HLM – Chapter 105 The Power of the Nest’s Heart

The moment the mysterious crane in Wang Bo’s arms let out a series of “wo-wo” cries, similar calls echoed from the nearby reeds: “Wo-wo-wo-wo, o-wo-wo-wo!”

Hearing this, Wang Bo instinctively drew in a breath of cold air—if the crane was hatching eggs, then there must still be a chick in the nest!

The reason he guessed it was a chick and not another adult crane was simple: the mysterious crane was an extremely alert bird species. If they were able to fly, they’d immediately take off at the slightest disturbance.

But now all he heard were the cries—no wing flaps, no take-off—which could only mean the other crane was too young to fly.

Yet the next scene shattered his assumption. The dog, Zhuang Ding, upon hearing the crane’s call, instantly dove into the thick, dry reeds. Another series of frantic, high-pitched crane cries erupted—Zhuang Ding stumbled back out, a full-sized crane gripped in its jaws once again…

“Holy shit!” Wang Bo’s eyes bulged wider than crane eggs. Was this dog a magician? How the hell was it pulling cranes out like a hat trick?

This new crane was slightly smaller than the one in his arms—but only slightly. It was clearly another adult, not a newly hatched chick.

Previously, he had assumed the crane he was holding was a female left behind to incubate the eggs while the male and the rest of the flock had moved on. Clearly, that was a mistake—both adult cranes had stayed.

As for why the second crane hadn’t flown away, the reason became apparent when Wang Bo shone his phone light over it—both of its legs were badly broken.

The mysterious crane is a tall, elegant bird known for its long, beautiful legs. These aren’t just for show—they’re essential for walking and for the leap required to initiate flight. Without the support of its legs, it couldn’t take off.

Cradling the two cranes, Wang Bo pushed deeper into the dried reeds. With Zhuang Ding—the little trail guide—leading the way, he quickly found a nest made of dried grass and moss.

As expected, two crane eggs lay inside, identical in size. Their shells were greenish-red, speckled with dark spots—the eggs of a mysterious crane.

This led Wang Bo to two possible theories: First, the female crane may have laid her eggs while migrating through the village, and stayed behind to incubate them, with the male choosing to stay and guard her. Second, the female might have broken her legs during the migration and was forced to stop here. She laid the eggs afterward, and the male never left her side.

The crane with the broken legs was clearly the female, since she was the one incubating the eggs.

Whichever theory was true, Wang Bo knew he had to take the whole crane family with him. Even if the female hadn’t been injured, he couldn’t leave them here—the place was not only cold but also lacked food.

Both cranes were visibly malnourished. The male, a full-grown adult nearly a meter long, probably weighed just over two kilos now. Most of its body fat had been burned away. If left like this, it would soon freeze or starve to death.

In a way, Zhuang Ding had ended up being this crane family’s guardian angel.

Of course, the mama crane didn’t see it that way. She glared at the man and dog with pure hatred.

Wang Bo didn’t take it personally. Right now, he had more pressing concerns. Looking at Zhuang Ding, he muttered, “Now what? What are we supposed to do with these birds?”

The best option would be to hand them over to the authorities—but he didn’t trust the authorities. After all, last year they had eaten one of these birds themselves.

With no better plan in sight and not wanting to risk bringing them home and attracting attention, Wang Bo decided to temporarily place the two cranes and their eggs in the grassy area outside the castle. It was summer in New Zealand—warm and relatively safe. The area could serve as a temporary sanctuary.

To protect the cranes, he sent Zhuang Ding back to guard them. He sternly warned the dog not to bully the birds again.

Zhuang Ding, clever as ever, obediently lay down at the castle gate, exuding a guardian-like presence.

Back home, Wang Bo barely got any sleep. At 4 a.m., the whole family was awake. His mother was preparing dumplings, and Wang Bo was busy calling people to offer New Year’s greetings.

Just as he was dialing his first call, Charlie rang him up instead. “Hey hey, Wang, I’ve got good news!”

“What is it? Another investor for the town?” Wang Bo asked hopefully.

Charlie was practically buzzing. “No, it’s something even crazier. A white-headed crane showed up at the castle! I’m not joking, an actual white-headed crane came to the house! Isn’t that amazing? A white-headed crane on New Year’s—what a good omen!”

White-headed crane was the formal name for the mysterious crane. The Japanese also called it the “nun crane” due to its elegant, dignified bearing—like a Western nun.

“What? A white-headed crane entered the castle?” Wang Bo was stunned.

Charlie continued, his excitement undimmed: “Yes! It’s in the main hall right now! I’ll send you a picture. I know it sounds unbelievable—I couldn’t believe it either when I saw it after waking up!”

Wang Bo wasn’t skeptical—he was speechless. One crane had broken legs, and the other had an injured wing. How did one end up inside the living room?

He opened the digital model of the castle, zoomed in—and sure enough, one crane, the same male that Zhuang Ding had first caught, was now calmly lying in the “Nest’s Heart” area of the hall.

Charlie soon sent a photo, then called again, still ecstatic: “Did you see it? I swear to God this is not photoshopped!”

“My God, it’s like something out of a myth. On your New Year’s, a celestial bird shows up at your home. What does that mean? Let me think—could this be a sign that our little town is going to ascend to heaven?”

In Chinese mythology, mysterious cranes are indeed considered immortal birds. The Ancient and Modern Records of Birds and Beasts by Cui Bao in the Jin Dynasty states: “A crane turns grey at a thousand years, and black at two thousand—it is then a mysterious crane.” They also appear in Journey to the West, Chapter 41: “Returning along the secluded ancient path, the wind and moon listen to the mysterious crane’s song.”

There’s also a Chinese idiom, “tortoise longevity and crane lifespan,” where the crane refers specifically to this kind of bird.

Charlie’s loud voice startled the crane in the hall. Wang Bo saw through the castle interface as the large bird rose, flapped its wings, and after a short trot—gracefully took flight.

He was shocked—just last night, the crane’s wings were badly injured by the dog. How could it already fly?

Looking closer, he discovered that both cranes were now radiating “lord energy,” significantly more than the cows, sheep, chickens, or ducks on the ranch.

As he pondered this strange change, his dad called out, “Son, come light the firecrackers! Then we’ll eat dumplings and go visit relatives. Another year begins!”

On the way out to pay visits, Charlie called him again—this time even more hysterical. “Shit! Shit! Shit! My God, Wang, you won’t believe what happened! You’ll think I’ve gone insane!”

Wang Bo sighed and reopened the castle interface. Now, both white-headed cranes were in the hall.

The male had fully recovered and was elegantly strutting around the Nest’s Heart, while the female lay on the ground, eyes closed, calmly resting.

Charlie’s message confirmed what he saw: “Wang, buddy, that white-headed crane just went and grabbed another one! You better hurry back or you’ll miss the most unforgettable scene of your life! Two white-headed cranes! In New Zealand! What kind of omen is this? We’re not just going to the skies—we’re heading straight to paradise!”