SWORD OF THE DEMON WOLF

Zhang Wei’s Explanation

Zhang Wei believed it was time for Xiao Chen to step into the harsh world of martial arts. The arrival of warriors seeking the sacred weapon was the perfect opportunity for his only disciple to experience the brutal reality that awaited him once he left the Thousand Ghost Hill.

Yet, he also wondered whether his disciple was ready to fight, given that he had only just regained consciousness.

“This place has never been touched by outsiders, Xiao Chen. Are you sure you’re ready for battle? Remember, you’ve never fought anyone before. Your movements will still be stiff,” Zhang Wei warned.

“Who said I’ve never fought?” Xiao Chen replied with a mysterious smile, glancing toward Benggala, who was sitting by the cave entrance.

Zhang Wei immediately understood the meaning of that glance. “You sparred with him?”

Xiao Chen smiled again and nodded slightly. “We’ve sparred many times, Grandpa. Though we never went all out, Benggala’s claws have scratched my chest before.”

Xiao Chen loosened his clothing to show the scar from their training bouts—but his eyes widened in surprise when he saw that his chest was completely smooth, without a trace of injury.

“Where is it?” he muttered to himself in disbelief.

Zhang Wei smiled at his disciple’s astonishment. The old man had his own theory. “Turn around and face that way!”

Xiao Chen furrowed his brows in confusion but obeyed without question.

“The scars on your back are gone as well, Xiao Chen. This means your rare body has activated—it will heal any open wound on its own,” Zhang Wei explained.

Xiao Chen turned back to face him. “Rare body? I don’t understand.”

“Listen carefully. While you were meditating, I sought answers about you and about the Benggala you saw in your visions. I visited a hermit friend of mine on a distant mountain,” Zhang Wei said, taking a deep breath as he recalled the explanation he had been given. He took three steps toward a wide stone and sat down.

“That Benggala you saw now resides within his own body,” he continued, glancing toward the great beast at the cave’s mouth.

Xiao Chen frowned in confusion, realizing there was still much about the outside world—and the martial realm—that he did not know.

“As for the rare body you possess, it is both a blessing and a curse. Such a body appears only once every ten thousand years, and it is truly extraordinary. But it comes with reversed blood flow—something that can become a great misfortune if no one capable of restoring it to normal appears in your lifetime,” Zhang Wei explained.

“What’s the danger of reversed blood flow, Grandpa?”

“You cannot fight for long. You will never be able to use your full inner strength. If you force yourself to battle for more than two hours, your heart will explode, and you will die.”

“I see… But can’t you fix it so my blood flows normally?” Xiao Chen asked.

Zhang Wei shook his head. “Only certain people can do that. One day, if fate allows, you’ll meet such a person. That is—if you’re still alive, hahahaha!”

Xiao Chen frowned at the unpleasant remark but soon laughed along.

“I understand now. Out there, I will face countless warriors. If I can’t survive, then I’ll never meet the one you speak of.”

“Hahahaha! Good, then remember this—never show mercy to your opponent. End every fight quickly, because you will also be fighting against time and your own inner strength,” Zhang Wei said.

The old man then recalled the flash of blue light he had seen bursting from within Xiao Chen’s cloth bundle. But before he could ask about it, he remembered that he needed to meditate.

“Xiao Chen… Go out and train! But stay away from this place so your energy doesn’t disturb the natural balance here. I’m going to meditate,” Zhang Wei instructed.

“Can I bring Benggala with me?”

“Leave Benggala here to stand guard.”

“Very well, Grandpa. Then I’ll train at the waterfall,” Xiao Chen replied.

“Go! I’ll join you later.”

Xiao Chen nodded, took the Demon Wolf Sword, and strapped it tightly to his back. Walking to the cave’s entrance, he gently stroked Benggala’s head.

“Don’t wander off—watch over Grandpa.”

Grrrrrrgh! Benggala growled as if in response.

Xiao Chen looked up at the bright sky above. “A perfect day for training,” he murmured.

With sharp features, a strong jawline, and eyes as keen as a hawk’s, the young man jogged away from the cave.

His pace grew faster—three to four times faster than normal—without him even realizing why. His inner strength was naturally reacting, creating what the martial world called Light Body Technique. But in his case, it wasn’t intentional; it was purely the instinctive awakening of his innate power.

Since Zhang Wei had never taught him this technique, Xiao Chen didn’t recognize it. All he knew was that he felt incredibly energized, not even slightly fatigued despite his speed.

Before long, he reached the waterfall where he had once meditated—only to find the pool beneath it nearly filled with rocks and boulders.

“What happened here? Who did this? That wretch! If I find them, I’ll snap their neck!”

Suspicion flared in his mind. He suspected someone was trying to bury the pool so he could no longer bathe there.

Before starting his training, Xiao Chen quenched his thirst with the cool water. Then he walked to the open clearing where he often sparred with Benggala.

The waterfall was surrounded by dense forest, and even the towering cliffs above were thick with trees. To Xiao Chen, it was the perfect training ground.

But what he didn’t realize was that, while he practiced and rehearsed the techniques he had memorized, four pairs of eyes were watching him from the shadows of the trees.