The Battle of the Birdmen

"How is it that our little general has grown up too, and started having troubles?" Xuanxiao teased with a smile, looking at the dejected Nezha beside him.

A clear breeze swept across the high platform, stirring Nezha's bright robes.

The youth rested both arms on the jade railing, his little face drawn taut, his eyes brimming with grievance and confusion. At last, unable to suppress the doubts that had knotted in his heart for days, he asked, "Patriarch, if Father clearly knows Di Xin is a foolish tyrant, why is he still willing to serve him?"

Xuanxiao stood at his side, his features calm as the teasing smile from just now slowly faded. Lowering his eyes to the still-boyish youth, he shook his head. "In your eyes, if a ruler is foolish, he should be abandoned; if one campaigns against tyranny, one should turn one's banner around. Is that right?"

Nezha immediately turned to look at him, his gaze stubborn yet pure, every word clear and ringing. "Of course! Di Xin is cruel and inhumane. He built Bronze Branding Pillars and Venomous Insect Pits, poisoned court officials, and slaughtered the common people. Everyone under heaven resents him. Western Qi follows the will of Heaven and answers the will of the people, speaking for the people—it is the righteous path. Yet Father insists on accepting Yin Shang's military orders and attacking Western Qi. I truly don't understand!"

Nezha's voice was filled with unwillingness and bewilderment. Since childhood, he had received the teachings of the Chan Sect.

In his heart, good and evil stood apart. To follow Heaven's will meant he could not tolerate even the slightest inversion of black and white, nor actions that went against the tide.

What he especially could not accept was that his father, whom he respected