Night without Borders

Chapter 358 Pei Qingwu

In Ruicheng, heavy snow was falling.

Frost flowers adorn the glass windows, and inside, a small red clay stove emits a warm glow, while the wine, already warm, releases a rich, fragrant aroma.

Wu Yaozu laughed and said, “Come on, Brother Ming, the ‘face’; and Brother Wu, the ‘door panel’; and me, the ‘lintel’; let’s have a drink together, the ‘three doors’ brothers.”

If someone else had called Xiang Yiwu a door panel, he would have definitely practiced the Buddha's Palm technique on the spot.

As for now, he casually raised his glass, seemingly unconcerned.

Moonlit Tower is one of the three famous towers in the capital city of Da Rui.

Located on the shore of Linghu Lake, from the upper floor you can overlook the lake surface dyed with golden clouds and the night view that blends with the shimmering waves, as well as the magnificent view of the whole city.

This is the place chosen by Wu Yaozu. Some time ago, he traveled all over the world, visiting various famous cities, and had a great interest in fine wines and beautiful scenery.

"How about it? This 'Moonlit Wine' is quite good, isn't it?" Xiao Wu shook the celadon cup. The amber liquid inside shimmered with golden light under the glow of the stove fire, and was filled with an intoxicating aroma.

"Not bad." Qin Ming nodded.

Soon, the three mentioned the exorbitant ticket price for Jin Guang Cave, and they all sighed again. 20,000 gold coins per ticket really stumped them.

"This is outrageous," Xiang Yiwu said. Most importantly, he felt that this was a scam.

Qin Ming has faced countless life-and-death situations, and now he only has a little over ten thousand gold coins.

Of course, he possesses hidden wealth; for example, he could sell a book on extraordinary skills, and someone would certainly be willing to pay a high price for it.

Wu Yaozu said, "Brother Wu, you're a disciple of Buddha, didn't you pull some strings? With your status, you should be able to enter the Golden Light Cave directly, right?"

Xiang Yiwu finished the wine in his celadon cup and said, "I asked an elder, and he said there's no rush now. He told me to wait a little longer and try to achieve another golden body rebirth."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming asked, "Could he have some hidden meaning behind this?"

Xiang Yiwu shook his head and said, "That's not it. He's overly cautious by nature. Many people call him the Elder Who Cherishes His Life because he'll run away at the slightest sign of trouble or danger."

Wu Yaozu said, "We can either jump into the pit directly or wait a bit longer. Forget it, let's drink first."

Then, he clapped his hands, and immediately a waiter entered the room to ask him what he needed.

"Having wine but no music is too monotonous. Invite your best musician here. Also, the dancers from Moonlit Pavilion are very famous. Go and select a group of them to bring over."

"Alright!" The waiter was about to turn around.

Qin Ming stopped him, saying, "Having a musician is enough."

Xiao Wu said, "Life is short, so enjoy it while you can. It's only a few hundred years. Even immortals and gods have their lifespans come to an end. No living being can outlive the sun and moon. Brother Ming, stop focusing on cultivation. We're practically ascetics already. Relax a bit."

At his request, the dancers also came.

Wu Yaozu continued, "In fact, even the sun and moon have disappeared, and we still don't know why. The long night is endless, and we don't know what will become of the whole world in the end. We should just let it go."

Xiang Yiwu nodded and said, "That makes sense. There should be music and dance, and there should also be songs."

A moment later, a group of graceful women filed in.

The twelve dancers twirled gracefully, their long sleeves fluttering like butterflies, their ankles adorned with red ropes and silver bells that made melodious sounds as they moved.

Both singers wore warm-colored yellow dresses embroidered with twin lotus flowers, and their snow-white wrists were adorned with beaded chains. Their voices were clear and melodious, like the colliding of jade.

Qin Ming's expression was solemn. He didn't pay attention to the singing and dancing, but instead looked at the person playing the zither. She sat there quietly, easily overlooked.

However, after Qin Ming opened his newfound eyes, his experience was completely different. Upon seeing her true face, he discovered that she was a rare and stunningly beautiful woman with a faint smile on her jade-like face.

Her delicate hands played the zither, surrounded by a faint, almost imperceptible mist that could influence one's mind. At the very least, Xiang Yiwu and Wu Yaozu seemed to be blinded, completely ignoring her.

Qin Ming paid attention to her because he suddenly realized that she was probing him in unpredictable ways.

Especially now, she no longer hides herself, using the sound of the zither and the mist of light to create a hazy world, forming her own little world.

She smiled slightly and said, "I meant no harm."

As she spoke, no one around her reacted; the music and the swirling light seemed to transcend the room.

"Who are you?" Qin Ming asked.

"Pei Qingwu," she introduced herself.

Qin Ming was certain that he had never heard of it.

The woman in the black dress smiled and said, "I heard that two months ago, you read a page of the true scripture of Pugong on the Spirit Lake and gained some insights. I was very surprised and came here to see you."

Qin Ming discovered that she had already drifted out of her body in the light mist.

A tiny figure, identical in appearance to herself, sat quietly on a sandalwood table beside her, set with miniature tea sets, futons, and other items, inviting Qin Ming to come over for a chat.

Qin Ming found it bizarre. How could no one else have noticed something so close? How could this light mist and the sound of the zither be so wondrous? It seemed to be able to isolate everything.

What's this woman's background? She seems incredibly powerful.

Qin Ming was not intimidated. He secretly carried the small sword made of strange gold, and wandered over to sit opposite her.

Pei Qingwu poured tea and said, "Even a mortal immortal can only gain something from that page of the true scripture through hard practice. What is it about you that makes you so extraordinary? Is it really just a matter of comprehension that allows you to glimpse the beginnings?"

Qin Ming shook his head and said, "The true scriptures are profound and boundless. I have only scratched the surface. It is nothing."

When Pei Qingwu is not smiling, she is elegant and otherworldly; when she smiles slightly, she radiates light and becomes quite alluring. These are two completely different temperaments.

"Please." She gestured for Qin Ming to drink the tea.

Could she drink tea from a tiny jade cup in this state? Qin Ming was skeptical, but after seeing her drink it, he also raised his cup and took a small sip.

"Hmm?" He was immediately surprised, but felt quite comfortable.

Then, he took a small sip again, and a wisp of black mist rose from his body, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"You've encountered creatures like the Necromancer, the Old Merchant, and the Night Abyss Walker..."

Qin Ming asked, "Did this cup of tea I drank help me solve my problem?"

Pei Qingwu said, "Originally, it was nothing. As your cultivation improves, the black mist will dissipate on its own."

"Did you come to see me just to invite me for tea?" Qin Ming asked.

"Yes, let's see how many cups you can drink to determine whether you can enter Yujing with us in the future." Pei Qingwu smiled, and instantly, his whole body glowed, his black hair flowed like a waterfall, and his face was exquisite and flawless, with a captivating beauty.

Qin Ming looked at her. Was she someone who wanted to explore Yujing?
But why should he join them?

Qin Ming asked, "Yujing is not in this real world, and people in legends all want to escape from it. Why do you want to get close to it?"

“It’s too early to talk about these things, please.” She gestured again for tea.

Qin Ming sipped slowly, feeling incredibly comfortable, as if he were being purified, and sensing that it was quite beneficial to him.

He drank three cups in a row, feeling refreshed. He wanted more tea, but found there was none left. He said, "One more cup."

Pei Qingwu said, "That's all. You are the fourth person I have seen who can drink three cups of 'Heart Monkey Tea' without any change. You are at least a potential Earth Immortal."

Having said that, she returned to her physical body.

Her true form, clad in a black dress, shrouded in a misty aura, was exceptionally beautiful. Her slender, white fingers gently plucked and strummed the strings, and the music created a vivid image, like a clear spring flowing over bluestone. As the night faded, ripples of vibrant life spread across the zither, as if a brilliant sunrise were breaking through the sky, illuminating the dark world.

Qin Ming returned to his physical body, drank a cup of fine wine, and watched her play the zither. This woman was no ordinary person; she must be at the fourth realm.

Soon after, Pei Qingwu left, and the other women also left. Wu Yaozu immediately spoke with a solemn expression: "Brother Ming, who is that woman? She's terrifying. At first, she managed to keep Brother Wu and me apart. Although we were so close, it was as if we were in two different worlds."

Clearly, he and Xiang Yiwu eventually realized that their spirituality and intuition were extraordinary, making them difficult to completely deceive.

"Very impressive!" Xiang Yiwu commented.

"She calls herself Pei Qingwu," Qin Ming told him.

“Brother Qin…” At this moment, someone pushed open the door and entered. It was Mu Yunzhou from Pugong, who had also mastered Hunyuan Jin and had always wanted to spar with Qin Ming.

Today he discovered that the person in question had reappeared, uninvited.

However, he was somewhat absent-minded at the moment, turning back from time to time to watch Pei Qingwu's departing figure.

"That woman just now is from your Pugong. Do you know her?" Qin Ming asked.

Mu Yunzhou said, "Pei Qingwu is the best among us. Even a high-ranking Earth Immortal has given her the highest praise without reservation. She is extraordinary."

He regained his composure, having come here still for "exchange." He personally poured the wine, and the amber-like wine in the celadon cup contained more than a dozen kinds of extremely strong celestial light, which swirled together and flew towards Qin Ming.

The entire wine cup, like a luminous cup, shines brightly.

Qin Ming flicked his finger lightly, and a wisp of primordial light entered the celadon cup, breaking the balance. However, the wine did not explode; instead, more light appeared. After the chaos, it returned to a new balance.

Mu Yunzhou exclaimed, "I admire you. Brother Qin's application of the Chaos Force technique is exquisite. Even the last disciple of a sage at the third realm could not have achieved this."

Xiang Yiwu asked, "May I ask, when you speak of a sage, is it the senior master of the Buddha in this world, or his ancestor?"

This is important, and he wants to figure it out.

“If one possesses power comparable to the seventh realm, one can be called a living sage,” Mu Yunzhou said, without giving a direct response.

……

Five days later, just as Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu were preparing to sell their extraordinary skills and plan for Zhou Jin to jump into the "big pit," news finally came from Xiang Yiwu's side.

The "Elder Who Cherishes Life" has allowed him to enter the Golden Light Cave; a group of people from the Tathagata Sect will be going there this time.

In particular, when Xiang Yiwu mentioned Qin Ming and Xiao Wu, Elder Ximing immediately nodded in agreement that they could accompany him.

"Since you are referred to as the facade and the door panel, let's go together."

"Why did you suddenly agree?" Xiao Wu asked.

"A top-tier expert has returned from Pugong!" Xiang Yiwu said solemnly.

The Buddha's senior master, a terrifyingly powerful figure who mastered the Chaos Force, may or may not have exploded, but he is still alive today, leading a group of disciples back to the world.

Moreover, he considers himself to be like the Buddha of the past!
Clearly, the situation within the Buddha's teachings is somewhat complicated.

Not only on the Path of Rebirth, but also on the Immortal Path and the Esoteric Sect, old monsters that had disappeared for hundreds of years reappeared in Yezhou. For example, Helian Chengyun's uncle-master led a large group of people back to the Pure Land of the Outside World.

Two days later, Qin Ming and Xiao Wu joined the people of the Tathagata Sect on their journey westward.

"Elder Ximing" is a grandmaster named Gu Xicheng, who personally led the team to Jinguang Cave.

After the spaceship left Night State, it entered an area without fire springs. Even the ice and snow had disappeared, leaving behind a desolate, dark, and deathly silence, like the abyss of hell.

Finally, they arrived at the territory of the Minotaur tribe.

In summer, this place is a beautiful landscape, with fiery springs flowing through the mountains and fiery rivers meandering across the plains.

It's freezing cold now, and all the vegetation is covered in snow.

The Golden Light Cave needs the power of the fire spring to maintain itself, and this consumes a considerable amount of energy.

Therefore, it is located next to the Super Fire Spring.

Recently, the area where the Minotaur are located has been very lively, with people from Night State constantly flocking there to explore the new world.

An acquaintance greeted Grandmaster Gu Xicheng: "Old Gu, you really value your life. You've already explored almost all the safe zones in the New World before you brought people here?"

Gu Xicheng said, "It's alright, it's not too late. Since it's a new world, it must be vast enough, and the unknown areas are even more worth looking forward to."

They set off that very day without taking a break.

Golden Light Cave, with its swirling golden light and mist, resembles a deep, dark tunnel.

Qin Ming, Wu Yaozu, and the others followed behind Grandmaster Gu Xicheng, walking deeper into the area. During the journey, they experienced a sense of weightlessness, and in a daze, all the golden light seemed to transform into the nearby stars.

Their generation has never seen the real starry sky, but they have imagined the brilliance of the Milky Way through descriptions in ancient books, and now it seems to have come to life.

As they traveled, streaks of light constantly flashed by, and countless points of light shone.

Finally, slightly bewildered, they walked through the tunnel and emerged from the other end of the Golden Light Cave.

The experience was magical. Although it was a short time, they felt as if they had been travelers through time, spanning thousands of years and traversing a starry sky.

A fresh scent of grass and trees mixed with the aroma of earth wafted towards them, and everyone's eyes widened.

Ahead, lush greenery stretched out, the mountains and rivers bathed in the morning glow, turning many peaks golden. The grass and trees shimmered with light, and glistening dewdrops rolled on wildflowers and leaves—everything was so vibrant and full of life.

Most importantly, this place is rich in spiritual matter, and the Daoist charm is faintly visible, which can be sensed and captured by them, making it a sacred place for cultivation!
Qin Ming was somewhat lost in thought. A Golden Light Cave could connect two worlds. Not long ago, they were in the dead of winter with heavy snow, but in an instant, they had arrived in a completely new world.

Over the next few days, they explored a new world, resonating with the Dao, and each insight felt like a step closer to the Great Dao.

Clearly, all the teams were cautiously approaching the rich sunrise.

In the land bathed in golden light, a gentle, mysterious force prevented people from approaching quickly.

This power is strange; the more one bursts forth with celestial light, spiritual energy, and fiercely confronts it, the greater the resistance one feels.

However, if you relax and walk slowly, you can gradually approach the destination.

Qin Ming, Wu Yaozu, and Xiang Yiwu were very curious about what kind of place it was.
A dozen days later, exclamations came from the front lines, followed by great excitement among many people.

"My God, a blazing sun!"

"The sun is about to rise!"

……

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this exclamation, Gu Xicheng did not continue forward. Instead, he unleashed a burst of light, enveloping Xiang Yiwu, Qin Ming, and the others, and turned to flee.

This is an unprecedented speed he has shown since entering the new world.

"Elder, why are we running?" Xiang Yiwu was completely bewildered, being "held hostage" and forced to follow along.

“That day, the sun set and never rose again…” Gu Xicheng murmured, running even faster, like lightning flashing across the mountains, leaving the dense mountains behind in the blink of an eye.

His actions triggered a chain reaction, and the other masters also ran away as fast as they could.

Of course, many people were unwilling and shouted, "He is an elder who values ​​his life, we don't need to learn from him!"

However, it was like a flood bursting its banks. Someone took the lead and set an example, and 80% of the people panicked and ran away in a frenzy.

"Elder, why are we fleeing?" The others from the Tathagata Sect couldn't bear it any longer and asked on the way.

"You don't actually think you've seen the sun, do you? I must immediately report this terrifying truth to the Buddha of this world!" Gu Xicheng's joints cracked, and his entire body was radiating Buddha-like light.

(End of this chapter)