Chapter 89
“Alright, remember what you said today.”
Hearing Rong Heng’s promise, Su Ci was naturally very satisfied.
A strong and healthy helper with the ability to manipulate objects would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset in farming. He looked forward to it.
“I can help too!” Little Li Hua chimed in from the side.
Su Ci paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. His hand landed on the girl’s head, giving it another affectionate ruffle.
Little Li Hua grinned widely, her innocent and adorable expression showing no awareness of the promise she had just made.
Now then…
Su Ci glanced around before standing up. With a flicker of movement, he transported the siblings to the back of the nursery building, next to the patch of greenery.
The sudden change in scenery—from the water pool to the green space in less than a second—left the two children stunned.
Little Li Hua looked around, her wide eyes filled with amazement.
How had they suddenly appeared here? Had the caretaker brought her and her brother?
Thinking it over, she realized no one else could have accomplished this feat. Her curiosity subdued, her gaze drifted down to the small green seedlings, and she once again became engrossed in their study.
These uniquely shaped leaves were so pretty!
Meanwhile, Rong Heng was so shocked he felt numb.
The caretaker had just displayed yet another ability—his fifth! Was this teleportation?
Even after already elevating his evaluation of Su Ci’s strength to an incredibly high level, it still exceeded his understanding. Just how many powers did the caretaker possess?
Could there… be even more?
Su Ci’s latest demonstration left Rong Heng too awed to make any further judgments.
Meeting Rong Heng’s reverent gaze, Su Ci merely shrugged. Calmly, he retrieved a chair from his spatial device and sat down with a serene air.
Teaching by the green field was not only aesthetically pleasing but also allowed the young ones to absorb the spiritual energy emitted by the seedlings—a win-win.
As he pondered this, Su Ci’s gaze fell on a small stone on the ground.
As Su Ci settled into the chair and grew serious, Rong Heng straightened his expression immediately. While Su Ci had agreed to teach him, Rong Heng understood just how remarkable and skilled the caretaker was.
That meant he had to give it his all—anything less, and he probably wouldn’t be able to keep up.
Following Su Ci’s line of sight, Rong Heng noticed the caretaker was staring at a small stone he had earlier attempted, with little success, to move.
Just as Rong Heng felt a strange premonition, the small stone…rose into the air!
The stone lifted at a slow pace, almost as if waiting for Rong Heng to register what was happening. Then, as his eyes widened in astonishment, the stone circled him once before calmly hovering between him and Su Ci.
From start to finish, the caretaker hadn’t moved a muscle—he was simply watching.
“Wow! It moved!”
Little Li Hua couldn’t help clapping her hands in excitement. While her brother had made the stone twitch earlier, the caretaker had actually made it fly.
How amazing!
Her exclamation snapped her brother back to reality.
The sixth ability!
And it was the same as his own—manipulating objects!
Rong Heng stared blankly at Su Ci, realizing that no matter how many new abilities the caretaker revealed, he might never be surprised again.
Su Ci extended his hand, and the small stone gently fell into his palm.
Clutching the stone, he looked at Rong Heng. “Did you see that?”
Rong Heng nodded. “I saw it.”
Then, he heard a term from the caretaker’s lips that he didn’t understand.
“This is Object Commanding Technique,” Su Ci said.
“Object Commanding Technique?” Rong Heng repeated.
“Correct.” Su Ci opened his palm, revealing the stone once more. “Since you’re just starting out, you can’t wield this technique as freely as I can. For now, you’ll need to use hand seals.”
“This is a one-handed seal.”
As he spoke, Su Ci formed a hand seal with his right hand. The motion seemed deceptively simple, but in his execution, it exuded a profound sense of mystery, leaving the siblings transfixed.
When the seal was fully formed, Su Ci pointed at the small stone. It floated up again, slowly drifting to hover before Rong Heng.
Instinctively, Rong Heng stretched out his hand, and the stone settled firmly into his palm.
But Su Ci wasn’t done with his demonstration.
“There’s also an easier version—two-handed seals.” The young man’s hands, as flawless as works of art, moved deftly in the air, forming intricate patterns.
The speed of his movements was dizzyingly fast, the gestures so fluid they left the siblings in awe.
Rong Heng watched intently, his brows furrowing slightly in confusion. Yet, he remained silent, waiting until Su Ci finished his demonstration before speaking.
Noticing the boy’s patience, Su Ci gave him an approving glance. “What do you want to ask?”
Only then did Rong Heng voice his question: “If two-handed seals are more complex and harder to memorize, why did you say they’re simpler?”
“Because simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” Su Ci replied.
“While one-handed seals are indeed simpler in form, the difficulty of casting them increases exponentially. For beginners, the failure rate is much higher.”
Only rare, one-in-a-million prodigies could master single-handed casting techniques from the very start.
“Just as you saw earlier, the two-handed seal may seem more complex in its movements, but for beginners, as long as you follow the steps carefully, success is almost guaranteed.”
As for using only mental focus and a glance to control objects as he did initially—that required an even higher level of comprehension.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication…”
These words were a bit too profound for Rong Heng to fully grasp, but he understood Su Ci’s explanation.
The more advanced a technique, the simpler its movements became. As a beginner, however, he would need to start with the more intricate versions, learning through complexity before simplifying as he progressed.
Next to them, Little Li Hua listened intently to the lesson, raising her hand tentatively.
Although the lesson wasn’t intended for her, Su Ci appreciated polite young ones. He glanced at her and motioned for her to speak.
“Can I learn this too?” she asked.
Su Ci raised an eyebrow. “You can, but it will be much harder for you than for your brother.”
“Wow!” Little Li Hua’s mouth fell open. “Even though I don’t have the same bloodline power as my brother?”
“You can still try,” Su Ci replied. He knew that she, like her brother, had two distinct bloodlines, but explaining that now would be too complicated—and it wasn’t the point she was focused on.
“Anyone can learn this technique, but whether they succeed depends on their talent.”
Hearing this, Little Li Hua’s expression turned disappointed.
So it all depended on talent—just like bloodline power. The young girl didn’t yet understand the difference between the two, but still, she wanted to learn. The way Su Ci performed his technique earlier had been so beautiful!
She loved all things beautiful.
After ensuring Little Li Hua had finished her questions, Su Ci turned back to Rong Heng. “You were born with the power to control objects. On this path, you may progress by leaps and bounds.”
“When you can skillfully use the Object Commanding Technique, you’ll naturally gain full mastery over your inherent power.”
Mastering any technique required a foundation of magical energy. While most people needed to cultivate this energy from scratch, Rong Heng’s innate ability already gave him a significant head start, ensuring that his learning process would be exceptionally efficient.
“But techniques require guidance through mental practices,” Su Ci continued. “Next, I’ll teach you the mental discipline necessary for honing your skill.”
“This mental practice is the key to fully mastering your power.”
Hearing this, Rong Heng’s expression grew even more focused and serious. Su Ci then began to recite a passage of mental techniques.
To Rong Heng, the recitation sounded like a cryptic and ancient text. He struggled to grasp it, and by the time Su Ci finished, he had only managed to remember the first two lines—and even then, with gaps.
Under Su Ci’s watchful gaze, Rong Heng hesitantly recited the incomplete lines he remembered, his voice faltering as he realized how much he’d forgotten.
Feeling the weight of the caretaker’s furrowed brow, Rong Heng hung his head in shame.
At that moment, Little Li Hua tugged on his sleeve.
When Rong Heng looked down, she gave him a sweet smile. “Brother, I remember it all! I’ll teach you when we get back.”
Even Su Ci looked at Little Li Hua in surprise, though he quickly deduced why.
Her mental strength was exceptional, rivaled only by Zheng Xing’s. Those with great mental power often had excellent memory retention. Rong Heng, on the other hand, had invested his talents in physical prowess, and his second bloodline power had only just awakened. It was understandable that his memory wasn’t as sharp.
Still, Su Ci decided to confirm. “Repeat it for me,” he instructed.
The little girl hesitated but stepped forward from behind her brother. With her soft, childlike voice, she recited the entire mental discipline at a slow but steady pace.
Though her pronunciation was a bit clumsy and her pauses awkward, she made no omissions or errors.
Su Ci patiently listened to the end, his expression softening with approval.
Little Li Hua, beaming with pride, glanced up at her brother, who was gazing at her with equal pride. Flustered, she quickly hid behind him again.
“All done,” she murmured shyly.
Su Ci nodded in acknowledgment. “Well done. Since Little Li Hua remembers it, you can ask her to teach you when you get back. Once you’ve memorized the entire passage, we’ll proceed to the next stage.”
“Alright.”
Rong Heng had no objections and obediently nodded, his mind already replaying the heart technique they had just gone over.
When Little Li Hua had recited it earlier, he took the opportunity to revisit it as well. At the very least, he had firmly memorized the first two lines now. The more he pondered these lines, the more he felt a peculiar sensation arising within him.
It was an elusive, almost mystical feeling, and he couldn’t help but delve deeper, trying to grasp it fully.
Su Ci observed the boy slipping into a meditative state, a glint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. While Little Li Hua had an excellent memory and could recite the entire heart technique flawlessly, she had merely memorized it.
Rong Heng, on the other hand, had already begun to comprehend its essence after just two repetitions. This was a rare and extraordinary talent for this discipline.
What Su Ci had just taught Rong Heng was no ordinary technique—it was the supreme heart technique of the Sword Cultivators.
The highest and most powerful form of object manipulation was, without a doubt, sword control.
Whether Rong Heng could eventually reach such a pinnacle remained uncertain. To become a formidable sword cultivator required not only talent but also an indomitable spirit and strong character.
This would require further observation and time.
Just then, the prolonged silence seemed too much for Little Li Hua, and she couldn’t resist the urge to speak. However, Su Ci made a gentle shushing gesture toward her.
Little Li Hua didn’t quite understand but obediently covered her mouth with her hands.
Su Ci smiled, stood up, and led her away with a flash step, leaving the space quiet for Rong Heng, who was in the midst of his meditative breakthrough.
When they arrived by the water pool, Su Ci released her hand and said, “Your brother is in the middle of an epiphany. It’s very important for him, so let’s not disturb him.”
Little Li Hua nodded obediently.
Then, as she glanced at the pool, her eyes widened, and she pointed excitedly. “The silk… it’s gone!”
Prompted by her remark, Su Ci looked at the pool. The pollution from the clump of spider silk had almost completely dissipated and been purified by the cleansing array.
The transparent silk now floated in the water, looking nearly invisible, which explained why Little Li Hua thought it had vanished.
Raising his hand, Su Ci summoned the spider silk from the water. It landed in his hand, but due to its softness and large volume, it immediately slipped to the ground, leaving a trail of water stains.
With a thought, the tangled spider silk loosened and spread flat on the ground to dry.
Little Li Hua, intrigued by his actions, crouched down and reached out to poke at the smooth, glistening silk with her small fingers.
She knew the giant spider could spin silk and weave webs. The eerie red-faced monster in the mist had once taken her to the spider’s lair to “see” it.
That lair was enormous, dark, and terrifying. She had “seen” countless pairs of eyes—ugly and frightening. After experiencing it once, she never wanted to return.
However…
Watching the spider silk glimmer under the sunlight, now purified and gleaming crystal white, Little Li Hua thought maybe the giant spider wasn’t entirely without merit.
At least its silk was beautiful—well, after being soaked in water.
Su Ci didn’t stop her from playing with the silk. The threads had lost their active properties and were no longer dangerous. His gaze shifted to the barren land before him.
Luo Shengfei had only cleared the land behind the nursery building; the sides and front were still covered with metal flooring.
Judging by the growth rate of the star-chain vines and the number of seeds he had, these several hundred square meters of land might not be enough in just a few days…
Of course, if the land runs out, he could always clear more.
But since humans had machines to quickly reclaim those metal plates, why waste his soul energy? Besides, this wasn’t an urgent matter.
Su Ci thought for a moment and then looked down at Little Li Hua. “Didn’t you want to see 4583? Let’s go together this afternoon.”
Little Li Hua froze for a second before jumping up with excitement.
“Really? I can go see 4583?”
Although Xiao Luo Tuo (Luo Shengfei) had promised to fully repair 4583 and send it back, Little Li Hua was still worried. If she could check on it herself, that would be perfect!
“Mm.” Su Ci nodded.
“Then… why not go now?” Little Li Hua was already impatient.
Su Ci glanced at her and shrugged. “Because it’s almost lunchtime.”
The biggest priorities in life? Eating and sleeping.
*
After practicing the flute all morning, Lang Ze’s stomach was growling with hunger. As soon as it was lunchtime, he dragged his two good friends to the dining hall.
To his surprise—
He saw Rong Heng and Little Li Hua there!
Lang Ze ran over excitedly. “Hey! Number Four! Number Five! You’re both finally okay!”
Rong Heng looked at the exuberant boy, his gaze sweeping over the two kids behind him, and then nodded slightly. “Mm, thank you for going to the research institute yesterday to bring me back.”
“Hehe.”
Lang Ze grinned widely, ready to boast about his new name. But before he could, Little Li Hua spoke up: “Lang Ze, I have a new name now too!”
“My formal name is Fu Qiu, and my nickname is Little Li Hua.”
The little girl looked at the wolf cub curiously and asked, “What’s your nickname?”
Lang Ze froze, then blurted out loudly, “I don’t have a nickname! My name is just Lang Ze!”
Little Li Hua gave him a puzzled look.
No nickname, fine—but why so aggressive?
Rong Heng also noticed the wolf cub’s unusual reaction. However, having been companions for so long, he knew how to handle him.
He nodded and said, “Mm, Lang Ze.”
The wolf cub, who had been tense at the mention of “nickname,” immediately relaxed. Smiling sheepishly, he plopped down at their table.
“Did Su Su name you both too?” he asked.
“Mm!” Little Li Hua nodded enthusiastically. “My brother has one too! He’s called Rong Heng! Isn’t it a nice name?”
“Rong Heng?”
Although he didn’t understand its meaning, the little wolf cub muttered the name to himself and found it quite pleasant to the ear.
Rong Heng, however, said to him, “Call me Xiang Yang. That’s my nickname. The caretaker said it’s meant for close friends.”
Close friends…
The little wolf cub grinned foolishly again. “Okay! Xiang Yang!”
Then he turned to look behind him.
When they had just entered, he had rushed straight over here. Meanwhile, Lu Jiao, after some hesitation, had led Zheng Xing to the spot where the three of them had sat the day before.
When the little wolf cub turned back, his gaze coincided with the other boy’s curious glance.
The young wolf waved at him, and when he didn’t respond, the wolf cub ran over enthusiastically and said to him and Zheng Xing, “Hey, Youyou, Xing Xing, come eat with us!”
Without giving them a chance to refuse, he scooped up Zheng Xing and dashed over to Rong Heng’s table.
The difference in strength was too overwhelming. Zheng Xing hadn’t even processed what was happening before he was placed in the seat opposite Xiao Li Hua.
Zheng Xing froze, then hugged the metal ball in his arms tightly, burying his small head low. At least, this time, the child didn’t immediately run off to hide.
Xiao Li Hua observed the Zheng Xing before her gaze shifted to the hesitant little white deer who had walked over.
How had these three ended up together? She was still curious, especially since Lang Ze and the little white deer used to argue daily, and physical fights were a routine occurrence.
After the little white deer sat down, Lang Ze started introducing his new friends to Rong Heng.
“From now on, let’s all hang out together!”
The boy was cheerful, his sunny smile beaming, and the big tail behind him wagged happily.
Rong Heng scrutinized the little white deer with a discerning look. He could accept Number Three, but Number Seven… This deer had previously been allied with Number Two and Number Six.
However, the little white deer wasn’t as dangerous as Number Two and Six, which was why he hadn’t taken his sister and left.
Thanks to the wolf cub’s lively presence, the little white deer gradually eased his tension. After the fight that night, he no longer felt the same fear toward the red-tailed lion siblings.
If Lang Ze could become good friends with them, then it meant the red-tailed lion siblings were trustworthy and worth befriending.
“I’m Lu Jiao.”
The silver-haired boy said seriously, “Lu as in the white silver deer, Jiao as in the shining moon amidst clouds. But you can also call me Youyou.”
“‘Youyou, the deer calls, nibbling wild apples’—that Youyou.”
This cultural and poetic self-introduction left Rong Heng and Xiao Li Hua momentarily stunned.
“I… I’m Fu Qiu!” Xiao Li Hua recalled what the caretaker had said about her name. “‘Zhu Zhu morning bright moon, Fu Fu autumn orchid fragrance’… You can call me Xiao Li Hua.”
Lu Jiao’s eyes brightened at her words. “Your name also comes from a poem? ‘Zhu Zhu morning bright moon, Fu Fu autumn orchid fragrance’… How lovely! Can you write it?”
The five-year-old Xiao Li Hua shook her head blankly.
Still, she understood that Lu Jiao was complimenting her. He said her name was lovely!
Little Li Hua looked at him and immediately found Lu Jiao more agreeable. Moreover, Number Seven, who was now speaking properly, seemed much better-looking than before—especially that silver-white hair, so beautiful!
Seeing the little girl shake her head, the white deer didn’t seem disappointed. After all, she was still young, and it was normal for her not to know how to write. With a hint of expectation, he turned to Rong Heng, who was sitting nearby.
Rong Heng: “…”
He couldn’t quite understand why the little white deer was looking at him with such an expectant expression. Did it really expect him to recite some sort of poem, like his sister had?
“Towards the sun,” Rong Heng reluctantly said after a pause, then immediately shut his mouth.
The little white deer continued to stare at him with a thirst for knowledge.
Rong Heng: “…”
At that moment, 4586 pushed the lunch cart in, conveniently relieving Rong Heng’s awkwardness. The robot neatly placed the trays in front of each of them and said cheerfully, “Little darlings, remember to eat well today too!”
“Okay~”
Li Hua responded enthusiastically to the nanny robot’s reminder. Rong Heng also let out a sigh of relief and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
He reached out to help Li Hua open her meal box, revealing the meat jelly inside. Just as he was about to hand her a spoon, his hand suddenly froze. It wasn’t just him—the other young ones sitting around the table also stopped what they were doing.
All the cubs, including Zheng Xing, simultaneously took a deep breath.
What an incredible smell!
A fragrance entirely different from that of the nutritional jellies spread through the dining room. Together, they all turned their heads toward the front of the table.
There, a small plate had somehow appeared out of nowhere.
Rong Heng was on alert when he suddenly heard the little wolf cub’s voice, full of surprise and joy: “Brother Yan!”
Brother Yan? Who was that?
As Rong Heng stood there in a daze, a calm and steady teenage voice echoed through the dining room: “Mm, I’ve come to divide the meat for you all.”
