Me and my sister run through the back of the mansion. My chest feels heavy, my breath short, but she doesn't let go of my hand. Behind us I can still hear the sound of people screaming, glasses breaking, chairs falling.
Then it happened. The front door of the mansion blew apart with only one finger. Wood and dust scatter like a storm. A tall figure step inside, his steps slow but full of power. His eyes shine cold and his lips pull into a cruel smile.
"Such a beautiful celebration you mortals are having," the cultivator said, voice like poison. "Leader… Immortal Slayer, is that what they call you? Hahaha… what a joke. A mortal with such a title."
My father stand in the middle of the hall. His hand tight on the sword, his eyes sharp as a blade. Sweat slide from his forehead, but his back stay straight.
"You cultivator, how dare you destroy my home!" he said with anger in his voice. "This is my clan, and I will never bow to you!"
The cultivator laugh, shaking his head. "Never bow? Mortals never learn. You have not even lived a hundred years. You never saw the true hardship of the world. Yet you chained me. You dared to humiliate me. And now… I will destroy everything you treasure."
I could not move. My legs tremble, my Qi is too weak to even stand close. Just being in the same room as that man makes my chest tight, like all the air is gone.
"Fan Ling!" my sister shout at me, her hand gripping mine harder. "Don't stay here. Father is fighting for us. If you stay, you will only die!"
I clench my teeth. My heart scream to help, but my body will not obey.
My father raise his sword high. Qi gather at the edge, glowing bright as lightning. His voice roar through the hall.
"First Form—Slashing the Mountains!"
The slash tear through the air, sharp, fierce, like thunder falling from the sky.
But the cultivator only raise a finger. Crack! The technique shatters into nothing. His nail touch the sword and the steel breaks apart like thin glass.
Father's eyes widen, shock filling his face. "This sword… it fought with me through countless battles… and you broke it with a finger…"
The cultivator smirk grow wider. He flick his hand and Father's body fly in the air, caught like a doll in the cultivator's grip. Fingers press hard into Father's neck.
"Immortal Slayer?" he whisper with a grin. "How pitiful. How weak."
Father struggle, his face turning violet, but still he glare with burning eyes. "I… will never… bow… to you!" His voice rough, torn by pain but strong like iron.
My sister drag me, tears filling her eyes. "Fan Ling! Run! Do you want Father's sacrifice to be wasted?!"
I look back one last time. My father's gaze meet mine. No fear, no regret, only command. His eyes told me: Survive.
My throat burn, my chest hurt, but I let my sister pull me. We run into the dark forest as the mansion explode behind us, flames rising into the night.
And in that fire, I heard it.
The cultivator's laughter.
Loud, arrogant, merciless.
"Run, Immortal Slayer's child! Run! I will find you!"