Becoming a Kindergarten Teacher for S-Class Spirit Beasts – CH25

Chapter 25

Huo Ranchuan took Bai Nuosi directly to the central military hospital, where Han Baiyi was also recovering.

Huo Ranchuan’s face was grim, and Bai Nuosi could tell that he was angry, so he didn’t dare make a sound. Naturally, anyone would be upset if they saw three young cubs fighting and even getting injured at the nursery. But what surprised Bai Nuosi was that Huo Ranchuan didn’t go to check on the cubs’ injuries first. Instead, he brought Bai Nuosi to the hospital.

In Bai Nuosi’s mind, no matter what happened at the nursery, the cubs were always the priority.

Huo Ranchuan led Bai Nuosi into a medical room, his tall frame completely shielding Bai Nuosi from view.

A middle-aged doctor came over and asked Huo Ranchuan, “Commander, didn’t you say you had a patient who was severely bitten by a dog? Where is he?”

Bai Nuosi: “…”

Well, it was a wolfdog, but wasn’t it a beastman cub? Did Huo Ranchuan just call the cub a dog?

Bai Nuosi found it both funny and exasperating.

With a cold expression, Huo Ranchuan moved aside, and the doctor finally saw Bai Nuosi.

Bai Nuosi looked young, with delicate features. His pale face and thin frame were clad in a blood-stained white uniform, which shocked the doctor.

Startled by the sight of all that blood, the doctor hurriedly began examining Bai Nuosi’s wounds. 

Despite the doctor’s careful movements, Bai Nuosi still winced and hissed in pain when his arm was touched, frowning slightly.

Huo Ranchuan, seeing this, immediately stepped in and pushed the doctor’s hands away. He glared at the doctor and said, “Be more gentle.”

The doctor: “…”

The doctor gave Huo Ranchuan an odd look, then turned to Bai Nuosi and said, “Sorry, I must have accidentally touched your wound.”

Bai Nuosi, feeling a little embarrassed, said, “It’s fine, doctor. Sorry for the trouble.”

After speaking, Bai Nuosi glanced at Huo Ranchuan standing next to him. He felt awkward about having the headmaster stay with him. He could handle seeing the doctor alone. What concerned him more was that Huo Ranchuan should go back and check on the three cubs that had been fighting.

But when he met Huo Ranchuan’s stern gaze, Bai Nuosi wisely kept quiet. Now was not the time to test his temper.

After examining the wound, the doctor frowned and said, “The wound is quite deep, but fortunately, it hasn’t torn, and you’ve already disinfected and stopped the bleeding. It’s not serious, but I recommend you stay in the hospital for observation for a day.”

Here, one had to give credit to the little black snake. It had acted quickly, wrapping itself around the wolf’s neck and choking it until it had to release its grip. Had the snake attacked the wolf’s head or body instead, the wolf would likely not have let go and could have torn the muscles in Bai Nuosi’s arm during the struggle.

Since Bai Nuosi was from another galaxy, his constitution and physical strength were quite different from those of beastmen. For safety reasons, the doctor wanted to monitor his condition for a day to ensure there were no complications.

While preparing the admission paperwork, the doctor asked, “Do you have anyone to take care of you? Should we arrange for a nurse?”

Bai Nuosi hesitated and asked, “Doctor, do I really need to stay in the hospital?”

He didn’t think his injury required hospitalization. He was very worried about the little black snake and the little black leopard, especially the leopard, who tended to reject others and only allowed Bai Nuosi to get close.

Bai Nuosi couldn’t imagine what the little black leopard would do without him around.

The doctor nodded, “You should take time off work. The wound is deep, and your constitution is different from beastmen. I recommend you stay for observation.”

After a moment of hesitation, Bai Nuosi turned to Huo Ranchuan and asked, “Director Huo, would it be possible to bring the little black leopard here to stay with me overnight?”

When Bai Nuosi asked this, he felt guilty. He didn’t want to bring the cubs to the hospital. They wouldn’t be able to rest well in such an unfamiliar environment. But the little black leopard was different. He couldn’t stop worrying about him.

After spending the past couple of days with the little black leopard, Bai Nuosi had realized that the cub was quite attached to him. He didn’t feel the same level of concern for the little black snake.

If it were just the black snake, Bai Nuosi wouldn’t be as worried.

Looking troubled, Bai Nuosi muttered, “I wonder how the little black leopard and the black snake are doing. Is the little black leopard hiding and crying? Are they injured? Did they eat properly?”

All of Bai Nuosi’s worries were written plainly on his face, and Huo Ranchuan felt both helpless and angry.

It was as if Bai Nuosi didn’t care at all about his own injury.

His arms were so slender, and his skin so fair, that there was a good chance the wound would leave a scar.

Thankfully, the little black snake had reacted quickly.

Seeing Bai Nuosi’s concerned expression, Huo Ranchuan sighed. After a few moments, he reluctantly opened his communicator and made a video call to Mons.

Mons had just sent the gray wolf to the medical room. The wolf, being a newly-matured A-rank spiritual beast, had been overwhelmed by two S-rank spiritual beasts. The result was inevitable. Though the wolf’s tough exterior protected it somewhat, its spiritual sea had been damaged, causing it to pass out. Its owner was also suffering from the shock, writhing in pain at the military academy. He had been taken to the academy’s medical center for treatment.

Fortunately, the entire incident had been broadcast live. Although the little black leopard had initiated the conflict by swatting the wolf with its tail, the wolf had overreacted by attacking Bai Nuosi, biting him hard enough to draw blood. Bai Nuosi’s bloodstained white uniform left the audience heartbroken.

The key point is, even though the injuries were so severe, Teacher Bai had been in so much pain that his face had turned pale, and he could barely stand. Yet, he was still worried that the gray wolf might be beaten to death by the two cubs.

Such a kind and gentle teacher, and the gray wolf actually had the heart to bite him!

The gray wolf’s family, who had been ready to cause trouble, hadn’t even approached the nursery or Huo Ranchuan yet, but they soon discovered that all of their family’s accounts had been bombarded by angry netizens, sending them straight to the top of the trending list.

The gray wolf’s family: “…”

As soon as Mons connected Huo Ranchuan’s call, he briefly reported the aftermath: “The gray wolf won’t die. He’ll probably wake up tomorrow. His family is causing a fuss, demanding to take him away for a full examination, but I’ve already kicked them out.”

Since Bai Nuosi was standing next to Huo Ranchuan, Mons didn’t say everything explicitly.

The camera briefly panned to the unconscious gray wolf, showing it to Huo Ranchuan.

Huo Ranchuan snorted coldly. The Wang family still dared to cause trouble? He glanced at Bai Nuosi’s arm wound—this nursery teacher had been injured so badly by the gray wolf, and they hadn’t even pressed charges yet!

When Bai Nuosi heard that the gray wolf would wake up tomorrow, a weight lifted from his heart. 

He wasn’t concerned about the gray wolf itself—after all, the wolf had bitten him hard, and he had really been in pain. Even though he liked little cubs, he couldn’t completely let go of his resentment.

He was just worried that the two cubs might have made an irreparable mistake because of him, and that guilt would stay with him forever.

Mons stepped out of the gray wolf’s medical room and saw a little black leopard lying on the sofa in the hallway, with the black snake standing guard beside it. Neither had left.

The two cubs still had the gray wolf’s blood on them, especially the little black leopard. Its usually soft and sleek fur was now a messy, dirty tangle.

When the little black leopard saw Mons coming out of the room, it immediately raised its head warily, its sharp gaze locked onto him.

It looked as if it would attack the moment Mons took another step closer.

Feeling a bit intimidated, Mons stopped at the doorway and aimed his phone at the two cubs, saying to Huo Ranchuan, “Commander, they’re fine, but they refuse to leave and won’t talk to anyone.”

No one knew what Han Baiyi was thinking, leaving his spiritual beasts unattended.

But soon, they found out what Han Baiyi had been thinking.

While Bai Nuosi was watching the video of the two cubs with a worried expression, he muttered, “They look so dirty, and they probably haven’t eaten yet.”

Just then, a loud “boom!” sounded from upstairs!

Bai Nuosi jumped in surprise, his whole body trembling as he looked up at the ceiling in shock.

The doctor was also startled, jumping out of his chair, shouting, “What’s going on? Are we under attack?”

Huo Ranchuan ended the video call and, with a grim expression, said to Bai Nuosi, “Stay here and don’t go anywhere.”

Then, Huo Ranchuan strode out of the medical room, closing the door tightly behind him.

Bai Nuosi: “…”

Bai Nuosi and the doctor exchanged glances. If Huo Ranchuan was involved, then everything would surely be resolved.

The doctor quickly regained his composure, and despite the occasional “boom” from upstairs, he calmly said to Bai Nuosi, “Teacher Bai, please sit down. I need to re-bandage your wound.”

Bai Nuosi: “…”

The whole floor was practically being torn apart, yet the doctor remained so calm. Truly, doctors had an extraordinary ability to stay composed.

After leaving the medical room, Huo Ranchuan slowly made his way upstairs. Bai Nuosi was on the second floor, while Han Baiyi had been recuperating in a private room on the third floor.

Since this was the central district’s military hospital, students from the empire’s first military academy who got injured were often brought here.

Unfortunately, the gray wolf’s owner, Wang Cheng, had also just been transferred to the third floor.

Huo Ranchuan could guess what had happened, but he wasn’t in any hurry as he slowly climbed the stairs.

Upstairs, in the private spiritual power recovery room, two adjacent doors were wide open.

Han Baiyi, dressed in light blue hospital clothes, had rushed into the next room and was furiously beating up Wang Cheng, who had just been brought in.

The surrounding medical staff were stunned.

Han Baiyi had been staying here for two days, behaving very quietly. He rarely interacted with others and mostly stayed holed up in his room, rarely even leaving.

But now, he had suddenly burst out of his room and grabbed Wang Cheng off his hospital bed, slamming him heavily to the ground with a loud boom. Before the medical staff could react, Han Baiyi swiftly delivered several hard punches to Wang Cheng’s face.

Han Baiyi’s expression was fierce, and each punch landed with a solid thud. In just a few seconds, Wang Cheng’s face was already covered in blood.

One was the deputy captain of the freshman team at the military academy, and the other was an unremarkable son of an aristocratic family. There was no need to guess who would win.

A nurse screamed in fright, and the two guards stationed outside Han Baiyi’s room immediately rushed in, pulling him away and sternly reprimanding him.

“What are you doing?”

One of the guards scolded, “You’re both students at the military academy. Whatever issues you have, can’t you resolve them? Do you really want to beat him to death?”

Han Baiyi was, after all, the deputy captain of the freshman team. If he beat up a fellow student like this, did he still want a future in the academy?

Han Baiyi obediently allowed himself to be pulled away without struggling. He wiped the blood from his knuckles and glanced at the unconscious Wang Cheng, muttering, “So he’s really that weak after all.”

Yes, it was only at that moment that he realized that those who had bullied him as a child, the people he had feared and dreaded for so long, weren’t really all that powerful.

In fact, he could easily knock them out now.

It was only the fear that had been ingrained in him since childhood that made him believe they were terrifying. As soon as they appeared, he instinctively avoided them, lowering his head as panic, helplessness, inferiority, and guilt filled him, blinding him to how much he had grown.

Perhaps, when he first came to the Han family as a child, he had been weak and vulnerable, but now, he was no longer the same person.

Han Baiyi was pulled outside the room by the guards, leaving the doctors to quickly attend to the unconscious Wang Cheng.

Standing dazed in the hallway, Han Baiyi’s right fist was still stained with blood, and even his pale cheeks had two splashes of it. 

At that moment, Huo Ranchuan approached at a slow pace, not sparing a glance at Wang Cheng in the room, but instead focusing on Han Baiyi. “Remember to report for your punishment later.”

This was the rule at their military academy—you weren’t allowed to harm your teammates.

Han Baiyi silently lifted his head and, with a hoarse voice, asked, “Instructor, may I… may I go see Teacher Bai?”

Just as Bai Nuosi was worried about the two cubs, Han Baiyi was also deeply concerned about Teacher Bai’s injury.

After all, the physical differences between an Omega and a beastman were significant. Teacher Bai looked so fragile, and his arm had been bitten so severely by a spiritual beast—his injuries must be serious, right?

Han Baiyi was overwhelmed with guilt.

It was all his fault. If not for him, Teacher Bai could have been back at his little house in the garden, making food for the cubs, giving them baths, and putting them to sleep. 

There would have been no need for him to endure the pain and come to the hospital for treatment.

The more Han Baiyi thought about it, the sadder he became, his eyes reddening with unshed tears.

Huo Ranchuan observed him for a moment. After all, Han Baiyi was still just an eighteen-year-old. Although he had gone through strict training from a young age, this might have been the first time he had encountered something like this.

For the first time, someone cared about him, protected him, and even took an injury meant for him.

That someone, someone he deeply valued, was hurt because of him. No wonder Han Baiyi was so upset.

Huo Ranchuan tilted his head slightly. “Let’s go.”

Without scolding Han Baiyi for impulsively hitting someone or blaming him for causing Teacher Bai to get hurt, Huo Ranchuan turned and headed toward the stairs.

Han Baiyi wiped his eyes with his sleeve, smoothed his hair and wrinkled clothes, and carefully cleaned the blood off his fist and arm with a tissue.

Teacher Bai was timid and didn’t like seeing the cubs fight. This was his first time meeting Teacher Bai in human form—he couldn’t leave a bad impression!

Huo Ranchuan led Han Baiyi downstairs. As they got closer to seeing Teacher Bai, Han Baiyi’s heart raced with nervous anticipation.

Even though he occasionally synced his feelings with the little black leopard and already knew how kind and gentle Bai Nuosi was, this was still his first official meeting with Teacher Bai!

Han Baiyi swallowed nervously, his heart pounding, palms sweaty. Even when his foster father had pressured him to get into the military academy, facing the entrance exam officers, he hadn’t been this tense.

Bai Nuosi’s arm had already been treated, re-bandaged, and medicated. Since his personal storage only held food and supplies for the cubs, he didn’t have a change of clothes for himself.

Noticing that Bai Nuosi’s uniform was stained with blood and no longer wearable, the doctor had a clean hospital gown sent over for him to change into.

Though his left arm was injured, the advanced medical technology on Beastman Star worked wonders. After the doctor’s treatment, Bai Nuosi’s pain had significantly lessened. While changing his clothes, he tested his left arm’s mobility and didn’t feel much discomfort.

As Bai Nuosi walked out of the changing room, he saw Huo Ranchuan coming down the stairs with Han Baiyi.

The moment Han Baiyi spotted Bai Nuosi, he froze, his gaze locked onto Bai Nuosi’s bandaged arm. His expression was filled with guilt and sadness.

Bai Nuosi didn’t know Han Baiyi. Seeing him in a hospital gown, tall and upright, following Huo Ranchuan, Bai Nuosi assumed Han Baiyi was one of Huo Ranchuan’s guards. After all, the Rose Nursery had many stationed soldiers.

Bai Nuosi smiled politely at Han Baiyi and turned to speak to Huo Ranchuan, “The director  has returned.”

Huo Ranchuan nodded and approached, asking, “How’s your wound?”

Feeling guilty, Han Baiyi nervously fidgeted with his clothes behind Huo Ranchuan, not daring to meet Bai Nuosi’s eyes. Though Bai Nuosi didn’t know him, guilt weighed heavily on Han Baiyi for what had happened.

Bai Nuosi replied, “The doctor applied some medicine, and the wound feels much better.”

The advanced medical technology on Beastman Star ensured that Bai Nuosi was given the best treatment, fully covered by the Rose Nursery. The wound adhesive used on his injuries had nearly sealed them up within half a day. However, he still needed to change the dressing daily until the wound fully healed.

But since he had to take care of the cubs—especially because the little black leopard wouldn’t let anyone else touch them—Bai Nuosi requested waterproof bandages so he could still bathe them.

Huo Ranchuan glanced at Bai Nuosi’s arm. While there wasn’t much to see, he could at least tell that the doctor’s bandaging skills were decent.

Despite Han Baiyi’s presence, Bai Nuosi couldn’t help but ask, “Principal, about what I said earlier… bringing the cubs here—is that not allowed?”

In retrospect, it really didn’t seem appropriate. The nursery’s cubs weren’t supposed to follow teachers around, and these two weren’t even his own children.

Bai Nuosi realized he might have been too anxious and quickly added, “My wound has already been treated. I can stay overnight in the nursery’s medical room. Perhaps I should return there?”

S-class spiritual beast cubs needed extensive protection. Until they evolved into their adult forms, Huo Ranchuan had no intention of letting them leave the nursery grounds, especially with so many people keeping an eye on the place.

Just moments ago, Huo Ranchuan had almost softened and agreed to bring the cubs over when he saw the concern in Bai Nuosi’s eyes.

After a brief pause, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll take you back.”

The doctors at the Rose Nursery were people Huo Ranchuan trusted. Bai Nuosi would be easier to monitor there.

Upon hearing that he could go back, Bai Nuosi’s eyes lit up, and he immediately flashed a sweet smile. “Really? That’s great! Thank you, Principal! You’re so kind!”

Huo Ranchuan: “…”

‘Kind person’ cards x 3

Han Baiyi stood silently behind and to the side of Huo Ranchuan, carefully observing Bai Nuosi. Feeling guilty and anxious, he didn’t dare to speak to Teacher Bai directly.

At that moment, Bai Nuosi glanced at Han Baiyi. Seeing the teenage boy with his head down, nervously twisting the hem of his shirt, and looking very sad, Bai Nuosi didn’t understand why the boy seemed so upset. However, seeing his hospital gown and recalling the commotion upstairs, Bai Nuosi guessed that the boy must have experienced something deeply troubling.

Judging by his expression, it looked like he was about to cry.

Bai Nuosi, feeling soft-hearted, hesitated for a few seconds before pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to Han Baiyi. “Hello, it seems like you have something dirty on your face. If you don’t mind, you can use this to wipe it off.”

Han Baiyi: “!!!”

Han Baiyi was stunned.

He looked up, surprised, his eyes wide as he stared at Bai Nuosi in shock, his expression a little dazed.

Bai Nuosi hesitated, glancing awkwardly at Huo Ranchuan. “Sorry, I just… saw that you have something here…”

As he spoke, Bai Nuosi touched his own cheek, indicating the spot on Han Baiyi’s face where there was dirt—or rather, blood.

It was from the fight earlier, some blood splatters from when Han Baiyi had hit someone—more than just one spot, actually.

Han Baiyi’s whole body shook as he suddenly realized, his face flushing. He quickly took the handkerchief, stammering, “Th-thank you, Teacher Bai.”

Then, in one swift motion, he turned around and furiously scrubbed his face with the handkerchief.

Oh my god!

He had only wiped his hands earlier and had completely forgotten about the blood on his face!

What must Teacher Bai think of him now!?

Bai Nuosi had indeed noticed the scent of blood on Han Baiyi. He figured that these guards must have difficult jobs, but that wasn’t a big deal. Every role comes with its responsibilities.

Bad guys need the police to take care of them, and cubs need caretakers to look after them.

He understood these basic principles.

Bai Nuosi was now eager to return to the nursery. He said to Huo Ranchuan, “I’ll go grab my things and head back.”

With that, Bai Nuosi turned and walked back to the hospital room. Han Baiyi stood there, dazed, still holding the crumpled handkerchief, staring at Bai Nuosi’s retreating figure. As he watched, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.

Huo Ranchuan, who had seen just about everything in his life, had never come across a scene like this—a grown man, and a military academy student at that, crying on the spot!

Huo Ranchuan was speechless. He frowned. “What are you crying for?”

You’re not a cub!

Was this guy getting sentimental just because Teacher Bai had doted on his spiritual beast for a few days?

Han Baiyi hadn’t expected to cry either. He now fully understood the phrase, “tears have a mind of their own.”

Embarrassed, he wiped his tears with the handkerchief, his expression a mixture of sadness and guilt. “Teacher Bai is so kind. He doesn’t even know me, yet he still gave me his handkerchief to clean my face.”

Teacher Bai was the kind of person who showed kindness to everyone.

Sob sob sob sob sob QAQ, Han Baiyi suddenly felt deeply melancholic.

He didn’t want to grow up anymore. He wished his spiritual beast could be doted on by Teacher Bai forever.

Huo Ranchuan, utterly exasperated, reached out and smacked Han Baiyi’s head, scolding him. “Stop being so sentimental in front of me. If you keep crying, I’ll smack you again.”

I’m your instructor, not Teacher Bai!

Han Baiyi: “…”

Huo Ranchuan stared at him. “Tomorrow is the Han family’s press conference. They’re accusing me of using healthy spiritual beast cubs for research and claim I’ve been holding you here against your will. The Imperial Cabinet has already contacted me, asking me to release you.”

Even though Huo Ranchuan had Han Baiyi’s medical report, the Han family was a powerful noble house in the heart of the Empire, with significant influence. Both sides were evenly matched, and many members of the Cabinet disapproved of Huo Ranchuan and opposed the establishment of the Rose Nursery. Naturally, they sided with the Han family in this conflict.

Huo Ranchuan, known for his fiery temper, had been restraining himself, but he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t explode at some point.

He was willing to give Han Baiyi a chance, but that didn’t mean he completely trusted him.

With a smile on his face but a chilling look in his eyes, Huo Ranchuan said, “Han Baiyi, you’ll be discharged today. After that, where you go and what you say is up to you. But know this—if the nursery is shut down, Bai Nuosi will, under Imperial law, be sent back to the Blackbird Star System. Do you understand?”

Anyone who had studied the star systems knew that, due to the rarity of Omegas and their low birth rates, Blackbird had adopted a compulsory marriage policy enforced by the main system. If Bai Nuosi were sent back, he might never return.

Of course, Huo Ranchuan would never allow the nursery to be closed, but he didn’t want to waste Han Baiyi’s talent.

He didn’t want to see a precious S-class talent of the Empire end up as a mere guard dog for a noble family, used until his value was gone, only to be discarded later.

Every time he saw someone like Han Baiyi, it reminded him of his childhood friend and comrade, Chen Min.

Such an outstanding person, once the captain of the Empire’s top mecha team, had been abandoned by both the Empire and the noble families when his spiritual beast went berserk and uncontrollable.

Han Baiyi looked at Huo Ranchuan, his expression conflicted. He didn’t want to go back to the Han family.

He didn’t want to be discharged.

These past two days of rest had been the most relaxed and happiest days he’d experienced in years.

While his body healed in the medical room, his soul had been comforted by Teacher Bai.

But he was an adult now, and some things had to be faced sooner or later.

Han Baiyi gripped the white handkerchief tightly. After a few seconds, he looked back at Huo Ranchuan with a determined gaze and quietly said, “Instructor, I want to take Teacher Bai back first.”

*

Bai Nuosi, still dressed in his hospital gown, boarded Huo Ranchuan’s aircraft.

There was no other choice—he didn’t have his own clothes, so he had to make do for now.

The aircraft was set to autopilot, and Huo Ranchuan had already input the coordinates for Rose Nursery. Bai Nuosi sat in the front with Huo Ranchuan, while the back seats were occupied by a military officer and Han Baiyi, who had changed into his black military academy uniform.

Wearing the uniform gave Han Baiyi a completely different aura—his eyes were steady, and his expression was serious. The fitted, sharp uniform made him almost unrecognizable to Bai Nuosi, who smiled warmly at him. Instantly, Han Baiyi’s face flushed red, and he shyly lowered his head.

At the same time, Han Baiyi wondered to himself: if Teacher Bai knew that the black panther was actually his spiritual beast and not a real beast cub, would he be angry?

As soon as Bai Nuosi got on the aircraft, he couldn’t help but yawn.

It was late, and after a day filled with fear and injury—his arm having lost so much blood—he was exhausted.

Huo Ranchuan wanted him to go back and rest, but Bai Nuosi insisted on seeing the cubs.

The two cubs were still at the nursery, waiting in the medical room hallway.

Since they had been brought there for check-ups earlier in the afternoon, the little black panther had curled up on the couch and refused to move. No matter who talked to it, it wouldn’t respond, though its emotions were much more stable this time, without running off to hide.

The Teng snake, of course, stayed by the black panther. Wherever the black panther went, the Teng snake followed.

Around 7 p.m., Mons, who had been keeping watch at the nursery, finally sighed in relief when he saw Bai Nuosi step out of the elevator. His voice trembled with emotion, almost on the verge of tears. “Xiao Bai, you’re finally back!”

If Bai Nuosi hadn’t come back that night, Mons feared the little black panther would stay curled up on the couch, refusing to eat, drink, or sleep, for as long as it took!

Bai Nuosi looked pale, still weak from his injury. Wearing the hospital gown, he hurried out of the elevator. “Supervisor Mons, where are the cubs?”

Mons stepped aside and pointed. The two cubs were lying on the first couch in the hallway.

Since Bai Nuosi had left and Mons had brought them to the hospital, they had stayed there, not moving an inch.

Just as Bai Nuosi had feared, the little black panther, avoiding contact with others, had stayed huddled in a corner waiting for him. The little black snake, although it seemed more composed, had a rather irritable personality and little empathy. If it weren’t for waiting on Teacher Bai, the snake probably wouldn’t have stayed with the panther at all.

Bai Nuosi hurried over, his eyes and nose tinged red with emotion. He gently asked, “Were you little ones waiting for Teacher Bai?”

The moment they heard Bai Nuosi’s voice, the previously lifeless black panther and black snake perked up, their eyes immediately fixating on him, filled with both excitement and worry.

The black panther jumped down from the couch right away, waddling over on its four short legs, its chubby body rolling like a ball into Bai Nuosi’s arms!

The Teng snake was even quicker, darting over and wrapping itself around Bai Nuosi’s waist in an instant, its head snuggling affectionately against his neck.

Bai Nuosi hugged the two cubs tightly and softly reassured them, “Alright, alright. Teacher is here to take you home now.”

He sat down on the couch where the black panther had been lying and placed both cubs on his lap, letting them curl up in his arms. From his portable terminal, he pulled out a milk bottle. “You haven’t had anything to drink all afternoon, have you? And no meals either?”

Mons watched, dumbfounded, as Bai Nuosi, with his injured arm, prepared to make milk for the cubs.

Is this what it means to be a caregiver? No matter the time, place, or situation, the cubs must be fed first?

But Huo Ranchuan stepped in before Bai Nuosi could do much. Silently, he took the bottle from him and, with practiced ease, began preparing the milk for the cubs.

Mons and the officer exchanged surprised glances. Since when has the General become so skilled at making milk? It doesn’t look like this is his first time!

The two cubs finally got to drink their milk in Bai Nuosi’s arms. Bai Nuosi looked gratefully at Huo Ranchuan. “Thank you, Director. You’re really—”

Huo Ranchuan waved him off expressionlessly. “Enough, I know I’m a kind person. You don’t need to keep saying it.”

He’d already gotten three “kind person” cards—no need for more, thanks!

Bai Nuosi pressed his lips together, smiled at Huo Ranchuan, and didn’t say another word.

He stood up with the two cubs in his arms, and Han Baiyi, unable to hold back, spoke in a raspy voice, “Teacher Bai, your arm is injured. Maybe you should let the black panther walk on its own.”

Bai Nuosi wasn’t using much strength in his left arm, mostly holding the black panther with his right, while the Teng snake stayed wrapped around him, not requiring any extra effort.

Bai Nuosi looked down at the little black panther, nestled tightly in his arms with its tiny paws gripping the bottle. Smiling softly, he said, “No, I came to take them home, and holding them is part of the ritual.”

Even though his face was pale and he was still injured, clearly in need of care himself.

Han Baiyi felt a lump in his throat, afraid he might start crying again, so he quickly turned away.

Huo Ranchuan, unusually silent this time, watched as the Teng snake lay contentedly on Bai Nuosi’s shoulder, drinking its milk. He was reminded of when the Teng snake first emerged.

Back then, the Teng snake, having failed to evolve, constantly shed its skin and was often treated as a failed experiment, sent off for research. The young Teng snake had been restless, avoiding contact with people, running away, and even going berserk at the mere sight of anyone wearing white.

The Teng snake didn’t like hospitals and had claustrophobia, but today, surprisingly, it had stayed in the hospital for so long, quietly and with a very stable mental state.

This was a rare occurrence.

As they walked, Mons followed Bai Nuosi, expressing his amazement, “It’s wonderful, Teacher Bai. They finally waited for someone to take them home. I was worried they’d have to spend the night here.”

Yes, the little black leopard and the little black snake had finally waited for someone to take them home.

Bai Nuosi got into the vehicle Mons was driving. Huo Ranchuan and Han Baiyi didn’t follow; they stood at the entrance, watching Bai Nuosi’s figure disappear, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a while, Han Baiyi broke the silence. “Instructor, I’ll be leaving now.”

He gave Huo Ranchuan a formal military salute before turning and walking in the opposite direction of Bai Nuosi, his tall, determined figure soon swallowed by the darkness.

The adjutant approached Huo Ranchuan, watching Han Baiyi leave. He quietly remarked, “Commander, he just gave a formal military salute.”

It was a subordinate’s salute to a superior officer, not a student’s salute to an instructor.

Could it be that Han Baiyi had decided to pledge his allegiance to Huo Ranchuan?