Flames and Ashes

The air was thick with smoke as the flames danced like hungry spirits, devouring everything in their path. The once-verdant fields were now a sea of fire, crackling and twisting as the inferno roared toward the heavens.

Each ember that rose from the ground seemed to carry with it a piece of the world, a fragment of the past, turning it to dust and ash. The heat was unbearable, a suffocating force that blurred the very air itself.

It was a scene of utter devastation, a moment when the world was being reshaped by fire and fury.

Amongst the fog and heat, Ruan Qing ran whilst holding her mothers hand for dear life. 

The ground beneath her feet trembled, cracks spidering outward drained from the graceful green it once was. 

The once familiar surrounding of her village were now unrecognizable, replaced by charred remnants of homes. 

"R-ruan Qing!" Her mother stopped, unable to run any longer. "G-go! Leave me and go!"

Ruan Qing's chest tightened, her breaths shallow. 

Even at this moment, other villagers were running in every direction. 

Fearing for the worst, she made a quick decision. 

Taking off the necklace, she placed it on her mother's neck. 

"Q-qing'er?" her mother looked at her in confusion.

However, she didn't say much, "This is my good luck charm."

If she said more, her mother might refuse it or straight out throw it away. 

The roar came closer, sounding just right behind them. 

Her mother turned and saw the danger and screamed, "Run! Hurry and go!"

Her voice trembled with raw desperation, tears falling on heavy flames. 

Ruan Qing stumbled but caught herelf, her fee refusing to move. "I can't leave you! I won't!" she cried, her hands clutching her mother's arm as if letting go would tear a piece of her heart away. 

Footsteps was heard inches from where they were. 

Ruan Qing turned to see a army of demons led by a much smaller man compared the towering giants the size of houses. 

However, his eyes showed arrogance and defiance to the heavens. His armor molded from Celestial beings. 

"There you are. I was looking for you." His eyes gazed at Ruan Qing's mother and landed on the necklace. 

Her mother could feel the gaze as a ghostly chill touched her spine. She was still confused, but Ruan Qing knew...

This devil was after that necklace.

"As long as you give me your magic treasure, I won't kill you. How about it?" 

Her mother stiffened at those sweet words, her hand instinctively moved to the necklace, wishing to trade it for their lives. 

Zi Hao had half a smirk.

"No." Ruan Qing blatantly refused. 

Her mother looked at her with absolute shock.

Zi Hao's eyes slowly made its way from her mother to Ruan Qing, who was glaring at him. 

"Ho~ nice eyes. I remember 600 years ago when my brother looked at me with those kind of eyes. Do you want to know how he ended up, girl?"

He leaned forward with a mocking smile as he pointed two fingers. 

Ruan Qing kept glaring only for him to vanish in a instant and appear right in front of her. 

The fingers cladded in gloves with sharp nails were inches away from tearing through her eyes. 

Any confidence she had left crumbled and Ruan Qing fell on her back. Every part of her body was shivering despite the world around her was burning.

Zi Hao tilted his head, "What's wrong? Weren't you fearless?"

He continued, "What a coincidence! My brother was also fearless. He would walk around, bumping into everyone and glaring at them."

"One day, I disliked that habit of his. But you know how stubborn he is don't you?" He put his hand firmly on Ruan Qing's shoulder and she was unable to move, "Tell me, girl."

The malicious grin on Zi Hao's face only grew wider. 

"Can you see what he saw?"

His pointed fingers inched slowly second by second towards her right eye. 

It showed no sign of stopping. 

A cold, sickening sound echoed through the air–Rip. 

"GAhhhh!" The pain, blinding and searing. Bloody tears flowed from once was a eyeball. 

Her throat burned as she screamed, her voice full of torment.

Her fingers clawed at the dirt beneath her as she clutched her eye in agony. 

"Stop it!" Her mother's voice cracked chocking her words as they spilled down her face. 

"I-I'll give you it! I'll give you it so please stop it!"

She clung to his cloak while on her knees, begging for mercy.

Zi Hao looked at the mother with interest. Then he knelt down and smiled. 

"Give it to me," He casually said, holding out his hand.

 As she was about to give it to him, a cold wind swept through the fires and towards Zi Hao. 

Zi Hao's mocking grin faltered, his violet eyes narrowing for the first time as he turned his gaze.

A low, resonant hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. 

Zi Hao grabbed Ruan Qing's mother as he flew back. Soldier that were unaware of what was happening, instantaneously exploded into bloody mist. 

The necklace fell out of her hands and on the ground near Ruan Qing. 

What remained of the group of soldiers roared out in fear, "It's the one! The one is here!!"

Even Zi Hao who escaped, was injured by the initial surprise attack. A hole formed in his right chest. 

Zi Hao was sweating and was shocked at how accurate the strike was. A surprise attack aimed directly at his heart. Had he been even a bit slower in reacting, he would have his heart in pieces by now.

A figure emerged from above the skies whilst looking down on the burning ground and demons.

His black robes fluttered lightly in the cold wind. His piercing blue eyes glinted like shards of ice. 

He looked to Ruan Qing who was frozen in place, then her mother. Her broken eyes met his, and she felt a sense of relief rush over her. However, she had never seen the way he looked as he did at this moment. 

He was like a immortal compared to a friendly fisherman by the river.

The tension in the air thickened. His detached eyes locked onto Zi Hao.

Zi Hao clasped his hands politely in front, his mocking smile replaced by calculated respect, "Senior, I've long heard–"

Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp gust of wind cut through the air. Li Xing vanished from view. 

Zi Hao's eyes widened in alarm as a cold wind blade closed in on his throat. 

In a desperate struggle, Zi Hao used Ruan Qing's mother as a meat shield. 

If my thoughts are correct then–

The blade dispersed, but also reformed the moment they passed through her.

Having underestimated Li Xing more than he should have, Zi Hao was hit with another hard hit which he barely blocked. 

Blood dripped from his mouth, but he kept his ground. Yet, before he could even refocus, another strike was slashed, and another, and another. Like a constant streams of sword aiming to cut his throat. 

Bullshit! Is this still one strike?!

Finally realizing that his army and the whole Underworld was at stake, he pleaded, "S-Senior, as long as you can promise me safe exit with my army, I can let her go! But if you keep attacking, don't blame me for what happens next!"

Huge amount of spiritual energy in his body began building up. If his body were to be destroyed or he detonates, the blast would be equivalent to a small nuke. 

Li Xing looked on with a detached stare. His swords stopped. 

However instead of looking at Zi Hao, he turned to Ruan Qing, "I can guarantee that I can kill him and protect your mother, but she will be injured in the process. The pain will be excruciating and I'm unsure whether her mortal mind can withstand it."