Jiang Feng followed the Sword Demon deep into the mountains. They walked for hours in silence, the old man's tattered robes fluttering in the wind. Eventually, they reached a clearing surrounded by jagged cliffs. The snow here was stained with dried blood.
The Sword Demon turned to face him. "Your training begins now."
Jiang Feng smirked. "Finally."
The old man's grin was savage. "You're eager to suffer? Good."
Without warning, the Sword Demon flicked his finger. A blade of air shot toward Jiang Feng's face. He barely dodged, feeling the sting of wind cutting his cheek.
He didn't get a chance to recover. A second slash came. Then a third. Jiang Feng twisted, ducked, rolled—until one finally struck his shoulder, sending him tumbling into the snow.
Pain flared. But he grinned through gritted teeth.
"That all you got, old man?"
The Sword Demon's laughter echoed. "You think this is a game?" He raised a finger again. But this time, the air around them trembled.
Jiang Feng's instincts screamed.
A dozen slashes rained down.
There was no dodging.
Blood sprayed across the snow.
Jiang Feng collapsed, panting, his body covered in fresh cuts. The world spun, his vision blurred—but his grin never faded.
The Sword Demon loomed over him. "You're still smiling?"
Jiang Feng coughed up blood and chuckled. "That was fun."
The old man's gaze sharpened. Then, he let out a deep, satisfied laugh. "You're insane, boy." He knelt beside Jiang Feng and pressed a finger to his chest. "Hold still."
A surge of heat rushed through Jiang Feng's body. His wounds burned, but the pain faded. His strength returned.
"What was that?"
The Sword Demon grinned. "A technique you'll learn in time. But first, you must prove yourself."
Jiang Feng's grin widened. "What do I kill?"
The Sword Demon's eyes gleamed. He pointed to the forest beyond the cliffs. "A group of bandits camp there. They are weak, but they outnumber you. If you survive, your training continues. If not…" He shrugged.
Jiang Feng rose to his feet, blood still dripping from his wounds. He turned toward the forest, excitement surging through his veins.
"No torture, no screaming, no fun… That would suck."
And with that, he vanished into the trees.