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Novel: [Night Without Borders]
Chapter 5: [Awakening]
Author: [Chen Dong]
Translator: [Shadow Knight AK]
Editor: [Shadow Knight AK]
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Qin Ming nodded solemnly.
It was indeed time to ponder how to achieve "Awakening."
This was a momentous matter, one that would shape his entire life and determine his future destiny.
The golden age for awakening was between fifteen and sixteen.
Those who achieved it during this period would reap the greatest benefits; missing this opportunity would be a great pity.
But it was incredibly difficult.
Even the most outstanding youths in Twin Tree Village typically achieved awakening only after their twenties, and some didn't succeed until they were past thirty.
Even then, out of the village's forty-plus households and over two hundred residents, fewer than ten had ever achieved awakening.
Lu Ze spoke up: "Er Bingzi from the neighboring village just succeeded, right in the middle of his golden age."
Qin Ming remembered Er Bingzi.
He was thin and pale, with a sickly complexion and sparse, straw-colored hair.
He was genuinely surprised. That frail-looking youth had actually achieved awakening during his golden age.
"When did this happen?"
"Almost a month ago," Lu Ze replied. "After his awakening, Er Bingzi lifted the four-hundred-jin black-haired donkey in his courtyard with ease, completely shedding his previous weakness."
"Truly remarkable," Qin Ming thought.
He hadn't expected that while so many strong, bull-like youths had repeatedly failed, Er Bingzi had succeeded so effortlessly.
Lu Ze was also moved.
He was strong and healthy, considered a formidable figure among young men. Yet at twenty-three, he still hadn't achieved "Awakening."
"Rumor has it it had to do with a relative of his," Lu Ze said, privy to some inside information.
Er Bingzi's distant relative, who had traveled extensively, returned home and recognized him as promising talent.
The relative explained that Er Bingzi had previously suffered minor physical issues that prevented him from retaining his essence, energy, and spirit, leaving him sickly. Yet he possessed immense potential.
Crucially, the relative brought back an advanced Qi Cultivation Technique and instructed Er Bingzi to switch to practicing this method.
The results were remarkable, ultimately leading to his "Awakening."
Qin Ming was lost in thought.
Indeed, one's fate was unpredictable.
"Afterward, the relative remarked that Er Bingzi's innate 'foundation' was far more robust than he had initially suspected, perhaps allowing him to go very far."
Lu Ze had never imagined that someone who had always appeared sickly could become so formidable.
"While we don't have an advanced Qi Cultivation Technique, there are still viable paths. Xiao Qin, I think it's time you changed your current training method," Lu Ze advised.
In his view, Qin Ming's physical constitution was exceptionally strong, even surpassing his own and far exceeding that of ordinary people.
With such excellent conditions, Qin Ming had yet to achieve "Awakening."
The problem likely lay in his method of self-cultivation, which failed to cultivate the power of rebirth needed to propel him forward.
He was already past sixteen, and if he continued like this, he would truly miss his golden period.
Liang Wanqing also urged, "Xiao Qin, why don't you try Brother Lu's Night Meditation Technique?"
As Eternal Night shrouded the world, the wilderness became incredibly dangerous.
In this harsh environment, various regions had published public cultivation manuals to help everyone improve their physical condition and protect themselves.
Of course, these manuals were far from advanced, let alone comparable to rare and precious secret manuals.
Qin Ming wasn't stubborn. He understood their good intentions and nodded.
"I'll give it a serious try next."
Lu Ze sighed inwardly, believing Qin Ming's progress had been hindered by his unorthodox training methods.
They were far inferior to the low-level Elementary Explanation of the Night Meditation Technique he practiced.
However, switching now would be too late.
He pondered that only a high-level Qi Cultivation Technique could swiftly change Qin Ming's situation.
Lu Ze exhaled a turbid breath. "Alas, if only we had a mid-level secret manual. It would be such a pity for someone with your potential to miss their most precious golden period."
However, the only books circulating in the area that claimed to help people achieve "Awakening" were a handful of titles like the Guide to the Fleeting Life Technique and the Elementary Explanation of the Night Meditation Technique, all of similar quality.
Qin Ming remained calm, mainly because the movements he had practiced for years were finally showing results.
A faint silver glow and rippling energy had briefly manifested on his skin - a tangible difference from before.
His handsome face glowed with a healthy flush, his eyes bright and clear.
"Brother Lu, Sister-in-law, just give me a little more time. I should be able to do it."
Awakening meant that, building upon one's existing physical foundation, a surge of vibrant life force would erupt, as if returning to the womb to be reborn with vigorous new vitality.
In the mundane world, one's physical condition typically becomes fixed. But if one's "roots" were to undergo another round of development, it would be like a postnatal gestation, a second chance at life.
Who wouldn't be tempted by such a prospect?
Take Er Bingzi, for example.
He had always been somewhat frail.
After awakening, he could now lift and hold hundreds of jins of live weight above his head with his bare hands.
Such a transformation was truly astonishing, nothing short of a life-altering miracle.
Imagine Lu Ze, who could already snap bricks and shatter wooden dummies after practicing the Night Meditation Technique.
If he were to experience awakening, his strength would surge dramatically.
How terrifying would his fists and feet become then?
"After recovering from my illness, I feel different," Qin Ming said confidently. "My body has never been in such good condition."
Before Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing could respond, five-year-old Wen Rui was already nodding earnestly. His rosy cheeks were flushed with anticipation as he said, "Uncle is the best! When Uncle succeeds, let's catch a Mountain Beast and stew its meat. I... I'm drooling just thinking about it."
Xiao Wenhui, just over two years old and still unsteady on his feet, toddled over to join the conversation, his words slurred: "Uncle... strong! Eat meat!"
Qin Ming chuckled. "No need to wait. We can satisfy your cravings today."
With that, he removed the Red Squirrel hanging from his hunting fork.
The Mutant Squirrel's obsidian eyes widened in shock before its expression shifted to one of terror.
"Huh? It's alive again. Even better - the meat will be far more tender than if it had been frozen," Qin Ming said, examining the squirrel.
"This squirrel is so pretty, and kind of cute," Wen Rui said, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection for the furry creature.
"It'll be even cuter once it's cooked. I guarantee you'll love it," Qin Ming replied with a smile.
Wen Rui's expression turned conflicted.
He was indeed craving meat - it had been a long time since he'd eaten any. But seeing the little creature with its fiery red fur, he found it hard to look away. He wanted to get closer, to keep it as a pet.
Xiao Wenhui followed behind his older brother, mimicking his actions.
His bright eyes reflected the shadow of the Red Squirrel, and he mumbled indistinctly, "Squirrel... cute."
Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing watched the two children and smiled.
Qin Ming nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it's both cute and capable. Look at all the winter provisions it's gathered: pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, red dates - over a dozen varieties, even mushrooms! Now we're in luck: squirrel stew with mushrooms - delicious and incredibly nourishing."
"R-really? But... I don't want it to die," Wen Rui tugged at his sleeve, his face a picture of conflict, though he didn't forget to swallow hard.
"Of course. Look, among these mushrooms are Tiger Paw Mushrooms and Yangque Mushrooms - both renowned mountain delicacies. You're in for a treat. Truly, the selection process for mutant creatures always yields the best." Qin Ming marveled.
The Red Squirrel, highly temperamental, bristled its fur.
Qin Ming drew his short knife, intending to skin it in the courtyard - a bloody sight unsuitable for the children to witness.
"Squeak! Squeak!" The Mutated Mountain Beast was instantly terrified, frantically squeaking and struggling violently.
The wire wrapped around it was cutting into its flesh.
"Uncle, how about... we keep it?" Wen Rui stopped him, forcing himself to forget the taste of stewed meat.
He seemed to have made up his mind and was pleading for the creature's life.
"Such fine ingredients. The meat of mutant creatures is the most delicious," Qin Ming said, tempting him with a smile.
"We won't eat it this time. After Little Uncle's rebirth, you'll definitely be able to hunt down much fiercer, larger mutant creatures. I'll wait for your success, Uncle," Wen Rui said, his compassion overcoming his hunger.
The Mutant Squirrel watched nervously, glancing between the short knife in Qin Ming's hand and Wen Rui, squeaking as if begging for help.
Liang Wanqing exclaimed, "This Small Mountain Beast is incredibly intelligent. It seems to understand what you're saying. Look at its little face - it's all wrinkled with tension."
Qin Ming put away his short knife.
Such a small creature wouldn't yield much meat. He had originally intended it only as a snack for the children.
Since they liked live animals, he decided to keep it as a pet.
Lu Ze frowned slightly. "This winter is different from others. There's no surplus food to spare for it."
The Mutant Squirrel stared longingly at the bulging deerskin bag, which held its entire hoard!
Qin Ming also noticed that this Small Mountain Beast was unusually intelligent.
He selected a portion of acorns from the pile of dried fruit.
"These nuts need to be processed before they're safe to eat. Otherwise, they're slightly toxic and bitter. They're perfect for feeding the squirrel."
The Red Squirrel remained silent, its eyes wide and fixed on him, its breathing slightly heavy.
"Aren't you satisfied just to be alive? And if you dare bite anyone, I guarantee I'll stew you," Qin Ming warned, locking it in a birdcage.
Lu Ze thought it would be better to sell the Mutant Squirrel. Its vibrant red fur was valuable, and keeping it would waste food and energy.
But when he saw the two children's unrestrained joy, their laughter and leaps, he fell silent.
As they parted, Lu Ze took the cage and a pile of acorns, leaving the other dried goods behind.
Qin Ming didn't say much, simply stuffing a cloth bag filled with walnuts and pine nuts into Liang Wanqing's hands for the children to snack on.
...
Having temporarily escaped the crisis of starvation, Qin Ming began to seriously consider the issue of his awakening.
Lu Ze's comment about his "unorthodox method" having held him back had indeed stirred a few ripples in his mind.
He vaguely recalled fragments of his childhood, when someone had told him that while the movements had origins, they were unlikely to ever be mastered.
A moment later, he stepped into the courtyard.
He started at his own pace, and the "unorthodox method" he had practiced for over a decade felt distinctly different.
There was no reason to stop now.
Qin Ming stretched his joints and tendons, twisting, turning, flipping, and rotating with fluid grace.
He suddenly leaped from the ground, shooting upward like an iron arrow, then landed as lightly as a swallow, his feet making no sound.
He shifted between stillness and motion, sitting like a crouching tiger and walking with the deliberate steps of someone wading through mud, his movements flowing naturally and effortlessly.
Next, he spun around, his leg whipping out like lightning, as if a dragon or python had lashed its tail through the air, producing a dull thud.
After a simple warm-up, Qin Ming began performing various advanced movements.
"Breathe like a bear, exhale the old and inhale the new, gaze like an owl..."
He stretched his body, his movements powerful and forceful, generating such intense force that it whipped up the snow on the ground, swirling it around him in a whirlwind of dancing flakes.
Soon, the familiar sensation returned.
In Qin Ming's pores, incredibly faint silver threads intertwined, rippling into waves that formed a faint layer of flowing light across his skin.
Gradually, white mist began to rise from his body.
A warm current flowed through his flesh and blood, like life-giving rain after a long drought, greedily absorbed by the parched earth.
Qin Ming's movements were incredibly strenuous, yet he felt no fatigue.
Instead, his spirit soared.
His body seemed to cheer, as if starved for too long, now eager to feast, constantly drawing in the silver ripples.
His flesh itched, and his entire body felt like it was growing stronger.
Could this be the prelude to awakening?
Qin Ming's body burned with heat, an urge to run surging through him, to unleash his overflowing energy.
He immediately acted on the impulse.
He sprinted through the wilderness like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, racing far into the distance, almost reaching the edge of the forest.
In the snowy distance, a tall, slender woman stood motionless.
Her black fur cloak shimmered with a faint dark light, concealing her fair neck and revealing only her delicate chin, giving her an air of mysterious aloofness.
A Raven perched on a cluster of thorns beside her, speaking in a human voice: "Hm, the body is regenerating itself. Even in its early stages, there's an unusual phenomenon - like moonlight cascading over the surface, rippling into layers of golden fragments."
"I sense he's a promising talent, a rare find, especially in such a remote place," the Raven said, its black feathers gleaming like obsidian, its purple eyes fixed ahead. "Isn't your master looking for a Closed-Door Disciple? This young man might be a suitable candidate."
The woman stood on a large slab of blue stone, the biting Mountain Wind whipping her loose cloak against her body, barely concealing her exquisite curves.
Her voice, however, was cool. "There are more suitable candidates."
Qin Ming, as if sensing something, turned his head and gazed into the distance, already holding his bow and arrow.
"Remarkable intuition," the Raven commented, now deep within the dense forest, speaking to the woman beside it. "Your master's path is unique. Don't let a seed with the potential to flourish slip through your fingers."
"Not being chosen is a regret he'll never know. What could I possibly miss? I already have the best candidate," the Mountain Wind howled, tossing her lustrous black hair across her pale cheek.
Her black robes billowed in the wind, enhancing her ethereal beauty with a touch of icy elegance.
She walked forward, saying, "Right now, it's more urgent to enter the mountains and investigate."
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END OF CHAPTER
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