Who Stole My Eggs?

Xie Zuo abducted Wu Xiao, subjecting him to various tortures and humiliations before forcing him into complete silence. Wu Xiao, accustomed to dominance, had never experienced such a lesson. When Xie Zuo finally released him, Wu Xiao wriggled away with tentacles squirming.

Xie Zuo didn’t pursue him; no matter where he hid, escape from the abyss was impossible.

On his way back, Xie Zuo hunted prey. Originally intending to consume it directly, but he thought of Huo Yao, still recovering from injuries. Xie Zuo decided to dismantle and clean the prey, preparing to take it back for roasting.

Upon reaching his lair’s entrance, he encountered Huo Yao leaving.

“Leaving already?” Xie Zuo, with a sullen face, tossed the prey to the ground.

“I must apologize to Tiandi. I can’t delay any longer.”

“Oh,” Xie Zuo rolled up his sleeves, revealing hands scarred by the artifact. Huo Yao stopped. Xie Zuo, expecting gratitude, was met with silence as Huo Yao simply walked away.

Enraged, Xie Zuo fell to the ground, drawing Lao Luo to vent: “All the nonsense you said, what favor? How could he not show any gratitude to me for saving his life?”

Lao Luo, almost strangled, pleaded: “Your Majesty, take your time with matters of the heart.”

“Who wants falls in love with him, I want his divine power!”

“Hahaha, I thought you were his sweetheart, not a schemer. Why you still want him? It’s not good to stick with someone like Huo Er!” Wu Xiao slipped back, hiding where he could escape.

Ignoring him, Xie Zuo kicked the prey away, entering the lair to practice.

.

After lurking in the dark, Wu Xiao, ensuring Xie Zuo wouldn’t emerge soon, feasted on the abandoned prey. His tentacles corroded the flesh and blood into juice.

“Uh~!” Wu Xiao burped, cursing, “This garbage is so unpalatable. I was forced to eat in desperation. Damn Huo Er, this little snake, and I are incompatible!”

Resting, he slowly squirmed into Xie Zuo’s lair, halted by Lao Luo.

“Your Majesty is meditating and practicing; you must not disturb—”

Wu Xiao’s small eyes fixate on Lao Luo. Now, the book demon was in a stronger position, Wu Xiao’s entire body was shorter than Lao Luo’s tongue when straightened up. He couldn’t force his way in.

“Who are you, and why do you accept this little bastard as your master?”

Lao Luo ignores him, sticking out his tongue to drive him away, “Get away—!”

Reluctantly, Wu Xiao ran further away and turned back to look at the nest, thinking, ‘That little demon king is so similar to his heavenly father. Is it an illusion Huo Er used on him, or is he just like this?’

.

Inside the lair,

Huo Yao’s divine blood that Xie Zuo drank finally began to take effect, and he felt the comfort of divine power flowing through his body.

The demon core in Xie Zuo’s heart slightly heated up, sensing the continuous growth of demon power.

He took a deep breath, reciting the Heart Sutra silently, calming his mind further. If all went well, he might be able to advance again.

‘Huo Yao, when I make a breakthrough, I’ll defeat you without the help of dual cultivation. Let’s see what else you can do!’

After Xie Zuo entered concentration, his consciousness left his body and the abyss, arriving in a immortal land shrouded in clouds and mist.

Xie Zuo had never seen the outside world. The immortal land before him was filled with holy light, floating music, refreshing fragrances, and faint sounds of beautiful girls playing and singing in the light clouds. When he got closer, he saw nothing here.

Xie Zuo discovers that his consciousness was attached to something and tied to someone’s waist.

This person seemed to frequent this place, walking fast without stopping to appreciate the scenery. Xie Zuo couldn’t enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

The deeper the man went into the immortal land, the more dazzling the holy light became. Eventually, the whole world was enveloped in holy light, and he stood in a pure white world of nothingness.

He knelt down on one knee, head bowed respectfully, “Tiandi, Huo Yao is here to receive punishment.”

As soon as he spoke, Xie Zuo was speechless; he was attached to Huo Yao!

Xie Zuo knew what was going on. It was the belt he refined for Huo Yao, sacrificed with Xie Zuo’s black hair. The first time his consciousness left his body, it was attracted to it.

Xie Zuo opened his eyes wide. ‘Is this Tiandi’s old lair? Did Huo Yao live here with the humanoid form of Tiandi when he was a child?’

Sitting and looking to his right, Xie Zuo was suddenly pinched hard by Huo Yao.

His whole body went numb, as if a muscle was pinched, and he couldn’t move immediately.

Xie Zuo heard a hazy voice, majestic and compassionate, echoing and ethereal, “Huo Yao, Deity of Thunder, disobeyed the will and released Wu Xiao the King of the East China Sea privately. I should strip you of your divine bones and cast you down to the mortal world. For your first offense, I’ll punish you in seclusion for a month, with additional punishment from heaven every day. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Tiandi.”

.

The dazzling holy light disappeared. Xie Zuo blinked, looking at the mountains and green landscapes below, realizing that Huo Yao had emerged from the divine world, passing through the human world.

This human world was vastly different from the divine realm. It teemed with life, lush vegetation, singing birds, buzzing insects, and playful fish. Even the wind was warm, carrying the fragrance of the earth.

Xie Zuo murmured, “It looks good, really good.”

“It’s spring and summer’s turn; that’s why it looks good,” Huo Yao remarked.

Shocked, Xie Zuo asked, “When did you discover me?”

“As soon as your spiritual consciousness arrived. How did you do it? Why could you leave the abyss?” Huo Yao inquired.

“I don’t know; I was in a trance. I ran into you as soon as I opened my eyes.”

Huo Yao reached out and touched his belt, causing Xie Zuo to yell, “Stop touching it; my body is numb again!”

Huo Yao asked, “Your consciousness is out of the body; is there anyone there protecting your body for you?”

“Lao Luo is there. If anything goes wrong, he’ll wake me up.” Xie Zuo glanced curiously at the little phoenix that had just flown by Huo Yao, wanting to touch its gorgeous tail feathers.

Xie Zuo was ambitious, but Huo Yao was concerned. Being in the abyss was a massive drain on the body, and many evil demons there eyed Xie Zuo. Besides talking nonsense, could Lao Luo truly protect the body against those evil things?

Huo Yao sped up and walked underground. The way to the abyss was passing through the eighteen levels of hell. Even he would need some time and couldn’t afford any delays.

Unhappy, Xie Zuo complained, “Great Deity of Thunder, can’t you let me appreciate the world’s scenery more? I’m just a fragile consciousness now; I can’t do anything bad.”

Huo Yao had fallen to the ground and was about to enter. On the road between to the abyss, Xie Zuo shouted again, “Have you forgotten I just saved your life? Why not take me for a stroll!”

Taking back half his foot, Huo Yao replied, “What do you want to stroll about?”

“Just… take a look.” Xie Zuo saw an opportunity and added, “If this world could please me, I wouldn’t randomly eat people. Haven’t you always wanted to educate me? Isn’t this a good chance?”

After considering, Huo Yao said, “The Tiandi punished me to live in seclusion for a month and be tortured every day. When I pass my sentence, I’ll take your consciousness to the human world.”

“Oh.” Unhappy, Xie Zuo realized he had to wait another month. Unable to leave the abyss, his consciousness could only be attached to Huo Yao’s belt. With no other choice, he fell into a depressed silence.

After a while, as they neared the abyss, Xie Zuo couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going to be detained?”

“Here,” Huo Yao answers resolutely. “I will be punished together with you every day.”

Xie Zuo: … ‘When will this killer forget about hacking him?’