Chapter 37

Snow leopard!!!

Xiayou held her chest, her eyes wide in astonishment.

There's actually a snow leopard in this reserve!

This magnificent feline with its long tail is a highly endangered species. Living atop snowy cliffs and being easily startled to the point of potentially falling off makes spotting them many times more challenging.

But now!

An adult, fluffy, tail-chewing beautiful creature is squatting right in front of her tent!

For a plush enthusiast, what could be more delightful and fortunate than encountering a cat outside?

Xia You crouched down, leveling her gaze with the sudden appearance of the gray-white big cat, and softly said, "Hello there, big kitty."

The snow leopard in front of her possessed a pair of strikingly clear ice-blue eyes. It observed Xia You for a long moment before releasing the tail from its mouth and letting out a soft mew towards the young lady.

"Mew~"

Xia You: "!!!"

Struck to the core, Xia You resisted the urge to pet the cat. She cautiously approached the snow leopard, scanning it for any visible injuries, whispering, "Sweetie, are you hurt somewhere?"

Animals generally avoid humans unless they're injured, seeking assistance, or in desperate need of food, venturing into territories dominated by human scent only in such circumstances.

Observing from behind Xia You, Lu Yinghuai noticed that although the creature appeared incredibly docile and calm, its eyes lacked the clarity found in humans.

Cheng Zhi Nian's consciousness wasn't awake.

So how did Fan Yu Xin, being a different species of lynx, persuade this instinct-driven snow leopard to approach humans from such a distance?

Seeing the blonde-haired young lady gradually inching closer to the snow leopard, Lu Yinghuai cleared his throat and finally said, "She's the friend of the lynx... Quqi."

Huh?

A confused Xia You turned to look at Lu Yinghuai.

A lynx and a snow leopard, friends?

An inter-species friendship?

Without weaving any stories, Lu Yinghuai met Xia You's gaze of astonishment and skepticism with a slight nod.

Xia You turned back and tentatively reached out to touch the snow leopard.

The gray-white cat recoiled slightly, its tail swishing energetically, and its eyes widening to fixate on Xia You. However, after a brief two-second pause, it lowered itself and moved a few steps closer.

Gazing at the fluffy giant cat in front of her, Xia You felt her heart melt.

Snow leopards, the feline species found at the highest altitudes, are mostly lone wanderers. While their beauty is undeniable, they inherently exhibit the endearing clumsiness typical of species from high-altitude regions.

Its ashen fur is both thick and fluffy. With a tail nearly as long as its body and adorned with deep-colored spots and ringed stripes, it can effortlessly blend into the rocky cliffs, preparing for a breathtaking ambush.

They are the predators of this land.

The kings of the snowy mountains.

Xia You extended her hand, palm up, towards the wide-eyed snow leopard. "Big kitty, if you're feeling unwell, would you let me check on you?"

In front of the tent was a cleared area where Xia You and the snow leopard sat, their mismatched blue eyes locked in an unwavering stare.

Behind the snow leopard, its fluffy tail slowly lifted at the tip.

Just as the snow leopard was deeming Xia You harmless and was about to approach, a gap suddenly formed in the tent behind her.

A tiger's head with stripes of orange and yellow squeezed out from the tent, its sleepy eyes half-lidded, yawning wide in the direction of the snow leopard.

Snow leopard: "!!!"

Xia You quickly soothed the startled beauty, "It's alright, don't be afraid. Spicy Strip is very gentle!"

A not-so-small tiger squeezed out from the tent's entrance, shook its paws in place, stretched lazily, then turned its curious gaze to the snow leopard.

The snow leopard seemed somewhat anxious, shifting its gaze from Xia You to the more intimidating tiger.

Perhaps due to Spicy Strip being not fully grown, the adult snow leopard, while uncomfortable sharing its territory with another big cat, managed to cope.

It wasn't long before the two thick-furred big cats sniffed each other: one letting out a soft purr, the other emitting a low meow.

They've acquainted.

Xia You squatted beside the two cats, with a livestreaming orb somehow activated and floating nearby.

The blond boy held his breath, entirely engrossed in the delightful scene of two similarly sized big cats meeting.

The livestream was inundated with messages, and every viewer who saw this snow leopard thought of the renowned icy beauty from the First Legion.

[It's Lieutenant Cheng, isn't it? It must be!]

[Absolutely! When we were on a mission together, I saw Lieutenant Cheng's spiritual form. It was so stunning; I remember it to this day!]

[Who wouldn't know? The image of the silver-haired, high ponytailed lady and the white-furred beast jumping out of the mech simultaneously! That photo is still my holocomputer screensaver. Lieutenant Cheng is forever my goddess!! A warrior goddess!!!]

[But... ahem, to be honest, having had the privilege to follow the Vanguard Squad before, Lieutenant Cheng's personality is a bit... ditsy. She's surprisingly adorable (whispering).]

[Adorable? (teary-eyed cat face) Remember when Lieutenant Cheng smashed her way to the championship in the Inter-School Mech Competition? I was one of the ones she defeated, nearly had my head taken off QAQ.]

[Oh, thank heavens, Lieutenant Cheng is still alive and well in the conservation area. It's such a relief to know she's still there!]

[I want a close-up look!]

[The probing interaction between Prince Heir and Lieutenant Cheng is so beautiful. It feels like a journey through time.]

[True, Lieutenant Cheng has been in the conservation area for a long time. Colonel Fan and Prince Heir had some media interactions before, but I believe Lieutenant Cheng has never met Prince Heir, right?]

[Probably not. If I recall correctly, during Lieutenant Cheng's last mission, Prince Heir was hospitalized in the Imperial Star Hospital...]

[Hmm? What is Lieutenant Cheng up to now?]

After communicating with the young tiger, the snow leopard shifted its focus back to Xia You. After observing her silently for a while, the majestic creature suddenly walked over to Xia You. It pushed off with its hind legs, standing upright like a human.

To Xia You's astonishment and Lu Yinghuai's confusion, the snow leopard reached out with its forepaws and leaped forward, giving Xia You a warm, fluffy leopard hug.

Xia You: "!!!!!!"

Xia You felt as if she had fallen into a cloud, her head spinning in dizziness.

[Uh, just a suggestion... maybe look at the far left of the screen.]

[Gasp—]

Xia You, overwhelmed by the unexpected embrace from the leopard upon their first meeting, completely forgot about the massive creature she had been keeping in her tent the day before.

Lu Yinghuai subtly raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected that Cheng Zhi Nian, known for impulsively hugging people when at a loss for words, would have this trait manifest in her spiritual form as well.

At that moment, a black, thick-furred leopard paw reached out, swiftly tearing open the tent curtain. A massive black creature began to squeeze out, its golden eyes cold and imposing as it scanned the outside of the tent.

A new, unfamiliar scent.

An intruding creature in the territory.

Moreover... there's a scent associated with an essential being.

The black jaguar stealthily emerged, pacing slowly towards where Xia You was, inch by inch approaching the snow leopard that was frozen in Xia You's embrace.

The snow leopard's icy blue pupils dilated in shock. The entire feline, as if scalded, abruptly leaped from Xia You's embrace and bolted away.

The void in Xia You's arms left her bewildered: “?”

Lu Yinghuai nonchalantly turned his back to the unfolding scene, tapping on his holographic screen, seemingly attending to some business.

Typically, an adult jaguar measures around 1.8 meters in length. However, the "house cat" behind Xia You, excluding its head and tail, is almost two meters long.

The black jaguar usually displays a gentle and composed demeanor. Yet now, confronted by this unexpected feline intruder in its territory, it exhibited an unprecedented sense of repulsion and warning.

Without baring its teeth or roaring, the jaguar merely stared at the grayish-white feline with eyes that had witnessed countless prey.

The snow leopard, ears flattened backward, body lowered, showed its teeth as it retreated.

Compared to the jaguar, which is not far off in size from a full-grown tiger, the snow leopard clearly lacks a size advantage.

Seeing the escalating tension, Xia You quickly embraced the black jaguar's neck and whispered soothingly into its ear, “It's okay, Yuan Yuan. This kitty is a guest. It won't hurt me.”

However, the usually indulgent black jaguar unexpectedly pinned Xia You down, one paw near her ear, the other resting on her chest. Its breathing grew closer, exuding an aura starkly different from its typical playful affection.

This enormous creature looked down at Xia You. Although the black pads of its paws rested lightly on her chest, they lacked the force that could easily crush her ribs.

Xia You caught her breath.

Other than their initial encounter, the jaguar had always been gentle and accommodating in front of her, even avoiding her during hunts. It had been a long time since Xia You had seen this aggressive side of the jaguar.

Swallowing hard, Xia You gently caressed the jaguar's ear, her fingers sinking into the plush fur beside its massive head, massaging its cheek repeatedly.

"Yuan Yuan is my favorite. No other cat can compare."

The young man's tone was sincere, his gaze earnest, his expression resolute.

The jaguar's massive head drew closer to Xia You's cheek. It opened its mouth, gently grazing her earlobe with its sharp teeth. After a few seconds, it retreated slightly, letting out a low growl.

This colossal feline's face-nuzzling was both startling and far from adorable. Those golden eyes locked onto the young man beneath, silently conveying a warning.

Yet, even with such a reprimanding gesture, as Xia You gazed into the regal and fluffy figure above her, her heart raced, driven by an adrenaline-induced thrill.

In his mind, the panther's low growl automatically translated to "Remember what you said." Suppressing the flutter in his heart, Xiayou rubbed the firm muscles of the panther and scratched the fur around its neck, repeatedly expressing his loyalty.

— Perhaps there have been too many unfamiliar felines around recently, which might have stressed Yuanyuan out.

The more Xiayou thought about it, the guiltier he felt. All his attention was now focused on the big cat with the black fur.

Enjoying the young boy's caresses and grooming, the panther's tail lazily swayed a few times. Eventually, it lowered its head and gently nuzzled Xiayou's cheek.

Xiayou's eyes crinkled in delight at the gesture. Just as he was about to speak, he felt lighter, and the muscular black feline had already moved its paw and walked away.

Sitting up, Xiayou reached up to scratch his head.

How should he put it? He felt a sense of... poignant loss.

"Get up; it's getting colder, and the ground is cold."

Lu Yinghuai approached Xiayou, offered his hand to help him up, and then lightly brushed off the boy's clothes.

"Oh," Xiayou said as he stood up, shivering as a cold wind blew.

Seeing this, Lu Yinghuai shifted to block the wind from the cliff edge.

Turning around, Xiayou saw the panther lying not far from the tent, resuming its usual restful state with its eyes closed, both paws stacked underneath its head.

After the commotion between the panther and the boy, the snow leopard seemed more relaxed. Both felines sat side by side, watching Xiayou and the panther's interaction with their paws lined up, reminiscent of two bamboo shoots in their natural colors and those dyed with juice.

Lu Yinghuai, noticing Xiayou sneaking glances at the panther, concealed his amusement and calmly reminded, "Xiayou, there's still time. Go inside the tent and check on the snow leopard's condition."

It then dawned on Xiayou that Quqi had brought his friend for a reason. This grey-white feline must also require his care.

The weather in the sanctuary has been unusual lately. The computer even issued a blizzard warning this morning. No one knew when this storm would strike and how long it would last.

Xiayou lifted the tent flap and said to the snow leopard, "Sweet kitty, would you come in first?"

The snow leopard looked at Xiayou, then at Lu Yinghuai. It pawed the ground a little, tucked its fluffy head, and softly mewed, "Mrow?"

Xiayou: "?"

Lu Yinghuai was also taken aback, unsure of the snow leopard's intent.

Strangely enough, it seemed the young cub in the house understood. It stood up, walked towards the black panther, then turned its head and called out to the snow leopard.

The snow leopard's eyes brightened, and it followed the little tiger over to the black panther's vicinity.

Xia You and Lu Yinghui's gaze also shifted in that direction.

Right in front of the snow leopard, the little tiger laid down before the black panther, rolling over with its paws up in the air.

The epitome of a playful gesture.

After rolling, the little tiger stood up, called out to the snow leopard, and tapped the ground with its paw, signaling the snow leopard to watch and learn.

Xia You couldn't hold back and chuckled.

Lu Yinghui's eyelids twitched.

The black panther, out of patience, swatted the young tiger's head lightly.

Clearly, the swipe was gentle, even somewhat resigned and tolerant.

A fluffy, gorgeous feline approached hesitantly, about to make a move in front of the black panther, but the panther preemptively held it down with a paw.

The snow leopard, with its icy-blue large eyes, meowed softly.

Xia You burst into laughter, unable to contain herself.

From the earlier interaction between Xia You and the black panther, the snow leopard recognized the panther as the territory's leader. Knowing it couldn't challenge the panther, the snow leopard needed permission to enter a tent marked with the panther's scent.

Hence, the young tiger personally demonstrated to the snow leopard how to appease the head of the household, the black panther.

Watching his nephew's antics, Lu Yinghui felt a sudden itch to join in.

Disturbed by the ruckus, the black panther retracted its paw, stood up, growled softly by the tent, and glanced at the snow leopard.

The snow leopard's ears twitched, and its long tail swished to the front.

The young tiger nudged it from behind with its padded paw.

Xia You also looked at the snow leopard with a smiling face, her eyes crescent-shaped.

Finally, Miss Snow Leopard bowed her head, biting her beautiful, thick tail, and gracefully walked into the warm tent.

Just as Xia You reached out to pet the black panther beside her, the panther suddenly lunged in the direction of the young tiger.

The young tiger nimbly dodged and took off running.

Lu Yinghui covered Xia You's eyes and gently ushered her into the tent.

The tent's curtain was drawn shut, and from outside came the muffled sounds of the panther disciplining its cub, characterized by soft growling and rustling.

Xia You loved various types of cushions, but those inside the tent were all more or less covered in the hairs of the panther and young tiger. With the curtain down, the scent of the beasts was even more pronounced.

The snow leopard stood somewhat rigidly at the entrance, its head turning to follow Xia You's every move.

Lu Yinghui sat on a high stool beside the tent's bed, his slender legs hanging naturally with his toes touching the ground, engaged in a conversation on his holographic device.

Xia You arranged several energy stones beside her and beckoned to the snow leopard at the entrance.

The snow leopard's padded paws sunk into the soft carpet, which felt reminiscent of snow, relaxing the big cat. It walked over to where Xia You sat cross-legged at a table.

The snow leopard seemed completely comfortable with being petted and even, noticing Xia You's gaze on its tail, generously bit its tail and placed it in her hand.

Xia You: "!"

This was the first time Xia You had touched the tail of a big cat other than the black panther's.

Holding her breath, Xia You pinched the snow leopard's long tail, feeling its soft fur, reminiscent of partially melted snow on a cliff's edge.

"Roar—!!"

A panther's roar echoed from outside the tent, startling Xia You into instinctively letting go of the leopard's tail.

Lu Yinghui shifted his focus back to the holographic screen, continuing his conversation with Wei Cheng.

It wasn't that he was overly strict. While some people might separate themselves from their spiritual entities, seeing them as distinct, the young would eventually recognize what these entities represent. The only regret later would be for Xia You's current indulgence in petting.

Who knows what nonsense Fan Yu and Xin taught Cheng Zhi Nian. The spiritual entity, a majestic beast, was trained for combat in the legion, but here it was wagging its tail.

The snow leopard tilted its head, looking at Xia You with confusion.

Had she lost interest?

Xia You raised her hand to touch the bridge of her nose, giving an embarrassed chuckle. She carefully placed the snow leopard's long tail and then extended her right hand towards it, palm up. "Alright, since I've touched your fur, consider that as payment for a consultation. Show me your paw, let me have a look."

The snow leopard flicked its ears as if it understood, placing its paw in Xia You's outstretched hand.

Xia You closed her eyes, and tendrils of psychic energy slowly extended, tracing the leopard's paw and delving into its body.

……

Two hours later.

Xia You opened her eyes. At some point, the snow leopard in front of her had fainted, collapsing like a pile of snow, its long tail trapped beneath its body, leaving just the tip visible.

The energy stones Xia You had placed by her side had come into play. They were now reduced to small piles of powder, drained by her psychic tendrils.

Lu Yinghui handed Xia You a warm cup of water, whispering, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Xia You's voice was slightly hoarse as she spoke. She took a few sips to soothe her throat before continuing, "The snow leopard, like Quqi, is afflicted by that gray matter. Though it's concentrated in the head for both, the leopard's condition seems more severe."

"To cleanse it to Quqi's level, it might take at least a couple of weeks."

"You've worked hard," Lu Yinghui said as he sat down beside Xia You. "The computer just confirmed the snowstorm will last about five to six days."

Xia You, who was secretly reaching to touch the snow leopard's paw, paused, "That long?"

The prince and he wouldn't be overly affected; the space portal ensured they wouldn't lack food. There's no shortage of water during snowy days. But the two fluffy beasts at home, not fond of frozen or leftover meat, would face risks hunting in the snow.

Noticing Xia You's concern, Lu Yinghui chuckled, "Don't worry. The beasts are far more resilient than you think."

Initially, when releasing their spiritual entities, the environment that suited their animalistic nature was considered. But as actions of Fan Yu and Xin showed, habitat doesn't significantly impact these entities.

Xia You recalled that the black panther's episodes of lethargy seemed to be decreasing, suggesting its acclimatization to the high-altitude, oxygen-scarce environment.

However, the rate at which that gray matter appeared inside La Tiao had significantly decreased lately. In contrast, Yuan Yuan's body kept absorbing that power from an unknown source.

These days, Xia You slept close to the black panther. Apart from comforting Lu Yinghui with her psychic energy, she also used it to cleanse the panther of the gray matter.

Due to their awkward sleeping positions, Xia You often woke to find herself draped under the black panther's luxuriously patterned limb.

However, thanks to Xia You's tireless efforts, the appearance of the gray matter in the black panther's body became less frequent, and its energy seemed to be returning.

Honestly, extracting the gray energy from the big cats had been beneficial. The process just required patience, precision, and a lot of time.

But to soothe His Highness...

Xia You sighed.

At present, he could only channel his healing psychic energy to the outer periphery of His Highness's psychic sea when it was at its peak.

Although His Highness appeared much improved in both complexion and sleep since Xia You began his calming efforts, Xia You clearly hoped for more.

Xia You's psychic tendrils couldn't approach the core area of Lu Yinghui's psychic sea.

Could it be due to a significant difference in psychic levels...?

If he intensified the cycle of consuming and regenerating his psychic energy, could he accelerate its advancement?

Lost in thought, Xia You reached out, fetching a thin blanket to gently cover the snow leopard.

*

By the time the snow leopard woke from its stupor, the black panther and the young tiger had returned from their hunt, even bringing back a white-tailed pheasant for the snow leopard—its origin a mystery.

Lu Yinghui cooked a pot of soup. Xia You cradled a bowl, sipping it gently. The young tiger, driven by curiosity, came sniffing around but was playfully swatted away by Lu Yinghui.

The black panther, having reaffirmed its familial status during the day, returned to its pleasant disposition, lounging behind Xia You and serving as a shiny, smooth large cushion.

The snow leopard observed the scene, its wild nature contrasting with the domesticity. For a moment, its grey feline eyes showed hints of daze and distraction.

Lu Yinghui glanced sharply at the snow leopard.

Yet, the anomaly lasted only a moment. The next second, the snow leopard was burying its head in the food bowl, voraciously eating.

Not long after, a chilling blizzard engulfed the mountainside. Fortunately, their chosen campsite was naturally sheltered from the wind, preventing excessive snow accumulation at the tent entrance.

And so, the newly arrived big cat joined the group, claiming its own blanket in the tent and settling down comfortably.

***

Blue Star Sleep Center.

Fan Yu and Xin completed a series of checks in tandem. By the time Fan Yu collected his personal belongings stored before his slumber, evening was setting in.

The slender man adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, preparing to power on the wrist-computer which had been off for a long while, when he heard a familiar voice greeting him from a distance.

"Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Fan Yunxu looked up.

It was Wei Cheng.

Fan Yunxu's gaze briefly caught the new insignia on Wei Cheng's shoulder, and he smiled warmly, "Congratulations on your promotion."

Just as Wei Cheng was about to flash a smile in response, Fan Yunxu spoke again—

"Bought a house yet?"

Wei 'Homeless' Cheng, lost for words, replied, "…Thanks for the congratulations. Can it."

"Alright, alright. But what brings you here to meet me?" Fan Yunxu laughed.

"Oh, I didn’t come specifically for you." Wei Cheng replied leisurely, "Is your wrist-computer on? The Marshal has something for you."

The Marshal?

Fan Yunxu's eyelids twitched, an ominous feeling settling in.

The wrist-computer, silent for so long, was suddenly flooded with messages and notifications upon activation. But Wei Cheng's communication, encrypted by the military, took top priority and appeared at the forefront.

However, the chat only contained a few star-web links, no textual explanations.

They were public external web addresses.

What could it be?

Fan Yunxu wondered.

Wei Cheng's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude, "You’ve slept for quite some time. Now that you're awake, why not go home and see?"

"The Marshal has approved a five-day leave for you. Once you're done with the required medical checks, the Emperor will likely want to see you. It'll be a good time for a trip home."

"Buddy," Wei Cheng stepped closer and gave Fan Yunxu a hearty slap on the shoulder, trying to suppress his laughter, "Welcome back."

Author's note:

Marshal: Just what I thought you'd like 🙂