Chapter 18: The First Trial

After parting ways with Ji Wushuang and his group, Shui Jingxuan returned to his room to rest. Pushing open the door, he was surprised to find Azhuang, usually so diligent in his training, already back.

Azhuang sat on the divan, meticulously wiping his sword repeatedly.

“Why are you back so early today?” Shui Jingxuan poured a cup of tea, taking a slow sip before he asked. Ordinarily, Elder Mu preferred to instruct him in swordsmanship privately, so he didn’t train with his fellow disciples.

“We’re going out for a trial tomorrow, so Elder Mu told us to rest early and conserve our energy,” Azhuang replied, looking up at Shui Jingxuan with a simple, honest smile. His hands, however, continued to polish his sword without pause.

Shui Jingxuan vaguely recalled Elder Mu mentioning the trial, but his focus had been solely on the Way of the Sword, so he hadn’t paid much attention. Now, seeing a hint of tension and anxiety beneath Azhuang’s guileless smile, his interest was piqued.

“Do you know the details of the trial?” Shui Jingxuan set down his teacup, moving to sit beside him, and asked in a low voice.

“I have a general idea,” Azhuang nodded. “I heard from Senior Brother Black Tiger that a group of around three hundred Tatar soldiers arrived outside the valley two days ago. They plundered Yao Family Village, leaving no survivors. Our trial will most likely be to eliminate these Tatars.”

Ever since Shui Jingxuan taught him a lesson, Black Tiger had revered him as a god, eager to follow him everywhere and render service. Unfortunately, Shui Jingxuan paid him no mind.

Undeterred, Black Tiger found an alternative route, becoming sworn brothers with Azhuang, thus indirectly forging a connection with Shui Jingxuan. Consequently, whenever he caught wind of any rumors or news, he would never forget to inform Azhuang.

“Three hundred men? And soldiers, at that?” Shui Jingxuan sought confirmation. A hundred inner disciples against three hundred trained, robust adult soldiers, while most of the disciples were still mere children—this trial presented a considerable challenge.

“Yes,” Azhuang nodded, unconsciously tightening his grip on his sword. “People will die during this trial. I heard that past senior disciples underwent similar trials, and less than half of them returned. Axi, we must be careful this time.”

“Understood,” Shui Jingxuan affirmed, picking up his own sword to polish it. “Stick close to me when the time comes, and do not hold back.”

Unlike the anxious Azhuang, Shui Jingxuan’s expression remained utterly serene, his heart as calm as still water. To him, this trial was no different from the missions to exterminate zombies in his previous life.

The only distinction was that zombies devoured people mindlessly, while the Tatars did so with malicious intent. Comparatively, the Tatars were even more deserving of death.

This was an era where ethnic tensions soared, a time fraught with bloodshed and slaughter. As members of a foreign race, they bore the full weight of their heritage, including responsibility and hatred.

Shui Jingxuan harbored no foolish hopes for peaceful coexistence or a utopian world. If they didn’t strike first, the Tatars’ next target would undoubtedly be their people’s settlements.

The memories in his mind told him that the Tatars cared nothing for humanity; from eighty-year-old crones to newborn infants, they spared no one.

Under the influence of Shui Jingxuan’s composure, the anxiety in Azhuang’s heart gradually subsided. He mused, ‘With Boss here, this trial is nothing. I just need to stick with him.’

Later that evening, after the ten elders returned from their meeting with the Sect Master, they gathered the disciples on the training grounds and announced the trial’s objective. It was precisely as Black Tiger had reported: to slaughter all three hundred Tatars.

However, this trial was exceptionally brutal. Life and death were entirely in their own hands. The ten elders would observe the battle but offer no assistance.

In their view, only children who survived the bloody slaughter deserved their meticulous cultivation and complete tutelage.

This was a ruthless, ‘wolf-like’ educational method, only employed when the survival environment was dire, highlighting the tragedy of their foreign race.

In the apocalypse, Shui Jingxuan had witnessed parents abandoning their weaker children to create space for the stronger ones to survive more than once.

Therefore, when the elders made their announcement, and the disciples reacted with startled murmurs of fear, he merely curved his lips slightly, a tranquil smile gracing his face.

Ji Wushuang, walking slowly with Wolf Girl, immediately caught sight of that subtle, almost ethereal smile. His steps faltered, and a keen interest stirred within him.

‘Does the boy know what it feels like to kill? If he did, would he still be smiling?’ He suddenly yearned to know.

He still remembered vividly how he felt the first time he killed. Aside from the raging inferno of hatred, his limbs were cold, his blood was cold, even his heart was cold.

It was then that he knew he was a born killing machine. His twin sister, however, had wailed uncontrollably, screaming repeatedly,

“What do we do? We’ve killed someone! What do we do?” It took her a full three months to recover even slightly.

‘What would the boy’s reaction be? Would he be cold and numb like me, or hysterical like my twin sister? Or perhaps, like an ordinary child, would he succumb to inner fear and simply break down?’

Regardless of the boy’s reaction, he hoped it wouldn’t be the latter; that would disappoint him utterly!

Ji Wushuang’s eyes, fixed on Shui Jingxuan, flickered. He made a decision almost instantly.

He looked at Wolf Girl, gesturing for her to stand with the other inner disciples, then spoke in a deep voice, “Today marks your first external trial. The Chief Protector will join you in battle, and I, myself, will observe from the sidelines. I hope you will give your utmost and return victorious.”

Due to his unique physical condition, Ji Wushuang usually avoided appearing before others and rarely ventured outside the sect gates. Hearing this, Wolf Girl cast a surprised glance at him before quickly lowering her head, secretly wondering to herself.

With Wolf Girl’s inclusion and the Sect Master personally observing the battle, the morale of the hundred inner disciples instantly soared. Their bright, gleaming eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Ji Wushuang was pleased with their reaction. He waved his hand and commanded, “This trial is a night raid on the Tatar camp. You must strike them unawares, catching them unprepared. The time is almost right; you may depart now.”

The hundred disciples responded in unison. Then, under the leadership of the ten elders, they melted into the night, rapidly advancing towards the Tatar encampment outside the valley.

Ji Wushuang also activated his internal energy, soaring through the air to follow closely behind. His heavy, conjoined body glided swiftly through the branches, displaying no hint of clumsiness. His movements were ethereal, ghost-like, and utterly silent.

Shui Jingxuan and Wolf Girl led the vanguard of the team, moving with equal speed and agility, producing no unnecessary sounds.

As they neared the enemy camp, Wolf Girl’s keen ears twitched. She suddenly turned to Shui Jingxuan and whispered, “It seems something has happened to my wolf pack. I’ll go check on them and return quickly. You all go ahead.”

Shui Jingxuan, whose senses were equally sharp, had already heard distant wolf howls but hadn’t realized they belonged to Wolf Girl’s pack.

Seeing her abandon the sect members for a minor matter at such a crucial moment, he felt a surge of displeasure. He didn’t reply, merely giving her a cold, dismissive glance.

Wolf Girl felt deeply uncomfortable under Shui Jingxuan’s slightly contemptuous gaze. However, her wolf pack had raised her, and she could not abandon them.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and soared away. Her departure would eventually lead her to rescue Zhuo Yihang, who was then surrounded by a wolf pack for stealing a lamb from a village at the foot of the mountain, thus beginning a fateful entanglement. But that is a story for another time.

Shui Jingxuan, unaware that the plot of The White-Haired Witch had quietly begun to unfold, merely cast an indifferent glance in the direction Wolf Girl had left before continuing on his way.

After another two kekong of rapid advance, he raised a hand, signaling his fellow disciples to slow their movements and conceal their presence, for the Tatar camp was now right before their eyes.

Ji Wushuang, who was following closely behind everyone, only had eyes for Wolf Girl and the boy. He naturally noticed Wolf Girl’s departure midway, and his expression grew exceedingly grim.

His twin sister was even more enraged, muttering under her breath, “An ungrateful wretch! A few beasts are more important than her own people!”

Staring for a long moment in the direction Wolf Girl had gone, Ji Wushuang’s face remained stern and cold. He ultimately decided not to follow and investigate, choosing instead to continue trailing the boy.

The Tatar camp was merely a hundred meters from their hidden position.

It was now past midnight. The Tatars, having spent the day pillaging and slaughtering, and the night drinking and reveling, were now full, drunk, and asleep in their tents. Even the patrol guards were weary and drowsy.

One of the ten elders pointed towards the camp ahead, then to the tall trees behind them, before leaping onto a tree branch to quietly observe from above. Their meaning was clear: ‘Go on, we’ll watch from here.’

These children were still young, most embarking on their first journey down the mountain and their first act of killing.

They were utterly at a loss, huddled in the bushes, staring at the Tatar camp and exchanging bewildered glances, unsure where to begin.

Azhuang and Black Tiger, who had somehow squeezed in beside him, both looked at Shui Jingxuan with burning anticipation, awaiting their leader’s command.

With these two taking the lead, the nine other disciples from Elder Mu’s lineage all turned to him. Soon, everyone followed suit, gazing at Shui Jingxuan as if he alone were their commander.

“Disperse, take positions around the Tatar camp, and surround it,” Shui Jingxuan whispered after a moment of thoughtful contemplation. “Once the fire engulfs the tents and chaos erupts inside, then you charge out to kill.”

“You plan to burn the camp? How?” Black Tiger urgently inquired.

“I have my methods. You just follow orders,” Shui Jingxuan replied, raising a hand to dismiss Black Tiger.

Black Tiger, trusting completely in his abilities, asked no further questions and quietly circled to the south. With Black Tiger as an example, the children swallowed their doubts and dispersed to their assigned positions.

They were all seasoned veterans at traversing and lurking in deep mountain forests, making not a sound. Soon, the encirclement was complete.

Once everyone was hidden, Shui Jingxuan picked up a few pebbles from beside him, secretly infusing them with internal energy.

Then, he raised his hand and flung them with incredible speed towards several brightly burning bonfires in the center of the camp.

The pebbles, imbued with potent internal energy, tore through the air. Upon striking the bonfires, they instantly burst open, scattering countless sparks.

These sparks landed on the dry, greasy, and soiled tents, quickly igniting a raging inferno. Scattered wine jars, some still half-full, lay strewn around the tents, fueling the flames further.

In an instant, the camp erupted into utter pandemonium. Some Tatars were even burned alive in their sleep.

Shui Jingxuan turned to Azhuang, instructing him in a low voice, “I’m going to cut the ropes tethering the Tatar horses and drive the herd out. Can you lead them to charge out and kill the enemy?”

“Axi, go with a clear mind!” Azhuang nodded emphatically, marveling internally, ‘My boss is truly fierce! We haven’t even started fighting, and half the Tatars are already dead!’

Shui Jingxuan nodded in satisfaction. Taking advantage of the chaos, he swiftly flew out, moving like a phantom through the camp. Moments later, he located the stables, severed the ropes, and drove the warhorses out.

Upon seeing the massive fire, the warhorses were greatly startled. They neighed in terror and stampeded wildly through the camp, trampling many more Tatars to death.

These two simple actions eliminated nearly half of the Tatar forces, significantly easing the pressure on the children during this trial. Ji Wushuang and the elders, watching from the trees, were left wide-eyed and dumbfounded by the spectacle.

“Hahahaha!” The camp was already in utter disarray. Ji Wushuang’s twin sister now made no attempt to conceal her sharp laughter, praising aloud with her chin held high,

“Not only is the boy exceptionally talented, but he’s also a top-tier commander! Elder Mu, you’ve found a treasure!”

“Oh, it’s nothing, nothing,” Elder Mu demurred, waving his hand, his old face creased into a thousand-petaled chrysanthemum of a smile, all while enduring the envious and resentful gazes of the other nine elders.

Ji Wushuang, however, remained sullen and silent. The more he looked at Elder Mu, the more he found him utterly grating! Just then, one of the elders suddenly whispered, “Huh? Where did the Chief Protector go?”

This unintentional question made Ji Wushuang’s already grim expression darken further, and a surge of anger flared in his heart.

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