SWORD OF THE DEMON WOLF

Defiance

The man, nearly half a century old, drew all his inner energy and focused it into his hands. His once-clenched fists now formed into claws. Suddenly, a powerful aura burst from his body.

The young man’s forehead furrowed deeply. He took a step back after sensing the surge of energy flowing from Liu Yang.

Just like his opponent, Xiao Chen summoned the power of his Mind and concentrated his inner energy into both hands. For some reason, he believed Liu Yang would unleash the same attack he had once used to destroy the dark vortex of the three girls he had saved.

With a single breath, the two warriors of different generations lunged forward at the same time to launch their strikes.

“Poisonous Blossom Valley!” Liu Yang roared.

Not to be outdone, Xiao Chen unleashed one of his strongest techniques, Demonic Wolf Rampage. He no longer intended to let the man live any longer. The rejection of his earlier offer had changed his mind.

Blaaar!

The clash of two opposing energies erupted. A deafening explosion shook the air, followed by a violent shockwave that sent thick dust billowing upward.

Li Lan and Martha were filled with dread, unable to see what had happened to Liu Yang and the young man who had saved them. Their eyes could not pierce the heavy dust cloud that engulfed the two fighters.

Moments later, the thick dust gradually dispersed, swept away by the fierce wind until nothing remained. Now, Liu Yang could be seen lying on the ground, his chest torn open by Xiao Chen’s claws. Yet the young man himself was far from unharmed; his face had turned bluish, for Liu Yang’s poisonous strike had managed to wound him.

Elsewhere, the battle between Yung Yin and Lu Lian had also ended. Just before the explosion, Yung Yin’s snake-headed staff had pierced through Lu Lian’s stomach, emerging from her back.

The female warrior of the Poisonous Blossom Valley died instantly as her heart burst, followed shortly by the death of her husband. Thus ended the story of a pair of warriors who had long roamed the martial world together.

Xiao Chen felt as if his body were on fire. Still, he stood his ground, forcing the poison to stop spreading within him.

Before Liu Yang’s death, the man had declared that his poison had already taken root inside Xiao Chen’s body and would spread quickly if he moved too much.

Because of that warning, Xiao Chen now stood frozen, not daring to move a single step.

Li Lan and Martha walked toward him, only realizing that Xiao Chen had been poisoned when they stood directly before him.

Before they could even speak, Yung Yin was already beside them.

“Where is Xie Lan? Why is she not with you?”

“She is dead, Master,” Li Lan answered, lowering her head.

Yung Yin’s eyes widened. Her emotions flared, for one of her most beloved disciples had perished.

“Wretched girl! You must avenge my disciple’s death!” she barked, pointing her staff at Xiao Chen.

“It wasn’t him who killed her, Master, but that man,” Li Lan replied, pointing to Liu Yang’s lifeless body. “In fact, he saved both of us. Without him, we would be dead as well.”

Yung Yin hesitated, weighing her options. The young man before her had saved her two disciples, yet he also carried the very sacred weapon she sought.

“Thank you for saving the lives of my disciples. As repayment, I will not kill you,” Yung Yin finally said.

Li Lan and Martha both sighed in relief. They had feared their master might harm the young man who had saved them.

“But you must still hand over that sword!” Yung Yin demanded.

Xiao Chen sneered. “Someone like you knows nothing of gratitude. It seems our fight will not happen today, since I am poisoned. But that doesn’t mean I will simply hand over my sword to you, wicked woman!”

“Hahahaha! How can you even think of resisting, when you can barely move?” Yung Yin mocked.

“If Master wants to kill him, then step over my body first,” Li Lan said, standing in front of Xiao Chen.

“Step over mine as well!” Martha followed suit.

Yung Yin’s fury exploded at the defiance of her disciples. Her gaze sharpened, as if she would flay Li Lan and Martha alive.

“You insolent disciples! How dare you defy me after all I’ve done to raise you into warriors?”

“You don’t need to defend me. I can still protect myself,” Xiao Chen said, glancing at Benggala, who was still sound asleep atop a rock.

“No! You saved both our lives, so we must do the same for you!” Li Lan insisted.

“I’ll give you one last chance—move, or I will kill you both as well!” Yung Yin threatened.

Li Lan and Martha exchanged glances, then nodded together.

“If we must die by our Master’s hand, then so be it. But your threats will not stop us from repaying the one who risked his life to save ours!” Martha said firmly.

“You wretched disciples! So you choose this boy over me? Very well, then I shall kill you all!” Yung Yin roared once more.

“Step aside, both of you! Let me face this wicked woman myself. You are no match for her!” Xiao Chen forced himself forward, stepping in front of Li Lan and Martha.

He thought it was better for him to die than for the two girls he had saved. Thus, he forced his body to adapt to the poison, though he knew moving would only make it spread faster.

“My parents never taught me to be weak. As long as what I do does not stray from the path of righteousness, I will stake my very life on it!”

Xiao Chen’s words struck Li Lan and Martha like a slap. Shame filled their hearts for having followed the misguided path of Yung Yin.

Especially Li Lan. Out of curiosity about the outside world, she had left her grandfather alone and been lured into following Yung Yin. Fortunately, in the three weeks she had been with her, she had never taken a life. Had she already killed an innocent person, her regret would have been unbearable.

“Find an opponent worthy of you, snake woman! If my disciple weren’t poisoned, I would wager he could defeat you!”

Xiao Chen turned when he heard the familiar voice behind him. Li Lan and Martha also turned to see who it was.