The clan leader was an experienced man, so he immediately knew what to do. The villagers did not possess any great powers but were solidly united. Moreover, they respected the clan leader's every decision. Hence, the clan leader had gathered all of the villagers late at night and seized the chance to run away from the city while everything was in a mess. It was great timing for an escape, as the periodic blood of rain had just pa.s.sed.
After a year of struggling to survive in the city, most of the people had made good progress in their Kung Fu. Things were easier to handle as a group compared to before, for they were able to retreat and advance together on their journey to Qingfeng Valley. It took them only a night to cover the entire distance.
When Yun Yanli finally ordered a complete shutdown in every city, they were already having a rest on the hills, right outside of the valley. At that very moment, Gu Xijiu and Kun Xueyi were dealing with Yun Yanli in the stone array while Guardian Jin and Guardian Hua were transporting Di Fuyi to Suiye City.
Suiye City was located at one end of the Shura World while almost every troop was sent to Fengping City, which was in the completely opposite direction. Most of the security checks only focused on the carriages that traveled from Leguo City towards the Devil Kingdom. They barely paid any attention to the carriages that went in the opposite direction. Therefore, the two escorts were able to pa.s.s every security check with ease.
As for Gu Xijiu, after going around Fengping City to plant a few paper dolls with Di Fuyi's scent to misguide Yun Yanli, she quickly raced towards Qingfeng Mountain. While Yun Yanli was still looking for Di Fuyi, Gu Xijiu was already with her people in Qingfeng Valley.
A wizardry barrier had been set up to secure the border to prohibit anyone from leaving or entering the valley. Back in the days, it was Di Fuyi who managed to create a gate in the wizardry barrier by using a specific spell to lead the people out. When Di Fuyi performed the spell, Gu Xijiu was present, so she remembered every step.
After reuniting with her people, she tried to perform the same spell again a few times but was not successful. On the last try, she managed to recreate the same gate and guided them into the valley. Everything in the valley remained just the same as they last saw it. Ferocious beasts still rampaged through the forest. However, the people were not who they were before. This time, they came back stronger. Fighting the beasts was no longer as difficult as it was before.
They wanted to run through the forest on foot, but Kun Xueyi was not willing to go through the trouble, so he offered to glide through the dangers from above in the form of the Golden-Winged Dapeng while carrying everyone safely on his back.
With just a few flaps, he managed to arrive at the cave. The villagers entered the cave one by one. It used to be the place where they were desperately trying to escape. However, it seemed like they had just arrived home again.
Although the place was scarce of proper living conditions, they were able to live their lives together in solidarity and friends.h.i.+p, unlike those early days in the city. They had always thought that they were able to lead a good and fulfilling life. However, contrary to their expectations, their life in the city had been a precarious one. They were treated like the sc.u.m of society, and nothing in the city was better than what they originally had in the valley. Thus, most of them were happy to be back in the valley. Everyone returned to their huts and started living their lives in the most basic form again.
…
The turquoise, rippling wavelets rolled gently against the sh.o.r.e, with sparkles of light gleaming on the surface of the lake that was as clear as a mirror. There was a white tent next to the lake. Its reflection could be seen in the clear water, creating a rather picturesque scene.
Gu Xijiu was sitting in front of the tent, with Di Fuyi's statue next to her. She was caught in a daze while staring at the statue blankly. "Fuyi, when are you going to wake up? It has been eight days."
