69: Thunder in broad daylight

When the Children were over two months old, Li was finally persuaded by Tu Nan to stop holding them and participate in the Sharp Blade Squad selection.

He lived up to expectations and was successfully selected, achieving a top-tier result that far surpassed the rest of his cohort.

His excellence even reached the ears of the Mata City Defense Chief, who explicitly ordered that he be cultivated as a priority.

Tu Nan's status rose accordingly with this change.

Her changes were observed by a soldier who had been quietly watching her—Sergeant Song Jie, a subordinate of Kong Jiamu.

Since he was on the list of Patrol Army personnel returning to the Capital Star, the dutiful soldier planned to remind his superior.

"Colonel Kong, I would like to report on the recent situation of that small courtyard," Song Jie said with a formal salute, waiting to give his summary report and see if he could hand over the observation task.

Kong Jiamu was spinning his military cap between his fingers, his gaze having long since drifted elsewhere.

"What small courtyard?" He had long since forgotten about the matter.

"The one your friend, Mr. Hain, entrusted to you..."

"Stop right there!" Kong Jiamu's narrow blue eyes immediately flashed with a cold light.

"Don't mention that bastard's name. He blocked me—can you believe it? He actually blocked me?"

He snorted coldly and ordered Song Jie, "Forget those orders he gave you. You're my man, not his."

Some secret romance... Kong Jiamu now suspected he had overthought things. Forget it; he still didn't even know that super-powerful lady's name.

"Alright, you're returning to the Capital City for rotation, right? Get some good rest. Do you have enough money? If not, I can transfer some to you?"

"...No need, I have enough. I'll be going then."

Kong Jiamu waved his hand, signaling him to do as he pleased.

With that, he completely put the matter Hain had previously entrusted to him out of his mind.

Besides, Hain hadn't actually entrusted it to him formally anyway.

Meanwhile, on Tu Nan's side.

Generally speaking... happy days always seem to fly by quickly.

Tu Nan could now hand the Children over to Gaia and Li when they were resting and go shopping with Lisa... Lisa had truly become her first true best friend.

They discussed food, clothes, parenting, and those Male Beasts who were often incredibly strong but well-intentioned meddlers.

She occasionally made Tu Nan think of Ji Yu.

But Ji Yu's significance to Tu Nan wasn't as simple as a best friend... Ji Yu was more like... a mentor, or a signpost?

In short, she was the thorn that would prick Tu Nan whenever she felt like she could go on living these peaceful days forever.

The two of them had a nice lunch at a restaurant today, and Lisa was helping Tu Nan pick out clothes for the babies.

"Buy this one. Since it's so expensive, buy it half a size larger so they can wear it all the way through the Cub Stage. By the time they hit the Childhood Stage and their bodies undergo a sudden growth spurt, it'll be time to change anyway."

"Should I just buy the ones for the Childhood Stage too?" Tu Nan hesitated. She was quite well-off now and felt like she could buy more for the Children.

"It's too early, there's no need," Lisa stopped the novice mother.

"They won't reach the next stage until they're six months old. By then, the fashion might have changed."

"True..." Tu Nan reluctantly put back the outfit she had just selected.

She had gradually come to realize that the growth of Children on the Beast Star followed a pattern of sudden transformations.

From the current milk balls under six months old, to the Childhood Stage under five years old—which was like Little Bear's toddler proportions—and then to the Adolescent Stage like Little Owen... they would grow slowly until age 15, when they would suddenly change. After passing the Trial of the Beast God, they would be considered Sub-adults.

Once they reached the Sub-adult stage, in many places, they could go to the front lines... because by then, they could stably switch into their combat Beast Form.

Tu Nan couldn't imagine her Children going to the battlefield at 15, but this was the harsh reality faced by many beastmen in this world.

"Let's go. Your two little ancestors have let you out for so long; if you don't go back now, you'll have to spend ages coaxing them again," Lisa teased her.

Tu Nan shook her head, simply smiling without arguing.

Every time she went home, the two little ones would cling to her for a long time. Everyone said she spoiled the Children too much.

But actually, the two of them weren't being unreasonable; they just wanted to 'tell' their mother everything that had happened while she was away.

Besides, the two little ones often couldn't control their forms yet.

Whether she was holding a Little Tiger or a little wolf cub in her arms, she wouldn't mind holding them all day long.

The two of them were chatting and laughing as they stepped out of the store.

"Tu Nan?"

An incredulous voice rang out from the side.

Tu Nan wasn't sure if she had misheard. She tilted her head and looked toward the street.

Mata City's streets were very simple, with the cold, austere feel of a military outpost; even on this commercial street, there weren't many decorations.

Thus, Tu Nan immediately saw a woman standing not far away, dressed in rags, her head wrapped in a tattered scarf, her body so filthy her features were unrecognizable.

Who was it? Or had she misheard? Tu Nan frowned.

"What's wrong? Let's go... The Star Worms broke through the defense line a while ago, so there are quite a few refugees," Lisa said, tugging at her sleeve.

Tu Nan nodded, no longer paying attention to the strange woman.

"Tu Nan? You really are alive..." The woman spoke in a raspy voice, saying more this time.

Tu Nan stopped in her tracks. This time she knew she hadn't misheard, and she felt the voice was indeed familiar.

"Don't recognize me? You killed my brother and turned me into this..."

The tail behind her lashed against the ground, its faint yellow and black stripes barely discernible.

"Forgotten me, Fiona? Let me help you remember!"

The catwoman rushed forward like a madwoman, her long, dirty nails clawing viciously at Tu Nan.

Tu Nan heard her malicious words and saw her charging, but she found it difficult to dodge. Damn this Physique!

At the critical moment, Lisa pulled Tu Nan into her arms and shoved Fiona away forcefully.

But Fiona's nails still caught Tu Nan. It took a moment for Tu Nan to realize her face had been scratched open.

"Hey! Where did this crazy woman come from? How can you just attack people like that?"

The shop assistants quickly came out to help subdue Fiona. This Female Beast seemed to be mentally unstable, muttering things no one could understand, and mostly just struggling and screaming.

The shop quickly called the police.

In Mata City, military personnel held high status, and matters involving military dependents were given high priority.

The police arrived quickly. When they got there, Tu Nan was being shielded in Lisa's arms.

Fiona? Why would she appear here? Weren't the wanted high-ranking members of the River Valley never supposed to show up in the big cities?

Tu Nan had a premonition that Fiona's appearance meant her peaceful life might be coming to an end.

Sure enough, as the police took over, Fiona suddenly saw the elegantly dressed and clean Tu Nan. She began to struggle violently, ignoring the police's strikes and restraints, and shouted in rage.

"You've all been fooled by her! She's a murderer! She's a Foster Mother!"

No one present believed the words of a lunatic, except for Tu Nan.

But it was precisely because Tu Nan knew everything Fiona said was true that her blood ran even colder.

At this moment, Fiona had completely become Tu Nan's enemy.

There could be no tolerance, nor should there be mercy. Tu Nan knew she had to deal with her and make her shut up.

Or... send her to a place where no one would ever listen to her.

Tu Nan suddenly struggled out of Lisa's arms, sobbing as if she were excessively frightened.

She looked at the police with tearful eyes, her voice so soft it sounded as if she were about to break.

"I... I know her... How did she end up like this..."

This sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned.

The police exchanged glances, looking with a headache at the screaming, crazed woman on one side, and then at the tearfully beautiful Tu Nan before them.