Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Goddamn it!
Feathers and blood rained down, mingling with the white petals that fell like snow from the tree’s branches.
Still, I didn’t stop running.
I reached the base of the tree, leapt up, and gripped the same branch he’d used.
The wood was rough beneath my fingers, slick with the crows’ blood and crushed blossoms, but I held firm.
Why can’t you just die!
I looked up to see where he went.
Above me, he climbed higher, his blade flashing as he continued to slice through the relentless crows.
Dead birds fell around me. Some of their lifeless bodies thudded against the ground as I pulled myself onto the branch.
I followed him into the darkness, tightening my grip on Soaring Precious.
I climbed higher and higher through all the crows and blossoms, shoving leaves out of the way.
The branches groaned under my weight.
Above me, my father moved with the feral agility of a man fighting both nature and fate. His blade flashed in the dim light, carving through the crows that swarmed him.
Feathers, blood, and broken blossoms continued to rain down.
Aunt Min screamed. “Be careful, Lei, and get him out of that tree!”
I didn’t need her warning to understand what she meant.
Another Sun Tzu lesson hit me.
Never fight on your opponent’s terms.
For anyone else, this tree would be overwhelming to battle in.
It would have been a clear disadvantage.
But for my father?
It was a playground.
In fact, I was sure that my father had chosen the tree because it would give him the advantage of height, vision, and unpredictability. Each branch was a weapon, a shield, a foothold he could use to maneuver around me.
He might be hiding something there too. I’ll have to be careful.
The crows, though relentless in their attack, only added to the chaos, getting in my way. Plus, their presence would mask his movements and obscure all his intentions. The uneven terrain of the branches would make every step treacherous.
Every miscalculation deadly.
I hoisted myself onto the next branch.
The bark bit into my palms. The faint scent of blossoms mingled with the coppery tang of blood and the earthy musk of the ancient tree.
My lungs burned from the climb but I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t stop.
Not until this was finished.
A dead crow tumbled past me, its wings limp and lifeless eyes reflecting the pale light of the moon.
My father’s laughter echoed above.
I looked up.
He was higher now, perched on a thicker branch that jutted out over the arena. From his vantage point, he could look down on the chaos below—the crowd, the bloodied ground, and me, clawing my way toward him. He had small wounds on his face as if a few crows had gotten him good before dying.
He grinned down at me. “Hello, son. How are you doing?”
You fucking piece-of-shit pyscho!
“I never thought you would follow me here. You’re persistent, I’ll give you that, son.” He laughed and killed a crow that tried to slam its beak into his arm. “But persistence won’t save you.”
I continued to climb up as he got to rest.
Granted, the crows kept him reasonably busy.
Once I got close enough to him, I rose and planted my feet firmly on the branch.
Fuck.
It was a battle in itself to keep my branch steady.
How the hell am I going to get him out of here?
Keeping perfect balance, he swung at a crow and the blade sliced through the air.
The bird shrieked.
But in that moment, I saw a crack in his rhythm.
Got you.
I surged forward, leaping onto a branch just below him. The wood cracked under the impact but I didn’t pause.
Two more crows charged his way.
Good. Keep him busy.
He tried to keep his attention on me and stop those crows from slamming their beaks into his face.
I pushed off the branch, propelling myself upward in a burst of motion. Soaring Precious gleamed in the faint light as I swung, aiming for his exposed side.
He twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Our blades collided.
Branches and leaves getting in the damn way.
Plus, it was clear one of us would fall, if not the both of us.
Someone shrieked in horror.
I hope that’s not Moni. I’ll be okay, baby.
The tree groaned under the weight of the battle, its ancient limbs creaking as if in protest.
I landed on another branch, almost fell, then lunged again, Soaring Precious slicing through the air.
He blocked the strike but the force of the blow sent him stumbling through leaves and branches. His foot slipped on the blood-slicked bark.
Wait a minute. I know how I will get him out of here.
Instead of him, I slammed at the branch he was on.
He lost his footing completely.
I hit it again.
A crow scratched the back of his head and as he tried to get his balance, he dropped Imperial Lament.
Yes!
Then, I jumped and got up on that branch. My feet barely felt steady.
How the hell did he stand on this?