Chapter 93: After the Cub Protection Instinct Awakens, Repeatedly Provoked

Chapter 93: After the Parental Instinct Kicks In, Provoked Again and Again

Hale reached out helplessly.

No one lifted a finger to help; only relieved murmurs that Ayala hadn’t targeted them, including even Morlo.

Morlo??!!

Hale: ???

Ayala stiffly released Hale, numbly taking two steps back. His typically stoic face twisted into dazed horror, his eyes slightly widened.

His tears hadn’t even dried yet as he mumbled, bewildered, “What… is this?”

That tiny, seemingly harmless little arrow—what had it done?

What had happened to him?

Why couldn’t he control himself just now?

In that instant, the little one gathered his psychic energy, the Crown Clan members frantically dodged, and Finn’s frantic wingbeats last time—everything suddenly made sense.

What in the world was that?!

Ayala’s head spun with shock.

Ever since his childhood friends and companions had all passed away due to accidents, he had rarely shown such intense emotions.

And now, the one time he did, it was a total meltdown.

Xiao Chuzao flinched, visibly uneasy. Hearing Ayala’s words, he bristled—because Zao Zao cherished everything he had now, whether it was friends, teachers, or other family.

Even if the other party was from the Crown Clan, Zao Zao didn’t want to hear such words—Don’t you dare insult Zao Zao’s loved ones!

Mr. Hale also experienced being shielded by Xiao Chuzao, though not entirely. Wiping away the tears Ayala had smeared on his face, the still-dazed Hale thought to himself.

“Zao Zao has a way—Zao Zao just… blanked on it.”

The tiny, trembling cub was scooped into Amos’s arms as he spoke quietly.

Zao Zao must have seen it before—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so certain that Mr. Hale’s wings could be healed—

“I’ll take Zao Zao out first.”

Amos said.

The little cub’s psychic energy flickered unpredictably, lashing erratically at the psychic energies of the other Crown Clan members in the room.

But before he could finish speaking, Xiao Chuzao grabbed his head, writhing in discomfort.

As if resisting something, his four tiny wings suddenly snapped open behind him.

The psychic energy released from the small cub’s body instantly yanked the surrounding adults’ minds into the past scenes the little one was seeing—

It was the Angel Realm.

As the little one grew, he grew steadier, becoming more confident. The cub continued to mature, evolving into a full-fledged Little Crown, every bit their equal. These episodes grew scarce.

This time was an exception.

These weren’t the kind of memories the little one usually held onto.

Amos held Xiao Chuzao in his arms this time, his psychic energy drawn into the angelic realm—a blend of grasslands, forests, and urban sprawl—by the child's own psychic power.

This wasn’t the usual wilderness or the outskirts of streets.

Here, Amos could vaguely see the highest seat of the archangel, where he had once impaled the Psychic Sword.

It looked like gnarled branches, or maybe a hoard of treasures—gold and silver piled together, surrounded by so-called Divine Grace Stones, twisted into something resembling a throne.

This should be the central district of the angelic city.

Within Xiao Chuzao's psychic energy, in the child's memories, he must have rarely visited such places, so his memories of it were faint.

But after all that had happened before, old grudges and fresh grievances stacked up.

Amos thought he might be angry, but not as furious as the first time he saw the little one in the angelic realm, seething with fury and no outlet.

But the sight of that filthy, rain-drenched little thing—broken wings dragging as he stumbled along the street’s edge—still sent Amos’ psychic energy shuddering.

This was Xiao Chuzao at a very young age, probably fresh out of the nurseries where fledgling angels lived.

He had no survival skills—he was just too little. No decent parent would abandon a child that small to survive on his own.

And hurt, wings snapped...

That little one was much thinner and smaller than the child in Amos' arms, sniffling, rubbing at his tears with small fists.

Probably clueless, caught in the rain, tumbling from his shelter—hurt all over again.

Amos held the child in his arms calmly—though from the dark fury in his crimson eyes, it was clear the ruler of Saint Cas’ true feelings.

If not for the fact that he was holding his own child...

Where was he headed?

Amos wondered, his vision following the stumbling little figure in the angelic realm.

The kid ran into walls at every turn. Back then, he hadn’t yet learned how to find things to trade for coins, so the angels ignored his injured wings, leaving them untreated.

At last, the little one collapsed at the road’s end, tiny wings quivering in pain, crying his heart out.

Soaked and shivering, his wet hair plastered to his cheeks. It seemed the pain had grown unbearable, forcing out his cries—each cry a knife to a parent’s heart.

"What kind of—" angels were these, anyway?

Amos had always loathed the angelic realm. From the first moment he saw this world, even with limited understanding, he knew these so-called Angels were steeped in indifference, arrogance, and cruelty.

Then, from a side path, thick branches split apart, unveiling a narrow trail winding inward.

"Hm?"

The poor little thing, nose red from sobbing, lifted his head and peered toward it. Hesitantly, he crept onto that narrow path.

Though untrained and cowed into shyness, the kid still had a quiet politeness about him.

"Hello..."

His tiny voice quivered, soft and hesitant, as he spoke.

"Is anyone there? Can someone help Zao Zao? Zao Zao's wings really hurt—*sniffle*—"

The branches rustled apart, unveiling a softly glowing spring before the little one. The spring's source was a glowing white stone.

This was—

"Angel Spring?"

This was the place where little angels were born, but Xiao Chuzao had no memory of it.

Entry here was forbidden.

The little one froze, wide-eyed, as if sensing the kindness of the Angel Spring. He approached the water's edge, but before he could speak, his feet slipped, and he tumbled straight into the spring.

The water, warm as a bath, wrapped around him, enveloping the small cub and his little wings, washing away all the grime.

—Just a scratch. We could fix you up even if your wings were missing.

Then suddenly, a shadow fell over him.

The little cub had just stood up in the spring, marveling at his refreshed appearance and turning to look at his small wings. Xiao Chuzao gazed at the Angel Spring with shining eyes, but before he could speak, he was suddenly yanked up.

The Archangel looked nothing like the kind, gentle figure in Xiao Chuzao's memories; his eyes and brows now held a stern expression.

"Who let you in here? How'd you even get in?!"

The little one flinched, shrinking into himself in fear.

"M-Mr. Archangel—Zao Zao, Zao Zao's wings were hurting so bad, no one helped Zao Zao, so, so—"

"Why do you think nobody helped you? Don't you get it?"

The Archangel spoke again, glancing at the Angel Spring before turning his gaze back to Xiao Chuzao, who stood stock-still, his eyes slowly filling with tears.

The Archangel set the little cub down and stared at the Angel Spring for a moment. He raised his hand, and a radiant light was drawn from the glowing white stone at the spring's source. He seemed to close his eyes briefly, sensing something.

Little Chuzao shivered, terrified, clearly feeling the Angel Spring weaken in that instant.

The little cub looked at the spring in panic.

Too young to understand, he could only watch helplessly.

"This place is strictly off-limits."

The Archangel turned his gaze back to the little cub.

"This is where little angels are born. Thanks to you, several baby angels won't be born now, can no longer fulfill their families' prayers. Why did no one help you? Who could ever love such a naughty child?"

"But... but..."

The little one curled up tight like a pill bug.

"But Zao Zao... Zao Zao didn't... didn't mean to..."

Zao Zao was just hurting real bad.

Zao Zao didn’t do anything wrong.

"Archangel!"

"Archangel!"

The guardian angels landed as well.

"What kind of guarding was this?! You didn’t even notice him getting in?"

The Archangel snapped.

"Go face your punishment."

The guarding angels stiffened, shooting resentful looks at the little cub huddled on the ground before leaving.

That look made Xiao Chuzao too scared to even defend himself.

He could only watch as the Archangel approached, crouched down, and met his gaze.

"This is all your fault, so you’ll be punished too."

The Archangel reached out and seized Xiao Chuzao's Halo, muttering a spell under his breath.

Xiao Chuzao instantly curled up, clutching his little head—the pain was unbearable.

"Forget this place. Stay away, and the pain will end."

Dazed, the little cub barely registered the Archangel’s words.

But Xiao Chuzao didn’t understand.

The Angel Spring welcomed him… didn’t it?

Was it because he was bad?

Was it because of him that the Angel Spring had grown so weak?

Was it really… Zao Zao’s fault?

But why was it Zao Zao’s fault?

No one ever reached out to Zao Zao—the Angel Spring brought Zao Zao into the world, but why did all the other little angels have families, while only Zao Zao was left alone, a child nobody loved? The Angel Spring clearly didn’t hate Zao Zao...

But the pain was too much.

For a little one like him, it was pure terror.

Later, he forgot. He stayed away. And the pain faded.

Amos cradled the cub in one arm, his face twisted in fury. He swung at the Archangel’s face—the one he hated most.

But of course, his fist met empty air.

The spiritual energy tied to Xiao Chuzao ebbed away.

The painful memories the cub fought to recall—each one aching—slowly vanished.

The medical room was left in shambles.

Frey restrained Finn, who was losing control, while An Ya kicked the cabinet across the room, thinking it was someone else.

Hale shredded the blanket, and Morlo snapped the bedframe in half.

Ayala took it the hardest. He froze in place, staring at the little one, fists clenched—he had never wanted to form so-called close relationships with others, so he never dug into the kid’s past and hadn’t asked about it after returning.

In contrast, only Amos, who was holding Xiao Chuzao, appeared calm.

The tiny little one didn’t seem hurt anymore. He slowly pushed himself up, still a little worn out, but then turned to look at Hale and Morlo.

"Teacher, Zao Zao remembers—"

In the Angel Realm, the Angel Spring should be able to help. The Angel Spring isn’t evil—it’s different in the little one’s heart.

After such a "storm," the guardians were furious, but with no way to find the Angel Realm, they could only fume helplessly—all of them boiling with rage, with no target to unleash it on, yet forced to watch the scenes of their little one being bullied over and over. They couldn’t bear to look, yet couldn’t look away, afraid they’d miss something when they finally got payback.

Xiao Chuzao cuddled in Amos’s arms, looking at Hale with his usual smile—like none of it had really gotten to him. But because of that, it was even more heartbreaking—

"So," he said softly, confidently, then turned to Amos, "Teacher, you gotta hang in there. Baba can help Zao Zao, and Grandpa Morlo is trying very hard too."

To Zao Zao, Baba can do anything.

Zao Zao doesn’t wanna lose a thing.

Baba will definitely help Zao Zao.

So he kept trying to remember the pain he’d blocked out to protect himself, until he finally succeeded.

The little one looked at Amos expectantly.

"Right, Baba?"

"Mhm."

Amos nodded.

"Zao Zao knew—" The little one buried his face in Amos’s chest, looking miserable, as if only now feeling the sorrow from the memories he had just recalled. "If Zao Zao remembers, Baba’ll figure it out."

But it hurt too much—Zao Zao couldn’t bear to think about it.

Amos didn’t say anything else. He took the little one to the nearby med bay for another check-up.

Frey and the others went quiet for a beat, then quietly began tidying up around Hale’s med pod.

The little one’s checkup still came back clear.

Worn out, the little one dozed off again, cradled in Amos’s arms.

The Crown Clan called an emergency meeting, including Mei Lun, Kaman, Hale, and Morlo.

Ayala eventually gritted his teeth and left, but he seemed to have calmed down, saying he needed to prepare for the First Military Academy’s training exercises.

Mei Lun: "The Angel Realm? The Angel Spring? Where exactly is that place?"

Finn: "I’m going to smash that place to pieces."

Kaman: "No idea. We’ve searched for a long time—no leads. But the suspicion that it’s related to pollution is real."

Finn: "I’ll pound those angels into dust."

Frey: "According to the last intelligence report, it might also be related to the Hymn Organization."

Finn: "Pluck every last wing off those angels."

An Ya: "The Hymn Organization? Slippery eels. They’re too cautious—hard to track their hideouts. Good thing Fourth Sister isn’t here, or she’d probably blow a fuse."

Finn’s baby-faced expression twisted into a scowl, teeth clenched. "Turn them all into grilled wings—to patch up Zao Zao’s wings."

The Crown Clan all turned to stare at Finn after his remark, because the little cub had blearily blinked awake.

"Patch up wings...?"

His tiny voice was thick with sleep.

He lifted his head for a second—then glanced toward Hale.

"Daddy... fry up some wings for Mr. Hale... help his wings recover—"

Finn readily agreed: "Fine, then we’ll roast their wings for Mr. Hale."

Hale: —

Xiao Chuzao, still half-asleep, waited until Amos gave a murmur of acknowledgment before snuggling back against him and drifting off again.

Everyone shot Finn dirty looks.

"Pipe down. Can’t you see he’s exhausted?"

"Shift more focus from the beasts to the Hymn Organization."

Amos cradled the warm, soft little bundle in his arms.

"Especially their operatives carrying what they call the Divine Grace Stone."

Now it wasn’t just a score to settle with the Realm of Angels.

There was also Hale’s wings.

The impromptu meeting broke up.

The Crown Clan scattered.

After dredging up those bad memories, the cub was clearly wiped out, sleeping heavily in Amos’ arms—a tiny, boneless little heap.

Finally, Amos carried him back to rest properly.

Finn, fuming, was never one to sit still. His straightforward nature had him stomping off in a huff, while An Ya and Frey followed Amos.

Frey probably understood Amos best.

After all, Amos had a short fuse as a kid, and Frey, somewhat pessimistic back then, had often been catching his fists at the slightest provocation.

But as the Emperor of Saint Cas, with his Psychic Crown getting shakier alongside his rapidly expanding psychic power, Amos had gotten a handle on himself.

Back at Dwight’s palace.

Butler Mori hurried over, then froze in surprise as he watched Amos carry the little one upstairs.

"Your Majesty, is everything alright?"

"Seething with anger."

An Ya touched the tip of his nose.

He was just as furious.

And Amos radiated stormy tension.

"Thankfully—"

Frey thought for a moment before speaking.

"The agreement to send Zao Zao to training was decided before this, and Amos had already promised in advance."

Otherwise, given the current situation, Amos might've dug his heels in.

Come to think of it—ever since Amos brought the little one back, most of the time, Amos seemed to be on edge.

And his protective instincts kept getting tested.

Frey couldn’t gauge how much rage Amos was holding back.

After putting the little one down, Amos came out of the room fast.

He made a beeline for the training room on the first floor.

"Second Brother—"

An Ya hesitantly called out.

Amos turned to look at him, his expression deceptively calm.

At least on the surface, there was no hint of anything unusual.

"What? Looking for a fight?"

Spar with Amos in this state?

An Ya’s survival instincts made him shake his head hard.

He watched as Amos entered the training room.

Ten seconds later, a low, dull thud—as if something had exploded inside the training room.

An Ya: [speechless]

Frey: [stunned silence]

And this was with the protective systems in place—he almost wrecked the training room.

Frey couldn’t help but mutter, "Don’t wreck the training room. Zao Zao is still sleeping."

*

By the time Xiao Chuzao woke up, all the discomfort had worn off. He perked up, feeling refreshed.

He couldn’t tell what time it was outside.

It seemed to be afternoon—he'd slept through the night and into the afternoon.

The kid yawned, cocking his head as he thought about all sorts of random things—making wings for the teacher—or fixing them? Had they set the training date yet? Hey, where’s Zao Zao’s candy today? Where’s Papa? And what about my lessons?

The little guy slowly dragged himself out of bed.

Yawning, he shuffled to the door of the room, blinking his big eyes as he peeked outside.

His messy little wings fluttered lightly behind him.

Then, he happened to lock eyes with Amos, who was coming upstairs.

Amos was holding a bag of candies, and the sight looked very familiar to Xiao Chuzao—Amos raised an eyebrow.

"Awake now?"

The little cub slowly widened his eyes, let out a soft "ooh," flared his tiny wings wide, and bounded over, launching himself into Amos's arms—

"Daddy, daddy! That's the candy Zao Zao didn't get to eat last time!"

It was the new kind Grandpa Lynn gave Zao Zao, the one he never got to try!

The little one went up on his tiptoes, tugging at Amos's clothes, so worked up he forgot he could fly. His fluttering wings might as well have been decorations as he stretched out his small hands, reaching and reaching. Amos crouched down and handed the candy to Xiao Chuzao. Watching the little wings flutter, he couldn't resist reaching out to tweak the fluffy little feathers, then gently stroked the warm, soft hollow of the cub's wings—a spot no one usually gets to touch. For the little one, it was ticklish. The cub let out a soft "eep!" as his eyes went wide, took a step forward, glanced back at his wings, then at Amos's paused hand, his big eyes filled with big confusion—

Finally, the little one looked at the candy, then at Daddy, and like he'd made some big decision, turned and thrust his little wings right at Amos—was this an exchange?

Okay, Zao Zao can do it! The ticklish little one trembled but held firm. He bit open the wrapper, tore off the candy's covering, and popped it into his mouth, mumbling—Zao Zao can endure for a little bit.

Amos paused for a moment, utterly charmed by the lightly trembling wings.

Finn, who arrived a step later: ?

Wait, with Second Brother, it's "Zao Zao can do it," but when Third Uncle touches you, you yell "bad Third Uncle"?

You little two-faced rascal!