“Forty-five kisses.”
That was what Little Chu Zao said, looking up at his aunt.
The little fellow held his dad’s face, seeming a little dazed.
Feiman and Feeney both looked over, unable for a moment to picture Amos sitting there kissing Zao Zao over and over.
But at least now, Amos was back to the older brother they knew.
All of Little Chu Zao’s checkup results were in.
Everything was normal, steadily improving—not just his mental indicators, but his physical health was rapidly recovering too.
All that thanks to being fed bite by bite with Amos’s mental longsword.
Zao Zao was a healthy Zao Zao.
With a little squeak, the little cub hopped down from Amos’s lap.
He hadn’t been to the Medical Center in a long time—several familiar Crown Clan still lived there.
Like a check-up round, the cub went visiting each one.
Amos and the others let him be, the adults following leisurely behind, quietly discussing Holy Cas business.
Letting the little one go on ahead, pattering along.
First, Zao Zao visited Morlo, still in recovery. Morlo’s bedside table was piled with medical textbooks, which he was reading with a frown.
Teacher Hel sat not far away; his usually anxious, brooding face appeared unusually calm in recent days, eyes fixed on Morlo, watching without blinking.
Little Chu Zao clung to the doorway.
He peeked inside.
Morlo quickly realized someone was there, looking up to see the little fellow peeking in.
He paused.
Morlo wasn’t very close with Chu Zao.
He vaguely remembered the cub holding his halo, then sticking around the Medical Center—his health was too poor and needed long convalescence, so he’d been living here.
“Zao Zao?”
Morlo managed a gentle smile.
He held out his hand. His thin hand was still pale and bony, but he beckoned to the little cub.
“Come here to Grandpa.”
It felt so odd—he’d thought death was inevitable, only to wake and see Hel, and now the collapse of the Crown Clan was halted; he was old enough to be called grandpa now.
“Little Highness.”
Teacher Hel looked over. Outside of class, the Dwight imperial tutor was gentle, especially near his loved one.
“How were the exams?”
“Healthy Zao Zao!”
Little Chu Zao puffed out his tiny chest.
He waddled over to Morlo.
The cub looked at Grandpa Morlo’s thin figure, tiptoed up and clung to Morlo’s desk, “Grandpa Morlo, you need to eat well.”
Morlo paused, then smiled.
“All right.”
“Teacher Hel too, eat well.”
“Do I need to thank you for being so thoughtful?”
Hel smiled.
The little fellow hadn’t fully learned to read, but cared plenty and knew how to be fair.
“What are these?”
Greeting done, the endlessly curious cub, fluffy curls atop his head, looked at the books.
“Medical books.”
Morlo said.
He couldn’t help glancing at Hel, his eyes a little sad.
Hel’s wings were gone. Crown Clan wings were important—they symbolized power and stored strength.
So after losing his wings, Hel had constant pain.
Morlo wanted to help Hel feel better.
“I’m fine, Morlo.”
Hel looked at Morlo, reached over, and gently embraced him, letting Morlo lean against his chest.
“I’ve told you many times—I’ve never felt so good.”
The pain was nothing to Hel.
Little Chu Zao stared dazed for a couple of seconds.
He thought for a second, then stepped back a couple of steps.
“Zao Zao’s leaving now.”
Hel looked over.
“Third Uncle says, at times like this, kids shouldn’t watch. Teacher, you and Grandpa Morlo carry on. I’m going to see Uncle Job and Uncle Joshua. The doctor said they’re misbehaving.”
What did it mean, that kids shouldn’t watch?
Morlo’s face flushed slightly, and he sat up very straight.
He couldn’t help but glare at Hel.
“Hey hey, what did I do now?”
Feeney’s head poked in, looking down at the cub who’d retreated to the doorway.
Feeney looked up, baby face always smiling, turning to Hel and Morlo.
“Teacher, you believe me, would I ever do anything shady?”
Hel thought for two seconds, recalling past irresponsible eavesdropping at the door, then nodded gravely: “You would, Third Prince, if you were more reliable, Meilun and Kaman wouldn’t be so busy at their age.”
Feeney: …
That one sentence was too much—Feeney withdrew his head.
Saying goodbye to Hel and Morlo, Chu Zao headed to his destination.
Job and Joshua’s room was very quiet.
Only Joshua’s occasional voice could be heard, muttering something.
Job was totally silent.
The cub knocked.
Joshua opened up.
He saw several Dwights standing not far off.
Then he realized, looked down, and after meeting those honey-colored eyes, he stumbled back several steps, alarmed.
“I mean, I just didn’t want to take medicine the other day—a little fed up with constant psych checks—just wanted to know when I can leave. It’s only a few times, isn’t that too much?”
Send this kid to make him behave?
Chu Zao’s face broke into a wide, harmless, and cute smile: “Doctor said Uncle Joshua’s being naughty, so Zao Zao came to check on you.”
Silent Job, inside the room, also glanced over. He paused only a moment, then, seeing Joshua’s overly defensive but more lively expression, couldn’t help but let out a light laugh and shake his head.
“Majesty.”
Job stood up.
“How long will you be at the Medical Center? Let Joshua go out with you for a walk.”
Job came to the door—he was taller than Joshua, looking down at his brother.
“Staying cooped up is no good.”
He wasn’t talkative, and being together all the time made things gloomy. It wasn’t good for Joshua.
“I…”
Joshua paused, looked at Job, bit his lip.
“All right, all right, I’ll go for a walk, won’t keep pulling you into conversation.”
Coddled by his brother, Joshua still had a bit of childishness toward him, so he hurried ahead, then waited for the others to catch up.
“You aren’t coming?”
Feiman asked.
“No need,” Job watched Joshua’s back, “I’ve been gone for too long, too much to get used to. Watching him recover isn’t so painful now, I feel better too. I won’t go, he likes Zao Zao. I’d also like to ask Your Majesty to let Joshua spend more time with him.”
When with Chu Zao, Joshua always looked more alive.
Crown Clan twins’ moods affected each other. In truth, Job changed so much because of Joshua’s emotions. Now Joshua was getting better, and Job’s heaviness was easing.
“Mm.”
Amos knew well what Job needed.
His Majesty didn’t even look up, watching his little cub.
Casually, he said to Job:
“Get used to things soon, we’re short on people; Uncle Meilun and Uncle Kaman are both run ragged lately.”
Job paused, finally smiling.
“Yes, Majesty.”
The little cub had already caught up to Joshua, pattering along.
Joshua trudged along, actually a little older than Anya, but struck by tragedy far earlier. It had nearly destroyed his mind, and since, he’d stayed in one place, until later he left Holy Cas Empire with Job.
With Job, he was more willful.
But when he noticed Little Chu Zao’s short legs struggling to keep up, Joshua slowed, walking beside the cub.
At an intersection, he stopped.
The cub looked up at Joshua.
“Can I…”
Joshua stopped and softly asked, “Can I give you a hug?”
“Of course.”
The cub blinked, holding up his arms.
Joshua dropped to a knee and gently embraced the soft little cub.
He let out a long breath.
“Thank you—Zao Zao. I’ve always felt pretty useless, holding my brother back, and he can’t get rid of me.”
“You should have a proper talk with Uncle Job.”
Chu Zao tilted his little head.
“Uncle Job is very happy, because Uncle Joshua is very important to him, just like Baba is to Zao Zao.”
Joshua didn’t answer.
He just closed his eyes, then let go.
“All right, I’m recharged. It’s just treatment—no big deal, I can handle it. I’ve already filed a report anyway—Your Majesty, I’m fine, my brother’s always been wanting to go back; you can call him back, I’m always chasing him and still can’t get him gone.”
Joshua snorted a laugh, stood up, and bowed to Chu Zao and Amos.
“My deep… gratitude for not letting me do anything so stupid.”
Feeney poked his head in: “Well now, not bad.”
Joshua: …
“That’s why I said, don’t get that baby face so close to mine.”
Patience, patience, Joshua, you can’t win against Feeney, and without your brother, you can’t outrun him either.
Little Chu Zao blinked.
He suddenly saw that special, strange psychic power from before; blinking, he hurried a few steps up.
Eh?
The Crown Clan adults instinctively looked over, following behind.
A few turns later, the cub, big eyes wide, stared at a certain door.
This door wasn’t fully opaque—even had a crystal viewing window.
Inside, someone seemed to sense something. At first curled in a corner, guilt and self-blame piled up, he’d gotten his father’s news, the order to sacrifice for the clan, to not let the plot to destroy the Chalice Clan succeed, and that the elders who’d come with him were supposed to be fine—but because of him, it all happened…
If only he alone could die and make it all go away—he’d do it in a heartbeat.
Sensing someone’s gaze, he looked up in confusion.
And met Little Chu Zao’s honeyed eyes.
“Ah, it’s that big brother whose words no one can understand.”
The cub found the source of that strange psychic power.
Medical staff were still standing guard outside; seeing the cub, they looked at Amos.
The patient in this isolation ward was Derrick, the Holy Chalice Clan’s young master, confirmed to be stable and brought to the Medical Center.
Derrick paused, lowering his head.
He addressed Chu Zao stiffly: “Last time, everything I said was wrong. You don’t need to mind.”
Derrick’s voice was listless, but he kept speaking softly: “Being able to apologize to you before I die—well, it’s no real regret.”
Little Chu Zao was mystified.
He only knew the Holy Chalice Clan liked hiding.
Like Zao Zao and Teacher playing hide-and-seek, but they were really good at hiding—so good they were never found.
He looked instinctively to the medical staff.
“Uncooperative, and the Holy Chalice Clan has sent word,”
A staff member sighed.
Immortals are all tough patients, they thought.
“He wants to quickly end things on his own.”
The cub: “Does that mean hiding again?”
Derrick paused.
That was for sacrifice, not… hiding or escaping…
Derrick thought so, but he was still pricked by the little cub’s words.
Chu Zao tilted his head: “Like how you used to hide? I know the Holy Chalice Clan’s power—it’s really good at hide-and-seek!”
The cub said it with bright innocence, yet it stung Derrick deeply and left him speechless.
Derrick froze: “I…”
He couldn’t say a word. Tears suddenly fell.
Derrick wiped desperately at his eyes.
“The Holy Chalice power isn’t… isn’t…”
He blubbered, tears streaming—not that he wanted to cry.
After getting flustered by the cub last time, he’d run away quickly for this reason—he couldn’t control himself if he got emotional. This condition was known as—tear incontinence.
No matter how tough, no matter how much he resisted, once emotions spiked, tears dropped on command. Derrick often ran off just to hide and cry in secret.
Now his secret was out.
And right before so many Crown Clan—he wanted to escape, but there was nowhere. Derrick’s eyes grew big, but he couldn’t hold the tears back. He slowly turned to face the corner.
He shut down.
Still just a half-grown lad.
The other medical staff shrugged—really it was a good thing. The despairing youth now showed something else; for the doctors, that was hopeful.
But the little cub was so startled by those immediate tears streaming out, he bounced back several steps.
He crashed into Joshua’s leg.
His soft little wings pressed to Joshua, halo bobbing.
The cub looked up at Joshua.
Joshua, a bit dazed, looked down and asked: “Did I look like that too, when I wanted to die? What about now?”
The cub thought for a moment, then held up his small hand: “Seems pretty similar? Uncle, do you want a bit of love and peace now?”
Joshua: !!
Face solemn.
“No, I’m good, I’ll behave, I really want to live.” See? Full of survival instinct!
“I think you should still get a hit. Some people say one thing and do another—you have to watch their actions.”
Feeney, grinning with that all-too-sweet baby face, stood just behind.
Meanwhile, Feiman was already researching how to plant forty-plus kisses on Chu Zao.
At that moment, the alarm rang simultaneously on several Dwight clan members’ devices.
The cub had heard this siren before—the last time he’d gone out with Grandpa Meilun. Now a little nervous, he ran to Amos, tugging his uniform.
Feeney turned: “What’s up?”
Feiman: “The pollution zone we went to search before—the one where they slowly found a path—after unknown roars, there’s been a beast riot. The army and research starships there have sounded the alarm and called for help. This riot isn’t ordinary—it’s not just legion level, they’re attacking with strategies. If they keep this up, they’ll soon reach the Holy Cas system—Majesty.”
Amos was rapidly deducing: “The nearest Crown Clan there is… Ayala?”
Ayala, of Amos’s generation, related to the Dwight family—a formidable fighter, always stationed far from Holy Cas.
But with the peculiar movement of the beasts, Amos coldly barked, “Have Ayala immediately proceed to the designated site, investigate, all available armies be on standby.”
*
Elsewhere in the stars.
Inside the Hymn Organization’s mobile base, the twisted, oppressive atmosphere momentarily changed.
“Beasts are rioting?”
“What happened? Whole swarms are acting up.”
“No idea, but all sources agree—this riot is organized, nothing like the usual beast commander’s doing. None of our known commanders have that skill.”
“Did a higher-level beast come from the pollution? Doesn’t matter—from a certain perspective, beasts and pollution are our tools, weapons to strike the immortal races.”
“You’re right, we may have lost a hand with the Crown Clan but with the Chalice Clan, final victory will be ours. The candidate we chose last time—how’s it going?”
“Very motivated, I think it’s workable—”
“Well then… but colleagues, the last Crown Clan lesson told us—never relax, never drop your guard. We’ve trained many excellent members; lab-made products guarantee strict loyalty, I’ve already sent him to monitor the new recruit’s growth.”
At that same moment, on a fringe drifter planet.
Shenghua had gathered a team by her side.
Skinny, sallow drifter residents stared dully at her as she bandaged a wounded hand.
Since Shenghua arrived, the look of this drifter planet had changed.
“Why…?”
He asked low and hoarse, doubt in his voice.
“What do you want?”
Shenghua looked up.
“I just want to find more support, that’s all.”
She smiled.
Right then, a follower dashed up.
“Boss, not good—”
“What’s not good? Speak clearly.”
Shenghua looked up.
The follower made a face, looking a bit worried.
“Um, someone’s just arrived, says he’s to be your partner.”
Shenghua: ?
Before she could react, someone stood before her.
It was a tall, black-haired youth, his pallor almost sickly, one hand in his pocket. His skin made his hair look even blacker, eyes narrowed with a mechanical glint, a blood-scent on him, giving off an aggressive, troublemaker aura. He gave a smirk, a hint of malice and contempt.
“Shenghua? I’m Xi. I’ll be your partner from now on. Heard you’ve got potential… junior—”
Shenghua: …
Crap, served her right for asking for too much, painting the pie too big—the ‘boss’ sent a ‘little superior’ to boss her around!