Descendants of the False Gods - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Curiosity Killed the Cat (2)

Liang Shan reached the foot of the mountain and crouched beside a large rock by the roadside, blending into the wild grass around him. No one paid him any attention.

Once the patrolling cavalry passed by again, he carefully scanned his surroundings. After confirming that no one was around, he dashed across the mountain path and reached the base of the ridge. If he could climb to the top, he would have a full view of the Four Winds Valley and finally uncover what was happening inside.

From his earlier observations on the opposite ridge, Liang Shan, with his years of military experience, was certain that this mountain had not only visible patrols but also hidden sentries lurking in the shadows. Climbing up would require extreme caution.

Despite his urgency, he knew better than to risk his life recklessly. He moved slowly and cautiously, constantly surveying his surroundings. By keeping an eye on thick trees and dense undergrowth, he could detect any concealed sentries in time.

Luckily, the ridge was not too high—only about four to five hundred meters. The trees here were relatively small, with most trunks no thicker than a person’s thigh, making them unsuitable for hiding armored soldiers. However, the thick grass covering the ground posed a greater risk. At the same time, he could also use it to his advantage for concealment.

It took Liang Shan nearly three hours to reach the cliffside at the mountain’s peak. The journey had been filled with near-misses. Twice, he had to lie flat just five or six meters away while patrols passed by. Another time, he barely avoided a hidden sentry by circling around from a ten-meter distance.

The most dangerous moment occurred when he was creeping through the tall grass to bypass a small clearing. Just as he approached a tree, he realized too late that a soldier was crouching beneath it, peering down the mountain. After a few moments, the sentry retracted his head into the grass. At that instant, Liang Shan was just on the other side of the same tree, his back almost touching the hidden guard. His breath nearly stopped in terror.

He considered killing the sentry, but his dagger was tucked into the back of his belt, and his hand crossbow was not loaded. His only option was to hold his breath, remain absolutely still, and slip away silently through the sentry’s blind spot when the soldier looked away.

Now, Liang Shan crouched beside a protruding boulder on the cliffside, blending into the wild grass, his gaze fixed on the valley below.

The eastern entrance to the valley had been completely sealed off by a rockslide. The deafening explosion he had heard earlier must have been the sound of the detonation that collapsed the passage.

A five-meter-wide trench had been dug across the valley floor. The black-armored warriors of the Divine Clan were now trapped in the northeastern corner—unable to cross the trench, their chariots and warhorses rendered useless. The carnage in that section of the valley was beyond horrific, strewn with corpses.

To the west, the Bloodclaw Army from the northern plains of the Empire was using siege crossbows for long-range attacks against the Divine Clan.

In the south, the Lion-Tiger Army of the Beastmen Confederation was launching heavy gunpowder crossbows at them.

The Divine Clan’s forces had no effective counterattack. Their only option was to form a defensive arc with their chariots, but even this could not withstand the immense piercing power of the siege crossbows and the devastating impact of the gunpowder projectiles that rained down every few seconds. Their casualties were rising rapidly.

To the north, the Black Bull Warriors of the Blue Wolf Kingdom stood firm, wielding massive shields to prevent any desperate breakout attempts from the trapped Divine Clan soldiers.

The cliffs surrounding the valley were lined with human troops, watching from above. Their attire identified them as soldiers from the Qian family—the wealthy merchant clan of the Empire.

Liang Shan’s heart sank.

“So, the Qian family has colluded with the northern and southern Beastmen nations to exterminate the Divine Clan…”

The Fury Armor Army of the Divine Clan was known for their unmatched mobility and close combat skills. Their specialized armor could extend into scaled plating, effectively blocking ordinary arrows. Their rapid-fire hand crossbows, though limited to a thirty-meter range, could unleash continuous volleys, and their armor-piercing bolts and blades made them nearly invincible in close-quarters combat. But none of that mattered now. In this battlefield, their greatest strengths were utterly useless. They were completely trapped, and total annihilation was only a matter of time.

Liang Shan’s mind was in turmoil.

“This is madness! I should never have come here!”

This was a secret too dangerous for him to bear.

“Curiosity really does kill the cat… What possessed me to risk everything just to see this disaster unfold?”

“I need to leave. Right now. Staying here will only mean watching the Divine Clan’s destruction. But if I escape, I still have a chance to spread the news. Yes, that’s the only way!”

However, with soldiers swarming the mountain, even the slightest mistake would mean death. He had to be extremely careful.

The determination he had when climbing up was now gone—replaced by sheer terror. Though he was familiar with the route, his fear made the descent even slower than the climb. It took him over four hours to reach the base of the mountain. By then, night had fallen.

The surrounding mountains echoed only with the shouts of retreating troops.

Liang Shan had no mount and needed to retrieve the horse he had hidden earlier.

With no more roadblocks, he moved swiftly, reaching the forest where his horse was stashed in just over half an hour.

Mounting up, he galloped eastward, determined to leave Qian territory as quickly as possible.

At last, he reached the North-South Grand Road, a public route that marked the boundary outside the Qian family’s jurisdiction.

This road stretched across the Empire, built during the era when the Divine Clan drove out the Beastmen and established human settlements. It connected the southern Merchant and Builder clans with the northern Imperial and Warrior clans, running through multiple provinces.

Following this road could take him all the way to the northern frontier—or to Star-Moon City, the stronghold of the Divine Clan.

After riding for ten miles, Liang Shan decided to rest his horse. Now that he had escaped Qian territory, he could finally think clearly. Star-Moon City wasn’t far, and he didn’t want to carry this secret alone for too long. Speaking up might bring some relief—and might even save his own life.

After all, he was the one who had delivered the urgent military order to Star-Moon City. If the Qian family accused him of conspiring with foreign forces to betray the Fury Armor Army, he would be doomed.

He had to go to Star-Moon City.

Liang Shan rode seventy more miles before turning onto a western side path.

Three miles ahead, the land divided into three territories: Qian territory to the south, Zhao territory to the northwest, and Star-Moon City to the north.

However, after just one mile, he saw another roadblock.

Thinking quickly, he pretended not to notice and continued forward.

Before he got close, a temporary outpost shouted, “Turn back! Any closer, and we’ll shoot!”

Liang Shan immediately responded, “Wait! Urgent message! The Imperial Clan is restoring the ancestral land, and I have a reply from the Builder Clan!”

Slowing his horse, he approached the checkpoint. One glance at the soldiers’ uniforms made his heart sink—Qian family troops again.

Hiding his anxiety, he forced a grin and said to their leader, “Come on, brother, we’re all soldiers here. Cut me some slack, will you?”

He discreetly slipped a few silver coins into the man’s hand.

The officer hesitated but refused, “Not my call, brother. Orders are strict—nothing gets through. They say we’re eliminating a bandit force and can’t risk leaks. If you need to pass, take the main road north for fifty miles, then cut west into Zhao territory.”

Liang Shan understood. Star-Moon City was no longer an option. His only choice now was to disappear.

Without hesitation, he nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, then turned his horse around.

Four days later, he returned to his military camp. Wasting no time, he packed his belongings, submitted his resignation, and bid farewell to his former commander.

Then, he vanished into the vast sea of people.