MTLNOVEL Chapter 268: The Law of the Jungle
"Ahhhh!!"
The demon bird writhed in agony.
The flying sword had pierced through its shoulder, blood gushing out like a fountain.
At the same time, a faint ray of light shone through the cave entrance, illuminating the demon bird's form.
The boy finally got a clear look at the monster that had abducted him.
It looked more human than expected, its feathers not the pitch black described by storytellers.
Weren't such demons supposed to be wreathed in dark energy and hideously ugly?
Why did this creature appear... not frightening at all?
Instead, its plumage shimmered with rainbow hues.
Yet the blade still radiated razor-sharp sword energy.
The moment its hand touched the weapon, its palm was instantly sliced open, blood flowing freely.
Coiling its tail around the boy, the demon bird hastily scrambled out of the cave—only to find its path blocked.
A young Daoist stood before it, holding a talisman.
The Glazed Feather Bird froze at the sight.
"The Way of Heaven is impartial—good and evil will always meet their reckoning!"
Li Xuanxiao declared.
Memories flashed vividly before his eyes.
The young Daoist frowned upon recognizing the Glazed Feather Bird.
Reacting swiftly, the bird tightened its tail's grip around the boy.
"Make another move, and I'll kill him..."
Before the words fully left its mouth, excruciating pain shot through its tail.
The delayed sensation registered—its tail had already been severed moments ago.
"AHHHH!!"
The Glazed Feather Bird lunged at the young Daoist, maw gaping wide.
At the last instant, it spewed a stream of crimson blood.
The liquid solidified midair into countless razor-sharp blades, raining down upon the Daoist with deadly precision.
The blood blades gleamed coldly, whistling through the air with lethal speed.
The Daoist flicked his fingers.
The talisman in his hand sprang to life, transforming into a blinding golden light.
It shot forth like a cannonball, striking the Glazed Feather Bird square in the chest.
The creature was hurled dozens of meters backward before it could even scream.
Crashing heavily to the ground, its colorful feathers scattered like snowflakes.
Moments later, Su Wan arrived on the scene.
"Thick demonic energy, reeking of blood—this stench turns my stomach," she remarked, her delicate brows furrowed with killing intent as she glared at the fallen creature. "Who knows how many innocents have perished here?"
Her gaze shifted to the cave entrance.
The narrow passage barely accommodated a single person, resembling more of a tunnel.
But when Su Wan entered, the sight inside stunned her.
Though compact, the cave was packed floor-to-ceiling with human remains.
Soon, she emerged with the rescued boy.
"Junior Brother, finish it," Su Wan said coldly.
The Glazed Feather Bird raised its eyes to meet the young Daoist's gaze.
"May I ask one question?" Li Xuanxiao spoke first.
"Cough...cough..."
"You were on the verge of human transformation. Years of arduous cultivation and accumulated virtue—why throw it all away?"
The bird spat blood. "My family is gone. I've no heart left to argue right from wrong."
Su Wan stepped forward, her voice icy:
"Because your family died, you slaughtered all these innocents?
Did you consider their families? You deserve death!"
She raised her sword to strike.
Li Xuanxiao stayed her hand, remembering the Glazed Feather Bird's family.
Though their encounter had been brief, just a few exchanged words...
He trusted his judgment—otherwise he wouldn't have answered the bird's questions that day.
"Tell me everything."
Knowing death approached, the Glazed Feather Bird recounted events from years past.
The painful memories had tormented it endlessly.
Do good deeds bring good rewards, and evil deeds evil retribution?
When the Glazed Feather Bird emerged from the lake, it found its wife and two children dead.
Moments earlier, it had been elated by an immortal's guidance.
Doubt had gnawed at it even then.
If its motivations were purely for achieving immortality and human transformation...
Would virtuous acts still accumulate merit?
Would they still matter?
But the immortal's words had dispelled its concerns:
"Judge deeds, not thoughts—no flawless men exist if judged by thoughts alone!"
Joy turned to ashes when its children were slaughtered before its eyes.
Its wife—laughing moments before—lay dead at its feet.
It couldn't accept this.
Though not yet fully humanoid, it was registered under Mount Shushan's protection.
Its family had awakened intelligence, never harming humans. As a rare spirit beast accumulating virtue...
By Mount Shushan's laws, the killers owed blood debt!
It carried its family's corpses to the authorities.
They were thrown out that very day.
If justice wouldn't punish those bastards, it would exact vengeance itself.
Then it learned the killers' identities:
Chu Feng. Zhao Ying.
Scions of prominent noble families.
Against their power, revenge seemed impossible.
Despondent, the bird recalled the young Daoist's words:
"The Way of Heaven is impartial—good and evil will always meet their reckoning!"
It longed to demand of Heaven:
What wrong had it or its family committed?
Through grueling effort, it awakened its family's intelligence.
Through hardship, it earned Mount Shushan's recognition.
Never committing atrocities, cultivating quietly...
Taking its family boating on the lake...
Only for them to be murdered.
Because... the killers were in a bad mood.
Because they couldn't bear seeing another family's happiness.
"Then I'll create my own justice," it decided.
Heretic cultivation!
The Glazed Feather Bird turned to dark arts, feeding on human blood to strengthen itself.
Initially, it resisted complete corruption.
Targeting only wrongdoers—bullies, thieves, bandits.
But gradually... it wasn't enough.
Nowhere near enough.
If Heaven showed no justice, why cling to virtue?!
"I must grow stronger. I will avenge my family. The strong devour the weak."