when he was less than a mile from the Fire Spring at the village entrance, he remained on guard.
The villagers had learned a bloody lesson from the past: some had been ambushed and silently dragged away by unknown creatures lurking in the shadows, their guard down as they neared the village.
...
Outside Twin Tree Village, three young men shivered in the freezing cold, stamping their feet and rubbing their hands together.
They exhaled thick white plumes of breath, ice crystals clinging to their eyebrows.
They were waiting along the snowy path Qin Ming had broken through when he entered the dark wilderness, whispering among themselves.
"This weather is brutal. We're suffering out here for nothing. Let's just give up. He's probably going to freeze to death in the wild anyway, and won't bring back any prey."
"What's the rush? What if he gets lucky like Old Man Li and finds a frozen mountain beast near the edge of the forest?"
The three men were notorious for their idleness and gluttony, too lazy to work and too cowardly to venture into the dangerous depths of the mountains. Yet they acted tough in the village, always looking for free meals and drinks.
When they learned Qin Ming had gone hunting, they hatched a sinister plan to ambush him and steal his prey.
"That Qin Ming is quick and strong. We shouldn't underestimate him and end up getting beaten up by him instead."
"What are you scared of? He's just recovering from a serious illness - he's probably weak. We'll throw a fur sack over his head and be careful not to hit him too hard. We don't want to kill him."
Though they were scheming to do evil, they lacked the courage to commit murder. Their plan was to strike from behind, secretly stealing Qin Ming's hard-earned prey.
Qin Ming remained vigilant throughout his journey, his nerves taut. His sharp eyes spotted three dark figures in the distance.
He immediately crouched down, sinking into the snow that already reached his shoulders, effectively vanishing from sight.
Following the path he had earlier trampled through the snow, he moved silently forward until he recognized the dark figures as three idle men from the village.
Qin Ming stopped at a strategic spot where he could overhear their conversation.
After a moment, his expression darkened.
These men were planning to ambush him here and steal his prey?
Although he hadn't hunted a bear - he'd merely raided a squirrel's nest, a less-than-glorious tale - he had twice faced life-threatening danger, first from a Human-faced Vulture and then from an unknown mutant creature.
A single misstep could have cost him his life.
He couldn't tolerate anyone trying to steal food he had risked his life to obtain.
Hu Yong, Ma Yang, and Wang Youping shivered from the cold as they dug a snow cave to shield themselves from the biting wind, effectively setting up an ambush.
They huddled inside, waiting for their target.
They had assumed Qin Ming would venture deep into the mountains to hunt, misjudging his return time.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been conversing so carelessly earlier.
"Be careful," Ma Yang said. "Don't make a sound later."
Hu Yong nodded. "When we strike from behind, we need to be quick, precise, and ruthless. Move swiftly!"
Wang Youping grumbled, "Let's hope he returns alive with some prey. The sooner he shows up, the sooner we can reward him with a few iron rods. I'm freezing to death here."
Suddenly, the snow cave they were hiding in collapsed with a thunderous roar, burying all three men instantly.
Caught completely off guard, their mouths and noses filled with snow.
Hu Yong reacted fastest, bursting out first.
But before he could steady himself, a foot slammed into his face with a resounding thud.
The excruciating pain contorted his features.
A hunting fork then crashed down on his shoulder, the force threatening to break his bones.
He staggered and collapsed to the ground in agony.
Ma Yang fared no better.
As soon as his head emerged from the snow, Qin Ming's kick struck his nose. The searing, throbbing pain was unbearable. He let out a bloodcurdling scream, tears and snot streaming down his face as he writhed in the snow.
Wang Youping, hearing the commotion, burrowed deeper into the waist-deep snow, afraid to surface.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his back - a hunting fork had pierced his clothes, drawing blood.
"No... please don't kill me!" His voice trembled, his lips quivering.
To his utter shame and humiliation, he wet himself, terrified of being stabbed through the heart.
Qin Ming had no intention of taking his life.
Guided by touch, he merely pierced Wang Youping's skin, drawing a trickle of blood.
He yanked Wang Youping out of the snowdrift and kicked him three meters away, sending him sprawling back into the snow.
"Qin... Ming."
"Brother Ming, we're from the same village - we see each other all the time. Show some mercy! We were wrong this time."
The three men recognized Qin Ming and immediately cowered at the sight of the gleaming steel pitchfork in his hand, pointed menacingly at them.
Though they carried knives and clubs, the sight of the fiercely imposing, murderous-looking Qin Ming filled them with dread.
Injured and cowardly, they dared not resist.
These men were bullies who preyed on the weak and cowered before the strong, never daring to provoke a real fight.
Their actions were despicable, but Qin Ming wasn't about to kill them.
A severe "lesson" was unavoidable.
He pressed the pitchfork against their bodies, forcing them to squat obediently on the ground.
Then, he unleashed a brutal beating, thoroughly stretching his muscles.
By the end, the three men were bruised and bloodied, their mouths filled with bloody foam.
After a prolonged, miserable wailing, they were finally released with a stern warning.
Qin Ming believed these men were all bark and no bite, lacking both the courage and the strength to be truly vicious.
A thorough beating would teach them a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.
Meanwhile, outside the dense forest where Qin Ming confronted the mutant creature, a donkey ambled leisurely across the vast, open plains.
Familiar with the path ahead, it seemed intent on entering the mountains.
Perched on the donkey's back was a weasel, pure white as snow, without a single stray hair.
In this era where the sun had set and never risen again, white creatures were rare indeed.
Unlike typical restless small animals, this weasel was remarkably calm, even "mature."
It sat cross-legged on the donkey's back, facing backward along the path they had come.
This was no ordinary wild animal. Its demeanor resembled that of a composed human, its deep-set eyes conveying a sense of steady purpose as it rode the donkey at a measured pace.
The mutant creature Qin Ming had previously driven back lunged at the approaching donkey.
But when it spotted the snow-white weasel on the donkey's back, it froze mid-leap, then turned and vanished into the dense forest, burying itself beneath the thick snowdrifts, its body trembling slightly.
The donkey remained unfazed, merely glancing at the creature with the practiced indifference of an old horse that knows its way.
Carrying the silent weasel, it continued its steady march into the mountains.
...
The Fire Spring came into view, its black and white trees swaying gently.
Qin Ming quickened his pace, reaching the village entrance moments later, where he finally relaxed completely.
"Qin Ming's back!" someone chopping wood called out, looking up just in time to see him.
Soon, the courtyard gates facing the street began to open.
News of Qin Ming's solitary venture had spread quickly, and many had speculated whether he would return alive or with any spoils.
"He set out fully armed right after Shallow Night arrived..."
Twin Tree Village was small, and villagers who heard the commotion emerged from their homes along the road.
Each household possessed a sunstone, casting a fiery glow that bathed the street in a faint light.
When the villagers saw the red squirrel hanging from Qin Ming's hunting fork, an immediate silence fell over the crowd.
This was nothing like what they had imagined.
Lu Ze hurried forward, visibly relieved to see Qin Ming unharmed.
His earlier anxiety melted away.
A practical man, Lu Ze broke the silence with a blunt question: "Everyone said you went hunting for a bear in the mountains. So... you caught a squirrel?"
"And raided its nest," Qin Ming replied with a grin.
The villagers' eyes immediately turned to the deerskin bag on his back, instantly understanding its contents and growing envious.
Then, they noticed the squirrel's fiery red fur glowing faintly, clearly indicating a mutant creature of considerable value.
"Your trip was not only safe but also quite fruitful," Old Liu remarked, standing at the village entrance.
Some villagers seized the opportunity to ask if it was now safe to venture outside.
Qin Ming truthfully recounted his journey, unwilling to mislead his neighbors—such deception could cost lives.
When they heard about the dangerous mutant creatures lurking in the outer forests, everyone's faces paled.
For the time being, venturing out alone remained too risky.
Qin Ming didn't hold back, revealing Ma Yang, Hu Yong, and Wang Youping's treacherous actions.
This immediately ignited the villagers' fury, young and old alike.
"Shameless! They're too cowardly to enter the mountains themselves, yet they'd stab their own neighbors in the back. This isn't just about stealing harvest - they are trying to kill us!"
Ma Yang, Hu Yong, and Wang Youping limped into the village, supporting each other.
They barely crossed the threshold before Lu Ze and his men pounced on them, delivering another brutal beating.
"Brother Lu! Uncle Yang! Grandpa Liu! Stop hitting us! Help!" The three of them wailed, blood-streaked snot freezing on their faces.
Their desperate cries were met with indifference; they had earned the villagers' wrath, and many had long harbored resentment toward them.
Qin Ming handed out generous handfuls of nuts to all the children in the street, sending them into a frenzy of cheers.
Then he spotted Granny Zhou, her face pale as she leaned against her courtyard gate.
He hurried over and, without letting her protest, left her some dried goods.
...
"Uncle, you're amazing! These wild walnuts are so delicious, and the pine nuts are so fragrant!"
At Qin Ming's home, Wen Rui showered him with praise, his face beaming with delight.
He sampled every type of dried fruit, his little mouth never stopping.
"Date paste, yummy, sweet!" Two-year-old Wen Hui, his words still a bit slurred, slurped up the steamed, pitted, and mashed red date paste, then smacked a kiss on Qin Ming's cheek.
Nearby, the red squirrel hanging from the hunting fork stirred from its unconscious state. Its eyes snapped open, and when it saw the group rummaging through its "stash," despair washed over it.
"No wonder it's a mutant creature - so diligent and capable! It's stored over thirty pounds of food," Liang Wanqing marveled.
The red squirrel's eyes widened until they nearly popped, practically spitting fire.
Just then, Lu Ze spoke solemnly, "Xiao Qin, now that you've mostly recovered, it's time to seriously consider your 'Awakening.'"
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END OF CHAPTER
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