Chapter 44 - 44 31 Piercing the Night 1

44: Chapter 31 Piercing the Night (1) 44: Chapter 31 Piercing the Night (1) Editor: Henyee Translations For a moment, Qin Ming felt as if someone had seen straight into the depths of his heart.

The fire that had consumed the entire village two years ago seemed to leap from memory into reality.

The scorching heat, the acrid stench of burning flesh, the collapsed ruins, the scattered corpses, and the otherworldly figure of the feather-robed youth all flashed before his eyes.

But the instant he turned around, he had already regained his composure, his heart calm.

Though this woman had seen him on the brink of death two years ago, she couldn’t possibly know what he had truly experienced.

If there had been more between them, if they’d had any deeper connection in the past, it wouldn’t have taken until now, so close to Yinteng Town, for them to meet again.

With a sincere expression, Qin Ming said, “Miss Xie, may I ask what exactly happened back then?

Who looked after me?

As you’ve probably noticed, I suffered a serious head injury.

I still don’t know what happened during those days.”

Xie Lingxi thrust her three-meter-long great sword into the ground, turned slightly to glance at him, and said, “At the time, a man and woman, both in their early thirties, were traveling with you.

From what I heard, you were on the verge of death.

In the end, they could only leave your fate to chance.”

Qin Ming frowned and muttered softly, “I was almost gone, and yet they were still traveling with me?

Why?”

Xie Lingxi’s long, dark hair trailed over seven feet.

Her features were strikingly defined, and her star-like eyes sparkled as she replied, “I only overheard a few things from afar.

They wanted to take you to some remote place, far from the bright cities.

If you survived, they hoped you’d settle down and take root here.”

At that moment, a slender maid came over with tea.

The two cups on the tray were noticeably different in size.

She said, “My lady gave you a blood and energy-replenishing pill back then.

It wasn’t anything rare, but it was an act of kindness.”

“Ah… Thank you, Miss Xie.” Qin Ming bowed deeply.

She had helped him and never even mentioned it.

If not for the maid, he wouldn’t have known.

“Leave us,” Xie Lingxi said with a wave, stopping the graceful maid from saying anything more.

Qin Ming cupped his hands and asked, “Could I trouble you to try and recall any other details from that day?

I’d be extremely grateful.”

“You were dressed in bloodstained rags.

Even if your clothes were new at the time, they must have been plain.”

Qin Ming nodded.

During his second rebirth, he had seen glimpses of his childhood self wearing patched-up clothes.

It wasn’t surprising that he hadn’t lived well as a youth.

What he still didn’t understand was why it had all led to his near-death, why the entire village had burned.

After thinking it over, Xie Lingxi added, “The pair traveling with you were primarily there to explore the spiritual mountains in this region, which had been activated by ‘heavenlight.’ Since they’d already discussed bringing you somewhere remote, they probably just brought you along on the way.”

She explained that their encounter had only happened twice in passing.

Everything she said now was just her recollection of the vague comments those two made while hurrying along the road.

Qin Ming couldn’t help but drift into thought.

Who was that man and woman to him?

They didn’t seem particularly close, yet they had still saved him.

And what exactly was this “heavenlight-activated spiritual mountain”?

He wanted to ask, but felt that pressing further might be too forward.

“Heh heh heh.” In a smaller parlor in the front courtyard, the purple-eyed crow was laughing as it looked at the woman in the black fur cloak.

“Those two boys still think you’re the noble daughter of the Xie family.

Caw caw caw!”

“Your laugh is so awful,” the woman said, pointing at the crow with a slender, glowing finger.

The bird flitted away gracefully, dodging with ease.

The crow said, “Who would’ve thought this remote backwater would produce two decent seedlings?

I think that foul-mouthed sickly kid—if he fully recovers—could be quite impressive.”

The woman replied, “That one, the one who spoke rudely already has a teacher.

It’s obvious someone with extraordinary methods is helping to heal and cultivate his body.”

The crow added, “Everyone said that two years ago, when heavenlight pierced the night sky, dozens of places received its blessing, but this region was supposedly among the dimmest.

Very little spiritual radiance fell here.

But maybe that wasn’t the case after all… Two promising boys in nearby villages?

That’s something.”

The woman sipped her tea gently and said, “My master is a sage beyond sages.

If his intuition is right, then perhaps the heavenlight from two hundred years ago never truly flared here.

It only accumulated.

Now that two different types of heavenlight have converged, the rare materials born in this land will likely be astounding!”

She then lowered the hood of her cloak, stood up, and said, “We should go.

Brother Xie will be busy today.

Who would’ve thought that his daughter had made such a bold decision behind his back?

Choosing the Giant Spirit path on her own.

He’s been tearing his hair out ever since.”

In the end, Qin Ming couldn’t resist and asked the noble lady before him a question.

She was under no obligation to help.

If she refused, he would leave with thick skin and no shame.

As long as he wasn’t embarrassed, it didn’t matter.

Xie Lingxi said, “After the sun fell, it never rose again.

The moon and stars all disappeared.

What we call ‘heavenlight’ is the occasional light that pierces the darkness.

It can happen once in decades—or even a century—without pattern or warning.

When it does, the area it touches may produce rare resources.”

Qin Ming genuinely thanked her.

She didn’t put on airs and had answered him directly.

“Miss Xie, you’re beautiful and kindhearted, not at all like…” He started, and then realized if Xie Lingxi were shrunk down proportionally, her face would be palm-sized, and her figure would be perfectly proportioned.

It was only because she had followed the Gigantic Spirit path that everything about her was just… supersized.