An arrow ripped through the air and struck into the moose's eye. Its loud cry echoes the forest.
"Bulls eye!" Bai Zuer let out a triumphant smile. Then that smile dropped when the moose moved and ran away. "Quick! Don't let it escape!"
A quick step rustled upon the fallen leaves. It was not from the moose. Seconds later, a young man jumped on the moose's back and plunged the sharp blade into its neck. Once again, the moose cried out loud. It shakes his head to let the boy off of its neck.
"So tough…"
The boy pulled his small knife out from his pocket and stabbed the moose's neck continuously while his other hand was still gripping the large blade that seemed stuck between the moose's flesh.
Liquid that smells like rusted iron leaking out from the moose. It covered the boy's hand. It was sticky yet slippery. He did not mind. He just plunged the small blade until the moose fell to the ground. He let out a breath.
"We will have some stew tonight!"
"Ā-yen, you did great!" Bai Zuer claps. She was smiling ear to ear as she stared at the lifeless moose. "Ugh, that smells. There's a river nearby, you go wash your hands there."
"What are you talking about? It's not that stinky." Bai Zhuyen lifted his hand and put it closer to Bai Zuer's face.
"Dà Gē!"
Bai Zhuyen just laughed, then turned his back and ran before his sister could lift her hand to slap him.
It is shining so bright today. There was no glimpse of any clouds that could hide the sun's heat. But even though the sun was shining at noon, there was no heat. Instead, a winter cold like temperature surrounds under the blazing sun. Yet there's no frost in sight. Even the river is not freezing, though the cold was penetrating.
Chill ran down his spine as soon as he dipped his hand in the river.
Ah, so cold!
Hunting is how they make money, and Bai Zhuyen was glad that they captured something during their hunt today. That means they get to have their favorite stew later, and they will sell the other parts of the moose to the market.
Zhuyen fixed his gaze upon the flowing river. The stream was calm and clear. It was shallow in his part but so deep in the far area. He breathes and notices that his breath is now visible in his sight.
Did the temperature drop? But it was not cold, though the stream was.
He lifted his gaze and saw that there was something at the center of the river. It was standing above the running water. It was unbothered by the strong current. Zhuyen squinted his eyes to see it better but then he only noticed something. The river's temperature dropped so low that it began to turn into ice.
Zhuyen gasped and pulled his hand out, but he couldn't pull it out. It froze! Inside his chest his heart starts banging loudly. What should he do? The whole river turns into ice!
A creak was heard, then footsteps followed. It was not from the land but from the icy part. The creature was moving! And it walks towards Zhuyen's direction. He bit his lips as he pulled his hands out of the freezing water but it was like a stone gripping his hand.
Should he scream for help?
No. Zuer might frightened.
What the hell is this creature? This is the first time he sees one.
Its appearance is horrendous. Its body had no other color gray like a corpse. Dark circles around its eyes, he doesn't know if it is deep or just it has no eyes. It has no jaw and nose. It was so slender and tall.
Is this what his father called a demon? But demons are supposed to have horns. This one is just a corpse.
The creature stops.
Zhuyen held his breath.
The creature took a very huge step then launched at Zhuyen's direction. He could help but cursed. He started to kick the frozen river hoping that it would free his hands. It was freezing cold yet he was sweating hard.
"Let go, damn it!"
"Ā-yen, hurry!"
Zhuyen was able to release his hand but hit his head on the rock as soon as he collapsed to the ground. He groaned in pain. Then he suddenly got up. Alert. Gasping. And saw nothing.
The sound of the streaming river, the chirping of the birds and the gasps of his breath was all he could hear. The river had turned normal. There was no one above it. There was no one but him.
Did he hallucinate? How could he hallucinate? He is not sick or something. And he surely is not crazy. He is sure that he saw something. A walking corpse.
"Ā-yen!"
Zhuyen jumped from Zuer's angry voice. He thought it was someone else again. He felt his hand shaking uncontrollably. It was not from the cold. He gulped.
"Coming!"
Maybe…just maybe, he is crazy, but only this time.
With Bai Zhuyen's regained strength, he was the one who pulled the cart with the moose on it on their way home. Each step, the creaking wheels were heard as if they were about to give up.
As they walked people were staring and gape when they saw what they got. Some were shocked and others were amazed. Zhuyen could not help but feel proud of himself.
"What are you smiling for? I was the one who injured the moose." Zuer crossed her arms.
"And I'm the one who killed it. That's why it was now laying on the back. Lifeless." Zhuyen pointed his thumb on the back.
Zuer couldn't help but to pout.
"Next time I will make sure to kill one."
"Yeah, yeah." He was dismissed.
The trail was rocky, it was giving Zhuyen a hard time to pull the cart. Their house was far from the forest they hunt and so he had to endure the weight of the cart. This is the largest prey they got since they started hunting.
When they got home their mother was surprised, while the father was proud. They both praise their children. The father started to cut the moose into pieces while the mother cleaned them.
"What would you like for dinner?"
"Mother, I want stew!" Zuer said excitedly.
"Same here, mother."
"I just go and sell this to the market." The father said. He was now loading the cart with the meat.
"Father, I'll come with you!" Zuer immediately got up.
"Zuer, rest for a while. We just came back." Zhuyen glared at his sister.
"I'm not tired. Come on, Father."
Zhuyen could not do anything when Zuer went out of the house, jumping. She seems to like to help their father sell the meat. He sighed and went to his mother.
"Mother, let me help you."
"Rest, Ā-yen. You're tired."
"I already rested a while ago."
His mother smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Go. Rest." It was a soft tone that Zhuyen could not resist.
He sat back quietly with a frown. He was wondering what had gotten to his mother today that she did not let him help her. And Zuer, usually after hunting she sleeps right away before following their father to the market.
He leaned to the wall and closed his eyes, he felt drowsy all of a sudden. Maybe he really needed a rest. Maybe he was tired but he could not feel it.
From taking a shallow nap Zhuyen fluttered his eyes when he heard someone whispering.
"He's awake. He's awake!"
"Hush, your voice!"
"Quite, both of you."
Zhuyen finally opened his eyes and the light up candle welcomed his sight.
"Happy birthday, dear Zhuyen!" His mother, father, and sister. Three of them synchronously greeted him. They were grinning ear to ear. Zhuyen was utterly confused.
Then a realization hit him.
Yeah, right. Today is my birthday! First day of the month!
"Oh, he just remembers." The father laughed then ruffled his hair. "Happy birthday, my son."
Zhuyen smiled. He was in glee.
"Aww, don't cry, Ā-yen. Come on, blow out the candle." Zuer teased him.
"Who's crying? I'm not crying." Zhuyen glared at her but the latter just laughed at him.
"Happy fifteenth birthday, Ā-yen." His mother greeted.
"Thank you."
Zhuyen finally blew the lighted candle. All of them clapped joyfully. He didn't know that his family had this kind of surprise for his birthday. He thought that it would be a normal celebration like the past birthdays.
"My fifteenth birthday seems to be special. I wonder." Zhuyen said when they were having their dinner.
"It's because you are now fifteen. The Academy will recruit you anytime soon. We don't know when the admission day will be. And we don't know this is the last time we see you." Zuer stated.
"I can just come home." Zhuyen shrugged.
"Ā-yen. Be good at the academy, okay? Listen to the teachers and you will become the strongest. Trust me." Said the mother.
"Yes, mother. I will beat those who look down on me!" A laugh escaped from his mouth. Of course he will not do that. He is very aware of how many strong people there are in the academy.
The academy they were talking about is the Jade Pavilion, it was located on the top of a mountain called Mount Penglai. Annually, they recruit children who are fifteen years old and above. This is to educate them and make them strong enough to put them in the frontline to defeat the demons and other creatures. In other words, they built the academy to hone a weapon for those monsters.
From what his father told him, back then, demons emerged once in a year, and that is during winter and in a certain area. But for some reason, those creatures emerged anywhere as long as there's cold temperature, that means they could be anywhere.
A creature from the river flashes through his mind.
Was it a hallucination or that creature was just playing?
———
Hundreds of students entered from the academy's entrance. Most of them were amazed by the structure of the academy, as if it were to ease their tiredness since all of them climbed the mountain from the base to the top, be it nobles or peasants.
"The Grand Gate will close in just a minute." An old man announced. It was loud enough to make it audible from any distance.
From hearing that, those students who are still climbing the mountain climbed faster than before. Everyone was pushing, led by desperation.
"This year's recruits are a bit competitive, don't you think?"
"Last year too. But they end up being useless."
"Hmm…"
"Thirty seconds." An old man announced once again.
Students that were behind moved faster and faster until it got crowded. Some unfortunately fall on their knees and get stamped on. They started to push what was in front of them. Rampage has occurred.
"Get the hell out'a way!"
"You, who have no ambitions, should step aside!"
"These entitled nobles should just use their money to get in!"
"Ten seconds"
"Nine."
The countdown has begun and the desperation grew. Some could not help but to cry thinking that they couldn't pass this test.
Yes, a test.
Climbing Mount Penglai is merely a test. They were given a time limit to reach at the top from the base. The mountain was the tallest, yet it was only three minutes that was given for those who want to be a student.
"Three… Two… One. Close the Grand Gate!"
A gong was heard on the top of the Academy at the same time the large gate slowly closed to its visitors. Some were trying to get in hoping that they had a chance, but guards kicked them out causing them to fall out.
"Let us in!"
A last sentence that was heard before the Grand Gate finally closed.
The students who were fortunate to pass the test gasped heavily. Trying to catch the air as it escapes from them. No one was trying to utter a single word. Everyone was comprehending the situation and their result.
A loud clap was heard. It was from the old man.
"To all students who were able to enter the Grand Gate of the Pavilion, Congratulations for passing the sole test of academic admission."
By hearing the news that they wanted to hear, the new students of the pavilion cheered.
"From here on, we will look forward to your potential. May this generation surpass the previous generations and become the inspiration to the future generation."
Bai Zhuyen, let out a laugh and let his body fall to the ground. He couldn't wait to tell his sister how challenging the admission test was.
He was able to pass the tiring test.