Xu Yueping said nothing. It wasn't until they had left Yinteng Town that he suddenly rushed into the dark forest and slammed his fist hard against a tree, shaking loose the snow on its branches.
"If I didn't have a wife and kids, or if I were twenty years younger, I would've taken Feng Yian down with me today, even if it meant dying!" he panted heavily, his chest heaving, his arms trembling slightly from suppressed rage.
He had been humiliated in that private room, and the finger marks still burned on his face. As a man, he couldn't swallow this insult. But he had a family. He was no longer young. The burdens and responsibilities on his shoulders forced him to endure. Clenching his fists, he muttered, "My passion's been worn away by life."
Qin Ming didn't know how to comfort him. Even his own emotions were being dragged into this storm. "Uncle Xu, don't let them get to you. Those people who do evil again and again will be punished eventually."
After a long pause, Xu Yueping exhaled heavily. "Let's go home."
Snowflakes continued to drift in the night sky. The two walked in silence. Qin Ming tried to find topics to lighten the mood. "Why hasn't the mountain-clearing operation started yet?"
Xu Yueping replied, "The higher-ups are probably still negotiating with the mysterious beings in the mountains." Then his expression darkened. He brought up a troubling matter: the patrol group was preparing a kind of catalyst solution to be delivered to Shuangshu Village in three days and poured into the fire spring.
It wasn't hard to guess that that catalyst, though meant to promote the germination of the Black Moon plant, was harmful to the fire spring itself.
"Did the other villages agree to this?" Qin Ming asked.
Xu Yueping sighed. "Three of them had doubts. After years of poor firefield harvests, they suspected the seeds were the problem. But in the end, they couldn't resist the pressure and gave in. Only the nearby Qingsang Village is still holding out. The patrol group doesn't dare press them too hard because of the man there who passed an advanced cultivation technique to Er Bingzi."
"It's almost mid-month," Qin Ming said, looking up at the pitch-black sky. He already knew that the patrol group only assembled in the mountains during the middle and end of the month.
At that moment, a giant ox with bright red fur appeared from the fork in the road ahead, impossible to ignore. It stood taller than a grown man. Its dense, glossy coat glowed faintly red, and besides its two curved horns, it had a third horn—sharp as a sword—jutting straight from the center of its forehead.
It was a mutated beast. But what truly drew the eye was the man riding it, tall beyond belief. If he stood, he'd easily be over three meters. His black hair draped past his shoulders, and his eyes were sharp as blades. He glanced briefly at them as he passed.
The fiery red giant ox thundered over the snow, heading straight for Yinteng Town at high speed.
"That guy's huge," Qin Ming said in surprise.
"He's walking a different path," Xu Yueping said as he watched the fading silhouette.
"Early rebirth leading to premature development?" Qin Ming asked.
Based on established wisdom, the optimal age for rebirth was around fifteen or sixteen, when one could lay a golden foundation. But undergoing rebirth too early during rapid natural growth could throw the body into hormonal chaos, sometimes resulting in gigantism. And most of those giants died young because their transformed bodies often became uncontrollable.
Xu Yueping said, "Only powerful clans with the experience of their ancestors—and the resources to spare—can support someone like that to adulthood."
A few giants did survive, and if they rose, they became terrifyingly strong, capable of overpowering even skilled fighters through sheer force.
"These people follow the path of the Gigantic Spirit Deity," Xu Yueping added. "Ordinary households could never raise one." He suspected that the rider and his beast were from Chixia City.
Since they were talking about rebirth, Qin Ming brought up Fu Entao, the captain of the patrol group. Xu Yueping turned to him. "Qin, don't tell me you're thinking of going after them? You mustn't."
Qin Ming shook his head. "You're overthinking it, Uncle. I'm just a rookie. I've got no qualifications or power to challenge someone who's had a second rebirth."
Xu Yueping finally relaxed. He had feared Qin Ming might act recklessly.
"First rebirth boosts overall physical strength, mostly in raw power. Second rebirth focuses more on agility and flexibility," he explained.
They chatted as they walked, and in Qin Ming's mind, he began to form a rough idea of Fu Entao's strengths and power level. Along the way, they entered the forest multiple times. They didn't want to return empty-handed and hoped to catch a few animals to share with families low on food.
"That was close. Even I, a rebirther, almost got hurt," Xu Yueping said with lingering fear.
Just moments ago, a mutated spike leopard had ambushed him from behind. It was as fast as a black lightning bolt. If not for Qin Ming's quick reaction, he'd have been taken down.
"This region just saw the bloom of an aberrant plant, so it's more dangerous now. We shouldn't linger."
They didn't delay. Dragging the mutated spike leopard behind them, they set off again. It weighed four hundred and fifty pounds, and its body was covered from belly to head in black spikes five inches long.
Back in the village, Qin Ming felt a heavy, stifling atmosphere. Even the children who usually played in the snow were nowhere to be seen.
Xu Yueping finished dividing the leopard meat among the households before returning home. He was exhausted, mostly mentally.
Qin Ming stood beside the glowing fire spring, gazing into the wilderness. In the distance, the faint outlines of mountains shimmered.
"They're delivering the catalyst in three days… and still pushing us this hard. They're not giving us time," he muttered. He turned toward the wilderness, ready to enter the mountains.
"Just scouting for now," he told himself. It was still the shallow night. He wasn't planning to act recklessly. Most importantly, there were still two days before mid-month.
"Are you going to push people into a corner? Ignoring next year's famine? Ignoring who lives or dies?" Qin Ming strode into the forest.
This time, he didn't bring a hunting spear as he didn't need it anymore. His fully reborn body was a weapon on its own. He only carried a bow and a woodcutting knife.
He knew where the patrol group's base was and marched steadily in that direction. The wind howled. Snow kept falling. The conditions favored him as they helped erase his tracks.
Each patrol unit covered an area of six to eight villages. Fu Entao and Feng Yian's team rested at a base ahead, not too deep in the mountains.
When he encountered mutated beasts on the way, Qin Ming avoided them, not wanting any unnecessary trouble. After crossing large stretches of forest and several mountain ridges, he neared his destination.
On one peak, faint red light flickered. There was a micro fire spring there, barely first-grade, dimmer than the one in Shuangshu Village, but still suitable for a patrol base.
Years ago, the place had been occupied by a strong mutated creature, but Fu Entao had led a team to kill it.
Deeper in the mountains were the high-grade fire springs, with optimal environments. Mysterious beings who lived there looked down on the weaker springs on the outer edges.
Qin Ming observed from a neighboring peak. Red glow danced in the distance. A few wooden houses had been built on a flat clearing, and shadows moved around them. Normally, only two or three patrollers stayed in the area. When they all gathered, it was usually to search for aberrant plants or spiritual creatures, hoping for a second rebirth.
"They've raised a sharp-nosed, mutated beast." Qin Ming frowned. A massive golden mastiff, almost as big as a tiger, lounged there.
His expression darkened further when he saw a snow ape soaking in the fire spring, its glossy fur gleaming. It was a tamed mutant. Some villagers had been attacked by that same species. One had suffered broken ribs. Another had nearly lost an arm.
Qin Ming stared at that peak for a long time, then silently melted back into the night. He exited the forest and looked toward Shuangshu Village in the distance.
Under the night sky, a firelight glowed at the village entrance. The nearby houses glimmered faintly, as if trimmed in gold. Smoke curled from some chimneys. It should've been a peaceful scene, but as Qin Ming entered the village, he heard crying.
"Uncle Qian didn't make it… He just passed away."
Many villagers stood outside the Qian household. Some sighed helplessly.
"He was old. That snow ape nearly tore his neck apart. It's a miracle he lasted this long."
Qin Ming stood in silence. This was the third death from the recent attacks.
Xu Yueping and Old Liu also arrived, their expressions grim. They knew the truth and hated Feng Yian and his group with all their hearts. The next day, during Uncle Qian's funeral, the patrol team showed up at the village entrance. Feng Yian approached with a sigh and handed the family a roe deer.
Watching him put on a show of sympathy for the Qian family, even Old Liu turned his face away in disgust. The Qian family, unaware of the truth, felt gratitude toward him.
Qin Ming clenched his fists in silence. A roe deer for a man's life? The hidden truth was soaked in blood. Uncle Qian's life… was worth nothing to them.
A tall man in armor spoke, "The blood bear and that vicious snow ape have both been slain. Everyone can safely enter the mountains again."
Qin Ming recognized him. His name was Shao Chengfeng. He and Yang Yongqing had once encountered the man on a mountain path. At the time, Qin Ming had thought he was a responsible patroller, risking his life doing late-night rounds. Now he watched this man lie through his teeth, claiming credit after committing atrocities. It was despicable.
Soon after, several patrol members approached Xu Yueping, not to comfort the villagers, but to personally verify that the Black Moon seeds had been planted.
"Brother Xu, thank you for your hard work," Feng Yian said with satisfaction, patting Xu Yueping on the shoulder.
Qin Ming stood by the fire spring, watching. Though Feng Yian was smiling, there was no warmth in it. Xu Yueping's face was expressionless. The sting from the humiliation in Yinteng Town still lingered on his cheek and in his heart.
Shao Chengfeng chuckled. "I misjudged you last time. Didn't expect Qin to have laid such a solid golden foundation. Once the mountain-clearing starts, we'll likely be fighting side-by-side. Why not join us now and become one of us early?"
Qin Ming immediately declined. Even as the smile on Shao Chengfeng's face faded, he acted as if he hadn't noticed.
Soon after, the patrol team departed.
"No need to test him. That kid hates us. Once the sweep begins, we'll find a chance to get rid of him."
"Let's not waste the opportunity. The fire spring in Blood Bamboo Forest is about to die out. We'll send him there to scout; it's the perfect use."
Their casual chatter faded as they disappeared into the wilderness.
That very day, Qin Ming sat quietly in his courtyard, sharpening his woodcutting knife with focus and care.