Thick smoke billowed into the sky. The flames are blazing ready to burn anything. The screams of frustration sounded very clear that night.
At the same time, a mother tapped her son's shoulder.
She said, "Run my son. Live. Don't be afraid of anything and come back."
An 11-year-old boy froze. He couldn't say anything. Only tears flowed along with a deep sense of fear. His body even felt heavy as if a huge rock was pressing down on it.
"No, mom! I can't go!" He said after a few minutes of silence.
The woman looked into her son's eyes. She knew her son would answer like that, and she already had other plans.
She grabbed her son's arm, leading him to the back door. "Go, now! You must be the strongest person!"
Meanwhile, there was a loud crash. She panicked and pushed her son down. Close the door quickly.
"Where's the prince?" A man's voice came from behind the door. The child can certainly hear clearly the voices in the room.
"I don't know!" The woman answer quickly.
His body trembled with fear, but what she was more afraid of was if those people caught her son. She knew what they would do to her son.
"Find him!" The man ordered. "Kill him immediately!" He glanced at the woman with a sinister look.
Jian Zhang, prince of the Zhang kingdom spent all this time with his mother and his older sister. He never studied or practiced martial arts. He was called a useless prince. But all that he did was the orders from his mother.
"Hah... hah..."
Jian Zhang was out of breath and paused for a moment. He looked around, there was only fire and people running away
"What happened?" He mumbled as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The Zhang Kingdom is a great kingdom that has skilled knights. But why is the defense this fragile? Why would an intruder enter and do damage? There was only one thing he could think of at the moment. The intruders were the messengers of the palace insiders.
Their mission is to kill him. Jian Zhang already knows about political matters. He is not as stupid as rumored.
After a few minutes, Jiang Zhang ran again. He passed by the people trying to put out the fire. No one recognized him. No one realized that Jian Zhang was among the servants.
The direction of the prince's steps was towards the forest behind the palace. He knows the forest and hills there very well. Because all this time, his mother had been preparing for this day. It was as if his mother already knew what was going to happen.
Run, my son!
His mother's last words rang in his ears. Jian Zhang rubbed his face. As his mother said he had to live. But how?
Jian Zhang was only 11 years old. How does he live? While this world has no tolerance for children or adults. Whoever is weak is the one who loses.
"It's a prince!"
"Hurry and kill him!" Several men immediately chased after him. Jian Zhang quickened his pace. He kept running even though his legs were too tired.
"Shoot him!" Someone ordered. They didn't hesitate, even though Jian Zhang was a prince.
"I have to live!" Jian Zhang thought.
Either way, he must live and fulfill his promise to his mother. He must be back. He must be a strong. And not only that, he will destroy all his enemies.
"Damn it, why is that kid running so fast?!" One man complained. He was panting for breath, but his gaze was sharp and sinister.
"He won't run far anymore." The man next to him replied. "His destiny is to die, and he won't be able to escape that fate."
Jian Zhang didn't know how long he had been running, but at this moment he stopped. He looked back. The men were still chasing, and now there was no way in front of him.
There was only a deep abyss which was so dark that it seemed as if it had no end. Jian held his knees, his body leaning slightly forward.
Jian Zhang stared at the abyss. If he jumping in brought him to life, he would do so without hesitation.
"Give it up, boy!" One of them said with a disdainful look.
The archer who was ready to release his bow at any moment. They aimed the bow at the Jian Zhang's head.
Jian Zhang smirked. His father has sent them. Because only his father was the one who wanted him dead.
With a heavy breath, Jian stared at the abyss again. Without hesitation, he jumped up.
Jian Zhang's small body seemed to fly, and he could feel the heavy air pressure. It spread his arms out like a bird in flight. His eyes are open, and he can see everything clearly. Rocks, soil and grass dry up. And...
Bammm!
His body fell hard. His head suddenly became heavy and his breath was panting. His body didn't feel any pain. Just a tight chest. "No! I have to live!" Jian Zhang tried to move his body, but he couldn't, as if all the nerves in his body were severed.
"I have to live!" He said.
The howling of the wolves drew closer and closer.
"I can't die like this!"
The thick scent of blood making the wolves swarm around Jian Zhang. The wolf stared at Jian Zhang with a hungry gaze. In a split second, the wolf pack jumped toward Jian Zhang.
The weak Jian Zhang opened his eyes. He met the wolf's gaze sharply.
Jian Zhang tried to stand up and with the last of his strength, he grabbed the weathered wood as a resistance. Chasing away the wolf that was now staring at him as if he were an enormous meal.
"Stay away!" He drove away while holding the wood with a trembling body.