Corruption

 Feng Yi'an towered with a steel-bristle beard, sharp eyes, and thunderous voice – the very image of brash honesty.

 Yet Qin Ming's disgust for the man curdled in his gut after learning the truth.

 "Our deepest apologies," Feng said with saccharine sincerity. "We'll slaughter that Bloodbear to atone."

 Old Liu's aged hands trembled as he urged stricter mountain patrols to contain mutated beasts.

 The elder's fury simmered – how dare these murderers stage this charade of remorse?

 Their performative contrition salted grieving families' wounds, a calculated gamble against retaliation.

 "Injured comrades left us shorthanded," Feng recycled excuses, steering back to his agenda. "Xu Yueping, the Black Moon herbs – our patrols need healing."

 Xu's jaw clenched around unspoken curses.

 "We depart immediately," Feng proclaimed. "Xu, comfort the bereaved while we hunt."

 Qin Ming's nails bit palms – such grotesque theater.

 Xu's warning nudge stayed the youth as they escorted the patrolmen out. One misstep could doom Twin Tree Village.

 Yang Yongqing erupted when the coast cleared: "This chokes me!"

 "Can we report them?" Qin Ming pressed.

 "On what grounds?" Xu countered. "They took minimum Black Moon quota. Mutant seeds? Prove it. Only last year's blighted flame fields hint their scheme – and their patron's shadow shields them."

 Old Liu's cane thumped dirt. "A revered ancestor's legacy lets Feng's ilk play tyrants."

 The truth crystallized – this visit merely pressured Xu to plant their poison crop.

 Qin Ming's fists whitened. "Outrageous!"

 "Why covet Black Moon?" he demanded.

 "Mutated variants grant slim chances at secondary rebirth," Xu revealed. "Extended lifespan. Restored vigor."

 Old Liu's eyes gleamed with hungry understanding. "What patrolman wouldn't risk corruption for such power?"

 "Secondary rebirth..." Qin Ming murmured.

 Xu gripped his shoulder. "With your golden foundation? Records show two months suffices."

 ...

 Village air hung heavy with blood and weeping. Xu moved through wounded homes, rage simmering beneath healer's hands.

 Newblood Wang Qinglin's coma deepened – ribs piercing organs, survivable only for their kind.

 "Bloodbear pelt attackers," Qin Ming deduced, watching Old Liu set bones.

 Children's tear-streaked faces haunted doorways where winter's meager joy had died.

 "Two years back..." Yang muttered. "Patrols bred mutated snow apes."

 Xu's stormcloud expression confirmed everything.

 Qin Ming's homeward steps quickened – plans crystallizing.

 Lu Zhe's awakening offered scant comfort. "Patrol squad numbers?" Qin probed.

 "Eight to twelve," the convalescent rasped. "Fu Entao leads nine – only secondary rebirth among them."

 Lu's cough punctuated reverence. "Most dream only of first rebirth. The second... mythical."

 "Fu's strength?"

 "Peaked below local limits pre-rebirth. Now..." Lu shrugged. "Your foundation? You'll shatter ceilings."

 Moonlight found Qin Ming decimating training posts. Golden ripples shimmered through flesh with each strike – harbingers of metamorphosis.

 Xu's cottage glowed that night. "Agree?!" The elder recoiled at Qin's proposal.

 "Temporary compliance," Qin insisted. "Drown seeds in flame springs, retrieve later. Mineral sealants could–"

 "And next year's famine?" Xu interrupted.

 "Survive now. When I rebirth–"

 "Their backers?" Xu's skepticism lingered until Qin's six-hundred-pound grip silenced him.

 Dawn's mist clung as they trudged toward Silvertown. "A noble's daughter seeks match," Xu diverted. "Your pedigree–"

 "Madness!" Qin protested, but found himself paraded through frozen woods.

 Halfway, the mountains bled crimson – swarms of scarlet moths painting night incarnadine, wings edged with stolen sunlight.