Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Ji Ye pressed his hand down, and the whirlpool vanished, the sea returning to calm.

Watching the sea surface ripple once more, Ji Ye spoke helplessly, "Hai Yan, what's all this about? Years—you've cursed me for years, making it impossible to catch fish. We don't even have a grudge."

Hai Yan floated above the sea, glaring at Ji Ye's fishing rod.

"No grudge? You hooked my guard, roasted and ate it! And why do you get to keep kitties while I can't? You even stole my kitty!" Hai Yan fumed.

Ji Ye nearly rolled his eyes at the petty sea god.

Snowball the kitten saw the terrifying Mutant Beast and immediately hid behind his brother, trembling.

Qiu Qiu scooped up his sibling and retreated into Ji Ye's arms. *Scared kitty! Hooman, protect now!*

As the kittens mewed in panic, Ji Ye petted them soothingly. "Relax. The sea god plays fair."

He looked up at Hai Yan. "See? My kitties choose me. Did yours? Did you ask their parents before stealing them? Do they even like you? You can't force love. Shouldn't a god make sure kitties *want* to follow them?"

Hai Yan retorted, "Without your meddling, I'd have won them over!"

"Interfere again, and I'll take *your* cat," Hai Yan threatened.

Ji Ye sighed. "You've clearly never raised kitties. They're territorial. Talking about stealing cats in front of your favorite? Have you no shame?"

Hai Yan glared. *If only... if only I could take him...*

"Return my cat," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Ji Ye shook his head. "I'm returning this kitten to his father. They're frantic over their lost cub."

"I'll deliver him," Hai Yan snapped. "I'll check the manual."

"You know about manuals? Color me impressed!" Ji Ye remarked.

Hai Yan's teeth ground audibly. "I'm no idiot. I'm a god—and not some minor deity!"

"Fine. We'll go together," Ji Ye smirked.

Golden Qiuqiu gave a series of plaintive mews.

Ji Ye couldn't catch fish—doomed to fishlessness by the sea god's curse.

He passed the rod to Hai Yan.

With one casual cast, enormous crabs, lobsters, yellow croakers, groupers, squids and conches soon overflowed the floating ice.

Hai Yan made it all vanish, and the two disappeared from the sea.

---

Back in the capital, Huo Liangzhou finished his work.

Their company was pivoting from internet and pharmaceuticals to new frontiers. For now, Mutant Beasts were rare, with Second Brother's Feline Sanctuary managing the situation.

But the future?

His second brother had told Huo Liangzhou these beasts might eventually form contracts—but required domestication first. Now he was assembling a team of geneticists and breeders, working to develop tractable, low-maintenance specimens capable of forming bonds.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

For example, mutant ants.

Nowadays, mutant ants are no longer the size of a fist but rather 20 to 30 centimeters long.

However, in contrast, the queen's reproductive capacity has been significantly reduced.

They can no longer produce tens of thousands in a single nest—a few thousand is now the norm.

If they can domesticate the queen ant, their company would have contractable ants for sale. Technology is important, but cultivation might end up being what matters most in the future.

After all, cultivation can extend one’s lifespan.

Originally, Huo Liangzhou was supposed to go to the company, but with his son missing, he naturally had to accompany their little lord.

His son going missing wasn’t a crisis—Huo Liangzhou wasn’t worried. Snowball was clever and tough enough to find his way home.

But if something happened to the young master, it would be an actual catastrophe—Huo Liangzhou wouldn’t stand for that.

After all, there’s only one love of his life, while a lost son could always be found someday.

As for his son getting into trouble—he himself hadn’t died yet, so there’s no way his son’s in real trouble.

Huo Liangzhou was sure of that much.

Besides, there was still his second kid around.

Huo Liangzhou pieced everything together. He refused to believe the second son could die of depression.

This kid had always been ruthlessly focused in everything he did.

So even this so-called "shit shoveler" might have been deliberately sought out by his son.

For example, finding a way to return, or making sure their family got reborn.

That crazy-powerful god could definitely make it happen.

When the second son realized he couldn’t resurrect his family on his own, he’d probably go looking for outside help.

That was why Huo Liangzhou didn’t raise a fuss when the god hauled the second son away—it was all his son’s doing. He must’ve taken a liking to the god and "claimed" them.

Never underestimate the second son’s intelligence.

Though this time, Huo Liangzhou felt his second son seemed kinda dumbed down.

But perhaps that was for the best—it meant he no longer had to plot and burn himself out over everything. That kind of life wasn’t conducive to longevity.

Kids ought to just be happy-go-lucky.

It was him failing as a dad that forced his son to take the lead. Huo Liangzhou sighed.

A knock sounded at the door. Before Huo Liangzhou got halfway up, Qi Mo, who was beside him, rushed out...

Opening the door, Qi Mo immediately spotted the second son parked on the god’s shoulder.

Then, he saw Snowball—their third child—sitting atop the head of another drop-dead gorgeous, unearthly-looking guy.

"Snowball, where did you run off to? You damn near gave your old man a heart attack. Come in, all of you—sorry, I got a bit emotional," Qi Mo said, sounding embarrassed. "Snowball suddenly disappeared." He couldn’t help but think—the second son’s "shit shoveler" god and the guy serving as Snowball’s chair were most likely gods themselves. I mean, gods hang with gods, right?

Mortals aren’t fit to be friends with gods, since their very existence is different, much less sharing a common language. With such a gap in status, real friendship is out of the question.

Ji Ye spoke gently, "It’s alright. Qiu Qiu was really worried when she heard her little brother was lost."

They ushered the guests into the living room and seated them on the sofa.

Qi Mo asked, "What would you like to drink? Coffee or tea?"

"I’ll make the tea," Qiu Qiu suddenly spoke up.

The little one, who’d always been a kitty, transformed at that moment into a breathtakingly beautiful youth—pure, luminous, and untouched, like a mountain spirit...

He looked a bit like Qi Mo, with eyes that were a blend of Qi Mo and Huo Liangzhou.

The tea, the set, the table—even the stools—were all Ji Ye’s.

Hai Yan sucked at small talk with humans. He was somewhat reclusive by nature and preferred communicating with mindless sea fish.

Otherwise, if that gatekeeping octopus had half a brain and made a sound when Ji Ye hooked it, Ji Ye wouldn’t have grilled the sea god’s guard.

After taking a sip of tea, Hai Yan glanced at Qi Mo, then at the gorgeous young master, now a mid-tier god.

Then, Hai Yan looked at the kitty curled up in Qi Mo’s arms. His cat wasn’t divine yet—unacceptable. He had to think of a way; his kitty couldn’t lose to Ji Ye’s.

If Ji Ye’s kitty could become a god, then his could too. Twins shouldn’t lag far behind.

"I want to adopt your kitty. I’ll take good care of him and give him the best life and the finest things. These gifts are for you," Hai Yan said.

Apart from the seafood he’d brought earlier, a giant seashell sat in the living room. Its lid slowly opened, revealing treasures inside.

Rainbow-hued crystals, fist-sized pearls, and exquisite corals.

A glow from the coral branches caught Qiu Qiu’s attention—it was divine essence.

Ever since the second child appeared, Qi Mo had been totally smitten.

He excitedly tugged at Huo Liangzhou, "The little one is so beautiful, so adorable. I love him so much, so much..."

Huo Liangzhou had been gently patting his young master’s back, hoping he would calm down. He was overdoing it—their little one being beautiful was only natural.

After all, their genes weren’t bad.

Barring a mutation, ugly wasn’t in the cards.

But if the young master was busy doting on the little one, what about him?

That just wouldn’t do.

"Your husband’s right here, got it?" Huo Liangzhou wrapped an arm around the young master and spoke.

Hearing this, Qi Mo reached out and gave his husband an affectionate nip.

Huo Liangzhou calmly caught the young master’s mischievous hand at his waist.

Then, he turned to the exceptionally handsome young man and said, "Our little ones aren’t for sale, even if you’re a god."

"However, if you can win the little one’s affection and he agrees, you may take him to play or even adopt him. And if you wish to adopt him, you’ll at least need to tell us who you are," Huo Liangzhou added.

At this moment, Huo Liangzhou was filled with a strong sense of crisis. From now on, no way in hell would he have another baby.

There's only so much love to go around. With more babies, the young master's love would be divided.

Besides, the young master already liked babies better.

As a man and a husband, Huo Liangzhou felt rather bitter. Chubby baby was better—it wouldn’t compete with him for the young master’s affection.

Hai Yan looked at Huo Liangzhou, then at Qi Mo, before speaking, “I am the Sea God. Your baby is adorable, and I like him very much. I’d like him to stay with me.”

“That glowing orb on the coral is a godhood, a gift for you. As for Snowball’s godhood, I’ll prepare another one, the most suitable for him,” Hai Yan said.

When Qiu Qiu transformed into human form, he remembered his name—Huo Jinghan.

“What does little brother like?” Huo Jinghan asked.

Snowball answered with a few meows—he didn’t know either.

Then Snowball meowed again, “Chubby baby wants to protect Daddy and Papa, and also protect big brother. Chubby baby wants to become strong, very, very strong.”

Hai Yan nodded in understanding. “I’ll hunt down the War God’s godhood for him.”

“That’s a Chief God! Have you lost your mind?” Ji Ye’s head practically exploded upon hearing this.

Hai Yan glanced at Ji Ye. “If you love him, give him the best.”

Ji Ye, what the hell—!

He wanted to curse. Giving him the best? Can you even do that? Don’t go getting yourself killed!