At the foot of the mountain, the three Guozhao Hunters, Lim Peizhi, and the fourteen Fairy Leaders walked down the dirt path away from Golden Gate. The group came to a halt at the intersection, the dust settling around them.
Guo Baiyu looked at the fourteen Fairy Leaders, his expression serious. "Go back and prepare," he urged, a deep sigh escaping him. "Right now, I don't know what we will encounter in Horsemen Land. Therefore, the better we prepare, the greater our chance of survival will be."
Zhao Renshu scoffed lightly, a flicker of his usual bravado returning. "See you then, leaders," he drawled, a challenging glint in his eye.
Lang Lirun met Guo Baiyu's gaze, his wolf-like features softened by a rare humility. "I apologize for my impulsiveness back there," he admitted, a touch of embarrassment in his tone.
Zhao Renshu waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing, I couldn't stand it either," he quipped, a wry grin spreading across his face. "You were only one second ahead of me."
Guo Baiyu offered a faint, understanding smile. "I understand," he affirmed gently.
Lang Lirun nodded, his expression turning resolute. "Then I will leave first; my two sons are waiting for me." He prepared to depart.
"Wait!" Lim Peizhi's voice, sharp with sudden urgency, rang out from behind. He hurried down the stairs, his eyes fixed. He strode directly towards the four friends and Lang Lirun. "That jade on your neck?" he demanded, his finger pointing.
Lang Lirun furrowed his brow, visibly puzzled. "What about the jade?" he asked, touching the stone.
"Where did you get it?" Lim Peizhi pressed, his voice taut with an emotion that bordered on frantic.
Lang Lirun chuckled, a light sound that contrasted with Lim Peizhi's intensity. "Everyone in our family has one. My two sons each have one," he explained, a proud smile on his face.
"Do you have a third son?!" Lim Peizhi's voice escalated, a desperate edge to his words, his eyes wide with a wild hope and dread.
Guo Baiyu looked at Lim Peizhi, his brow knitted in concern. "Peizhi?" he murmured, sensing the underlying turmoil.
"Do you have a third son?!" Lim Peizhi insisted, his voice now a raw, almost pleading shout, ignoring Guo Baiyu entirely.
Lang Lirun's smile faded, replaced by a deep sadness. "I do," he responded softly, his gaze distant. "We went out hunting, but we got separated many years ago."
Guo Baiyu's eyes widened fractionally, a dawning realization in his voice. "Could it be?"
Lim Peizhi's voice dropped to a choked whisper, filled with a renewed grief. "The same piece of jade was hanging on Yuehai's neck when she died."
Lang Lirun's eyes snapped back to him, confused. "My son's name is not Yuehai."
"My sister's name is Yuehai," Lim Peizhi clarified, his voice tight with pain. "She had a piece of jade that is exactly the same as yours, which is currently hanging on my nephew's neck." A bitter laugh escaped him. "Fortunately, he is dead, otherwise I would have killed him myself!"
"You..." Lang Lirun snarled, his wolf-like instincts flaring, his eyes burning with a furious madness as he looked at Lim Peizhi, understanding the implication.
"Your son ruined my sister," Lim Peizhi accused, his voice shaking with long-held fury. "He was the reason my sister died!"
Guo Baiyu firmly held onto Lim Peizhi's right shoulder, his grip a silent anchor. "Peizhi, calm down," he said, his voice a soothing balm. "You should know that Du Aiguo never loved Yuehai. For the benefit of the two Cities, he was forced to marry her. He loved Li Luli, and the two were having an affair. Du Aiguo decided to run away because of his shame, but unfortunately, he suffered an accident. Before Yuehai died, she forgave him and accepted him. Moreover, this is also the reason he ended his life." Guo Baiyu turned to Lang Lirun, his expression softening with shared sorrow. "Leader Lang, your son could have lived, but he chose to end his life because he loved Lim Yuehai too much. The person who wanted to kill your son accidentally killed your son's wife, and he committed suicide to atone for his mistake. I truly believe that they loved each other."
Zhao Renshu patted Lim Peizhi's left shoulder gently, a rare gesture of comfort. "Peizhi, Baiyu is right. If he ruined her life and purity, she would never forgive him. I believe she was truly happy in the past two years of her life in Ocean City."
The Huang Clan leaders reached the group of friends and Lang Lirun, their expressions watchful.
Leader Huang inclined his head. "Guozhao Hunters," he acknowledged. He looked at the group. "See you in three weeks in Waterfall City," he stated, a promise in his voice.
Huang Hongse, ever practical, leaned in. "If you see Longtong," she whispered, "tell him not to come to Waterfall City!"
Huang Yueliang offered a gentle smile; her eyes filled with a softer promise. "We will meet soon. Peizhi, let's go," she said, guiding him away.
Lim Peizhi, his face a mixture of lingering grief and dawning understanding, nodded. "I will prepare for your arrival. See you in three weeks." He walked past Lang Lirun, but stopped, turning his head slightly. "Your grandson's name is Lim Junjie. If you want, you can visit him in Waterfall City." He and Huang Yueliang then descended the stairs together, leaving Lang Lirun stunned.
Lang Lirun's face transformed, a wide, joyful smile spreading across his features. "Grand Leaders," he exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion, "I am a grandfather! How old is he?"
Guo Baiyu returned his smile. "Congratulations; he should be six years old this year."
"My wife will be happy," Lang Lirun murmured, tears welling in his eyes. He looked at Guo Baiyu, a question in his gaze. "Has his body been cremated?"
Guo Baiyu gently shook his head. "I burned it," he said, a quiet act of respect.
"Thank you," Lang Lirun choked out, his voice filled with gratitude. "I'm leaving." He quickly descended the stairs, eager to share his news.
Guo Baiyu turned to Fang Yaoting. "We're staying at Brightness Inn," he informed him.
"I will have Ma Tong send you any news," Fang Yaoting replied, his expression thoughtful.
"Thanks," Guo Baiyu acknowledged.
In the evening, Ma Tong came to tell Fang Yaoting and Lee Dachin that the Fang family would temporarily move to Cloud City, but the Guo family refused to leave. General Tang could not deploy all his soldiers; he would lead an army of ten thousand men as backup, a grim concession.
Ping'an, her voice soft with sympathy, comforted Fang Yaoting. "You have done your best," she murmured.
Zhao Renshu, ever pragmatic, merely grunted. "Forget it."
Ping'an, however, persisted. "How about Longtong give it a try? Your father... I mean Lord Guo, listens to Longtong."
Guo Baiyu considered this. "Mr. Ma, could you call Yingyu over?" he requested.
"I could try," Ma Tong replied, though doubt lingered in his voice.
While Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, Ping'an were having dinner, Guo Yingyu and Wu Meirong arrived at Brightness Inn, their faces clearly annoyed.
Guo Yingyu asked angrily, his arms crossed. "What do you want?"
Guo Baiyu, calm as ever, simply gestured to a chair. "Sit down."
Guo Yingyu scoffed, glancing at his brother. "My time is money," he declared, his tone dismissive.
Zhao Renshu mocked him, a sneer twisting his lips. "If you die, there will be no chance to spend your money."
Wu Meirong, her eyes narrowing, snapped back, "Zhao Renshu, be careful of your dirty mouth!"
"My dirty mouth belongs to me," Zhao Renshu retorted, a defiant glint in his eye. "I can say whatever I want."
Guo Baiyu calmly intervened, his voice even. "Yingyu, you two have seen what happened in Peace Town."
Wu Meirong's jaw tightened. "You don't need to remind me," she hissed, a shiver still running down her spine at the memory.
"It might happen here too," Guo Baiyu stated simply, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Guo Yingyu's bravado faltered slightly. "What do you mean?" he demanded, a hint of unease in his voice.
Guo Baiyu's gaze was steady, his voice grave. "After ten days, we will go north to meet with Lim Peizhi and his army. There is a fortress there that keeps the creatures you two saw in Peace Town confined in the underworld. If we win, then nothing will happen. If we fail, what happens in Peace Town will happen here. If that time comes, the only safe place for you and your family is Cloud City." He looked directly at his brother, his voice softening with brotherly concern. "Listen to me, you are now a father and the head of the family; you should do your best to protect them."
Zhao Renshu's voice was a low growl, laced with disdain. "You have seen it with your own eyes, and Wu Xiangmei was killed by them. Do you really want your family to die one by one?" He folded his arms across his chest, his eyes cold. "Baiyu is still considerate to you. If it were me, I would let you rot." He looked at Guo Yingyu and Wu Meirong, his gaze chilling them. "Remember, as the mayor of Cloud City, if it were not for Baiyu, I would never allow you and your family to enter my city."
"Renshu," Ping'an interjected softly, a gentle caution.
"Did I say anything wrong?" Zhao Renshu challenged, raising an eyebrow at Ping'an.
Guo Yingyu sighed, the fight finally leaving him. "How long do we have?" he asked, his voice subdued.
"I don't know," Guo Baiyu replied, his tone urgent. "The sooner you make the temporary moves, the better. When we leave Cloud City, we will activate the barricade barrier, and nothing can get in."
Guo Yingyu nodded, his decision made. "The Guo and the Wu families will be there with the Fang family."
Guo Baiyu offered a small, knowing smile. "Tell Master Guo to rest assured; I don't live in the city, so we won't cross paths."
Hundreds of miles north, in Mountain Village. A burning oil lamp illuminated a dark hall, casting long, dancing shadows. Soft footsteps echoed in the darkness, each sound magnified by the silence. Standing at the door was Hu Dingxiang. He took out a small silver bell and placed it in his left hand, turning it over thoughtfully. He recalled Guozhao Zhiqiang's Shimu approaching him, her voice kind, when he was about to leave Golden Gate.
Ping'an said, "Wait, Hunter Hu."
Hu Dingxiang looked at Ping'an and asked, "Can I help you, senior?"
Ping'an said, "Zhiqiang asked me to bring you this." Ping'an handed him a silver bell. "He said, if you miss him, then jingle it. It will be like hearing his voice."
Hu Dingxiang held the oil lamp close to the silver bell, watching its metallic gleam. He shook the silver bell three times, a delicate, almost musical sound, then placed the oil lamp on the ground. He opened the door and walked into the dark, oppressive room. A male figure quickly retreated, backing himself into the farthest corner of the room, away from Hu Dingxiang, as the chilling sound of chains and shackles echoed in the confined space.
Hu Dingxiang sat on the chair by the door, a soft, malicious chuckle escaping his lips. He looked at the frightened male figure, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I didn't expect that your two-night stay with the mute hunter six years ago would leave such a deep impression on him," he drawled, his voice a silken menace. He threw the silver bell at the frightened male figure crouching at the corner of the room. The silver bell struck the male figure's back, fell to the ground, making a tinkling sound that echoed gently, almost beautifully, in the dark room. "He sent you a message. He said, if you miss him, you can jingle it. It's like hearing his voice. Ha... Do you know the saddest part?" He smiled softly, a cruel, cold smile. "You will never know what he looks like. He is walking north into Horsemen Land as we speak. His fate is unknown."
The male figure sobbed softly, his voice distinctly male, broken by despair. "You lied to me!" he whimpered, the chains rattling. "You said if I slept with him, then you would let me go!" The male figure continued to sob softly, his body trembling.
Hu Dingxiang laughed, a chilling, triumphant sound that echoed through the dark underground tunnel. He sneered mockingly, "Poor you. You want to see the outside world, but I can assure you that as long as I'm still here, you will never get that opportunity."
The male figure sobbed and pleaded, his voice timid and low, barely audible. Through his sobbing, he murmured, "I haven't seen your face, please let me go. Please..."
Hu Dingxiang sneered again, rising from the chair and walking towards the door. He turned back and looked at the man cowering in the corner of the room. The corner of his lips curved up, his voice dripping with wicked delight. "In this dungeon, you can scream, you can cry, or plead as loud as you want. You can beg as much as you want, but neither Heaven nor Hell will hear you." He slammed the iron door shut, the resounding clang of metal sealing the captive's fate, followed by the definitive click of the lock.
The male figure sobbed softly, a desolate sound. He picked up the silver bell, its faint tinkling a cruel reminder, and held it tightly in his right hand. With tears in his eyes, he said softly in despair, his voice barely a whisper in the echoing darkness, "Do you still remember your promise? You once said, in a faraway land, there is a city up in the clouds. There lives a Goddess who would always welcome me with open arms." The dark figure continued to sob, the promise a torment. "Why didn't you take me away as you promised?"