After the thing behind the pollution was destroyed, the pollution as a whole collapsed, beginning to recede from its spread across the interstellar regions back to the few places where it first appeared, neither too quickly nor too slowly.
The front line as a whole advanced, and the already revived Crown Clan’s habitat planet was once again included in the territory of the Holy Cas Empire.
After careful investigation, it was basically confirmed that the pollution would contract to a few fixed regions in about a dozen or twenty years. Without the power controlling it from behind, these forces had rapidly twisted and mutated into things similar to black holes, which meant there would still be some polluted areas and Aberrant Beasts, but the situation seen over the past thousand years should never occur again.
However, all the powers paid a heavy price for this.
Even now, casualties on the front lines were not low. The Holy Cas was relatively better off; though the Crown Clan was already few in number, they could still barely protect the entire territory of Holy Cas, and most of the casualties had occurred in Holy Cas’s other allied nations during the resistance against Aberrant Beast attacks.
But everything was finally settled, and they started to celebrate and clean up the battlefield.
The impact of the several thousand years of pollution on the Crown Clan had also been severe.
The earlier generation of the Crown Clan was completely eradicated, with Desmond’s generation just barely numbering over ten. Clansis’s side was about the same; only the remaining Crown Clan of Amos’s generation were relatively more, but overall, about half had already gone extinct and would never return. The number of immortals was already small due to habitat and other factors, and this catastrophe had wiped out several immortal species, nearly affecting the Crown Clan.
Fortunately, after the battle amidst the pollution, the damage to the Crowns no longer required Zao Zao to repair. The habitat planets had begun to gently adjust the psionic energy of each member of the Crown Clan.
The Crown Clan’s crowns stopped breaking after Chu Zao’s arrival, and only now did it truly come to a halt.
Of course, the injuries to the Crown Clan were not light either.
The most serious was Chu Zao—having quickly traversed those space tunnels, combined with the later separation and exhaustion of psionic power, after a bout of crying, he soon fell into a coma and was sent to the medical bay.
But overall, his condition was stable; the main issue was that the final blow had nearly depleted all his psionic power.
A day had already passed.
Now at the Holy Cas barrier defense line.
At the original site of the barrier, the shield had completely disappeared, the pollution was dissipating rapidly, and the remaining mindless low-level Aberrant Beasts could be cleared out by Holy Cas Empire’s patrol fleets alone. The front line was scattered with Holy Cas patrol units, circling around a center point, with many starships rushing in from afar toward this center.
This was the temporary base of His Majesty Amos of the Holy Cas Empire.
As for why not return directly to Holy Cas Prime?
Not to mention Holy Cas Prime was still far from the still-mutating pollution source, but more importantly, his only youngling was currently passed out from exhaustion and still recovering.
The whole Crown Clan could now relax a bit and were no longer so urgent or tense.
“The injuries on the front line are actually not too bad—”
Anya, with bandages wrapped around his hand, spoke from his seat.
“The overall situation of the polluting power is controllable.”
In the meeting room, basically all the Crown Clan from this star domain had come.
“Desmond and the others’ bodies have recovered, their crowns have stopped breaking, but their overall stats are pretty poor, probably due for rehabilitation. They’ve all been sent to the medical pods now. But among those heaps of bones, only a few of them revived in the end—by their accounts, the ones who still had consciousness in the Dragon Realm.”
Frey also spoke.
The cool-headed Crown Clan now knew exactly what the Angel Spring stone had done. Having just barely recovered from the panic of “It’s over, Zao Zao saw the Angel Spring stone broken and is going to cry and ignore people,” they were now rare to see so relaxed, leaning back in their chairs.
“But the situation is under control. However, one thing—the eyes of Ebinino probably can’t be restored, though the recovery of his psionic power and the habitat’s revival should make up for it. By the way, regarding the Angel Realm and the Angel Spring stone, I think we should have a separate discussion about commemorations and related explanations.”
The actions of the Angel Spring stone had indeed caught all the Crown Clan off guard.
So too did the revival of the habitat.
“And, I came back a bit late, didn’t I?” Feeney, sitting on the other side, spoke casually.
“Understood.”
“Got it—”
“Isn’t that pretty normal?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the group around him immediately gave him a knowing look.
“Lost your way again, didn’t you?”
“As expected of you—getting lost for several days in an unfamiliar place, and even in places you know well, you’ll lose your way for hours. You’re always the last one to arrive.”
Feeney: …
Feeney was thoroughly choked by them and just stared at these people.
Finally, he clicked his tongue.
“I was actually pretty fast this time, okay?”
His baby face looked annoyed.
“But I accidentally entered another sector’s passage—the pollution is still retreating, and the vast star domain itself has places and civilizations we haven’t contacted yet. I think there must be other worlds surviving amid the pollution. From every angle, we still can’t let our guard down.”
“Indeed, there are aftereffects left by the receding pollution that we need to continue discussing. Also, there are still remnants of the Hymn Organization that haven’t been cleaned out. However, Shenghua’s identity can be confirmed for now; as for specifics, let the Holy Cas people come up with a plan. We must also be wary of other gangs like the Hymn Organization.”
Amos didn’t say anything, just listened the whole time. After a moment, as everyone finished, they looked at him.
Amos issued a few brief instructions, and the matter of the pollution was finally concluded.
As the meeting adjourned, Lien and the others, who had been waiting here a day, left for the next objective.
The Dwight family didn’t depart. They still sat in the meeting room.
But the atmosphere overall was much lighter now.
“Zao Zao’s coming-of-age ceremony already passed, right?”
Feiman spoke first.
Originally, the coming-of-age ceremony for the future king of Holy Cas was to be grand, but due to this unexpected event, it still hadn’t happened.
“It’s already scheduled, and will be held again later.”
Said Amos.
“True, it’s different from birthdays or the banquet when identity was confirmed. The coming-of-age ceremony does need to be done properly—so, how’s Zao Zao now?”
Anya chimed in: “Yeah, yeah, I haven’t seen Zao Zao yet!”
On this matter, Anya was rather resentful.
The others had all met Chu Zao before he entered the Dragon Realm, only he hadn’t. After finally arriving at a new place, the kid was lost.
Anya only arrived shortly before today’s meeting; to avoid disturbing Zao Zao’s rest, he didn’t go see him beforehand.
So he hadn’t seen Zao Zao since the youngling disappeared at the barrier defense line—
So tragic.
The elder brothers and sisters glanced at him.
Amos was closing virtual documents on his screen.
“Slept for a day, should be waking up soon.”
Strangely enough.
Anya and the others looked at Amos.
After losing the kid so many times, Amos seemed calm now, not as tense as before, always acting as if he wanted to keep the youngster in his pocket and never let go.
However—
A few of them sensed the dense psionic energy Amos had spread, as if building a nest, so tightly it wrapped the starship. If not for the non-aggression of Amos’s psionic power at the moment, they might even find it hard to breathe.
They should thank the fading of the pollution.
Otherwise, who knew what this still-tensed Amos might do.
“Let’s go and have a look later.”
Feiman stood up and looked out—
Through the starship windows, they could see the bustling patrol starships outside, and the starlight looked washed clean, even brighter.
It made one feel as if in another world.
Those torturously long years were finally over.
In the special clear reflection, the complete, bright crowns of Feiman and the relatives behind him were mirrored.
*
Another room in the starship.
“So you’re technically a pure-blood immortal now?”
Peng Liang was positioned right in front of the equally badly-injured Chao Huangmu.
After a day’s treatment, Chao Huangmu could already get out of bed with his bandages.
Hearing this, he tilted his head.
“Seems like it.”
He really was the only legitimate soul clan leftover, and thanks to his mother’s array of actions, he ended up a half-blood with amnesia.
“I see, I see, pure blood! Ah Huang!”
Peng Liang grabbed Chao Huangmu’s head in amazement.
“If you put it like that, losing to a big brute like you makes me feel better about myself.”
He always said so—was there ever a normal person like Chao Huangmu? So competitive, so energetic, always eager to vie for everything.
Pure-blooded…?
Chao Huangmu grinned brilliantly, veins starting to rise on his forehead.
It sounded more like he was describing a cat or a dog, not a person.
Yun Songquan had kept quiet the whole time. After hearing that, he glanced at Peng Liang, then silently took a step back.
—So that blood doesn’t spatter on him in a moment.
“Come on, I’ll show you a good thing.”
Chao Huangmu smiled even brighter, beckoning to Peng Liang who stood two steps away.
“What good thing?”
Peng Liang naively approached, eyes fixed on Chao Huangmu’s clenched hand.
A few seconds later—“Ow—!”
Chao Huangmu’s grin widened as he withdrew his fist, then blew on it.
“It’s the righteous iron fist.”
Peng Liang, clutching his shoulder: …
“See? I even remembered not to punch your face, didn’t I?”
Chao Huangmu laughed even harder.
Peng Liang: …………
Yun Songquan also laughed.
Only Peng Liang jumped around in place, eyes wide, pointing at Chao Huangmu’s face, “You, you, you…” and finally, angry: “Big brute!”
Forget it, can’t outtalk him, can’t outfight him—
Yun Songquan reached out and dragged Peng Liang by the collar.
He watched Chao Huangmu get out of bed, stand up, and hesitate slightly.
“You’re badly hurt, sure you don’t want to rest a bit longer?”
Even though his psionic energy had passed tests and his body was recovering, the medical team still recommended he rest as much as possible.
“Ah… it’s fine.”
Chao Huangmu kept glancing at the door.
“How’s Zao Zao? Do you know?”
“They only allowed us a peek at the door earlier—said it was psionic exhaustion, still resting.”
I see…
Chao Huangmu thought.
He still felt a bit dazed.
If memory served, before ‘God’ interrupted, he’d confessed, hadn’t he?
But didn’t get a reply in time.
And back then he’d lost his memory, swaggering around thinking himself number one in the world—
So embarrassing.
Chao Huangmu’s smiling face stiffened a little.
What now?
Chao Huangmu scratched his head.
But—
He still walked toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
The two trained their eyes on him—not exaggerating, Chao Huangmu at the moment looked like the very definition of dauntless perseverance.
“I’m going to see Zao Zao.”
Chao Huangmu said, opening the door and striding out decisively.
Peng Liang and Yun Songquan exchanged looks.
Finally, Peng Liang grumbled—
“You’re all just here to outshine everyone else, really makes life hard.”
At this moment, Chu Zao in the medical pod had just emerged from a dark, sweet sleep.
He’d just woken, the medical staff came for a quick check, and after confirming Baba and the others were still in a meeting, Chu Zao leaned back on a soft cushion to rest, still a bit dazed.
Everything was over.
All the bumps along the way had finally led to a good ending.
That threatening pressure that loomed over everyone was gone, and with the sudden lightness, it was inevitable not to feel a little lost, uncertain what to do.
Chu Zao turned his head and looked down, pondering.
Also—he suddenly remembered what Chao Huangmu had said.
In an instant, Chu Zao felt a little embarrassed—had he not managed to respond in time?
What was even the status now?
Where was Brother Mu?
What was Brother Mu thinking now?
Ah—
Chu Zao yanked up his blanket and buried himself in it.
Wriggling around, his little face popped out, cheeks slightly pink from the recent movement, black hair messy, looking a bit pouty.
—If Chao Huangmu acted like he never said those words, Chu Zao was going to be angry and send him into exile! Outposted for a month!
Then Chu Zao heard footsteps at the door.
Chu Zao turned to look at the door.
That person dared not enter, just peeking in. After a while, the nervous upper half of Chao Huangmu’s face appeared, only his eyes cautiously checking the situation inside.
Tension plain to see.
Chu Zao, clutching the blanket and still a bit on edge, locked eyes with him.
Chu Zao could feel Chao Huangmu freeze at once, a bandage still stuck on his forehead, looking startled.
Chu Zao: …
Chao Huangmu: …
Though still a little lost.
But at this moment, Chu Zao wanted to laugh.
Why so flustered?
Little Chu Zao turned on his side in bed, becoming a small white fluff ball, and beckoned for him to come over.
Forget it, the rest can wait—little white ball hugged his fuzzy little dragon tail, inviting him over.
Chao Huangmu got the message and brightened up a bit, then, in a moment, a small inky black dragon used all fours—totally forgetting his wings—scrambled onto the medical pod bed, carefully curling up in the spot left for him by the snow-white fluff.
After transforming, the bandage that had been on his forehead now fit perfectly onto his damaged little dragon horn.
Chao Huangmu’s heart settled, he stretched his head closer, then was guided by the tiny white ball to adjust his position.
After a moment, Chu Zao pressed his chin on Chao Huangmu’s head, content to sprawl there and nap.
The scales felt cool and comfy against his head.
Little Chu Zao had always been a well-behaved and polite child, never bullying anyone who was normal and familiar.
But right now, you could call this “bullying.”
Chao Huangmu was used as a pillow underneath, chin pressed to the bed, ears down, gazing at the snowy claw in front of him, his eyes narrowing like a beast’s.
A few seconds later, Chu Zao lifted a paw and patted the top of Chao Huangmu’s head—lowered his head and howled—
No licking!
After the pat, the little black dragon tucked in his claws, lay nervously flat, smacked his lips to see how it felt.
So, from Chu Zao’s comfy vantage on Chao Huangmu, he could watch the black dragon’s tail start swinging—
Dog-Dragon returns!
Moments later—
Chu Zao’s furry ears shot up, twitching, as if straining to hear something.
Chao Huangmu also raised his head a bit, looking toward the door.
Outside—
“He should be awake, right?”
“Should be about time. Hey—third brother, those are the sweets I brought for Zao Zao!”
“Just taking a look—am I gonna steal them and ask for credit or what?”
“Yes. I really suspect that’s what you planned from the start.”
Feeney: …
Suspicious silence.
“See? That’s exactly what you meant!”
“You two are too noisy! If you have to fight, go to the training room, don’t fight in the corridor! Eldest brother, second brother, control these two.”
Frey’s calm voice sounded.
“I don’t dare. They might bite me.”
Amos seemed amused by his dark humor and chuckled.
Clearly, they had reached the door.
Chu Zao froze, then glanced down at the little black dragon pinned under him.
Ah…
Then he looked toward the door again.
Amos was in front, already turning to walk in.
Feeney was second fastest, about to reach Chu Zao’s bedside.
“Zao Zao, see, it’s not just third uncle’s constitution after all…”
On the bed, a white, fluffy little dragon was using the black-scaled little dragon as a pillow, the pose natural and intimate.
Not like the usual, slightly distant but polite way little Chu Zao interacted with people.
The white fluffy lump actually seemed to be bullying the little black dragon.
Feeney’s voice came to a sudden stop.
What?
He stared wide-eyed.
What was this?
The others behind him froze as well, watching this scene.
It felt a bit weird.
And very subtle.
Next moment, Chu Zao shifted back to human.
The little black dragon flew to the edge of the bed and became a tall young man.
Chao Huangmu looked at the dazed Crown Clan, pausing—strange, he felt an odd guilt.
“Your Majesty Amos.”
Chao Huangmu nodded, smiling.
Amos: …
“Baba?”
Chu Zao looked up at Amos, stepping off the bed, his wounds almost healed—mainly the more serious ones already fixed by the Angel Spring stone before it left.
“How’s great-grandpa and the others?”
“Still recovering, probably be out of the medical pod in a few days. But you can visit whenever you like—”
Amos replied, but his keen gaze kept falling on Chao Huangmu.
The rest of the Crown Clan’s gazes were glued to Chao Huangmu.
Chao Huangmu stood there smiling and unmoving.
At last, Amos was the first to withdraw his gaze.
Truth be told, ever since Amos brought home his youngling together with this soul clan boy, he’d had this subtle ominous premonition.
But Chu Zao was now an adult, what he did and how was not something they could interfere with too much.
Yes, they shouldn’t interfere, nor restrict…
Let alone, Zao Zao hadn’t ever introduced… a partner or boyfriend or anything…
Amos heard a faint crackle—someone behind him was cracking their knuckles.
A moment later, Chao Huangmu was dragged off by the medical team. The boy still needed good rest.
The Crown Clan crowded around to talk to the little guy.
Nothing else seemed amiss.
Chu Zao himself didn’t know how to explain—so strange, already grown up, but he still felt like sneaking around in a high school romance behind his folks’ backs.
Chu Zao shook his head, crown sparkling atop it, pushed aside these thoughts, and kept talking.
Amos and the others listened to the young one’s thoughts—he wanted a Holy Cas monument, and an angel monument.
They had already planned for this.
“The coming-of-age ceremony makeup will be held in a month,” Amos sat at the bedside, reaching to pat Chu Zao’s little head, not giving away anything odd, “Desmond and the others are back, those few can talk again, they’re in medical room b672, you can visit anytime.”
Chu Zao nodded his little head.
“And Hel sent you new homework, to be done later.”
Chu Zao was about to nod again until Amos smiled, hugged his youngling, and patted his little head.
“But now that the pollution is over, you can slack off a little sometimes.”
“Yes, sometimes you’ve gotta take it easy. Like me—slacked off even before the pollution ended.”
“That’s because second brother was there, and third, and you’re never proper anyway.”
Feeney: …
“How am I ever not proper?”
Chu Zao whispered: “Never proper, anytime.”
The Crown Clan behind nodded in agreement and smiled.
“Hey, you lot!!”
Amos checked the time, then patted Chu Zao’s head.
“All right, get some rest, things are pretty much sorted. In a few days we’ll return to the imperial planet.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Chu Zao nodded his little head again.
Just as well, he missed home, missed the others, missed Grandpa Mori, and so on—
Leaving the medical room.
The previously noisy Crown Clan now looked rather gloomy.
“That soul clan boy—”
Feeney seemed to grind his teeth.
“Could he really be the partner Zao Zao picked? Hey, hey, we never heard of anything like this before.”
Right now, Feeney was giving off Ebinino’s old mental state.
“Of course, we shouldn’t interfere with Zao Zao’s choice.”
Frey raised a hand to calm Feeney.
Then spoke again.
“But Zao Zao just came of age—”
“From a certain perspective, not exactly unacceptable…” Anya joined, scratching his head, “But Zao Zao only just grew up—”
And that scene just now…
It all caught the Crown Clan off guard.
He looked at Amos.
“Second brother, how come you’re not reacting?”
Amos’s tone was totally calm.
“We shouldn’t restrict Zao Zao’s interactions with others, including his situation in that regard.”
So calm?
Anya tried to read Amos’s expression.
“Really?”
Amos’s face was expressionless, fiddling with a tool, the tiny parts snapping and popping.
“Really.”
Other Crown Clan: …
Amos’s black aura was about to become physical, making their earlier freak-outs look trivial.
They retreated two steps.
Really…?
But why did he look on the verge of breaking?
That tool didn’t offend you, okay…
“But—” Feiman tilted his head, “The soul clan’s got no one left.”
They looked at Feiman.
Feiman raised his hand, saying: “Chao Huangmu’s nationality is Holy Cas, if he’s Zao Zao’s partner, he’s joining the family, right? On second thought, seems fine? Besides, Zao Zao has no Crown Clan playmates his age.”
Feiman, though also momentarily dismayed, figured, on reflection, that the little one had plenty he couldn’t talk to elders about. Wasn’t Zao Zao’s happiness most important?
“But I can support Zao Zao for life.”
Amos finally spoke his mind.
Turning away, slightly irritable.
That kind of sudden, blindsiding feeling when the cabbage you raised so carefully is taken away.
Amos was finally experiencing what Ebinino once did.
Seemed a little more and he’d explode.
Clearly, Amos was very displeased, almost visibly so.
But marrying in—
Fine.
Of course, whatever makes Zao Zao happy, it’s up to him.
Besides, it didn’t even seem like a thing from way back, shouldn’t need—special concern, it’s just normal, after all. After growing up, Zao Zao already had so much personal space, he didn’t need to pay so much attention…
……
…………
Marrying in…
Ah—well, that’s fine then.