Â
Playmates, kindly whitelist the website to support the site or turn off adblocker!
Â
Click On The Novel Title Link Above The Post Title e.g. Genius Mechanic: Chapter 1, or Scroll To The Bottom and Click On The Category To Get To The TOC.
Parasitic Child: Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Trampled on Yan Zhu’s homework.
Xiao Zhen’s eyes widened.
Things were really bad.
A shattered flowerpot lay on the ground, and the plant inside had been trampled.
Xiao Zhen said, “This was Yan Zhu’s summer project.”
It was the plant Yan Zhu had planted ten days ago for her bean sprout observation journal. Every day, Yan Zhu would take pictures of it, draw, and write in her journal. This bean sprout was her precious treasure. Before it had sprouted, all her other seeds had failed, but this one had managed to push out tender shoots and grow strong. Every night before bed, she would mumble to it, encouraging it to grow tall and bloom quickly.
But now, the bean sprout lay lifeless on the ground, its stem crushed beyond repair.
“What did you do?!”
Chicken and Mr. Mao both yelled in unison, “It was him!!!”
“Great, you’ve ruined Yan Zhu’s summer project.”
Mr. Mao protested, “Watch your words, it wasn’t ‘we’—it was that chicken.”
Captain Ban squeaked, “Clearly, you were the one who knocked it over!”
Before Mr. Mao and Chicken could start fighting, Xiao Zhen asked how they planned to fix the situation.
Mr. Mao sniffed the plant, “It’s beyond saving. The stem is completely broken.”
“Do you understand what a human child will do when emotionally unstable?”
Mr. Mao and Chicken fell silent.
“Normally, she won’t physically harm us, but without a doubt, she’ll launch an intense psychological attack,” Xiao Zhen added. “And this psychological assault will likely last until the end of summer.”
“…”
“…”
To Xiao Zhen, Captain Ban, and Mr. Mao, Yan Zhu was the most terrifying presence in the house. The brain of a human child is much more active than that of an adult, and as long as she was home, she would unconsciously emit various emotional waves. Whenever she got overly excited, it was akin to having a deafening wall-drilling noise right in their ears for these three tentacled creatures, who were naturally attuned to human emotions.
After staring at each other for a moment, they decided to head out to find the fox merchant, as Chicken said he had plant growth elixirs.
For now, relying on alien tools seemed like the only solution.
Fortunately, Yan Zhu’s mother and Yan Zhu were out at class, so if they could restore the bean sprout before they got back, everything would be fine.
“The fox merchant can’t be trusted!” Mr. Mao growled repeatedly.
“Please propose a second solution,” Chicken huffed. “Do you think I actually want to go to him? But the only plant growth elixir available is from the fox merchant.”
Mr. Mao leaped onto a roadside flowerbed and turned back, saying, “No, I’m concerned about something else. Does that fox merchant know your true form?”
Chicken replied, “He knows I’m a Devourer.”
The Devourer was the term used by intelligent civilizations across the galaxy to refer to Xiao Zhen’s species. A thousand years ago, the Devourers were regarded as one of the most terrifying and evil species. Even mentioning them was considered blasphemy against the star spirits, and many innocents were executed over the millennia on suspicion of being possessed by a Devourer.
Even today, despite having gained recognition and rights, Devourers were still hated by most species. Xiao Zhen was well aware of this. He had been exiled from the last planet he lived on because the ruling powers couldn’t tolerate a Devourer in their territory.
Most of Xiao Zhen’s kind chose to hide their identity. Now, they lived in a remote place far from galactic civilization, an ideal refuge. But now Chicken had said that an alien knew his true identity as a Devourer—and that alien was the notorious fox merchant from the galaxy. Both Xiao Zhen and Mr. Mao couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“Only our kind can identify us. How does he know?”
“Uh, something happened,” Captain Ban said, looking at Xiao Zhen and Mr. Mao’s expressions. “He promised he would never expose my identity.”
“Tsk. I don’t want to comment on your recklessness,” Mr. Mao rubbed against the boxwood in the flowerbed, his tail curving into an arc. “Although it’s legal for us to reside in non-intelligent organisms, there are still far too many species in the galaxy that harbor malice and prejudice against us, so I won’t be revealing my true form to the fox merchant.” He glanced at Xiao Zhen, “You especially can’t reveal yourself. No one will stay calm hearing a Devourer explain whether or not it intentionally took over the body of a young intelligent being.”
Xiao Zhen nodded. The term “Devourer” carried the same connotations as the world’s attitude toward them—filled with fear, disgust, and misunderstanding. Most Devourers chose to conceal their true form as a basic rule of survival.
“I agree,” Xiao Zhen said. “Until I leave this body, I am Yan Zhen, a human. And your role is?”
Mr. Mao responded, “An Aeltian, a pilgrim and consultant who’s stuck here because of a spaceship accident.”
Aeltians were residents of the planet Aelt, whose appearance was strikingly similar to Earth’s felines, making them one of the more common species in the galaxy. This backstory fit Mr. Mao perfectly.
After settling on their cover stories—one Devourer inhabiting a chicken, one disguised as a local human, and one posing as an Aeltian—they arrived at the fox merchant’s residence.
The fox merchant lived in a street-facing apartment building. The bold golden letters of “Qingfeng Apartments” stood prominently at the entrance.
Under Captain Ban’s guidance, Xiao Zhen entered “13101” and the password into the door lock. The door clicked open, and they walked down the corridor to the elevator.
Inside the elevator was an elderly man who curiously eyed Xiao Zhen, who was holding a chicken in one hand and a kitten in the other, and asked, “16th floor?”
Xiao Zhen replied, “13th.”
The old man pressed the button for the 13th floor, mumbling, “Lately, everyone going to the 13th floor has been acting strange.” Then, he glanced at Xiao Zhen again.
Room 101 on the 13th floor looked no different from any ordinary human residence. Xiao Zhen knocked on the door.
The door opened automatically.
Inside was a living room furnished plainly—everything looked like a normal human’s simple home.
A girl appeared before them. Her skin was delicate and pale, her eyes large, and her long, black hair reached down to her waist. By human standards, she was a petite and lovely beauty.
“May I help you with something?” the girl asked, her voice soft and sweet.
“It’s me!” Chicken called out. “Take us to see your master. I’ve brought guests for him!”
The girl smiled and gestured for them to follow.
Instinctively, Xiao Zhen scanned the girl. There was no trace of consciousness. She was like a blank canvas, completely empty. Xiao Zhen couldn’t tell what she was.
“Is she a human from this planet?” Xiao Zhen asked Captain Ban telepathically.
“No idea. She’s alive, anyway she’s not a robot.”
They followed the girl into another room, where she opened a door to reveal a deep staircase. As they stepped onto the stairs, the walls on either side seemed to fade away, replaced by flickering nebulas. With each step, the staircase corners glowed faintly, lighting their path.
After walking for several minutes, they reached the deepest room at the bottom of the stairs.
The fox merchant, the master Chicken spoke of, was waiting for them, seated at a desk.
He was a man, exceedingly handsome, with deep, chiseled features and a charming smile. His light gray eyes exuded a gentle warmth, and his presence was one that could make hearts flutter, regardless of gender.
The handsome man smiled, “I am Han Junqian, at your service.” He glanced at Chicken, “Captain Ban, long time no see. And who are the two guests you’ve brought?”
Captain Ban responded, “A stranded Aeltian and a local human assistant.”
Han Junqian stood up and said, “I’m quite fond of Aeltians, and I also welcome this lovely local human.”
Mr. Mao, unperturbed, said, “I thought all fox merchants looked like foxes.” He gave the man a once-over. “Are you using an optical camouflage device?”
“Correct. According to the law, on planets that haven’t yet engaged in interstellar relations, alien visitors must conceal their identities to avoid causing unrest. The locals aren’t too keen on doing business with a talking fox like me,” Han Junqian said, shaking the watch on his wrist. “I highly recommend this product.” He waved his hand. “This is the latest C300 model. It adjusts your appearance based on your body type. The new product enhances the level of detail on top of the 4,800 original skin textures, and it can fully customize your appearance to suit your needs. If you order now, we’ll waive the 5% service fee…”
“No need!” Mr. Mao leaped onto the desk. “We need to order a bottle of plant growth serum, the ultra-fast kind. Do you have it here?”
“Plant growth serum?” Han Junqian smiled. “Of course. The only question is, which type do you need?”
“What kinds do you have?”
“I carry plant growth serums from Spore Inc., Golden Tunnel Pioneers, the Intergalactic Botanical Protection Institute, and Qunta Beastmen Farms. They range in price from high to low. Which one do you want?”
Mr. Mao transmitted telepathically: I’ve heard bad things about Spore Inc. The Intergalactic Botanical Protection Institute is a bunch of lunatics. What do you think?
Captain Ban: I hate the Golden Tunnel Pioneers. Their financial schemes have trapped several colonization groups.
Xiao Zhen: I’d like to remind everyone, we’re not investing. We just need to buy a bottle of serum.
Mr. Mao licked his paw: I’ve heard the Qunta Beastmen turned a barren desert planet into a lush forest vacation spot within a single galactic year.
Captain Ban: Let’s go with Qunta Beastmen then.
Xiao Zhen: No objections from me.
After their internal discussion, Mr. Mao requested the plant growth serum from Qunta Beastmen.
The plant growth serum came in a small bottle that looked rather ordinary. Han Junqian placed it on the desk, and they began negotiating the price.
“One more important matter to remember—the Independent Civilization Code.”
Mr. Mao said, “I know. We must not provide this serum to the locals for scientific research or disrupt the local order. Don’t worry. My lovely human assistant here is well aware of that too.”
Han Junqian clasped his hands together and smiled, “Exactly. Please keep that in mind. Although this is a remote corner of the galaxy, if any serious trouble arises, it will attract the attention of the Security Council and the Supervisory Eye.”
“Are you saying there are Security Council and Supervisory Eye members here?”
“In the galaxy, where do their tentacles not reach?” Han Junqian stroked his chin and added, “By the way, I forgot to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Who do you pledge loyalty to? The Legion or the Council?”
Captain Ban & Mr. Mao angrily replied, “In this remote corner, you’re still trying to stir up factional conflicts?”
…
As they were about to leave, Xiao Zhen stared at Han Junqian for a moment. Han Junqian asked, “What’s the matter, human assistant? Does my face fascinate you?”
Your name sounds like it belongs to the male lead in an idol romance drama, Xiao Zhen thought, then blinked and asked, “Did you choose your name yourself?”
“Oh? I actually had a local guide who has lived here for years pick it for me. How’s the name? It immediately makes people feel good about me, doesn’t it?”
It sounds like the name of a male lead who abandons the devoted female protagonist to marry the white lotus supporting character, only to get beaten up by the vengeful female lead afterward. But Xiao Zhen merely said, “The name is full of meaning. It’s really quite excellent.”
Han Junqian smiled, clearly pleased.
“The face you’re using with the optical camouflage looks great,” Xiao Zhen continued, “I really like it.”
“You sure know how to flatter, human assistant,” Han Junqian smiled. “So, what do you think? Interested in the latest C300 optical camouflage device? For you, I’ll waive 7% of the service fee.”
“You mean not only are you not offering a discount, but you’re also charging me a service fee?”
“My dear human assistant, in a remote place like this, all alien goods are scarce. Given the risks of long-distance transportation, an extra service fee is hardly unreasonable.”
“I’m broke. Goodbye.” Although Xiao Zhen was quite interested in the optical camouflage device, there was no need to buy it right now, and besides, he really had no money. Captain Ban had used his own StarNet account to purchase the plant growth serum. The funds of Xiao Zhen’s host, Yan Zhen, weren’t his to use, and his own account on the StarNet was locked for some reason, making him penniless.
Han Junqian handed Xiao Zhen a business card with a smile. “No problem. I also offer another kind of service. Sometimes my customers run into little problems, and if you can help them solve those, it can offset part of your bill. Of course, if you run into any trouble yourself, you can always call the number on the card.”
So, you’re a bounty guild agent after all. Xiao Zhen glanced at the card. It was very simple, made of quiet gray paper with dark patterns, and bore the name “Han Junqian” along with the phone number “68688818.”
“Looking forward to your next visit~”
They soon returned home. Luckily, Yan Zhen’s mother, Yan Zhu, and Aunt Li hadn’t come back yet.
Xiao Zhen found a new flowerpot, planted a green bean, and dripped a drop of the plant growth serum into the soil.
A few minutes later, nothing happened.
The chicken stared at the pot and said, “Isn’t this supposed to be a high-speed growth serum? Why isn’t there any reaction?”
Mr. Mao asked, “What does the instruction manual say?”
Xiao Zhen pressed a button on the label, and a floating window immediately popped up. A seductive intergalactic fairy’s voice chirped, “Magogo larvae, say goodbye to all your body hair troubles~ Order now to enjoy a special discount…”
Mr. Mao angrily shouted, “Why is there an ad?!”
Xiao Zhen glanced at the screen and said, “The ad is five minutes long, followed by a customer lottery. Oh, and if you join Wu Youmei as a member, you can skip the ads.”
“Wu Youmei, my foot!”
Xiao Zhen said, “Wu Youmei is the Legion’s designated supplier. If you badmouth them, you’re a heretic.”
The chicken echoed, “Heretic!”
“Enough, you two!”
They continued staring at the flowerpot, but the soil remained still, showing no signs of sprouting. The floating window continued to play ads, now switching to a chewable candy aimed at intelligent insectoids, promising that the chewing would release hormones similar to those produced when a hive queen laid eggs, offering the ultimate joy of laying eggs to sterile workers and males alike.
The impatient chicken said, “Maybe we didn’t use enough serum?” It grabbed the bottle with its claws, ready to pour a few more drops into the pot. Mr. Mao swiped his paw, “Wait, let’s wait for the instructions.”
The cat’s paw hit the bottle, and the chicken instinctively pulled back. The bottle tilted, spilling half of its contents into the pot in an instant.
“I didn’t mean to!” the chicken cried.
Xiao Zhen said, “Look, the sprout is growing.”
A tender green bean sprout pushed through the soil, its long stem standing tall and thin leaves unfurling. Everything would have been perfect if it had stopped growing there. But
the sprout showed no sign of stopping. It grew taller and taller, its stem thickening rapidly. In just seconds, the main stalk became as thick as a wrist, and more branches extended outward.
Mr. Mao reacted swiftly, swiping a paw at the stem. In an instant, the stalk was cut in two, but that didn’t stop its growth.
The severed green stems writhed like snakes, sending out new shoots in all directions. Countless green leaves trembled as they spread. The vines crawled over the furniture, took root in the carpet, spread along the ceiling, and split into more branches on the wallpaper.
“Fantastic,” Xiao Zhen said. “My house is now a forest.” Just as he described, the interior of the Yan family’s house had been completely overtaken by the vines. Drooping branches and green leaves were everywhere, transforming the space into a lush, vibrant forest.
“I now understand how the Qunta Beastmen turned a desert into a forest,” Mr. Mao said, enunciating each word, “because some idiot poured growth serum like it was water!”
“It wasn’t on purpose! And weren’t you the one who acted first?” Captain Ban screeched.
The vines had finally started to slow down, though they were still growing steadily and branching out.
Xiao Zhen, Mr. Mao, and Captain Ban stared silently at the floating ad window. After the fifth round of ads ended, the instruction manual finally appeared.
“Adapting to local language and units, please wait… Please be mindful of the dosage. We recommend 1 milliliter of serum diluted in 30,000 grams of water, suitable for 1 to 2 acres of land. Please do not overuse.”
“…” Xiao Zhen closed the window with a snap.
Mr. Mao sneered. “Great. Now that it’s turned into this, it won’t be long before the local humans notice something’s wrong. This anomaly will hit the news, attract global attention, and soon after, the Security Council or the Supervisory Eye will be involved.” He pointed at Captain Ban, “You’ll be sentenced to 150 years for violating the Independent Civilization Code.”
He then pointed at Xiao Zhen, “And you’ll be arrested on the spot for occupying a human body, sentenced to 800 interstellar years.”
Captain Ban said, “Are you implying you’ll get off scot-free?”
Mr. Mao replied with righteous confidence, “The plant growth serum was purchased with your account. You can’t escape. Xiao Zhen can’t leave his body, so he can’t escape either. Only I can make a perfect getaway. Don’t worry, I’ll come visit you both in prison.”
Xiao Zhen & Captain Ban: “…”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Xiao Zhen, Captain Ban, and Mr. Mao exchanged glances, trying to think of a way to hide the situation from whoever was at the door. But after thinking it over, it seemed like running was their only option.
The chicken hopped over to the window for a peek and said, “It’s not your family. It’s your human friend, Liu Xingquan.”
“What’s he doing here?” Xiao Zhen frowned.
“No idea. Maybe he’s here to mend your friendship or something.”
This was definitely not a good time to deal with Liu Xingquan. Xiao Zhen looked around at the overgrown forest that used to be a house. The vines and leaves were still growing wildly.
This was going to be a real headache.
If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~Â
Â
Â
Â