189: Chapter 189 Guerrilla Maneuvering (Part 7)

Northwest, Rift Zone, Night

The moon was obscured by clouds of Devilish Qi, and the stars were hidden as well; a profound darkness enveloped the world. That blackness was not the darkness of night, but the darkness of the demonic. The darkness of night is silent and peaceful, making one want to sleep. The darkness of the demonic is alive and shifting, making one want to flee. Within that darkness, there were things—eyes, teeth, and claws. They lurked in the shadows, waiting, restless and ready to move.

Lu Mingyuan stood on a hilltop with seventy-two people behind him. No one spoke, no one lit a fire, and no one made a sound. They simply crouched, lay prone, and hid. Like a pack of hunters waiting for their prey. But today, they were not hunters, but ambushers. The prey was not wild beasts, but demon soldiers. The battlefield was not a mountain forest, but a Devilish Qi supply point—the largest mine cave to the north.

"Bai Ze, have you scouted the situation inside?" Lu Mingyuan lowered his voice.

"I've scouted it," Bai Ze crouched on his shoulder, the golden light of the bai ze map suppressed to its minimum, no larger than a grain of rice, like the tail of a firefly. "The Northern Mine Cave has three entrances; the main cave is the largest, with vents on both sides. There are about two hundred demon soldiers inside and two demon generals. One is at Taiyi Perfection, and the other is at Taiyi Late Stage. The Devilish Qi is very thick, as thick as water. If a person stays inside for fifteen minutes, they will be corroded."

"Two Taiyi level ones; I'll handle them. Can the seventy-two of you handle two hundred demon soldiers?"

Zhou Zheng leaned in and whispered, "We can't. Of the two hundred demon soldiers, at least half are Golden Core level. We only have nine Cultivators, with the highest being at Soul Transformation, and the rest are Golden Core or Nascent Soul. If we fight, we're more likely to lose than win."

"You don't need to win. You just need to delay them. Delay them until I deal with the two demon generals and return to help you."

"You, alone, against two Taiyi level ones?"

"It's not a fight to the death, but to delay. I'll pin them down and prevent them from coming out. You fight the demon soldiers outside; if you can't win, run; if you can't run, hide; if you can't hide, hold your ground. Just delay until I return."

Shi Hu also leaned in. "What can us hunters do?"

"Set traps. Set traps outside the mine cave so the demon soldiers fall in when they rush out. You don't have to kill them, just trap them. Once trapped, they can't escape. If they can't escape, they can't kill. If they can't kill, they won't gain new hatred, resentment, and enmity. Without replenishment, they will grow weak. Once they are weak, they'll be easier to deal with."

Shi Hu nodded. "We know how to set traps. But demon soldiers aren't wild beasts; they have brains."

"It doesn't matter if they have brains. Their minds only think of one thing—killing. Things that only think of one thing are the easiest to deceive."

Lu Mingyuan looked at these seventy-two people, looking into their eyes. There was fear, tension, and unease. But there was also light—a light so faint it was like a firefly. Yet that light would not go out; no matter how strong the wind, how deep the darkness, or how heavy the despair, it remained.

"Tonight, we go to fight a battle that cannot be won," Lu Mingyuan said. "It's not for the sake of winning, but for the sake of delaying. Delaying them, preventing them from going out to kill. Delaying for an hour is an hour; delaying for a day is a day. Delay until they are weak, until we can win, until dawn. Are you afraid?"

"Yes," Shi Hu said. "But we have to fight anyway."

"Why?"

"Because if we don't fight, they will go and kill people. Killing creates new hatred, resentment, and enmity. With new hatred, resentment, and enmity, An becomes stronger. As An grows stronger, the Dharma Ending Age accelerates. As it accelerates, more people die. More deaths mean more hatred, resentment, and enmity. It's a vicious cycle. We have to break this cycle. Even if we can't win, we must fight. Even if we can't kill them, we must fight. Even if we can't move them, we must fight."

Lu Mingyuan looked at him, at this hunter. In his eyes, there was no cultivation level, no Cultivation Technique, and no True Qi. But there was something else—a clarity of 'I know why I must fight,' a determination of 'I know I must fight even if I can't win,' and a courage of 'I know I might die but I am not afraid.'

"Good," Lu Mingyuan said. "Let's fight."

---

Northern Mine Cave, main entrance.

Devilish Qi surged out of the cave, as thick as ink and as viscous as blood. Within that Devilish Qi was hatred, and within that hatred was the resentment of the Witch-Demon Calamity. Within that Devilish Qi was enmity, and within that enmity was the grievance of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. Within that Devilish Qi was pain, and within that pain were the tears of the Journey to the West Great Tribulation. Within that Devilish Qi was fear, and within that fear was the despair of the Dharma-Ending Kalpa.

Lu Mingyuan stood ten zhang away from the cave entrance, facing that impenetrable Devilish Qi. He did not enter, for he knew that going in would be suicide. Fighting two Taiyi Demon Generals inside the Devilish Qi, he wouldn't last fifteen minutes. He had to lure them out. Lure them outside, to a place without Devilish Qi, to a place where he could pin them down.

He struck. Wanxiang True Qi surged forth—a golden light, bright, fierce, and powerful. That light was not an attack, but a provocation. A golden pillar of light shot straight into the cave, striking the Devilish Qi and the two demon generals.

Rumble—

A roar echoed from the cave. Within that roar was hatred, anger, and murderous intent. Two demon generals rushed out. One was at Taiyi Perfection, surrounded by black Qi, his eyes as red as blood. The other was at Taiyi Late Stage, with a tall, thin frame and arms like scythes.

"A Quasi-Saint?" The Taiyi Perfection demon general looked at him, his red eyes devoid of confusion or thought, filled only with killing intent. "Have you come to seek death?"

"Not to seek death, but to delay you," Lu Mingyuan said.

"Delay us? Just with you?"

"Just with me."

Lu Mingyuan turned and ran. It wasn't an escape, but a lure. He ran east, toward the wilderness, toward a place where no one was. The two demon generals pursued him, getting closer and more frantic. They wanted to kill this person, to tear him apart, to make him a part of An.

After running for ten li, Lu Mingyuan stopped and turned around. The two demon generals also stopped, staring at him.

"Not running anymore?" the Taiyi Perfection demon general asked.

"No more running. This is far enough."

"Far enough for what?"

"Far enough that you won't be going back."

Lu Mingyuan attacked. Wanxiang True Qi transformed into countless golden light swords, shooting toward the two demon generals. He had to delay them until dawn, until the people outside finished their battle, until they grew weak, and until he could deliver them.

The Taiyi Perfection demon general swung his black Qi to block the light swords. The Taiyi Late Stage demon general attacked from the side, his scythe-like arm slashing toward Lu Mingyuan's neck. Lu Mingyuan dodged to the side, and the light swords turned, shooting toward the Taiyi Late Stage general. The Taiyi Late Stage general dodged, but was half a beat slow; a light sword grazed its shoulder, and black blood splattered.

It was wounded. It wasn't a heavy wound, but it was a wound nonetheless. Being wounded meant it was slower. Being slower meant it was easier to fight.

The two demon generals attacked together. Black Qi surged like a tide, wave after wave, each more powerful than the last. Lu Mingyuan did not retreat; his light swords came wave after wave, each faster than the last. They fought for half an hour, and neither side had won or lost. But Lu Mingyuan's True Qi was being consumed, as was the Devilish Qi of the two demon generals. Whoever ran out first would lose.

"How much longer can you hold out?" the Taiyi Perfection demon general asked.

"Until you die."

"We will not die. We are Defects, a part of An. As long as An is not extinguished, we will not be extinguished."

"An will be extinguished. Not by being destroyed, but by being mended. Once mended, An will be gone. Once it's gone, you will be gone."

The Taiyi Perfection demon general's red eyes flickered. For the first time, there was something in them—not confusion or thought, but fear. Fear that it would disappear, fear that An would be mended, fear that the meaning of its existence would be negated. It was afraid. Because it was afraid, it grew weak. Because it was weak, it was easier to fight.

Lu Mingyuan sensed that fear. His light swords became even more powerful, faster, and brighter. He had to take advantage of its fear to pin it down, wear it out, and make it even more afraid. As it grew more afraid, it would weaken. As it weakened, it could be delivered.

---

Outside the mine cave, the battle was also underway.

Zhou Zheng led eight Loose Cultivators, guarding the main cave entrance. Demon soldiers rushed out in wave after wave. The first wave had over a dozen, all at the Golden Core level. Zhou Zheng cut down two with a single sword strike, while the other Loose Cultivators fought their own battles. After repelling the first wave, the second wave came. When the second wave retreated, the third wave arrived. Wave after wave, it seemed endless.

"Senior Brother, I can't hold on much longer!" a young female Cultivator shouted. Her True Qi was nearly depleted, her face was pale, and her hands were trembling.

"You must hold on even if you can't!" Zhou Zheng shouted. "Mr. Lu is outside delaying two demon generals; we can't let his efforts go to waste! Hold on until he returns, and we will win!"

Shi Hu led the hunters, guarding the vents on both sides. They didn't know Cultivation Techniques and had no True Qi, but they knew how to set traps. Outside the vents, they had dug over a dozen traps. Demon soldiers rushed out and fell in, unable to climb back out. If they couldn't climb out, they couldn't get out. If they couldn't get out, they couldn't kill anyone.

"Shi Hu, we're running out of traps!" a hunter shouted.

"Then dig more!" Shi Hu shouted. "Dig until dawn, dig until your hands break, dig until you die!"

Liu Laogen led the villagers, responsible for transporting supplies. Arrows, blades, swords, Medicinal Pills, and water. They didn't know how to fight, but they knew how to run. The faster they ran, the more trips they could make. One more trip meant the people at the front could hold on for another moment. Another moment meant Mr. Lu could delay for another moment. Another moment meant the demon generals would grow weaker for another moment.

Zhao Sanniang held an oil lamp, standing at the very back. Her task was to relay messages. If any side couldn't hold on, she would run to call for help. Gousheng clutched the corner of her clothes, running with her. He wasn't afraid because his grandmother's lamp was lit. As long as the lamp was lit, he could see the path. As long as he could see the path, he wouldn't get lost. As long as he didn't get lost, he could stay alive.

"Gousheng, are you afraid?" Zhao Sanniang asked.

"No," Gousheng said. "Mr. Lu said the sky will brighten. Once it's light, we can go home."

---

On the eastern wilderness, Lu Mingyuan was still fighting.

His True Qi was almost gone, his body was trembling, and his face was as pale as paper. But he did not retreat, he did not run, and he did not fall. He was still attacking, still fighting, still delaying. The two demon generals were also nearly depleted, their Devilish Qi diminishing and their strength weakening. The Taiyi Late Stage one had already sustained three wounds, and black blood continued to flow. The fear in the Taiyi Perfection one's red eyes was expanding, spreading, and corroding.

"You're crazy!" the Taiyi Perfection demon general shouted. "If you keep fighting like this, you'll die too!"

"I'm not afraid of death. What I fear is dying in vain. I won't be useless. If I delay you, the people outside can fight the demon soldiers. Once the demon soldiers are defeated, you won't get any replenishment. Without replenishment, you will weaken. Once weak, you can be delivered. Once delivered, you can be transformed. Once transformed, you can be mended. Once mended, the sky will brighten. When the sky brightens, even if I die, it will be worth it."

The Taiyi Perfection demon general looked at him, at this man who didn't value his own life. The fear in its red eyes turned into confusion. It didn't understand—why wasn't this person afraid of death? Why risk his life for those Mortals? Why Mend the Heavens? If the heavens collapsed, what did it have to do with him? How many people could he save alone? How much of the heavens could he mend? How long could he live?

"You don't understand," Lu Mingyuan said. "You don't understand because you are a Defect. Lacking love, lacking understanding, lacking tolerance. You don't know that living isn't for oneself, but for others. Only by living for others does life have meaning. With meaning, one is not afraid of death. Without fear of death, one can do great things. By doing great things, one can Mend the Heavens. By Mending the Heavens, more people can live. When more people live, there is more meaning. With more meaning, one is even less afraid of death. Without fear of death, one can do even greater things. By doing even greater things, one can mend even more of the heavens. You don't understand because you have never lived for someone else."

The Taiyi Perfection demon general stood there, motionless. Its red eyes flickered and shifted. That confusion was expanding, spreading, and corroding. For the first time, it began to think—why do I live? What do I live for? What have I gained by killing so many people? It had never thought about these questions before. Because it was simply a Defect, simply hatred, simply resentment. A Defect doesn't need to think, hatred doesn't need to think, and resentment doesn't need to think. But now, it was starting to think. By thinking, a crack appeared. With a crack, light could enter.

"Go," Lu Mingyuan said. "Go and find your path. No need for killing, no need for hatred, no need for resentment. You are a Defect, but a defect can be mended. You are darkness, but darkness can be brightened. You are hatred, but hatred can be transformed. You are not a demon, not a ghost, and not an asura. You are a patient. A patient can be cured."

The Taiyi Perfection demon general looked at him, at this man standing in the darkness. There was light on his body—a golden light, faint like a firefly. Yet that light would not go out; no matter how strong the wind, how deep the darkness, or how heavy the despair, it remained. That light shone upon it, into its red eyes, and into its heart.

"Go," Lu Mingyuan said. "Go."

The Taiyi Perfection demon general turned and left. It walked very slowly, step by step, like a child who had just learned to walk. It didn't know where to go, how to walk, or for how long. But it was walking, step by step. By walking, perhaps it could find a path. Once found, it could stop hating. Once it stopped hating, it could stop feeling resentment. Once it stopped feeling resentment, it could stop killing. Once it stopped killing, it could truly live.

The Taiyi Late Stage demon general watched its companion leave and was stunned. It didn't know whether to pursue or to stay. If it pursued, it couldn't catch up. If it stayed, it couldn't win. It stood there like a wooden post.

"You go too," Lu Mingyuan said. "Go and find your path. Your companion has already left; there's no use in you staying. Go, find it, and walk with it. The path is easier to walk when there are two people together."

The Taiyi Late Stage demon general turned and ran after its companion. After a few steps, it stopped and looked back at Lu Mingyuan. In that look, there was no hatred, no resentment, and no enmity. There was only confusion, bewilderment, and a tiny bit of light. That light was very faint, like a firefly. But the light was there—in its red eyes, in its heart, in a place that had never been illuminated before.

Lu Mingyuan stood there on the wilderness, just standing. His True Qi was gone, his body was weak, and his face was as white as paper. But he was smiling, smiling like a child. Because he knew that tonight, he hadn't killed a single demon general, but he had delivered two. Two demon generals, two hundred demon soldiers, and one mine cave. He hadn't won the battle, but he had delayed them. By delaying them, the people outside could fight. By fighting, the demon soldiers would decrease. As they decreased, An would weaken. As it weakened, the sky could brighten.

He turned and walked toward the mine cave. He walked very slowly, step by step, like an old man who had just learned to walk. But he was still walking, step by step. By walking, he eventually arrived. Once he arrived, he could help the people outside fight the demon soldiers. After helping them finish the fight, they could seal the mine cave. Once sealed, they could go back. Once back, they could rest. After resting, they could fight the next battle.

In his heart, that small tree was still growing. Two zhang four, two zhang five, two zhang six. It was very slow, like a snail crawling. But it was growing—growing in the darkness, growing in the resentment, and growing in the despair. As long as it was growing, it would eventually grow large. Once large, it could delay more, deliver more, and mend more. By delaying more, delivering more, and mending more, the demons would weaken. As the demons weakened, people could live. As long as people lived, hope would remain. As long as hope remained, the sky would...