Crow Immortal
Chapter 1: The Black Crow Taoist

"Creak~"

"Creak~"

The wind blew through the bare branches on the cold night.

Under the pale moonlight, a black crow flew over and landed on the withered branch.

The unpleasant creaking sounds immediately stopped.

A small, thin figure shivered beneath the tree, looking up at the crow before lowering his head again, pressing his legs together and curling into a ball.

Someone inside the house spoke: "Husband, go check if that little bastard has died yet."

A man in padded clothes came out, first taking a deep breath of the cold air before walking to the small tree. He kicked the shivering figure and spat when he saw it still moving.

"Damn stubborn mutt."

After some curses between the man and woman inside, the dim light was extinguished.

The figure under the tree curled up again.

On the branch, the black crow's beady eyes turned with an unusual glint.

"Child, how old are you?"

A hoarse voice came from nowhere, echoing in the child's ear.

The thin child looked up and around but saw nothing.

Still, being honest by nature, he answered: "Twelve years old."

"Twelve years old, yet so small and thin... must have suffered much. A pitiful child indeed."

The hoarse voice continued: "What's your name?"

"Han Yu."

The child answered, then looked around despite the cold, noticing the crow above him tilting its head to observe him under the white moonlight. "Are you the one speaking? Black crow?"

"Hehe..."

The hoarse voice chuckled before continuing: "Little Han Yu, why are you left in the yard instead of inside? Are those your parents in there?"

"Those aren't my parents. My father died hunting, and my mother remarried to another village."

Han Yu answered: "This is my home. They won't let me stay inside anymore..."

"Who are they?"

"The village head's son and his wife."

"Why?" the hoarse voice asked.

"I don't know why. They just drove me out, saying it would be easier once I died in this yard." Han Yu answered confusedly, staring at the unusually large crow he'd never seen before.

The hoarse voice laughed again: "So they want to take your home without blood on their hands, is that it?"

Han Yu dumbly stared at the crow, unsure how to respond.

As the hoarse voice spoke, the crow spread its wings - nearly half the size of the small boy.

"Child, give me your treasure, and I'll help you kill those who stole your home. How about that?"

"My family is poor. We have no treasure."

Han Yu answered honestly.

"Oh but there is, there certainly is."

The hoarse voice said: "After we Three Friends of Quanlin parted ways, your grandparents became a pair, hiding from this ugly monster, haha... haha... Fifty years later, what now? What now?"

"Turns out this ugly monster lived longest, finally taking a step on the immortal path!"

The voice started hoarse, then became like a beast's growl, ending with something like a sob.

Hearing these emotional shifts, Han Yu felt an inexplicable pity.

But then the cold and hunger reminded him he might not survive the night - hardly in position to pity anyone.

"I truly don't know about any treasure."

"Know or not," the hoarse voice said, "child, I'll help you once. Give me the treasure, and no one will trouble you again. Fair deal, no?"

"Just agree, and I'll exterminate the village head's family for you."

"If I give you my treasure, will you promise me anything?" Han Yu asked, watching the large crow spread its wings as if ready to fly off and kill.

"Of course not," the hoarse voice replied. "Just one thing, and only if I can do it."

"If I give you my treasure, will you teach me your skills?"

Han Yu whispered.

"Oh? You want to learn from me?" The hoarse voice seemed startled, then skeptical.

"Yes."

"Hahaha! If you truly wish to learn, I can teach you. But if you fail, don't blame me - the treasure still goes to me!"

"Yes."

"Still want to learn?"

"Yes."

"Heh, stubborn as a stump? Very well! Give me the treasure, and I'll teach you. Whether you learn is up to you!"

Han Yu agreed, then hesitated: "I don't know where the treasure is."

"Think carefully. You must bring out your treasure to give me."

The hoarse voice insisted: "Think hard!"

Han Yu concentrated, unsure what treasure he possessed but determined: If I truly have a treasure, I'll give it to learn skills.

As this thought formed, the tree behind him suddenly vanished, leaving him leaning back into empty air. He quickly braced himself with his hands and felt something cold beneath one palm.

This must be his treasure.

Looking down, Han Yu saw a small, heavy disk neither bronze nor iron, carved with a luxuriant tree clearly visible under moonlight.

With the disk's appearance came another awakening - like holding warm charcoal in his right hand.

He remembered gathering firewood earlier that winter and finding a strangely hot round stone that inexplicably disappeared into his right hand - was that also a treasure?

Which one did the voice want?

Unable to discern, he gripped the disk and looked up at the large crow slowly flapping its wings above him.

"If I give you this treasure, you'll teach me?"

The crow opened its beak and cawed.

Han Yu was stunned.

Hadn't the crow been speaking to him?

"Foolish child, would you learn to fly from my bird?"

"Then what should I..." Han Yu was utterly confused.

Seeing the boy's bewilderment, the crow gave a mocking caw and extended sharp claws that tore Han Yu's clothes, gripping his shoulders as it flew over the low earthen wall.

Shoulders stinging with pain, Han Yu clenched his teeth.

Under bright moonlight, as the crow carried him over the wall, he glanced back at the yard where he'd lived twelve years - only once, before landing roughly in mud outside.

A white-haired Taoist in black robes stood before him, voice hoarse: "Child, still have the treasure?"

"Yes."

"Then come."

Han Yu stared at the Taoist, noticing the large crow now perched on his shoulder, watching him.

So it wasn't the crow speaking, but this old Taoist.

"What are you waiting for?"

The Taoist turned and walked away without pause.

Han Yu, shaking off his daze, hurried after despite hunger, cold and shoulder pain.

Man, boy and bird left the small mountain village, walking farther down the moonlit path until gradually disappearing.

Some commotion arose in the village before settling again.

"Where's that little bastard? Gone..."

"Good riddance!"