Chapter 54
When the little white deer opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the new caretaker.
Just yesterday, they had formed an alliance. The caretaker had given him a delicious chip and even offered him a rather unreliable piece of advice.
And today, when he once again found himself trapped in a cold, desolate world, utterly helpless and hopeless, it was this caretaker who suddenly appeared—bringing warmth and guiding him to suppress the icy power within him that had been trying to take control.
This time felt entirely different from before.
The little white deer, now five going on six, had been at the nursery for two years. He considered himself a “big kid” and remembered many things from his past quite clearly.
He knew that he was a Silver Deer, and that when his bloodline power surged, it unleashed the force of ice and snow. When that happened, no one could help him, and worse, it posed a grave danger to the other cubs around him.
So when he was sent to this nursery, he hadn’t felt much resentment.
Although the environment here was harsh, with less food and fewer toys compared to where he had lived before—and although he was confined to his room most of the time with only limited playtime—he didn’t hold a grudge against any of it.
This was because, during the first time his bloodline power had erupted and he went berserk, he had almost killed the children living with him.
Those kids were clumsy, slow learners, mischievous, and always playing pranks on him. But the little white deer had never once wanted to hurt them.
So after the incident, when the nanny bot caring for him told him that the orphanage had decided to send him away, he had accepted it calmly. The only regret he felt was not being able to apologize to those kids before he was taken onto the spaceship.
That was how he ended up here, in this harsh environment surrounded by carnivorous beasts.
The instincts of his bloodline left him in constant fear that he would one day be eaten. At the same time, he also had to endure the torment of the icy power within him.
While Number Two suffered from the constant burning of flames, the little white deer was frozen by frost and snow. It was hard to say who suffered more. Perhaps he had it slightly better than Number Two, since he was younger and his bloodline surges weren’t as frequent.
Even so, he often woke up in the middle of the night, frozen by the power of ice and snow, spending entire nights being eroded by cold. Even with the heater on, the chill seeping from his very bones and blood couldn’t be warded off.
Whenever a cub showed signs of going berserk, the base’s AI would spray them with sedatives to quickly stabilize their emotions.
But these sedatives weren’t very effective on Number Seven.
Perhaps it was because the icy power slowed his blood flow, causing the drugs to take longer to work. As a result, even after inhaling the sedatives, Number Seven had to endure the unbearable cold for a long time before he finally lost consciousness.
What’s more, because of the little white deer’s naturally calm and rational personality, his bloodline power surges didn’t always push him into a full berserk state.
This meant that the base’s AI often failed to detect his condition and thus didn’t spray him with sedatives.
So the kind of cold that could freeze Number Eight into unconsciousness was something the little white deer had to endure with sheer willpower. Night after night, while everyone else was fast asleep, he was left alone, trapped in his icy world.
By the early hours of the morning, as his bloodline power subsided, the little white deer’s frozen body would gradually begin to warm up again.
Dr. Gu had told him that there was no way around this. Although he carried the bloodline of the Silver Deer, his body was still fundamentally human. Every eruption of his bloodline power was, in essence, reshaping and transforming his body.
He needed to endure these trials and adapt, gradually building up his capacity to withstand the power of the Silver Deer and to master the icy force it wielded.
This was a process every beast-blood warrior had to go through.
And so, the little white deer had no choice but to silently endure. Yet the pain of these experiences was unbearable, and today, he had almost given in to the voice in his heart, telling him to fully embrace the frost.
The little white deer knew that doing so would end his suffering, but at the same time, he would no longer be himself.
He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to become a beast…
Yet, just as he was on the verge of collapse, he encountered a miracle.
In that moment of despair, someone had hugged him, giving him warmth and teaching him how to suppress that freezing power. This was something the little white deer had never experienced before!
Even more remarkably, the method that person had taught him actually worked! He had successfully subdued the power of ice and snow!
The little white deer looked up at the person who had held him and guided him. His beautiful deer eyes sparkled with pure joy.
“It’s you! You really came to protect me!”
Number Seven’s smile lit up his face, his eyes curving into crescent moons, bright and charming. He felt warmth not only in his body but also in his heart. The ice spike he had been clutching unconsciously in his hand had already slipped loose, rolling across the ground with a clatter.
However, the little white deer quickly realized something. Hastily stepping back out of Su Ci’s arms, he asked worriedly, “Are you cold?”
Su Ci thought for a moment, then showed him his hand.
After his recent injuries, Su Ci’s body had become far more fragile—even the webbing of a giant spider could pierce his skin. The hand he had placed on the boy’s head was naturally not immune to the cold.
His palm was pale and bloodless, tinged with blue and purple, appearing severely frostbitten—though in reality, it was not as serious as it looked.
Still, it was enough to terrify the little white deer.
Moments ago, he had wondered how the caretaker could look so unaffected by his icy power. Had Su Ci been hiding some kind of secret strength? But now, all his doubts vanished instantly.
The boy gently cradled Su Ci’s “frozen” hand in his own, his lips trembling, and tears welling up in his eyes.
This time, the little white deer didn’t bother hiding his emotions. After all, he had already cried in front of the caretaker yesterday, so being seen again didn’t matter.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…” he choked out, tears rolling down his cheeks. “Will your hand still work in the future? Does it need to be cut off?”
At that thought, the slight blush that had returned to his face drained away, leaving him pale again.
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he blurted out urgently, “Wait! We need to go to the medical bay right away! If you lie in one of those medical pods, it can fix any injury!”
As he spoke, Number Seven tried to pull Su Ci toward the medical bay.
Although Su Ci did plan to head out later in the day, now wasn’t the time. Gently, he used his other hand to stop the boy, soothing him: “It’ll be fine in a little while…”
Seeing Number Seven’s tearful, worried face, Su Ci hesitated, then changed his tone. “Or, maybe you could help me by bringing a basin of warm water?”
“Okay! I’ll go right away!”
Number Seven sprang into action, dashing off to find a nanny bot for assistance. But after just a few steps, he stopped abruptly. In the corner of the activity room, he spotted Number Two sitting there, tightly wrapped by the arms and legs of none other than Number Eight…
Number Two, who had been distracted by the commotion, looked up at him at the same time.
Their eyes met. The air grew thick with awkwardness.
Confusion flashed in Number Seven’s eyes. If he wasn’t mistaken, the one being held by Number Two… was definitely Number Eight, right? There was no other cub in the nursery with a big, fluffy tail like that!
But what were they doing? Why were they holding each other like that?
Number Seven couldn’t understand it but was undeniably shocked.
However, remembering that the caretaker was still waiting for the warm water, he quickly suppressed his questions and ran out of the activity room.
Number Two, who had opened his mouth to offer an explanation, could only close his eyes and bite back his words when the boy ran off. His jaw tightened with frustration.
Number Seven, ever efficient, soon returned with the nanny bot, carrying a basin of warm water between them. Together, they placed it in front of Su Ci.
By now, the purple-blue discoloration on Su Ci’s hand had already faded slightly. Once submerged in the warm water, his blood circulation gradually improved, and the stiffness in his fingers began to ease.
Only then did the anxious little white deer finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Great!
The caretaker’s hand was saved!
With that weight lifted off his chest, Number Seven’s attention naturally shifted back to Number Two and Number Eight.
At this moment, the little white deer suddenly remembered—before the caretaker had arrived, someone else had hugged him and given him warmth.
That someone was the very wolf he didn’t get along with: Number Eight, the big dumb wolf.
Recalling the wolf cub’s weak and barely conscious state, Number Seven thought he finally understood why the caretaker’s injuries were relatively mild.
It must have been because Number Eight had already been frozen. After Number Eight let go of him, the intensity of the ice and snow power had lessened. So when the caretaker hugged him, the freezing effect wasn’t as severe.
Of course, this didn’t lessen his gratitude toward Su Ci.
After all, it was the caretaker’s presence and guidance that had helped him overcome the power within for the first time. It had given him confidence that he could resist his bloodline’s strength in the future and not be controlled by ice and snow.
That was incredibly, immeasurably important to him.
But the fact remained that the first person to give him warmth was Number Eight. He couldn’t deny that.
This realization left the little white deer conflicted. After all, he hadn’t forgotten that it was this same big dumb wolf who had mocked him incessantly, pushing him into emotional turmoil and ultimately into his berserk state.
If he thought about it carefully, though… maybe it was karma. They were even now: one mistake each, one for one.
However…
The little white deer couldn’t remain so indifferent.
He couldn’t help but glance at Number Eight, utterly puzzled. Why had Number Eight hugged him at that moment? Why had he wrapped him in his fluffy tail, keeping him from losing consciousness completely and holding on until the caretaker arrived?
That wasn’t something the big dumb wolf would usually do… The little white deer thought back to how Number Eight had handed him that tattered cloth and even wiped away his tears.
Perhaps it was because he so rarely experienced kindness that even a small act of friendliness from Number Eight made him dwell on the good in him.
Though he despised himself for thinking this way, in the end, the little white deer puffed out his cheeks and, after some hesitation, shuffled slowly toward Number Two and Number Eight.
Number Two noticed the little white deer approaching.
Watching him inch closer, Number Two was inexplicably reminded of Number Three from earlier.
This kid… could he also be coming for Number Eight?
Sure enough, as Number Two suspected, the moment the little white deer drew near, he asked, “Number Two, what are you doing? Is Number Eight… okay?”
As for the fact that Number Two had seen him cry earlier, the little white deer had already come to terms with it. After all…
Number Two was now holding Number Eight—and had been holding him for quite a while!
Compared to that, what was crying in front of him? Number Two’s situation was far more scandalous!
Noticing the curious look in the little white deer’s eyes, the red-haired boy clenched his jaw and closed his eyes briefly in silent frustration. Finally, he gritted out through his teeth: “The caretaker dumped him on me…”
The little white deer was surprised.
The temperamental tiger cub had actually answered his question instead of snapping at him! How strange!
But… how did the caretaker tossing the wolf cub to him explain why they were holding each other like this? Did the caretaker tell them to hug like this? Since when was Number Two so obedient?
The little white deer’s expression grew increasingly confused and curious.
Number Two took a deep breath again, as though telling himself to calm down. Then, keeping his face stiff and serious, he said coolly: “You went berserk just now, didn’t you?”
The little white deer nodded. He saw no reason to deny it.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Number Two finally explained, “You almost froze the little wolf to death. He must’ve sensed the heat from my Crimson Flame, and once he touched me, he refused to let go.”
So, he had no choice but to let the wolf cling to him like this!
The little white deer nodded, accepting Number Two’s explanation. Then, after some hesitation, he reached out and felt Number Eight’s body temperature.
“He seems okay now,” the boy said.
Number Two had also noticed that the icy aura was gradually dissipating. Hearing Number Seven’s observation, he tentatively tried to pry Number Eight’s hands off him.
The wolf cub, who had been clutching him tightly earlier, now loosened his grip easily and let go with just a light tug.
It seemed Number Eight had completely passed out.
“Oh no! What’s wrong with Number Eight?”
4586, noticing the wolf cub’s condition, quickly came over to check on him. Fortunately, aside from a low body temperature, Number Eight didn’t appear to have any serious issues. After informing Su Ci, the nanny bot picked up the little wolf cub and left the activity room, planning to take him back to his room to warm up.
Watching 4586 leave, the little white deer thought for a moment before turning to the caretaker. “How’s your hand now?”
Su Ci flexed his right hand to show that it had fully regained its dexterity. Nearby, the basin of now-cold water had become Number Six’s new toy.
The monkey boy was splashing happily, slapping the surface of the water with both hands. He showed no concern for the wolf cub’s condition and, after briefly enjoying the awkward situation with Number Two and Number Seven, had quickly lost interest. His carefree attitude was, in a way, enviable.
Number Seven nodded. “Then I’ll head back to my room.”
Before leaving, he picked up the toy flute that had fallen to the floor and placed it back in the toy basket. When he noticed Number Eight’s bamboo flute lying nearby, he also picked it up, then hurried after 4586 to join him in the elevator.
Su Ci watched him leave. He was just considering what to do next when a message from 4586 came through.
“Su-Su, Number Eight said earlier that Number Two has dark circles under his eyes. He might not have slept well last night,” the nanny bot reported. “Number Two is in a very critical growth stage and needs extra care and attention from his caretaker!”
Su Ci’s gaze naturally shifted to Number Two.
Since he hadn’t enabled privacy mode for his communication, Number Two had also heard every word from 4586.
The red-haired boy’s expression turned an interesting mix of red and green as he clenched his fists in frustration.
That Number Eight!
Turning to the metallic wall, Number Two caught his reflection. Sure enough, he could see the faint dark circles under his eyes. His slightly haggard appearance made it obvious that he hadn’t slept well.
But it wasn’t like he often had restful nights anyway!
Number Two couldn’t tell if the dark circles had always been there or if they were a result of particularly poor sleep last night.
And as for why he hadn’t slept well last night…
The image of Number Eight in the hallway, with the caretaker petting his tail, flashed through his mind. The red-haired boy froze, his body stiffening in embarrassment.
He shifted his gaze away from the wall and glanced nervously at the caretaker.
Su Ci was also looking at him. The young man’s scrutinizing expression, coupled with the thoughtful look in his eyes, made it seem like he was genuinely examining the dark circles.
The tiger cub immediately bristled. “What are you staring at?”
Su Ci responded calmly, “Looking at you.”
“…”
Number Two’s tiger eyes widened in shock, but he couldn’t think of a retort.
This caretaker… He’s just as shameless as Number Eight! No wonder the two of them made that kind of deal!
As his face flushed red again and he struggled to find the right words, the caretaker suddenly said, “Thanks for earlier.”
Thanks? For what?
Number Two stared at Su Ci, perplexed, and voiced his confusion.
“Just now, you didn’t throw Number Eight off,” Su Ci replied.
In truth, Su Ci was a bit surprised himself. Given the little tiger’s personality and his strained relationship with the wolf cub, he hadn’t expected him to help at all.
If Number Two had refused, Su Ci might have had to resort to a bit of persuasion.
Luckily, the tiger cub, though sharp-tongued, had a soft heart.
As soon as Su Ci finished speaking, Number Two’s expression darkened. He retorted coldly, “I was going to throw him off! He’s the one who clung to me and wouldn’t let go!”
Su Ci responded with a casual “oh,” nodding as though he understood.
Number Two glared at him, his lips tightly pressed together.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back his question: “Then why did you shove Number Eight onto me in the first place?”
Originally, Number Two had thought this weak-looking caretaker wouldn’t last long at the nursery. But now, he was starting to think Su Ci might not be as simple as he seemed.
Having held Number Eight for so long earlier, Number Two had naturally sensed just how intense the icy power emanating from the wolf cub was—clearly a result of Number Seven’s bloodline influence.
And yet, this same caretaker had hugged Number Seven for a significant amount of time and emerged seemingly unscathed, apart from his hand getting frostbitten.
How could that be possible?
Remembering the invisible presence in the elevator and how the caretaker had spoken to thin air in the hallway, Number Two felt even more certain of his suspicions.
This caretaker wasn’t as ordinary as he looked!
But Su Ci remained calm under Number Two’s scrutiny. He simply said, “You’re warm, he’s cold—doesn’t that balance things out nicely?”
Number Two found himself unable to argue with that.
To be honest, if Number Seven’s bloodline power could counteract the effects of his Crimson Flame and help him stay rational, he might consider convincing Number Seven to leave Base 24 with him.
Although Number Seven was young, he was clever. If the two of them worked together, their chances of survival in the Blood Mist would increase significantly.
As for whether Su Ci was strong or weak… that didn’t matter, as long as the caretaker didn’t become an obstacle to his escape. What Su Ci’s abilities were had nothing to do with him.
The red-haired boy gradually calmed down, only to see Su Ci leaning in slightly with a curious look. “So, you really didn’t sleep well last night?”
The reminder of his poor sleep made Number Two bristle again. “What does that have to do with you?!”
Seeing the boy’s expression, Su Ci stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Are you sure it doesn’t?”
“Of course not!”
“Alright, if you say so.”
Su Ci nodded and didn’t press further. He turned toward the toy area, picked up the flute Number Seven had returned to the basket, and headed to the corner where Number Three was sitting.
Number Two watched him walk away. Frustrated, he flicked his tiger tail a few times before heading back to his own corner. Crossing his arms, he sat down, sulking.
Should he make a deal with the caretaker or not?
The tiger cub once again found himself caught in an internal debate. However, his mind remained sharp—whatever the case, this matter would have to wait until they were alone!
In the corner, Su Ci had started teaching Number Three how to play the flute.
Whether it was due to his natural aptitude or his vision issues, Number Three was progressing more slowly than Number Eight. He quietly asked Su Ci two questions, and after receiving explanations, began practicing earnestly on his own.
The mournful, hesitant sound of the flute filled the activity room once again.
Number Two observed this, feeling a little surprised. But upon thinking it over, he decided it wasn’t all that shocking.
After all, Number Three and Number Eight’s interest in this flute-like thing had only started yesterday, and the one responsible for such a shift in the nursery could only be the new caretaker.
The little monkey, who had been playing in the water, was also drawn to the sound of the flute.
Abandoning the water basin, he stood up and began walking toward Number Three’s corner. But after taking a couple of steps, he turned back, tipped the water out onto the floor, and then raised the empty basin over his head like a trophy.
With the basin held high, he dashed over to join Number Three.
“Number Six wants to play too!”
The monkey boy flipped the basin upside down onto the floor and somehow produced two drumsticks from who-knows-where.
“Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!”
He began hammering the metal basin with a chaotic rhythm, the clangs accompanied by his mischievous, cackling laughter. The noise was loud enough to hurt everyone’s ears.
Number Three, who had been diligently practicing the flute, slowly lowered it, his small hands coming up to cover his ears. His tiny frame shrank back into the corner, curling up into a tight little ball.
Seeing this, the monkey boy didn’t stop. On the contrary, he seemed to have discovered something amusing and laughed even harder, his cackling reaching an even more obnoxious pitch.
“Let’s play together!” he shouted, gleefully drumming on the basin. He must have thought this was some kind of noise-making game.
But as he banged away, a slender hand suddenly reached out from the side and pressed down on him.
Despite its delicate appearance, the hand was surprisingly strong, and no matter how much the monkey struggled, he couldn’t break free. Annoyed, he turned to glare at the culprit: the caretaker.
Su Ci was looking at him calmly, his voice soft but firm: “No more noise.”
The young man’s black eyes were deep and calm, yet there seemed to be something unnerving lurking beneath their surface. For the first time, the little monkey—who had always been fearless—felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
Of course, he didn’t understand this feeling. All he knew was that it might not be a good idea to provoke the caretaker right now.
Still, the monkey was puzzled.
“I wasn’t being noisy,” the golden-haired boy said. “I was playing with Number Three! Do you want to join us? It’s really fun!”
He slipped out of Su Ci’s grip and happily grabbed his drumsticks again, giving the basin another loud bang.
Hearing the noise, the monkey laughed even harder.
But when he raised the second stick, he suddenly found he couldn’t bring it down.
It wasn’t that anything was stopping him; rather, it was…
The golden-haired boy raised his head, his pale red round eyes gazing at the caretaker. The beautiful young man’s face remained calm, his expression indifferent, and his aura unchanged.
And yet, Number Six had the inexplicable feeling that if he brought the drumstick down again, something bad might happen.
He glanced at the caretaker, then at the basin in front of him. Finally, with a huff, he tossed the drumsticks aside and pouted, “Hmph! I’m not playing with you anymore!”
With that, he stood up and dashed away, heading back to his toy hovercraft.
In the now-quiet corner, Number Three, who had been cowering, hesitantly uncovered his ears. He let out a small breath of relief.
Lifting his little head, he turned to look at Su Ci.
In the boy’s typically dull, pale blue eyes, there now seemed to be a faint glimmer of light. It was faint and fragmented, like the first morning star appearing in a boundless, dark night.
