Little Family Treasure of the Apocalyptic Boss

Chapter 25: Torrential Rain

The little snake sub-beast spent three times more time than usual to pacify the angry groundhog. As he stroked the groundhog’s soft fur, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The groundhog lay on its back in the little snake sub-beast’s arms. Its two small paws hugged the roasted corn that the little snake sub-beast had brought over, and its big teeth clicked as it gnawed on it. With a casual turn, it left a bald circle on the roasted corn. Its short tail wagged contentedly.

In a place unnoticed by everyone, the surrounding land seemed to receive some nourishment and gradually became fertile.

As Ye Ze chatted with the leader, his fingertips twitched slightly.

As a wood-elemental esper who had always been in touch with plants, he was the only one present who could perceive the changes in the environment firsthand. With what seemed like a casual glance at the groundhog, his gaze flickered with deep thought.

It seemed that the changes noticed near the cave earlier were not just illusions.

This little mouse not only could effortlessly alter the soil when prompted but also unconsciously affected the environment when it was in a pleasant mood.

—A miraculous ability.

And it was quite friendly towards the little snake sub-beast.

Keeping it around was indeed a wise decision.

After several days of careful observation and evaluation, Ye Ze fully accepted the groundhog of unknown origin into their lives.

With everything settled, both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves.

After a lively dinner, both sides bid farewell under the morning sun and embarked on their new journeys.

“Ye Ze, if you ever come to the Lingxiao City, you can find me at the Feihong Merchant Guild. I’ll show you around,” the leader offered candidly.

“Alright.” Ye Ze accepted the sincere invitation and exchanged a glance with the little snake sub-beast before responding with a smile.

Having caught up with the caravan and fulfilled one of the little snake sub-beast’s wishes, Ye Ze didn’t rush on the return journey. Instead, he and the little snake sub-beast leisurely strolled through the forest.

The groundhog also seemed to prefer the unrestrained wilderness. It darted around the bushes surrounding them, playing happily even amidst the fallen branches and leaves.

During their aimless wandering, they stumbled upon a patch of sweet potato fields. Next to it stood a tree with egg-shaped fruits, most of which had been pecked by birds, but some remained intact.

The little snake sub-beast cheered and rushed into the dry grassland with the groundhog, one using its little paws and the other wielding a small shovel, eagerly digging for food.

With big, bright eyes, he glanced at Ye Ze, subtly hinting, “Don’t be lazy; the fruit tree needs help.”

Ye Ze followed them closely, watching the two little creatures eagerly searching for food with a mixture of helplessness and amusement. Meanwhile, the vines beside him grew rapidly, tirelessly joining in the work.

“Nuo Nuo, do you like being outside?” Ye Ze asked seemingly casually.

“Yes!” the little snake sub-beast answered cheerfully, twirling around with the groundhog beside the mound of sweet potatoes. It was a satisfying feeling, akin to a bountiful harvest.

Nuo Nuo truly loved the forest.

Not only could he find various kinds of food, but he could also encounter friendly beasts. They were willing to talk to him and didn’t look at his tail with strange eyes.

In short, everything was much easier than when he was in the Black Snake Tribe!

After admiring their harvest, the little snake sub-beast carefully collected the sweet potatoes into a bag, heaving it up with a grin.

Ye Ze also didn’t like those beastmen from the Black Snake Tribe.

It was tolerable before without any contact, but once he had experienced the outside world, he knew that the Black Snake Tribe was indeed remote and backward.

Ye Ze skillfully took the bag from the little snake sub-beast’s arms and stowed it away in the dimensional space. Seizing the opportunity, he tentatively said, “After winter, would Nuo Nuo like to go out and travel?”

Ye Ze gently enticed with a smile, “I’ll take Nuo Nuo out to play, see the scenery we haven’t seen before, visit various towns, and meet many enthusiastic friends like today. And when Nuo Nuo gets tired of playing, we can find a place Nuo Nuo likes to settle down, how about that?”

Unable to resist following Ye Ze’s description, the little snake sub-beast couldn’t help but imagine the carefree life, feeling as if they were soaked in sweet happiness.

“Yes!” The little snake sub-beast readily agreed, full of longing for the future life.

On the way back, the weather gradually turned gloomy. When they reached the safe zone of the Black Snake Tribe, it started drizzling.

As they ventured further in, the raindrops grew larger. The bean-sized droplets pounded the ground, forming puddles and making the entire forest muddy.

Ye Ze felt extremely fortunate that he had custom-made a cloak for the little snake sub-beast’s tail beforehand. Otherwise, walking on such a road would definitely make the little snake sub-beast feel cold and dirty, and just the thought of it made him ache.

But then again, he could always carry the little snake sub-beast back if that were the case. He couldn’t help but feel that buying the cloak was a bit of a waste.

His mind wandered as he, the not-so-serious fake beastman, held the little snake sub-beast’s hand, his thoughts wavering.

However, reality manifested as patches of grass sprouting under their feet, interspersed with tender leaves, creating a clean path above the muddy ground. Coupled with the dimension mall’s specially made umbrella, they were completely undisturbed by the wind and rain.

The groundhog followed behind them, avoiding the muddy water from the outside. It wasn’t surprised to sense the agitation in the air.

Since the day it was born, it had been anticipating the meeting with the communicator.

But for many, many years, it received no response.

It wasn’t until eighteen years ago that they heard the communicator’s first cries. Excitedly rushing to the Dragon Palace City, all they found were the panicked dragon beastmen and the empty hatching altar.

Their anticipation shattered in an instant.

They began their separate journeys to find the communicator.

Since then, time had become even more unbearable.

Not only were they not accompanied by the communicator, but they also couldn’t feel the communicator’s comfort. Instead, they occasionally received feelings of sadness and grievance transmitted from the void.

—Strictly speaking, happiness was more common.

The little snake sub-beast was a very easy-to-please communicator. Finding a bit of food while hungry or having birds chirping around his heads was enough to make him happy.

But that happiness was bitter.

It was even harder for them to accept than feelings of sorrow.

Thus, such days had continued for several decades.

Anyone who finally woke up only to encounter such a heart-wrenching situation would inevitably become agitated!

The groundhog gritted its teeth angrily. It felt that it was too easy-going to ignore the earth’s well-being.

After all, it didn’t bring the earth along everywhere to expand its sensing range; nor did it go to a place and vent by sucking away some of the earth’s vitality to maintain a calm mindset; nor did it stir up storms like someone else, wreaking havoc in the earth.

The groundhog suddenly halted its brisk steps. It stood up on its hind legs, sniffing the air, and its normally soft claws opened wide.

A thunderbolt struck from the sky. Under the grim lightning, a cold light flickered along the edges of its sharp claws.

Someone had been here.

Ye Ze lowered his gaze. He gently added a coat for the little snake sub-beast to shield them from the gradually rising strong wind. Deep within his eyes, a restrained yet dangerous flame burned.

“Nuo Nuo, with the grass carpeting the ground, we won’t detour. Let’s take the path through the mountains and go straight home. How does that sound?”

The little snake sub-beast obediently put on the warm rabbit ear coat and urged Ye Ze to put on another layer. Smelling the grass beneath them, they nodded, “Okay. Ye Ze’s grass is super convenient!”

Ye Ze smiled and patted the little snake sub-beast’s head. The grassy path unfolded, forming a route away from the foreign presence.

Wei Man felt extremely unlucky recently, with everything going wrong for him.

First, he failed to tame the ugly halfling and was instead thrown out by the beastman he liked. Not only did he lose face in the tribe, but he also accidentally broke his hand bone, forcing him to stay home for many days with an ugly bandage.

Then, just yesterday, when he finally recovered from his injury and went out to collect the debt from that damn creature, his father, who had always spoiled him, inexplicably slapped him and warned him not to get close to the little mountain where the exotic creature lived.

Huh! What a joke!

This abandoned sub-beast should be grateful for the tribe’s permission and protection to live here. Why couldn’t he get close!

Wei Man could still vividly remember his father’s fierce eyes and merciless strength at that time.

His left cheek was still swollen and sore!

Wei Man, who had been spoiled since childhood, couldn’t bear this grievance.

So, today, taking advantage of the fine weather, he found three beastmen who were quite fond of him and went up the mountain together.

Wei Man had already found out. Recently, the powerful wandering beastman always went out alone in the afternoon and didn’t return until dinner.

Annoyingly, these beastmen, although they spoke nicely, were all just trash! Trash! They couldn’t even defeat two birds and ended up biting him several times. There were bloody holes pierced by sharp teeth all over his body, and his favorite clothes were torn to shreds…

Wei Man walked angrily at the forefront, cursing incessantly in his heart. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his toes, kicked something, and fell forward onto the ground.

Mud splashed everywhere.

Furious, Wei Man pushed away the beastman who tried to help him up, ignoring the pain all over his body. In a fit of rage, he kicked and kicked at the tree roots that tripped him. “What? Even you came here to provoke me? It’s just a piece of wood, I’ll cut you…”

The sharp sound abruptly stopped as the tree roots suddenly moved.

The group of people watched in horror as the tree roots shot up from the ground, their faces pale.

“It’s, it’s a plant-type monster!” exclaimed one of the beastmen accompanying Wei Man.

Having undergone combat training, they knew very well that even the lowest-ranking plant-type monsters could reach the level of beast soldiers. Wiping out them as beast footmen would be even easier than eating and drinking!

The terrified beastmen, in a state of panic, couldn’t help but tremble uncontrollably. Driven by the instinct to survive, they completely disregarded the powerless ordinary sub-beastman beside them and desperately squeezed out their physical potential to flee downhill. Their hearts were filled with regret.

If they had known that such dangerous monsters lurked in the mountains near the tribe, they would never have followed Wei Man up the mountain!

Yes! It was all because of Wei Man! If not for Wei Man, they wouldn’t have gone up the mountain, let alone provoke such a terrifying monster!

“Why are you running away! Hurry up and come save me!”

Wei Man’s desperate screams were left behind as they fled, with no one responding.

No longer in the state where everyone responded to his call, Wei Man was nothing more than a sub-beastman slightly stronger than ordinary females.

However, his half-beast form endowed him with snake-like venomous fangs, which had no effect on the plant’s root system. Scratching, clawing, and biting with all his might, he couldn’t even leave a trace on the tree roots.

Wei Man cried and screamed as the tree roots bound his body, tossing him around in the air.

With the rapid movement, raindrops also turned into powerful weapons of attack. Each raindrop hitting Wei Man felt like numerous stones being forcefully slammed onto his body. It was excruciating.

Wei Man’s voice became hoarse from screaming. Just when he thought he was about to die from the pain, the tree roots seemed to have grown tired of playing with him. They loosened their grip, throwing him down the mountain.

In the moment of losing consciousness, he felt something sharp slide across his cheek. Then, a warm liquid flowed out.

Wei Man was suddenly awakened by the stimulus. Covering his injured face, he let out an unbelievably piercing scream, “Ahhhh! My face!”

Don’t be hasty, let’s take it slowly. It’s just a little trick.

Ye Ze withdrew his ability from the tree roots and sneered. His eyes were colder than the deepest cave.

Unreformed despite repeated admonitions. Lax discipline.

When he left with Nuo Nuo, he would give Black Snake Tribe a “satisfactory” lesson.

The groundhog glanced up at him and shivered unexpectedly.

“Gaa! Gaa!”

At the entrance of the cave, the owner’s geese spread their wings and strutted out, surrounding the little snake sub-beast to show off their achievements.

They had just driven away four bad guys!

Aren’t they super mighty and powerful! Super dedicated to their job!

The little snake sub-beast, unaware of the truth, thought the geese were welcoming him and expressing their longing.

So this is what it feels like to be welcomed home.

The little snake sub-beast smiled, his eyes curved into crescents. Squatting down, he lovingly hugged the two geese and rubbed against them, “I missed you guys too.”

“Honk~!” The big geese flapped their wings up and down in excitement. They bent their necks, one on each side, encircling the little snake sub-beast.

“Alright, stop messing around.” Ye Ze finally couldn’t bear it anymore, he picked up the two geese that were trying to monopolize the little snake sub-beast. Then he pulled the little snake sub-beast up, embraced him, and led him into the cave, “You’ve been busy for several days. Let’s go in and take a hot bath first, then eat, and rest. Hmm?”

Super convenient hot bubble bath!

Nuo Nuo likes it!

The little snake sub-beast’s mind was immediately diverted. He followed Ye Ze into the room with great excitement.

The groundhog turned its head and glanced at the two geese tied up with vines on the side, “…”

What’s with this subtle sense of déjà vu?

The groundhog scratched its head in frustration. Looking at the bathroom door that it couldn’t possibly enter, then at the iron-faced gatekeeper who went in to help the little snake sub-beast prepare the bubble bath, turn on the heater, and bring in the rubber duck, and then came out.

Finally, the concern for the geese siblings it had raised from childhood prevailed over its clinginess to the little snake sub-beast.

The groundhog turned around and went to untie the geese.

The big geese looked at its back-and-forth movement, wanting to roll its eyes and take another peck at it.

Unfortunately, the reality of being restricted by its black bean eyes and its mouth tied up was like two giant rocks weighing them down.

The geese couldn’t do it. The geese were frustrated.

The little snake sub-beast emerged from the bath, enveloped in fragrant warmth.

The versatile little vines had already tidied up the bedding that had been left for many days, and even the tables and chairs were wiped clean.

Ye Ze had ordered dinner from the dimensional mall, and it was served on the vine table inside. It was sumptuous and delicious.

Due to the sudden change in weather, the vine chairs were thoughtfully fitted with plush cushions.

The underfloor heating blanket in the cave was turned on, unaffected by the tumultuous wind and rain outside.

The three little ones compromised with Ye Ze (and the food), sitting obediently on their custom-made chairs, waiting for dinner.

The warm yellow light spilled down, casting a soft veil over the waiting people and animals, softening the sharp edges of their usual demeanor, making the atmosphere warm and cozy.

Having finished his bath early, Ye Ze changed into a matching set of pajamas and waved to him, “Nuo Nuo, come over for dinner.”

“Yeah. I’m coming!” The end of the sentence carried a rising tone. He came to his seat and sat down, his tail wagging happily.

Night fell amidst the sound of rain and laughter.

It was time to sleep.

Ye Ze carefully tucked the little snake sub-beast in, brushed his nose which turned red from shyness, “Goodnight, Nuo Nuo.”

“Goodnight, Ye Zi.”

The little snake sub-beast grabbed the blanket with both hands, buried himself under it, covering most of his face, leaving only a pair of eyes shining brightly.

Suddenly remembering Ye Ze’s instructions, he felt embarrassed and pulled the blanket down, wrapping it tightly around his neck.

The rosy cheeks were completely exposed.

The little snake sub-beast, who failed to hide, even had the tips of his ears burning.

Ye Ze chuckled softly. He patted the little snake sub-beast’s unresponsive little head and jokingly scolded, “Go to sleep quickly. Don’t think about other things.” Anyway, you can’t figure out the right solution, so it’s a waste of sleep time.

Hmm. Ye Ze is definitely not just some other thing!

The little snake sub-beast pouted with annoyance, puffing up his cheeks. He buried himself back in, indicating that he wanted to sleep and didn’t want to bother with a certain leaf that couldn’t talk.

Ye Ze suppressed the smile that was about to overflow from his lips. He turned off the light for the little snake sub-beast, leaving only the faintly glowing little mushrooms. He accompanied the little snake sub-beast for a good night’s sleep.

However, for the first time since Ye Ze arrived, the sweet and peaceful dreams of the little snake sub-beast were disturbed.

Outside the cave, an unusual and loud rumbling woke up the sleeping little snake sub-beast.

Rubbing his eyes, the little snake sub-beast groggily got out of bed. Walking to the entrance of the cave, he saw a vast expanse of “water” engulfing the land, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

Wow! He slept through the flood at home! qaq