Chapter 199
What should have been a rare, peaceful night’s sleep for He Qirui was interrupted by his communicator nearly blowing up from incoming calls.
He considered switching it to silent mode. After all, as the highest-ranking official at Base 26, his peers in other bases were equals; none had the authority to command him. However, many of the callers were old comrades and partners of Base 26. Ignoring their requests was something he just couldn’t bring himself to do.
After months of relentless combat, He Qirui empathized with the dire circumstances the other bases were undoubtedly facing. Truthfully, if those three adorable little heroes hadn’t arrived in time, it might’ve been him desperately seeking aid.
Base 26’s current condition wasn’t ideal. Facing five waves of monsters simultaneously, even at peak strength, would have severely depleted their resources. In their fatigued and wounded state, with insufficient medical pods forcing soldiers to fight while injured, the outcome could have been disastrous.
Had it not been for the younglings’ incredible efficiency in resolving battles, the five waves of monsters—plus yesterday’s colossal slime monster—attacking in unison could’ve spelled Base 26’s destruction. Just the thought of that scenario sent chills down He Qirui’s spine.
If such a catastrophe had occurred, Base 26 would’ve faced a life-or-death crisis, leaving no room for the relative peace and recovery they now enjoyed.
He Qirui felt immense gratitude for his decision to approve the dispatch of the nursery’s younglings, even when Yun Zixu initially reported that the nursery’s caretaker refused to intervene personally. At that time, he had only expected the younglings, as bloodline-enhanced children, to provide minor assistance. Who could’ve imagined the astonishing capabilities they would bring?
Now, however, he faced a dilemma.
The younglings had proven themselves valuable, and letting them go after just one week was heart-wrenching. Although their stay was initially agreed upon, even if he refused to extend it, no one could fault him. But seeing his old comrades’ desperation, He Qirui couldn’t bring himself to turn a blind eye.
He also knew that while his peers would likely contact the nursery for help, most of the remaining younglings in the nursery probably weren’t yet ready. Yun Zixu had mentioned that the nursery caretaker was selective about deploying younglings, prioritizing only those who met the necessary standards.
As a result, those hoping for aid from Base 24 would likely be disappointed.
Thus, the solution inevitably fell on the younglings already stationed at Base 26.
After reassuring several old comrades to hold on a little longer, He Qirui finally ended the calls and silenced his communicator.
No matter how urgent the situation, there was no point in rushing things in the middle of the night. Even if the younglings were to assist elsewhere, they first needed proper rest. After all, they had fought six battles immediately upon arriving at Base 26. They needed time to recover.
That same night, Base 26 experienced another small-scale attack. This time, however, the younglings weren’t called upon to fight.
With two days and nights of rest, Base 26’s soldiers were now in better shape and fully capable of handling such minor threats. Furthermore, the previous battle zones remained free of blood mist after the younglings’ intervention.
It was well-known that monsters lost much of their combat prowess after leaving the blood mist. On the other hand, human soldiers, now with clear visibility and free from the mist’s corrosive effects, saw their combat efficiency improve.
As long as the monsters were lured into areas free of the blood mist, battles were no longer so grueling.
So, the next morning, when Lang Ze and Ran Lie woke up and sat down for breakfast, they were once again greeted by He Qirui and Mo Lin.
However, the questions they asked today were much stranger than those from the day before.
“You want us to go help other bases?” Lang Ze asked, tilting his head curiously as he bit into a bun, his cheeks puffed out like little balloons.
“Yes.”
He Qirui nodded and explained the current situation at the other bases, hoping the younglings would agree to lend a hand.
After spending the entire night mulling it over, He Qirui had finally made up his mind.
The situation at Base 26 had improved significantly. The small-scale skirmish from the previous night had proved this, and the seedling of the mutated garlic plant had stabilized and would soon begin to take effect.
Given these developments, it no longer felt appropriate to hold onto the younglings.
After all, He Qirui understood deep down that this place wasn’t so much a prison star as it was a training camp for recruits. The soldiers stationed here were meant to be the elite forces of the future, prepared to take on interstellar monsters on far larger battlefields.
If they truly wanted to become an elite force, a critical weight on humanity’s side in the fight against interstellar monsters, they couldn’t remain under the protective wing of others forever. Especially when their protectors were, on average, less than nine years old! It would be absurd to let them grow dependent on the younglings instead of learning to stand on their own.
He Qirui cared deeply for the soldiers under his command, but he would never let them grow timid or fearful of battle.
That was why he had come here so early in the morning.
“Of course, if Base 26 encounters monsters that we can’t handle, Grandpa still hopes you can come back to help us,” He Qirui added with a sheepish grin, not daring to make too bold a statement.
Ran Lie wore a thoughtful expression, while Lang Ze continued munching on his bun. He didn’t particularly care where they fought, but…
“Does this mean you’ll still honor your promise to Su Su to create a 10,000-square-meter green zone within a month?” Lang Ze asked.
By now, all the younglings understood that when Su Su talked about planting crops, he was referring to the entire planet. Lang Ze didn’t know how large this planet was or why Su Su insisted on doing this, but he thought…
It was super cool!
For children who had grown up in the nursery, the nursery had once been their entire world. Later, their world expanded to include Base 24, and now, it encompassed this entire planet.
Lang Ze, who had spent the shortest amount of time in the nursery, had little concept of the vast universe and stars. But the idea of transforming an entire planet into a green paradise felt incredible to him, even if he didn’t fully understand its significance. It gave him a sense of purpose—a mission bigger than himself—because Su Su said it mattered.
Hearing Lang Ze’s question, He Qirui chuckled, his gaze softening. “Of course, we’ll keep our promise. Don’t worry, the preparations are already underway. By the time you return, I’m sure you’ll see progress on the green zone.”
Lang Ze’s ears perked up, his tail wagging slightly as he swallowed the last bite of his bun. “Alright then! If Grandpa keeps his word, we’ll help the other bases!”
Ran Lie shot Lang Ze a sharp look, his calm demeanor contrasting with the wolf-eared boy’s enthusiasm. “It’s not just up to you. We need to discuss this with Su Su first.”
Lang Ze pouted. “Why? It’s just helping out a bit.”
Ran Lie crossed his arms. “Because we don’t make decisions like this on our own. Su Su has his reasons for everything.”
Lang Ze grumbled but eventually nodded reluctantly. “Fine. Then we’ll ask Su Su after breakfast.”
He Qirui, who had been quietly observing their exchange, once again marveled at the dynamic between the younglings. Despite their youth, they displayed a level of maturity and discipline that even seasoned soldiers often lacked. It was clear that the nursery had instilled not just strength but also a firm moral compass.
“Thank you,” He Qirui said sincerely. “No matter what you decide, Base 26 owes you a great debt. And if there’s anything you ever need, don’t hesitate to let us know.”
Lang Ze’s tail wagged again, and he flashed a cheeky grin. “Well, Grandpa, if you really mean that, next time we come back, you better have more ice cream ready!”
He Qirui laughed heartily, nodding. “Consider it done.”
With that, the younglings finished their breakfast, ready to consult Su Su and decide their next steps. Meanwhile, He Qirui felt a renewed sense of hope, knowing that humanity’s future was in such capable and kind hands.
Back when he was being sent to the nursery, Lang Ze had seen breathtaking scenery and incredibly beautiful planets. But at the time, he knew that even though the universe was so vast, there was no place that truly belonged to him.
As an orphan with no parents and raised by star pirates, he was certain no one would ever want him.
But now, that mindset had changed.
He belonged to the nursery, to Planet Earth. This was his home, where his favorite Su Su, Brother A-Yan, and his friends were. Later, he even gained a mother, Yan Ya, and a father, Li Sinian…
He belonged to this place, and it belonged to him.
So wasn’t it only natural to transform Planet Earth’s environment and make it as beautiful as the green fields of the nursery?
Though the task seemed daunting, Lang Ze wasn’t scared in the slightest because he had a group of amazing friends, and most importantly, the most incredible Su Su and Brother A-Yan!
Right now, they weren’t just out on a training journey—they were working toward that goal.
Even though, on their first day here, he’d briefly thought about going back just because of the allure of ice cream, now… well, wasn’t there ice cream to enjoy every day?
Hearing the wolf cub bring up the promise about planting greenery again, He Qirui couldn’t help but smile and nod. “Of course. The 10,000 square meters of land has already been cleared, and it’s ready for planting.”
“Good, then we have to check it out before we leave,” Lang Ze said, taking a sip of his fragrant, hot milk, his words carrying a hint of milky sweetness.
At that moment, Ran Lie, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke.
“Helping other bases is fine, but we have conditions,” the red-haired boy said with a serious expression.
Hearing this, Lang Ze immediately nodded in agreement. “That’s right, there are conditions!”
Still in his small black cat form and currently being fed meat slices by Li Sinian, Zheng Xing hesitated for a moment before nodding as well. “Mm!”
In the recent battles, Ran Lie had been the most prominent, followed by Lang Ze, while Zheng Xing, who often stayed hidden in Lang Ze’s clothes, hadn’t been as noticeable.
However, He Qirui, Mo Lin, and the other high-ranking members of Base 26 didn’t dare underestimate the little black kitten.
Every time Ran Lie and Lang Ze managed to reach the battlefield so quickly, Zheng Xing had undoubtedly played a crucial role.
After all, in the blood mist, even the base’s well-trained soldiers struggled with obstructed vision and reduced mobility.
But Ran Lie and Lang Ze were completely unaffected.
Moreover, they noticed that this child could pinpoint the monsters’ weaknesses. Ran Lie’s crimson flames consistently achieved maximum effect in the shortest time possible—Zheng Xing’s contributions were undeniable.
Such an ability, once developed further, would undoubtedly be sought after by militaries across nations.
The more He Qirui observed these younglings, the more delighted he felt. With a hearty wave of his hand, he readily agreed.
“No problem. Whatever you want, just ask!”
Ran Lie and Lang Ze exchanged a glance. Over the course of their battles, they had developed a tacit understanding, and with just a look, they knew what the other was thinking.
Lang Ze nodded, and Ran Lie said, “Then we want the same thing as before—within a month, add another 10,000 square meters of green space on Planet Earth.”
“Done, done!” He Qirui agreed without hesitation.
Although the plantation project hadn’t shown much progress yet, wasn’t there still a whole month left?
Of course, he’d agree to it first and figure it out later!
Mo Lin’s eyes flashed with a trace of concern, but in the end, he said nothing to stop them.
So, by the time Su Ci got up and had breakfast, he had already received various updates and a proposed alternative plan from Base 26.
As He Qirui had guessed, Su Ci was not planning to send out any additional younglings for the time being. Among the remaining children, apart from Rong Heng, who was currently practicing the Sword Qi and had some ability to counteract resentment, none possessed abilities as effective as Ran Lie’s.
Su Ci wasn’t one to force premature growth. The other children would focus on building a solid foundation first.
At this point, the alternative plan proposed by Base 26 seemed considerate.
“All this traveling will take quite a bit of time, won’t it?” A-Yan commented.
Ever since he crafted the small wooden fish for Ran Lie, A-Yan had developed a growing interest in artifact refinement. He began pondering how to solve this issue.
Hearing this, Su Ci’s interest was piqued as well. He gave A-Yan a few ideas and then, taking a bite of a star-chain fruit spiritual fruit, lazily remarked, “Let’s give it to them after this mission.”
As the spiritual grass spread and continued purifying the resentment, Su Ci could feel his strength steadily recovering. Now, if he wanted to travel anywhere on the planet, he could do so with just a thought.
A-Yan was likely the same.
“Got it,” A-Yan replied with a bright smile.
The tool he planned to give the younglings would allow them to travel quickly between bases, which would undoubtedly be helpful. However, he wondered if humans might use this convenience to overburden Ran Lie and the others.
For now, at least, the travel time gave them some moments of rest. As for the rest—it would depend on the children’s determination.
Of course, if the children willingly chose to selflessly contribute to humanity, Su Ci and A-Yan wouldn’t stop them.
But…
With the wolf cub around, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about, right? And if worse came to worst, Li Sinian, the adult among them, wouldn’t let the younglings suffer any injustices.
Su Ci nodded and glanced at the information on his communicator. Finally, he opened a certain chat interface and sent a message.
The more helpers, the better.
Gu Qingchen, who was in the middle of combat training, suddenly heard the special notification sound from his communicator. He quickly opened it to check. Seeing the message Su Ci had sent, he froze in surprise, then jumped up in delight.
[Caretaker Su]: Want to learn purification with me?
