Chapter 14 - First Kill

"Sharp enough!" Qin Ming stood up from the whetstone, the rust had been removed from the wood-chopping knife in his hand, now smooth as a mirror, like a pool of autumn water. "People like Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng deserve to die, but if good people get caught up in accidents, that would be too unfortunate," he pondered. He wanted to get to the bottom of it. In the evening, Old Man Liu was drinking with Xu Yueping, each with only one cup, sipping a bit at a time, savoring the taste of the liquor. Xu Yueping's family's spicy aged wine was almost gone. "A roe deer for a human life, truly devoid of humanity!" Old Man Liu cursed while drinking, feeling stifled, these words he couldn't share with the Qian family. Xu Yueping worried most that people like Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng might actually be reborn with new life, which would be even worse. "Is there no good person in the Mountain Patrol Team?" Qin Ming arrived. Old Man Liu sighed, "If more than half a basket of pears have gone bad, and you don't do anything, it's hard to save the rest. The Mountain Patrol Team can have up to twelve members, but now there are only nine. Those who don't fit in are either pushed out or have accidents in the mountains." "Isn't there anyone who can balance or deal with them?" Qin Ming asked casually. Xu Yueping shook the wine jar vigorously to pour out a little wine for him, pulling him to sit down and drink together. Old Man Liu thought for a moment, and said, "Some teams in other mountain patrol groups don't get along with them, either because they can't stand them or due to competition over the spiritual resources in the mountains, leading to bloody incidents." Xu Yueping said, "And the neighboring Qingsang Village, they haven't been forced to plant the black moon, it seems that the relative of that dunce has quite some skill." At this point, he looked at Qin Ming and said, "Little Qin, with your solid golden foundation, you should have a plan. When spring arrives, go out and see the world, don't be trapped here." He understood the nature of people like Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng, fearing Qin Ming might be harmed by those wolf-like mountain patrollers. Qin Ming pondered and said, "A plan, huh? I really want to know where I fled from back then." "Ah, if you hadn't mentioned it, I'd almost forgotten, always thinking of you as one of us here," Xu Yueping didn't know how to comfort him, so he changed the topic. He spoke of the splendor of Chixia City, incredibly prosperous, with outstanding people, perhaps offering the chance to acquire advanced meditation methods, spiritual techniques, and more. Old Man Liu agreed, "I also support you, Little Qin, going out. The young should be ambitious and have dreams, otherwise, when you get to my age, your legs will be too weak to go anywhere, leaving only regrets and sighs of old age." Xu Yueping chuckled and said, "Uncle Liu, I heard you once had grand ambitions in your youth." Old Man Liu, unembarrassed by the mention of past events, replied, "Who hasn't been young before?" "What were your ambitions back then?" Qin Ming asked with interest. Old Man Liu reminisced, "In my impetuous youth, it was normal to dare to think and act. For instance, I wanted to rise to power and subdue a famous beast in the mountains. I also wished to marry the most beautiful girl in the vicinity." "And what was the outcome?" "Once, while cooperating with the Mountain Patrol Team, we unexpectedly encountered that famous beast. It charged through, nearly annihilating us just by passing by. With that, I was left with a vital energy injury, and the threshold of rebirth slipped entirely out of reach. My hopes were dashed, and that girl was married off to one of my rivals instead." Qin Ming raised his cup in salute, speechless at the misfortune. Old Man Liu chuckled, "Later, I couldn't bear the indignation, so I married that rival's sister, making him call me brother-in-law for life." "That's the way to do it!" The three of them, each with only half a cup of wine, drank the night away. When Qin Ming returned home, he wiped down the iron bow engraved with beast patterns, though it was no longer a hard bow to him; his excessive strength might break it. "It can barely be used," he remarked. Then, he filled the quiver wrapped in animal hide with iron arrows and packed spare clothes into his bundle. "Tomorrow is mid-month," he said, gazing into the deep night sky. That night, he went to bed early to adjust his energy and spirit to their peak state. He awoke in the latter half of the night, having slept enough already. Though dawn was far off, he silently pushed open the courtyard gate. In the dead of night, all was silent, the darkness deep and eerie, making it difficult for ordinary people to see anything. After his rebirth, Qin Ming's physical qualities, including his eyesight, were enhanced, allowing him to perceive dim shapes even in such extreme conditions, unhindered in his movements. He avoided the hot spring area, opting instead for the most secluded path. Snowflakes had been falling for days, with signs of intensifying. His black hair, draped over his shoulders, fluttered in the night wind. His tall frame was neither frail nor weak, moving with unwavering determination towards the mountains. The faces of the injured villagers flashed before his eyes, along with the scene of Feng Yi'an handing over a deer at Uncle Qian's funeral, always haunting his mind. Unable to endure it any longer, today he would confront the members of the Mountain Patrol Team! Qin Ming entered the mountain with calm and composure, his heart set on a wish, feeling no tension or anxiety, as if he were on a journey home. The howls of various creatures echoed through the dense forest, and dark shadows flitted across the sky. In the abyss-like dark forest, many malicious eyes appeared; some were blood-red, others as green as ghostly flames, and some were a cold silver, all staring intently at him. He could even hear the breathing of exotic beasts and the piercing cries of raptors, all very close by, making the mountain exceptionally dangerous at night. Suddenly, Qin Ming accelerated, his speed surpassing that of someone with a golden foundation. He charged at a larger beast, and with a swing of his machete, there was a whoosh as a massive head was severed, blood gushing forth, and the 600-pound headless corpse crashed to the ground. Instantly, the surroundings became quiet, and the green and blood-red eyes in the darkness disappeared. Qin Ming continued on his way, his goal clear, unwaveringly heading toward that stronghold. Moments later, the headless mountain beast was torn apart and devoured by a group of carnivorous creatures, the sounds of beasts fighting and guarding their food emanating from there. Qin Ming approached his destination, standing on a neighboring peak, observing the stronghold with a fire spring on the opposite side. There was still some time before dawn, yet people were already active there. A curly-haired man, nearly two meters tall, was feeding bloody chunks of meat to a fierce golden mastiff. "Fu Entao!" Qin Ming realized who it was, having heard of his physical characteristics, his naturally curly hair. Surprisingly, this strongest team leader was already at the stronghold. He then saw four people, including Feng Yi'an and Shao Chengfeng, emerging from a wooden house one after another. "They arrived early," Qin Ming frowned, guessing they had likely arrived yesterday. He descended the mountain at a leisurely pace, guarding the path leading to the stronghold, with four others yet to arrive, deciding to eliminate them first. Snowflakes turned his black hair white as he stood motionless. As night fell, the mountain mist gradually dissipated, and the sky was less dark. For someone newly initiated, the view became more open. Qin Ming saw a man appear, draped in a beast fur cloak, approaching from outside the mountain. The face was familiar; this person had been by Feng Yi'an's side when he humiliated Xu Yueping in Yinteng Town. Qin Ming, standing like an ice sculpture behind a large tree, moved, hair like thunder, instantly reaching the man's side, colliding with him with a dull thud. Many of the man's bones broke on the spot, his eyes bulging. In excruciating pain, he couldn't even scream, as his neck was the first to be attacked, gripped firmly by a long yet powerful hand. With a crunch, the patrolman's neck was snapped, and due to Qin Ming's excessive force, his neck bones were crushed, nearly tearing his head off entirely. The man's head lolled to one side, hanging down, seemingly connected only by a layer of skin, his face showing fear and despair even in death. Qin Ming carried the man into the depths of the forest, smelling alcohol and a heavy scent of perfume on him. No wonder his reaction was slow; he was hungover after indulging in debauchery, a death not undeserved. After gathering his thoughts, he threw the man into the distance and took a deep breath, his emotions fluctuating noticeably. After all, it was his first time killing someone. Although he had mentally prepared himself in advance, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, he quickly adjusted. Having often hunted in the mountains and fought dangerous creatures, he was no stranger to blood, and his mental resilience was strong. "To plant the Black Moon in the Fire Spring, you all killed villagers repeatedly, more harmful than the ferocious birds and beasts of the mountains. Killing you all today will rid us of this menace, fulfilling my heart's desire!" Qin Ming calmed down, viewing this group of Mountain Patrol Team members as malevolent beasts and monsters. He regained his composure and determination. After waiting for a long time, the second person braved the wind and snow, his tall figure casting an oppressive presence in the dim night, wearing armor similar to that of Shao Chengfeng. Covered in snowflakes, Qin Ming slowly drew his chopping knife, ready to test its edge. As this person approached, a bright flash of blade light erupted in the darkness. Qin Ming stepped on the snow explosively, swift as lightning, closing the ten-meter distance in an instant. This patrolman's reaction was much sharper than the previous one. Sensing the deadly threat from the side and behind, his hair stood on end. He quickly moved sideways and then lunged to the ground, attempting to evade the crisis. As a newly awakened individual with enhanced physical abilities, his sensitivity and adaptability were adequate. Against other opponents of the same level, he should have been able to dodge this strike. However, Qin Ming was originally faster than him, moving like a thunderbolt, and had already anticipated his moves. The sharp chopping knife in his hand sliced through, and with a poof, the man's head flew off, severed with a single blow! Blood spurted out instantly, dyeing the snow red, while the headless body maintained its forward momentum and fell into the snowbank. Qin Ming sheathed his knife, maintaining his calm this time, with less turmoil in his heart. The heavy snowflakes didn't seem to drift down but rather pelted down, growing heavier and heavier, hitting his face with considerable force. Qin Ming looked up at the sky and said, "Good snow!" The stronger the wind and snow, the better it could erase the traces he left behind. He stood in the wind and snow, like a statue holding a knife, unmoving. He successively awaited the third and fourth persons, and without any surprises, he dispatched these two patrolmen with thunderous force in the dim mountain forest. He no longer felt discomfort. He could smile gently at little Wen Rui and also wield his knife to slay a group of patrolmen more dangerous than tigers in the mountains. Qin Ming's steps were firm, neither hurried nor slow, as he calmly walked alone towards the Mountain Patrol Team's stronghold. Qin Ming's first kill called for a monthly ticket.