First Kill

"Sharp enough!" Qin Empire Ming rose from beside the whetstone. The Firewood Chopping Knife in his hand had shed its rust, smooth as a mirror, like a pool of autumn water.

"People like Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng deserved to die, but if good people were caught up in it and met with an accident, that would be too regrettable." He wanted to get to the bottom of it.

That evening, Old Man Liu was drinking with Xu Yueping. Each had only half a cup, and they took tiny sips each time, savoring the taste. That was all they had left; the jar of fiery old liquor at Xu Yueping's home was nearly empty.

"One muntjac in exchange for a human life—they truly have no humanity at all!" Old Man Liu cursed as he drank. His heart felt stifled, yet he could not tell the Qian Family these things.

What Xu Yueping worried about most was that people like Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng might truly achieve Second New Life in the end. That would be even worse.

"Is there not a single good person in the Mountain Patrol Group?" Qin Empire Ming had arrived.

Old Man Liu sighed. "If more than half the pears in a basket have rotted, then if no one deals with them, the rest will be hard to preserve as well. A Mountain Patrol Group can have as many as twelve members, but they only have nine now. Those who do not fit in are either squeezed out, or they suffer accidents in the mountains."

"Can no one restrain them, or deal with them?" Qin Empire Ming asked casually.

Xu Yueping vigorously shook the wine jar before pouring him only a small amount of liquor, then pulled him over to sit and drink with them.

After thinking for a moment, Old Man Liu said, "Some teams from other Mountain Patrol Groups are on bad terms with them, either because they cannot stand them or because they compete for Spiritual Objects in the mountains. Bloodshed has occurred between them."

Xu Yueping said, "There is also the neighboring Green Mulberry Village. They were not forced to plant Black Moon, so it seems Er Bingzi's relative is quite capable."

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Empire Ming. "Little Qin Empire, you have a solid Golden Foundation. You should make some plans. When early spring comes, go out and take a look. Do not trap yourself here."

He understood the temperaments of Feng Yi'an, Shao Chengfeng, and the others. He feared that Qin Empire Ming would be harmed by those Mountain Patrols who were like wolves and jackals.

Qin Empire Ming pondered. "Plans? I really want to know where I fled from during that famine."

"Ah, if you had not mentioned it, I would have nearly forgotten. I have always treated you as one of us." Xu Yueping did not know how to comfort him, so he could only change the subject.

He spoke of Red Haze City's splendor, its immense prosperity, and how it was a place where outstanding people and spiritual land flourished. Perhaps there, one might have a chance to obtain an Advanced Meditation Method, a Willpower Skill, and the like.

Old Man Liu chimed in as well. "I also support you going out, Little Qin Empire. Young people should have sharpness and dreams. Otherwise, when you reach my age, your legs will go soft and you will not be able to go anywhere, leaving only regrets and sighs over the twilight of your years."

Xu Yueping laughed. "Uncle Liu, I heard that your ambitions were quite lofty back then."

Old Man Liu was not embarrassed when certain old matters were brought up. "Who has not been young?"

"What were your ambitions back then?" Qin Empire Ming asked with great interest.

Old Man Liu recalled, "When I was young and reckless, it was only natural to dare to think and dare to act. For example, after rising to prominence, I wanted to subdue a Famous Beast in the mountains. I also wanted to marry the most beautiful girl nearby."

"And what happened?"

"Once, while cooperating with a Mountain Patrol Group, we unexpectedly encountered that Famous Beast. It charged past us, and merely passing through nearly wiped us all out. That left me with damaged vitality. I could never again touch the threshold of Second New Life, so I gave up that dream. And that girl was married to one of my rivals."

Qin Empire Ming raised his cup to him. What else could describe it but misery?

Old Man Liu chuckled. "Later, I truly could not swallow that anger, so I married that rival's older sister and made him call me brother-in-law for the rest of his life."

"It had to be you!"

The three of them had only half a cup of wine each, yet they drank all night.

After Qin Empire Ming returned home, he wiped down the Iron Bow engraved with strange beast patterns. Unfortunately, it was no longer a stiff bow to him. If he used too much force, he would snap it.

"It can barely be used."

Afterward, he filled the quiver wrapped in beast hide with iron arrows, then took out spare clothes and placed them in his pack.

"Tomorrow is midmonth." He gazed at the deep night sky.

He went to sleep early that night, intending to adjust his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to their peak condition.

He woke in the latter half of the night. He had already slept enough. Though it was still far from Shallow Night, he silently pushed open the courtyard gate.

In the dead of night, all things were still. The darkness was so deep it was chilling. Ordinary people could barely see anything.

After his New Life, Qin Empire Ming's physical qualities had improved across the board, including his eyesight. Even in such an extreme environment, he could make out hazy shapes, and it did not hinder his travel.

He did not pass by Fire Spring, instead choosing the most remote path to make a detour.

Snow had been drifting down for days, and it showed signs of growing heavier and heavier.

His black hair hanging over his shoulders flew in the night wind. His tall, slender body was not frail, but robust and powerful, and his steps carried him toward the mountains with incomparable resolve.

The faces of those injured villagers surfaced before his eyes one after another. The scene of Feng Yi'an handing over a muntjac during Uncle Qian's funeral kept circling in his heart as well. He had endured enough. Today, he would deal with the Mountain Patrol Group!

Qin Empire Ming entered the mountains steadily and calmly. He had long held this wish in his heart, and now he felt neither nervous nor uneasy, as though he were walking the road home.

The howls of all kinds of creatures rose and fell through the dense forest, while black shadows swept through the air. Within the abyss-like darkness of the forest, many malicious eyes appeared. Some were scarlet as blood, some ghostly green like will-o'-the-wisps, and some cold silver-white. All of them stared at him without blinking. He could even hear the panting of strange beasts and the air-rending cries of raptors, all very close by. The mountains were exceptionally dangerous in the deep night.

Qin Empire Ming suddenly accelerated. This was physical strength surpassing the Golden Foundation. He instantly rushed toward a larger strange beast. The Firewood Chopping Knife streaked across the sky like a bolt of silk. With a puff, a huge head was severed, blood gushing as the headless corpse weighing more than six hundred pounds crashed to the ground.

In an instant, the surroundings fell silent. Those ghostly green pupils and scarlet eyes in the darkness all vanished.

Qin Empire Ming continued onward, his target clear as he advanced unswervingly toward that stronghold.

A moment later, the headless mountain beast was torn apart and devoured by a pack of carnivorous creatures. The sounds of fierce beasts fighting over food and guarding their share rang out from there.

As Qin Empire Ming neared his destination, he stood atop an adjacent mountain and watched the stronghold with Fire Spring on the opposite peak.

There was still some time before Shallow Night, yet people were already moving about there. A nearly two-meter-tall man with curly black hair was feeding bloody chunks of meat to that ferocious Golden Mastiff.

"Fu Entao!" Qin Empire Ming realized who it was. He had heard of his physical features; his hair was naturally curly. This strongest group leader was actually already at the stronghold.

Then he saw four more people emerge from the wooden cabins in succession, including Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng.

"They arrived early." Qin Empire Ming frowned, guessing that they had probably arrived yesterday.

He descended the mountain neither hurriedly nor slowly, keeping watch over the only path leading to the stronghold. Four people had yet to arrive, and he decided to cut them down first.

Snowflakes had dyed his black hair white. He stood motionless as Shallow Night arrived, the mountain mist gradually dispersing and the sky becoming less dark.

For New Life Evolvers, their field of vision became far broader. Qin Empire Ming saw a man appear, walking in from beyond the mountains with a beast-hide cloak draped over him.

The face was very familiar. Back when Feng Yi'an humiliated Xu Yueping in Silver Vine Town, this man had been following at his side.

Qin Empire Ming, standing behind a tree like an ice sculpture, moved. His hair crackled like thunder as he instantly reached the man and slammed into him with a muffled impact.

Many bones throughout the man's body broke on the spot. His eyes bulged, and beneath the excruciating pain, he could not even roar, because his neck had been attacked first and seized in the grip of a slender yet powerful hand.

With a crack, this Mountain Patrol's neck was twisted apart. Qin Empire Ming had used too much force; after crushing his neck bones, he nearly tore his head clean off.

The man's head flopped weakly to one side, then hung down. His neck seemed to be connected by only a layer of skin. Even in death, his face bore terror and despair.

Qin Empire Ming carried the man into the depths of the forest. He smelled alcohol and a choking scent of rouge and powder on him. No wonder the man's reaction had been sluggish. After drowning himself in wine and women, he had died without injustice.

After searching him, Qin Ming threw the man far away and took a deep breath. His emotions were fluctuating somewhat noticeably. After all, this was his first time killing someone.

Although he had prepared himself mentally long ago, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Yet he quickly adjusted. He often entered the mountains to hunt and had fought dangerous creatures to the death. He had long seen blood, and his mental endurance was extremely strong.

"To plant Black Moon at Fire Spring, you killed villagers again and again. You are more harmful than the ferocious birds and beasts in these mountains. Today, I will kill every one of you and rid this place of harm. This is the fulfillment of my heart's desire!"

Qin Empire Ming calmed down. In his heart, he regarded this group of Mountain Patrols as evil beasts and savage monsters. He regained his composure and resolve.

After waiting for a long time, the second man emerged through the wind and snow. In the Shallow Night, his tall figure seemed especially imposing. He wore armor similar to Shao Chengfeng's.

Qin Empire Ming, covered in snowflakes, slowly drew the Firewood Chopping Knife, preparing to test its edge.

When the man drew near, a flash of snow-bright blade light burst from the darkness. Qin Empire Ming stomped the snow apart and shot forth like lightning, crossing ten meters in an instant.

This Mountain Patrol reacted far better than the first. Sensing a deadly threat behind and to the side, his hairs stood on end. He quickly shifted sideways, then threw himself toward the ground, trying to evade the danger.

As a New Life Evolver whose physical qualities had improved across the board, his sharpness and adaptability were adequate. If he had faced another opponent on the same level, he should have been able to avoid this strike.

However, Qin Empire Ming had been faster from the start, charging with the force of rushing thunder. He had also anticipated it. The sharp Firewood Chopping Knife swept through the air in his hand. With a puff, the man's head flew away, severed by a single stroke!

Blood sprayed far away in an instant, staining the snow red, while the headless corpse continued in its original forward lunge and toppled into the snowdrifts.

Qin Empire Ming sheathed his blade. This time, he remained calm, with far fewer ripples in his heart.

The goose-feather snow did not seem to drift down, but to smash down, growing ever heavier. Driven by the cold wind, it struck his face with truly considerable force. Qin Empire Ming raised his head to the sky and said, "Excellent snow!"

The stronger the wind and the heavier the snow, the better they could erase the traces he left behind.

He stood amid the wind and snow like an unmoving statue holding a blade. He waited for the third and fourth men in turn. There were no surprises; Qin Ming slaughtered both Mountain Patrols in the dim forest with thunderous force.

He no longer felt discomfort. He could smile gently at Xiao Wenrui, and he could also carry a blade into the mountains to kill a group of Mountain Patrols whose harm was fiercer than tigers.

Qin Empire Ming's steps were powerful, neither hurried nor slow, as he steadily headed alone toward the Mountain Patrol Group's stronghold.

Qin Empire Ming's first kill. Calling for next month's votes.