Chapter 83 Ghost Cry Village: First Snow
What exactly does "victory" look like?
After the offering platform and the locust tree were moved, the old man bent down and pressed the mechanism.
No one expected that, accompanied by a dull thud, the floor tiles slowly moved away, revealing a set of steps extending downwards.
Deep and narrow, leading directly underground.
This small village holds many secrets.
Below the stone steps lay utter darkness, a chill rising from the earth with an unsettling coldness, as if leading to the depths of the underworld. The Guanyin statue on the altar seemed to have been placed there to suppress the wronged souls within.
"It is said that this secret room was built by the villagers a hundred years ago."
The old man carried a candle to light the way for everyone, his voice low and hoarse: "Back then, the Great Xia Dynasty was in turmoil, with war raging year after year. This place was built to seek refuge and hide from disaster."
The candlelight was dim, yet it was enough to illuminate the entire dark room.
Tang Yu stood at the top of the steps, yet could clearly see the scene inside.
The spacious underground room was filled with books, boxes, and treasures. Among them were not only those from the Southern Frontier, but also countless secret treasures of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Clearly, this cannot be accumulated overnight.
It seems that over the years, King Xia Nan has used his power to hide everything he has plundered in this secret room, building the foundation for his ambition and increasing his chances of success.
Xie Xingzheng ordered his men to go to the secret room and search for the most crucial half of the secret manual.
Tang Yu then withdrew her gaze, walked to the old man's side, and asked in a low voice, "I still don't understand something."
"What is it?"
"How did the bloodstains on Guanyin's robe get there?" Tang Yu looked up.
The old man remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he placed the oil lamp beside the offering table, walked slowly to the Buddha statue, bowed respectfully, and then pressed a button somewhere.
Accompanied by a "click" sound from the bottom of the shrine, a hidden compartment popped out.
With trembling hands, the old man took out a booklet wrapped in layers of oiled paper.
The moment the oil paper was peeled off, a strong stench of blood hit us.
Tang Yu took it, and after flipping through it, she found that the entire book was soaked in blood, making her hands sticky.
Although she couldn't read the Southern Xinjiang script on it, she was vaguely certain that this was the secret book that recorded the method of making "Moon Dream".
She carefully wrapped the booklet again and asked in a low voice, "Why is the book covered in undried bloodstains?"
"This book... is very strange."
The old man sighed, "When it was first brought back, it was blank. Until one year, the King of Xia Nan sent someone to take it back."
He paused, his voice even lower: "But he secretly instructed me to kill the man when he took the book, and to make sure his blood seeped into the pages."
"Later," the old man said with a wry smile, "the handwriting gradually appeared."
Tang Yu understood.
It seems that it was at that time that King Xia Nan established a cooperation with Nan Yue, thus learning the method to make the writing appear.
Unfortunately, he was too greedy and too wary, and did not tell Nan Yue about this half-book.
Otherwise, Nan Yue wouldn't have kept focusing on her, the "half-finished product" from back then, and all the subsequent events wouldn't have happened.
Now that the secret manual has been found, the most urgent task is to find a real way to break the deadlock before handing it over.
After all, although this could buy them two days' time, the southern border was still accumulating troops, and a fierce battle was inevitable no matter what.
As the group stepped out of the ancestral hall, the first light of dawn was just beginning to appear.
Thin, fine snowflakes fell silently, melting as soon as they touched the ground, leaving only a few scattered flakes on the withered grass, barely leaving a trace.
Tang Yu stood in front of the ancestral hall, her gaze passing over the broken door frame and looking towards the Ghost Cry Village shrouded in snow and mist.
The village was quiet and peaceful.
Soldiers bustled about, carrying secrets that had been hidden for many years.
If not for war, it would have been just one of countless remote villages. Even if there are some strange rumors, they will eventually be gently erased by time.
No one would have imagined that such a place harbored so many conspiracies and was soaked in the blood of so many innocent people.
Fortunately, everything, like the indelible bloodstains on Guanyin's robe, left traces and was eventually revealed.
Tang Yu suddenly thought: After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, there may be another "Ghost Cry Village".
But at that time, will anyone still be able to uncover the truth beneath the calm surface?
Where will fate lead that village?
Tang Yu's expression remained unchanged, but her gaze unconsciously fell to a spot not far away.
Xie Xingzheng stood in the falling snow, directing his soldiers to finish up. The morning light fell on his shoulder armor, but only reflected a cold luster.
A strange curiosity suddenly arose in her heart.
Such a thoughtful person is seen by those who have spent years fighting on the battlefield.
What exactly does "victory" look like?
Is it the fleeting joy of a city falling and the enemy retreating, or the desolation of a scene of utter devastation after the war?
*
On the city walls, the first snow has lost its gentleness.
The snow intensified, pouring down from the gray-white sky, swirling like goose feathers, covering everything inside and outside the city with a blurred white outline, as if the world had been washed clean and pure.
But everyone knew that war was coming.
Even if someone in Xia Nan City is proficient in the script of the Southern Frontier, the number of books in the Xia Nan King's collection is too large and the content too varied, making it impossible to sort them all out in a single day.
Whether these secret techniques handed over will one day turn into a sharp weapon in the Southern Frontier, becoming a poison that backfires on the Great Xia, remains unknown.
Tang Yu and Xie Xingzheng stood side by side on the city wall.
The wind and snow were like knives, scraping against my skin with a slight stinging sensation.
"Don't you think," Tang Yu said softly, "that my suggestion... is a little bad?"
She herself was slightly taken aback when she said this.
He didn't know why he asked. Clearly, Xie Xingzheng hadn't uttered a single word of objection from beginning to end.
Xie Xingzheng looked up into the depths of the snow outside the city, as if confirming the movements in the southern border, or perhaps just habitually reviewing the battle situation.
"Warfare is based on deception."
He said calmly, "There's no good or bad in it."
Tang Yu turned her head to look at him, her tone indifferent: "I thought someone like you would disdain using such underhanded tricks. You seem more like someone who would choose to face the enemy head-on."
Xie Xingzheng chuckled, unsure whether to be happy or burdened by Tang Yu's assessment.
"Winning also depends on how you win."
He sighed silently, "In a moment of passion, should we exchange countless lives for 'honorable honor' or should we let our soldiers and civilians suffer less from the ravages of war?"
He paused, then looked at Tang Yu.
"Choosing is not a difficult problem for me."
In the wind and snow, his voice was not loud, but every word was clear.
Suddenly, he smiled and casually asked, "Is it 'Yue Qimeng' who thinks this way? Or is it Tang Yu who thinks this way about me?"
Tang Yu was somewhat dazed and couldn't answer immediately.
She suddenly realized that she was neither like Yue Qimeng, who was purely rational, nor like Tang Yu, who could clearly perceive and analyze emotions.
Naturally, no answer can be given.
Xie Xingzheng didn't press further, but instead added softly, "Besides, you think too highly of me."
As he spoke, he turned around and reached out to brush the snow from the ends of her hair.
After more than a decade of fighting, even with the best intentions in his heart, the blood on his hands had already taken far more than just a few lives.
"Do you think it's contradictory?" Tang Yu suddenly asked.
The question, though directed at him, seemed to be directed at himself as well.
"Even though I've become accustomed to killing, I still want more people to live."
Xie Xingzheng was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "It is precisely because I have seen so much that I know that some sacrifices are better avoided."
In fact, regardless of winning or losing, the aftermath of a war is always the same.
The people were displaced, and the situation was turbulent.
Those who survive the panic, facing homes that are no longer the same as before, sometimes don't know whether to feel fortunate or disappointed.
The wind and snow grew increasingly fierce, landing on his shoulders only to melt quickly.
He always seemed to carry a warmth about him.
Tang Yu unconsciously reached out and grasped the hand that was slightly warmer than her own.
Xie Xingzheng was only stunned for a moment before he turned back and intertwined his fingers with hers.
“Back then, Si Huo said she could cure it.”
Tang Yu looked into the depths of the snowstorm and suddenly spoke, "Actually, I didn't lie to you."
This time, she didn't lie.
The two stood side by side on the city wall, the wind and snow howling, yet they no longer felt alone.
*
Outside Xia Nan City, at the Southern Frontier Camp.
All the books transported from Ghost Cry Village have been sent to the camp.
Some soldiers were assigned to organize and guard the books, so the area outside the camp was much quieter than usual, and even the footsteps of the patrols were less frequent.
Inside the main tent, however, it was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
The generals gathered together, unfolding the scrolls of lost secret books, and greedily flipped through the pages, the rustling sound rising and falling.
Moonlight caressed the damp, sticky secret book, its light shining in its eyes, and its breathing became involuntarily rapid.
This is the complete answer to the question of how the saintess was created.
He looked up at the books spread across the tent, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
These are all supreme Gu techniques that were lost for many years after the fall of the Southern Moon Kingdom.
Among them are secret techniques that can create humanoid weapons such as "Gu people".
If we could fully grasp all of them, it would not only be enough to influence the course of the war, but could even rewrite the fate of the nation.
"These have all been hidden away by that old fox, King Xia Nan."
"Haha, the people of Great Xia are truly incredibly foolish!"
Some people cursed under their breath, while others turned the page with barely concealed excitement.
They had even begun discussing how to expand their army, march north, and even conquer all of the Great Xia cities after taking Xia Nan.
Let the Great Xia also taste the bitterness of national ruin and family destruction.
It seemed as if the outcome was already decided.
However, at this very moment...
"Pfft—"
A muffled thud that was extremely untimely.
The fierce and valiant An Yun general, known for his bravery, suddenly swayed slightly, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and unexpectedly spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the book he was reading.
The blood quickly spread between the pages.
The tent fell silent instantly.
"General?!"
"What's going on!"
The surrounding soldiers rushed forward to help him up. Some shouted for the army doctor, while others had not yet realized what was happening and assumed that his old wound had flared up again.
Before the military doctor could arrive, the sound of vomiting blood could be heard from inside the tent.
Blood trickled down the corner of someone's lips as they turned the pages of a book; someone tried to warn others, but before they could utter a complete sentence, they clutched their chest and collapsed to their knees.
This time, even the most oblivious person finally realized something was wrong.
"There's something wrong with these books!" Yuexi's expression changed drastically.
Upon hearing this, the people inside the tent finally realized what was happening and began to shout.
"poisonous!"
"Throw it away!"
"Burn it! Burn it now!"
The secret manual, which was just a moment ago treasured, now seems like a deadly poison.
The generals and soldiers were in a panic, throwing books on the ground and into the brazier; some even kicked over tables and retreated in a disheveled state.
Faced with life and death, who cares about the hegemony of the southern frontier?
The entire camp instantly descended into chaos.
Just then, Yuexi felt a sudden tightness in her chest, and a mouthful of blood welled up inside her.
He staggered, forcibly regained his balance, and swallowed all the life-saving pills he had on him.
The medicine surged within his body, but it couldn't suppress the excruciating poison that pierced his very bones.
Only at this moment did he seem to finally understand something.
With bloodshot eyes and a ferocious expression, he shouted, "They weren't trying to make any deal at all!"
Yuexi gritted her teeth, "They're just stalling for time!"
"Going to Ghost Cry Village to retrieve the book was a way to stall us. Handing over the book was a way to poison us, causing the Southern Frontier Army to fall into disarray and be left without command! That way, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive!"
In an instant, the people of southern Xinjiang who had realized what was happening were filled with rage, and indignation and curses filled the camp.
"The people of Great Xia are indeed extremely treacherous!"
"Completely lacking in martial virtue!"
"Despicable and shameless!"
But they forgot that if we were to investigate, the one who relied most on conspiracies and tricks and was best at setting up schemes in secret was always the Southern Frontier itself.
Yuexi clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"We can't wait any longer."
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "We must send troops now!"
"Even if it costs me my life, we must launch a full-scale attack and not let them wait for reinforcements!"
Outside the tent, the wind and snow howled.
The bugle call of the Southern Frontier Army was finally sounded at this moment.
The war, too, was fully launched amidst the wind and snow.
But the people of Southern Xinjiang forgot that even if Xia Nan wanted to delay, being protected by the Xie family army, which had been fighting for years, did not mean they were an entity that could be easily defeated.
*
From the south of the city, the sound of war drums suddenly rang out, heavy and urgent.
Accompanied by wind and snow, the snow pelted down on the hearts of the people of Xia Nan.
Yan Keli stood under the eaves, listening to the faint roars and shouts of battle coming from afar. Her fingers clenched unconsciously, and her eyes were filled with unconcealed worry.
“Brother Liang…”
Her voice was so soft it was almost carried away by the wind, "The Great Xia and the Southern Frontier have finally gone to war."
"Yes." Ah Liang also looked worried, gazing at the billowing smoke in the distance, and let out a long sigh.
"You said..." Yan Keli hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Can Xia Nancheng hold out?"
"don’t worry."
Ah Liang gently ruffled her brown hair, his voice soft and steady, "Everything will be alright."
He spoke with certainty, but he didn't look at her again. He just stared at the sky in the south of the city, where the firelight flickered on and off.
Yan Keli was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then tell me... what will happen to Southern Xinjiang and Great Xia in the future?"
Once war breaks out, regardless of victory or defeat, it will be difficult for the people of both countries to live together peacefully as before.
People like her from southern Xinjiang, and people like A Liang, have blood from both sides flowing in their veins.
How should we conduct ourselves then?
Ah Liang did not answer.
The wind and snow fell heavier and heavier, obscuring the distant city walls and blurring the outline of the beacon fires.
Through the blanket of snow, Yan Keli gazed at the burning night sky south of the city and murmured:
"Then... what will become of Miss Tang and General Xie in the future?"
Her voice was soft, yet it lingered in the howling wind, refusing to dissipate.
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