The furious roar shook the forest so violently that flocks of birds burst into the sky. The wolves, as if they had just encountered a beast more ferocious than themselves, shrank back slightly in hesitation.
But the alpha's order to attack had already been given. The pack lunged forward in unison. Stone Kai swung his wooden staff in a frenzy—wherever it struck, a wolf dropped to the ground with a yelp.
Even so, despite dodging with all his might, more wounds opened across his body from claws and fangs. At first, the pain from each bite made him grit his teeth. But as the fight went on, he grew more and more frenzied—the greater the pain, the harder he struck. He drew upon every last ounce of his strength, reaching a state beyond himself—no pain, no fatigue, no self. In his heart, there was only one thought: Either you die… or I do.
Drunk on the battle, Stone Kai attacked with even greater ferocity, charging straight toward the thickest part of the pack. The wolves too were growing more desperate, hurling themselves at him without pause. By now, he no longer knew whether the blood on him was his own or the wolves'. Both sides had been driven into madness.
His wooden staff finally snapped in two. Blood streamed from head to toe, mingling with sweat into a single dark sheen over his body. He stood coldly among the carnage, glaring with deadly eyes at the wolves still standing.
By now, the ground was littered with corpses. He had slain thirty-one wolves. The remaining few looked from their fallen packmates to Stone Kai, fear beginning to flicker in their eyes. They instinctively stepped back.
With a roar, Stone Kai charged forward and kicked one wolf squarely. The beast flew through the air and crashed to the ground, unmoving. Only five wolves remained. Clenching his teeth, he dove into their midst, kicking wildly. But without his staff, even his strength couldn't match so many fangs. Though he managed to kill two more, his arms and legs were torn and bleeding, no patch of skin left unmarked.
For three years, his master's "secret medicinal bath" had tempered his body to an extraordinary level of strength and resilience. Without such training, he could never have lasted so long against the pack. If his muscles hadn't been so tough, his bones would have been shattered long ago.
The last three wolves, seeing his savagery, lost all will to fight. They turned and fled.
Stone Kai sprinted after them, roaring with all the fury of a beast:
"Run? Not a single one of you is getting away! Today, I'll wipe you all out!"
The raw, primal ferocity within him erupted in full.
But the blood loss was taking its toll. After a short chase, dizziness clouded his vision, and the wolves grew smaller in the distance. He stopped, glaring at their retreating forms and growled through clenched teeth:
"One day… I will kill the three of you."
Returning to the scene of the slaughter, he bent down, grabbed a dead wolf, and prepared to leave.
That was when he saw it—a wolf slightly larger than the rest, jaws wide, eyes locked on him with murderous intent.
Stone Kai dropped the carcass, his lips curling into a cold smile.
"So… you finally show yourself. I've been looking for you for a long time. Today, I'll gut you—and have you with wine alongside my master."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the wolf lunged at Shi Kai. He leapt to the side, but not fast enough—its claws slashed viciously across his left cheek. This wolf, the only one to land a direct hit, was none other than the pack's leader.
Shi Kai cast a quick glance at the wound on his face and immediately pounced in return. The wolf leader leapt for his head, but Shi Kai seized both of its forepaws mid-air and, in one swift motion, drove a powerful kick into its belly. The leader howled in pain, then opened its jaws wide, snapping at Shi Kai's throat in a frenzy.
Sensing the danger, Shi Kai thought, Not good! and thrust his head forward, slamming it into the wolf's neck. The leader's throat flared with pain, causing its bite to shift just half an inch—but that half-inch meant its teeth sank deep into Shi Kai's shoulder instead.
"Ahhh!" Shi Kai roared, the agony tearing through him as the fangs bit into the bone itself. The pain shot straight into his marrow, threatening to send him into unconsciousness. But instead, Shi Kai's fury ignited. With a savage, primal instinct, he opened his mouth wide and sank his teeth into the wolf leader's neck, biting clean through its blood vessels, nerves, and windpipe. A spray of hot blood gushed out.
Still gripping the wolf's forepaws, Shi Kai summoned every ounce of strength, slammed the beast to the ground, and pressed down hard—his mouth never leaving the wound, drinking until the leader's blood ran dry. The wolf's limbs gave one final twitch before falling still.
Realizing the leader was no longer moving, Shi Kai snapped back to himself. He pried the wolf's jaws off his shoulder and watched as its teeth tore free from his flesh, blood welling from the puncture marks.
He rolled onto his side, lying on the ground and gasping for breath, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. I'm not dead… I actually won.
After a short rest, he remembered his master, no doubt at home waiting for wolf meat to go with his wine. Forcing himself up, he gripped the leader's tail and staggered away, disappearing into the mist.
When Shi Kai finally dragged the carcass to the door and pushed it open, he saw his master sitting on the floor, smiling. He could hold himself up no longer—his vision went black, and he collapsed like a felled tree. His master, quick as lightning, caught him before he hit the ground and chuckled, "You've got guts, boy."
Shi Kai vaguely heard his master's voice before slipping into unconsciousness.
When he awoke, it was already deep into the night. He was still submerged in the medicine barrel, unable to move. Knowing it was the medicine's effect, he didn't struggle, simply gazing quietly at the surroundings.
His master sat by the fire, roasting meat. Taking a sip of wine, he grinned. "You're awake, brat. This time you're badly hurt—I've doubled the dose of medicine. It'll take at least two days before you recover." He clapped his hands and walked over, continuing, "Splendid, splendid! I saw everything. Your methods may have been crude, but you gave me a spectacular man-versus-wolf battle. You truly are my disciple."
Sitting in the water, Shi Kai was reminded of the blood-soaked, brutal scene at midday. His eyes fixed coldly on the fire without a word. This was the first time he had truly felt that primal will to survive at the very edge of life and death—where it's either you or your enemy who dies.
His master went on, "Now you understand, don't you? Backing down doesn't solve problems. Only by facing them head-on can you hope for a way out. And wolves are not the most vicious creatures—the most vicious is man. Remember this: leave your enemy a way out, and you put yourself in a corner. Unlike wolves, people won't come at you directly. They'll use the foulest, most despicable methods to take your life. When they hunt, it's not for survival—it's for their own selfish pleasure. Where's their humanity then? They're worse than beasts. You must remember—when it comes to evil men, show no mercy. Just as you slaughtered those wolves who sought your life, you must wipe them out to the last."
Shi Kai had indeed tasted the cruelty of living on the knife's edge. Wolves had their tricks, but if he hadn't been ruthless enough, would they have spared him? Just like humans—did the killers have to slaughter his mother and sister? Why? Simply to "eliminate all roots" and prevent future trouble. That's what so-called "higher" intelligent beings call human nature—laughable! Wolves at least have the decency to fight to the end and mourn their fallen. Humans? They'd have begged for mercy or run away long before.
Closing his eyes, Shi Kai pondered all of this. When he opened them again, a cold, predatory gleam shone within. He now understood—when it's a fight to the death, there can be no hesitation. If he wanted revenge, he would have to master coldness and cruelty. Otherwise, one slip, and he would fall prey to human deceit, sinking into an abyss with no return.
Seeing the murderous light in his eyes, the master nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You grasp it quickly. If you want revenge, you must see the vicious and evil among men with this same mindset. But remember—don't think everyone is evil. Only when your life is threatened should you kill."
Shikai nodded with understanding. "I know now, Master. I know you're a good man—always going out of your way to help your disciple."
His master laughed heartily. "Boy, and what makes you so sure I'm a good man? Don't thank me. I'm only helping you to fulfill your own wish."
"Master… why are you so good to me?" Shikai asked, moved by emotion.
"No reason. Because I'm the master, and you're the disciple. It's that simple. The outside world is no longer suitable for either of us," his master said with deep meaning.
"I understand, Master. Don't worry—once I've avenged my family, I'll definitely come back to be with you."
"Haha! Good. Just for those words alone, I know you still keep your master in your heart. In seven years, I'll let you go down the mountain to take your revenge. I'll teach you all the skills I've mastered in my lifetime. You'll get rid of those cancers among humankind for me. Make sure to root them out completely, so there will be no future trouble." When his master spoke these last words, his eyes were as cold and sharp as arrows, fixed on Shikai.
Shikai had never seen his master with such a piercing, icy gaze before, and it made him feel a little afraid.
"I understand, Master. I will never let you down," Shikai replied with a nod.
"Tomorrow you won't train. You're badly injured—you need two days to recover. For the next two days, you'll come running with me." The master sniffed the roasted meat and went on, "Brat, let me tell you something. Although you've lost a lot of blood, you drank the blood of the wolf leader. That wasn't an ordinary wolf—its blood can cure a hundred illnesses. After drinking it, your energy will recover quickly, and your body will undergo some changes. You'll see tomorrow."
With that, he tossed the roasted meat to Shikai. The effect of the medicine was wearing off, and Shikai still felt soreness in his limbs. He tilted his head, bit into the wolf meat, and began to eat.
The next morning, Shikai woke up instinctively. After getting out of bed and moving his limbs, he found that most of his wounds had already scabbed over, some even shedding entirely. Except for a few serious injuries that still ached faintly, he was mostly fine. At that moment, his body felt entirely comfortable—his eyes were brighter than before, and he could clearly see stones lying kilometers away. His hearing had also become sharper than ever. He nodded to himself, marveling at the miraculous power of wolf blood. It seemed that Shennongjia was indeed a place full of wonders.
His master was already waiting at the door. Seeing Shikai, he couldn't help but praise the effects of his secret medicine. "Looks like you're almost healed—and you're definitely different from before. Ready? Follow me. We'll talk after we run a while." With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and leapt away gracefully.
Shikai reacted quickly and followed, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only stay a meter behind his master. The wolf blood had made him faster and stronger, but his master always kept that same distance.
He could feel his master's pace getting faster, and so he gathered his breath and pushed himself harder. The two of them—one in front, one behind—kept this distance as they "strolled" through the forest.
For the next two days, his master made no special food requests, so Shikai simply gathered wild fruit and hunted rabbits for meals.
From then on, Shikai added a new training routine: running with his master every morning. Without realizing it, his speed kept increasing—something even he didn't notice.
Two months passed, and spring arrived in Shennongjia. Life began to awaken again, but the heavy mist still lingered. In truth, the depths of Shennongjia were shrouded in fog all year round due to its unique geography.
One day, his master called him over. "Brat, today you'll have a new task."
The master had gotten used to calling him "brat," and Shikai had grown used to hearing it. "Yes, Master," he replied, no longer full of curiosity or unnecessary questions.
"Today, I'm going to teach you one of my killing techniques—the Hand Blade," the master said, squinting his eyes.
"Hand Blade?" Shikai repeated in puzzlement.
"Yes. There's a reason I had you chopping trees before. Now, with your arm strength and the conditioning from my secret medicine, you're ready to practice the Hand Blade. In short, it's training your hands to become as sharp as a blade, capable of tearing open an enemy."
Shikai nodded with an "Oh," and kept listening.
"Do you remember how you killed the wolf leader two months ago?" the master asked, drinking his wine.
"I bit through its neck and drained its blood," Shikai answered coldly.
Shikai suddenly understood and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."
"Don't rush," his master replied. "The power of the Hand Blade lies in being able to slash through an enemy's throat with a blade-like force projected from your bare hand. You must train until you reach the level where 'the hand hasn't moved, but the energy arrives first.' That way, you can cut throats with the energy around your hand, and the wound will be as fine as if sliced by a sharp blade." As he spoke, his master demonstrated.
He walked over to a tree, fingers tightly closed, then quickly slashed the Hand Blade at the trunk. In an instant, he withdrew his hand and blew on the tree.
Shikai was stunned by what he saw: the tree fell neatly along the exact cut line made by his master's Hand Blade, with a clean, smooth slice. In his heart, he thought, Impressive.
After seeing this demonstration, Shikai recognized the power of the Hand Blade but wondered how long it would take him to reach his master's level.
Looking at Shikai, his master said coldly, "To train the Hand Blade, you must strengthen your hands and fingers. From now on, you'll have an extra training task: climbing the mountain. You must climb to the summit of Shennong Peak five times a day, repeatedly. Also, I've prepared iron sand for you—you must keep turning it over and pressing it without fail. And from now on, you must chop firewood using your hands. Understand?"
Shikai nodded firmly. "Understood, Master."
"Today, I want to eat monkey brain. You know what to do." His master said coldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shikai dashed into the forest.
Shennongjia has many species of monkeys, the most precious being the "Golden Snub-nosed Monkey," a national first-class protected animal.
After locking onto his target, Shikai climbed a tall tree and gave chase with all his might. The monkey was not only agile but also extremely fast at climbing. Along the way, other monkeys occasionally appeared to distract him. But Shikai kept his eyes fixed tightly on that one monkey, leaping between trees in a chase that lasted until the monkey was completely exhausted.
Spring turned to autumn, and another year passed. Shikai gradually matured. After persistent effort during the year, he was already able to split wood with his bare hands. Although he hadn't yet reached his master's level of "transforming energy into blades," it still brought him great joy. Running with his master daily, his lightness skill had already improved considerably, even if he himself didn't realize it.
Moreover, chasing and leaping among the monkeys every day greatly enhanced his jumping ability, allowing him to move freely among the trees.
To help Shikai further improve his Hand Blade skill, his master replaced the iron sand with large, hard rocks—until Shikai could grind the rocks into powder.
After each of these intense training sessions, Shikai's hands would be covered in blood, but under the conditioning of his master's secret medicine, the wounds healed astonishingly fast.
One day, the master wanted to eat white snake meat, and Shikai obediently set out to find one.
Shennongjia is home to many species of snakes, with the white snake being the most difficult to catch. White snakes vary in size, move extremely fast, and are highly venomous. Few people encounter them, and if bitten without prompt treatment, death is certain.
Shikai searched all along the way but found no white snakes. He had to climb to the summit of Shennong Peak to try his luck, but was still disappointed.
He then descended from Shennong Peak and headed toward Banbi Rock. His master had once said that white animals often appeared in that area.
As the sky gradually darkened, Shikai finally spotted a white snake near a place called Yinyu River, beside the road to Banbi Rock. He rejoiced quietly to himself.
Yinyu River receives little sunlight and is a suitable habitat for white animals such as the white golden snub-nosed monkeys, white bears, white snakes, white turtles, white crows, and white owls. It is said that white animals can only live in the Arctic, so the presence of so many white species in Shennongjia—an example of atavism—cannot be explained simply by climate, becoming a scientific mystery.
Not wanting to alert the snake, Shikai slowly approached it. The white snake seemed to sense the enemy's presence and immediately slithered into the grass. Shikai chased after the tail vigorously; after all, he could not let such a hard-won dinner escape.
Unconsciously, Shikai followed the white snake to the entrance of a cave. The snake swiftly darted inside with a whoosh.