Chapter 113
In the dining hall, two young orphans ate their meals quietly.
Number Six didn’t sit with Xue Wei. Likely due to his innate talent tied to his soul, he could clearly sense the emotions of others after his soul was reintegrated. From the feelings emanating from Xue Wei, he surmised that she might not welcome his company at the moment.
Number Six found this puzzling.
She had agreed with his point about robots not being truly alive, so why had she ended up feeling upset and angry?
He pondered this while eating.
The two ate at different paces. Xue Wei was slow and methodical, her every movement exuding grace and propriety, while Number Six was much more casual. As a result, by the time he finished his meal, Xue Wei had only eaten about a third of hers.
Number Six hesitated for a moment but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he picked up the small box Xue Wei had given him and opened it to take a look.
Inside the handmade folded paper box were five candies, each of a different color and shape. Number Six had never seen anything so delicate before.
He couldn’t even tell what they were at first glance. However, the sweet aroma of the candies wafting out of the box made his mouth water, even though he’d already eaten his fill.
So, were these meant to be eaten?
Number Six picked up a candy with white packaging printed with snowflakes. Holding it in his fingers, he noticed how the candy wrapper sparkled under the light, emitting a dazzling brilliance. It was quite beautiful.
“What is this?”
He looked over at the girl sitting across the table, unable to resist asking.
Xue Wei’s emotions came and went quickly. At this moment, she was feeling a bit guilty for having shown Number Six a cold attitude earlier but didn’t know how to break the silence.
Hearing his question, she immediately turned to look. Seeing the white-packaged candy in his hand, she explained, “That’s a snowflake candy.”
“Snowflake candy?” Number Six examined the candy in his hand. “Is it something to eat?”
Xue Wei was stunned. “You’ve never had candy before?”
“Mm.”
Number Six didn’t think this was a difficult question to answer. However, after he responded, he noticed a subtle shift in Xue Wei’s emotions. The change was so slight that he couldn’t discern exactly what it was.
Xue Wei had already stood up and walked over. She gently took the snowflake candy from his hand, unwrapped the white, powdered sugar-coated candy, and held it out to him.
“This one is really delicious. You should try it,” she said with a sweet smile. Her snow-white rabbit ears, drooping softly behind her head, made her look as soft and sweet as the candy in her hand.
Number Six, who had initially planned to pop the candy into his mouth with the wrapper still on, realized from her actions that, like fruit, candies had to be peeled before eating. He picked up the candy and cautiously put it in his mouth.
The soft, powdered candy began to melt the moment it touched his tongue, just like snowflakes dissolving in warm air. Its gentle sweetness carried a hint of coolness—an entirely new taste and texture for Number Six.
His eyes lit up in surprise.
Xue Wei beamed. “Isn’t it delicious?”
“Mm!” Number Six nodded enthusiastically. “It’s really delicious!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Xue Wei grinned and pointed to the remaining four candies in the box, introducing them one by one. “This one is a chocolate crisp—sweet chocolate filled with crunchy biscuits. It’s super tasty when you chew it…”
These were all new to Number Six. Many of the words she used were unfamiliar to him. When he asked what they meant, Xue Wei’s gaze softened even more.
She had never imagined that there could be children who had never tasted candy.
Even at the welfare center, every child received one piece of candy daily, with a different flavor each day of the week. It was because of this abundance that she had been able to save up so much candy in her wooden box.
Now, for the first time, she realized that what she had taken for granted wasn’t universal.
This planet was resource-scarce, shrouded in dangerous blood mist, and plagued by terrifying monsters. The people working here were lucky just to have enough to eat. Treats like candy were not essentials and were therefore never included in provisions for children.
When Number Six mentioned the red fog monsters, Xue Wei’s face paled slightly. Even the little sparrow burrowed into her pocket, hiding itself completely.
Seeing their frightened reactions, Number Six reassured them, “Don’t worry. We have Su Su. The nursery is very safe.”
He had seen Su Su fight. That terrifying mud monster had been effortlessly defeated, leaving him both awed and filled with admiration.
Xue Wei recalled the slender figure of their caretaker and struggled to reconcile it with the image of such strength. That someone so seemingly delicate could earn Number Six’s trust so completely was astonishing.
But then she thought about herself and decided it wasn’t entirely surprising.
“Okay, I understand now. Thank you for telling me all this, Number Six. You’re really kind,” Xue Wei said with a bright smile.
Number Six looked at her, feeling like he should say something in return. After a brief pause, he replied, “Mm. And thank you for the candy.”
And for the knowledge about candy, he thought silently.
Seeing her mood improve, Number Six decided there was no reason for him to stay any longer. He closed the lid of the candy box, stood up, and said, “Take your time eating. I’m heading out.”
Watching the boy’s retreating figure, Xue Wei opened her mouth as if to call out to him but ultimately hesitated and stayed silent.
Once he disappeared through the doorway, she returned to her seat to finish the remaining nutrition jelly. It really wasn’t tasty, but now that she understood how scarce resources were on this planet, she couldn’t bring herself to waste food.
However…
It’s so hard to eat! qaq
Does this mean she’d have to eat nutrition jelly every day? How did Number Six eat it so quickly and cleanly? qaq
Number Six, unaware of Xue Wei’s woes, skipped the elevator and climbed the stairs to the third floor. Like Number Two had done before, he crouched down in front of the caretaker’s room, sitting quietly.
Some habits from his time as a little monkey still lingered. To be honest, he felt a bit out of sorts when he first woke up that morning.
The first adjustment was to his perspective.
Everything around him seemed smaller, much like when he had initially transformed into a monkey. It took him some time to adapt to this changed world once again.
Then there was the weight of his body.
As a little monkey, he had been agile, and in his spirit state, his body had felt as light as air. Now, with his physical form restored, he was acutely aware of how much slower his movements had become.
But…
Remembering the caretaker’s words—that his body had greater potential and could achieve better growth—Number Six pushed aside his unease.
Since it was his original body, it didn’t take long for him to regain his sense of familiarity.
Crouching by the door, he waited quietly. Time ticked by slowly until, finally, the tightly shut door opened.
No one stood inside the doorway, but Number Six immediately stood up.
Although the space before him appeared empty, he hesitated before softly calling out, “Brother A-Yan.”
“Mm.”
The low, clear voice of a young boy responded, “Su Su is still sleeping. Come in and wait.”
“Alright.”
Number Six obediently stepped inside, treading lightly. Though he had been here several times before, it was his first visit in his original body.
Looking toward the kitchen, where plates and bowls floated silently into the air, he almost felt as though he could see a small, busy figure at work.
In the entire nursery, he was likely the only one who knew that the real “Brother A-Yan” appeared as a boy who looked no older than four.
He looked smaller than all their cubs.
However, Number Six did not belittle him for this. Thanks to his natural talents, he could sense that an incredibly powerful soul resided within that small body.
It was just that the soul seemed to be in a unique state.
Number Six didn’t quite understand, but he didn’t ask further questions.
Anyway, no matter how you looked at it, calling A-Yan “big brother” wasn’t wrong.
“Are you here to help?”
At this moment, he heard that youthful voice ring out again. “Lang Ze and the others are helping prepare the ingredients. They get two pieces of meat every day for it. Later, when we can harvest the plants, there will also be vegetables and fruits.”
Number Six nodded and walked over to lend a hand.
Even without the rewards, as long as Brother A-Yan needed him, he would help.
“Now all the cubs have names. Su Su is even preparing a nameplate for each one,” A-Yan said gently, like a true big brother. “You should let Su Su give you a name too.”
Of course, A-Yan suggested this because he knew Su Su would be delighted to do so.
Number Six thought for a moment and said, “Can I still be called Liu Liu (Little Number Six)?”
“That can be your nickname,” A-Yan replied.
“Alright.”
The young boy’s eyes glimmered with a trace of joy. Thinking of Xiao Xuewei, who seemed to be thanking everyone all the time, he hesitated briefly before adding, “Thank you, Brother A-Yan.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then, Number Six felt a small hand land gently on the top of his head, patting softly.
“Let’s keep cooking,” A-Yan said.
“Okay!” Number Six nodded enthusiastically, feeling a bit happy.
Before long, they prepared a table full of dishes. From the quiet bedroom, sounds of movement began to emerge. Soon, the sleepy caretaker appeared at the bedroom door.
“Su Su, good morning,” A-Yan greeted first. “Time to eat.”
“Morning,” Su Ci said, stepping over to the table. He took a deep breath, revealing a satisfied expression.
Only then did Number Six follow up with his own greeting.
“Awake? How are you feeling?” Su Ci poured himself a cup of warmed spirit water, took a small sip, and finally looked a bit refreshed.
Number Six obediently replied, “My body feels a bit heavy, but I’m getting used to it now.”
“That’s normal. Nothing to worry about,” Su Ci nodded. After setting down his cup, he placed a hand on Number Six’s head and examined him.
Number Six felt like he had turned into a little monkey again. He stayed still, behaving docilely.
“Your soul has fully integrated. Once it synchronizes with your body, your issues will basically be resolved,” Su Ci said as he withdrew his hand.
Of course, the bloodline issue still remained.
Perhaps in some time, Number Six’s bloodline power would resurface. When that happened, he would begin splitting his soul again. However, with proper guidance this time, the previous problems should not recur.
After Su Ci finished speaking, he went to freshen up and then started having breakfast.
Having already eaten his fill, Number Six didn’t linger around the dining table but instead went to the living room. First, he glanced at A-Yan’s desk.
However, he could no longer curl up on it to sleep, so he sat down on the sofa, waiting for the caretaker to finish eating.
A-Yan glanced at Number Six’s back and then at the food in front of him, feeling a faint sense of self-doubt.
Was his cooking not tasty enough?
Number Six was the first cub to voluntarily walk away from his cooking, though it might have been because he had already eaten breakfast. Still, if Lang Ze were here…
Thinking of the little wolf cub who became especially lively at the mention of food, A-Yan shook his head.
At that moment, Su Ci asked, “A-Yan, did you water the Selaginella this morning?”
A-Yan froze, realizing he had forgotten something so important.
“Not yet. I’ll go now.”
He was about to teleport to the array when he found himself unable to move. He looked up across the room.
Su Ci, having released the restraint on him, said, “No need to rush. Finish your meal first.”
Only then did A-Yan breathe a sigh of relief.
Sitting in the living room, Number Six overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but grow curious. What was Selaginella? He also noticed two extra empty cans on the coffee table.
His gaze was quickly drawn to one of the cans, captivated by what was inside.
It was a plant with two leaves, interwoven in red and green, with tender green tips sprouting from the top.
This plant wasn’t particularly beautiful, but compared to when he had first seen it, it was undoubtedly much improved!
Yes, Number Six recognized it—it was the tenacious little wild grass Su Su had discovered by the riverbed.
Back then, it had been so fragile, looking as if it could wither and die at any moment. But now, it radiated a vibrant vitality.
Although Number Six didn’t understand much about plants, even he could tell that this wild grass had come back to life!
And he hadn’t forgotten what Su Su had told him—that this wild grass could help them change the world.
Though he couldn’t fathom how such a small and fragile plant could possibly change the world, he trusted Su Su completely.
Surely it was his own limited perspective that kept him from imagining it, just as he couldn’t have conceived of the candy Xue Wei had given him before he tasted it.
As he stared at the wild grass, Number Six soon noticed faint emotional fluctuations emanating from it.
This was something he had never sensed from other plants, at least not those in the nursery.
Moreover, the emotions from the wild grass were complex—it seemed to be in pain, yet at the same time exuded a positive, upward force.
It appeared to be struggling with some difficulty, trying its best to overcome it.
He could almost feel its indomitable spirit, and he recalled the poem Su Su had recited:
“The grasses spread across the plains,
With each season they wither and thrive.
Wildfires cannot destroy them;
Come spring, they rise again with the breeze.”
Number Six was captivated by the little wild grass, staring at it intently and gradually losing track of time. It wasn’t until Su Ci approached him after finishing his meal that he snapped out of his trance.
“Do you like it?” Su Ci asked.
Number Six paused, then nodded. “It seems like it’s getting better.”
“Yes, it should be fully recovered in two days.”
Su Ci nodded and glanced at the other can that Number Six had overlooked. The small patch of moss inside had also regained its vitality, though it was still heavily polluted by resentment. It would need more time to fully recover.
Recalling A-Yan’s earlier suggestion, Number Six suddenly spoke. “Su Su, can you give me a name?”
Su Ci nodded. “Sure.”
By then, A-Yan had finished cleaning the dishes and hurried over as well. Su Ci took out some paper and a pen, handing them to Number Six so he could draw the symbol of his true name.
Number Six obediently did as instructed.
As the pen seemed to guide itself across the paper, sketching a symbol, he couldn’t help but feel a bit amazed.
When he finished, Su Ci examined the symbol carefully, frowning slightly before finally picking up his pen and writing down a single character.
“Lí.”
A-Yan looked at the character, sensing that its meaning might not be entirely positive. But then he thought of Number Six’s talent for leaving the soul (Lí Hún), and it felt oddly fitting. Even though his soul had reintegrated now, a part of it would eventually leave him again in the future.
Hearing the pronunciation, Number Number Six didn’t think of the word separation (F?n Lí) but instead asked hesitantly, “Is it the lí from lí lí yuán shàng c?o (lush grass on the plains)?”
“Yes,” Su Ci nodded. “Lí lí—a flourishing state of grass and vegetation.”
Upon hearing this explanation, Number Six’s gaze toward the character changed. It was clear he was very satisfied with it.
“Lí lí…” Number Six pondered aloud. “So, when you said the little wild grass could change the world, did you mean that it could one day transform the wasteland into a lush, flourishing land?”
Number Six wasn’t unintelligent. With the restoration of his human-like soul, his sharpness had also returned.
Su Ci nodded. “Exactly. Wild grass has an incredibly strong vitality. Even with just a tiny bit of suitable conditions, it will seize that chance and thrive tenaciously.”
“Such wild grass is ideal for surviving in the wilderness and will be crucial for transforming this world.”
As he listened, Number Six began imagining a future where the entire world became as vibrant as the nursery garden. A look of longing appeared on his face.
“I like this name,” he said.
Lí lí—the flourishing of grass and vegetation.
But Su Ci didn’t nod in agreement. Instead, he thought for a moment and added another character in front of Lí.
“True names are best kept private,” Su Ci explained. “Even though we live in an age where magic has faded, it’s a habit I’ve grown cautious with.”
“Lù Lí ,” Su Ci said. “It means ‘shining and radiant.’”
Moreover, he recalled the information Gu Qingchen had sent him. Lù was also the surname of Number Six’s mother.
That heroic woman who had fallen on the battlefield deserved to be remembered by her son.
Number Six was momentarily stunned. Lù… it was his mother’s surname.
The cubs in the nursery were sent there at such a young age that they barely had any concept of parents. If not for the lion siblings, they might not have even understood the idea of family ties.
So Number Six didn’t really know what “mother” meant to him. During his time wandering around the base as a little monkey, he had never encountered anything related to that concept.
However, upon hearing the term, he felt a stirring in his heart, as if some vague memories were surfacing from the depths of his mind.
It must have been something that happened when he was very, very young, as the images were extremely blurry.
Even so, they made him realize that such a person had indeed existed in his life. And that person… gave him a sense of warmth and closeness.
It seemed… they must have been someone very important to him.
With that thought, Number Six gently nodded his head. He didn’t feel any resistance to taking on his mother’s surname.
What’s more, the combination of the two characters carried the meaning of shining and radiant…
And besides plants, his favorite thing was basking in the sun!
“Alright, I’ll use this name,” said the young Lu Li. “Thank you, Su Su.”
Su Ci simply smiled and then tore off the paper with his true name’s symbol and characters on it. He carefully folded it and handed it to him.
“Keep this safe. It will be useful for your cultivation in the future.”
He didn’t elaborate further, as the children were still far from reaching that stage.
Lu Li accepted the folded paper and carefully took out a candy box from his pocket, placing the folded paper inside.
After some thought, he took out two pieces of candy—one for Su Ci and one for A-Yan.
“These are the candies Xue Wei gave me. They’re really tasty,” the boy said, not at all reluctant to part with two of his precious, untouched candies.
“You’ve met her?” Su Ci asked.
“Yes, I ran into her on my way out. She said it was a gift for meeting her,” Lu Li replied.
Su Ci, having just eaten, wasn’t very interested in the candy. Scanning with his spiritual sense, he saw the bunny-eared girl had already made her way to the meadow and was distributing candy boxes to the cubs.
He handed the candy back to Lu Li and said, “We might get some as well.”
Seeing this, A-Yan also returned the candy.
Lu Li thought about it and agreed. He had seen Xue Wei carrying a large paper bag filled with candy boxes.
It seemed likely she wasn’t giving candy to him alone.
In the end, Lu Li put all the candy away.
After naming Number Six, Su Ci stood up and said, “Want to go to the riverbank for a look? While you were in stasis, we discovered another Selaginella.”
“Selaginella, also known as the ‘Resurrection Plant,’” A-Yan added.
Lu Li’s eyes lit up. “That sounds really amazing! Is it by the riverbank?”
“Yes, it was planted just yesterday.”
Su Ci walked toward the teleportation array, and young Lu Li followed curiously. He watched as the mysterious runes and symbols on the circle beneath his feet began to glow faintly.
When the light faded, the scenery before him had completely changed.
He had been transported directly from the caretaker’s dormitory at the nursery to the riverbank. However, the transformation at the riverbank took him entirely by surprise.
Lu Li stared in amazement at the riverbed, where water had appeared at some unknown time. The cliff rocks, now moistened by the water, seemed to have a layer of green clinging to them.
And even more astonishing were the lively creatures swimming joyfully in the river.
What were these things? They didn’t seem like monsters…
He turned back, about to ask, only to see Su Ci already at a distance, inspecting something behind a large rock.
Thinking of the ‘Resurrection’ Plant, Lu Li quickly ran over. When he rounded the rock and saw what lay before him, he couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
Nestled among the pile of rocks was a green plant nearly half a meter tall. Surrounding it were several tiny green sprouts emerging from the soil.
They were newly sprouted Selaginella seedlings!
Is this story dropped? 🙁
Nope, still ongoing.