Chapter 53
Su Ci had spent some time teaching A-Yan about formations, and by the time he left Room 303, it was already a little past 9:30 in the morning.
In just that half-hour, something almost went terribly wrong again in the activity room.
Su Ci’s gaze landed on the play area, where he saw Number Seven being cradled in the wolf cub’s arms. His expression grew slightly grave.
The little white deer hadn’t noticed his arrival.
As a thoughtful and introspective child, the little white deer rarely experienced significant emotional fluctuations. Because of this, he was relatively less susceptible to the influence of pollutants.
This also meant that his frequency of falling into a berserk state due to being unable to control his bloodline power was much lower than that of the other cubs.
However, this didn’t mean the little white deer was weaker than the others.
In fact, the consequences of his berserk state were no less severe than those of any other cub in the nursery.
Unlike the Crimson Flame Tiger, who wielded the power of fire, the Silver Deer possessed control over ice and snow. Number Seven, in particular, had already shown the ability to wield this power even before he was sent to Prison Star.
Though he could not consciously control this power, the damage it could cause to those around him—especially ordinary cubs—was extremely lethal.
Not to mention fragile cubs, even adults would struggle to withstand the erosion of ice and snow power without protective measures.
This was why, after his first bloodline awakening nearly caused the deaths of other cubs at the orphanage, the delicate and cute little white deer, known for his gentle demeanor, was sent to Prison Star. There, he lived among cubs with top-tier ferocious beast bloodlines.
Now, as the power of ice and snow surged within him once again, it was no longer something he could suppress on his own.
Although he hadn’t gone as far as to drive the ice spike into Number Eight, his body temperature continued to plummet. If the wolf cub didn’t let go soon, he might end up frozen solid by the invasive cold.
Su Ci could see this clearly.
Number Two, too, had noticed something was amiss.
As a controller of fire, he was highly sensitive to temperature. He could feel the room growing colder, but the chill wasn’t coming from outside the activity room.
From his vantage point, he could also see the visible changes in the little white deer’s appearance.
Was Number Seven going berserk? But something about it didn’t feel quite right.
Number Two stood up warily, keeping a close eye on Number Seven.
In the corner, Number Three had already risen to his feet. Upon hearing Number Eight’s call, his small brows furrowed slightly, but he still stepped out of the corner and walked toward them.
Even the usually carefree Number Six, busy playing on his own, turned his attention toward the unfolding situation.
The only one clueless about the danger was the wolf cub himself. Shivering violently from the cold, he stubbornly refused to let go of the little white deer, unaware that the freezing source was the very child he was holding.
“Why…”
“Is it…”
“So cold… ah…”
Number Eight could barely string words together, unable to focus on anyone else. He felt as though the cold was overtaking him completely. His body temperature plummeted so quickly that his mind began to blur.
Where was the caretaker bot?
Opening his mouth to call for help, he found his voice weak and hoarse.
He could feel the little white deer’s body was as cold as ice, but it was precisely for that reason that he couldn’t bring himself to let go.
The faint heartbeat he could sense gave him hope. If he let go now, depriving the little deer of his warmth, wouldn’t he freeze to death even faster?
The wolf cub wasn’t trying to be heroic or self-sacrificing. He just thought that if he held on a little longer, help might arrive soon.
The big sister from the response team always came quickly!
However, when he realized that even his voice had failed him, he finally sensed the gravity of the situation. By then, his body was already too frozen to move.
What now…
Were they really going to freeze to death together?
Just as the wolf cub was falling into despair, a familiar pair of leather shoes appeared before his eyes.
Was it the caretaker?
Number Eight tried to lift his head to look, but his neck was stiff with frost, making it impossible to move. He grew anxious.
Then, he felt a hand gently rest on top of his head.
So warm…
The soothing warmth radiated from the hand, and Number Eight, whose body had been frozen stiff, couldn’t help but close his eyes in comfort.
Number Eight’s eyes fluttered open again not long after closing.
He saw the caretaker gently prying his hands off Number Seven. Instinctively, he resisted a little, but upon realizing it was the caretaker in front of him, a sense of inexplicable trust washed over him.
The young wolf obediently released Number Seven and allowed Su Ci to pick him up.
He forced one eye halfway open, and once he confirmed that the person holding him was indeed the caretaker, he finally let go of his worry, closed his eyes fully, and drifted into unconsciousness.
Compared to the bloodline berserk state of the little white deer, Number Eight’s condition was actually worse.
Even though the ice spike in Number Seven’s hand hadn’t been used, the power of ice and snow had already invaded the wolf cub’s defenseless body through their tightly shared embrace.
That freezing energy was wreaking havoc inside him. If left unresolved, it would endanger the wolf cub’s life.
While Su Ci’s soul power could disperse this icy energy, he didn’t take immediate action.
He had a better solution.
Without sparing a glance at the little white deer, Su Ci picked up Number Eight.
The little white deer didn’t move. His previously healthy, slightly pink complexion had turned completely pale. The tiny antlers on his forehead had grown at least a centimeter longer.
Squatting in place, his eerie blue eyes followed the caretaker and Number Eight intently.
The wolf cub’s large, fluffy tail, usually so lively and upright, now hung limply. It swayed weakly in the air as Su Ci walked, a reflection of Number Eight’s fragile state. The once energetic cub looked utterly drained, barely hanging on.
The little white deer silently watched the scene unfold, his frost-like pale eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly.
Meanwhile, Number Two, who had been approaching, suddenly froze in place.
He glanced at the silver-haired boy squatting quietly on the ground, then at the caretaker carrying Number Eight, and found himself at a loss.
He wasn’t even sure if Number Seven had truly gone berserk.
Compared to the chaos caused by other cubs—and even himself—when they entered a berserk state, this was far too subdued.
Yet, try as he might, Number Two couldn’t recall what Number Seven looked like during berserk episodes in the past.
As he grew older, suppressing his own bloodline power had already become a challenge. He simply didn’t have the energy to pay attention to others, especially not the little white deer who had arrived at the nursery later.
But honestly…
None of this really mattered to him.
Even though his mind was still clear when he woke up today, Number Two could feel that the burning sensation inside his body was stronger than it had been the day before.
Yesterday, the heat had been oddly comfortable. But now, that comfort was gone, replaced by a familiar discomfort.
Though the pain wasn’t as severe as it used to be and still within his tolerance, it served as a stark reminder that he hadn’t truly suppressed his bloodline power. Yesterday’s reprieve had been nothing more than a fluke.
When that energy resurged, it would overwhelm him once more. He’d end up locked in the cage of his own mind, roasted by the flames, and eventually lose his sanity.
After a few more episodes like this, he would completely transform—into the Crimson Flame Tiger, driven entirely by instinct and animalistic fury.
Before that happened, he had to find a way to escape Base 24. If he was going to escape, then the nursery and everyone in it—whether it was Number Four and Number Eight, who always opposed him, or Number Six and Number Seven, with whom he was closer—would no longer matter.
After all, he would leave one day. And once he became a creature of the red mist, they might even become his enemies…
But sometimes, surprises were beyond anyone’s control.
Before Number Two realized it, the caretaker, carrying Number Eight, hadn’t left the activity room. Instead, he had walked straight up to him.
Number Two stared at the newly assigned caretaker, watching as the man stopped directly in front of him and nodded slightly, as though signaling something.
What?
The red-haired boy’s tiger tail behind him curved into a question mark.
Number Two felt like he understood the caretaker’s expression, but at the same time, he wasn’t sure if he had. It reminded him of the way Number Eight had looked at him earlier, that pleading gaze when Number Seven had been crying.
In reality, though, his interpretation was entirely correct.
Seeing that Number Two still hadn’t reached out, Su Ci simply stretched his arm forward and placed the unconscious wolf cub into his arms.
The red-haired boy, completely dumbfounded, had no choice but to accept the cub being shoved into his grasp. As the oldest and strongest among the cubs, it wasn’t difficult for him to hold the little wolf securely.
But the real problem was…
What’s the meaning of this? Why was Number Eight handed over to him?
Then, Number Two heard the caretaker, who seemed increasingly unreliable, speak up: “Hold him. Warm him up.”
After saying this, Su Ci turned and began walking toward the little white deer.
Wait… what?
A string of question marks seemed to pop up over the young tiger’s head. What does he mean by “warm him up”?
It was true that his power was the Crimson Flame, but what exactly did this caretaker take him for? His expression darkened instantly.
A surge of inexplicable anger rose in Number Two’s chest, and the burning sensation inside him flared even more intensely.
Just as he was about to let that anger take over and throw the wolf cub onto the ground, the unconscious boy in his arms suddenly stirred—and clung tightly to him.
Number Eight, dazed and frozen, instinctively sought warmth. Out of a primal need to save himself, he subconsciously latched onto the source of heat radiating from Number Two’s body.
And so…
Not only did Number Two fail to throw the wolf cub onto the floor, but he now had Number Eight wrapped around him with arms and legs, clinging to him like a koala.
The red-haired boy was stunned. He had never imagined that he and this little wolf—aside from all their fights and brawls—would ever share a moment this close.
Let go of me! Number Two instinctively tried to pry the wolf cub off.
But before he realized it, he had stopped moving.
The icy power emanating from Number Eight’s body was soothing the burning sensation inside him, neutralizing the oppressive heat of the Crimson Flame. That refreshing coolness calmed his agitated mind once again.
However, as the wolf cub, still clinging to him, began to nuzzle against him, the red-haired boy gritted his teeth. His face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
His expression was one of utter internal conflict, even more so than when he’d been deciding whether to trade the chance to touch the caretaker’s tail for a favor.
On one hand, he found it almost unbearable to be so close to Number Eight. But on the other hand, he couldn’t deny how much he needed the wolf cub’s icy presence to suppress the fiery bloodline power that threatened to make him lose control.
Bang—Bang—Bang!
Number Two’s tiger tail, like a steel whip, thrashed against the metal floor, leaving a series of dents, each deeper than the last.
Number Six, who had been playing with his toy hovercraft, had long since abandoned it. At some point, he had come to stand nearby, watching the scene unfold.
His bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. Not only did he fail to offer any help, but he gleefully observed the spectacle, his gaze darting around mischievously. Eventually, the little monkey clapped his hands and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
If looks could kill, the monkey boy would have died several times over under Number Two’s glare.
But unfortunately, Number Six showed no sign of restraining himself. Holding his stomach, he laughed so hard he rolled onto the ground, wheezing as though he might suffocate.
“Number Six, shut up!”
Number Two, thoroughly enraged, lashed his tiger tail in the boy’s direction.
Despite his seemingly defenseless state, the nimble monkey boy easily rolled out of the way, sticking out his tongue and pulling a face at Number Two.
What surprised Number Six, however, was that Number Two didn’t chase after him as expected. Instead, the fury on his face slowly faded.
With a cold glare at the monkey boy, Number Two stopped reacting altogether. He let Number Eight cling to him as he slumped against the corner of the wall, closed his eyes in resignation, and even flattened his round tiger ears against his head.
Number Six scratched his head, his round red eyes full of confusion.
As for Number Two, he had come to a sudden realization: the reason he couldn’t shake off Number Eight wasn’t because the wolf cub was particularly strong.
It was because his body—more accurately, the Crimson Flame within him—was instinctively craving the cooling effect brought by the wolf cub. That soothing icy presence was actively dampening the burning sensation that tormented him.
He became acutely aware that, during this process, the frenzied, volatile energy of his bloodline was gradually becoming subdued.
This was the first time, after years of battling against his own bloodline power, that Number Two felt the Crimson Flame show signs of submission.
The moment this realization hit him, Number Two calmed down.
Right now, he needed to make use of every available condition to delay his complete beastification as much as possible.
Though his determination to escape the base hadn’t wavered, if he could retain his sanity, who would willingly give it up to become a mindless beast?
Since he had already decided to live in the Blood Mist in the future, the current awkwardness and compromises seemed trivial in comparison.
After all, hadn’t he already acted obediently and returned to the nursery to lower the caretaker’s guard?
Number Two ignored the monkey boy’s antics and focused on the sensation of his bloodline power being subdued. But not long after he closed his eyes, a sudden prickle of unease made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He instinctively opened his eyes.
His reddish-brown tiger eyes swept cautiously around the room. Then, as he turned his head, he saw Number Three—small and quiet—standing silently by his side.
The black-haired boy, clutching his metal ball in both hands, stared ahead with pale blue eyes that were unfocused and vacant.
Number Three had appeared just a few steps away from Number Two, quiet and unassuming, his delicate, adorable face as expressionless as ever.
In Number Two’s memory, Number Three had always had an extremely low presence. Despite being one of the cubs he had spent the longest time with in the nursery, Number Two felt less familiar with Number Three than he did with Number Eight.
He frowned as he watched the small boy, who had somehow approached without him noticing.
What was this little one up to?
Was he planning to mock him, like Number Six had?
However, under the red-haired boy’s sharp and somewhat hostile gaze, the small boy seemed oblivious. Step by hesitant step, he continued moving closer, his slow and uncertain movements unwavering.
Number Two didn’t move, but his reddish-brown tiger eyes stayed fixed on the boy, radiating the intimidating presence of a predator.
The child looked entirely harmless, like a small animal cautiously approaching a tiger. Weak and fragile, yet for some unknown reason, he was pushing past his fear and drawing closer.
In truth, Number Three’s beast form was indeed quite petite.
An old memory stirred in Number Two’s mind, taking him back to a time long ago.
When Number Three first arrived at the nursery, Number Two had seen him. The child was only about a year and a half old, perhaps not even two, but he had already been in a fully beast-like state.
When the caretaker retrieved him from the cage, he was so tiny—no bigger than the caretaker’s palm—and covered in a fluffy coat of soft, downy fur.
He was a pure black kitten with striking sapphire blue eyes.
The caretaker had picked him up by the scruff of his neck and pulled him out of the cage. After letting out a couple of soft mews, the kitten quickly quieted down.
Number Two still remembered the kitten’s calls—delicate, soft, and milk-sweet. They were nothing like his own mighty tiger roars. Back then, he had even wanted to go over for a closer look, but the nanny bot had stopped him.
Later, when Number Three emerged from his room again, he was in his human form.
Since he had been the first new arrival to the nursery after Number Two, the tiger cub—whose bloodline power wasn’t as overwhelming at the time—had paid attention to Number Three for a while.
But Number Three had always been far too quiet, almost completely absorbed in his own world. He rarely interacted with anyone.
Gradually, Number Two had pushed the quiet boy to the back of his mind. He only remembered that from that day on, he had never again seen Number Three in his fully beastified form.
Now, seeing the boy approach him for the first time ever, Number Two couldn’t hold back his question: “What are you trying to do?”
Unfortunately, the boy didn’t respond. His pale blue eyes remained vacant, and after coming to a stop, his small face turned toward Number Eight.
At this moment, the wolf cub was still clinging to Number Two.
The little wolf’s head was tilted to the side, his eyes tightly shut as he rested his cheek on the tiger cub’s shoulder. Perhaps because he’d been almost thrown off multiple times earlier, his grip on Number Two had only tightened. His chubby cheeks were squished slightly from the pressure.
Number Three didn’t call out to him. Instead, he extended a hand.
His fingers were small and soft, with pale pink tips. Under Number Two’s watchful gaze, his hand landed on the wolf cub’s cheek, giving it a gentle poke.
The wolf cub’s plump, soft cheeks were incredibly springy.
When Number Three pressed his finger into the flesh and then released it, the cheek bounced back with a little “boing.” The sensation seemed satisfying, and more importantly, the boy noticed that the cub’s face had almost completely warmed up.
Once he realized this, Number Three withdrew his hand, hugged his metal ball tightly again, and without saying a word, turned and darted away at lightning speed.
Even though he had approached so slowly, he left so quickly that he disappeared in the blink of an eye. Number Two couldn’t help but wonder if he was seeing things.
Since when could Number Three run so fast?
Did he really just rush over here just to poke Number Eight’s face? Why? Could it be that Number Eight had struck some kind of secret deal with Number Three as well?
Unfortunately, no one could give him an answer. Number Eight was still sound asleep, and Number Three had already retreated to the corner, hiding himself neatly. The quiet clicking of his metal ball resuming its spinning echoed faintly from the shadows.
*
On the other side of the room, Su Ci had returned to the little white deer’s side.
The silver-haired boy was still squatting in the same spot, looking as obedient as ever. His bright, crystalline blue eyes were ethereal, carrying a beauty that hinted at the stunning figure he would grow into in the future.
At this moment, however, his innocent and harmless expression gave no indication that he was in the midst of a berserk state.
Of course, anyone within a meter of him would feel the constant outpouring of icy power. The metal floor around him was sprinkled with fine shards of ice, formed from moisture in the air condensing and falling.
The ice crystals weren’t pure white—they carried a faint pinkish-red hue. These were environmental pollutant particles, concentrated to the point of visibility.
Su Ci crouched down in front of the boy.
Sensing the calming aura of the Earth Spirit emanating from Su Ci, the boy’s tense expression softened slightly. He furrowed his brows faintly, and this small shift made him look even more pitiful.
Su Ci reached out and gently stroked the top of his head.
“It’s okay now. Everything’s fine.”
A subtle glow appeared in Su Ci’s palm, almost imperceptible to the naked eye. The soul power he had painstakingly recovered after a full night’s rest flowed into the little white deer’s body, soothing the unruly power of ice and snow surging through his bloodline.
Hearing the familiar voice of the young caretaker, the boy’s mouth quivered slightly, and the sound that came out resembled a fawn’s soft bleat. It carried a tone of deep grievance.
It’s so cold. So cold it feels like even my blood is freezing.
The little white deer let out another pitiful bleat. Just moments ago, someone had held him—a warm, soft embrace that felt like curling up in a cozy blanket, bringing a rare sense of security.
But it had only lasted for a fleeting moment. Then that person let go, and the warmth slipped away, leaving him alone once again…
Loneliness, helplessness, and confusion overwhelmed him.
As the little white deer was once again consumed by the swirling vortex of his emotions, a voice—familiar and comforting—sounded by his ear.
Then, a gentle warmth flowed into his body.
Unable to resist, the little white deer closed his eyes. Like clinging to a lifeline, he instinctively leaned toward the source of that comfort.
Su Ci glanced down, seeing the small deer trying to burrow into his arms. With a slight smile, he simply sat cross-legged on the floor, letting the icy little deer cub cling to him and draw warmth from his body.
His palm came to rest on the back of the boy’s head once again, channeling more soul power into him as he spoke softly: “Feel the power inside you. Guide it. Control it.”
The little white deer heard his words.
But controlling that power… it felt so hard.
“Don’t be afraid. That power belongs to you,” Su Ci said, as though sensing the boy’s thoughts. “Stay rational. You can do this.”
The little white deer was talented, with a natural sense of intuition. Su Ci was confident he could succeed.
“Don’t let the power control you. This is the moment when you truly need to show your strength.”
Hearing Su Ci’s gentle words and feeling the steady warmth coursing through him, the little white deer began to let go of his weakness.
Just as he had done many times before, the boy forced himself to strengthen his resolve, facing his fear and uncertainty head-on.
This time, however, it was different—because someone was by his side.
As the boy began to fight against his inner turmoil, and as Su Ci continued to pour soul power into him, guiding him to suppress and manage the unruly energy within his bloodline, the dangerous force that had even frightened the little white deer himself slowly began to dissipate. It retreated, settling once more within his body.
When warmth returned to his body, and clarity returned to his mind, the boy opened his eyes in surprise and delight.
??