Uncanny Valley

Chapter 11

Chapter Thirteen: The Mysterious Man

The sudden arrival of Wu Qun and his group surprised Luo Fei and his companions. Moreover, judging from their demeanor, this visit didn't seem particularly friendly. "Our Chief Bai wishes to see the three of you. Please come with us," Wu Qun said, stepping forward in a cool tone. Although he used the word "please," his tone was anything but polite, leaving no room for negotiation.

Luo Fei smiled calmly: "Perfect timing, we also have something we'd like to discuss with the chieftain." After saying that, he stood up first.

Zhou Liwei didn't object much and stood up as well. Yue Dongbei, on the other hand, looked very unwilling, but seeing that his two companions had already done so, he could only mutter helplessly, "Let's go, let's go. If you want to see us, you don't come yourself. This kind of hospitality is rare."

Once outside, the rain had intensified. Old Wang brought raincoats for Luo Fei and the other two to wear. The group walked through the village in the rain, and after about fifteen minutes, several tall houses came into view. A man stood with his hands behind his back under the door of the main house; it was Bai Jian'e.

At this moment, Wu Qun and another man came to Luo Fei's side and led him towards a side room on the west side. The others automatically split into two groups, each leading Zhou Liwei and Yue Dongbei to different rooms.

"What do you mean? Why are you separating us?" Yue Dongbei was the first to sense something was wrong and shouted, "What are you doing?"

"Please don't take offense," Bai Jian'e said calmly. "I just want to meet with you all alone to ask you some questions."

Luo Fei had some doubts at first, but after hearing Bai Jian'e's words, he understood: Bai Jian'e harbored resentment towards them and wanted to isolate and interrogate them. Thinking about how he had been a policeman for so many years, and now he was facing someone else's "interrogation," he couldn't help but chuckle wryly.

"Just do as they say, don't overthink it. If Chief Bai asks us anything, we'll just answer truthfully." After giving his two companions a few instructions, Luo Fei followed Wu Qun calmly into the west room.

Yue Dongbei was led to a side room on the east side by Zhao Liwen and another man, while Zhou Liwei went directly to the main room where Bai Jian'e was. The group dispersed in three groups, leaving the outside empty except for the increasingly torrential rain.

Inside the west room, Luo Fei sat quietly waiting. Wu Qun and the other man didn't speak to him, simply standing guard at the door. Luo Fei was happy to have some peace and quiet, which allowed him to concentrate on the questions he hadn't yet figured out.

About twenty minutes later, Bai Jian'e came out of the main room and walked into the east room where Yue Dongbei was. It seemed that he had finished his conversation with Zhou Liwei, and Luo Fei had been put last in his line of conversation.

Luo Fei noticed that whichever house Bai Jian'e entered, the villagers who had been guarding that house would leave. Clearly, Bai Jian'e valued the privacy of his conversations very much, which at least indicated that he was indeed hiding some secrets from the villagers.

About twenty minutes later, Bai Jian'e and his companion left the east room and went to the west room where Luo Fei was.

Without waiting for the chieftain's instructions, Wu Qun and his companion left the house and closed the door from the outside.

Bai Jian'e's face was expressionless. He sat down opposite Luo Fei, staring intently into the other's eyes without saying a word.

Luo Fei knew this was a test; often, eye contact conveys more information than words. He didn't look away, but he also didn't reveal too much sharpness. He simply met Bai Jian'e's gaze with gentle sincerity, showing that he harbored no hostility.

Finally, Bai Jian'e spoke: "You said you were a policeman?"

Luo Fei nodded: "My surname is Luo, my name is Luo Fei, and I come from Longzhou."

“I’ve lived in this mountain village for generations. I have no interest in the outside world,” Bai Jian’e said bluntly. “Right now, I just want to know, what are you doing here in Mi Hong Village?”

Luo Fei mentally organized his thoughts, hoping to explain things simply. Then he began to explain: "I'm investigating a case, a very strange one, and I don't have many leads right now. There's a key figure in the case who went to 'The Valley of Terror' about a year ago, and it was this trip that triggered a series of inexplicable events. Therefore, we're preparing to go to 'The Valley of Terror' to follow up on related clues. Mi Hong Village is a place we have to pass through. In fact, that person also stayed in Mi Hong Village a year ago. Here's his photo; I wonder if Chief Bai has seen this person?"

Bai Jian'e remained silent for a while. Judging from his expression, he seemed to have accepted Luo Fei's explanation. However, he did not take the photo Luo Fei handed him. After glancing at it briefly, he shook his head and said, "I never care about these passersby. You should ask Old Wang. If he did stay in the village, then he was most likely at Old Wang's house."

Luo Fei put away the photo: "You're right. Old Wang has confirmed to me that this person did indeed set off from his home to 'Uncanny Valley'."

Bai Jian'e's expression was much calmer than when he first entered: "I have already questioned your two friends, and your accounts are consistent. It seems I have no reason to doubt anything further. If there was any rudeness in inviting you here earlier, including in front of the Dragon King Temple this morning, I hope Officer Luo will not take it to heart."

Luo Fei thought to himself: Now is the time for me to make my move. So he smiled magnanimously and said, "I understand. After what happened this morning, I would have been very nervous too. It's just that Chief Bai's thinking is a bit flawed. We have just arrived at the stronghold and have no conflict of interest with Chief Bai, so there is no need for us to do those things."

Luo Fei's tone sounded casual, but his eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, becoming incredibly piercing. Bai Jian'e was struck by this gaze, his pupils contracted sharply, and he asked warily, "What kind of things? I don't understand what you mean."

“Chief Bai, it’s just the two of us here. Let’s be frank and not hide anything.” Luo Fei suddenly became serious. “What secrets the Rain God statue holds is a matter between your village. I don’t care, and there’s no need for me to expose anything. We each have our own unsolved mysteries, so exchanging what we know should benefit both of us.”

Bai Jian stared blankly at Luo Fei for a moment before chuckling and saying, "Officer Luo is not only a sensible man, but also a straightforward one. Alright, then you tell me first, what do you know? And what do you want to know?"

Luo Fei, too lazy to beat around the bush, cut straight to the point: "Xue Mingfei's death was not because he offended the 'Rain God' last night. Someone killed him, and in my opinion, this person was targeting you. He not only knew the secret of the Rain God statue, but also painstakingly plotted to deliver a heavy blow to you at such an important worship ceremony."

Bai Jian'e gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. Recalling the scene from that morning, he still felt lingering fear. If he hadn't acted quickly and let the unfortunate Xue Mingfei take the blame, he truly didn't know how the situation would have been handled. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions and began to intently observe the person sitting opposite him.

When Bai Jian'e first saw Luo Fei in the square in front of the Dragon King Temple, he sensed that this man was extraordinary. But he hadn't expected Luo Fei's insight to be so sharp; in just half a day, he had seen through so much. If such a person became his opponent, it would indeed be terrifying!

But now, perhaps he could actually be of some help. Thinking this, Bai Jian'e stopped hiding his intentions and asked directly, "Then, Officer Yi Luo, who do you think this person could be?"

"It should be the people in the village. You can think about it: if the secret of the rain god statue is revealed, who will benefit the most?"

To Luo Fei's surprise, Bai Jian'e categorically denied his guess: "No, it couldn't be someone from the village! None of my villagers dare to challenge my authority, and besides Xue Mingfei, everyone in the village was at the worship site this morning. How could they possibly be remotely controlling Xue Mingfei's actions?"

"Everyone's here?" Luo Fei frowned; he hadn't expected this at all. It seemed the attackers of Xue Mingfei really weren't the villagers of Mi Hong Village.

No wonder Bai Jian'e was suspicious of the three of them, but we definitely didn't do this, did we? Luo Fei pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of another question: "Are there any other outsiders in this village?"

“I just had someone check. There’s one more young man besides the three of you. But he just arrived at noon today, and the county guide who accompanied him can vouch for that, so there’s no mistake. There’s no need to doubt him.”

Luo Fei gave a wry smile: "Then who else could it be?"

Bai Jian'e appeared even more bewildered at this moment. Suddenly, he muttered to himself, "Could there really be some kind of 'demon'?"

"A demon?" Luo Fei looked at Bai Jian'e in surprise. "You also believe in the 'demon' theory?"

Bai Jian'e came to his senses, gave an awkward laugh, and pointed in the direction of the east room: "I just heard all the things about the 'demon' from your friend."

Luo Fei shook his head helplessly. It was easy to guess that, given Yue Dongbei's temper, he must have been eager to instill his so-called academic knowledge into Bai Jian'e.

"What do you think of his theory?" Luo Fei asked.

Bai Jian'e hesitated for a moment, then said, "This is truly the first time I've heard that Li Dingguo is actually the 'demon' that the Hamo people talk about. Our Mi Hong Village has worshipped Li Dingguo as a 'revered god' for generations, which is naturally completely contrary to the idea of him being a 'demon'."

Luo Fei hummed in agreement, then suddenly another question popped into his head: "When Xue Mingfei was dying, he said something about 'the resurrection of demons.' Didn't you find that strange?"

“It was strange at the time,” Bai Jian’e said carefully. “However, in the past year, some Hamo people who fled the jungle have mentioned the ‘resurrection of demons’ in the ‘Valley of Terror’ when they passed through the villages. The villagers have also talked about it in their spare time. Although no one knows the details, it cannot be ruled out that someone is using these legends to deliberately create a mystery.”

Luo Fei was pondering whether there were any flaws in this analysis when Bai Jian'e suddenly changed the subject: "Alright, Officer Luo, you've been trying to help me solve this problem. Now tell me, what else do you want to know about this?"

Luo Fei smiled and said, "I really don't have any particular purpose. Maybe it's just my nature as a policeman. Although this place isn't under my jurisdiction, I still really want to find out the truth about this bizarre murder case. Also, to be frank, I really want to have a good relationship with Chief Bai, and I'll inevitably need your help with some things right now."

"Oh, what are they?"

Luo Fei stated frankly, "We will be setting off for the Valley of the Uncanny soon, and we will need a guide who understands Hamo language. We would appreciate it if Chief Bai could help us find one. He must be the most capable person, and the price is negotiable."

“No problem.” Bai Jian’e readily agreed. He then got up, opened the door, and went out. Wu Qun and the others who were waiting outside immediately stood respectfully facing him.

"Alright, send these guests back!" Bai Jian'e ordered loudly. Wu Qun and the others did not dare to delay and quickly prepared rain gear and invited Luo Fei and the other two out of the house.

Just as everyone was about to leave, Bai Jian'e suddenly raised his hand again: "Wait a minute."

Luo Fei and the other two turned around, wondering what was going on.

“Officer Luo, didn’t you want to hire a guide?” Bai Jian’e said. “I’ve already thought of someone.”

Luo Fei asked with a smile, "Really? Who? Where is he?"

Bai Jian'e said solemnly, "Right in front of you. I am Bai Jian'e!"

Luo Fei and his two companions looked at each other in surprise. Not only them, but the villagers also showed expressions of astonishment.

Bai Jian'e wasn't joking at all: "In terms of wisdom and courage, who in Mi Hongzhai can compare to me? So if we're going to the Valley of Terror, I'm the best guide. And I'll be bringing two assistants, Wu Qun and Zhao Liwen, you'll be coming with me."

Zhou Liwei looked at Bai Jian'e meaningfully and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "In that case, we'd have an employer-employee relationship. Chief Bai, to put it bluntly, you'd become our servant."

"Don't worry," Bai Jian'e replied earnestly, "I know how to be a competent guide. Let's each prepare ourselves, and we'll set off in three days!"

"Alright! It's a deal then. We'll head to the Valley of Uncanny Things in three days." Zhou Liwei's expression turned serious, revealing a professor's air. "Once the plan is set, there's no going back!"

Bai Jian'e didn't say much, just nodded silently, and then went back inside.

"Please rest assured, all three of you. Our chieftain has never broken his promise. Just wait patiently at your lodgings!" Wu Qun said as he stepped forward, gesturing to lead the way.

Mi Hong Village wasn't very large, and Luo Fei and his companions had walked through it several times, so they were fairly familiar with the paths within. They politely declined Wu Qun and the others' offer to see them off and headed towards Old Wang's house on their own.

"Haha, this guy surnamed Bai must have believed my theory." Not far along, Yue Dongbei began to boast smugly, "Think about it, why would a dignified chieftain like him be willing to be our guide? His real purpose is to uncover the secrets of the 'demon' in the 'Valley of Terror'!"

Zhou Liwei glanced at Yue Dongbei noncommittally, then turned to Luo Fei for his opinion: "Officer Luo, what do you think?"

“His actions are indeed a bit strange.” Luo Fei pondered for a moment and then shook his head. “Let’s not worry about whether he has any other purpose. This person is indeed intelligent and brave. Having him accompany us to the Valley of Terror will always be beneficial.”

Zhou Liwei nodded, while Yue Dongbei chuckled dryly beside him. The three remained silent for a long time, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

The rain grew heavier and heavier. As they passed through the villages, the people's faces were filled with joy. They gathered in twos and threes, praising the rain god's mercy and extolling the village chief's wisdom. There was not a trace of the impending 'demon' among them. Yes, they firmly believed that Xue Mingfei's death was the rain god's punishment for his offense; no one would associate the "revered god" they had worshipped for generations with the word "demon."

The riverbed, which had been completely dry in the morning, now had a trickle of water. This life-giving water was nourishing the thirsty land of Ni Hong Village. Raindrops danced in the sky, and occasionally, droplets would break through the shelter of his straw hat and raincoat, landing on Luo Fei's bare face, bringing a slight coolness. Although it was the height of summer, this coolness still made Luo Fei feel very uncomfortable. He felt something strange, an indescribable sense of unease.

Of course, he doesn't yet know what kind of tragic and heartbreaking story was triggered by the same heavy rain more than three hundred years ago.

Is this story still ongoing?

Or is this just a predetermined cycle of good and evil?

The three of them walked on in the rain, and because of the heavy rain, they rarely saw any villagers out and about. When they were only half a mile away from Old Wang's house, they suddenly saw a person walking towards them on the mountain path.

The man kept his head down and walked very quickly, arriving in front of the three people in a short while. He was wearing a black outdoor rain suit, with the hood turned up over his head and the brim hanging low. Seemingly afraid of rain splashing on his face, his right hand tightly gripped the bottom of the hood, so that apart from his eyes, almost no part of his face was exposed.

Luo Fei and his two companions immediately focused their attention on the man. Judging from his attire, he was clearly not a local villager. Luo Fei remembered Bai Jian'e mentioning that a new guest had arrived in the village at noon, and guessed that this was him. Being fellow travelers in a foreign land, Luo Fei couldn't help but stop and want to greet him.

But the man was in a hurry, and before Luo Fei could speak, he had already sidestepped and squeezed through the gap between the three. Because the road was narrow, half of his body collided with Yue Dongbei, who was unable to dodge in time.

"What's the rush? It's raining so hard, you've soaked us!" Yue Dongbei complained.

The man hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "I'm sorry." He then started walking towards the far end of the path, as if deliberately trying to avoid them.

"Who is this guy? He's acting all mysterious." Zhou Liwei asked, looking at the man's receding figure with a hint of confusion.

"Bai Jian'e said a guest just arrived, around noon. It could be this person." Luo Fei's tone wasn't very certain. "Could he also be staying at Old Wang's house?"

"Alright, alright, who cares? Let's hurry up and go, the rain is heavy," Yue Dongbei urged impatiently.

Seeing that the man's figure had disappeared into the rain, the three turned around and continued towards Old Wang's house, which was not far away.

As soon as you returned to the house, Old Wang followed you in and said, "A guest came looking for you, but he just left not long ago."

"Looking for us?" Luo Fei immediately thought of the mysterious man he had met on the road. "Was he someone dressed in black with a hat covering his face?"

"right."

"Did he say what was wrong?"

Old Wang shook his head: "He didn't say."

"How long did he stay there?"

"About fifteen minutes." Old Wang answered whatever Luo Fei asked, seemingly unwilling to say a single unnecessary word.

Luo Fei's gaze swept around the room, finally settling on the floor where there was a trail of wet footprints, indicating that someone had just walked around inside.

"Did that person come into our room?" Luo Fei asked warily. Since they weren't carrying any valuables and Old Wang was watching over them, the three of them didn't lock the door when they left.

Old Wang was somewhat alarmed by Luo Fei's expression. He paused for a moment, then explained, "I... I thought you knew each other."

"Alright, alright, it doesn't matter if you don't know us, anyway, we don't have anything to steal here." Yue Dongbei sat down on the bed with a carefree attitude, crossed his legs, and kicked off his shoes. "Hey, look at you, all muddy and wet, soaked through inside and out!"

Old Wang stepped forward and picked up Yue Dongbei's shoes, saying, "Give me your shoes, I'll put them on the kang (heated brick bed) in the kitchen to dry."

Luo Fei smiled and said "thank you," then sat down with Zhou Liwei and took off his shoes, thinking to himself, "Old Wang isn't much of a talker, but he's proactive and hardworking."

Old Wang took away the three pairs of wet shoes, then brought slippers for the three people to change their feet before leaving to start preparing dinner for everyone.

"What do you think that person came here for? If he came to see us, why didn't he say anything when we met him on the road?" Zhou Liwei was still thinking about the mysterious man, and after thinking it over, he finally couldn't help but ask again.