Uncanny Valley - Chapter 38
"I just want him to stop dwelling on the past and spare my people. I am willing to accept any punishment he may impose for the crimes committed by the entire tribe."
Luo Fei gently shook his head: "He won't retaliate against your clansmen, much less make things difficult for you. If he wanted to avenge his ancestors, he could have done it half a year ago, so why wait until now?"
Xu Xiaowen was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "What does he want to do?"
"For another matter," Luo Fei pondered. "I already have some answers in mind. But since we may see him soon, it would be better for him to answer them personally."
Xu Xiaowen nodded, then changed the subject: "No matter what his motives were, he killed so many people after all. Moreover, he used 'demon power' to harm my people, and there were many victims in Longzhou as well. So I think he ultimately had no good intentions towards our Hamo tribe."
"You're wrong," Luo Fei immediately corrected. "The appearance of 'demon power' has nothing to do with him. In fact, he was also one of the victims. Before he died, Li Dingguo regretted using this power and killed several Miao Gu Masters who controlled the source of the power. But there was one person who still maintained a strong interest in this power. Helai's records mention this person."
"You mean... Bai Wenxuan?" After the other party's prompting, Xu Xiaowen seemed to understand.
Luo Fei nodded: "That's him! After Bai Wenxuan surrendered to the Qing court, he was willing to give up wealth and honor and live in seclusion in Mi Hong Village, most likely in order to find the mysterious power hidden in the Valley of Terror. But obviously, he spent his whole life trying to uncover the mystery. However, his ambition did not die out, but remained in his bloodline and was passed down from generation to generation."
"So, Bai Jian'e finally found that power, and he's using it to harm people?"
“At the very least, he was one of the most important figures,” Luo Fei said with certainty, then added, “Of course, there were other people who also helped him.”
"Who could the others be?"
Luo Fei's eyes flickered, but he did not answer the other party's question.
After reaching the top of the low hill, the cave was not far away. The view was more open here, and a faint light could be seen flickering near the cave entrance. Luo Fei felt relieved: it was there!
Xu Xiaowen and Shui Yidi clearly realized this as well, and the three of them quickened their pace in unison. Before long, they arrived at the cave entrance. The light was coming from inside the cave. Xu Xiaowen stopped, turned around, and looked at Luo Fei with a questioning gaze, unsure whether they should continue inside.
Just then, someone inside the cave said, "Please come in. I will not hurt you. I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Without further hesitation, Luo Fei stepped forward, blocking Xu Xiaowen's path, and whispered, "You stay behind me."
After a moment's thought, Xu Xiaowen instructed Shui Yidi beside her in Hamo language: "You guard the cave entrance. Remember, you absolutely cannot let anyone hear our conversation."
Shui Yidi bowed and accepted the order, holding a curved sword, and stood guard outside the cave. Then Luo Fei and Xu Xiaowen walked one after the other into the depths of the cave.
The grave remains unexcavated, with a roaring campfire nearby. A man sits behind the fire, dressed in black mountaineering gear with his hat pulled up, obscuring his face.
Luo Fei's heart tightened, and the terrifying memory from Qingfengkou resurfaced in his mind. Yes, this was the dark figure that appeared in the illusion; Luo Fei would never forget the other's blood-red eyes and the suffocating fear he felt at that time.
After the two approached, the man looked up and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Please sit down. The ground is damp; it will be more comfortable by the campfire."
Xu Xiaowen and Luo Fei exchanged a glance, then sat down side by side opposite the man.
The man seemed to be looking at Xu Xiaowen. Due to the brim of his hat, the flickering firelight only illuminated the lower half of his face. After a moment, a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "You're Yakuma's sister? You two... look so alike."
"You know me?" Xu Xiaowen asked, slightly surprised.
“Your sister mentioned it to me,” the other person said leisurely, his thoughts seemingly drifting. “Back then, she even asked me to visit you in Kunming… Heh heh, but life is unpredictable, who could have foreseen it?”
Upon hearing about her sister's past, Xu Xiaowen couldn't help but sniffle, and her eyes reddened.
The man then turned to look at Luo Fei: "You're here too? Should I call you Officer Luo?" After a pause, he added, "That's good. I was going to ask this young lady to pass some things on to you, but now it's much simpler."
Luo Fei's eyes lit up: "You have something for me?"
“Yes, and it should be something you really want.” The man said, handing over an envelope. “I know you’re here because of the serial madness case in Longzhou. I learned some things about the case six months ago, and they’re all written inside. It will help you solve the case.”
Luo Fei took the envelope and sincerely said, "Thank you."
Xu Xiaowen had been sizing up the man, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you Li Yanhui? Why don't you take your hat off?"
The man nodded: "Yes. In the Hundred Family Surnames, Zhou is ranked first. I am a descendant of Li Dingguo... As for this hat, it's nothing to take off. But you should be prepared, my appearance may be a little scary."
As Li Yanhui spoke, he pulled his hat back, revealing his entire face.
It should be said that this was a young and handsome face. He looked to be under thirty years old. Compared to when he was in the Kunming Mental Hospital, his face showed less despair and fear and more of a majestic aura.
However, what was most striking at this moment were his eyes, which were bloodshot and red, like those of a wild beast. Clearly, this was the reason he described them as "frightening."
Because of that terrifying memory, Luo Fei's cheek twitched involuntarily when he saw those bloodshot eyes. Xu Xiaowen fared slightly better; she simply opened her mouth wide in surprise and asked in astonishment, "What happened to your eyes...?"
"This is a side effect of overdosing on medication to get rid of fear." Li Yanhui gave a wry smile, then looked at Luo Fei. "Officer Luo, I was worried that you would end up like me. But it seems that thanks to timely treatment and a small dosage, the medication hasn't had any effect on you."
As they spoke, Li Yanhui pulled out a small medicine bottle, which Luo Fei immediately recognized as the research result that Zhou Liwei had shown him at the forensic center. At the same time, Li Yanhui's words reminded him of the "illusion" he had in Qingfengkou, where a bloody hand touched his cheek, and the sweet, metallic taste of blood seeped into the corner of his mouth.
"So it was you who saved us with this medicine that time." Luo Fei expressed his gratitude with his eyes.
“Yes. When I saw your and Fatty’s condition in the woods, I knew you had most likely fallen victim to Bai Jian’e’s trick. So after killing Zhao Liwen and subduing Bai Jian’e, I immediately treated you. Although the medicine had strong side effects, it was quite effective.”
Luo Fei took a deep breath. He had been aware of the danger at Qingfengkou and had been extremely cautious with his food and drink, yet things still went wrong. How did the other party manage that?
“Actually, I saved the three of you once before Qingfengkou, but that incident didn’t seem to raise any alarm in you.” Li Yanhui’s words interrupted Luo Fei’s thoughts. The latter was taken aback at first, but after a moment of reflection, he understood.
"It was the first night we entered the mountains! You left the skinned snake on the tent, and I immediately woke up and rushed out. Bai Jian'e and the others were already dressed, their scimitars in hand. At the time, I was only surprised by their speed, but now, thinking back, I realize they drew their swords to attack us, but you stopped them." As Luo Fei spoke, a thought struck him: Li Yanhui said he had "saved the three of you," so it seemed he didn't know there was another hidden enemy.
"Where did you get that bottle of medicine from?" Luo Fei thought of another crucial question.
Li Yanhui's answer was somewhat puzzling: "This... I don't know either. I only know that the Kunming Mental Hospital cured my illness with this medicine. When I asked about the specifics, they hesitated and wouldn't tell me. They just told me to be discharged as soon as possible and gave me the remaining medicine to take with me."
"Is this the bottle of medicine that Zhou Liwei lost?" Xu Xiaowen asked, her big eyes sparkling. "Could it have been stolen from the Kunming Mental Hospital?"
Luo Fei lowered his head and remained silent; the mystery surrounding this was indeed difficult to understand for the time being.
Li Yanhui suddenly waved his hand: "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, it's not what I'm concerned about." He focused his gaze on Xu Xiaowen: "We have more important things to resolve between us."
Xu Xiaowen looked slightly uneasy, but she did not avoid the other person's gaze.
After a moment of silence, Li Yanhui spoke: "Now that you've come here, you must already know about the hardships of the Holy Maiden's inheritance?"
Xu Xiaowen nodded solemnly.
Li Yanhui turned to look at Luo Fei, his eyes filled with surprise and inquiry.
Xu Xiaowen understood what the other person was thinking and explained, "No, I didn't tell him. He discovered the truth himself. Moreover, he already knew your identity before you revealed it to Anmi."
"Oh?" Li Yanhui looked at Luo Fei in surprise. "Officer Luo, you do have extraordinary insight. Your presence today is a good thing. I hope you can restore the true face of history, restore the heroic reputation of my ancestors, and at the same time, bear witness to the great friendship between my Li family and the Holy Maiden of generations."
Luo Fei nodded very seriously: "I will do my best. However, there are many details about what happened half a year ago that I still don't understand. For example, how did you get into conflict with Bai Jian'e and the others, and what exactly is that 'demon power'?"
"And also, how exactly did my sister die?" Xu Xiaowen quickly added, this being the question she cared about most.
“I will tell you… I have accomplished what I wanted to do, but of course, the story doesn’t end there.” Li Yanhui looked into Xu Xiaowen’s eyes and said meaningfully. Then, he began to recount the cause and effect of the incident in a low voice.
As we already know, Li Yanhui is a descendant of Li Dingguo. However, for most of his life, he didn't pay much attention to this identity. He was passionate about exploration and was a well-known explorer in the field. He possessed excellent physical fitness and a sharp mind, and had received highly professional training in combat and wilderness survival. He loved mountains and jungles; when he was in these environments, he always felt like a true king. Perhaps, in some mysterious way, some force was calling him?
A year ago, Li Yanhui planned an expedition deep into the jungles of Yunnan's border region. While gathering information online, he stumbled upon Yue Dongbei's research on the "uncanny valley." This immediately piqued his interest, as the central figure in this research was none other than his ancestor, Li Dingguo.
Li Yanhui had kept some of his ancestors' relics. When he was a child, his elders had told him stories about the legend of the source of power in Mi Hongzhai. Yue Dongbei's theories stirred his memories. He didn't believe that his ancestor was a cruel demon as the academics described, so he decided to use this expedition to find out the truth about Li Dingguo's death.
Li Yanhui visited Yue Dongbei and absorbed all the relevant information he possessed. He then began his own investigation, and to conceal his identity, from that time onward, whenever someone asked his name, he would always answer with the eight characters, "Among the Hundred Family Surnames, Zhou is the first in line."
Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, Li Yanhui arrived at Hamo Village. The tribe's holy maiden indeed carried a sacred bottle containing Li Dingguo's blood, and the legends associated with the holy war were widely known and familiar to the tribe.
Driven by a bloodline intuition, Li Yanhui felt deeply skeptical of these legends. So he stayed in the Hamo village, learning the local customs and language while conducting on-site investigations in the Valley of Terror and the Hanging Lake area, searching for clues related to the truth of what happened back then.
Months later, guided by the military camp map left by Li Dingguo, Li Yanhui finally uncovered the most crucial secret in that period of history. That very day, he sought an audience with Yakuma, the holy woman of the Hamo tribe, to explain the matter and request that she lift the curse on the blood vial on his ancestors.
To his surprise, the other party knew more about that period of history than he did, and the Holy Maidens of all generations had been waiting for him: a descendant of Li Dingguo.
That night, Li Yanhui and Yakuma talked for a whole night. The truth of history was heartbreaking. For hundreds of years, the holy women had endured double torment and suffering alone in order to maintain the dignity of their tribe and protect the souls of the unjustly killed heroes, passing down the secret from generation to generation. This sentiment deeply moved Li Yanhui.
But a turning point in history seems to have arrived. According to legend, as long as Li Dingguo's remains are removed from the cursed cave, and blood from his descendants flows through the blood vial and falls onto the remains, the curse on the vial can be broken, and the sacred object of the Hamo tribe can remain intact.
The following night, Yakuma secretly led Li Yanhui to the cave where the tomb was located. Together they unearthed Li Dingguo's remains and then had a long talk. As the only two people in the world who knew the truth of that history at the time, they had so much to say to each other. Although it was only their second meeting, it felt as if they had known each other for centuries.
As dawn approached, Yakuma left first. According to their agreement, Li Yanhui would break the curse of the blood vial, refill the tomb, and return the blood vial to Yakuma that same day.
However, the more meticulously planned something is, the more likely it is to encounter unexpected changes.
Li Yanhui carried Li Dingguo's remains to the ancient cemetery below, where many of Li Dingguo's fallen subordinates rested—it was probably the best resting place for him. After the remains were buried and the ritual to break the curse was completed, Li Yanhui suddenly noticed that some other people had sneaked into the ancient cemetery.
Li Yanhui hid in the shadows, observing these people. They were Bai Jian'e and his three subordinates: Xue Mingfei, Wu Qun, and Zhao Liwen. Their conversation took Li Yanhui by surprise.
These people came for the "power of the devil." They seem to have grasped the source of this power, and some outsiders, attracted by its euphoric properties, want to develop it into a new type of drug. At the same time, this power also possesses a terrifying magic, though less likely than the former, but it's a problem that must be solved before it can be marketed.
Bai Jian'e and his group came specifically to solve this problem.
Their method of solving the problem is appalling. Once outside experts arrive, they will first release the "source of power" among the Hamo people, using them for small-scale trials. Then, the experts will analyze the samples to remove the terrorism-inducing factors. According to the plan, six months later, the upgraded drug will be secretly released in Longzhou. In this larger-scale trial, experts will sample and analyze a small number of still-sensitive individuals, ultimately developing a completely safe product.
Enraged by this wicked plan, Li Yanhui inadvertently revealed his whereabouts, attracting the attention of Bai Jian'e and his men, who ultimately captured him due to their overwhelming numbers. Bai Jian'e and his group subjected him to rigorous interrogation about his identity and purpose, but Li Yanhui remained silent. He knew the secret of the Rain God Temple, and if Bai Jian'e discovered he was a descendant of Li Dingguo, he would surely kill him to prevent future trouble.
Bai Jian'e and his men couldn't get any information out of Li Yanhui, but they were surprised to find the Hamo tribe's sacred object, the Blood Bottle, on his person. Bai Jian'e immediately sent Wu Qun to inform Dierga of this information.
Dirga, who had failed to secure the position of the Holy Maiden's Guardian, had already been bribed by Bai Jian'e and become a pawn planted by the latter within the Hamo tribe. Harboring ulterior motives, he had already noticed the Holy Maiden's unusual movements these past two days. Upon receiving the message from Wu Qun, he was even more excited: his chance to turn his fortunes around had finally arrived!
Dilga met with Anmi and told her that he had seen Yakuma hand the sacred object to the young man from another tribe. Just as Anmi was beginning to doubt, news arrived from his tribesmen that Li Dingguo's tomb had been unearthed. This time, he dared not delay and immediately took Dilga to the Saintess's Hut to inquire about the situation from Yakuma.
Yakuma really couldn't produce the sacred object! Anmi's surprise turned into anger. Under these circumstances, Yakuma followed Anmi to the cave, waiting for Li Yanhui's arrival with the last glimmer of hope.
However, Li Yanhui was currently bound in the ancient tomb, with no freedom of movement. The cave was located on a high, protruding area, so Li Yanhui could even see Yakuma standing anxiously waiting by the cliff edge. His heart was breaking with anxiety, and because his mouth was stuffed with a wad of cloth, he could only let out a low, muffled growl.
Yakuma didn't know why Li Yanhui hadn't kept his promise, and in the desolate night, her heart gradually sank into despair. Faced with Anmi's angry questioning, she couldn't tell the truth. Finally, as the dawn broke, she took her own life, leaving this world that had brought her so little joy.
Subsequently, Shui Yidi was imprisoned in a water dungeon, and Dierga solidified his position within the tribe, becoming a confidant of the Anmi chieftain. News of this quickly reached Bai Jian'e and his men's camp through Wu Qun, much to Bai Jian'e's satisfaction. In fact, Dierga later played a crucial role in providing cover and assistance when they carried out their evil plan against the Hamo people.
Bai Jian'e and his group discussed their plans without restraint, and Yakuma's death became one of their topics of conversation. Meanwhile, a raging fire of despair and rage began to burn within Li Yanhui, a fire that never died down, even after he was plunged into a terrifying hell.
Bai Jian'e decided to use Li Yanhui as their first test subject. He forced Li Yanhui to ingest a chemical extract that would cause phobias, and then waited for experts to arrive to extract blood samples for analysis.
Li Yanhui became the first victim of that series of mental breakdowns. After his mental breakdown, Bai Jian'e relaxed his surveillance on him. However, Li Yanhui's survival instincts, honed through long-term training, erupted at this moment. He broke free of his restraints and fled into the dense jungle. About two weeks later, he was discovered near Qingfengkou by a film crew from Kunming Television. They took him back to Kunming and then sent him to a mental hospital.
Li Yanhui spent nearly six months in a mental hospital, enduring a hellish existence. Fear tormented him constantly; his cognitive abilities were almost completely lost. Only two things remained deeply etched in his mind, unforgettable even in his current state:
"The demon of the Valley of Fear is coming to Longzhou!"
"Yakuma!"
Six months later, for some unclear reason, doctors in Kunming cured Li Yanhui's madness with medicine developed by Zhou Liwei. The latter finally escaped the terrifying hell and was reborn. His memory gradually returned, and whenever he thought of Yakuma's wrongful death, the desire for revenge became the strongest driving force supporting his survival.
Li Yanhui learned about the Longzhou case and then secretly followed Luo Fei and others to Mi Hong Village. At the Rain God Temple, Xue Mingfei became the first victim on his path of revenge. "Reborn in blood," this highly symbolic scene announced his return to his enemies.
Later, on the way to the Valley of Terror, Li Yanhui punished Wu Qun, who had tipped off Dierga, with the "tongue-pulling punishment." During this time, he also intentionally left some clues related to Li Dingguo's past deeds, hoping to guide Luo Fei and the others to rediscover their heroic ancestor. However, most of his actions were misinterpreted by Yue Dongbei.
After killing Zhao Liwen, Li Yanhui appeared before Bai Jian'e. Alone and isolated, Bai Jian'e was no match for Li Yanhui, and upon learning his identity, he completely broke down. He knelt at Li Yanhui's feet, swearing allegiance and begging for forgiveness.
They were about to enter the territory of the Hamo people. To realize his plan, Li Yanhui needed an accomplice. Therefore, he temporarily spared Bai Jian'e's life, allowing him to accompany Luo Fei and the others into the Hamo village, where he would be at Li Yanhui's beck and call. Bai Jian'e dared not disobey, for Li Yanhui now not only possessed the secret of the Rain God statue but also knew full well of his crimes against the Hamo people through drugs. He could only hope that Li Yanhui's plan would succeed, and that, perhaps when Li Yanhui was in a good mood, he would show leniency and spare him.
While Luo Fei and the others were exploring the Valley of Terror with Dilga, Li Yanhui led them to the ancient tomb, hoping Luo Fei could discover traces of crimes left by Bai Jian'e and his gang. Afterwards, he went alone to the cave and unearthed Yakuma's remains. Overwhelmed with grief, he stood on the cliff edge and let out that chilling scream.
Two other important figures are on Li Yanhui's list of targets for revenge: Dilga and Anmi.
Dilga's crimes were no less serious than those of Bai Jian'e and the others, and Li Yanhui's punishment for him was direct and swift: he slit his throat with a sharp blade. At the same time, he left the map containing the secret to blowing up the lake on Dilga's corpse, foreshadowing the eventual punishment of Anmi.
In Li Yanhui's view, it was ultimately Anmi's arrogance that drove Yakuma to her death. This leader of the Hamo tribe had inherited a false glory for generations, and Yakuma, in order to maintain his glory and preserve the faith of her people, even committed suicide rather than reveal the truth of history. But the dead received no respect or pity; her body was even buried in a cursed cave. Li Yanhui found this situation intolerable, and he resolved to strip Anmi of his emperor's new clothes, to make him face Yakuma's death, and the distorted war, naked and without dignity.
Li Yanhui succeeded. Faced with the undeniable facts, Anmi's pride and faith crumbled instantly. For a family that had been immersed in glory for hundreds of years, this blow was undoubtedly fatal. When Chief Hamo returned to the sacrificial site, his emotional world was filled only with despair, shame, and self-blame. He couldn't cope with such a stark contrast, yet he couldn't confide in anyone, forced to endure the torment in his heart alone. The painful circumstances that Yakuma had suffered were perfectly replicated in him, and ultimately, he chose the same fate as Yakuma.
After listening to Li Yanhui's account of his experience, many of the remaining mysteries in Luo Fei's mind were resolved one by one. The only regret was that Li Yanhui had never met the "expert" from the outside world, nor did he know what the "power of the devil" was. He was only certain that the source of this power was that ancient tomb.