OFTLHFRO C9

Chapter 9 – About the Coffin in the Courtyard

After reaching an agreement, Huo Yan went to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.

Knowing he hadn’t eaten and had walked all the way back, Luo Mingchen cooked him a bowl of egg noodles.

While tending the fire, Huo Yan saw an egg appear out of thin air in Luo Mingchen’s hand: “…”

Luo Mingchen didn’t understand the look in his eyes. Thinking one egg might not be enough, he asked, “Will two eggs be enough?”

“…Enough.”

And so, Huo Yan then watched Luo Mingchen somehow produce a handful of baby bok choy out of nowhere.

Smelling the aroma drifting out from the kitchen, the three siblings cautiously pushed the door open and peeked inside, swallowing their saliva.

Seeing them, Luo Mingchen asked in confusion, “Why aren’t you asleep?”

Softly, Huo Xiang replied, “Little Daddy, we couldn’t sleep without you here.”

At those words, Luo Mingchen’s expression softened considerably, and he didn’t pursue the matter of them telling Huo Yan about his secret.

Seeing them staring, Luo Mingchen asked, “Did you not have enough for dinner?”

Embarrassed, Huo Yuhui muttered, “We’re full.”

Huo Xiang, eyes fixed longingly on Luo Mingchen, added, “But, Little Daddy, your noodles smell so good… we’re hungry again.”

Huo Xinyue chimed in, “Mo’mo’! Hungry.”

Huo Yan looked toward Huo Xinyue with some surprise.

He had taken her in nearly two years ago, and in all that time, she had never called out to him — only babbled incoherently. He had assumed she simply wasn’t old enough to speak yet.

They were all children still growing, so Luo Mingchen understood. “Alright, but you can only have a little. Eating too much at night will upset your stomach.”

The three siblings nodded happily. “Mm!”

And so, Luo Mingchen took out another sack of flour — and a few more eggs.

Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang, seeing this, were both stunned: “…!!!”

Huo Xiang’s eyes widened. “Little Daddy! Are you okay?!”

“What?”

Startled by his reaction, Luo Mingchen almost dropped the flour.

“Little Daddy, didn’t you say you couldn’t let anyone know you have food?”

Equally shocked but quick to recover, Huo Yuhui said from the side, “Dad isn’t ‘anyone.’”

Upon hearing this, Huo Xiang suddenly understood and relaxed considerably.

But while the children felt reassured, Luo Mingchen did not feel at ease at all.

He thought the brothers had already betrayed him — but they hadn’t?!

Nervously glancing toward Huo Yan, Luo Mingchen found the latter looking back at him, reminding calmly, “The water’s about to boil.”

“…Oh.”

With that, Luo Mingchen resigned himself to the situation, unnervingly calm.

Everyone wanted noodles, so he made himself a bowl as well.

The hand-pulled noodles were soft yet slightly chewy. There weren’t any fancy toppings — just some chopped scallions, slices of ginger, a soft-boiled egg, and a handful of crisp baby bok choy, finished with a drizzle of Luo Mingchen’s special fragrant oil.

Though seemingly simple, the taste was incredibly savory.

Luo Mingchen, however, preferred adding a spoonful of fermented black bean paste.

After asking around, only Huo Yan joined him in adding some.

Huo Xinyue was too young to handle spicy food.

Huo Xiang and Huo Yuhui preferred to drink the broth.

Once everyone had eaten their fill, they brushed their teeth before heading to bed.

Lying in bed, Luo Mingchen mulled over Huo Yan’s situation.

He liked men — and Huo Yan, in both looks and build, was extremely attractive to him.

But he feared Huo Yan would be like that person who once confessed to him — interested only in his spatial ability, sweet-talking him to his face while secretly disgusted by his orientation.

In this world, sworn brotherhood marriages were legal and protected by law. Yet Huo Yan had initially sought a male spouse purely to care for the children, not even bothering to complete the name on the marriage contract. Rather than a spouse, he likely just wanted a legal bodyguard for the three kids.

With a quiet sigh, Luo Mingchen thought it better to simply focus on surviving; as for romance… forget it.

Half-asleep, Luo Mingchen suddenly felt as though a furnace had lain down beside him. The unfamiliar presence jolted him fully awake, and instinctively, he drew the kitchen knife from under his pillow, slashing toward the shadow’s head.

Exhausted from a full day’s travel, Huo Yan hadn’t thought much of the small bundles lying on the bed — the children often slept with him. Just as he was about to lie down, he caught a glint of cold steel.

Everything happened too quickly. Huo Yan barely managed to block with his arm and grab Luo Mingchen’s wrist with his other hand.

The jolt of pain snapped Luo Mingchen out of his daze. “It’s you?”

Blood oozed from the cut on his arm. Hearing Luo Mingchen’s tone, Huo Yan knew it wasn’t intentional and said helplessly, “My fault. I forgot you were sleeping here. I’ll go to another room.”

Catching the faint scent of blood, Luo Mingchen found streaks of it on the pillow after Huo Yan left.

Taking out a tissue, he wiped the blood from the bamboo pillow, then glanced at the three sleeping children before quietly getting up. From his space, he retrieved a medical kit and knocked on another door.

Inside, by the light of an oil lamp, Huo Yan sat treating his wound at the table.

At the sound of knocking, he glanced up. “I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”

“Is that medicine any good? Why not use mine instead?”

Luo Mingchen set the medical kit down on the table as he spoke.

Huo Yan studied the strange-looking box, his gaze deepening. “You’re going to tend my wound?”

“Mm…”

Luo Mingchen sat beside him, skillfully taking out iodine. “It’ll sting a little. Bear with it.”

“Alright.”

Seeing the deep gash, Luo Mingchen felt guilty. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cut you.”

“I know.”

Noticing how deftly Luo Mingchen bandaged the wound, Huo Yan pondered for a moment. “The place you came from… was it very dangerous?”

Casually, Luo Mingchen replied, “Extremely. Lots of man-eating monsters — you had to be constantly vigilant… There. Don’t get it wet, or it might get infected.”

“Mm.”

After packing up, Luo Mingchen was about to leave when Huo Yan said, “Here, I will keep you safe.”

At those words, Luo Mingchen paused mid-step, glanced back with a smile, and dismissed it inwardly.

Two years of struggling to survive among the undead had already taught him never to pin his hopes on anyone else.

If you weren’t strong yourself, no one could protect you forever.

When he awoke the next morning, Luo Mingchen heard sounds coming from the courtyard. Changing clothes, he stepped outside to find Huo Yan practicing with a spear.

Spears were rare; from what he remembered of historical dramas, most fighters used swords or sabers — only common soldiers carried spears.

Yet there was no excess flourish in Huo Yan’s movements. The long spear in his hands swept fluidly, powerfully, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

When he finished, Luo Mingchen applauded. “Bravo!”

Huo Yan turned toward him and asked as he approached, “Is the coffin in the courtyard for me?”

For some reason, being asked directly by the person in question made Luo Mingchen feel slightly guilty. “Well, everyone said you were dead. Since you’re not, you should go to the village head later and get back the money for the burial plot.”

“…I only chased a mountain bandit to his lair. I didn’t have time to inform anyone.”

By the time he captured the bandit and delivered him to the county yamen, claiming the reward and bounty, the news of his death had already spread to Xishui Village.

“Oh.” Luo Mingchen remained indifferent. “Just remember to reclaim the burial money. I’ll go make porridge.”

Unfortunately, the coffin couldn’t be returned. But since everyone dies eventually, he could store it in his space and save it for himself someday.

Huo Yan: “…”