Who Stole My Eggs?

Huo Yao initially intended to take Xie Zuo to the capital of the human world, known for its opulence and hierarchy. He promised a day of witnessing all the flowers and a night of warmth and luxury. However, Feng Yi insisted on joining, leading Xie Zuo astray with plans for playing, drinking, and hunting for beauties.

Watching Xie Zuo swayed by Feng Yi’s influence, Huo Yao reached a breaking point when Feng Yi presented portraits of famous beauties for Xie Zuo to choose. Unable to bear it any longer, Huo Yao exploded in frustration, destroying all the portraits and took Xie Zuo to the desolate Beiyuan.

Beiyuan, located in a cold alpine region, was known for its barrenness due to year-round cold and scarce resources. Upon landing, Xie Zuo sneezed loudly, feeling the intense cold. They stood by a slowly flowing river, nearly half-frozen due to the low temperature.

A chilly wind, carrying ice shards, blew on Xie Zuo, causing half of his body to freeze.

Xie Zuo wanted to immediately transform into a snake and hide in Huo Yao’s collar but found he couldn’t transform at all. He tried using demon power to keep warm, but angrily discovered he couldn’t use any demon power.

As expected, this fake body was useless, only capable of moving around without any real abilities.

“It’s too cold here,” Xie Zuo said dissatisfied. “I want to go to the capital of the human world!”

“Follow me honestly. If you don’t obey, I will send you back to the abyss immediately,” Huo Yao warned.

Xie Zuo was frustrated, he faced the dilemma of being unable to transform or use his powers.

Another cold wind blew from the river, freezing him to the core.

“Ah, sneeze—!” Xie Zuo sneezed again.

Huo Yao took out a dusty cotton robe from his baggage and handed it to Xie Zuo. “Put it on.”

Disgusted, Xie Zuo touched the surface of the robe, saying, “So rough and ugly?”

Ignoring the complaints, Huo Yao wrapped the cotton robe around Xie Zuo, providing much-needed warmth.

.

Following Huo Yao down the river, Xie Zuo noticed the terrain becoming flatter. Huo Yao, familiar with the surroundings, collected broken branches and wood.

Approaching a small mountain village, Huo Yao had a large bundle of firewood on his shoulders. Xie Zuo followed him towards the village entrance, where they encountered an old man herding two sheep.

The old man’s eyes lit up upon seeing Huo Yao. “Xiao Huo is back!”

“Uncle Yang,” Huo Yao nodded.

Uncle Yang looked at Xie Zuo, “Hey, who is this young man? Why is he so beautiful?”

Xie Zuo’s eyes fell on Uncle Yang.

Under his gaze, Uncle Yang suddenly trembled. Despite the young man’s obvious handsomeness, fair skin, and beauty, his gaze felt oddly intimidating. Uncle Yang had the strange illusion of being stared at by a cunning and bloodthirsty Northern Wolf.

Huo Yao shielded Xie Zuo with half of his body. “This is my cousin, Xiao Xie.”

“Oh, hello, hello.” Uncle Yang hastily retreated.

Huo Yao turned to Xie Zuo, cautioning him: “You must not eat or harm people.”

“Yeah, old and poor, who cares!” Xie Zuo, hands in warm sleeve pockets, held his head high.

This small mountain village seemed to be Huo Yao’s stronghold in the human world. He was well-received, with people continuously greeting him. Mostly, chubby boys and blushing-faced girls approached.

Older girls brought delicious food to Huo Yao, while the younger ones gathered around, asking for candies.

Xie Zuo observed as dirty little boys picked at Huo Yao’s arms and legs. There was a bold, little fat guy who climbed onto Huo Yao’s back, eagerly demanding food.

Huo Yao indulged the children, distributing all the gifts from the girls. After getting what they wanted, the children dispersed, except for the persistent little fat boy who refused to leave.

.

The little fat man ate a piece of sweet cake and trotted to catch up with Huo Yao. “Uncle Huo, when will you teach me martial arts?”

Huo Yao ignored him.

Unable to stand it, Xie Zuo kicked the little boy’s fat round butt and retorted, “You’re still learning martial arts like this? What a big joke!”

This provoked the little fat boy, who covered his buttocks and howled loudly, drawing the attention of his mother, the fat aunt.

Seeing the strong woman approaching with a rolling pin, Xie Zuo involuntarily took half a step back. Surprisingly, the fat aunt’s anger wasn’t directed at Xie Zuo.

She indiscriminately slapped the little fat boy, scolding, “I told you to learn well, and now you’re causing trouble. Cry all you want; you still have the face to cry!”

The little fat boy, originally pretending to cry, stopped after the scolding. He ran to Huo Yao, declaring angrily to the fat aunt, “You crazy woman always takes it out on me! My Uncle Huo is back. I’m going with him from now on and won’t bother about you. Go to your sesame cake stall!”

“You—!” The fat aunt, enraged, waved the rolling pin threateningly.

With tears in his eyes, the little fat boy said defiantly, “Look how vicious you are all day. That’s why my father doesn’t want you, and I don’t want you either. Hit whoever you want in the future!”

The fat aunt, deflated, couldn’t even pick up the rolling pin. Huo Yao patted the little fat man’s head, “Lu Zhong, don’t be rude to your mother.”

Xie Zuo touched his chin, appreciating the little fat boy’s name.

Lu Xiaopang turned and ran away. Aunt Lu took a deep breath, shouting after him, “If you can, don’t ever come back!”

Aunt Lu stomped away.

Xie Zuo joined Huo Yao, “Lao Luo said the love between mother and son is the deepest in the world. Why do these two seem like enemies?”

Huo Yao glanced at him, “Lao Luo taught you human world ethics, but did he ever mention that love is deep and responsibility is profound?”

“I think you did.” Xie Zuo frowned. “Can you just beat someone if you love them?”

Huo Yao finally conceded, “Not the way Aunt Lu does.”

.

Following Huo Yao to the north end of the village, they entered a shabby courtyard with two broken houses, one large and one small.

Despite the apparent dilapidation, Xie Zuo looked around in surprise. The small courtyard was tidied up; no weeds on the ground, fallen leaves neatly piled, and smoke rising from the lower huts.

Huo Yao left the firewood by the hut’s door, knocked on the leaky door panels, and the door creaked open. A little monk in worn clothes came out, looking up at Huo Yao. “You still know how to come back. There’s no noodles; I only cooked a pot of gruel.”

“Yes. Is Lu Zhong here?”

Lu Xiaopang appeared, still sobbing, “Uncle Huo, I’ll follow you and Shi Yuan! If I stay home, I’ll just get beaten!”

Huo Yao nodded, “You stay here for now.”

Lu Xiaopang sighed in relief. Spotting Xie Zuo, he thought of ‘revenge’, asking, “Why did you kick me for no reason? Who are you?”

“He is my cousin, and he’ll be staying here.” Huo Yao explained.

Upon learning Xie Zuo was Huo Yao’s relative, Lu Xiaopang reluctantly restrained his anger.

Xie Zuo explored the house, asking, “Do you live in a place like this?”

Huo Yao stayed silent, while the young monk Shi Yuan expressed discontent, saying, “What do you mean by a place like this? Beiyuan is a land of vast resources and outstanding people!”

Xie Zuo, touching his belly, told Shi Yuan, “I’m hungry. Go and get me a bowl of porridge.”

Shi Yuan retorted, “What? How dare you instruct me to do things?”

Xie Zuo raised his eyebrows, “What’s wrong with you, a servant? I’m your master’s cousin and also your master, so go quickly.”

“You—!” Shi Yuan turned blue with anger.

Xie Zuo shook his head, “Great Thunder Deity, you are too shabby. Look, what he is wearing is made of rags.”

Shi Yuan’s face reddened, “This is a cassock, idiot!”

“Oh?” Xie Zuo bent down and looked straight at Shi Yuan. “Your cuffs are all rough.”

Poverty, a constant source of pain for Shi Yuan, became a target of Xie Zuo’s repeated provocations.

Lu Xiaopang shrank down, saying, “Why do I suddenly feel so cold?”

As a storm seemed imminent, two soft sounds echoed from outside, followed by an alluring salty fragrance.

Lu Xiaopang jumped up, exclaiming, “These are my family’s sesame cakes!”

Several people gathered outside the courtyard, finding a large basket of freshly baked sesame cakes at the door. Each was big and round, with white sesame seeds sprinkled on the front. There was also a large basket of charcoal fire.

“It’s my mother…” Lu Xiaopang murmured.

Thanks to Lu Xiaopang’s mother, Xie Zuo had sesame seed cakes for the first time.

The pancakes were crispy on the outside, tender inside, salty, fragrant, and delicious. Xie Zuo devoured three of them in one go.

Lu Xiaopang remained silent, but Shi Yuan, feeling stingy, complained to Huo Yao, “Why did you bring this freeloader? He eats so much!”

Huo Yao comforted him, “He will start working tomorrow.”

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As they went to bed at night, Xie Zuo was pleasantly surprised to find the bed warm.

With only one big kang in the house connecting the east and west, the four of them slept side by side without crowding. The kang heated up while Shi Yuan cooked porridge.

After being cold for most of the day, lying on the warm kang, Xie Zuo felt his muscles and bones relaxed, finally experiencing a sense of contentment.

Huo Yao laid down between Shi Yuan and Lu Xiaopang, saying, “You all have an early rest. Tomorrow will be very busy.”

Shi Yuan remarked coldly, “Yeah, we don’t have idle people here.”

After turning off the lights, the room quickly filled with the sounds of sleep. Shi Yuan and Lu Xiaopang fell asleep.

Xie Zuo, however, opened his bright eyes and felt wide awake.

Huo Yao, also not sleeping, kept a watchful eye on Xie Zuo’s movements.

Turning over, Xie Zuo faced Huo Yao.

This marked the first time since that night they had been so close.