Chapter 8 - 8 5 Rebirth 2

8: Chapter 5 Rebirth (2) 8: Chapter 5 Rebirth (2) Editor: Henyee Translations “Oh?

It’s alive again.

Even better.

Its meat will be much more tender than if it were frozen,” Qin Ming said, lifting the squirrel and examining it.

“This squirrel is so pretty… kind of cute,” Wenrui blinked his large eyes, clearly fond of the fluffy little creature.

“It’ll be even cuter once it’s stewed, it’s guaranteed to be delicious,” Qin Ming joked with a smile.

Wenrui immediately looked conflicted.

He was indeed craving meat—he hadn’t had any in a long time—but the sight of this glowing, fire-red little creature tugged at him.

He couldn’t take his eyes off it and wanted to keep it as a pet.

Little Wenhui followed behind his older brother, imitating him.

The red squirrel was reflected in his bright eyes as he murmured in his unclear toddler voice, “Squirrel… cute.”

Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing both laughed at the two children’s reactions.

Qin Ming nodded and said, “It is clever and cute.

Look at all the food it stored for the winter—pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, red dates—everything you could want, at least a dozen kinds.

It even saved mushrooms.

Perfect.

We’ll stew it with mushrooms.

It would be tasty and nourishing.”

“R-really?

But… I don’t want it to die,” Wenrui mumbled, tugging at his clothes.

His small face was full of struggle, but he still swallowed hard.

“Of course!

And look, there are tiger’s paw mushrooms and yangsparrow mushrooms in the stash.

Those are famous mountain delicacies.

You’re in for a real treat.

As expected, mutated creatures always gather the best,” Qin Ming said in admiration.

The red squirrel bristled in anger, its fur standing on end.

Qin Ming drew his short blade and, holding the squirrel, began walking toward the courtyard to skin it.

Scenes like that weren’t suitable for young children.

“Squeak squeak!” The mutated mountain creature suddenly panicked, squealing frantically and struggling violently.

The wire binding it nearly cut into its flesh.

“Uncle… maybe… let’s keep it,” Wenrui said, blocking his way.

He was trying to forget the temptation of stew, and after a moment of resolve, he pleaded for the creature’s life.

“Such prime ingredients… meat from mutated creatures is the most delicious,” Qin Ming teased, smiling.

“Let’s not eat it this time.

Once you’ve undergone rebirth, Uncle, you’ll be able to hunt a much bigger and fiercer mutated beast.

I’ll wait for you to succeed,” Wenrui said with rare resolve, choosing compassion over appetite.

The red squirrel looked nervously between the knife in Qin Ming’s hand and Wenrui, squeaking frantically as if pleading for help.

Liang Wanqing looked astonished.

“This little mountain beast is incredibly intelligent.

It looks like it understands what you’re saying.

Just look at its scrunched-up little face, it’s terrified.”

Qin Ming sheathed his knife.

The creature was small and wouldn’t yield much meat anyway.

He’d only caught it to satisfy the kids’ craving.

Since they liked it alive, they might as well keep it.

Lu Ze frowned slightly.

“This winter’s different.

We don’t have spare food to feed it.”

The red squirrel stared longingly at the bulging hide pouch, after all, it held its entire stash.

Qin Ming noticed too.

This little creature was unusually intelligent.

He picked out some acorns from the pile of dried goods.

“These nuts need to be processed before they’re edible, otherwise, they’re slightly toxic and bitter.

Perfect for feeding the squirrel.”

The red squirrel didn’t make a sound, only widening its eyes and panting heavily.

“Still not satisfied you’re alive?

And listen carefully.

If you bite anyone, I swear I’ll stew you,” Qin Ming warned, placing it inside a birdcage.

Lu Ze still felt they’d be better off selling the mutated squirrel since its glowing red fur was valuable.

Keeping it alive would only waste food and energy.

But when he saw how thrilled the two children were, laughing and bouncing around with joy, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Before leaving, Lu Ze took the cage and a pile of acorns, refusing any other dried goods.

Qin Ming didn’t argue, he just shoved a cloth bag full of walnuts and pine nuts into Liang Wanqing’s hands for the kids to snack on.

With the immediate food shortage resolved, Qin Ming began to consider the matter of “rebirth”.

Lu Ze’s words about his “wild methods” holding him back had struck a chord.

He vaguely remembered fragments from childhood.

Someone had once told him those movements he practiced had a real origin, but the chance of them working was slim.

A moment later, he entered the courtyard and began practicing at his own pace.

The “wild methods” he’d trained for over a decade had changed.

There was no reason not to continue.

Qin Ming moved through stretches, rotations, twists, and turns with fluid precision.

He suddenly leapt from the ground—fast as an iron arrow—and landed as lightly as a swallow, silent on his feet.

His movements flowed between stillness and motion.

When he was sitting, he was poised like a crouching tiger; when he was walking, he was like trudging through mud; when he was turning, he was like a perfect circle in motion.

Then he spun, his leg sweeping out like lightning—like a dragon’s tail cracking through the air with a heavy whump.

After warming up, Qin Ming began executing more advanced techniques.

“Blowing, exhaling, breathing deep, expelling the old and drawing in the new… bear posture, owl gaze…” He moved with power and grace.

Each movement generated wind, swirling the snow off the ground and sending it dancing around him.

Soon, that familiar feeling returned.

Infinitesimally fine silver threads wove together through his pores, rippling across his skin in a faint, flowing light.

Gradually, white mist rose around him.

A wave of heat coursed through his muscles and bones, like nourishing rain after a long drought.

His parched body greedily absorbed the energy.

Despite the intensity of his movements, Qin Ming didn’t feel tired, instead, he felt more energized than ever.

His body seemed to be cheering, like a starved man finally getting a feast, sucking up the silver ripples.

His skin itched, his muscles tingled, and strength surged throughout his body.

Was he achieving his rebirth?

His body felt feverish.

He had an overwhelming urge to run, to release this vigorous energy.

So, he did.

He dashed into the wilderness, like a shooting star streaking through the night, racing farther and farther, nearly reaching the forest’s edge.

In the snowy distance stood a tall, slender woman.

Her black fur cloak shimmered with a faint obsidian glow, concealing her pale neck.

Only her sharp chin was visible.

Her silhouette emits a cold, distant, and mysterious feeling.

A raven perched on a thorn bush beside her, speaking in human tongue, “Oh?

His body is triggering ‘rebirth’ on its own.

And this early… such an unusual phenomenon.

It’s like moonlight spreading across his skin, creating layer upon layer of golden ripples.

I sense this is a rare talent.

Remarkable that he appeared in such a remote place.” The raven’s jet-black feathers gleamed like black metal.

Its purple eyes stared ahead.

“Isn’t your teacher looking for a final disciple?

This youth might be it.”

The woman stood atop a large green stone.

The mountain wind swept her loose cloak against her body, revealing graceful curves.

Her voice was cool and indifferent.

“There’s someone more suitable.”

Qin Ming seemed to sense something.

He turned his head toward the distance, bow and arrow already in hand.

“Very sharp instincts,” the raven commented.

Now, in the forest canopy, it continued speaking to the woman beside it, “Your teacher’s path is highly unusual.

Don’t let a promising seed slip away.”

“If he’s not chosen, that’s his misfortune.

I won’t miss out.

I already have the perfect candidate.” Wind howled through the mountains.

The woman’s glossy black hair flew across her snow-white cheek.

Her dark clothes billowed, cold and stunningly elegant.

She turned and walked forward.

“Right now, exploring the mountain is our priority.”