The Legend of the Devil

Ch. 196 - Killer Wolf Terror

"You serious? He's a dangerous enemy, you better be careful with him. He has hundreds of men all over the village."

Xue Zhan knew his main goal was Ying Bay, but he could not let the matter drag on. As Xiang Yi Bai said, Xue Zhan had always been moved to take care of things that were not his duty. He was worried that the two men would harm another passerby for the same reason.

For some reason, he suspected these problems were rooted to the same end as the one he now observes. Although only a mere guess, his premonition was quite strong this time.

They arrived at a village filled with neatly arranged housing and small old buildings. There the atmosphere that enveloped the village was so quiet and gripping. Xue Zhan and the two brothers continued walking down the deserted road. The village they entered looked bleak and gripping. Some of the buildings were already seen unkempt and destroyed, while others were burned black.

Tang Yun clung tightly to Tang Yin, still terrified of the appearance of the Killing Wolf.

Xue Zhan noticed the houses that looked empty and abandoned, the unkempt plants and the hollow, dirty roads. He was concerned to see the state of the village and felt confident that indeed he had to immediately save the village from suffering.

When they arrived at the village road, some residents gathered and spoke with fear. Xue Zhan watched the situation closely and heard that the villagers were ordered to pay a huge tax in a short period of time. If they fail to meet the requirements, they will be killed sadistically.

Looking from elsewhere, the villagers seemed reluctant to interact with outsiders like Xue Zhan. They dodged and were frightened if any foreigners came to their village. Tang Yin and Tang Yun walked over to the young man's side with terrified looks.

Xue Zhan watched closely the state of the village. He felt strange because the villagers looked like they were harboring fear and were quietly moving behind their houses. That silent and gripping atmosphere made Xue Zhan even more uncomfortable.

After walking for a while, Xue Zhan met a villager who was in front of his house. He approached the residents and tried to find information about the village.

"What's wrong with this village? Why is everyone locking the door?"

But that person only gave a short look and was impressed not wanting to talk more. Xue Zhan was increasingly confused and astonished about the state of the village.

Tang Yin, Tang Yun, and Xue Zhan continued to step amidst the gripping silence of the village. They saw that almost all the villagers had locked the door and locked themselves inside the house.

Tang Yin suddenly stammered when she saw a large tall male figure with a stocky body appear at the end of the road.

"That's it ... The wolf ..."

Xue Zhan looked towards the road they were on, where the Wolf Killer Company was walking slowly. He looked at the faces of the villagers who looked down in fear as the Killing Wolf flashed by, and Xue Zhan could feel an aura of darkness so strong from that person.

Tang Yun unceasingly warned Xue Zhan of the threatening danger if they dealt with the Killing Wolf.

"He had slaughtered the entire extended family of one of the most distinguished families in this village. No one survived, not even the little ones escaped his cruelty."

The man was carrying fifteen bodyguards that surrounded the village road while shouting, "Beautiful day! I'll be back in three days! It's best to give up your duties if you don't want to be like the masters and mistresses on this hanger!"

The two people carrying long wooden sticks connected with iron wire attracted everyone's attention. They grimaced and shuddered sinisterly, some even vomited. On the wood hung five disembodied heads filled with blood. They were the ones who could not afford the demands of the Killing Wolf.

The man looked like the leader of a ruthless and inhuman group. Xue Zhan did not want to extend the time in the village and immediately continued to travel to a place that was otherwise safe.

Xue Zhan, Tang Yin, and Tang Yun entered an old wine shop located in the middle of the village. Although from outside this store looks like it will collapse at any time, but inside it feels warm and comfortable. They were greeted by the tavern owner, an old man who was well known by Tang Yin and Tang Yun.

After sitting down and ordering a drink, they started talking about the situation in the village. Tang Yin revealed that the Killing Wolf was a dangerous criminal who had caused chaos in the village during this one year. He is known as a ruthless killer and likes to commit acts of violence such as rape and robbing.

"No one can stop him," Tang Yin resigned in a sad tone. "Soldiers from big cities are unwilling to intervene out of fear for their own safety."

Tang Yun nodded in agreement, "He also forced every merchant in the village to pay him money, even if they could not afford to pay."

Xue Zhan looked at the two brothers then asked, "Then what can we do to settle this? You guys have lived here a long time, you must know the gap."

Then, the tavern owner informed them of the recent attack by the Killing Wolf in the opposite village. They controlled two villages at once to collect treasures from the spoils.

A few days ago, a merchant in the village could not pay taxes and he was found dead on the street the same day. His body was covered in wounds and a slashed head was stuck on top of a stick. Everyone in the village was terrified. Because they know that their fate will end the same way.

Xue Zhan pondered for a moment, then said, "We have to do something. We can't let him continue to rule this village, rob innocent people and kill at will."

Tang Yin and Tang Yun looked at Xue Zhan with hope. They felt that there was a spirit and determination in Xue Zhan's words that they did not find within themselves.

But the shop owner shook his head. "You must be careful. The Killing Wolf had many bodyguards loyal to him. Not even the soldiers could catch him. You'll face great danger if you try to stop it."

"However everyone here would want the fear in this village to end ..."

The shop owner was silent. His eyes glared far into the past and told stories.

The old man had previously breathed a heavy sigh. "The Killer Wolf took away my 16-year-old son. At that time I could not pay taxes and our house was subjected to retaliation, my son was taken by force. Since then, I've regretted my whole life and always cried over my daughter's passing."

It was only fitting that everyone here was desperate and unwilling to fight back at all. Before they made a move, the Killing Wolf had broken their hopes and spirit in life. Scaring everywhere until the end made them all silent and just accept the treatment.

Xue Zhan looked at the shopkeeper's face that was full of old wounds and burning marks. He guessed the old man had been a soldier.

"Have you ever been a soldier?" asked Xue Zhan.

The old man looked at Xue Zhan and smiled bitterly. "really. I used to be a soldier fighting for this village. We were finished off by the Killing Wolf and forced to give up our swords if we didn't want to be killed, I had no choice but to open this little tavern. It is very difficult to get a job with a body full of wounds and burn marks. Because of these circumstances I could not fight them, I was so weak and lame that I had to suffer my son."

His tone trembled.

" I don't know what happened to him after that, many say he won't survive. But here, I'm always waiting for his return."

Xue Zhan showed his martial will.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

Xue Zhan continued back on "Three more days Killing Wolf and his army will again plunder this village, I will make sure they regret ever coming here."

Tang Yin and Tang Yun looked dumbfounded hearing Xue Zhan's bravery. They knew that the Killing Wolf and its army were formidable and ruthless enemies. However, the tavern owner sitting in front of them looked doubtful and pessimistic. He had already sensed the ruthlessness and brutality of the Killing Wolf as well as his army directly.

"I understand you want to help us, but don't waste your life on this. We've lost a lot of valuable people because of their courage to fight the Killing Wolf," the tavern owner said in a sad tone.

Tang Yin and Tang Yun momentarily also felt the same despair and fear as the other villagers.

"You have to do something to fight them. Don't let them continue to rule this village with their cruelty. We must take action to free this village from fear and oppression" Xue Zhan said.

The shopkeepers, Tang Yin, and Tang Yun fell silent for a moment, digesting Xue Zhan's words. They were impressed by Xue Zhan's courage and determination, yet they were also afraid of losing more lives to the Slaying Wolves.

"But how do we fight them?" ask the owner of the shop with doubt.

"It only takes two things .." Xue Zhan replied smiling behind his mask. "With courage and a little madness."