Who Stole My Eggs?

Beiyuan was situated in an alpine area featuring numerous plateaus, mountains, and glaciers. The Beiyuan Mountain, resembling a majestic giant wolf lying on the ground, ran through the entire territory, blocking frost and snow from the north, allowing people to thrive.

The small village, backed by the Beiyuan Mountain was considered relatively populous and prosperous in Beiyuan.

Today, Xie Zuo and the others followed Huo Yao to climb the Beiyuan Mountain.

Along the way, the scenery was breathtaking. Lu Xiaopang and Shi Yuan played and gathered herbs, while Xie Zuo followed Huo Yao, learning about many unfamiliar animals and plants.

Strangely, as they climbed up, the temperature increased. The trees grew lusher, and the branches and leaves thicker.

“Hu-” Xie Zuo stopped, removed his fur hat and thick coat. “It’s so hot, getting hotter and hotter.”

Looking at Huo Yao, who had been wearing only light clothes, he asked, “No wonder.”

He stuffed his coat and hat into the storage bag in Huo Yao’s sleeve. “You knew it’s hot on the mountain; why didn’t you remind me? There are hot springs at the top of the mountain. The higher you go, the more comfortable it gets.”

“That red-feathered chicken (Feng Yi) mentioned that hot spring bathing is a great pleasure, so why not indulge in it today!” Xie Zuo said excitedly.

“…Okay.”

“Yeah!” Xie Zuo jumped on the spot, suddenly catching a glimpse of a small bulge moving on the ground.

He held Huo Yao’s arm and whispered, “Look there, is that a treasure?” Both held their breath and concentrated. The bulge under the vegetation moved again, as if there was something small moving furtively beneath the soil.

“It should be an old ginseng that has been refined. It’s quite big,” Huo Yao said with experience, easily identifying the object.

Old ginseng in the deep mountains was a rare treasure. Xie Zuo rolled up his sleeves, tightened the hoe in his hand, and quietly approached the old ginseng.

For some reason, the old ginseng ran a few steps and turned around toward Xie Zuo.

This was a free gift. Xie Zuo was about to knock the old ginseng unconscious with a hoe—

“Hahaha, Uncle Huo, Shi Yuan, little Uncle Xie, come and see what I found!” Lu Xiaopang suddenly burst into laughter.

Seeing that the old ginseng was frightened and about to run away, Xie Zuo quickly took action and dug down with his hoe.

“Pop!” A crisp sound, and Xie Zuo felt as if he had split a bone in half.

“Oh, what a sin!” A cry of pain came from the soil.

Xie Zuo pulled out his hoe, finding it stained with blood as large patches seeped through the soil.

“Has it really become a spiritual being, with flesh and blood?” Xie Zuo threw away the hoe and began digging up the soil.

Wow, what a big treasure! A large ginseng as thick as an arm laid in the dirt, panting. There was a bleeding wound on its abdomen where Xie Zuo had struck it with the hoe.

Seeing Xie Zuo, the old ginseng scolded, “You rude thing, you chopped off my son. Where can I find it?”

Xie Zuo looked at it curiously, “I chopped off your what?”

Huo Yao also came over, took out the old ginseng, and examined it. “This is the precious mother and daughter ginseng. They are symbiotic—one big and one small. If you cut off the small ginseng, it will escape when it hits the ground. Old ginseng that has lost its young ginseng has no medicinal value.”

Xie Zuo was very disappointed. Such a treasure was wasted by him with a hoe.

Huo Yao put the old ginseng back into the soil. “We can only bury it first. As time goes by, the little ginseng will come back to find it.”

“Okay. The bigger ginseng looks delicious; it’s such a pity.”

“Lu Xiaopang should have found something good; go and have a look.”

The old ginseng, losing its cub, was dying and, about to be buried again, angrily cursed at Xie Zuo, “You are a wicked person who caused our mother and son to be separated. In the future, you will have to suffer the same pain as me. You will have to search all over the world to find your son!”

Xie Zuo grabbed the hoe and delivered a rude blow, knocking out the old ginseng completely. “Bastard!”

.

Xie Zuo didn’t take the old ginseng words seriously, but Huo Yao’s heart tightened. Old ginseng was transformed into the essence of Tiandi, and this refined old ginseng did not speak casually. It seemed to be a prophecy when it opened its mouth.

Was Xie Zuo going to have a child in the future? And who was this child born to?

Seeing Huo Yao’s concerned expression, Xie Zuo mistakenly thought he felt sorry for the old ginseng plant that had been dug up. Instead, he patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, “This place is full of spiritual energy. There must be other treasures. Let’s take a look. Let’s go see what good stuff Lu Xiaopang found.”

Xie Zuo ran fast with the medicine basket on his back and the hoe, already forgetting about the old ginseng.

Huo Yao fell behind, walked for a while, and then returned to the place where the ginseng was buried. He wanted to ask the old guy again, but unfortunately, the old ginseng had already disappeared.

Lu Xiaopang had indeed found a treasure. Squatting by the river and washing his hands, a bowl-sized Kitahara snow lotus bumped into his hand.

Kitahara snow lotus was a specialty treasure, also known as “returning sun grass” among the people. Boiled in water, it was said to have the effect of bringing people back to life.

The Kitahara Snow Lotus had been extinct for hundreds of years. It was an amazing find if a small one occasionally popped up, let alone such a big one in full bloom.

Lu Xiaopang carefully held the crystal-clear snow lotus, his round face radiant was speechless.

“Let me see.” Xie Zuo squeezed over.

Shi Yuan said disgustedly, “Be careful; this thing is very delicate. If it tears, you’ll have to pay him.”

Xie Zuo smiled evilly, “Okay, let’s give a little slave like you to Lu Xiaopang as his wife.”

“What did you say?” Shi Yuan’s face turned red. “Shameless, full of filthy words!”

“Uncle Xie, here it is.” Lu Xiaopang tremblingly pinched the snow lotus and put it into Xie Zuo’s hand.

Something magical happened. The snow lotus trembled in Xie Zuo’s hands and began to fluoresce faintly.

Lu Xiaopang and Shi Yuan were both stunned. What did this snow lotus signify?

Xie Zuo found it very interesting. This flower seemed to like him very much, so he reached out and touched its translucent petals.

The entire snow lotus flower shrank, and then, in full view of everyone, a thin layer of red quickly spread from the bottom of the flower to the tips of the petals.

“Ah,” Lu Xiaopang exclaimed, “This flower is shy!”

“The snow lotus is blooming!” Snow lotuses as big as bowls emerged from the water, scrambling to get to Xie Zuo’s feet.

Lu Xiaopang had never seen such a scene before, and his whole body trembled with excitement. “I’m so rich; there are so many!” He rolled up his sleeves to fish for them, but Shi Yuan stopped him, “Snow lotus is the essence of the mountains. Take one. That’s enough. If you take too much, be careful the Deity of Beiyuan will get angry.”

“Okay.” Lu Xiaopang reluctantly touched one, then another.

Xie Zuo squatted down and reached out to touch the snow lotus.

As expected, the snow lotuses came towards him, scrambling to squeeze towards him, wanting to be touched by him.

Shi Yuan was shocked. Snow lotus was the most spiritual plant in Beiyuan Mountain, yet it was so close to an evil demon king. Were they collectively losing their minds and going crazy? Did they really like the face of the demon king so much?

Seeing Huo Yao coming, Shi Yuan hurriedly asked, “What’s going on?”

“This body was transformed from the sacred tree of life, so the essence of plants and trees naturally likes to be close to him,” Huo Yao explained.

Shi Yuan puffed up his face, “Let me tell you, how could they fall in love with him!”

“Beiyuan Mountain’s snow lotus grows in rootless water and naturally likes people with pure minds.” Huo Yao looked at Xie Zuo with undisguised appreciation.

“Hmph,” Shi Yuan refused, “Are you saying you like brainless fools?”

“Say bad things about me again, little bald donkey!” Xie Zuo suddenly slapped the water on Shi Yuan’s face, leaving him heartbroken.

“Xie Zuo——! I’m going to kill you!” Shi Yuan rushed towards Xie Zuo angrily.

Xie Zuo ran out early.

Huo Yao shook his head and chased after them.

Deep in the dense forest, a pair of blue eyes flickered and disappeared.

.

Xie Zuo and his party walked all the way, having fun. They didn’t deliberately go over mountains and ridges to collect precious herbs, but they still gained a lot. In less than half a day, their medicine baskets were filled to the brim.

Lu Xiaopang was the happiest, “Thanks to the blessing of Beiyuan Deity, we’ve collected so many rare herbs!”

Xie Zuo teased him, “Lu Xiaopang, after you sell the snow lotus, what big things are you going to do?”

Lu Xiaopang puffed up his chest, “I want to buy my mother a big house in the city!”

“Oh, you’re still a filial baby.” Xie Zuo smiled, and suddenly saw a flash of blue light on the mountain opposite, “What is that?”

Huo Yao stood still, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Zuo looked intently, but only saw the setting sun shining on the opposite side, reflecting colorful colors on the mountain peaks and trees.

“It’s beautiful. The beauty of the human world is indeed well-deserved.” Xie Zuo pointed to the opposite side, “Look at the light over there; it just flashed to me.”

Huo Yao looked over and saw Xie Zuo’s eyes filled with splendor and vitality. He admired it quietly for a while, then urged Xie Zuo and the others, “Let’s continue on our way. Reach the hot spring to rest before sunset.”

“Okay!” Finally, he was going to experience the great joy!