Sensing the murderous aura in the cold air, the driver quickly apologized.
“Sorry, sorry! It’s a racial habit of ours. We really enjoy helping raise children, even if they’re not our own. Please don’t take it seriously, I was just kidding. Everyone, please get in the car.”
Ruan Shu asked in a curious whisper, “What kind of Star Beast is he?”
Is there really a species that likes raising other people’s children?
Almer gently patted her head and whispered back, “Penguin. And it’s not exactly that they enjoy raising others’ kids. It’s more that, during a specific season, they develop a tendency to nurture eggs. If they don’t have their own, they often ‘borrow’ others’ eggs to hatch.”
Ruan Shu was speechless. “…!!”
Wait, they can do that?
“So… does no one control it?” she asked, feeling incredulous. Isn’t that illegal?
Almer explained, “On many planets outside the main star, communities consist of one predominant species, each with their own laws and customs. For instance, in the penguin species, borrowing others’ eggs is usually not seen as malicious. It’s simply a natural impulse, so when they’re caught, they might just get fined or warned. As long as the child is unharmed, the parents typically don’t mind.”
At this point, Ruan Xinglan’s voice chimed in, “Many Star Beast species still retain their instinctual behaviors and hunting methods. Penguins, for example, transform into their Star Beast form and gather in colonies when nurturing their young.”
“Penguin parents take turns incubating the egg and diving into the ocean to hunt. This primitive hunting method makes them strong but also exposes them to many dangers.”
“Sometimes, both parents perish while hunting, and eggs or chicks left behind are then raised by other penguins who don’t yet have children.”
Ruan Shu gaped. So… it actually works like this?
“It’s mostly like that,” Almer added with a hint of amusement. “Pregnant Star Beasts are closest to their primal instincts. Even those who live on the main star will return to their birthplace during pregnancy, adopting their original beast form, hunting, and surviving in the wild. At that time, any modern conveniences or technology are of no use to them.”
“After a Star Beast cub is born, the father may not see the child for several months. The mother will first take the cub out to learn to hunt, only returning to city life once they’ve mastered it. Each species has its own designated territory for this purpose—a place specifically prepared for pregnant mothers and cubs.”
This primal training is one reason for the strength of Star Beasts; their first task upon entering the world is to learn to hunt.
“But… I…” Ruan Shu hesitated.
She didn’t seem to fit this pattern.
“Some people choose to suppress these instincts and avoid returning to their territory to give birth, seeing it as an uncivilized behavior,” Ruan Qingran explained. “This is sometimes due to fear or a desire to avoid hardship since giving birth in the territory comes with its own dangers. They don’t want the challenge of hunting with their children.”
It was clear that Xiao Yuanyi belonged to the latter—one who avoided the hardships of the territory.
“Though we should be grateful for Xiao Yuanyi’s choice,” Ruan Qingran said, looking at Shushu. “Otherwise, the one facing hardship might have been you.”
Moreover, given how tiny their little sister was, it was questionable whether she could even be considered a predator. If anything, it was more likely she’d end up prey rather than the hunter.
Xiao Yuanyi also wasn’t exactly the model of a perfect mother.
Everyone looked over at the little one, silently agreeing.
Ruan Shu: “…”
She felt a bit underestimated.
Well, she didn’t entirely believe she’d be able to hunt either.
But that didn’t stop her from being genuinely fascinated by this topic. She’d never imagined the birth and survival customs of Star Beasts could be so reminiscent of a wildlife documentary.
“Wouldn’t that make it very dangerous for the cubs?” she asked, concerned.
“Of course, it’s dangerous,” Ruan Qingran replied, his knowledge as a doctor giving him a clear understanding of this process. “Some cubs even perish due to lack of proper care.”
He spoke calmly, with a detached look in his eyes.
“But these are our survival rules. It’s not only the newborn cubs—children who are nearly grown, even those about to graduate from school, face life-threatening situations during their trials.”
“But everyone knows this. When choosing their schools, avoiding military academies is a way to reduce these risks. Yet, many still choose military academies. In the lexicon of powerful Star Beasts, terms like ‘retreat’ or ‘risk aversion’ simply don’t exist.”
“Even as newborns, our natural instinct drives us to conquer the natural world, not to shrink back in a shell and wait for death.”
“Moreover, statistics show that cubs born in their native territories grow up healthier and stronger. Unless they engage in reckless fights, they rarely fall ill, aside from unavoidable issues like Jingshen pollution.”
Though Ruan Shu struggled to fully grasp this, the Star Beasts’ fierce survival mindset—a process of natural selection like in the animal kingdom—clearly contributed to their strength and status as dominant rulers of the cosmos.
“But there’s no need to worry,” Ruan Qingran added, his sharp features softening slightly.
“We are an intelligent species. Even when hunting, Star Beasts won’t just wait for death if they encounter danger. We work together and support one another.”
The driver up front chimed in cheerfully, “Too bad it’s not breeding season now. Otherwise, you could witness our colony in action—it’s quite a sight, though you’d only be able to watch from a safe distance.”
He added proudly, “Last year, I was this close to ‘borrowing’ an egg to hatch myself!”
Ruan Shu: “…”
There was no need to sound so proud about that.
After several hours of driving through the snowy expanse, they finally arrived at their reserved hotel.
As they departed, the driver gave Ruan Shu a lingering look.
“This cub is really beautiful. Are you sure you won’t let me raise her? I’m quite capable, you know.”
He Fengsi replied curtly, “Scram.”
“Alright, then! Hope to see you again someday.”
Now in the city of Snowfall Star, Ruan Shu noticed a distinct difference from the main star. Here, very few inhabitants moved about in human form; nearly everyone strolled the streets in their Star Beast shapes, a remarkable sight to behold.
But only the native inhabitants of Snowfall Star—like penguins, polar bears, seals, and snow hares—would be living in this way.
There were also dinosaur-like birds and even massive woolly mammoths.
It was like watching a nature documentary, except animals from different eras were all gathered together. Despite their differences, they shared a common trait: they were all resilient to freezing temperatures. Even those typically part of the food chain coexisted peacefully here.
Ruan Shu’s mouth dropped open in astonishment as she took in these giant creatures.
Fortunately, the buildings were spaced far apart; otherwise, how would there be room for so many massive Star Beasts?