Chapter 97
When A-Yan arrived outside, it wasn’t yet 6:30, but several younglings had already gathered, including Rong Heng and his sister, Little Li Hua.
They were a full half-hour early.
Thanks to Rong Heng’s explanation yesterday, both Lang Ze and Zheng Xing now understood that between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., they were free to leave their rooms.
As long as they stayed within the nursery and didn’t disturb others, they could go wherever they pleased.
Zheng Xing handled the newfound freedom calmly, but Lang Ze was overjoyed.
Starting yesterday afternoon, he had been in a constant state of excitement. He even moved his flute practice to the green space nearby.
Looking at the lush plants while practicing the flute improved his mood and made him feel he was learning faster.
Neither Lu Jiao nor Zheng Xing objected to the change. In fact, Zheng Xing—who often retreated into his own world—was slowly getting used to the presence of his two new companions. Spending nearly the entire day together no longer felt strange.
He no longer resisted this kind of life and, in fact, had started to enjoy it.
Especially when they were surrounded by the vibrant vitality of the greenery, where the plants emitted waves of cheerful energy.
Feeling the spiritual resonance from the plants, Zheng Xing found that his monotonous, unchanging world suddenly seemed colorful and dynamic.
Since they only had two flutes, most of the time, it was Lang Ze and Youyou practicing.
While they played, Zheng Xing would crouch on the ground, listening to the halting notes of their practice. He would inhale the scent of fresh grass, bask in the sunlight, and enjoy the gentle breeze.
The peaceful happiness of those moments was something they had never experienced—not just since arriving at the nursery, but for as long as they could remember.
The three of them wished time could stop in that moment.
Yesterday afternoon, they had lingered until the very last minute before reluctantly returning to their rooms under 4586’s urging.
And this morning, barely past 6:00, they had rushed to the dining hall for a quick breakfast before heading outside again.
Rong Heng had originally planned to stay in his room and have Little Li Hua continue reciting the cultivation mantra for him. Thanks to yesterday’s efforts, he had successfully memorized the first four lines and even made some progress.
However, when he heard Lang Ze and the others mention helping to water and fertilize the seedlings, he decided to postpone his original plan and brought his sister along.
He hadn’t forgotten his promise to the caretaker to help with the land, nor the deal he made with A-Yan yesterday to earn meat by helping prepare it.
As for his lingering questions, Rong Heng had learned part of the answer from Lang Ze’s explanations.
For instance, A-Yan was actually the mysterious “Number One” he had never met before.
Now living with the caretaker, A-Yan was the caretaker’s most trusted and favored youngling and was helping to manage the plot of land behind the nursery.
As for the caretaker’s infamous morning temper, Rong Heng had been repeatedly warned by Little Li Hua, and he kept it firmly in mind.
It was the first time he had seen his sister display such a frightened expression.
Although Little Li Hua appeared delicate, he knew she was actually quite brave.
Yet the caretaker had scared her this much. Stranger still, despite being so frightened, she didn’t dislike the caretaker. On the contrary, she seemed quite fond of him.
It was clear she really liked the caretaker—just not when he was in the throes of his morning grumpiness.
When A-Yan arrived outside, the group of younglings, now larger than ever, remained absolutely silent.
Without using his spiritual sense, A-Yan wouldn’t have even known they were already there.
“Have you all eaten breakfast?” A-Yan’s voice suddenly rang out, startling the children who had been quietly observing the plants.
They nodded quickly and whispered, “We have, we have.”
After responding nervously, they gestured for A-Yan to be quiet.
Rong Heng was a beat slower. Having never experienced the caretaker’s temper himself, he didn’t understand why his companions were acting so cautious. Their reactions seemed exaggerated to him.
Still, seeing their seriousness, he followed suit and kept quiet, moving as lightly as possible.
A-Yan: “…”
He closed his mouth and didn’t say another word.
The younglings, meanwhile, turned their attention back to the plants in the field.
In just one day and one night, these ordinary plants had grown noticeably more lush compared to when they had last seen them yesterday morning. The star-fruit plants, in particular—the most numerous—had thrived significantly.
The Star-Chain Fruit Vines were climbing plants. Without supports to grow on, their tendrils sprawled outward across the ground, creating a dense, overlapping green carpet that had expanded the lush corner of the field by more than double.
The ground where they had stood yesterday was now completely covered in vines, leaving little room to step without trampling them.
The plant markers A-Yan had set up were hidden beneath the leaves, making targeted watering and fertilization much harder than it had been the day before.
These young plants were growing extraordinarily well—almost changing before their eyes.
By contrast, the Star-Chain Fruit Vines planted in the building’s corners grew more slowly. Being farther from the spirit shoots, they absorbed less spiritual energy. Even so, they had grown about ten centimeters taller.
The most striking sight, however, was the trio of Star-Chain Fruit Vines that Su Ci had revived using the divine technique Withered Wood Springing to Life.
Once lifeless, they were now vibrant and lush. Bathed in spiritual energy and water, they were thriving with vigor.
Growing near the building, these vines extended toward its walls, eventually latching onto the structure as A-Yan had envisioned. They were already climbing more than a meter upward.
The cold, unyielding metal walls of the building now bore a touch of green, a living contrast that radiated vitality.
This sight alone was enough to inspire a sense of hope and renewal in the younglings, who had spent their lives confined within the nursery’s sterile environment. It left an indelible mark on their hearts.
For Lang Ze, Youyou, and Zheng Xing, their greatest joy was knowing they had played a part in this transformation.
The thriving plants owed some of their success to the children’s efforts. Just thinking about it filled them with pride and a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
A-Yan was also pleased with the growth. However, he realized the smooth surface of the metal wall might soon pose a challenge. While the vines could climb the lower portion, going further upward would likely prove difficult.
If only we had a trellis or a net to fasten to the wall…
A-Yan rummaged through his spatial button but couldn’t find a rope of suitable length or other materials to construct a support.
For now, he could only shelve the idea and decided to consult Su Ci once he woke up.
Turning his attention back to the tangled Star-Chain Fruit Vines, A-Yan noticed that their vigorous growth was crowding out the other plants, like the Golden Taro. These three other species had limited space to grow, which was affecting their development compared to the exuberant vines.
A-Yan frowned.
While the initial spacing had been ideal during the seeding phase, the rapid growth of the plants had rendered it unsuitable.
When Youyou asked if they could start watering, A-Yan shook his head and said, “Let’s separate these plants first. They need more room to grow.”
“If they stay crammed together like this, it’ll cause problems.”
Though the children didn’t fully understand what might happen, none of them objected.
“Okay, Brother A-Yan!” they chirped.
Under A-Yan’s guidance, Youyou chose the healthiest vine closest to the spirit shoots to work on.
Getting close to it wasn’t easy. The vines overlapped one another, stretching outward in all directions, covering seven or eight meters of ground. The original paths between rows were completely obscured.
Walking over would inevitably trample the young plants.
Lu Jiao suggested hesitantly, “Brother A-Yan, why don’t we dig from the outside? If we walk through, we’ll step on the seedlings.”
A-Yan had already noticed this issue. While he could teleport, the others couldn’t. Just as he was about to agree, Lang Ze enthusiastically spoke up.
“Let’s jump over them!” Lang Ze said excitedly.
“J-Jump over?” Lu Jiao stared in disbelief.
Lang Ze, however, nodded confidently and pointed to the center of the greenery. There was a small patch of bare ground, roughly a meter in diameter, that remained uncovered.
Although the ordinary plants had no consciousness, they instinctively grew outward, avoiding the space occupied by the two spirit shoots, leaving that small area exposed.
Lu Jiao was speechless.
He looked at the patch of bare ground, then at the seven or eight meters of vines sprawling between it and where they stood. He had to admit, Lang Ze’s idea… wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
“Well… worth a try?”
Hearing their conversation, A-Yan hesitated but didn’t intervene.
Su Su had once spoken to him about the concept of initiative. These younglings were talented and clever, and perhaps it was time to nurture their problem-solving abilities.
If they learned to handle situations on their own, he could eventually entrust them with greater responsibilities.
While starting from the outer edges and digging their way in wasn’t a bad idea, the chaotic growth of the plants made it unclear which ones needed to be transplanted and which could stay.
The only certainty was that the Star-Chain Fruit Vines around the two spirit shoots would need to be relocated.
Since the younglings had come up with an alternative approach, A-Yan decided to let them try it. However, letting them proceed didn’t mean he would stand by idly without taking precautions.
Ordinary plants were resilient and could handle a little trampling, but the delicate spirit shoots were a different story. They were A-Yan’s pride and joy, nurtured with care and expectation, and held a special place in his heart.
If they got damaged, A-Yan would be heartbroken—and Su Su would surely be upset and angry.
So, A-Yan teleported to the small patch of land. From his spatial button, he retrieved a metallic cooking pot and placed it upside-down over the two spirit shoots.
Though Su Su didn’t cook, his spatial button was surprisingly well-stocked with kitchenware.
When the younglings saw the sudden appearance of a pot on the bare patch, their eyes widened in astonishment. But they quickly realized… only Brother A-Yan could have done something like that so effortlessly.
“Brother A-Yan is amazing!” they thought in unison, their awe unmistakable.
With the pot now covering the spirit shoots, the already limited standing space on the patch of land became even smaller, raising the challenge level considerably.
The greater the challenge, the more excited Lang Ze grew.
“Brother A-Yan, can I start now?” he cupped his hands around his mouth, raising his voice without daring to be too loud.
A calm, youthful voice suddenly spoke beside him, “Go ahead.”
Lang Ze, long accustomed to A-Yan’s sudden appearances, perked up at the response and began bouncing on the spot in excitement.
For the energetic wolf cub, who loved parkour, this was the perfect game!
He gauged the distance, took a few steps back, and with a burst of speed, sprinted forward before leaping high into the air.
His fluffy, bushy tail swished in the air as if an invisible wind were lifting him. His body drew a beautiful arc mid-flight before finally…
Landing squarely on the overturned metal pot.
Lang Ze narrowed his eyes slightly, savoring the exhilarating sensation of leaping through the air. Something in his heart seemed to shift, as if a small revelation had clicked into place.
But when he glanced down and realized he had landed directly on the pot, his body stiffened. Whatever insight he had felt vanished instantly.
It was as if a stern gaze was drilling into his back.
Hastily, Lang Ze jumped off the pot, crouched down, and carefully lifted it. Peeking underneath with bated breath, he checked the two spirit shoots.
Thankfully, the pot was sturdy enough to hold his weight, and his controlled landing had only caused it to press about a centimeter into the soil, leaving the spirit shoots unharmed.
Lang Ze let out a relieved sigh and beamed with joy again.
He did it!
The young wolf made a victorious gesture toward his companions still on the other side, while A-Yan, seeing that the spirit shoots were unharmed, refrained from scolding him.
Seeing Lang Ze’s success, Lu Jiao, who naturally had better jumping ability, couldn’t resist giving it a try. Of course, he didn’t forget to grab a shovel and a bucket for transplanting the seedlings.
Holding both items, he also took a few steps back and then dashed forward, leaping gracefully.
Though small in stature, Lu Jiao had long legs. His jump lacked the explosive power of the wolf cub’s but was light and elegant.
He touched down momentarily on the pot—
This wasn’t entirely his fault. The pot was positioned at the center and made for a very convenient landing spot.
Fortunately, his landing was as precise as it was delicate. As soon as his hooves lightly touched the pot, he leaped again, landing neatly on the far side of the field, like a true deer in motion.
Lang Ze was left staring in awe. He checked the pot again and found that the rim hadn’t sunk even a millimeter.
“Youyou, that was amazing!”
Darn it, Lang Ze thought. I lost! Next time, I’ll make sure my jump is better than his.
Lu Jiao simply gave a small, reserved smile and said nothing.
The middle patch of land wasn’t very large to begin with. With two children now standing there, there wasn’t enough space for Rong Heng and the others to attempt the jump.
So, Rong Heng and his sister stayed on the original side, keeping a close eye on the group’s progress.
Meanwhile, A-Yan teleported Zheng Xing to the center patch with him.
The Star-Chain Fruit Vine slated for transplantation was assigned to Zheng Xing, so it was natural for him to take part in the process.
The already cramped patch of land became even more crowded.
However, A-Yan didn’t jostle for space. Instead, he… floated.
This ability had been demonstrated by Su Ci multiple times yesterday while searching for the little monkey. On a whim, A-Yan had tried it himself earlier and was delighted to find that he could do it too.
He felt elated. Now, by maintaining a slight hovering state, he no longer had to worry about leaving footprints on the ground and revealing his presence.
The three younglings gathered around the target Star-Chain Fruit Vine after regrouping. They crouched down, carefully inspecting the plant.
Lang Ze, being the strongest, held the shovel. Lu Jiao, known for his meticulousness, handled the task of gently pulling aside the vine’s tendrils and leaves, revealing its now significantly thickened stem.
At this point, A-Yan was about to speak.
He knew exactly where to dig to minimize damage to the vine’s roots while still ensuring it could be transplanted with ease.
But before he could open his mouth to direct Lang Ze, he saw—
Zheng Xing quietly pointing to the precise spot.
The contrast between his pale, tender fingers and the dark brownish-yellow soil was stark.
Those light blue eyes of his remained unfocused, seemingly lost in thought, yet his hand unerringly indicated the correct location.
A-Yan stared at him, realizing that it might not be long before Zheng Xing proved more useful than Lang Ze and Lu Jiao combined.
“Brother A-Yan, is it okay to dig here?” Lang Ze asked, looking up at A-Yan for confirmation.
As Lang Ze spoke, Zheng Xing quickly retracted his hand, tucking it away as if trying to disappear. He felt a gaze assessing him and instinctively lowered his head, attempting to fade into the background.
A-Yan withdrew his gaze and replied, “Yes.”
Lang Ze adjusted his strength and carefully drove the shovel into the soil, ultimately succeeding in digging up the entire Star-Chain Fruit Vine.
It was hard to believe that such a large plant had grown from such a small seedling. Fortunately, its roots were still relatively shallow. While a few roots were inevitably broken in the process, it wasn’t a significant issue.
“These… these soils look darker,” Lang Ze noted, peering at the hole he had dug.
When they first saw this patch of land, the soil had been mostly brownish-yellow, hard and clumpy.
However, the soil where the Star-Chain Fruit Vine had grown seemed darker and softer compared to the dry, clumpy dirt in other areas.
“It does look that way,” Lu Jiao said after examining it. He nodded, “Normal fertile soil is darker. I’ve seen it before.”
The children couldn’t help but glance at the untouched land on the outskirts of the plot. It was all a pale, parched brown, visibly lacking moisture.
“That’s because the roots of the Star-Chain Fruit Vine enrich the soil, improving its fertility and making it more suitable for plant growth,” A-Yan explained, joining their discussion to provide some basic agricultural knowledge.
“In fact, the Golden Taro, Emerald Beans, and Jade Snow plants all have the same effect.”
Imitating Su Ci’s teaching style, A-Yan conducted a mini-lesson for the younglings. His calm and clear voice lacked Su Ci’s lazy casualness but carried its own charm, capturing the children’s full attention.
“The soil in the plot behind the nursery is nutrient-poor and unsuitable for most plants. That’s why we’re using these nutrient-enriching root plants to improve it…”
When A-Yan finished his impromptu lecture, the younglings were brimming with determination, especially Lang Ze.
They were going to make the soil fertile and plant all sorts of other crops so they could have endless fruits and vegetables to eat!
Though a meat-eater at heart, Lang Ze wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about vegetables and fruits. But then A-Yan mentioned—
That those delicious chips he loved were made from plants! Furthermore, the Golden Taro was similar to the plants used to make chips and could produce something with a similar texture.
Hearing this, Lang Ze’s eyes turned a greedy shade of green as he fixated on the three Golden Taro plants.
All for the chips!
Rolling up his sleeves, Lang Ze joined forces with the others. Together, they carefully dug up all the Star-Chain Fruit Vines growing around the spirit shoots.
This marked their first genuine team effort.
The three younglings immersed themselves in the task, not realizing they were learning the value of collaboration. They simply felt everything went smoothly as each of them played to their strengths and contributed to the effort.
Perhaps, without knowing it, they were developing habits of teamwork that would benefit them immensely in the future—only time would tell how far those habits would take them.
As they worked, the cleared land gradually expanded. Once there was enough space, Rong Heng and Little Li Hua joined in.
With the lion siblings’ help, the relocation of the Star-Chain Fruit Vines progressed even more efficiently.
“Xing Xing, I’ve cleared this one! Where do we start digging for this plant?”
“Xing Xing, Xing Xing! Come over here!”
At the back of the nursery, five younglings worked diligently in the corner, their focus unshaken. The air was quiet, punctuated only by the occasional calls and chatter between them.
As the work area expanded, Lang Ze and Lu Jiao paired up with the lion siblings, dividing into two groups to dig on opposite sides. Meanwhile, Zheng Xing, the guide for all their digging efforts, ended up darting back and forth between the two teams.
The others gradually forgot about Zheng Xing’s blindness. Despite all his running around, he never tripped or stumbled and always pinpointed the exact digging spots with unerring accuracy.
Zheng Xing’s activity level during this single morning far exceeded what he’d normally manage in a week—or even a month.
His small face flushed bright red from exertion, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Yet, the boy neither complained nor stopped. On the contrary, his face bore an unconscious expression of joy.
A-Yan could clearly sense the change in him.
The once silent and withdrawn Zheng Xing, who preferred to isolate himself in the corner, was still quiet but gave off a very different vibe.
Instead of his previous aloofness, the boy now seemed brighter, more open.
While A-Yan couldn’t predict what the future held for him, it was evident that Zheng Xing was moving in a positive direction.
About an hour later, thanks to the collective efforts of the five younglings, they successfully dug up all the Star-Chain Fruit Vines surrounding the spirit shoots under A-Yan’s guidance.
However, A-Yan didn’t remove all of the 30 to 40 plants. He left behind about ten: two Golden Taros, two Jade Snow Beans, two Emerald Beans, and four Star-Chain Fruit Vines.
These plants would continue to receive the nourishment of the spiritual energy, growing rapidly and enriching the soil to sustain the needs of the spirit shoots.
At this pace, A-Yan estimated that the nursery would be able to harvest its first batch of fruit before long.
Next, A-Yan directed the younglings to dig pits at the base of the nursery’s walls and transplant the seedlings into them.
As they transplanted the vines, Lu Jiao carefully placed the numbered tags back into the soil beside each plant.
This was the first time Rong Heng realized that Lang Ze and the others each had their own assigned plants to care for.
His eyes lit up as he eagerly looked toward A-Yan.
Having promised the caretaker to help with farming, Rong Heng was determined to do his part well. Yesterday’s lesson had made him realize just how valuable the caretaker’s teachings were.
He had already benefited greatly from the cultivation technique Su Ci had taught him. Naturally, he wanted to repay that favor with his efforts.
A-Yan didn’t disappoint him. Thanks to the seeds the little monkey had delivered earlier, all the Star-Chain Fruit Vine seeds had already sprouted after being soaked.
Although A-Yan felt there were already too many Star-Chain Fruit Vines, since the seeds had sprouted, they couldn’t be wasted. There was still room on the plot, so they would plant them anyway.
By the time the younglings finished planting all the sprouted seeds around the spirit shoots, the size of the green patch had more than doubled.
Looking at the sheer number of Star-Chain Fruit Vine seedlings now, A-Yan decided that any new seeds would have to be held off for planting later.
After all, there were now over a hundred vines. If every one of them survived and bore fruit like the previous batch…
“That’s way more than we can possibly finish!”
For the first time, A-Yan felt the sweet headache of having too much of a good thing.
When Rong Heng asked if they should loosen and cultivate the other patches of hardened soil, A-Yan simply shook his head and said, “No, next, we need to prepare breakfast for Su-Su.”
Rong Heng was momentarily stunned, and then suddenly realized—
So this meat-cutting… was actually for the caretaker?
Once in the kitchen, A-Yan placed the spider meat on the table to thaw and handed knives to the little wolf cub and Rong Heng.
“Today, the two of you will do the cutting. Remember the techniques I taught you—if the slices aren’t cut properly, it’ll affect the taste.”
Hearing this, the little wolf cub nodded eagerly, summoning all his concentration. As for Rong Heng—who had been rather confused since entering the kitchen—he, too, quickly focused after hearing those words.
A-Yan demonstrated the meat-slicing technique to them once more. After they started practicing, he finally turned to look at Youyou and Zheng Xing, who were waiting on the side.
Zheng Xing seemed puzzled that he hadn’t been assigned to cut the meat. Lu Jiao, however, understood that they were likely left out because they hadn’t done a good job slicing the meat the previous day, so they weren’t allowed to do it today…
Feeling a little dejected, he lowered his head. Just then, A-Yan’s voice rang out again.
“Youyou, Xing Xing, come over here.” Then he asked Little Li Hua, “Do you want to help too?”
Little Li Hua blinked. “If I help, can I get some of that delicious meat we had yesterday?”
“Of course,” A-Yan replied. “Su-Su said that any little one who helps prepare ingredients gets two slices of meat at lunchtime.”
He paused for a moment, then casually dangled more temptation. “If you do a good job, there’ll be other yummy things. And if you want more meat, that can be arranged too.”
Having ample ingredients created a problem with preservation, but the best solution was simply to eat them promptly and then gather fresh ingredients again.
Just like farming—if these children ate well, they’d grow stronger and sturdier. In the future, they could not only help with the fields but also join in hunting monsters, which would yield even more food!
A-Yan thought about the two little spirit sprouts. Though they ate a lot, the benefits they provided in return were tangible.
Hearing that promise, Little Li Hua couldn’t help swallowing hard, nodding fervently. “Then I’ll help!”
She knew her brother would definitely share his meat with her, but if she earned her own share, then her brother wouldn’t need to give up his portion!
They’d both get two pieces of meat!
Seeing Little Li Hua’s eyes light up, A-Yan was satisfied.
Next, he led the three little ones and began teaching them how to prepare the marinade for the roast meat.
After all, the sauce is the soul of roast meat!
Without seasonings, many of his dishes would taste far more bland.
And that was precisely what was bothering A-Yan at the moment.
All the seasonings he used currently came from the “spatial button,” in the form of seasoning packets. There might be a lot of them, but eventually, they’d run out. Who knew if the logistics department would have any for him to exchange? Or perhaps the spices used for cooking could be grown by himself?
As he guided Youyou and the others to marinate the meat slices, A-Yan kept these thoughts churning. Meanwhile, Rong Heng and Lang Ze, after their initial nervousness, gradually got the hang of it.
Both of them belonged to species with formidable innate combat talents and a natural affinity for weaponry. And a kitchen knife, in a certain sense, was just another kind of weapon.
Lang Ze already had some practice from the previous day, so he was even more adept today. Having Rong Heng working beside him also spurred him on, as though something clicked inside his head all at once.
His meat-slicing was both fast and precise—even A-Yan couldn’t help but nod in approval.
Rong Heng looked at the grinning Lang Ze, who was being praised, wagging his fluffy tail in excitement. Then he glanced down at the piece of meat in his own hands. It felt cold and very soft to the touch—he knew it was the base ingredient for making meat jelly. He’d seen how these slices were turned into a mouthwatering dish yesterday, though he hadn’t tasted it himself. He could imagine how irresistible the roasted meat must be.
After a moment’s hesitation, Rong Heng quietly ventured a question. “So… what exactly is this meat from?”
Ever since arriving at the nursery, nearly every meal consisted of meat jelly and mush; there were few other kinds of food. Rong Heng was aware that this was due to scarce resources—none of the adults at the base ate much better than they did. But now…
How did they suddenly come by such large chunks of meat?
Could this be something the base provided exclusively for the breeder? Why not pre-slice it or supply a meat-slicing machine in the first place? Something like a food processor…?
Rong Heng’s mind was flooded with questions, but those questions were quickly resolved when the little wolf cub answered.
“Giant spider meat!” Lang Ze said without hesitation.
“What?” Rong Heng lost his composure. “This is giant spider meat? Is… is it edible?”
Didn’t giant spiders carry a high concentration of pollutants? Wouldn’t eating it cause some kind of problem?
“Of course it’s edible! Didn’t we eat it yesterday?”
Lang Ze gave him a puzzled look before suddenly remembering that Rong Heng hadn’t eaten the roast meat the day before. He quickly reassured him, “You’ll get to try it today! Giant spider meat… it’s really delicious!”
Rong Heng nodded absentmindedly, but his attention was entirely on the piece of meat under his hands.
So this was… giant spider meat?
He remembered the caretaker killing the giant spider—he’d even seen the remains yesterday—but he never thought the caretaker would be so bold as to eat the meat.
However, Rong Heng quickly noticed that the piece of meat in his hands didn’t emit the red substance that made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He knew that substance was a pollutant, and contact with it would cause him to lose control and easily enter a berserk state.
He had felt its presence yesterday when approaching the giant spider.
So why was this spider meat so clean? Then it clicked—he remembered the two large pools beside the building.
Yesterday, when the caretaker threw the collected spider silk into the pools, Rong Heng had noticed something unusual. The pools emitted a light very similar to purification magic. At the time, he had marveled at the caretaker’s abilities.
So, the giant spider meat must have been purified too, right?
With this realization, all of Rong Heng’s doubts were dispelled, and he felt an even deeper sense of awe for Caretaker Su.
At least, no other adult in the base would ever think to not only kill a monster but also eat its meat, right?
At the same time, Rong Heng’s curiosity grew—was giant spider meat really that delicious?
Thanks to Rong Heng joining in and Lang Ze’s improved skills, even without Youyou and the others helping, the efficiency of slicing the meat didn’t drop much.
By the time Su Ci woke up, A-Yan had already finished making breakfast.
However, this morning, Su Ci didn’t leave his bedroom immediately after waking up.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking slightly upward, his gaze fixed on the work manual on the wall. He stared at it silently, exerting immense pressure on the budding book spirit within the manual.
Of course, having been reprimanded countless times before, the book spirit chose to play dead this time.
After staring at the manual for a while, Su Ci finally sensed its aura and remembered what he had forgotten to do last night.
He flipped his palm gently, and a bundle of spider silk appeared in his hand.
This was the silk he had spread out on the metal floor outside the nursery building yesterday to air and dry. Compared to yesterday, the bundle had noticeably shrunk by more than half.
As the spider silk appeared in Su Ci’s hand, the guilty book spirit froze in place, feeling both panicked and wronged.
This caretaker! Not only did he ignore the regulations of the Caretaker’s Manual, but he also had the young ones farming and even enlisted all of them to cook meals for him!
At this rate, it wouldn’t just fail to grow its power—it could barely sustain its consciousness, let alone prevent itself from fading away entirely!
So, as a small, weak, pitiful, and helpless book spirit, what was so wrong with sneaking a little spider silk?
