Subscribe to the MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel.
***********************************
Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 7: [Encounter]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
***********************************
Outside the village, the area was shrouded in darkness that it was impossible to distinguish any landmarks.
Few people ventured out at this hour.
"Uncle Yang?" Qin Ming spotted a burly man not far from the village.
Yang Yongqing was surprised. "Xiao Qin? It's not even Shallow Night yet. Why are you out so early?"
"I wanted to try my luck in the wilderness, see if there were any mountain beasts frozen to death," Qin Ming replied.
Yang Yongqing chuckled. "We had the same idea. I just finished scouting the area outside the mountain, but unfortunately, I found nothing."
Qin Ming was stunned.
This middle-aged man with a full beard was already returning from his patrol?
That was incredibly early.
"How could Uncle Yang be doing the same thing as me? Could be be hunting some kind of rare, Spiritual Prey," Qin Ming thought.
He knew Yang Yongqing was formidable, one of the few Awakened Individuals in Twin Tree Village.
They had only exchanged a few words when they noticed a dark figure moving in the distance.
"A Mountain Patrolman," Yang Yongqing murmured.
In an era without the sun, the wilderness was exceptionally dangerous.
Only highly skilled individuals could serve as Mountain Patrolmen, tasked with vigilance and warning.
A man in leather armor emerged, tall and imposing. He carried a bow and quiver, gripped an iron spear, and his long hair flowed freely, radiating untamed power.
"Brother Shao," Yang Yongqing greeted him first.
Shao Chengfeng nodded.
He was around forty years old, with sharp eyes. He stopped nearby and asked, "So young and already traveling with you? Is this that Er Bingzi?"
"Er Bingzi is from the next village over..." Yang Yongqing explained.
"Your Twin Tree (Shuang Shu) Village isn't doing so well. There haven't been a single Awakened Individuals in their golden age for decades," Shao Chengfeng said bluntly.
Yang Yongqing found this normal.
Few people in the area could awaken at fifteen or sixteen.
Talent couldn't be forced.
He spoke up: "I never would have guessed Er Bingzi was this strong back then. I heard he's recovered from his previous physical deficiencies and his physical condition has improved even further recently."
Shao Chengfeng nodded. "Indeed, he's quite remarkable. The question is whether he can compare to the top talents from that bright city in the distance."
"That's difficult. Different lands nurture different people," Yang Yongqing said with a touch of emotion.
He had witnessed the city's splendor and understood the brilliance that advanced cultivation manuals could bring.
"Indeed," Shao Chengfeng agreed. "I heard two extraordinary youths have emerged there, surpassing all previous Golden Age Awakened Individuals. A boy and a girl, stunning the entire region."
"That place is truly a place of exceptional talents," Yang Yongqing said, his tone filled with admiration rather than envy.
The area was far too distant from their own, making any comparison impossible.
Qin Ming listened intently throughout, not interrupting once.
After a brief pause, Shao Chengfeng vanished into the night.
No one knew what level of creatures truly resided deep within the dark mountains, or how many dangerous clans lurked there, requiring the Mountain Patrolmen to monitor and issue warnings from the outer regions.
Qin Ming spoke: "Mountain Patrolmen must be formidable individuals. Do they enter the mountains every day?"
"Some take their duties very seriously," Yang Yongqing replied.
Qin Ming was taken aback.
Did this imply that others were less diligent?
He hadn't expected this burly, bearded man to answer so subtly.
"The situation in the mountains is currently very abnormal and overly dangerous. I suspect the higher authorities will launch a 'Sweeping the Mountains Operation' soon, likely involving young masters and Disciples from prominent families. Xiao Qin, you should work hard to become a Awakened Individual during your Golden Age," Yang Yongqing said, patting his shoulder. "If you catch the eye of a noble lady sent down for the operation, it might change your destiny."
The two men parted ways, Yang Yongqing returning to the village.
Qin Ming processed the information he'd received as he headed into the wilderness.
He moved at incredible speed, cutting through the chest-high snow like a ship cleaving through waves, snow spraying to either side of his path.
The night was beginning to lighten, as Shallow Night approached, and the mountain forest loomed indistinctly in the distance.
Qin Ming stood at the edge of the forest, his senses on high alert.
He knew that unseen dangers could lurk in the shadows.
His stomach rumbled, sending another wave of hunger through his body.
He had forced himself to ignore it earlier when he met an acquaintance on the road, but now his willpower had completely failed.
His stomach churned with acid.
Gazing into the dark, dense forest, he tightened his grip on his hunting fork and darted inside.
He bypassed the Mutant Squirrel's habitat, crossed the low mountain, and pushed farther than he had before.
Deeper into the forest, he found numerous signs of life: scattered animal bones, large hoofprints.
The snow wasn't too thick to navigate; many creatures had already trampled out paths.
A mournful wail echoed through the trees, like a woman weeping - an eerie sound in the desolate wilderness.
Qin Ming immediately accelerated, searching for the source of the sound.
He soon closed in on his destination.
In the pitch-black woodland, pairs of emerald eyes stared from the shadows, where more than a dozen creatures lurked.
Those unfamiliar with the truth might have been terrified by the weeping sound, but for someone who spent their life in the wilderness, it was an opportunity.
Qin Ming charged forward with his hunting fork, and a flurry of flapping wings erupted.
The dozen or so creatures swiftly soared into the night sky, startled by his sudden appearance.
These were carnivorous nocturnal birds, each about two feet long.
They lived in flocks, their cries like ghostly weeping. They preyed on small animals, but sometimes attacked humans as well.
Qin Ming reached the scene in an instant, muttering in disappointment.
All that remained on the ground were a pile of bloodstained bones and a few tattered, blood-soaked animal hides - a roe deer had been devoured completely.
His attempt to steal their meal had failed.
He turned and left immediately, wary of being attacked by the carnivorous night birds.
In an open clearing with sparse trees, bloodstains speckled the ground.
Footprints larger than a rice bowl indicated a large predator had fed here.
The remaining scraps had likely been carried off by other carnivores.
As Lu Ze had said, even the outer reaches of the mountains were becoming dangerous.
One could only imagine what the deeper regions must be like.
Qin Ming remained vigilant as he left the bloody scene.
After a moment, Qin Ming spotted numerous hoofprints in the snow, immediately perking up and following them.
In the darkness, more than twenty dark figures stood ahead.
All were large, and their close proximity created a sense of pressure.
"Blade Horned Deer!" Qin Ming exclaimed with delight.
In the past, deer herds were rarely seen in this area.
He took down his bow and arrow, aiming at a large male deer.
These were not docile deer.
Adult males possessed six horns - three on each side of their heads and one in front - all flat, sharp, and resembling six steel blades.
Being struck by them would surely result in fatal wounds.
Even some fierce beasts dared not charge them head-on, preferring to attack from behind.
A human caught in the midst of such a herd would suffer a terrible fate.
Qin Ming drew his hard bow to its full arc.
With a sharp whoosh, the iron arrow shot forth like lightning, piercing the large male deer's lungs.
Blade Horned Deer were known for their ferocity, fearlessly confronting all predators.
Instead of fleeing after being struck, the Large Male Deer charged directly toward Qin Ming.
Briefly startled, the rest of the herd followed suit, thundering forward.
Snow flew in all directions, their hooves drumming a frenzied rhythm that shook the entire forest.
Qin Ming didn't panic.
He drew his bow again, and his arrow struck the Large Male Deer with unerring accuracy.
The iron arrow pierced deep, burying itself completely and causing the large male deer's massive body to shudder.
He sheathed his bow and calmly climbed a thick, towering tree, concealing himself several meters above the ground.
In the dense forest, aiming at prey from a tree was difficult, with branches obstructing his view.
The Large Male Deer, exhausted from running for a while, stumbled and finally collapsed with a thud in the snow.
The deer herd, startled by the commotion, came to a halt before scattering with a thunderous rumble.
Qin Ming waited for a moment, scanning for any dangerous mountain beasts.
When none appeared, he leaped down from the tree and approached the fallen large male deer with his hunting fork.
The black-brown Blade Horned Deer was exceptionally magnificent, weighing over 700 pounds even in winter.
Qin Ming was immensely satisfied with his prize.
The forest was dangerous, so he quickly dragged the Blade Horned Deer along the path he had taken, hurrying back.
He was experiencing the benefits of his "Awakening" status.
With his greatly enhanced strength, he moved swiftly through the snow, pulling the heavy prey without feeling fatigued.
The wilderness was filled with diverse tree species, such as larch and spruce, some towering dozens of meters high, their silhouettes disappearing into the night.
The Mountain Wind grew stronger, whipping up icy snow pellets that stung Qin Ming's face.
In the howling wind, goosebumps erupted on Qin Ming's skin as a pair of furry, massive paws landed on his shoulders from behind.
Simultaneously, he felt a wave of hot breath against the hairs on his neck.
He realized it must be a gaping maw, drawing near, ready to snap his neck.
His immediately hunched his shoulders, squatted down, and rolled sideways into the snow.
Even so, he was still injured.
The paws gripping his shoulders were incredibly powerful, like razor-sharp iron hooks, tearing through his cotton clothing and tearing into his flesh.
The snow beneath him exploded, revealing a terrifying black shadow lurking in the snowdrift.
Tall, muscular, and enraged, it lunged forward after him.
Qin Ming reacted swiftly, moving across the ground like a slithering snake, narrowly escaping the attack.
The savage black shadow attacked again, its razor-sharp claws capable of tearing off an entire face. Its gaping maw revealed rows of gleaming, icy teeth.
Qin Ming didn't have time to stand, but he remained calm.
He calmly extended his hands and seized the creature's forelimbs, firmly controlling them.
Those terrifyingly large claws were inches from his face, almost touching him, yet they couldn't fall.
Now facing the creature head-on, Qin Ming finally saw its true form.
It had a massive donkey's head, a wide mouth, and long black mane flowing down its neck.
Its body was that of a Mountain Wolf, incredibly fierce, as it lunged at Qin Ming's throat.
The scene was incredibly dangerous.
The hot breath from its blood-red maw, thick with the stench of blood, blasted into Qin Ming's face.
Remaining calm in the face of death, he gripped its forelimbs with all his might, using its own claws to block its fangs.
Simultaneously, as he struggled, he coiled his body, bent his legs to gather power, and then kicked out with all his might, slamming his foot into its abdomen.
Qin Ming was experiencing awakening, his strength was now extraordinary.
With a single kick, he sent the hundreds-of-pounds Mountain Beast tumbling backward across the ground.
"Donkey-Headed Wolf!" he stared at the black beast before him.
It was also known as the Mountain Rogue, it had the head of a donkey and the body of a Mountain Wolf, but was far more formidable.
A normal specimen weighed at least 180 pounds, but this one was clearly mutated, weighing a full 400 pounds.
Any ordinary person who encountered it would surely die!
Its long limbs allowed it to stand upright and walk.
Some local elders had witnessed the Mountain Rogue carrying its prey in this bizarre manner.
The mutant creature before Qin Ming was both savage and cunning.
The instant it rose, it slammed the hunting fork into the snow.
Qin Ming was stunned.
It had truly developed a degree of sentience, understanding how to keep him separated from his weapon.
The Donkey-Headed Wolf's eyes burned with ferocity, its thick mane bristling.
It suddenly stood upright, towering over Qin Ming as it roared, its aura overwhelming.
Qin Ming didn't flinch.
He drew his short knife from his back and advanced, his body undergoing a profound transformation.
He believed he could kill it barehanded if they met head-on.
The Donkey-Headed Wolf lunged, its foul breath stirring the snow into a whirlwind. It emitted a deep growl that shook the branches, causing snowflakes to cascade down.
Qin Ming's short knife clashed against its massive paw, producing a sharp, ringing sound.
The Donkey-Headed Wolf stood upright, its eyes bloodshot, attempting to embrace Qin Ming and tear him apart.
Qin Ming moved like lightning, his blade flashing silver.
Blood gushed from its mouth as its fangs shattered.
He followed up instantly, his right leg like an iron whip, slamming into its side with bone-cracking force.
The Donkey-Headed Wolf let out a piercing howl of agony.
Qin Ming lunged forward, pinning the 400-pound Donkey-Headed Wolf to the snow and raining down punches.
With a sickening crack, he snapped its neck.
The wolf's head twisted grotesquely, its body still.
As a mutant creature, its black, oily fur held considerable value, and Qin Ming had managed to preserve it relatively intact.
If an outsider had witnessed this, they would have been horrified.
The ferocious Mutant Donkey-Headed Wolf had been beaten to death with bare fists.
Qin Ming soon discovered an iron arrowhead lodged in the wolf's body.
He was certain this was the same mutant creature that had ambushed him while he was raiding the Red Squirrel's nest.
The distance had been too great for him to get a clear look at the time, but he remembered hitting the creature with an arrow.
He touched his shoulder, where the wound was shallow and quickly stopped bleeding.
The encounter had been terrifying. If he'd reacted a fraction of a second slower, his shoulders would have been torn apart, and his neck severed.
He was exhausted.
His stomach rumbled like a drum, and hunger gnawed at him.
He desperately wanted to roast a deer leg over an open fire and feast.
However, starting a fire in the darkness would be like a lighthouse in the fog, a beacon that would expose him to every creature in the mountains - far too dangerous.
Qin Ming looked down at the Donkey-Headed Wolf at his feet and the Bladehorn Deer nearby, then glanced at the low mountain ahead.
Hauling these two massive carcasses over the mountain would be a major hassle.
He decided to lighten his load.
The Blade Horned Deer and Donkey-Headed Wolf had just died, their bodies still warm. He used his short knife to slit their hides, and blood gushed out, staining the snow crimson.
Though he was a fair-skinned, handsome youth, Qin Ming possessed remarkable survival skills, honed by a life spent fending for himself.
He worked quickly, efficiently gutting both animals and burying the offal in the snow to mask the scent.
"Hopefully, there aren't any dangerous mutant creatures nearby," he thought, confident that the outer reaches of the mountain forest were relatively safe.
Yet, as he reached the halfway point up the mountain, a colossal commotion erupted in the distance.
This was no ordinary sound.
It startled countless birds into flight and sent mountain beasts scattering in panic.
"The scent of blood attracted the Giant Beast?" Qin Ming frowned deeply, gazing at the dense forest in the distance.
The sounds grew louder, accompanied by roars.
The snow on the ground churned, and the snapping of tree branches echoed through the air.
Soon, he saw a colossal creature, as tall and robust as an armored vehicle, charging through the forest with terrifying ferocity, overturning everything in its path.
It was wounded, its body stained with blood.
This must be a defeated Giant Beast, fleeing to this area, not specifically targeting Qin Ming.
He gasped in shock.
It was a Wild Boar, its size utterly terrifying, weighing at least 1,500 pounds.
It's worth noting that a Wild Boar weighing 600 pounds could already claim dominance within its herd.
This one dwarfed its peers, its body covered in coarse, steel-like bristles. Its snow-white tusks were longer than an adult's forearm, and its appearance was utterly savage.
Qin Ming wondered to himself, If even such a mighty Wild Boar King had been defeated, what kind of creature had hunted it down?
Qin Ming had assumed the Giant Beast would simply pass by the foot of the mountain and disappear into the distance.
But its nose twitched, and then it charged straight up the low mountain.
Wounded, it was now highly sensitive, and the scent of blood in the forest had triggered its rage.
Qin Ming realized he was in deep trouble.
Not only was the Giant Beast incredibly dangerous, but the mysterious creature hunting it might also follow.
Faintly, he could already hear movement in the dense forest in the distance.
The wind gradually died down, eventually disappearing altogether.
The mountain-sized Wild Boar King burst through the trees, a savage, hulking beast. It trampled the snow into a frenzy, crashing through everything in its path.
Branches snapped and littered the ground, and some withered trees even broke at their trunks.
Qin Ming's expression shifted slightly.
He climbed a massive tree that would take several people to encircle, positioning himself high above to shoot arrows at its eyes, heart, and other vital spots as it approached.
The colossal Wild Boar King drew closer, its coarse black fur bristling.
When it raised its head, its face became clearly visible. It was covered in black scales that gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen, making it even more terrifying and ferocious.
Qin Ming frowned, completely locked in the gaze of the oppressive Wild Boar King.
He nocked an iron arrow to his bowstring, aiming downward.
Suddenly, he felt something was amiss.
The forest had fallen silent in an instant.
The various birds and raptors that had been soaring into the night sky had vanished, and the fleeing mountain beasts seemed to have disappeared as well.
The vast, dense forest was now eerily silent, an unnatural stillness.
At the same time, he saw a ball of light rising from a distant mountain peak. It began softly, then quickly grew brilliant, ascending higher and higher.
At that moment, the usually ferocious Wild Boar King dared not make a sound.
It retreated silently, careful not to snap any branches, moving with the caution of a kitten.
It hid deep within the dense, shadowy undergrowth, finally burrowing into a hollow and burying itself under the snow.
In the Eternal Night Era, the sky should have been empty, perpetually shrouded in darkness.
Yet now, in the night sky, the ball of light grew brighter, resembling a radiant moon hanging high above.
Qin Ming's heart pounded.
He knew that what he was seeing was actually an insect.
______________________________
END OF CHAPTER
Subscribe to MTL WORLD (@mtlworld1) YouTube Channel
*********************************