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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 30: [A Heroic Figure]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Under the pale night sky, distant mountain ranges loomed in the distance.
Qin Ming had already set out, the dense forest on either side of the road rustling as he moved swiftly through the snow.
Yinteng (Silver Vine) Town came into view, its soft glow shimmering through the thin mist.
Even from afar, the silhouettes of its various buildings were clearly visible.
The town was bustling with activity. Shops lined the streets, their shelves overflowing with goods of all kinds. People thronged the thoroughfares, their voices mingling with the cries of vendors.
Recently, Chi Xia City had seen a surge of visitors, from nobles and adventurers to mysterious Awakeners of unknown origins.
They had all settled in various towns, further boosting Yinteng (Silver Vine) Town's popularity.
Qin Ming made a few inquiries and quickly located the Old Noble's mansion, which stood proudly in the eastern district of Yinteng (Silver Vine) Town.
The grand vermilion gate was studded with numerous copper nails, flanked by a pair of auspicious beasts meant to protect the household.
"Qin Ming!" Several young people from various villages called out his name.
Qin Ming immediately smiled and responded, joining the group of newly arrived Awakeners as they approached the Old Noble's mansion.
Someone was already waiting at the gate to lead them inside.
The mansion was vast, with multiple courtyards arranged in a staggered layout.
Artificial rockeries, grotesque stones, and pavilions dotted the landscape, though only a few evergreen plants remained in the flowerbeds.
Even during this winter of food scarcity, the Old Noble's lifestyle remained unaffected.
It was clear he possessed considerable wealth and knew how to enjoy it.
The mansion's hall was spacious and bright, its decor not overly extravagant but far superior to that of ordinary wealthy families.
Massive pillars were intricately carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture was crafted from top-grade mahogany, and the walls were adorned with evocative calligraphy and paintings.
The meticulous old butler received wave after wave of young visitors, his smile never fading.
It was as if that expression had become permanently fixed on his face, his demeanor unfailingly polite and proper.
"Qin Ming."
"Er... Zhou Wubing."
Qin Ming, seeing it was Zhou Wubing, started to say the old nickname but quickly corrected himself.
The other boy had changed dramatically since his Awakening, standing half a head taller than average and now a handsome, spirited youth.
Moreover, with so many people present, using the old nickname felt inappropriate.
"I'll be heading to Chi Xia City soon. Do you have any plans? Will you be venturing out?" Zhou Wubing's once withered, yellow hair had become glossy black, and his eyes now shone with a brilliant light.
"I'm also drawn to the Chi Xia City in the distance. I'll see what happens when the time comes," Qin Ming replied.
The living room was filled with young people, initially quite reserved.
Compared to their own simple gray-tiled houses, this place was lavishly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters.
The antique porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings on display were clearly priceless, and they felt out of place in such an opulent setting.
But as time passed, they gradually relaxed, enjoying the fruits and pastries brought by the butler.
Qin Ming was the most at ease.
In this snowy winter, he wouldn't hesitate to indulge in fresh, crimson berries, having come here specifically to freeload.
"I won't compete with you today. My relative said he'd take me..." Zhou Wubing lowered his voice, but suddenly stopped.
He had spotted an elderly man with silver hair and a woman in a black fur cloak crossing the courtyard toward a smaller living room.
"That must be the Xie Family's noble lady. Though I haven't seen her face, her figure seems exceptionally striking. Hmm, why does she have a pet crow?" Zhou Wubing spoke up, his voice more animated than before.
"She doesn't seem to be worried about finding a husband," Qin Ming muttered under his breath.
He had caught a glimpse of the woman yesterday during the Chi Xia City officials' negotiations with the Aliens in the mountains.
She had been nearby at the time.
Clearly, even though he spoke in a whisper, the woman in black heard him.
She turned and glared at him.
The hood of her fur cloak was pulled low, and strands of black hair partially obscured her fair cheek, leaving Qin Ming only a glimpse of her oval face.
Her red lips seemed exceptionally vibrant.
"Hehehe..." The crow perched on her shoulder actually laughed, its voice indistinguishable from a human's.
Qin Ming found this odd, but since entering the mansion, he had activated "Harmonizing With the World" to conceal his unusually vibrant life force.
"It's probably a myna bird," Zhou Wubing said, earning a glare from the crow.
Zhou Wubing looked puzzled. "Why would she dress like that in her own home? Oh, I get it. She's about to meet us. Noble ladies are particular. They wouldn't reveal their true faces on a first encounter."
Then both Zhou Wubing and Qin Ming were glared at by the woman.
Qin Ming spoke in the softest voice possible.
"If you're going to talk, say more."
He wanted to test whether the woman could hear him speaking in a voice as faint as an ant's.
Not only did the woman react, but even the crow responded, this time with a series of cackling "Gah-gah-gahs."
Qin Ming immediately fell silent, saying nothing more.
This woman seemed extraordinarily remarkable; even her loose black fur cloak couldn't conceal her exquisite figure.
How could someone like her possibly worry about marriage?
The other young people were also discussing her, having already confirmed that the silver-haired old man was indeed an Old Noble, and his daughter seemed exceptionally outstanding.
"It feels like she's so far out of our league, there's no chance for us," someone sighed softly in the hall.
Though they'd harbored some hopes on their way here, they were now sobering up.
Everyone present was an Awakener, their senses far keener than ordinary people's.
They could sense extraordinary power emanating from the noblewoman, and even her pet raven understood human speech — truly extraordinary.
Soon, the Old Noble himself approached.
Xie Jingrui, his silver hair gleaming like crystal, had a ruddy complexion and wore a fine brocade robe.
Seeing the young people rise awkwardly to their feet, he smiled warmly.
"You're all good children. Just by looking at you, I can tell you have kind hearts — far more genuine than the arrogant young hawks and hounds I've encountered before."
Xie Jingrui was nothing if not candid. He immediately laid his cards on the table: he genuinely wanted to marry off his daughter, but he also needed their help.
He knew these young Awakeners were all destined to enter the mountains, having been selected long ago by the major families of Chi Xia City to serve as their guides.
"If you discover any rare treasures emerging from the mountain nodes, I would be grateful if you could do me a small favor. Please, relax and don't be nervous. I'm not asking you to compete for them. I simply need you to send word to me."
Old Noble Xie Jingrui explained frankly that he was well-connected with the nobles of Chi Xia City and merely wanted to be the first to purchase a specific rare treasure he needed, fearing it might be sold off prematurely.
This was because numerous organizations and factions had already spread rumors of their intention to pay exorbitant prices for rare treasures emerging from the mountain nodes.
He then clapped his hands, signaling for servants to bring in a selection of sharp swords and blades, all of considerable value.
He invited the young people to each choose one as a token of his appreciation for their presence.
"My daughter has caused me endless worry. I truly want to see her married off as soon as possible. It's a constant source of anxiety. I'm not even concerned about her suitor's background."
Xie Jingrui sighed, speaking openly.
As long as his daughter and her suitor found each other agreeable, he would gladly arrange the wedding tomorrow.
He hoped the Xie Family would flourish and thrive, expanding its lineage and population.
By the end of his speech, he seemed genuinely melancholic, his sorrow clearly not feigned.
"Could it be true that the Xie Family's noble daughter is truly struggling to find a husband?" Many began to wonder.
"Young men, I've heard of the two of you. Both have a Golden Foundation, quite impressive. Have you considered changing paths?" Xie Jingrui said with a warm smile, approaching Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing to strike up a conversation.
Shortly after, Zhou Wubing was taken to the backyard by the old steward to meet the noble lady.
But he returned just as quickly.
"Was it the woman in black? How was it?" Qin Ming asked in a low voice.
"All in black, dashing and incredibly beautiful. But, alas, she's not right for me. You might consider her," Zhou Wubing said before hurrying away.
Qin Ming hadn't come for matchmaking, but he had received a special hard bow from the Old Noble as a gift.
He had also been specifically asked to meet the noble lady in the backyard, and out of courtesy, he couldn't leave early.
He guessed that the mysterious woman in black had given him a cold glare earlier, clearly not impressed.
He figured she'd do the same as Zhou Wubing — meet him briefly and then be done with it.
A moment later, Qin Ming was led to the back of the mansion.
In the backyard, a woman in black was practicing sword stances.
The blade flashed with a chilling light, and she truly was dashing and heroic.
Qin Ming was stunned.
It wasn't that she was unattractive — quite the opposite.
She was incredibly beautiful, but unlike most women, she possessed a rare, masculine aura.
It was a unique kind of beauty, unlike anything he had seen before.
But her face was too large, nearly as big as a washbasin. Her towering figure stood nearly five meters tall, and the greatsword in her hand was over three meters long.
Zhou Wubing seemed to have been telling the truth, just omitting her height and weight.
The woman's name was Xie Lingxi, and the greatsword in her hand was longer than Cao Long was tall.
Qin Ming realized what the Old Noble had meant when he said he could help him change his path.
Was he suggesting he follow the Giant Spirit God route?
"Do you think I look like a monster?" Xie Lingxi asked.
Qin Ming immediately shook his head. "No. You're walking the path to godhood, a path of immortality. And once your Giant Spirit God Physique is perfected, you can still revert to your original form."
"Godhood? If there were truly gods, why wouldn't they lift the sun and make it rise again?" The woman scoffed before returning to her sword practice.
Qin Ming turned to leave.
"Two years ago, I saw you. We were traveling from Liuguang City, passing through (Luoyue) Fallen Moon City and Chi Xia City. We spotted you on the road then. You were close to death," Xie Lingxi suddenly said, her nearly five-meter-tall figure standing tall and slender.
Qin Ming's body froze instantly, then slowly turned around.
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END OF CHAPTER
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