Uncanny Valley

Chapter 22

Anmi and Sotulan exchanged a glance, their expressions changing simultaneously. Anmi, who had been drinking half a bowl of wine, put down the bowl and gently stroked her cheek, seemingly concentrating on the cool sensation of the raindrops.

Judging from the weather these past few days, rain wasn't unexpected. Luo Fei noticed the strange expressions on the two Hamo tribe members' faces and sensed something was amiss. Just as he was about to ask them, Anmi stood up from her seat, took two steps, and picked up the curved knife that Luo Fei had previously knocked away.

Luo Fei and the others, unsure of An Mi's intentions, stopped eating and drinking and watched him cautiously. They saw him stare wide-eyed at the sky, then suddenly swing his right arm, slashing a blade upwards.

The blade sliced through the scattered raindrops, flashing a white light. Before the momentum had subsided, Anmi flipped over and slashed out again. Although this slash was angled, it was still aimed at the sky.

Then came the third, the fourth… one after another, the blows flowing in rapid succession, dazzling the eye. Although the speed of the blows was not fast, the movements were graceful and powerful, and each blow had a different posture, which, when combined, created a rather imposing momentum.

"What...what does he mean by that?" Yue Dongbei scratched his head, looking bewildered.

Luo Fei was also puzzled. He turned to look at Sotulan opposite him and saw that Sotulan had a solemn expression, his hands were crossed in front of his chest, and his lips were moving as if he was reciting something.

As Anmi's scimitar dance reached its climax, he suddenly opened his mouth and began to sing in the Hamo language. At this moment, his steps were unsteady, slightly intoxicated, but his voice was still strong and resonant. His song pierced through the night and drifted into the dark mountains in the distance.

A cold wind whistled, a light rain pattered, the song was desolate, and the melody was mournful. The singer seemed to be facing numerous crises, yet the heroic spirit within him was vividly revealed. Although Luo Fei didn't understand the lyrics, his feelings resonated with the singer's. For a moment, he felt as if the alcohol he had ingested was burning, making his eyes and nose feel hot, and he wished he could get up and sing along at the top of his lungs.

A moment later, the song ended, and Anmi sheathed his sword, gazing into the distance towards the Valley of Terror. The lingering sound echoed through the mountains, as if a thousand armies were responding to him.

Luo Fei was delighted by the song. Seeing that Sotulan had lowered his hands and his expression had returned to calm, he immediately asked, "What song did Lord Anmi sing?"

Sotulan solemnly replied, "This is our Hamo tribe's knife dance and war song. The song is about warriors expressing their feelings of parting to their families before going to war, and at the same time declaring their determination to fight to the death to heaven and earth."

"What a wonderful song!" Luo Fei exclaimed sincerely. "Sung by Lady Anmi in this situation, it is truly moving."

“This is a song of heroes, composed by Helai, the greatest heroine of the Hamo tribe.” Anmi, who had returned to the table, picked up where Luo Fei left off. “The warriors of that time sang this song and won the holy war.”

"Holy War?" Luo Fei became very interested in this suddenly appearing noble term.

“Yes, the Holy War!” Anmi puffed out his chest, his face bearing an expression of unassailable pride, and said to Sotulan, “This is the most glorious history of our people. High Priest, you shall tell our friends from afar about it.”

Sotulan nodded, his gaze becoming distant and profound, clearly lost in reminiscence of history. Then, in a respectful, almost pious tone, he began to recount: "The Holy War took place more than three hundred years ago. It was a war that determined the life and death of the Hamo tribe. It was in that war that the great warrior Aliya and the heroine Helai subdued the terrifying demon and saved the entire tribe."

"Subduing the demon? You mean the matter of killing Li Dingguo, right?" Luo Fei had heard Yue Dongbei mention the relevant "research results" before, and he immediately made the connection.

“That’s right.” Sotulan agreed with Luo Fei’s guess, and at the same time looked at Bai Jian’e with a complicated expression. “Chief Bai, the Mi Hong Village has worshipped Li Dingguo as the rain god for generations, but in the eyes of us Hamo people, Li Dingguo is a terrifying demon who wants to exterminate our entire clan.”

Bai Jian'e's lips twitched awkwardly, as if he wanted to laugh but couldn't, and his expression was quite unpleasant.

"Exterminate the entire clan?" Upon hearing these secret tales not recorded in historical texts, Yue Dongbei immediately perked up and asked with great enthusiasm, "What deep-seated hatred could drive him to such a brutal act?"

“Not only was there no deep-seated hatred, but the Hamo tribe had even shown Li Dingguo kindness before. It was precisely because of this that Li Dingguo’s later betrayal of kindness made him all the more vicious and despicable.” Anmi said through gritted teeth, her voice filled with resentment.

"A favor?" Luo Fei was more and more confused as he listened. He shook his head helplessly. "I'm sorry, I don't know much about history. I'll have to trouble you to explain the situation in more detail."

“Li Dingguo was a general of the Southern Ming. Although our Hamo tribe is located in a remote area, we were once subjects of the Ming Empire.” Sotulan patiently explained, “Later, when the Southern Ming army fought against the Manchus, the Hamo chief specially sent one hundred warriors to join Li Dingguo’s army to participate in the great battle in the east.”

Yue Dongbei chuckled: "One hundred warriors? Is this the favor the Hamo tribe has done for Li Dingguo?"

“Don’t underestimate these hundred warriors!” Anmi glanced at Yue Dongbei with pride. “Although they are few in number, they are all cavalrymen with divine beasts. On the battlefield, even tens of thousands of troops could not stop their advance!”

"Mythical beast? You mean..."

“It’s elephants!” Before Luo Fei could finish his question, Sotulan had already given the answer. “There are many wild elephants in the mountains and forests around here. The strength of the Hamo warriors can tame the fierce wild elephants and make them their friends and servants.”

"Elephant troops!" Yue Dongbei's eyes lit up with excitement. "You mean, Li Dingguo's army back then actually included elephant troops?!"

"Yes. These elephant soldiers are all warriors from our tribe. In the great battles in the south, they were the nightmare of the Manchu army."

"Haha, this is so interesting! So interesting! The Manchus came from the northern grasslands, and their cavalry was their strongest force. But when their warhorses met elephants, they were terrified and couldn't even run. How could they fight a war?" Yue Dongbei said excitedly, banging on the table and exclaiming, "This is a great discovery! It seems that Li Dingguo's great victories in several battles against the Qing army were indeed made possible by your Hamo tribe!"

After hearing Sotulan reveal the secret of the elephant cavalry, Luo Fei had been deep in thought. Yue Dongbei's words seemed to have opened his eyes, and he suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed, "I understand!"

"Understand what?" Yue Dongbei curiously leaned closer, and the others also turned to look at Luo Fei.

“The mysterious force is the elephant corps!” Luo Fei pointed to Yue Dongbei. “In your article, you mentioned: ‘The Qing soldiers said that in the Battle of Yan Pass in Guangxi, Li Dingguo’s army used a terrifying mysterious force, which came from the Yunnan border.’ Now it seems that this force came from the elephant corps of the Hamo people. Think about it, the Battle of Yan Pass was fought in thunder and lightning, and the atmosphere was already terrifying. At this time, the elephant corps suddenly emerged from Li Dingguo’s army. How could it not terrify the Qing soldiers? Many northerners had never seen elephants before, and as the story spread, it naturally took on a mysterious aura.”

“Not bad, not bad…” Yue Dongbei shook his head seriously, “The great battle in the east—Yan Pass in Guangxi; the elephant troops—a terrifying force; the Hamo tribe—the border of Yunnan, these can indeed be explained.”

Zhou Liwei chuckled: "What? You've given up on that 'devil' theory so easily?"

Yue Dongbei didn't mince words, immediately glaring at them: "Who said I gave up? The elephant cavalry theory only explains the part of the rumors about the Battle of Yan Pass, it doesn't make sense for the later 'demon' rumors at all. First of all, how could the Hamo people regard their warriors as demons? Secondly, although elephant cavalry are powerful, they are clumsy. They can be effective in large-scale battles on the plains, but they are not very useful in the mountains and forests. Therefore, Li Dingguo's defeated army was able to hold out in the border jungle for three years, definitely not because of the Hamo elephant cavalry."

Yue Dongbei's analysis made a lot of sense, and Luo Fei couldn't help but nod in agreement. Sotulan gave Zhou Liwei an even more disapproving look: "'Demons' are 'demons,' how can they be lumped together with the warriors of our tribe?"

"Then what exactly is this 'demon' you're talking about?" Zhou Liwei countered.

“That is a power filled with evil and terror.” Sotulan’s voice turned somber. “According to our tribe’s legends, it is very likely a kind of ‘Gu’ magic.”

"Gu magic?" Yue Dongbei exclaimed, his eyes wide, seemingly quite enlightened. Zhou Liwei frowned, remaining noncommittal. Luo Fei, on the other hand, appeared somewhat confused and asked, "What is this?"

"From a medical perspective, Gu refers to parasites in the human body, and it is also used to describe diseases of mental confusion." Seeing that Luo Fei was not familiar with this, Zhou Liwei explained in detail, "In Chinese legends, Gu is a kind of artificially cultivated poisonous insect. The owner of Gu can use this poisonous insect to carry out evil witchcraft such as curses, thereby achieving the purpose of controlling the victim's body and mind."

"These are just more feudal superstitions!" Luo Fei thought to himself, but remained outwardly calm. He nodded and then asked Sotulan, "What are the specific details about these things in your tribe's legends?"

Yue Dongbei tapped the table with a chubby finger, echoing Luo Fei: "Yes, you should explain in detail. Any conclusion must be based on facts, that's very important."

Sotulan narrowed his eyes, his wrinkles deepening. Then he moistened his dry lips with his tongue and began to recount his story again: "Back then, Li Dingguo's army suffered a series of defeats. After the great battle at Mopan Mountain, their strength dwindled to less than ten thousand men. Most of the one hundred Hamo warriors were also killed, with only thirteen of the strongest young men surviving. Led by these thirteen Hamo warriors, Li Dingguo led his last remaining troops to settle in the Valley of Terror. Upon entering the valley, the vanguard captured several suspicious individuals. Li Dingguo initially thought they were spies for the Qing army, so he subjected them to severe torture, only to discover that these men were actually Gu shamans from the Miao ethnic group."

Zhou Liwei whispered to Luo Fei, "A Gu Master is someone who specializes in making Gu poison. It is said that this method of harming people is very prevalent among the Miao people in Yunnan."

Luo Fei hummed in agreement, but then heard Sotulan continue, "According to custom, if an army encounters sorcerers like Gu Masters during battle, they are to be killed as a sacrifice to the flag to ward off bad luck. However, Li Dingguo did not do this. He only cut off the tongues of those Gu Masters but kept them in the army. The warriors of the Hamo tribe have always hated wicked people and did not understand Li Dingguo's actions. So they elected a representative to meet with Li Dingguo and ask him to execute these Gu Masters."

Everyone knew Li Dingguo's temperament; the more public he was in, the more he wanted to maintain his authority and be the one to keep his word. So the representative secretly went to Li Dingguo's tent late at night, hoping that a private audience would increase the chances of successfully persuading him.

The warrior approached the tent and, seeing light still shining inside, knew Li Dingguo was there. Not wanting to disturb others, he remained silent, gently lifting the curtain at the entrance. What he saw was astonishing: Li Dingguo, disheveled, knelt before a row of incense tables. His shoulders heaved, and he uttered muffled sobs, weeping alone. The warrior froze, unsure whether to advance or retreat, when suddenly Li Dingguo spoke in a sorrowful voice. The gist of his words was: "Forced by circumstances, I had no choice but to surrender my soul to the devil in exchange for terrifying and powerful strength. From now on, all the soldiers of the army will be controlled by the devil. My sins are grave; after death, I willingly suffer eternal punishment."

At this point, Sotulan paused, seemingly giving everyone time to think. After a moment of contemplation, Luo Fei was the first to guess, "So, Li Dingguo deliberately left several Gu masters in the army, letting them practice Gu techniques to obtain a mysterious 'power'?"

Yue Dongbei clapped his hands in agreement: "Reasonable! This deduction is very reasonable!" Zhou Liwei and Bai Jian'e did not speak, but they did not seem to have much objection.

Sotulan nodded again and said, "Our warrior thought the same thing back then. He was both surprised and angry, and stood there dumbfounded at the entrance of the military tent. After Li Dingguo finished weeping, he suddenly realized something was wrong, turned around and shouted, 'Who goes there?' The warrior quickly retreated. He dared not linger and ran all the way back to the camp of the Hamo people."

The brothers were still waiting for him to bring back good news, and they were all puzzled by his hurried appearance. The warrior didn't have time to explain in detail, only telling everyone to leave immediately. By the time Li Dingguo arrived with his entourage, the group had already run out of the camp and into the jungle. Unfamiliar with the terrain and in the dead of night, Li Dingguo dared not give chase and could only watch helplessly as the thirteen warriors ran further and further away, heading towards the Hamo tribe's village. The relationship between our Hamo tribe and Li Dingguo, I suppose, began to crack after that night.”

"Oh." Luo Fei seemed intrigued by the story and pressed on, "So, was your war also caused by this?"

“You mean the holy war?” Sotulan shook his head. “No, it hadn’t come to that yet. After the warriors returned to their villages, they told the chief what had happened. The chief knew that Li Dingguo had used evil forces, so he ended the alliance with Li Dingguo’s army. For nearly three years afterward, the two sides had virtually no contact. Li Dingguo repeatedly requested to join forces with the Hamo tribe again, but the chief refused each time. Regarding the war between Li Dingguo’s army and the Qing and Burmese forces, we Hamo tribe have always maintained a neutral stance, neither taking sides.”

"Back then, Li Dingguo fought alone, but it is said that in three years, he fought no less than a hundred battles, big and small, and he never lost a single one?" Luo Fei thought of what Yue Dongbei had once said and raised this question.

“It sounds exaggerated, but it’s true,” Sotulan said with great emotion. “Although Li Dingguo’s soul was plunged into darkness, it must be admitted that he was a great warrior. After he obtained that evil power, his army was almost invincible.”

“An evil force…” Luo Fei frowned. “What exactly is it?”

"According to the legends passed down by the elders of the clan, a demon controlled Li Dingguo's army, giving his soldiers incredible strength, courage, and a thirst for battle. On the battlefield, each of them was like a mad tiger, unleashing astonishing fighting power. Moreover, they were fearless of death, and the soldiers who died in battle all wore happy smiles on their faces."

"To walk with demons is to be overjoyed and carefree. To harbor wicked thoughts is to enter a terrifying prison!" Luo Fei suddenly thought of these sixteen words and murmured them aloud.

Sotulan's eyes lit up: "You know this saying too? That's a perfect description of Li Dingguo's army back then. They had completely submitted to the devil, and the few who didn't obey were eventually driven mad by the devil. Those thirteen Hamo warriors were lucky to escape early, otherwise they probably wouldn't have escaped their fate either."

"No!" Anmi interrupted Sotulan solemnly upon hearing this. "How could the warriors of the Hamo tribe succumb to the power of demons? Didn't Li Dingguo ultimately die by the sword of our Hamo people?"

“My lord, you are right, it was my oversight.” Sotulan put his right hand to his chest and bowed respectfully to express his apology. “Before the great Hamo tribe, no matter how powerful the evil forces are, they will surely be destroyed.”

After a moment of silence, Luo Fei raised a crucial question: "Since you have maintained neutrality, how did that 'holy war' happen later?"

"That's a long story," Sotulan said softly after a moment of silence. Following his narration, everyone's thoughts drifted away, entering another distant time and space…

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Legend of the Holy War

This is a story passed down through generations among the Hamo people. Before listening to this story, it's necessary to get to know a few figures who are not yet well-known. Aliya, the most valiant warrior among the Hamo at the time, fought for many years in Li Dingguo's army and was the representative of the thirteen warriors that Sotulan just mentioned.

Helai, the most beautiful girl of the Hamo tribe, is the daughter of the tribal chief.

Bai Wenxuan was Li Dingguo's trusted general. The hundred Hamo elephant soldiers who served under him years ago were under his command. During the fierce battle at Yan Pass in Guangxi, Aliya had saved his life, thus forging an extraordinary bond between him and the Hamo warriors.

In addition, we need to understand the "uncanny valley" in more detail.

"Terror Valley" and the Hamo people's village are both located in a mountain basin, but their geographical features are quite different. The Hamo village is situated in the lowest part of the valley, with flat terrain and close to water sources, making it very suitable for habitation. "Terror Valley," on the other hand, is located outside a low mountain, at a much higher altitude, with dense jungle and rugged terrain.

The low mountain between the two places extends southeastward. Three or four miles away, the mountain suddenly rises up to form a cliff. The shape of this cliff is quite unique. Both the upper and lower parts are steep straight walls, but these two straight walls are not on the same plane. Instead, they are staggered, one in front and one behind, with a smooth, rounded mountain wall connecting them in the middle.

Beyond this cliff are towering mountains, but right next to the edge of the cliff, nature has created a low-lying pond. The surrounding mountain streams converge into this pond, forming a "suspended lake" hanging on the mountainside.

Depending on the rainy and dry seasons, the water level in the suspended lake fluctuates. If there are consecutive days of heavy rain, the water in the suspended lake will overflow from the top of the cliff, flowing down the mountain to form a "double waterfall," and eventually flowing into the mountain pool in the Hamo village.

Now that we know these facts, let's turn back time to over three hundred years ago. Let's see what happened that summer according to the legends of the Hamo people.

There hadn't been such heavy rain in many years. The mountaintop lake was already overflowing, and the water level in the mountain ponds of the Hamo villages had risen considerably. Many villagers who originally lived by the ponds had to relocate to higher ground. Fortunately, they were already accustomed to a nomadic hunting lifestyle, so moving wasn't a difficult task.

At this moment, what worries the Hamo people even more is the ongoing fighting not far away.

The war between Li Dingguo and the Qing-Burmese army had lasted for three years. Li Dingguo, relying on the treacherous mountain terrain and mysterious "demon power," had repeatedly escaped defeat. However, the Qing army continuously replenished its forces and was stationed outside the Valley of Terror. The two armies were locked in a protracted stalemate, with constant fighting, remaining in a stalemate from which neither side could advance or retreat.

Under such circumstances, the Hamo tribe, located in a strategic location, undoubtedly became a force that both sides tried hard to win over.

The Hamo people had maintained friendly relations with the Southern Ming army for many years. However, due to Li Dingguo's use of evil witchcraft in his army, thirteen warriors deserted, causing a rift in their relationship. From then on, the Hamo people maintained neutrality in the war. Both Li Dingguo and the Qing court sent envoys to persuade them to remain neutral, but their leader remained unmoved. Both sides may have harbored resentment, but neither dared to offend the brave and skilled Hamo people, who also held the advantage of terrain and favorable timing.

The Hamo chieftain was over fifty years old, an upright man full of wisdom. Although he did not participate in the fighting, he paid close attention to the development of the situation. Whenever a battle broke out, he would take two close attendants and cross the low hills to observe the battle.

These past few days, Li Dingguo's army seemed to be making some unusual movements. Their camp was constantly moving northwest, which attracted the attention of the Hamo people. The old chieftain realized that Li Dingguo's army was about to launch a major operation, and every day he would cross the mountain to the other side to scout. He usually set off at dawn and returned to the village by afternoon. But one day, the chieftain still hadn't returned by nightfall.

The tribespeople had a vague sense of foreboding, and the chieftain's daughter, Helai, was so worried that she couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, Li Dingguo's envoy suddenly came to visit the village. This envoy was none other than Bai Wenxuan, who had many connections with the Hamo warriors.

Aliya and Helai, representing the Hamo tribe, met with Bai Wenxuan. Reunited with old friends, Aliya and Bai Wenxuan naturally felt a sense of nostalgia. After exchanging pleasantries, Bai Wenxuan brought news concerning the old chieftain.

According to Bai Wenxuan, the old chieftain was spotted by a small scout team of Qing soldiers yesterday while scouting over the mountains. The Qing soldiers attempted to capture the chieftain, and a fierce battle ensued. Outnumbered, two of Hamo's followers were killed, and the old chieftain was seriously wounded. Just then, Li Dingguo arrived with his men, drove away the Qing soldiers, and rescued the old chieftain, bringing him back to the army camp. After treatment, the chieftain's life was no longer in danger, but he was unable to move easily and needed to rest for several days. Bai Wenxuan had come to deliver a message for the old chieftain, inviting Miss Helai to visit him at the camp and to discuss important matters.

Bai Wenxuan and Aliya were already close friends, and this time he brought the old chief's scimitar as a token. The Hamo people, deeply moved, didn't doubt his story. Upon learning that his father had escaped danger, Helai was both happy and grateful, and immediately ordered the best banquet to be prepared to entertain the guests from the "Valley of Terror."

Around noon, the guests and hosts took their seats, and everyone drank heartily in a very harmonious atmosphere. It seemed as if the three-year-old frozen relationship between the two sides was about to thaw through this event. The thirteen warriors, upon seeing their former master, naturally stepped forward one after another to offer toasts, drinking with great relish. Bai Wenxuan, being a forthright person, accepted all toasts and soon became quite drunk.

After several rounds of drinks, the onlookers gradually dispersed, leaving only Helai, Bai Wenxuan, and the thirteen warriors at the table. Helai, mindful of his status, only sat in the main seat, neither drinking nor speaking much. Bai Wenxuan and the others, however, chatted more and more enthusiastically, reminiscing about their past battles together. When they spoke of Aliya saving Bai Wenxuan's life, they were all deeply moved.

At the height of their conversation, Aliya suddenly burst into song, singing the military song that Bai Wenxuan had sung when he led his troops into battle years ago. The other Hamo warriors joined in. Upon hearing this familiar song, Bai Wenxuan, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, became dazed. When the song reached its climax, he broke down in tears.

The warriors stopped singing and asked Bai Wenxuan why he was weeping. Bai Wenxuan didn't answer, but instead beat his chest and stamped his feet, appearing extremely sorrowful. The crowd, surprised, pressed him for an answer. Aliya even stood up angrily, declaring that if Brother Bai were in any trouble, the brothers would go through fire and water for him.

Under these circumstances, Bai Wenxuan seemed unable to suppress his emotions any longer. He suddenly turned over and knelt before the Hamo tribe, remaining kneeling for a long time. The warriors were shocked and quickly knelt down to return the greeting. Even Helai stood up, his face filled with astonishment.

“General Bai, you are a good friend of the Hamo people. If you have any difficulties, please speak frankly, and our entire tribe will do our best to help you.” Although Helai had never left the village, she had received careful education from the priests since childhood, and her Mandarin was both beautiful and fluent. As she spoke, she walked gracefully to Bai Wenxuan’s side and reached out to help him up.

Bai Wenxuan raised his head and looked up at the legendary most beautiful Hamo woman before him. She was graceful and elegant, dressed in white, and looked like a fairy.

Helai opened her two large, bright black eyes and looked at Bai Wenxuan. Her gaze was pure and clear, without any trace of worldly dust. Bai Wenxuan dared not meet her gaze and quickly prostrated himself on the ground, saying painfully, "Everyone has treated me like family, but I have let down the Hamo tribe, I have let down my brothers, and I have let down the pure and innocent Helai."

Helai frowned slightly and asked with concern, "Why would General Bai say such a thing?"

"The Hamo tribe is in dire straits and will soon face annihilation!" Bai Wenxuan finally mustered his courage and spoke the words he had kept hidden in his heart for a long time.

"A catastrophe!?" Aliya suddenly jumped up in shock, pressing Bai Wenxuan close and demanding, "What do you mean?"

At this point, there was no point in Bai Wenxuan hiding anything anymore. He steeled his resolve and said bluntly, "The old chieftain wasn't injured by the Qing soldiers, but rather fell into Li Dingguo's ambush. Those two followers were personally killed by Li Dingguo. Now, Li Dingguo is brewing a shocking conspiracy to exterminate the entire Hamo tribe!"

"What?" Helai took a step back in shock, muttering, "Our Hamo tribe has never offended Li Dingguo, why...why would he do this?"

“Li Dingguo has always been ruthless in dealing with those who betray him,” Bai Wenxuan said, looking at Aliya and the others. “Your departure without saying goodbye back then already offended him. In the past three years, we have been locked in a bitter battle with the Qing-Burmese army, and the Hamo tribe’s reluctance to come to our aid has made him extremely dissatisfied.”