The Egg Has Gained Sentience!

Year twenty of the Xinshi Era.

Dugu Castle, Meditation Room.

Dugu Qing sat cross-legged on the White Ice Mist Bed. The snow-white bed gave off an ethereal white mist, making the room look like a fairyland.

Surrounded by the mist, Dugu Qing emptied his mind, dwelling neither on the past nor on the future.

He devoted himself to cultivation, experiencing the wonders of nature and the universe as his mind expanded rapidly like a rising tide.

A night passed.

Dugu Qing stretched, climbed out of bed, and pulled open the curtains.

The White Ice Mist Bed seemed to have shrunk a little more.

Dugu Qing closed the door, leaned against the railing, and gazed at the red sun just peeking over the eastern horizon. A relaxed expression appeared on his face.

Then he went to the Ice Room, fetched two boiled eggs, and ate them in small bites.

He pushed open the front door, took a walk along the riverbank, then returned to the Meditation Room and continued meditating to cultivate his mana.

At noon, the sun was high in the sky.

Frieren woke up, but kept her eyes closed as she lay lazily beneath the covers.

"So comfortable. I haven't slept that soundly in ages!"

The world outside her door was silent, like snow that had lain undisturbed for a thousand years.

Frieren got up, put on her shoes, and pushed open the door.

The hall was utterly quiet and empty.

Frieren quickened her pace and ran to the kitchen door.

The kitchen door was shut tight, and it was eerily quiet inside.

Frieren clenched her fingers as a bad feeling rose in her heart...

Dugu Qing couldn't have been attacked by a monster...

"Tap, tap, tap~"

Footsteps sounded from the turn in the staircase. Dugu Qing, dressed in a red robe, had finished half a day of cultivation and was coming down from the second floor.

"Frieren."

"Dugu Qing, did you just get up too?"

Frieren looked at the red-robed, white-haired Dugu Qing with a hint of teasing in her eyes, feeling that she had found a kindred spirit.

"I cultivated all night and spent another half day cultivating this morning. Why?"

Dugu Qing set the record straight and gave Frieren a puzzled look.

"You've been cultivating this whole time!"

Frieren was startled. Her head drooped, and a hint of speechlessness was written across her forehead.

"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

Dugu Qing raised the plate in his hand. On it were four cold eggs, giving off a chill.

Three days ago, Dugu Qing had boiled a pot of eggs and stored them in the Ice Room.

When he was hungry and didn't feel like cooking, he ate them.

"What are those?"

Frieren's eyes went wide as she stared at the eggs in disbelief, unable to accept what she was seeing.

"Lunch!"

Dugu Qing spoke decisively, leaving no room for doubt.

"What?!"

Frieren was about to explode. Noon was the best time of day, dividing day from night and distinguishing quiet from the mundane.

At such an important moment, how could anyone born human eat only two eggs?!

"Eggs contain all the nutrients the human body needs. They're the best food in the world, you know."

Seeing that Frieren was somewhat put off, Dugu Qing kindly shared this bit of knowledge.

"Does this guy expect me to thank him too?"

Frieren was speechless.

It was as though all the strength had been drained from her body. She sank down beside Dugu Qing, limp as a rag doll.

Dugu Qing cracked open an eggshell, cut the egg into pieces with a steak knife, and ate it bit by bit, his manner the picture of elegance.

"Dugu Qing, what did you eat this morning?"

"Two eggs."

Dugu Qing spoke calmly.

Frieren was shocked. He ate eggs in the morning and eggs at noon. Surely he wasn't going to eat eggs for dinner too!

Was Dugu Qing an egg that had gained sentience?

"What's wong?"

"Nothing. It's just, Dugu Qing, why don't you move to a city? There are lots of delicious things to eat there!"

Frieren rested her chin in her hand, trying to coax him with great care.

"Lots of delicious things? But I don't have much in savings!"

Dugu Qing spread his hands helplessly.

Both his parents were dead, and he was living off the supplies they had left him, steadily using them up. He really didn't have much money!

"Uh!"

Hearing that, Frieren felt as though she had run into a wall.

Seeing that Dugu Qing lived in a castle, she had thought he was a prince, as rich as a nation!

She hadn't expected Dugu Qing to be poor too...

In that case, living alone in the forest did make sense. When he was hungry, he could catch a fish; when he was thirsty, he could scoop up a handful of water; and when he was tired, he could sleep in the castle.

He didn't have to pay rent or deal with people. It was the most convenient and safest way to live.

Frieren understood why Dugu Qing insisted on staying. She picked up an egg, cracked the shell, and replenished her nutrients one small bite at a time.

That afternoon, Dugu Qing lay on the sofa and rested for ten minutes.

The ultraviolet rays in the sunlight diminished considerably, and clouds drifted across the sky.

Dugu Qing carried an iron sword out the front door.

Rats occasionally appeared near the castle, carrying all sorts of viruses.

Dugu Qing often heard rats squeaking late at night. Afraid they would contaminate the chicken coop at home, he held his breath and concentrated, watching for movement in the forest along the way.

The wind left traces as it passed, rustling the leaves.

"Rustle~"

Dugu Qing suddenly heard a faint, unusual sound a hundred meters away.

His blue eyes turned cold, and he drew his Battle Sword without hesitation.

Incomparably sharp sword qi shot out like a meteor, swift as lightning, and struck the hefty prey.

The corners of Dugu Qing's mouth rose slightly. He used Flight Magic to reach his prey.

What met his eyes was not a rat, but an immensely venomous python.

"Hiss~"

The python was pitch-black from head to tail. It flicked its blood-red tongue, deadly venom dripping from the corners of its mouth, and looked up at Dugu Qing with hatred.

"So it's a snake. The forest really can randomly spawn some pleasant surprises!"

Afternoons were when Dugu Qing practiced swordsmanship and exercised.

Compared with an ordinary walk or sword practice, fighting a living creature was clearly more interesting.

"I hope this snake lasts a few days!"

Dugu Qing descended from the air, his eyes full of resolve.

"Roar~"

The Black Python opened its gaping maw, its sharp fangs reflecting the aurora, and lunged viciously at Dugu Qing.

The Black Python was astonishingly fast. Its head hurtled toward Dugu Qing, drawing closer and closer.

Dugu Qing neither dodged nor evaded. He rebuked the Black Python with a look of disdain.

"You're too slow. A little faster."

With that, Dugu Qing raised his scabbard and gave the Black Python a light tap on the head.

As though struck by a heavy blow, the Black Python's proud head plunged from the clouds and disappeared into the dirt.

When the dust settled, the Black Python came to its senses as if waking from a dream. It flicked its tail, cast aside all its pride, and fled madly for its life.

"Stop! Don't run!"

Dugu Qing followed close behind, the Battle Sword in his hand radiating immense might.

The Black Python stole a glance at Dugu Qing. His tall, cute figure, once harmless to humans and animals alike, had now become mighty, overbearing, and impossible to match.

The python shook its tail, cold sweat pouring from its body. It used every trick it had to pick up speed and slither into the river.

Dugu Qing refused to give up. He jumped into the river as well and caught the Black Python by the tail.

With a light tug, he sent the python flying into the sky.

Evening.

Having finished practicing his swordsmanship, Dugu Qing caught a fish from the river and made his way home at a leisurely pace.

As he neared his home,

A cloud of foul-smelling black smoke suddenly rose from Dugu Castle, billowing up and polluting the sky.

"This is bad. It's a monster."

Dugu Qing's heart tightened. He pushed off with the tips of his toes, strength surging through his feet, and sped toward home.