Chapter 26

Xia You initially felt a bit guilty, but upon seeing Lu Yinghuai's expression, he swallowed the words he was about to say.

What happened to His Highness?

Is he feeling unwell?

Even though they had been apart for just over two hours, Lu Yinghuai's complexion seemed to have undergone a drastic change. He appeared completely drained of color, exuding an indescribable depth of exhaustion.

Lu Yinghuai helped Xia You straighten up and withdrew his hand.

Xia You hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"

With a faint upward twitch of his lips, Lu Yinghuai replied, "I was handling official affairs late into the night; I've developed a bit of a headache."

"Oh, in that case, you should rest early!" Xia You hurriedly responded, "I'll head back now, so I don't disturb you."

"It's fine. The headache makes it difficult to sleep, anyway." Lu Yinghuai observed Xia You for a moment, then realized, "Ate too much?"

Xia You bashfully nodded in agreement.

Although the ruckus caused by the big and small cats was the trigger, the main issue was that his psychic energy was in a state of excitement after being well-fed, causing a touch of insomnia.

But wait.

Xia You turned to glance at the door he had stumbled through, peeking back into his pitch-dark bedroom, then looked again at the room they were currently in.

If he remembered correctly, his room was supposedly adjacent to... the prince's chamber?

He had inspected the walls thoroughly when he first moved in and didn't notice any internal door.

Lu Yinghuai explained, "Master bedrooms in aristocratic manors are designed this way. However, as the room next door was previously unoccupied, to prevent anyone from sneaking in, this door was set to open only with psychic power from one side."

Lu Yinghuai glanced at the mess in Xia You's room, realizing he didn't need to investigate what his psychic form had done. After a pause, he said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll have Uncle Zhou tidy up the room and adjust the door to open from both sides. If you have any specific requests for the room, you can also discuss them with Uncle Zhou."

"Oh," Xia You nodded, releasing the panther he was holding and casually stroked the soft fur on its belly.

Regardless of which planet's marshal mansion he was in, the room prepared for Xia You was always thoughtfully arranged. As for requests...

Xia You whispered, "Your Highness, what if I tell Uncle Zhou that I'd like a room where Yuan Yuan and the little tiger can coexist peacefully. Would that be feasible?"

What's wrong with loving plush creatures?

He just wished to come back from training every day and snuggle with his beloved furry companions.

Mm, preferably, one big and one small.

As he said this, Xia You's hand remained on the panther, his eyes shining with hope and anticipation.

Meanwhile, from behind the inner door, the timid head of a tiger cub peeked out, looking quite shy.

Lu Yinghuai: "..."

One is a young sir, the other his nephew; what can the Marshal possibly do?

In truth, Lu Yinghuai hadn't met Qin Anhong many times. All he remembered was that this nephew of his had always carried himself with impeccable decorum from a young age. His manners were irreproachable, and he greeted everyone with a gentle smile. Unlike his sister, he resembled his father more.

Qin Anhong's psychic power level has been an 'S' since birth. The awakening of his psychic form wasn't unexpected. However, the early onset trend of psychic power disorder in him might be related to the peak of Lu Jiuzhu's psychic power disorder around the time of Qin's birth.

Currently, Qin Anhong's consciousness is unclear, his body resting in a hibernation pod. They'll have to wait for him to fully awaken and conduct more detailed tests.

But to be honest, Lu Yinghuai was rather taken aback to discover that Qin Anhong's psychic form was a tiger.

— A clear inheritance from his mother.

Even though the Emperor does not possess a psychic form, those of the royal lineage who have awakened one mostly manifest avian forms; graceful ones like swans are common.

The black panther growled softly again.

Xia You's head nestled under the panther's paw.

Lu Yinghuai felt a growing headache.

A panther mothering a cub? Such a whimsical thought from the young lad.

When a psychic form is not controlled by its host's psychic power, it mostly acts based on instinct and genuine preferences.

Getting a fully grown male panther, without the maternal instinct, to accept a tiger cub just over a year old... Hmm.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yinghuai asked Xia You, "Aren't you sleepy?"

Xia You shook his head resolutely.

"Let's go then." Lu Yinghuai beckoned the black panther away from Xia You's side, gesturing for Xia You to carry the tiger cub, "To the training room."

The layout of Lu Yinghuai's room is almost identical to Xia You's, with a small living area leading to the bedroom. The bathroom is en suite, ensuring complete privacy from the living area's perspective.

For Lu Yinghuai's convenience, there are elevators throughout the marshal's mansion, but aside from him, they're rarely used by anyone else.

Xia You assumed they were heading out, but after stepping into the elevator, he noticed Lu Yinghuai pressing the button for the second basement level. Curiously, he asked, "Your Highness, isn't the training room in another building?"

"Over there is the legion's training room. For physical training, you can head that way; the equipment is pretty standard."

As the hover-lift doors opened, Lu Yinghuai was about to maneuver his wheelchair when Xiayu beat him to it.

Atop Xiayu's shoulder perched a curious little tiger, with big round eyes. Its chubby paws clung tightly to her shoulder, and its tail hung behind, sweeping back and forth across her body.

The black panther walked beside Xiayu and Lu Yinghuai, occasionally casting a deep, evaluative glance at the confident little tiger from its lofty vantage point.

Lu Yinghuai let Xiayu push him forward. As they reached the door, the iris sensor detected their biological signatures and slowly opened.

"This is the psychic training room. It's constructed with special materials that completely prevent the leakage of psychic energy."

Xiayu looked around, noticing red energy stones similar to the ones on Lu Yinghuai's inhibitor in every corner. They seemed to absorb stray psychic energies.

At the entrance control panel, Lu Yinghuai added Xiayu's biometric and iris information, commenting, "If you ever feel discomfort during the energy stone absorption process, come here to expend the excess psychic energy to avoid any negative side effects."

"Negative side effects?" Xiayu turned around, "There are side effects from absorbing too much energy?"

Opportunities for Xiayu to absorb zombie crystals had been rare. Whenever possible, she'd consume as much as she could, gradually digesting it later, even if it meant not eating and being too energetic to sleep for the next few days.

Having lived this way, alternating between hunger and satiation for five years, there seemed to be no major issues.

Xiayu sneaked a peek at the black panther behind her and discreetly touched the little tiger's paw.

"I just feel a bit hyper, and my stomach's full."

Lu Yinghuai paused, realizing at some level that, as the only healer with the capability to absorb energy stones, Xiayu was unique.

Typically, if they over-absorbed the psychic energy from these stones, they might briefly enhance their psychic attacks, but it could also lead to uncontrollable agitation and splitting headaches.

However, healing psychic powers never formed a solid psychic entity, and they were entirely soothing...

Lu Yinghuai: "Go with your gut, but if something feels off, let Wenxuan know immediately."

Lu Yinghuai seemed to have originally meant to tell her to inform him but changed his wording at the last moment.

Xiayu noticed this but didn't dwell on it, nodding in agreement, "Alright."

Lu Yinghuai tapped on the control panel, and in front of them, an expansive ground suddenly bore a transparent cubic energy shield. Within seconds, it simulated a lush jungle environment.

Xiayu walked a full circle around the outside of the energy shield, reaching out to touch its surface, only to be gently yet firmly repelled.

"This is a psychic training simulation arena," Lu Yinghuai explained, "Xiayu, place the little tiger inside."

Following his direction, Xiayu set the cub at the entrance of the simulation arena. Seemingly drawn by something, the cub hesitated for a few seconds before darting inside with swift strides.

The very next moment, the black panther beside Lu Yinghuai transformed into a streaking arrow, dashing into the simulation.

Before Xiayu's worry could settle, a screen of light appeared before her, split into two parts, displaying the exact locations and scenes of the little tiger and the black panther.

She glanced at Lu Yinghuai, noticing a similar screen before him.

"Due to your presence, the cub doesn't submit to the black panther, making it hard for the panther to tolerate him."

No doubt, Lu Yinghuai knows the black panther best.

"To have the panther accept this cub, the little one must realize that to survive in this territory, even with a strong backup, he needs to learn submission."

"Even if it means bowing his head temporarily."

In the display, the black panther was sniffing and quickly approaching the direction of the little tiger, its intent clear.

The cub seemed tired, crouching by a stream and sipping water. Nearby, a black panther was silently and stealthily advancing.

Holding her breath in tension, Xiayu was interrupted by Lu Yinghuai's voice, "Xiayu, come here."

Xiayu: "!!!"

At the entrance of the simulation, a mech appeared. Though it was a common model from the military without any distinctive features, it was incredibly fascinating to Xiayu, who had never seen one before.

Psychic tendrils reached into the mech's cockpit, hesitantly touching the buttons on the control panel without pressing any.

The next moment, Lu Yinghuai's psychic force also entered the cockpit. He initiated the mech while simultaneously explaining the function of each button to Xiayu.

The sky was suddenly eclipsed by the rising mech, a palpable sense of pressure permeating the air.

The little tiger drinking water jolted and looked up, every hair on its body standing on end.

The black panther too halted its attack, gazing up at the sky before slowly retreating into the dense foliage.

……

By the time the panther and the tiger emerged from the simulation, the little tiger was nestled between the panther's limbs, continuously vocalizing with a series of "ah" sounds.

While the black panther seemed slightly irritated, it neither bared its teeth at the cub nor retracted the paws that the little one clung to, tacitly offering protection.

Thoroughly impressed, Xiayu gave Lu Yinghuai a thumbs-up behind the panther's back.

Applying the suspension bridge effect to taming beasts, fascinating.

Indeed, anyone who can hold a Marshal's commanding position is exceptional. Their strategic acumen is unparalleled... and unconventionally brilliant.

Lu Yinghuai glanced at the time and smiled, saying, "Xiayu."

Having enjoyed the mech for several hours, Xiayu was brimming with enthusiasm, entirely unaware of the gravity of the situation.

"The time until your physical training begins is less than... let's see," Lu Yinghuai checked the time leisurely, "an hour and a half."

An hour and a half?!

Wide-eyed, Xiayu, in a jolt of realization, grabbed the panther, cradled the tiger, and sprinted away at breakneck speed.

From a distance, the panther's growls combined with the little tiger's ongoing vocalizations, creating quite a lively scene.

Marshal Lu, concealing a smile behind his hand and letting out a soft cough, felt the suffocating atmosphere of the previous days significantly lift.

Opening the communicator for Wei Cheng, Lu Yinghuai requested a half-day leave for the surely drained young man in an hour and a half. Just as he was about to retreat to his room, he spotted the neatly dressed figure of Uncle Zhou at the training room's entrance.

The elderly butler bowed with a smile, suggesting to Lu Yinghuai, "Sir, given that the young master's bedroom is momentarily unsuitable for habitation, might he be accommodated in your room for the night?"

Lu Yinghuai paused for a moment, looking clearly at the old butler, "Uncle Zhou, that's not my intention."

The old butler, neither surprised nor persuasive, simply stated, "The young master has already temporarily settled in your room. Since it's inconvenient for you, I'm afraid you'll need to stay in the sleep chamber tonight."

Lu Yinghuai: "…?"

"Uncle Zhou, the Marshal's mansion is vast," Lu Yinghuai slowly noted.

The elderly butler replied gently, "Yet, there are no other suitable rooms for your temporary stay."

Lu Yinghuai: "..."

In the Marshal's mansion, if Uncle Zhou says there's no room, even if one exists, it will be deemed unavailable. And if there genuinely isn't one, he can swiftly arrange for it.

Lu Yinghuai conceded, "I'll retire to the study."

The old butler offered a slight bow.

Yet, before departing, Uncle Zhou inquired unexpectedly, "Sir, is your reservation due to the significant age difference between yourself and the young master, deeming it inappropriate?"

Most elders tend to view youth as impulsive and lacking in maturity.

However, in the interstellar era, people's average lifespan has already exceeded three centuries. Such age gaps in relationships have become the norm. Uncle Zhou had initially thought the young master held a unique place in Lu Yinghuai's heart.

Lu Yinghuai lowered his eyes, and though his voice was soft, his words resonated like a thunderclap.

"Uncle Zhou, I don't have much time left."

The old butler's hands, hanging by his sides, clenched suddenly. He spoke with urgency, "But wasn't it said that the young master's psychic energy—"

Lu Yinghuai interrupted, "Uncle Zhou, while Wenxuan has always been concerned about Xiayu's psychic strength, he has never once revealed my ailment to Xiayu since our arrival on Blue Star."

Meng Wenxuan was the primary overseer of Lu Yinghuai's condition. Even Lu Yinghuai himself wasn't as well-informed as him.

"Could it be..." A realization dawned upon the old butler, causing his complexion to change dramatically.

Lu Yinghuai whispered, "Wenxuan detected anomalies in my psychic fluctuations. Two days ago, I underwent another assessment of my psychic level. An hour ago, the main computer system validated and returned my psychic evaluation."

"It's 3S."

The higher the psychic level, the longer the validation process. No human psychic strength had ever reached the theoretically posited SSS level. Thus, Lu Yinghuai's psychic level could only be computed independently by the mainframe.

Healing aside, even to merely soothe someone with psychic disorders, a healer requires a psychic strength at least equivalent to the patient's.

The higher Lu Yinghuai's psychic level soared, the closer he treaded to the abyss.

From the moment he became aware of Xiayu and felt that glimmer of hope, to confirming the elevation of his psychic level, less than a month had elapsed.

It was miraculous that Lu Yinghuai woke up from his previous coma. With the onset of a potential SSS-level psychic disorder, unless fate bestowed another miracle upon him, the odds of Lu Yinghuai regaining consciousness would be below 10%.

"Uncle Zhou, I'm running out of time."

Perhaps, in a fleeting moment of the past, he harbored hopes, but fortunately, such fleeting emotions didn't have the chance to linger for long.

The old butler stood at the door. After a moment, he turned his back to Lu Yinghuai and fell silent.

Recalling a few hours earlier, the young boy was peeping through the study window, glimpsing the shadow of a leopard and a rose projected onto the floor. Lu Yinghuai's eyes softened, speaking in a gentle whisper.

"When Xiao Yu's psychic power reaches Class S, we'll tell him about the spiritual entities."

By then, the child would have grown up, surrounded by other cherished spiritual entities, no longer clinging to the fleeting moments with the prince and the leopard.

The pain would have lessened.

However, before that...

Lu Yinghuai activated his holographic computer, pausing his fingertip on a specific contact.

A few seconds later, the Emperor, dressed in pajamas, answered the call. He chuckled upon seeing a well-dressed Lu Yinghuai, "Still on the training ground at this hour?"

"Good evening, Your Majesty." Lu Yinghuai bowed slightly.

On the other end of the screen, the Emperor straightened up, sensing something amiss.

"I request the initiation of the [Blue Star Spiritual Entity Revival Experiment]."

"And the executor?"

"Lu Yinghuai, Xia You."

The Emperor remained silent for a long while, staring intently at Lu Yinghuai.

"Do you mean to say that, should anything go awry, you'll shoulder all the responsibility?"

Leading with Lu Yinghuai's name signifies him as the primary person in charge.

"Yes."

"Should this experiment prove successful, the accolades and connections that will accrue to Xia You will be immense. He could eventually break away from the Marshal's influence, no longer needing your protection. By then, your matrimonial bond may become merely a facade."

"Yinghuai, knowing this, you still choose to uplift him?"

A gentle smile played on the corners of Lu Yinghuai's lips, a warmth in his eyes.

"Yes."

His Majesty on the other end of the line remained silent for a while.

In a soft voice, Lu Yinghuai said, "Your Majesty, my sentiments are just as yours were when you chose to uplift my sister."

Before joining the military, Lu Jiuzhu had already been in love with His Majesty when he was still a prince. Yet, for Lu Jiuzhu's dreams, His Majesty not only refrained from stopping her but instead offered a gust of wind to propel his beloved to soar higher.

Standing at her pinnacle, Lu Jiuzhu eventually became the unwavering pillar of support behind His Majesty during the unexpected coup that no one had foreseen.

Now, Lu Yinghuai has made the same choice as the Emperor once did.

He wished to give Mr. Xiao a boost, as long as he was alive and capable.

Maybe their bond isn't quite love or something even deeper yet, but...

A subtle shift in Lu Yinghuai's gaze.

In his life, truly personal ties were rare for Lu Yinghuai. This brief yet miraculously perfect connection should have a beautiful ending.

Let it be... a reciprocal gesture to that unique rose.

The screen flickered briefly, and the communication abruptly ended.

Two seconds later, an approval from His Majesty arrived in Lu Yinghuai's holographic computer.

***

In the bedroom upstairs,

The elder and younger feline, after being sternly scolded by Uncle Zhou, were taken by the scruff of their necks to rest in Xia You's room.

Xia You hesitated in Lu Yinghuai's room for quite a while, initially waiting for His Highness. Yet, unable to resist the drowsiness that set in after expending psychic energy, he dozed off on the sofa.

The black leopard peeked through the inner door and paced around the sofa a few times.

Before long, the sound of wheelchair wheels pressing against the floor echoed. Lu Yinghuai opened the door and sighed softly. Using his psychic power, he lifted the slender figure of Mr. Xiao and nestled him into the cozy bedding.

As Lu Yinghuai was about to leave, he heard Xia You's groggy voice from behind.

"...Your Highness?"

Xia You sat up, clutching his blanket, rubbing his eyes as he looked at Lu Yinghuai. His eyes were misty with drowsiness.

"Aren't you going to rest?" Xia You's voice was soft and muffled, "Uncle Zhou said it was too late to tidy the room, so I thought I'd make do on your couch for the night."

Instead of approaching, Lu Yinghuai gently reassured, "Sleep now. We'll delay tomorrow's training by three hours and make up for it in the afternoon."

"I have some unfinished military matters. I'll take a short break in the study."

"Oh…" Xia You responded with a mix of understanding and confusion, but his senses, dulled by fatigue, weren't catching up.

Slowly sliding under the blanket, Xia You whispered, "Then, I'll sleep first… Goodnight, Your Highness."

Using his psychic power, Lu Yinghuai closed the curtain which was slightly ajar, softly replying:

"Goodnight."