SWORD OF THE DEMON WOLF

Sekar and Martha’s Worries

Xiao Chen did not stand idly by. The twenty-year-old youth didn’t attempt to block or parry—he rushed forward to meet his opponent’s attack head-on. The presence of Zhang Wei had certainly boosted his confidence.

The clash of their two powerful energies created a strong explosion.

Yung Yin was thrown far backward, while Xiao Chen was only forced two steps back. His firmly planted feet kept him from being pushed any further.

Yung Yin’s body slammed hard against the ground, her momentum only stopping after she crashed into a large boulder. At the peak of the hill, besides the trees, many large and small rocks were scattered around.

Though not severely injured, Yung Yin was bewildered by what had just happened. She stood up and glared at Xiao Chen, who was now quite a distance away. The disbelief was clearly carved into her wrinkled face.

“So, that old man’s words were true. The boy really is immune to poison,” she muttered inwardly. She saw the young man staring at her sharply, his thin smile making her feel utterly insulted.

In reality, things were not as Yung Yin assumed. Xiao Chen could still feel the effects of her poison lingering in his body. His breathing was slightly labored, though he managed to hold it back so it wouldn’t disrupt the battle.

He remembered his master’s words, saying that he was now immune to the snake-staff woman’s poison. But the fact remained—the toxin was still crawling through his veins.

“What did Grandfather really mean by that?” he wondered silently. Realizing there was a hidden message in Zhang Wei’s words, Xiao Chen began analyzing it.

In a relatively short time, Xiao Chen understood—his master had meant to give him courage, so he wouldn’t fear or develop trauma when facing warriors who wielded poison. That’s why he forced himself to appear calm, even though the venom was already spreading within him.

“I can’t rely on Grandfather. He won’t always be here with me,” Xiao Chen thought. He resolved to kill the old woman quickly before the poison spread further. For now, he could still suppress it, but if he delayed, the situation would soon turn against him.

He then recalled the moment his master touched his shoulder to draw out the poison. At that time, he had felt a warm energy entering his body. He guessed Zhang Wei had used his internal energy to push the toxin out.

Though trying to stay composed, Yung Yin noticed a subtle change in Xiao Chen’s expression. His once-calm face now carried a hint of tension. She realized her poison had indeed taken root inside him, though not in large amounts. A small smile crept onto her lips.

“You think I don’t know my poison is already inside you? Hahaha! Keep moving—sooner or later, your veins will burst, and you’ll die a miserable death!” Yung Yin cackled, then coughed, spitting fresh blood from her lips.

Xiao Chen swallowed hard, admitting to himself he felt uneasy. His body had been poisoned repeatedly, and his lack of experience only heightened his fear.

“It seems you too have suffered serious internal injuries, Yung Yin… look at your staff—it’ll soon be nothing but scrap metal!” Xiao Chen retorted, his eyes shifting to her snake-headed staff.

The old woman frowned and quickly glanced at her weapon. “Damn it!” she cursed inwardly.

She saw countless cracks spreading across the iron staff, especially at the point where it had clashed against Xiao Chen’s sword.

Both warriors had suffered internal damage, but by rough calculation, the poison afflicting Xiao Chen was far more worrisome.

The youth then made up his mind to gamble with time. He knew the longer he waited, the harder it would be to control the poison. He could ask Zhang Wei for help, but this time—and from now on—he refused to rely on the old man.

“If I am fated to die today, then it means I was never worthy to be your son,” he thought to himself, recalling his parents.

Like his father, who had possessed a strong will and no fear of death, Xiao Chen shared the same traits. The saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” seemed to fit perfectly for Xiao Chen and Xiao Yu, their characters strikingly similar.

Unlike some children who grew up with very different traits from their parents—perhaps because the tree had grown by a river and its fruit carried away by the current—Xiao Chen was his father’s son in spirit.

He tried imitating Zhang Wei’s method of expelling poison. Using his internal energy, he forced the toxin to remain suppressed, while controlling his heartbeat so it wouldn’t pump blood too quickly through his body.

“Life or death—it doesn’t matter anymore. Prepare yourself, snake woman!” Xiao Chen stomped the ground hard before shooting forward at incredible speed.

What he did left Yung Yin wide-eyed in disbelief. Was he reckless, or simply foolish? All she saw was someone gambling with death itself. She had already tried to offer him a way out so they both might survive, but he rejected it.

About seven steps away from his target, Xiao Chen leapt high, spinning twice in the air before slashing down his sword.

The snake-staff woman felt the immense energy aimed at her head. The very sword she had long coveted was now poised to claim her life. All she could do was lift her staff, pouring the last of her internal strength into blocking the strike.

A thunderous explosion erupted as their opposing forces clashed. Thick dust billowed. Grass and small trees were ripped from their roots, hurled far away. Pebbles and stones scattered violently.

From a distance, Li Lan and Martha looked on, their hearts filled with worry for Xiao Chen. Both bit their lower lips, suppressing their growing anxiety.

Strangely, the old man beside them showed no sign of concern. Instead, Zhang Wei’s smile widened even after the powerful explosion.

“I haven’t even taught him how to channel his internal energy. Who would have thought his intellect is so high that he could learn from the battles he’s experienced?” Zhang Wei said proudly.

Xiao Chen coughed lightly, spitting out thick, black blood. He remained standing just long enough to gaze at Yung Yin’s shattered, unrecognizable body—before finally swaying and collapsing unconscious.