My Fated Alpha Wolf King

Satan's Secret

Outside, the snow was falling heavier and heavier.Bizeros added four more pieces of firewood to the brick stove inside the cabin. Although he had lived on this ice plain for many years, the cold was the mortal enemy of the elderly. This hopeless, bone-chilling cold was becoming more and more unbearable.Perhaps it was time to migrate and live somewhere else on the continent. He had heard that the great southern city of White City had a pleasant climate with four seasons like spring, the perfect place for an aging man like himself to retire peacefully.Bizeros secretly made a firm resolution: "Once matters here are settled, I must leave this desolate ice plain!"It was not the first time he had made a similar resolution.Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. Someone was knocking at the door."It's so late. Could Foxiu have an urgent matter?" Bizeros's heart tightened. He knew Foxiu would never come looking for him at this hour unless it was an emergency. Bizeros threw on a heavy coat and opened the door.The person standing outside was wearing a hood; Bizeros couldn't make out his face at first."Lord Seer, do you have a moment to chat?" The figure outside lowered his hood. It was Satan.Bizeros said, "Mm. Do you have an urgent matter?"Satan, seeing Bizeros showed no intention of inviting him inside, asked, "May I come in to speak?"Bizeros said, "The night is deep. If it's not urgent, could we discuss it during the day?"Satan replied meaningfully, "Some deals cannot be negotiated in the daylight."Hearing the weight in his words, Bizeros paused briefly, then allowed Satan into the room. Once inside, Satan swept his gaze left and right around the room, displaying a marked sense of vigilance.Bizeros frowned: "There's no one else here. If you have something to say, please come straight to the point."Satan produced a flask of liquor from his coat and said, "Let's talk as we drink, what do you say?"Bizeros took two small cups from the cupboard and placed them on the table. Satan filled the cups with liquor. The two clinked glasses and emptied them in one gulp. Then Satan spoke: "I am also a seer."Bizeros was startled: "You're a seer?"Satan said, "I was once the sole seer of Saintlight Village. I received the respect of everyone."Bizeros said, "Once?"Satan said, "Now, I have lost the trust of every person in this village."Bizeros: "..."Satan let out a heavy sigh: "A seer cannot afford any mistakes. A single verification error, and you lose all your credibility."Bizeros asked, "How many errors have you made?"Satan said, "Only one error. But that one error caused irreparable damage. Since then, no one in the village has ever treated me as a seer again."Bizeros frowned: "What exactly was this error? Did you verify the wrong person, or forget to verify someone?"Satan said, "I falsified my verification result, which led to a good person being forced into the Judgment of the Holy Light."Bizeros asked, stunned: "Why did you do that?"Satan said, "Because I was shielding a wolf-kin."Bizeros could scarcely believe his ears: "You... what did you say?"Satan shook his head with a bitter smile: "They say a seer is the natural enemy of wolf-kin. And here I, a seer, was shielding one. Can you believe such a thing?"Bizeros stared quietly at Satan, waiting for him to continue.Satan drank another cup of liquor alone, then began: "Although Saintlight Village is located on the remote Taya Ice Plains, it was once a rather lively place. Many mages and warriors who came to train on the ice plain would stop here to rest and recuperate. The villagers' warm hospitality left a deep impression on them. Word spread from mouth to mouth. Over time, Saintlight Village became a must-visit outpost for those training on the ice plain. Every day, the village would host a few traveling guests. These traveling cultivators would engage in spirited debates and sparring matches, broadening us villagers' horizons considerably. These passing mages and warriors would occasionally teach us some combat techniques as well, which benefited us immensely."Bizeros recalled how, during the day, Satan had used a fireball spell to stop the fight between Lu Ou and Fei Tuo, yet denied being a mage. So this was the reason.Satan continued, "Three years ago, several groups of cultivators came to the village as usual. I hosted one of these groups. Among them, a female swordswoman caught my attention. She had a graceful figure, fair skin, golden hair, and azure eyes. The moment our eyes met, my whole body trembled as if struck by lightning. From the moment I saw her, I was like one possessed. Every night I lay sleepless, her image filling my mind. Perhaps sensing my feelings, this swordswoman often took the initiative to chat with me. Later, we arranged to go hunting together. That period was the happiest time of my life. The swordswoman and I rode and hunted through the forests and snowy plains, and at night, we indulged in passion inside our tent." A look of longing appeared on Satan's face.Bizeros picked up his cup and took a sip: "The god of love had cast his spell. What happened then?"Satan's expression darkened: "Then events unfolded far beyond what I had expected. As fate would have it, ever since this group of travelers arrived, bloodshed occurred in the village for several consecutive days. Every victim had their chest ripped open and their heart torn out."Bizeros set down his cup and said coldly, "Wolf-kin!"Satan said, "Indeed. That is the signature method of a wolf-kin kill. The village was invaded by wolf-kin. Everyone was greatly shocked. The warriors, mages, and some villagers temporarily residing in the village immediately formed a vigilance squad to hunt down the wolf-kin. Since it was common knowledge that I had learned the art of verifying wolf-kin, I was elected by everyone as the Sheriff to lead this squad."Bizeros said, "Whenever the task of hunting wolf-kin arises, the seer must, without shirking, take the lead."Satan said, "When I first became Sheriff, I was brimming with confidence. I thought the seer's time to shine had finally come. That first night, the very first person I verified... was that female swordswoman. I had intended to give her a good identity so we two could fight side by side, but I never imagined... ah..."Bizeros said, "She was a wolf-kin."Satan nodded, his expression one of extreme agony. In a low voice, he said, "When I learned the truth, the wolf-kin... the swordswoman knelt before me and said she herself hadn't participated in any killings. All the murders were done by her companions. She begged me to let her go, insisting her love for me was true. Hearing her desperate pleas... my heart felt as if it were being cut with a knife. My entire being was a chaotic mess.""A seer and a wolf-kin, natural enemies, falling into love. The god of love's arrow struck with truly ingenious cruelty." Bizeros let out a long sigh, then asked, "What did you choose to do then?"Satan said, "The god of love's decree robbed me of my reason. Hearing her pleas, my heart softened. I agreed to conceal her identity, but on the condition that she reveal the identities of the other wolf companions. She, however, said she had to uphold the 'Wolf-kin Creed' and could not betray her companions. But she could persuade them to leave the village and stop killing. Under her repeated tearful entreaties and assurances, I ultimately yielded and became her ally."Bizeros shook his head: "How can the words of a wolf-kin be trusted? You were far too naive."Satan said, "The next day, I used all my strength to vouch for my beloved as a good person. And the crowd, losing the seer's guidance, mistakenly forced a mage into the Judgment of the Holy Light, causing them to lose their powers."Bizeros said, "Absurd. Utterly absurd."Satan said, "Later, when she went to plead with her wolf companions to leave, she was not only met with refusal but was also ambushed by them for betraying the creed. She suffered severe injuries and fell unconscious. The next day, for some unknown reason, the rumor that she was a wolf-kin spread like wildfire through the village. The crowd collectively demanded she be forced into the Judgment of the Holy Light. I was powerless to change everyone's minds. Helplessly, I watched as she, still unconscious, was placed beneath the Saintlight Tree. The midday sunlight, filtered through the divine tree, shone upon her body. Before the eyes of the crowd, she revealed her wolf claws, tail, and thick, furry pelt..."Bizeros said, "That moment was not only a mockery of your love but also a devastating blow to your reputation as a seer.""Indeed. On that day, I lost not only my beloved but also everyone's trust. After that, no one ever addressed me as seer again. People treated my love affair with the wolf-kin as a joke, sharing it as post-meal entertainment, embellishing its sordid details to their imagination. Even later, when wolf-kin ran rampant in the village and were ultimately slain through the combined efforts of villagers, mages, and warriors, I was utterly irrelevant to it all. Because of this calamity, the people of Saintlight Village no longer welcomed outsiders as they once did. Saintlight Village quickly reverted from a once-famous ice plain outpost back to its original anonymity. Very few cultivators on their journeys stop here now. And in the days that followed, I have lived like a joke within Saintlight Village, receiving no respect from anyone." Dejectedly, Satan drained the last of his cup.Bizeros said, "These are the consequences you had to bear for your reckless actions."Satan said, "You know... I don't regret falling in love with her. After she died, I buried her in the forest outside the valley. It's the habitat where flocks of snowy owls gather... and where we first kissed and made love. I lowered her body into the earthen pit as gently as I had once carried her into the tent in the wilds. Then I stayed with her in that forest for three days and three nights."Bizeros said, "I can imagine the pain and despair you felt then."Satan said, "In those three days, I thought one thing through clearly: we were not the ones in the wrong. We hurt no one. We did not deserve to be treated this way."Bizeros sighed: "Perhaps it's beyond right or wrong. The god of love's arrow pushed both you and her towards a third party. Neither the good faction nor the wolf-kin faction could tolerate you."Satan said, "But we truly hurt no one. You cannot deny that point, can you?"Bizeros spread his hands, noncommittal.Satan said, "Since we hurt no one, why did others hurt us?"Bizeros said, "That's a question on a philosophical level."Satan said, "No matter what, I want revenge. I fell from the peak of honor to the bottom of the abyss. From the bottom, I will climb back to the peak. I will uncover the truth of what happened back then. I will make the village acknowledge our love. I will bring her remains back from the beast-ridden forest and give her a proper burial in the Emerald Pool Caves, where the people of Saintlight Village have interred their dead for generations."Bizeros said, "I fear all of this will be very difficult to accomplish."Satan said, "Why do you say that?"Bizeros said, "Three years have passed. In these three years, I'm sure you made many attempts. If it could be done, it would have been done already."Satan nodded: "Therefore, I need your help."Bizeros said, "So, this is the real reason you invited us all to stay in the village."Satan said, "Correct."Bizeros asked, "But among the six of us, why did you single out me?"Satan said, "Because a seer holds the highest prestige among all mage professions. Traveling mages, witches, bounty hunters... none can compare."Bizeros said, "That's a tall hat to wear."Satan said, "I am merely stating a fact."Bizeros said, "But why should I help you?"Satan said, "The moment I first laid eyes on you, I saw in your wise gaze the possibility of a mutually beneficial exchange. So, speaking candidly, if you can help me achieve my revenge, I will assist you in ascending to the position of Village Chief of Saintlight Village."Bizeros said, "I had thought a trade meant exchanging something you already possess. You've truly redefined the concept. Hmph, your reputation in Saintlight Village is already in tatters. What gives you the right to promise me the position of Chief? Besides, what appeal could the chieftainship of a remote mountain village possibly hold for a 'seer of the highest prestige'?"Satan said, "My lord, from the moment you stepped into this village, I read in your eager eyes a deep interest in this place. I believe that with a seer's perspective, you can surely see things others cannot. Such as... the Saintlight Giant Tree, which possesses divine power..."The corners of Bizeros's mouth curled into a sly smile: "Heh heh. Go on."Satan continued, "Indeed. After the events three years ago, my name is mud in this village. But after all, I grew up here. I know the village inside and out. For an outsider like you to try and take control of Saintlight Village, without an insider, the task would be exceedingly difficult. But with my help, things become much easier. The current Village Chief is greedy and miserly, often exploiting the villagers and bleeding them dry. The villagers have harbored many grievances against him for a long time. We merely need to connect with these disgruntled villagers and find a suitable moment to oust the Chief. When that time comes, with your prestige as a seer, you step forward to run for the new Chief, and I fan the flames from the side. There are no outstanding figures in the village. Our grand scheme is all but guaranteed."Bizeros thought for a moment, then shook his head: "The Village Chief's conduct may be unscrupulous, but he has held that position for many years. If the villagers wanted to rebel, they would have done so long ago. Since they have endured for all these years, it's unlikely they will revolt in a short time."Satan also found this reasoning valid and was momentarily at a loss for words.Bizeros smiled: "I'm sorry, I can't help you." He stood up, ready to see his guest out.Satan blurted out, "And what if the Village Chief were to suddenly... disappear?"Bizeros said, "What did you say?"Satan said, "Wolf-kin prowl this ice plain constantly these days. If the Village Chief were to, by some chance, meet with an... accident..."Bizeros said, "You certainly dare to imagine."Satan said, "Anything is possible, isn't it, Lord Seer?" He and Bizeros stared at each other for a moment, then the two laughed together.In the dim candlelight, the Village Chief poured the copper coins from his pouch onto the table. The sound of several dozen coins clattering against the tabletop was, to his ears, most pleasing. He pressed his finger onto a coin rolling towards the table's edge, a strange grin slipping onto the corner of his mouth.Wealth is an old man's best friend.For many years, he had adhered to this creed as devoutly as he worshipped the Saintlight Divine Tree. Money was the all-powerful thing. With enough money, one could even make a wolf-kin push his millstone.Today's haul was decent. Aside from that idiotic Old g*n and the cowardly Lei Meng, there were also these guests from outside. They were a flock of lambs waiting to be fleeced.The Village Chief pulled an iron box out from under the table and began placing the scattered copper coins into it one by one. As he did so, he muttered to himself, recounting the glorious exploits of his spoils."These are the fees the villagers paid for purchasing village supplies. Heh heh, according to the old rules, I skim half off the top. The remainder goes to that honest Lei Meng to buy supplies from outside." The Village Chief put his own "share" into the iron box, and the other half into a separate small cloth bag."These few were given to me by Satan to cover the expenses for hosting the outsiders. Hmph, his reputation is already ruined, yet he remains so enthusiastic towards outsiders...""These few coins I swindled from Old g*n. Heh heh, he still can't figure out the trick to the game. Far inferior to that little girl..." When he spoke of the little girl, the smile on the Village Chief's face gradually froze."To see through the secret of the coin game in such a short time... Xia Ta was the first person. This girl named Ming Yue is the second." The Village Chief tapped the coin on the table, tapping and thinking: "Three years ago, Xia Ta was mistakenly thought to be a wolf-kin by everyone and was forced under the Saintlight Tree to receive judgment. Tomorrow, this little girl will also be forced to undergo the Judgment of the Holy Light. Come to think of it, these two share quite a lot in common."Thinking of Xia Ta, the Village Chief let out a heavy sigh. He stood up and paced around the room. Back then, the decision to force Xia Ta into the Holy Light's judgment was, while a collective one, his role as Village Chief had undoubtedly swayed public opinion. In the end, facts proved they had pushed the wrong person. That mistake ultimately brought a great calamity upon the village."Can that mistake from back then be blamed on me! I'm just an ordinary person who closes his eyes and sleeps at night, not some divine being! This damn blame can only be shouldered by Satan!" The more the Village Chief thought, the angrier he became. He slammed his fist heavily on the table. A few remaining copper coins on the tabletop were jarred loose and fell to the floor with a clatter.The Village Chief bent down to pick up the fallen coins: "Hmph. These last three coins Lei Meng got from the guests..." The Village Chief stared at the three copper coins, suddenly letting out a sound of shock and doubt."So that's how it is."The corners of the Village Chief's mouth slowly curved upwards, as if he saw another opportunity for profit laid out before him."I finally understand why that little girl was suspected of being a wolf-kin! Ha ha ha ha!" The Village Chief clasped his hands behind his back and laughed uproariously towards the ceiling.Just as the Village Chief was reveling in his triumph, outside his cabin, the shadow of a wolf's head appeared.