When Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Ping'an arrived at the lake, everyone was ready to set off. They were just waiting for Immortal Valley to open its gate, a collective tension vibrating through the assembled forces.
"Peizhi!" Guo Baiyu's voice cut through the air, sharp with urgency. "Order all the families to go back to Waterfall City immediately!"
Lim Peizhi, understanding the unspoken command, barked an order to a small group of volunteers, instructing them to lead the soldiers' families back to Waterfall City, ensuring their safety before the battle.
Guo Baiyu looked at the twenty-two medic disciples, seeing the stark fear etched on their young faces. He sighed, his voice softening with understanding. "Your time is now," he told them gently but firmly. "Whatever you see or hear, don't be scared. Saving lives is your only mission."
The twelve male medic disciples and the ten female medic disciples nodded, their expressions resolute despite their trembling hands.
Zhao Renshu muttered impatiently, a growl in his voice. "C'mon... someone open that gate!"
Everyone waited patiently by the lake, the silence broken only by the chilling screams of the monsters from beyond. On this bright moonlit night, hearing those horrifying sounds, their bodies trembled, but their hearts remained strong, fortified by a shared purpose.
"Siyuan... Yuping..." Ping'an whispered, her voice filled with a desperate plea. "Let us in!"
Immediately afterwards, a colossal, grotesque worm burst from the mountain, followed by thousands of grotesque spiders and scorpions swarming out of a gaping hole. Standing on top of the mountainside, bathed in an eerie light, were Qingyu, Xie Fangsu, Xie Shandian, Spider Clan Leader Yan Yow, and an unknown woman, surveying the forces below.
Qingyu turned to Xie Shandian and Yan Yow, her voice a seductive, cruel purr. "I want Syaoran dead," she hissed, her eyes gleaming with malice.
Xiao Huli, standing with the other Fairy Leaders, shook his head grimly. "That old fool is on the side of evil," he muttered with disgust.
The gate to Immortal Valley finally opened with a resounding crack, and the lake separated, forming a huge, dark underwater trail at its bottom, revealing the path to the unknown.
Guo Baiyu turned to Lim Peizhi, his voice ringing with authority. "Peizhi, your army is not needed here. Go aid the centaur soldiers at the Northern Fortress!" He then shouted a command that echoed across the field. "Everyone, enter Immortal Valley with General Lim!"
Zhao Renshu's voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. "Hunters... hold your position!"
The Guozhao Hunters, the Red Moon Hunters, the Fairies, the volunteer hunters, General Tang, and his army stood firm, forming a formidable line facing the monstrous Spider and Scorpion fairies.
Lim Peizhi, with a determined set to his jaw, led the rest of the heroes, their steps resolute, as they marched into Immortal Valley.
Huang Hongse, ever practical and protective, pulled Lee Dachin and Guo Longtong together, then threw a flag down, its silken fabric unfurling to create a protective circle.
"Stay inside the circle!" Huang Hongse commanded, her voice sharp.
"Hongse..." Guo Longtong protested, his eyes wide with fear and reluctant admiration.
"Stay inside the circle!" Huang Hongse repeated firmly, her gaze piercing. She turned her back to Guo Longtong, her posture stiff with resolve, and stood alongside her fellow hunters, ready for battle.
Qingyu turned to the unknown woman, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Zhihao, you go inside. Go get your body and then release Fennu." She threw him a small pouch, a dark gleam in her eyes.
Zhihao immediately left his current vessel, his ethereal form flickering. He then possessed one of the soldiers' bodies, a shudder running through the poor man, and marched inside Immortal Valley with Lim Peizhi's army, a sinister spy.
Zhao Renshu, his face a mask of cold fury, went straight for Qingyu, but was intercepted by Xie Fangsu, who elegantly blocked his path.
"Get out of the way!" Zhao Renshu warned, his voice dangerously low. "This time I will not back down, and no one can stop me!"
"Don't back down," Xie Fangsu insisted, her own stance unyielding. "Because I will not back down either!"
Zhao Renshu smirked, a chilling lack of concern in his eyes. "Very good. I won't feel wrong if you die." He waved his sword at Xie Fangsu, a swift, deadly arc, but she gracefully dodged his attack. She retaliated instantly, shooting ten black spikes at Zhao Renshu.
"I have no time to exchange blows today!" Zhao Renshu roared in frustration. He shouted, his voice echoing across the field, "Hunters... Icicles!"
The Guozhao Hunters, excluding Fang Yaoting and the twenty-two medic disciples, each conjured a red talisman, which floated on their left palms. Thousands of sharp icicles quickly formed around the spider disciples, shimmering menacingly.
"You..." Xie Fangsu gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief at the sheer display of power.
"Crush!" Zhao Renshu roared, his voice thunderous.
Two hundred disciples and their master closed their palms and crushed the floating red talismans.
Thousands of icicles suddenly flew at the spiders, piercing the spider fairies from all directions. Many of the spider fairies lay dead and wounded on the ground, their grotesque forms twitching.
"No!" Yan Yow screamed in agony, watching her disciples get stabbed one by one, her voice a raw cry of despair.
The mainland soldiers, witnessing this brutal display, were speechless, their faces pale. They looked at the young male and female hunters fighting fiercely against the monstrous enemy spiders, a terrifying question forming in their minds: if all these great warriors were to die, how on earth would they stop these demonic creatures with their mere swords and shields? The last wave of hunters and volunteers, under the command of the Huang sisters, also witnessed the Guozhao Hunters fighting, speechless with awe and dread.
"So, this is the strength of the Guozhao Hunters," Huang Hongse murmured, a grudging respect in her voice.
"Back then there was only Renshu," Huang Yueliang teased her sister, a faint smile touching her lips. "Now there are two hundred Renshu!"
"Don't let Renshu get angry," Huang Hongse muttered in return, a flicker of humor in her eyes despite the situation.
Xie Shandian, witnessing the devastating power, commanded, "The whole army strikes!" His voice was filled with desperation.
"When will they learn?" Huang Hongse sighed, watching the new wave of enemies charge.
"Again!" Zhao Renshu shouted, his voice ringing with renewed vigor.
Two hundred disciples and their master simultaneously summoned a red talisman, and thousands of icicles appeared quickly in the air, a deadly frost forming.
"Send!" Zhao Renshu commanded.
Two hundred disciples and their master pushed the red floating talismans towards the charging scorpions, a wave of death heading their way.
"Now!" Guo Baiyu shouted, his voice concise.
Two hundred disciples yelled together, "Crush!"
Thousands of icicles flew straight towards the attacking scorpions, slicing through them and killing the scorpions left and right, their bodies falling lifelessly.
"Fire!" General Tang commended, seizing the opportunity to end the rest of the enemy scorpions.
The mainland soldiers released thousands of arrows, a deadly rain, shooting straight at other incoming scorpions, their volleys adding to the slaughter.
Qingyu angrily stomped on the ground, a guttural cry of frustration erupting from her. "Arrrrrg.... It's annoying enough for three people! A whole bunch of ants... a whole bunch of ants!" She turned and walked back into the tunnel, her plan thwarted. "Seal the tunnel!" she shrieked.
Xie Shandian and Yan Yow retrieved some of their remaining disciples back into the tunnel with Qingyu, realizing the battle was lost for now.
"Hunters, you go ahead!" General Tang shouted, his voice hoarse from yelling. "We will clean up. Give them horses!" He dismounted his own horse and put the horse's leash into Fang Yaoting's hand. He patted Fang Yaoting's right shoulder, a look of grim hope in his eyes. "Yaoting, you come back alive."
"I will try," Fang Yaoting said, his voice laced with emotion. He walked quickly to Lee Dachin, who was still safely within the protective circle. "Hey beautiful, listen to me," he whispered, his voice urgent and tender. "Go back to Waterfall City, eat and drink something, take a hot bath, sleep well, and wait for me there." He leaned in and kissed Lee Dachin deeply, a passionate farewell. He then mounted his horse and chased after his disciples across the river, disappearing into the mist.
Huang Hongse turned to Guo Longtong, her expression serious. "The same goes for you," she stated.
"Hongse, I'm waiting for you," Guo Longtong replied, tears welling in his eyes as he watched her leave. He wiped them away with the back of his hand.
She nodded, a silent acknowledgment. The Huang sisters, the less experienced hunters, and volunteers then crossed the lake. When the last volunteer hero crossed the lake, the Horsemen tribe, the remaining non-fighting population began to appear from their hiding places, preparing to cross.
"They are marching into hell," General Tang murmured, his gaze fixed on the disappearing figures. "Let us pray for their victory." He stood on the other side of the lake, a lone sentinel, and watched the young hunters rush into the waterfall gate, knowing the immense danger they faced.
The Guozhao Hunters entered and immediately encountered fleeing members of the Horsemen tribe. The Guozhao Hunters met Siyuan and Yuping at the gate, and together, they helped the injured, young, and old people to cross the lake, guiding them to safety.
"You stand by the lake," Siyuan instructed Ziyi, his voice urgent, "and when everyone has crossed the lake, you go straight to Waterfall City, understand?"
Ziyi nodded, his face pale but resolute.
"If something happens to me, you will be the heir," Siyuan continued, the weight of responsibility in his words. "Go now." Ziyi took a blue orb that Siyuan handed her, and he held Yuping's hand, leading the Horsemen tribe through the waterfall gate to safety.
Siyuan looked at the Guozhao Hunters, his expression determined. "Let's go," he said, ready to join the fight.
Guo Baiyu turned to the Huang sisters. "Don't forget what we talked about," he reminded them, a serious undertone in his voice.
"We won't," Huang Yueliang affirmed, her gaze firm.
"Brother, cousin brother, be safe!" Tam Qiu called out to Tam Liang and Tam Kun, her voice filled with worry.
Tam Liang smiled at Tam Qiu, a brave front. "You be brave," he said gently.
Tam Liang and Tam Kun both smiled at her, offering reassurance.
"Senior brother and Second senior brother you two also be safe," Tam Qiu added, extending her concern.
"Don't worry, we will come back safely," Yang Bao promised, his voice steady.
"Let's go," Zhao Renshu urged, his voice resonating with grim determination.
The Huang sisters watched the Guozhao Hunters, the Wasteland bandits, and some of the Horsemen soldiers on horseback ride towards the battlefield, disappearing into the distant haze. The morning sunrise began to rise upon the red horizon, painting the sky with colors that belied the bloody day ahead.
Huang Hongse frowned, her expression grim, watching them go. "It is going to be a long day," she murmured, a profound understatement.