Shi Hou twisted through his waist and abdomen, drawing his body back like a fully drawn bow.
Blood Qi thundered inside him.
His pitch-black arms swung forward with explosive force.
"Off you go!"
The enormous stone pillar tore straight through the air.
A white ring of sonic-boom vapor burst outward.
The pillar shot into the clouds.
It streaked diagonally toward the western horizon.
Shi Hou bent his knees slightly, and the bluestone slab beneath his feet crumbled to powder.
He sprang off the ground.
He became a bolt of black lightning, catching up to the airborne pillar with unerring precision.
Both feet landed firmly on the pillar's trailing end.
He clasped his hands behind his back.
His back and waist were ramrod straight.
Facing the howling winds high above, he rode the stone pillar away through the sky.
In Stone Village's square, jaws dropped everywhere.
Shi Yunfeng's shriveled mouth hung wide open.
The walking stick in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.
Shi Linhu stood holding his great axe, his jaw nearly dropping to his chest.
Dozens of rugged Stone Village men stared blankly at the rapidly receding afterimage in the sky, as though lightning had struck them.
"You can fucking do that?" Ermeng bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Shi Shoushan stood with his hands on his hips, his face dark.
Lin Yun forgot to wipe her tears. Holding up the hide bag full of dry provisions, she did not know whether to lower it or keep it raised.
"Skinny Monkey! That's so cool! I want to get up there too!"
A clear child's voice broke the dead silence.
Shi Hao bounced excitedly on the Unicorn King's back.
His little hand smacked the horse's rump hard.
"Horsey, hurry after him!"
At that slap, every silver