Chapter 20: Demonic Beast — Secretary Bird

Being able to speak was, without a doubt, one of the greatest hallmarks of a Demonic Beast.

Mo Lin had already anticipated that he would not be the only Demonic Beast in this world, but he had not expected to encounter another one so soon.

The Secretary Bird across from him tilted its head again after seeing Mo Lin remain silent for quite some time:

“Can’t speak? A half-demon?”

Mo Lin pondered for a while, and finally, he slowly opened his serpentine mouth, uttering the first words he had ever spoken in this world:

“Secretary Bird, instead of staying properly on the grasslands, what are you doing deep in the mountains and forests?”

The Secretary Bird rubbed its talons against the crocodile’s head, a flicker of vigilance flashing in its eyes:

“A Great Demon?”

A Great Demon?

Why would it call him that?

Mo Lin could sense that after he had spoken, the Secretary Bird’s body immediately shifted from its previously relaxed posture into one that was taut, ready to attack or flee at any moment.

He quickly realized the reason.

Judging by the Secretary Bird’s speech style, it seemed to have only just become a Demonic Beast and was not yet capable of speaking many words.

He himself, though speaking for the first time, had the fluency of a human tongue due to his experiences in his past life.

In the eyes of the Secretary Bird, only a Demonic Beast that had cultivated for many years could speak so smoothly.

No wonder the Secretary Bird had gone from leisurely to cautious.

If not for its ability to fly, it might already have considered fleeing.

Thinking this, although he was facing a natural enemy of snakes, Mo Lin felt a faint sense of calm.

As long as the Secretary Bird before him was not truly a Great Demon, then even if he could not defeat it, he could at least protect himself.

Thus, he coldly opened his mouth:

“You launched a sneak attack while I was eating—are you declaring yourself my enemy?”

A wave of chilling aura surged toward the Secretary Bird, causing it to instantly spread its wings and flap repeatedly.

Yet in the end, calmness prevailed, and it did not fly away.

Instead, it spoke:

“Mountains, Earth Veins, Cooperation?”

What did that mean?

The Secretary Bird wanted to cooperate with him?

Earth Veins?

Upon hearing its words, inspiration flashed in Mo Lin’s mind.

Could it be that this Secretary Bird had originally lived on the grasslands, but had come to the mountains specifically to seek Earth Veins to aid in its cultivation?

Mo Lin had already speculated that Earth Veins and fortune might aid his own cultivation.

Now, after hearing the Secretary Bird’s words, his conviction deepened.

It seemed he was not the only one coveting the Earth Veins.

There had to be other Demonic Beasts in these mountains as well.

But to contend with them for Earth Veins, his current strength was still far from enough.

Thinking this, Mo Lin’s gaze toward the Secretary Bird grew even colder.

Although the Secretary Bird had taken the initiative to offer cooperation, Mo Lin had no intention of accepting.

An invitation from a natural enemy—who could say whether it was truly for cooperation, or just to turn him into its meal?

The Secretary Bird’s goodwill at this moment existed only because Mo Lin had spoken fluent human words, leaving it unsure of his true strength.

The instant it confirmed that Mo Lin was weaker than itself, would it not sink those talons straight into his skull?

Thus, Mo Lin coiled his body, making himself appear larger and more intimidating than the Secretary Bird perched on the crocodile’s head:

“Secretary Bird, out of regard for your difficult cultivation, begone at once.”

“Cry—!”

But his words seemed to strike a nerve in the Secretary Bird.

Hesitant only moments before, upon hearing this, it suddenly went mad, flapping its wings wildly as it dove straight at Mo Lin.

What the hell!

Mo Lin cursed inwardly.

Why was this Secretary Bird not following common sense?

But since the enemy had already chosen to strike first, Mo Lin had no reason to retreat.

Besides, that crocodile beneath the Secretary Bird’s talons was far too delicious to abandon.

So, Mo Lin fiercely lunged toward the Secretary Bird.

Although this Secretary Bird was a Demonic Beast, its most formidable hunting weapon was still its pair of deadly “spring legs.”

The powerful muscles of its thighs could drive its talons to strike out with speed faster than a snake, delivering a lethal blow to any serpent.

But the Secretary Bird was not facing an ordinary snake—it was facing Mo Lin, who had devoured his way from a little Grass Snake into a mighty Python!

Mo Lin’s tail coiled flexibly across the ground, allowing him to narrowly evade the Secretary Bird’s talon strike, before he lunged forward to bite at its leg.

Yet the Secretary Bird’s legs were covered in tough skin.

Even Mo Lin’s fangs failed to pierce its defense.

Instead, the Secretary Bird retracted its leg, dragging Mo Lin’s clamped jaws toward its body, before stabbing down with its beak.

Helpless, Mo Lin released the leg and began searching for another opening.

The Secretary Bird’s legs, aside from its beak, were the toughest parts of its body.

To defeat it, he would either need to strangle it or inject venom elsewhere.

But with the Secretary Bird’s speed and mobility, strangling was nearly impossible.

Venom it had to be.

Although Mo Lin had used too much venom on the crocodile earlier, leaving him still a little dizzy, he had already devised a plan against the Secretary Bird.

“Hissss—”

Mo Lin flicked his tongue, slowly retreating toward the forest.

“Cry—!”

Seeing its opponent retreat, the Secretary Bird thought it had gained the upper hand.

Excited, it beat its wings, pursuing eagerly.

To it, devouring a Snake Demon would be a tremendous boon.

So it rushed headlong into the grove.

Unaware, it had walked straight into Mo Lin’s trap.

The Secretary Bird was more mobile than Mo Lin.

On the open ground by the pool, Mo Lin would have been at a disadvantage.

But within the dense forest, the trees and bushes became obstacles to the bird.

For Mo Lin, however, they provided cover, turning his attacks from one-dimensional strikes into three-dimensional assaults.

Once inside the woods, Mo Lin concealed himself behind a tree, climbing swiftly onto a branch.

From above, he watched as the Secretary Bird searched below.

Now!

“Swish—!”

As the Secretary Bird passed beneath the tree, Mo Lin leapt down, jaws wide.

As long as he avoided the beak and talons, what part of its body could withstand his fangs?

“Cry—!”

The Secretary Bird let out a shrill, pained cry, thrashing desperately to shake Mo Lin off, but in vain.

Scarlet blood seeped across its snowy feathers, its strength draining rapidly.

Seizing the chance, Mo Lin struck again, sinking his fangs deep into its neck.

“Thud.”

The Secretary Bird collapsed weakly to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Its greed and carelessness had tolled the bell of its death.

......

Half a day later, a Taoist holding a compass passed through the forest.

The compass responded, its needle quivering.

Ding Fan’s eyes sharpened:

“Quickly, come! The compass has reacted.”

Hearing this, Xu Han and the others rushed over.

Guided by the compass, they arrived at the pool where Mo Lin, the crocodile, and the Secretary Bird had fought earlier.

Naturally, they saw the mangled remains of both crocodile and Secretary Bird.

Ding Fan placed the compass beside the Secretary Bird, examining it with a grave expression.

Hong Tianyun swallowed nervously:

“My lord, what do you make of it?”

Ding Fan pointed at the skeletal remains of the Secretary Bird:

“This too was a Demonic Beast. Judging by its state, it had only just begun its cultivation.”

Hong Tianyun was stunned:

“What kind of monster could devour a Demonic Beast?”

No one answered.

To eat a Demonic Beast—it had to be another Demonic Beast.

“If the one that ate the Secretary Bird is the same Snake Demon that entered Hong Sanjiang’s house, then to devour even its natural enemy... its strength is certainly formidable.”

Xu Han glanced at the three men of the Hong family:

“I advise you to leave the mountain while you can. If battle breaks out, my senior brother and I may not be able to protect you.”

But faced with his warning, Hong Wen clenched his teeth:

“I will not leave. I must see that Snake Demon slain with my own eyes. Life and death are destined. If danger comes, my lords need not worry about me.”

Saying this, he turned to Hong Sheng:

“Hong Sheng, you go back with Uncle Yun. You have a bright future ahead of you. Staying here will only put you at needless risk.”

Hong Sheng wanted to protest, but Hong Wen looked to Hong Tianyun:

“Uncle Yun, please take Hong Sheng back.

If...

anything happens, I ask you to look after him and the others.”

Seeing the hatred burning in Hong Wen’s eyes, Hong Tianyun sighed softly.

It seemed he had underestimated the impact of last winter, when Hong Wen had personally witnessed his father’s death at the fangs of a poisonous snake.

So much so that Hong Wen now longed to see every snake in the mountain slaughtered.

Hong Tianyun no longer tried to persuade him.

Instead, he patted Hong Sheng’s shoulder:

“Your brother is right. We’ve done what we could. Let’s not hinder the lords in their demon hunt. Let’s go.”

After Hong Tianyun and Hong Sheng departed, Ding Fan gave Hong Wen a meaningful glance but said nothing more.

He raised the compass, pointing in one direction:

“The Secretary Bird died about six hours ago. The demon that killed it cannot have gone far.”

“The compass has already shown us the way. Let’s move.”

With that, the three men vanished into the shadows of the forest.

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