Cub 062: A “Little Zao Car” Is Coming This Way with Its “Headlights” On.

His Majesty Amos successfully chased Feeney all around the field at a leisurely pace.

Little Chu Zao stood next to his aunt, his eyes wide open. Every time Feeney got smacked, his little wings would tremble.

Feeney made a habit of acting recklessly, and Amos was usually the one to deal with him. After all, aside from Amos, the other Crown Clan members might not always be able to handle Feeney in a real fight.

Feiman was quite used to this.

Not far away, the trio who had just finished training watched on without approaching.

The little cub glanced over instinctively. Feiman looked that way too and spoke to the little fellow.

“It’s about time for a break. Go play with your teammates.”

The little cub indeed got along well with the three.

Little Chu Zao couldn’t bear to keep watching Uncle Feeney’s “tragedy,” so Zao Zao chose to look away.

Peng Liang had clearly regained his composure over the past few days.

His gaze toward Little Chu Zao gradually heated up.

It was different from before, as if he had solidified a certain belief.

The little cub was extremely sensitive to others’ emotions. Staring at Peng Liang, he didn’t mention Old Peng’s passing.

Peng Liang had been busy with those matters the past few days and hadn’t come to the royal court.

“Little Highness.”

The three looked at the little cub. After all this time together, they were clearly much more familiar with Little Chu Zao.

The little cub began to dig around in his pocket.

He lowered his little head. The soft, black curls on his head quivered slightly as he hunted around. At last, he found what he was looking for, lifted his head, and those honey-amber eyes were so sweet they unconsciously softened everyone around.

“For you.”

Little Chu Zao opened his palm. A brightly wrapped candy sat within, which he handed to Peng Liang.

The little cub smiled softly, as delicate and cute as ever. His face had grown rounder these days, well-fed by the Crown Clan—his cheeks now extra chubby.

“It’s really tasty.”

A five-year-old cub never overthinks things.

For the little cub, his highest pursuit was just something tasty. For Little Chu Zao, he couldn’t eat many things; most of his food was specially prepared by the chefs of the Holy Cas royal court in tandem with the medical center—so-called flavors tended more toward…health.

So his favorite and most anticipated thing every day was the little candy Amos gave him in the morning.

After hearing that his three teammates would come to train today, he had saved this specially.

In the little one’s experience—when Zao Zao was sad, when things felt difficult, eating something sweet always helped a lot. For the old him, that was a luxury; now it was a limited treat.

But he was still willing to share.

“For me?”

Peng Liang gingerly took it, looking at Little Chu Zao.

The little cub nodded vigorously and then began to dig again.

“This one’s for you—”

Zao Zao was very fair—everyone got one.

He pulled out another piece of candy and handed it to Yun Songquan beside him.

Yun Songquan froze for a moment. He knew what had happened to Peng’s family, but as an orphan, he couldn’t empathize. He and Chao Huangmu—one too cold, one too lively—together with Peng Liang, genuinely had no idea what to say today.

He accepted the candy.

He inadvertently glanced at Chao Huangmu next to him, almost blinded by the gleam in his eyes—

Yun Songquan felt a surge of respect.

Come on, friend—it’s just a piece of candy from the little highness, no need to look like you’re ready to go to war!

Little Chu Zao had already reached Chao Huangmu.

Chao Huangmu bent down a little. His sunny face was actually very finely shaped, but he was slightly tanned and always wore a dazzling smile, making him seem like a vibrant youth—so much so that people often overlooked other details.

The little cub dug around, looking up at Chao Huangmu with expectant eyes. He paused, blinking his big eyes—he, he really seemed to want some candy.

That slight pause was enough for Chao Huangmu’s mind to go in a thousand directions—just a second ago, he’d been thinking of how cute and tiny the little highness was, pressing every one of his cute buttons, especially those swaying curls. He wanted to tidy them up, and then Little Chu Zao paused.

Chao Huangmu also paused—Was there none left by the time it got to him?

With a friendly smile, Chao Huangmu glanced at his companions.

No matter, he’d just show the little highness that he didn’t want it that badly, then… Well, it wouldn’t be right to snatch Peng Liang’s candy, and Brother Yun probably didn’t like sweets, but he still really wanted one from the little highness…

Was it because his name was too hard to remember and his presence was low in the little highness’s heart?

Chao Huangmu doubted everything. His smiley yet slightly desperate posture made Yun Songquan’s nerves stand on end.

Yun Songquan instinctively unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth—

Surely you couldn’t snatch from someone else’s mouth, right?

Chao Huangmu kept staring at him.

Yun Songquan: …?

What are you thinking? Can’t you just stop? Seriously creepy!!

“Zao Zao only has one left.”

Right then, a savior arrived.

The little cub raised his last candy high, handing it to Chao Huangmu, his baby voice a little stuttery.

“No more after this, Chao… Chao Huang…”

Chao Huangmu: !

He got one!

Chao Huangmu’s voice shot up.

“That’s enough, thank you, little highness. Chao Huangmu.”

Little Chu Zao nodded, picking out the character he didn’t remember clearly: “Mu-gege.”

His little wings fluttered.

He remembered it.

This time Zao Zao made sure to remember!

Chao Huangmu: …!

Even when Little Chu Zao was called back by the Crown Clan’s majesty and other highnesses, Chao Huangmu still looked dazed.

Mu, ge, ge.

He didn’t want to keep thinking the little highness was so adorable, but though Chao Huangmu always smiled, his real personality wasn’t so easygoing—but the little highness called him Mu-gege!

“Wake up, wake up, big guy, snap out of it—”

Yun Songquan and Peng Liang couldn’t stand it anymore and waved at Chao Huangmu.

“Told you, it’s always right to trust the fortune-teller.”

Chao Huangmu snapped out of it, hooking an arm around his companions’ necks with a grin.

“…What lucky charm did you bring this time? Actually, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

Yun Songquan’s cool-guy face bulged to one side with the candy chunk. He wore a deadpan, fish-eyed expression, letting Chao Huangmu drape his hand over his shoulder.

“The little highness is just too cute—”

Peng Liang sighed, pocketing the candy, glancing at Chao Huangmu again. Chao Huangmu was always the most enthusiastic around the little highness, much to everyone’s surprise.

“But Mu, are you maybe a plushie fanatic?”

“Maybe a little…? But not exactly.”

Chao Huangmu waved his hand.

He didn’t find other people or things cute—only Little Chu Zao. From the first meeting—that strange power, that crisp, skillful archery, and everything since—all poked straight at Chao Huangmu’s weak spots.

“But whatever—”

Peng Liang’s eyes shone as he watched the little cub leave for training.

“I’ll be the little highness’s number one supporter from now on, don’t you dare fight me for it.”

He’d never forget how much his grandfather changed before and after the little highness appeared.

Father said, meeting the Crown Clan was the Holy Cas people’s good fortune; meeting His Highness Kaman and the little highness was the Peng Family’s good fortune.

A gentle miracle—he understood better now how the predecessors felt a thousand years ago when they encountered the Crown Clan.

Chao Huangmu: ?

Yun Songquan: ?

“But by the way, did you guys run into Ling Ye again when you went back to the military academy?”

Peng Liang looked over.

“Nope.”

“No, why?”

“When he got to my house, he asked about how much I see the little highness. That guy never shows much emotion, and he’s so close to Speaker Cheng Xuan. Isn’t it always been rumored that after the Crown Clan disappeared, Ling Ye was one of the main talents Holy Cas relied on?”

Peng Liang clenched his fists.

He’d best not find out anything harmful to the little highness.

“Oh—”

Chao Huangmu kept grinning, but was clearly deep in thought.

Peng Liang turned quickly—”Don’t even think about ambushing him and beating him up. If you get caught, you’ll be expelled!”

Chao Huangmu turned with a face that said, what are you talking about? “I didn’t say anything?”

Tsk, what a pity.

*

As National Day approached, Crown Clan members out in the field suppressing various beast-legions began returning, though some remained to keep the pollution at bay across the interstellar.

A starship landed quietly in the days before National Day.

In a few days, invited nations, alliances, and organizations would send representatives to celebrate Holy Cas’s national ceremony.

Because of the little cub’s appearance, security had already been heightened in Holy Cas. Now, it was even more stringent.

The Crown Clan member who disembarked was calm and quiet, with a low sense of presence. He got off, tilted his head slightly as if in a daze, glanced at the royal buildings, and then looked up toward the distance.

Speaker Cheng Xuan and his retinue waited nearby.

“Long time no see, Your Highness Lien.”

“Hmm.”

Lien replied simply.

He quietly prepared to pass by.

“Speaker Cheng Xuan.”

“You must have heard the news about His Majesty Amos’s cub.”

Lien stopped in his tracks.

“Of course.”

His eyes were utterly calm, showing no emotion about the cub.

This was once the close friend who fought behemoths alongside Amos’s father, His Majesty Clansis, and who supported all of Clansis’s plans.

He was also the only one among his generation of Crown Clan, besides those like Meilun, Kaman, and Hel, whose coronets were too shattered to meet travel requirements, still able to go out.

“What do you want to say?”

Lien tilted his head just slightly.

“About His Majesty Clansis’s former plan—whether to carry it out steadfastly—to be honest—” Cheng Xuan’s eyes lowered. “Your Highness Lien, I’m wavering. The little highness is still growing, but so far, he’s too gentle, unlike what His Majesty Clansis told me. And if I press on, it’s inevitable I’ll clash with His Majesty Amos.”

Not that Cheng Xuan wanted to go up against Amos, but a protective Amos would shred any threat to his cub, person or plan.

“Clansis entrusted you with this plan, so you should judge for yourself. I haven’t been back to the Holy Cas imperial planet in a long time, nor seen the little cub. I have no opinion to offer.”

Lien walked past Cheng Xuan peacefully, leaving one last remark.

“But you’d better not get your priorities wrong. Don’t expect me to protect you then.”

Lien left, his retinue falling in silent, ghostlike step behind him.

Cheng Xuan straightened slightly from his bow.

He looked toward Lien’s departing figure, thinking finally about some of the concerns he’d discussed recently—the Northern Free Federation.

The Northern Free Federation was a human federation, not close to Holy Cas, but relations were always good. They too believed that the stability of the stars depended largely on Holy Cas having a reliable, strong emperor.

Cheng Xuan’s kind, amiable face now wore no smile; he just stood quietly in thought.

Then turned: “Ling Ye, at the military academy tournament, did you interact with the Northern Free Federation?”

“A bit, not much.”

A youth of fifteen or sixteen answered swiftly from behind Cheng Xuan.

Cheng Xuan looked to the sky—thinking of His Majesty Clansis.

That was a cold, strict ruler. He saw his people and his empire as equally important. He seemed strict with His Majesty Amos but was full of love. He hadn’t left these cruel decisions to his child; at that time, faced with the future, he began to draft out plans, even drawing criticism for his impatience within the Crown Clan.

The emperor he spent his life following told him, time and again, Holy Cas had to survive, had to survive the cruel starways, needed a strong command center, couldn’t get too emotional…

Holy Cas, the little highness, His Majesty Amos, His Majesty Clansis…

Cheng Xuan smiled softly at last. “Let’s go.”

*

As an elder to Amos, Lien’s return also required reporting in.

This time, besides National Day, it was the coronet issue. He had lasted the longest of his generation, but was nearly at his limit now. Only after hearing the little cub could heal Crown Clan coronets did he decide not to die far away.

But he didn’t need to report to Amos. His previous orders were to suppress beast threats in a certain region, and as an old friend of the previous emperor, he had left the imperial planet almost as soon as Amos took the throne.

Returning really did feel like a different world.

Peaceful: no beast roaring, no cannon thundering, everything far too still.

Though no report was necessary, he found himself entering the Dwight palace unconsciously. Long ago, he came here often; back then, Clansis and Solan were both alive. The five dazzling Dwight cubs, born of their combined powers, were still growing up—each bold and rebellious.

And now, here he was, seeing another little Dwight.

A soft little Dwight.

Lien could hardly picture it.

But he felt numb. He couldn’t imagine a young cub changing his feelings much.

He’d protect the cub like any Crown Clan member, but he wasn’t the doting grandpa type—in his own estimation, at least. He even wondered if Amos, who grew up under Clansis’s strict discipline, truly cared for the cub as much as the reports claimed.

Though he thought it right to care—still, considering recent events, Amos was clearly on edge.

Remembering the Amos from before, Lien felt it all rather absurd.

He certainly wouldn’t get like that.

He had his own reasons for this visit.

“Baba, Baba—why can’t Zao Zao jump from the roof? Third Uncle said Zao Zao must try it.”

The cub’s tender voice suddenly drilled right into his ears.

Light, soft, and sugary-sweet—like a baby bird begging for pets.

“Eh—? Wait, hang on, Zao Zao, Third Uncle never said that, seriously!”

Feeney’s voice mingled with Frey, Anya, and Feiman’s laughter, with Hel’s disgruntled tone mixed in: “His Majesty Amos has always said you’re unreliable, Prince Feeney—do you have to stick with it all the time!”

It was after dinner already.

Dusk was falling; obviously, Amos was taking his cub for a walk to help digestion, with plenty of others around too.

Lien froze for a moment, instinctively ducking against the wall, lurking silently in the shadows to watch.

His stealth was top in the Crown Clan—if he kept his distance, even Amos couldn’t detect him.

He swept his gaze over all those familiar faces, finally landing on the tiny figure Amos led by the hand.

Compared to the surrounding two-meter-tall Crown Clan, Little Chu Zao was minuscule.

The streetlamps flicked on, lighting up the road in front of the Dwight palace.

The cub squinted happily, his little wings fluttering softly behind him. All soft and small, he lifted his pale face—so cute it was explosive.

Lien stared from the shadows, face perfectly blank, his grip tightening on the wall.

The little fellow seemed to sense something. Little Chu Zao blinked blankly, looked over to the not-so-distant corner—

But he saw nothing. His little wings trembled, and he reached up to touch his halo, then looked back at Amos.

Feeney, watching that innocent face, a bit dazed on that babyish face, tried to grab the cub’s halo from behind; of course, he got nothing and just ruffled the cub’s curls. “Are you tattling? You little rascal?”

“Zao Zao is telling the truth! Zao Zao is an honest baby.”

Which just made Feeney want to squish that little face more—and sigh at the unbearable cuteness.

The little cub yelped and covered his head to guard his curls, scampering over to the teacher and grabbing the hem of Hel’s clothes.

“Teacher, what are we learning tonight?”

Indeed, the little cub had quite a full schedule.

He’d never learned anything before, so now, at this age, he had to catch up on missed knowledge.

Starting with Holy Cas language and all the Crown Clan abilities.

One thing was easy—the little cub had already formed his own spiritual weapon, so no need to waste time with trial and error.

In the mornings, he learned academic stuff; in the afternoons, training, mostly physical arts and archery. At night, Crown Clan spiritual abilities.

“Tonight?”

Hel thought over the plan.

They’d done stealth many times already and could raise the difficulty later. For now, that was enough for the cub—he learned very quickly and was making rapid progress in physical skills too. So—counter-detection had already produced results.

“Next, we’ll learn how to use spiritual power to boost the five senses. Tonight, practice with sight? See farther and clearer, sense things out of your peripheral vision with your power.”

The little cub blinked, nodding as if he understood.

The weather wasn’t so chilly now, so Amos wasn’t worried about the munchkin catching a chill—it’s all just for digestion anyway.

He simply dragged Feeney off to the training lot.

Frey, Feiman, and Anya gathered to watch the fun.

Feeney: …Why are you just watching??

Twisted, dark baby face couldn’t stay twisted before his older brother’s righteous fist.

“Bro, come on…you discipline me twice a day? Even father wasn’t so strict with you—”

Feeney felt his status plummet since coming back—mainly because his second brother was too protective.

His specialty was risk-taking. With other members, Amos had never cared much since they couldn’t beat him anyway. But now…

“Ow—Second Brother, go easy!!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, I knew second brother would beat him up.”

“Of course. Everyone’s been beaten up except Feeney, who has a bad memory.”

“But second brother’s never hit the eldest brother, right?”

Anya and Feiman asked, turning to Frey.

Frey turned slowly to them, face a bit weird: “Ah…he has, but you two didn’t know.”

Feiman, Anya: ?

Wait, Amos was so brutal?

Truly…lively, indeed…

Lien, hiding in the shadows and watching all this, thought so too.

On the other side, the little cub was learning with Hel—how to use spiritual power to see farther and clearer, and sense things in blind spots.

The little cub closed his eyes to focus.

Spiritual power coursed to his eyes—hmm, Zao Zao felt his eyes get a bit warm.

He opened his eyes, pausing. First, he saw Hel’s spiritual power—a bundle with some familiar threads branching off, desperately dodging his little halo.

Hel, for his part, was stunned—

From earlier descriptions, Crown Clan members couldn’t see spiritual power, so what the little cub was doing clearly wasn’t the same as what Hel meant.

But the little cub’s eyes widened—Zao Zao figured it out?

His little chest puffed up unconsciously.

Zao Zao figured it out!

Did he?

The little cub glanced at the stunned Hel, then at Amos, running over—”Baba, Baba—is this right?”

Hel snapped out of it, reaching out—”Wait, Zao Zao…”

Something felt off.

Really…not quite right.

Amos and the others turned too.

Little Chu Zao had been with Hel in a slightly brighter spot, and now as he ran out of the light toward the dimmer area—they saw his eyes were glowing?

It wasn’t the usual Crown Clan iridescence—his eyes were REALLY giving off light!!!

That little cub, flapping along, his big eyes glowing gold like two flashlights, came running right over—

—Yes, a “Little Zao Car,” coming this way with its “headlights” on.