Somewhere.
An ancient-looking temple.
There were no gods or Buddhas in the temple, only a black statue with the body of a raven and the face of a human.
Some raggedly dressed poor people, with numb and defeated expressions, knelt before the statue to pray, one after another, a continuous stream. The incense burner in front of the statue was also constantly alight with offerings.
In a corner, some gray rats squeaked, scurrying back and forth in the shadows.
Behind the temple, in a yard that was neither large nor small, many people in black, strange attire hurried back and forth.
"Vice Sect Hierarch, there's been a problem."
In the most secluded room on the farthest side, a member of the Black Crow Sect, cloaked in black, was prostrate on the ground, reporting to a man also clad in black but with the silhouette of black crow wings embroidered in red silk thread on his clothing.
The Vice Sect Hierarch sat there, opened his eyes, and looked over calmly, saying, "What happened?"
