章 19: Flying hogs are a thing

The following day, Zhang Wang was making preparations for his journey back home. He had a favor to ask of Beast Master Wei and was fearful that she would say no. He hunted her down early in the morning and even cooked some congee and yam that he brought to her room at the break of dawn.

But she did not react to his request with much surprise and only responded calmly, "Fine, but I won't do it for free."

"Then what can I do for the Lovely Madame Wei in return."

She cringed, "Save your flattery for those dumb cheap whores. I only want one simple thing." The breakfast was wolfed down and before Zhang Wang even knew it the beast master was getting up, ready to go about her day.

What she requested in the end was far from simple, but Zhang Wang bit back his complaints and kept a friendly smile. "Alright, no problem!"

Even with a ques as difficult as this one, he would do it without hesitance.

But outside of Beast Master Wei's room, a light set of footsteps quickly ran off, startling Zhang Wang as he was cleaning up the dishes, about to bring them back to the kitchen. Both Beast Master Wei and Zhang Wang stared at the door.

He hissed and slapped his face with his palm in frustration while the beast master shrugged, "Good luck with that one."

She clearly had not an ounce of pity in her.

…

But Juhua was impossible to find even when he combed the ranch up and down, twice!

Argh, he really couldn't waste any more time searching for the little girl and instead decided to enlist the demon's king's help.

Yu Yanlin, unlike the young girl, was much easier to find. He was herding the buffaloes and allowing them out to graze in the fields.

"Have you seen Hua'er?" Zhang Wang asked, trying to mask his panting breaths and slightly disheveled look.

The demon was able to see anything passed his blind fold but he was curious as to what would fluster the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms to such an extent. "No I have not. Did you say something strange to her? I cannot imagine her hiding from you without reason."

Zhang Wang clicked his tongue. The buffaloes were wandering off, grazing along the mountainside and painting a calm picturesque scene as though plucked from an old historical painting. But Zhang Wang did not feel calmed by this, he was still wrought with worry. "I didn't say anything to her…I just…Ugh, she overheard me talking to Beast Master Wei."

"I see. What did you talk about with Beast Master Wei?"

With a sigh, Zhang Wang explained the situation to Yu Yanlin, filling him in on the details of his plan. "It can't be helped," the demon king hummed, "she was probably very hurt."

"Yeah."

"Then you will have to apologize."

"I know! But I can't even find her…and I still need to get that damned egg for Beast Master Wei." He took a look at the demon and then was struck with inspiration, "Say, you think you can go look for her for me while I get that stupid egg?"

Yu Yanlin nodded, "Certainly. It is no problem--"

"Great!" Zhang Wang exclaimed before pulling the tall demon down for a kiss. Yu Yanlin was startled at first, and froze when velvet lips pressed against his. But after the initial shock he hummed and allowed that prying tongue to reach inside his mouth, sending small tremors down his neck and spine. Surely, Zhang Wang's hand could feel the goosebumps beading at the back of his neck.

Yu Yanlin couldn't see anything and was left a bit short of breath when Zhang Wang parted from him. A chuckle tickled his ear with a rumbling sultry voice, "Just an extra little big of energy to help you out."

And like that, the Immortal of a Thousand Blossom's ran off.

A strange frustration simmered in Yu Yanlin's heart without any promise of reprieve. He sighed inwardly, willing the fire that pooled in his belly to calm down.

There was still that girl to find, after all, he will have to focus on that first. But the demon king was sly in his own way and thought that if he depleted all his spiritual energy, maybe he will be rewarded with more of those dizzying kisses?

He shook his head, of course, he would not stoop to any cheap underhanded methods. Next time, Yu Yanlin would just have to ask directly!

Feeling oddly revitalized, the demon king set off in search of one little half-demon girl.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Wang took off on his flying sword. He already wasted his entire morning running around Beast Master Wei's ranch and there was only so much time left before nightfall.

Mount Hannu was a large and impressive geographical staple, the largest and the last of a short mountain range. But it was the third mountain down that boasted a popular nesting ground for Wild Flying Hogs.

That was right, Wild. Flying. Hogs.

Zhang Wang had always thought that after transmigrating to a xianxia world he would meet many wondrous spiritual beasts plucked out the verses from ancient Chinese mythology.

Alas, reality was never quite the same as expectations.

For one, this world, while similar, was definitely not the Ancient China that he knew and learned about in those long and boring history classes. He was pretty sure this wasn't even the earth that he once knew.

And secondly, Wild Flying Hogs were a thing, and so were their more docile domesticated cousins, Winged Pigs.

Despite being beasts that were both ridiculous and ugly, they were actually very rare and prized. As well as territorial in nature.

Beast Master Wei asked for a single egg (because yes, apparently pigs lay eggs) which was a task much easier than it sounded.

The mountain favored by these pigs had steep west-facing cliffs. There was likely only one nest to be found, as they were very territorial and did not like their privacy being intruded on.

After scouting the mountainside from afar, Zhang Wang spotted a telltale mess of hay atop some jutting rocks.

Perfect! It seemed that both parents were probably out foraging and left their nest unattended.

He carefully drew in closer and saw that there were three fat eggs in the nest.

But Flying Hogs were not simple beasts and were highly intelligent! There was even a barrier around the nest that could easily ward off normal animals from coming too close.

Luckily, Zhang Wang was not a normal animal. All he had to do was form a few hand seals and the weak, primitive barrier shattered beneath him.

Apparently, he was underestimating the hogs, because as soon as he stretched his greedy fingers for one of the fat eggs, a sharp screech resounded in the distance.

Zhang Wang cursed, who knew that undoing the barrier would alert the pigs of danger!

He didn't want to have to deal with them so he quickly wrapped an egg up in a blanket. Just as he was about to tuck it under his arm and leave, a stone hit the back of his head!

"Ow!" He almost dropped the egg! But he got a good hold of it and cursed as he hugged it close to his chest.

Again, another stone hit the back of his head! And this time he almost lost his balance. But the next time a rock came flying, he dodged it and twisted around to see the culprit.

A part of him almost expected a Wild Flying Hog.

But no! It was little Juhua sitting atop one of Beast Master Wei's flying horses!

Her eyes were red and puffy, evidence of crying. There was a small leather pouch in her lap where she drew another round pebble and shouted, "You deadbeat mom!"

Wait, wait, wait! There were too many things wrong with this scene! But Zhang Wang had no time to address them all.

"Just who are you calling a deadbeat mom!?"