Night Without End -
Chapter 118 - 77 Dispel All Fog
Chapter 118: Chapter 77 Dispel All Fog
Qin Ming silently pondered under the night sky.
His main memories had returned, only some minor details remained fuzzy.
"If my conjecture is true, then without me, Qin Ming, there would be Zhang Ming, Zhao Ming, and so on; the Cui Family needs an ’identity’ to stand in that place."
Qin Ming stood in front of the window, feeling a bit suffocated.
"The rise of the Li Family, suddenly clashing with a thousand-year-old family, surely has nothing to do with me; the Cui Family couldn’t have foreseen such a scene ten years ago."
Qin Ming mused that his identity within the Cui Family should have reached its end, it was originally supposed to conclude, and this final phase just happened to coincide with the attack of the Li Family, and thus he was swept along with it.
Obviously, in the terrifying collision between the Cui and Li families of such magnitude, he was originally not involved, but just happened to encounter it, allowing him to exert his "remaining heat."
He, like those old men, was destined to be consumed.
But that group of elders in the Cui Family all willingly embarked on that path, knowing full well they were facing a nine deaths one life situation; they were about to die of old age and willingly shone brightly for the Cui Family in their final moments.
Qin Ming’s heart harbored indescribable flavors, with various emotions churning.
"Every year when spring warms and flowers bloom, they would receive a special letter..." Qin Ming first realized something was wrong from here.
Every year was the same, and when reading the letter, both Master Cui and Madam Cui were at their happiest, even the severe and you could even say rigid Master Cui, would reveal an unmistakably joyous smile.
"One of those years, I vaguely overheard something, but it’s been too long, and at the time it seemed I didn’t pay attention to that detail," Qin Ming frowned.
However, he was undergoing his fourth rebirth, which had not yet ended; there was still hope that he might also recall those minute details.
"The fourth rebirth concerns the five senses, subconscious, and instinctual intuition." Qin Ming felt that he could completely tear away the curtain of the past.
He had noticed that this time the consumption of Spiritual Material was indeed excessive.
"If I hadn’t entered the Thunder Fire Alchemy Hall, consecutively withstood the impact of six or seven waves of Heavenly Light, and obtained a large amount of extremely special and rare Spiritual Material, this rebirth of mine might have experienced some turbulence."
Qin Ming realized that the injury to his head was more serious than he had imagined; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been on the brink of death, completely amnesiac, but fortunately, this rebirth would completely resolve all issues.
"Cutting off old ailments, coupled with rebirth, I am consuming twice the amount of Spiritual Material." He had a premonition that this rebirth would be more violent than the previous ones.
"Perhaps when I wake up tomorrow, all these vague areas in my mind will become completely clear." Qin Ming suddenly realized he hadn’t eaten all day, having locked himself in his room.
He got up and left, simply eating some food.
That night, after Qin Ming fell asleep, the Golden Needle moved like sewing, interweaving across his entire body as if patching him up. At the same time, Silver Mud covered him from head to toe, as if applying the final Big Medicine.
The shattered area of his skull was no longer being specifically targeted, which apparently had been completely eradicated of any hidden dangers.
Qin Ming entered the final phase of his fourth rebirth.
In the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, he was startled awake and unconsciously murmured, "I am Qin Ming, I have a grandfather, I am not a Cui family member."
He calmed down, this scene felt eerily familiar, strikingly reminiscent.
Qin Ming got up to sit in meditation, then he remembered once in a household in Yinteng Town, it was just like this that he had woken up startled, and then he had run out crazily into the ice and snow, shouting loudly.
"I was severely wounded in the head by Li Qingxu, fell into a long coma, and was arranged by Cui Hong and the woman with a red mark between her eyebrows to stay in Yinteng Town. I survived that winter but nearly lost my sanity..."
Qin Ming reflected, two years ago in a hazy state he had continuous nightmares, seeing himself and his grandfather as a child, so he knew that his real name was Qin Ming; did the silk scripture’s Xinsheng Skill come into effect at that time?
He lay down again and quickly fell into a deep sleep, re-experiencing those dreams from two years prior.
"It’s not a dream, these are my childhood experiences." Qin Ming’s subconscious was still active.
In these dreams, he confirmed that the old man was his grandfather, and his own name was indeed Qin Ming.
"Child, the skill on the silk scripture really doesn’t work, your grandfather has practiced it his entire life without success," the old man sighed, but still opened the silk scripture for him, page by page, reciting it to him.
His real relative, knowing there was an issue with the skill, was explaining it to him, but also seriously cautioning him that continuing to practice it would be a hindrance.
The old man said, "I’ve practiced it all my life, pondered over it all my life; I suspect that to achieve it, one might need to die once, but can’t really die completely; it’s impossible to grasp that degree."
Grandfather of Qin Ming whispered, "What is rebirth, perhaps coming to life from death is only the first step."
More than a decade ago, Qin Ming was too young to understand the difficulty and danger of that.
Then the old man shook his head again, "That’s just the rambling of an old fool like me; after all, those ancestors who obtained the silk scripture before me were much more powerful, yet couldn’t master it, and not just them, but also the original people and their disciples that source originated from – they all died off, burying the silk scripture in dust, never to be practiced again."
"Grandfather, once I master it, you won’t have to suffer anymore, I’ll take good care of you." The naive younger Qin Ming said.
"That’s great, then you should grow up quickly. It’s rare to live till seventy in life; your grandfather is already over fifty, and with our circumstances, I can live at most another ten years." The old man stroked his head, affectionate yet worried, "Grandfather worries about you the most; if I were to go, what would you do? You’re still so little and can’t support yourself."
The old man looked disconsolate, "My whole life has been delayed by the silk scripture, wholeheartedly focused on it, and lived very unsuccessfully. Now with me here, although your clothes are a bit worn, fortunately, you are still well-fed. If I feel it’s not working out, I need to find you a good family."
"Grandfather... another ten years? I don’t want it to be like this; you can live to a hundred years old, I will grow up soon." Qin Ming clutched the old man’s rough hands and then asked again, "Where are my parents, let them come to take care of Grandfather."
The old man, upon hearing this, felt a great sense of loss and said, "They, too, were delayed by the silk scripture, striving to practice the skill written on it, and have journeyed far. Calculating the time, they are probably no longer alive, likely having passed away even before Grandpa did. I don’t want to keep it from you, because Grandpa doesn’t have much time left. You need to mature early and be strong, so that you can survive when Grandpa is no longer here."
"Grandpa, when I grow up, I’ll take care of you. What do you like? Do you have any wishes? Quickly, tell me," urged a young Qin Ming, his eyes reddening.
"Grandpa once wished to master the skill written on the silk scripture, but now I only hope you can grow up safely. Nothing else matters anymore."
...
In the early morning, Qin Ming woke up and whispered, "Grandpa, where are you now?"
More than a decade had passed, and he sat there motionless for a long while before he finally spoke, "Is my last relative also gone?"
"Grandpa, you guessed right. One must die once to master the skill on the silk scripture. I can fulfill all your wishes. I really want to see you again," Qin Ming said softly.
He got up and washed his body with cold water, having completely finished his fourth rebirth. Not only was his consciousness clear, recalling all sorts of past details, he also felt as though his physical fitness had improved once again.
"Now I probably have the strength of over 1,200 pounds. A severe blow to the head has greatly affected me, and the reason why so much Spiritual Material was consumed this time was not only to repair old injuries but also to make up for the shortcomings in my body from previous rebirths due to injuries."
Qin Ming pondered, estimating that if his head had not been injured, he should have been able to lift over 1,200 pounds on his first rebirth.
With the hidden dangers resolved, he felt light and relaxed from head to toe; he had become stronger.
But when he thought of his grandfather and matters of the Cui Family, he found it difficult to smile.
"After I entered the Cui Family, I was personally taught by the direct lineage members to write down the name Cui Chonghe and to remember it firmly, and for a long time, I had no contact with outsiders."
Qin Ming recalled the details; he had once overheard in the residence people whispering, "He does resemble quite a bit."
In fact, the entire Cui Family never revealed to anyone that he had gone missing, and the young Qin Ming had some doubts about this.
Now it seemed he seamlessly took over, someone just left, and he arrived, replacing that person’s position.
No wonder the precocious older brother, Cui Chongxiao, showed a peculiar look the first time he saw him, scrutinizing carefully. It seems there were premonitions all along.
Subsequently, Qin Ming also thought of the "details" when his parents received a special letter.
Now, after four rebirths, the fog has dissipated, and he can see clearly, recollecting the abnormalities of that time; Master Cui and Madam Cui were extremely happy and excited, holding the letter and whispering, "Chong He is precocious, with talents bestowed by heaven..."
On deeper reflection, it’s quite chilling because there really is a Cui Chonghe!
Stunning figures such as Li Qingxu, Li Qingyue, and the direct daughter of the Wang family were all taken away and accepted as disciples by outsiders only after their teenage years.
But the real Cui Chonghe was already sent away at the age of three or four!
"How terrifying must his talents be? Perhaps what Second Master Cui drunkenly blurted out was true, but it should not be attributed to me, rather it should apply to the real Cui Chonghe, who is destined to be Close to Immortal."
Qin Ming believed that the old senior said to have shaken the Yewu World mentioned by Master Cui must indeed exist, and Cui Chonghe had already become his Disciple.
"Master Cui and Madam Cui are exceedingly cautious by nature. The older brother Cui Chongxiao only returns once every few years. They prevent clan members from discussing which Taoist lineage the older brother has entered, for fear of incidents."
Cui Chonghe’s talents are even more astonishing, and naturally, they would protect him even more meticulously, not revealing the slightest hint.
Actually, this is understandable.
Because all the noble families send their descendants to the Outer World, just like the Cui Family, which annually has young direct lineage members become disciples of Outer World individuals.
And some old men in the Cui Family are originally from the Outer World, regularly residing there. It seems that other powerful figures from large families also have many residing in the Outer World.
It can be said that the place is not a Pure Land; there, the influences of each family within those Taoist lineages are intricate and intertwined, each containing elements of the other.
Master Cui and Madam Cui were afraid that if someone knew Cui Chonghe’s identity, they would "keep it in mind," worrying that something might happen over there.
So, they raised another Cui Chonghe here.
"Carefully selected, my appearance might even bear some resemblance to his."
Qin Ming thought that it would be abnormal for Master Cui and Madam Cui not to take some actions to protect the real Cui Chonghe, given how cautious they are.
"Two years ago, maybe Cui Chonghe was exposed, or perhaps he became fearless, ready to step into the limelight, truly appearing before everyone, which is why my role should come to a close."
Qin Ming reflected on past events, his eyes becoming profoundly deep.
"The Cui Family and the Li Family clash; I am merely there to provide some final usefulness," he thought of Cui Hao’s grandfather.
"If it weren’t for Seventh Uncle’s grandfather in that village, I might have been taken away by several other old fellows before the Feathered Robed Youth Li Qingxu appeared."
Qin Ming clearly remembered Seventh Uncle’s grandfather scolding those elderly men twice, telling them to stay back and not get close.
Without Seventh Uncle Cui Hao, likely, Cui Hong and that woman wouldn’t have appeared to rescue him either.
"Although there are some things I’m still puzzled about, the general idea should be just this. Everything is because I completed the ’task’ I was supposed to, and it’s time for me to step off the stage. The Cui Chonghe Close to Immortal is about to step forward."
Special thanks: 133fev, Falling Asleep Under the Stars, Brother Boing Speaking, Lover of Organic Milk Powder, Old Devil Yunlu, thank you to the several Alliance Hierarchs for your support!
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