A Valiant Bearing

Beneath the dim night sky, distant mountain silhouettes rose one behind another. Qin Ming had already set out, treading swiftly across the snow along a road flanked by dense woods. Silver Vine Town was soon in sight. Under the thin mist flowed a soft glow, and the outlines of the town's various buildings were visible from far away. The town was bustling. Shops lined both sides of the street, their shelves packed with a dazzling array of goods. People bustled to and fro, the cries of vendors and buyers rising and falling in succession. Especially recently, many people had arrived from Chixia City—from nobles to explorers, to Newborns of unknown origin—all settling down in various towns and making them livelier than ever. With just a bit of asking around, Qin Ming located the old noble's estate. It stood in the eastern district of Silver Vine Town, its vermilion gates imposing and studded with numerous brass rivets, flanked by a pair of auspicious beasts meant to guard the household's peace. "Qin Ming!" Many youths from different villages had arrived today, and someone called his name. Qin Ming responded with a smile at once, walking toward the old noble's manor alongside several Newborns who had just arrived. Attendants were already waiting at the main entrance and stepped forward to guide them inside. The estate was vast, comprising multiple courtyards arranged in picturesque tiers, adorned with artificial hills, strange ornamental rocks, pavilions, and terraces. In the flower beds, only a scattering of evergreens remained in this season. In this winter of scarce food, the old noble's lifestyle had not suffered in the least. He was clearly a man of substantial wealth who knew how to enjoy himself. The manor's reception hall was bright and spacious. While not extravagantly lavish, it far surpassed that of any ordinary prominent household. Thick pillars were carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture was made of prime mahogany, and calligraphy scrolls and paintings steeped in evocative artistry hung from the walls. Meticulous in his duties, the elderly steward received wave after wave of youths. The smile on his face never faded, looking almost frozen in place as he maintained an unwavering air of politeness and propriety. "Qin Ming." "Er... Zhou Wubing." Seeing it was Erbingzi, Qin Ming caught himself just as he opened his mouth and changed how he addressed him. Following his Newborn transformation, the other youth had changed drastically. He was half a head taller than ordinary people and looked thoroughly spirited. With so many people around, it would be inappropriate to use his old nickname. "I'll be leaving for Chixia City before long. What are your plans? Are you heading out into the world?" Zhou Wubing's once-withered, yellowish hair had turned glossy black, and a bright light shone in his eyes. "I look forward to those bright, distant cities as well. We'll see when the time comes," Qin Ming said. Many youths sat in the hall, looking rather constrained at first. Compared to the gray-tiled, blue-brick cottages they lived in, this place had carved beams, painted rafters, and sumptuous splendor. The displayed porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, and other antiques clearly possessed immense value, making them ill at ease in such surroundings. As time passed, however, they gradually relaxed, partaking of the fruits and pastries sent over by the steward. Qin Ming was much more at ease. To have fresh red berries to eat during this snowy winter was something he would never turn down; he had come with the intention of freeloading in the first place. "I won't be competing with you today. My relative said he'd take me along..." Erbingzi lowered his voice, but suddenly fell silent. He had spotted a silver-haired elder crossing the courtyard alongside a woman wrapped in a black fur cloak, heading toward a smaller parlor. "That must be the noble daughter of the Xie family. Even without seeing her face, her figure seems exceptionally striking. Hm, why is she keeping a crow?" Zhou Wubing remarked, suddenly much more talkative. "Doesn't look like she has trouble finding suitors," Qin Ming muttered in an undertone. The day before, when the higher-ups of Chixia City were negotiating with the anomalies in the mountains, he had spotted this woman from a distance; she had been near that area too. Evidently, even though he had spoken in a whisper, the black-clad woman heard him and cast a glare back in his direction. The brim of her fur hood was pulled low, with strands of dark hair veiling one side of her jade-white cheek. Qin Ming could only catch a glimpse of her delicate jawline and strikingly vivid red lips. "Hehehe..." The crow perched upon her shoulder actually chuckled, sounding no different from a human. Qin Ming found it bizarre, but ever since entering the estate, he had deployed Harmonize with Light and Dust to mask his abnormally vigorous life-force. "Must be a myna bird," Erbingzi said, only to be glared at in turn—by the crow. Zhou Wubing looked puzzled. "Why dress like that in her own home? Oh, I see. She has to meet us later, and noble young ladies are particular. She wouldn't want to show her true face on a first meeting." Both he and Qin Ming were promptly glared at by the woman together. Qin Ming said in the faintest whisper, "Since you're so good at talking, why don't you say a bit more?" He wanted to test whether she could hear them at a volume as quiet as a mosquito's buzz. Sure enough, not only the woman but even the crow reacted, this time letting out a raucous cackle. Qin Ming shut his mouth instantly and said nothing further. This woman seemed remarkably unusual; even the loose black fur cloak could not hide her fine figure. How could someone like her ever struggle to find a husband? The other youths were whispering as well, having confirmed that the silver-haired elder was indeed the old noble, and his daughter appeared extraordinarily distinguished. "She feels completely out of our reach. We don't stand a chance," someone in the hall sighed softly. Though they had harbored certain notions upon coming, they were thoroughly sobered now. Everyone present was a Newborn, possessed of senses far superior to ordinary people. They could tell the noble young lady harbored extraordinary power within her, and even her pet crow understood human speech—she was anything but ordinary. Before long, the old noble came over in person. His name was Xie Jingrui, his head of silver hair gleaming crystalline, his complexion ruddy, dressed in fine brocade. Seeing the youths rise in slight fluster, he smiled warmly and said, "You are all good lads, kind-hearted at first glance, far more unpretentious than the youths I've seen who go around chasing falcons and coursing hounds." Xie Jingrui laid everything bare from the outset, frankly explaining that while wanting to find a husband for his daughter was genuine, he also wished to ask for their help. He knew these young Newborns were all bound for the mountains, having long been selected by the prominent clans of Chixia City to serve as guides. "If you happen to discover rare resources born in the mountain nodes, please do this old man a favor. Relax, don't be nervous. I'm not asking you to fight for them, only to pass word to me." The old noble Xie Jingrui confessed that he was on speaking terms with the nobles of Chixia City and merely wanted to do business with them to purchase a specific rare item he needed at the first opportunity, fearing it might be traded away beforehand. Numerous organizations and factions had arrived this time, and all had already put out word that they would pay high prices to acquire rare resources nurtured within the mountain nodes. He then clapped his hands, having servants bring in several sharp sabers, swords, and other weapons, all undeniably valuable, allowing each youth to choose one as a token of gratitude for their coming. "My daughter has caused me endless worry, and I truly wish to marry her off as soon as possible. It plagues me greatly, and I honestly care nothing for family background when choosing a son-in-law." Xie Jingrui sighed, stating outright that as long as someone caught his daughter's eye and they took to each other, he would gladly hold the wedding tomorrow, hoping the Xie family would flourish and branch out with abundant offspring. By the end, a touch of melancholy hung over him that seemed entirely genuine. Could the noble daughter of the Xie clan truly struggle to marry? Many youths began to wonder. "Young men, I've heard of the two of you. Both of you possess a golden foundation, quite remarkable indeed. Have you ever considered taking a different path?" Xie Jingrui approached Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing with an affable smile, initiating conversation. Shortly after, Erbingzi was led to the rear courtyard by the old steward to meet the noble young lady, but he returned in no time at all. "Was it that black-clad woman? How was it?" Qin Ming whispered to him. "Clad in black, valiant and heroic, exceptionally beautiful. But... alas, she's not a match for me. You can consider it." With that, Erbingzi hurried away. Qin Ming had not come for matchmaking in the first place, but having received a powerful bow specially gifted by the old noble and having been specifically designated to meet the young lady in the rear courtyard, it would be rude to leave early. He surmised that since the mysterious black-clad woman had glared at him twice earlier and clearly held little fondness for him, it would likely be just like Erbingzi's visit—a brief meeting to go through the motions before ending. A moment later, Qin Ming was guided toward the rear of the estate. In the back courtyard, a woman in black was practicing her swordsmanship. Cold light flashed fiercely; she was indeed a valiant, heroic figure. Instantly, Qin Ming was dumbfounded. It was not that the woman was unsightly. On the contrary, she was stunningly beautiful. Devoid of ordinary women's delicate softness, she carried a rare heroic air and an extraordinary, distinctive beauty. However, her face was enormous, hardly smaller than a washbasin. Her tall frame stood nearly five meters high, and the greatsword in her hands stretched over three meters long. Erbingzi had not lied—he had told the truth, omitting only her height and weight. The woman was named Xie Lingxi, and the greatsword in her grasp was longer than Cao Long was tall. Qin Ming realized what the old noble had meant by helping him change paths. Had the man wanted him to follow the Giant Spirit path? "Do you think I'm a monster too?" Xie Lingxi asked. Qin Ming immediately shook his head. "Not at all. You walk a path toward godhood, an immortal grand dao. Besides, once the Giant Spirit divine physique reaches completion, you can still return to your original form." "What godhood? If there truly were gods, why haven't they lifted up the sun and made it rise again?" The woman sneered, then went back to practicing her sword. Qin Ming turned around, preparing to leave. "I saw you two years ago. We came from Liuguang City, passed through Luoyue City, and then came through Chixia City. We spotted you along the way back then, when you were on the verge of death," the nearly five-meter-tall Xie Lingxi suddenly spoke. In an instant, Qin Ming's body froze, and he slowly turned around.