A ray of sunlight slipped through the window crack of the small wooden building, accompanied by the rooster’s bright crowing.

“Knock knock knock—” Early in the morning, the wooden door was pounded loudly. Zanxing got up to open it, saying: “Who is it?”

As soon as the door opened, Tian Fangfang stood at the entrance holding something in his arms. Upon seeing Zanxing, he immediately shoved the object in his arms into her hands like a hot potato: “Junior Sister, the thing you asked me to keep safe for you – returning it to its rightful owner!”

Zanxing looked down to see a golden egg lying in her palms, radiating familiar warmth.

Tian Fangfang gripped the door frame, half his body hiding outside the door, looking at the golden egg as if facing a great enemy.

“What’s wrong, Senior Brother? Is there something wrong with this egg?” Zanxing asked.

“…There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just that this egg moves around. It made noise all night last night, and this morning it even woke me up by hitting me.” Tian Fangfang rubbed a bruise on his forehead. “I figured this egg might not be used to the new place and wants to go home, so I hurried to bring it back to you.” Tian Fangfang looked distressed: “Junior Sister Zanxing, what’s inside this egg? It has such a temper.”

“I don’t know either.” Zanxing was bewildered, but seeing the egg being quite well-behaved in her arms, she thought for a moment and said: “Never mind, I was just about to go find Sixth Master Uncle anyway. I’ll have him take a look.”

When she arrived at Miaokong Hall and met Xuan Lingzi, he was reading a book. Seeing Zanxing’s arrival, he beckoned to her: “Zanxing, you’re here about receiving punishment for fighting in the sect yesterday. Zi Luo has already spoken to me about it. Considering you made the mistake because you were frightened and mentally unclear, I’ll only give you a light punishment as a warning. You’re to clean the sect’s outer courtyard for seven days starting today, and copy the ‘Tranquility Scripture’ ten times.”

Before Zanxing could speak, Xuan Lingzi took out a white brocade pouch from his chest and handed it to her: “By the way, Hua Yue found your Qiankun Bag in Gufeng Mountain. Take it back quickly, and don’t lose it again next time.”

Zanxing: “…” That bastard Hua Yue.

“I know you feel wronged, but rules are rules.” Xuan Lingzi’s voice carried some deeper meaning: “Since this was your first time entering the mountain, consider it a lesson learned. I imagine you’ve grown quite a bit from this experience.”

Zanxing looked up. Xuan Lingzi still had his usual somewhat improper demeanor, as if those words had just been said casually. Zanxing paused for a moment, then cupped her hands: “This disciple understands. Thank you for Master Uncle’s teachings.”

“Now that you know, go back.” Xuan Lingzi waved his hand. “There are many fallen leaves in autumn, so cleaning won’t be easy.”

Zanxing turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she remembered something. She turned back and took out the golden egg from her chest, asking Xuan Lingzi, “By the way, Sixth Master Uncle, I picked up this egg in Gufeng Mountain. It’s not recorded in the ‘Thousand Things Guide,’ so I wanted Master Uncle to help me see what this is?”

Whether it was her imagination or not, the egg in her hand seemed to tremble slightly.

Xuan Lingzi stepped forward, took the golden egg, stroked it a few times, and examined it carefully for a long while before shaking his head: “The shape is somewhat like a Rakshasa Bird’s egg, but the color is completely different. And there’s no fierce aura within it.”

After a while, he looked at Zanxing: “Gufeng Mountain has many strange objects, and I’ve never seen this one before. Your Qiankun Bag was lost from the start, so aside from the Night Vine branch, you gained nothing from this mountain trip. Since you found this egg, it’s your fortune. Take this egg back with you. I can see spiritual energy about to overflow from the eggshell – whatever’s inside is probably about to hatch.”

“Within three days, we’ll know what kind of creature this is.”

…

Zanxing carried the golden egg back again.

Because of Xuan Lingzi’s words, Zanxing specifically found a wooden box, padded it with soft cloth inside, carefully placed the golden egg within, and even covered it with a handkerchief. When Tian Fangfang came over and saw this, his expression was quite interesting. He probably thought she was sick but didn’t want to say so directly, finally only commenting: “Junior Sister Zanxing is quite caring, taking such good care of even an egg.”

Zanxing: “After all, it’s my fortune.”

This thing was like opening a mystery box – until the day it opened, no one knew what could emerge from inside. It was quite exciting to think about, though with her African luck, she probably wouldn’t get any rare hidden items.

After this, she delivered the Night Vine branch to Li Danshu’s hall.

From this mountain trip, other disciples’ Qiankun Bags were filled with spiritual herbs and fruits – quite a harvest. Only she had even her Qiankun Bag stolen, barely escaping with her life. Aside from picking up a mystery box… golden egg along the way, she only had that Night Vine branch. Fortunately, Zanxing hadn’t let go when she fell into the black swamp. After all this trouble, at least she hadn’t made the trip for nothing.

Li Danshu happily had his disciples put away the Night Vine branch, then looked at Zanxing with a smile: “Good girl, this Night Vine branch is very fresh. I’ll refine that Jade Complexion Pill for you today. Come to the hall in seven days to collect it.”

Zanxing bowed: “Thank you, Fourth Master Uncle.”

“Don’t mention it,” Li Danshu waved his hand, revealing a sleeve corner singed by pill fire, and said amiably: “We’re all family here, no need for thanks.”

Zanxing thought to herself, she’d believe that when pigs flew. For this Night Vine branch, she had nearly lost her life on Gufeng Mountain.

For the next few days, Zanxing was busy serving her punishment – cleaning the sect’s outer courtyard.

Since it was autumn, fallen leaves were everywhere. As soon as she finished sweeping, a gust of wind would blow and the ground would be covered with golden yellow again. That bastard Hua Yue secretly bribed fellow disciples to deliberately practice sword techniques nearby when Zanxing was sweeping, using sword qi to blow fallen leaves everywhere and adding to her burden.

No evil villain who gets beaten to a pulp by the male protagonist is ever innocent.

After three days of such hard cleaning, on the fourth morning, Zanxing woke from her sleep feeling a commotion in the room.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The rooster hadn’t crowed yet, and only a corner of the sky was light. In the dim morning light, she saw bedding and cups scattered all over the room, as if swept by a hurricane.

The wooden box at the foot of the bed was empty, the handkerchief had flown to the floor, and something heavy was pressing on her stomach. Zanxing looked down to see the egg lying in front of her, golden enough to blind her eyes.

Zanxing picked up the egg and set it aside, about to get out of bed to pick up the cups from the floor, when she suddenly heard a “crack—” sound.

She turned back to see a crack appear on the golden egg’s smooth surface. Then the crack grew larger and longer, followed by a crisp sound as the golden egg split into two halves.

Is it about to be born? Zanxing suddenly became excited.

Inside the eggshell, a white mass was vaguely squirming. Moments later, a soft, fluffy paw emerged, accompanied by milky mewing sounds.

Zanxing stretched her neck to look and met a pair of jade-green eyes, and couldn’t help but be stunned.

A cat?

What emerged from the eggshell was a snow-white kitten.