Chapter 95
Mons and Chen Min were suddenly ambushed, but it wasn’t them the attackers were after; their targets were the out-of-control Teng Snake and the Golden Eagle.
Teng Snake’s situation was different from the Golden Eagle’s. The connection between Teng Snake and Huo Ranchuan was very close. Even if it lost control, it might not rampage and suppress its host like the Golden Eagle did. That’s why these attackers aimed to find Teng Snake quickly, taking advantage of Huo Ranchuan’s unstable state to eliminate both of them in one go. This was a rare opportunity, and such an ambush might not succeed again in the future.
The primitive mountains had unstable signals, preventing them from calling for support or being broadcast live.
Seeing the Golden Eagle losing control, Mons piloted a small aircraft to assist, but the enemy’s firepower was overwhelming, and the Golden Eagle was already injured in several places. If the Golden Eagle chose to retreat at this point, its speed would make it impossible for them to catch up, and it could leave unharmed. However, thinking of the small cave where its little companion was, as well as the snake that might not yet be fully recovered, it hesitated, determined to drive the intruders away.
Mons rushed over and shouted to Chen Min, “Captain Chen, get back here!”
These attackers were clearly prepared. They were out for Huo Ranchuan’s life, and since they encountered Chen Min, they wouldn’t let him go either.
Mons was furious. “They’re from the noble families!”
Several warships even bore the Han family crest.
Ever since Han Baiyi severed ties with the Han family and pledged loyalty to Huo Ranchuan, the Han family had gone to great lengths to take down Huo Ranchuan and regain control over Han Baiyi. After the attack on the Rose Nursery, the Han family’s patriarch and eldest son were arrested by Huo Ranchuan, enraging the Han family further. Now, they were determined to use the family’s full resources against Huo Ranchuan.
It made sense. If they could kill Huo Ranchuan, there was still a chance for their century-old family, which was declining but not yet collapsed. But if they did nothing and waited for Huo Ranchuan to gain the support of the people and the allegiance of the new S-rank students through his successful “Protect the Cubs” campaign, it would become impossible to take him down.
Chen Min didn’t care who these attackers were. He protected the Golden Eagle from several attacks on its back, and just when he was almost overwhelmed, a small black aircraft emerged from the mountains below, speeding toward them.
Chen Min immediately recognized it as Huo Ranchuan’s craft.
His eyes lit up with joy. “Ranchuan is here!”
Could this mean Huo Ranchuan was all right?
Meanwhile, Bai Nuosi and Teng Snake remained in the cave. Hearing the distant booms, Bai Nuosi became worried. “Big Black, do you think Director Huo will be all right going out there? His leg is still injured, and his spiritual power hasn’t fully recovered.”
Teng Snake curled protectively around Bai Nuosi. Without their shared perception, the spiritual beast couldn’t speak. It nuzzled Bai Nuosi’s hand, signaling him not to worry.
Even with unstable spiritual power, Huo Ranchuan would be fine. After all, no one had a higher spiritual level than him. Besides, Huo Ranchuan had already been ambushed once; this time, he would be more cautious. A battle-hardened commander like Huo Ranchuan was beyond what the old noble families could comprehend.
They had only stayed in the comfort of the empire, never setting foot on the frontlines. It was laughable that they dared to spend enormous sums hiring interstellar mercenaries, a crime of treason.
Bai Nuosi remained anxious as the sounds of artillery grew louder, approaching them. Teng Snake lifted its head in alertness, signaling Bai Nuosi to sit on its head and hold onto its horns to avoid falling. Slowly, it emerged from the cave.
It scanned the area from the high vantage point, surrounded by low shrubs. Given its size as a giant black snake, staying here would make them conspicuous.
Silently, Teng Snake slithered down the cliffside into the forest. The dense trees provided good cover.
No matter how intense the battle was, Teng Snake remained unhurried. It led Bai Nuosi away from the gunfire, moving slowly to ensure he wouldn’t be scared. Along the way, if it saw any bright fruits, it would pluck them with its mouth and offer them to Bai Nuosi.
Bai Nuosi, while worried, knew he was untrained in combat and would only be a burden if he joined the fray. He held a bunch of small, bright red fruits Teng Snake had plucked from a tree earlier. “Big Black, why don’t you take me back to the cave and then go help the Director? You are his spiritual beast, aren’t you?”
Teng Snake: “…”
Ever since Teacher Bai learned it wasn’t truly a baby, he no longer called it “baby” and always referred to it as “Big Black.”
It hated that name. It sounded like he was calling a dog.
Teng Snake shook its head and continued moving slowly through the forest. Huo Ranchuan hadn’t summoned it, so its most important task was to protect Teacher Bai. Besides, the cave might not be safe anymore. Even though Teng Snake considered it its lair, the enemy had found it. It would likely be attacked soon, so its priority was to find a new hideout for its companion’s safety.
Bai Nuosi had no choice but to stay atop Teng Snake’s head. Holding onto the two black horns, he wondered whether Big Black was a dragon or a snake. Why did it have horns?
As they moved further from the battlefield, Teng Snake eventually came to a stream. It stopped by the bank, drank some water, and picked some flowers for Teacher Bai before continuing.
Bai Nuosi asked worriedly, “Big Black, where are we going?”
He still had no idea about Huo Ranchuan’s situation. As a spiritual beast, why wasn’t Big Black anxious?
Teng Snake glanced reassuringly at Teacher Bai. Where were they going? They were wandering aimlessly. Nowhere in particular. The battlefield was too dangerous, so it was leading Teacher Bai further away. Once Huo Ranchuan resolved the situation, it would fly back with him.
Suddenly, Teng Snake’s tongue flicked out, sensing the air. It became alert, slowing its pace and lying flat against the ground.
Bai Nuosi, sensing Teng Snake’s tension, lay flat as well, clutching it tightly and not daring to make a sound.
Whatever could make Teng Snake so wary must be a fierce predator.
Teng Snake crept forward silently for a while, then its pupils narrowed. Its tail lashed out like lightning with a sharp snap. Bai Nuosi’s vision blurred for a moment, and then he saw Teng Snake’s tail pinning down a small, fluffy white creature.
Teng Snake’s powerful spiritual pressure kept the area clear of other animals. The sudden appearance of a living creature was highly suspicious, and Teng Snake had struck with force, though not enough to kill. It was cautious, as it still didn’t know the creature’s identity and didn’t want to harm the innocent.
Bai Nuosi carefully sat up, looking at the fluffy thing. “Big Black, what is that?”
Teng Snake, seeing that it had injured the creature and that it wasn’t attacking, withdrew its tail and moved closer.
Bai Nuosi also got a closer look at the fluffy, white ball.
His eyes widened slightly. “Is that… a duck? No, wait, sorry, it’s not a duck.”
The small, fluffy creature lay weakly in the mud, where Teng Snake’s tail had struck, leaving a small crater. It was about the size of a duck and looked like a bird. Upon closer inspection, Bai Nuosi noticed its pointed red beak and red claws, but it lacked a comb, so it wasn’t a chicken.
He whispered to Teng Snake, “Big Black, is this a chicken? Or maybe some kind of bird?”
Bai Nuosi wasn’t knowledgeable about birds, but seeing this fluffy white creature softened his heart. “Big Black, it looks like a baby. Did you hit it too hard?”
Teng Snake stared intently at the fluffy creature. It did seem like a juvenile.
It might have been too harsh.
But it felt no guilt, as it realized the creature wasn’t an ordinary animal; it was a human’s spiritual beast. Finding a newly awakened spiritual beast in the wilderness was highly suspicious.
Seeing no further aggression, Teng Snake decided to hold off any further action.
Bai Nuosi asked softly, “Big Black, can I go down and check on it?”
Teng Snake hesitated for a moment before lowering its head, allowing Bai Nuosi to slide down and cautiously approach the bird.
Bai Nuosi knelt a couple of steps away, observing it. “Little one, where does it hurt? Tell me, and I’ll check it for you.”
Teng Snake’s tail had left a deep mark in the ground, so the bird was surely injured. Despite its size, Bai Nuosi could tell it was still a juvenile, with fluffy white down and a small, red beak.
The fluffy bird raised its head weakly to look at Bai Nuosi, then dropped it again, its round black eyes curiously studying him.
Bai Nuosi, noticing its drooping wings and bent leg, became serious. “Little one, your leg is broken!”
He only had basic medical supplies for his cubs, so he could only do a simple bandage job, but more comprehensive treatment would require a doctor.
He found two straight sticks nearby, wrapped them with gauze, and spoke softly to the bird, “Don’t worry, little one. I’ll take care of your leg. It looks broken. If we don’t treat it, it’ll affect your ability to walk. Just lay on your side, okay?”
Bai Nuosi cautiously reached out, repositioning the bird onto its side.
The bird watched him with curious eyes but did not resist, complying with his every move.
Bai Nuosi smiled, saying to Teng Snake, “Big Black, look how obedient it is! It’s not even crying.”
Teng Snake remained uneasy. To Teacher Bai, this bird was just a juvenile spiritual beast, a cub. He couldn’t leave it to suffer. Moreover, with its leg broken, it was in urgent need of help. Teacher Bai’s compassion made it impossible for him to ignore.
But Teng Snake saw things differently. They had just survived an ambush by interstellar mercenaries, and on their way back, captured enemies had planted illegal drugs in Huo Ranchuan’s ship, aiming to stimulate spiritual turmoil.
Though only Huo Ranchuan was severely affected, others in the ship’s crew had experienced milder symptoms. Now, in these forests without signal coverage, who knew how many people the enemy had deployed or how many traps they’d set? This fluffy bird might seem harmless now, but it could be part of another plot.
Despite its suspicions, Teng Snake remained vigilant, ensuring it stayed close to protect Teacher Bai. As long as it was there, Bai Nuosi could do whatever he wanted. If the bird tried anything, Teng Snake could crush it with a single blow.
The fluffy bird remained compliant as Bai Nuosi fixed its leg with sticks and bandages. Bai Nuosi suspected Teng Snake might have been the cause of its injury.
He also checked the bird’s wings and found some bloodstains. Carefully parting its feathers, he discovered a wound.
Taking out a small pair of scissors, he trimmed the feathers around the injury, cleaned it, and applied medicine and a bandage.
After finishing, Bai Nuosi sighed in relief, sympathetically looking at the bird. “Little one, what are you doing here alone? It’s too dangerous for you. You could get hurt.”
The fluffy white bird blinked its round eyes, staring at Bai Nuosi with the innocent curiosity typical of cubs.
Bai Nuosi wiped his hands clean with a disinfectant wipe, then gently lifted the bird, whispering, “Where’s your family? I’ll help you get back to them.”
Hearing this, the bird finally reacted, shaking its head in Bai Nuosi’s arms. It wasn’t clear if it meant it didn’t know or didn’t have one.
Bai Nuosi pulled out the red fruits Teng Snake had gathered for him, placing them in his palm and offering them to the bird. “Here, little one, have some.”
The fluffy bird began pecking at the fruits, eating happily. It was about the size of a common coot but slightly smaller. Still a juvenile, its bright white feathers hadn’t fully developed, making it look like a ball of cotton when its beak and claws were hidden.
It was soft, and Bai Nuosi couldn’t help but find it adorable.
The bird wasn’t afraid of Bai Nuosi. After all, it was a spiritual beast, not an ordinary animal. It had been separated from its host, who had previously watched Bai Nuosi’s live streams secretly.
In the beastman star system, aside from infants and those who shunned technology, most people knew about Bai Nuosi.
The “Cub Protection Campaign” led by Huo Ranchuan had caused a stir, making Bai Nuosi a household name.
This fluffy bird had been fleeing for its life in the endless wilderness just the night before, and now, it had encountered Bai Nuosi.
Was this really Bai Nuosi? Why was he here?
Or was it all a dream?
Not only was Bai Nuosi here, but he was also treating its injuries, feeding it sweet fruits, and holding it tenderly, soothing it with gentle words.
The bird finished eating and contentedly nestled in Bai Nuosi’s arms. The warmth and scent of Bai Nuosi’s embrace felt so comforting.
Even with Teng Snake’s intense gaze fixed on it, the bird was unfazed, staring back defiantly.
Teng Snake: “…”
Teng Snake narrowed its eyes, warning the bird with a dangerous look.
Bai Nuosi frowned at Teng Snake. “Big Black, don’t do that. You’ll scare the little one.”
Teng Snake: “???”
Stunned, Teng Snake’s face filled with hurt and sadness. In less than an hour, Teacher Bai had already given the bird a nickname!
It seemed Teacher Bai, now with a new cub, no longer cared about it.
Teacher Bai had been upset about its deception, pretending to be a baby. Now, with a new little bird to care for, Teacher Bai’s attention had completely shifted.
Teng Snake felt a deep sense of crisis, thinking it would soon be replaced in Teacher Bai’s heart!
Even worse, upon hearing Bai Nuosi’s words, the little bird in his arms flopped over, trembling as if it had been terrified by Teng Snake. It even let out a soft, pitiful “chirp.”
Teng Snake: “…”
Not only was this a fat bird, but it was also a manipulative one!
It was faking it!
Bai Nuosi continued soothing the bird, gently stroking its back. “Oh, don’t be scared, little one. Uncle Big Black is just concerned for you. He doesn’t mean any harm; he’s a good snake.”
“Uncle Big Black”: “???”
From being called “baby snake” to “Uncle Big Black,” it had only taken one night.
Blue and sorrowful, Teng Snake felt like crying.
In Teacher Bai’s eyes, it wasn’t even worthy of being a brother figure.
With Bai Nuosi holding the fluffy white bird and Teng Snake searching the dense forest for any signs, it was becoming clear that the bird’s host was nowhere to be found. Despite its S+ level sensitivity, Teng Snake couldn’t detect any trace of its host or any other living humans in the damp, dense forest.
Spiritual beasts coexisted with their beastmen hosts, and if the host perished, so would the beast. Since the fluffy bird was still alive, it meant its host was too, though given its weakened state, the host was likely in poor condition.
With the bird to care for, Bai Nuosi’s worry for Huo Ranchuan had somewhat eased. He wasn’t as anxious, nor did he repeatedly ask Teng Snake where they were going or about Huo Ranchuan’s status.
He placed the bird on his lap, supporting it with one hand and pulling out a milk bottle and some baby formula from his storage device with the other. Smiling, he told the bird, “Little one, I have special baby milk powder. I even have warm water. Let me make some for you. You seem weak, so have a drink. Don’t worry, I’ll help you find your family and bring you back.”
The bird lay in his lap, its injured leg stretched straight due to the splint, making its posture look awkward.
Hearing Bai Nuosi’s words about returning it to its family, the bird shivered uncontrollably. Its eyes filled with fear and anxiety, and it lowered its head, trying not to let Bai Nuosi see its thoughts.
Return to its family? That was a terrifying thought.
It had barely escaped, and if it were sent back, it would rather roam the forest.
Bai Nuosi, oblivious to the bird’s fear, carefully prepared a bottle of milk. Realizing the bird’s beak was too small for the bottle’s nipple, he thought of how birds were fed. “Here, open up, little one. Ah~ Yes, that’s it, good bird!”
The bird opened its beak, waiting for the feeding while feeling bashful from the praise.
It had always envied the cubs in Bai Nuosi’s care whenever it secretly watched his streams with its host. Seeing the lion and tiger cubs being cuddled, playing, and eating delicious bread or visiting amusement parks, it had felt jealous.
It had imagined what it would be like to receive such care from Bai Nuosi.
But it knew that was just a dream since Bai Nuosi was an S-class caregiver for the Rose Nursery, exclusively caring for the new students at the First Military Academy.
Its host could never become one of those students.
But now, it had miraculously encountered Bai Nuosi!
What a joy!
