Chapter 43 - 43 30 Heroic Bearing

43: Chapter 30 Heroic Bearing 43: Chapter 30 Heroic Bearing Editor: Henyee Translations Under the pale twilight, mountain shadows layered the distant horizon.

Qin Ming was already on the move.

Dense trees flanked both sides of the snow-covered path as he traveled quickly.

Yinteng Town was in sight.

Through the thin mist, soft lights glowed, and the outlines of its buildings could be seen even from afar.

The town was lively, shops lined both sides of the streets, and shelves were filled with a dazzling variety of goods.

Crowds bustled to and fro, and calls from vendors rang out incessantly.

Especially recently, many people from Chixia City had arrived—from nobles to adventurers to unidentified rebirthers—all settling temporarily in various towns, boosting the town’s vitality.

Qin Ming asked around briefly and quickly found the residence of the old noble, located in the eastern district of Yinteng Town.

The vermilion gate was grand, studded with rows of bronze nails.

Two auspicious beasts stood guard on either side to protect the household.

“Qin Ming.” Someone called his name.

Several young people had come from surrounding villages.

Qin Ming smiled in response and walked with a few newly arrived rebirthers toward the noble’s residence.

Someone had already been waiting at the gate and stepped forward to guide them in.

The mansion was vast, with multiple courtyards arranged in elegant layers.

Decorative rockeries, pavilions, and evergreen plants remained in the gardens despite the winter.

Despite food shortages this season, the old noble’s lifestyle appeared unaffected.

He was wealthy and knew how to enjoy life.

The hall of the residence was spacious and well-lit.

Though not overly extravagant, it far exceeded that of typical wealthy households.

Massive columns were carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture was fine redwood, and tasteful calligraphy and paintings adorned the walls.

The old steward received wave after wave of young guests with meticulous politeness, his smile unwavering, almost frozen in place, as he maintained perfect decorum.

“Qin Ming.”

“Er—Zhou Wubing,” Qin Ming started to call him by the old nickname “Er Bingzi,” but corrected himself mid-sentence.

After his rebirth, Zhou had changed greatly—half a head taller than others, now a striking and energetic youth.

With so many people present, it was no longer appropriate to use such names.

“I’m heading to Chixia City soon.

Got any plans?

Thinking of venturing out?” Zhou Wubing’s once-dull hair was now dark and shiny, and his eyes sparkled with energy.

“I’ve always longed for the bright cities in the distance.

Let’s see how things go,” Qin Ming replied.

Many youths gathered in the hall.

At first, they were stiff and uncomfortable.

Compared to their usual homes of gray brick and tile, this place—with its carved beams and painted rafters—was overwhelming.

The porcelain, calligraphy, and other antiques clearly held great value, and they weren’t used to such surroundings.

But as time passed, they gradually relaxed and helped themselves to the fruit and snacks brought in by the steward’s staff.

Qin Ming was particularly at ease.

In the snowy winter, having fresh red berries to eat was a rare treat.

He hadn’t come here with modesty in mind; he was here to enjoy the hospitality.

“I’m not competing with you today.

One of my relatives is planning to take me with him–” Zhou lowered his voice but suddenly stopped talking.

He had spotted a silver-haired elder walking through the courtyard alongside a tall woman cloaked in black fur.

They headed toward a smaller parlor.

“That’s the noble daughter from the Xie family.

Haven’t seen her face, but that figure… Stunning.

Huh, what’s with the crow on her shoulder?” Zhou remarked, noticeably chattier than before.

“She doesn’t seem worried about marriage,” Qin Ming murmured.

He had seen this woman from afar the previous day, near where the high-ups from Chixia City were negotiating with mountain creatures.

Even though he had spoken barely above a whisper, the black-clad woman seemed to hear him and shot him a glare over her shoulder.

The hood of her cloak was pulled low, and a lock of dark hair obscured one side of her fair face.

Qin Ming only saw part of her oval-shaped features, but her red lips looked particularly vivid.

“Heh heh heh…” The crow on her shoulder laughed in a voice indistinguishable from a human’s.

Qin Ming found it bizarre.

Since entering the residence, he had activated his “Merging Light with Dust” technique to suppress his extraordinary vitality.

“Probably a myna bird,” Zhou guessed.

Then he, too, was glared at by the crow.

Zhou frowned.

“Why’s she dressed like that at home?

Oh, I get it.

She’s about to meet us.

Noble ladies care about first impressions.

She probably doesn’t want to show her face right away.”

Then both he and Qin Ming got another glare from the woman.

Qin Ming whispered, “If you’re going to talk, say more.” He wanted to test whether she could hear even a voice that soft.

Sure enough, not only did she react, but the crow let out another string of cackling laughs, “caw caw caw…”

Qin Ming immediately fell silent.

He dared not say another word.

This woman was clearly no ordinary person.

Even under the loose black cloak, her graceful figure was unmistakable.

How could someone like her have trouble finding a match?

The other youths were also murmuring among themselves.

It was now clear that the silver-haired elder was the old noble, and his daughter stood out in every way.

“She’s far beyond our reach… No chance,” someone sighed in the hall.

Though some had hopes coming in, they were now facing reality.

All those present were rebirthers with perceptions far sharper than average.

It was clear to them that the noble daughter possessed an extraordinary aura—even her crow could speak—this was no ordinary household.

Soon after, the old noble personally arrived.

His name was Xie Jingrui.

His head of silver hair gleamed like crystal, and his complexion was radiant.

He wore a brocade robe.

Seeing the young people rise nervously, he smiled warmly and said, “Good kids, all of you.

I can tell you have kind hearts, much better than the scheming youths I’ve met elsewhere.”

Xie Jingrui got straight to the point.

He admitted he truly wanted to marry off his daughter, but also hoped the guests could help him with something.

He knew these young rebirthers were about to enter the mountains.

They had already been chosen by various families from Chixia City to act as guides.

“If you discover any rare resources born at a node within the mountains, I’d appreciate it if you could send a word to me.

Don’t worry.

I’m not asking you to fight for it, just to let me know.”

Xie Jingrui admitted he had connections with Chixia’s noble houses.

He just wanted a chance to buy certain rare materials before they were traded away.

Many powers had already announced sky-high offers for any special items from the mountains.

Then he clapped, and the staff brought in finely crafted blades and swords, each clearly worth a great deal.

He invited the youths to choose one each as a token of thanks.

“My daughter has caused me endless worry.

I do want to marry her off soon.

I’m desperate.

I don’t care about status or lineage.

If two people like each other, I’ll arrange the wedding tomorrow if I can.

I just want the Xie family to grow and flourish.”

In the end, he looked almost melancholy.

He didn’t seem to be putting on a show.

Is the Xie family’s noble daughter really struggling to marry?

Many began to doubt.

“You two, I’ve heard of you both.

Golden foundation.

Very promising.

Have either of you considered taking a different path?” Xie Jingrui kindly said as he approached Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing.

Soon after, Zhou was led to the back courtyard to meet the noble daughter, but he returned not long after.

“That black-clad woman?

How was it?” Qin Ming asked quietly.

“She’s clad in all black, striking and extremely beautiful.

But… Not for me.

You should consider it,” Zhou said, then quickly left.

Qin Ming hadn’t come for matchmaking, but the old noble gifted him a special heavy bow and specifically requested that he go meet the noble daughter.

Out of politeness, he couldn’t refuse.

He guessed, based on her earlier glares, that she probably didn’t like him much either.

It would probably be like Zhou—just meet and move on.

A moment later, Qin Ming was guided to the back of the residence.

In the rear courtyard, a black-clad woman was practicing with a sword.

Its cold gleam was fierce.

She indeed had a heroic presence.

Qin Ming was dumbfounded.

It wasn’t that she was ugly.

On the contrary, she was strikingly beautiful.

But she didn’t have the delicate softness of a typical woman.

Hers was a rare, commanding kind of beauty.

The problem… was her size.

Her face was huge, barely smaller than a washbasin.

Her towering figure was nearly five meters tall, and the great sword in her hand was over three meters long.

So, Zhou hadn’t lied.

He just hadn’t mentioned her height or weight.

The woman was named Xie Lingxi.

The sword she wielded was longer than Cao Long was tall.

Qin Ming finally understood what the old noble meant by helping him “change paths.” He wanted him to follow the Giant Spirit path!

“Do you think I look like a monster?” Xie Lingxi asked.

Qin Ming shook his head quickly.

“No.

You’re on the path to divinity—an immortal route.

And when the Gigantic Spirit body is perfected, you can return to your original form.”

“Become a god, huh?

If there were gods, why don’t they lift the sun and bring it back up?” she snorted, then returned to practicing her sword.

Qin Ming turned to leave.

“I saw you two years ago,” she suddenly said.

“We came from Liuguang City, passed through Luoyue City, and then Chixia.

On the road, we found you.

You were on the brink of death.”

In that instant, Qin Ming froze and slowly turned around.