The Endless Promise

1. Death

(Narrating voice)

"There was once a Demon King, so powerful, that the Sky Emperor and the High deities all failed to defeat him.

"After numerous battles between Sky Realm and Shadow Realm, the Deity of War was killed, along with thousands of Immortal soldiers from Sky Realm.

"Realizing that things were dire, the Sky Emperor and the remaining core deities gave up their lives just to kill the Demon King.

"But in the last thousand years, a new Dragon called Yin Xiaolong had appeared, and was identified as the resurrected Demon King.

"Yin Xiaolong descended from Sky Realm at least once every four months, to terrorize humans in the Mortal Realm.

"Sometimes he ravaged entire villages, killing all in his path.

"And other times, he cursed a region to slay themselves with the 'Blood Frenzy Curse'.

"The Blood Frenzy Curse, could make a child stab its own mother, and a mother stab their own child. Anyone under the curse couldn't recognise friend from foe, and went on a killing frenzy.

"The *Wulin in different continents had tried endlessly to fend off the Black Dragon, but he was just too powerful.

(*Wulin- Central Body of Martial Artists, made up of the strongest cultivators and Leaders of all sects. They are the ones who govern humans.)

"So every year, with the help of the Immortals, a few humans entered Sky Realm to slay the Black Dragon, and someone finally succeeded......."

...

..

.

On a cold night with torrents of heavy rain pounding the earth.

Bright bluish lightning tore the skies, followed by loud thunder, which caused the ground to shiver and shake.

A swarm of bright blue fireflies flew in an odd pattern and went into a dark cave, and as they entered, they formed a ball of light blue mist going further into the cave.

And then everywhere was suddenly bright.

'Lotus lake!' A Young man found himself by a lake decorated with lotus leaves.

Standing at the edge was a lady with her back to him, and her long hair danced softly in the breeze.

She was playing a *pipa and petals blew about as the soft melody floated to his ears.

*(Pipa - Pear shaped Chinese lute. A musical instrument that could also be used as a weapon.)

"Wei Wei." He said in a soft whisper, and he held his breath as she began to turn.

But just when he was about to see her face, the petals blocked his view, and a biting draft of wind forced him to open his eyes.

A young man blinked several times and vaguely noted the heavy rainfall outside.

But he shut his eyes again, hoping he could go back to the dream.

Instead, the cold wind rushed at him, and the thunderstorm got louder and louder, as if to deliberately keep him awake!

'Silence!' He thought in annoyance and was surprised when the wind died down and everywhere fell silent.

'Ei?'

He ignored the odd coincidence and squeezed his eyes shut again, but then he suddenly gasped and curled on the floor.

Raw pain flared throughout his body, and he felt blood rise to his throat.

He clutched his chest and threw-up a large amount of stale blood.

'What's going on?!'

Pain?

His eyes widened and he shot to his feet, but he crumpled to the floor and began wheezing.

'I shouldn't feel pain. I shouldn't feel anything...

'Am I not dead?!!'

.

.

Four Months Earlier.

Above an ethereal sea-blue palace, the skies were dark, and there was thunder.

A giant black dragon flew through the darkness as bolts of golden lightning struck it from all angles.

The lightning sizzled and zipped across the dragon's long winding body, and its deafening roars mixed with loud thunder, and could be heard from miles and miles away.

But suddenly, all was quiet.

The dragon fell limply to the ground and lay bloodied on the soft grass.

A silvery-blue tear fell from its eye as it faded away into a million bright particles.

"The Black Dragon has fallen!" A loud and thunderous voice boomed across the skies, announcing the news over the entire Sky Realm and Mortal realm.

"Yin Xiaolong's essence has been completely destroyed!!"

The news was received with a wave of shock and disbelief.

But it was followed by Joyful noise from every corner of the heavens and the earth, and there was celebration far and wide.

In the Mortal realm there were floats on every canal, and fireworks lit up the night sky.

The cause for celebrations was understandable, as their worst nightmare, the Black Dragon, had been eliminated!

Children ran in the streets with kites and toys, while performers put up numerous stunts, dramas, or puppet shows depicting a sword master slaying a black dragon.

Prominent households used the celebration as an attempt to outdo rival families by tossing red packets full of small gold and silver pieces in the air, or sharing food to the beggars in their streets.

"Old man Kai, was the black dragon really powerful?" An orphan boy asked an old beggar as they lined up to collect the warm rice being shared.

Old man Kai was in a foul mood because other beggars, younger humans with no disability, were willing to step over frail old men and children to seize the red packets.

'What has humanity fallen to?' He wondered, but he quickly smiled brightly for the sake of the little ones, and he rubbed his beard.

"Hmmm. The Black Dragon is as powerful as can be!" Old man Kai started. "It is written that a Demon King once arose, who cast the Sky Realm and the Mortal realm into chaos.

"The Sky Generals were no match for him, and he could even challenge the Sky Emperor!" He linked his thumbs and curled his fingers inwards, paying respect as he mentioned the Sky Emperor.

"Old man Kai, that's not how to pay respect!" One boy said. The boy placed his tiny right fist in the middle of his left palm, cupping his hands.

"This is how to do it! I've seen disciples do it!" Disciples were the younger followers, or 'students' of Sects or Clans, and they usually served as the younger military of the Sect till they turned thirty.

"Whatever, whatever..." Old man Kai waved him away. "Anyway, the Sky Emperor gave his life to destroy the Demon King, but one certain year, a black dragon was born with a piece of the Demon King's soul.

"This black dragon rained bloodshed in Mortal Realm until the White Swallow defeated him!"

Old Man Kai finished dramatically, but the children who had gathered around him simply stared at him with blank faces.

"Old man, all you've told us is what we already know." One said, picking his nose.

"Hmm, hmm!" The rest nodded in agreement.

"Ei?! How can little children know about what goes on in the heavens?!"

"This news is everywhere!" The boy said, then put the finger that had been picking his nose right into his mouth.

"D- Disgusting fellow!" The old man leaned away, but the boy just shrugged.

"But Lao Kai, how could someone so powerful be defeated by a human?!" Another asked.

"Yes! We want details like that! How did the 'White Swallow' defeat him!" Yet another piped in.

But old man Kai waved them away. "Ahem! You're too young to know such things!" He said seriously.

"Just say you don't know!" The nose-picking boy accused, putting his finger in his mouth again.

"Disgusting!" Old man Kai said, leaning away.

But he suddenly crouched to their level and patted their heads.

"Innocent Children." He said a bit sadly. "The world has indeed lost something..."

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