Chapter 46 The Lament of the Valley of Tears! Lin Yue and his group have already begun their exploration...
Lin Yue and his group had been exploring for several days. He felt that every day he was either having close contact with unseen tree roots or playing a heart-pounding game of hide-and-seek with bizarre creatures that appeared out of nowhere and whose appearances defied the limits of human imagination. Only now did he truly feel the magic of this other world.
Ever since they stepped into the area on the outskirts of the Valley of Tears, thick fog has been billowing out as if it were free. If it weren't for Xiao Fen, their furry bio-radar, constantly bouncing and whining ahead, Lin Yue seriously suspected that they would have already become fertilizer for some unknown mushroom in this misty forest.
“Hey Gray,” Lin Yue asked breathlessly, struggling to push aside a vine that looked like some kind of indescribable tentacle. His voice was muffled from wearing several layers of wet cloth. “Is your Valley of Tears always this ethereal? I feel like if I stay any longer, I might just ascend to immortality.”
Gray, however, had no time to pay attention to Lin Yue's usual rants. His already expressionless face grew even colder, his eyes fixed on the almost solidified milky-white fog in front of him, as if he wanted to pierce through the damned fog with his gaze.
“…We’ve arrived at the core area.” He spoke hoarsely, the words seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth, each syllable heavy with emotion.
[System Notification: The fog concentration ahead has reached an extremely dangerous level! The content of unknown corrosive particles has surged! The concentration of trace amounts of unidentified spores has exceeded the standard! The air quality index is approaching the eve of a biohazard outbreak! Please adjust your gas masks (beggar's version) to faith mode! And be prepared to experience a suffocating rock and roll experience in the fog at any time!]
Lin Yue: "..." What do you mean by "faith mode"? System, don't you know the quality of this thing? You even provided the blueprints!
"Everyone, pay attention! Keep your masks on! Breathe through your nose in short bursts! Stay close to me, don't fall behind! Xiao Fen! Keep leading the way, call out immediately if anything seems wrong!" Lin Yue took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, which was itching to turn around and run away. After all, they were Chinese, and they were already here!
Xiao Fen felt unprecedented pressure, clinging tightly to Gray's legs, letting out a low whimper, her fur standing on end, her big green eyes scanning her surroundings warily.
The moment they stepped into the thick fog, Lin Yue felt as if he had plunged headfirst into a pot of expired lotus root starch that was being simmered over a low flame and had been mixed with an excessive amount of industrial flavoring.
The thick, impenetrable fog clouded his eyes, and the cloying, corrosive smell stubbornly wafted into his nostrils even through several layers of cloth and charcoal ash, choking him until his eyes and nose were brimming with tears and snot. He almost performed a dramatic scene of Lin Daiyu uprooting a willow tree on the spot.
[System Notification: Warning! Warning! You are affected by a high concentration of [Unknown Energy Pollution]! Your health is slowly decreasing! Your mental resistance is continuously decreasing! You are experiencing mild dizziness and nausea. Please leave this area or seek energy refuge as soon as possible!]
"Holy crap! This thing causes continuous damage," Lin Yue thought, a million mutated alpacas galloping through his mind. "Gray! How much further until we get to you guys?"
Gray didn't answer, but gritted his teeth, struggling to find his way through the thick fog. Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat mixed with droplets of water condensed from the fog, sliding down his cheeks and disappearing into his mask. It was clear that he was under more pressure than the others.
Suddenly, Xiao Fen, who was walking in front, stopped abruptly and let out a sharp, urgent bark.
"Woof woof woof! Awooo—!"
Immediately afterwards, a sickening rustling sound came from the thick fog.
Before Lin Yue could react, he felt a tightness in his ankle. Looking down, he saw several arm-thick, sticky, barbed, and strangely colored vines that had silently emerged from the ground and were tightly wrapped around his foot, continuing to spread upwards!
"My god! What the hell is this? Is it a real-life version of Plants vs. Zombies?" Lin Yue was startled and instinctively wanted to slash at it with his steel short sword!
"Don't move! It's the Soul-Binding Vine! Its sap has a strong paralyzing poison! It will corrode flesh!" Gray shouted sharply. He drew the iron spear from his back with his backhand, his eyes narrowed, and his wrist flicked! The movement was as fast as lightning!
"call out--!"
The iron spear seemed to have eyes, piercing precisely at the slightly raised roots where the vines connected to the ground!
There was a dull thud like cloth being torn apart, followed by the sound of some kind of liquid splashing. The vines wrapped around Lin Yue's feet suddenly stiffened, then withered and turned black like seaweed that had been drained of moisture, turning into a pool of black slime that emitted a pungent, sour smell.
[System Notification: Encountered a mutated creature [Soul-Binding Vine (Elite)]. Characteristics: Well-developed root system, swift movement, secretes potent paralyzing neurotoxins and corrosive mucus, highly sensitive to vibrations and sound waves of specific frequencies; its weak point is its main root node. Graeme the Silent One, relying on his knowledge of native creatures and combat instincts, precisely attacked its vitals and successfully killed it.]
Lin Yue looked at the black, bubbling liquid on the ground and the several small holes corroded in his trousers. A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat almost soaked through his gas mask.
"Th...thank you, Gray. You're...very skilled at this," Lin Yue said, still feeling a bit shaken.
Gray simply shook his head, his gaze growing even more grave: "...Hurry! The foul air here...makes them...more...troublesome!" He used the word "foul air," clearly indicating that even he couldn't accurately describe this harmful substance permeating the air.
The journey that followed was like a real-life version of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" combined with "Monster Hunter: The Beginner's Guide"! They not only had to endure the corrosive fog and lose their way, but also had to be constantly on guard against those strange, mutated creatures that appeared from all directions and were clearly not normal food!
Fortunately, Gray seemed to have truly transformed into the Silent War God. Although he didn't speak much, he possessed an almost instinctive understanding of the habits and weaknesses of these native mutated creatures. Every strike was precise and deadly; the ordinary iron spear in his hands swung with tremendous force, repeatedly sending attacking monsters flying or pinning them to the ground at the last second!
And Little Fen played an even more crucial role than anyone could have imagined! She always seemed to give a warning before danger struck; her sensitive nose appeared to pierce through the thick fog, detecting the monsters' scents in advance. On several occasions, when Gray was entangled by several monsters, she would take the initiative, using her sharp claws and fangs, accompanied by a low growl, to pounce and tear apart any smaller monsters attempting to attack from the flanks! The lightning bolt-shaped mark on her forehead flickered in the fog, emitting a faint, unsettling light, as if responding to the call of this land.
Although Lin Yue, Amu, and the old hunter Barton were roughly equal in direct combat strength, they provided as much support as possible. Lin Yue was responsible for using various gadgets he pulled from his treasure-filled backpack, such as leftover smoke bombs or oil-soaked torches wrapped in animal hides, to create chaos and disrupt the enemy's vision. Amu, relying on his brute strength, used his shield to block attacks or smash into the slow-moving monsters under Gray's command. The old hunter Barton, with his experience, constantly reminded everyone to watch their step and avoid hidden quicksand and poisonous plants.
And so, after paying the price of several torn pieces of clothing, countless drops of sweat, and almost exhausting all their physical and mental strength, the expedition team finally broke out of the suffocating core area of the dense fog, looking like drowned rats just pulled out of a mud pit.
Suddenly, the view opened up before him. Although it was still gloomy and oppressive, when he could see things within at least ten meters, Lin Yue was so overjoyed that he almost cried and wanted to kowtow to the land on the spot.
However, the smile on his face froze the next second. No, it should be said that it shattered completely.
Because what lay before them was a shocking scene of desolation and ruin. The stark contrast between Gray's taciturn demeanor throughout the journey, his unwavering devotion to his homeland, and the occasional, vague longing for a peaceful past, was striking. Although Lin Yue couldn't know for sure what this place had once looked like, seeing the momentary freeze on Gray's face and the despair that quickly welled in his eyes, he could guess that this place should never have been like this.
Most of the once sturdy cave entrances have collapsed and become blocked, the exposed ruins covered with thick, grayish-black moss resembling lividity. A few enormous ancient trees that should have served as dwellings have long since withered, their twisted branches reaching towards the sky like ghostly claws, entwined with menacing black vines, as if silently recounting the disaster that once struck this place.
The ground was also covered with gullies and silt washed away by the flood, and there were broken pieces of wood, broken pottery, and some unidentifiable remains that seemed to be household items.
There were no birdsong, no fragrance of flowers, and even the chirping of insects had disappeared. Only the occasional, muffled rumble from the depths of the valley, like the groan of the earth, and the mournful whistling of the wind blowing through withered branches and leaves.
“…No…Impossible…Home…My home…” Gray stared at the scene before him, his body swaying violently, almost losing his balance. His eyes were instantly filled with immense grief, disbelief, and overwhelming rage.
He stumbled towards the ruins. The home he remembered—a home where, despite hardship and scarcity, his people had persevered through generations, maintaining order and protecting their home from unknown threats—how could it have become like this? It was a hundred times worse than when he left. Back then, though the long-term suffering and oppressive environment had made communication among the people simpler, even somewhat awkward, at least they still possessed basic communication and cooperation skills. Now, not a single member of his tribe could be seen; only deathly silence and despair remained!
Lin Yue and the others followed silently behind him, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Even Lin Yue, who was accustomed to the bizarre sights and hardships of the Cursed Land, felt a profound sense of oppression and grief. He couldn't imagine the pain Gray must have felt seeing his beloved home reduced to this state.
“Grey…” Lin Yue wanted to say something comforting, but found that any words seemed so pale and powerless at this moment, even somewhat hypocritical. He could only silently pat Grey’s shoulder, hoping to convey a little bit of strength.
Gray stumbled and staggered to a relatively flat open space, seemingly the village's central square. Here should have stood a clear spring and a massive sacred tree, a symbol of the tribe's vitality. But now, the spring had long since dried up, leaving only a dark, muddy pit. And the sacred tree, only a charred stump split by lightning, stood there forlornly, like a desolate tombstone.
He reached out his trembling hand, wanting to touch the charred tree stump, but pulled it back abruptly at the last moment, as if the flames of destruction still lingered on it.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, letting out a suppressed wail, like that of a wounded lone wolf!
It was a despair more heartbreaking than any cry! The pain of watching his homeland be destroyed and the fate of his people unknown almost tore him apart!
Just then, a faint, wary commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the largest and only cave that still looked to be barely intact.
Immediately afterwards, the hole blocked by the huge stone slab made a creaking, teeth-grinding sound as it slowly and with great difficulty opened a crack just wide enough for one person to pass through.
An aged, hoarse voice, filled with weariness and wariness, drifted from the crack in the door: "...Who...who's outside?"
Gray jerked his head up, his bloodshot eyes flashing with disbelief! That voice… he recognized that voice!
"Elder!" he shouted hoarsely, as if he had used up all his strength, and scrambled toward the crack in the door!
Lin Yue and the others quickly followed, feeling both nervous and with a glimmer of hope.
Behind the stone gate lay a huge, dark, and damp cave. In the center of the cave, a tiny, almost negligible fire burned, emitting a meager warmth that barely dispelled the suffocating chill and musty smell. Huddled around the fire were a group of ragged, emaciated figures.
There were about seventy or eighty people, Lin Yue roughly counted. Most of them were elderly people, women, and children. They were all emaciated and pale, with numb and dull eyes, as if they had lost all reaction to everything around them, like scarecrows whose souls had been ripped out. Even the few men and women who looked like young and middle-aged people were mostly hunched over, with listless expressions, exuding a strong sense of gloom and despair.
Their appearance differed somewhat from that of ordinary humans. They were generally taller than the humans Lin Yue had encountered, with more defined and sculpted features. Most had a pale complexion, as if deprived of sunlight, and their hair came in a variety of colors—flaxen, light blonde, and even a few children with rare silver-white hair. Even in such a destitute and desperate state, one could still discern a unique, indescribable… well, Lin Yue was at a loss for words—anyway, they were quite beautiful.
Lin Yue understood that this was probably the source of Graeme's impressive physical attributes and the occasional aristocratic air he exuded (if one ignored his savage appearance when he first arrived).
However, the suffocating stench they encountered on their way there seemed to have a particularly severe effect on Gray's people, making them appear weaker and more haggard than ordinary refugees. Lin Yue looked at this group of survivors, who resembled candles flickering in the wind, and felt a pang of sorrow. He had only known that Gray's village might have suffered a disaster, but he hadn't expected the situation to be this dire. What a price these people had paid to protect their homes, or rather, simply to survive.
He subconsciously touched his backpack, which still contained some hard, roasted dried potatoes, several flavorful strips of dried meat, and some precious salt. "These people... they're obviously extremely malnourished and dehydrated! The dried meat, potatoes, and salt in my backpack! I have to get them some, replenish their saline solution, and if there's sugar, that would be great too, some glucose!" Food, or rather, food that could provide energy and key nutrients, became the only thing he could think of that could immediately bring him hope.
An old man with white hair and beard that almost dragged on the ground, so thin that he was just skin and bones, looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over. Supported by two young, quiet people who seemed to have some strength but were also sallow-faced, he walked shakily out of the crowd.
“…Grem…child…is that you…” The old man stretched out his withered hands, wanting to touch Grem’s cheeks, his arms trembling slightly from weakness. “You…finally…have returned…I thought…I would never…see you again…”
“Elder!” Gray gripped the old man’s cold hand tightly, tears finally streaming down his face. He choked back sobs, barely able to utter a complete sentence, “The village… how could the village have become like this?! The seal… the tragedy of the earth… what… what happened?!”
The old man weakly shook his head, signaling him to calm down. Then, he slowly turned to Lin Yue, Amu, Barton, and Xiao Fen, who were following behind Graeme.
Lin Yue felt as if he were being locked onto by an invisible, penetrating, yet unusually weary gaze.
Immediately afterwards, a faint, deeply sorrowful thought, like a gentle stream, flowed directly into his mind:
【Outsider…hello…I am Falador Windwhisper, the guardian elder of the Valley of Tears in Shival.】
Mental whispers?! Lin Yue was startled again! This elder could actually use such a high-level, telepathic communication method even in this state?! It seems the Silent Whisperers are indeed not ordinary people!
[...That...purge...was more...fierce...than...anytime...before...it...eroded...the very foundation of the seal...]
[...The tragedy of the earth...it...is...awakening...that...tainted power...is growing...stronger...we...all the able-bodied...have gone...to repair the seal...but...the power...is still...not enough...]
[...the village...was also...destroyed...by a flash flood...most of it...food...and herbs...are...gone...many people...have fallen ill...and starved...]
His thoughts came out in fits and starts, each word like a sharp awl piercing Lin Yue's heart.
[Greem...is one of the few remaining young members of our tribe who still possesses considerable mobility...He...is our last hope, the one we sent out to seek help from the outside world.]
We had hoped he could find distant relatives of our elven ancestors…or at least some settlements where we could trade for salt and food…
[...When he left...the seal was still relatively stable...we never imagined...that this great purge would come so swiftly...so...deadly...]
[...Now...you...and your companions...seem to have...truly brought him...a glimmer of hope...]
Lin Yue's inner monologue: Sent out to find outside help? How did he end up near our godforsaken little restaurant? And he's lost his memory? Did he run into some accident on the way? Or... is the elven relative he's looking for actually... me? Lin Yue: I don't have pointy ears! But if salt and food refers to my roasted potatoes and secret-recipe dried meat, then he's really found the right person.
"...So...you are...his...partner...?"
Lin Yue looked at the old man, who was frail and old, yet still held on to something in despair, then looked at Gray beside him, who was already sobbing uncontrollably, and at the Silent Ones whose eyes were numb, as if they had already taken life and death in stride.
“Yes, Elder.” Lin Yue nodded solemnly, his voice firm and strong. “My name is Lin Yue. I’m Gray’s partner, and also his only… uh… logistics support captain! We’re here to provide assistance!”
He paused, then spoke with a confident and enticing tone, each word like a tiny spark of hope igniting in the hearts of these desperate people: "We've brought food! We have roasted potato chips to fill our stomachs! We have dried meat strips to give us strength! And most importantly, salt! We also have clean water! And even... we have a brand new, safe home called Hope Town!"
Amu and Laobad, who had been silently observing, asked three questions in a row: Hope Town? Where is Hope Town? Where is Hope Town?
"As long as you believe in us and are willing to come with us, I promise that in our Hope Town, although conditions are still very difficult now, at least you will be able to eat your fill and stay warm! You will have hot meat soup to drink every day! You will have roasted potatoes that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a wonderful aroma! And... when conditions improve in the future, I will cook even more delicious food for you! For example... stewing everything in an iron pot!"
The allure of food, at any time, for any race, especially for these Silent Ones who have been starving for far too long and have almost forgotten the taste of food, is an irresistible ultimate weapon!
Elder Farador's eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, seemed to flicker again with a faint desire for life. And those silent ones, who had been numb and listless, unconsciously swallowed when they heard the specific words "food," "broth," and "baked potatoes," and a subtle fluctuation appeared in their empty eyes.
"Yo-ho, it worked!" Next, it was a matter of how to use his silver tongue and the cash in his backpack to pack up these poor Silent Ones and rescue them, bringing them back to his Hope Town!
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Author's Note: Lin Yue (hands on hips): Everything can be cooked in an iron pot! All you can eat!
Gray (wiping away tears): Let me make this clear first, the stew can't be made from our clan's sacred tree...
Xiao Fen: Woof! (Add a chicken leg!)
Spoiler alert: The magical realism portion of this film has officially wrapped filming and probably won't be included anymore, as the screenwriter didn't like it and felt it was too fantastical. However, if you imagine it as an anime scene, it's somewhat acceptable [let me see]. The main story now returns to rural revitalization, agritourism simulation, and a culinary journey... the plot continues!
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