Death

Panting, his whole body soaked in sweat, Han Li looked at the city gateway and without waiting, walked towards it.

The world was slightly spinning around him at the moment and his vision was hardly at the right place. But his gaze kept roaming around for potential kidnappers and tracks. But there was nothing of that sort; just a guard post, some people moving in and out, and just some ordinary things.

He couldn't find someone suspicious among the 20 or so passersby at a glance either. Most of them were merchants and finding the specific one his mother mentioned was impossible.

The gate guard looked at the pale-faced young man and let him pass by.

Outside the city, a huge clearing came into his sight; looking afar, he could see an endless forest too.

At this point, there was only a short number of people who were entering the city to be looked into. But he still couldn't find the suspicious one.

His heart thumping in anxiety, his lips trembling, he looked around and at this exact moment, a wan, yellow-faced elderly came towards him and spoke quietly, "Follow me."

Nervous, Han Li nodded and the Old man walked forward. Quite a distance away from the city, they entered a dark forest and Shan Shan stopped walking and asked without turning around, "Did you bring the book?"

Han Li didn't answer and questioned, his voice suppressed, "Where is my Mom?" he had hidden the book in his bosom, under his white clan robes.

And he would not give it to them unless he had his mother back.

"Your mother?" came a loud sneering voice from above.

Both of them looked up. On a big branch sat a young man, his eyes as dark as black and filled with a chaotic gleam, his hair floating behind him, long and wide, similarly as dark. But unlike normal hair, it looked like feathers instead.

Like the feathers of a filthy crow, or better yet, a Raven.

A dark ancient sword on his back.

Han Li's eyes widened in horror, 'A Raven clan cultivator!'

He clenched his hands and yelled out, his black night-like eyes meeting the man's, "I will give you the Book, I will give you anything," he said with a choke, "just– just give my mother back... Please..."

Amused, Kevin looked down at the pathetically pleading boy who had a straight back, and asked, his voice sharp, "Did you bring the book?"

Han Li clenched his teeth, "Show me my mother first!"

Kevin squinted his eyes, and smirked, a dark vibe flashed around the place. "You filth dared look me in the eye and I let it be, yet... you dare order me?"

Han Li's eyes constricted, he could feel the sensation of a beast breathing down his neck. Surrounding his whole body as if it was marking its prey.

He shivered and clenched his hands harder.

But Kevin didn't look at him anymore and looked at Shan Shan instead, his tone bland, "Where is that woman?"

"My Lord," Shan Shan smirked, his old face becoming a disgusting sight, "As of now, she is safe, but who knows for how much longer?"

Han Li looked at them each with pleading eyes, but they didn't mind the cries of a pathetic loser.

"Give the book boy, it is best if you give it. And I promise on my clan's name that I will leave your mother be."

Han Li's heart skipped a beat, he had heard Clans were tantamount to parents for a cultivator and once they betray it, their cultivation seizes to go higher.

This was it, the chance!

"I will give!" he exclaimed and without a second's wait, pulled the book out of his bosom.

The two looked on with relieved gazes.

"Give it to me!" Kevin exclaimed.

Nodding, Han Li threw the book at him. Kevin caught it with a chuckle and asked Shan Shan, "Is this the one?"

Shan Shan also relievedly smiled and bowed, "Yes, Young Master, that is the one."

Kevin looked at Han Li and praised, "Good work, now... You can die."

The boy's eyes widened, he turned abruptly and glanced at Shan Shan, the old man smirked.

A black feather flashed by and a head flew up to the sky, its pure black eyes roaming around the place and rotating in the air as it fell downwards.

The last thoughts that rang through Han Li as he died were...Ah how stupid I was, there was no way for Mom to be kidnapped from right under the gaze of the Starlight Clan's Head and the other higher ups...

Had he had the strength, he would have chuckled... Atleast, Mom was alright.

With a gentle thud, the head rolled on the ground and a second later, the body fell on its back.

Red blood spread across the green verdant leaves.

Han Li, the young boy had died.