Chapter 79
Su Ci was fully aware of Number Six’s surreptitious glances, but he didn’t mind.
After last night’s events, his strength had already been exposed to the children. There was no longer any need for him to keep a low profile.
He dismantled another spider leg, hefting it to gauge its weight. It felt heavier than the previous ones, and he nodded in satisfaction. Hoisting the leg over one shoulder and balancing it with another, he made his way back to the purification pools.
The two pools were already filled to the brim. Thanks to the spirit-gathering formations providing spiritual energy and the purification arrays working non-stop, the diluted pollutants from the spider meat were continuously being cleansed.
Nearby, A-Yan crouched by one of the pools, observing the operation of the two formations. He was revisiting the key points of formation structure, scratching diagrams into the soft earth with a metal rod.
The uneven surface of the soil wasn’t as smooth as paper, but it allowed him to erase and redraw easily, saving paper.
The paper and pens in his space button were limited to a single small box. Once used up, they couldn’t be replaced. A-Yan cherished them, and though he could now save more paper and ink thanks to the communicator, he knew those supplies would eventually run out.
Saving wherever he could was still a good habit.
Once again, he successfully replicated a purification array. Unfortunately, even though it looked identical to the one Su Ci had drawn, there was no sign of energy flow or glowing patterns.
Su Ci tossed down the two spider legs and glanced at the boy. A-Yan was squatting on the ground, staring intently at the incomplete formation as if grappling with a problem.
Rather than scolding him for trying to run before learning how to walk, Su Ci crouched beside him and posed a question: “Do you know why this formation isn’t working?”
A-Yan froze for a moment before lifting his communicator and typing on it.
“I think it’s because I haven’t fully grasped how to align the formation’s structure with the power of the appropriate rules,” the gentle male voice from the communicator said.
Su Ci paused, then nodded.
This was something he had taught A-Yan earlier that morning. What surprised him was when A-Yan continued: “Also, I don’t know how the formation structures should be combined. I think… their sequence matters too.”
Su Ci gave A-Yan a deep look before nodding again. “You’re absolutely right. Not only the sequence but also the amount of energy you inject will affect the result.”
This is why formations that appeared identical could produce different effects depending on the formation master. Overall, formations were a vast and ever-changing field of study—a truly fascinating subject.
Su Ci had grown tired of praising A-Yan’s talent. He simply patted the boy’s head and encouraged him to keep exploring.
Given enough time, perhaps A-Yan wouldn’t even need his guidance to figure it all out. That would certainly make things easier for Su Ci.
Being inherently lazy, Su Ci always preferred to avoid unnecessary effort. A-Yan’s self-sufficiency was a blessing.
After all, that’s how Su Ci himself had learned—quickly mastering any subject he touched, often surpassing the top human geniuses and leaving them fuming in frustration before moving on without a care.
So, while A-Yan continued delving into the mysteries of formations, Su Ci focused on processing the spider meat.
After a couple of attempts, he perfected the technique of extracting the meat without damaging the giant spider’s tough exoskeleton. This method was not only faster and more efficient but also preserved the spider shells for future use.
Su Ci carried off all the spider legs, leaving the spider’s body behind. Number Six, who had been secretly watching through the glass window, swallowed hard again as he stared at the remains.
The little boy silently retreated back to his table and sat down.
He pursed his lips, trying hard to put on a disdainful expression. However, when he picked up his spoon to eat, his trembling hand betrayed his true feelings.
From two tables away, Lang Ze gave him a curious look.
Why was the stinky monkey so quiet today? What was he just staring at through the window? Was there something outside worth looking at?
The second-floor function rooms, including the activity room, had windows. These windows were specially designed but still slightly more fragile than the metal walls. In their berserk state, the young ones could potentially break them.
However, a nursery building with no windows at all would have been too oppressive. So, during the building’s construction, they retained the windows for the function rooms, while the children’s individual rooms were fully sealed for safety.
Even with the windows, there wasn’t much to see outside. The view was limited to the tall metal walls surrounding the facility and the barren metal floor beyond.
For this reason, Lang Ze had never been particularly interested in the scenery outside the window.
But Number Six’s unusual behavior piqued his curiosity.
He turned to look at Zheng Xing, who had already finished his portion of frozen meat. Holding his metal ball, Zheng Xing was drowsily nodding off, his small head bobbing as he fought sleep.
Frightened by the events of the previous night, Zheng Xing hadn’t slept well at all. Unlike the energetic wolf pup, his stamina was quickly running out.
Lang Ze extended his paw and gently slid the plate away from in front of Zheng Xing, then lightly pressed the boy’s head onto the table.
When his head was touched, Zheng Xing’s pale blue eyes fluttered open briefly, reflecting Lang Ze’s face. Recognizing him, he obediently leaned against the table and closed his eyes, drifting into a light sleep.
So obedient…
Watching the little boy sleep peacefully with his head resting on the table, Lang Ze couldn’t help but think. Then he turned his attention to the little white deer next to him.
The silver-haired boy furrowed his brow, still deep in thought over the answer to the question.
How exactly did the caretaker manage to retrieve Number Four from the research institute without resorting to force?
As for Number Six…
Since he had grown closer to Lang Ze, and Number Five had shown friendliness toward him earlier that morning, Lu Jiao felt as though he had betrayed his former allies. This left him reluctant to face Number Two and Number Six directly, to the point of actively avoiding them.
Naturally, unlike Lang Ze, he wasn’t paying attention to his “sworn rival”—he was even deliberately ignoring him.
Lang Ze glanced at him a few times, then at the napping Zheng Xing. Finally, he decided to stay silent, scooted his chair back, and quietly made his way to the glass window.
If no one would tell him, he’d just find out for himself!
As he approached, Number Six noticed him. He shot a hostile glare at Lang Ze but, after a moment of hesitation, suppressed his temper and didn’t lash out.
Instead, the little boy tossed down his spoon, stood up, and stomped toward the dining hall door. Addressing 4586, he grumbled, “Number Six wants to go back to sleep!”
Although his tone was angry, he spoke so softly that it was almost inaudible.
4586 didn’t refuse his request. After reminding Lang Ze and the others to behave and finish their meal, it escorted Number Six back to his room.
Lang Ze watched them leave and, with no further obstacles, quickly rushed to the window. Standing on tiptoe, he pressed his face to the glass to look outside.
When he saw the segmented body of the giant spider, the boy’s eyes widened, and the restraint in his voice vanished instantly.
“Wow! It’s that big spider!”
Lang Ze exclaimed loudly, “When did it get here? How come I didn’t see it when I went out to fetch Number Four?!”
Lu Jiao, who had been watching the doorway, couldn’t help but be drawn to the commotion. Even the dozing Zheng Xing was startled awake by Lang Ze’s exclamation.
Extending his mental energy in Lang Ze’s direction, Zheng Xing quickly “saw” the dismembered giant spider outside.
He relaxed slightly.
He already knew the spider had been killed by the caretaker—it was no surprise to him. What puzzled him, however, was why Lang Ze was only noticing it now and…
Wasn’t something missing from the spider’s body?
A question mark seemed to pop up over Zheng Xing’s head. Meanwhile, Lu Jiao had run to the window and joined Lang Ze in marveling at the sight.
“Su Su killed it!”
Lu Jiao spoke in a low voice. He had glimpsed the scene through the broken doorway last night. “At that time, the big spider was climbing the wall, and then, all of a sudden, it was sliced into pieces…”
He gestured with his hands as he recounted everything he had witnessed to Lang Ze.
Even though they were all boys under the age of ten, and naturally felt a sense of awe in the face of immense power, any mention of battle always sparked their excitement.
Even Zheng Xing couldn’t help but perk up his ears to listen.
Using spiritual perception to observe something was different from seeing it with one’s own eyes. Listening to Lu Jiao’s descriptions stirred a mix of excitement and tension within him.
They hadn’t discussed the events of last night due to the caretaker’s intimidating presence.
Now, with Lu Jiao starting the conversation, Lang Ze couldn’t hold back either.
“There seemed to be two monsters last night. One of them hypnotized you all, making you obediently follow it outside. But me and Xing Xing…”
At this point, Lang Ze paused, puzzled. “Why didn’t we get hypnotized?”
Lu Jiao’s eyes flickered as he thought of Number Five. It was because Number Five had controlled them, and since Lang Ze was her ally, he was naturally treated more kindly and avoided being affected.
He couldn’t deny feeling a bit resentful at the time, but after Number Five apologized, Lu Jiao had decided to magnanimously forgive her.
After all, they used to be enemies. As long as she didn’t do something like that again, it would be fine.
As for Zheng Xing…
He glanced at the quiet boy and, after some thought, said, “Maybe the monster couldn’t control that many people at once.”
Hearing this, Lang Ze was convinced.
“That was close,” he said, patting his chest. “Xing Xing woke me up and came to find me. Then we went downstairs to save you all! But when we got downstairs, we ran into Number Two…”
“Lang Ze, thank you, and thank you too, Xing Xing,” Lu Jiao said earnestly. “Thank you for coming to save me during such a dangerous time.”
“Heh, we’re friends, after all!”
Lang Ze grinned broadly and gave Lu Jiao a hearty pat on the shoulder, while Zheng Xing lowered his head, remaining silent.
Lu Jiao glanced at the two of them, his lips curving into a small smile. He then declared seriously, “From now on, I’ll protect you both too!”
And…
Lu Jiao thought back to the Crimson Flame Tiger that had protected him and Lang Ze last night.
Previously, though he considered Number Two an ally, he still harbored a deep-seated fear of him. He had always worried that, upon fully beastifying, Number Two might turn on him and attack.
But after what happened last night, that fear and anxiety had vanished.
Now, he no longer feared Number Two’s beast form. Apart from gratitude and guilt, all that remained was concern.
Was Number Two really okay after fully beastifying?
He hadn’t appeared all day… What had happened to him? Lu Jiao really wanted to check on him.
With that thought, the boy turned his gaze toward the dining hall door.
The metal door had automatically closed, but Lu Jiao noticed something peculiar: it wasn’t locked.
When locked, the panel indicator next to the door would light up red. However, right now, the nail-sized light was green, indicating it was open.
That’s strange.
In the past, whenever the nanny robots or the caretaker were absent, the doors were always locked.
Whether it was the activity room or the dining hall…
Speaking of which, wasn’t it already past lunchtime? Lu Jiao glanced at the digital clock on the wall, a hint of confusion appearing on his face. Why hadn’t 4586 come to call them back to their rooms yet?
Meanwhile, after finishing the discussion, Lang Ze went back to pressing himself against the glass window, his eyes filled with longing as he gazed at the spider’s body outside.
He really wanted to go out and take a look…
Such a huge spider—how had he not seen it when he went outside earlier? Could Su Su have used some method to make it disappear? And if so, why had it reappeared now?
Questions bubbled up one after another in Lang Ze’s mind.
“Ugh, I want to go play outside…”
Finally, he couldn’t help but voice the desire in his heart.
In truth, being able to stay with his companions instead of returning to his room and even having the chance to see the giant spider through the window was already much better than being alone.
If this had been before today, he would have been overjoyed.
But after going on a “long trip” with the caretaker, he found himself growing discontent. His wishes seemed to be multiplying…
Just as Lang Ze pressed his cheeks against the window, squishing them into funny shapes, he felt someone tugging at the hem of his shirt.
He looked down and saw Zheng Xing standing beside him, though he hadn’t noticed when he’d arrived.
“Xing Xing, what is it?” Lang Ze asked.
Zheng Xing didn’t reply. He simply raised his hand and pointed toward the door.
“Huh?” Lang Ze blinked. “What’s over there?”
Curious by nature and quick to act, he instinctively ran toward the door. Then—
As he approached the dining hall door, the tightly shut metal panels slowly slid open on their own!
Lang Ze: !!!
Lu Jiao: !!!
“It opened!” Lang Ze exclaimed, his tail wagging furiously. He peeked into the hallway, saw no one else around, and noticed that 4586 still hadn’t returned. Shrinking his head back inside, he declared excitedly, “We can go out!”
Turning back to his companions, the boy eagerly shared the news.
Seeing the door open with his own eyes, Lu Jiao couldn’t resist running over as well. He poked his head into the hallway and looked around, unable to suppress his delight. It really was open!
He turned back, looking at Zheng Xing, who was clutching his metal ball and shrinking further into the corner.
“Xing Xing, come on!” Lu Jiao urged, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Unlike the others, Zheng Xing didn’t mind staying in the dining hall. However, ever since a certain little wolf had barged into his life, many things were no longer up to him.
“Xing Xing, Xing Xing, let’s go see the big spider together!”
Lang Ze dashed back from the doorway, grabbing Zheng Xing’s hand with excitement.
The metal floor was naturally smooth, and with Zheng Xing’s thin arms and legs, he was no match for Lang Ze. As a result, he was dragged across the floor, legs planted, all the way to the door.
Lu Jiao opened his mouth, but seeing the resigned expression on Zheng Xing’s face, he closed it again.
The dining hall door opened once more, and three little heads peeked out, gazing down the hallway.
Although they had decided to embark on an “adventure,” the caretaker’s intimidating presence still lingered. When it came time to act, even the usually reckless wolf pup grew cautious.
“Do you think Su Su will be mad if we run out like this?” Lu Jiao asked hesitantly.
“Probably not.”
Lang Ze recalled his interactions with the caretaker earlier in the day and, relying on his keen instincts, concluded, “If we go out for a little while and come right back, Su Su definitely won’t be mad!”
When he had returned earlier and said he wanted to go to the activity room, Su Su had simply let him go on his own…
“Let’s go.” Lang Ze took the first brave step forward. “There’s no rule that says we have to stay in the dining hall while eating. Why can’t we go out and play for a bit before coming back?”
Though he spoke confidently, his steps were noticeably cautious, and he avoided making any loud noises.
Lu Jiao watched him and suddenly felt as if he understood something.
“Do you think Su Su was able to bring Number Four back because of some rule too?” he asked, holding Zheng Xing’s hand and following Lang Ze.
Lang Ze, on tiptoes and carefully observing his surroundings, suddenly lit up at the suggestion.
“That makes sense!”
He nodded vigorously but then frowned, recalling what the caretaker had told him about how brute force wasn’t the solution to everything. “But I didn’t even know there was a rule like that!”
He still didn’t know exactly which rule the caretaker had used to retrieve Number Four.
Lu Jiao nodded in agreement. “That’s why knowledge is so important!” he said. He thought to himself that maybe he should take some time to study the base’s regulations. It seemed like they might come in handy.
While the two discussed this, Zheng Xing remained in a daze, his mind wandering.
Just then, Lang Ze glanced out the hallway window and spotted something. All his previous questions were instantly forgotten.
“Look! The floor behind the building has changed color!”
Lu Jiao hurried over to take a look. Sure enough, the floor behind the nursery building seemed different. What had once been barren metal…
“It looks like the metal’s been removed, revealing the dirt underneath!” Lang Ze exclaimed.
His sharp eyes quickly discerned the situation.
Standing behind the two, Zheng Xing overheard their conversation and instinctively extended his spiritual perception in that direction. Yet, as always, the information he received was limited…
What does dirt even look like?
No matter how he tried to analyze it with his spiritual sense, he couldn’t form a mental image.
His mind lacked the concept, and the raw information couldn’t combine into a concrete picture he could visualize or understand. It simply wouldn’t imprint itself in his memory…
The patch of land was some distance away, and its wide expanse pushed Zheng Xing’s mental energy to its limit. Finally, he was forced to retract it.
Without his mental energy, Zheng Xing’s world plunged into true darkness.
Standing behind Little Lang Ze and Lu Jiao, he clutched his metal ball tightly against his chest. Only by holding it could he feel a faint sense of security.
Go back…
This thought crossed Zheng Xing’s mind as he prepared to forcibly release his mental energy to find his way—without it, he wouldn’t even know how to return to his room.
However, a cheerful voice broke through his thoughts: “Xing Xing, let’s go check out the field!”
A hand grabbed him, and before he realized it, he was hoisted onto a sturdy back. His little feet left the ground, and with a startled cry, he was suddenly being carried.
“Let’s go! We’re heading out!”
Lang Ze carried Zheng Xing on his back, playfully bouncing him a couple of times. Startled, Zheng Xing tightened his grip around Lang Ze’s neck.
“Hahaha, Xing Xing, you’re so light!”
Lang Ze laughed heartily and called out to Lu Jiao, “Youyou, hurry up and join us!”
With Zheng Xing on his back, Lang Ze sprinted down the hallway, his legs flying as he yelled exuberantly, “Off we go to play!”
Lu Jiao watched Lang Ze’s exuberant figure as he dashed ahead, wanting to remind him to keep his voice down. But hearing Lang Ze’s carefree laughter, he couldn’t help but smile too.
Never mind! After all…
After all, the caretaker isn’t sleeping right now!
Convincing himself with this thought, Lu Jiao took off running after them, calling out, “Lang Ze! Xing Xing! Wait for me!”
Despite being short-legged and small, Lu Jiao could run surprisingly fast. When Lang Ze slowed down slightly, he quickly caught up.
The three of them ran together, racing to see who was faster.
In the past, their competitions often had a combative edge, but now, their motivations were entirely different.
This time, they ran purely for joy.
As Zheng Xing clung tightly to Lang Ze’s neck, he gradually relaxed once he got used to Lang Ze’s pace.
Though his world remained shrouded in darkness and his mental energy hadn’t recovered, the feeling of wind rushing past, the scent of the boy carrying him, and the sound of their bright, youthful laughter seemed to dispel much of the gloom weighing on his heart.
Zheng Xing imagined them running through the world conjured by the flute’s melody. For the first time in what felt like ages, the corners of his perpetually stoic mouth lifted into the faintest of smiles.
“Yay!”
Even with Zheng Xing on his back, Lang Ze ran like the wind. He was the first to dash out of the nursery building, not heading toward the giant spider, but instead sprinting to the patch of exposed dirt.
Finally, he stopped steadily at the edge where the metal floor met the bare soil and shouted triumphantly, “I won!”
Moments later, Lu Jiao came to a panting stop beside him.
But Lang Ze didn’t get to bask in his victory for long.
Because…
Not far from them, the caretaker stood beside two pools glowing faintly red, holding a massive spider leg. He was stirring one of the pools with it.
The red light illuminated the young man’s delicate, fair face, adding an eerie and otherworldly hue.
At that moment, as if sensing something, the caretaker turned his expressionless gaze toward them.
“…”
Lang Ze froze in place, his entire body stiffening. In the next instant, he grabbed Lu Jiao’s hand, adjusted Zheng Xing on his back, and turned to run.
