Chapter 57
Seeing that the little wolf cub remained silent for a long time, the little white deer tilted his head curiously and said, “Number Eight?”
The little wolf cub avoided his gaze and spotted the water cup on the table. He quickly said, “Sev—Uh, Youyou, I’m thirsty. Can I use your cup to drink some water?”
The little white deer looked at him suspiciously, and even Su Ci couldn’t help but glance at the little wolf cub curiously.
The boy’s attempt to change the subject was far too obvious—anyone could see it. So…
Why was he trying to change the subject?
Without waiting for an answer, the little wolf cub stood up, grabbed the cup, filled it with water, and, under the watchful eyes of the child and the caretaker, gulped it down.
When he finished, he realized both of them were still staring at him.
The boy frowned and muttered, “It’s been so long. I’ve already forgotten! I think being called Number Eight is pretty good…”
“But that’s just a number, not our real names,” the little white deer pointed out.
As a precocious child, his perspective aligned well with Su Ci’s, and, of course, it was true.
The little wolf cub pursed his lips. Unable to argue back, he crossed his arms, turned his head stubbornly, and declared, “Well, I don’t like my old name. I want to be called Number Eight!”
The little white deer blinked. Though Number Eight’s self-important tone usually annoyed him, this time, he didn’t find it unpleasant.
Because, suddenly, he realized this was probably Number Eight’s way of protecting himself. It was as though he was pretending to be tough so he wouldn’t be bullied.
Did Number Eight have times like this, too?
For the first time, the little white deer felt like he truly understood the little wolf cub today. Though he really was a bit foolish and had the fierce temperament of a carnivore, he still had a good side when his bloodline power wasn’t in chaos.
“Alright, then,” the little white deer nodded, going along with him. “I’ll call you Number Eight from now on.”
However, even though Number Seven had already given in to him, the little wolf cub still felt unhappy.
“Your name sounds so nice,” he said sourly.
Youyou. It sounded adorable and matched Number Seven’s appearance perfectly.
The little white deer tilted his head. Although Number Eight was complimenting him, he could sense that the little wolf cub, who had been in a good mood moments earlier, was now feeling off.
Was Number Eight’s old name really that bad?
After thinking for a moment, the little white deer said, “Youyou is just my nickname. I don’t remember my real name, either.”
The little wolf cub was puzzled. “What’s a nickname?”
“It’s a simpler name for people to call you. A real name is more formal,” the little white deer explained while looking at the boy. “So, a person can have two names.”
Seeming to understand something, the boy’s beautiful green eyes lit up instantly. “You mean…”
“If you don’t like your old name, you can choose a new one,” the little white deer said with a soft smile. When he smiled, a small dimple appeared at the corner of his lips, and coupled with his silver-white curls, he looked lively and adorable.
The little wolf cub had never seen Number Seven smile like that before. He stared blankly for a moment, but soon, the topic of names grabbed all his attention.
“Wow, Youyou, you’re so smart!”
So, it turns out you can name yourself!
The little wolf cub became excited, and his big tail, which had been hanging down, perked up again. “Then I’ll give myself a proper name! My old one was just a nickname, and it sounded terrible! I don’t want that name anymore!”
As an orphan raised by space pirates, being fed, clothed, and given the occasional snack was already considered pretty good. Names? That was just something they shouted out randomly.
Though he had only been at the nursery for less than a year, when he thought back to life at the pirate base, it felt like a dream.
He didn’t like staying in his room; he would run out at every opportunity. He hated being sprayed with sedatives, and he despised the confined medical pods even more… Yet, among all the cubs, the little wolf cub might have been the one who truly wanted to stay at the nursery the most.
Because here, even if he lost a fight, he still got to eat. Even if he broke all the furniture, the caretaker robots would replace it quickly. If he got hurt, he would be treated immediately. If it was cold, there was heating; if it was hot, there was air conditioning…
Even though some adults privately called them “little monsters,” showing disdain or even fear, at least—at least—they didn’t hurt him. Here, he didn’t have to live in a cage, nor did he have to endure a collar and chain around his neck.
It wasn’t until he was rescued from the pirate base and brought to the nursery that Number Eight realized—he wasn’t an unwanted little stray dog; he was a magnificent Night Howler Wolf!
He didn’t want his old name at all!
“What kind of name do you want?” The little white deer’s voice pulled the wolf cub back from his thoughts.
The once overly excited little boy suddenly frowned, his expression conflicted.
“What name, huh…”
He didn’t even recognize all the numbers yet, so picking a name was way too hard for him!
But soon, the little wolf cub thought of something. He turned his head and looked toward the caretaker, who was once again munching on potato chips.
When in doubt, ask the caretaker! Surely the caretaker would help him!
Noticing the little wolf cub’s expectant gaze, Su Ci paused, then watched as the boy shuffled closer, wagging his tail in a fawning manner. “Caretaker Su, can you pick a name for me?”
The boy’s voice softened, a complete contrast to his usual brash and aggressive tone—almost like he had become a different wolf.
Behind them, the little white deer’s eyes widened slightly.
So, this is what Number Eight is like in front of the caretaker!
Moreover, he also keenly realized that the relationship between the caretaker and the little wolf cub seemed even closer than his so-called “allyship” with Number Eight… Just a moment ago, the little wolf cub had pulled the caretaker out to the hallway, after all.
The little white deer’s feelings grew a little complicated.
But Number Eight didn’t notice the change in the little white deer’s expression. He was too busy trying to charm the caretaker into giving him a nice name.
Just as the boy was about to offer ear or tail scratches in exchange for help, the caretaker unexpectedly agreed. “Alright.”
Su Ci folded the potato chip bag and put it aside.
Huh?
It was the first time the caretaker had agreed so readily, leaving the little wolf cub momentarily stunned. His green eyes were full of confusion.
Su Ci wiped his fingers with a cloth, took out some paper and a pen, and placed them on Number Seven’s desk. Then he sat down on the edge of Number Seven’s little bed.
Noticing the caretaker’s seriousness, the little wolf cub’s playful and ingratiating expression faded. Instinctively, he sat up straighter and adopted a more serious demeanor.
From the caretaker’s attitude, the boy vaguely sensed that naming was something that needed to be taken seriously.
And this… was a kind of treatment he had never experienced before.
Feeling valued, the little wolf cub felt a strange, bittersweet emotion welling up in his chest. He didn’t know what it was called; he only knew his nose felt a little tingly.
The boy pulled over Number Seven’s small chair and obediently sat down next to Su Ci.
The little white deer couldn’t help but scoot over too.
The two children crowded around Su Ci, their eyes fixed on him with pure trust and curiosity.
But Su Ci didn’t start writing immediately. Instead, he moved the paper and pen to the little wolf cub and said, “Here. Write down your real name.”
Number Eight froze. He couldn’t write! And besides…
He really didn’t like that old name…
The little white deer also felt that the caretaker’s request was a bit unfair. He opened his mouth, about to speak up for the little wolf cub, but to his surprise, the little wolf cub had already picked up the pen.
Number Eight didn’t know why he had taken the pen. He stared at the blank sheet of paper in front of him, watching the tip of the pen land on the paper as he clumsily wrote—or rather, drew—a crooked symbol.
As the black symbol took shape on the paper, the little wolf cub froze when he laid down the pen.
He stared at the symbol, a strange and profound feeling rising in his chest. Yet, he couldn’t quite describe what that feeling was.
Was this his old name?
Probably not. No one had ever taught him to read, let alone told him what his name looked like. So, he had no idea how to write it.
Then what did this symbol mean?
It didn’t look like any letters he had seen before. Perhaps it was just something he randomly drew? But… he thought it was beautiful! He liked it a lot!
The little wolf cub put the pen down and stared at the symbol for a long time, committing it deeply to memory.
Su Ci was also looking at the symbol.
To be precise, it was the little wolf cub’s true name. Although Number Eight’s talent wasn’t as extraordinary as A-Yan’s, and the name wasn’t complete, achieving this much at his age was already remarkable.
And, of course, it wasn’t difficult for someone as knowledgeable as Su Ci to decipher it.
“Finished?” Su Ci asked.
The little wolf cub snapped out of his thoughts and nodded hesitantly. It… probably counted as finished, right?
Beside him, Number Seven stared at the symbol on the paper. Although he only knew slightly more characters than Number Eight, he couldn’t see how this was a word at all!
But since both the caretaker and the little wolf cub seemed quite satisfied, Number Seven was left feeling a little confused.
“What… kind of character is this?”
The little white deer didn’t dare outright say that it looked like a random doodle. Instead, he asked uncertainly, “How do you pronounce it?”
Su Ci tore the page off, placed it aside, and then wrote a character on a new piece of paper.
(Láng)
The little wolf cub’s eyes widened in awe. “Wow! Su… Su Su, your handwriting is so pretty!”
Calling him “Caretaker Su” all the time was too much of a mouthful. The little wolf cub decided to follow 4586’s lead and shortened it to “Su Su.” It was simple, easy to say, and just as pleasant as “Youyou.”
Su Ci didn’t correct him. After all, he was already used to hearing 4586 call him that.
“What character is this?” the little white deer asked again, his deep blue-black eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“This character is pronounced Láng,” Su Ci explained.
“Is that the same ‘láng’ as in Night Howler Wolf?” The little wolf cub’s gaze fixed on the character, his expression carrying a kind of reverence.
But Su Ci shook his head. “It sounds the same, but it’s not the same character.”
“Then what does this character mean?” the little white deer pressed on, full of questions.
“It means a stone as beautiful as jade,” Su Ci explained.
“What’s jade?” the little white deer asked curiously.
Su Ci hesitated for a moment, then pulled a button from his spatial clasp. When he opened his palm, the button had transformed into a pure white ping’an kou (peace buckle).
“This is made of jade,” he said.
He gestured for the little white deer to extend his hand, then gently placed the jade buckle in his palm. “This is called a jade buckle, or peace buckle. It symbolizes holding onto peace and has the meaning of safety and smooth fortune.”
“In ancient times, people liked to wear these on their person to seek blessings of good health, happiness, and harmony.”
The little white deer listened intently, his eyes shimmering with a soft glow, as beautiful as a starry night sky.
“Hold onto peace…” he murmured, staring at the jade buckle in his hand.
The jade was pure and flawless. Its white color was as pristine as moonlight, yet far warmer and more gentle than snow. At first, it felt cool to the touch, but as it absorbed his body heat, it gradually became warm.
Láng, a beautiful stone like jade…
“I think this name suits Number Eight perfectly!” The little white deer looked up and said to Su Ci with a gentle smile.
The little wolf cub was also staring at the jade buckle. Hearing the little white deer’s words, he felt a faint warmth spread across his cheeks. He reached out, carefully took the jade buckle from Su Ci, and began to play with it cautiously in his hand.
This thing called jade really was beautiful…
Since they had started talking about jade, Su Ci explained further, “Jade can be used to make many things besides peace buckles—jade pendants, jade hairpins, jade bracelets, and even flutes made from jade.”
Hearing this, both children exclaimed in unison, “Wow~!”
“A flute made of jade?”
“That must look so beautiful!”
Seeing the two children’s bright, sparkling eyes, Su Ci almost couldn’t resist conjuring a jade flute for them right then and there.
However, he held back. After all, while soul power could be restored through sleep, it was best not to waste it frivolously.
“Alright, let’s continue with the naming,” Su Ci said, bringing the topic back on track. The two children turned their attention to the paper once again.
“Didn’t we already choose a name?” The little wolf cub asked, confused.
He was especially satisfied with the name Láng. It was as beautiful as jade yet as solid as stone—both pretty and strong. He felt there couldn’t be a better name for him!
Su Ci glanced at the little wolf cub’s earlier scribble and then added a character after Láng.
(Láng Zé)
Su Ci pronounced it aloud: “This is your name.”
Of course, it wasn’t quite the little wolf cub’s true name, but it was close to the meaning of the symbol he had drawn. As the little wolf cub continued to grow and comprehend more about himself, perhaps one day he would be able to write down his true name fully.
“Láng Zé…”
The little wolf cub stared blankly at the paper. He repeated the name that the caretaker had given him, and for some reason, a feeling rose deep in his heart. It told him—yes! This was it!
This was his name!
“Yay! I have a name now! I like this name!” The boy cheered with a bright smile on his face, though his vibrant green eyes seemed to glisten faintly red.
He jumped up and down, his voice full of joy, using his lively movements to mask the slight sting in his nose and the surging emotions in his chest.
The little white deer, though curious about what the character Zé meant, held back his question when he saw how happy the little wolf cub was. Instead, he clapped his hands cheerfully along with him.
The little white deer had completely relaxed now, gentle and elegant. Even when he smiled, he only slightly curved his lips, revealing a small dimple at the corner of his mouth. His demeanor was completely different from the lively little wolf cub, yet equally endearing.
At this moment, the little wolf cub stopped jumping around and turned to the little white deer. “Youyou, didn’t you say you don’t remember your real name? Why don’t you let Su Su give you a new one too!”
Saying that, he looked eagerly at Su Ci and asked, “Can he?”
Hearing this, the little white deer also turned to look at the caretaker.
The caretaker was so amazing! The little wolf cub had just scribbled a random doodle, and Su Ci had managed to create such a beautiful name full of meaning out of it!
The little white deer was certain that the name wasn’t just randomly chosen. When he looked at the symbol the little wolf cub had drawn and then at the character Láng Zé that Su Ci wrote, he felt deep down that they fit together perfectly.
It was as if those two characters were meant to represent that symbol. This feeling… it was simply wonderful!
Láng Zé… What a beautiful name.
It was nothing like his name, which was so simple…
Su Ci glanced at the little white deer as if he could read his thoughts. He tore off the paper with the previous name, handed both sheets to the little wolf cub, and softly recited:
“Youyou deer cry, they eat the wild apples. My honored guests arrive, and the zither and flute play.”
“Your name may be simple, but it’s not ordinary,” Su Ci said.
The little white deer froze. “Youyou deer cry, they eat the wild apples…”
When the child’s clear and innocent voice repeated the ancient poem, it rolled naturally off his tongue, creating a sense of dissonance—like a moment where time blurred, bridging the ancient and the present. Even Su Ci felt slightly dazed for a moment.
“What does this line mean?” the little white deer couldn’t help but ask.
Although he didn’t understand the meaning, just reciting the words gave him a sense of beauty, a wonderful rhythm that lingered in his heart. He thought… this line was beautiful.
“This is a poem,” Su Ci corrected gently.
“A poem?” The little white deer tilted his head in curiosity.
The little wolf—no, Láng Zé—also leaned over, squeezing closer to Su Ci and sitting down beside him. “What’s a poem?”
“Poems, also known as poetry, are a form of literature created by humans. They carry a natural rhythm and, in their earliest forms, were meant to be sung. It’s a fascinating part of human culture.”
As Su Ci spoke, he shared snippets of knowledge about a civilization that had once flourished on this planet. The two children listened intently, their curious gazes like flickering torches of hope. After countless millennia of silence, it was as if a faint flame of civilization had been reignited—small, yet carrying infinite promise.
Little Láng Zé, having listened to Su Ci’s lessons before, was already used to his storytelling style. In fact, he loved it. It felt like the caretaker was pulling fascinating tales from thin air, as though these things had truly existed a long, long time ago. They were captivating.
“Can you sing it?” Láng Zé asked suddenly.
Even though they had started off trying to choose a name for the little white deer, the conversation had wandered elsewhere. Yet, the little white deer didn’t feel the least bit impatient; on the contrary, he was completely enthralled.
He loved the poem the caretaker had just recited. He wanted to know everything there was to know about it!
Su Ci looked at the two children, their eyes filled with anticipation. Finally, he sighed softly and began to sing in a low, ethereal voice.
Little Láng Zé and the little white deer couldn’t help but widen their eyes.
They listened intently, their gazes fixed on Su Ci. The singing was pure and distant, as though it echoed from another time. Even though they couldn’t understand the mysterious words, they could feel the beauty—an almost sacred and natural beauty.
The young man who sang this ancient poem, already striking in appearance, seemed to possess a new and indescribable aura.
It was as if he were surrounded by a soft, glowing light, making it impossible to look away. Even after the singing ended, the two children were still lost in the moment, unable to snap out of their daze.
As for Su Ci, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
When Su Ci finished his singing, he noticed something unusual—the faint, almost imperceptible power of the rules surrounding them had become slightly more active.
The change was incredibly subtle, so subtle that it would have been easy to overlook, but Su Ci still sensed it.
What’s going on? Su Ci frowned, deep in thought.
It didn’t take long for him to figure it out.
Rules are omnipresent, and their strength, to some extent, depends on the flourishing of civilization. Civilization can be seen as a collection of rules, and its prosperity relies on life as its carrier.
When the civilizations and life forms on the earth perish, the blow to the rules—or to the “Heavenly Dao”—is devastating, to say the least.
Thus, as Su Ci taught these two children and passed down knowledge of past civilizations to them, he indirectly contributed to the recovery of the Heavenly Dao.
He wasn’t expecting to restore much, but at the very least, it was a step in the right direction.
The heavens and earth were always one.
The prosperity of the earth would promote the growth of the Heavenly Dao, and as the Heavenly Dao grew stronger, it would, in turn, nourish the earth. The two were intertwined, existing in harmony and supporting one another.
Su Ci had originally planned to help his “old friends” find successors, so he didn’t mind sowing the seeds of civilization for the Heavenly Dao as well.
Having come to this realization, he dismissed the distracting thoughts.
Seeing that the little white deer had finally come back to his senses, Su Ci pushed the paper and pen toward him and said, “Youyou, write down your true name here.”
The young boy’s deer-like ears twitched slightly. After hearing such a beautiful poem, he no longer felt his nickname was ordinary.
He nodded earnestly, picked up the pen, and began to write.
The little white deer knew how to write his nickname, of course. The caretaker robots had taught him, and he remembered it clearly.
However, as the tip of his pen touched the blank paper, something unexpected happened.
The little white deer realized he couldn’t control the pen at all! The pen seemed to have a mind of its own, wobbling and skittering across the paper. When the final stroke fell, he looked down and saw… the exact same kind of scribbled doodle that Láng Zé had drawn earlier.
Seeing the strange scribble, the little white deer flushed with embarrassment.
Did I really lose control of my hand just because I haven’t written in a long time?
The little boy felt embarrassed, but Su Ci, looking at the pattern he had drawn, nodded approvingly.
The little white deer’s talent was indeed impressive. At such a young age, he could already outline his true name with such clarity. Though the lines were somewhat chaotic, compared to Láng Zé, his attempt was slightly better.
“Can I write it again?” The little white deer looked at the caretaker and asked.
He didn’t say he had done poorly because Láng Zé’s result looked about the same. If he said his writing was bad, wouldn’t that mean Láng Zé’s was bad, too?
However, the little white deer had high expectations for himself, so he wanted to try again.
But Su Ci shook his head and didn’t allow it.
“There’s no need.” Su Ci tore the page off and, based on the symbol the little white deer had drawn, wrote a single character on a new sheet of paper.
The little white deer grew nervous, watching as the caretaker carefully wrote stroke by stroke. When Su Ci finally stopped, the boy stared at the character and asked, “What character is this?”
(Ji?o.)
The little white deer repeated softly, “Ji?o?”
Su Ci smiled faintly. “White as snow on the mountain, bright as the moon among the clouds.”
Looking at the little deer’s silver-white curls and matching deer ears, Su Ci continued, “This character truly suits you.”
The little white deer stared at him, dazed, and murmured, “White as snow on the mountain, bright as the moon among the clouds…”
Snow on the mountaintop… the moon among the clouds… Just hearing it sounded so beautiful!
Beside him, little Láng Zé also thought the line that Su Ci recited was wonderful. However, when he tried to repeat it like the little white deer, it came out as…
“What’s it again? Foot (Ji?o) what?”
