Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Black Panther

Xia You felt as if she had no physical form, floating lightly in mid-air.

Suddenly, a clear brilliance enveloped her surroundings, cocooning her in an instant and she began to plummet downwards.

Xia You slowly opened her eyes to be greeted by an expanse of pristine white.

"You're awake?"

A voice echoed from a distance, followed quickly by approaching footsteps.

Xia You's fingers at her side tightened.

"Relax, the drug in your system has been completely cleansed."

A tall woman in a white lab coat approached the bedside, leaning slightly forward, her voice soft and reassuring.

"You can feel the psychic energy within you. Because you were brought in timely, your psychic power hasn’t suffered severe damage."

"Just follow the medication schedule and rest well, and you'll surely recover to your optimal state."

"Thank you."

Xia You examined her body. Without the hindrance of the aphrodisiac, she was surprised to find that her psychic energy, usually at a lowly C-level, now resonated with the liveliness akin to that of an S-level during the end times.

But now wasn't the time to ponder on that. Sitting up, she looked around and asked the medical practitioner beside her, "Where am I?"

"This is the Marshal's medical chamber," the doctor replied, her voice softening as she looked at the boy with youthful yet exquisitely handsome features. "You were brought here by the Marshal's guards."

The Marshal...

Xia You gripped the edge of the blanket, recalling the imposing man from her memories just before she fainted.

To her in her past life, the Empire's Marshal was an unreachable figure. An SS-level psychic power holder like the Marshal had little to do with someone like her, who had a mere C-level healing psychic ability.

Yet, one thing remained crystal clear in Xia You's memory.

Marshal Lu Yinghuai, the only SS-level psychic warrior of the empire, a national hero, and the most beloved and respected imperial figure for a century, is believed to have less than a year left to live.

In his first life, the young master with a love-struck mind was easily manipulated after leaving the imperial city. Only when everything that could prove his identity was deceitfully taken from him did he realize his folly, and he wanted to pilot an aircraft back to the Xia family estate.

However, the aircraft had been sabotaged and plunged directly into an asteroid belt where survival was impossible.

In the last second of his consciousness, he heard the tragic news of Marshal Lu Yinghuai's death broadcasted from the aircraft's radio.

They had never met, yet they both perished in the same winter.

"The adjutant asked me to convey to you that he has cleaned up the matter from the banquet as per the marshal's wishes. You need not worry overly."

The female medic, recalling the horrendous scar on the young man when he was first brought in, said softly with compassion, "You were excessively harsh on yourself."

Cleaned up?

Xia You's expression changed instantly. She quickly activated her holographic computer, and as a screen popped up, she accessed the star-net. There she saw countless scandalous headlines involving Xia Qing and Fan Yuqiao, leaving her momentarily stunned.

[Wasn't Xia Qing always portrayed with a pure and gentle image? How could she possibly get involved with the playboy Fan Yuqiao?]

[While Fan Yuqiao is indeed a playboy, he's also the youngest son of a senator. After the eldest son of the Fan family went missing, he became the sole heir.]

[Speaking of which, wasn't there an engagement between the Xia and Fan families announced a couple of years ago? It was quite the talk of the town.]

[Yes, but that was with the eldest son of the Xia family, who possesses healing psychic abilities. Even though he has a temper, he's quite handsome. Seems like Xia Qing is trying to steal her elder brother's beau?]

【

Entertainment industry

personas can't be trusted. Who knows what lies beneath those soft and frail exteriors?]

[Don't forget, the current Madame Xia rose to her position through controversial means as well. It seems Xia Qing truly takes after her mother.]

[Just thinking of being in the shoes of the elder son of the Xia family makes me nauseous!]

[I don’t really care about their affairs, but of all places, they had to get involved at the marshal's matchmaking banquet? He agreed to a psychic pairing for the first time in years! If they ruin this, I'll make sure they're forever blacklisted!]

……

Although he didn't know why Fan Yuqiao, who hadn't appeared in his previous life, entered that particular room after he left, the direction of the star-net gossip suggests that all traces of his blood, and other evidence in that room, have been cleaned up by the marshal's staff.

Similarly, the scheme against him at the marshal's residence must have been thoroughly investigated by Marshal Lu himself.

"May I see the Marshal?" Xia You raised his head, the sunlight from the window casting upon his still youthful features, inexplicably making him seem innocent and endearing.

The female medic felt a tug at her heart, suppressing the urge to pinch his cheeks. She mentally reminded herself that this was the future esteemed healing master. Clearing her throat, she replied, "The Marshal is occupied with official duties and has already left the mansion."

"However," she continued, "the Marshal instructed his deputy to convey that this incident was due to a lapse in oversight from the mansion. They've meted out leniency to the perpetrators. And to express his apologies, you are welcome to recuperate here. Of course, you can leave whenever you wish."

She had certainly seen the online buzz and assumed the Xia family must be in disarray. With the young man's health still fragile, going back might be even more troubling.

Xia You paused, surprised that the Marshal, whom he had only met briefly, would arrange things so meticulously, even providing a flawless public rationale.

At the moment, he truly had nowhere else to turn.

While others might be in the dark, Xia Qing surely knew the whole story.

While this incident affirmed Xia Qing's relationship with Fan Yuqiao, the Fan family would have to begrudgingly accept the previous engagement with Xia Qing, all for the sake of saving face in the capital's elite circles.

But this would undoubtedly cause resentment towards Xia Qing in the Fan family, especially for losing a healer. Initially, Xia Qing's life post-marriage would be difficult.

This was in stark contrast to what Xia Qing originally envisioned, where the Fan family, eager to disassociate from the disgraced Xia You and salvage their reputation, would personally propose a union.

Having recently returned to this life and drugged, Xia You's mental power was particularly vulnerable.

Staying in the Marshal's mansion to recuperate seemed to be the safest and most peaceful option for him at the moment.

Now that he was awake, Xia You felt it improper to linger in the infirmary. As he was getting ready to leave with a maid, the hesitant female medic stopped him.

Xia You turned to look at her.

The female medic covered her mouth, pointing towards the head of the bed after hesitating for a few seconds. She whispered, "When you were brought in, you were clutching something tightly. You only released it after being sedated. I placed it under your pillow."

After saying this, the medic hurriedly exited the room as if something was chasing her.

Xia You looked puzzled, "?"

What was it?

Approaching the bed, he reached under the pillow, pulling out a leather glove that felt both unfamiliar and familiar.

Xia You, "..."

He might have been unconscious, but he hadn't lost his memory.

Before passing out, he vividly recalled that he had indeed been gripping the Marshal's hand tightly...

Moments later, an embarrassed Xia You, holding the blood-stained glove in his arms, silently followed the maid to the prepared guest room.

***

A week flashed by. At the Marshal's mansion, Xia You's health recovered rapidly, and he finally heard the female medic declare that his body and mental strength were fully restored, eliminating the need for regular check-ups and medication.

That day, Xia You nestled in the small garden outside his guest room, contemplating his next steps.

Those with healing abilities, regardless of how high their mental strength rating or how rigorous their training, still possess limited combat capabilities.

Plainly put, after escaping one Fan Yuqiao, there would inevitably be another, and another...

In the empire, healing abilities were exceptionally rare. The law mandates that upon adulthood, one undergoes a mental strength matching process, sequentially engaging in arranged meetings for marriage with high mental strength matches or entering a Healing Center for protection.

Initially, this system was designed to safeguard those with healing abilities, given their scarcity and significance, especially from rampant rogues wanting to capture and confine them.

As a result, those with healing abilities have full autonomy in selecting from the matched high-tier mental strength candidates determined by the central computer.

However, being a publicly recognized, newly matured C-tier healer from a prestigious but un-favored background, Xia You was a prime marital candidate for major noble families, especially considering his Duke father's lack of real power.

To put it politely, marrying him meant acquiring a partner; bluntly, he'd merely be a pawn—someone to appease the husband and pass on healing genes to the next generation.

While taking a position at the Healing Center was an option, after his reincarnation, Xia You's hard-earned S-tier mental strength from his past life plummeted to an unremarkable C-tier, rendering him without any negotiation or trading value.

The minimum requirement for a position at the Healing Center is a B-tier mental strength rating.

In the short term, it's nearly impossible for Xia You to elevate his mental strength from C-tier to B-tier.

Moreover, the Duke would certainly not allow such a valuable asset as Xia You to simply enter the Healing Center, squandering his potential.

Most nobles dominate the empire's Senate with intricate marital ties, forming a complex web. The only entity that can contend with them is the military, which has historically been at odds with the Senate.

The golden-haired young man sighed deeply, hugging the pillow in his arms and rolling about on the open-air terrace.

Xia You never had grand ambitions. After enduring the apocalypse, his dreams shifted from those of a pampered young master's whimsical fantasies to a simple desire to survive.

Life in the interstellar age is far more comfortable than in the apocalypse.

A gentle breeze caressed the soft strands of Xia You's hair, bringing a faint chill. The ends of her hair tickled her collarbone.

If all else fails, perhaps I should take the initiative. Marrying a noble of moderate rank, with a tarnished reputation or some issues, might not be a bad idea. If he causes trouble after marriage, or worse, it wouldn't be too bad to end up a widow...

As Xia You pondered, she stood up holding her cushion. Just as she was about to step towards her room, her post-apocalyptic honed instincts screamed danger.

A few steps from the balcony, on a tree branch, a pair of beastly eyes, glowing coldly, locked onto her. A robust and agile figure lay against the tree trunk, its sharp fangs bared at Xia You, poised to attack.

Xia You stood frozen in place, struggling to swallow. As her adam's apple moved, cold sweat formed on her forehead and down her back.

Her feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

Xia You felt like prey targeted by a fierce predator, with thoughts of survival racing through her mind.

Why... Why is there a leopard in the Marshal's mansion?

Since childhood, Xia You never favored the tame pets loved by nobles but was always drawn to powerful and wild beasts.

But such creatures are rare in the interstellar, and raising one requires strict procedures. So Xia You hadn't really encountered a genuinely wild beast.

After the apocalypse, most animals mutated due to viruses. Encounters between them and humans often ended in life-or-death struggles.

As much as one might love these beasts, facing an aggressive, unfamiliar leopard would stir an instinctual fear in anyone.

Xia You watched as the jet-black leopard descended from the tree, gracefully and silently landing on the balcony.

It was a black panther. Up close, it wasn't entirely black; subtle dark patterns could be seen on its coat.

It sniffed around, coming close to Xia You and circled her. Its massive, agile body brushed against her leg, and its tail, long as a whip, playfully hooked her wrist.

Xia You: "…?"

Sensing no overt hostility from the black panther, Xia You cautiously took a step towards her room.

The panther glanced at the frail-looking creature before it, oddly feeling a sense of affinity. It lifted its paw, following Xia You's movements.

Xia You blinked but didn't rush back to her room. After all, this was a full-grown panther. If attacked in a confined space, she'd have no chance to escape.

The young boy cautiously crouched, maintaining a posture ready to flee. He stared at the black panther seated before him, a creature taller by a head, and as he swallowed hard, he slowly and tentatively extended his hand towards it.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the panther's head, it suddenly lifted its gaze, baring its teeth in a hiss. Its golden eyes were filled with caution and warning.

Hiss—

The aura of this leopard is truly intimidating.

Perhaps it's one of those that's been raised in the wild?

Xia You thought and then, recalling a documentary he had watched, he remained still with his hand raised, trying his best to exude harmlessness and patiently kept his hand up.

The black panther stared at him for what felt like an eternity before it lowered its head and rested it on its paws, seemingly granting him permission.

Holding back his excitement, Xia You mustered the courage to touch the sleek, glossy fur of the panther.

At the entrance, the deputy who had followed the trace of the Marshal's psychic detection device looked up and saw this scene. His pupils contracted sharply, and he froze in place, his expression blank.