Originally holding out his bear, Little Chu Zao also looked dazedly up at Chao Huangmu.
Chao Huangmu sat a bit too close.
At ten years old, he hadn’t fully grown up yet, but thanks to training from a young age, he was already quite tall, a face radiating sunlight, and when he smiled, you could just glimpse his canine teeth—altogether, he looked youthful, approachable, and as lively as a little puppy.
He reached out and touched Little Chu Zao’s soft black hair, eyes literally glowing.
Especially when Chu Zao tilted his head, innocently brushing his cheek against Chao Huangmu’s fingers.
Cool fingertips slid over warm, soft skin.
Though Chao Huangmu had bravely reached out, he was caught off guard by that sudden touch.
He snapped his hand back at once.
Looking down at his fingertips—
So soft—both the hair and the skin.
“A Huang!!!!”
Not far off, Peng Liang stared wide-eyed at Chao Huangmu.
So bold?!
The little cub was a bit confused. He reached up and touched his own cheek, met Chao Huangmu’s gaze, then gave a smile.
“Be careful, okay?”
His words were as sweet as a piece of honey candy.
He didn’t seem fazed at all.
Now it was Peng Liang and Yun Songquan giving envious looks at Chao Huangmu.
And outside the door, someone was hiding in a shadowy corner—without anyone knowing when he had slipped in—peering in, wide-eyed.
Meanwhile, Chao Huangmu was dragged away by the “angry” Peng Liang and Yun Songquan.
They said their goodbyes to Chu Zao: “Little Highness, the warship’s about to arrive—we’re running out of time. When we return, you have to come sign at the First Military Academy. We’ll go with you then.”
Leaving the room, they unexpectedly bumped into the person who’d been lurking at the door.
Like a mushroom hiding in the dark, he flashed an icy look at a slightly dazed Chao Huangmu.
For a moment, Peng Liang felt his scalp tingle.
“Prince Lien?”
“Mm.”
Lien responded coldly.
His face, half hidden in the shadows, had almost no expression and a near-invisible presence. As he replied, he glanced down at his pocket.
His pocket was bulging; who knows what was in there.
The three left in a hurry.
Once boarded on the mini departing craft from the warship, Peng Liang exhaled.
“A Huang, you’re going to give someone a heart attack.”
“So gutsy.”
Yun Songquan echoed, this tough guy seeming a bit awkward, pretending to ask offhandedly,
“And… how did it feel?”
All Chao Huangmu said, utterly serious:
“I’ll never wash this hand again, my whole life.”
The pilot instructor: ?
“Are you nuts? Wait till you come back from the field, after crawling and fighting, see how many layers of beast blood that hand collects. You want to stink up the ship? I forbid it!”
Peng Liang shrugged, “I get it. When grandpa had his accident, Little Highness comforted me. I struggled for a long time after—because the spot where he’d touched still carried his baby-milk scent and candy flavor.”
Yun Songquan glanced at Peng Liang, then at Chao Huangmu, “But that was touch from Little Highness’s hand.”
Instructor: …???
Just what HAVE you guys been doing?
Have a little dignity! I’m your recommending officer—don’t ruin my reputation with His Majesty!
Chao Huangmu listened, then looked at Peng Liang: “Zao Zao touched you too?”
Peng Liang: …Dude, that is NOT the point!
And don’t smile so radiantly!
With that personality and that smile, clearly you’re scheming right now how to get back at me, aren’t you???
The three of them departed from the Holy Cas warship.
The warship soon reached Mining Planet 78.
It didn’t land, but Anya soon arrived to take the little cub for a stroll below.
They’d come back later.
Mining Planet 78 was safe for now.
Because Amos’s forces had just taken their stations earlier.
The beast armies besieging the area had been pulverized.
The pressure on Mining Planet 78 dropped sharply.
Anya glanced at Lien, who showed up just as quietly as ever—so discreet, Anya hadn’t realized he’d arrived.
“My defense lines are flexible. I decide where to start.”
Lien said.
He couldn’t help looking again at the little cub.
Little Chu Zao was eating normally now, but still needed baby formula for extra nutrients as his body grew rapidly.
At this moment, Anya set the cub down on a soft mat in a mini shuttle.
So tiny, he sank right in, white and soft cheeks round as he hugged his bottle high, gulping milk down fast.
Every time he gulped, his wings fluttered.
Lien watched for a long time before Anya, finishing the flight settings, finally answered.
“Things are a bit out of control, but not that far gone.”
Anya thought a moment.
“We’re not sure what caused all this—Amos is still investigating.”
“Yes, this attack is rare—beast squads are collaborating closely.”
Lien nodded his reply.
“Beasts can evolve up the ranks. We know small armies have their commanders, but with all our years of hunting, they theoretically shouldn’t evolve further—typically they get wiped before reaching the next stage. By the way, does Zao Zao like candy?”
Anya was about to answer, when he caught that shift—he glanced at Lien, suspicious.
How’d he switch topics so fast?
“Yeah, he does—” Anya eyed Lien.
“You brought candy?”
Lien: …
“Uh, no.”
You hesitated. You totally brought candy to win the cub over, didn’t you?!
“Don’t give him too much.”
Anya didn’t call him out, just left a casual warning.
The cub was busy with his bottle, not paying attention to Anya and Lien.
He was getting sleepy, a bit tired.
His wings drooped.
His halo glowed bright, now with full branches—clearly, Zao Zao was healthy, well-cared for by the Crown Clan.
Suddenly, the cub paused.
His wings shivered, he squinted, let go of his bottle, and turned in confusion to look at them.
The pair of snow-white baby wings folded up behind him.
Anya and Lien looked over together.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
The cub blinked, hugged his wings, looking up, then reached back and kneaded his own wings.
“Feels like… a cramp?”
The cub was confused.
Can wings just cramp like that?
Wouldn’t you fall out of the sky if that happened in flight?
“A cramp?”
Anya came over, crouched, and pinched the little cub’s wing.
Thinking about that cocky wing-flapping while drinking earlier.
Anya, sharp-tongued as ever, blurted out, “See what you get for showing off with your wings…”
But before he could finish, the little cub whimpered, dropped down, hugging his wings.
“Uncle…”
He blinked big sad eyes up, pitiful.
Was… was he acting cute?
Anya stood dumbfounded for a moment.
“Th-Then let uncle be more gentle. Here?”
He massaged the little cub’s wings.
Soft feathers brushed Anya’s fingers.
Little Chu Zao wasn’t good at preening; Amos always helped him.
Sometimes, when in fluffy-ball mode, Amos had to comb out his fur and tail.
A Daddy’s privilege.
“Seems like—”
The cub looked back again.
“Weird—like a cramp, but hurts too—”
Like something wanted to come out.
He wasn’t quite sure.
“This is normal.”
Anya said.
“You’re growing, your wings are too—later, at the Medical Center, we’ll get them to add wing-growth supplements for you, and I’ll make sure you get the best poultry wings at meal—you are what you eat.”
That was just to humor the kid.
The cub blinked, nodding.
You are what you eat—
The notion echoed in his mind.
Soon the strange feeling passed. The cub sat up, flapped his wings, then went back to fighting with his bottle.
Lien was watching all along.
Pretending not to care.
When the shuttle landed, the cub was all sunshine, finally meeting Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu, sharing candy with them; Lien didn’t leave.
The Wen siblings were leading the cub around to tour newly cultivated areas—besides potatoes, they’d planted lots of new things.
But they were very busy—as their planet’s rising generation, they were essentially leaders now.
With so many outsiders present, they had to watch security vigilantly.
“Little Highness, feel free to look around, anything from our stores you like, help yourself.”
Wen Qingfeng chuckled as he spoke.
“Oh right—recently, the ecology’s been doing well. We released some birds and such, and now they often show up. If you’re interested, look around.”
“Okay.”
Little Chu Zao raised his head.
His voice was still milky, but dressed in a little uniform, he spoke seriously—he’d grown a lot since his last visit.
Blinking, he looked at the Wen siblings.
“You should go. Zao Zao can wander with uncle and Grandpa Lien. If anything happens, I’ll tell you.”
He finished, then couldn’t resist throwing them a smile.
“Grandpa Mori already cleared my plot. Soon I can plant potatoes—when you come back victorious, I’ll invite you to visit the capital.”
Wen Qingfeng, a born troublemaker, was about to say something but was kicked back by Wen Qingyu. Her expression went gentle as she saluted neatly. Wen Qingfeng steadied himself, then saluted too.
“Okay, Little Highness. We’ll come back victorious.”
*
Holy Cas border front.
The Ninth and Tenth Legions under Amos were deployed in force, countless guns and mechs cutting down the beasts rapidly.
Amos had just boarded his starship.
He’d broken several beast formations, buying some breathing room.
“Your Majesty, Princess Feiman reports—Prince Feeney didn’t reach his position.”
Ninth Legion General Yemeng hurried over to brief him.
“Their coordinates are about three thousand starleagues from Holy Cas.”
Amos nodded.
That was expected.
“Any word from Feeney’s side?”
“Yes, Your Highness, we received word from Prince Feeney.”
Tenth Legion General Changle stepped forward, saluting.
“Prince Feeney ran into a Holy Chalice Clan ship surrounded and trapped—the clan chief Caverno and many elders with the special psychic plague. He’s breaking out with them, planning to return to the capital. Prince Ayala, with research teams, is also returning; the other princes are handling the nearby beast armies.”
Amos gazed at the projected starmap.
Holy Cas’s whole lines were basically stable.
“Any sightings of evolved beasts?”
Amos was sure—given the logic of beast evolution and command, this could only mean some beasts had evolved to higher than army commander.
But the galaxy was huge, and despite his psychic network, Amos couldn’t find the source.
“No, Your Majesty.”
“I see.”
Amos nodded.
“The rest of the time, the Ninth and Tenth are yours—wait for Lien.”
Amos lifted his hand, flipped his wrist—the spirit longsword with little toothmarks materialized. He strode out.
He needed to go find that thing himself.
Amos was not happy.
Because Zao Zao’s sixth birthday was coming.
And now, because of this, all his preparations were wasted. His cub’s sixth birthday might come with no warning.
Amos gripped his sword tight.
Annoyed—deeply annoyed.
Elsewhere in the system, Storm the beast, after clearing a ship and finding out more, narrowed his eyes—those icy beast eyes gleaming with danger and blood.
“So weird—the beasts here just aren’t strong enough? All taken out so easily?”
He unfurled his energy wings.
Or maybe these Crown Clan are a bit skilled—
But really, they’re just ants compared to us, born from pollution. How could they ever compare?
Might as well go see in person—have a taste of them too.
Storm grinned, wings flexing as he flew, skirting all else, heading for Mining Planet 78.
*
Little Chu Zao had already taken a lap around.
In truth, it hadn’t changed much.
But seeing new parts now, he noticed not just sand, but lots of crops, and a water pool not far off. It looked pretty nice.
He still couldn’t tell which sprouts were potatoes; Anya couldn’t either, but stubbornly used star-net photo tools to save face.
Tired from playing, the cub went back to his room to rest.
Only for now.
Come sleep time, for safety, he’d move up to the starship docked on the planet’s seventh level.
Now in the room, the cub had eaten, head tilted, watching Lien stand in the corner.
Lien had followed the cub everywhere, just shrinking in shadow and not talking, until the cub now stomped over and cornered him, head tilted up.
“Grandpa Lien?”
Maybe it was his imagination, but Lien seemed to tremble all over, hair on end.
Like a startled big cat.
“Ah—”
Lien wasn’t great with people.
Now corralled in the corner, he looked away uncomfortably, then couldn’t help stealing a glance at the little cub.
“Grandpa Lien, did you want Zao Zao for something?”
The cub met his gaze, big eyes blinking, wings spreading out like a wall, blocking Lien’s escape.
“It’s… um…”
Lien reached into his pocket for two pink lollipops.
The lollipops he’d brought back.
He’d seen them while cleaning up on a nearby planet—on impulse, he bought them, had them for ages, but never given them away.
“Candy.”
Clearly, Lien wanted to be close, but didn’t know how; he looked tense and a bit lost.
And maybe even worried about doing it wrong.
“It’s just—that is, I saw them over there, didn’t mean to buy them for you—”
Now Lien was well and truly blocked, fumbling around.
His coronet was lit up, shrouded in slowly creeping black mist.
—He wanted to hide.
“Of course, you always have candy, I know—”
Lien just got more flustered.
“So it’s not like I bought these on purpose—”
This was not how he planned it.
He wanted a more natural moment, especially when the cub actually wanted candy, to give it then and smooth his mood.
But clearly, Amos thought further ahead.
The little guy had plenty of candy here already.
So Lien had missed all his moments.
Now, cornered, he’d fumbled the lollipop out by impulse.
“New candy?”
The cub’s interest was piqued.
“Zao Zao’s never seen these.”
He stretched up on tiptoe.
Even with a pocket full of candy, seeing something new, the cub never lost his roots.
“Ah, yes—uh, not new, but it’s rare on Holy Cas—fine, yes, I got it just for you. I mean, I had a plan…”
Lien, flustered, shuffled to the door to hand off the candy and slip out, but the door opened inward.
Lien’s hiding skill was too good—the door was yanked open hard.
“Uncle Lien, Amos gave new orders, all ready—huh? Uncle Lien?”
Anya, having opened the door, stared in confusion.
Lien, out of hope, was knocked flying, not trying to fight back, head ringing—
Total embarrassment.
Face down on the floor, not wanting to meet Anya or the cub’s eyes.
The cub blinked big eyes, looked at Anya, then back at Lien. He toddled over, then crouched at Lien’s side.
“Grandpa Plan, are you okay?”
Don’t call me Grandpa Plan!!
Prince Feeney, curse you!
But, well… it does mean they care, right?
Lien didn’t look up.
But he felt his hand move.
He looked up and saw the little cub reaching out, gently prying the candy from his hand.
That focused face seemed to say—Grandpa, Grandpa, candy.
Grandpa got knocked flying? Not sure if he’s alive, better check, and then inherit his “estate,” claiming my loot with tears.
Lien: …
Lien: …………
Anya leaned closer.
“You all right, Uncle Lien?”
Yeah, just mostly dead inside.
The next instant, Lien scrambled up and, not daring to look at anyone, dashed from the room.
The candy stayed in the cub’s hand, and his voice trailed as he escaped: “I’m off to the mission.”
Little Chu Zao held up the candy and waved after him.
“Grandpa Lien, next time I’ll corner you again!”
The baby voice echoed far.
Anya clearly saw Lien stumble out the door.
He looked down at the innocent cub already working on the wrapper.
He exhaled and reached out to help with unwrapping.
The cub, with the treat in his mouth, leaned at the window.
It’s not clear how much time had passed.
Then the little guy seemed to spot something—
Little Chu Zao’s big eyes widened, staring off toward the pool.
Snow-white wings…
The little cub jumped down and hurried over.
The area was safe, so Anya didn’t follow.
He was reviewing front line info.
Soon, though, he sensed something off, and looked up warily, scanning about.
The cub was just nearby, residents of the mining planet not far off—artillery fire all silenced now, proof that Holy Cas had full control.
But still… something was odd…
Suddenly, a strange cackling sound.
Anya paused and looked up.
He froze.
There was Little Chu Zao, tiny and dashing over, gripping a big white bird by the neck.
His baby voice excited:
“Uncle, uncle! Wings! Eat wings to grow wings—smells so nice!”
The white bird in the cub’s grip had wings much like Chu Zao’s, and wore a look of utter despair.
“So fragrant, meaty aroma…”
Anya was about to say something about Zao Zao’s methods, but at that very moment, an almost inaudible sound—a strange, chilling presence—arrived so quietly, right as everyone relaxed, and Anya’s eyes went wide as he at once lunged toward the tiny cub holding the bird by the neck.
Wait is that bird that disguised monster :0