Chapter 251
The cubs huddled together, whispering for a while before finally making up their minds.
After all, Wen Wen and the others hadn’t explicitly said they couldn’t play inside the base. And with the base now relatively safe, it shouldn’t be a problem. They used to occasionally sneak out for strolls anyway.
Once their plan was set, the cubs who had climbed onto the wall used small flying discs to descend from the top.
“Xing Xing, time to play!”
The little wolf cub, Lang Ze, happily ran to the grassy area, scooping up the napping cat hidden under the greenery and tucking it into his spiritual pouch.
Lang Ze’s training outfit was a handsome shade of green with embroidered bamboo patterns. Unfortunately, unlike their cub uniforms, it didn’t have a hood, and the pockets were too small to hold the little cat.
Thankfully, the spiritual pouch was safer anyway. It ensured the kitten wouldn’t get hurt during their adventures.
Xing Xing, who had been peacefully napping under the trees in the greenhouse, groggily opened his eyes and found himself in a completely different place.
Yawning, he curled up in the little blanket Lang Ze had prepared for him and dozed off again.
For a growing kitten, nothing was more important than sleep!
After securing Xing Xing, Lang Ze made a turn to find Rong Heng in his usual sword practice spot.
The sword intent space Su Ci had created for Rong Heng had faded as he gradually mastered the aura of the Sword Qi. Recently, due to Ika’s presence, Rong Heng hadn’t ventured outside much.
Over the past week, under Su Ci’s daily guidance, Ika had learned to control his bloodline power. His fish tail had finally transformed into legs.
Although patches of scales still remained on his skin, they were easily concealed by clothing, leaving no visible issues.
However, having not walked on legs for years, Ika struggled to stand and needed rehabilitation to regain the strength in his legs.
Even so, this progress was enough to leave the Creek couple overjoyed.
Before coming to Prison Star, they had consulted countless doctors across the galaxy. No known treatment effectively addressed beast-blood berserk states. Other than direct-bloodline soothing, cubs had to endure it on their own.
Who could have imagined that caretaker Su would be so skilled? But why had such a remarkable person remained obscure for so long?
No one had answers—not even their friend Li Sinian, who avoided directly addressing their questions.
When Lang Ze found Rong Heng, Ika was quietly sitting beside him in a hover wheelchair, keeping him company.
“Xiang Yang, want to come play with us?”
Lang Ze waved at Ika, and after seeing the boy respond with a smile, he crouched next to Rong Heng, his face alight with excitement.
Rong Heng retracted his practice sword to avoid accidentally injuring Lang Ze. When he heard the suggestion to go play, he turned to refuse.
But when his gaze fell on Ika’s face, filled with curiosity and anticipation, he hesitated.
Since arriving at the Nursery center, Ika had spent most of his time in water—either in the pool or a bathtub. Even after gaining legs, his limited mobility confined him to a wheelchair.
For the past few years, due to his beast-blood berserk state, he had been kept at home, unable to go out and play…
Thinking about this, Rong Heng changed his mind and asked, “Where are we going to play?”
“Did you hear those sounds?” Lang Ze pointed toward the Medical Purification Department. “We want to check out what’s going on over there… you know, investigate!”
Hearing this, Rong Heng didn’t immediately agree.
“If the base needed our squad, they would give us instructions. Running over there on our own doesn’t seem right.”
Lang Ze pouted but didn’t insist.
He just thought it would be more fun with more people and hadn’t meant to force Rong Heng to join. After nodding an “okay,” he skipped off happily.
Watching Lang Ze’s retreating figure, Rong Heng frowned slightly.
“Are you worried about them, Yang Yang?” Ika asked.
Rong Heng didn’t answer directly. Instead, he stood up and instructed Ika’s hover wheelchair to “follow.” Leading the way in the direction Lang Ze had gone, he said, “Let’s go check it out together.”
Ika’s wheelchair automatically glided along beside him.
The blue-haired boy sneaked a glance at Rong Heng, then cautiously stretched out a hand to grab one of Rong Heng’s dangling fingers.
He gripped it tentatively, worried Rong Heng might pull away. But instead, Rong Heng’s smaller hand opened slightly and took hold of his, clasping it firmly.
Ika blinked in surprise and looked over at Rong Heng.
But the younger boy continued walking steadily, not looking back at him, as if holding hands was the most natural thing in the world.
Ika watched him for a while, then happily curved his eyes into a smile, tightening his hold on Rong Heng’s hand.
When Rong Heng and Ika caught up with Lang Ze near the open space in front of the Nursery center, they saw the cubs gathered in a group, surrounding a familiar figure.
“Su Su!”
Even someone as composed as Rong Heng couldn’t help but brighten at the sight of Su Ci. He quickened his pace, running over to join the others.
Su Ci glanced at Rong Heng and Ika, who had hurried over, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you two planning to head out as well?”
Rong Heng instinctively nodded, his gaze fixed on Su Ci with a sense of warmth and closeness. In that moment, he completely forgot why he’d followed Lang Ze in the first place.
“Alright then, let’s all go together.”
With his hands stuffed into his pockets, Su Ci yawned lazily and began walking toward the Nursery center’s main doors.
Su Ci, Ar Yan, and a group of cubs—both big and small—formed an impressive procession that immediately drew the attention of the other caretakers.
Wen Yan hurried over, asking, “Caretaker Su, where are you taking the cubs?”
Su Ci paused, thought for a moment, and said, “To the zoo.”
Wen Yan: ???
Since when did Base 24 have a zoo? Why didn’t she know about it?
Lai Ze, who had some understanding of the situation, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth upon hearing Su Ci’s words. But… considering the state of the Medical Purification Department, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate to call it a zoo.
When Wen Yan seemed ready to follow them, Lai Ze quickly stopped her.
With Su Ci and A-Yan supervising, the cubs would likely be fine. But if Wen Yan went along, it might be a different story.
Those beasts had all tasted blood and exuded a heavy killing aura. Although Wen Yan’s health had improved significantly, she might not be able to handle the shock of so many ferocious creatures.
Thinking of this, Lai Ze glanced at his daughter, who was among the group of cubs.
Apart from the pair of fluffy black ears on her head, Lai Qian Qian showed no signs of beastification. She happily followed her companions, her face brimming with excitement.
When she noticed her parents’ gaze, she even turned around and waved her small hand at them.
Despite his lingering worries, Laize couldn’t bear to disappoint his daughter.
“I’ll go. You stay at the Nursery Center,” he instructed Wen Yan before following the large group out of the building.
Wen Yan and Yan Ya stood by the door, watching them leave. The Creek couple, drawn by the commotion, also came over.
Unlike Li Sinian and his wife, or Wen Yan and Lai Ze, the Creek couple had no intention of staying at the Nursery center as caretakers. They believed in focusing on their specialties, and besides, the Nursery center already had enough staff.
“To be honest, Earth Star’s infrastructure is far too basic,” Mr. Creek remarked. “If the children are to live here long-term, we need to find ways to improve things.”
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Creek agreed. “This place is too underdeveloped. Beyond the greenery, the living conditions need to catch up.”
Both were merchants accustomed to luxurious lifestyles. Coming to Earth Star had been their first experience with scarcity, and it was undeniably frustrating.
In fact, after seeing that their son had nearly regained his sanity and was physically improving rapidly, the Creek had entertained thoughts of leaving.
Life here was too leisurely for their liking—almost unbearably dull for those used to being constantly busy.
Besides, their son clearly didn’t want to see them. Whenever they appeared, Ika’s condition would deteriorate, leaving them afraid to even approach him.
But just as they began seriously considering leaving, they both felt an inexplicable sense of dread. Their bloodline power stirred restlessly, as if warning them that leaving would be a grave mistake.
Realizing they had both experienced the same feeling, the Creek abandoned the idea entirely.
When they resolved to honor their promise and stay to help rebuild Earth Star, the strange sense of danger disappeared entirely.
This decision solidified their commitment to remain on the planet. Improving the quality of life for themselves and their children became a necessity.
Hearing their discussion, Li Sinian felt compelled to interject: “Enhancing infrastructure is fine, but make sure it aligns with environmental principles.”
Li Sinian knew that Earth Star was humanity’s original home. Moreover, he had accidentally overheard from the cubs about Su Ci’s true identity.
While it was difficult to believe, Su Ci’s extraordinary abilities and mysterious past made it seem plausible.
For this reason, Li Sinian felt it necessary to warn his friends.
“Don’t worry,” Creek said. “Environmental engineering is highly advanced now. Rebuilding Earth Star’s ecosystem will definitely require these technologies.”
He spoke confidently, and Mrs. Creek nodded in agreement, looking ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
It was clear that, compared to Li Sinian and Yan Ya, who focused their efforts primarily on their children, the Creek couple were more action-oriented when it came to fulfilling their promise to Su Ci.
Li Sinian felt both relieved and encouraged. At the same time, he couldn’t help but extend more invitations to other capable friends.
Honestly, given the current trajectory of development, if his friends didn’t come now, they would likely regret it later. By then, it might not be so easy to join them on Earth Star…
*
Meanwhile, Su Ci led the cubs onto a hover bus.
The bus, already not very large, was more than half full after they boarded. It really looked like a school trip to the zoo.
Thinking of this comparison, Lai Ze couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
Before long, the hover bus carrying the cubs arrived outside the Medical Purification Department building. As they got closer, the deafening roars of the beasts grew louder and louder.
One couldn’t help but wonder how the staff at the Medical Department endured these sounds every day.
Once they arrived, the little wolf cub was the first to dash off the bus.
“Zoo, here I come!”
The rest of the cubs followed excitedly, except for Mu Bao, who was a little timid. Still, the majority of them were thrilled as they poured out of the bus in a chaotic rush.
Su Ci stepped off slowly, with A-Yan following behind him, carrying Mu Bao in his arms.
The guards at the entrance of the Medical Purification Department were stunned at the sight of the cubs. Just as they were about to stop them, the nimble children darted around them with ease, slipping past in the blink of an eye.
Even the two caretakers in gray-blue uniforms—who had approached directly—vanished before the guards could speak. By the time the guards looked again, the scene had changed.
Now, the guard found himself face-to-face with a large man instead.
Lai Ze offered him an apologetic smile before hurrying after the children, leaving the guard behind, shouting in panic, “Come back here! That area is dangerous! You can’t go there!”
“Roar!!!”
“Awoooo!!!”
The ferocious roars of the beasts rang out alongside the guard’s warnings. As Lang Ze was the first to reach the back of the building, a black panther locked in a cage lunged violently toward him.
And then…
Su Ci’s figure appeared as he rounded the corner, stepping into view of the beasts.
The chaotic scene, filled with the terrifying roars of various beasts, fell completely silent in an instant.
The guards, who had barely managed to catch up, froze in place, staring in disbelief. The once-aggressive beasts inside their cages now sat quietly, their ferocity utterly tamed.
The expression on the guards’ faces was one of sheer disbelief, as if they had just witnessed the impossible.
