Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Egg Has Hatched!

"Hey, I can't guarantee how that old man will end up," Wang Xiao said, fixing his gaze on Aidar.

Aidar's wrinkled face broke into a smile. "Haha, that's her business now."

"Alright, then. Gather your things. I'll have Infinite City move over."

Aidar nodded.

Wang Xiao strode out, glancing at Avril, who was hiding behind Ike. "Let's go. We'll head back to Infinite City first."

Yang Ming didn't bother asking what Wang Xiao and Aidar had discussed; he simply nodded and followed. Seeing them leave, Wang Xue apologized to Ike and Avril before hurrying after them.

"Hey! Why are you walking so fast?" Wang Xue asked, puzzled.

"To prepare, of course," Wang Xiao replied coolly.

Wang Xue pulled out her ledger. "Tell me, and I'll note it down."

"No need," Wang Xiao called back.

"Why not?!" Wang Xue was bewildered. Hadn't they promised to deliver supplies to the Rabbitfolk? Was he thinking of defaulting now? She hadn't taken him for such a person—how shameful!

Wang Xiao flicked her forehead. "What are you thinking? The Rabbitfolk are joining us now, so what’s the point of keeping track of those things?"

Wang Xue's eyes lit up at that. This was excellent. She'd had a great conversation with Avril earlier and found her delightful. Now, with the Rabbitfolk joining Infinite City, they'd be able to chat every day.

Still, Wang Xiao had dared to flick her forehead—just wait until she found an opportunity for payback…

"Hey, what's with that look? Do people not even bother hiding their schemes these days?" Wang Xiao said, exasperated.

"I am not scheming!" Wang Xue protested.

Heh, you look like you'd jump up and flick me if you could.

Bickering all the way, they returned to Infinite City.

Everyone was busy with their own tasks. A few people who saw Wang Xiao and the others approached to ask what had happened. Wang Xiao made no secret of it and told them that the Rabbitfolk were joining Infinite City.

The news spread quickly, from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred. Before long, the entire city knew.

Rather than returning home, Wang Xiao climbed onto Little Bone's head and directed him toward the Rabbitfolk village.

Infinite City began moving again—this time, to welcome new members.

Wang Xiao intended to head back once this was settled, but he was intercepted by Xia Mengsi.

At that moment, Xia Mengsi was clearly annoyed. The instant she saw Wang Xiao, she burst out, "Wang Xiao! What happened to my egg?!"

Wang Xiao considered fleeing, but with her attitude, she'd probably hunt him down.

So, he decided to play dumb. "What egg are you talking about?"

Xia Mengsi stamped her foot. "Don't pretend you don't know! Someone saw you go in the other day!"

"Who? Who saw me?" Wang Xiao tried to argue.

"I did!" Xia Mengsi shouted.

Wang Xiao rubbed his nose awkwardly. Damn, why didn't she say so earlier?

"Well? What did you do in there?"

Faced with her interrogation, Wang Xiao could only recount exactly what he'd done.

Xia Mengsi eyed him suspiciously. "You're sure you didn't do anything else?"

Wang Xiao looked aggrieved. "No, I even fed it some blood!"

"So, what exactly happened?"

Xia Mengsi pressed a hand to her forehead. "Come with me and you'll see."

"Oh."

Wang Xiao followed reluctantly.

"Look," Xia Mengsi said, pointing at the eggshells on the ground.

"Oh? It hatched! Where’s the little one?" Wang Xiao asked.

"Ha, you’re asking me? I was about to ask you," Xia Mengsi replied, scrutinizing him as if she suspected he'd eaten the hatchling.

"What are you looking at me for?" Wang Xiao blinked.

"Ha."

As Xia Mengsi sneered, a bird-like creature leapt down from the top of the greenhouse. Black feathers streaked with golden-red lines; it resembled the mythical Golden Crow.

The little thing flew straight toward Wang Xiao, who reached out to catch it. Could it be that, having tasted his blood, it felt a connection to him?

But contrary to Wang Xiao's expectation, the little bird began pecking his hand. Yet, having only just hatched, it couldn't possibly break his skin.

"Tsk."

Seeing that Wang Xiao remained unmoved, the black chick started chirping noisily, its displeasure evident to both Wang Xiao and Xia Mengsi.

"What does it want?" Xia Mengsi asked.

Wang Xiao chuckled, then took out a dagger and made a small cut on his finger.

The bird immediately hopped to the wound, craned its neck, and began to drink his blood. After a while, apparently satisfied, it curled up in Wang Xiao's palm and fell asleep.

Only then did Wang Xiao examine its details.

[Name: Flame Crow (Unnamed)
Level: First Tier
Abilities: Blaze, Scorch, Divine Fire.
Appraisal: During hatching, it absorbed some diluted divine blood, resulting in mutation.]

So that's why, Wang Xiao realized. It was his blood that had caused this. No wonder it came straight to him and insisted on drinking more.

"Well, here's the 'egg' you were looking for," he told Xia Mengsi.

She was still skeptical. "How could it be this scruffy black thing?"

"Believe it or not," Wang Xiao shrugged, placing the Flame Crow back where it had hatched.

Xia Mengsi finally accepted the truth and named it "Little Black." A casual name, but Wang Xiao had no objections—it was fitting enough.

He got up to leave; he still had to arrange housing for the Rabbitfolk.

Wang Xiao led the people of Infinite City to the Rabbitfolk village to help them move.

There weren't many Rabbitfolk, fewer than a hundred, and they had little to bring. The relocation was quickly finished.

That night, the Rabbitfolk tasted the most delicious food they had ever eaten in their lives. Everyone was lost in a sea of joy.

Once cleaned up, the Rabbitfolk looked nothing like before—the transformation was astonishing. Though not skilled at combat, the men were handsome and the women beautiful, especially Avril, who was like a fairy.

Back in his room, Wang Xiao took out the sheepskin scroll from before. Now, he could finally understand the script. It contained instructions on how to raise one's life level.

Beast Breathing—a breathing technique widely spread among the Beastkin. Its main function was to enhance one's bloodline through controlled breathing.

Of course, an ordinary technique like this could only improve so far; its efficiency was not high. Moreover, the effect varied from person to person—some improved rapidly, others slowly.

Wang Xiao tried to breathe as described, but he never managed to succeed.