Chapter 42: The Cub’s First Display
Royal Guard Captain Sāng Hǔ and Vice Commander Chén Chán quickly took control of the situation, organizing rescues and calming the survivors.
The Beastmen who were originally terrified and looking for someone to blame immediately lost their nerve when they saw the Ikaruosi Royal Crest on the guards’ chests.
If this had been some local Federation family causing trouble, they would have surrounded them and kicked them until they couldn’t see straight.
Anyone who could afford property on Hǎiwān Island had some kind of backing.
If they banded together, no matter how strong the background, could it beat a group of people with status?
Unfortunately, they had scanned every power in the Federation’s main system and couldn’t find anyone who matched this.
That was the Ikaruosi Royal Family!
Their citizens were a group of savage bandits, and the Royal Family was composed of the craziest bandits of them all!
Fathers killing sons, sons killing fathers, uncles killing nephews…
They had heard the current young King of the Ikaruosi Empire had nearly wiped out his entire bloodline. He was a cold-blooded monster among lunatics.
The young King had inherited the bloodlust of the Ikaruosi line, with combat genes in his bones that wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied.
Many interstellar merchants didn’t even dare to travel to the Ikaruosi Empire now, fearing they would be casually executed by that young King.
Sāng Hǔ deliberately displayed the Ikaruosi crest to intimidate them, and the effect was even better than he had anticipated.
Seeing the crowd’s emotions settle, Sāng Hǔ spoke unhurriedly, “We apologize to everyone. Due to our Majesty’s brief loss of emotional control, we have caused significant losses. The Ikaruosi Empire will negotiate compensation with the Federation’s Chief Executive. Anyone with a property deed for Hǎiwān Island will receive appropriate compensation. Once again, our apologies.”
The King of Ikaruosi was here at Hǎiwān Island?!
Those hiding small schemes immediately buried them.
Mother of God!
The one who sank the island was the King of Ikaruosi. Thank goodness they didn’t act on impulse, or their lives might have ended right there.
That was a ruthless person who had slaughtered his own kin.
They couldn’t afford to provoke him!
Run, run, run.
The Beastmen forced smiles and scurried away.
News of this would reach the upper levels of the Federation soon.
Before the Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the patrol teams could arrive, Shěn Lín and the others had already relocated.
Pink energy bands spiraled around in circles. A segment of the band split into a dozen thin lines, darting back and forth across the wounds to sew them shut. Once finished, an energy bandage quickly wrapped around the area.
The bandaging process seemed long, but it actually took only a few seconds.
As the bandages were applied, they visibly dissolved into points of light that began healing the wounds. Cells multiplied rapidly, flesh knitted together, and scabs formed and fell off almost instantly.
Not a single scar remained on the skin.
Tǎlǐ’ěr lay in the treatment pod. Throughout the process of Shěn Lín using his healing energy, he showed no signs of waking up.
Under the soothing influence of the light bands, the dense feathers on his body receded into his skin, revealing his pale, delicate face.
Shěn Lín waved his small hands, and the light bands entered Tǎlǐ’ěr’s body to repair his damaged internal organs.
Connecting to Tǎlǐ’ěr’s consciousness sea, he cleared away the accumulated pollution.
Because Tǎlǐ’ěr had spent time with the cub, his body was already naturally tinged with some healing energy.
This energy helped clear the peripheral pollutants, acting like a layer of oil on a stuck door.
As the cub pushed, he entered the consciousness sea smoothly with the help of that “oil.”
Compared to Papa Shěn’s mania, which was like a door sealed with superglue, Tǎlǐ’ěr’s door was much easier to enter.
He didn’t even need the “city” cleaning trucks; he just used small trash collectors. After a few trips, he had cleared all the junk in under ten minutes.
Shěn Lín’s consciousness withdrew from the sea, and he stood on his tiptoes to check Tǎlǐ’ěr’s condition.
The display on the treatment pod showed Tǎlǐ’ěr’s vitals shifting from a screen full of red to a steady green. Only then did the cub relax.
He turned and walked out of the treatment room.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he saw two people standing on opposite sides of the corridor, a clear “Chǔ-Hàn border” between them.
In the heat of the moment, Shěn Lín had insisted on leaving “Little Chicken Brother” and his Third Brother outside.
There were only four of them on this starship; the rest of the retinue had been left on other ships by Lì Héng and Shěn Zéjué.
Shěn Lín looked right, then left.
The two in the corridor saw the cub emerge and immediately stood up straight.
“Little Bear.”
“Bǐngbǐng!”
Shěn Lín stood there for a moment before walking toward Shěn Zéjué.
His Third Brother was a fool; he had actually taken the brunt of the SSS-grade power, resulting in several burns on his body.
Yes, burns.
Lì Héng’s energy pressure was like a roaring fire, and Shěn Zéjué had faced it head-on.
Large patches of his hair were singed, and his body was covered in hideous burn marks.
If Shěn Zéjué hadn’t shielded Tǎlǐ’ěr, the boy wouldn’t be in a coma; he would be dead.
The moment Shěn Lín walked toward Shěn Zéjué, Lì Héng’s heart sank.
Waves of heat radiated from his body, the air rippling with steam. Even the interior materials of the starship showed signs of melting.
In the next second.
A large wall of pink light appeared around Shěn Lín, blocking Lì Héng’s erupting bloodline power.
The remaining light bands twisted in the air, quickly bandaging Shěn Zéjué’s burns.
Seeing this miraculous scene, Shěn Zéjué’s pupils constricted. He instinctively stepped in front of Shěn Lín, his silver ears standing tall as he bared his fangs at Lì Héng.
Anyone who saw the cub’s special ability could not be allowed to live!
“Third Brother~”
Shěn Lín tugged at Shěn Zéjué’s pants, looking confused.
“Bǐngbǐng, I’ve never seen a power that can heal like this. Your power is too unique. Only the dead keep secrets, so I have to kill him!”
The murderous intent in Shěn Zéjué’s eyes was undeniable.
Shěn Lín’s heart softened.
Shěn Zéjué’s first reaction wasn’t fear or shock at his power, but worry.
He was worried about the cub’s secret being discovered and chose to silence the witness immediately.
Usually, Shěn Zéjué was unreliable, teasing the cub like a silly husky without a care in the world.
But when the cub’s safety was threatened, he transformed into a fierce Wolf King, standing guard in front of him.
Looking at the white ears and the snowy wolf tail, Shěn Lín bit his lip.
An almost impossible thought surfaced in his mind.
Could Third Brother be… him?
Monster Brother No. 03?
Papa Shěn was his Monster Papa, and Second Sister was his Monster Sister No. 02…
The two new family members he had met so far had animal forms identical to his monster family from his previous life. It gave him a wild, desperate hope.
His monster family might really be back by his side!
He needed to find a chance to see Shěn Zéjué’s full beast form.
Shěn Lín reached out his chubby hand and took Shěn Zéjué’s furry wolf paw.
Shěn Zéjué quickly retracted his sharp claws, afraid of scratching the cub’s tender skin.
“Third Brother~”
“Little Chicken… Brother… won’t~”
“How do you know he won’t? Bǐngbǐng, you can’t judge a book by its cover!”
Shěn Zéjué was frustrated by the cub’s naivety!
The red-haired boy, who had been standing silently with his eyes downcast, suddenly looked up when he heard the cub’s trust. His red eyes were blindingly bright.
Shěn Zéjué felt more irritated than ever.
“He won’t~”
The cub’s voice was firm, filled with absolute trust in “Little Chicken Brother.”
Shěn Zéjué was speechless.
What else could he say?
The cub’s heart was already leaning so far it was practically in his armpit. Anything Shěn Zéjué said now would be in vain.
He was sulking in silence.
Shěn Lín eventually managed to soothe his grumpy Third Brother and turned to walk toward Lì Héng.
Shěn Zéjué stepped out to stop him. “Bǐngbǐng, don’t go over there. He’s dangerous right now!”
“It’s okay~”
Shěn Lín patted Shěn Zéjué’s leg.
He wanted to pat his shoulder, but he was still a short, chubby thing who couldn’t reach the 187cm height of his brother. He had to settle for the leg.
Shěn Lín found his mind wandering, wondering when he would grow up.
He had never seen himself as an adult.
He was a little bit excited.
Lì Héng stared at the cub without blinking.
He watched the little one walk toward him, step by waddling step.
It was only a few steps, but Lì Héng’s palms were sweating.
Before him was a pair of short legs, a round body, a chubby face, eyes full of the galaxy, and that messy, fluffy hair…
He hesitated.
He even felt a trace of unease.
Shěn Lín didn’t need to read his emotions; he could see them clearly on his face.
Shěn Lín took another step forward.
Lì Héng instinctively stepped back.
His footsteps were a bit frantic.
Shěn Lín stopped, looking a bit hurt.
The red-haired boy panicked, reaching out half-way before pulling his hand back.
“Ah-ya~”
Shěn Lín’s big eyes rolled, and he tilted his body to the right, pretending to fall.
The acting was exaggerated and easy to see through, but Lì Héng was too worried to notice. He rushed forward and caught the cub.
“Little Bear, did you get hurt anywhere?”
His voice was thick with worry as he checked the cub over.
He lifted the little shirt, and after seeing no bruises on the pale skin, he let out a massive sigh of relief.
Shěn Lín grinned, showing off his little baby teeth, and rubbed his head against the boy’s neck. His neatly combed hair immediately turned into an explosion again.
Shěn Lín couldn’t see it, but Shěn Zéjué did.
However, he didn’t feel like helping.
He was still feeling bitter about the cub’s favoritism.
Seeing the cub so affectionate with Lì Héng made his heart practically overflow with vinegar.
To avoid the sight, he turned and went into the treatment room.
The door slammed shut behind him.
One could only imagine his current mood.
Once he settled his emotions, his gaze fell on Tǎlǐ’ěr lying in the treatment pod.
Looking at the boy who used to be so defiant now lying there pale and broken, Shěn Zéjué’s heart was a mess of emotions.
It was his fault this time.
He shouldn’t have said those things to provoke Lì Héng, and he certainly shouldn’t have drawn aggro to Tǎlǐ’ěr. If he hadn’t, Lì Héng wouldn’t have stormed Hǎiwān Island.
And it was such a coincidence that in the one moment he wasn’t looking, those two were hugging, and Lì Héng caught them in the act.
He hadn’t realized Lì Héng’s obsession with Bǐngbǐng had grown so deep that he couldn’t stand anyone else being near him.
Shěn Zéjué felt his head thumping. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Usually, when he couldn’t figure something out, he just dumped the problem on his older brother or sister. This time would be no different.
Though that meant he’d probably get a beating, thinking of Tǎlǐ’ěr being caught in the crossfire because of him, he didn’t mind the pain. His sister hit him all the time anyway.
The only thing he felt ashamed of was that his mistake had to be cleaned up by the cub. He felt like he was failing as a Third Brother.
He owed two massive favors now.
He just didn’t know how he was going to apologize once Tǎlǐ’ěr woke up.
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