Chapter 87
After Su Ci’s affirmative answer, Number Five completely forgot about everything else.
She dashed toward the verdant patch of land with her short legs, stopping in front of the first star-chain seedling.
The plant was thriving. Its slender vine extended about 20–30 centimeters, with star-shaped leaves sprouting from its nodes. The leaves ranged in size, the smallest no bigger than a fingernail, and they looked irresistibly cute.
Staring at the leaves with wide eyes, Number Five marveled aloud, “Are these flowers? Green flowers?”
“No, they’re leaves,” Su Ci said, walking leisurely to her side. He crouched down and gently held a section of the vine.
The seedlings seemed to sense his presence, radiating waves of joy. Predicting their reaction, Su Ci’s eyes briefly glimmered gold, halting their rampant growth.
He gently set the vine back down, his fingertips brushing across a leaf.
The star-chain vine emitted waves of pleasure again. Although the rampant growth was curbed, the stimulation from Su Ci’s spirit energy made them grow significantly faster than ordinary plants—a rate that would leave the researchers in the cultivation gardens utterly astonished.
Standing beside Su Ci was Number Four, frozen in place.
When Number Five had started running, Number Four snapped out of his thoughts and quickly followed her. Now, as he stood before the verdant corner, he couldn’t help but feel awestruck at the lush greenery and the vibrant life radiating from it.
Sniffing lightly, he realized it wasn’t his imagination—the air really was fresher, carrying a faint grassy fragrance that made him feel invigorated.
The back of the nursery building… When did it become like this?
“So these are leaves…” Number Five muttered, still puzzled. “But aren’t leaves supposed to be oval-shaped?”
“Each type of plant has different leaves. Even leaves on the same plant can vary slightly—they’re similar, but never identical,” Su Ci explained.
Pointing to the star-shaped leaves of the star-chain vine, he continued, “These star-shaped ones belong to the star-chain fruit.”
Then he gestured toward three other seedlings. “These round ones are Emerald Bean leaves, and over there are Snow Jade and Golden Taro. Each has distinct leaves.”
Number Four listened quietly to Su Ci’s explanation to Number Five, blinking as he absorbed the information. His gaze lingered on the star-shaped leaves of the star-chain vine, then shifted to the other three plants. Gradually, a look of realization dawned on his face.
So there are such differences!
Number Five’s almond-shaped brown-yellow eyes widened in amazement.
“Even the leaves… are so beautiful!”
She gazed at the array of leaves—big and small—the intricate veins running through them, the serrated edges, and the tender green tinged with yellow hues.
Each little detail was something she could never have imagined before.
So this is what real leaves look like…
Number Five examined every leaf on the ground, noticing not just the leaves but also the slender vines, and the delicate, curling tendrils extending from them.
Beyond the leaves, she realized that even the plants’ bodies were different.
The Star-Chain Fruit and Golden Taro were slender, with numerous vines, while Snow Jade and Emerald Bean grew upright and straight.
The one thing they all had in common was their lush green hue, which made anyone who saw them feel instantly uplifted.
Looking at these green plants, Number Five felt a burst of inspiration in her mind. She wanted nothing more than to pick up a paintbrush and capture all these ideas on paper.
Her joy was unmatched.
The fuzzy ears on her head twitched uncontrollably, like a happy little cub, with no trace of ferocity or sadness left in her demeanor.
Su Ci noticed the change in her aura and smiled faintly. He turned his gaze to the thriving plants, satisfaction evident in his eyes.
A-Yan had taken excellent care of this little patch of land. The Princess and Lazybone had finally proven their worth, boosting the growth of these seedlings.
As the plants enriched the soil with nutrients, the land’s fertility would gradually improve, further promoting plant growth—a positive cycle.
Sensing the subtle changes in this small plot of soil, Su Ci felt a surge of contentment.
This was a promising beginning.
Just then, the little girl’s voice rang out again:
“Will they… bloom?”
Her tone was tinged with caution. Clearly, although she adored the leaves, she held a deep longing for flowers—something she had loved and yearned for since she was old enough to understand such things.
Bloom?
Su Ci recalled the scene of the Star-Chain Fruit vines growing wildly until they covered an entire wall with blossoms.
“Mm.” He nodded, pointing at a Star-Chain Fruit seedling. “Do you remember the star-chain fruit you ate the other day? The seeds in those fruits sprouted into these seedlings.”
“Any plant that bears fruit will generally bloom.” Su Ci explained seriously.
“Wow~”
Number Five’s eyes sparkled with wonder.
Upon hearing this, the little girl’s wide, round eyes filled with endless anticipation. The sparkling light in her gaze was infectious, impossible to ignore.
Standing to the side, Number Four looked at his sister’s adorable face, lit up with a joy he had never seen before. His gaze shifted to the green plants before him, now tinged with a sense of reverence.
It seemed his mission to protect had gained another target.
He was determined to guard these green seedlings, nurturing them until they blossomed into beautiful flowers.
Because his sister had always talked about flowers since she was little, Four also held a special fondness for them. Alongside his cautious resolve, a faint sense of expectation bloomed within him.
Suddenly struck by a thought, he asked, “The star-chain fruit we ate this morning… We kept the seeds. Can those be planted too?”
“Yes,” Su Ci nodded.
“Then I…” Number Four hesitated briefly, “I’ll go back and get them later.”
Su Ci hummed in agreement. There were plenty of star-chain fruit seeds, so there was no rush.
At that moment, Number Five, who had been squatting beside Su Ci, reached into her pocket and took out a small hair clip adorned with a tiny plastic red flower.
Number Four immediately recognized the hair clip. It was a gift from Sister Xun of the operations team, and Number Five had always treasured it. She was so protective of it that she rarely dared to wear it, fearing it might get damaged.
Now, after a lingering look at the cherished clip, she did something that left Number Four astonished—she offered it to Su Ci.
“This is for you,” she said, cupping the hair clip in her hands and extending it toward him.
Recalling her earlier attempts to influence the caretaker, Number Five felt a little nervous and guilty.
The caretaker was… incredibly powerful.
Even now, whenever she thought about the oppressive presence she had felt that night, her body couldn’t help but tremble. But…
At this moment, surrounded by the caretaker’s gentle and tranquil aura, her fear and anxiety gradually melted away.
At least this caretaker, with his calm, dark eyes, didn’t seem frightening.
That terrifying version of him from that night…
Perhaps he had fallen into a berserk state after being awakened, just like her brother or Lang Ze. Normally, they were calm and kind, but once berserk, they became terrifying.
Of course, no matter how berserk her brother became, he had never hurt her.
“I’m sorry about before,” Number Five said sincerely. “Thank you for saving my brother. I’d like to give you this flower hair clip as a gift.”
Although the caretaker hadn’t asked for anything or implied it was a transaction, Number Five felt she needed to do something to make up for her earlier mistake.
Su Ci glanced at the hair clip she held out, then at the little girl’s earnest expression. Finally, he accepted it and casually clipped it to his hair.
The small red plastic flower nestled against his jet-black hair. On Su Ci’s strikingly handsome face, it didn’t look cheap or out of place. Instead, it added a unique touch of charm and unexpected cuteness.
“It looks great!”
Number Five’s lips curved into a sweet smile. She had always been drawn to beautiful things, unable to resist their appeal.
Maybe, she thought, gazing at the caretaker’s face—more exquisite than anyone she had ever seen—the hair clip suited him even better than it did her.
Standing behind them, Number Four was thoroughly puzzled.
He opened his mouth, wanting to ask why—what exactly Number Five had done wrong to warrant such an apology? Was it related to the secrets she had been keeping from him?
Yet, after a brief flicker of hesitation in his gaze, Number Four decided to wait and observe a bit longer. Perhaps he could uncover more detailed information.
Meanwhile, Su Ci, after accepting the little girl’s hair clip, opened his palm. The next moment, the deep blue handkerchief Number Five had once thrown back at him reappeared before her.
Truth be told, Su Ci’s impression of the little girl wasn’t bad. After all, she was the first human to show him goodwill after he woke up.
Even though they’d had a falling out later, Su Ci didn’t take it to heart.
When he produced the deep blue handkerchief, adorned with soft, pale white flowers, Number Five’s previously composed expression cracked. Her eyes fixed intently on it, unblinking.
Without a word, Su Ci extended the handkerchief toward her.
Number Five stared blankly at it before reaching out to take it.
Unfolding the handkerchief, she ran her fingers lightly over the elegant and simple embroidered flowers. Her gaze was filled with love and care.
But then…
She brought it to her nose and sniffed, only to find—
“It’s not fragrant anymore,” the little girl said, her tone tinged with disappointment.
Hearing this, Su Ci let out a small chuckle.
The flower pollen on the handkerchief had been used to create spiritual seeds—though only two had been successfully generated in the end.
Without the pollen, naturally, the fragrance was gone.
“When these bloom, you’ll smell the fragrance again.” Su Ci pointed to the two small spiritual sprouts in the center of the greenery to reassure her.
Number Five had already noticed the two tiny plants, surrounded like stars encircling the moon. However, compared to the other green seedlings, these were the smallest and slowest growing.
They were just little green tips, each with a single, delicate leaf trembling lightly in the breeze. They looked so fragile it seemed a stronger gust might blow them away.
“When they grow up, the flowers they produce will look like the ones on this handkerchief.”
Su Ci pointed to the pale white pear blossoms embroidered on the fabric as he explained. Then, a thought occurred to him, and he added, “The fruit they bear is called a pear… and it’s very delicious.”
Sweet and juicy, pears were already a treat. Spiritual pears, on the other hand, were a delicacy beyond compare.
Looking at the two slow-growing spiritual sprouts, Su Ci couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. At this rate, how long would it take before he could enjoy some spiritual fruit?
By comparison, the ordinary plants were far more gratifying.
“Pears?”
Number Five looked at the two small sprouts again, then at the elegant white flowers embroidered on the handkerchief. Suddenly, she turned her gaze to Su Ci and asked, “Did you give Number Eight and the others names?”
Su Ci blinked, momentarily puzzled by the abrupt change in topic.
However, he still nodded in agreement.
“I want a new name too,” Number Five said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She gently stroked the pale white flowers embroidered on the handkerchief and suggested, “What do you think of ‘Li Hua (Pear Blossom)‘? Can I be called that?”
Li Hua?
Hearing her words, Su Ci pondered for a moment and felt it wasn’t a bad choice.
“Li,” symbolizing beauty and purity, carried excellent connotations.
“It can be your nickname,” Su Ci replied.
“Nickname?” Number Five blinked, her face full of curiosity. “What does that mean?”
“Xing Xing is Number Three’s nickname; his full name is Zheng Xing,” Su Ci explained. “As for Youyou, his full name is Lu Jiao.”
“What about Lang Ze?” Number Five asked eagerly.
“That’s his full name,” Su Ci said.
“And his nickname?” Number Five continued to inquire.
This question stumped Su Ci momentarily. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “Lang Ze prefers to be called by his full name. If you want to know his nickname, you can ask him yourself.”
“Oh, I see.” Number Five nodded, satisfied, before returning to the previous topic. “So, everyone can have two names?”
The little girl looked puzzled. Why did they need so many names?
“A nickname is used by people close to you. It makes things feel more intimate.”
“Oh…” The little girl accepted this explanation. She nodded and said, “Then what should my full name be?”
Su Ci took out a metal chopstick from his storage and handed it to her.
Confused, she accepted it. Su Ci pointed to the soil in front of them and said, “Write your true name here.”
She froze for a moment. When she felt the familiar force surrounding her, a wave of panic surged in her heart. However, upon hearing Su Ci’s instructions, she forced herself to calm down.
If Su Ci wanted to harm her, he wouldn’t need to resort to such measures.
The metal rod in her hand began moving on its own, guided by the mysterious force. Number Five stared as the stick traced patterns into the dirt, her expression shifting to one of curiosity.
What was this? Her true name?
When the final stroke was completed, the rod stopped, and the guiding force disappeared.
She looked down at the intricate design in the dirt, captivated.
Su Ci examined the pattern and noted it bore a resemblance to a flower. It seemed Number Five was truly destined to have a connection with flowers.
“This is… my full name?” Five asked, her gaze fixed on the dirt.
Number Four, equally intrigued, leaned in, his eyes burning with interest as he studied the design.
Su Ci didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took the metal rod from her and wrote a single character in the dirt beside the pattern.
He read aloud, “Fù.”
“Fù?” The siblings repeated the character in unison.
Number Five glanced at her brother before asking the caretaker, “What does that mean?”
“It means fragrance, the scent of flowers,” Su Ci explained.
Number Five tilted her head in confusion. “What’s fragrance?”
Su Ci looked at her briefly and replied softly, “The scent of flowers.”
“Wow! Flowers!”
At the mention of flowers, her face lit up immediately. She smiled widely, her eyes curving into crescent moons of delight. “Flowers smell nice! I like them!”
Seeing her happiness, Number Four couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy as well. He asked, “So, does Number Five… I mean, Little Li Hua’s full name become Fù?”
Hearing her brother call her “Little Li Hua,” the girl beamed even more brightly. She loved the way he said it! Naturally, she was also very curious about her full name.
She looked at the caretaker, who then took the metal rod and added another character to “Fù.”
“Candles illuminate the morning moon, fragrant orchids bloom in autumn,” Su Ci recited poetically before adding, “Since you love flowers so much, let your full name be Fù Qi?.”
“Fù Qi??” Little Li Hua tilted her head in thought. She didn’t fully understand the verse the caretaker recited, but it sounded elegant and meaningful.
Autumn is a season when most flowers wither. The name Fù Qi? symbolized resilience—a fragrant bloom that persists even in harsh circumstances, standing strong against the frost and hardship.
As Su Ci explained, Little Li Hua’s cheerful expression gradually softened into a look of contemplation.
Su Ci reached out and gently patted her on the head. “Your ability is very special. You must use it for the right purpose if you want to truly protect yourself and your brother.”
Little Li Hua nodded slowly, somewhat understanding, while Number Four, standing nearby, caught a flicker of realization in his gaze.
Use it for the right purpose…
Did this mean his sister had used her ability improperly before?
“Then my full name will be Fù Qi?, and my nickname is Little Li Hua~” she announced happily. Then, turning to her brother, she asked, “What about you? Can you name my brother too?”
Hearing his sister suddenly mention him, Number Four froze for a moment, feeling uncharacteristically nervous. He glanced at the caretaker, who handed the slender metal rod to him.
The caretaker then said the same thing to him.
Number Four could sense a familiar power at play—similar to his sister’s, but far stronger.
When faced with Little Li Hua’s word-spirit ability, as long as he prepared himself, he could usually resist. However, against the caretaker’s power, resistance seemed utterly futile. His body moved on its own as he gripped the metal rod and traced a pattern in the dirt.
When the final stroke was complete, it formed a design entirely distinct from Little Li Hua’s.
Su Ci observed the result, noting with some interest that both siblings possessed considerable natural talent. He then took the rod from Four and wrote in the soil.
“Héng,” Su Ci pronounced.
Number Four stared at the character, softly repeating after him, “Héng?”
“Straight and balanced, without deviation,” Su Ci explained.
He observed Number Four thoughtfully. The boy carried a faint air of integrity, but it was diluted and unstable, hinting at the possibility of straying without proper guidance.
“Straight… and balanced…” the boy murmured, his gaze fixed on the symbol of his true name and the character Su Ci had written, deeply engrossed.
Little Li Hua also studied the character, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Then, she looked eagerly at the caretaker.
Her full name had two characters, but her brother’s only had one so far. That wasn’t fair, was it?
Faced with the adorable little lioness gazing at him with such innocent expectation, Su Ci couldn’t resist. With a small sigh, he took the metal rod again and added a character before “Héng.”
Su Ci looked at the boy and said, “Róng Héng—this is your name.”
Four blinked, repeating the name softly to himself, “Róng Héng…”
He waited for the caretaker to elaborate, but Su Ci merely stretched lazily and stifled a yawn, clearly not inclined to explain further.
Though curious, Number Four wisely chose not to press. Instead, he lowered his gaze to the two characters etched in the dirt, committing them firmly to memory.
Róng Héng. He liked it.
“What about my brother’s nickname?” Little Li Hua chimed in. “What should his nickname be?”
She looked up at Su Ci with shining eyes, her fluffy lion ears twitching adorably. It was impossible to refuse her.
Su Ci glanced at the boy beside him, then at the green saplings swaying in the wind. After a moment of thought, he said, “Let’s call him Xiàng Yáng.”
Facing the sun, flourishing like a sunflower—it was a meaningful name.
“Wow! That’s great! Now my brother has both a full name and a nickname too!” Little Li Hua clapped her hands, her soft, rosy face lighting up with a bright, cheerful smile.
Róng Héng looked at his sister’s joyous expression and couldn’t help but smile as well. He patted her on the head, then turned to Su Ci. “Thank you. I really like these names.”
“And I love my full name too!” Little Li Hua echoed her brother, thanking Su Ci with a sweet, polite tone. “Thank you, Su Su! You’re the best!”
With her brother back and her worries eased, the naturally gentle and well-behaved girl now radiated warmth. Her words grew sweeter by the moment. “You’re the best caretaker! Little Li Hua likes you so much!”
Who could resist such an adorable, fluffy little lioness?
Unable to help himself, Su Ci reached out to rub her soft, fuzzy ears. The girl didn’t pull away, her bashful yet sunny smile glowing with childlike admiration as she gazed up at him.
Their relationship, once strained, had returned to its previous warmth and harmony.
Róng Héng watched quietly from the side. Although he still didn’t fully understand the caretaker’s capabilities, did it really matter?
He liked this new caretaker too. He only hoped…
That Su Ci would stay longer this time.
Otherwise, if the caretaker left like all the others before him, how heartbroken would Little Li Hua be? Seeing her joy now, the boy’s eyes filled with a trace of worry.
Su Ci played with the little girl for a while before turning his attention back to the field.
The Star-Chain Fruit, being a vine plant, couldn’t be left to grow unchecked. A-Yan had suggested guiding the vines up the walls of the nursery building.
It was a good idea.
Given the rapid growth rate of the Star-Chain Fruit, it was time to start preparing.
Su Ci stroked his chin, mulling over the situation in the soil. After a moment’s thought, he retrieved a bundle of spider silk from his space buckle, something he had previously discovered in the room.
The spider silk still emitted a faint trace of resentment, a remnant pollutant.
As soon as Su Ci brought it out, Róng Héng frowned and instinctively pulled Little Li Hua behind him to shield her.
Su Ci ignored the siblings. His eyes flashed with a faint golden light, and the next second, the bundle of spider silk disappeared from his hand, falling into a purification pool.
The resentment emanating from the silk immediately triggered the purification array, which lit up once again and began diligently working.
As the spider silk vanished, Róng Héng froze.
This was his first time witnessing the caretaker’s abilities firsthand, but he couldn’t make sense of them. Moreover, considering the power that resembled his sister’s, this was already the second distinct ability Su Ci had displayed.
But speaking of abilities…
Róng Héng lowered his head and glanced at his palm. He vaguely remembered that his recent berserk state had felt different from before.
After Su Ci walked off at a leisurely pace, Róng Héng spotted a small pebble about the size of a thumb on the ground. Tentatively, he raised a hand toward it.
Following a sensation in his heart, he focused, and then…
The small pebble, sitting about a step away from him, trembled faintly and shifted slightly on its own.
A spark of excitement lit up in Róng Héng’s heart.
However, before he could savor the joy, the pebble came to a stop. Perhaps his concentration faltered, or his excitement caused his focus to break, but the stone remained still no matter how hard he tried to move it again.
The boy frowned slightly but wasn’t discouraged. The fact that he had been able to move it at all confirmed that he now possessed the ability to manipulate objects.
Even though the power was difficult to access outside his berserk state, it was proof that he had untapped potential. With more practice, he might be able to refine and control it.
Little Li Hua had also noticed the moving pebble.
She glanced between her brother and the stone. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, her brother made a shushing gesture. She obediently clamped her hands over her mouth.
When Róng Héng turned his attention to the caretaker, Little Li Hua realized that her brother was still wary of him.
But…
Should she tell her brother the truth? That with the caretaker’s abilities, nothing that happened in the nursery could possibly escape his notice?
Little Li Hua hesitated for a moment before deciding to wait until they were alone to discuss it. Besides, her brother didn’t yet know how utterly terrifying the caretaker’s morning temper could be!
Thankfully, Su Ci wasn’t sleeping right now, so her brother wouldn’t have the chance to accidentally wake him up…
Watching the young man’s figure disappear around the corner, Little Li Hua eagerly tugged on her brother’s sleeve and said excitedly, “Let’s follow him and see what the caretaker is doing!”
It was clear that the little girl wasn’t lying earlier—she truly liked the new caretaker Su, a lot now.
Seeing her enthusiasm, Róng Héng didn’t say much. He bent down to carry his sister on his back and ran in the direction where the caretaker had disappeared.
The moment they turned the corner, Róng Héng caught sight of the caretaker. However, what made him freeze in his tracks was the colossal figure looming near the young man.
It was the giant spider!
Róng Héng instinctively prepared to flee with his sister on his back, but Little Li Hua quickly reassured him, “Brother, stop! Stop! That big spider is already dead!”
She had witnessed firsthand how the giant spider was killed by the caretaker that night—effortlessly and with a casual demeanor. Even now, recalling the scene made her heart race with lingering fear.
What?
The giant spider was already dead???
A series of question marks seemed to float above Róng Héng’s head. Hesitantly, he turned to look again and saw that the massive figure near the caretaker was, in fact, just the spider’s remains.
Its eight long, razor-sharp legs, which could pierce through metal, were gone.
And upon closer inspection, he noticed that the body was segmented into three distinct parts. The cuts were incredibly clean, as if sliced in a single stroke.
Despite the spider being very much dead, just looking at its remains sent shivers down Róng Héng’s spine.
What had happened here? Who could have killed such a monster? It couldn’t have been the operations team—if they had the power to deal with this creature, it wouldn’t have survived this long.
That left only one possibility…
Róng Héng’s gaze shifted to the slender figure of the caretaker, filled with disbelief.
Even though he had already elevated his estimation of the caretaker’s abilities to a high level, this was beyond anything he could have imagined. His understanding of Su’s power had been completely overturned, once again reaching a new and unprecedented height.
So this was why the caretaker had brought Little Li Hua and Lang Ze along to retrieve him—without any concern for their potential berserk states?
It was absolutely awe-inspiring!
Róng Héng now looked at the new caretaker with genuine respect.
“Brother, can we go over and take a closer look?” Little Li Hua asked, noticing that he hadn’t moved for a while.
The little girl wasn’t even slightly afraid of the five or six-meter-tall spider remains. In fact, her face was filled with excitement.
But Róng Héng shook his head. “The pollution levels over there are too high.”
At the same time, a doubt lingered in his mind: Why hadn’t they seen the giant spider’s remains earlier? When they first exited the nursery building, this massive carcass should have been impossible to miss.
Hearing her brother’s refusal, Little Li Hua pouted. Though she was a bit disappointed, she obediently refrained from making a fuss.
Little Li Hua rested her chin on her brother’s shoulder, staring longingly at the distant giant spider. She yearned to climb onto its back, wondering if standing atop it would allow her to see even farther.
When the land behind the nursery building is fully covered in green leaves and blooming flowers, it will surely look stunning from above.
Imagining that day, Little Li Hua’s face lit up with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Su Ci stood beside the lower half of the giant spider’s body. After staring at its round abdomen for a while, a massive heap of spider silk suddenly appeared beside him, piling up to the height of an average adult.
At the same time, the bloated abdomen of the giant spider deflated instantly.
Under Róng Héng and Little Li Hua’s watchful eyes, the heap of spider silk gradually compressed, shrinking from its towering height to barely reaching the caretaker’s waist.
Even so, it was still an impressive amount.
Then, the caretaker used his ability again, transferring the heap of spider silk into the purification pool.
Róng Héng, carrying his sister, approached the pool and peered inside.
The spider silk, extracted from the spider’s abdomen, contained a dense concentration of pollutants. The moment it touched the clear pool water, the entire pool turned a faint red.
Instinctively, Róng Héng stepped back.
Thankfully, the pollutants didn’t spread beyond the pool. They were tightly contained within the water and began to be slowly purified as the glowing light activated.
That glow… it reminded him of Dr. Gu’s purification technique.
Róng Héng froze. This was already the third ability he had seen the caretaker use.
Moreover, compared to Dr. Gu’s method—which required one-on-one contact with pollutants—the purification pool was far safer and more efficient, operating autonomously like a machine and freeing up Su Ci to focus elsewhere.
But the three abilities he had seen so far were all auxiliary in nature. He couldn’t fathom how just using these abilities could have killed the giant spider, leaving behind those perfectly smooth, clean cuts.
This meant the caretaker possessed at least four distinct abilities, one of which must be a powerful offensive skill.
The caretaker was terrifyingly capable.
Róng Héng’s perception of Su Ci completely shifted. What began as guarded wariness had transformed into deep respect for his strength.
Because of his sister’s unique abilities, Róng Héng had long learned not to judge by appearances. But he hadn’t expected someone with such an unassuming demeanor to wield such immense power.
When Su Ci walked back toward them, the boy instinctively took a few steps back.
Su Ci glanced at the pool containing the spider silk. Extracting another portion, he deposited it into a second pool. Just as he was about to speak to Róng Héng, his communicator suddenly rang.
[Research Institute Senior Researcher – Ren Yufei, requests a temporary call. Would you like to accept?]
Su Ci raised an eyebrow. Dr. Ren, who had been injured by Róng Héng yesterday, must have finally recovered.
He accepted the call.
Ren Yufei appeared on the screen. Most of the injuries on his face had healed, and it was hard to tell he had suffered such serious wounds—unless one noticed the gap in his teeth when he spoke.
His front teeth had been completely broken by Róng Héng. While two had been partially restored, the other two were still fractured at the root. It seemed the medical pod wasn’t particularly effective at repairing teeth.
“Caretaker Su…”
Ren Yufei tried to suppress his frustration, seemingly attempting a smile. But when his toothless grin became visible, he abandoned the effort, leaving his expression awkwardly contorted.
Su Ci got straight to the point, speaking with a detached tone. “Dr. Ren, what do you need?”
Ren Yufei’s words caught in his throat. As a senior researcher, it had been a long time since anyone dared to show him such indifference. He took a deep breath and began addressing the matter of Number Four.
“Caretaker Su, let me warn you. Number Four’s condition is extremely dangerous. When we brought him to the research institute, it was to provide better treatment for him.”
Su Ci hadn’t enabled privacy mode for this temporary call, so Róng Héng and Little Li Hua heard everything Ren Yufei said. Both children’s expressions instantly darkened.
“Oh? Is he ill?” Su Ci asked indifferently.
“Exactly!” Ren Yufei exclaimed with a grave expression. “Number Four possesses the bloodline of the Red-Tailed Lion and has already displayed its characteristics. However, after his recent episode of berserk transformation, he exhibited a second ability entirely unrelated to the Red-Tailed Lion!”
“After thorough testing, we’ve concluded—this must originate from another bloodline power!”
“You, as a caretaker, must know the mortality rate of children with conflicting bloodline powers. I can say with certainty—none of them survive to adulthood!”
As Ren Yufei spoke with apparent grief and urgency, Róng Héng’s expression grew increasingly strange.
He glanced at the composed and unruffled Su Ci. Despite Dr. Ren’s dire warning, Róng Héng felt no trace of panic within himself.
Because…
The caretaker possessed at least four abilities! And wasn’t he perfectly alive and well?
Lol. So cute