Uncanny Valley

Chapter 35

"Is that...gunshots coming from the Valley of Terror?" Sotulan asked worriedly. He had witnessed the power of a pistol on the night he first met Luo Fei.

Luo Fei shook his head. The sound was more muffled, unlike the sound of a gunshot. But what could it be? He felt a strange unease.

“It’s him, he’s over there…” Luo Fei turned to look at Suo Tulan, “We can’t wait any longer, I have to go into the mountains to find him.”

Sotulan appeared very cautious: "It's getting dark soon, and you're not familiar with the mountains. It would be very dangerous to go now."

Luo Fei's attitude was firm: "No, I must go. Sitting and waiting to die is the real danger! You have to help me—help me leave the village."

Sotulan understood the meaning of "help": For Luo Fei to reach the "Valley of Terror," the first problem he needed to face was how to evade Anmi and her group's search. As the tribe's high priest, he didn't want to disobey his leader's wishes, but with powerful enemies lurking and danger lurking, the relative importance of the situation was obvious compared to the safety of his entire tribe. After a moment's hesitation, Sotulan finally nodded: "Alright. I'll take you to the mountain path outside the village."

A few minutes later, two people dressed in the attire of Hamo priests emerged from the hut and headed southwest of the village. The one in front, with flowing hair and beard, was none other than the high priest, Sotulan; the man following closely behind seemed unable to withstand the mountain wind outside, having pulled the hood of his black robe tightly over his head, leaving only a pair of large, bright black eyes vaguely visible in the dim twilight. This man was none other than Luo Fei, who had recently been freed from the water dungeon.

It was dinnertime, and normally most of the tribespeople should have been at home, but the village was filled with young and strong men hurrying about. From their conversations, it was clear that a wanted prisoner had escaped from the water dungeon, and strange noises had been heard in the Valley of Terror. The Anmi chieftain had issued a decree that all the tribe's warriors must assemble at the sacrificial site to receive orders and be deployed.

Luo Fei and his companion dared not linger, quickening their pace towards the edge of the village. Along the way, the villagers who saw Sotulan made way and bowed, none suspecting that the priest following behind was an imposter. Upon reaching the mountain path outside the village, the two parted ways. Luo Fei headed towards the Valley of Terror, while Sotulan went to the sacrificial site to attend the Anmi organization's clan gathering.

After entering the mountains, it was already pitch black, indistinguishable from night. When Luo Fei was imprisoned, all his equipment, including his pistol, had been confiscated by An Mi. Now, he could only light the torch he had brought from Sotulan and grope his way forward along the mountain path by its dim light.

Fortunately, the path to the Valley of Terror wasn't particularly rugged or steep, and Luo Fei, having explored the valley twice before, was quite familiar with the terrain. He arrived at his destination almost without stopping for a moment: the cave where Li Dingguo's tomb was located.

The loud, prolonged explosion not long ago seemed to have come from a small, enclosed space. No matter how you looked at it, Luo Fei's first thought was of this cave. When he arrived at the cave entrance, he immediately knew his guess was almost certainly correct.

The cave was dark and silent, but a faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air. Luo Fei handed the torch to his left hand, took out his curved knife with his right, and carefully entered the cave.

The cave was airtight, and the smell of gunpowder was even stronger. Luo Fei quickly scanned his surroundings, but everywhere he looked was empty; there was no one else there. Luo Fei sheathed his curved knife, half-squatted on the ground, and carefully searched for any suspicious traces left on the ground.

The excavated pit was still there, showing no obvious change from yesterday. However, less than a meter to the left of the pit, something unusual quickly caught Luo Fei's attention.

A piece of paper was pressed under a small stone. In the dim light, the white paper stood out conspicuously. Luo Fei quickly stepped forward and picked it up. As he expected, there were indeed words written on the paper, but he didn't recognize the characters.

That's it! Luo Fei's heart skipped a beat: it was written in Hamo language! He anticipated that the noise would attract the Hamos, so he left this note. What was he trying to say? Perhaps he didn't expect that he would get there first?

This was undoubtedly a very important clue! Luo Fei folded the note and put it away. As for its contents, he would have to wait until he returned to the village to ask Suotulan or Xu Xiaowen for help to read them.

Luo Fei suddenly lowered the torch and shone it on his right hand. He noticed some black stains on his fingers and the back of his hand. He rubbed two fingers together and found that they were soil from the cave, but they looked like they had been scorched.

Luo Fei realized something and turned his gaze to the ground where the note had been. It was a patch of black, scorched earth, sunken into a small crater. Although the cave was originally uneven, this crater was clearly caused by some special force.

An explosion occurred here! Luo Fei could give this conclusion with almost absolute certainty, which also explained the cause of the muffled sound just now.

Looking further to the side, a thin black line extended from the small pit, seemingly pointing all the way out of the cave. Luo Fei touched the black line with his finger. Although it was also charred, it still retained some firmness. When he picked up a small piece and examined it closely under the torch, he could vaguely make out the tangled fibers, which seemed to be a thin rope woven from tree bark that had been burned out.

Tree bark is not a very flammable substance, yet here it was burned into a charcoal, which easily reminded Luo Fei of the lamp oil that Bai Jian'e had collected in the village.

He needed to soak tree bark in lamp oil to make this fuse, which was used to ignite the explosives.

So, what does he want to blow up?

There were clearly no targets worth exploding inside the cave, and the explosion that had just occurred was so small that it had no real significance. It was very likely just a test.

The experiment has undoubtedly been a success. So what will he do next?

As Luo Fei continued to think along these lines, beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead!

...

When the guard returned from fetching dinner from the village, he found his companion missing. He searched and called out for a while, but received no response. Then, the prisoner struggled and rolled to the door, banging on it, which caught his attention. He immediately recognized the bound hand and foot, gagged man as his companion, while the other prisoner had vanished without a trace.

Upon learning of Luo Fei's escape, Anmi immediately organized a manpower search throughout the village. He focused his surveillance on the area around the Saintess's wooden house, but unexpectedly, Luo Fei went directly to the High Priest's residence. Shortly afterward, strange explosions suddenly emanated from the Valley of Terror. These two unexpected events filled Anmi with an ominous premonition, and he immediately issued an order to gather the tribespeople at the sacrificial site for a temporary assembly.

The return of Shui Yidi, the murder of Dierga, the murder of Bai Jian'e, Luo Fei's escape, and the mysterious explosion in the Valley of Terror—these events had kept An Mi's nerves on edge all day. Faced with the threat of demons, the fate of the entire tribe seemed to have reached a critical moment of life and death. Who but him could bear this increasingly heavy burden?

Anmi showed no fear or hesitation. He was the tribal chief, a descendant of the great warrior Aliya, and the blood of heroes flowed in his veins, making him firmly believe that he possessed the power to defeat any enemy.

Unlike the holy war of over three hundred years ago, today's demons lurk in the shadows, their danger remaining unseen. This forces Anmi to be constantly on high alert: this contest is not just about courage, but more importantly, a battle of wits.

Meanwhile, certain matters within his tribe were also causing him unease. First, there was Shui Yidi, whose unwavering loyalty to the Holy Maiden had created an awkward antagonism between him and Shui Yidi. Xu Xiaowen was originally easy to control, but Shui Yidi's return had complicated matters. He must already know of Yakuma's death; what would he think? More importantly, would his thoughts affect Xu Xiaowen?

Considering these issues, Anmi inevitably directed some of his anger at Luo Fei. Undoubtedly, this Han Chinese had gained the upper hand in their several encounters. Now, where was he? Anmi didn't have much energy left to ponder this question; dealing with this guy was simply too troublesome. He could only silently pray that High Priest Sotulan's judgment was accurate, and that Luo was a friend, not an enemy.

The other two Han Chinese were clearly not to be trusted either. Luo Fei's confession before his imprisonment was enough to alert An Mi. Fortunately, these two seemed easier to deal with. An Mi had already sent someone to invite them to the sacrificial site, ostensibly for "protection," but in reality for "surveillance."

Shui Yidi and the Holy Maiden also arrived. They were also surrounded by "guards." In such a critical moment, any internal division or unrest would be fatal, and Anmi was well aware of this.

When Sotulan finally appeared at the sacrificial site, Anmi felt somewhat at ease. This wise old man always provided crucial assistance. Yakuma's betrayal and suicide were undoubtedly a devastating upheaval for the tribe, and it was Sotulan who brought Xu Xiaowen back, bringing new life to the tribe in its time of crisis. This time, she hoped he could still help her overcome the difficulties.

Sotulan saw the expectant look in Anmi's eyes, stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "My lord, what are your plans now?"

“We must take the initiative…” Anmi replied in a negotiating tone, “but not now. I want to wait until dawn tomorrow before leading people to search the mountains.”

“This is a wise decision.” Sotulan nodded in agreement. “The enemy’s current advantage is that they are in the shadows. If we strike at night, it will be even more effective in exploiting that advantage.”

“Since the High Priest agrees, then I will proceed accordingly.” Anmi beckoned to his four attendants, then instructed, “Pass on my orders: all the warriors will split into two teams. One team will return to rest now and come with me to search the Valley of Terror early tomorrow morning; the other team will be responsible for patrolling and guarding tonight, leaving sentries at every intersection in the village. You will also assign two people to protect the Holy Maiden, firstly to ensure her safety, and secondly, to absolutely prevent her from having any further contact with that ‘Luo’.” He then looked at Sotulan: “High Priest, what do you think?”

Sotulan looked towards the southern mountains and forests, narrowed his eyes, and said in surprise, "That's... Luo? He's back?"

Anmi immediately turned her head and followed Sotulan's gaze. Sure enough, a figure was rushing from the mountain road. The flickering torches illuminated his face. It was Luo Fei!

Xu Xiaowen also noticed the scene and exclaimed, "Officer Luo?" Zhou Liwei and Yue Dongbei, who were not far away, stared wide-eyed with complicated expressions, each seemingly preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Luo Fei walked very fast, and under everyone's watchful eyes, he quickly rushed into the sacrificial site. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes were tattered and covered in mud, clearly indicating that he had run there desperately.

Zhou Liwei and Yue Dongbei frowned and exchanged a nervous glance. They had spent a considerable amount of time with Luo Fei, and even back in Qingfeng Ridge, they had never seen him in such a disheveled state. So what terrifying thing had happened?

Anmi shook his head in confusion and whispered to his attendant, "Arrest him first."

The attendants obeyed and left, but by then Luo Fei was no longer someone they needed to capture. He threw down his torch, collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted, and said with difficulty, "Quick...quick..."

Sotulan beckoned to his entourage: "You lot, help him over here."

The attendants helped Luo Fei closer, and Xu Xiaowen and the others also gathered around. Although the girl was filled with worry, she could not express it due to her status as a saintess, and could only stare at him with concerned eyes.

Once Luo Fei's breathing stabilized, he was finally able to utter a relatively complete sentence: "Quickly, quickly leave the village... go, go up the mountain... everyone!"

Anmi's expression turned serious: "Why?"

"He...he's going to blow up the lake and flood the village!"

Extremely weak, Luo Fei spoke very softly, but his words resonated like thunder in everyone's ears. After a moment of stunned silence, Sotulan looked anxiously at Anmi: "My lord, what should we do?"

Anmi's eyes twitched. Although his heart was also in turmoil, as the leader of the entire clan, he needed to remain calm, especially at this moment.

“It’s dark and the situation is unclear in the deep mountains. How can I trust you?” He stared into Luo Fei’s eyes and asked, word by word.

“The map…that map…” Luo Fei said with difficulty. Seeing that the other person didn’t quite understand, he added, “The map on Dirga’s corpse!”

Anmi took the map out of her clothes and unfolded it in front of Luo Fei. Luo Fei pointed to a spot on the map: "Look... here."

It looked like a location marker, and Ammillo recognized the place at a glance.

"Yes, this is a suspended lake, but what does that prove?"

“That’s a fire symbol… Its presence here doesn’t represent lake water, but explosives, the explosives Li Dingguo planted!” Luo Fei swallowed hard and said urgently, “He found those explosives and conducted experiments. Those lamp oils were for detonating the explosives. He… he’s gone!”

Upon hearing this, Anmi could no longer remain seated. He stood up abruptly, and everyone else also showed expressions of shock.

"Get out of here quickly! Otherwise it will be too late!" Luo Fei squeezed out these words with almost all his strength.

But it was too late. Just as he finished speaking, a deafening explosion came from the direction of the suspended lake. With this explosion, the cliff face cracked, and tens of thousands of tons of lake water roared down the cliff like a monster that had been freed, flashing a chilling white light in the night.

In that instant, everyone froze, staring blankly at the white light, their faces filled with deathly despair.

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Final Battle

The blasting open of the suspended lake caused a terrifying flash flood. The sheer volume of water rushing down the cliff was no less powerful than a roaring army! The flood carried an irresistible force, instantly swallowing up any obstacles in its path, leaving no trace. Luo Fei had witnessed the devastation of flash floods in Mi Hong Village, but compared to this one, the difference was like comparing a trickle to the Lancang River.

If this roaring flood were to inundate the villages of the Hamo people, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster, and none of the villagers living by the pond would be spared!

After the water gradually subsided, the deafening roar still echoed through the valley, lingering long after it had faded away.

Luo Fei and the others stood there, gazing at the blasted cliff and the valley where the floodwaters had receded, their expressions dazed, as if they were still in a dream.

Yes, they had just experienced a dream, a nightmare in which they made a pact with death!

However, Death seemed to be playing a joke, briefly glancing at them before quickly passing by and disappearing without a trace.

The suspended lake did not overwhelm the Hamo people; most of the flash floods crossed the low hills where the Valley of Terror is located and headed towards the valley to the southwest.

The faces of those who had escaped death were filled with horror and astonishment; most of them seemed unaware of what had happened.

For thousands of years, the lake water overflowing from the top of the suspended lake has always flowed down the cliff and into the mountain pool on the north side of the low mountain. But tonight, after the cliff was blown open, why was the falling lake water able to cross that low mountain?

Having witnessed the entire process of the flash flood, Luo Fei's mind was crystal clear: potential energy! It was the potential energy contained within the suspended lake itself that allowed Hamo Village to escape this calamity.

After the cliff was blasted open, the lake water was released. During its descent, gravitational potential energy was rapidly converted into flow velocity. Below it was a smooth, curved mountain wall. The floodwaters, which were originally flowing downwards, gained considerable initial horizontal velocity after passing through this wall. It was this initial horizontal velocity that allowed the floodwaters to continue flying forward a long distance after leaving the mountain wall, eventually crossing the low hill and rushing into the other side of the valley.

This principle is similar to the curved hose connected to a tap. When the tap is turned very slightly, the water flow is a trickle, and the potential energy in the water is consumed by friction with the hose wall. Therefore, the water flowing out of the hose has a very low initial velocity and can only drip weakly directly below the tap opening. Conversely, if the tap is turned more open, the water flowing out of the tap can use its potential energy to spray a long distance ahead.

Although Anmi didn't possess the same knowledge of physics as Luo Fei, he roughly understood the situation. After his initial shock subsided, a surge of joy at surviving a catastrophe welled up within him, and he couldn't help but shout in the Hamo language: "The floodwaters are heading towards the 'Valley of Terror'! The demons wanted to engulf our village, but the great gods have protected the Hamo people, and their evil plan is doomed to fail!"

The tribesmen, as if waking from a dream, echoed their leader's words and burst into cheers.

Yue Dongbei wiped the cold sweat from his bald head, muttering repeatedly, "That was close! That was close! I almost lost my life here!"

Xu Xiaowen had been so frightened that her face turned pale. Now that she had regained her senses, she realized that her hands were somehow gripping Luo Fei's arms. A blush suddenly rose on the girl's face. Fortunately, everyone was on edge at the time, and no one noticed her action. She quickly withdrew her hands, while secretly glancing at Luo Fei out of the corner of her eye.

Luo Fei's attention seemed to be focused on something else. After frowning and pondering for a moment, he suddenly remembered something, quickly reached into his robe, and pulled out the note he had found in the cave.

"High Priest, please take a look and see what is written on this?" Luo Fei asked Sotulan.

Sotulan took the note, glanced at it, and then immediately handed it to Anmi: "Lord Anmi, this is for you."

Anmi quickly glanced at the contents of the note, his expression changed, and he looked coldly at Luo Fei: "Who gave you this?"

“Nobody gave it to me,” Luo Fei answered truthfully. “I found it in the cave.”

Anmi remained silent, merely observing Luo Fei with a hint of distrust in her expression.

"Lord Anmi, we should trust this friend from afar," Xu Xiaowen finally couldn't help but say. "If he didn't genuinely want to help us, why would he have risked his life to tell us that the suspended lake was going to be blown up?"

Anmi naturally knew that Xu Xiaowen's words made sense, but the Yakuma incident had undoubtedly left a very deep resentment in his heart. He snorted indifferently, then looked away and turned his attention back to the note.

This time he observed very carefully, his expression focused, as if he were deep in thought. After a moment, he looked up and asked Sotulan, "High Priest, what do you think I should do?"

Sotulan also saw the contents of the note. After pondering for a while, he slowly shook his head: "It's probably a trap. It's better not to go."

Anmi smiled slightly, then suddenly turned around, holding up the note, and shouted to his people, "Do you remember the young man who stole the sacred object half a year ago? He is a descendant of the demon Li Dingguo! Now he has returned and has issued a challenge to me!"

A commotion arose among the clansmen; some were surprised, some were angry, and they whispered among themselves, discussing the matter.

Anmi then unfolded the note before his eyes and read its contents: "Anmi, leader of the Hamo tribe: I am Li Tinghui, a descendant of the hero Li Dingguo. Our three-hundred-year-old feud, as well as the death of Yakuma, all need to be settled. After the great changes tonight, I will wait for you in the Valley of Terror. You can only come alone. We will go to that cave together, and I will make you lose convincingly."

A chorus of curses erupted from the tribesmen, with someone shouting, "Heroes are an honor bestowed upon our Hamo warriors by the gods! How can you, a heartless demon, be worthy of calling yourself a hero!"

Anmi waved his hand to quiet the crowd, then said, "The enemy has challenged me to a decisive battle in the Valley of Terror, and High Priest Sotulan says I cannot go. But I am a descendant of Aria; would I fear the power of demons? I will go and show him what a true hero is!"

Anmi's words were spoken with conviction, instantly inspiring the entire tribespeople. The four attendants drew their swords and shouted in unison, "My lord, we'll go with you!"