Chapter 29: The Eighty-One Paths of the Demon-Banishing Sword Technique

“Brother Qin, how come you have such an eerie blood wolf totem on your back?”

Just after returning to the courtyard, Hua Manlou couldn’t help but feel a mix of doubt and curiosity upon seeing the strange blood wolf totem on Qin Lang’s back. It was the first time in his life he’d encountered such a peculiar mark.

Hearing this, Prince Mo and Liu Man also followed his gaze. They saw that on Qin Lang’s back, at his left shoulder, was a bizarre blood wolf totem, as if branded there like a birthmark.

Qin Lang reached his right hand over to touch the totem and shook his head gently in response. “I’m not really sure why I have this blood wolf totem. My grandfather told me I was born with it, but as for what it means, he never said.”

From the memories left in his body, he knew only that he’d had the blood wolf totem since birth. The old man had never revealed its meaning. But before his grandfather passed away, he said that through this blood wolf totem, Qin Lang could discover his origins, and perhaps even find his parents and relatives.

Yet, up to now, he still couldn’t figure out what the totem represented or how he was supposed to use it to find his family.

Su Momo narrowed her eyes as she studied the totem on Qin Lang’s back and murmured, “Don’t you all think it’s strange? The moment that Berserker Immortal saw the blood wolf totem on him, he immediately stopped attacking and turned to leave.”

At her words, everyone frowned, curiosity and puzzlement filling their faces.

Did such a thing really happen?

Thinking back, it was odd: the three Berserker Immortals had abruptly ceased their assault and retreated without hesitation. None of them understood why.

After a moment of silence, Liu Man fixed his eyes on Su Momo. “Momo, what’s going on? Are you sure about what you saw?”

Recalling the scene, Su Momo replied coolly, “I’m not certain myself. But just now, when that Berserker Immortal was chasing him, the moment he saw the blood wolf totem, he halted his attack.”

The moment was still vivid in her mind. While they were joining forces to fight the other two Berserker Immortals, yet another one had appeared out of nowhere, intent on cutting Qin Lang down. But as soon as he glimpsed the totem on Qin Lang’s back, the foe stopped attacking, giving Qin Lang a chance to counter and escape his clutches.

Puzzled, Qin Lang’s hand unconsciously went to the totem on his back. Could all this truly be because of the totem?

As silence hung in the air, Hua Manlou spoke calmly, “Whether their arrival has anything to do with Brother Qin or not, one thing is certain: he’s their target.”

Prince Mo shrugged nonchalantly, his face cold. “The most frightening thing is, they’re organized and disciplined. Their attacks are swift, their retreats even swifter. They’re nothing like ordinary Berserker Immortals.”

Liu Man raised his head, lost in thought. “Clearly, there’s more to this than meets the eye. We need to report this at once and have the higher-ups investigate how these Berserker Immortals became so organized and disciplined.”

…

“Hey, hey, hey, youngster, don’t sleep—get up, quick.”

A milky voice echoed in his ears. Qin Lang opened his eyes groggily, only to see he was no longer in his room, but in the realm of the mind.

And right before him sat the adorable fat cat, Milk Candy, looking utterly relaxed, occasionally licking its own leg.

“Ugh—” Qin Lang yawned, dressed in black, and sat up slowly, eyeing Milk Candy with confusion. “Milk Candy, why are you summoning me here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

“This lord cat called you in for some good news, of course.”

“Then hurry up and say it.”

“What’s the rush? It’s not like you’re in a hurry to be reincarnated.”

“Uh—” Qin Lang’s face twitched, but he let it go.

If Milk Candy hadn’t warned him earlier, letting him dodge that attack in time, he would have lost his head to that middle-aged man’s blade. Thinking back, a chill still lingered in his heart.

Drinking wine at a flower house and almost losing his life—hardly a fair trade.

“This lord cat asks you: what’s the story with the blood wolf totem on your back? Why did the Berserker Immortal stop attacking the moment he saw it?”

Qin Lang shook his head. “I don’t really know. Grandfather said I can use it to uncover my origin.”

Seeing he knew nothing, Milk Candy was left full of doubt. Such a strange blood totem—it seemed both innate and as if branded by someone. But what it truly was, even Milk Candy couldn’t tell.

After a long silence, Milk Candy turned to Qin Lang with the “Annals of Flame and Yellow Mountains and Seas” in its paws. “The content on page two has appeared. Take a look and start cultivating as soon as you can.”

“Alright!”

Qin Lang’s eyes lit up, excitement surging within. Without another word, he summoned the “Annals of Flame and Yellow Mountains and Seas” before him.

Suppressing his joy, he opened the book with his mind.

As the pages flipped to the second one, he saw a line of words: The Eighty-One Evil-Dispelling Sword Forms.

Swordsmanship!

So this was to make him a swordsman.

Thrilled that the sword forms suited him perfectly, Qin Lang turned to the opposite page.

There, illustrations of small figures appeared, each wielding a long sword and mastering a different form. Their swordplay was dazzling, their skills peerless, their speed astonishing.

Qin Lang stood up and conjured a longsword in his hand, mimicking the movements of the figures and practicing the forms rapidly…

In the time it took three sticks of incense to burn, his sword technique grew ever faster, the blade flashing and crackling with thunderous energy—enough to amaze any onlooker.

Floating in midair nearby, Milk Candy watched in silence, deeply shaken. “This kid is truly extraordinary. The previous owner of the ‘Annals of Flame and Yellow Mountains and Seas’ took much longer to grasp the Eighty-One Sword Forms. Could he really be the one destined by fate?”

…

At dawn the next morning, Qin Lang was up early. He headed straight for the kitchen in search of food, but found nothing to eat. Fortunately, there was still some flour and a few fresh ingredients…

Creak!

“Ah—” Hua Manlou, just out of bed, opened the door and yawned, when the aroma in the air caught his attention.

Guided by his keen nose, Hua Manlou made his way to the kitchen.

There he saw Qin Lang eating noodles, the rich fragrance drawing him irresistibly closer.

He stared at the pot, swallowing hungrily. “It smells amazing, Brother Qin. Did you make all this? Why does it smell so good?”

“Of course. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Seeing the noodles almost done, Qin Lang glanced at the pork hocks simmering nearby. “Brother Hua, would you fetch five bowls for me?”

“Sure thing!”

Entranced by the aroma of the tender, mouthwatering pork hocks, Hua Manlou nodded eagerly and hurried off to fetch the bowls without looking back.