It was at that moment, by the faint light filtering through the cracks, that Shenhe saw wisps of black smoke drifting into the cave.
Though she had never seen such a thing before, the moment she laid eyes on it, little Shenhe knew instinctively that these smoky monsters were not gods at all, but nauseating demons.
Soon, the smoke inside the cave began to coalesce under some strange power, taking form.
It became a hideous monster, its entire body dripping with black blood.
At the sight, little Shenhe, though strong-willed, was still just a child. Her face turned pale with fear. She scrambled backward.
Then—thud.
She stepped on a smooth stone and fell.
Terrified, she pressed her hands against the cold stone wall, curling into a ball.
Please don't eat me, she prayed silently. Crane wants her mother.
But the hideous monster, radiating a terrifying aura, did not care. The moment it saw Shenhe, it let out a horrible, grating laugh—as if gloating, as if excited.
The next moment, the monster seemed ready to dine. It opened its gaping maw and lunged at Shenhe in the corner.
But just as its massive, black-blood-dripping jaws were about to close around her, a searing, holy light burst from little Shenhe's waist, repelling the monster instantly.
Startled, Shenhe remembered something. She reached for her waist and pulled out a short blade.
This short blade, radiating holy light that made the monster cower, was one of the few heirlooms her mother had left behind.
The exorcism dagger.
Clutching the blade, Shenhe murmured to herself, "Mother… you've protected Crane once more."
With that, she raised the dagger against the terrifying monster.
But she was just a little girl. She had learned to work in the city, to serve tea and wash dishes, to earn Mora desperately for her mother's medicine. Though she came from a family of exorcists, she had never learned any martial arts.
Even with an exorcist's weapon, how could she fight a monster?
Her small hands trembling, she held up the dagger. If the monster dared take one step closer, she would stab it.
The monster saw the dagger in Shenhe's hand. It seemed afraid of it.
But when it looked at little Shenhe again, its dark eyes glinted with greed. In its eyes, this little girl was the finest nourishment after its release from the ancient book.
Soon, the monster lunged again, claws outstretched, maw agape, trying to devour her.
But each time it nearly touched her, the exorcism dagger would block its path, protecting fragile little Shenhe.
But Shenhe was only a child. She could dodge once, twice—even dozens of times. But with each evasion, her strength waned.
Slowly, her swings grew slower. Her dodges grew slower.
Finally, after repeated attacks and defenses, the monster's claws struck Shenhe, sending her flying.
Then came more attacks. Claws raked across her arms, her body, leaving bleeding wounds. The gaping maw lunged, nearly swallowing her whole.
On the brink of death, Shenhe, who had been nearly exhausted, summoned a fresh burst of strength.
She raised the dagger desperately. She swung it desperately.
She cried out, "Mother, Mother—Father doesn't want Crane anymore. Mother, Crane misses you."
If Shenhe's mother had not fallen ill, had not died, she could have slain this monster with a single strike. But now her mother was gone, and her father had abandoned her. Little Shenhe had to bear it all alone.
Inside the cave, Shenhe swung the exorcism dagger wildly, driving the monster back once more.
But by now, her body was badly wounded. Blood dripped down her arms, down her cheeks, staining the stones beneath her feet.
Shenhe was exhausted. Facing attack after attack, she did not know how much longer she could hold on. Maybe the next attack. Maybe the one after. Sooner or later, she would collapse from exhaustion and become the monster's meal.
How she wished her father would wake up, would reclaim his dignity as a human, as an exorcist. How she wished he would take up his own exorcism sword and slay this monster with a single stroke.
But no matter how she hoped, no matter how she prayed, her father had lost his humanity, had fallen completely to the demonic path. He would not come to help her.
Just then, the monster seized an opening in Shenhe's defense. It lashed out with its claws, striking her small body and sending her flying several meters.
With a crash, little Shenhe hit the ground. It was unclear if she was still alive.
Seeing this, the monster leaped forward, opening its maw wide to devour her.
But at that moment, Shenhe, lying on the ground, enduring the pain, opened her eyes again.
She gripped the exorcism dagger and, with all her remaining strength, stabbed at the monster's heart.
But the moment the blade touched its chest, the monster sensed danger. It dodged and retreated once more.
Coughing, Shenhe struggled to sit up. But even that small movement sent searing pain through her body. She coughed up more blood. Wounds on her arms, her chest, and her legs—all were bleeding unstoppably.
Little Shenhe knew that after so many heavy blows, her injuries had become too severe for her to endure. Fighting the monster was out of the question. Even standing up from the cold stone floor was nearly impossible.
She was going to die soon. Even without the monster, her blood would drain away, and she would perish in this cold, dark cave.
But she didn't want to die.
She didn't want to be eaten by the monster.