Cub 089: During Training—Isn’t Bumping and Stumbling Pretty Normal?

Chao Huangmu still hadn’t figured things out when a sudden loud noise erupted nearby.

A dark shadow whooshed right over their heads.

Sopping wet, Little Chu Zao turned blankly.

He saw Meilun, furious, charging over, disheveled, his long hair muddy and hanging forward—noble air totally gone—“Kaman! You want to fight? You really gotta fight?!”

What zoomed overhead was Kaman, wings spread wide.

Put together, those two troublemakers had lifespans as long as Holy Cas’s history. If they went a day without squabbling, they’d itch.

Seeing the shovels in their hands and the fresh dirt and water, it was clear they’d been at it again.

Kaman, just as muddy, vanished in a flash, laughing, “Who wants to fight? Come catch me if you’re so tough.”

Meilun wasn’t as fast. Usually, Kaman would get his revenge then run for it with Meilun unable to keep up.

So a second after he dashed past the cub, Meilun thudded back, scooped up the dripping little one in his arms.

“Zao Zao, quick, help Grandpa track that scoundrel, tell me which way he ran so I can catch him—”

“Huh?”

The cub, suddenly scooped up, instinctively looked to Meilun.

Before he could say more, Meilun put on a serious face.

“Grandpa’ll give you five pieces of candy! The kind with Amos’s royal approval—”

Candy.

Official, “legal” candy.

Five pieces!

The next instant, Zao Zao’s eyes actually shone—“Zao Zao navigation, initiated!”

“Grandpa Meilun, that way!”

His eyes literally lit up, physically, and he giggled with real excitement as Meilun zoomed off with him.

“Chase him, Grandpa, faster!”

Grandpa Kaman was on Zao Zao’s candy bounty list now!

“Haha, told you Kaman was fooling me—he totally didn’t go where he looked!”

Meilun’s voice echoed as he sprinted away, cub in tow.

The bystanders looked stupefied. Inside, Frey suddenly reacted—

It was rare to see Ice-Face Meilun showing real emotion.

But there it was.

Frey’s eyes widened and, grabbing a blanket, he ran after them.

“Uncle Meilun! Zao Zao’s still wet!”

It was warmer now, but running would still be chilly!

Job just watched calmly, then turned to Joshua, who wore a natural grin—he’d love to join, but with Hel watching, he held back, eventually whispering to his brother how Kaman and Meilun had clashed over nothing but a few shovels of dirt.

Inside—

“These people have too much energy,”

Hel muttered, sipping tea and leaning on Morlo. He frowned, but quickly softened.

“Hurt again?”

Morlo snapped over, sharp-eyed.

Hel instantly sat up, “No, of course not.”

Morlo eyed him, then looked away. “Keep pretending—”

He popped a pill into Hel’s mouth, cutting him off.

“Would being honest kill you, teacher?”

Hel zipped it.

Outside, Butler Mori was already directing the guards for cleanup.

Zhong Zhiyi, done with her work, stood up.

“Time for me to go. Who knows what hurdles I’ll hit on the way home.”

“Still bad luck lately, Professor Zhong?”

Mori smiled.

“Haha, don’t mention it,” Zhong laughed, “I’m used to it after all these years. But what teacher said is true—”

She looked far off, “When someone’s confidence, pride, and personality are broken, it’s hard to rebuild—but if someone cares, someone gives you courage, bit by bit you can pick up the pieces.”

Her luck was meeting her teacher, and coming to Holy Cas.

The three cubs, still staring in awe, were gently but firmly hauled off by their stern but “kind” instructor.

Especially Chao Huangmu.

When His Majesty Amos returned to check on the cub later, what he saw was the Dwight palace’s garden neatly planted, Kaman pinned and brought back in by Frey and Meilun, and his own little cub, happily tugging Grandpa Kaman’s hand, big eyes bright, meeting his gaze.

“Baba, candy!”

Zao Zao wanted to trade Grandpa Kaman in for five pieces of candy!

Kaman, trembling, propped himself up, looking at Meilun—now dressed and back to noble form—ground out the words: “…Despicable.”

Amos: …?

The Wen siblings from the mining planet were still being treated and couldn’t join, but all the potatoes were finally planted.

Another clear day.

The cub was finally reporting to Holy Cas’s First Military Academy.

A hover car took him directly from the palace to the academy’s admin building.

This was the cub’s formal check-in.

Amos was there in person—busy recently, he’d rushed to finish so he could bring the cub.

The academy was honored but anxious, especially the principal, who came out just as Amos put the cub down—this little prince was no ordinary Crown Clanner, so pretty and soft, and whether due to magic or a special mental trait, he instantly left a good impression.

Also worth noting, both Amos and the other princes usually kept their halos and wings hidden, but not Chu Zao. He was so used to having his out that sometimes, when he actually needed them, he’d forget.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness.”

They bowed crisply.

The top class’s teacher, along with the three cubs, waited nearby.

Amos nodded, leading Chu Zao inside.

After so long subduing beasts, Amos still radiated a faint bloody aura, but with a small cub in tow, that chilly edge was softened just a bit.

All the records were classified; only the academy held a list. All real permissions were managed by the royal court; the school couldn’t check them.

Chu Zao’s workload wasn’t heavy here—maybe three or four days of class a week.

The rest was Crown Clan training.

The Crown Clan’s training was much tougher than the human system.

Take Amos—at six, he could handle newly formed beast squads solo.

But Chu Zao, who started late, had no other Crown Clanner peers.

So in military school, it was just for testing, blending into squads, getting used to group tactics, and handpicking subordinates—so he could lead his own army as an adult.

When everything was handled, Amos listened as the principal briefed him.

The cub sat beside him, blinking curiously all around, until Amos looked over. In a small voice, the cub asked,

“Baba?”

“Let your guards give you a tour.”

Amos tidied those curls atop the cub’s head.

“Don’t go far, I’ll pick you up soon.”

“Okay!”

The cub nodded and climbed down.

He ran off with Chao Huangmu and crew.

They didn’t leave the building, just two laps around.

Chao Huangmu, self-appointed guide, gathered them for an enthusiastic tail-wagging intro.

“Military school isn’t much different from outside.”

“But there’s a lot of gear—the admin building even has new equipment, Your Highness. Want to check it out?”

Chao Huangmu smoothly led the cub to a certain room.

Yun Songquan and Peng Liang glanced back—their instructor hadn’t followed.

They muttered in the rear:

“That’s the new star network training room, right? That rascal wants to show off his stats and how he’s thrashed us!”

“He just got a heavy dose of extra training—still not enough! Honestly, I always thought he’d be exhausted, but no, triple, quadruple the load, and he’s still buzzing, even sneaking onto the star net platform to beat people up at night. Guy’s a beast, it’s true.”

Mostly Peng Liang did the griping, Yun Songquan was just quietly serious.

Peng was used to it by now.

They arrived at the room.

The cub, fascinated, gazed at the star-net platform that ran on mind energy.

Chao Huangmu couldn’t wait, cheery as ever: “I’m pretty good at this, Your Highness. Wanna try? Just enter your name. The account’s ready, you can jump right in.”

It was all new to the little cub.

Crown Clanners rarely used this stuff, their strong bodies and mental power kept them more in live combat.

After only a year from the Angel Realm to Holy Cas, the cub with high-tech was basically a total newbie—endlessly curious.

He circled the machine three times each way, peering back, full of wonder.

Finally, gentle and soft, he agreed, letting Chao help him connect.

There was also an observation function—Peng Liang and Yun Songquan just watched from outside.

Peng muttered: “What’s his game, setting up a training match? Let the prince beat him, tank that 100% win rate, and give him a room of his own?”

“Highly likely.”

Yun nodded.

“Grr~!”

Peng clenched a fist.

“Schemer.”

Connecting mentally, the star-net’s training ground was an internal campus arena, rarely open to outsiders, especially from this building.

Chu Zao entered the net, flexing his fist, marveling at the sensation.

All his senses, his physique, felt almost like real life, but with a faint limitation.

A gust of wind from behind.

Chu Zao turned dazed, Chao Huangmu already in front.

“Fun, right? I felt that way at first, too. See, this is the training arena—you canchange backgrounds, build data scenarios, and in combat, everything from pain to details can be simulated, but your mind’s safe, your body untouched.”

Chao flashed his ID card.

Smiling brightly: “Add as a friend, Your Highness.”

Chu Zao looked at him—maybe it’s just his imagination, or maybe because Chao had a tail and emotions he could sense—he always felt that if Chao had a tail, it’d be wagging madly now.

Watching outside, Peng Liang and Yun Songquan’s eyes popped.

Oh, so that’s what you’re after?!

Chao promptly set Chu Zao’s contact to “pinned”—then clicked into duel mode.

“Wanna try? Just to get a feel, it’s quick.”

He used to chase a perfect record. Now—

Now, 99.9% is enough.

Don’t ask—sometimes, close is good.

Chu Zao fluttered his wings, all operational.

“Okay!”

Super curious, he nodded for Chao to open duel mode.

This internal arena’s dueling system was simple.

Chu Zao felt his senses heightened, his strength near real-life levels.

The cub bounced once then beckoned Chao.

His soft little voice was sweet—Crown Clan’s warlike nature clearly came to him; he could hardly wait.

“Zao Zao just learned a few moves from Teacher Hel! Come on, come on!”

Chao grinned.

“All right, Your Highness!”

Chao, top of top class, called a “beast” by all, was indeed very strong.

Against a six-year-old just learning the ropes, he had a huge advantage.

He watched Chu Zao’s flailing arms and legs but never attacked—only defended—

Even thought, “So cute,” but realized the cub’s strength was surprising?

Having someone to spar with was great—and the little one used to only train with Feeney.

Feeney had just returned; he was totally mischievous and unreliable.

The cub’s wings fluttered behind him.

Just then, the door opened again.

Amos entered with the instructor.

Just in time to see Chao Huangmu sparring with the cub—Amos often trained his cub and knew well—

His cub still lacked skill and fitness, lasting for a while, then running out of steam.

At that point—his cub…

Amos considered.

On the star net, Chao Huangmu was just preparing to surrender after a fun match.

But before he could, Chu Zao caught something.

“Brother Huang.”

The cub’s curling hair, honey-gold eyes deep enough to drown in—so cute, so docile.

As Chao froze, the cub seized his arm, gave a crisp flipping move, wings behind providing leverage, and tripped Chao by total surprise—

A shockingly natural takedown.

Even Chu Zao hadn’t expected it.

He just remembered, every time he called Chao, Chao would daydream a little—so he tried it as a trick move.

Third Uncle had taught him: “All’s fair in war!”

Face-planting, Chao lay stunned—What… am I doing?

He wanted the prince to have a special spot on his contact list—

But never expected to look so…awkward!!

The cub squatted down and poked Chao.

“You okay?”

No problem, no problem—

So what if it’s embarrassing?

So what if he lost face before the prince?

He was used to it.

Those watching outside: …

Even the instructor was dazed, muttering, “Nice, kid, you really want to get better—why not include me?!”

What about the coach? The coach wants to improve too!

“I’m fine—”

Chao raised a hand, hit “surrender” and exited.

Out of the star-net sim, he was still a little dazed.

It was time—Chu Zao still had lessons. Amos took him away, bidding the others goodbye.

Chao vaguely heard Amos ask about what happened, and Chu Zao’s baby voice replied, “Prince Feeney taught me.”

Chao: …Wait, Feeney, do you teach everything?!

Freshly back, stumbling through the door almost ten days late, Feeney had reached the Holy Cas palace’s military wing.

He had no idea what fresh blame his dear nephew had landed him with.

After lunch, Amos took Chu Zao home; Hel would start class; Amos had more to do; Feeney, after handing over, headed to the Dwight palace.

Meanwhile, at the royal administration hall…

“Crown repair?”

Amos sat at a desk, quickly reviewing pollution-zone research, Ayala standing before him.

Voice calm, eyes frosty.

“You need Zao Zao.”

Ayala looked aside.

Even now, healthy again, the cub dodged him on sight.

Ayala had never regretted a decision—but was now doubting why he’d jabbed that injection in the first place.

“Your Majesty, I’ll need your help, I can’t approach him myself.”

He looked back at Amos: “But I am indeed curious—how does the crown truly repair?”

For any Crown Clanner who hadn’t seen it, it was genuine magic.

Just like when Chu Zao took off his crown for the first time—he’d been floored.

Amos said nothing, tapping fingers on the table.

Ayala bowed again.

“Well, I’ve handed in my report. Soon I hope to be reassigned. The beast conflict is only worsening, and I need no special attachments.”

His eyes darkened.

“Any deeper bond is fragile, soon gone.

Once dead, nothing’s left, nothing remains.”

All he’d experienced—gone, brothers, friends, especially the more delicate non-Crown folk.

Ayala was cold and calm.

He had no wish to go through that again.

“I have no interest in your current feelings.”

Amos got up.

“I’m going back to the Dwight palace. Come if you want.”

*

Inside the Dwight palace—

For the cub’s studying, there were, besides a study, special training fields.

Hel had heard the cub had tripped Chao Huangmu handily, and grew curious, so he agreed to a rare hands-on session.

Hel’s health was poor; normally, he handled history, stealth, and reflex classes.

Technically, wings were central to Crown Clan power; wingless Hel had lost over three-quarters his strength from peak.

In theory, he ought to have been plenty for the tiny cub.

But, indeed—

Hel sensed that the cub’s abilities were growing remarkably fast.

Back when the cub had left the villa for the palace, he’d seemed so different.

“Teacher, Zao Zao’s here—”

The sweet baby voice still sounded playful, but the move that followed was not.

Hel swerved, blocked the cub’s blow, retreated, watching the wing-flapping cub back off further.

Reflexes, stealth—

The improvements were tremendous—

Hel was just about to call it a day.

Feeney, just arrived, jumped up onto the special training platform.

“Come, Zao Zao, spar with Third Uncle.”

Hel stepped down.

He breathed out.

The Crown Clan were strong, but the cub’s rate of growth was startling. But thinking back, it tracked—he’d experienced so much in only a year since coming to Holy Cas.

He watched, glancing up at the reinforced platform.

For a peak adult, the cub was still just a little ball.

Chu Zao, having just tripped Chao Huangmu and bested Hel, was feeling pretty grand as he faced Feeney.

But Feeney was way too fast for him, impossible to catch.

Worse, the man was all tricks, 100% unreliable.

No matter what the cub did, he’d see through and counter. Worse, he’d ruffle Chu Zao’s curls or tweak his wings at any chance.

He made the puffed-up cub even puffier—in indignation.

Chu Zao almost howled, “Bad third uncle!”

Feeney, seeing how far the cub had come, was genuinely impressed—though he forgot to say so, accidentally making Chu Zao even madder.

Chu Zao tried over and over but couldn’t catch him—until suddenly his second pair of wings popped out, instantly doubling his speed. Feeney, caught off guard, was “tagged” right in front of his face.

He blinked, looking at the cub now up close—wow, that was speedy.

He was just about to praise him when he saw the cub fetch the Cupid’s Bow, golden light flickering, preparing to fire.

Feeney’s smile froze: …

Wait.

Feeney: …Shit!! LOVE AND PEACE!!!

Feeney didn’t hesitate—he bolted, fleeing fast.

But in his panicked exit, his speed and giant wings made the cub wobble, and with Chu Zao not yet used to four wings, they tangled, and he crashed to the ground.

Everything went quiet.

Face-planting, Chu Zao looked up, dazed.

Feeney didn’t have time to help, hearing footsteps—and a dangerous spiritual force.

He instinctively looked to the door.

Amos had seen it all as he entered: disgruntled, face-planting cub and the panicked Feeney.

Ayala followed, mystified—why such dread of a cub’s arrow?

Feeney: …

Ahem.

Uh, second brother—

During training, a few bumps—

That’s all normal, right?