A black wild goose flew through mountains and rivers wreathed in clouds and mist.
Skimming past mountain ridges and over ancient pavilions, the goose let out a long cry from its white beak. Then, circling around a steep peak covered in gray-black rocks, it suddenly shot upward.
Whoosh!
A white-feathered arrow shot up from below and viciously pierced through the goose's neck.
The black-bodied, white-beaked goose gave a mournful cry and fell straight toward the ground.
It streaked through clouds, pierced the white mist, and crashed hard into a dense pine forest.
With a rustle and clatter through the pine needles, the goose landed with a smack on the ground blanketed in thick fallen needles.
After struggling a few times and feebly flapping its wings, it was seized and lifted by a large dark hand.
"So fat! Hehe, dinner's settled again today!"
A dark-skinned man shook the goose in one hand. In his other, he held a curved longbow whose string still faintly trembled. Clearly, he had shot that arrow.
The man looked every inch a hunter. He wore a tiger-hide skirt, carried a hunting knife and quiver on his back, and had his face painted with greasepaint.
Holding up the goose, he opened his mouth toward its head and took a savage inhale.
A pale-blue, translucent flame slowly emerged from within the goose's body. At first, it was drawn out very slowly, then it abruptly accelerated and drilled fiercely into the man's mouth.
"From Never Killing Huo Sanlang. I never knew where you cultivated that demonic art of yours. Now I finally understand."
A bewitching woman in a blackish-purple long dress slowly emerged from the tree trunk nearby, her body swiftly solidifying from translucence.
Her brows slanted sharply toward her temples, lending her a keen and valiant air.
"We