After ages of stillness, the forest once again awakened to the voices of cultivators who had been restlessly searching for someone while carrying the sharp swords and the night passed like ticking bomb that would explode anytime.
"Whatever happens, we can't go back empty handed.
Search every nook and cranny, if needed. Do not let our enemies escape from our land."
"Yes sir." The men replied in unison and continued their search.
Meanwhile, hidden from them, two women kept running towards the border region between the Human and Demon realms. Both are badly wounded, and one carried a new born in her arms.
Her condition seemed severe as though she would collapse any second. However, using the last of her strength, she kept pace behind the demon girl to escape from the land for the sake of her child who slept peacefully without knowing anything.
"Your highness, we are almost there, just a little more." Worriedly looking at her Queen, the demon girl said while leading the way toward the waterfall where the secret entrance to the Demon realm located.
Sensing the danger drawing nearer and knowing she would only drag them down. Hua Long, queen of two realms [Dragon and Demon], made a difficult decision. "Mia…" She called softly.
"I don't think, I can make it any further. Leave with my child."
"Your highness, what are you saying? How can I… leave you behind. We will survive, please hold on a little." Mia tries to oppose such nonsense. Enduring everything together, she can't leave behind her queen in the jaws of danger.
"You don't understand, I have already reached my limits. I won't survive.
From now on, he is your responsibility. Protect him…" Before handing over the child, Hua Long looked at her son's innocent face. Her heart ache more painfully than the wounds she had been enduring.
She used up her remaining power on her son. The golden scales on his body disappeared and his golden pupils turns light green.
Seeing this, Mia looked at her Queen in confusion.
"Doesn't he look like a normal human child?
Until he safely reaches the demon realm, a façade is necessary." Giving a simple answer to her unspoken question, Hua Long spoke. "Now go…"
Taking the child from her Queen, Mia hesitated for a moment, before moving towards here destination.
Staying behind, Hua Long watched her child disappear from her sight. Once they vanished completely, she walked in the opposite direction with a determined expression, as though she were about to do something dangerous.
Somehow, Mia finally reached her destination without getting caught by any enemies. Using her demonic energy, she tries to open the entrance hidden within the waterfall that led to the Demon realm.
However, before she could succeed, she got surrounded by cultivators. She tightened her grip on the child, and summoned her sword.
Even in that weakened condition, she wasn't an easy opponent for the cultivators. Her physical strength itself exceeds theirs. But she never expected a sneak attack from a powerful opponent.
A sword slashed through the thin air and severed her right hand, the one holding the sword. In pain she screams.
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Upon seeing the sword, they recognize its owner. Because in their sect, the only person who can carry the enchanted sword, that said to be imbued with the power of the gods, or called as Heavenly sword is none other than the sect leader of Chen Long sect, Chen Zeng.
Seeing a figure approaching from dark, in awe and fear, they bowed their heads in front of the true power.
"You…" Seeing him, Mia recognized the face. Anger flared up in her eyes as she glared at that cold face.
Enjoying the hatred in her gaze, a cold smile appeared on his face. He threw a severed head towards her which he had been carried all this way as a gift.
The rolling head stopped in front of her.
The moment Mia saw her queen's lifeless face, she turned pale. Her heart sink and ears blurred her vision.
"Why?" Mia demanded, her voice trembling with grief and rage. "Why did you kill her? What did we even do wrong to you?"
"Wasn't it your fault for coming here in the first place? What did you thought? After doing everything, an apology be enough to bring peace." He spoke in disgust. "I'm just following the rules… Wiping out a threat from its root."
"You are a heartless monster!" Mia shouted at him.
"Hey, I have no interest in killing an infant myself. Finish them." Not want to waste his time, Chen Zeng decides to finish them both.
But showed little interest in killing them himself, and gave the opportunity to the others.
While everyone hesitated for a moment, a man stepped forward willingly.
'Master told me to bring that child back alive.
If I don't kill the child, it will arouse suspicion in Leader Zeng. What should I do now?'
The man raised his sword to strike Mia down, but before that happens, Mia unleashed her last bit of demonic power, and transported herself along the child while creating an explosion that sends shockwaves throughout the forest.
Many of the cultivators are deeply injured and some die. But Chen Zeng remains unscathed. However, after the commotion settles down, there was no trace left behind to find Mia and that child.
…
Meanwhile, on Longwei peak, where the Chen Long sect is situated.
Inside the Chen residence, in the dimly lit room filled with the lingering scent of medical herbs, a ten-year-old child regain his consciousness. Looking around the place, a confusion lingered in his oceanlike eyes.
He rose from the bed and walked towards the mirror placed against the wall.
His hand trembled slightly as he reaches for the bandages covering half of his face. With a deep breath, he unwraps them. More than the sight of the scar, what startles him was his reflection that appears in the mirror.
"Who is this child?" He asked himself. "How did I end up as this child? Did I actually die in that accident? No, it must be a dream, Li Xin, wake up man… Wake up." Nervously he tries to awaken himself, he even slaps his own face.
The pain, he felt made him realize it isn't a dream anymore. He has actually become a child.
But suddenly, memories of the body flood into his head. His head feels heavy and throbs. Unable to withstand the pain, he falls unconscious to the floor.