C16 The Power of the Azure Dragon Blade

After Lin Xiaoqiang finished speaking, not a shred of sympathy came from the villagers. Instead, their gazes hardened even more.

They had squarely placed the blame on Lin Xiaoqiang. In their eyes, if he were to be devoured by wolves, it would serve as just retribution, a vengeance for the two families wronged.

"We're with Da Kui on this one. You need to leave the village now. If you refuse, it's as good as admitting guilt. You must be the one who brought these wolves here."

Lin Xiaoqiang was taken aback by their accusations.

He looked around at the crowd imploringly. Among these villagers were his elders, his peers, and the younger ones he had helped time and again.

Yet their expressions were unwavering, not one voice rose in his defense.

Lin Xiaoqiang felt a sting of disappointment.

"Fine, if you all want me gone, I'll go. But remember my words: I have nothing to do with these wolves."

With that, he turned and headed for his house. Meanwhile, Zhang Lili had already learned from others that Lin Xiaoqiang was being confronted by a mob of villagers.

As she hurried toward the village entrance, she crossed paths with Lin Xiaoqiang, who was on his way back.

"What's going on, Xiaoqiang? What exactly happened? I heard there was some kind of dispute with the villagers?"

"It wasn't a dispute. They're driving me out of the village."

Lin Xiaoqiang didn't break stride, speaking to Zhang Lili as they walked toward his house.

"I might have to be away from the village for a while. You and the child should stay put; it's safer here. I've heard there are many wild animals outside."

Zhang Lili, trying to keep up with Lin Xiaoqiang, couldn't hold back her tears. She had barely settled into married life before facing widowhood, and now, after finally finding a man to care for her, she was being cast out by the villagers.

Could it be that she was destined to bring misfortune? Zhang Lili gave herself a harsh slap.

"This is all my fault. I must be the cause of your troubles."

Lin Xiaoqiang had never felt much for Zhang Lili, but turning to see her crying so pitifully, expelled from the village because of him, he suddenly felt a surge of tenderness for this woman a few years his senior.

Lin Xiaoqiang gently stroked Zhang Lili's head, reassuring her, "What nonsense are you spouting? None of this is your concern. I have my own reasons for leaving the village, so don't worry. Given who I am, I can't just die—I'll be back."

His words were a true reflection of his feelings.

Unbeknownst to Zhang Lili, Lin Xiaoqiang was destined to become the Ice Lord. She believed he was merely trying to comfort her, which only deepened her emotional response.

Overwhelmed, Zhang Lili reached out and clutched Lin Xiaoqiang's hand. "Xiaoqiang, please take care of yourself. If you don't return, I'll leave the village too. Rest assured, I won't live in this world all by myself."

With a warm smile, Lin Xiaoqiang pulled the formidable woman into his embrace, and together they walked into their home.

Once inside, Lin Xiaoqiang ensured Zhang Lili had ample food and firewood before taking his one-inch knife and stepping outside. He affectionately patted the Kylin in the courtyard, saying, "It seems our time together is short-lived. You've just arrived, and I'm already leaving. Stay here and wait for me to take care of the trouble outside. After that, we'll enjoy our days together."

Whether the Kylin understood or it was mere coincidence, it nuzzled Lin Xiaoqiang's chest vigorously with its head, then pawed at the ground and let out a skyward howl as if to say, "I trust you. You're innocent, and if you hold on, you'll surely return."

Previously, Lin Xiaoqiang's solitude meant few attachments, but now, with a woman and a Kylin in his life, the thought of leaving filled him with a sense of reluctance.

Nevertheless, he had made a vow to the villagers, and he intended to honor it. The moment he made that promise, Lin Xiaoqiang had resolved to leave the village and eradicate the wolves that preyed upon the people. He envisioned the day he would return, bearing the wolves' carcasses, and wondered how they would then speak of him.

Lin Xiaoqiang departed from the village at noon, walking away to the sound of the villagers' applause and under the dark, watchful eye of Lee Erhei. He left through the western exit, his resolve firm.

Having put some distance between himself and the village, Lin Xiaoqiang paused. If he was to hunt beyond the village and take on the wolves, he needed to be fully prepared. He rummaged through his backpack, taking stock of his possessions, and then posted a message on the public interface seeking to purchase a set of premium rhinoceros hide armor.

As he was sending out the message, a private message pinged in. A seller had reached out to him, but they were located in a place known as Demonic City—over 300 kilometers away. Lin Xiaoqiang dismissed the idea of acquiring the armor; all he had was a small blade, barely a foot in length. It was hardly suitable for battling a pack of ferocious wolves.

With a sigh, Lin Xiaoqiang retrieved his Azure Dragon Blade from his backpack. He eyed the elegant weapon skeptically. "My friend, if you weren't as striking as you are, I'd have serious doubts about your right to be called the Azure Dragon Blade," he mused. "Looks like it's just you and me now, up against wolves that could weigh a couple hundred kilos. Well, at least you're a step up from my rice spatula."

He polished the blade until it shone, its surface turning a deep, translucent red—a reminder of its last encounter, where it had consumed blood and captured a soul within its steel.

Reassured by these thoughts, Lin Xiaoqiang mentally rehearsed every technique associated with the Azure Dragon Blade. As he continued on his way, he practiced the moves, the blade slicing through the air effortlessly. To his amazement, his casual strokes left a trail of afterimages, and the blade, extending well beyond its physical length, carved deep pits several meters wide into the desolate landscape ahead.

Lin Xiaoqiang gazed vacantly for quite a while until, suddenly, a smirk appeared on his face and he let out a chuckle.

"Damn, the Ice Lord really does seem to have some perks. With this blade in hand, I guess I'm not dying anytime soon. Pretty badass, huh?"

Having witnessed the might of the Azure Dragon Blade, Lin Xiaoqiang felt a renewed surge of confidence for the upcoming mission to round up the vicious wolves in the wilderness.