Chapter 120
Seeing Wei Ming still clinging to his stubbornness, Zhuang Shisong didn’t know what to say.
Shaking his head, he returned to processing the mutant garlic seedling’s data, trying to uncover why it had gone dormant—yes, after days of observation, he and Wei Ming had reached that preliminary conclusion.
The mutant garlic seedling had entered a dormant state.
Among the limited cases they’d studied, a few mutant plants had exhibited similar dormancy, but such instances were rare. More importantly, these plants typically entered dormancy long after reaching maturity.
For a plant like the mutant garlic seedling, which had barely undergone mutation, to enter dormancy so soon was unprecedented.
What worried them more was that of the previously studied dormant plants, only two had resumed growth after awakening. The rest had perished during dormancy.
This was why the researchers were so on edge.
If this mutant garlic seedling died, they might as well cry themselves to death!
*
At Cen Liang’s Lab
After receiving Zhuang Shisong and Wei Ming’s response, Cen Liang didn’t remain idle.
He was busy organizing the data he had collected that day. What baffled him most was that Su Ci seemed not to have used any particularly special cultivation methods—this was information he had gathered from the cubs.
Yes, Caretaker Su was truly unique; he had let the cubs farm!
The most astonishing part? The cubs had actually succeeded!
When the cubs mentioned that farming was simple—just digging a hole, burying sprouted seeds, and watering them to see them grow taller the next day—Cen Liang’s emotions were in turmoil.
Even with hydroponic cultivation, you can’t just throw germinated seeds into the medium and expect them to thrive!
After a day of observation, Cen Liang had quickly noticed issues with the nursery’s soil quality. Quietly, he had collected some soil samples to analyze later.
However, before he could begin, his communicator rang.
Base-26: Fan Hao?
Cen Liang frowned in confusion. Why was that kid calling him so late at night? Despite his curiosity, he answered the call.
“Little Fan, what’s going on? Our base doesn’t have any plans to sell vegetables for the time being—”
Before Cen Liang could finish, he was interrupted. “Uncle! Thank you! I really mean it, thank you!”
Cen Liang frowned. If it weren’t for the clear tremor and choked emotion in Fan Hao’s voice, he might have thought he was being sarcastic.
“What’s going on? What happened?” he asked seriously.
“Our base was just attacked by a monster, Uncle… I almost didn’t make it…” Fan Hao took a deep breath before continuing. “But let’s not talk about that. Uncle, do you still have that garlic-scented perfume? Can it be mass-produced?”
Hearing him mention the garlic-scented perfume, Cen Liang recalled that he had indeed given Fan Hao a bottle before he left last time.
After questioning further, Cen Liang learned the details. Earlier that day, Base 26 experienced extreme weather, and to make matters worse, a monster infiltrated the logistics building—actually entered the building—and engaged in combat with the guards.
Fan Hao, caught in the crossfire, accidentally shattered the bottle of garlic-scented perfume he’d received from Cen Liang during the chaos. What happened next was utterly unexpected—
The ferocious monster abruptly abandoned its attack on Fan Hao, grabbed the guard it had cornered, and fled. However, it didn’t make it out of the logistics building before collapsing to the ground, foam bubbling from its mouth.
The two guards were quickly rescued by their comrades. The military didn’t know what had happened to the monster, but they took advantage of its weakened state to finish it off.
The crisis in the logistics building was finally resolved.
Most people didn’t understand what had happened, but as the one directly involved, Fan Hao was certain—the monster fled right after the garlic-scented perfume broke!
Overwhelmed with relief and lingering fear, he immediately called Cen Liang.
He admitted that, despite frequently being ridiculed for using the perfume, he had secretly enjoyed its calming effect. Due to the complaints from others, however, he only used it privately in his dorm room. Who could have guessed that this much-maligned perfume would save his life at such a critical moment?
As Fan Hao recounted the night’s events, Cen Liang’s thoughts wandered. He suddenly realized that Base 24 hadn’t experienced such dangers for quite some time. The recent peace had almost made him forget that the penal planet was a place where death could strike at any moment.
Was this just a coincidence, or could it be related to the appearance of the mutant garlic seedling?
As a cultivator, Cen Liang could only consider the changes in the cultivation park. After consoling Fan Hao, he regretfully informed him, “I’m sorry, the garlic-scented perfume can’t be mass-produced.”
Sounding despondent, he added, “In fact, the mutant garlic seedling has been having issues recently, and production of the perfume has stopped for now.”
Since Fan Hao was injured, Cen Liang kept the conversation brief and urged him to get medical treatment quickly.
However, he knew it would be hard to keep the perfume’s effects a secret. Once an investigation was conducted, it would be easy to trace the cause. Cen Liang trusted the capabilities of the allied forces.
In the past, they would have been happy to sell the garlic-scented perfume, but with the mutant garlic seedling now in trouble and its resources dwindling, they had to prioritize Base 24’s needs.
Caretaker Su had mentioned he might visit the cultivation park at some point. Cen Liang could only wonder when that would be—and whether Caretaker Su might have a way to awaken the dormant mutant garlic seedling.
Sighing, Cen Liang shook his head and returned to his work.
*
Unlike the tense and oppressive atmosphere common in most places on the Prison Star, tonight at Base 24’s nursery, the air was filled with an unexpected sense of joy—and the enticing aroma of grilled meat.
Yes, tonight, every cub was treated to half a plate of grilled meat!
When Lang Ze arrived at the dining hall and saw that the usual portion of nutrient paste on his plate was only half the usual amount, he was a bit puzzled. Of course, he wasn’t upset—he even felt as though he’d anticipated it.
Since arriving at the nursery, he had been able to eat and drink his fill every day, never needing to worry about food. It was almost like living in a dream.
And now, it seemed, that dream had “ended.”
Still, he wasn’t too sad—after all, half-full was still better than nothing, right? Plus, Brother A-Yan was back, so tomorrow, there’d still be grilled meat to look forward to.
Counting today, that would mean four pieces of grilled meat by tomorrow! Just the thought of it made him excited.
“Dinner time!”
Just as Lang Ze picked up his spoon to start eating, he caught a whiff of a tantalizing aroma.
Grilled meat!
When A-Yan appeared in the dining hall carrying a pot, all the cubs, with their various fluffy ears perked up, turned their gazes toward him in unison.
To be honest, the sight before him… was incredibly heartwarming.
A-Yan placed the pot on the dining table and used his mind to operate his communicator. After some practice and training, he no longer needed to use his fingers and could make the device produce sound effortlessly.
“I’ll serve the meat for you,” his gentle voice rang out, eliciting cheers from the cubs.
Even Rong Heng, the most composed of them all, couldn’t help but break into a smile.
Xue Wei, not fully understanding the excitement, joined in the clapping and cheering. She hadn’t expected what would happen next—A-Yan called out her name.
“Today is Xue Wei’s first day at the nursery,” A-Yan said. “To welcome and celebrate her arrival, Su Su has decided that tonight, everyone will enjoy a feast.”
The truth, of course, was that a fresh batch of spider meat had arrived, so the older, less fresh stock needed to be used up.
Naturally, this wasn’t something they could tell the cubs directly.
Otherwise, how could they use grilled meat as an incentive for future tasks? That said, with the steadily growing resources, the cubs’ meals would only improve over time.
Under the eager eyes of all the cubs, A-Yan began serving meat onto their plates—an entire half plate of grilled meat for each of them!
Lang Ze and the other cubs were completely stunned. Even Xue Wei, who had never truly experienced hunger, couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva as the enticing aroma of steaming grilled meat filled the air.
It looked so delicious! And… it was something Su Su and Brother A-Yan had specially prepared to celebrate her arrival!
Having already eaten two meals of nutrient paste and experienced the usual nursery fare, Xue Wei was deeply touched by this gesture.
The other cubs were just as excited.
Why hadn’t they gotten such a celebration when they first arrived? Oh, right—back then, their caretaker hadn’t been Su Su!
This was amazing! Did this mean they could expect a feast every time a new cub joined?
Because of Xue Wei’s welcome gift, combined with her cute and endearing personality, the cubs, who were already warm to her arrival, grew even fonder of her.
“Sister Xue Wei is awesome!” Little Li Hua clapped her hands enthusiastically, prompting the other cubs to join in, filling the dining hall with cheerful applause and laughter.
Xue Wei grinned widely, feeling an even closer bond with everyone.
“Hehe, I wish we had a new cub joining every day!” Lang Ze stuffed a big bite of grilled meat into his mouth, his face lighting up with happiness.
The sensation of having his mouth full of meat was simply fantastic!
Hearing this, the other cubs couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Even Little Zheng Xing, after a brief hesitation, gave a small nod.
Because… grilled meat was delicious!
The little wolf cub swallowed his mouthful of meat, his face shiny with oil and sauce. Scooping up a bite of meat jelly, he found it tasted far better than usual.
At a nearby table sat Ran Lie, who had transformed into his Crimson Flame Tiger form, alongside Lu Li.
The most conflicted about this seating arrangement was likely Little Lu Jiao.
He felt as though he had truly become a “traitor”… But now that Number Six was back, he noticed something different about him.
The monkey cub had previously been extremely self-centered, always doing whatever he pleased without considering others. But now…
Little Lu Jiao glanced over at the other table.
The blond-haired boy sat quietly across from the Crimson Flame Tiger, eating his meal without much interaction. But even this was already a significant improvement.
At that moment, as if sensing something, the boy suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting Little Lu Jiao’s.
Startled, Little Lu Jiao froze.
But what he saw wasn’t the glare he had expected. Instead, it was a pair of calm, clear, slightly innocent red eyes.
Little Lu Jiao blinked, wondering if he had imagined it. Then the blond boy smiled at him, his eyes curving slightly.
What? Number Six smiled at him?
Little Lu Jiao’s pupils widened in shock. Just as he tried to get a better look, the boy lowered his head and resumed eating quietly.
Had he imagined it after all?
It wasn’t just Little Lu Jiao who noticed something unusual about Number Six—Ran Lie, sitting across from him in his Crimson Flame Tiger form, also observed him closely.
Between bites of food, Ran Lie occasionally glanced up at Number Six.
The boy didn’t feel like the old Number Six anymore—he resembled the fully beastified version of the little monkey.
When the little monkey ate Star-Chain fruit, it was slow and meticulous, polite in its movements, quiet and well-behaved.
After dinner, on the way back to their rooms, the Crimson Flame Tiger suddenly extended its long tail, wrapping it around Lu Li’s waist.
Startled by the unexpected gesture, Lu Li blinked and turned to look at the Crimson Flame Tiger, puzzled.
Ran Lie observed his reaction with a serious expression.
Something was definitely off.
If this were the old Number Six, there would have been only two possible responses: either laughing and dodging playfully to engage in a bit of roughhousing or getting angry and lunging straight at him for a fight.
There was no way it would’ve been this calm, puzzled response, with a sense of trust in his demeanor, as if he instinctively knew he wouldn’t be harmed.
It was… strange.
Ran Lie loosened his tail, ready to question him, only to realize—he couldn’t speak!
Meowing wouldn’t help; not only would Lu Li not understand, but it would also damage his dignity.
He glanced around the empty corridor, feeling a bit conflicted. If only Brother A-Yan were here, he’d know exactly what Ran Lie wanted to say.
Just then, Lu Li spoke. “Ran Lie, have you noticed that I’m different?”
The Crimson Flame Tiger’s eyes narrowed as he locked his gaze on the boy.
“It’s related to my innate ability,” Lu Li said, scratching his head. “Before, I was in a berserk state, so I might’ve seemed a bit annoying…”
When he was in monkey form, he had been aware of how foolish he looked—sometimes even he couldn’t stand himself.
“Thanks to Su Su’s help, I’ve temporarily returned to normal.” The boy smiled faintly. “I’m glad you noticed the change.”
Ran Lie froze, staring at Lu Li’s calm smile and listening to his clear, coherent explanation. There was no doubt now—Number Six had indeed changed.
As he processed this, he found himself focusing on Lu Li’s smile again. He tilted his head up, snorted loudly, and thought, The change is so obvious even a blind person could see it!
“Meow…”
Ran Lie tried to say “I,” but all that came out was a soft, babyish meow. Seeing Lu Li’s wide-eyed expression, with his surprised look replacing the smile, made Ran Lie’s frustration boil over.
Embarrassed and angry, he snorted, turned on his heels, and dashed toward the stairwell, disappearing from Lu Li’s sight in seconds.
Lu Li scratched his head, puzzled. Was Ran Lie upset? But… his meow was actually kind of cute!
*
Ran Lie ran all the way to the third floor, stopping in front of the caretaker’s room.
Although the nursery’s rules prohibited wandering outside one’s room after 6 p.m., Ran Lie, having spent time here, knew that Su Su and A-Yan didn’t go to bed immediately after six.
Previously, if Ran Lie hadn’t chosen to leave on his own, the caretaker hadn’t shown any intention of driving him away.
Ran Lie extended his tail, intending to knock on the door with its tip. However, before he could, the metal door slid open, and a sweet aroma wafted out from inside the room.
Peeking in, he saw Su Ci sitting at the dining table. In front of him were rows of jars—at least a dozen or more. The sweet scent emanated from them.
These jars were Su Ci’s latest creations.
The raw materials came from leftover scrap metal provided by Luo Shengfei. After using some to build a framework, Su Ci had casually refined the rest into jars for storing the nectar collected from the demon flowers.
One large bloom of demon flower nectar had filled 18 small jars. This was already the result of the flowers giving him their nectar without reservation.
To collect more, he’d have to wait some time, so the nectar couldn’t be used wastefully.
Su Ci handed one jar to A-Yan, instructing him to take one spoonful daily. With a snap of his fingers, another jar vanished, reappearing in Lu Li’s room.
When Lu Li saw the jar of nectar, the base’s AI interface lit up, instructing him to take one spoonful daily and to begin writing a growth journal.
Lu Li, sitting at his desk, frowned deeply, clearly struggling to figure out what to write.
Meanwhile, Ran Lie had entered Su Ci’s quarters, meowing repeatedly to express his demands.
Hearing the Crimson Flame Tiger’s kittenish cries, Su Ci couldn’t help but feel an itch in his hands. Unable to resist, he reached out and started rubbing the little tiger’s head.
Ran Lie, though clearly irritated, didn’t dare retaliate and could only sit obediently while Su Ci fondled his ears.
Once satisfied, Su Ci finally said, “Your bloodline’s power is flaring up severely, putting a significant strain on your body. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”
Ran Lie nodded.
Since transforming into the Crimson Flame Tiger, his life hadn’t been easy. The burning sensation would flare up intermittently. However, now there was a difference—
When the pain returned, he would silently recite the meditation technique Su Ci had taught him. Gradually, he’d feel his emotions calming.
The process was slow, but it worked.
As his emotions settled, the searing pain that had once tormented him would also fade. During this process, he became more acutely aware of the damage to his body—broken, battered, and in desperate need of recovery.
“When your body has recovered sufficiently and you can freely control your bloodline’s power, you’ll naturally be able to return to human form and speak again,” Su Ci said.
Training in a beastified state was beneficial for Ran Lie. His transformed body was sturdier and better able to withstand the eruption of his crimson flame power. If he remained in his relatively fragile human form, he likely wouldn’t survive more than a few flare-ups before collapsing again.
Ran Lie nodded with some understanding. Though a little disappointed, he knew he had to be patient since the caretaker had advised him to take his time.
“However…” Su Ci rubbed his chin. “Suppressing it endlessly isn’t the solution. It’s better to channel it.”
After some thought, he said, “Alright, go back and write your growth journal for now. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, come find me. I’ll take you somewhere.”
Finally, the plan to let the Crimson Flame Tiger fight monsters could be put into motion.
Ran Lie had no idea what awaited him the next day. Hearing about the growth journal, he froze briefly but, seeing the caretaker’s serious expression, didn’t dare to argue further.
“Meow—” Alright, I’ll go.
Ran Lie bid farewell, then reluctantly returned to his room to think about how to write his journal.
This scene played out in every cub’s room in the nursery.
Under the base AI’s supervision, all the cubs sat obediently at their desks, racking their brains to document their day and reflect on their progress.
Su Ci’s spiritual sense swept across all the cubs and then scanned the green space outside. Satisfied, he withdrew his focus.
He picked up a jar of demon flower nectar, scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and savored the light sweetness. Casually, he scooped another spoonful and fed it to A-Yan.
A-Yan obediently opened his mouth, ate the nectar, and gave Su Ci a sweet smile.
Later, after coaxing Su Ci to sleep, A-Yan returned to the living room and continued working late into the night.
Having mastered the second heavenly script, his understanding of rules deepened, and he gained insights into numerous small techniques. He was confident that with consistent effort, he would grow stronger.
*
The next morning, after breakfast, Ran Lie initially planned to find Su Ci as instructed. However, he knew Su Ci wouldn’t wake up so early, so he joined the other cubs in the green space first.
When he arrived, he was immensely grateful he hadn’t missed such a morning because—
The star-chain fruit vines on the rope net were blooming!
Clusters of pale yellow, star-like flowers peeked through the green leaves, stretching open in the soft morning light and releasing a faint floral fragrance.
This breathtaking and vibrant scene etched itself into every cub’s memory, becoming an unforgettable moment for the rest of their lives.
They finally understood why Little Li Hua loved flowers so much and held such a yearning for them.
Even Rong Heng, who unconditionally supported his little sister, couldn’t help but feel awestruck by the blooming starfruit vines.
It was truly… magnificent.
The happiest of all was Little Li Hua.
She stared in awe at the wall covered in beautiful blossoms. After her initial daze, she broke into a joyful smile. Pointing at the flowers, she said to Unit 4586, “They’re like your little yellow flowers!”
The flowers she had drawn on 4586’s metallic shell were yellow, though they couldn’t compare to the real blossoms now in full bloom.
Yet 4586 replied, “I like the flowers baby drew for me. They’re the most beautiful.”
Little Li Hua giggled, her smile bright and radiant, just like the sunflower clip in her hair.
Ran Lie crouched on the ground, gazing up at the wall of blooming flowers. For some reason, without intentionally reciting it, the meditation mantra suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He seemed to gain some insight, feeling a newfound clarity in his thoughts.
The Crimson Flame Tiger remained quietly seated, exuding an aura of serenity completely at odds with its usual demeanor. Only when it was nearly time did it slowly rise and make its way toward the entrance of the nursery building.
Seeing the Crimson Flame Tiger leave, Lu Li tilted his head. Speaking of significant changes, wasn’t Number Two also quite different now? Or rather, which of the cubs in the nursery hadn’t changed in some way?
His gaze shifted to Little Lu Jiao, then to the lion siblings, then to Little Zheng Xing hiding under the vines, and finally to…
Lang Ze noticed his gaze, put his hands on his hips, and tilted his chin up with a provocative expression.
Lu Li: …
Alright, not all the cubs had changed.
