Chapter 11

Both large breakfasts were eventually devoured by Hu Yuanfei, who ate until his belly was round and he kept hiccupping.

When they got into the car, Lang Xiao moved away with great disdain, not wanting to be companions with such a monster. Her feelings of disgust overshadowed the novelty of riding in a human carriage for the first time.

However, once the car started moving, the two monsters completely forgot what they wanted to say and instead pressed their faces against the window, gazing outside. The speed and smoothness of the vehicle amazed them—it could carry so many people at once, just like the legendary immortal artifacts.

How could humans, with their mortal bodies, invent such things?

Lang Xiao’s eyes scanned the interior of the car and finally settled on the steering wheel held by the driver, seemingly the tool controlling the vehicle. Outside, many similar devices were visible. Could she also have one someday?

Lost in a whirl of thoughts, they arrived at the hospital.

Since they came early, there were few people, so no waiting was necessary before starting the physical examination.

Qing Yao, usually well-behaved, appeared especially terrified of the blood draw. When her finger was squeezed for blood, she cried heart-wrenchingly, almost causing the two monsters to reveal their true forms and seize the staff for a beating. Their fierce glances made the police officer standing nearby sweat profusely.

Fortunately, the morning’s checkup passed without incident. Qing Yao, her eyes red from crying, nestled into Lang Xiao’s embrace, her lips pouting. Her look of grievance made Lang Xiao unable to resist hugging and kissing her.

The female officer glanced anxiously at the two monsters. Since she wasn’t present the day before, she hadn’t witnessed their transformations. Their identities remained confidential within the precinct, known only to a few officers. The higher-ups had requested that when bringing the child for the checkup, the two monsters also be examined, preferably with a full-body X-ray.

The officer initially thought the task would be easy, but upon seeing the two, she hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject. She had never encountered such a situation before; her courage seemed to vanish when facing them, replaced by a rising sense of fear.

However, as a police officer, she quickly composed herself and called out to them.

“You two should have a physical too—blood draw and a CT scan.”

They hadn’t been told beforehand about this extra examination, and Lang Xiao’s expression immediately turned cold.

Hu Yuanfei turned his head away as well, both looking at the officer.

“Why?”

“For record-keeping.”

“But didn’t we already answer all the questions yesterday?”

The officer nervously tightened her belt. “Blood tests reveal blood type and condition. If anything happens in the future, having a match ready can save lives. It’s just a precaution and won’t take much time. If done now, we cover the cost; otherwise, a separate CT scan costs several hundred.”

Lang Xiao’s initial displeasure faded upon hearing about the reimbursement, her expression relaxing and becoming eager.

“Are you sure you’ll cover it?”

“Uh, yes.”

“Good, I’ll do it. Where to? Take us quickly.”

The officer was speechless. Why did they suddenly agree? She didn’t understand.

Since they had no ID or registration, the officer handled all the registration and payment. Lang Xiao hoped there would be more situations like this.

They took turns for the CT scan and then went to the blood draw station. What seemed smooth at first suddenly hit a snag.

The thin, sharp needle couldn’t pierce Lang Xiao’s skin at all.

The nurse thought she missed the spot and moved the needle down, but still couldn’t get it in. It was as if she was trying to pierce a mass both soft and hard, but it simply wouldn’t go through. She applied more force, then even more.

Lang Xiao’s expression shifted from relaxed to blank, then slightly tense. Her arm stiffened into a straight line.

With a snap, the needle broke in the nurse’s hand.

The nurse looked up in shock, meeting Lang Xiao’s silent gaze.

She was startled and confused—how could she not penetrate this person’s skin?

“I—I’ll get a new needle.”

The nurse replaced the needle and this time observed carefully before inserting it, whispering, “Relax, loosen your arm.”

Lang Xiao tried to relax, but after centuries of cultivation, her skin was not only impervious to blades and guns but also protected by supernatural power. Human weapons couldn’t harm her in the slightest.

Sweat beaded on the nurse’s forehead as the second needle also snapped. She planned to call someone else to try.

Lang Xiao pressed her lips together and said, “Try once more. This time it will work.”

The nurse eyed her skeptically but decided to try again. Finally, it succeeded. She sighed in relief and smiled faintly.

Lang Xiao’s lips twitched involuntarily.

Hu Yuanfei’s blood draw was simpler. Although not as troublesome, he was terrified of needles and screamed loudly before the needle even touched his skin, drawing all eyes. When the nurse tried again, he jerked his arm back, nearly knocking her into the glass.

Lang Xiao felt embarrassed, holding Qing Yao with one arm as she grabbed Hu Yuanfei’s neck to press him down in the seat.

“Sit still!”

Hu Yuanfei whimpered and stretched out his arm, turning his head hard to the side.

Unexpectedly, Qing Yao reached out to him, covering his eyes with her small hand as if telling him not to be afraid.

Surprised, Hu Yuanfei felt the needle pierce in. It didn’t hurt much and was over quickly.

Qing Yao released her hand, smiling with bubbles on her lips. Though her face had been red from crying moments ago, she had already forgotten the pain. Hu Yuanfei couldn’t help but cup her face and kiss her.

By noon, most test results were back. Qing Yao was in good health, and the fever and diarrhea from yesterday had left no lasting harm. As for the two monsters’ reports, they hadn’t seen them; they were told those would be available the next day.

After seeing the results, the police officer relaxed slightly and escorted them back to their residence.

Before getting off, Lang Xiao approached the officer with an inquiry.

“Have you found out what happened in that villa?”

The officer, inexperienced with such cases, said, “Sorry, the investigation is ongoing. We’ll let you know when there’s news.”

“And where is our assigned housing?”

The officer genuinely didn’t know and awkwardly replied, “I’ll ask for you when I go back.”

Lang Xiao studied her suspiciously. Were these humans trying to deceive them again?

The officer, sweating under Lang Xiao’s gaze, hurried away.

The following week passed quietly. The police seemed to have forgotten about them. Apart from sending a report they couldn’t understand, no one came by again.

Perhaps the police informed the property management, because when they occasionally went out and met the staff, no one seemed surprised by the sudden presence of a new family.

Qing Yao ate a lot—one can of milk lasted only a week. Diapers had long run out; now they were on the third pack.

Lang Xiao repeatedly counted the remaining money, watching it dwindle with no income coming in.

She sighed, and Hu Yuanfei sighed along with her.

Seeing the money decrease day by day, Lang Xiao refused to buy chicken feet for him anymore when she went out. Food problems now had to be solved on their own. With no one living in the villa, there were naturally no mice; the mountain birds couldn’t be caught either. Hu Yuanfei had to continue his nighttime forays for food, occasionally bringing back two birds for Lang Xiao.

Hu Yuanfei rarely saw Lang Xiao eat; a single mouse could feed him for several days.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Lang Xiao gave him a speechless look. “You’ve cultivated over three hundred years and still haven’t reached fasting?”

Hu Yuanfei was shocked. “You can fast after five hundred years of cultivation?”

Lang Xiao thought he was happy to hear that, but he followed with a lament, “What’s the meaning of a monster’s life if you can’t eat? Might as well be dead!”

Lang Xiao was speechless.

Hu Yuanfei turned to Qing Yao for affirmation. “Little Qing Yao, don’t you think I’m right? Aren’t you the biggest foodie?”

Qing Yao, clutching her bottle, nodded vigorously while drinking. It was unclear if she truly understood.

Lang Xiao shook her head and sighed again.

While they anxiously waited, Yan Kai and his colleagues finally returned.

This time, they brought good news.

Because the Liu family had died under strange circumstances and their child had escaped, needing a guardian, the relatives on Qing Yao’s mother’s side all refused to take the child in, fearing bad luck would follow.

Qing Yao’s grandparents wanted to care for her but were too old and required caregiving themselves, so they had to regretfully decline.

After much consideration, the police decided to let the two monsters continue caring for the child. Once their IDs were processed, adoption paperwork would be arranged.

The good news made Hu Yuanfei so excited he spun a full 360 degrees in the air.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Overcome with joy, he even tossed Qing Yao up into the sky and caught her repeatedly, her laughter ringing out. The police officers watching were nearly driven mad, wishing they could go back and reconsider their decision.

Could these unreliable monsters really be trusted to care for the child? What would she become when she grew up?