Chapter 70
The Rose Garden Nursery was built in a relatively secluded area, surrounded by mountains and forests. Though the main entrance led to a street, foot traffic was sparse. However, when a group of people suddenly rushed out, the commotion they caused was significant.
There had already been many people keeping an eye on the Rose Garden Nursery. So when this group burst out, and a few streets later an explosion occurred—with spirit beast cubs involved—the observers immediately began live streaming the event on the star network.
The headline they used was: [#Rose Garden Spirit Beast Cubs Escaping at Night, Guards in Pursuit!]
Unsurprisingly, the sensational headline quickly shot to the top of the trending searches, drawing countless viewers. After all, Bai Nuosi had just closed his own livestream, only to appear in another, with the little lion and Teng Snake sprinting ahead while he and the guards chased behind. The situation was too suspicious not to raise questions, especially when someone was deliberately stirring things up.
The viewers who had previously followed Bai Nuosi’s streams flocked to this new one, with some of the detractors even voicing their opinions:
[I’ve always said Bai Nuosi’s streams were scripted, but you didn’t believe me! The black panther and panda were easier to handle because of their backgrounds, but this time he’s hit a wall!]
[I don’t believe it. Even if someone had a script and hands-on guidance, they couldn’t do it as well as Bai Nuosi.]
[I’m leaning towards the little lion causing trouble again, and Bai Nuosi is worried and chasing after it. After all, if Qin Yuxing could break in to steal his own spirit beast, nothing surprises me anymore.]
[Exactly. If it wasn’t about the spirit beast cubs or if it were all staged, why would Bai Nuosi be so anxious? Even though the image is blurry, you can clearly see he’s in nothing but thin pajamas and slippers! Don’t think we can’t see just because you didn’t zoom in!]
[Arguing won’t help. I just hope the spirit beast cubs and Bai Nuosi are safe.]
The audience’s concern for Bai Nuosi and the little lion’s safety caused the livestream’s viewership to grow rapidly.
Bai Nuosi had been running for quite a while, panting heavily. He had to admit—these cubs could really run. After covering several kilometers, even as an adult, his legs felt like jelly, and he was gasping for breath, almost unable to continue.
But he had no choice; he was too worried about the cubs.
The guards ran faster than he did, quickly reaching the explosion site. The location was secluded, down a narrow alleyway that seemed uninhabited. However, the loud blast, accompanied by the raging flames, had alarmed nearby residents and passersby.
Bai Nuosi kept running, getting closer and closer to the explosion site. Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind, causing him to stumble.
It was Huo Ranchuan who caught him, quickly pulling him into his arms to steady him. Bai Nuosi, initially startled, lit up when he saw who it was. “Director Huo, you’re here!”
Huo Ranchuan had run down more than twenty flights of stairs from the dormitory and chased after them, yet he didn’t even seem out of breath. With a stern expression, he said, “Teacher Bai, it’s dangerous over there. There could be a secondary explosion. You shouldn’t go any further.”
Huo Ranchuan’s tone was serious; given the explosion’s proximity to the nursery, it was likely an attempt to lure the spirit beast cubs out.
Bai Nuosi’s worry was evident. “But Xingxing and Teng Snake ran in that direction.”
Bai Nuosi had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. Normally, cubs were afraid of loud noises, especially explosions. With such intense flames, any normal cub would be terrified, right?
Huo Ranchuan looked at the situation not far away, his expression grim. He pushed Bai Nuosi down onto a bench by the side of the road, saying, “It’s dangerous ahead. Stay here and wait; I’ll bring them back.”
Bai Nuosi knew that if he followed, he’d only slow them down. He was aware of his own limitations; he wasn’t trained, and he couldn’t even keep up with the two cubs. Still, he had been too worried, so he had followed them all the way here. Now that Huo Ranchuan had instructed him to stay put, he obediently sat down, looking up at him. “Alright, please, Director, bring the cubs back safely!”
Seeing Bai Nuosi’s obedient and worried expression, Huo Ranchuan felt his heart soften. Bai Nuosi was only twenty-two, and he looked even younger with his small frame and bangs disheveled by the night breeze. He sat there in his thin pajamas, looking so tiny, helpless, and endearing.
At that moment, Huo Ranchuan couldn’t help but think that Bai Nuosi seemed to need protection even more than the two spirit beast cubs did.
Unable to resist, Huo Ranchuan ruffled Bai Nuosi’s hair and draped his black coat over his shoulders. “Stay here and wait. I’ll bring them back safe and sound.”
With that, Huo Ranchuan turned and ran towards the explosion site.
Wrapped in Huo Ranchuan’s coat, Bai Nuosi watched him leave, standing up to watch as he disappeared into the distance.
Teng Snake, meanwhile, had already caught up with the little lion and reached the burning building. The entrance had collapsed, and without hesitation, they charged through the flames. Inside, Qin Yuxing was carrying the unconscious Song Hengye on his back, racing toward the exit. Behind him lay several fallen figures.
Qin Yuxing’s eyes were red, his body covered in dust, and his cheeks blackened. Carrying Song Hengye through the fire, he shouted, “Song Hengye, wake up! Don’t fall asleep on me, please!”
But Song Hengye was unconscious, unable to hear Qin Yuxing’s desperate pleas. Qin Yuxing was filled with regret. He should have stayed home and trained as his grandfather had instructed instead of running off.
It was his fault that Song Hengye had come to save him. It was also because of his persuasion that Song Hengye had accompanied him to meet the ticket seller. Who knew that the seller would be so uncooperative and, upon learning that Qin Yuxing wouldn’t board the ship the next day, suddenly attacked? Five or six A-level assailants had targeted him.
Even though Qin Yuxing was S-level, his spirit beast was still in its cub form and hadn’t evolved yet. Song Hengye, not yet awakened, was even more vulnerable. The attackers clearly intended to kill him. Qin Yuxing suspected that they were targeting his family.
Despite his age, Qin Yuxing wasn’t entirely clueless. The ten major aristocratic families of the empire, except for Huo Ranchuan’s, maintained a delicate balance. The Han family had already declined, and none of the other families had S-level members. The sudden emergence of an S-level in the Qin family must have made the others wary of the Qin family rising to become the next Huo family. They likely wanted to eliminate Qin Yuxing while he was still vulnerable.
What they hadn’t expected was for Qin Yuxing, sneaking out to buy a ticket, to have a companion.
Though Song Hengye hadn’t awakened a spirit beast, his experience in the wasteland belt and his relentless training at the Imperial Military Academy allowed him to save Qin Yuxing’s life at a critical moment.
The two of them had fought off their attackers, but when their assailants saw that Qin Yuxing and Song Hengye were tougher than expected, they detonated the entire building. They locked all the exits, trying to burn them alive.
Qin Yuxing’s awakened constitution was far better than Song Hengye’s. Awakening marked a turning point, bringing a qualitative leap in various aspects. For Qin Yuxing, the explosion’s damage wasn’t severe; the real danger was the substance mixed into the smoke, which could affect his spirit sea.
Wrapping Song Hengye in his coat, Qin Yuxing noticed that Song Hengye’s head was bleeding, and his clothes were singed. Just as he prepared to escape, he saw Teng Snake rise through the flames, its tail swinging. Qin Yuxing instinctively tried to dodge, remembering how he had been smacked before.
But Teng Snake didn’t give him a chance. Its tail wrapped around both Qin Yuxing and Song Hengye, pulling them out of the inferno.
The little lion followed closely, sprinting with its short legs after Teng Snake. Though covered in ash, its eyes remained locked on Qin Yuxing.
It hadn’t yet evolved; it was still too weak. If its host faced danger, what could it do if it couldn’t protect its beloved teacher?
The little lion’s expression grew serious.
After Teng Snake pulled Qin Yuxing and Song Hengye out, it immediately transformed back into its small form. Bai Nuosi was waiting just down the street; it couldn’t reveal its true identity.
Qin Yuxing held onto Song Hengye and called to the guards, “Hurry, take him to the hospital!”
Huo Ranchuan swiftly retrieved a miniature flying vehicle from his storage terminal. The vehicle could only fit two people. He looked at Qin Yuxing. “Take him to the First Military Hospital. We’ll talk later.”
Qin Yuxing nodded and rushed off with Song Hengye. The little lion tried to jump onto the vehicle but was stopped by Huo Ranchuan, who grabbed it by the scruff. “You can’t go. Stay put.”
Huo Ranchuan had promised Bai Nuosi he would return both cubs safely; he couldn’t break that promise.
He also instructed a few guards to follow Qin Yuxing to the hospital, then contacted others to extinguish the fire, handle the aftermath, and investigate the incident’s cause.
However, just as they thought the situation was under control, Teng Snake suddenly sensed danger. Huo Ranchuan turned and sprinted towards Bai Nuosi’s location.
Some guards noticed as well and followed. “Commander! Their target is Bai Nuosi!”
Everyone had assumed the attack was targeting Qin Yuxing, chalking it up to inter-family rivalry. But they hadn’t anticipated that others, having observed the livestream for so long, might set their sights on Bai Nuosi himself.
Huo Ranchuan moved swiftly. Leaping onto a nearby building, he lunged to grab hold of the fleeing aircraft.
The assailants, dressed in black uniforms with emblem badges, wore AI-generated fake faces. They were members of a galactic mercenary group—hardened criminals who’d do anything for money.
They recognized Huo Ranchuan but weren’t intimidated.
One of them pressed a knife to Bai Nuosi’s neck. “Commander Huo, do you want us to die together with your teacher?”
The aircraft had already ascended high into the sky. Huo Ranchuan clung to its window frame, his eyes fixed on Bai Nuosi. He could see his coat draped over the unconscious figure.
Huo Ranchuan’s voice was cold. “Who hired you, and for how much? We can negotiate.”
If they were in it for money, he could pay—as long as Bai Nuosi was unharmed.
The man sneered. “We might be mercenaries, but we have principles. Even if I’d love to work with you, Commander Huo, I’m afraid this time we can’t. Maybe next time. What do you say, Commander?”
Huo Ranchuan’s eyes locked onto the knife pressed against Bai Nuosi’s throat. Bai Nuosi had no spirit power, just like any other ordinary person in the beastmen’s star system.
If the attackers used force, even if he managed to save Bai Nuosi, he might be seriously injured.
Oh no, teacher bai?. Thanks for the chapter!