The rain fell harder.
Cold droplets struck the stone courtyard of the Azure Heavenly Sword Sect, turning the ground slick and reflective beneath the lantern light. The wind howled down from the mountain peaks, carrying with it the smell of wet earth and iron.
Broken chains lay scattered across the courtyard.
And standing in the center of them…
was Lin Xuehan.
His wrists were still red where the shackles had bound him moments ago. Rain soaked through his torn robes, running down his face and dripping from the ends of his long black hair.
Around him, the disciples of the sect stood frozen.
Just minutes ago he had been kneeling, condemned to die.
Now he stood free.
A faint, dark aura lingered around him, subtle but unmistakable.
On the raised platform above the courtyard, the elders stared down with grim expressions.
The Sect Master spoke slowly.
"So it's true."
His eyes narrowed.
"You really are cultivating a demonic technique."
Lin Xuehan tilted his head slightly.
"…Demonic?"
The word sounded almost distant.
He looked down at the broken chains near his feet.
Then back at the elders.
A faint smile appeared.
"You were the ones who taught me what demons look like."
Several elders stiffened.
One of them stepped forward angrily.
"Enough!"
His voice boomed through the courtyard.
"Seize him!"
The command snapped the disciples back to reality.
Swords were drawn instantly.
Steel rang sharply in the rain.
Several disciples moved forward cautiously.
Among them was Zhou Liang.
He stepped out from the front ranks, gripping his sword tightly. Rain slid down the polished blade as he stared at Lin Xuehan with a mixture of anger and unease.
"Lin Xuehan!"
His voice echoed across the courtyard.
"You murdered Senior Brother Zhao Ming and stole the sect's forbidden technique!"
He raised his sword.
"You've fallen into the demonic path!"
Rain ran down his face as he spoke.
"You deserve death!"
Lin Xuehan looked at him quietly.
For a moment…
memories surfaced.
Flashback — One Year Earlier
Morning mist rolled across the training grounds of the Azure Heavenly Sword Sect.
Young disciples practiced their sword forms in neat rows beneath the rising sun.
Wooden swords clacked against one another as instructors walked among them correcting their stances.
At the edge of the courtyard, two young men sat on the stone steps, breathing heavily after sparring.
One of them laughed loudly.
"That was unfair!"
It was Zhou Liang.
Sweat dripped down his face as he wiped his forehead.
"You're getting stronger every week."
Beside him sat Lin Xuehan, calm as always.
His breathing was steady despite the intense training session.
"You just need to improve your footwork," Lin Xuehan said.
Zhou Liang snorted.
"Easy for you to say, genius."
He nudged Lin Xuehan's shoulder.
"Soon you'll become an inner disciple while the rest of us are stuck here forever."
Lin Xuehan shook his head.
"That's not important."
"Oh?" Zhou Liang grinned.
"Then what is?"
Lin Xuehan looked out over the mountain peaks beyond the sect walls.
The sunrise painted the clouds gold.
"…Strength."
Zhou Liang raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
Lin Xuehan answered without hesitation.
"To protect the people who matter."
Zhou Liang stared at him for a moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
"You're too serious!"
He stood up and stretched.
"Fine then, Senior Brother Lin."
He placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"If you become the strongest cultivator in the sect, you can protect all of us."
He grinned.
"We'll be counting on you."
Lin Xuehan didn't respond.
But for a moment…
he had smiled.
Present — The Courtyard
The memory faded like mist.
Rain returned.
Cold.
Relentless.
Lin Xuehan looked at Zhou Liang standing before him now.
Sword raised.
Eyes filled with hostility.
"Lin Xuehan!" Zhou Liang shouted again.
"Draw your weapon!"
Two more disciples stepped forward beside him.
All three were Qi Gathering cultivators.
They surrounded Lin Xuehan cautiously.
The watching disciples whispered nervously.
"He's outnumbered…"
"But something feels wrong…"
Lin Xuehan sighed softly.
"…Do you really believe I killed Zhao Ming?"
Zhou Liang's expression hardened.
"The evidence is clear!"
Behind him, the elders watched silently.
Lin Xuehan glanced toward them briefly.
Then he looked back at Zhou Liang.
"I see."
He bent down slowly.
Picked up the fallen sword from the ground.
The rain tapped against the steel.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then—
Zhou Liang attacked.
His blade cut toward Lin Xuehan's shoulder.
The other two disciples struck from opposite sides.
Three swords.
Three deadly strikes.
But inside Lin Xuehan's body…
the Mad Demon Heart Sutra pulsed.
Dark energy flowed through his meridians.
The world slowed.
Every raindrop became visible.
Every movement clear.
Zhou Liang's sword came closer.
Closer.
Then—
Lin Xuehan stepped aside.
The blade missed completely.
Before Zhou Liang could react—
Lin Xuehan grabbed his wrist.
Crack.
The sound of bone breaking echoed sharply through the courtyard.
Zhou Liang screamed.
His sword slipped from his hand.
Lin Xuehan caught it effortlessly.
For a brief moment…
their eyes met.
"…You once told me," Lin Xuehan said quietly.
Zhou Liang's face twisted in pain.
"What?"
Lin Xuehan's expression was calm.
"That if I became strong enough…"
He raised the sword.
"…I could protect everyone."
Zhou Liang's eyes widened.
Slash.
The blade flashed once.
Blood sprayed into the rain.
Zhou Liang collapsed onto the stone courtyard.
Dead.
Silence fell over the sect.
The past had ended.
And the massacre had begun.