NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 8 - A Moving House
Chapter 008: A Moving House
“Mino, how does Xiao Xuanwu compare to the mutant beasts you’ve seen before?” Mu Liang asked as he turned to look at her.
He needed a reference point to better understand the strength of a Level 2 Rock Armor Turtle.
“Xiao Xuanwu?”
Mino blinked in confusion before realizing he was referring to the turtle.
She bit her lip, thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, “If we’re just comparing size… then Xiao Xuanwu is probably stronger.”
Mu Liang nodded. The turtle’s main advantage was its massive size.
But that was also its biggest weakness—being big meant slow movement and lack of agility.
Fortunately, its Earth Rock Spike ability helped compensate for that flaw.
“Mu Liang, can I climb onto its back and take a look?”
Mino’s blue eyes sparkled as she asked eagerly.
“Of course.” Mu Liang chuckled.
He sent a mental command to the Rock Armor Turtle, letting it know they wanted to get onto its back.
“Hooowoo~~”
The turtle let out a low rumble. The sharp rock spikes along its shell suddenly retracted, and the ground around it began to shift.
Large slabs of stone rose from the earth, forming a staircase leading up to its back.
“Wow! Xiao Xuanwu can understand us?!”
Mino’s eyes glowed with excitement as she gazed at the two-meter-tall rock steps.
“It understands me.”
Mu Liang took the lead, climbing up the stone staircase and stepping onto the turtle’s back.
The rock spikes on its shell had all retracted, leaving a flat, seven-to-eight-square-meter area in the center.
Meanwhile, the remaining spikes around the edges slanted slightly outward, forming a natural barrier like a fence.
“Smart.”
Mu Liang mentally praised the Rock Armor Turtle.
“Hooowoo~~”
The turtle happily rumbled in response.
“Xiao Xuanwu is amazing!”
Mino climbed up after him and turned to watch as the stone staircase slowly sank back into the ground.
She looked around, inspecting the flat turtle shell, then suddenly grinned mischievously.
“Mu Liang, do you think we could build a house on its back?”
Mu Liang froze for a moment.
“Wait… that might actually work.”
His eyes lit up as he considered the idea seriously.
After all, the more tamed beasts he had, the harder it would be to live in human settlements.
And he couldn’t just sleep out in the open all the time.
Especially since the Rock Armor Turtle would only grow bigger with further evolution.
With such a large back, it could definitely serve as a mobile base.
Mino noticed him deep in thought and hesitantly asked, “Wait… are you actually considering it?”
“Not yet. It’s still too small for that.”
Mu Liang snapped out of his thoughts and chuckled. “But for now, we could build a simple wooden shelter.”
“Are we really going to live on its back?”
Mino’s excitement grew as she confirmed.
“How does having a moving house sound?”
Mu Liang crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “And we wouldn’t even have to walk!”
“That sounds… amazing!”
Mino jumped in joy, eyes filled with longing. “It’d be like being an explorer, traveling the world!”
Or… she could travel while searching for her sister.
“Mu Liang, if we set up a fire pit on its back, would it burn Xiao Xuanwu?”
“No, the stone will protect it.”
“If we load too much stuff onto its back, won’t it feel too heavy?”
“Even if we added a hundred of you, it wouldn’t even notice.”
Mu Liang leaned against one of the rock spikes, watching Mino excitedly plan their future home.
For the first time, he thought—having such a cheerful girl around wasn’t too bad.
“Mu Liang, let’s hurry back to the camp! I want to take down my wooden shelter and move it here!”
“Don’t rush.”
Mu Liang shook his head, amused, before reminding her, “Don’t forget about the bandits attacking the camp.”
“Ah… I got too excited and almost forgot.”
Mino stuck out her tongue, embarrassed.
She walked closer to him, tugging at his sleeve and whispering hesitantly, “If it’s too dangerous… should we just leave tomorrow?”
She was kind, but also selfish—her concern was only for the people close to her.
Now that she had a new dream, she didn’t want Mu Liang to risk his life for others.
“There’s no danger.”
Mu Liang gazed at the gray sky, where a single beam of sunlight broke through the clouds.
Moments later, the clouds swallowed it up again.
He would warn the camp, but if they didn’t believe him…
Then in two days, he’d just leave with Mino.
In this kind of world, even kindness had to be given wisely.
“By the way, how’s your relationship with the people in the camp? Any friends?”
Mu Liang still wasn’t sure about her social circle.
“I get along with a few people I used to catch lizards with.”
Mino looked into the distance and shrugged. “But mostly, I just avoid people.”
“So… childhood friends?”
Mu Liang asked softly.
“Mmm… maybe? I guess?”
Mino scratched her cheek awkwardly, her gaze shifting slightly.
She suddenly remembered those few kids she used to hunt lizards with.
At first, they got along… but when she started catching more lizards than them, they tried to steal her prey.
But as a mutant, the outcome was obvious—she beat them up and took some of their lizards instead.
After that, they started avoiding her.
“Doesn’t sound like they’re really your friends.”
Seeing her expression, Mu Liang immediately understood the situation.
It also told him something else—
Mino’s life hadn’t been easy.
And that meant… he was her first real friend.
—
Translator’s Note:
Xiao Xuanwu (小玄武)– A reference to Xuanwu (玄武), a mythical black tortoise from Chinese mythology.
Earth Rock Spike (地岩突刺)– The turtle’s ability, likely an offensive earth-elemental attack.
Mimetic Camouflage (拟态变色)– Mu Liang’s and the Three-Colored Lizard’s stealth ability.