Cub 052: Don’t Hold Your Breath at a Time Like This!!!

Little Chu Zao was still lying on Amos’s shoulder, his eyes already starting to look a bit dazed.

Amos sensed the little one’s body temperature rising bit by bit, and those clear amber eyes were growing sleepy, as if he couldn’t hold on and was slowly closing them.

Amos loosened the cub’s clothes a bit for ventilation, watching those little wings stick pitifully to his own body. Since losing the ‘brain’ that had grown, the whole cub seemed a little wilted.

It was somewhat similar to how things had been before he grew the brain.

“Zao Zao, can you hear Baba talking?”

Amos’s voice seemed steady, but they had encountered things like this before. Little Chu Zao’s mental power was different from an ordinary Crown Clan child, and the abilities he had mastered since childhood were extremely rare; normal reasoning did not apply.

But Frey and the others all subconsciously looked toward Amos.

No one could be sure if Amos was truly calm in this moment.

After all, not too long ago, Amos had quietly entered a state of tension, not letting the little cub out of his sight for even a second.

This small starship that had been trailing behind the Holy Cas imperial ship was now slowly being brought into the main ship’s hold.

“The medical bay is ready.”

Frey quickly announced.

“We’re moving away from the pollution zone at top speed, returning to Holy Cas Prime as quickly as possible.”

There would be the most thorough examinations at the royal court.

Right now, in dodging beast attacks and isolating from the pollution, this little starship had already suffered over thirty percent damage.

This was the first time Feeney had seen the cub grab someone else’s halo.

Even if it was just a little fragment, Feeney couldn’t help but shudder in that instant.

He watched as the little cub’s halo flickered, more dark gold appearing, like a ring slowly outlining Chu Zao’s halo, but still not forming a complete circle.

He took a deep breath.

Looked at the cub, then at the ragged Hel and Morlo.

“So this is… so-called piecing a halo together?”

And in the next instant.

The cub in Amos’s arms suddenly turned into a small white puffball, his head drooping and losing consciousness completely, as Chu Zao’s halo flared, pulling all the Crown Clan present into the past.

Including the unconscious Morlo, who was also having a very long, very strange dream.

This was Feeney’s first time witnessing this scene.

When the cub’s emotions and mental power surged, he would pull them into unforgettable memories from his past.

And most of the time, reality and his past had some connection. Like Frey would tell him, Hel saw scenes of the cub searching for teachers one by one, only to be rejected one by one…

Amos saw most—those moments when the cub was excluded, ignored, and secretly cried while hiding…

…

What they saw was woven together and remembered as one.

Finally, in some unknown place, they circled again and again—the Realm of Angels.

Feeney had never really felt involved before.

He hadn’t seen the cub’s crying after rejection, hadn’t seen the cub slouching with drooping wings; he only saw those written records, maybe because he himself was never normal to begin with.

Feeney knew he was unlike his siblings—his character was odd, most of his emotions were faked, so he appeared moody, with some inborn emotional dullness. If he wasn’t Crown Clan, he might have been one of the many notorious “warlords” of the interstellar world.

Maybe the angel race was pretty bad, but on reflection, Feeney thought his true temperament might be even worse—a subtle sense, which is why he was always far less sensitive to the cub’s situation.

Until this moment.

He saw the border between forest and grassland.

He’d read other Crown Clan descriptions of the angelic realm, could recognize that this was being drawn into the cub’s past.

He saw an especially tiny—little ball of fluff.

A familiar golden halo above its head, staggering forward step by step.

He even swayed a bit while walking, and the underdeveloped wings couldn’t yet lift him, just a light flutter for balance.

Zao Zao…?

Really so tiny.

Feeney thought.

Then he saw where little Chu Zao was headed—a full-grown angel, with a round, gleaming golden halo, wearing what seemed to be a kind and loving smile that, on closer look, was elusive.

That wasn’t a look for a cub—

Feeney quickly realized, this angel was quietly assessing the little white puffball from a distance—that was not a look of goodwill.

Until Chu Zao walked up to the archangel.

After another bit of excitement, the puffball of a cub, among the little angels, was met with alarm and avoidance from other cubs. Not understanding, he came to find the archangel.

The little cub tried for a long time before turning back into human form.

Human-form little Zao Zao was extremely small, obedient, soft, sitting on the soft grass, his white, dumpling face a bit grubby, stubbornly holding unshed tears in his amber eyes.

“Archangel…”

He was at an age where even speaking was soft and slurred.

“Why, is Zao Zao… different?”

No one wanted to take in Zao Zao.

They all had families… Zao Zao had none.

“Yes, why are you different?”

The archangel paused, then slowly spoke.

“But actually, you aren’t that different. Look, you’ve got wings and a halo too, it’s just your halo’s shape is unlike the other little angels’, and you can’t take it off; you’d also turn into a little white puffball.”

The archangel smiled, “Maybe, if you try a bit harder to fit in, try to be more like the angels, you’ll find a family.”

The little cub’s soft, white hand slowly gripped the halo on his head, confusion in his eyes.

“But Zao Zao tried…it made my head hurt…”

“That’s just for a moment. See, none of the other little angels has any problem, do they?”

The archangel continued.

“The more you become like a little angel, the more I’ll help you ask around to see if any of them would adopt you.”

The tiny cub, ignorant, looked up at the archangel: “Really?”

“Really. It’s getting late—better go back now, okay?”

Feeney, watching to the side, kept frowning.

He realized—the angel was weighing risks, attempting to assimilate and suppress.

This so-called archangel had neither the attitude to drive out an outlier nor the honesty to make things clear, but was instead luring the little one—try harder, erase features, conform to the group’s habits.

At this moment, Feeney detected the subtle strangeness in the images he’d found recorded by other Crown Clan.

The whole angel race talked of him as a little monster—no one would take Chu Zao in, yet the cub tried repeatedly, always hoping to be accepted, to have friends and family, making meaningless efforts, then met with repeated rejection—why?

Because of this veiled temptation.

He was just… a newly-born cub.

Feeney’s usual frivolity vanished, his hands clenched tight.

He watched as the cub sat, dazed, in the grass, crying and drooping his wings. He once too had the courage of a newborn Crown Clan cub. He wiped his tears, gripped his halo.

He used some force, tugging until his own head hurt; tears fell faster.

“Zao Zao… Zao Zao can’t take it off…”

If before, seeing the cub remove his halo would be alarming—right now, it was only fury and endless anguish.

Feeney couldn’t help but step forward: “Don’t listen to that guy’s nonsense!”

His coronet appeared in that instant, furious wings spreading to try to shield the helpless, crying little cub.

But it was no use.

This was the past.

All a parent’s rage was powerless.

They watched as the cub tried and tried again—at first, a headache so bad he almost fainted, then learning to tug that pitiful coronet bit by bit.

This was the age when mental traits were formed; the rare ability to control mind and emotion developed only through repeated pain at this stage.

So, in the whole interstellar world, no one else would ever have Chu Zao’s abilities.

But if only…

“Zao Zao! Zao Zao took it off!”

After the pain, the cub clutched his little halo, in a milky voice, going to show the adults—see, Zao Zao is a normal little angel.

But nobody cared.

Feeney felt his mental power almost slip out of control.

If it were possible—not a single Crown Clan would wish for their cub to have such abilities or traits.

At this time, the cub had only recently emerged from the Angel Spring, hadn’t found his family, and no adult angel wanted to take him in. At the place where newborn cubs were initially kept, new little angels were arriving, so he could no longer stay.

The other little angels all went home with their kin or adoptive family—only the little cub, the last one left.

His small figure stood alone at the door, clutching, with difficulty, the little halo he’d finally managed to remove, just gazing outside—

He was the only one left.

The wings behind the cub drooped, feebly flapping.

Feeney heard that choked, milky voice: “But didn’t Zao Zao… take off the halo?”

But there was nothing there.

He’d been so very, very obedient.

Brave, determined, polished till smooth, obedient and reaching out—yet, confused, found that not a soul in the world loved him.

He was still left with nothing.

“Did Zao Zao still not get it right?”

“Don’t…”

Feeney gritted his teeth, watching as the little one walked out the little room, all alone, unsure where he was headed.

At that time, his real family had no news, didn’t know he existed, didn’t even know where on earth this damned angelic realm was.

He was just a tiny, baby cub.

Feeney only felt the sourness spreading from his chest to every limb, making him shudder, an intensity he’d never known.

The little cub, pitiful, walked down the path.

Feeney wanted to pick him up, beg him to endure a bit longer—just a bit longer now…

Such a small cub, struck blow after blow—no wonder he curled back from exploring out of curiosity, watched everyone around with wariness, yet so decisively saw his kind as family.

Because the temptation he experienced had taught him: only sameness made you a family.

No Crown Clan cub, however strong, could grow up healthy in such an environment.

But did the cub give up?

Birds flitted in the sky, settled on a distant treetop, nestlings softly calling.

“Well, then Zao Zao will build a home by himself.”

Feeney looked up—

The little cub, puffing his cheeks, wiped away his tears, put his halo back on, flapped his wings hard—quickly enough, barely, to lift off and grab dry branches.

The little cub once said—he wanted to make things better and was glad to help.

Even though he had a hard time of it, he found a family.

But you are the Crown Clan’s cub, meant to be a treasure held in our hands.

You are our baby… you never needed to endure any of this…

Chu Zao’s effect on their mental powers rapidly receded.

When all the Crown Clan came to, the Ninth Group Army Commander Yemeng, who came along, stood not far off, not daring approach.

This starship hangar was in ruins.

All the Crown Clan who witnessed those images had their mental powers explode—an explosion in full awareness.

The nearby starship, now battered, had a torn-off special chamber, its equipment sparking and hissing as it crashed beside Amos.

Amos’s expression was unreadable, his wings spread and closing in. He held the slumbering white puffball, veins standing out on his hand, but his hold on Chu Zao was still gentle.

He forced out cold words between clenched teeth—“The Angelic Realm.”

The Archangel.

“Is it possible, after that area of pollution…”

Feiman looked up, the light in her eyes sharp as a blade.

“I’d like to think so, but the probability is low. Hundreds of years ago, before the pollution cut us off, that was just another normal star sector,” Anya leaned on the wall, head down, “but I think we should keep exploring, look for clues. Since the place exists, we’ll find it—”

That so-called Angelic Realm.

Feeney, meanwhile, stood frozen, icy, dazed, reaching to tug his own beard.

“First…”

Frey stared, dazed, at the starship equipment he’d just yanked out, pausing before speaking.

“Let’s check on Zao Zao first; we can do a thorough exam later. Yemeng, come help, get Hel and Morlo to the med bay.”

Morlo was still unconscious.

Hel, after violent emotional upheaval, the loss of his wings, and the toll of the pollution, was too weak—he fainted right away.

“Yes!”

Yemeng watched, terrified, the barely restrained destructive power of the Crown Clan.

They’d almost put a big hole in the starship.

And they hadn’t even exited the pollution zone!

Plus, did he just—see—Lord Morlo?

Lord Morlo… made it back alive?

*

The Holy Cas Empire ship soon left the danger zone.

They were still some distance from Holy Cas Prime.

They hadn’t yet returned, but were on the way.

Meilun and Kaman, having finished with the neutral planet, were also heading back to Holy Cas Prime.

The cub had stayed in his white puffball form.

Curled up, wings hugging himself, tail in arms, sleeping fitfully.

All the medical data showed no major problem, just a noticeable drop in the once-active mental power.

As for the coronet that had grown—there was a reasonable guess.

The cub could wield his and other people’s mental power; when he’d seen something wrong with Amos, he’d tried to grow a ‘brain’ to give to Amos, but never actually used it. That power was stored up, to later repair Morlo’s halo.

Of course, these were all just hypotheses about Chu Zao’s mysterious, powerful mental force. More detailed data would have to wait until they were back at Holy Cas Prime.

The cub was sleeping deeply to recover, overheated for a short time before the fever broke, still clingy, insisting on sleeping surrounded by Amos’s scent, even whining and whimpering in his sleep, nearly waking up crying whenever Amos tried to move him for a checkup.

As if he took Amos for his ghost bear; he felt unsafe without holding on.

In the end, Amos wasn’t in the mood to do anything else, spending most of his time leaning against a pillow, letting the curled white puffball rest at his shoulder and neck, feeling the little one’s warm breathing.

The medical staff told Amos—when Chu Zao woke, he’d likely be in a fog, and needed to gently readjust, lest anyone accidentally startle him and give the cub more nightmares later on.

In the next medical bay—

Hel had been awake for half a day.

Morlo still lay quietly in the pod.

But the steady, strong heartbeat told Hel a simple truth—his lover of so many years, once lost, had come back alive.

“How’s Zao Zao?”

Hel’s complexion was pale as he watched the medic bring in his medicine.

“All done checking, little highness’s condition seems quite good; he’s just sleeping. His Majesty is with him. Lord Hel, you’re injured badly too, you should rest more. Also, the painkillers aren’t working well for you—try this one?”

The medic watched Hel, battered and bruised, set down the pills and left softly.

Hel finally let out a long breath, leaned his head against the wall, and covered his eyes with his hand.

It’s alright…

Zao Zao is fine—

Thank goodness, Zao Zao is fine—

If anything had happened to Zao Zao because of him and Morlo, he had no idea how he’d ever atone…

The medical pod opened a sliver in silence.

Inside, cloaked in Hel’s outer coat, the gentle Crown Clan member slowly opened his eyes.

A tear trailed from the corner of his eye.

“Hel…”

That weak voice snapped Hel out of it. He got up and approached.

“Morlo, you’re awake?”

Tears trickled again from Morlo’s eyes—

“It feels like… I had a long, long dream, and you weren’t in it… so very long, and at the end someone did something to my coronet… Then, I seemed to see a strange little Crown Clan—Hel, Hel—that’s the Dwight family’s coronet markings. What was His Majesty Amos doing? Where is that? Why isn’t there any Crown Clan by his side?”

“That’s Zao Zao, His Majesty Amos’s cub. Things are complicated; I’ll explain later—”

Hel looked at Morlo with gentle eyes.

“He saved you, and he saved me… He’s our miracle. You need to rest now.”

Morlo looked up, saw Hel’s reddened eyes.

“Hel…”

Hel leaned closer, bowed his head: “What is it?”

Morlo looked lost: “You look so pitiful… also, when did you become such a crybaby?”

Hel: …

“You sure you want to start bickering with me as soon as you’re awake?”

Morlo blinked, slyly looking away: “I just… it all feels unreal… Didn’t I follow my fate to the end?”

‘Fate’ had told him to give up, again and again.

Hel reached out, taking Morlo’s hand—

“Yes, Morlo, we finally defied fate—”

At the same time, on Holy Cas Prime.

A meeting without any Crown Clan was taking place.

“You few are aware of young highness’s situation?”

A minister spoke excitedly.

Since the Crown Clan had not publicized it, only a few of the Holy Cas people knew of Chu Zao’s existence before that broadcast.

Peng Yue sat at one end of the long table, looking at a silver-haired man not far away.

The chief seat and the ones nearby were all empty; the highest position was this man’s.

“His Majesty asked us to keep it confidential for now. Chairman Cheng, I think we should focus on arranging for His Majesty and the highnesses’ return.”

“You’re right.”

At last the man at the end spoke, showing an amiable smile, as if a little dazed.

“Young highness… what a surprise.”

He was an old minister who had served Emperor Clansis, father of current Emperor Amos, now the chair of the council, the oldest member of the Holy Cas court, Cheng Xuan.

His fondness for the Crown Clan and Emperor Clansis was deep.

But his relationship with Amos was merely average.

Because, he also oversaw another program—after the extinction of the Crown Clan, to find and cultivate more talent to stabilize Holy Cas.

The meeting dispersed.

Cheng Xuan walked at the front.

He was truly among the oldest now, striding with large steps, finally stopping at a window, looking out.

“Chairman?”

A staffer asked softly behind him, unsure of the chairman’s attitude.

“How wonderful—”

Cheng Xuan sighed.

“A new little Crown Clan.”

He was so grateful, and still worried—for there was only this one child, and by recent reports, this young highness was unlike the rest of the Crown Clan, even more gentle.

Could he lead Holy Cas?

Emperor Clansis, what should I do?—Cheng Xuan murmured internally.

*

On the ship returning to Holy Cas, a day passed; only half a day remained to Holy Cas Prime.

The cub still clung to Amos, sleeping soundly.

The room wasn’t empty; others were present too, all staring intently at the soft white bundle on Amos’s shoulder and neck.

The cub was soon to wake, stirring, little paws pressed to Amos’s face, sleeping posture growing unruly.

Amos did not know when he would wake, but was careful not to startle Chu Zao; he didn’t move, merely glared with knife-like eyes at his siblings, signaling them to get out.

The group of Crown Clan ignored it, not even blinking, just staring at the white, soft little ball.

Until the faded golden coronet atop the cub’s head flickered, slowly growing brighter, as he sluggishly opened his misty amber eyes, fumbling ahead—

Where’s Zao Zao now?

What’s going on?

On instinct, Amos held his breath and closed his eyes to avoid scaring the cub with sudden eye contact.

He felt the little paw groping his face.

The cub was dazed, still not fully reacting.

The small fluffball slowly clambered up, stretched lazily in full view, then blankly gazed at the face before him—

Oh… is this Baba?

“Aowu~”

The cub gave a soft “aowu,” his little paws patted Amos’s face, his little head slowly edging forward—Why wasn’t Baba reacting?

Um, awoo! Better check if he’s still breathing.

Amos, eyes shut, held his breath waiting for the cub to wake.jpg

Cub, just wanting to snuggle Baba: …?

No. Breath. At. All.

The cub was dumbfounded.

“AOWU!!!”

Baba!

That little dragon tail suddenly bristled.

The Crown Clan reacted instantly—though your intentions are good, don’t hold your breath at a time like this, Your Majesty!!!