In the bitter cold of winter, amidst the icy snow-covered world, crimson light erupted from the forest, butterflies danced through the night sky, and a shower of glowing petals fell, a serene, transcendent beauty unlike anything else.
The breathtaking sight stunned Qin Ming and Xu Yueping. The two stood still, gazing in awe.
A frigid wind howled, shaking the forest branches violently and whipping up waves of snow. The "red butterflies" dancing in the distance were carried by the wind toward them.
Xu Yueping stared into the red-tinted night and finally identified what it was. "An aberrant plant is blooming and is releasing a wave of potent rebirth energy. Some of the surrounding wild beasts and birds are probably about to mutate."
As he spoke, some of the fluttering "butterflies" drifted closer, carried by the mountain wind. Upon closer inspection, they were glowing petals.
Qin Ming caught a few with ease. His fingertips were tinged faint red by their glow.
Xu Yueping stuffed two petals directly into his mouth and ate them. Once in full bloom, the flowers and fruits of such aberrant plants carried strong rebirth energy and were beneficial to the body.
"Slightly sweet," Qin Ming commented, tasting a few himself. Unfortunately, too few had drifted their way. Far ahead, the petals were densely packed, like blazing scarlet clouds igniting the forest and pushing back the night.
Flocks of birds soared through the night sky, chasing the glowing petals. On the forest floor, the cries of apes and tigers rang out as creatures competed fiercely.
Qin Ming was eager to dash over. But Xu Yueping shook his head to stop him. "Forget it. By the time we get there, it'll be stripped bare. We might even run into dangerous, notable birds or mountain beasts."
The blooming of aberrant plants had no set season or pattern. They were hard to find and would wither and die soon after blooming in such brilliance.
Qin Ming sighed, "Not to mention the deep mountains and marshes, even near where we live, there are so many mysteries. I want to pierce through the thick night fog and venture into the vast, boundless world."
Xu Yueping nodded. "It's good to have that drive. That's how you find motivation. If you get the chance, you should visit Chixia City in the distance." He believed only by going there would one catch a glimpse of the real world. He added, "You could even take the entrance exams there."
"Uncle Xu, have you been?" Qin Ming looked at him.
Wrinkles had already formed at the corners of Xu Yueping's eyes. "I've been there. I was awestruck. Eventually, I came to terms with reality and accepted my mediocrity." His voice was calm, no longer filled with the sharpness of youth, only the weariness of middle age.
"You've seen much and experienced a lot," Qin Ming said, offering comfort.
Xu Yueping gave a bitter smile. "Who doesn't have dreams when they're young?" He had more to say but held it in. It felt too bleak and discouraging, something he didn't want to pass on to Qin Ming. In the end, reality wears everything down.
"Not a single animal over more than ten miles walking," Xu Yueping grumbled. He had hoped to catch something in the wild to sell in town for food or drink.
"They were probably all drawn to the aberrant plant," Qin Ming said.
On normal days, this road required people to travel in groups. Dark wilderness like this could hide anything.
"Hey, finally, not empty-handed." Xu Yueping had entered the forest several times and finally managed to shoot down a deer weighing about forty pounds.
The two walked swiftly. After about thirteen miles, Yinteng Town came into view. Under the night sky, the flickering lights ahead and the silhouette of buildings emerged like a beautiful painting crafted in the quiet flow of time.
Here, the road became much livelier. People were coming and going. Some head out to hunt, others return to town with mountain goods. Beast-drawn carts carrying cargo rumbled by.
Xu Yueping, familiar with Yinteng Town, led Qin Ming straight ahead.
Shops lined both sides of the main street, red lanterns hanging under the eaves. It was bustling with people. Storefronts displayed all kinds of goods: exquisite porcelain, luxurious silks, fragrant spices from the mountains, and more.
Street food like pancakes and wontons filled the air with delicious aromas, accompanied by the sounds of vendors shouting. It was full of life and vibrancy.
Compared to this, Qin Ming thought Shuangshu Village was far too quiet.
Xu Yueping inquired about grain prices and was told they remained sky-high due to the short supply. Snow-blocked roads made it hard to bring in grain from afar.
At the heart of Yinteng Town, everything was brightly lit. The fire spring was located here. Though it was in a waning phase, the square pool—about eighty feet wide—still shimmered with waves of light, misty and glowing.
A thick silver vine, as wide as a barrel, was rooted right in the glowing magma-like fire spring. This was the town's namesake.
It looked extraordinary but was an ordinary plant, only able to absorb a limited amount of the fire spring's energy.
Qin Ming noticed something alive in the pool. Red, gem-like shellfish, translucent like jade. As their shells opened and closed, they glowed with flowing firelight.
"Fire clams. Even such a large pool only holds a few dozen. They're said to taste incredible, packed with potent bio-energy. No one knows where they end up, or who gets to eat them," Xu Yueping muttered. Fire clams had to be raised in second-grade fire springs like the one in town. Otherwise, the spiritual energy wouldn't be enough.
The most prosperous shops were near the fire spring, like the old, renowned weapon store. Many came and went. Given how dangerous the wild was, everyone wanted a good weapon in hand.
Snowflakes had started drifting down from the sky.
Xu Yueping led Qin Ming to a nearby tavern. Intricately crafted hanging lamps adorned the entrance. Inside, sunstones lit the space with brilliant light.
Taverns only got busy at night. It was still early, so nearly no one was there.
"We're not the first customers, are we?" Xu Yueping joked.
A young man at the door nodded politely. He hadn't even fully woken up and wasn't happy about having to serve guests this early.