Night Without End
Chapter 86 - 54: Secrecy and True Names

Chapter 86: Chapter 54: Secrecy and True Names

Qin Ming entered the dense forest beside the road and dug a deep hole with his Mutton Fat Jade Iron Blade, burying a palm-sized piece of cloth in it.

"Scared of getting into trouble?" Old Man Liu asked.

Qin Ming nodded and threw a wild rabbit he had caught into the hole as well.

The youth formed from the black mist was cold and icy, giving him a very bad feeling. It was best to be cautious with the only item he carried.

The two had a steaming breakfast in Yinteng Town, wandered the streets for half a two-hours, and then headed for the home they had agreed to visit.

The Wu Family’s residence was not small, but it showed signs of disrepair, with peeling red paint on the main gate and a lacklustre bronze ring.

"Old Wu, open the door!" Old Man Liu knocked on the ring.

"Coming." An old man appeared and invited them into the home.

The courtyard was large but no longer possessed its former grandeur; some of the green flagstones used for paving were cracked, and a large flower bed had long since been converted into a vegetable garden, with dry gourd vines climbing over a rockery.

The Wu Family ancestors had been wealthy, but now were in decline. There were four courtyards, but the buildings were old and in need of repair, giving a sense of desolation.

If it wasn’t for this, they probably wouldn’t agree to show the family’s secret book to outsiders.

Old Wu had only undergone rebirth once and no longer had the airs of a high-ranking family, no different from an ordinary old man.

The Wu Family had no servants; a young family member brought them rough tea.

"Old Wu, let’s not beat around the bush. You know our purpose here, so name your price," Old Man Liu got straight to the point, not wanting to waste time.

"To be honest, I’m feeling very conflicted. My Wu Family used to be so glorious, and four generations ago, there was even a great master who went through rebirth five times, dominating this region. Not to mention our ancestors. Now, what am I doing... selling off the fields of my forebears, huh? Thinking about it, I feel immensely guilty," Old Wu sighed.

He glanced at the spacious living room, which once had carved beams and painted rafters, except now the corners of the tables were broken, and the gold and silver inlays on the thick pillars had disappeared.

Old Man Liu took a sip of tea and said, "Old Wu ah, you’ve got to let go. Has there been a family name without its days of glory? Take my Liu Family, if we trace it back, we come from royalty. Have I ever bragged about it?"

Old Wu responded, "What era are you talking about, and are you even a ’Liu’? Alas, I haven’t had a peaceful sleep for several days."

"Young Master, we’re just borrowing the book, we guarantee it won’t be spread," Qin Ming was direct, taking out five Day Golds and placing them on the damaged table.

This was quite a sincere gesture, as in this remote land, one Day Gold could solve a three-person family’s food and clothing needs for a year.

"Not enough," Old Wu shook his head.

Old Man Liu said, "Don’t be too greedy, Old Wu. We’re just borrowing it for a day and we’ve promised not to leak it. Do you really think it’s some kind of divine scripture?"

Old Wu sighed, "When I was young, I went to Chixia City and spent two Day Golds in one night at Mingyue Tower."

Old Man Liu immediately laughed, "Still reminiscing about the past, be careful or your spouse might hear you!"

Qin Ming finally understood why the Wu Family had fallen so fast; Old Wu in his younger days seemed quite free-handed and quite willing to spend money.

He didn’t say anything and placed two more Day Golds on the table.

Old Man Liu sighed, "Old Wu, Xiao Qin and I risked our lives recently, killing some mutated creatures and picking up some damaged weapons in the Dalie Valley. After selling them, all our money is here. Don’t exploit us too harshly."

Old Wu didn’t say anything, quietly sitting there drinking tea.

Not until Qin Ming increased the Day Golds to fifteen did Old Wu sigh, "I’m a descendent who’s compelled to let outsiders see the secret book for the sake of living."

He took out an ancient-looking Beast Skin Book from his bosom and placed it on the table. After, he walked out with an air of resigned deterioration.

Qin Ming held the Beast Skin Book, his expression exceedingly focused as he immersed himself in it. At a sensitive and special stage, he wanted to quickly enhance his power.

Old Wu didn’t trick them; this ancestral secret book was the crystallized effort of the Wu Family’s predecessors, carrying strong emotions.

Qin Ming studied it carefully. The parts about the Xinsheng Skill couldn’t compare to the silk scripture but had some referential value.

After a long time, he passed the Beast Skin Book to Old Man Liu, and then Qin Ming closed his eyes to digest what he had learned.

Old Man Liu didn’t stand on ceremony, taking the book and reading it page by page, comparing and corroborating what he had learned from the old Mountain Patrol.

Suddenly, he felt something, looked up and immediately became unsettled.

Qin Ming sat with closed eyes, threads of Heavenly Light appearing at his fingertips, sharp and visible.

Old Man Liu considered himself quick at learning and talented, but now he was almost overwhelmed. What did he see? Qin Ming had just started and already managed to cultivate the Heavenly Light Force recorded in the book.

"Take your time, we’ve paid for it. I’m heading home to gain insight," Qin Ming stood up.

Old Man Liu felt petrified. How could people be so different? He once nearly took a master in Chixia City, but now his talent seemed insufficient.

"Young man, are you leaving already?" Old Wu in the courtyard was surprised, not expecting Qin Ming to leave so soon and bid him farewell.

Qin Ming nodded, "Yes, the content of this book is obscure, and its method isn’t suitable for me."

Old Wu’s desolate expression finally lightened significantly, smiling he walked over and patted Qin Ming on the shoulder, saying, "This is very normal. The secret book left by my ancestors is extremely profound; not to mention that you’ve only glanced at it for such a short time, I’ve studied it for half my life and still haven’t fully grasped it."

"Yes, it’s an incredible book!" Qin Ming nodded and walked out of the Wu Family’s gate.

"Crack!"

There was a noise from the living room, and Old Wu hurried in to find Old Man Liu somewhat discomposed, having accidentally knocked a teacup to the floor.

When Qin Ming returned, he just happened to see Yang Yongqing who lived at the entrance of the village, gently patting the tall Black Mountain Goat, and whispering, "Yong Hei, in four more days we’ll be heading to Jinji Ridge..."

Qin Ming returned to his own courtyard and began to practice the brand-new Heavenly Light Force.

Mang Power, recorded in the Beast Skin Book, once mastered, allows one to easily break armor with bare hands, invincible, for it is a Heavenly Light Force with extremely strong penetrating power.

Without a doubt, it had a substantial overlap with Nail Strength, and he surmised that practicing both concurrently could complement each other and fuse efficiently.

The Wu Family ancestors in this region were known as Gun and Arrow Double Excellence, excelling in archery, and using a Big Gun, all based on Mang Power. When the Heavenly Light Force could be unleashed externally, the arrows he shot and the Big Gun he thrust were terribly terrifying.

Additionally, records related to this on the Beast Skin Book, some experiential talks, had broadened Qin Ming’s horizons, such as mentioning the medicinal effects of the Three Colored Flower.

According to the book, the Three Colored Flowers produced by Spirit Mountain are of High grade; their nature is gentle, capable of nurturing and bolstering the Heavenly Light within the human body, enhancing the Heavenly Light Force.

In the end, it all comes down to Heavenly Light; the Heavenly Light naturally born within the human body is calm and of warm nature, able to nourish oneself, yet once released externally, using different methods of exertion, its violent side will be drawn out.

The Beast Skin Book warns that when fusing various Heavenly Light Forces, one must be extremely careful. If they are not compatible, it could trigger a Sky Light Explosion inside the body, and the outcome would be terrible.

Mang Power is also a Heavenly Light Force fused from three ordinary Jin Techniques; the Wu Family ancestors dared not try any more than that.

Qin Ming mulled over this. He hadn’t encountered this problem and felt that his Heavenly Light Force had an extremely strong capacity for inclusiveness.

The book mentioned that the Heavenly Light piercing through the night sky nourishes the Three Colored Flowers where it lands, which are of absolute quality, much more precious than the High grade ones from Spirit Mountain.

However, such Three Colored Flowers, containing the external Heavenly Light, have an excessively violent medicinal nature and strong corrosiveness, which the human body cannot bear. They must be consumed alongside objects rich in vitality to remain safe.

Of course, except for the extremely few with exceptional talents who might be able to withstand the harsh medicinal nature of the absolute quality Three Colored Flowers without harm.

Qin Ming conjectured that the so-called corrosiveness is likely related to the essence of Spiritual nature left in the Three Colored Flowers by the Heavenly Light that pierces through the night sky.

Previously, in the Underground Cave, Huang Jingde was all smiles, seemingly answering any questions, yet he still did not mention these details, inevitably accustomed to hiding some parts.

Qin Ming reasoned that his body could withstand the corrosion of Heavenly Light without dying; hence, it should be able to withstand the medicinal nature of the absolute quality Three Colored Flowers without needing to find objects rich in vitality.

...

In the mountains, near Dalie Valley, two bandits from Jinji Ridge guarded this place personally.

"Is he going to harm the robust youth again? I’ve reminded him numerous times, consecutive deaths will lead to problems. If it attracts the attention of Chixia City’s upper echelons, we’ll be in big trouble."

"Is he really one of the outsiders? Cold and gloomy, he doesn’t at all resemble that kind of divine-like person."

"Unless he reveals himself, we can’t see him at all; this is definitely an outsider’s technique. But judging from his methods, he seems to be walking an unorthodox path."

The two bandits discussed secretly, still unaware that the young man formed from black fog had already perished.

Earlier, that youth had come with a token given by the Golden Thief, asking the bandit from Jinji Ridge to help guard this place and prevent anyone from approaching.

"This person has already ensured he would only target the elderly, making it appear like natural deaths, to avoid trouble. But the night has long passed; why hasn’t he returned?"

"Let’s wait and see."

"In the past, when the old beast in the mountains wailed over the grave, invoking a miracle with each bow, it rapidly mutated, advancing rapidly, causing a huge commotion. Afterward, Chixia City’s higher-ups sealed the news of this incident’s aftermath. Now this outsider is stirring troubles in the place where it all started. Don’t you think he wants to emulate that old beast? If the story leaks, we would not have enough lives to die a hundred times."

"He is an outsider; he shouldn’t be following that Alien Species’ path, right?"

The two bandits wore grave expressions, not eager to interact with that eerily cold young man.

"Could it be that some powerful outsider wants to use his hand to probe the Black and White Mountain?"

"Unlikely, I think he’s about to leave. He looked hurried; he should be just passing by and incidentally doing some things."

...

Qin Ming sat quietly. He had mastered Coiling Silk Strength, Cutting Force, Nail Strength, Mang Power, and his own unique Heavenly Light Force. He felt ready to consume the Three Colored Flower and then fully merge together, his strength would surely see a significant boost!

"This scene feels familiar..." he gazed at the Three Colored Flowers in the Jade Box, somewhat absorbed.

Layers upon layers of petals, like willow leaves or swords, emanated copious amounts of colorful mist; spiritual light flowed, enveloping him.

Since his three rebirths, Qin Ming not only recalled some things from his childhood, but also various vague and fragmented memories began to emerge in his mind.

"Discard." He whispered this word softly, dipping it in tea water, and wrote it down on the table.

At this moment, as he looked at the Three Colored Flower, it was as if he saw a familiar scene from the past.

"Cui Chonghe." Then, he wrote these three characters on the tabletop, gazing intently, and said, "Chong Qi taken as He, originating from the dispersed books of outsider, the surname Cui, Cui Chonghe, is that my real name? But now, I feel a strong aversion to outsiders."