SWORD OF THE DEMON WOLF

Fighting the Four Evil Masks

Xiao Chen halted his rapid steps. In front of him, two masked figures stood blocking his way, while behind him, two others positioned themselves to prevent his escape.

“Where do you think you’re going, young man? Hand over your sword if you wish to leave!”

Xiao Chen let out a deep sigh. On the very first day he set foot into the martial world, it seemed battle after battle awaited him. Not that he was afraid to fight against these four masked men who had surrounded him from both front and back—but he wondered whether the two-hour limit mentioned by Zhang Wei was cumulative within a day or per fight?

Furthermore, he had no idea whether the restriction of using only half of his inner energy could still be lifted at this moment or not.

“Even in death, I will never hand over my sword to you! If you want to claim it, you’ll have to step over my corpse first!” He had no choice but to issue such a challenge; surrender was simply not an option.

The mandate to protect the Demon Wolf Sword entrusted to him by Zhang Wei had to be carried out to the very end—even if it cost him his life.

“Hahahaha! I like your spirit and bravery, young man. But there is something you must know—spirit and bravery alone are not enough to survive in the martial world.” The masked man with a long, white beard tried to intimidate Xiao Chen with his words.

“Say whatever you want. But tell me, isn’t it shameful for the four of you to face someone like me together? Wouldn’t it be better for you to wear powder and lipstick instead, since you’re afraid of facing me one-on-one?” Xiao Chen sneered.

The Four Evil Masks glanced at each other. What the youth said was not wrong. Their initial confidence in defeating him lay in their numbers—four against one. But his mocking words pierced their pride, leaving them uncertain how to respond.

Considering that one of the Twin Mist Swords had already perished at this young man’s hands, none of them dared easily accept the one-on-one challenge. They had always fought together, never alone.

“How long will it take you to think? If you’re too afraid to fight me one-on-one, then all four of you may come at me together!” Xiao Chen continued to taunt them. He had no choice but to convince himself that his body could withstand another fight.

“Arrogant brat! Let’s kill him!” barked one of the Four Evil Masks.

“Heh, no need to act so mighty when all you can do is gang up on me,” Xiao Chen chuckled mockingly.

“Silence, boy! Surround him!” the long-bearded one shouted harshly, ordering the others. Judging from the wrinkles on his hands, this man was most likely very old.

The medium-built man immediately drew his sword, and the other three followed suit.

“This fight is going to be interesting. Let’s see just how strong the four of you really are!” Xiao Chen unsheathed the Demon Wolf Sword as well, since all four of his enemies had already drawn their weapons.

The moment the Demon Wolf Sword left its scabbard, a dense black aura radiated from it. Xiao Chen was startled, for the sword had not displayed such a presence when he used it earlier.

Unbeknownst to him, after decades of not being stained by blood, the Demon Wolf Sword had finally awakened when it drank the blood of Mo Lin and Qian Hao. Their deaths had triggered the dormant power of the weapon.

Xiao Chen’s shock grew as he felt the blade in his hand vibrate, as though some kind of energy was flowing from the weapon into his body.

Moments later, he realized changes within himself. His fatigue was dissipating, his strength returning, his body feeling fresh and light once more.

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he planted his stance firmly. “I am ready to face the four of you! No, I should say—I’m ready to kill the four of you!”

“Damn brat! Such a foul mouth!” the long-bearded man cursed loudly. He could not believe a young man dared speak like that before the Four Evil Masks.

The four masked men attacked together. They gave him no room to counter or launch his own strikes. Their coordinated attacks were sharp, relentless, and well-timed, honed by years of experience fighting side by side.

Their relentless, multi-directional assaults made it difficult for Xiao Chen to unleash his best sword techniques. Still, his skills were enough to hold his ground against their combined offensive.

The Four Evil Masks grew increasingly shocked. The youth’s movements had changed significantly compared to when he fought Qian Hao. His precision in dodging and blocking was remarkable, and his speed surpassed all four of them. So far, they had only managed to maintain the upper hand because of their superior numbers. If the fight had been one-on-one, none of them would stand a chance.

Even Xiao Chen himself was surprised by the changes he felt. His body was lighter, his movements more fluid, as though guided by instinct. It was as if he could anticipate where to move even before his enemies launched their strikes.

In a short span, the Four Evil Masks had unleashed over a hundred attacks. Yet not a single one had landed on Xiao Chen. At the same time, he still couldn’t break free from their encirclement to launch a decisive counterattack.

Each time he tried to retaliate against one opponent, another would strike from a different angle, forcing him back into defense.

Still, Xiao Chen observed their movements carefully, analyzing their formation and searching for weaknesses. Every detail was etched into his memory as he strategized.

He was grateful for Zhang Wei’s training, which had instilled in him the ability to use both logic and instinct in combat—especially when outnumbered.

“Finally, I’ve found your weakness!” Xiao Chen smirked before switching his sword style.

The Demon Wolf Rampage Technique—blending the flexibility of his wrists and body with raw power and speed—quickly turned the tide. What had been a balanced fight, or even Xiao Chen under pressure, shifted into his favor as he began pressing all four opponents at once.

But one of the masked men seemed to vaguely recognize the movements Xiao Chen was using. While still engaged in the fierce battle, he tried to recall where he had seen this sword technique before.