Chapter 31

When Xia You and her companion returned, they found the lynx sitting by the fire.

An injury to the hind leg, especially near the joint, is lethal for any feline.

The lynx's ears twitched, turning its gaze to Xia You.

Xia You and the lynx locked eyes.

In the heart of every plush lover, domestic cats might be favored over wild ones, but the urge to pet a wild cat is always tempting.

The fur of the lynx seems different from that of the black panther and young tiger, feeling somewhat akin to the coral fleece blankets in the Marshal's mansion.

The crackling sounds of twigs and leaves burning emanated from the fire. The big cat, dragging its injured leg, walked aside. Its gaze was much gentler than before, enhancing its beauty.

Xia You held her breath, intently observing the lynx.

Compared to the black panther and the young tiger, this lynx looked like it had complete eyeliner drawn, with the tail end of its eyes pointed upwards. It's a shame that it didn't enhance its allure but instead added an adorable, dazed look.

Its hefty paws lay on the ground, hiding sharp claws deep within the soft fur, looking plush.

From a distance, the lynx's eyes brightened upon seeing Lu Yinghuai.

Lu Yinghuai hadn't expected the effects of Xia You's psychic abilities to manifest so quickly. Just letting the youngster inadvertently use psychic energy to permeate prey and feed it to a spirit, the spirit seemed to regain its consciousness so rapidly.

However, it's uncertain how long this clear state of mind can be maintained.

Xia You began to step lightly, inching closer to the lynx without alarming the black panther and young tiger.

After all, it's a wild beast unfamiliar to her. No matter how curious Xia You was, she only cautiously reached out to touch the lynx's back, being careful to avoid the bite wound.

"Mrow."

The call of an adult lynx is not the imposing growl typical of large felines, but rather a sharp, bird-like cry.

Somewhat reminiscent of an owl.

Hearing it unexpectedly at night can be unnerving. However, perhaps because it had eaten their food, the lynx before them appeared friendly. Its call was not as sharp, but rather gentle and soft.

The lynx not only accepted Xia You's touch but even proactively nestled its paw into her hand.

Xia You: "!!"

Somewhat surprised and delighted, Xia You grasped the thick, soft forepaw, squatting beside the lynx, her eyes curving in a smile, "Hello there, big kitty."

The lynx, possessing an almost aristocratic demeanor, let out a soft "mrow" towards Xia You.

However, when Xia You attempted to touch its ear fur, the lynx lifted its paw to push her hand away.

Undeterred by the lynx's rejection, Xia You playfully pinched its paw pad and swiftly withdrew her hand.

After all, this is an unfamiliar wild beast, not a domesticated pet or a lovable creature from a cat cafe. Xia You wouldn't forcibly cuddle it.

Turning to Lu Yinghuai, Xia You said, "Your Highness, the lynx's fur is so soft. Would you like to touch it?"

Lu Yinghuai: "..."

Touching a subordinate's spirit form?

The corner of Lu Yinghuai's mouth tightened. He didn't have such a peculiar inclination and didn't share Xia You's fondness for these animals.

Frankly, he didn't even like his own spirit form.

Lu Yinghuai admitted that a spirit form indeed reveals one's innermost character. Yet, that didn't contradict his discomfort with being transparent to others.

The lynx slightly lifted its head. Due to its injured hind leg, it couldn't sit properly. Still, it made an effort to bend its front paw towards Lu Yinghuai in a gesture resembling a curtsy.

For the first time, Xia You saw an animal exuding the elegance of a gentleman and was genuinely astounded.

Lu Yinghuai sighed, extending his hand to lightly pat the lynx's head. The touches were casual, but the rhythm of his fingers was inconsistent.

The lynx blinked, turning its gaze to Xia You.

The healer who can treat them?

Is it him?

Xia You unexpectedly perceived anticipation in the lynx's eyes and couldn't help but extend her hand towards the magnificent creature, saying, "You're truly handsome."

The lynx looked down at Xia You and then once again nestled its paw into her hand.

"Your Highness, it's incredibly intelligent!" Xia You exclaimed, holding the lynx's paw, turning to Lu Yinghuai.

After retracting his hand, Lu Yinghuai didn't touch the lynx again. Instead, he whispered, "It's injured and can't hunt for now. Let it accompany us for a while."

Xia You had similar thoughts, but then she hesitated—

"Should we stay at the edge of the reserve for a while? Would that delay our journey to Latiao?"

Right now is the golden period for the young tiger to learn hunting skills. Even though the black panther is formidable, they're different species with distinct hunting techniques. The tiger should still learn tiger-specific skills.

"No need," Lu Yinghuai said, "We'll head towards the center of the reserve with the lynx."

"Its injuries aren't too severe. Once it's healed, we can release it."

While the lynx's wound looks nasty, it hasn't damaged any nerves or bones. Once it heals, it can hunt on its own.

Xia You was eager to set off with the lynx, hoping to familiarize herself with it during their journey and maybe get an opportunity to touch its ear fur.

"True, we can change its dressings every day."

Anyway, solitary lynxes are usually lone wanderers. It shouldn't matter if it temporarily tags along with them.

After deciding to expand their party, the two humans double-checked their campfire before climbing into their tent.

The tent was spacious, and special materials ensured a stable temperature within.

Considering they were only making a temporary stop, many items weren't taken out of the space knot. Just a table and two chairs were set up, making the two sleeping bags in the center seem even more lonely.

She hadn't felt it outside, but as soon as Xia You entered the tent and felt the warmth, she let out a yawn, enveloped by drowsiness.

However, the sight of the two sleeping bags side by side immediately dispelled any hint of sleepiness from her mind.

Right, when traveling, there’s no need for separate tents…

"Hmm, it doesn’t seem safe..."

Xia You felt a bit uneasy and turned to say something to Lu Yinghuai. However, he noticed that Lu Yinghuai had already removed his jacket and draped it over a chair nearby. He was now adjusting a psychic energy monitoring watch on his wrist.

Recalling the words of Physician Meng before they left, Xia You quickly approached and stopped Lu Yinghuai, saying, "Wait a moment, Your Highness—"

Lu Yinghuai: "Hmm?"

Xia You took out another notebook from his spatial knot and meticulously recorded the psychic energy readings from Lu Yinghuai's watch.

Lu Yinghuai cooperatively held up his wrist for Xia You to note down the readings and only withdrew it after Xia You finished recording.

"Why are you noting this down?" asked Lu Yinghuai.

"Both you and Physician Meng mentioned that my psychic energy is unique," Xia You scratched his head and stored away his notebook, responding, "So, I thought I might look into Your Highness's condition."

Lu Yinghuai’s psychic energy fluctuations are sent in real-time to the medical department's database via a detector, and typically, only a few have the access to retrieve the data.

Lu Yinghuai chuckled, "In that case, I look forward to seeing Sir Xia You's progress."

In the empire, apart from those of high nobility and office, only healing masters capable of calming psychic energies are respectfully addressed as "Sir". The higher the psychic energy level of the healer, the more esteemed their status.

However, due to their frequent interactions with volatile psychic energies, fragile and delicate healing masters often face mental health challenges. Those with higher psychic energy levels tend to have shorter lifespans.

Just like the once brilliant Ning Zhuoyue.

Xia You said earnestly, "Your Highness, if you consider me as family, then among kin, mutual care and support are natural."

"I'll strive to grow, but you must wait for me."

Lu Yinghuai paused momentarily before reaching out to ruffle Xia You's hair, his lips curling slightly, "Alright, we'll strive together."

Hearing this, a weight seemed to lift from Xia You's heart.

To be honest, the prince’s sudden decision to abandon all duties and enter the forest with him felt...

It might be improper to think this way, but Xia You couldn't shake off the feeling that all of Lu Yinghuai's actions carried a hint of "a final act of indulgence."

With his concerns alleviated, Xia You couldn't suppress a yawn.

Rubbing his eyes, he mumbled, "Your Highness, I’ll freshen up a bit."

"Hmm."

……

By the time Xia You returned, hunching his shoulders, the only light in the tent came from a small night lamp placed in the middle of the sleeping bags. Lu Yinghuai had already settled into his sleeping bag.

Treading lightly, Xia You approached his sleeping bag. As he was about to crawl under the warm covers, he was immediately ambushed by a furry sensation.

Xia You: "!!"

"Aah—!" A reproachful cry from a little tiger echoed.

The tent's motion-sensing light instantly illuminated the interior. Pulling back the covers of his sleeping bag, Xia You spotted a curled-up little tiger, its face displaying a pitiable expression.

Xia You, whose sleeping bag was taken over: "..."

Shouldn't I be the one feeling wronged?

The little tiger used its paws to pull the covers over itself, lying straight with an attitude that said, "I'm not moving from here."

A soft chuckle sounded from nearby.

Xia You cast a dark look towards the other sleeping bag containing the older figure.

Lu Yinghuai sat up. Though he had changed into pajamas, they were neatly worn, clearly indicating he hadn't been asleep at all.

Xia You was certain His Highness purposefully didn't warn him.

How infuriating!

Glancing at his sleeping bag, now occupied by the little tiger, Xia You's anger flared. He promptly grabbed the trying-to-sleep tiger cub, giving it a thorough rub, and then placed it beside the sleeping bag. He then quickly crawled into his sleeping bag.

The little tiger, seemingly dazed, plopped beside the sleeping bag. Its soft paws pressed onto the sleeping bag a few times, its blue-gray eyes filled with confusion.

At that moment, the automatically sealed entrance of the tent opened a crack, letting in a cold breeze.

First the head, then the front paws; a large black panther gracefully squeezed into the tent from outside. With feline grace, it walked over and lay down next to Xia You.

Just before the tent flap sealed itself again, Xia You caught sight of a lynx stationed outside, seemingly keeping watch for the night.

The black panther lay beside Xia You, its warm body providing an immensely comforting presence.

The little tiger opened its mouth, ready to bite the sleeping bag, but Xia You quickly pinched its mouth shut.

"No biting the sleeping bag, understood?"

Instead of heeding, the cub tried to claw at the sleeping bag, its hind legs scrambling upwards, aiming to crawl back in through the opening.

It couldn't be helped; the box-like space, with its soft, enclosing walls, was just too irresistible for felines.

Xia You struggled with the cub for quite some time, both human and cat having a grand time, energized and sleepless. Seeing this, Lu Yinghuai, who had been nearby, intervened.

First, the black panther stood up, nuzzling the mischievous cub and pinning it beneath its paw. Then, Lu Yinghuai presented a screen full of multiple-choice questions to Xia You.

One moment, Xia You was immersed in playing with the cub, and the next, he was overwhelmed by the dense array of questions on the screen.

"What's this?"

Meeting Xia You's gaze, Lu Yinghuai whispered, "This is the Healer's Psychological Assessment form."

"Most healers get influenced by warriors with high-level mental powers, leading to potential psychological issues. Therefore, after performing mental soothing, healers, by procedure, fill out such an assessment for the main computer's analysis."

Previously, Xia You had never performed mental soothing for others. Duke Xia intended to marry her off into a noble family, where she wouldn't be required to soothe others. Hence, she'd never encountered such a form.

However...

"I didn't conduct any mental soothing today," Xia You pointed out to Lu Yinghuai. "I only used my mental power to dissect a deer. Is it still necessary to fill this out?"

Lu Yinghuai believed that the young lady lacked a clear understanding of the uniqueness of her mental power.

"Xiao You, an A-level healer soothing an A-level warrior uses less mental power than you did dissecting a third of that deer."

Xia You blinked, catching the crux, "But I'm only B-level. Why would Your Highness have me dissect such a large deer?"

"A B-level healer wouldn't even detect my mental power, yet Xiao You could unexpectedly latch onto it," Lu Yinghuai chuckled softly, "So, I believe Healer Xia deserves a whole adult deer."

The deer, being used as a unit of measurement: ?

Xia You hadn't expected to receive a compliment before bedtime and modestly replied, "I'm not that impressive..."

The little tiger, unable to resist the panther's firm restraint, could only slump beside Xia You's sleeping bag. Its orange-and-black head rested on the panther's forepaw, and it wasn't long before soft snores filled the air.

The black panther seemed mildly annoyed by the little tiger's snoring but didn't swat the cub away. Their heads – one large, one small – nestled close, right beside Xia You's sleeping bag.

As Xia You filled out the form on the screen, the hypnotic rise and fall of the feline snores by her side seemed to weigh her eyelids down. Soon, she found herself yawning incessantly.

When drowsiness overwhelmed her, the screen suddenly vanished from her grasp. Thinking she had finished, she murmured a groggy "Goodnight, Your Highness," without hesitation, dove into her sleeping bag and drifted off.

Once assured that a worn-out Xia You, who appeared to have battled sleep and the tiger cub, had fallen asleep, Lu Yinghuai tapped a few keys on his light-computer to dim the tent's lighting. Then he accessed the assessment form Xia You had been working on.

Xia You hadn't completed it, but she had answered all the initial multiple-choice questions. The subsequent descriptive questions, considering she hadn’t genuinely begun to soothe others mentally, weren’t necessary at this time.

The mainframe's analytical results were generated swiftly.

Xia You's mental state was exemplary.

So impeccable that there was hardly a trace of unease, panic, or fear.

Yet, today, Xia You had not only transitioned from a secure, comfortable setting into a forest teeming with potential threats but also employed her mental powers to dissect a deer.

Healers typically possess a sensitive nature. Their mental energies can sense the emotions radiated by those they comfort.

Warriors’ mental energies often carry remnants of carnage, bloodshed, ruthlessness, and the raw emotions faced when confronted with life’s passing – feelings of powerlessness, pain, anger, guilt... These are the factors that intensify a healer's sensitivity, ultimately making them incapable of providing comfort and relief.

Lu Yinghuai looked over at Xia You, who was entirely cocooned within her sleeping bag. Her soft golden hair sprawled on the pillow, and her fair-skinned, angelic face appeared serene in sleep.

Xia You's appearance closely matched the empire's ideal image of a healer.

Delicate, fair-skinned, and refined.

Yet, this seemingly fragile and sensitive youth, despite facing hunting and bloodshed and using her mental power to directly engage with raw flesh and blood, was so emotionally stable that she could fall asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Her psychological assessment showed no abnormal fluctuations.

A smirk played on Lu Yinghuai's lips. He shut off his light-computer and turned off the small night light next to the sleeping bag.

The more he got to know Xia You, the more he believed that their unexpected match indeed brought him a treasure, which always held delightful surprises upon each discovery.

*

Late nights led to late mornings.

Xia You was roused from sleep by a repetitive sensation of something brushing against her face.

Unable to tolerate the incessant annoyance around his nose any longer, Xia You opened one eye, staring at the orange and black item in his grasp.

"Ah~"

The little tiger leaned in, rubbing its fluffy face against Xia You.

Xia You's irritation vanished instantly. Releasing the tiger's tail, he mumbled, "Good boy, Spicy Strip. Stop bothering me, let me sleep a bit more..."

Just then, the tightly shut tent was slightly pried open, and a panther's head peeked in, allowing a cold gust to rush into the warm tent.

Xia You shivered abruptly, becoming instantly alert.

"Oh no, the morning run!"

Hastily climbing out of his sleeping bag, Xia You began dressing, glancing at the empty spot beside him.

Wondering when His Highness woke up, he was surprised to have not noticed earlier.

Ten minutes later, with everything swiftly packed up, Xia You stuffed his sleeping bag into a space portal and peeked out from the tent's entrance.

The little tiger mimicked Xia You, sticking its head out, its round eyes looking around curiously.

The panther, sitting by the tent, leaned in to nuzzle Xia You's cheek and casually patted the little tiger's head with its paw.

The lynx, on the other side of the tent entrance, softly "meowed."

Lu Yinghui, standing not too far away, turned upon hearing the noises and saw two heads—one above the other—between the panther and the lynx, and chuckled softly.

"Good morning, Your Highness!" Xia You greeted with a radiant smile.

"Morning," Lu Yinghui replied, "How are you feeling? Any headaches?"

"No, not at all. I'm feeling great!" Xia You answered, then asked in return, "How about you, Your Highness? Feeling alright?"

Lu Yinghui paused before saying, "Mm... I'm feeling great."

Their eyes met, and they both broke into laughter.

Lu Yinghui went to start the car, while Xia You, holding the little tiger, stepped out of the tent. He fiddled with his device for a moment, then activated the tent's automatic retraction function.

The restless little tiger in Xia You's arms tried climbing onto his shoulder. Indulging its antics, Xia You crouched down to examine the lynx's wounds.

The lynx allowed Xia You to gently remove the bandage from its hind leg.

Because of Xia You's crouching position, the little tiger on his shoulder kept sliding down. Resigning itself, it shifted to drape over the nape of Xia You's neck, wrapping its paws around his head.

Xia You felt a weight on his head, the warm and fluffy sensation making him exclaim, "Spicy Strip! No mischief!"

The little tiger didn’t care. After gaining the highest position, it proudly swished its tail.

Xia You didn't have the leisure to deal with the tiger's antics. He looked at the lynx's wound with evident concern, "It's okay. In a few days, when this heals, you'll be the majestic feline once again."

As if understanding Xia You's words, the lynx placed its paw on the back of Xia You's hand and mewled softly.

Xia You couldn't help but stroke the lynx's furry paw, "You're truly smart."

If the interstellar age had mythical creatures, this lynx would surely be the epitome of a refined and elegant noble.

The panther, unable to watch the little tiger's antics any longer, approached, biting the nape of the tiger's neck, lifting it off Xia You's head.

Suddenly relieved of the heavy "tiger hat", Xia You felt a chill on his neck and instinctively shrunk back.

The panther's movement noticeably hesitated for a moment, seemingly pondering if it should put the tiger back.

Xia You quickly waved his hands, "No, no, no. Yuan Yuan, take Spicy Strip and play for a while. Once I finish changing the lynx's dressing, we'll set off."

The panther glanced at the lynx and, with seeming indifference, walked away with the little tiger in its mouth.

Xia You thought about how everyone at the military department might be concerned about the lynx's condition. He took out a live-streaming orb from his space portal and began adjusting the view.

The streaming room, inactive all night, suddenly displayed an image, and many viewers responded immediately, alerting offline family members or comrades. Before long, the stream chat was flooded with comments.

"As you can see, this lynx is doing quite well and will be traveling with us starting today."

After his introductory remarks, Xia You let go of the streaming orb, allowing it to autonomously choose its filming angles.

Xia You noticed the streaming orb generally focused on Yuan Yuan, Spicy Strip, or other animals, rarely coming his way.

But it made sense, as the research department had originally requested the stream to monitor these animals' conditions.

[The lynx seems much better than yesterday. It appears less wild. Could its rationality be returning?]

[It's only been one night. No matter how I think about it, it's just impossible. Moreover, if he truly regained consciousness, his awareness would've immediately returned to his body.]

[True. If someone actually woke up from their dormant state, there surely would be reports about it.]

[But let's be real; this lynx looks so dashing.]

[Why does he appear a bit... clueless to me?]

[To the person earlier: there aren't many with the spirit of a lynx. Are you sure you want to call him clueless? Just a friendly reminder, some folks are recording this chat.]

[Uh... I take it back! I retract!]

Comments flooded the screen with a stream of laughter.

[For some reason, looking at this lynx reminds me of the vibrant Fan Dasha, and even though he was quite fussy during missions... I still hope to see him again.]

After that comment, the chat room remained silent for a while before someone wrote:

[You will.]

[You definitely will.]

*

The Fan family, who were also watching the stream, stayed silent for a long time. A deep emotion flashed in the eyes of the Fan patriarch, while Lady Fan's handkerchief was tightly wrung in her hands.

"If he can truly awaken... I'd do anything."

Lady Fan's voice sounded soft and gentle, yet it carried the unwavering determination of a mother.

The Fan patriarch, who returned from the palace without seeing the Emperor earlier that morning, closed his eyes, understanding something profound.

If the Fan family feels this way, then other direct-lineage families with more than one dormant warrior...

*

"The wound is healing nicely. You'll need to rest for a while, and during this period, try not to move around too much, alright?"

After re-dressing the lynx's wound, Xia You noticed the lynx seemed to be earnestly listening to him. He playfully poked its forehead.

As expected, a tiny indentation formed in the soft fur, making the big cat appear even more endearing and cute.

"Xiaoyou, it's time to go." Lu Yinghuai's voice echoed from afar.

Xia You responded loudly and then bent down to ask the lynx, "Big kitty, we're heading to that vehicle over there. Would you like me to carry you?"

Anticipation filled Xia You's eyes.

The lynx, however, looked past Xia You.

Xia You: "?"

Turning around, Xia You found himself face-to-face with a massive black panther seated behind him.

Ahem...

Rubbing his nose, Xia You whispered, "The little one's injured and has trouble walking. I just wanted to help, no other intentions."

The black panther glanced at Xia You, approached, and opened its mouth, seemingly about to pick up the lynx.

Startled, the lynx quickly got up, limping on its three legs toward the off-road vehicle with surprising speed.

In a good mood, the black panther casually flicked its tail and leisurely followed toward the vehicle.

The big kitty he almost had in hand had escaped, leaving Xia You squatting there, lost for words.

Oh, where did that spicy strip go? Off to another adventure?

After looking around, a little tiger emerged from the bushes, mouth holding the rabbit skin that Xia You had cleaned and dried the previous night.

Xia You chuckled, "You even want this?"

The tiger cub shoved the rabbit skin into Xia You's hands, "Ah!"

Spoils of war, must bring!

"Alright, alright, we'll take it. I'll make a keepsake for you later."

Having missed the opportunity to cuddle the lynx, Xia You scooped up the little tiger, giving it a gentle rub, and then briskly headed toward the vehicle, laughing.

"Let's go, we're off!"