Chapter 49: The first Crown Clan to knock themselves out

Chapter 49: The First Crown Clan Member to Startle Himself Unconscious

This can’t be right.

This is clearly not right.

Finn clearly doesn’t pay much attention to his appearance, even deliberately growing a beard. His beard and hair hide most of his expression, but they still can’t mask his shock.

What—is he doing?!

Amos comes up behind him and glances at the psychic sword being enthusiastically chewed on by the little one.

When the little one first started eating the Crown Clan’s psychic weapons, they worried whether there might be negative side effects, so they always restricted the cub from chewing them. But after a series of experiments and tests,

they confirmed that Xiao Chuzao eating these psychic weapons didn’t affect him negatively. His own unique ability to convert psychic energy seemed to gradually replenish the special psychic energy he consumed.

So Amos let the little one have at it.

Finn looks at the cub hugging the sword and munching away, then turns to Amos, then back at the hilt of Amos’s sword—covered in tiny bite marks.

“What? What???”

Finn shudders, stumbling back a step.

He’s steadied by An Ya and Frey, who enter right after.

The little cub, sitting in the shadows after successfully startling Finn, swallows the crunchy psychic energy in his mouth, blinks his eyes, and climbs up while clutching Amos’s psychic sword.

He steps out of the shadows—soft black hair, an adorable little face, and a polite tone: “Uncle Finn.”

Completely different from the bright-eyed, psychic-energy-chomping ‘monster’ Finn had just witnessed.

The contrast is too stark, making Finn dizzy.

“Is… is this how it is?”

“This is how it is.”

Frey pats Finn on the shoulder.

Finn, already beaten up by Amos earlier, hisses at the contact.

“Just ignore it.”

An Ya adds.

At first, they struggled to accept it too, but after seeing it so often, they gradually grew numb—even occasionally feeling a strange envy when they saw Amos and Mei Lun wielding psychic weapons covered in tiny bite marks, or Amos’s crown.

Really, it’s too bizarre!

Finn’s focus is oddly specific.

While completely disturbed after seeing the little one gnawing on a Crown Clan’s psychic energy, he still couldn’t help but ask: “So… what does a psychic weapon taste like?”

The little cub blinks.

“They’re different, but all are fragrant. Only a little sweet, mostly crunchy—”

Xiao Chuzao had actually stopped chewing on the psychic weapon, but when asked, he absentmindedly takes another bite, licking his lips thoughtfully.

"The 'baba' treat smells like strawberry, and Grandpa Mei Lun... maybe like cantaloupe? Zao Zao isn’t sure."

Everyone: …

Why so detailed?

How is this equal parts creepy and funny?

So Amos is *strawberry-flavored*?

Amos: …

Amos glanced at his dutiful son, who was chewing on his Psychic Sword while pinning him with the strawberry label, then considered whether to give Finn another beating.

This conversation needed to end.

Even Frey cringed, but he quickly remembered why he’d come and said gravely,

"Amos, Saint Cas’s imperial starship has arrived. Uncle Mei Lun and Uncle Kaman are here too. We need to decide—with Mr. Hale."

The mood soured instantly. Whether it was venturing into the high-contamination zone or the video from six months ago, these were thorny issues.

"Mm."

Amos put away his Psychic Sword and lifted Xiao Chuzao.

"Let’s go."

The kid hadn’t seen the video, but Amos had mentioned it once—inside the high-contamination zone, there seemed to be a Crown Clan elder from his grandfather’s era, whose crown was in ruins but still clung to life under brutal conditions.

And that crown was already shattered beyond repair.

Xiao Chuzao held onto Amos’s neck, waiting for his uncle to fetch his ghost bear.

Mei Lun and Kaman clearly already knew. Before Amos and the little one even arrived, they could sense Hale on the verge of breaking down.

The area was under heavy Saint Cas military guard, and Amos led his team in swiftly.

Inside, Mei Lun and Kaman were struggling to hold Hale back, his eyes now blood-red.

Around them lay splintered furniture wrecked by Hale’s psychic outburst.

"Hale, get a grip! We’re investigating now. Your crown’s unstable, you’re in bad shape—you can’t lose it now—"

At the sound of footsteps, Mei Lun called out,

"Your Majesty Amos!"

Amos set the child down and overpowered Hale with brute psychic force.

Hale, forced back into his seat, stared blankly, his eyes so bloodshot they looked ready to weep blood.

"Impossible—how? Morlo… alive? Then what have I done…? I abandoned him there, left him to rot…"

Hale’s body shook.

Morlo’s wings, the countless wounds on Morlo’s body—Morlo’s broken halo.

How did this happen...?

It was mentioned earlier that Morlo’s emotions had gradually stabilized—no, or perhaps it should be said, he had become numb.

Now, stripped of his calm facade, Hale, who had been trying to set a good example for Xiao Chuzao in these last moments, completely broke down.

He always thought being loved was unbearably painful. He was in constant pain—body and soul. But Morlo, whom he’d left behind there—how much pain must he have endured...?

"It’s my fault—it’s all my fault..."

Hale muttered slowly, his face blank.

"Our scout ship couldn’t get in. A new ship, better at blocking pollution, is here. Supplies are being loaded, and we’ll depart in about half an hour. Mr. Hale, no matter the outcome, Morlo is family, our brother. Even if he can no longer be saved, we must let him truly rest. Hale, don’t fall apart now. Morlo is already exhausted."

Amos spoke firmly.

"He’s waiting for you. You have fifteen minutes to gather your belongings."

Morlo was still waiting for him—

Hale clung to one last thing in his despair—something to keep him going. He staggered to his feet.

Amos hesitated, then spoke again.

"The Crown Clan has sacrificed many of their kin in the expansion of pollution. Countless crowns broke as the pollution consumed and split the stars. They’re gone for good. Even at our strongest, we’re helpless."

Compared to those of the Crown Clan, Morlo vanishing and his crown breaking had everyone convinced he was dead. Before Xiao Chuzao arrived, the extreme instability of the Crown Clan had made it impossible for them to enter the heavily polluted zone.

They were mighty among the stars, but not gods ruling the cosmos.

"Mr. Hale, this is not your fault."

But Hale was already crumbling to the floor.

Childhood friends who’d squabbled their way up, they had naturally become partners, only to be forcibly separated. Now, knowing they’d suffered alone, the worst part? The calmest of them weeping bloody tears.

In his daze, Hale seemed to see fragments of their past.

Back then, they were still young, their feelings unspoken. Morlo, ever the tease, grinned and leaned in, propping his chin on his hands. "Really? Really? Are you actually crying? Future Imperial Tutor, do you need me to comfort you?"

Drop by drop—

Hale’s wavering spirit calmed a little, the halo of his crown fading. At last, he choked back a sob.

The others stayed quiet, then slipped out.

Amos walked at the front, carrying Xiao Chuzao.

The little one clung to his ghost bear, tiny hands gripping Amos’ clothes. He nestled his head against Amos’ chest, still glancing back at Hale’s door.

The little one clung to Amos, trembling.

No one else spoke.

Their faces were grim.

"Mei Lun and Kaman, stay behind to handle matters on the neutral planet. The rest of you, prepare—we depart soon."

Amos gave the order.

He carried the little boy back to the room.

Amos didn’t have much to bring along.

But the child had a few things to gather.

From the spirit bear he cuddled with every night to the little treasures he'd collected over time, which he often took out to admire.

The boy sat quietly on the bed, watching as Amos quickly gathered his things.

It was the first time the child had seen an adult cry like that. Clutching his bear tightly, he had been unusually quiet since earlier.

After finishing up, Amos knelt down in front of the little one.

"Zao Zao, pay attention. You must listen to Daddy during this trip."

The child looked up at Amos.

Half of his face was hidden behind the spirit bear as he nodded slightly.

"Daddy..."

The little one’s expression seemed a bit sad.

"Teacher Hale is really sad. Can Zao Zao help?"

The child gazed at Amos hopefully.

"Can Zao Zao help? Mend the halo, bring that grandpa back—Daddy said Zao Zao could help..."

"Morlo’s halo is already shattered. That’s a highly contaminated area. Zao Zao must be obedient."

Amos said firmly to Xiao Chuzao.

It was clear from earlier that, even if Hale knew about the boy's special nature, no one would let Xiao Chuzao be put in danger under these circumstances.

So no one had mentioned the little one.

This trip was most likely about giving Morlo a proper rest.

They had long accepted that Morlo was gone—they just hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

There was nothing Zao Zao could do.

"Daddy... Zao Zao wants to make everything better."

The child's small voice piped up again.

It seemed to be the first time he wasn't using the crown's mental connection but simply talking to Amos about the past.

"But Zao Zao could never quite do it—the Archangel once told Zao Zao that he was a little angel, an accidental little angel. No one wanted to raise Zao Zao, but they gave him a chance to belong—to be softer, less aggressive, to accept that he was a different little angel, to fit in, to be more angel-like. Once everyone got used to it, Zao Zao could be cared for by the adults, just like the other little angels—"

But it never happened. No matter how hard he tried, he always remained the odd one out. Even though he did everything they asked and believed himself to be a strong little angel, none of those promises or acknowledgments ever materialized.

Now, it seemed like Zao Zao could finally help, like everything was getting better—he had family, a teacher, and a place he wanted to protect.

But he still felt helpless.

"Was it like what the Archangel said... that Zao Zao wasn’t trying hard enough?"

The little one looked up, dazed, his big shiny eyes fixed on Amos.

This wasn’t just about the kid hanging around those so-called Angels.

It wasn’t that the little one was desperately trying to fit in—they’d pulled him in, only to push him down, leaving those sharp, crushing moments stuck in the kid’s head.

If that were true, it was even worse than Amos and the others figured.

Even if he’d been abandoned from the start, he wouldn’t have had to endure this—that guy, that race, was turning Xiao Chuzao into a spineless, clingy mess scared of his own shadow.

Some Archangel *he* was.

Amos clenched his fists. If he could just get his hands on that guy—

But in front of the child, Amos held back.

"He’s full of it."

Amos looked at the little one.

"Who’s Zao Zao gonna trust—him or Daddy?"

Xiao Chuzao blinked his big eyes. "Daddy!"

"Mm, Daddy said that guy was just spouting nonsense."

Amos gazed at the little one, who had lowered his head.

"Zao Zao has already tried very hard. Tune that crap out."

Xiao Chuzao stared at Amos’s serious face, his small body now lifted into Amos’s arms. He curled up against Amos, looking up at him dazedly.

He’d stopped believing those words long ago, but their grip ran deep. When Mr. Hale had cried like that, those old put-downs came rushing back. But now, Amos was overwriting them, bit by bit.

Xiao Chuzao stretched out his tiny hands, wrapping them around Amos’s neck, and nodded hard.

"Mm."

The starship took off half an hour later, making for the Saint Cas Empire’s Third Army.

Hale had been escorted by Frey to the medical bay for round-the-clock checks.

After Hale left, the Crown Clan’s mood was still tense, but noticeably lighter than before.

Finn eyed Xiao Chuzao, curious as the little one stuck close to Amos.

Finn had fought hard against bringing the kid along—that was a hot zone. What’s a five-year-old gonna do?

But then he heard the little one could put halos back together.

Wait—he eats psychic energy *and* fixes halos?

Finn’s jaw dropped. He even asked if they’d ever been "fixed" themselves.

Getting a non-answer only made Finn even more curious.

And this was just a cub.

Based on Finn's understanding of his siblings—this shouldn't be happening.

Did this little one have some kind of magic?

Finn couldn't comprehend this back-and-forth competition between An Ya and Fei Man.

Including their earlier patchwork theory about the little cub seemingly being mistreated by a certain race.

Finn had never personally witnessed the strange attitudes of the angelic race, nor had he seen those scenes firsthand.

Honestly, he didn’t have a strong sense of it—he was just intensely curious about the cub’s peculiar abilities.

So now, he was circling the cub repeatedly.

After being looked over three times left and right, Xiao Chuzao blinked his big eyes in confusion and looked up at Finn.

"Third Uncle?"

"I heard you can assemble halos?"

Finn widened his eyes, his gaze bright with curiosity. His moods changed fast, and his inquisitiveness was strong—enough to brave little Amos’s deadly glare and press right up to the cub, full of questions.

Yes, aside from his unusual thought process and bizarre luck, which made him highly unreliable, Finn was also exceptionally good at pushing his luck.

Xiao Chuzao nodded cluelessly.

Finn got too close to Xiao Chuzao, making the little one instinctively back up a few steps, but Finn quickly moved in again.

He was now studying Xiao Chuzao's halo.

"Hey, come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen a halo like this—golden, huh? And upon closer look, there's quite a bit of dark gold too?"

The others' gazes also fell on the little one's halo that he usually kept visible.

The dark gold edges on the golden halo looked even stronger now.

The little one quickly hid behind Amos.

His big eyes widened.

"Daddy, don't let Uncle Finn near Zao Zao."

The little one expressed his request in a soft but clear voice.

Amos reached out, putting a finger to Finn's forehead, who was looking confused with wide eyes.

"Did you hear that? Back up."

Finn looked at the little one’s big eyes. "Hold on—why?"

He had just seen Fei Man and An Ya get this close before, and the little one hadn’t reacted at all.

Why—that's not fair!!

Then came the little one's whisper—"Your face is scratchy."

"What?" Finn instinctively blurted out.

Everyone's eyes went to his bushy beard—

The realization hit Finn like a lightning bolt.

Stabbed... in the face?

"Come on, look again! Doesn't it have character, totally badass?"

Zao Zao ignored the question, instead removing his halo to check the dark marks on it.

"Papa, seems like there's more now."

Amos patted Zao Zao's head. "We'll take another look later."

The others were completely unfazed by the little one nonchalantly popping off his "brain." Only Finn staggered and crashed to the floor.

"Hold up—what the hell—this thing—"

Finn's eyes bulged as his crown halo popped into view. He pointed at it in disbelief.

"You can take this thing off???"

What the???

Finn's whole reality got rocked.

Eyes wide with curiosity, he grabbed his own halo.

The others saw this coming.

Many Crown Clan members had tried the same trick after discovering Zao Zao's removable halo—even Amos had given it a sneaky try.

An Ya watched Finn.

"Third Bro, only Zao Zao's comes off."

Gritting his teeth, Finn pulled like his life depended on it.

"Don't knock yourself out there..."

That's their all-important *Psychic Crown*—not something you can just yank off.

Even now, Zao Zao remained the only Crown Clan member with a different Psychic Crown.

But Finn proved how reckless he was.

Most would stop when the crown tugging became unbearable.

Not Finn.

After about ten seconds of straining, Finn slumped to the ground, still clutching his halo.

Everyone just stared: ...

An Ya gave Finn a nudge with her foot. "Alright, Third Bro, you made your point—up you get."

Finn didn't respond, lying completely still.

Dead—wait, no.

An Ya blurted out in shock, "Wait, you actually passed out???"

Amos calmly remarked, "Is he stupid or what?"

Fei Man tugged at her older brother's arm.

"I'll drag him to the infirmary."

In the tense silence, someone finally laughed.

A new legend was born.

The first Crown Clan member to yank himself unconscious by his own crown halo had arrived.

*

On the other end of the galaxy, the Bael Union was in total chaos.

Both rebels and government forces were leaderless.

The entire territory of the Bael Union was now engulfed in turmoil.

Shenghua sat aboard a starship, en route to the Bael Union.

With the funding from a certain organization, she lowered her head to review the current state of the Bael Union.

"Are we starting from the Bael Union?"

Seated beside Shenghua was a subordinate she had acquired using the organization's funds, now eyeing her curiously.

"Yeah."

Shenghua gave a brief response.

"By the way, didn’t that group promise to back me up?"

The subordinate looked at her, confused: "Huh?"

"We’ve reached the chaotic zone."

Shenghua said hoarsely, her youth making her seem inexperienced.

"It's dangerous here. We’ll need to stock up on supplies."

"So?"

Shenghua waved her hand. "Tell them we need more gear."

*And more cash!*

*

Hours later, with the Saint Cas military moving fast, they were just hours away from their destination.

Hale was being watched closely, having been dosed with a sedative earlier. He was still out but tossing uneasily.

Xiao Chuzao had downed his cub formula.

Here's the edited translation incorporating all expert suggestions:

He was slightly overstuffed, carrying his little ghost bear outside to wander around while gazing at the surrounding starry sea, which also helped ease his nervousness a little.

He wondered how Mr. Hale was doing.

Xiao Chuzao looked at the fading psychic thread in the air belonging to Hale—it had dimmed so much that he could barely see it anymore.

The little cub lowered his head and nuzzled the bear in his arms.

In the nearby shadows, a figure was observing them. Upon spotting the little cub, the person quickly approached, cornering the cub.

The cub looked up in confusion.

His eyes met Finn's.

Finn, who had yanked himself unconscious by his halo, had finally woken up.

He was looking at the little cub with a stern expression, his face close but not too near—since the little one said it was scratchy—just enough for the cub to see his face clearly.

"Third Uncle?"

The cub was startled, gazing confusedly at Finn.

"No, Zao Zao, don't you think your uncle's beard is super manly? Doesn't it make me look unique? Take a closer look."

Finn persisted, fishing for compliments from the little cub.

Surely "scratchy" couldn't be the only comment, right?

Did the cub even know how long he'd grown and admired this beard?

That hurt, kid!

The cub took a few steps back.

Mainly because Xiao Chuzao wasn't quite comfortable with his uncle yet.

He blinked his round eyes, and just as Finn stubbornly leaned in again—Finn suddenly found himself staring at empty space.

Finn froze, watching as a fluffy white puff darted past him. The little cub had transformed into a white puffball, his round eyes wide, mouth gripping a corner of the ghost bear as he scurried as fast as his little legs could go toward Amos.

"Meow~!"

B-but it's scratchy—

They weren't far from the room where Amos and Xiao Chuzao were resting.

Finn watched as the little one dragged the ghost bear back, his honey-gold eyes round, letting out a tiny mewl.

Inside the room, Amos was going through paperwork, seemingly unaware that the cub had turned back into a white puffball.

Hearing the noise, he hurriedly finished the file in his hands and warned, "Finn, stay away from Zao Zao."

As he spoke, he grabbed a piece of candy from a nearby wrapper and held it out blindly behind him.

Candy!

Xiao Chuzao's attention had been entirely on Finn, but now it was captured by the candy in Amos' hand. Still dragging the ghost bear, he was in such a hurry that his little dragon tail swished excitedly, and he instinctively stood up on his hind legs.

Amos paused when he realized the sound he'd just heard was the long-unheard "meow." He turned his head to look.

The height of his hand was just right for Xiao Chuzao in human form to easily take the candy, but for the puffball cub, it was a bit of a challenge.

The little one stretched up tall as a pole to reach it, finally managing to grab the candy from Amos' hand with his mouth.

Zao Zao: Huh? Why do I have to get candy like this? Amos: Wow... that's quite the reach.