Chapter 64
The rain is cold, and the murderous intent is even colder.
The figures in straw raincoats at the valley's entrance were like vicious dogs pinned to a gate, firmly blocking the only escape. The stench of sulfur mingled with the pungent smell of rain, and a stifling heat surged from the valley, clashing with the chill from outside, creating a hazy mist that distorted the figures of the East Depot's "hounds" like ghosts.
Gu Linzhi leaned against Chang Wu, leaning most of his weight on him. Every breath tugged at the cold poison in his ribs, suppressed by the drugs, bringing a tearing pain and deeper weakness. His vision darkened from the blood loss and the cold, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay awake. The Earth Flame Heart was within the valley; it was his only hope of survival. He could not stop there.
Mo Ya crouched behind a slippery boulder, raindrops trickling down his hardened profile. His one arm tightly gripped the short-bladed spear, his gaze like the most patient hunter as he carefully observed the guards at the valley's entrance. Four of them were spread out in a semi-fan formation, two at the front, offering a wide field of view, and two further back, leaning against the rock face, each providing support. All were skilled fighters, their presence steady and their positioning precise.
"We can't force our way in." Mo Ya's voice was so low that it was almost drowned out by the sound of rain. "You are in too poor a condition. Chang Wu's martial arts skills are not enough to deal with you. If we are entangled and the reinforcements arrive, we will be dead."
"Then...what should we do?" Chang Wu's voice was trembling uncontrollably. He was not afraid of death, but he was afraid that he could not protect Gu Linzhi.
Mo Ya's gaze slowly swept across the steep rock faces on either side of the valley entrance, covered in slippery moss and strange red fungi, finally settling on a small, shadowy area on the left that had collapsed slightly due to rain. There, the nearest guard was about five meters away.
"Feint to the east and attack in the west." Mo Ya spat out these four words, his eyes as sharp as a knife. "Chang Wu, make some noise to attract the attention of the two on the right. The bigger the better, but don't expose yourself. I'll deal with the one in front on the left, and then seize the collapsed area as a cover. Gu Linzhi," he looked at Gu Linzhi, "the moment I make a move, don't worry about anything else. Run into the valley entrance as fast as you can and run straight into the depths. Don't look back! Chang Wu, follow!"
This was the only feasible, yet extremely risky, plan at the moment. Placing the weakest Gu Linzhi in the most dangerous sprint position was a gamble on the opponent's momentary surprise and Mo Ya's swift and powerful attack.
Gu Linzhi nodded heavily without hesitation. He released Chang Wu's support, managed to stand up straight, took a deep breath of the hot, sulfur-smelling air, and concentrated all his remaining strength into his legs.
Mo Ya gave him a deep look, then said no more. His figure clung to the rock face like a ghost, using the shadows of rocks and sparse bushes to silently move toward the guard on the left. His movements were incredibly light and agile; his one arm didn't affect his balance or agility. The rain and mist provided him with his best cover.
Chang Wuze took a deep breath, picked up a few stones, crouched down and made a detour to the right.
Time seemed stretched out. Every drop of rain could be heard clearly. Gu Linzhi's heart was pounding wildly in his chest, nearly breaking his ribs.
Sudden!
“Crack! Crash—!”
In the distance to the right, there was a sudden sound of falling rocks and breaking branches! It was Chang Wu who made the noise!
The four guards at the valley entrance were instantly alarmed! The two on the right immediately turned toward the source of the sound, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords, their bodies slightly bent. The guard at the back on the left also subconsciously turned his head to look.
Now is the time!
Like a long-dormant venomous snake unleashing a fatal blow! Mo Ya's figure suddenly emerged from the shadows, so fast that only a blurry black shadow remained! He didn't attack the guard in front of him on the left directly, but instead, from a strange angle, pounced on the guard at the back, who had been slightly distracted by Chang Wu's commotion!
The guard reacted extremely quickly, turning back at the sound of the wind, his knife already half an inch out of its sheath! But Mo Ya's short-bladed spear was even faster! A flash of cold light arrived first, piercing the side of his neck, which was exposed by turning back, with incredible precision!
"Ugh!" A short, suppressed groan!
Almost at the same time, Mo Ya exerted force with one arm, used the corpse that had not yet completely fallen as a shield, and pushed it fiercely towards the guard on the left who had just turned back with a look of astonishment on his face!
All this happened in a flash!
"Enemy attack!" The two guards on the right finally reacted completely, roaring loudly and rushing forward with knives!
Gu Linzhi, at the moment Mo Ya's figure suddenly rose up, had already exhausted all his life's strength and rushed towards the unguarded valley entrance like an arrow! He ignored the sharp pain in his ribs and the blackening in front of his eyes. There was only one thought in his mind - rush in!
"Stop him!" A guard who was rushing towards Mo Ya caught sight of Gu Linzhi's figure and shouted urgently.
Another guard immediately waved his knife to try to stop Gu Linzhi!
But how could Mo Ya let him have his way? He fiercely kicked away the guard in front of him who was staggering after being hit by the corpse. The short blade spear was like a poisonous dragon emerging from a cave, piercing the back of the guard who tried to intercept Gu Linzhi! Forcing the guard to turn around and block!
"Dang!" The weapons collided, sparks flying everywhere!
In this moment of delay, Gu Linzhi's figure had already staggered across the valley entrance and disappeared in the dense sulfur mist!
"Chang Wu! Go!" Mo Yage blocked the opponent's blade and shouted sternly, while he entangled the two guards tightly to create an opportunity for Chang Wu.
Seeing this, Chang Wu no longer hid, jumped out from his hiding place, and crawled towards the valley entrance.
The two guards saw that their main target (Gu Linzhi) had entered the valley, and saw that Mo Ya was so brave that he could not escape for a while by waving his gun with one arm. A fierce light flashed in one of them's eyes, and he suddenly took out a whistle from his arms and was about to put it into his mouth - he asked for help!
Mo Ya's pupils shrank! The whistle must not be blown!
He didn't even dodge, but took the blow from another guard with his shoulder! Blood spurted out! At the same time, he threw the short-bladed spear out of his hand like lightning!
“Puff!”
The short-bladed spear accurately pierced the throat of the guard who was about to blow the whistle! The whistle fell to the ground with a dull sound.
Mo Ya himself groaned and staggered after taking the blow head-on. Seeing this, another guard swung his sword again with a sinister smile!
"Master Mo!" Chang Wu, who had just rushed to the valley entrance, glanced back, his eyes bloodshot, and without thinking, he threw the thick branch in his hand, which was originally used to explore the way, at the guard who attacked Mo Ya!
The guard subconsciously swung his knife to block the branches.
Despite this insignificant resistance, Mo Ya took a deep breath, retreated quickly, and at the same time kicked a piece of gravel on the ground and shot it towards the opponent's face!
The guard turned his head to avoid them, and when he tried to give chase, Mo Ya and Chang Wu had already retreated into the fog at the valley entrance.
"Chase! They can't escape! Send a signal!" The only guard left at the valley entrance was shocked and angry. He shouted curses towards the depths of the fog and hurriedly picked up the whistle on the ground.
…
Gu Linzhi ran for an unknown amount of time until his lungs ripped and burned like bellows, his legs felt as soft as cotton, and he could no longer support himself, collapsing headfirst onto the hot, damp ground. He coughed violently, his throat filled with the taste of blood, and darkness surged and receded before his eyes like a tide.
He forced himself to lift his head, finding himself in a strange place. Instead of dense forest, he found himself in a relatively open valley. The ground was dark red rock, and wisps of hot air with a strong smell of sulfur rose from the cracks. A few low, twisted shrubs, their leaves thick and dark, grew tenaciously. In the distance, the remains of several collapsed buildings could be vaguely seen, standing darkly in the mist like the skeletons of giant beasts. The air was scorching and oppressive, a world away from the cold rain outside.
This is Falling Star Valley.
He struggled to get up, but his whole body was exhausted. The wound under his ribs seemed to have broken open again during his desperate run. The icy cold mixed with the excruciating pain felt like countless tiny needles stirring inside his body. The effect of the "cold-suppressing pills" that Doctor Ling had given him was rapidly fading.
Just then, hurried footsteps were heard behind me.
Gu Linzhi's heart tightened and he turned around suddenly, only to see Chang Wu staggering towards him, supporting Mo Ya.
Mo Ya's condition looked dire. A deep knife wound ran from his left shoulder to his back, visible to the bone. Blood soaked through his black suit and dripped onto the ground, making a soft sizzling sound before being slightly evaporated by the scorching heat. His face was as pale as paper, his lips tightly pursed, but his eyes remained cold and sharp, scanning his surroundings with the utmost vigilance.
"Mr. Mo, you..." Gu Linzhi's heart sank.
"You won't die." Mo Ya interrupted him, his voice a little hoarse and weak due to blood loss, but still with unquestionable calmness, "It's just flesh wounds, no bones. But you..." He looked at Gu Linzhi's ribs, the bandage there was soaked with blood and sweat, and faintly glowed with a dark blue, "We must find the Earth Flame Heart as soon as possible."
Chang Wu looked at the horrific wound on Mo Ya's back, his eyes turned red, and he quickly tore off a relatively clean strip of cloth from his inner clothes and wanted to bandage him.
Mo Ya waved his hand to stop him: "We can't stay here for long. The hounds at the valley entrance will soon attract more people. We must go inside now." He looked at Gu Linzhi, "Can we go?"
Gu Linzhi gritted his teeth, used his hands to support himself, and tried to stand up, but he fell back down again. He shook his head, a trace of bitterness on his face. His physical strength was completely exhausted.
Mo Ya was silent for a moment, then said to Chang Wu, "Hold him. Follow me closely."
He took the lead and walked forward. Although his steps were a little unsteady, they were still firm. Chang Wu quickly helped Gu Linzhi up and followed closely behind.
The three of them struggled through this strange, scorching valley. The deeper they went, the stronger the smell of sulfur grew, and the ground became hotter, even burning their feet in some places. Hot springs of varying sizes began to appear around them, bubbling and emitting a thick white mist and a pungent odor. The remains of collapsed buildings became increasingly numerous, and the outlines of pavilions and towers could be vaguely discerned, but they were all in ruins, covered in thick sulfur scale and strange vines.
As the black crow walked, he carefully observed the ground and the surrounding rock walls, as if looking for some traces or marks.
"Mr. Mo, what are you looking for?" Chang Wu couldn't help but ask.
"Doctor Bell directed us here for a reason. A rare object like the Earth Flame Heart wouldn't appear out of thin air; it must have been conceived somewhere. Su Wanwan also mentioned that this place is unusual..." Mo Ya whispered, his gaze sharp. "Pay attention to the areas near the hot springs, especially those with unusually colored vapor or unusual crystals on the rock walls."
Gu Linzhi forced himself to stay alert and observe his surroundings. His gaze passed over a large hot spring. The water was a strange, turbid yellow-green, and the bubbles were surging violently. On the rock wall at the edge of the hot spring, he seemed to see a faint, dark red luster, different from the reflection of sulfur.
"Over there..." He raised his hand weakly and pointed to the hot spring.
Mo Ya looked in the direction he pointed, his eyes fixed, and he immediately changed direction and walked over.
As he approached the hot spring, the searing steam assaulted his face, nearly suffocating him. Despite his shoulder injury, Mo Ya leaned in closer to the rock face for a closer look. Within the cracks of the rock face, long soaked by the hot spring water and coated in thick sulfur scale, he saw a few fingernail-sized, irregularly shaped crystals, dark red in color, like congealed blood. Amidst the murky vapor, the crystals seemed to emit a faint, warm aura.
"Is this... Fire Marrow Crystal?" Mo Ya's voice was filled with a hint of uncertainty and surprise. "A companion mineral of the Earth Flame Heart? It seems the direction is correct! The Earth Flame Heart is likely nearby!"
Hope is like a faint flame, ignited again in despair.
However, at this moment, a noisy sound of footsteps and shouts, accompanied by a sharp whistle, came faintly from the direction they came from!
The reinforcements from the East Factory have arrived! And judging by the sounds, there are quite a few of them!
The three people's expressions changed drastically at the same time!
There are unknown dangers in front of them and pursuers who are seeking their lives behind them. They are trapped in this sulfur-filled valley!
Mo Ya suddenly looked behind the hot spring. There was an even thicker area of white fog, so thick that one could hardly see one's hand in front of one's face. Faintly, there came a rumbling sound, as if a underground river was rushing.
"Go in!" Mo Ya made a quick decision and pointed at the thick fog. "The terrain there might be more complicated, or there might be a glimmer of hope!"
There was no choice. Chang Wu supported Gu Linzhi, Mo Ya gritted his teeth and endured the severe pain in his shoulders and back, and the three of them rushed into the thick fog that swallowed all sound and light without hesitation.
Behind them, the footsteps and shouts of the pursuers were getting closer and closer, like the beat of a death drum, beating on the three people's hearts that had already been tense to the extreme.
In the core area of Falling Star Valley, what awaits them is the redemption of Earth Flame Heart, or a complete burial grave?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
