Rain fell over the Azure Heavenly Sword Sect like a quiet funeral.
Cold droplets struck the stone courtyard, washing away dust and turning the lantern light into blurred reflections across the wet ground. The mountain wind howled softly through the temple gates, rattling the hanging banners that bore the sect's proud symbol—a silver sword pointing toward the heavens.
Hundreds of disciples stood in silence.
Some wore solemn expressions.
Others whispered quietly to one another.
At the center of the courtyard, beneath the watchful eyes of the elders, a young man knelt on the stone floor.
Iron chains bound his wrists.
His robes were torn, streaked with mud and dried blood.
His long black hair clung to his face from the rain.
This was Lin Xuehan.
Once considered one of the most talented disciples of the sect.
Tonight…
He was a criminal.
Above him, on the raised stone platform, the elders stood in a line. Their robes fluttered slightly in the wind as their cold gazes looked down upon him.
At the center stood the Sect Master, an elderly man with sharp eyes and silver hair tied neatly behind his head.
His voice carried across the courtyard like a blade cutting through the rain.
"Lin Xuehan."
The young man slowly lifted his head.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"You stand accused of three unforgivable crimes."
The Sect Master raised one finger.
"First."
"Murdering your fellow disciple, Zhao Ming."
Murmurs rippled through the gathered disciples.
Some gasped quietly.
Others shook their heads in disbelief.
The Sect Master raised a second finger.
"Second."
"Stealing a forbidden cultivation technique from the sect archives."
Another wave of whispers spread through the crowd.
Then the Sect Master raised a third finger.
"And third."
His voice hardened.
"Practicing demonic cultivation."
The final accusation struck the courtyard like thunder.
Several disciples instinctively stepped backward.
In the cultivation world, demonic cultivators were monsters.
People who abandoned the righteous path in pursuit of power.
People who slaughtered innocents.
People who lost their humanity.
To be accused of demonic cultivation was worse than death.
Yet Lin Xuehan simply remained kneeling in the rain.
Silent.
The Sect Master's sharp gaze narrowed.
"Do you deny these charges?"
For a moment, only the sound of rain filled the courtyard.
Then Lin Xuehan spoke.
His voice was quiet.
"…No."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
But before the Sect Master could continue, a voice suddenly shouted from the edge of the courtyard.
"Wait!"
All eyes turned.
A young woman ran forward through the rain.
Her white robes fluttered as she pushed past the disciples.
Her long dark hair clung to her shoulders, soaked from the storm.
This was Mei Lian.
She stopped in the center of the courtyard, breathing heavily.
Her eyes were filled with anger and disbelief as she looked toward the elders.
"This is wrong!"
The Sect Master frowned slightly.
"Mei Lian. This does not concern you."
"It does!" she insisted.
Her gaze turned to Lin Xuehan.
He still hadn't looked at her.
"He wouldn't do this," she said firmly.
"Lin Xuehan would never practice demonic cultivation."
One of the elders stepped forward.
His expression was cold.
"Are you questioning the judgment of the sect?"
Mei Lian hesitated.
But only for a moment.
"Yes."
A wave of shocked whispers spread through the disciples.
No one spoke to an elder like that.
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"The evidence is absolute."
He gestured to the courtyard floor.
A broken sword lay there.
Beside it was a body covered by a cloth.
"Zhao Ming was found dead," the elder continued.
"His wounds were inflicted by Lin Xuehan's sword."
Mei Lian clenched her fists.
"That proves nothing!"
"The forbidden manual was also found in his room," another elder said.
"And witnesses saw him leaving the archives tonight."
The accusations piled up one after another.
Each one sounded more convincing than the last.
Yet something felt wrong.
Too perfect.
Too carefully arranged.
Finally, the Sect Master raised his hand.
The courtyard fell silent.
"This matter has already been decided."
His gaze turned back to Lin Xuehan.
"For crimes against the sect…"
He paused.
"…the punishment is execution."
Mei Lian's eyes widened.
"No!"
But the elders ignored her.
One of them stepped forward, drawing his sword.
The blade gleamed faintly in the lantern light.
Rain slid down its polished edge.
He walked toward Lin Xuehan slowly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The disciples watched in silence.
Mei Lian felt her chest tighten.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She looked at Lin Xuehan again.
He hadn't spoken.
He hadn't resisted.
He simply knelt there quietly as the rain fell around him.
Then suddenly…
He laughed.
Softly at first.
A faint sound barely audible over the rain.
The execution elder stopped.
The disciples exchanged confused looks.
Then the laughter grew louder.
Lin Xuehan's shoulders shook slightly.
"Hahaha…"
The sound echoed strangely across the courtyard.
Not angry.
Not hysterical.
Just… amused.
The Sect Master frowned.
"Why are you laughing?"
Lin Xuehan slowly raised his head.
For the first time that night, his eyes opened fully.
They were calm.
Too calm.
He looked toward the elders.
"…I was just thinking."
His voice was quiet.
But everyone could hear it.
"You all call yourselves righteous."
Lightning flashed across the sky.
For a brief moment, the courtyard lit up in white light.
Lin Xuehan's gaze hardened slightly.
"Tell me."
His eyes locked onto the Sect Master.
"What exactly is righteous about slaughtering innocent people?"
The courtyard froze.
Several elders stiffened.
The Sect Master's expression darkened.
"You dare slander the sect?"
Lin Xuehan tilted his head slightly.
"…Slander?"
Images flashed through his mind.
The hidden chamber beneath the sect.
Blood-soaked formation circles.
Bodies of mortals drained of life.
Elders chanting over them.
Experiments in the name of cultivation.
The truth was far uglier than anyone imagined.
And now…
They wanted to kill him for discovering it.
Lin Xuehan looked down at the chains binding his wrists.
The iron links rattled softly as he moved.
The execution elder raised his sword again.
"Enough nonsense."
The blade lifted high into the air.
"Die."
Mei Lian stepped forward desperately.
"Stop!"
But it was too late.
The sword began to fall.
Then—
Crack.
A sharp metallic sound cut through the courtyard.
The chains around Lin Xuehan's wrists snapped.
The broken links clattered onto the stone floor.
The execution elder's eyes widened.
"What—"
A wave of dark energy erupted outward.
The rain seemed to freeze for a moment.
Lantern flames flickered violently.
Several disciples staggered backward.
The elders' expressions changed instantly.
Shock.
Fear.
Disbelief.
Lin Xuehan slowly stood up.
The broken chains slipped from his wrists.
His soaked black robes fluttered slightly in the wind.
He rolled his shoulders once.
As if stretching after a long rest.
Then he looked at the elders again.
His expression was strangely peaceful.
"…So this is righteousness."
The execution elder stepped back.
"You really are cultivating a demonic art!"
Lin Xuehan smiled faintly.
It wasn't a kind smile.
It was the smile of someone who had finally stopped pretending.
"Fine."
Thunder rumbled across the sky.
Dark energy began swirling faintly around him.
The disciples stared in horror.
Lin Xuehan's voice echoed quietly through the rain.
"Then tonight…"
He took a step forward.
"…I'll become the demon you're so afraid of."
The storm above the mountain seemed to grow darker.
And deep within the Azure Heavenly Sword Sect…
The legend of the Mad Demon was about to begin.