After Becoming a Zerg Larva - Chapter 5

“I’m telling you~”

Li Xi waited quietly for the rest.

The child grinned smugly, using his fingertip to slowly trace the pale gold patterns on his chest, moving all the way down. Perhaps because he was so young, he didn’t know his own strength; red marks snaked along everywhere his finger passed. They seemed insignificant compared to the old whip scars.

Li Xi watched the hand slide down, making no move to stop the child’s subtle act of self-harm. Then, he heard the other boy casually drop a bombshell: “Don’t keep staring at a female Zerg, or I’ll think you’re confessing your love~”

The voice was softer than any Li Xi had heard, with the final syllable drawn out provocatively. At the same time, the child made an ambiguous blowing-a-kiss gesture toward him.

Li Xi was startled for a split second, getting the distinct impression that the kid might jump down and aggressively plant a kiss on him at any moment.

“…”

What kind of rule is that?

Hearing this, Li Xi subtly withdrew his gaze from the Zerg markings and looked elsewhere. He had lived among the Zerg for five years, but his range of activity was mostly limited to the area around the ancient tree. It seemed Kale and Ren had forgotten to teach him the common sense of the Zerg world.

—So, had he “offended” someone?

The voice of “educational trivia” spoke up again.

“Even if you’re a female Zerg, it’s not allowed,” Yun continued to scratch at his Zerg markings, the red lines multiplying. “But as for me, I don’t mind.”

“Sigh, it’s a pity you’re too small. Looking at you, you probably haven’t even passed your childhood awakening period. If you want to find a little female Zerg, wait until after your awakening…”

Cough—

The voice stopped abruptly at the sound of the cough, like the sudden silence of startled cicadas. Yun turned his head stiffly toward the source. It was the medical Zerg, who was currently looking at him with a half-smile.

The look seemed to say, “Keep making things up, I’m listening.”

Yun: “…!”

“Do not deceive a cub who hasn’t been to school,” the medical Zerg exposed the nonsense without mercy. He turned to Li Xi and said, “Female Zerg cannot be with other female Zerg.”

Yun: “…”

Something seemed to shatter on the floor. Oh—it was his credibility!

“Handsome brother…” Yun’s smile became strained.

The medic glanced at him and smiled back. “Cubs should love and cherish one another.”

“…” Li Xi realized a beat late that he had been tricked. You couldn’t trust a single word this kid said.

“It only means what he said if a male Zerg stares at a female like that, but even then, it doesn’t mean exactly what he told you.” The medical Zerg walked over with the salve and laughed. “You two are still too young. You can maintain a bit of a distance with males, but try not to get too close to them.”

“Keep your wits about you. Don’t believe everything you hear.”

This sentence was ambiguous. It could mean Li Xi was easy to fool, or it could be a kind warning to “never trust what a male Zerg says.”

Yun hadn’t been in school long, and the knowledge he had gathered hadn’t yet formed a complete system for him to understand that sentence. He had heard snippets from his brother, but nothing more specific. Curiously, he asked, “Why?”

Li Xi looked over as well.

The medical Zerg clearly didn’t want to say more and brushed them off: “The school will teach you later. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you now.”

“Oh…” Yun was disappointed.

“Mm?” Li Xi followed with a puzzled syllable.

The medic laughed, thinking these two cubs were so similar. Their actions and speech were perfectly synchronized. He noticed the new red marks on the blonde cub’s body and hesitated, but finally couldn’t help reminding him: “Don’t add more injuries to yourself. You’re the one who feels the pain.”

Yun didn’t care much and gave a casual “Oh.”

The wounds were treated by the medical Zerg with professional, gentle hands. Afterward, the medic’s gaze shifted between the two of them before he decisively handed the salve to the taciturn Li Xi. The blonde cub didn’t look like the type who would conscientiously apply medicine himself, so he let the blue-haired cub supervise. He instructed: “Once in the morning, once before bed at night. Use it for three days.”

Li Xi nodded obediently. “Thanks…”

“No thanks needed.” The medic’s heart was overflowing with affection; he wanted to pat this cute cub’s head, but remembering that female Zerg cubs only liked being close to their parents, he held back.

“Brother, I’m the one who’s injured. Why did you give the salve to him and tell him the schedule?” Yun, now fully dressed, asked with a forced smile. Shouldn’t those words be directed at him?

The medic glanced at the cub who was clearly dissatisfied and waved him off. “Oh, I don’t think you’ll be good and apply it yourself. Let your younger brother supervise you. I can see you listen to him quite well.”

“Younger brother” Li Xi: “…”

Is this world picking on me because I can’t speak fluently? Do I really look like this kid?

Hearing the words “younger brother,” Yun stopped being annoyed and beamed. “Fine, I’ll listen to my little brother.”

Li Xi tried to explain: “No…”

Yun interrupted with a smile: “Little brother, keep the medicine safe.”

For the first time, Li Xi felt that his speech impediment was a real nuisance. Just as the two were staring each other down, a rip sound broke the weird atmosphere. The medical Zerg pushed a paper bill toward them.

“Alright, the medicine is 57 Star Credits in total. Which of you little cubs are paying?”

Li Xi glanced at it and calmly turned his head away. On the bill, he only recognized those two numbers; everything else was a mystery. Being illiterate was also a nuisance. This string of setbacks made Li Xi a bit unhappy; sensing its master’s mood, the faux beast ears wilted and hid in his hair.

Beside him, Yun was dazed. He had completely forgotten the important matter of paying. His optical computer was broken, and he didn’t have the habit of carrying paper currency. He had arrived at the mall too late yesterday. The building was closed before he could exchange any money and then he ran into that annoying male Zerg at home.

In short, he didn’t have a single cent. He pinned his last hope on the cub studying the salve. This kid with the exquisite clothes didn’t look like someone short on cash. He didn’t know the exact value of that deep green crystal from earlier, but he had handled rare, expensive crystals before. That stone was definitely top-tier.

Sensing the plea for help, Li Xi looked at the child and blinked innocently. “Ah…?”

Yun felt a moment of despair, the smile on his face becoming very forced.

…I’m doomed.

The medical Zerg, who had been on the job for years and dealt with all sorts of Zerg daily, understood the situation without them saying a word. He waved the bill, acting surprised: “Don’t tell me you two little kids don’t have any money?”

Yun pursed his lips. Indeed, no money. This cub was a lost cause for help. He hesitated for a long time before stammering, “It seems…”

Before he could finish, his sleeve was tugged by a slight force. The cub named Li He was looking down and rummaging through his pockets. Yun froze, his eyes lighting up as he cut off his sentence. “There’s money, there’s money! Handsome brother, wait a second, let my little brother find it.” He said it with total sincerity.

The medic laughed, waiting patiently. “Alright.”

One was sweet-talking, the other was well-behaved—he couldn’t help but want to tease them. Judging by their clothes, they were likely well-bred cubs from a noble house. He preliminarily judged that the male father at their home might be a bit cruel and liked to abuse cubs. Male Zerg were unpredictable; some were moody, being tender one moment and enraged the next over an unintentional word, leading to unimaginable punishments.

As long as it didn’t result in death or permanent disability, official agencies wouldn’t intervene, and even if they did, it was just a symbolic inquiry. Who would dare to truly convict a male Zerg? While the law protected female cubs’ survival to an extent, it didn’t allow them to grow up as carefree as male cubs. The dislike of the males, the harshness of society… these were minor compared to the greatest calamity: the mental sea riots after adulthood. Every year, countless female Zerg died because they couldn’t get a male’s mental power to soothe them. After all, male Zerg were scarce and arrogant, stingy with their mental power.

There wasn’t much time for female Zerg cubs to grow up.

The medic shook his head inwardly, trying to shake off the lingering sadness. Perhaps these two cubs would be lucky and find a gentle, kind male.

Li Xi remembered someone stuffing something like paper currency into his pocket, saying “Take this to buy things.” As he was searching, the fluffy, pure white beast ear on his head was suddenly flicked. It happened very fast; the slight sensation vanished in a second.

He was wearing Kachi-beast faux ears, which were connected to the user’s nerves. In other words, that hand was effectively touching his ear!

Li Xi, who was placing snacks on the table, paused for a second before continuing to put things down as if nothing had happened. The ear was flicked again. Then it was boldly scratched.

“…”

It tickles.

The third time, the hand went too far, stopping on his head and shamelessly ruffling the ear!

Yun had had his eye on these twitching ears for a while. While the other was busy searching, he took the opportunity to play with them. They were warm, elastic, and fluffy. They trembled in his hand as if trying to hide from his touch. Soft, warm, and they moved…

The cub was having a grand time. He leaned closer and closer, and just as he was about to lean against Li Xi, the ear suddenly curled into a ball, trapping his index finger inside before he could pull it back.

Yun froze. “!?”

The expression on his face turned from joy to bewilderment. He tried to pull his finger out, but found he couldn’t budge it! Because of his tugging, the blue-haired head beneath him tilted slightly toward him, and the boy gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

“…”

Caught red-handed playing with someone’s ears. What should I say to fix this?

“You…” Li Xi endured the itch and said a single word.

Before he could finish, he was pulled into a corner by the Zerg. The medic laughed, letting the two cubs play. It was rare to see cubs with such a good relationship; female Zerg cubs were usually slow in their emotional responses and preferred intense competition to stimulate their potential.

In the corner:

Yun placed his free hand on the cub’s shoulder and the other on Li Xi’s head in an intimate posture. He whispered, “Little brother, loosen your ear a little bit. Just a little, let my hand out.”

The response he got was the ear curling even tighter, the strong suction wrapping around his fingertip.

Yun: “…?!”

He thought the cub didn’t understand. After all, the cub’s speech wasn’t well-developed. He slowed his tone and said again: “It’s loosen. Loose. Not curl.”

Li Xi nodded.

“Then loosen it.”

Yun breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the ear expectantly.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds…

The ear didn’t move an inch.

“???”

Yun looked back. “You?”

“Younger… brother?” Li Xi glanced at the cub and then spoke.

He had never been called “younger brother” before. Even older children in his world didn’t dare mess with him, probably fearing his displeasure. One moment of irritation and they’d be a corpse on the spot, never seeing tomorrow’s sun. In that world, surviving was the only goal.

“What?” It took Yun a moment to realize what the cub was saying. Was he unhappy about being called a younger brother? He gritted his teeth, staring at the motionless ear for a while. This female cub was such a stingy-ghost!

The suction on his finger was getting stronger. They reached a stalemate for less than three seconds before Yun surrendered. Their posture was truly too intimate. That faint milky scent kept wafting into his nose. It smelled like the delicious milk candy from deep in his memories. He wanted to take a lick.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you.” He knew when to bow and when to stand tall, flashing a repentant smile. “I shouldn’t have said you’re my younger brother. Please, Honorable Sir, would you mind retracting your little ear?”

Why did I have to be so fidgety! Yun was incredibly annoyed with himself. He had thought it was just a regular faux ear from the market; he didn’t realize it was a high-grade neural-link ear. He had never seen a female cub wear such cute things. He remembered that these ears linked their senses to the host.

Does that mean I was touching this cub’s… ear?! If his Female Father found out he was out here flirting with cubs, he’d break his legs. At that thought, Yun’s tone improved significantly. He said politely, “Can you let go now?”

Li Xi withdrew his gaze and stopped making things difficult. He raised a hand and touched the curled ear. The next second, the small ear that had been firmly attached to his head suddenly detached, remaining stuck to the boy’s finger.

“…”

This isn’t quite what I thought would happen.

Yun was dazed for a moment, staring at the ear suctioned to his finger. Then his smile vanished, and his gaze turned unfriendly. Li Xi started to walk away, but the aura around the child shifted through several changes before stopping at a somewhat terrifying threshold.

Seeing this, Yun narrowed his eyes dangerously. With a quick grab, he pulled Li Xi back to his original spot. He hooked his arm across the boy’s fragile, fair neck, holding him in place.

Li Xi instinctively gripped the vulnerable wrist at his throat, a flash of ruthless killing intent crossing his eyes. But remembering something, it quickly vanished, replaced by indifference, and his hands just hung loosely.

The medical Zerg vaguely felt something, but the aura vanished too quickly. He asked suspiciously, “What’s going on?”

Yun reacted fast, answering with a grin: “Handsome brother, I’m just discussing something with my little brother. We’ll be right back.”

The medic didn’t think much of it and said, “Alright.” Zerg had preferential policies for cubs regarding medical fees. He had just wanted to tease them. Before they could go, he quickly explained: “It’s fine if you don’t pay the medical fee. The medicine can be given for free.”

It was unclear if Yun heard him. He only gave a brilliant smile, then leaned down to Li Xi’s ear and said with a fake smile, “Little female Zerg, you, come out with me.”

His tone was a bit fierce.

Li Xi: “…”

It seems a child’s anger can be quite terrifying.

In a corner of the corridor, two small figures stood stiffly.

“You—” Yun raised his finger wrapped in the ear and shoved it in front of Li Xi’s eyes, grinning inexplicably. “Look!”

Li Xi was full of question marks, the remaining ear on his head twitching. “Mm?”

“You still have the nerve to ‘Mm’?” Yun laughed out of anger. “I told you to loosen it, not to take it off your head!”

[Big Dantuan, don’t tell me you don’t know how the faux ears work?] Just as Li Xi was confused, the Little Ball’s tired voice suddenly rang in his mind.

[Mm?]

The Little Ball explained: [You use your consciousness to control it, and the ear loosens. Now that you’ve taken it off your head, it’s completely disconnected from you.]

Li Xi stared blankly at the child who was struggling to pull the ear off. He thought if it fell off, it would be loose.

[Big Brother won’t be able to pull it off. The ear’s suction is very strong.] It clearly didn’t realize the gravity of the situation.

Hearing this, Li Xi touched the remaining ear on his head. “Put on…”

“What?” Yun stopped his tugging and looked over.

[It’s no use putting it back on. It’s a one-time use item.] The Little Ball explained helpfully.

“…Nothing.” Under that burning gaze, Li Xi turned his head slightly and squeezed out a word, lacking confidence. He wasn’t very interested in these “cute” things; the Little Ball had rummaged them out and put them on before bed yesterday.

Yun snorted and gave a sharp tug on the white fur of the ear. The fluffy, soft ear became a bald, ugly thing under the child’s “abuse,” but no matter how he pulled, it remained stubbornly wrapped around his finger. Red marks appeared on his finger from the scratching.

Yun was getting frustrated by the ear. He hadn’t felt this way even when he was hit by that male Zerg yesterday. He wanted to hit something! But the cub in front of him looked totally lost, and the unspeakable grievance was stuck in his heart.

“Forget it.” Yun struggled for a bit longer before giving up. He asked Li Xi, “Did you find the money?”

Li Xi shook his head. The paper bills were gone. That pile of snacks probably couldn’t cover the medicine; the Zerg didn’t seem to favor the barter system.

“Can I use you as collateral here?” a sinister voice whispered in his ear.

Li Xi thought for a moment and nodded seriously. “Sure…”

Yun was so shocked he didn’t know what to say. “…?!”

After a long time, he choked out: “Are you stupid?”

Li Xi: “…” He wasn’t worried about the money. Kale would come and pay.

Yun took a deep breath, trying to dispel his irritability. He exhaled again, his eyes flicking toward the fire exit and then silently withdrawing. It was thanks to his good upbringing that he didn’t take the chance to slip away. He couldn’t bring himself to do something as shameless as running without paying.

He was at a total loss.

“Brother!”

Li Xi followed the gaze. At the end of the corridor stood an elegant female Zerg with long grey hair tied back high, swaying slightly in the wind. His face was exquisite, sharing seventy or eighty percent of his features with the child.

“I’ll handle the medicine fee.” Yun looked delighted to see the female Zerg. He raised his hand to wave at the youth, but then his gaze caught the bald ear on his finger, and his hand froze mid-wave.

“This ear belongs to me now. Go find your Female Father, you hear me?”

With that, before Li Xi could react, he sprinted toward the end of the corridor. Halfway there, he braked hard and turned back. “No running off!”

Li Xi didn’t move. Yun watched him, waiting for an answer. Finally, Li Xi gave a small nod, signaling he understood.

“Good boy.” Yun smiled and gave him a compliment. “Next time we meet, I’ll bring you candy.”

Li Xi blinked. They had only met by chance. With so many people around, next time… there probably wouldn’t be a next time. The kid was good at coaxing people.

The grey-haired youth nodded and smiled at Li Xi out of politeness. But Li Xi’s gaze remained locked on the child’s figure without moving an inch.

He heard them speaking.

“Strange, cub, alone.”

And also words like “Female Father, unconscious.”