Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Terrifying Monster Bird

"Mr. Ma, who exactly is Mr. Ji? How can he be so formidable?"
At this moment, Zhou Xin, having finally recovered her wits, approached Ma Hongyu and gazed in astonishment at Ji Yu, whose silhouette remained fixed on the window. She lowered her voice and questioned Ma Hongyu.

"What else could he be? Just an ordinary person, really. He's just a bit stronger than most."
"Ordinary? An ordinary person could boldly crush that insect the moment it appeared, and shatter the floor tile with a single stomp? Mr. Ma, do you honestly believe that?" Zhou Xin retorted.

Ma Hongyu, however, seemed unperturbed. "You’re just easily surprised. There are plenty of remarkable people in this world. Just because you haven’t seen them doesn’t mean they don’t exist."

Ma Hongyu understood Ji Yu’s temperament well; he knew him not to be the sort who likes to show off. After all, if Ji Yu enjoyed attention, would he have lived so quietly and unremarkably until now?
Now, as Ma Hongyu recalled the incident with the Violet Moon, the rumors of the mystical oak tree circulating online, and the terrifying creatures prowling outside, he couldn’t help but wonder if Ji Yu was one of those awakened protagonists from the novels—someone granted extraordinary abilities.

If Ji Yu wished to avoid flaunting his talents or attracting official scrutiny, then his lifelong modesty would make perfect sense.
The thought that Ji Yu had exposed himself for the sake of their safety—and might now face further trouble—filled Ma Hongyu with gratitude.

"A true brother, a loyal friend—I would never betray you."
With this conviction, Ma Hongyu deliberately raised his voice for the benefit of those nearby, many of whom were straining to overhear:

"You may not know this, but my brother Ji has always possessed unusual strength since childhood. Do you know what natural-born power is? He’s also diligent, often training to his limits. The force behind his punch is, I daresay, no weaker than the world boxing champion."

"Do you understand what a boxing champion is? Someone who can deliver a punch with five to eight hundred kilograms of force. My brother Ji is that kind of man."

"Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t."
"And don’t let his tall, slender frame fool you—if he were to lift his shirt, the muscle beneath would shock you."

Ma Hongyu spoke with utmost sincerity, as if he himself believed every word.
The crowd remained skeptical, their expressions uncertain.
Did he take them for fools?

After all, floor tiles are affixed to the ground with no give—unlike the soft pads in a gym.
How much force would it take to shatter one with a single step?

Even if someone possessed extraordinary strength, wouldn’t their own leg suffer the backlash?
Swelling might be minor—under such force, a fracture would be the norm.

Despite Ma Hongyu’s explanation and Ji Yu’s silent gaze out the window, the crowd refrained from pressing further.
Danger still lingered; who could predict what might happen next? It was best not to speak unnecessarily.

Whether they believed or not, it mattered little to them.
For now, they depended on Ji Yu’s protection and knew better than to provoke him.
Small people lived by small rules; those wise in the ways of society understood when to stay silent and trust.

Although Zhou Xin was a university student and somewhat naïve, she also knew better than to ask openly—especially in front of so many others.
So, after Ma Hongyu’s answer, she laughed it off, muttered something about understanding, and quietly shuffled over to her friend Wang Qiaoqian, whispering:

"Tch, Ma Fatty hasn’t uttered a single truth—his words at the dinner table earlier still ring in my ears."

"Besides, with the chaos outside, the threat from the Violet Moon must be far greater than the authorities admit. And the mystical oak tree reported in the rainforest probably does exist."

"So I suspect Mr. Ji is far more than what Ma Hongyu claims."
Wang Qiaoqian’s face grew thoughtful as she listened.
Then, as though she had reached a conclusion, she took Zhou Xin’s hand, leaned close and cautioned:

"Xin Xin, some things are best kept to yourself. Don’t speak carelessly anymore—especially after tonight, you must be more discreet."

"Of course, I’m not that foolish," Zhou Xin nodded.
Her acquaintance with Ji Yu was brief, but his quiet demeanor and steady bearing made it clear he was a deeply thoughtful, cautious man.

If he chose not to speak, others would do well not to pry.
Careless words might offend Ji Yu, and that was the last thing Zhou Xin wanted.

Though the whispers behind him were soft, with Ji Yu’s enhanced senses, not a single word escaped his notice.
Yet his attention was fixed not on the murmurings within the shop, but on the scene outside.

He observed, with vision several times sharper than ordinary, the monstrous birds feasting on the slug corpses in the street.
The slug swarm was gone, dead or fled; the street had returned to eerie silence.

These creatures were covered in feathers of deep black-purple, which gleamed under the streetlights with a metallic sheen.
Standing upright, they towered over two meters tall, their legs thick and claws curved like scimitars.

Though their bodies were much larger than typical birds, their heads were utterly alien—soft, fleshy spheres rather than beaks.
Four elongated eyes were evenly spaced around the head, and their mouths sat at the center.

As the spherical heads opened and closed, five fleshy tendrils emerged—like tongues.
As they bent low, these tendrils curled up the remains of slugs and drew them into their mouths.

The pulsating mass of their heads showed how they devoured their prey.
Witnessing their terrifying forms, Ji Yu’s heart raced faster.

Yet one small comfort remained: beneath the Violet Moon and streetlights, the figures of these five monstrous birds flickered in and out, as if half-real, half-illusory.

Across the street, a shop with shattered glass lay exposed to the birds’ gaze.
With the aid of the street and restaurant lights, Ji Yu could see the crowd huddled in a private room, peering through the door crack at the monsters outside.

Though such behavior seemed reckless, the birds paid no heed to humans; two, while feasting, even coldly watched the people through the crack.

Ji Yu took a deep breath and felt his nerves settle.
"All is well for now—these monsters seem unable to interfere with reality."

"I only hope that after this, my second incarnation will be a creature capable of action. Otherwise, relying on myself alone is far too difficult."