Chapter 111
When Huo Ranchuan boarded the warship, The Teng Snake couldn’t wait to wrap its tail around his hand, urging him to quickly check out what Teacher Bai had prepared for them. Huo Ranchuan whispered, “Stop it.” They had just boarded the warship, and there were plenty of things to handle.
The Teng Snake wriggled impatiently around him; after all, the tasks were Huo Ranchuan’s to handle, not its own. In truth, Huo Ranchuan was also curious. Since it was something prepared by Teacher Bai, he really wanted to see what it was, though he guessed it would probably be food and daily necessities.
Taking The Teng Snake to his room, Huo Ranchuan opened the storage terminal and handed it to The Teng Snake. “Take a look.”
The Teng Snake eagerly held the storage terminal, its excitement growing when it saw the items inside. Not only was there its favorite milk, but also lots of freshly baked bread and cookies from Teacher Bai. And most importantly—The Teng Snake spotted the dragon-shaped hat that Teacher Bai had bought for it!
*Wow, this is so cool!* The Teng Snake immediately grabbed the knitted hat and, brimming with pride, showed it off to Huo Ranchuan: *Look, see, Teacher Bai still thought of me and didn’t forget me when buying gifts for the little ones!*
Seeing the slightly childish, cartoonish hat, Huo Ranchuan found himself getting used to the sight. In the past, he would never have allowed his spiritual beast to wear such a thing and embarrass itself. But now, looking at it from every angle, he said approvingly, “Teacher Bai has great taste. It really suits you.”
He then enthusiastically placed the hat on The Teng Snake’s head, securing the two dragon horns and tying the straps snugly. Now, with its sleek black body and a cute dragon hat, the fuzzy horns swayed adorably as The Teng Snake moved.
Excitedly wearing its new hat, The Teng Snake ran around the room before eagerly rushing outside to show off to Huo Ranchuan’s subordinates. Huo Ranchuan didn’t stop it. He set a fingerprint lock on the storage terminal and was about to put it away when he paused. He reached into the terminal and pulled out a small light gray blanket.
The blanket was stored with The Teng Snake’s other items in a plastic box, and if he hadn’t been looking closely, Huo Ranchuan might have missed it. After all, Teacher Bai had plenty of these blankets, giving one to each of the little ones. It wasn’t strange for The Teng Snake to have one too.
However, this particular blanket carried a strong scent. Ever since he had temporarily marked Bai Nuosi, Huo Ranchuan had become very sensitive to Bai Nuosi’s pheromone scent. Just smelling it made his body react.
There was nothing he could do about it. After being single for so many years, and with his nesting period coinciding, anyone would struggle to resist.
Huo Ranchuan carefully held the blanket, sitting alone with it for several minutes, taking in the delicate floral scent. Then, he took a photo of the blanket and sent it to Bai Nuosi: *[Teacher Bai, thank you.]*
At that moment, Bai Nuosi was on the balcony with the little Birdy. With only one chick to care for now, and Little Nabi needing minimal attention, he had more free time. Bored, he sketched simple drawings with the little Birdy in the balcony garden.
When he heard the message alert, he didn’t know what he was hoping for, but he quickly opened his terminal, even avoiding the bird’s gaze.
The little Birdy, now free of its cast, tested its flexibility, holding a crayon in one claw and tilting its head curiously at Teacher Bai. *Chirp?*
*What’s Teacher Bai looking at?*
*Chirp chirp?*
*Oh, why is Teacher Bai’s face red?*
The little Birdy was so curious! Teacher Bai was fine just a moment ago, so why did his face turn red after seeing a message?
Bai Nuosi blushed as he looked at the message from Huo Ranchuan. *Should I reply?* If he did, what should he say? He hadn’t expected Huo Ranchuan to find the little blanket hidden in the box so quickly.
Hesitating for a few seconds, Bai Nuosi decided not to reply. *If I don’t respond, I can pretend I didn’t see it!*
The little Birdy hopped from the table onto Bai Nuosi’s arm and then from his arm onto his shoulder, spreading its wings wide to keep balance due to its round body. Just as it was about to peek at Bai Nuosi’s terminal screen, Bai Nuosi quickly closed the terminal and scooped the bird into his arms.
“little Birdy, what are you trying to see?” Bai Nuosi gently squeezed the bird’s beak. “Let’s see how your corn drawing turned out.”
The little Birdy hesitated, glancing nervously at the paper on the table. It had only drawn a strange circle and then stopped. Teacher Bai had sung and chanted rhymes for it multiple times, but it hadn’t remembered a single one.
Bai Nuosi picked up a crayon and said softly, “Look, first draw a small seed, then two big leaves. Connect the horizontal and vertical lines, like little grids. Add whiskers, and finally a hat… Ta-da! The corn is done! Isn’t it easy?”
The little Birdy, holding the crayon, mimicked Bai Nuosi’s rhyme, chirping enthusiastically as it tried to follow along.
Bai Nuosi held back his laughter as he watched the little Birdy finish drawing a very strange-looking corn. He clapped, pretending to be impressed: “Wow, little Birdy, you did such a great job! You did even better than I did my first time. I forgot the hat back then.”
The little Birdy, flattered, puffed up its chest and chirped proudly. It grabbed the masterpiece in its beak and dashed off to the neighboring balcony.
Bai Nuosi watched, a bit stunned. *This little Birdy sure is attached to the eagle.*
However, he could guess how it would turn out. Within five minutes, the little Birdy would likely come back teary-eyed again.
He had heard that Adian was discharged today and had been assigned a dorm at the military academy. As a special admission candidate, the academy provided accommodations, but until he officially enrolled, all expenses, including food and housing, were his responsibility. The official cadets’ meals were covered by the school, but for special candidates, the cafeteria was extremely expensive, and they even had to pay rent. Most people couldn’t afford it.
Bai Nuosi wondered if Chen Min had provided Adian with a meal card. He felt he should visit Adian to make sure he had everything he needed. He had already entrusted Mons with delivering the items to the other four chicks, and Adian’s items had been handed to Chen Min. He hoped Chen Min had given them to him.
Since Huo Ranchuan left, Bai Nuosi’s mood had been somber, making it difficult for him to stay focused. But the little Birdy was the last chick he was taking care of this year, and its case was special—he had found it himself, not the military academy. Therefore, he felt responsible for both the bird and Adian.
Heading to the kitchen, Bai Nuosi prepared a lunchbox. He first stir-fried some green onions with dried shrimp and minced meat, adding corn, carrots, and other vegetables once they were nearly cooked. He then mixed in egg-coated rice, resulting in golden, fragrant fried rice rich in nutrients.
Uncertain of Adian’s preferences, he also made a creamy mushroom soup, a ham sandwich, and packed a small loaf of bread and a fruit salad before getting ready to leave. With so many options, at least one should suit Adian’s taste.
Bai Nuosi changed into a casual T-shirt and jeans, tied his hair up, and put on a baseball cap. He then went to the balcony, estimating it was time. As expected, as soon as he reached the balcony, he saw the little Birdy crawling back through the tunnel, looking dejected.
At least today it didn’t cry; it seemed its heart was getting stronger after all the rejection from the eagle. Bai Nuosi smiled at it. “I’m going out, little Birdy. Want to come with me?”
The little Birdy nodded sadly, spreading its wings and perching on the balcony railing, looking at Bai Nuosi with wide eyes. *Chirp chirp.*
*Hold me.*
Bai Nuosi smiled, picking it up. “I didn’t expect Adian to be this clingy.”
The little Birdy felt a bit guilty. It wasn’t just anybody it clung to—only Teacher Bai and the eagle. The eagle wasn’t as gentle as Teacher Bai and treated it poorly, igniting its competitive spirit. It was determined to win the eagle’s favor!
The little Birdy puffed up its chest, determined. *If not this time, then next time. I’ll definitely win over the eagle!*
While Huo Ranchuan’s fleet left the main planet, Adian was led by the academy’s guidance instructor to a remote dormitory area. Located right next to the outdoor training grounds, the area was constantly noisy as cadets trained day and night. These cadets loved to practice regardless of whether they had classes.
Chen Min had military duties and couldn’t personally escort Adian. To him, if a student couldn’t even manage to report on their own, he wasn’t worth keeping. Adian wore the clothes Bai Nuosi had bought for him, and though Chen Min had little time, he still delivered the storage terminal to Ad
ian. The clothes fit him perfectly.
Bai Nuosi had prepared so many things for him—too many to go through. He quickly grabbed a set of clothes and shoes and followed the guide.
As they walked, some cadets noticed him. Though most ignored him, a few, during their breaks, commented:
“Oh, another one, huh? I thought we were done with these.”
“How many have we already eliminated? At least eighty or a hundred. Kid, the name of the First Military Academy isn’t just for show. It’s not that easy to get in.”
Adian walked through the crowd without reacting to their sneers.
The guidance instructor didn’t speak up for him either, as even the instructors doubted that someone with his build could make it into the military academy. He might not even last a month.
Qin Yuxing ate an ice cream in the shade and said to Song Hengye, “Hey, look, that’s the bird.”
Everyone had seen the little Birdy Bai Nuosi brought back from the jungle. Some were even jealous that it had Teacher Bai all to itself.
Song Hengye, drenched in sweat from sparring, glanced at Adian but said nothing.
Qin Yuxing stared at Adian for a while. His skin was honey-toned, his hair a bit long and wavy, and his eyes, like Bai Nuosi’s, were black. He had a unique aura.
Finishing his water, Song Hengye noticed Qin Yuxing’s lingering gaze. “What are you looking at?”
Qin Yuxing scratched his chin. “Hmm, that bird looks kind of special.”
Song Hengye set down his water bottle and pulled Qin Yuxing up. “Back to training.”
Or else Grandpa Qin would be calling again.
However, the training field soon witnessed an incident. As Adian neared the dorm building, a cadet deliberately bumped into him, knocking him down. The challenge was intentional—most special admission candidates faced such provocations when they first arrived. These cadets, the elite of their planets, had poured family resources and personal effort into getting into the academy. Seeing someone admitted just because of their spirit beast naturally stirred resentment and jealousy.
This was also why Chen Min hadn’t accompanied Adian; he wanted him to handle these situations alone as a test of his capabilities.
After being knocked down, Adian felt anger rising but didn’t want to cause trouble. He knew his background wasn’t spotless, and if he got into a fight, he might be expelled. Amid the mocking laughter of the crowd, he pressed his lips together, brushing the dust off his clothes. These were new clothes bought by Teacher Bai, and he cherished them. It was his first time wearing such fine, expensive clothes, and he didn’t want to dirty them.
Qin Yuxing fumed, “Damn, it’s one thing to bully people, but that bird is Teacher Bai’s student! Are they crazy?”
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to intervene, but Song Hengye grabbed him.
“Why are you stopping me? I’m going to teach that jerk a lesson.”
Qin Yuxing’s face flushed with anger. “You should at least respect Teacher Bai! That bird is his student. They’re showing no respect!”
Song Hengye sighed. “Keep your voice down. That bird might not appreciate your help.”
Adian got up and continued walking, determined to drop off his belongings. But the cadet who had knocked him down blocked his path again, glaring. “Are you spineless? I knocked you down, and you don’t even fight back?”
Adian stared at him coldly. “I don’t want to dirty my clothes.”
The cadet sneered. “What a lame excuse.”
The crowd laughed. “If you’re scared, just say so. But if you back out of this fight, don’t expect to ever walk through the academy gates again.”
In the academy, strength ruled. Even among the freshmen captains like Han Baiyi and Song Hengye, they had earned their titles by defeating others in combat.
If a special candidate didn’t accept the first challenge, it was seen as cowardice. Someone pushed Adian. “If you don’t fight, fine. Just turn around and leave. This isn’t the place for you.”
The cadet who had blocked Adian spit on the ground. “Pathetic. Move aside.” He shoved Adian again, even stomping on his new shoes as he passed.
Adian’s eyes flashed with anger. He shouted, “Stop!”
The cadet turned back. “What? Finally going to—”
Adian rushed forward, landing a punch square on the cadet’s face. “Apologize!”
He followed up with a swift kick. “Apologize now!”
The cadet was stunned by the punch but quickly regained his composure, enraged. “You’re dead, kid.”
A roar echoed as a striped tiger spirit beast appeared, its jaws wide, lunging at Adian.
Qin Yuxing exclaimed, “Damn, he summoned his spirit beast!”
Even Song Hengye grew serious, preparing to intervene. But before he could act, he saw Adian swiftly dodge the tiger’s attack. Then, with a surge of spiritual energy, everyone watched as a fluffy, round little Birdy appeared beside Adian, looking utterly confused.
The crowd fell silent.
The little Birdy blinked. “???”
Seeing the tiger, its expression shifted from confusion to terror: *Chirp!*
*What is this thing?!*
