Because Amos was seen by the Crown Clan as omnipotent,
Feiman and Anya put their heads together and came up with this dumb plan.
Eat some—if you hide them, they’ll find it. Open a pack and leave some here, that’s easy to spot too. But since they’d given the cub so many packets of candy before, Amos probably had no idea how many there really were, so to make an entire pack disappear—was the optimal solution.
The cub couldn’t finish a whole packet, and although the two Crown Clan siblings weren’t thinking straight, they knew better than to let the little guy eat that much.
Hence, this scene.
But obviously, their “optimal solution” had a tiny flaw in execution—they’d miscalculated Amos’s return.
The cub had several candies in his mouth, but even more were stuffed into the mouths of Anya and Feiman. The two sat there dazed as Amos walked up.
The little cub paused in his effort to eat candy, watching Amos bend over to pick him up.
Little Chu Zao hugged his dad’s neck, a bit guilty. He wanted to speak, but his mouth was jammed with candy—so he couldn’t.
He’d always been a good baby for Amos, rarely disobedient—of course, this was due to his past. After what he’d been through in the Angel Realm, the little guy figured if he behaved and listened a little more, he’d be more likable.
And for the past half year, being brought up by this bunch of new-to-parenting, not-quite-reliable Crown Clan, the cub had done very well.
Bit by bit, his true personality was beginning to show.
And now, the cub was simply patted on the head.
Amos turned, setting him at the doorway.
“Zao Zao, it’s perfectly normal for kids to want things they like.”
And Amos understood his kid—he’d never sneak candy on his own.
Inside came the crunching sound of candy being chewed—those were Feiman and Anya.
They stared wide-eyed, hearing Amos’s calm tone, surprised he wasn’t angry.
Whew—
They exchanged glances.
Thank goodness they hadn’t let the cub eat too much. Maybe if they just ducked their heads, they’d get away with it.
“Generally speaking,” Amos continued, looking at his siblings, “adult Crown Clan already know how to resist temptation, know right from wrong—not to mention two adults. This kind of bad behavior obviously needs to be taught a lesson—”
Amos then added, “Not Zao Zao. This has nothing to do with Zao Zao.”
Great, Feeney was being watched by Frey, but here there were another pair of troublemakers, true partners in crime.
Amos “kindly” patted the cub’s head, turned, and walked further inside.
The cub still had a mouthful of candy.
He clung to the doorway, tiny wings folding, peering in.
“Second Brother…” Anya mumbled, trying to play dumb, “Zao Zao only had three, the rest are in our mouths—can’t swallow them, ow!!—What training field?”
Feiman had accepted her fate: “Zao Zao, remember Auntie got you three pieces today!”
Remember!! Auntie risked “life and limb” to grab those candies from Amos.
The cub stood at the door a bit, wings folding, then he walked over.
“Baba—”
He tugged Amos’s shirt with a tiny hand.
His cheeks were still puffed out.
“Zao Zao wanted candy. Zao Zao was with Auntie and Uncle.”
Zao Zao—
Feiman and Anya looked over together.
Aww, Zao Zao really is a good baby.
Amos looked at the little guy, seeing his halo flickering nervously, ruffled his hair, and the cub, blinking those big eyes, realized Amos wasn’t mad at all.
“Baba was just joking with your aunt and uncle. Don’t let them teach you things like that.”
Amos knelt down.
He gently hugged little Chu Zao.
Truthfully, he was very happy—
Amos had been strong-willed as a child and often in trouble.
But his own cub was too well-behaved.
The most he did was hand him a sour fruit.
Sometimes he wondered—how could he raise Zao Zao to be a little more lively?
Feiman and Anya exchanged a glance. Their jaws ached from all the chewing.
Sugar overload.
Cubs should have little tricks and liveliness that even parents can’t do anything about.
He was a good baby and never truly misbehaved. Wasn’t that good enough now?
*
The day before National Day.
All the Crown Clan’s preparations were complete.
The festival square had been set up, and the big armies that would be reviewed had all gathered in advance.
This was the day with the most foreign guests.
Amos’s century of strong rule had brought some stability to the chaotic stars. There were always little schemes, but most of the time, it was peaceful.
National Day in Holy Cas was the galaxy’s most-watched event.
Discussions had started half a month ago.
Countless topics surrounded the Crown Clan and the little highness.
‘Will the little highness appear?? Waiting online, I wish it were already tomorrow!!’
‘I think he’ll show up—for the proper introduction, but with the multi-nation conference, we already saw him by accident. Thinking back on that, I still get excited.’
‘I agree, National Day is the perfect time for an introduction. The little highness will appear, plus so many people for the parade, even the North Free Federation’s little princess came—there are other immortals with ties to the Crown Clan, but some are still hunting behemoths and won’t be coming… Now the pressure’s greater since the Boel Alliance, led by the Spirit Eye Race, collapsed.’
‘Sad really—the Spirit Eye Race led Boel Alliance collapsed so suddenly. Place and planet names changed overnight, so few immortals left in the whole galaxy.’
‘Aaah—I want tomorrow to come already, I’ll record everything and treasure it!’
The large reception area outside the palace housed representatives from nations and planets.
Among them were representatives of the Holy Chalice Clan, who had lived reclusively for thousands of years but recently become more active—this time, the same elder who came to Holy Cas last time, plus their young little lord of thirteen or fourteen.
“Why do I have to come to the Crown Clan’s National Day ceremony?”
Holy Chalice’s young lord Derik sat, teacup in hand, watching his thoughtful elder grandfather.
“Didn’t father say anything? Lots of relatives have been sent away. We’re immortal, why get mixed up in this?”
In Derik’s eyes, the Boel Alliance was the best example.
The Spirit Eye Race came forward, and now only one—Barney—is left, whereabouts unknown.
The Crown Clan weren’t doing much better—each generation less and less.
Derik’s father was clan leader, their clan protected their land with their powers, keeping to themselves for generations, rarely so active.
“I don’t know either. The clan leader’s intuition with the Holy Chalice has always been best—there must be a reason.”
From attending the summit to remind and earn the Crown Clan’s favor, to now sending the young lord for National Day.
Elders hadn’t seen the clan leader in some time, only followed orders.
They too felt uneasy, but could only gently reassure the young lord.
Derik went to the window. The Holy Chalice Clan didn’t have the Crown Clan’s force or Spirit Eye Race’s sharpness, but they had incredible intuition and danger sense—so the anxiety spreading in his heart was hard to bear.
Nearby, two women walked past—one in a pink-black dress, about twenty, with a matching hat, face filled with displeasure.
The other, older, but with a human lifespan of about two hundred, impossible to tell age—wore a black uniform, a gentle smile following the first woman and chatting. She glanced over, smiled kindly, then hurried on.
Derik instinctively pulled back.
His identity was safe in Holy Cas, whose army kept everyone secure and would see them home—but Derik, unused to foreign interaction, frowned.
“Who are they?”
“North Free Federation.”
The elder checked.
“That’s North Free Federation’s little princess Zhi Yan, and behind her, Supreme Judge Xi Jin. Among human-led nations, the North Free Federation is closest to Holy Cas; their relations are good.”
Derik delayed a long time before responding.
“Strange, at first glance… I don’t like them.”
Meanwhile.
Inside the palace.
“All preparations complete?”
“Yes, Speaker.”
“Good, tomorrow’s a big day, including honoring Holy Cas’s best people—everyone stay sharp.”
Cheng Xuan sat in place, smiling at his subordinates.
“As for the next proposal—about Old Peng’s student and the plan to use agriculture to strengthen ties with drifter planets—I like it, put it together for His Majesty Amos.”
“Speaker—”
His close aides came in, whispered in his ear.
He nodded, then addressed the Holy Cas councilors.
“Alright, we’re done for today. Celebrate well tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
Cheng Xuan stepped out, spotting a cold-looking boy in a corner.
He waved him over.
Smiling: “Lots of foreign guests for National Day, go interact, alright? Ling Ye.”
The boy raised his eyes, expressionless, revealing no emotion—dark eyes dull and rigid, but quickly replied.
Cheng Xuan waved him off.
“I have more to do, go along.”
Ling Ye watched him leave, then looked away.
“What’s the Speaker up to?”
His voice too was icy, mechanical.
“Probably meeting the North Free Federation reps? They arrived today. Their Supreme Judge greeted the Speaker—seems they’ve known each other a long time.”
North Free Federation…?
Ling Ye stared after Cheng Xuan, then left.
*
Amid all the swirling waves outside, the little cub was oblivious.
He went to bed early, and on National Day itself, before he was fully awake, Amos carried him up, his little halo not even lit yet.
He sat dazed on the bed, rubbing his eyes, letting Amos dress him—like a soft, sleepy doll, instinctively seeking parental closeness.
Lifted his hands when told, tipped his chin up when directed.
When all was done, as Amos let go, the cub flopped back onto the bed.
A ray of morning light cut through the window, reflecting the budding new spring, falling on the little one.
Amos’s eyes grew gentle as he stood by the bed, waiting while the cub slowly blinked awake, halo glowing, crawling up with a soft “Baba—”
He yawned, big eyes shining.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Amos picked him off the bed.
Took the little cub to breakfast.
The morning’s prep finished quickly, and they reached the parade square; all the Crown Clan on the imperial star had arrived, except those still under medical care.
Lien hid in the farthest corner, showing only his back, listening to the commotion.
Lien watched the festivity outside, thinking of the cheers across Holy Cas.
He slowly sighed.
Their royalty—had arrived.
Amos stood at the front, little cub beside him, other Dwights in the back, Hel at the end—he was watching that tiny cub toddling ahead, in his ornate little Crown Clan uniform, curls bouncing, and Hel’s eyes filled with warmth.
Hel thought—The little highness works so hard, I can’t slack off. Tonight, I’ll finish the Holy Cas history lesson!
Walking beside Amos, the little Chu Zao shivered, looking around in confusion.
He heard an order from Amos: “Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
The plaza was grand. Statues of past Crown Clan emperors stood tall.
The walls were exquisitely carved—from the ancestors of Holy Cas making the arduous journey to the Crown Clan’s domain, to seeing a world so unlike the devouring chaos of the stars. There, they found refuge, guidance, and in darkness, followed the coronet’s light to today.
The plaza was crowded, flags waving, painted faces focused on the high platform.
At the viewing stand nearby,
Derik sat upright.
He’d heard of Holy Cas’s worship of the Crown Clan, never seen it live.
He couldn’t quite understand.
To him, immortals and human nations always ended up like Boel—collapsing into ruin.
At that moment, the main doors opened, the Crown Clan appearing at the highest point.
Declaring Holy Cas’s National Day open.
The plaza fell silent at the emperor’s first word, poised and solemn.
Derik stood and watched—they’d soon climb up to witness as well.
On the high platform, the cub stood beside Amos. He’d never experienced such a spectacle—staring at the countless faces, cameras, eyes of hope. He paused just once before Amos’s gentle spirit lifted him forward.
Little Chu Zao looked down at everything—the flags rising slowly, coronets glinting atop statues in the sun, those long-gone Crown Clan seeming to gaze across history, now meeting the five-year-old’s eyes.
He had seen the Angel Realm’s festivals, but back then, was not allowed near, not liked by anyone.
He always used to ask his old tree why he had no family, why, even after all his efforts, no one liked him?
Curled up, he’d watch the distant celebration in envy.
But now—
Amos stood firm, hand on the cub’s shoulder, gently drawing him forward.
The cub didn’t need more introductions. His parent had told him—stand tall, this is your future, but don’t be nervous; Dad would always be there, witnessing your growth. Just keep moving forward.
Amos’s calm voice rang over Holy Cas: “The coronet’s brilliance will protect Holy Cas until it is extinguished.”
Suddenly, cheers exploded below—a roaring mass oath, pledging eternal loyalty to the crown, to the coronet’s light, all becoming—
Holy Cas.
Holy Cas! Holy Cas! Holy Cas!
The parade began.
From the central tower, Derik was stunned by what he saw.
He stole a glance at the Crown Clan leading the way.
Behind them stood Holy Cas’s soldiers, all straight-backed, then even younger ones—clearly military academy students.
But the countless adoring, excited eyes all looked to the Crown Clan.
Derik exhaled, recalling his father’s words—make more friends among the Crown Clan.
They had endured so much yet defied fate for a thousand years—arrogant, fierce, and power to match.
Now there was a child Crown Clan; maintaining good relations was essential—save it for the banquet…
Derik pushed down his unease—
Meanwhile, on the Holy Chalice’s hidden star.
“Clan leader, the healthy have all been separated— is this a spiritual infection? Some can’t get up in the med ward—what are your orders?”
On the screen, the Holy Cas parade played.
A steady, kind-looking youth stood up, a bit unsteady.
He turned, holding a faintly glowing chalice, his clan’s spiritual power made real.
But now, that spiritual power was wrong—creeping blackness at the edges, dimming its light.
He coughed quietly, smiling wryly. “Let them try more new plans.”
“…Yes.”
At last, the clan leader looked down at his chalice, exhaling deeply.
“A dead end… all dead ends, no way out. The end of immortals—is this the fate the Crown Clan always spoke of?”
He half smiled, enduring the excruciating agony of spiritual damage—not understanding how the Crown Clan survived such torment for centuries, not until now, not until he was living it.
“Truly…frightening.”
*
The parade and awards ended.
Almost everything on National Day was over.
The cub, trailing Amos, had been through a lot.
He was absolutely exhausted.
While Amos and the others worked on, Feeney and Hel were left to take him back to rest.
The cub had skipped his nap and was dead tired.
Walking with Teacher Hel, he looked up and asked questions.
His curls got a bit windblown, fur-soft, eyes full of curiosity—yet he was tired, yawning as he listened.
Feeney strolled lazily along, matching the cub’s slow pace, even yawning with him.
Feeney’s self-assessment was accurate—few things moved him, mostly just made him sleepy, except for Zao Zao.
Little Chu Zao rubbed his eyes, head tipped back, then paused, cocked his head, suspiciously looking into the air.
“What’s wrong?”
Hel realized he’d seen something, stopping.
The cub blinked.
“I think—”
His voice was soft.
He thought it was the spiritual power that had followed him recently?
The cub whirled.
But—no one was there.
Lien, lurking, turned quickly, a bit lost—Why? Why could that cub always spot him?
Even Amos couldn’t do that.
Lien, in hiding, often went unnoticed by the Crown Clan, even at the parade.
Now, the cub let go of Hel’s hand, trotted to the corner, and looked around.
“No one?”
The cub cocked his head, confused.
No—someone definitely was following Zao Zao!
The cub closed his eyes, opened them—
Eyes glowing, staring intently at the sky.
Hel and Feeney stood behind, watching him “waving his headlights” around.
Hiding farther away, Lien glanced over.
Saw the glowing-eyed cub and froze again.
Then—
He watched the cub spot something. Little Chu Zao’s wings fluttered, he lifted a bit off the ground, reached out, grabbed at something.
“Zao Zao caught it!”
The cub turned, shouting to his guardians.
Lien: ?
What did you catch?
But soon, unconcerned Lien noticed something off—
He was pretty far away, right?
How was the kid still wavering, flying right at him???
Really odd, but no problem, next time he’d just observe again, everything was on track.
Lien lowered his gaze, made no signal of alarm, ready to hide again.
But Hel behind had figured it out—oh, looked like Zao Zao had snagged a thread of his spiritual power?
That thing about twining spirit threads around his head—Hel knew well.
Ha.
Hel watched the cub press his halo to his mouth, breathing deep, not caring this was a one-way call, couldn’t help but laugh.
So, Lien was just darting into the shadows when—
A childish voice boomed in his mind—
“Can you hear me? Zao Zao sees you! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Zao Zao’s coming over!!”
Lien: …?
Lien, pretty sure he was fully hidden, stumbled.
Lien, who’d always shunned company, had never so clearly heard someone’s voice—directly IN HIS HEAD.
From inside his head—Lien, dazed, wondered, Had he gotten old, was his brain malfunctioning?? Was someone REALLY talking in his mind…right???