Cub 078: Can I Touch It?

Looking at the piece of candy pushed his way, then at Little Chu Zao gazing up at him obediently—

Anya incredulously held up the candy: “Uncle only gets this much?”

Amos got to split the candy equally with the cub.

Now that Anya had joined in, he’d smoothly become the little one’s tool. Instead of having less, the cub’s share had actually grown as he grabbed another pile for himself.

Such excellent capitalist behavior.

Wonderful!

Although Anya was one of the Crown Clan’s main forces, lately his main task was looking after Little Chu Zao.

It was rare to have the cub all to himself, and it was clear that Little Chu Zao’s attitude toward him had improved. Anya scooted closer, trying to reason with the cub.

“Zao Zao.”

“Mm?”

The cub happily stuffed the candy into his pocket, cheeks bulging with sweets, and looked up at Anya with big blinking eyes.

Seeing Anya’s serious face, the cub sat up straight too, patted his bulging pocket, cheeks puffed, earnestly looking back at him.

“Xiao-fu, li-suo.”

—Uncle, go ahead.

His mouth full of candy, his voice was all muffled.

“We did have a bit of a misunderstanding before.”

Anya was floored by the cuteness for a moment, then shook it off, cleared his throat, and resumed.

“But that’s all in the past. You’ve seen how your uncle is now. Even if he’s not as accomplished as Amos, he’s put in the hard work. He’s at least not so inferior, right?”

Anya put his piece of candy next to Amos’s pile—making the contrast all the more pitiful.

The bulging-cheeked cub looked for a long while, then tilted his head, dug around in his pocket, and pulled out another piece of candy with his soft, slightly chubby little hand, pushing it over to Anya.

The cub nodded seriously.

“Fair.”

Zao Zao was very fair.

Anya: …

“Where did you learn that kind of fairness? I want to give it a negative review!”

Holding his two candies, Anya looked at the cub.

“Favoring Amos.”

“No, Zao Zao is fair.”

The little one replied in a soft, whiny tone.

As they bickered back and forth, the cub’s nervousness disappeared completely.

All the panic in the galaxy had been shut away from the cub by the Crown Clan.

The little dumpling couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

Yet he insisted he wasn’t playing favorites.

Anya hmphed, but his eyes visibly softened as he looked at the cub.

A Holy Cas soldier approached quietly and said something to Anya.

Anya paused, then nodded.

“All right, let them in later.”

Then he looked back at the cub.

“So tell your uncle, Zao Zao, where is the fairness in all this?”

Little Chu Zao hesitated.

“Zao Zao still has to grow up well. When I’m grown, what will I do?”

The cub thought about everything Teacher Hel, Grandpa Meilun, and Grandpa Kaman had taught him, looking especially serious.

“I’ll care for you when you’re old.”

…Hmm, not bad, but not that old.

“I’ll look after you till the end!”

Anya: Now that’s no fun at all!

The cub, caught up in the topic, thought again and corrected himself.

“Oh, wait, no, not send you off. Zao Zao won’t do that for uncle.”

He even wagged his little head at himself, all innocence and cuteness.

“Grandpa Meilun and Grandpa Kaman said it. Zao Zao just said it too fast.”

Although looking at the cub’s little face, Anya had a moment of doubt: even with that correction, it still sounded off… but, fine—being so low-ranked in Zao Zao’s mind, Anya’s expectations weren’t high.

Then came a sweet, fruity scent—

That was candy from the cub’s mouth.

The rich fruit sugar complemented the sweetness of Little Chu Zao, whose honey-colored eyes blinked as he leaned close, sitting by Anya’s side like a little candy bun.

“Uncle has to live well,”

Anya heard the soft milky voice say each word seriously in his ear.

The cub truly was different to the Crown Clan.

In every way.

Anya’s expression softened instantly.

Then the little one earnestly added, “Wishing uncle will never die.”

Anya: …

—Well, it’s true—immortals live a long, long, long time.

But why did it still sound so weird???

Anya looked down at that sincere little face, and the words caught in his throat—he couldn’t say anything.

Just like that…

Guess that’s fine.

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

Anya Dwight, always wrapped in his prickly persona, now seemed to have shed all his thorns and grown gentle.

He muttered softly, “Little troublemaker.”

“What?”

Little Chu Zao didn’t catch it, raising his head to look at Anya.

At the same time, footsteps approached.

Anya pushed himself up and rose nimbly.

“All right, go ahead and play. If you need anything, call your uncle. You’re already familiar with our destination, Holy Cas Mining Planet No. 78.”

The cub looked up in surprise.

“You can ask the people you know there about how to plant the potatoes when you get back.”

Anya patted his head and walked out of the room.

The galaxy was under beast assault, and Mining Planet 78 was on the edge of Holy Cas, now tightly linking up with its neighbors.

The Crown Clan picked border drifter planets outside the system as their main points to resist the plague of beasts.

This time was just too strange. Although Amos brought his cub, he didn’t intend to keep him by his side at every moment. Instead, he picked Mining Planet 78 so Zao Zao would have a familiar, less intimidating place.

Now, stepping in from outside were Chao Huangmu, Yun Songquan, and Peng Liang.

As a special escort team and Zao Zao’s guards, they had missions of their own.

Holy Cas always believed real growth came from battle.

So they were traveling together.

Seeing them, Zao Zao’s honeyed eyes widened a little.

“Brother Mu, Brother Liang, Brother Quan.”

The three saluted Anya, then quickly came over to the cub.

Chao Huangmu, grinning, sat closest to Little Chu Zao, Peng Liang settled on the other side, Yun Songquan, the quietest, said nothing but sat next to Chao Huangmu.

“You have missions too?”

The cub blinked big eyes at them.

“Yeah, this time counts as field training.”

Peng Liang hurried to answer before Chao Huangmu.

“Little Highness.”

“Then you must all keep safe,”

The cub looked at them, then at the doorway again.

“Zao Zao feels something isn’t right. Everything seems tense. They didn’t tell me, but I know.”

The cub sensed a faint unease, too.

But he did his best to comfort the grown-ups.

“Don’t worry, Little Highness.”

This time, Chao Huangmu smiled.

“The Crown Clan is strong. Really strong.”

The youth sat right beside the cub, black hair a bit tousled, probably from wearing a cap. At the moment, without the hat, his sunny face shone with energy, and on his ear was a glittering icy blue earring—a superstitious lucky charm, no doubt from a fortune-teller.

Chao Huangmu pressed close beside the small, soft cub, then looked down at him, not caring that Peng Liang had beaten him to the words, still grinning.

Looking up again at the little one.

“We’re strong too, don’t worry.”

Chao Huangmu braced his body, kneeling on one knee, letting out a long, light sigh.

Then smiled again.

“Zao Zao, don’t worry about a thing, okay?”

The cub looked at them and nodded hard.

“Mm-mm.”

*

Meanwhile.

The whole galaxy was in chaos from the beast armies.

The Holy Chalice Clan’s escaping ship had run into more beasts on the way to the pollution zone, only managing initially to force them back. Soon, the beasts swarmed so thickly that escape seemed impossible.

The Holy Chalice ship was steadily pushed further and further back.

Inside, chaos reigned.

It was all too much for the clan—from the strange plague onward.

Now, with everything out of control, the chief unconscious, waking only to give a last order.

But on the ship, the chief fainted again.

And then beasts blocked the way so they couldn’t reach the prearranged spot.

“Elder, what now? Only a few of us can still fight and move.”

“Do we have enough energy?”

“Yes, but there are so many beasts we can’t break through the layers to the target site. If this goes on, there may not be enough power left for self-destruction. Should we—”

“No, wait—let’s hold off. Too many could be caught in it here. Let’s see if we can escape the beasts. If not, then… The chief’s condition?”

“…Very poor. His Holy Chalice is almost completely black.”

“…Keep resisting. If there’s no way out, we’ll carry out the plan early.”

A heavy silence filled the ship.

Plague and death had stifled them.

Suddenly, someone interrupted.

“Wait—what’s the nearest system in this sector? Is it Holy Cas?”

“Huh? Not really? You CAN get there fast, but it’s not that close—”

“Huh?” The clan member stared at the radar’s ID tags, “Then why… is that a Holy Cas unit showing up here?”

A still-awake Chalice stuck their head out for a look—

During united anti-beast action, everyone broadcast their IDs.

On radar, a little crown symbol was blinking, sweeping through the beasts like it was all routine, moving fast.

All the Chalice: ?

That’s not the point—WHO is that?

And why do they seem so fierce?

And kind of… cranky?

On the Holy Cas Third Legion ship.

“Why didn’t anyone notice at the start that the jump drive was damaged by beasts, ahhh!”

Feeney’s doll face was pure frustration, kicking the table set up for him by the Third Legion general.

“Well, Your Highness Feeney, it’s kind of complicated. Actually, the drive is so heavily protected it’s nearly impossible for something to go wrong—it’s high-level spatial tech, you can’t take chances. Only as it starts operating is there a split-second of vulnerability, odds of failure millions to one.”

Feeney turned, face blank: “So we hit the million-to-one shot?”

“Yes, Your Highness—but the good news is, we made it through the jump, and we’re not far from Holy Cas!”

Soldiers lived to follow orders. The Third Legion, used to Feeney’s “unreliable” luck, just tried their best.

If they got a decent ending—

It would really be—

Something to celebrate!

All the senior officers were cheerful.

No panic.

The Crown Clan had planned for Feeney’s “unreliability.”

So Feeney’s sector had both him AND Feiman nearby. Frey’s team’s sector bracketed Feeney’s, just in case.

Feeney sneered at the beasts before him.

After all these years, the Third Legion had crashed into beast swarms plenty of times.

They were seasoned at handling sudden fights.

“Ah…”

Feeney hung his head, dejected.

“I actually bragged this time nothing would go wrong—”

His baby face twisted, eyes dark.

“Damn it.”

He swore softly.

“Hey? Your Highness Feeney, there’s a battered ship ahead.”

“What?”

Feeney looked up, confused.

Wait, wait—had he stumbled into yet another weird problem??

*

Holy Cas Mining Planet 78.

“That should do it, right?”

Wen Qingyu wiped the sweat from her brow.

Holding a wrench, she looked at her brother running around busily but not seeming to get anything done.

In front was a giant cannon, mounted on standard heavy machinery.

“Should be enough now.”

Wen Qingfeng lugged the toolbox, bossing people around, glancing back—a crowd of refugees from nearby drifter planets, pushed over by beasts.

Special edicts allowed them to refuel in Holy Cas before leaving.

Such a tense moment, Wen Qingfeng was ultra-wary of them.

Especially given word that the ship carrying the little highness would stop on their planet.

They hadn’t seen the little highness in ages.

Last year’s National Day broadcast, the Wen siblings were thrilled, just never expected so many crazy things to follow.

“Hey, Holy Cas guys.”

Someone walked over, brow raised.

“Our planet’s boxed in by beasts. It’s tricky and dangerous—we want to send scouts out, leave the wounded and those too weak to fight here. We’ll be back to collect them, okay?”

“Fine, talk the details out with our superiors.”

Wen Qingyu replied.

“We don’t have time for you right now.”

The Holy Cas forces on Mining 78 had already engaged, but were taking heavy losses, being pushed back, awaiting reinforcements from Capital Star.

The sky was full of cannon blasts and beast bits dropping, filling the air with stench.

No one could handle cleanup just now.

“Okay, we’ll go arrange it.”

Once they were gone, Wen Qingfeng muttered,

“Usually can’t get along, now they run to us, huh.”

Wen Qingyu kicked him in the butt.

“Enough, bro, hurry up; finish this, and we can see Little Highness.”

“Got it, Sis.”

Soon, a ship left from 78, flying out along a safer corridor, carefully scouting ahead.

They never noticed themselves being watched by cold, emotionless eyes.

Storm stood on a ruined, powerless ship, looking around, slowly licking brain off his finger—

“So this ‘Crown Clan’… where are they?”

*

Holy Cas ships were still flying.

Half a day went by.

Almost at their destination.

Many warships had split off and headed for their assigned tracks.

Chao Huangmu and company were getting ready for their field mission.

Just a little time left.

Little Chu Zao had already laid out his toys and shared candy with his friends.

“Not long now.”

Peng Liang looked up.

“Ah Huang—”

It was one thing, the little highness being cute, but not THAT cute.

Chao Huangmu’s tone was pinched.

Well, nothing to say—by now, including Yun Songquan, everyone was a hopeless little highness groupie. No one could question it.

Still, Chao Huangmu was good at conversation.

Peng Liang wondered where the guy got the skills to banter with the little highness for hours.

Now the cub was on the carpet, showing off his ghost bear.

His big eyes sparkled as he explained to Chao Huangmu,

“Baba made it just for Zao Zao. Sleeping with it helps me sleep better.”

“Oh, right, that’s the one called Abeibei, isn’t it?”

Chao Huangmu had heard Peng Liang’s chatter. He got up, laughing brightly, imagining Little Chu Zao hugging the bear to sleep—

So short, so small, just able to wrap around the ghost bear, all arms and legs wrapped in it, soft and cuddly—

Cute. Too cute—

Jealous, jealous of that ghost bear!

The ice-blue earring on Chao Huangmu’s ear flashed.

“Abeibei?”

The cub tilted his head, blinking in confusion.

His fluffy curls, bright coronet, and clear fondness for the bear—yet generous in showing it off.

“If you can’t sleep well, try hugging something too, Brother Mu.”

They’d just been talking about light sleep.

Could talk about anything, really.

Peng Liang glanced at the “speechless” kid sitting wide-eyed next to him.

Hopeless. The whole world’s a little highness fan club—

So unfair. Why hadn’t he grabbed this topic first?

Then they heard Chao Huangmu gush, then suddenly ask: “Can I touch it?”

The cub cheerfully hugged the bear closer: “You can.”

Let you touch—it’s made by Baba himself!

My Baba’s amazing!

Then, to Peng Liang’s gaping mouth and Yun Songquan’s wide eyes, Chao Huangmu reached out and—lightly patted Zao Zao’s… little curls.

…May I touch? Was THAT what he meant?!