TYMIMA Chapter 78

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any new mutant beasts while searching for people.

 

Zhan Pingchuan pressed the mutant beast’s eyeball against the iron gate. The gate slowly opened, and High Tower Guild emerged from the underground city with the surviving scattered squad.

 

As for what use these eyeballs that even S-level abilities couldn’t crush might have, that was left for the guild’s experts to research.

 

Squads that entered underground cities usually got two days off. Before parting, Old Bang patted Zhan Pingchuan’s shoulder, his eyes full of approval: “Well done. When you graduate, officially become my colleague.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan wore a pure, innocent smile on his face, but thought: Brother, after graduation I’ll become your business rival.

 

When he returned to the Gem Pear Hotel, the sky had completely darkened. Harbor Tan was suddenly hit by strong winds and torrential rain. Ferries were urgently suspended, flights were widely delayed, and the hotel lobby had many temporary guests.

 

Zhan Pingchuan walked toward the elevator, hearing two bearded men reeking of sea salt chatting loudly.

 

Both were broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, not well-dressed. The lobby’s bright lights revealed their rough, reddened skin and illuminated the rare quenched crystal ore hanging around their necks.

 

Clearly these were two ship captains who’d been sailing for years with considerable profits.

 

Blue Beard cursed: “Damn this weather. If I don’t unload and sell this cargo soon, I’ll lose big.”

 

Red Beard agreed: “Business is hard. Tasman’s tolls get higher every year—those bandits, bah!”

 

Blue Beard spat: “It’s all that orca’s price increases. If this continues, everyone will be forced to change routes!”

 

Red Beard’s voice was rough, hiding barely detectable envy: “Still calling him ‘that orca’—he’s about to marry the king and become Prince Selarl.”

 

Blue Beard whispered in his ear: “Hey, I have inside information. I heard he’s not Tasman—he’s a… criminal who came out of AGW Special Dangerous Death Row Prison.”

 

Red Beard obviously didn’t believe it, laughing: “Come on, if he were really a criminal, how could the king marry him and offer all of Tasman as a wedding gift?”

 

Blue Beard: “Another ship captain told me—just gossip. Anyway, the king will probably return to family life and have children. The country will be handed to Selarl, and tolls will only get higher.”

 

Red Beard sighed: “No choice. We can only take the Pacific Island Nation route, but that’s much more dangerous.”

 

“We’ll see. Current profits aren’t unacceptable, after all…”

 

“Yeah, after all, Utopia’s goods don’t cost much either, heh heh.” Blue Beard smiled with ill intent.

 

“But that place, ugh, really makes you not want to stay even one second longer.”

 

…

 

Zhan Pingchuan let it go in one ear and out the other, vaguely hearing the gist without paying much attention.

 

His mind was on another matter.

 

If High Tower Guild’s top floor was just a safe house Lan Wendao built for his youngest son, then perhaps the Black Lantern Society really had nothing to do with them, and Uncle Lu wasn’t Mad Clown either—just a good young man who knew how to listen and loved hammering his brother.

 

Zhan Pingchuan returned to his room, first sending Chu Fu a text, then going to the bathroom to shower.

 

Having learned from last time’s experience, he now confirmed whether his parents were busy before calling Chu Fu.

 

After washing off the bloody smell and coming out to pick up his phone, he saw Chu Fu had replied with three words—

 

[Reading a book.]

 

So Zhan Pingchuan called with peace of mind.

 

“Hello.” There was the sound of a book closing as Chu Fu answered.

 

“Mum, where’s Dad?” Zhan Pingchuan asked casually before getting to business.

 

Chu Fu lay on the bed, turning to glance at Zhan Qinghe, who had transformed his hands into tiger paws and was using his huge pads to massage her waist.

 

“Also at home. What’s wrong?”

 

Zhan Qinghe met his wife’s gaze and bent down to kiss the waist covered in plum blossom marks.

 

“Oh, I happened to hear today that Lan Wendao has a youngest son, and you once treated his illness.” Zhan Pingchuan played with his damp hair, shaking water droplets all over the floor.

 

“Yes.” Chu Fu frowned slightly, falling into memory. “That was over ten years ago.”

 

In her memory, that child was much smaller and frailer than his peers—delicate and weak with snow-white skin and red hair.

 

Chu Fu tried to talk to him, but his eyes were vacant, lips tightly pressed, trembling as if afraid of something.

 

When she held the child in her arms, seemingly feeling her warmth, he immediately curled into a ball, burying his face in her clothes, small hands tightly gripping her fingers like grasping a last lifeline.

 

Very fragile, very pitiful, but unfortunately she couldn’t save him.

 

Perhaps because this child happened to be the same age as Zhan Pingchuan, Chu Fu felt more pity for him. She stroked his soft red hair and thin back, hoping to give him the slightest comfort.

 

She remembered asking Lan Wendao: “This might be some kind of hereditary mental illness. Does your wife have similar conditions?”

 

Lan Wendao had been silent for a long time before slowly uttering three words: “Don’t know.”

 

He didn’t fabricate reasons to deceive Chu Fu—he only answered what he could answer.

 

Chu Fu looked deeply at Lan Wendao. The child’s hair colour was reddish, suggesting Bovnian heritage. Decades ago, Bovnians had customs of intermarrying with Easterners—this wasn’t unusual.

 

But Lan Wendao’s reaction made her wonder.

 

She could see Lan Wendao loved this child very much, but seemed to know nothing about the child’s mother.

 

“The child seems to lack maternal care,” Chu Fu said calmly.

 

Lan Wendao belatedly said “Ah,” stammering: “He does seem to like you quite a bit.”

 

As a single Alpha, Lan Wendao found it hard to understand children’s needs in this regard.

 

Chu Fu sighed: “As a recovery system Awakened one, I can only heal physical injuries. As a doctor, I’m not proficient in mental healing either.”

 

Lan Wendao looked at the curled-up, delirious child, his eyes darkening: “I understand. Thank you anyway.”

 

That day, Chu Fu held the child for a long time until she coaxed him to sleep.

 

When returning the child to Lan Wendao, she gently stroked the child’s delicate features, whispering a blessing: “Baby, good luck to you.”

 

May someone save you from fire and water.

 

May you survive.

 

“Was he… very seriously ill?” Zhan Pingchuan asked curiously.

 

“When I treated him, I felt a strange suction force. His mental realm was like an abyss, continuously devouring my abilities. Though I don’t want to say this, if no one could save him mentally, he probably wouldn’t live long.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Lan Wendao’s youngest son to be so seriously ill that even his mother was certain he wouldn’t live long.

 

“But supposedly his condition has stabilised, just that he doesn’t see people much.”

 

Hearing that the little life who once nestled in her arms was still alive, Chu Fu felt some comfort: “Really? Perhaps he had other fortunes.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan frowned thoughtfully: “Do you still remember that child?”

 

Chu Fu said objectively: “I’ve never seen such a beautiful child.”

 

Zhan Qinghe was displeased, leaving a red paw print on Chu Fu’s waist.

 

What beautiful child could that old bastard Lan Wendao produce?

 

Chu Fu’s waist muscles tensed as she glared at him.

 

Seeing he’d made his wife unhappy, Zhan Qinghe secretly manifested his tail, swishing it intermittently along Chu Fu’s inner thigh. The fluffy tail brushed against the most tender skin, forcing Chu Fu’s gaze to soften.

 

“Mum?” Zhan Pingchuan raised an eyebrow. “Are you wearing rose-tinted glasses?”

 

“No, very objective.” Chu Fu replied whilst reaching behind to grab Zhan Qinghe’s tail tip.

 

Her thumb pad rubbed the warm tail tip. Zhan Qinghe shuddered from the stimulation and wanted to retract his tail, but Chu Fu wouldn’t let go.

 

Zhan Qinghe understood—Chu Fu’s fluffy obsession was acting up again. He could only endure the tickling sensation and let Chu Fu play with his tail.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was certain: “We have different aesthetics.”

 

No red-haired child in this world could be more beautiful than his wife. Little fox was definitely the cutest Omega baby in the world.

 

“Why are you suddenly interested in this?” Chu Fu asked.

 

Zhan Pingchuan leaned back on the sofa, picking up a nearby gem pear: “The top three floors of High Tower building are very mysterious. I thought they might be the Black Lantern Society’s hiding place, but it seems I was overthinking. Lan Wendao indeed has reason to protect his youngest son.”

 

After all, being so seriously ill, he’d naturally be treasured like a precious jewel from childhood.

 

Chu Fu advised: “Don’t be impatient. The Black Lantern Society hasn’t left any flaws for eight years—they won’t be easily discovered by you.”

 

“Mm.” Zhan Pingchuan responded, scratching the sofa cover with his fingers before finally asking what he cared about most: “How’s Lance?”

 

Chu Fu: “Very motivated, competing for an internship opportunity beside Adrian. Your father and I don’t want to pressure him, so we haven’t appeared. If you want to know his situation, you can ask Adrian.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t help feeling sorry: “Only after coming to Harbor Tan did I learn that there were two typhoons during autumn harvest here, flooding the wheat fields. His father’s tractor was probably overturned by the typhoon.”

 

Chu Fu: “Don’t worry, his internship salary was advanced to him. He can hire recovery system Awakened ones to treat his father.”

 

“Oh right, I’ll ask him.” Before hanging up, Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t suppress his curiosity: “Mum, Dad’s breathing sounds a bit heavy. Do you two have plans for a family of four that you haven’t told me?”

 

“…”

 

Zhan Qinghe’s face warmed slightly, even his tail stiffened: “No! Scram! Having you already shortened my lifespan!”

 

Zhan Pingchuan kindly reminded: “Dad, that’s wrong thinking. If I hadn’t made a timely appearance back then, how could you have married Mum?”

 

Then, before Zhan Qinghe could explode, Zhan Pingchuan promptly cut the communication.

 

Having handled business, it was time to lie in bed and have a long phone chat with his wife.

 

Zhan Pingchuan bit into a gem pear and was about to swallow when he suddenly paused.

 

He tasted a faint bitterness.

 

Zhan Pingchuan immediately reached for his gland—sure enough, it was heating up.

 

Damn, with so much going on, he’d forgotten his susceptible period was approaching.

 

He had no suppressants on hand, and with wind and rain outside, he really didn’t want to go out.

 

Zhan Pingchuan pinched his gland hard, suppressing the restlessness within.

 

This level should be bearable until tomorrow morning. Once he got suppressants, he’d return to normal.

 

But right now, he especially missed Lance.

 

Zhan Pingchuan impatiently video-called Lance. The phone rang for ages before showing the other party was busy.

 

Zhan Pingchuan took a deep breath, downed two large glasses of ice water, then collapsed miserably on the bed.

 

He silently fished out Lance’s pyjamas from under the covers and, like an unsatisfied little beast, held the collar area near his gland in his mouth.

 

Who the hell was little fox talking to?

 

Lance was on a call with Dream Witch.

 

Dream Witch brought him delightful news.

 

“My only little brother, your little Alpha saved Old Bang’s entire squad in [Rainforest] today. Oh, and a scattered squad specially called High Tower to thank him too.”

 

“Oh?” Lance was soaking in the hundred-metre bathroom’s hot spring pool. Hearing this, he straightened up, letting water slide down his shoulders.

 

Little idiot seemed to have performed excellently, earning the combat squad’s recognition in just two days.

 

Dream Witch said meaningfully: “Old Bang came back praising him non-stop. Even our Old Lan knows about it. Though he kept a straight face, he ate an extra bowl of rice at dinner.”

 

Lance’s smile reflected in the rippling spring water: “What if we told Old Lan that Zhan Pingchuan and I slept together?”

 

“…Then Old Lan could go three days without eating from anger.” Dream Witch said with certainty.

 

After joking, Lance’s expression became serious: “[Rainforest] is just a B-level underground city. How would Old Bang’s squad need his rescue?”

 

“They went searching for new red parrot crystal ore and encountered a never-before-seen mutant beast. Though only B-level, it could devour humans and use their abilities. It had swallowed thirteen people, making its real combat power A-level.”

 

Lance pondered: “That’s quite a loophole. Most mutant beasts humans encounter fight alone—they haven’t evolved cooperative consciousness. If one day mutant beasts gained intelligence equal to humans and could unite all their kind in an underground city, human level classifications would become meaningless.”

 

Dream Witch hesitated: “Surely… it wouldn’t go that far?”

 

If mutant beasts began thinking and developed self-awareness, the current world balance would be completely disrupted.

 

“The world is vast—who knows?”

 

Dream Witch: “Oh right, your little Alpha brought back monster eyes from the underground city—thirteen blood-red little orbs. The research team is still studying what they’re for.”

 

Lance instinctively asked: “How did he know the new monster’s eyes were useful?”

 

Generally, only extremely experienced Awakened ones could spot valuable parts on mutant beasts at a glance. Could it be…

 

Dream Witch paused momentarily.

 

Oliver, who’d been quietly listening, spoke gently with uncertainty: “Old Bang seemed to say… the monster was crushed, leaving only skin and eyeballs. Probably… the skin was hard to take.”

 

Lance’s alert nerves relaxed. If as Oliver said, taking the eyes was indeed understandable.

 

Dream Witch tugged the little bear ears on Oliver’s onesie pyjamas, smiling: “Little golden retriever has the best memory. But brother, what attribute is your little Alpha? Crushing thirteen Awakened ones into pulp instantly—practically able to one-shot A-levels.”

 

Lance: “Don’t know.”

 

“Don’t know?” Dream Witch was incredulous.

 

Lance said: “I can’t bring up this topic, or he’ll ask me back and I can’t explain.”

 

Dream Witch: “What’s unexplainable? Just lie and say you’re control system.”

 

Lance was slightly stunned.

 

Indeed, he could lie. Disguise was his forte—this wasn’t the only thing he was hiding from Zhan Pingchuan.

 

But…

 

Couples telling each other all their abilities was tantamount to entrusting their lives to each other.

 

He instinctively rejected deceiving Zhan Pingchuan at such moments.

 

Because this wasn’t a lie—he truly was willing to protect his little wolf cub with his life.

 

Just then, a video call cut in. The incoming avatar was a dejected husky.

 

“I’ll talk later—I have something else.” Lance said, cutting the call with Dream Witch and accepting Zhan Pingchuan’s.

 

The phone screen flickered as half of Zhan Pingchuan’s face appeared.

 

Lance immediately frowned.

 

Zhan Pingchuan’s eyes were bloodshot, temples damp with sweat, teeth firmly biting his pyjamas, leaving wet marks on the collar.

 

“Who was baby talking to?” The voice from the phone was hoarse, carrying barely suppressed restlessness.

 

This state was clearly abnormal.

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Water splashed as Lance pulled his right hand from the spring, enlarging the screen to observe carefully.

 

Zhan Pingchuan breathed heavily, rubbing his head forcefully against the pillowcase, clutching Lance’s pyjamas tighter like guarding food: “Nothing, seems like my susceptible period is coming. It’s storming outside—too lazy to go to the pharmacy.”

 

Lance frowned. Having experienced heat, he knew how unbearable it was. He’d taken three full days to recover from physiological madness, and Alpha susceptible periods would only crave possession and release more intensely.

 

Poor little wolf cub.

 

Lance’s fingers caressed the camera lens. He breathed out mist, murmuring softly: “I’m too far from you—”

 

“Ha, I know. Don’t worry—husband will buy suppressants tomorrow.” Zhan Pingchuan forced a low laugh, pretending nonchalance to comfort Lance.

 

“—I can only help you this way.” Lance’s amber eyes flickered, rippling spring water reflecting in their depths.

 

“Huh?” Zhan Pingchuan was dazed.

 

Lance slightly parted his lips to bite his tongue tip, then slowly moved the phone camera down. Reddish-brown hair floated beside him, making his skin appear even more pale.

 

He moved his hand underwater, sliding it down, letting gentle waves wash over hidden secrets unseen by sunlight.

 

Lance’s fingers submerged in the spring finally grasped, knuckles blushing with shy red—

 

“Do you like it, husband?”

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)