Chapter 5 - 005 - The heights of the Temple, the distances of the Martial World
The dark, dreary rain fell like an old man striking the earth with a bell.
Water splashed from the ground as if whipped around by a lash.
The small town was nearly under curfew, enveloped in darkness.
The few guards at the city gate, bored and restless, hastened to close up and either went home to their wives for a confused sleep or headed to the dim and dusty Leopard Room to squander some silver coins.
Jiang Dali had planned ahead and walked to a deserted corner of the city wall to whistle.
A shadow, its feathers drenched by the rain, descended from the sky, its claws reaching for him.
A bright message appeared on the eagle's forehead, visible only to Jiang Dali,
"Sword Gate Demon Hawk
Master: Jiang Dali."
Jiang Dali reached up to grab the base of the claws, and a burst of force exploded as the Demon Hawk flapped its wings.
Using this momentum, Jiang Dali swiftly advanced, lifting his foot to kick off the wall, quickly scaling the nearly thirteen-meter-high wall, his figure disappearing outside the city.