DEVIL'S SWORD

Two Tiger's

"Damn it!" cursed Ho Chen in his heart.

  

 The twenty-year-old young man thought that he had to endure as much as possible. Although he had never received direct martial arts training, he had often observed the training conducted by other students. He secretly memorized each movement and practiced them alone in the forest while collecting firewood. That was why he often returned to the sect only when night fell.

  

 A punch aimed at his head was reflexively dodged. Likewise, a follow-up kick from Song Im targeting his stomach was successfully blocked.

  

 "Who taught you martial arts, you bastard? Just wait, we will report you for stealing techniques that you have no right to learn!" Song Im shouted. Fang Yun’s close friend still couldn't believe that Ho Chen had managed to block his kick.

  

 Despite his fear, Ho Chen forced a smirk. "I am also a student of the Star Sword Sect, Song Im! It’s not my fault if I observe your movements while you train. I have been in the sect for a year, yet I was never taught any martial arts."

  

 "That’s because you’re weak! The master surely knows which students can be relied on, and you are definitely not one of them," mocked Song Im.

  

 "You call me weak? If you truly have the courage to back up your words, I challenge you to a one-on-one fight!" Ho Chen pointed at Song Im, who was instantly taken aback by his challenge.

  

 Song Im lowered his chin and swallowed hard, trying not to show it. He was torn between accepting and declining Ho Chen's challenge.

  

 Even though he knew that Ho Chen had never trained within the sect, the fact remained that Ho Chen had managed to deflect his kick. Before launching the kick, Ho Chen had already been in a position to dodge a punch, which should have given Song Im the advantage. But Ho Chen had better instincts and was able to escape the attack aimed at him.

  

 Because of this, Song Im hesitated to accept the challenge. His mind raced to find a way out without embarrassing himself. "Do you think I’ll fall for your tricks, Ho Chen? I know you will run away if we fight one-on-one, won't you?"

  

 "Huffft... turns out you’re good at making excuses to avoid my challenge, Song Im. But that’s fine. At least now I know that your courage is not as big as your words. The same goes for all of you, who only dare to fight in a group!" Ho Chen sneered, flicking his little finger.

  

 "Bastard! He’s insulting us. Attack him now!" Song Im shouted loudly. Finally, he could breathe a sigh of relief as he avoided the one-on-one battle.

  

 This time, Ho Chen could not execute the movements he had learned. The attacks from all directions inevitably landed on his body. His head, back, stomach, ribs, and other body parts were repeatedly struck and kicked by the seven young men surrounding him.

  

 In a short time, Ho Chen collapsed to the ground. Blood trickled from his lips and nose. His entire body was covered in blackened bruises.

  

 Fang Yun smiled in satisfaction at his friends' work. He walked toward Ho Chen, crouched, and grabbed his throat.

  

 "Tell me where the scroll given by the master is!"

  

 Ho Chen weakly sneered, "Even if you kill me, I won’t give that scroll to you."

  

 "Speak quickly, or I will kill you right here!" Fang Yun roared.

  

 "Hahaha!" Despite his weak state, Ho Chen forced himself to laugh. "Why don’t you just look for it yourself, coward!"

  

 "Bastard! Die!" Fang Yun delivered a powerful punch that rendered Ho Chen motionless.

  

 After the blow, Fang Yun searched Ho Chen’s clothing for the scroll given by Li Hao. But he found nothing.

  

 "Damn it! He must have hidden the scroll somewhere. Search for it until you find it! Whoever finds it will receive a great reward from me!" he commanded.

  

 Fang Yun was extremely curious about the scroll given to Ho Chen by Li Hao. If it weren’t valuable, there was no way Ho Chen would have guarded it with his life.

  

 For a long time, Fang Yun’s seven friends searched the forest, but eventually, they gave up.

  

 "Fang Yun, it seems that weakling hid the scroll inside the sect. What if we go back and search for it there?" Song Im reported.

  

 "Alright. It’s already late; we should return!" Fang Yun agreed after glancing at the sun, which had begun to set in the west.

  

 "What about him?" Song Im pointed at Ho Chen’s unmoving body.

  

 "Leave him. That weakling will surely die tonight, eaten by the beasts lurking in this forest." Fang Yun spat at Ho Chen’s body before walking away, followed by his seven companions.

  

 Slowly, the sunlight dimmed and disappeared completely beyond the western horizon. The reddish glow marking the transition from day to night faded away.

  

 That night, the forest was shrouded in darkness. The moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy of leaves. The calls of forest creatures echoed, as if competing to showcase their melodies.

  

 Ho Chen stirred. His fingers twitched and, without realizing it, brushed across his face, feeling something cold, wet, and slimy. Curious, he opened his eyes. Instinctively, he jumped back as far as he could. His gaze caught sight of two glowing eyes staring at him in the darkness.

  

 The twenty-year-old young man shivered in fear. It seemed that death still refused to leave his side. After being beaten by Song Im and his friends earlier that day, he now faced two fierce beasts, the guardians of the forest, growling at him.

  

 Yes. Two adult tigers were standing close to Ho Chen, seemingly ready to devour him.

  

 "Shoo! Shoo!"

  

 Ho Chen grabbed a tree branch and waved it in an attempt to drive the tigers away. However, the carnivorous beasts remained still, merely sitting and staring at him.

  

 "Damn it!" cursed the young man in his heart.

  

 His anxiety grew as one of the tigers stood up and slowly approached him. Cold sweat poured from every pore of his body.

  

 Ho Chen considered running. He pressed his right heel firmly against the ground, preparing to push off. He glanced back to ensure no trees were directly behind him. His target was the large banyan tree he often used to rest under while gathering branches and firewood.

  

 Despite the darkness, his eyes had adjusted to seeing in low light. He also knew the forest terrain well, having spent the past year wandering its depths during the day.

  

 With a single deep breath, the young man dashed as fast as he could. He didn’t dare to look back out of fear. But to his surprise, the tiger chased him without attacking, merely running alongside him.

  

 Ho Chen grew even more terrified and confused. If the tiger intended to pounce, it could have done so easily. So why was it merely running besid