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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 91: [Reunion of Old Acquaintances]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Qin Ming had been circulating the Harmonizing With the World technique, suppressing his Qi to near-mortal levels.
Yet Cui Chonghe still sensed his presence, a testament to his extraordinary perception.
As night deepened, the Fire Spring glowed with increasing intensity.
A gentle breeze stirred Cui Chonghe's luminous hair, making him appear as refined as jade.
A faint rain of light swirled around him, as if he stood on the path of immortality, having severed all ties to the mortal world.
Qin Ming stood on the dimly lit slope, giving a slight nod in Cui Chonghe's direction.
Beside the Fire Spring, beneath the Black and White Twin Trees, Cui Chonghe's Feather Robe fluttered in the breeze, trailing wisps of white mist.
His face, sculpted like flawless jade, radiated warmth and delicacy.
His deep eyes met Qin Ming's nod with a reciprocal nod.
Qin Ming realized that Cui Chonghe didn't recognize him.
He understood why.
Having studied Cui Chonghe, Qin Ming knew of his noble lineage and the early recognition he had received from Senior Ling, a renowned elder in the Night Mist World.
Born with exceptional intelligence and unparalleled talent, Cui Chonghe had always achieved his desires, fostering unwavering self-confidence.
Why would such a man pay attention to a mere imitation of himself?
After Qin Ming regained his memories, he had reviewed his past interactions with Cui Chonghe and realized that the man had completely disregarded him.
Cui Chonghe only lost his temper once, criticizing his family for their lack of discretion.
He believed the imposter Cui Chonghe was overstepping his bounds, making them look foolish.
Meng Xinghai had once warned Qin Ming about Cui Chonghe's true feelings toward him.
From the perspective of Cui Chonghe, the heir of a millennium-old Noble Clan, Qin Ming was merely a disposable servant, a tool the Cui Clan had raised to be used and discarded at any moment.
At that time, Qin Ming had been furious.
But today, his heart was at peace.
On the slope, Qin Ming even smiled faintly.
"It's better this way," he thought. "Meeting as strangers avoids unnecessary trouble. If he knew who I was, it might stir up trouble."
Cui Chonghe returned the smile, his entire being radiating a transcendent, brilliant light.
He then turned his gaze to the Black and White Twin Trees, remarking, "It's a pity that these young Remnant Species haven't undergone the Heavenly Light Life-and-Death Tribulation. Without that experience, they're useless."
Qin Ming turned and leaped onto the Crimson Eagle's back.
As the eagle spread its wings, it instantly dispersed the Night Mist, soaring into the distance.
Perched on his shoulder, the Talking Sparrow shuddered, saying, "That young man was terrifying. His casual glance made me feel like I'd been transported from this early spring back to the dead of winter, when everything was withered and blizzards raged."
"You actually felt that?" Qin Ming asked, surprised.
He hadn't experienced anything similar.
Talking Sparrow nodded, still shaken. "Yes, it might be because I secretly used my nascent Divinity to probe him. I was struck by a backlash."
Qin Ming realized that Cui Chonghe was even more formidable than he had imagined, possessing an exceptionally high level of spiritual cultivation.
Beneath the Black and White Twin Trees, where white mist swirled and golden rain shimmered, Cui Chonghe suddenly spoke.
"My mind stirred slightly... ans I suddenly felt something. As if It was connected to someone or something."
Nearly ten people surrounded him: young disciples from Beyond the Mortal Realm, Golden-Armored Guards, Jade-Armored Guards, and unfathomable experts from his sect.
They immediately scanned the surroundings warily, their gazes sweeping toward the nearby village.
"The youth who rode away on the Crimson Eagle... could it be related to him?" someone suggested.
A disciple from Beyond the Mortal Realm scoffed.
"Judging by the Black Gold Hammer he carried, his strength barely exceeds four thousand catties. Impressive by ordinary standards, but he wouldn't even qualify to be a Golden-Armored Guard."
"Still, shouldn't we investigate thoroughly, just to be cautious?"
Whether among the ancient Noble Clans or in the Beyond the Mortal Realm, Cui Chonghe was held in exceptional regard.
.....
Qin Ming stood in the wilderness, awaiting news.
Once the experts from Chi Xia City arrived, he planned to leave immediately; lingering here would be unwise.
As Shallow Night ended, darkness slowly engulfed the mountains, punctuated by the roars of wild beasts and the cries of strange birds echoing through the forests.
"Mountain Lord Qin, the experts from Chi Xia City have arrived and wish to hear your account," Talking Sparrow reported, returning from Yinteng (Silvervine) Town.
Qin Ming nodded, relieved.
"Now things should be safe," he thought.
He had no desire to encounter the Golden Thieves' leader here; his subordinates might unleash a bloodbath in this remote region.
He vaguely suspected that the Golden Thieves' longevity stemmed from their role as a wealth-gathering tool for some super-organization.
Unfortunately, despite killing several Golden Thieves in a single day, he had found no valuable items.
"Could they all have been entrusted to their leader?"
Outside Silvervine Town, Qin Ming met two top-tier experts.
Ling Xu, the former City Lord of Chi Xia City, stood clad in white robes. In his early forties, he possessed handsome features and an air of refined elegance.
He smiled warmly. "Xiao Qin, right? You're quite the young man."
Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat at the sight of that smile.
He knew all too well that the Former City Lord was a master of deception. Rumor had it that he had once collaborated with High-Tier Mutant Creature in the Great Mountain to stage a performance, luring hidden observers into a stampede toward a special Node bathed in five-colored radiance. The victims were left with grievances they couldn't voice.
Though some had later vented their fury by stripping him of his City Lord position, he simply relocated to an even larger city and resumed his role as City Lord.
"Greetings, Senior Ling," Qin Ming said respectfully.
City Lord Ling smiled warmly. "Meng Xinghai and I are close friends. As his nephew, you needn't stand on ceremony with me."
"We've been fixated on eliminating the Golden Thieves ourselves. We rushed here as soon as we received word," a three-foot-tall Li Hua Cat declared, striding gracefully through the forest with a crimson sword strapped to its back. The sword's scabbard nearly dragged on the ground.
Qin Ming bowed to this formidable expert as well, quickly relaying the intelligence gathered by the Talking Sparrow and its flock of avian siblings from various key towns.
Ling Xu frowned. "All signs indicate they truly intend to break through at Black and White Mountain. Does that mean the extensive nets we've cast elsewhere were just for show?"
"Brother Ling, it's been a long time since we last met. I never expected to see you here," a hearty laugh rang out from the distance.
A group of figures emerged from the thick night, approaching Silvervine Town.
"Brother Zhao, why aren't you cultivating in seclusion? What brings you to this remote place like Black and White Mountain?" Ling Xu greeted a middle-aged man with a smile.
"For my junior brother, I came here specifically to seek the Yin-Yang Grand Elixir. I didn't expect the Mountain Lord to be so formidable, with such an extraordinary background. Still, the journey wasn't in vain," Middle-aged Man Zhao replied as he approached.
Trailing closely behind him was a young man, tall and muscular, looking rather unlike an Outsider.
His name was Zheng Maoze.
Qin Ming recognized him as a direct descendant of the Zheng Clan, and the elder brother of Zheng Maorong, the identity Qin Ming had once impersonated at the Black Market in the Night Mist.
"Brother Ling, I've heard you also obtained a Yin-Yang Grand Elixir at Black and White Mountain. Would you be willing to part with one or two?" Middle-aged Man Zhao asked.
Ling Xu shook his head. "Rumors! You don't believe those, do you? The White-Haired Old Beast snatched all the Black White Grand Medicine. If you're asking me for it, I suspect you're trying to recruit me as one of your Divine Armor Guards."
Middle-aged Man Zhao shook his head.
"How would I dare? Others might not know, but I'm well aware of your true identity. You're a master of the Esoteric Sect, and your secrecy is impeccable."
Qin Ming was surprised to learn that the Former City Lord was also someone who walked two paths. It seemed that no renowned expert was truly simple.
At the same time, he sighed inwardly.
The path of physical Mutation (Awakening) had been completely relegated to the background, often used by masters of other paths to conceal their true foundations.
A group of people approached, clearly not from a single lineage.
Outsiders were divided into many traditions, each vying for dominance.
Qin Ming recognized several familiar faces: Lu Zhenyi, Zeng Yuan, and Chen Bingyan.
Some were direct descendants of Noble Clans, while others had obscure origins but had once stayed briefly in Qing He City, awaiting Outsiders to take them as disciples.
They all knew each other well, some even intimately.
Behind them followed other Outsider disciples whom Qin Ming didn't recognize.
"Cui Chonghe... Ah, my apologies, it's just an old habit. I never expected to run into you here. It's been over two years since we last met. How have you been?" Zheng Maoze, a tall and muscular man, strode forward first.
As the leader of the group, he naturally spotted his "old acquaintance" first.
"I never expected to encounter Young Master Zheng here," Qin Ming replied.
Though Zheng Maoze was physically imposing, his words were measured.
He shook his head, smiled, and pointed a finger at Qin Ming, saying, "You're being too formal, old friend. We've known each other for years. Calling me 'Young Master Zheng' makes it sound like our status has changed, as if I'm looking down on you."
"Alright, Big Zheng, you haven't changed a bit!" Qin Ming laughed heartily.
Zheng Maoze's expression froze momentarily. His stocky build and towering height had earned him the nickname "Big Strong Zheng" behind his back.
Back in the day, Cui Chonghe had affectionately called him "Big Zheng."
It wasn't meant as an insult; Zheng Maoze was indeed exceptionally tall.
His family had even considered pushing him toward the path of the Giant Spirit God, but fortunately, he proved more suited to the path of Immortality.
For Qin Ming to dare call him "Big Zheng" again today showed considerable audacity.
Qin Ming knew Zheng Maoze well. Beneath his rough exterior lay a cunning mind. This man was no pushover.
Given his younger brother Zheng Maorong's ruthless nature, Zheng Maoze couldn't be any different.
Ning Siqi had already warned Qin Ming to be wary of Zheng Maorong, whose subtle manipulations had recently stirred up trouble for him.
If his younger brother was like this, what would his elder brother be like?
"Sigh, your personality hasn't changed at all," Zheng Maoze said with a warm smile. "It's good that you're still so familiar—it proves our bond can withstand the test of time."
He asked casually, "So, what should I call you now?"
Qin Ming understood perfectly. "Big Strong Zheng" was smiling, but he was also subtly reminding him that their statuses had changed.
He refused to believe Zheng Maoze didn't know his current name. Ning Siqi had mentioned that his younger brother often exchanged letters with him.
Qin Ming smiled. "I feel the same—you're as warm as ever. Just call me Qin Ming. It's only been a little over two years since we last met, but you already exude an otherworldly aura, your demeanor completely transformed. You must have surpassed your peers, just as you always wished!"
"Chonghe—no, Qin Ming, don't say such things in front of everyone!" Zheng Maoze quickly interrupted, his expression turning serious. "You'll only make me a target!"
He knew the proverb well: The tallest tree in the forest catches the wind.
Even commoners knew that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
He immediately glanced around and declared, "I'm just a humble disciple, insignificant as a feather before so many senior brothers and sisters."
"Big Zheng, you're being too modest!" Qin Ming said.
Zheng Maoze didn't argue, immediately changing the subject. "Have you seen Wang Caiwei?"
"No," Qin Ming replied with a single word.
"She should be here soon," Zheng Maoze said with a smile.
"Qin Ming."
"Long time no see."
"How are you doing?"
Lu Zhenyi, Zeng Yuan, and Chen Bingyan approached, all former acquaintances, greeting him.
Soon, more old friends arrived from afar.
Regardless of their true feelings, since some had already spoken to him, the others couldn't appear aloof and greeted him with smiles, asking about his recent activities.
They had already noticed the bloodstained hammer in Qin Ming's hand, understanding his current situation: his immortal path had been severed, placing him on a different path from theirs.
"Li Qingxu, Wang Caiwei, and Cui Chonghe might arrive soon," someone whispered, whether to warn Qin Ming or simply to remark on the inevitable drama.
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END OF CHAPTER
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