Dashing and Heroic

Under the pale night sky, mountain shadows layered upon mountain shadows in the distance.

Qin Ming had already set out. Dense woods lined both sides of the road as he strode swiftly through the snow.

Silver Vine Town lay ahead. Beneath the thin mist, gentle light flowed there, and the outlines of its various buildings were visible from far away.

The town was exceedingly lively. Shops lined both sides of the streets, their shelves packed with a dazzling array of goods. People came and went, while cries of buying and selling rose and fell without pause.

Especially recently, many people had come from Red Haze City. From nobles to adventurers to New Life Evolvers of unknown identity, they had all settled in the various towns, making them even more bustling.

After asking around briefly, Qin Ming found the Old Noble's residence. It stood in the eastern district of Silver Vine Town, its vermilion gates imposing and studded with countless copper nails. A pair of Auspicious Beasts that guarded the household's peace stood on either side of the entrance.

"Qin Ming." Quite a few young people had arrived from the villages today, and someone called his name.

Qin Ming immediately responded with a smile and walked with several New Life Evolvers who had just arrived toward the Old Noble's residence. People were already waiting at the gate and stepped forward to lead them inside.

The residence was enormous, with more than one courtyard arranged in pleasing layers. Artificial hills and strange rocks stood among pavilions and terraces, while only a few evergreen plants remained in the flowerbeds at this time.

In this winter of food shortages, the Old Noble's life had clearly not been affected. He was evidently wealthy and knew well how to enjoy himself.

The hall of the residence was spacious and bright. Though it could not be called extravagantly luxurious, it far surpassed an ordinary wealthy household. The massive pillars were carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture was all made of the finest rosewood, and evocative calligraphy and paintings hung upon the walls.

The old steward was meticulous, receiving wave after wave of young people here. The smile on his face never vanished, as though it had been frozen in place, while he remained courteous and proper throughout.

"Qin Ming."

"Er... Zhou Wubing." Qin Ming saw that it was Er Bingzi. He had nearly called him by his old name before changing his words. The other man had changed greatly after becoming a New Life Evolver. He stood half a head taller than ordinary people and had become a spirited young man. With so many people here, calling him as before would have been inappropriate.

"Before long, I'm going to Red Haze City. What are your plans? Are you going out into the world?" Zhou Wubing's once withered yellow hair had become glossy black, and brilliant light now shone in his eyes.

"I also long for the Bright City in the distance. We'll see when the time comes," Qin Ming said.

There were many young people in the sitting room. At first, they were all rather restrained. Compared with the blue-brick, gray-tiled houses they lived in, this place had painted beams and carved rafters, splendid and magnificent. The porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, and other antiques on display were obviously worth a fortune, and they were unaccustomed to such an environment.

However, as time passed, they gradually relaxed and ate the fruits and pastries the steward had sent over.

Qin Ming was fairly at ease. In this snowy winter, there were still fresh scarlet berries to eat, so naturally he did not stand on ceremony. He had come intending to freeload on food and drink in the first place.

"I won't compete with you today. That relative of mine said he'd take me..." Er Bingzi lowered his voice, but suddenly stopped speaking.

That was because he saw a silver-haired old man and a woman draped in a black fur cloak crossing the courtyard toward a smaller sitting room.

"That must be the Xie Family's noble daughter. Though we haven't seen her true face, her figure seems exceptionally outstanding. Hmm, why is she raising a crow?" Zhou Wubing spoke much more than before.

"She doesn't seem worried about getting married either," Qin Ming muttered in an extremely low voice. When Red Haze City's higher-ups had negotiated with the different beings in the mountains yesterday, he had seen this woman from afar. She had also been near that area.

Clearly, even though he had spoken softly, the woman dressed in black heard him. She turned and glared at him.

The hood of her fur cloak was pressed very low, and dark hair covered one side of her fair cheek. Qin Ming saw only part of her oval face, but her red lips seemed exceptionally vivid.

"Hehehe..." The crow on her shoulder actually laughed, its voice no different from a human's.

Qin Ming found it strange. However, ever since entering the residence, he had displayed the art of blending his light with the dust, concealing the vigorous life force of his extraordinary body.

"It should be a myna," Er Bingzi said. Then he, too, received a glare, though this one came from the crow.

Zhou Wubing was puzzled. "Why is she dressed like that in her own home? Oh, I understand. She'll be meeting us soon. Noble ladies are particular about such things. When meeting someone for the first time, she definitely wouldn't reveal her true face."

After that, both he and Qin Ming were glared at by the woman.

In the tiniest voice possible, Qin Ming said, "If you can talk, then say more."

He wanted to test whether that woman could hear them speaking in voices as faint as mosquitoes and ants.

Then, let alone the woman, even the crow reacted. This time, it actually burst into cackling laughter.

Qin Ming immediately shut his mouth and said nothing more. This woman seemed extraordinarily unusual. Even the loose black fur cloak could not conceal her lovely figure. How could someone like her be worried about marriage?

The other young people were also discussing her. They had already confirmed that the silver-haired old man was the Old Noble, and his daughter seemed exceptionally outstanding.

"She feels so far beyond our reach. There's no chance for us," someone in the hall sighed. Although they had entertained some thoughts upon coming, they had now sobered up.

All those who came here were New Life Evolvers, so their senses naturally far surpassed those of ordinary people. They could tell that the noble young lady possessed extraordinary power, and even the crow she kept understood human speech. She was no ordinary person.

Not long afterward, the Old Noble came in person. His name was Xie Jingrui. Every strand of his silver hair gleamed, his complexion was rosy, and he wore brocade robes.

Seeing that all the young people had risen to their feet, somewhat uneasy, he smiled gently. "You are all good children. At a glance, I can see that you are kindhearted. You are far more simple and honest than those young men I've seen who ran with hawks and hounds."

Xie Jingrui's way was candor. The moment he arrived, he laid everything bare. It was true that he wanted to marry off his daughter, but he also wanted to ask everyone for help.

He knew that this group of young New Life Evolvers would enter the mountains and had long since been chosen by the major Lineages of Red Haze City to guide them.

"If you discover rare products born within the Nodes in the mountains, I ask you all to do this old man a favor. Relax, don't be nervous. I'm not asking you to fight over them. I merely ask that you send word to me."

The Old Noble, Xie Jingrui, frankly stated that he could speak with the nobles of Red Haze City. He merely wanted to do business with them and be the first to buy a certain special product he needed, fearing that it would be traded away beforehand.

This was because many organizations and factions had come this time, and they had all spread word in advance that they would buy rare products nurtured in the mountain Nodes at high prices.

Afterward, he clapped his hands, and people brought in several sharp blades, swords, and other weapons. Every single one was unquestionably valuable. He let each young person choose one as thanks for their willingness to come here.

"My daughter has worried me to death. I truly want to marry her off as soon as possible. It vexes me. When choosing a son-in-law, I truly do not care about his background."

Xie Jingrui sighed and stated bluntly that as long as someone and his daughter took a liking to each other, that would be enough. He wished he could arrange the wedding tomorrow, hoping that the Xie Family would put forth branches and scatter leaves, flourishing in descendants.

By the end, he had actually become somewhat melancholy. It did not seem feigned.

Was the Xie Family's noble daughter truly worried about getting married? Many people began to doubt it.

"Young men, I have heard of the two of you. You both possess Golden Foundations, which is quite good. Have you considered taking a different path?" Xie Jingrui approached Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing with a genial expression and spoke to them of his own accord.

Not long afterward, Er Bingzi was taken by the old steward to the rear courtyard to meet that noble young lady, but he returned again very quickly.

"Was it that woman in black? How was she?" Qin Ming asked quietly.

"She wore black, dashing and heroic, and was exceptionally beautiful. But... sigh, she isn't suitable for me. You can consider it." After saying that, Er Bingzi actually hurried away.

Qin Ming had not come to find a marriage match in the first place, but the Old Noble had specially given him a hard bow. He had also been specifically asked to go to the rear courtyard and meet the noble young lady. Out of courtesy, he could not leave early.

He guessed that the mysterious woman in black had glared at him twice just now and did not think much of him. She would probably be the same as Er Bingzi: meet him, go through the motions, and be done with it.

A moment later, Qin Ming was led toward the rear of the residence.

In the rear courtyard, a woman in black was practicing swordsmanship. Cold light flashed densely, and she was indeed dashing and heroic.

Qin Ming was instantly dumbfounded.

It was not that she was unattractive. On the contrary, she was extremely beautiful. Unlike the fragility of ordinary women, she possessed a rare heroic air and a wholly unconventional beauty.

But her face was too large, scarcely smaller than a washbasin. Her tall figure stood nearly five meters high, and even the greatsword in her hand was more than three meters long.

Er Bingzi did not seem to have lied. He had told the truth, except he had not mentioned her height or weight.

The woman was named Xie Lingxi. The greatsword in her hand was longer than Cao Long was tall.

Qin Ming realized what the Old Noble had meant when he said he had a way to help him change paths. He wanted Qin Ming to follow the Giant Spirit God path?

"Do you also think I look like a monster?" Xie Lingxi asked.

Qin Ming immediately shook his head. "No. You are walking the path to godhood, an immortal great dao. And once your Giant Spirit God Physique is perfected in the future, you can still return to your original appearance."

"What godhood? If gods truly existed, why wouldn't they lift up the sun and make it rise again?" the woman sneered, then resumed practicing her sword.

Qin Ming turned to leave.

"Two years ago, I saw you. We came from Flowing Light City, passed through Moonfall City, then Red Haze City. We found you along the way. At that time, you were nearly dead." Xie Lingxi, her tall and graceful figure nearly five meters high, suddenly spoke.

In an instant, Qin Ming's body stiffened. Then he slowly turned around.