Uncanny Valley - Chapter 29
Many wooden stakes stood on the altar and around the square, each with a torch made of pine resin stuck into it. It was already dark when two men, starting from the north and south sides respectively, lit the torches one by one. The sacrificial site was immediately much brighter.
Luo Fei recognized the torchbearer as Anmi's attendant who had accompanied him to the Valley of Terror that morning; their other two companions were not in the square at this time.
After all the torches were lit, two attendants stood on the north and south sides of the crowd, forming a protective stance. At this moment, Anmi and Sotulan entered the sacrificial site, walking towards the altar from the northwest. Wherever they went, the crowd made way and paid their respects.
Upon reaching the foot of the altar, Sotulan stopped and stood directly in front of the crowd. Behind him stood a row of men dressed in the same manner; these were likely priests of the Hamo tribe.
Anmi went straight up to the altar. Halfway up, he saw Luo Fei and the others, turned around, and nodded slightly in greeting. Luo Fei and the other two also stood up, bowed their heads, and clasped their chests.
"Chief Bai, didn't he come?" An Mi suddenly asked, her expression somewhat displeased.
Just as Luo Fei was about to answer, Bai Jian'e's voice rang out from not far away: "Lord Anmi, please forgive me for being late." With that, the chieftain, who had been on good terms with the Hamo tribe for generations, came to Luo Fei and the others. His forehead was covered with fine sweat, as if he had just traveled a long way.
Anmi smiled and nodded, saying nothing more. He stepped onto the altar, facing his people, head held high, his expression solemn and resolute, exuding an aura of majesty in the firelight.
All the tribespeople had arrived, forming a dense, dark mass on the field. They stood in perfect order, completely silent. Led by Sotulan, the priests first bowed and greeted their leader in the Hamo language: "Honorable and courageous Lord Anmi!"
The entire tribesman followed closely behind, chanting in unison, "Respected and brave Lord Anmi." Their voices were loud and clear, echoing endlessly in the silent valley.
After the echoes subsided, Anmi shouted to her people below the platform, "The wicked villain has stolen the blood vial, and the demon has been resurrected in the Valley of Terror. The great holy war of the Hamo tribe has begun again, and we are invincible!"
Having said that, he drew his curved sword from his waist, raised it above his head, and let out a long, resounding roar. The men below the stage also drew their swords and echoed his cry. The shouts of thousands merged into one, creating a truly astonishing spectacle. Although Luo Fei and the others were outside the circle, upon hearing this roar, they couldn't help but feel exhilarated and their blood boil.
After a moment, Anmi stopped howling and said, "We are not alone. The Holy War Alliance of more than three hundred years ago has been rebuilt. Here are our allies, Chief Bai of Mi Hong Village, and warriors and priests from the Han people!"
As Anmi spoke, she pointed at Luo Fei and the others, and the tribespeople looked over and burst into cheers.
Anmi gestured for silence to fall over the square. Then, looking at the crowd, Anmi's expression changed from arrogant to respectful, and the tribespeople turned to look at him, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"The Holy Maiden is with us forever." Anmi clasped her right hand to her chest and bowed towards the west of the priesthood.
In that direction, a white figure appeared, her clothes fluttering, making her stand out in the dark night.
The tribespeople immediately parted to make way, bowing deeply and devoutly calling out the holy woman's name: "Yakuma!"
Yakuma? This familiar word immediately triggered a fragment of Luo Fei's memory. He looked at Zhou Liwei beside him, who also turned his gaze at that moment. Although there was no verbal exchange, the two of them understood what the other wanted to express, which also confirmed their judgment.
Yes, Yakuma—that was the name the man in the Kunming mental hospital had screamed. Why, in his already deranged state, would he still cling to that name? And why was his expression filled with fear, pain, despair, and anger when he shouted it out, a sight that still sends chills down one's spine.
Perhaps only this saint named Yakuma can answer the question.
Amidst the throngs of her people, Yakuma gracefully walked towards the altar. Her figure was slender, her movements exuding a dignified and composed air. A long white dress draped over her entire body, its sash billowing behind her in the night breeze, making her appear both noble and elegant. Faced with such a woman, everyone was compelled to see her face clearly, yet her face was veiled by an equally snow-white veil, revealing only her smooth forehead and two bright eyes, which, set against her long, black hair, left much to the imagination.
A guard wielding a scimitar followed closely behind Yakuma. This man was tall and proud, with his head held high and his expression full of arrogance. He was none other than Deerga, the Hamo Warrior who had led Luo Fei and the others to the Valley of Terror that morning.
A moment later, the two had walked onto the altar. Yakuma stood beside Anmi, while Dilga stepped back to the side, but never strayed more than three steps from Yakuma's side.
Yakuma looked at his people and said, "I have been seriously ill for the past six months and have been unable to go out, but I have been thinking of you all the time. The blood vial was stolen and the demon was reborn, but the warriors of the Hamo tribe are still here. The demon cannot harm me, nor can it harm my people."
To the Hamo people, that gentle, soothing voice was so familiar. A joyful cheer erupted from their hearts, celebrating the long-awaited return of the saintess.
“In the past six months, Dilga has made great contributions to the village in the fight against the demons.” Yakuma then pointed to the tall warrior behind him and said, “From today onwards, I appoint him as the new Holy Maiden Guardian, to be by my side forever.”
Dirga puffed out his chest, his face beaming with barely suppressed pride and smugness. Guardian of the Holy Maiden—this meant he had attained the most glorious position among all Hamo warriors. Even the Anmi chieftain and the High Priest Sotulan could not control his actions. From now on, he would only obey the Holy Maiden's commands. During sacrifices, only he could accompany the Holy Maiden to the sacred altar. All of this was the dream of every Hamo man, and today, he had finally achieved it! Thinking of this, he almost burst out laughing.
However, the tribespeople didn't seem to approve of the Holy Maiden's sudden decision. A slight commotion arose below the altar. After a moment, a priest standing at the front bowed to the platform and said, "Honorable Holy Maiden Yakuma, according to ancestral custom, the appointment of the Holy Maiden's Guardians is extremely cautious. It requires a martial arts contest among all the tribe's warriors, and passing rigorous tests of wisdom, courage, and loyalty. To directly appoint Dirga to such an important position seems rather hasty. Moreover, although Shuiyi'e has committed a grave error, the Holy Maiden has never formally punished him. Strictly speaking, his position as a Holy Maiden's Guardian has not yet been revoked."
Before Yakuma could speak, Anmi preemptively replied, "These are extraordinary times, and some things require flexible handling. Since Dilga accepted the mission to patrol the 'Valley of Terror,' our people have not been harmed by demons again. I think he is the most suitable person to serve as the Holy Maiden's new guardian. As for Shuiyi Die, today he will face the judgment of the Holy Maiden Yakuma for the crimes he has committed."
After saying this, Anmi clapped her hands heavily twice. Immediately, a figure moved in the northwest corner of the square, and a group of three people walked over from the direction of the mountain pond.
The man at the front, dressed in rags and walking with faltering steps, was none other than Shui Yidi, who had been imprisoned in the water dungeon the previous night. His hands were bound behind his back with ropes, and his feet were also lassoed, making movement extremely difficult. The two men following behind him, carrying curved swords, were recognized from afar as two of An Mi's personal attendants. They had not appeared until now, apparently having gone to the mountain pond to escort Shui Yidi.
The three men made their way through the crowd toward the altar. Wherever Shui Yidi went, the villagers gave way. From the expressions on their faces, it was clear that they both loathed and feared this "traitor" of the village.
Shui Yidi moved forward with difficulty, his eyes fixed on Yakuma on the altar the entire time. Finally, he stopped in the open space in front of the priests, looked up, and asked in a trembling voice, "Yakuma? Have you really recovered?"
“Yes,” Yakuma replied coldly, “I am protected by the gods, and evil forces cannot harm me.”
"But why are you wearing that veil?" Shui Yidi did not hide her doubts.
“The Holy Maiden has just recovered and cannot withstand the cold.” Anmir said after a moment’s thought, “However, to put the people’s minds at ease, please have the Holy Maiden lift her veil for a moment.”
Yakuma nodded, extended a slender arm, and gently lifted the veil from the right side, revealing her beautiful and ethereal face. Shui Yiyi, unable to control her emotions, knelt down with a thud, choking out, "Great...Saintess...Ya...Yakuma..." Although her face was covered in tears, it was clear that they were tears of joy.
When the other tribesmen saw the saintess's face, the last trace of worry in their hearts vanished, and they let out a sigh of relief.
However, at this very moment, the most excited person in the entire sacrificial site was Luo Fei. When he finally saw the saintess's true face beneath her veil, he immediately stood up abruptly, involuntarily shouting, "Xu Xiaowen!"
The shout seemed extremely inappropriate, drawing all eyes to Luo Fei. The Holy Maiden also turned her head, staring at Luo Fei with wide, bright black eyes in surprise. This time, Luo Fei could see her more clearly: the woman had an oval face and delicate features; judging from her appearance, she was none other than Xu Xiaowen, whom he had met once in Yunnan.
Sotulan took two steps toward them and said solemnly, "Luo, today is an extremely important occasion for our Hamo tribe. Please do not disturb us."
The saintess looked Luo Fei up and down a few times, her expression showing no sign of acquaintance. Then she turned her face away and pulled her veil back up.
Luo Fei's mind was in complete turmoil, a flood of questions swirling within him. He stood there blankly, unsure how to handle this sudden turn of events. Just as he was feeling awkward, he suddenly felt someone gently tugging at his sleeve.
Luo Fei lowered his head and saw Zhou Liwei subtly giving him a meaningful look. He sat back down in his chair and asked softly, "Teacher Zhou, did you see that?"
Zhou Liwei shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "The situation is unclear, let's wait and see."
Luo Fei calmed down as well: Yes, this is indeed the best way to deal with it right now.
Bai Jian'e, who had been translating for Luo Fei and the others, said quite solemnly, "Officer Luo, the Holy Maiden holds an extremely high position in the Hamo tribe. You mustn't be too abrupt."
Yue Dongbei, unaware of the details, chuckled and teased, "What's wrong, Officer Luo? How could this woman make you lose your composure like this?"
Luo Fei didn't have time to pay attention to the other party's pointless jokes, but he was also secretly blaming himself: Luo Fei, what's wrong with you today? Why are you so impatient?
Seeing that Luo Fei had sat down again, the Hamo group did not ask any further questions. Perhaps they did not understand that "Xu Xiaowen" was also a woman's name, and thought that it was just Luo Fei's praise after seeing the saintess's beautiful appearance.
After this minor commotion, all eyes returned to Shui Yi Di, who was kneeling before the altar. Yakuma coldly said, "Shui Yi Di, what do you have to say about the crimes you've committed?"
Shui Yiyi stopped crying, looked up at Yakuma, and replied, "As long as the Holy Maiden is safe and sound, I am willing to take responsibility for all the sins."
“Very good. It seems that although you have fallen into evil, you have at least retained your original courage.” Yakuma nodded. “In that case, let Dilga carry out your punishment.”
Shui Yidi's expression changed: "Dilga?"
“That’s right. He has now replaced you as the new Holy Maiden Guardian.” As Anmi spoke, she turned and winked at Dirga behind her.
Dirga understood. He descended from the altar and walked step by step toward Shuiyi Die. The flickering firelight reflected the ferocious smile on his face.
A trace of sadness flashed in Shui Yiyi's eyes as she said emotionally, "Great Saintess Yakuma? Have you really abandoned me? For me, this is a punishment more terrible than death!"
As they spoke, Dirga had already arrived in front of Shuiyi Die. The latter raised his head and looked at this newly successful person. The piety and sorrow on his face disappeared, replaced by extreme disgust and hatred.
Dirga was clearly enraged by the other's expression. He leaned down slightly and said fiercely, "Take your gaze away; it won't scare me. Do you still think you're a favorite of the Saintess? No, your days of glory are long gone. You mentioned death? Yes, death awaits you."
After saying this, Dirga straightened his back and addressed his people, saying loudly, "Shuiyi Di, as a guardian of the Holy Maiden, helped the evil enemy steal the sacred artifact of the tribe. His crime is unforgivable, and according to the tribe's rules, he should be executed. The Holy Maiden is merciful and has given him the opportunity to commit suicide in order to wash away the sins he has committed."
The clansmen whispered amongst themselves, a slight commotion arose, but no one voiced any explicit objection. Luo Fei, however, after hearing Bai Jian'e's translation, glared at his companion beside him: "To just take someone's life like this is far too hasty!"
Bai Jian'e waved his hand: "In this remote mountain village, clan rules far outweigh the law. Officer Luo, you can't get involved in this matter."
Luo Fei knew the other party had a point, so he could only sigh silently. He felt very uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do.
At this moment, Dirga took out a few round plant fruits, each about the size of a little fingernail, from his waist and spread them out in his palm: "Shuiyi, you'd better eat these obediently, okay?"
"What is that?" Luo Fei asked curiously.
Bai Jian'e glanced at it from afar: "It should be the fruit of the snake grass, right? It's highly poisonous. The Hamo people used to use it to kill those unruly and fierce wild elephants."
"Since it's suicide, just give him a knife and slit his throat, why make it so complicated?" Yue Dongbei grinned and said gloatingly.
“Shui Yi Die is said to be the most valiant holy maiden guard of the Hamo tribe in over three hundred years. If he were to wield a knife, it would be tantamount to equipping a tiger with sharp teeth, and the consequences would be unimaginable.” Bai Jian’e spoke these words with a solemn expression, tinged with a sense of awe.
Yue Dongbei scoffed, unconvinced: "Is it really that amazing?"
Shui Yidi stared at the object in Dirga's hand for a moment, then raised her head and asked Yakuma on the altar, "Great Saintess Yakuma, is this truly your will? To make the loyal Shui Yidi die for you?"
After a moment of silence, Yakuma nodded: "Yes, this is my wish."
Anmi gave Shui Yidi a cold snort: "What, are you scared?"
Shui Yidi smiled faintly: "I, Shui Yidi, will be the Holy Maiden's most loyal servant for all eternity. To die according to the Holy Maiden's wishes is my greatest honor."
Shui Yidi's composure in the face of death seemed to move Yakuma on the altar. A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, and she turned her face to look at Anmi.
Anmi's face was ashen, and she said in a low voice, "Holy Maiden, please consider the greater good of our people."
Yakuma nodded, having made up her mind. Then she looked at Shuiyidi kneeling below and said, "Eat those fruits and redeem your sinful soul!"
Shui Yiyi's expression suddenly turned somewhat strange: "Now?"
Yakuma emphasized, "Yes, now!"
“Great Saintess Yakuma, you can take everything from me at any time, including my life. But…” Shui Yiyi asked tentatively, “Before that, have you forgotten something?”
"What?" Yakuma was taken aback for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "I will take good care of your family with Lord Anmi, so you can leave in peace."
"No, no!" Shui Yidi suddenly shouted. He knelt on the ground, crawled forward a few steps, stared at Yakuma with a surprised look, and said anxiously, "Holy Maiden Yakuma, what's wrong with you? Have you forgotten the eternal suffering you have borne?"
"The suffering that has been passed down through generations?" Yakuma seemed somewhat bewildered. She muttered to herself while looking to Anmi beside her for help.
"Enough, Shui Yidi!" Anmi snapped. "You don't need to spout this useless nonsense anymore. If you don't eat, do you want us to force-feed you?"
Shui Yiyi's gaze towards Yakuma slowly underwent a subtle change, his expression freezing on his face. Then, he nodded meaningfully and said woodenly, "Okay... I'll eat, I'll eat..."
Dirga grinned smugly and poured the fruit from his left palm into Shui Yidi's mouth. The fruit was bright red and dazzling, gleaming with an eerie light under the torchlight.
Shui Yidi chewed slowly. After a moment, the muscles in his face twitched, and he arched his back in extreme pain. After struggling for a while, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, motionless. Bright red liquid flowed from the corner of his mouth, indistinguishable as either blood or the highly poisonous juice.
Dirga let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He bent down and extended two fingers of his left hand to check Shui Yidi's breath.
Just then, Shui Yidi, who was lying on the ground, suddenly sprang up. His hands had somehow broken free of the ropes binding him, and he swiftly reached for Dirga's right hand. Caught off guard, Dirga felt his wrist being twisted by a strong force, and his fingers loosened as the curved knife in his hand was snatched away.
Anmi reacted swiftly, shouting, "Kill him!" The two guards waiting nearby immediately flashed their blades and slashed at Shui Yidi. Shui Yidi rolled away, disappearing in the flash of light, and at the same time, swung his right hand and cut the ropes binding his feet.
Completely freed from his restraints and armed with a weapon, Shui Yidi's spirits soared. He spat out the snake-smelling fruit from his mouth, flipped to his feet, held his sword horizontally to his chest, and his eyes flashed with a menacing light. The dejected death row inmate of moments before had transformed into a majestic swordsman.
The nearby tribespeople gasped in alarm, seemingly at a loss. Anmi gritted her teeth and roared, "What's the panic? Surround him!"
Hearing the leader's rebuke, the crowd calmed down a bit. Under the command of priests such as Sotulan, the men spread out in a semicircle around the altar, trapping Shui Yidi in the middle. However, none of them had brought weapons when they came to pay homage to the Holy Maiden, and given Shui Yidi's long-standing reputation, no one dared to step forward unarmed.
At Anmi's command, the four sword-wielding henchmen leaped into the circle, attacking Shuiyi Di from the east, south, west, and north. These henchmen were the leader's guards, and naturally, each was agile and skilled with swords. However, even outnumbered four to one, they could not gain the slightest advantage.
A moment later, the follower who was positioned at the northern end attacked too recklessly and was slashed in the leg by Shui Yidi, causing blood to gush out. He groaned in pain and fell outside the battle circle.
Dirga rushed forward, took the weapon from the wounded man, and joined the battle. Upon seeing him, Shui Yidi's eyes blazed with fury. He unleashed a few attacks, temporarily forcing back the followers, then gathered all his strength and slashed fiercely at Dirga with his blade.
Dilga had no chance to dodge and could only swing his sword to block the attack. But the opponent's strength was overwhelming. He felt a violent jolt in his wrist, and the curved sword slipped from his grasp, flying towards Anmi on the altar.
The attendants cried out in unison, "Lord Anmi, be careful!"
Anmi remained calm. Only when the curved blade flew towards him did he draw his own sword from his waist and slash at the incoming blade with all his might. The flying blade immediately changed direction, shooting back towards Shuiyi Di with a whistling sound.
Shui Yidi had just landed a successful blow and was already following up with another attack. Just as he was about to take Dirga's life, he suddenly heard the whistling sound of a knife beside his ear. He quickly turned around and parried the flying knife. There was a loud "clang" and sparks flew everywhere.