Chapter Thirty-six: The Mysterious Egg

Arriving at the farm, Wang Xiao found that it was no longer what it once was—now, it was three times larger than before. All the greenhouses were constructed with dragonbone, and the soil was infused with dragon’s blood.

“Well, well! Has Lord Wang come to check if we’re slacking off?” a chorus of teasing voices rang in Wang Xiao’s ears.

“How could I dare, Sister Li?” Wang Xiao replied with a wry smile.

Seeing his somewhat awkward figure, the laughter behind him only grew louder.

Ah, is being a city lord ever easy? This is just too much.

Wang Xiao surveyed the farm at a glance. The crops and the beasts within would soon be ready for another harvest.

Yes, beasts! Due to the unique properties of the greenhouses, the creatures inside had all evolved into beasts—though compared to their wild counterparts, they were significantly more docile.

The term “beast” was borrowed from Idar, who said that any creature reaching the sixth rank and boasting a massive size could be called a wild beast.

Most of the animals in the greenhouses were first-rank beasts. For instance, the bloodfeather chickens had now grown as large as ostriches. The lambs had become the size of cattle, their wool a vivid crimson.

Wang Xiao wandered over to the greenhouse dedicated to incubating eggs, and immediately spotted the egg he was looking for.

It was impossible to miss—only that egg lay there, alone and quiet.

Because it constantly radiated a searing heat, it had been placed separately from the others.

Now, the aura emanating from the egg was growing ever more intense, yet it stubbornly refused to hatch.

Wang Xiao edged a bit closer, and the scorching heat hit him in the face. He could feel his blood boiling, as if it were about to surge out of his veins.

Moving closer still, the feeling only grew stronger.

“No way... does it want to suck my blood?”

Wang Xiao drew a dagger and sliced his finger. Instantly, his blood seemed to find its way home, forming a ribbon that floated through the air and was absorbed into the egg.

Startled, Wang Xiao thought, Can you really take that much from such a tiny cut?

He pressed his finger to stop the bleeding, and the flow ceased.

But the egg seemed unsatisfied, beginning to rock back and forth, as if it were about to leap from its nest.

“Fine, I’ll let you have your fill,” Wang Xiao surrendered helplessly.

He slashed a deep cut across his wrist, and blood gushed forth.

The golden patterns on the egg’s shell shimmered, greedily absorbing Wang Xiao’s blood.

His face grew paler and paler.

Eventually, Wang Xiao collapsed to the ground.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he cursed, “Damn it, did I just die again!?”

Of all his deaths, when had Wang Xiao ever died in such a humiliating way? For example, when he killed the wyvern... well, maybe that one doesn’t count. What about the haunted amusement park... hmm, that wasn’t much better. Or the time with the draconic people? That was even more tragic.

“Ahem, I don’t believe this!” Wang Xiao glared at the restless egg, his temper flaring.

He slashed himself again—this time, right on a major artery.

But this time, he didn’t collapse. With a pallid face, he sneered, “Go on, keep drinking!”

The golden patterns on the egg’s shell gradually contracted and faded away, until the egg looked utterly ordinary.

“…”

“This is a bit uncomfortable,” Wang Xiao muttered, taking up the dagger and drawing it across his throat.

After a while—

“Much better,” he sighed, having returned to his normal state.

He glanced at the egg, but it hadn’t changed at all since just now.

“Did it eat its fill and fall asleep?” Wang Xiao pursed his lips and walked away. But just as he left the greenhouse, the egg gave a faint tremble, then stilled once more.

…

Wang Xiao was up early the next morning—today, he was to visit the Rabbitfolk’s village.

After breakfast, he and Yang Ming hadn’t set out yet—they were waiting for one more person: Wang Xue from the Department of Daily Life.

Finally, Wang Xue arrived.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m late,” she said, blushing.

“What took you so long?” Wang Xiao grumbled.

“Well…”

“Women are always trouble,” came a faint voice.

It was Yang Ming. Though expressionless, he was clearly getting impatient.

Wang Xiao could only sigh—typical gamer, not even giving others a chance to explain.

If Yang Ming knew what Wang Xiao was thinking, he’d no doubt retort: Then why were you the first to complain when she arrived?

Wang Xue shot Yang Ming a glare, then explained, “I went to the warehouse to get some candy to hand out to the Rabbitfolk children.”

She opened her backpack as she spoke.

“Couldn’t you just use your spatial pouch?” Wang Xiao asked, a question straight from the soul.

Wang Xue froze. Right, why did I even bother with a backpack?

But she refused to admit her mistake. “Hmph! What if I scare them by producing things out of thin air?”

“Good point.”

Seeing Wang Xiao’s concession, Wang Xue couldn’t help but praise herself for her quick thinking.

But Wang Xiao’s next words made her bristle again.

“But you kind of look like a child yourself.”

Wang Xue shot him a withering glare she thought was fierce.

“Let’s go, no more wasting time,” Yang Ming urged.

“Okay~” Wang Xue replied cheerfully, but not before glaring at Wang Xiao again—What are you looking at! Do you want me to jump up and hit your kneecaps?

“Tsk, I won’t stoop to a child’s level,” Wang Xiao snorted, then leapt down from Infinity City.

“You idiot, why do you always jump from here? You think you’re trying to off yourself?” Wang Xue shouted after him.

Yang Ming glanced at her, then leapt gracefully after Wang Xiao, grabbing Wang Xue to take her along.

“Aaah!” Wang Xue shrieked, but landed safely.

She was about to speak when Yang Ming cut her off, “This way’s faster.”

Wang Xiao gloated at her side, “Hear that, little short legs~”

Incensed, Wang Xue chased after him, “You bastard!”

Wang Xiao made faces as he ran, taunting, “Can’t catch me, can’t catch me, little short legs~”

Yang Ming strolled along behind them.

…

“Alright, don’t be mad. If it makes you feel better, I’ll stop calling you short legs, okay?” Wang Xiao apologized.

“Hmph!” Wang Xue turned her head, pouting.

Wang Xiao’s eyes gleamed as he turned to Yang Ming. “Yang Ming, give us a smile.”

That drew Wang Xue’s attention.

“Heh.” Yang Ming’s lips curled ever so slightly.

Wang Xiao stifled a laugh. “Wang Xue, doesn’t our Minister Yang look just like the crooked-mouthed war god?”

Crooked-mouthed war god?

Huh, he really does!

Wang Xue couldn’t help but burst out laughing, her earlier annoyance forgotten.

Yang Ming’s gaze turned icy. “When we get back, I’d like to challenge Lord Wang to a duel.”

Wang Xiao’s brows shot up. “Fine! A duel it is!”

Wang Xue clapped excitedly. “Yay, I want to be the referee!”

Wang Xiao nodded.

Of course, this duel wasn’t quite what Wang Xue imagined.