Chapter 110: Daddy, Are They Doing Something Naughty?

Chapter 110: Daddy, Are They Doing Something... Shameful?

A light drizzle fell over the imperial capital of Saint Cas, the sky overcast. As time passed, the temperature gradually dropped.

The weather across Saint Cas seemed gloomy, matching the empire’s gloom.

They had arrived home.

Xiao Chuzao had been pressed up to the window for a long time.

Even as the warship landed, he still carried the Angel Spring Source Stone in his pocket, worrying about his teacher who remained in the medical center.

His small wings flapped restlessly behind him as he watched the rain outside. He reached out to Amos. "Daddy, Daddy! Let's go see Mr. Hale."

Amos scooped up his little one, gesturing for the others to handle logistics while he carried Xiao Chuzao toward the medical center.

Inside the royal palace, in a certain ward of the medical center—

Hale jolted awake in pain.

He stared at the ceiling above, his face eerily calm, though his back was slowly soaked with cold sweat.

Though Morlo had tried many methods—and thanks to Morlo's presence—he had managed to endure the pain a little longer each time.

Even as Morlo repeatedly found new ways to alleviate the pain, the duration of relief grew shorter and shorter.

The phantom pain of his severed wings seemed embedded in his bones, festering beneath the surface. The slightest lapse in focus allowed it to spread like ink in water, seeping through his entire body.

Hale turned his gaze to Morlo, who was asleep by the bedside.

His gaze softened as he exhaled slowly.

Morlo's face was pale, clearly exhausted from lack of rest, his psychic energy depleted from working day and night with barely any time to recover.

Now that he was finally asleep, Hale didn’t want to disturb him.

But the moment Hale's psychic energy rippled slightly, Morlo seemed to sense it and immediately lifted his head to look at him.

"Does it hurt again?"

Morlo pushed himself upright, leaning closer to Hale, his chapped lips.

"I'm fine. Sleep a little longer."

Hale paused, then handed him the nearby cup.

"Hale," Morlo didn’t drink, his usually gentle face now twisted in frustration, "you’ve gotten too good at hiding pain."

Hale was momentarily speechless.

In the end, he gave in and sat up, leaning against the bed as he watched Morlo move to the side cabinet to prepare an injection.

Morlo returned, slid the needle into Hale’s arm and pushing the fluid in before letting out a weary sigh.

"Better now?"

"Gone. It worked."

Hale looked down, clenching his fist, and said to Morlo.

"Is Zao Zao about to return?"

"Probably? They mentioned finding the Angel Spring Source Stone, but I just woke up myself and haven’t checked yet. I’ll go—"

Morlo instinctively replied.

When suddenly his hand was seized.

Morlo cut off mid-sentence as he looked down at Hale.

"If it doesn’t work," Hale said, gazing at Morlo while adjusting his newly donned gold-rimmed glasses, looking every bit the refined scholar, "don’t get worked up, alright?"

Hale had long steeled himself—even after seeing the little one’s recollection. The Angel Spring Source Stone appeared to be the answer, but the Crown Clan losing their wings was irreversible. If it truly didn’t work, Hale refused to let his condition burden others—whether it was Morlo or Xiao Chuzao.

Just as he had always taught the little one—as caretakers, they’d failed to be there for the child’s growth and allowed him to absorb some radical, distorted notions at too young an age. Now, they needed to correct them bit by bit.

Most importantly—if efforts failed, it wasn’t their fault. They shouldn’t blame themselves.

Hale counted it a small mercy—when Amos brought Xiao Chuzao back, he hadn’t yet reached the end of his life and could still notice young Dwight’s situation in time.

At least he’d upheld the title of Imperial Tutor.

As for Morlo—

Hale had never dared to say much until now.

Morlo kept his head bowed, gripping the spent syringe, his face mostly hidden in shadow.

Hale opened his mouth to continue.

But the next moment, Morlo surged forward, pressing the blunt syringe against Hale’s throat. His short hair lifted slightly as his eyes locked onto Hale’s—stubborn and intense in that instant.

"Shut up."

The usually gentle Morlo had never spoken in such a tone before.

Now, as if provoked, his nose nearly touching Hale’s, he enunciated each word: "If you die, Hale, remember this—I’m. Coming. With. You."

Hale recoiled slightly, his eyes widening.

At that very moment, the ward door flew open.

"Teacher, teacher, teacher! Zao Zao is back—huh?"

The little one’s voice rang out before abruptly halting.

Amos, carrying the child, froze at the sight before him—Hale leaning against the pillow, Morlo gripping his collar, their faces pressed so close they seemed a breath away from kissing.

Amos hesitated for only a second before decisively covering Zao Zao’s eyes and stepping back, ready to close the door.

Morlo: "..."

Hale: "..."

Of course, Xiao Chuzao had already seen everything. Now, though his eyes were covered, his long, curly lashes brushed against Amos’s palm as he piped up in that sweet, childish tone, "Papa, is Mr. Hale doing grown-up stuff?"

Hale: "..."

Amos: "Mhm."

Hale: ...!!!

"Your Majesty, don't just say anything!!!!!"

As for Morlo?

After spotting the little one's arrival and making eye contact, he hid his face in shame and soon ducked behind the curtains.

A moment later, Amos sat on the chair beside the hospital bed, holding Xiao Chuzao.

Xiao Chuzao produced the Angel Spring Source Stone and peeked at the shadowy figure behind the curtains.

Then he looked at Mr. Hale.

"Teacher, is Grandpa Morlo okay?"

Hale, who was still reeling from Morlo's "I'll go to the grave with you" remark, turned to look at the little one and answered after a pause before shifting his gaze back to Morlo.

"He's fine—Morlo—"

Morlo behind the curtains.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me, Zao Zao."

I'm really fine.

Zao Zao didn't quite understand.

He looked up and whispered to Amos again.

"Daddy, is this what love is like?"

The little one spoke softly, but every Crown Clan member in the room could hear him.

Amos even paused to consider.

Before Amos could answer—

Hale cut in hastily.

"Alright, Zao Zao, did you find what you were looking for?"

Let's not discuss this topic anymore. If His Majesty Amos, who's single, were to answer, who knows what 'pearls of wisdom' he might offer.

The warm, luminescent white stone in Xiao Chuzao's hand radiated a gentle light.

Faintly, the Angel Spring Source Stone's intent could be sensed—'Got any injuries? Just come to me!'

It was the go-to fixer!

Xiao Chuzao had already chatted with the Angel Spring Source Stone on the way.

Now, the little one placed the Angel Spring Source Stone in Hale's hand.

He gazed at it hopefully.

For the Angel Spring Source Stone—it was created for the angelkind; its entire purpose was serving them. But now, the angels were gone, leaving only this little one right here, the last member blessed and crowned by all angels, their last chieftain.

Xiao Chuzao’s wish—granted!! Every last one!!

This is its final little angel!!!

The Angel Spring Source Stone, which had made bold claims, hesitated as it sensed Hale’s state.

The presence seemed to go silent for a beat.

The Angel Spring Source Stone’s power differed from the Crown Clan’s, but its general intent could be grasped by the Crown Clan's formidable, keen, and stable mental strength.

The little one hesitated.

"How is it?"

‘N-no big deal!’

At last, the Angel Spring Source Stone flared to life, pouring out all its strength as its radiance enveloped Hale—

Healing, healing, healing—

The stone’s power rushed out in an unending stream.

The glow bathed not just Hale but the little one’s crown too, making the small golden coronet shine even brighter.

Until the stone’s light faded away.

Xiao Chuzao caught it—now just a faint flicker, seeking a place to rest, somewhere stable and not too close to contamination. The Angel Spring Source Stone had learned about the pollution during this trip, and handling it sapped its strength.

At last, it went quiet, ignoring all attempts to rouse it.

"There’s a freshly built pool foundation in the royal court, currently unoccupied, near Dwight’s palace," Amos said.

He told Xiao Chuzao to bring the stone there afterward.

But right now, that wasn’t the priority.

Everyone turned to Hale.

"Hale."

Morlo stepped closer, studying him.

"How do you feel?"

Outwardly, at least, Hale seemed unchanged.

"I... I don’t know—"

Hale looked down at his hands, brow creasing.

"The meds haven’t worn off, but my wings should’ve... they’re not..."

Nothing there?

Morlo went quiet, just for a beat.

After a pause, he mustered a smile. "It’s fine—really, it’s fine—"

This was an outcome they'd mentally prepared for.

He...

Hale paused, wanting to say something.

But Amos and Xiao Chuzao were both staring holes into Hale's back.

"Uncle Morlo."

Amos held the little one, a rare glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Perhaps we should check Mr. Hale's wounds."

Morlo instinctively glanced behind Hale and froze, suddenly started pulling at Hale's clothes.

Hale...

"Wait, hold on—why?"

Why are you stripping me all of a sudden?

Hale was a bit panicked but eventually cooperated, letting Morlo remove the loose medical gown that had been carefully chosen to avoid touching his wounds.

The two ugly scars had vanished.

In their place was a pair of wings—about the size of an adult's palm.

They stuck out awkwardly, almost comically, from Hale's back. So small and inconspicuous, coupled with the lingering numbness from pain and the effects of the newly administered strong painkillers, Hale himself hadn't even noticed.

Only when Hale took a mirror to examine his tiny wings did the centuries-old creature sink into deep silence.

"They're this small???"

Xiao Chuzao also peered over curiously, then spread his own wings for comparison.

"Teacher, your wings are much smaller than mine."

Hale...

Hale snapped his wings shut.

"But, Teacher—"

The little one leaned forward, gazing at Hale.

"You finally have wings again. No more pain."

Hale, who had been lost in thought, paused and looked at Xiao Chuzao. Finally, he reached out, resting his hand on the little one's head, and offered a gentle smile—completely different from the wildness of their first meeting.

"Mm."

Morlo finally came to his senses and grabbed the call button nearby.

"Medical team, gather for more tests."

Hale had his wings back, but there was still plenty to deal with.

And...

The little one yawned and glanced at the Angel Spring Source Stone in his hand.

He whispered softly to Amos.

"Daddy, let's find a place to put down the Angel Spring Source Stone, okay?"

After all the traveling, the little one was truly exhausted. Still thinking about his great-grandfather, he was eager to restore his energy so he could assemble the crown for him.

Amos picked up the little one and prepared to leave.

Morlo walked them to the door. He stood there with a gentle smile, his expression otherwise unchanged, but as he turned away from Hale, a single tear rolled down his cheek.

Xiao Chuzao waved at Morlo.

Watching Morlo go back inside, he bent down and could finally embrace his lover tightly.

Soon, their voices could be heard.

"Does it still hurt?"

"No, but like I said, the pain meds are still working."

"Oh, I forgot."

"But it's incredible—this feeling. Can wings really grow back?"

Hale's voice still sounded stunned.

The shift from despair to relief had happened too quickly, leaving his emotions still processing.

"Yeah—"

It wasn’t just him; Morlo felt the same way.

But Morlo simply looked at Hale, let out a long breath, and smiled.

"Hey, can you let me see your wings again?"

"...You know I've got them now, isn’t that enough? Why do you need to see them again?"

"They're so tiny and adorable. I've never seen wings that small before. I want to get a better look."

"No."

Hale: "I said no—Morlo! I still haven’t had it out with you for earlier!"

Zao Zao loved seeing this scene.

The little one leaned his head against Amos's shoulder, watching eagerly.

Until everything was blocked from view.

Only then did the little one sit up again, cradling the Angel Spring Source Stone, which was sleeping soundly as it regained strength.

"Thank you."

The Angel Spring Source Stone seemed to give a faint glow before fading again.

Not long after, the little one set it by the prepared pool. As it fitted into the groove, the stone appeared to recognize this was a place where it could slowly recover its strength. It glowed a bit brighter, growing damp, until finally, a drop of water formed, collecting slowly.

In the following months,

Saint Cas was making too much noise.

Other nations and star systems reacted in kind.

For instance, boosting their military presence, friendlier planets and nations—or those that had already recognized the might of the Crown Clan and no longer dared scheme against them—began to follow Saint Cas's lead, slowly scouting out the polluted zones.

Saint Cas, in turn, drew up matching plans.

Plans to reinforce and defend the barrier front.

They also intensified their efforts to combat and manage the mutant beasts.

Trying to figure things out early on the situation beyond the barrier, so as not to be blind-sided if the barrier fell.

During these months, the little one continued to grow rapidly. His Halo power had regained a sliver, allowing him to accompany Amos to the barrier's edge once, helping Ebinino piece together his fading Halo.

The bad news was that Ebinino was on the other side of the barrier. His body was falling apart, constantly exposed to heavy pollution. Unlike other Crown Clan members treated by Xiao Chuzao, his Halo continued to shatter, reduced to just crumbling bits—a wispy haze that kept fading.

But the good news was that the rate of dissipation was much slower than the speed at which Xiao Chuzao helped him solidify it. The haze over Ebinino’s head had thickened slightly.

The little one had just returned from the barrier's edge.

Today was military academy day.

With the emergence of higher-level mutant beasts, the Crown Clan parents had cracked down harder on training for their little one.

They hoped the little one could protect himself at any moment.

Thus, over these months, the little one had clearly become much busier.

At the military academy, as soon as he arrived, he saw the students gathered at the entrance.

The little one waved casually at them.

This time, however, there was a stranger up front the little one didn’t know.

—Ling Ye.

The young master of the Ling family, who had finally come to attend classes.

He stood at the school gate, watching Xiao Chuzao walk forward.

It was his first day here. He bit his lip, quietly observing the fluffy little wings behind the little one—so fluffy.

During this time, he had finally gotten over what happened, finally working up the nerve to come back to school.

Moreover, having heard that the students they had sponsored and recruited were sticking out like sore thumbs, Ling Ye figured he’d talk some sense into them.

But just as he reached the gate, before even meeting that group, he ran into Xiao Chuzao.

Staring at Xiao Chuzao’s fluffy little wings, Ling Ye—a total softie for anything fluffy—couldn’t look away.

Now that the empire’s policies had changed and the future plans had been abandoned, he had even more reason to swear loyalty to the Little Highness.

Ling Ye told himself firmly.

Then Teng Kelin and a few others rushed out from inside the military academy.

Ling Ye moved to intercept them, about to say something.

But Teng Kelin walked right past him.

As if he hadn’t seen him at all.

The same Teng Kelin who had once confidently messaged him, saying he was strong and would grow even stronger—until Little Highness won him over with his own might—now blew past him with his teammates, completely ignoring him.

Ling Ye: ?!

"Teng Kelin."

Ling Ye blurted out.

Teng Kelin glanced back, did a double take. "Ah, Brother Ling—"

After the brief greeting, he and his teammates kept moving.

As if saying: Oh, hello, do I know you? No, we don’t.

Ling Ye clearly heard him excitedly calling out to Xiao Chuzao, who was walking toward his teammates: "Little Highness—"

"I aced this evaluation too! Do I have a chance to join the Group Army you’ll lead in the future?"

Things had changed too fast. Teng Kelin’s earlier messages were still on Ling Ye’s communicator.

Ling Ye: ……

What the hell had happened during this time that he didn’t know about???

Shenghua, stuck on some backwater planet, felt the same way.

She eyed Xi, who was sprawled lifelessly on the bed, and couldn’t help but ask.

"What exactly did you do? Why is Saint Cas investigating so intensely? The whole operation we built is now falling apart because of you."

Not really—she'd already secretly moved valuable assets during the chaos.

But in situations like this—as long as you throw the boss under the bus and act like you’re devastated about the setback, the leader won’t investigate further and might even compensate you double.

Shenghua calculated—what could she squeeze out of this?

Xi gave her a glassy-eyed glare.

"Met a disgusting bastard, Soul Race. I hate the Soul Race—the whole damn race should be wiped out—"

Shenghua had heard rumors this guy came from a lab and was rotten with hatred toward the world.

But hearing this, she still couldn’t help snapping: "They didn’t even do anything to you. Shouldn’t you resent the ones who really screwed you over?"

Xi looked at her again.

"Who says I don't?"

He was a madman, a mistake that should've been erased. He knew it. He hated everything in this world.

But—seeing Shenghua about to speak again.

Xi raised an eyebrow.

"Are you actually sincere?"

Shenghua: ...

"I was just speaking based on basic logic, of course I'm sincere, very sincere—"

Very sincere about wanting your things.

Xi studied her for a long moment before lowering his gaze again.

He gave a noncommittal hum.

*

Saint Cas.

In Dwight's palace.

A new set of replacement plans was ready.

Amos and Frey had just entered the palace garden.

The place was bustling.

Xiao Chuzao was tilting his little head up, letting Butler Mori measure his height, while muttering about whether the potatoes had been set aside for seed potatoes.

Mei Lun and Kaman were crouching by the new Angel Spring, arguing over whether the spring water tasted sweet.

Something cold touched Frey's face.

He looked up at the overcast sky.

"It's snowing."

"Your Majesty."

Mei Lun and Kaman stood up, also gazing at the sky.

"Yeah, snow's early this year."

"We get to watch the snow with Zao Zao."

Mei Lun instinctively glanced back at the little one.

Kaman cut in sarcastically: "Oh yeah, you've said it a million times already. I'm so touched—Zao Zao promised to watch the snow together forever, oh boo-hoo, bawling his eyes out, always wanting to watch the snow together—"

"Kaman!"

Mei Lun flicked water from the Angel Spring at Kaman.

"Who cried?"

The two of them dodged back playfully.

The little one watched them briefly before turning his attention to Amos. He came running over excitedly.

"Daddy, daddy, Zao Zao grew THIS tall!"

The little one showed the height with his hands but still reached up.

"Daddy, up!"

"Mmm, come here."

King Amos picked up little Zao Zao.

Frey called out from nearby, "Hey! Keep your wrestling away from the trees!"

As he walked over, halfway there, his comms device buzzed again.

He lowered his head to check it.

"Finn wandered off again?? Figures... Thank the stars An Ya’s with him—"

Amos took in the chaos: —way more excitement than he’d signed up for.

The little one in his arms spoke again.

"Papa, Papa—Zao Zao learned that song at the military academy!"

He was referring to the song that played during the *"barrier resonance"* back then.

Amos lowered his head and listened to the little one's *chaotic* singing.

After finishing, he tilted his little head up to look at Amos—

"Everyone says Zao Zao’s a natural!"

Zao Zao would later go sing by the barrier.

Sounded... good?

Amos: ...Really?

After all, you couldn’t expect the Saint Casians—who could even call Frey’s thick beard *majestic*—to give a fair judgment on this.

The kid kept staring—practically vibrating for approval.

Amos froze like a glitching screen, unable to utter a single word.

All he could manage was a stiff head pat.

The ever calm, unshakable King Amos, who led the entire race and empire, surveyed the snow-dusted chaos: ...Well, this was a bit too lively.

*Sigh* Little one.

You sang well, and that’s worth encouraging—keep it up, but maybe serenade Uncle Frey next time?

How ‘bout we let someone *else* taste that sour melody, huh?