Little Family Treasure of the Apocalyptic Boss

Chapter 5: Stars

After An Nuo and Ye Ze finished their discussion, it was already quite late for the people in this primitive era.

An Nuo flicked his painless tail, marveling at the extraordinary effects of advanced medicine. Then, sneakily glancing at Ye Ze’s expression, he found nothing amiss except a more obvious smile. He immediately felt relieved.

Leaning on his arm, he happily jumped off the bed and walked out of the cave. From the raised hair to the round tip of his tail, he exuded the vitality of “the most glorious working people.”

“I’ll go prepare the firewood for tonight. Evenings approaching winter are quite cold.” And medicinal herbs affected by the cold are also challenging to find.

Ye Zi wasn’t aware of these things. He had to take good care of Ye Zi’s body!

The little snake sub-beast, thinking about his future roommate, was full of energy.

Ye Ze watched An Nuo, who looked like a released little bird, shaking his head with a smile. Knowing that the little snake sub-beast couldn’t stay idle, he let him go.

If he kept obstructing, he suspected that the little snake sub-beast might really cry.

“Ye Zi, Ye Zi, come and see! The rain has stopped, and there are many little stars and fireflies!”

The sliding sound of the snake tail moved away and then approached. Soon after, the excited invitation from the little snake sub-beast came from outside the cave.

Ye Ze, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes. Despite his usually domineering and unruly personality, he unexpectedly interrupted his cultivation, following the sound to go outside.

What came into view were the silhouettes of various tall trees enclosing the sight. Then, even more eye-catching, were the clusters of light that fluttered in the air.

A light yellow, warm and bright.

Looking up at the sky. It was clear.

The bright twinkling stars, without the dazzling presence of fireflies, were scattered across the night, surrounding the two rounds of the moon, one large and one small. It created a unique sense of vast and distant freedom.

Everything was a vibrant vitality that would never exist in the apocalypse.

Ye Ze took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air of the forest after the rain. Glancing at the lively little snake sub-beast beside him, he suddenly had an indescribable emotion: It turned out that the newly born future was even more worth looking forward to than he had imagined.

“It’s already late today.” Although he loved such scenery, Ye Ze didn’t forget that the little snake sub-beast had been busy all day and even bullied by the beastmen down the mountain. He should rest and recuperate early; otherwise, with such a petite figure, he wouldn’t be able to endure.

“It’s time to sleep.” Ye Ze looked at the somewhat bewildered expression of the little snake sub-beast and reiterated with a smile.

An Nuo’s excited swaying came to an abrupt halt as he tilted his little head, noticing Ye Ze’s serious demeanor. He wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

Ye Ze patted his head, and the comforting skill, which had been in seclusion, lit up a star. “We can’t watch it today, but we’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future. Don’t be reluctant.”

“Really?”

Would Ye Zi really stay with him all the time and be willing to share these little things with him?

The inadvertent expression of inferiority and timidity from An Nuo sent a shiver through Ye Ze’s heart. Responding to the first, and possibly the only partner he encountered in this new world, he replied with a more determined voice, “Of course, it’s true.”

The overlord of the apocalypse lowered his noble head, focusing his gaze. With a playful smile, he teased, “There’s no benefit in lying to you.”

The little snake sub-beast with thin skin once again turned into a delicious red apple. Covering his flushed cheeks, he ran back into the cave, burying himself in the fur blanket.

But he couldn’t suppress the joyful mood, and his tail wagged back and forth on the bed.

From today onward, he really would have a partner to live with, no longer alone.

—He must repay Ye Zi well!

Thinking about the upcoming caravan, An Nuo calculated the closest time to intensify the production of some goods and how many daily necessities he could exchange from the caravan.

As he pondered, the fatigue from a day of hard work also surged up.

An Nuo closed his eyes drowsily, sinking into sleep.

A smile still lingered at the corner of his mouth.

Tonight, the lonely and drifting little snake sub-beast would probably have a sweet dream.

“Splash.”

On the other side of the cave, in the surging waves of the river, a black-and-white creature suddenly emerged from the water. Its small head poked into the air, sniffing left and right. Sensing a joyful emotion, its anthropomorphic serious expression softened instantly, and it happily called out.

The turbulent rushing river around it instantly calmed down.

The pouring rain also suddenly stopped.

The penguin-like creature flapped its fin-like forelimbs twice at its side. Confirming the direction, it dived into the water, controlling the rushing flow to continue its journey.

Soon, very soon. It would find its communicator!

The next day.

It was a warm and sunny day.

An Nuo, as usual, got up shortly after the sun appeared, obediently followed by cleaning up and preparing for a day’s work.

But yesterday was indeed too busy. The little snake sub-beast, who rarely felt drowsy, yawned.

“Morning,” Ye Ze heard the movement in the cave, finishing his morning practice and greeted the little snake sub-beast.

The small snake sub-beast raised his hand in a lazy stretch, holding it in the air for about half a second. Suddenly dispelling the sleepiness, his messy head of hair stood up spiritedly. The whole person looked radiant. “Good morning, Ye Zi~!”

Today was truly a more beautiful day than yesterday.

In the real sense!

Humming a song and swinging his tail happily, the little snake sub-beast walked towards the warehouse on the left. “I’ll go prepare breakfast for today.”

Ye Ze stood up. “Do you mind if I join you?”

“Does Ye Zi want to see the warehouse?” The little snake sub-beast blinked his eyes, and his hands suddenly became awkward, not knowing how to place them. The cheerful tone also lowered, “If, if Ye Zi doesn’t mind, of course, you can.”

“Mm.” Ye Ze sensed An Nuo’s sensitive thoughts but didn’t point it out. He just smiled a bit more gently.

An Nuo’s stolen glance seemed like it got burnt by something, quickly retracting. Shyly, he huddled up and led the way to the warehouse, keeping his head down.

Ye Ze looked at An Nuo’s reddened ears, suspecting that the little snake sub-beast might end up cooking himself at any time.

Then, he was amused by the sudden childish speculation, and joy followed.

Ye Ze had been to the kitchen warehouse on the right last night. However, the light was dim at night, and he couldn’t see the details inside the warehouse. Besides, he had to go back to clean An Nuo’s wounds, so he didn’t pay much attention to the situation here.

Coming again today, Ye Ze discovered that An Nuo’s warehouse, like his room, was simple but clean and detailed, reflecting a gentleness and aesthetic sense of life.

Ye Ze followed An Nuo, silently observing and analyzing the environment and items here without disturbing An Nuo’s actions.

This kind of respect evidently greatly alleviated the psychological pressure on the little snake sub-beast.

An Nuo’s movements, initially awkward and restrained, turned into skilled and natural actions through life practice.

First, he took out fresh wild vegetables from the cellar jar — although it was called a cellar, it was just a slightly larger hole buried in the soil due to the limitations of An Nuo’s own abilities.

Then, carrying a small basket, he walked to the innermost light wooden shelf.

As Ye Ze approached, he caught a scent similar to camphorwood. It should be used by the little snake sub-beast to repel insects and prevent animals from stealing.

On the wooden shelf were two sealed large clay jars. They looked more exquisite than the bottles and jars placed in the cave, probably exchanged from the caravan through the little snake sub-beast’s mouth.

An Nuo tore open the seal. A mouthwatering sour smell wafted out.

Then, using the nearby pink peach-colored wooden chopsticks, he reached in. Plucking out one by one, the dark red plant, somewhat resembling amaranth, dripping with juice, was placed in a small bowl, forming a small mountain.

The small basket was already filled with two dishes.

But it wasn’t enough.

The energy requirements for beastmen were quite high.

If they couldn’t replenish enough energy, it could easily affect subsequent cultivation and advancement. In severe cases, practicing with insufficient energy could even endanger their lives.

This was also why it was challenging to find high-level beastmen in remote tribes — because the resources around them were not enough to support them to reach higher levels.

An Nuo chose to bring back Ye Ze, who was seriously injured, and would try his best to be responsible for Ye Ze’s life. In situations where it was feasible, An Nuo would provide meat, which beastmen needed more.

So these days, the consumption of meat products at home has increased a lot compared to before.

But now things are different. The rescued beastman is willing to stay and live with him!

An Nuo happily took down all the remaining dried meat, silently encouraging himself: An Nuo, you are the most independent and diligent beastman! When we enter the forest today and set up more traps, we will definitely be able to support ourselves and Leaf!

Thinking about the satisfied expression that might appear on the beastman’s face after eating his fill, An Nuo’s eyes lit up. He decisively stuffed all the meat into the basket.

Hmm. Not a bit reluctant.

An Nuo wasn’t worried at all about the upcoming meals!

The items in each jar were scarce. Meat would be completely depleted today.

Suddenly realizing that he, the End-of-the-World Overlord, had been eating and drinking for many days, he felt his face blushing.

At the same time, the End-of-the-World Overlord also became more aware that this was no longer the chaotic and dangerous apocalypse where countless people would serve him with a wave of his hand.

Beside him, there was only one simple little snake sub-beast who loved life and treated life kindly.

Not to mention a high-quality standard of living; even basic necessities like firewood, rice, oil, salt, vegetables, and meat were quite scarce for the little snake sub-beast.

As a “beastman,” he had to quickly take on the responsibility of supporting their livelihood.

Ye Ze’s expression became slightly solemn, and he immediately adjusted his mindset. Temporarily putting aside considerations of the interdimensional trader, he began calculating the survival resources he needed to handle.

Daily meals, blankets and mattresses for winter, warm and convenient clothing…

After calculating one item after another, even for a “newcomer” to the trader, it was not an insignificant investment.

Ye Ze contemplated, and when he looked up, he saw An Nuo humming while carrying a stone slab outside to cook. Stepping forward with long legs, he decisively took it from An Nuo’s hands, “I’ll do it.”

Ye Ze felt the weight of the stone slab and then looked at An Nuo’s thin arms and legs. He added pots, bowls, ladles, and basins to the first purchasing list and added a suffix to the food indicating nutritional supplements.

“Is this okay?” Ye Ze placed the stone slab on the stone pillars on both sides of the fire, turned his head, and asked for An Nuo’s opinion.

Again, the job was snatched away from An Nuo. He followed behind Ye Ze, somewhat at a loss. Hearing Ye Ze’s voice, he quickly nodded, “Mm-hmm. This is fine. Thank you, Ye Zi.”

Very quietly.

Ye Ze felt a bit helpless.

But this wasn’t something to blame. So Ye Ze just gently touched An Nuo’s head.

He found that the little snake sub-beast seemed to really like such affectionate actions.

Each time after contact, the little snake sub-beast could relax in a shy yet happy mood.

Really still a child.

Attracted by the obedient smiling face of the little snake sub-beast, Ye Ze couldn’t help but bend his mouth, “Today, let’s go out together.”

An Nuo was stunned, about to speak to dissuade that the injured person was not suitable for outdoor activities.

However, Ye Ze, who had expected this, didn’t give him a chance. He explained gently, “I’m new here, and there’s a lot I don’t know about this place. Let’s get familiar with the environment first; it’ll be much more convenient for future activities.”

An Nuo tilted his little head, feeling that something was not quite right.

In the absence of a reason, the innocent and puzzled expression on the little snake sub-beast’s face was helpless. Under Ye Ze’s gentle gaze, he nodded his head, “Okay.”

Ye Ze chuckled speechlessly.