Chapter 95
Recently, Gu Qingchen had noticed something unusual.
As the only Purifier at Base 24, he was usually incredibly busy.
Extreme weather events were frequent, and even on regular days, the air was filled with pollutants. As a result, base members had to visit the purification center every few days.
This meant that Gu Qingchen’s daily workload was always packed. The central AI allocated his capabilities down to the last detail, ensuring that by the time he clocked out, he would typically have no purification energy left.
However, starting two days ago, although the number of people he attended to hadn’t decreased, by evening, he noticed… he still had some purification energy left? Enough to handle another two or three medium-pollution cases, at least!
It wasn’t a huge amount, but compared to the usual drained feeling, it was a noticeable improvement.
Gu Qingchen was also sure this wasn’t due to an increase in his purification capacity. He was well aware of his own limits.
The real reason had to be… that recently, the people coming in for purification had significantly lower levels of pollutants in their bodies—especially those from the cultivation garden!
While it was impossible for their pollution levels to be zero, most of them barely registered on the scale. These were the kind of cases that could safely wait a few more days before requiring purification.
Thanks to his good relationship with Zhuang Shisong, Gu Qingchen understood the reason: it was because of the little garlic sprout. That plant had a unique ability to disperse pollutants.
This explained why the cultivation garden staff had less exposure to pollutants and lower accumulation in their bodies. But what about personnel from other departments?
Gu Qingchen couldn’t figure it out for now. However, he suspected it had something to do with how smoothly the base had weathered the last two extreme weather events. He’d need to observe a bit longer for a clearer answer.
Overall, though, it was a good thing.
Right now, however, another matter had caught his attention—
“Nothing from the nursery again today?” Gu Qingchen asked a young nurse beside him.
The nurse was tidying up her station, getting ready to leave for the day. Hearing his question, she paused to think, then nodded. “We haven’t received any notifications from them, and the hover stretcher hasn’t been dispatched either.”
If one of the younglings were injured, it would typically be a major event requiring the hover stretcher to secure and transport them back. Medical staff heading to the nursery always prepared stretchers in advance for such emergencies.
Gu Qingchen frowned, removing his glasses and wiping them as he spoke. “That’s strange. What’s going on with those younglings lately? Why are they so well-behaved?”
There had been injuries every single day before. Now, it had been a few days without a single case, and he found himself struggling to adjust.
The young nurse gave him a puzzled look. “Isn’t it a good thing that none of them are getting hurt?”
“It’s not that it’s a bad thing,” Gu Qingchen replied. “But when something unusual happens, there’s often more to it. You know as well as I do that as the younglings grow older, their bloodline powers become increasingly volatile. Injuries are almost inevitable.”
What worried him most was the possibility that something had indeed happened, but no one had reported it…
However, with the base’s AI overseeing everything, it was unlikely that any incident involving injured younglings could go unnoticed, no matter how unreliable the caretakers might be.
Gu Qingchen had a lot of faith in the base’s AI.
For instance, when Number Four had been taken away by the research institute, despite all his arguments, Ren Yufei had refused to release it. But the moment the base AI intervened, the matter had been swiftly resolved.
Just then, a guard at the entrance called out to him. “Dr. Gu, someone’s here to see you.”
Gu Qingchen nodded. Although it was after work hours, the medical ward always operated 24/7 to handle emergencies.
“Who is it?”
He put his glasses back on and clearly saw the slender figure standing at the door.
He paused. He had just been talking about the nursery, and now Caretaker Su was here. Was there finally an incident?
Gu Qingchen’s feelings were complicated. While he found it strange that no younglings had been injured recently, deep down, he still hoped those unfortunate younglings could grow up healthy and strong.
With a sigh, he stood up and approached Su Ci. “Did something happen to one of the younglings? Let’s go, I’ll come with you to the nursery.”
Su Ci didn’t respond immediately. While there was indeed an issue with Number Six, it wasn’t urgent.
“No need,” he said. “I just have some questions for you.”
Gu Qingchen blinked, surprised. “You’re not here because a youngling had a fit and got hurt?”
Fits were an everyday occurrence, but…
Su Ci shook his head. “No injuries.”
With that, he walked straight into Gu Qingchen’s office.
Gu Qingchen, momentarily stunned, looked at the floor where Su Ci had stepped. He couldn’t help but comment, “Where on earth did you go to get your shoes so dirty?”
The floor beneath Su Ci’s feet bore light yellow footprints. While they hadn’t been obvious outside, the white tiles in the office made them stand out starkly.
Hearing this, Su Ci glanced back at the footprints and replied casually, “Oh, I was clearing some land behind the nursery building. I might have picked up some mud.”
His tone was so light that Gu Qingchen didn’t initially think much of it and even nodded. But then, as the words registered, his eyes widened in disbelief.
“What? You cleared some land behind the nursery?”
Normally calm and composed, Dr. Gu rarely showed such a lack of poise. Even the young nurse still in the office looked at him curiously.
Most of her attention, however, was focused on Su Ci.
Seeing the gray-blue uniform, she instantly recognized him. She’d heard rumors about the new caretaker while chatting about gossip earlier but hadn’t expected him to be this good-looking! He was more attractive than any man or woman she’d ever seen.
Gu Qingchen noticed the nurse’s excitement and quickly composed himself. After sending her out, he closed the door.
Meanwhile, A-Yan, who had been waiting outside, glanced down at his own small shoes. Having run across the muddy riverbed, they were inevitably dirty. He also remembered that his footprints had given him away last time.
After a moment of thought, A-Yan bent down to remove his shoes. Seeing the pristine white socks underneath, he took those off too, storing them in his spatial button. Only then did he step forward, instantly appearing at Su Ci’s side.
Su Ci frowned slightly when he noticed A-Yan’s bare feet. He pulled over a chair and placed it beside him.
A-Yan smiled, happily climbing onto the chair to sit down.
The little monkey, meanwhile, jumped off Su Ci’s shoulder and curled up in A-Yan’s lap, joining him on the chair.
Gu Qingchen, unaware that his office now housed not just an unreliable trainee caretaker but also two younglings, remained completely focused on Su Ci’s earlier statement.
“What are you clearing land for?” he asked, rushing over to sit at his workstation and staring at Su Ci with a mix of curiosity and urgency.
“Farming,” Su Ci replied matter-of-factly.
“Farming?!” Dr. Gu’s voice almost cracked. “And no one stopped you?”
He knew Su Ci shared his interest in planting things. The man had spent his scarce points on fertilizer and even gone to the cultivation garden to request seeds. But never in his wildest dreams had Gu Qingchen imagined—
Su Ci had gone this far!
He had cleared a plot of land behind the nursery? On a planet where the soil itself released pollutants? Forget about planting anything—even prolonged contact with the soil was harmful to humans!
“The base AI approved it,” Su Ci said.
“…”
Gu Qingchen was rendered speechless. The base AI had approved something so absurd? Was it malfunctioning? Or… did Su Ci have someone powerful backing him?
After a long silence, Gu Qingchen asked, “So, no younglings have been injured recently? What about Number Four? How is he doing since returning from the research institute?”
Su Ci had already brought Number Four back to the nursery, which Gu Qingchen was aware of. Su Ci had even been penalized for it—three months of pay and points docked, plus a formal warning on his record.
But Gu Qingchen had no complaints about that decision.
“Number Four is doing well,” Su Ci replied.
Gu Qingchen was skeptical. “He’s exhibited characteristics of two bloodline powers. Are you aware of this?”
Su Ci nodded.
“Then you must also know what consequences this could have for him, right?”
When Su Ci nodded again, Gu Qingchen exhaled slowly. “I’ve submitted an application to the Star Alliance. If approved, we should receive a batch of medication that can alleviate his pain.”
But that was the extent of what could be done.
It was an incurable condition. There was no existing medication that could treat it, and their options were limited.
Su Ci, though confident it might not be necessary, still nodded and expressed his thanks.
Just as Gu Qingchen was about to return to questioning him about the land, Su Ci spoke again. “I came to see you this time primarily about Number Six.”
“Oh? Number Six? What’s wrong with him?” Gu Qingchen’s interest was piqued.
The little monkey, hearing the familiar number, perked up its ears, its expression turning focused.
“I want to know more about his bloodline,” Su Ci said.
“Number Six’s bloodline…” Gu Qingchen was well-versed in the younglings’ profiles. Without needing to consult his records, he replied, “He has the bloodline of the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey.”
“Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey?” Su Ci found the species name peculiar.
“Correct,” Gu Qingchen said. “You might not have heard of it before. This ferocious beast’s bloodline is extremely rare and valuable even across the stars.”
“What are its characteristics?” Su Ci asked.
“The Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey possesses extraordinary agility and exceptional learning capabilities. Whether it’s physical strength or mental aptitude, its potential is immense. But what truly sets them apart is their ability to possess a second life.”
Gu Qingchen unconsciously lowered his voice.
This was a secret belonging to every beast-blooded species. If it weren’t for the fact that the base had taken in a Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey youngling, Gu Qingchen wouldn’t have had access to such information.
Of course, before starting their roles, all personnel signed confidentiality agreements. It was strictly forbidden to disclose the traits of beast-blooded species to anyone outside, even after leaving their positions. Violators would face military tribunals and, in severe cases, retaliation from the beast-blooded species themselves.
As a caretaker, Su Ci had undoubtedly signed such an agreement when he joined, so Gu Qingchen didn’t withhold any details from him.
“A second life?” Su Ci glanced at the little monkey sitting obediently in A-Yan’s arms.
“Yes,” Gu Qingchen confirmed. “Warriors with this bloodline are always accompanied by a monkey once they reach adulthood.”
“This monkey is deeply connected to them, serving as their most trusted battle partner. It can assist in special missions and, most importantly, acts as their second incarnation.”
“As long as the monkey survives, even if the warrior is killed, they can resurrect after a period of time. Similarly, killing the monkey doesn’t greatly affect the warrior.”
This made beast-blooded warriors with Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey lineage incredibly difficult to deal with. If they went astray, they could easily cause significant societal chaos.
Gu Qingchen also knew a bit about Number Six’s background.
Both of Number Six’s parents had been powerful beast-blooded warriors who earned commendations on the frontlines. His mother had sacrificed herself in a battle against interstellar monsters, while his father retired early due to injuries.
Originally, Number Six should have grown up as a cherished orphan of war heroes, protected by his parents’ legacy.
However, something happened to Number Six’s father—the warrior who passed down the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey bloodline. After returning from the battlefield, his personality underwent a drastic change.
He abandoned his young child and disappeared. When he reappeared, he had become a madman who killed anyone he encountered.
Each time he was killed, he would reappear after a while, growing increasingly unhinged and employing more brutal methods of murder.
During that period, the criminal police tasked with apprehending him were nearly driven insane. Even the Star Alliance’s elite officers were at a loss against his indestructible nature.
It wasn’t until his second incarnation—the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey—dragged its frail body into the open during one of his rampages that the nightmare ended.
Gu Qingchen had seen the footage.
The monkey saluted the soldiers, turned to face the sniper, and calmly met its fate.
In the end, both the monkey and Number Six’s father were killed simultaneously, finally bringing an end to a nightmare that had lasted over a year.
At that time, Number Six was only four years old.
After his father’s death, Number Six continued living in an orphanage, but he began exhibiting erratic moods and aggression far exceeding other younglings.
The catastrophic impact of his father’s actions, combined with the inability of a regular orphanage to handle his berserk episodes, led the Star Alliance to send him to the nursery on Prison Star after much deliberation.
When Gu Qingchen first took charge of Number Six, he paid close attention to him. Aside from his mood swings, Number Six was actually one of the more manageable younglings. Despite lacking the emotional stability or cleverness typical for his age, he was easy to handle overall.
When in a good mood, he was like a little angel—smiling, eager to communicate, and even giving himself a nickname: “Six Six.” Among the younglings, he was the most cheerful one.
However, interactions with him required caution. If upset, Number Six would immediately explode. One moment he could be smiling at you, and the next, he’d lash out violently.
What puzzled Gu Qingchen was that he had never seen Number Six’s second incarnation.
There wasn’t enough existing data to determine when or how the second incarnation of a Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey appeared.
Gu Qingchen omitted the details about Six’s father, providing Su Ci with a general overview of the youngling’s situation.
“Number Six is almost nine years old now. Based on typical patterns, his bloodline traits should start manifesting soon. You’ll need to keep a close eye on him,” Gu Qingchen said, taking a sip from his thermos to soothe his throat.
Su Ci seemed thoughtful.
“Well, it’s getting late. You should head back. If anything comes up, we can discuss it over the communicator.” Gu Qingchen glanced at the darkening sky outside and began ushering him out. Night travel was best avoided when possible.
Su Ci nodded. He had gained a good understanding of the situation and had a sense of what to expect.
However, as he turned to leave, he stretched out his hand toward Gu Qingchen and said, “I need purification.”
Gu Qingchen thought back and realized it had been quite a while since Su Ci’s last purification.
So, he put on his gloves and placed his hand on Su Ci’s.
Meanwhile, Su Ci subtly rested his other hand on A-Yan’s shoulder…
After thoroughly draining Dr. Gu once again, Su Ci left the medical purification ward feeling satisfied, with A-Yan and the little monkey in tow.
However, by the time he returned to the nursery, a file from Gu Qingchen arrived.
Gu Qingchen: [This is information regarding Number Six’s father. After some thought, I decided it might be necessary to share it with you. It could help you better care for Number Six in the future.]
He added: [Each youngling is an individual. Please don’t let their parents’ actions affect your judgment of them.]
Su Ci was a bit surprised. After accepting the file, he simply replied: [Got it.]
Just as he was about to close the communicator, another message from Gu Qingchen popped up.
Gu Qingchen: [Caretaker Su, your resistance to pollutants seems a bit unusual. When you have time, stop by the medical ward for a comprehensive checkup, okay?]
Recalling Gu Qingchen’s defeated expression when he left earlier, Su Ci couldn’t help but chuckle.
Before he could reply, yet another message came through:
Gu Qingchen: [Oh, and when I have some free time in the next couple of days, can I visit the land you’ve been cultivating?]
Since Su Ci had brought up the topic himself, he had anticipated this request.
His ultimate goal was to restore vitality to the earth, a mission that would require human assistance. There was no need to hide his farming efforts.
And after interacting with Gu Qingchen, Su Ci found him to be quite decent. The fact that he’d taught Su Ci purification techniques alone was enough to earn his respect.
[Sure.]
Su Ci responded with a simple reply and ended the conversation.
Just as he was about to review the file Gu Qingchen had sent, A-Yan’s voice interrupted him.
“Su Su, can I learn purification techniques?”
Su Ci turned to look at A-Yan. By now, they had returned to the nursery and were in Room Two. Number Six still lay on the bed, unconscious.
The little monkey squatted at the edge of the bed, watching closely, showing no intention of returning to its own body.
Instead of answering directly, Su Ci asked, “Do you want to learn?”
A-Yan nodded and used the communicator to say, “I think this ability is very useful, and it’s key to fighting the red mist.”
Previously, A-Yan had understood the importance of Purifiers to the base. But after witnessing Su Ci’s use of purification techniques in combat today, he realized that both he and humans had underestimated this profession.
Purifiers were not just support personnel—they could play a critical role in battle, especially against monsters within the red mist.
“Your intuition is correct,” Su Ci said.
Purification was indeed a fascinating ability.
As previously mentioned, the essence of the red mist was spiritual energy tainted with various forms of negative energy. It relied on resentment to unleash potential, much like the practices of demonic cultivators. Typically, it wasn’t a foundation for developing positive abilities.
Yet Purifiers, despite being exposed to resentment, had managed to gain the ability to cleanse it.
This in itself was an extraordinary feat. Only those with unwavering willpower and a heart of compassion and kindness could achieve such a thing.
Even Su Ci admitted to himself that it would be nearly impossible for him to comprehend this ability on his own.
Having lived through countless ages, witnessing the rise and fall of innumerable creatures and civilizations, Su Ci had come to embrace a philosophy of letting nature take its course, believing in the balance of all things.
Good or evil, all had their destinies. As he aged, Su Ci had grown more hands-off, choosing not to interfere in the affairs of other beings.
However, after awakening this time to find the earth in such a ruined state, Su Ci realized that true non-intervention was beyond him.
Since he couldn’t completely let go, he chose to intervene instead, finding enjoyment in the process.
Still, he didn’t consider himself a benevolent or merciful spirit, so the idea of him naturally awakening to purification techniques seemed far-fetched.
If it had been before, faced with such a massive scale of resentment, his likely solution would have been a simple seal. Beyond that… he wouldn’t have had many options.
Now, however, after learning purification techniques from Gu Qingchen and elevating them to a divine level, he had a more effective tool.
Using this technique, he couldn’t suppress the red mist quickly, but he could genuinely dissipate the resentment and deliver the souls entangled within it to peace. It was undeniably a highly useful ability.
Still…
“Whether you can learn this technique depends on your will and character,” Su Ci told A-Yan.
As the Spirit of the Earth, Su Ci embodied the source of most of the world’s rules. He was akin to a god of all things. Any ability humans developed, no matter how peculiar, he could master and use as long as he had witnessed it.
But A-Yan’s circumstances were different. Even Su Ci couldn’t predict the direction of his growth.
“It’s okay if you can’t learn it. You can start with formations,” Su Ci reassured him. “I’ve already integrated purification techniques into formations, and I’ll teach you everything in the future.”
Hearing this, the worry in A-Yan’s expression finally dissipated.
He nodded. “Got it, Su Su. I understand.”
He then turned his gaze toward the little monkey and Number Six, while Su Ci resumed reviewing the information Gu Qingchen had sent. It contained details about Number Six’s parents.
Switching his communicator to silent mode, Su Ci opened the final recorded footage of Number Six’s father.
His focus rested primarily on the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey in the video.
Its eyes, filled with complex human emotions, contrasted starkly with the feral and bloodthirsty man beside it.
This…
Wasn’t it remarkably similar to Number Six’s current situation?
Perhaps Number Six’s father hadn’t gone mad after all. Maybe he had faced the same issue that Number Six was confronting now.
The only difference was that Number Six’s father experienced these changes as an adult after a traumatic event, whereas Number Six’s current state seemed to be the result of a bloodline outburst.
Now, the real question was—
“Do you want to return to your body?” Su Ci asked the little monkey.
As expected, when it heard the question, the little monkey shook its head.
