Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 529 Humanity and Bestiality

Time flies, and before we knew it, ten years had passed quietly like a stream.

Xiao Jie had completely integrated into this wild and untamed landscape. Standing amidst the forest, his figure resembled a lurking beast. Years of living a life of hunting and gathering, climbing rocks and traversing streams, had forged him into a man of muscular, exceptionally strong physique. His bronze skin was etched with the marks of time and old scars. His thick beard grew wildly like weeds, and his tangled long hair cascaded down to his shoulders, obscuring half of his sharply defined face. Standing there, without any effort, an authentic and fierce wild aura emanated from him.

What is even more astonishing are his inhuman features: his eyes gleam with a faint green light in the darkness, like a nocturnal lynx, seeing the night as day; when he gazes into the distance, his eyes are as sharp as a soaring eagle, and birds flying several miles away cannot escape his sight.

Its fingernails are as hard as iron, slightly curved, and exceptionally sharp, easily tearing through tough animal hides and gutting its prey. Its legs are muscular and powerfully coiled, containing explosive strength; without needing to consciously use any light-footed techniques, a casual leap can traverse ravines several meters wide.

Yet at this moment, this man, who resembled a ferocious beast, was unusually quiet, crouching beside a bush, his gaze intently fixed on a low branch nearby. On the branch, a dusty gray cocoon was trembling slightly, and a newly hatched butterfly was struggling to break free of its confinement and embrace its new life.

Several gray wolves following behind tilted their heads, looking at their "two-legged leader" with confusion. In their simple minds, they simply couldn't understand: that fluttering little thing had neither meat nor delicious taste, so what was there to focus on? It would be more practical to chase a rabbit.

Xiao Jie was certainly not foraging for food. Ten years of seclusion had often plunged him into deep contemplation and reflection. The long years had greatly deepened his sense of belonging to this world. He was now over forty, while the "real world" version of himself in his memory was only in his early twenties, not yet thirty.

Everything from the past—the faces of my teammates, the light and shadow on the computer screen, the hustle and bustle of the modern city—has become incredibly distant and blurry, like a faded painting, or a bizarre dream.

That's why he often pondered the question: how could he be sure that the other world was real, and this life was an illusion?

Perhaps... this is the real place? This thought often lingers in my mind like a vine.

But then, another voice struggled in his heart: No! It's not like that! Nightfall, Anran, I Want to Become an Immortal... and... who else? He shook his head in frustration, and the names of some teammates became blurry in his memory, like sand slipping through his fingers, hard to grasp.

Oh right, Xia Yi Wushuang, Wen Tian Wuji, and—Hao Mie and Bai Ze, they're still waiting for me! Waiting for me to save them! You have to hold on, Yin Yue Sui Feng.

"Flutter!" A soft flapping of wings interrupted his thoughts. The butterfly had finally broken free from the shackles of its cocoon, unfolding its wet yet colorful wings, and trembling in the breeze before finally merging into the clear blue sky.

Xiao Jie's gaze followed the small figure, and the ancient question in his heart resurfaced: Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly... Am I Zhuang Zhou who dreamed of a butterfly, or Zhuang Zhou's butterfly?

"Awooo—!" A long, slightly urgent wolf howl suddenly came from the depths of the valley, instantly waking Xiao Jie from his reverie! It was Bai Ling! He instantly understood the change in the tone of the howl—a powerful enemy was at hand!

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Jie shot out like an arrow, rushing towards the source of the sound! Several gray wolves followed closely behind, transforming into swift gray shadows in the forest.

"Awooo—!" Another wolf howl rang out, this time with a clear sense of desolation and anxiety!

Xiao Jie's heart skipped a beat, and he increased his speed by another three points!

He quickly reached the edge of the cliff and looked out into the distant forest. His eagle-like vision allowed him to see the distant scenery from a great distance.

From afar, he saw Bai Ling's familiar figure leading several other wolves in a disheveled escape! This sight filled him with suspicion and uncertainty. Although Bai Ling hadn't truly transformed into a demon, it possessed intelligence and was far larger than ordinary wolves, easily over two meters tall, with strong muscles and sharp claws and teeth. Even ordinary ferocious beasts like tigers and leopards might not be its match! What could have made it flee for its life in such a panic?

The answer will be revealed soon!

"Woof woof woof! Woof woof!" A burst of excited and intense barking followed closely behind! Then, several strong men wearing colorful tiger skins, carrying powerful bows and crossbows, and carrying hunting forks appeared nimbly in Xiao Jie's field of vision.

It's a human! Xiao Jie's pupils contracted slightly, his heart feeling as if it had been squeezed by an invisible hand. For ten whole years, he hadn't seen a fellow human! This sudden encounter brought a sense of alienation and an instinctive wariness.

But that feeling of unease vanished in an instant. So what if they're human? His eyes instantly turned cold and resolute. The wolf pack that has shared life and death with me for the past ten years, weathering both heat and cold, is my family!
He leaped into the air, soaring over the steep cliff like a great bird, and plunged into the forest below.

"Haha! What a magnificent, pure white spirit wolf! Look at its fur, its spirit! Its pelt could fetch a fortune! Little White Dragon—we brothers are going to strike it rich today!" The leader, a burly man with a thick beard and a face full of scars, roared excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed.

“Fugui’er! With this money, you can go to the city to study and eventually pass the imperial examinations to become a master!” another lean hunter shouted to a boy next to him wearing a wolfskin hat and carrying a small hunting bow.

The boy named Fugui was about eleven or twelve years old, but he stubbornly muttered, "I don't want to be an official! I want to learn hunting from my second and third uncles! I also want to wear a majestic tiger-skin coat!"

"Nonsense!" the bearded hunter shouted angrily. "What future is there in hunting? The beasts in these mountains are getting fiercer and fiercer. Who knows when you'll run into a man-eating monster! Studying and becoming an official is what brings honor to your ancestors! Enough talk, hurry! Don't let that treasure get away!"

Bai Ling dashed left and right through the forest, trying to shake off her pursuers. Suddenly, seven or eight well-trained hunting dogs sprang out of the bushes ahead, baring their fangs and barking wildly, blocking her path! Bai Ling's heart sank—this was a common hunting tactic used by wolf packs! These two-legged humans were so cunning!
It abruptly changed direction, rushing towards a seemingly rugged but potentially escapeable hillside on its right. But it had only taken a few steps when its footing gave way! "Snap!" A sickening metallic snap! A heavy trap had clamped tightly around its right foreleg! The excruciating pain caused it to let out a piercing scream! In a panic, it lowered its head and began to tear at the cold metal, its hard fangs scraping against the steel with a grating sound, but to no avail!

The barking of dogs and the shouts of hunters followed closely, growing ever closer!
"Awooo—!" Bai Ling let out a resolute howl, abandoning its futile struggle. It turned around abruptly, revealing its gleaming white fangs, and assumed a desperate stance against the approaching enemy! Several surviving gray wolves also gathered around it, baring their teeth and letting out low, threatening growls, forming a small defensive circle.

"Hahaha! You hit it! Li Laosan, you set that trap with damn accuracy!" The hunters swarmed around in ecstasy.

"Awoo!" At Bai Ling's command, several gray wolves pounced on the hunter like arrows released from a bow, fearlessly!

"You're asking for death!" The hunters were already on guard, and with a sneer, they fired their crossbows in unison!

"Whoosh whoosh—!"

The sound of arrows piercing the air was incessant! Precise and ruthless! Several gray wolves that pounced out were shot into pincushions in mid-air, howling and rolling on the ground, twitching a few times before falling silent.

"Waaah—!" Bai Ling witnessed her offspring's gruesome death and let out a heart-wrenching howl! Her blood-red wolf eyes were fixed on the bearded hunter wielding a crossbow!

Several hunters raised their hands to fire arrows, but the bearded hunter hurriedly shouted, "Don't shoot randomly! The pelt is more important!" As he spoke, he slowly circled around to the side of the white wolf, and the crossbow bolt was steadily aimed at Bai Ling's eye!
"Pfft!"

A crossbow bolt pierced Bai Ling's left eye with pinpoint accuracy, its powerful force shooting through her brain!

"Good!" the hunters cheered in unison. The bearded hunter smugly sheathed his crossbow, strode forward, drew his skinning knife from his waist, and prepared to claim his priceless trophy. However, just as his hand was halfway out, a chilling, terrifying sense of crisis, originating from the depths of his soul, suddenly descended upon him! It was as if he were being watched by a prehistoric beast, making his hair stand on end and his blood almost freeze!
He looked up suddenly!
Not far away, a figure appeared on the gnarled branches of a towering ancient tree! A human with long, disheveled hair, tattered clothes, and an aura of intense wildness and bloodlust! No! That gaze... that aura... was clearly more terrifying than the most ferocious demon beast!
"Brother...brother!" The bearded hunter's voice was hoarse, forcing himself to remain calm. "We are hunting here and have no intention of offending a master! We don't know..."

Xiao Jie's gaze swept over the wolf carcasses lying haphazardly on the ground, finally settling on Bai Ling's still slightly twitching, blood-gushing remains. A furious rage, like a dormant volcano, erupted within him! Ten years of companionship, the debt of gratitude for saving his life, the bond of family… all destroyed in an instant!
He silently floated down from the tree branch, like a ghost, landing lightly a few feet in front of the hunters. A chilling killing intent, like a tangible cold wave, instantly enveloped the entire forest.

"Brother!" The bearded hunter's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he gripped his hunting fork tightly. "Could it be that this white wolf was your prey first? If so, you only need to say a word, and we will retreat immediately without a second thought!"

Here we go again! Xiao Jie sneered inwardly, his killing intent intensifying. He couldn't speak, nor did he have any interest in speaking!
At this moment, all he wanted to do was kill.

The bearded hunter read the undisguised destructive intent in his cold eyes and knew there was no way to resolve this peacefully. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he roared, "This guy's tough! Fire arrows! Unleash the dogs! Kill him!"

Before the bearded man could finish speaking, the other hunters moved with incredible speed, pulling their triggers almost simultaneously! Seven or eight poisoned arrows and crossbow bolts, whistling sharply through the air, shot in a fan shape towards Xiao Jie's vital points! At the same time, the seven or eight ferocious hunting dogs, barking wildly at their master's whistles, pounced from different directions like arrows released from a bow, their blood-red mouths wide open, aiming straight for Xiao Jie's lower body!
Faced with this deadly encirclement from both above and below, Xiao Jie's eyes remained calm, filled only with a chilling killing intent! His beast-like instincts allowed him to anticipate the trajectory of the arrows the instant they left the bowstring! He suddenly ducked, spinning rapidly along the ground as if boneless! Several crossbow bolts whistled past his scalp and back, embedding themselves deeply in the tree trunks behind him! At the same time, his remaining left arm shot out with lightning speed, his five fingers like hooks, the nails hardened and sharpened by years of cultivating qi gleaming with a metallic coldness!

"Sizzle! Sizzle! Awooo—!"

The sound of claws tearing flesh mingled instantly with the howls of the hunting dogs! Xiao Jie's movements were as fast as a ghost, precise and ruthless! Each swipe of his claws brought up a spray of blood! He was like a grim reaper moving through the pack of dogs, grabbing, tearing, and slicing! In an instant, three of the leading hunting dogs were disemboweled, their intestines spilling out! Several others were also slashed by the claws, howling and rolling away!
"What?!" The hunters were utterly horrified! They had never witnessed such ferocious and swift hand-to-hand combat! This was no human; it was a humanoid beast!

"The rest of you keep firing arrows! Third and fourth, follow me and spear him!" the bearded hunter roared. He and two other hunters dropped their bows and crossbows, grabbed the steel forks behind them, and attacked from three sides.

Since these people dared to venture deep into this wild forest to hunt ferocious beasts, they must have some skills. They not only possess archery skills that could hit a target from a hundred paces away, but also close combat abilities to fight tigers and bears. With a set of thirty-six styles of tiger-taming spear techniques, combined with the steel forks in their hands, ordinary wild beasts were no match for them.

At this moment, the three hunters' steel forks, like venomous dragons emerging from their caves, lashed out fiercely at Xiao Jie's chest and abdomen with a vicious gust of wind! The other hunters raised their crossbows again, aiming and looking for an opportunity!

Xiao Jie swayed, easily dodging the two fork tips! The broken knife was already in his left hand! The blade flashed, like a cold moon piercing the darkness! There were no complicated moves, only the most direct and deadly killing instinct! The broken knife, with a shrill whistle, precisely knocked aside a hunting fork and swiftly sliced ​​across a hunter's throat!

"Ugh..." The hunter clutched his bleeding neck, his eyes wide with disbelief, before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Seeing this, the bearded hunter was terrified and wildly swung his steel fork, trying to force Xiao Jie back. But Xiao Jie was like a leech, lunging forward with a crouching stance, his broken blade flashing upwards in a chilling arc!

"Thud!" The bearded man's arm holding the fork was severed at the elbow! Blood gushed out! He let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered!
Without hesitation, Xiao Jie moved like the wind, lunging towards the two crossbowmen who were frantically nocking their weapons. A flurry of blades flashed! Like the scythe of death! One crossbowman was pierced through the heart by a broken blade, while the other had half his head severed!

The last hunter attacked from behind, but Xiao Jie seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He suddenly turned around and swung his hand, sending the broken blade straight into the man's throat.

The battle broke out quickly and ended even faster! In just a few breaths, all six adult hunters, along with their hounds, were dead! A thick stench of blood filled the woods.

Xiao Jie sheathed his sword and stood there, his cold gaze sweeping over the mess and corpses scattered on the ground. No, one more is missing.

His gaze finally settled behind a large tree. There, the boy named Fugui was huddled, his face ashen, his body trembling violently, clutching a small dagger tightly in his hand, staring at Xiao Jie with fear and hatred.

Xiao Jie walked slowly, step by step, toward him. The heavy footsteps were like drumbeats, striking the boy's fragile heart.

The boy, seeing Xiao Jie approaching like a demon from hell, let out a terrified scream, gripped the dagger tightly with both hands, closed his eyes, and used all his strength to stab at Xiao Jie! The movement was clumsy and powerless.

Xiao Jie didn't even try to block; he simply raised his foot casually and kicked the boy's wrist precisely!

"Clang!" The dagger flew out of his hand and landed far away in the grass.

The immense force sent the boy staggering, and he fell to the ground. Despairingly, he looked up and saw the blood-stained broken blade, gleaming with deathly coldness, flashing down like lightning towards his neck!
"Ah—!" The boy let out a shrill scream and tightly closed his eyes.

However, the expected excruciating pain did not occur.

The cold blade stopped abruptly less than an inch from the boy's neck! Drops of blood from the blade fell onto the boy's pale face.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Xiao Jie's hand, gripping the knife, trembled slightly.

At that moment, he saw the other person's face clearly. It was clearly just a child.

The young, terrified, tear-streaked face before him struck him like a heavy hammer, slamming into the depths of his heart, blinded by bestiality and hatred! Ten years in the wilderness, dancing with wolves, killing had become an instinct. Those hunters and hounds were nothing more than enemies threatening his family, whom he killed without hesitation.

But this child... he's only eleven or twelve years old. When did I become so cruel, to the point of not even sparing a child?

This thought struck Xiao Jie like a thunderbolt, awakening a nearly forgotten sense of humanity deep within his heart. A powerful surge of emotion, a mixture of shock and self-doubt, welled up within him—when had he become so cruel? So indifferent to the life of a fellow human child? Had these ten years of beast-like existence completely eroded his humanity? How was this bloody slaughter fundamentally different from the atrocities committed by the Drunken Sword Immortal back then?
Looking at the boy's face contorted with fear, and at his frail body that posed no threat, the overwhelming killing intent in Xiao Jie's heart dissipated rapidly like the receding tide, replaced by a heavy, cold weariness, and a deep confusion about his own actions.

Killing the boy in front of him would be easy, but would that mean that he too would completely succumb to becoming a true beast?

He patted the boy's face, grabbed his hair, turned his face back to where he came from, and then kicked the boy in the butt.

The boy stumbled from the kick, turned around and saw that Xiao Jie hadn't chased after him. He immediately realized what was happening, let out a terrified scream, and stumbled and crawled into the depths of the dense forest, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Jie was neither sure nor concerned about whether the boy could survive in this forest teeming with wild beasts.

He simply didn't want to lose his last shred of humanity.

(End of this chapter)