Chapter 85: An Unexpected Delight

Xiao Ding and Yue Yurou, wandering without intention, found themselves standing before a sheer cliff—the very place where, on that fateful night, Xiao Ding had been cornered by the giant bear with no way to escape.

That night, shrouded in darkness, Xiao Ding had no idea what lay below. Now, as he gazed into the depths, he saw a small valley cradled by mountains on three sides, open only at one end. At the valley’s base spread a patch of open ground, dappled with reds and greens—wild grasses and flowers, by the look of it, though the distance rendered the view indistinct.

The valley floor was sparsely wooded, but strewn with many large rocks. Following the direction Yue Yurou pointed, Xiao Ding saw a wisp of smoke rising behind one such boulder, curling gently upward. In the windless air of the valley, the smoke climbed straight toward the sky before dispersing, its pale trail touched by the last golden rays of the setting sun. The scene was tranquil, reminiscent of a hidden paradise.

Is someone living down there? That was Xiao Ding’s first thought. Where there’s smoke, there are people. He could not help but wonder who they might be.

“Shall we go down and have a look?” Yue Yurou asked softly.

Xiao Ding hesitated. He had no wish to invite trouble, especially when the nature of the valley’s inhabitants was an unknown. If they harbored ill intent, he and Yue Yurou would be in grave danger.

Yet, deep within him, a persistent voice urged him on: Go down. You must go down and see…

“Well…” Xiao Ding faltered, glancing at the sun, now poised on the horizon. “Perhaps we should take a look…”

Though he spoke the words, hesitation still weighed on his heart.

“Let’s go,” Yue Yurou said with a smile, her curiosity piqued. “The valley looks so beautiful…”

So, side by side, they made their way along the cliff’s edge toward the valley’s entrance.

It took them nearly an hour to circle round to the mouth of the valley. By then, dusk had fallen, and the sky was nearly dark.

Exchanging a glance, the two stepped into the valley. They had not gone more than thirty paces when, from the slope to their right, a thunderous roar split the air: “Aoo—!”

Startled, both spun to look. Down the slope, bounding with alarming speed, came a massive creature—a giant ape.

The beast stood over ten feet tall, its body covered in shaggy black-brown fur, limbs thick and muscular. Agile and fierce, it charged straight toward them.

Terror-stricken, Xiao Ding and Yue Yurou turned and fled, the giant ape thundering close behind.

As he ran, Xiao Ding’s mind raced. Could this ape be a spirit creature? How could it be so enormous? Was this the legendary “King Kong”?

Despite running with all their might, neither he nor Yue Yurou could shake off their pursuer. The ape drew ever closer. In desperation, Xiao Ding cast aside the two bundles slung over his shoulder.

They ran on, covering less than half a mile, when suddenly a figure darted from behind a massive rock and called out, “Brother Xiao Ding, this way—hurry!”

Xiao Ding, startled, looked closely and recognized the figure—it was Mu Yiyi, whom he had met only a few days before.

“Miss Mu, what are you doing here?” Xiao Ding asked in surprise.

“No time to talk, come quickly!” Mu Yiyi urged, grabbing Xiao Ding’s right arm and pulling him behind the boulder. Xiao Ding’s left hand still gripped Yue Yurou’s, and the three of them wove through the rocks, circling around and around until they reached the base of a cliff, where at last they stopped.

Xiao Ding turned to see the giant ape looming at the edge of the rocks, its claws clutching the two bundles he had abandoned. The ape was less than thirty feet away; a few great leaps would bring it upon them. Yet, strangely, the beast seemed not to see them. It prowled about, peering this way and that, searching in vain.

“What’s wrong with that ape’s eyes? Can’t it see us? Why doesn’t it come over?” Xiao Ding asked, baffled.

“It can’t see us,” Mu Yiyi replied, her gaze fixed upon the creature.

“Why not?” Xiao Ding and Yue Yurou both asked, curiosity brimming.

“Because I set a formation here. Without my guidance, it cannot enter,” Mu Yiyi said with a smile.

Xiao Ding’s eyes widened in amazement. He shifted his gaze from the ape to Mu Yiyi. “Miss Mu, you know how to set formations?”

“Of course! Our Sect of Misty Clouds specializes in all kinds of formations,” she replied.

“So you are from the Misty Cloud Sect!” Yue Yurou interjected. She had never met Mu Yiyi, but she knew of her sect.

“Brother Xiao Ding, aren’t you going to introduce us? Who is this fairy-like lady?” Mu Yiyi chided playfully.

“Oh, of course! I was so rattled by the giant ape I forgot. This isn’t a priestess, but Miss Yue Yurou of the Jade Purity Sect. She wears a Daoist robe for convenience, much as you dress as a man.”

“Hello, Miss Yue. I’m Mu Yiyi from the Misty Cloud Sect in Jingzhou,” Mu Yiyi said warmly, taking Yue Yurou’s delicate hand.

“So you’re Sister Mu! I thought you were a man at first, dressed as you are, so I didn’t dare look too closely,” Yue Yurou laughed.

“Miss Yue, I may not be older than you. You’re truly beautiful!” Mu Yiyi replied with admiration.

“Not at all, Sister Mu. If you changed into women’s clothes, you’d be even lovelier than I am,” Yue Yurou replied.

“How old are you, truly? Are you really younger than me?” Mu Yiyi asked.

They exchanged ages and birthdays. Mu Yiyi was eighteen; Yue Yurou, seventeen. Thus, Yue Yurou began to call Mu Yiyi her elder sister. The two quickly became engrossed in lively conversation, leaving Xiao Ding somewhat at a loss.

Meanwhile, the giant ape, unable to find them, finally departed, still carrying Xiao Ding’s bundles. Xiao Ding felt a pang of regret—they contained all the gold, silver, and jewels he had managed to bring down from Sunset Peak. Now, lost to the ape, there was little hope of reclaiming them.

Alas, what is not yours is never meant to be. All his efforts to carry those treasures down the mountain had come to nothing. Yet, meeting Mu Yiyi here was an unexpected delight.

“Miss Mu, after we parted that day, why didn’t you go down the mountain? And where is your uncle, Mu Hong?” Xiao Ding asked. Since that night’s chaos, when their party was scattered by the giant bear, each had vanished without a trace.

“My uncle and I got lost too, after we became separated from you. We wandered the forest for days and ended up here. We also encountered the giant ape. My uncle was gravely injured in the fight. Luckily, while he kept the ape occupied, I set a small formation and managed to rescue him, bringing him to safety within its protection.”

“How is your uncle now?” Xiao Ding asked with concern.

“He’s much better. He’s resting in the cave.”

“That’s good. As long as he’s safe,” Xiao Ding said, relieved.

“Oh, Brother Xiao Ding, we’ve met someone else here by chance. You’ll be delighted when you see her. Let me take you to her—she’ll be a wonderful surprise!” Mu Yiyi said excitedly.

A surprise? It seemed this journey to the valley was not in vain after all!