SWORD OF THE DEMON WOLF

Oath

Caught between disbelief and horror at what he had just witnessed, Xiao Chen remained hidden behind the trees, listening closely to the ongoing conversation. His chest burned with fury as he processed the bitter truth now laid bare before his eyes.

Part of him wanted to storm out and expose the wicked pact being made between the Four Demon Sickles and Lu Feng. But then, Xiao Chen reconsidered. It would be foolish—possibly fatal—to reveal himself now.

If they caught even a glimpse of him, there was no doubt they would kill him, extinguishing any hope he had of avenging his father’s death and the vile acts committed against his mother.

So the twenty-year-old remained still, concealed by the foliage, until at last the three conspirators left the gravesite.

“I swear I’ll destroy all of you!” he growled under his breath, his fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged from his arms.

Once he had calmed himself, Xiao Chen resumed his journey to visit the graves of his mother and father.

But his fury boiled over again when, from a distance, he saw Lu Feng urinating on his father's grave, laughing maniacally. Xiao Chen ducked behind a tree.

“Father… if only you hadn’t hidden your martial arts skills and taught me instead, I would’ve already killed that despicable man desecrating your grave,” he whispered bitterly in his heart. Sorrow and rage churned inside him. Even in death, Lu Feng showed no respect for his father.

After satisfying himself with defiling Xiao Yu’s grave, Lu Feng moved on to Li Lan’s.

“Didn’t I warn you, Li Lan…? If you kept refusing me and wouldn’t leave Xiao Yu, I wouldn’t hesitate to end your life. If I couldn’t have you, then he couldn’t either! I waited too long—and I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Hearing those words confirmed Xiao Chen’s growing suspicion: his mother’s mysterious illness was no accident—it had been orchestrated by Lu Han’s father.

Xiao Chen recalled an incident from a month ago. Lu Feng, the richest man in Qincheng, had brought them three meals, already labeled for his father, his mother, and himself. Not long after consuming the food, his mother’s health began to decline rapidly.

At the time, Xiao Chen had briefly suspected Lu Feng, but because the man had always treated him kindly, he dismissed the doubt.

Once Lu Feng finally left the gravesite, Xiao Chen approached.

The young man, known in the village for never crying or complaining, knelt solemnly between his parents’ graves.

“Father, Mother… I swear before your graves, I will avenge you both. I will dedicate my life to the path of righteousness, just as you always wanted for me!”

As soon as the oath left his lips, thunder exploded in the sky. Startled, he glanced up.

There were no dark clouds, no signs of rain. So why the thunder? Was it a sign that the heavens had heard his vow?

A smile crossed his face as he raised his clenched right fist to the sky.

“I’ll annihilate every last member of the dark sect—no matter where you hide!” he shouted with conviction.

Xiao Chen then rose to his feet after paying his respects at the graves. He recalled his mother’s dying request: to take the Heaven’s Sovereign Manual to an old hermit living on Mount Huashan.

He had never once considered learning martial arts. From childhood, his parents had always taught him to be humble and to avoid conflict. “Better to yield than to escalate trouble,” they used to say.

But now, as he prepared to leave for Mount Huashan, Xiao Chen mentally replayed every word Lu Feng had spoken to reignite his will. His plan was to deliver the manual and then seek a sect willing to accept him for training. He hoped someone out there would take him in.

With steady steps, the twenty-year-old youth walked into the forest. Not a shred of fear clouded his thoughts, even as he ventured alone into the wild. Years of gathering firewood had sharpened his instincts; he could recognize animal tracks and even identify signs of predators or prey.

He looked up. The sun was slowly sinking—night would fall soon. He picked up his pace, hoping to reach the forest's edge before darkness blanketed the world.

Just before twilight settled, Xiao Chen reached the edge of the woods. In the distance, he saw rows of rooftops—perhaps a small village offering shelter and food.

Yes, he thought. Maybe he could spend the night there and fill his empty stomach.

By the time he reached the village, night had fallen. Only a few homes still had lights on, and no one could be seen outside.

He kept walking until he found a small tavern that remained open. Inside, a few men were chatting and laughing. They stopped talking and turned toward the door as Xiao Chen stepped in.

Their eyes followed him suspiciously as he took a seat.

After ordering food, the young man sat silently, fidgeting with his fingers. From time to time, he glanced outside to shake off the boredom.

“Where are you from, young man?” one of the men asked.

“I’m from Qincheng Village, Uncle,” Xiao Chen replied curtly.

The five men at the table stared at him more intensely.

“So, what brings you here? Why are you wandering into our village this late at night?” the man pressed.

“I’m on my way to Mount Huashan, Uncle. Is it still far from here?”

“Wait a minute… Isn’t Qincheng the village where, just a week ago, there was a murder and the corpse of a woman was… violated? Do you know anything about that?” asked another man.

Xiao Chen nodded. “The victims were my parents, Uncle.”

Instantly, one of the men stood up and pointed at him. “Get out of here right now! You’ll bring calamity to this village if you stay!” he barked.

Xiao Chen was stunned. Why did his misfortune seem to follow him, even after leaving Qincheng?

“Don’t just sit there—leave now, or we’ll beat you!” another man threatened.