Silver Vine Town

In the bitter winter cold, amid ice and snow, red haze burst forth from the mountain forest, butterflies danced in the night sky, and a great rain of light drifted down, carrying an elegant beauty that seemed apart from the mortal world.

This wondrous sight left Qin Ming and Xu Yueping dumbstruck, and they stopped to watch.

The cold wind howled, whipping the branches in the dense forest into violent swaying and rolling up great sheets of snow. The dancing "red butterflies" in the distance were borne toward them on the gale.

Xu Yueping stared at the night sky stained red and finally identified what it was.

"An Mutated Plant is 'blooming,' surging with vigorous New Life Power. Some of the nearby wild beasts and birds of prey are about to mutate."

As he spoke, the drifting "butterflies" drew closer. A small number were blown over by the mountain wind, and upon closer inspection, they were glowing petals, one after another.

Qin Ming casually scooped up several, and even his fingers were dyed faintly red by their glow.

Xu Yueping stuffed two petals into his mouth and ate them outright. After such mutated plants bloomed, whether flowers or fruit, they carried a rich aura of new life and were beneficial to the human body.

"Faintly sweet." Qin Ming tasted a few as well, but unfortunately, too few had fallen here.

In the distant forest, petals packed the air as densely as a burning red haze, driving away the night.

Great flocks of birds flew into the night sky to chase the crimson petals. From the woodland below came the cries of apes and roars of tigers, as countless living creatures fought over them.

Qin Ming itched to make a move and wanted to charge over.

Xu Yueping shook his head and stopped him. "Forget it. By the time we get there, it'll already be picked clean. We might even run into dangerous Famous Birds, Mountain Monsters, and the like."

The "blooming" of Mutated Plants did not follow the seasons and had no pattern. They were difficult to seek out deliberately, and after their splendor faded, they withered and died completely.

Qin Ming sighed. "Forget the deep mountains and great marshes—even around where we live, there are so many mysteries. I truly want to pass through the thick night mist and see the depths of the Vast and Boundless world."

Xu Yueping nodded. "It's good to have ambition. That gives you the drive to improve. When you get the chance, you should first make a trip to distant Red Haze City."

He believed that only upon arriving there could one glimpse a true corner of the world.

He added, "You can go there to take the academy examinations."

"Have you been there, Uncle Xu?" Qin Ming looked at him.

Fine wrinkles had already formed at the corners of Xu Yueping's eyes. "I've been there. It shocked me. Gradually, I saw reality for what it was, adjusted my mindset, and admitted that I was ordinary."

His tone was calm. The sharp spirit of youth had long faded, leaving only the vicissitudes of middle age.

"Uncle Xu has traveled far and seen much," Qin Ming could only comfort him this way.

Xu Yueping gave a bitter smile. "Who didn't have dreams when they were young?"

He had another half to that sentence, but he felt it was too aged and dispirited and did not want to affect Qin Ming, so he swallowed it. In the end, reality would grind many things away completely.

"We haven't even encountered a single piece of prey after more than ten li." Xu Yueping was dissatisfied. He wanted to kill something in the wilderness and bring it to town to trade for food and drink.

"They were probably all drawn over by that Mutated Plant," Qin Ming said.

On an ordinary day, people would need to travel this stretch of road in groups, because in the pitch-black wilderness, any sort of creature might appear.

"Heh, at least we didn't come up empty-handed." After entering the dense forest several times, Xu Yueping finally shot and killed a musk deer weighing around forty jin.

The two traveled swiftly. After thirteen li, Silver Vine Town came into view.

Under the night curtain, lights glimmered hazily ahead, while buildings emerged and disappeared from sight, like an exquisite painting trimmed and shaped by peaceful years.

Once they arrived here, there were clearly more travelers on the road. Some were leaving town to hunt, some were entering town to sell mountain goods, and beast-drawn carts laden with cargo sped past as well.

Xu Yueping knew Silver Vine Town like the back of his hand and led Qin Ming straight ahead.

There were many shops on both sides of the main street, with bright red lanterns hanging beneath the eaves. People flowed back and forth, and the place was exceptionally lively.

Every shop displayed a dazzling array of goods: exquisite porcelain, gorgeous silk, spices native to the mountains, and more.

There were also tasty roadside snacks such as pancakes and wontons. The scents of every kind of food drifted through the air alongside vendors' cries, brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

Compared to this place, Qin Ming felt Double Tree Village was truly far too deserted.

Xu Yueping went to ask about grain prices and was told they remained sky-high, with demand exceeding supply. Heavy snow had blocked the roads, and grain from afar was still difficult to transport in.

The central area of Silver Vine Town was brightly lit. The Fire Spring was located there. Though it was in its depleted period, the pool, eight zhang wide on each side, still rippled with gleaming waves and misty haze.

An old silver vine as thick as a water bucket took root in the Fire Spring, which glowed like lava. That was how Silver Vine Town had gotten its name.

It looked extraordinary, but it was still an ordinary plant and could absorb only limited spiritual essence from the Fire Spring.

Qin Ming spotted living creatures in the pool. They were crimson clams, translucent as jade. Whenever their shells opened and closed, Fire Haze flowed between them.

"Fire Clams. Even in such a large pool, there are only a few dozen of them. They say they taste incomparably delicious and contain powerful active substances. I wonder where they'll ultimately be sent, and who will get to eat them."

Xu Yueping spoke in a low voice. Fire Clams had to be raised at the very least in a Tier-Two Fire Spring like one in a town, otherwise there would not be enough spiritual essence to sustain them.

The best-performing businesses were all near the Fire Spring. For example, the long-established weapon shop had people constantly coming and going. The wilderness was a harsh place to survive, and everyone wanted a good weapon in hand.

Sparse snowflakes began drifting down from the sky. Xu Yueping led Qin Ming toward the neighboring bar. Many exquisitely crafted hanging lamps were suspended at its entrance, with Sun Stones inside casting brilliant light.

The later it got, the better bar business was. It was still early now, and there was almost no one inside.

"We aren't the first customers, are we?" Xu Yueping asked with a smile.

A young attendant nodded courteously and said they were. He had not fully woken up yet, and having to serve customers so early left him deeply unwilling.

Xu Yueping said, "Let your boss know we're looking for Feng Yi'an."

The young man's polite smile vanished as he instantly woke up. "Our boss isn't here, but he gave prior instructions. I'll go find Mr. Feng for you right away."

"This musk deer has tender meat. It should be enough to trade for some good wine, right?" Xu Yueping used the deer as payment.

Under normal circumstances, the bar certainly would not have accepted it, but food was scarce at this stage, and the young attendant immediately nodded in agreement.

"The owner here calls himself a West Fire Luo Person. Many years ago, his father was a servant who followed an expert here from the west on a Strange Bird," Xu Yueping told Qin Ming.

Some said that expert had traveled the world, while others said he had been killed by Moon Insects while exploring an Advanced Fire Spring deep in the mountains.

His followers settled down here and started the bar business.

"Mr. Feng should appear around noon today." A moment later, the young man delivered the news and prepared to call someone over to serve them.

Xu Yueping waved a hand. "No clear songs or hot dances. Just bring food and wine. We came to discuss business today."

The bar was rather elegantly decorated, with crystal lamps of every color hanging overhead. However, the Sun Stone pieces placed inside were very small, creating a blurred, dreamlike glow.

Xu Yueping lowered his voice. "It's still early. Little Qin, sit here and wait. I'll go pay that old gentleman a visit."

Qin Ming nodded, knowing that Xu Yueping intended to try his luck at the Old Noble's home. There was no use stopping him.

The bar grew quiet. Qin Ming took a sip of the amber liquor in his glass. It was not harsh, but he still could not get used to drinking it.

Time passed slowly. He watched snow fall beyond the window and people come and go, taking in the prosperity and bustle rarely seen in Double Tree Village.

Xu Yueping returned, dusted some snowflakes from his body, rubbed his hands, then drank several cups in a row. "It really does taste better than the stuff at my house."

"Uncle Xu, are you all right?" Qin Ming asked.

"What could be wrong with me? Oh, right. When I went to call, they were very polite and warmly received me. They said they would give you an opportunity when the time came."

"Hm?" Qin Ming was startled. This was different from what he had imagined. They had actually not refused.

He asked several questions in detail, then fell silent.

The one who had warmly received Xu Yueping was the steward. It had been impossible to meet the Old Noble at all.

The steward had worn a gentle smile, but it was more like maintaining proper manners. Recently, many people had come calling. He said he would arrange a time for outstanding youths to meet the Old Noble together.

"They were politely turning you down," Qin Ming said.

Xu Yueping drank another cup. "You can lift a six-hundred-jin cauldron. That's such a dazzling achievement. I think they'll look at you differently."

Qin Ming said, "You revealed my foundation. Though they smiled, they treated you with complete indifference. That should have explained everything. You also said they came from afar. Perhaps they came from some brilliant city and have certainly seen the wider world."

Xu Yueping recalled some rumors. That noble young lady's talent seemed exceptionally high.

He frowned. "You could be considered astonishing in our region, yet they still don't think you're good enough?"

Though unwilling to accept it, he had sensed something after the steward's courteous reception. He simply wanted to help Qin Ming seize this opportunity and, at the same time, resolve the Mountain Patrol Group's coercion.

Qin Ming's expression turned solemn. "Don't overthink it, Uncle Xu. We shouldn't get too entangled with mysterious nobles like that, who came from a big place to a small town."

Xu Yueping immediately came to his senses. Who knew whether they had come here to live in seclusion or flee disaster? He nodded gravely. "You're right."

Noon was when the night was faintest, and the indistinct outlines of mountains outside Silver Vine Town could be seen.

Feng Yi'an appeared with two Mountain Patrol members at his side. Braving wind and snow, they entered the bar and brought gusts of cold air with them.

"Brother Xu, sorry for the trouble. I made you come all this way and wait so long. We've only just returned from patrolling the mountains," Feng Yi'an greeted warmly.

Seeing his sincere appearance, Qin Ming felt incomparably disgusted. He wanted nothing more than to punch this bearded man's head apart.

He had already learned from Xu Yueping that this group of Mountain Patrol members was usually barely responsible at all. They only appeared together in the mountains around the middle and end of each month.

Although the sun had vanished, and there was no longer a bright moon hanging high or a magnificent sky full of stars, people still followed the old calendar and spoke of the beginning and end of the month.

Much of the time, some members of the Mountain Patrol Group lingered in the bars and restaurants of various towns, even keeping mistresses.

Xu Yueping forced a smile and dealt with him. "Brother Feng, you're too polite. We know mountain patrols are hard work, and we haven't waited long."

Feng Yi'an looked at Qin Ming again. "Brother Qin is a handsome and promising talent with limitless potential. I hope you can join our Mountain Patrol Group in the future."

He patted Qin Ming's shoulder to show closeness, then called over an attendant and requested a private room.

Feng Yi'an looked at the two men behind him. "Brother Xu and I will have a chat first. You two accompany young Brother Qin for some drinks, and take a look at the restaurant next door to see what good dishes they have."

What he truly wanted was to shed his disguise and speak with Xu Yueping alone. Sure enough, once they entered the private room, his attitude changed.

"Old Xu, you really don't know what's good for you. If a person is too particular about everything, life becomes exhausting and painful. Don't forget, you have a wife, children, and elders. Every now and then, a few wild beasts rushing out of the mountains in the dead of night and breaking into your home would be normal enough, wouldn't it?" Feng Yi'an lightly patted Xu Yueping's face with his palm.

He was no longer hearty. He smiled coldly, his gaze gradually turning frigid. This was a naked threat.

"I'll go back and plant Black Moon immediately," Xu Yueping said.

"You made me very uncomfortable this time. You won't lower your head unless we kill a few people in the mountains, is that it? I even had to make a special trip here for you. When the group leader heard about it, he was very unhappy!" Feng Yi'an increased his strength and slapped Xu Yueping's face again.

A quarter of an hour later, Feng Yi'an emerged first from the private room on the second floor, smiling.

"Let's go," Xu Yueping said to Qin Ming.

Feng Yi'an spoke with a smile. "Brother Xu feels planting Black Moon is urgent and wants to return first. If Brother Qin isn't in a hurry to leave, you can stay for a few drinks."

Qin Ming shook his head and politely declined. "No. I'd better leave with Uncle Xu. The wilderness has been unsettled lately, and having two people on the road means we can look after each other."

Watching them disappear through the bar entrance, one of the men beside Feng Yi'an said, "So what if that youth has a Golden Foundation? He's clearly cut from the same cloth as Xu Yueping. Why be so polite to him?"

Feng Yi'an said, "True. It's still hard to say how far he can go, and he isn't on the same road as us. But we haven't fallen out yet, so give him some face for now—unless we decide to kill him immediately..."

"Uncle Xu!" Qin Ming noticed a faint handprint on Xu Yueping's left cheek and immediately understood that Xu Yueping had been humiliated in the private room.

He could understand that humiliation. Anger throbbed within his chest. Drawing a deep breath, he said, "Uncle Xu, they have committed evil again and again. I think even heaven can no longer bear to watch them. It will take them soon!"

Thanks to Life and Death Are Both Illusions and Flying Household Bajie. Many thanks to both Silver Alliance Leaders for your support!