Chapter Forty-Two: Life in the Valley

Wu Jue spoke calmly, “Then congratulations to you.”

Huron drifted down lightly, shaking his head. “No, it’s not time yet. My body remains unstable and may require further evolution. I’ve merely absorbed the metal from those two stone coffins, barely restoring my flesh. If I can’t recover my spaceship, I won’t be able to endure for long.”

Wu Jue knew he referred to the spaceship they once saw underground—a crystal coffin. He frowned. “That means we’ll have to infiltrate back. It’ll be hard to avoid direct conflict with the Sky Execution Clan.”

An Yi and Xiao Han, listening nearby, were puzzled and interjected, “Master, what’s going on? And who is this friend?”

Huron glanced at them. “You don’t recognize me, but I’ve always been inside Wu Jue’s body. I am Huron, Martial Saint of the Divine Arms Clan.”

Upon hearing this, Mirror Hero Te’er remarked, “So you’re from the Divine Arms Clan. I heard your clan was wiped out by the Sky Execution Clan. What a pity.”

Wu Jue sighed, “Amitabha, such tragedy. I’ve kept this hidden—shortly after arriving in this era, I met Huron. He gave me strength and helped me escape the Sky Execution Clan’s pursuit. The situation was too complicated, so I never spoke of it.”

“But now that everything’s out in the open, there’s nothing left to hide. Huron is our greatest ally. His enmity with the Sky Execution Clan runs deeper than the sea—they cannot coexist.”

Xiao Yang nodded. “That’s excellent. According to the prophecy, we have another helper. But what is your ability?”

Huron stepped closer and quietly transformed, taking on Desai’s appearance. “I can become anyone. This is a gift from Mirror Hero. Thanks to the light he left behind, I recovered my body. Now, we can use Desai’s identity to infiltrate and catch them off guard.”

Everyone was overjoyed; no one had expected Huron to be the chameleon foretold in the prophecy. With this, a fierce counterattack seemed imminent.

They began to plan their next move. Wu Jue suggested a stratagem: Huron would disguise himself as Desai, pretend to capture Wu Jue and Xiao Yang, and bring them back to the fortress to report to the Sky Execution Clan.

An Yi, Te’er, and Xiao Han would return secretly, supporting from within. Together, they would strike hard at the enemy, gather more information, and pave the way for future actions.

“The enemy will assume we’re desperately fleeing. If we strike now, it will disrupt their plans,” Xiao Yang analyzed. “Besides, we’re low on supplies. We can’t keep running; we must seize the enemy’s transport for ourselves.”

Everyone agreed, set their goals, and began preparations. Xiao Yang and Xiao Han trained under Wu Jue and An Yi’s guidance for two days, improving their fitness.

Mirror Hero exchanged intelligence with Huron about the Sky Execution Clan and scouted the area.

By evening, Mirror Hero returned, reporting that the town above was completely destroyed—only some zombies roamed the ruins, and the witch’s whereabouts were unknown.

“What about Xun’er?” Wu Jue sighed.

Xiao Yang opened his laptop at just the right moment. “Too bad it’s out of power. Maybe we can hack into the enemy’s network and look up some information.”

Mirror Hero replied, “Lacking power? I can help, but it requires proper wiring. Looks like we’ll have to visit the town again.”

With that, he led Xiao Yang out of the valley and headed for the town.

The others rested in the valley, preparing for what was to come.

Fearing attention from the Sky Execution Clan, the six of them survived on wild fruit these past days, never lighting a fire.

Though they had the remains of wild beasts, they couldn’t enjoy them. Fortunately, Princess An Yi knew her clan’s method of pickling spicy meat and turned several wolf legs into jerky.

Xiao Han and the others found it hard to eat, but Wu Jue broke his monastic rules, consuming half a wolf leg daily.

He said he was destined never to become an enlightened monk, so Buddhist precepts must be set aside. In this chaotic world, survival mattered more.

An Yi, preparing fruit, gazed out of the valley and chatted, “Do you think Xiao Yang will be in danger out there? I always felt the town was doomed—Xun’er’s mother was too confident.”

Wu Jue mused, “Confidence is good, but it’s just as important to have people around to remind you. That’s why we need teammates, friends.”

As they spoke, Mirror Hero and Xiao Yang hurried back, bringing with them a familiar figure—Xun’er.

Xun’er was covered in blood, disheveled, and seemed to have lost control, full of hostility toward the group.

Xiao Yang said, “Master, we found Xun’er as soon as we arrived. She was rampaging, killing zombies and even humans, then tried to attack us. Fortunately, Te’er subdued her and brought her here. What should we do?”

Wu Jue stepped forward, reciting Buddhist scriptures, then called out, using the force of the Lion’s Roar technique, “Xun’er, wake up! What happened?”

His voice was gentle but skillfully infused with a third of the Lion’s Roar power, awakening Xun’er.

Xun’er threw herself into Wu Jue’s arms, weeping bitterly. “Everyone’s dead—all dead. Mother was betrayed. They turned against us, tried to compromise with the villains, and the town was destroyed. Wu Jue, great monk, you must avenge me—avenge me!”

She collapsed, unconscious in Wu Jue’s arms.

Wu Jue smoothed her hair, gazing at the traumatized Xun’er, unable to imagine what had happened.

It seemed the town’s destruction was due to a traitor. Even the strongest fortress cannot withstand sabotage from within.

He entrusted Xun’er to An Yi, asking her to comfort and let her sleep, then said, “Looks like we need to plan ahead. Xun’er is now a burden, and her mother’s fate is unknown. Perhaps only the witch can heal her heart.”

Mirror Hero Te’er objected, “That’s not appropriate. For one little girl, we shouldn’t jeopardize our plan. Wu Jue, you shouldn’t let personal feelings interfere.”

“This isn’t personal. Xun’er is part of the prophecy,” Wu Jue declared. “She is the witch—unless you tell me the witch is her mother or someone else.”

Huron sighed, “What must come will come. Maybe we’re not saviors, just a motley crew.”

Xiao Yang laughed, “Then should this motley crew do something?”

He began to tidy his armor, ready for battle.

An Yi settled Xun’er down and said, “Alright, you men stop arguing. I’ll handle this with Wu Jue. The rest of you stay and be ready for anything.”

Wu Jue was resolute. “No! This was my idea. I’ve decided to change the plan—all of you retreat. I’ll go alone to rescue Xun’er’s mother. The world needs you.”

“Are you crazy, great monk?” Xiao Han, who had been silent, grabbed Wu Jue’s collar, furious. “We agreed to advance and retreat together—have you forgotten? You say the world needs us, but what about you? Don’t you care?”

Wu Jue gently pushed him away, pressed his palms together, and said, “The Buddha said: If I do not descend into hell, who will?”

He laughed aloud, drifting away, using his lightness skill to climb out of the valley.

“So this is how it ends?” Xiao Han clenched his fists, filled with unwillingness. “We were just planning to cooperate, now it’s a solo mission.”

Xiao Yang patted him. “You don’t understand. The great monk always sees himself as a monk.”

Mirror Hero Te’er and Huron exchanged glances, then vanished into the air.

Xiao Yang and Xiao Han each departed.

An Yi gazed at the increasingly quiet night sky, smiling at sleeping Xun’er. “See, your great monk is so inspiring. With just a few words, he stirred everyone’s passion. No matter what, you’ll get your answer this time.”

In her sleep, Xun’er murmured softly, as if unaware.

End of Chapter Forty-Two: Valley Life.