Chapter 237
After Li Sinian and the Creek couple left the rooftop and descended the building, the merman boy, who had been lurking at the bottom of the pool, surfaced cautiously.
At first, his expression was fierce, baring his teeth as he scanned the surroundings for threats. Finding none, his aggression gave way to confusion.
He glanced around at the scenery surrounding the pool, his cold blue eyes reflecting a hint of doubt.
The long months of interstellar travel had confined the young merman to a cramped water tank, leaving him irritable and restless. The two humans constantly near him emanated a scent he despised, and the medicated water in the tank caused him discomfort.
But now, he was no longer in the tank. He found himself in a spacious pool.
The water was pure and clear, immersing him in a sense of profound contentment. The fresh air carried by the wind over the water’s surface added to his comfort. Most importantly, there were no unpleasant presences nearby.
The merman tilted his head, flipped his body, and glided gracefully through the pool, his elegant movements sparkling under the sunlight. His shimmering scales and fluid motions gave him the appearance of a water sprite—agile and ethereal.
Even though his body bore numerous wounds, they did nothing to diminish his beauty. If anything, they added a delicate fragility that invoked pity.
He dove beneath the surface, then swiftly emerged, breaking through the water with a splash. Twisting his tail in the air, he leaped into the adjacent pool, reveling in the rare joy and freedom he felt.
Finally, he floated on his back, basking comfortably in the sunlight.
“What was that sound just now?”
A sudden voice broke the tranquility.
The boy’s face turned vigilant. He flipped and submerged himself, watching the approaching figures from beneath the water. His blue eyes narrowed, glinting with a sharp, dangerous light.
Light footsteps echoed nearby, and Zhuang Shisong’s figure appeared around the corner.
He squinted toward the pool but saw nothing unusual. “Weird, I must have imagined it.”
“If there really was something, the AI system would’ve raised an alert,” Wei Ming said, following closely behind him. “With the teacher here, there’s nothing to worry about.”
By “teacher,” Wei Ming was, of course, referring to Su Ci.
Months had passed without a single monster attack on the nursery or Base 24. The previously high-strung residents had grown more relaxed, putting blind faith in Su Ci’s presence.
Zhuang Shisong frowned but couldn’t shake the feeling. He cast a few more glances at the pool before Wei Ming tugged him away.
“Come on, Mu Bao is waiting for us.”
As they had anticipated, Mu Bao had an extraordinary talent for becoming a spiritual botanist. In just one month, he had caught up with Zhuang Shisong and Wei Ming’s progress from several months of study.
Rather than feeling jealous of the child prodigy, the two found themselves asking Mu Bao for advice on the questions they struggled with. Mu Bao, in turn, answered them without reservation.
The three of them, as senior and junior disciples, grew closer through mutual support and learning.
Hearing Wei Ming’s reminder, Zhuang Shisong nodded and cast one last glance at the pool before leaving.
The area around the building returned to silence.
From beneath the water, the merman boy surfaced again. Watching the direction the two humans had gone, his blue eyes narrowed coldly.
He had already claimed these two pools as his territory. Anyone approaching them would be subject to his indiscriminate attacks.
The merman boy stared at the corner of the building for a while longer, ensuring that no other humans appeared, before diving back down. He swam toward the bottom of the pool, his interest piqued by the purification array faintly visible on the pool floor.
With a flick of his tail, the boy maneuvered skillfully through the water. Originally designed to cleanse giant spider meat, the pool was vast and deep, far larger than his water tank, giving him ample space to swim and explore.
The little merman swam to the bottom of the pool. The water was crystal clear, and the ample light streaming down from the surface illuminated the intricate patterns carved into the pool’s bottom and walls.
When Puluo was still a water demon, it had endured significant torment in this pool. As a result, unless absolutely necessary, it avoided this area entirely.
For Ika, however—who was merely in a state of beastification without being tainted by resentment energy—the pool was nothing short of paradise. The purified water seemed to soothe and rejuvenate him.
Meanwhile, in another part of the building, Mu Bao was chatting with Wei Ming and the others.
Through practicing the Spiritual Botanist’s heart technique, Mu Bao had gradually gained partial control over his bloodline power. His hair had returned to its normal state, and his plant-like arm had become soft and flexible.
This visible progress deeply motivated him. He practiced even harder, eagerly anticipating the day his mother would join him so he could surprise her with his progress.
Although Mu Bao had come a long way, he knew there was still much work to be done.
In the corner of the greenfield stood two young pear trees, and Mu Bao still didn’t dare approach them. Whenever he got too close, his body, which had largely returned to normal, risked rapidly reverting to a plant-like state.
He resolved that only when he could stand near the trees without being affected would he truly consider himself successful in mastering his abilities.
“When will Brother Lie-Lie and the others be back today?” Mu Bao asked. Despite his dedication to studying and training, he often missed his older siblings.
The older kids disappeared daily for periods of time—sometimes as a group, other times in smaller numbers. Mu Bao knew they were out fighting monsters. Since he wasn’t equipped for combat, he stayed at the nursery to avoid holding them back. Still, whenever they were gone, the nursery felt unusually quiet and lonely.
During these moments, he couldn’t help but wonder why he couldn’t fight alongside them.
Fortunately, Brother A-Yan had comforted him, explaining that once he became a skilled Spiritual Botanist, he could fight too. A Spiritual Botanist’s abilities extended far beyond planting and nurturing.
“They should be back soon,” Wei Ming replied. “It’s almost lunchtime.”
No matter what they were doing, the older kids always returned in time for meals, never missing a chance to eat together.
By the riverside, the purification barrier still stood silently. Thanks to the introduction of purification spirit grass, the stark difference between the scenery on either side of the barrier had lessened significantly. In time, the two sides might become indistinguishable.
A gentle breeze swept through, rustling the bamboo forest, while plump fish occasionally leapt from the river to catch small insects flying just above the water.
This serene scene didn’t last long.
“That snot monster today was way too disgusting! Why are there always such gross monsters?”
The little wolf cub’s voice carried as the group of cubs emerged from beyond the purification barrier. Alongside him were Lu Jiao, Rong Heng, Xue Wei, and the little black cat Zheng Xing, who was tucked away in his pocket.
And, of course, trailing at the back of the group with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face was none other than Ran Lie, who had initially gone out alone to hunt monsters.
Ran Lie often regretted agreeing to take the wolf cub out on these excursions.
At first, he thought it would just be the two of them—maybe Zheng Xing as well. But the next day, when he arrived at the riverside, he found that Lang Ze had invited along Rong Heng and Lu Jiao too.
Since they were already there, he had no choice but to bring them along.
Rong Heng’s Sword Qi was starting to show some promise. While it wasn’t on par with Ran Lie’s Crimson Flame, it was still effective against ordinary monsters.
Eventually, they split into two smaller teams to take on different challenges. Later, when Xue Wei learned about their adventures, she expressed a desire to join.
To be honest, Ran Lie was surprised. He had always sensed that Xue Wei wasn’t particularly fond of combat.
But she explained, “I want to master my strength. I don’t want it to hurt the people I care about anymore. The more I fear it and avoid using it, the less control I’ll have over it.”
“So, please let me fight alongside you!”
Seeing her determination, Ran Lie had no choice but to agree.
Besides, with her immense strength, as long as she managed her emotions and resisted the blood mist’s influence, Xue Wei wasn’t a liability to the team.
Moreover, after hearing about her participation, Su Su and Brother A-Yan even made her a custom hammer.
Thinking of this, Ran Lie glanced at the small hammer in Xue Wei’s hands.
The hammer wasn’t very big, with a handle only slightly longer than his palm. It was painted in a pastel pink, adorned with pink gemstones, and had a red ribbon tied into a bow at the end of the handle.
Anyone who saw it would likely dismiss it as decorative and impractical. However…
Recalling the hammer’s effectiveness in Xue Wei’s hands, Ran Lie subtly slowed his pace, trying to put a bit of distance between them.
But as if sensing his gaze, Xue Wei’s bunny ears twitched slightly. She turned her head, her face lighting up with a shy, gentle smile.
Ran Lie: “…”
He silently averted his eyes and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
“Stop talking about the snot monster, or I won’t be able to eat lunch!” Lu Jiao finally couldn’t help but interrupt the wolf cub’s rant.
Lang Ze thought about it and nodded. He then dashed to the riverside and pointed at the lotus growing in the water, exclaiming, “Let’s dig up some lotus roots! I want to drink lotus root soup.”
Autumn not only brought plump fish to the rivers but also marked the season for harvesting mature lotus roots.
After speaking, Lang Ze jumped into the water without waiting for anyone else and dug up a few segments of lotus root. Only after he was soaking wet did he climb back onto the riverbank.
Rong Heng suspected that the wolf cub didn’t really want lotus root soup and was more interested in playing in the water. If it was just about the soup, Lang Ze could have used his telekinetic powers to retrieve the roots easily.
Still, seeing Lang Ze’s cheerful face, Rong Heng chose not to say anything.
The group returned to the nursery, heading to their rooms to bathe and change. Lang Ze, however, detoured to the kitchen with the lotus roots in hand.
Yan Ya, always willing to indulge Lang Ze, warmly took the lotus roots from him with a smile and gave him a pat on the head, praising him.
Lang Ze left the kitchen beaming, went to his room to shower and change, and then headed straight for the dining room, where the aroma of lotus root soup was already wafting through the air.
Having Mommy Yan Ya around is the best!
The dining room windows were open, allowing the smell of food to drift outside. From the nearby water pool, the merboy emerged from the water and gazed at the open window of the dining room.
“Grumble, grumble—”
Ika was hungry.
Earlier, the Creek couple had come to check on him, but Ika played possum at the bottom of the pool. Relieved to see their son so calm, the couple seized the opportunity to rest and catch up on sleep.
Seeing this, Li Sinian had gone to help in the kitchen and was now seated in the dining room, enjoying his meal.
Ika sniffed the air, his face growing colder as he inhaled the delicious aromas. Finally, he pursed his lips and submerged himself once more, hiding beneath the water.
After lunch, the cubs didn’t return to their rooms for a nap.
For children accustomed to returning to their rooms after dinner and falling asleep by 8 or 9 p.m., there was no need for an afternoon nap to maintain their energy levels.
They went to the grassy area to play and relax. Some seized the opportunity to train or study, some played to digest their food, and others simply sat under the flower trellis and daydreamed.
Meanwhile, Little Li Hua took out her drawing board and paints.
Recently, she had received a set of paints shipped from another planet, which she adored—though she also cherished the homemade paints her parents had crafted for her.
Those homemade paints were made by collecting plants and minerals and following online tutorials to create colors, though they didn’t offer as wide a palette.
Little Li Hua hugged her paints, pondering what to draw today.
Suddenly, a small hand reached out from under the table, grabbed her paintbrush, and swiftly retracted.
Just as Little Li Hua decided what to draw, she froze.
“Where’s my paintbrush?”
Looking under the table, she spotted a tiny, golden creature she had never seen before. It was holding her paintbrush and playing with it curiously.
She remembered Little Intelligence showing her a picture once—was this a monkey?
“You—” Little Li Hua started.
Before she could finish, the monkey realized it had been discovered. Instead of returning the brush, it bolted, paintbrush in hand.
Little Li Hua widened her eyes. “That’s my paintbrush! Give it back!”
She jumped off her chair and, with her short legs, chased after the monkey.
“Stop right there! Give me back my brush!” she shouted, activating her linguistic ability as she pursued.
However, for some reason, her word magic had no effect on the monkey! And—was it just her imagination?—the monkey’s figure seemed to vanish intermittently, as though it could turn invisible.
The only constant was the paintbrush, which kept flying forward.
“Give it back!”
Little Li Hua was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. She chased and chased, until finally, both she and the mischievous monkey arrived at the water’s edge. Hearing his sister’s cries, Rong Heng, who had been practicing his swordsmanship nearby, hurried over.
In the pool, a pair of tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
The merboy stared at the surface and noticed the little golden monkey proudly flaunting the paintbrush by the water’s edge. He licked his lips, flicked his tail, and began silently approaching.
No one noticed the disturbance in the pool.
Little Li Hua kept running, determined to reclaim her paintbrush.
In the exact moment when the monkey, still holding the brush, turned its back to the pool, grinning and chattering, the merboy launched himself from the water with a sharp, sudden burst.
Yet, just as the splash sounded, the monkey’s figure vanished into thin air.
Little Li Hua saw the unexpected turn of events but couldn’t stop in time. Momentum carried her directly toward the “water monster” that had suddenly appeared.
The merboy bared his teeth, his expression fierce and menacing, making him look terrifying.
“Brother!” Little Li Hua screamed in fright.
“Switch!”
Rong Heng, honed by countless battles, reacted without hesitation. He swiftly activated his telekinesis, employing a combat technique passed down from Li Sinian, and in an instant, switched places with his sister.
The merboy found himself momentarily disoriented. The lion-eared girl he had been lunging at had vanished, replaced by an eight-year-old boy.
A sharp screech escaped from deep within his throat. Without halting his momentum, he used his powerful tail to propel himself forward, tackling Rong Heng to the ground.
Pinned beneath the merboy, Rong Heng’s contracted pupils reflected the fierce face above him. The boy opened his mouth, appearing as if he was about to sink his teeth into Rong Heng’s neck.
Instinctively, Rong Heng raised his small sword, holding it horizontally across his chest to block the attack. Simultaneously, the sword flew from its scabbard at his command, whirling in the air before aiming to pierce the berserk merboy.
But then—
Drip.
A cold, crystalline droplet landed on Rong Heng’s forehead. Surprised, he looked up, momentarily distracted. The flying sword hovering in midair came to a halt.
The ferocious expression had vanished from the fish-tailed boy’s face. His previously icy blue eyes now held a reflection of Rong Heng’s image.
Frowning, the merboy’s exquisitely beautiful yet eerie features softened, revealing a glimpse of human emotion.
It was a complex mix, but Rong Heng could faintly discern confusion and… sadness?
Then the boy opened his mouth, his voice strained and raspy, as if it hadn’t been used in a long time.
“Yang… Yang Yang.”
As he spoke, tears began rolling down his blue eyes, falling silently like beads of crystal.
