Chapter 65 Restoration to Normal

The black mist gradually dissipated, revealing the true appearance of the Bi-wing Bird, which lay prone and listless on the ground.

It possessed cyan and crimson feathers, looking somewhat like a wild duck, with only one eye and one wing.

It was not at all pretty; one could even say it was somewhat bizarre.

It truly contrasted rather poorly with its millennia-old renowned beauty.

......

Even though the handed-down literature did not provide a detailed description of the Bi-wing Bird's appearance, most modern people would subconsciously assume that a bird bearing the world's most magnificent love must also be exceptionally beautiful. Even Xiao Xiao had thought so previously.

As a result, the Bi-wing Bird, yearned for by countless people, turned out to be so ordinary in appearance. Xiao Xiao had to admit he felt somewhat disappointed.

Even though the Bi-wing Bird's previous actions had already disappointed Xiao Xiao once, he still held a certain expectation for its true form.

It didn't necessarily have to be pretty, but it ought to be special. Even something of the Gu-diao type would have been better than this mediocre appearance.

One might as well believe that the Ling-niao represented the love-symbolizing Bi-wing Bird, which would be far more convincing.

......

While Xiao Xiao was deeply disappointed, Luo Xiaoluan, now separated from the demon, collapsed to the ground like a pillar that had lost its support, fainting dead away.

Xiao Xiao stepped forward to inspect her. Luo Xiaoluan's body had already returned to normal. Through the torn gaps in her clothes, one could see her slightly protruding shoulder blades, her smooth skin unmarked by the slightest blemish. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, it would have been hard to imagine a wing had once sprouted from this very spot.

Luo Xiaoluan's fingernails, hanging by her sides, were neatly trimmed to a moderate, rounded shape, flushed with a pale pink, no longer long and sharp, nor dyed in that pitch-black hue like thick, toxic venom.

Because of the fierce combat earlier, Luo Xiaoluan's body could be described as covered in wounds. Fortunately, protected by the demonic aura, these injuries only looked terrifying; in reality, most of the cuts were not deep, with only a few being relatively serious—truly a misfortune within a blessing.

Moreover, her face—a young woman's most prized asset—only bore a few shallow scratches. With modern medical aesthetic technology, they would leave absolutely no scars.

Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He still clearly remembered the previous incident with Lin Zhenzhen, through which he had deeply understood a young woman's obsession with her appearance.

He certainly didn't want to finally rescue Luo Xiaoluan from the demon's clutches, only for her to become depressed or even lose the will to live later because of scars on her face.

Luo Xiaoluan's problem was resolved; next was Wang Lin.

Wang Lin had been struggling violently the entire time. His previously sharp and piercing voice had become hoarse and grating, like a sheet of sandpaper scraping against Xiao Xiao's sensitive eardrums, causing him to frown in mild discomfort.

Without delay, Xiao Xiao used the exact same method to drive the demon out of Wang Lin's body.

Just like Luo Xiaoluan, Wang Lin rolled his eyes and fainted quite readily.

Xiao Xiao carefully inspected Wang Lin's injuries as well. His body had also returned to normal; the wings on his back were gone, and the nails on his fingers were of normal length and color. Aside from an excessive paleness and a few shallow cuts, his face was free of the protruding, densely knitted dark veins and bulging blood vessels.

Come to think of it, Wang Lin was the most unfortunate one of all, a completely unmerited disaster.

Love is sometimes wonderful, and sometimes terrifying—especially unrequited, one-sided love.

Luo Xiaoluan had actually been willing to pray to a demon, even allowing herself to be assimilated by it, just to forcibly win back her love.

Truly pitiable and lamentable.

......

"As a dignified Bi-wing Bird, to actually be defiled by foul miasma—how disgraceful!" Ling-niao spat out these cold words and said no more.

Xiao Xiao was stunned. What did that mean?

Could it be......

Xiao Xiao carefully scrutinized the listless Bi-wing Bird. At this moment, they did not appear ferocious at all. They simply lay quietly on the ground with their eyes half-closed, seemingly having passed out.

So when they suddenly lifted their eyes to meet his gaze, Xiao Xiao was inevitably startled.

At that moment, Xiao Xiao suddenly realized that the pupils of the Bi-wing Bird were not as viscously red as blood, but rather like a pool of emerald water—pure, lucid, and crystal-clear.

Compared to the Bi-wing Bird's ordinary appearance, these were truly stunning eyes that defied their outward looks.

Because of these finishing-touch eyes, despite being demons, they possessed a certain ethereal, otherworldly detachment from the mortal realm.

Ah, this was the demeanor the legendary Bi-wing Bird ought to have. Xiao Xiao's gaze showed appreciation as sudden understanding dawned on him.

However, looking at them now and recalling their previous state, Xiao Xiao rested his left elbow in his right hand and propped his chin with his right fist, nodding secretly. Truly, the Bi-wing Bird had been possessed by evil earlier.

......

"Chong~ Chong~"

The call of the Bi-wing Bird was very peculiar. Unlike any bird call Xiao Xiao had ever heard before, it was countless times more melodious than all of them combined.

Clear and ethereal, like the music of an ancient Konghou harp, ringing like a secluded spring in a snowy mountain.

It was simply a voice with its own built-in acoustic effects.

Xiao Xiao felt his ears tingle, staring somewhat blankly as the Bi-wing Bird slowly stood up.

In the desolate and dim underground parking garage, the two Bi-wing Birds stood with graceful postures, wings folded, their clear pupils rippling with faint reflections, light shimmering and mists rolling in the distance.

The two Bi-wing Birds seemed to radiate a faint glow all over, exuding a mysterious and timeless aura.

Dazed once more, Xiao Xiao wore a blank expression. Were these truly the legendary Bi-wing Birds? This all-encompassing aura was truly formidable—so godlike, ahem, no, so commanding.

......

"Thank you, human."

Hmm? Xiao Xiao was startled, subconsciously glancing around the surroundings. All that met his eyes was a scene of utter devastation.

Where did that voice come from?

Xiao Xiao suddenly realized something and abruptly looked toward the quiet Bi-wing Bird.

Aside from a few calls earlier, the Bi-wing Bird had remained completely silent.

"Are you... talking to me?" Xiao Xiao asked with some hesitation. Having the precedent of Ling-niao before him, he quickly deduced that it must be the Bi-wing Bird speaking.

Though it was in a very peculiar manner—not spoken aloud with a mouth, but resounding directly within his mind.

Moreover, this ethereal and secluded tone was identical to the earlier calls of the Bi-wing Bird.

Still, telepathic transmission? Mind reading? Thought projection? In short, it felt immensely powerful.

It was also a very novel experience.

"Yes." The hazy, distant voice was devoid of discernible gender.

"We are ashamed to have committed such a perverse act." The two Bi-wing Birds moved in unison, their slender necks slightly lowered, their two voices blending in perfect harmony as if emanating from a single entity.

"No, this wasn't your original intention." Xiao Xiao struggled even to comfort humans, let alone demons. Thus, he swiftly changed the subject.

"Do you know how you became like that before?"

"......No, we do not remember." The two Bi-wing Birds looked at each other before finally shaking their heads.

"We are ashamed."

"No, no, it's fine." Seeing the two Bi-wing Birds bowing their heads in apology to him, Xiao Xiao was momentarily stunned. He truly hadn't expected that the restored Bi-wing Birds would have such a commendable attitude.

Since that was the case, Xiao Xiao saw no reason to pursue the matter further. As for Luo Xiaoluan and Wang Lin, he would just chalk it up to a lesson learned for the two of them.

Besides, it was evident that the two Bi-wing Birds themselves were not very clear on why their former selves had committed such deeds.

Regardless of the reason that caused these two Bi-wing Birds to lose their memories while being infested by foul miasma, Xiao Xiao knew that this matter should now come to an end.

"This wasn't your fault."

......