Qi Wu raised his head and looked into the night sky.
A shadow flew in from the horizon. It was not moving fast, but its wings beat loudly, whooshing like someone flapping a quilt overhead.
The shadow drew closer and grew larger, finally hovering above the North Gate.
The Demon had a human body and bird wings sprouting from his back, their black feathers gleaming with oil. He wore a long black trench coat with the collar turned up, concealing half his face. In his hands was an old-fashioned rifle with a wooden stock, a long barrel, and a thin cord dangling from the bolt.
The gun looked rather like an old bolt-action 98K.
The birdman Demon slung the rifle over his shoulder and looked down at Qi Wu, revealing half his face. His skin was wrinkled like an orange peel left out too long. His eyes were small, with yellow irises like an owl's.
He opened his mouth in a grin, revealing two rows of uneven yellow teeth.
"Owl Eye, thirteenth elder of the Mandala Society!" he introduced himself in a shrill voice.
Qi Wu glanced up at him, then lowered his head and continued maintaining the spatial gate. His left hand was pressed against the ground, Spiritual Power still draining from him. The silvery-white curtain of light shone steadily as people walked through one after another.
Left hanging in midair, Owl Eye flapped his wings twice, his smile briefly stiffening. He coughed and spoke again.
"Child of Destiny, that's rather rude of you. I flew all this way. You could at least spare me a glance."
Qi Wu did not look up. "I did."
Owl Eye froze. "You did?"
"Mm. Ugly."
The smile vanished from Owl Eye's face. His yellow eyes rolled, and he patted the 98K on