Chapter 101

The cold rain thoroughly extinguished the residual warmth clinging to the ashes in the valley. Quickly, the wetness saturated the once-smoldering charcoal, leaving behind a landscape smeared with an increasingly savage black. The ground turned muddy. Each drop sinking into the earth invited more rainfall, pooling into small, shallow puddles across the valley floor. Gathering and dispersing, these watery patches seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Catching the glimmers of the newly risen moon, they shimmered, almost cheerfully.

Perhaps these boundless mountains had yearned for this rare rain. Perhaps those embroiled in war desired it more. Though late, this autumn rain might grant a brief lull, enough for both fighting sides to eat their fill after a whole day’s battle.

Yet this rain, like the great flood at Diancang Pass, seemed more dreadful the longer it poured and the heartier its sound.

Beneath the Nameless Cliff lay a valley. The Valley of Villains was also a valley.

The place where the two were temporarily sheltering was relatively “open.” Yet the mountain winds, fiercer still with winter’s approach, would sweep everything away—including the nascent rivulets and streams formed by this rain pooling in the valley floor.

It was fortunate they had chosen this small cave earlier, situated high on the hillside and sheltered by an overhanging rock above. The cave felt like a warm, damp cocoon embracing Chen Shu, allowing her to sleep deeply and peacefully in her sickness.

But it was different in the Valley of Villains.

Foolish as he was, Xiao Zhong might take this rain as an omen—a chance to breathe, perhaps even to send messages beyond the valley. However, if the rain persisted all night, and then for another two, three days, it would no longer be a blessing. It would become a shroud of mist perfect for hiding the Reaper.

Forget the mud that would inevitably mire the valley floor as rain flowed down the surrounding ridges toward its depths. Just consider the constant drumming of the rain: on blades, on trees, on rooftops. This relentless sound could smother all bird calls; naturally, it could also mask any noise made by an army gathering for a surprise assault.

The moonlight offered little illumination. If the Imperial forces truly harboured such thoughts, the Valley of Villains might not even hold out for ten days—let alone a fortnight.

This very rain could be Heaven’s accompaniment for Xiao Zhong’s funeral rites.

Across Yubei, the fierce battle had raged unceasingly throughout the entire day, only pausing momentarily around noon for less than an hour.

The rain began to fall, and as if obeying some signal, the invading army halted its assault on the valley entrance, retreating back into camp to regroup.

Now, the valley entrance faced not just the massed human barricade of the army. What had been hidden behind the relentless attacks now revealed glimpses through the curtain of rain. A single look was enough to send a chill down the spine— during wave after wave of attacks, they had secretly constructed fortifications at the valley mouth. In less than half a day, a military camp-like barrier had been nearly completed. As the troops withdrew, they retreated with the speed of a receding tide, vanishing without a trace behind the walls.

This army had truly come prepared.

Whether the people inside the Valley of Villains were filled with terror was another matter, but the Members of the Wulin Community on the mountains were anything but idle.

They had long descended from the various peaks, secretly moving to positions only ten or even just a few miles from the Valley of Villains’ camp, lying perfectly in ambush. They had only held back, fearing to startle the snakes and charge straight into the camp for battle.

But what did the timing they had long awaited matter, once the rain began? The fine lines of rain wove a vast, gauzy curtain. The sounds of swift movement through the forest were muffled by the downpour; the sight of swaying branches rustling could precisely mask the movements of those whose footwork skills were superb.

In the Valley of Villains, some rested, others regrouped; still others, numbing their wounds, broke out the wine, singing the songs of Yubei loudly. Their drunken melodies drifted off mid-phrase, reaching even the Small Turret for a few stanzas.

Unbeknownst to them, hidden within this hazy dusk, the calamity of a nest destroyed was closer than they imagined.

Most of the Members of the Wulin Community who had joined this venture were already lying in ambush in the encircling mountain woods. They had answered the call driven by fervor. Seeing the moment ripe, they didn’t even wait for a signal from the army at the valley entrance. Seizing this moonless, windy night, amidst the deceptive tranquility of lingering cooking smoke intermingled with rain and dew, they launched a direct assault into the Valley of Villains.

It wasn’t until several of Xiao Zhong’s inner circle had fallen in succession that the valley finally began to react, plunging into chaos. This group, which had looked so fierce-looking during the day, had become sluggish in the night. Taken by surprise, they scattered in panic, not even mustering the will to fight back.

Instantly, the entire valley grew even more tumultuous. Someone knocked over a stove or a lamp, and flames licked through the cluster of wooden structures, only to be quickly doused by the rain. Thus the smoke grew thicker, beaten down by the raindrops to gather low, hanging heavy and suffocating over the increasingly chaotic camp. Occasionally, the clang of weapons, shouts, and the chaotic clamor of footsteps could be heard within.

Needless to say, the army outside the valley, also resting, saw the commotion and had no reason to remain spectators.

As soon as the report from the sentry in the tower arrived, the commander of this wave, as luck would indeed have it, proved to be none other than the ever-ambitious Liu Mao. Hearing just a few words about the Members of the Wulin Community storming the Valley of Villains, he threw caution to the wind. Eagerly raising his tent canopy, he recalled his deputies. After a brief council, he mustered the entire force—

Truly, when it rains, it pours!

Before the valley could even manage to fend off the first attack, another half-hour hadn’t passed before flames erupted near the once-quiet valley mouth. Yet, fierce fighting raged within the valley, and lacking clear leadership, even if someone saw the fires, or the lookout posts hadn’t been abandoned, no message could penetrate the chaos to reach the Small Turret, let alone organize an effective counter-attack.

This sudden downpour became the perfect cloak of night, driving both forces headlong into the valley, heedless of the consequences. Like two sharp blades, they surrounded and tore at the behemoth— a force that had, just yesterday, dominated all of Yubei— right in its own lair.

And this very night had only just reached the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

The rain was long; the night was long. Not just because conquering the Valley of Villains proved so difficult that the time felt drawn out, but because slaughter is intrinsically long. Even if the valley’s inhabitants offered their necks willingly, the hacking and slaying would continue until the first light of dawn began to show.

But fortunately, victory was decided in this tumult, and so one person found his thoughts distracted.

Li Chou had just led a group to seize an outer granary and posted guards when he threw himself headlong into the fray again. Relying on his superior martial arts and ignoring the ongoing melee, he pushed his way through, stopping everyone familiar to ask:

“Have you seen that fool He Yu?”

The group assigned to the same watchtower as He Yu originally included only him and the Biyang Valley disciples. Even if He Yu had returned the same way, he should have met them head-on, not run into anyone else. Consequently, Li Chou asked around but got nothing but negative answers. At one point, he even mistakenly questioned a Valley of Villains bandit. The man spun around and thrust a blade at him. Li Chou barely dodged the strike, then in a burst of frustrated rage, hacked off the man’s hand. Finding that insufficient vengeance, he hurled the shrieking man into the thickest of the battle and, using his lightness skills, leaped away.

The Biyang Biyang Valley disciples, seeing him return so quickly, were overjoyed, assuming he must have found He Yu. They crowded around him, questioning eagerly. How could Li Chou, who always prided himself on being capable of anything, answer them? He could only shake his head. After a pause, before they could press for details, he took a stride and raced towards the distance.

This time, he wasn’t heading deeper into the valley. Instead, he followed the mountain slope, heading straight for the location of the secret room previously described by the messenger, his steps filled with unwavering resolve.

The mountain path was treacherous, and the muddy track made slick by the rain made it worse.

The further Li Chou ran up the slope, the heavier his steps felt. The ceaseless clatter of weapons down in the valley gnawed at him, fueling a rising uncertainty. Facing the impenetrable vastness of the mountain forest, he had no clue where to search, where to look.

He Yu’s life was not one of the things Li Chou was supposed to concern himself with. Why he was now searching so desperately was a question he himself likely couldn’t clearly answer. Perhaps it was the bond formed during that shared rescue at the Diancang Pass city gates; perhaps it was because this business didn’t just involve He Yu, but also dragged in Chen Shu.

And according to those from Qin Xin Bluff, Chen Shu had been in the valley for days, yet there had been not a single trace of her whereabouts.

His feet slowed to a halt, seemingly unwilling to dwell on it further. Tilting his head back, he was suddenly jolted by the realization that the downpour had left him drenched to the bone. His usually fastidious attire was now disheveled and soaked; strands of hair plastered tightly to his outer robe, making him look thoroughly miserable.

Li Chou merely glanced down at himself, then averted his eyes. He took a deep breath, straightened up, and resumed his climb.

And it was precisely at this moment that two black figures hastened past, visible in the indistinct haze— be it fog, smoke, or moonlight filtered through the dense trees.

One was taller; the other was stockier. As they drew closer, Li Chou peered intently. The stockier man’s hair flew about wildly in the wind, looking unkempt, much like Li Chou himself. Yet, even in the dark of night, the eye-patch covering half his face was unmistakably dark— its presence clearly announcing the identity of this man—

“He Yu!” Li Chou yelled angrily, chasing after him. He was so angry that he almost grabbed He Yu by the collar to vent his rage. Continuing his rant, he demanded, “What on earth kept you dallying on the mountain?! Even if you were searching for secret rooms or swords, it shouldn’t take more than half a ke! How could it take this long? Seems you’re treating this battle like some idle woodwork of your sect, as if time were—”

“Now, now, don’t lose your temper,” chimed in another voice. Startled, Li Chou halted abruptly and turned to look. Swallowing the rest of his words, he listened as the newcomer spoke gently: “Young Brother He here ran into a band of bandits, which caused the delay. But rest assured, the entire battle wouldn’t shift much because of one or two of us. After all, the Martial World Alliance is merely here to aid the imperial court. Doing what we can is enough.”

These words, seamlessly delivered, gradually cooled Li Chou’s fiery rage. Forcing a smile, he acknowledged the speaker with a “Master Alliance Leader Xu” before adding, “Now that everyone’s on the move, the Valley of Villains is caught off guard and utterly disrupted. So, it seems we won’t need the original, careful plan after all. We’ll conquer them before nightfall.”

He Yu patted Li Chou’s shoulder, and without another word the three hastened into the valley.

Before long, they indeed found themselves back within the valley’s confines.

Looking at the battle here, not much had shifted compared to a moment ago. Just as Li Chou and He Yu were about to dive in, someone seemed to recognize the Alliance Leader, struggling through the chaos of flashing blades and flying swords to rush over, shouting:

“Master! The Small Turret is almost ours!”

All three were elated. They looked up and saw flickering lights atop the structure within the valley, casting many swaying shadows—clear signs that their allies now held it. The Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance immediately responded, “Wonderful! No need to report to me, best to rush over with reinforcements—”

“But… we didn’t find the Master of the Valley of Villains inside!”

“Found who? Again, there’s no rush reporting to me—” The Alliance Leader’s voice abruptly cut off. He whipped his head around, demanding, “What?! You didn’t capture Xiao Zhong?!”