Chapter 39

Yet, as the snowstorm had ceased, the team decided to break camp and hit the road the next day.

Given the accumulated snow, driving became treacherous. Xia You relinquished the driver's seat, choosing instead to sit beside and diligently familiarize herself with the mecha control layout and combination moves.

After a series of tutoring sessions with Marshal Lu Yinghuai, in which he ingeniously blended historical tales of the empire with the current political structure, Xia You was now fairly well-versed with the essentials.

She even went as far as memorizing the names of influential senators who, despite their clout, openly despised each other—to the point of once getting into a hair-pulling scuffle.

Xia You couldn't help but wonder: would these lofty, aloof aristocratic leaders genuinely resort to table-thumping arguments and brazenly defy both the Emperor and the military in official meetings?

To this, the esteemed Marshal responded:

"It's worse than that."

"The military brutes are even louder, more forthright. They're notorious for their staunch resistance to the Senate's proposals. If you bang the table, they'll smash it, always ensuring they maintain the upper hand."

"As for His Majesty, don't view him through rose-tinted glasses. He often ends up cooking in the kitchen out of sheer frustration from the bickering between the military and the Senate. And after cooking, he doesn't eat but sends the meal to the very person he's had a dispute with."

"Having a meal delivered late at night means the recipient’s mansion stays lit throughout the night."

Lu Yinghuai recounted this with an unperturbed expression, as if speaking of a trivial, everyday occurrence.

Xia You: "..."

Is this empire... genuinely functioning?

That said, the subsequent mecha and military strategy lessons imparted by Lu Yinghuai were undeniably the most intriguing courses Xia You had ever taken.

Naturally, she was wholly invested.

The empire's mechas were categorized into two control types: manual and psychic. Mechas below A-grade only feature manual controls, while those above A-grade are compatible with both control schemes.

Legendary-grade mechas, of which the empire and federation each possess one, are integrated with biological intelligence. Throughout the empire's history, only three individuals, including Lu Yinghuai, have had their psychic abilities recognized by these mechas.

This very recognition was pivotal to Lu Yinghuai's survival when he singlehandedly ventured into the insect lair, culminating in a psychic overload but managing to escape with his life intact.

Xia You's psychic strength hadn't yet reached a level where she could control using only her mind. Thus, mastering manual operation was essential for her.

Lu Yinghuai's lessons were never dull. While discussing cultural subjects, he occasionally interspersed stories Xia You had never heard before.

Sometimes, these tales seemed somewhat unrefined and far from grandiose. Yet, they were so genuine that Xia You had sketched vivid caricatures in her mind of every individual in the Senate and the military.

When Lu Yinghuai delved into topics exclusive to military academy—like mecha operation and battle tactics—his tone remained serene, speaking of battlefield carnage, emitting a brilliance that Xia You couldn't look away from.

As Lu Yinghuai drove, Xia You took her digital tablet and notebook and effortlessly memorized the buttons and operations on the mecha control panel in one go.

Lu Yinghuai then quizzed her on several points. Xia You responded without a hint of hesitation.

"All correct," Lu Yinghuai commented with a smile, not stingy with his praise. "Excellent work."

"It's just rote learning," Xia You modestly remarked, clearly pleased by the compliment. "Compared to the graduates of your prestigious First Military Academy, I must be lagging behind."

Hearing this, Lu Yinghuai said solemnly, "Speaking of which, I've also delivered lectures at the First Military Academy."

"Hmm?" Xia You was puzzled.

A playful glint appeared in Lu Yinghuai's eyes. "So technically, Xia You, you'd be my private disciple."

The private disciple is usually the most skilled, promising, and favored student in a master's tutelage.

In an era of interstellar peace without external threats or energy crises, culture and entertainment thrived alongside dazzling technological advancements. Literary works, once lost during humanity's migrations and preserved orally, were now transformed back into written texts and adapted into films, becoming integral parts of the imperial citizen's life.

Recently, Xia You had become engrossed in a novel about a cherished disciple of an immortal master. She'd often recline against her black panther, engrossed in her reading after meals.

Xia You was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Your Highness! Be honest, have you been secretly reading novels in your study during your sleepless nights?"

Lu Yinghuai, abandoning his earlier solemnity, chuckled. He took an apple from his spatial pocket and offered it to Xia You. "A small bribe for the young lady to keep my secret, yes?"

"Deal," Xia You agreed, grabbing the apple and preparing to take a bite, when two fluffy heads peeked through the gap between the car seats.

A grey panther's head rested on an orange-black striped tiger's head. Both pairs of round eyes fixed on Xia You.

Laughing, Xia You broke the apple into three pieces, feeding Snowflake and Hotstick, one cat each.

Both big cats, content, returned to their seats in the back, snuggling together, munching their treats. The black panther opened an eye, uninterested in the food, and turned to gaze out the window.

The black panther was always picky, avoiding fruits and vegetables. Snowflake and Hotstick merely wanted a share of whatever Xia You was eating.

Xia You pondered for a moment, then broke off a piece of her apple and gently pressed half of it to Lu Yinghuai's lips.

The corner of Lu Yinghuai's mouth curved slightly, and he bit into the apple slice.

Round and round, the snack always ended up having Yuan Yuan's share.

Having finished the car snacks, Xia You started to prepare for tonight's mecha tutoring session.

Tonight, he and the prince will experience virtual mecha driving together. This time, the prince won't be on his side. If he doesn’t work hard, he might get thoroughly beaten.

The holographic brain displayed Xia You's dense class notes. After glancing at it, Xia You remarked, "I actually want to try competing with others."

Lu Yinghuai: "Hmm?"

"The prince always lets me win, so I don’t really know my true skill level." Xia You made a circular motion with her hand, "It's easy to become complacent."

"Alright, tonight you'll spar with Wen Xuan," Lu Yinghuai said with a smile.

Xia You felt there was an underlying meaning to Lu Yinghuai's smile.

"Um, Your Highness, if I may ask, how's Officer Meng's mecha skill level?" Xia You inquired cautiously.

Lu Yinghuai responded, "Bottom every year."

"Oh..."

Wait.

A lightbulb went off in Xia You's mind: "Hold on! When you say 'bottom', are you referring to the First Legion as a whole or..."

"The leadership tier of the First Legion," Lu Yinghuai clarified. "Every year-end, there’s an inter-officer exchange competition within the legion. The final winner faces me."

Though each year, the Research and Medical Departments, both support units, are keen on acquiring spots in the competition.

While other units fight tooth and nail for the chance to face Lu Yinghuai, these two departments always find excuses to avoid participating.

Xia You fell silent.

Knowing that the First Legion is the empire's most formidable legion, and its leaders are the best of the best, then the representative for the exchange match, the medical officer Meng Wenxuan...

Truly bottoms out every year.

"Your Highness, do you think I can..." Xia You began with persistence, but upon catching Lu Yinghuai's fleeting glance that lasted two seconds, she quickly rephrased, "Do you think I can last more than... five rounds against Officer Meng?"

Lu Yinghuai found an appropriate spot, sharply turned the steering wheel for a sleek brake, then turned towards Xia You, pressing down two of the five fingers she had extended.

Xia You: "..."

Got it, three rounds.

Lu Yinghuai patted Xia You's head, his expression relaxed, "Let's go. Step out of the car and take a break."

The little tiger had grown considerably. The back seat was somewhat cramped with three large cats. It was good to get out and stretch a bit.

Lu Yinghuai chose a location on a hill with a gentle slope and a vast view. Walking a few steps forward to the edge of the cliff, one could see snowy peaks and clouds beyond the snow-covered rocks.

Sunlight poured down, causing the snow-covered cliffs to shimmer like a myriad of tiny gemstones.

Xia You released a live-streaming drone to follow the cats, 'Latiao' and 'Snow Cake', and found a good angle to start taking photos herself.

Reviewing the snapshots and videos she had taken on her digital device, Xia You proudly appreciated her own photography skills. While adjusting the camera's angle, Lu Yinghuai unexpectedly appeared in the frame.

Xia You hesitated, initially wanting to move the camera away.

The distant snow-covered mountains were bathed in light, and the raven-haired man seemed to be kissed by it, the glow highlighting his smooth forehead and tracing down his nose.

His deep purple eyes were the most profound and mysterious gems in this snowy landscape.

Lu Yinghuai noticed Xia You's camera focus and promptly looked her way.

At the same moment, the black panther sauntered to a neighboring cliff edge, lifting its gaze towards Xia You.

Instinctively, Xia You pressed the capture button.

A rare photo of man and panther together was silently saved in Xia You's digital storage.

"Roar!"

A still-youthful tiger's roar sounded, intermixed with crisp yet chaotic hoofbeats.

Both Xia You and Lu Yinghuai simultaneously turned towards the source of the sound.

Atop a ridge more than a hundred meters away, two large cats were sprinting at full speed, while not far ahead of them, a group of blue sheep was scattering in terror at their approach.

The cat with tawny and black fur excels in jungle ambushes; such steep ridge terrains aren't ideal for its hunting. However, it wasn't hunting, but rather, intimidating the sheep with its wide-open mouth and roars.

This...

Xia You felt like a parent witnessing their mischievous child causing chaos in a mall; she felt an urge to bow in apology to the entire flock of blue sheep.

But in the next second, Latiao's action left Xia You somewhat puzzled.

The blue sheep, driven to run diagonally down the ridge, showcased their exceptional leaping and gripping abilities, allowing them to navigate the blade-like steep cliffs as if on level ground. They quickly left the young tiger behind.

However, the young tiger didn't pursue. Instead, he promptly changed direction, heading downhill, clearly attempting to flank from below the cliff.

"But the blue sheep might not necessarily descend, right?" Xia You murmured, fixated on the unfolding scene.

As long as the lead sheep found a viable path, they could continuously tread on cliff areas the young tiger couldn't reach.

Lu Yinghuai reminded her, "Snow leopard."

Huh?

Startled, Xia You began scanning the cliffs for Snow Cake's silhouette.

The young tiger's earlier display, coupled with its conspicuous coloration against the snow-clad cliffs, had captured all of Xia You's attention.

She'd completely forgotten when exactly the snow leopard had vanished from her sight.

Lu Yinghuai pointed subtly towards a specific part of the cliff, whispering, "There."

Above the petrified flock, a figure almost melding with the rock lay prone, inching its head out, eyes locked in concentration. Its usually conspicuous long tail lay silently, perfectly concealed amidst the rugged cliff.

A gust of wind carried the predator's scent to the sheep above. The leading sheep let out a distressed cry, prompting the flock to sprint desperately once again across the cliff.

Like a flash of silvery lightning, the snow leopard emerged, leaping and running gracefully on the precipitous cliff. When it was about two meters from the fleeing sheep, it powerfully pushed off with its hind legs, soaring through the air with outstretched limbs, crashing onto a sheep and severing its throat with a swift bite.

As this majestic and perilous king of the snow-capped mountains took its leap, the dazzling sunlight became nothing but a mere backdrop to its splendor.

The silvery-white cat held its grip on the sheep's throat, its front paws embracing the struggling prey, both tumbling down the steep drop.

As Xia You gasped, the snow leopard, mouth gripping a sheep, whipped its long tail in mid-air. With a swift turn and a kick, it sent another passing sheep plummeting from the cliff.

The mountain goat suddenly lost its balance, tumbling down the steep cliff.

At the base of the cliff, a tawny big cat seized the opportunity, leaping upwards to latch onto the descending goat, swiftly severing the prey's throat.

Simultaneously, the snow leopard, having adjusted its descent with its large tail, landed gently on the soft snow. Its thick fur parted a half-meter high drift of snow, and, clutching its prey, it began to move forward.

Atop the cliff, seeing the predators claim their quarry, the lead goat called out, rallying the scattered members of its herd, who slowly regrouped and continued on their journey.

Such is the law of nature.

Survival of the fittest, where the strong prey upon the weak, though brutal, plays out in every corner of the world.

"…So cool."

Witnessing the textbook cliffside hunt before her, Xia You's eyes were filled with awe.

At that moment, the live stream room was enveloped in prolonged silence. After a while, comments erupted like a geyser.

[Damn, that was amazing!!]

[Major Cheng! Major Cheng!!]

[I saw the reflection of that silver blade, the one man in a mech suit who once stood against a horde of insectoids, in this snow leopard!]

[I, a grown man, am sobbing in my dorm room. Who can relate?!]

[Even though I'm not a man, I get it. I once gave up an admission letter to West Asia Music Academy to enlist after watching Major Cheng's combat highlights on StarNet. But after joining the First Legion, I never got another chance to see my idol.]

Unlike Fan and Xin, who usually stay behind the scenes, Cheng ZhiNian, as the captain of the vanguard, is the sharpest and most unstoppable blade of her team.

The reason Lu YingHui picked this vanguard team for the insect nest raid was their unparalleled excellence.

At the cliff's edge, the black panther gazed down at the two big cats that had just hunted. The innate pride of a feline began to rise within.

The massive black cat flicked its glossy tail, raising its head to sniff the scent of the prey in the wind, poised to leap. But its golden eyes caught a flash of deep purple.

With a reluctant growl, the black panther, its eyes darkened with resentment, turned and walked back towards the two humans.

[Hey, can we zoom in a bit? Did it seem like Major Cheng just got tripped up by the prey just now?]

[What was said before? Such a stunning snow leopard! Impossible!]

[Slander my idol and I'll challenge you in your dorm, real-life duel!]

Xia You turned to look at Lu Yinghuai, hesitating: "...Just now, the snow leopard slightly deviated its path while chasing the sheep, right?"]

Lu Yinghuai silently nodded.

Xia You burst into laughter, "Pfft, hahaha— I wonder if it got captured on live stream. I must ask General Wei later for the footage as a keepsake."

"I'm thinking of naming it 'Big Kitty to the Rescue of the Despondent Lamb'."

The mountain goat earlier indeed looked frantic, heading towards the cliff edge, but mid-jump, it was caught by the silvery leopard.

Lu Yinghuai: "...”

Whether it seemed suicidal or not, we can't let anyone with the spirit of a mountain goat watch this video. It's too stimulating for them.

The two big cats, panting heavily, brought back their prey with a mix of carrying and dragging, their chests heaving rapidly.

Xia You felt so bad seeing this, she quickly poured some water for the two big cats and gently wiped their faces with a big towel for each.

Just as Lu Yinghuai was about to deal with the two mountain goats, having found a suitable position, he turned to see Xia You, who had finished wiping the cats' faces, effortlessly using her psychic tendrils to disintegrate one of the preys in mere seconds.

Lu Yinghuai noticed the energy stone in Xia You's other hand, quickly approached her, and stopped her from disintegrating the other goat with her psychic tendril: "Let me handle this one."

Xia You raised her hand, with a flick, the fully absorbed energy stone turned to dust, scattered by the wind and fell on the snow, "Your Highness, as you know, I can't control my absorption of energy stones. I feel overloaded with psychic energy right now."

The young man's eyes looked innocent, even more clear and pure than the tiger cub peeking from the side.

Lu Yinghuai felt a headache coming on: "Xia You, frequently depleting your psychic energy like this is dangerous."

The energy in the energy stones, derived from mountains and rivers, inherently carries a wild nature. Absorbing too much in a short time can cause turbulent backlash in one's psychic energy.

This was one of the reasons why, despite knowing the benefits of energy stones, military soldiers would not consume them unless in emergencies.

"Your Highness, I swear, the energy in these stones really doesn't affect me."

Xia You raised her hand to her ear, looking serious.

"Honestly, the only things that somewhat bother me are the grey matter in the big cat and the energy at the core of your psychic sea."

Lu Yinghuai was momentarily at a loss for words.

The peculiarity of Xia You's psychic energy lies precisely here.

Though rated only at B-level, its resilience and endurance far surpass that of S-level.

Of course, Lu Yinghuai somewhat suspects that the root cause of this paradox might not lie in the unique traits of Xia You's psychic energy, but rather...

In Xia You himself.

There's an inexplicable aspect of Xia You that oscillates between reverence for life and indifference.

This dichotomy mirrors that of his psychic energy.

Xia You respects all forms of life that struggle to survive and adores living. Yet, when faced with animals hunted by the big cats or past wartime documents from the military, he exhibits an air of nonchalance, as though he's seen it all.

He doesn't crumble at the gruesomeness of life's end, nor does he panic at the might of his own powers. Instead, Xia You pays attention to the difficulties the big cats face while hunting and observes the broader strategies on the battlefield that often go unnoticed.

Xia You reminds Lu Yinghuai of a kind of person once described by Lu Jiuzhu.

Calm, indifferent, and always seeking the optimal solution in challenging situations.

As if he had been trapped countless times on a deserted island, relying solely on his strength to find his way out each time.

A natural-born... leader.

"Your Highness?"

Xia You waved a hand in front of Lu Yinghuai's eyes.

"Why are you..."

Looking at him with such an expression?

Xia You couldn't quite define that look; it was complex, filled with unspoken anticipation.

Lu Yinghuai released Xia You's psychic tendril he had been holding and once again tousled his hair, "It's nothing."

Xia You blinked, "So... shall I continue?"

Lu Yinghuai nodded and stepped aside.

The camera from the live-streaming orb focused on Xia You's actions, thanks to Lu Yinghuai's direction.

It was the audience's first time witnessing Xia You dissecting his prey in the live-stream. Unable to see Xia You's psychic tendrils through the lens, the comment section became a flurry of analysis and speculation.

[Honestly, watching this, I'm starting to think the Marshal's wife is more... well, not so ordinary.]

[Only now you've noticed?]

[Who in their right mind would call such fierce beasts capable of killing in one bite, "good kitties"?]

[LOL! That image of the Marshal's wife patting the heads of those seated psychic beasts is just too hilarious!]

The comments paused momentarily.

[...Damn, it feels like...]

[To be honest with you guys...]

Suddenly, Lu Yinghuai felt warmth on the back of his hand and looked down.

A snow leopard sat poised by his side, its head nudging the hand he had dangling at his side.

Just as Lu Yinghuai was about to look away, he saw the snow leopard scratch a few marks in the soft snow.

It was the secret sign of the First Legion's Vanguard.

The snow leopard's long tail twitched somewhat stiffly. As it raised its head, its eyes met Lu Yinghuai's, a mix of clarity and a hint of awkwardness.

Cheng Zhinian had awakened.

Awakened with a rock sheep in his jaws, mouth smeared with blood.

In a flash, Lu Yinghuai realized why the snow leopard had limped earlier.

The snow leopard lowered its head deeply, its ears drooping, radiating an intense feeling of awkward embarrassment.

Unlike Fan Yuxin, who felt no remorse for acting like a civet, Cheng Zhinian was clearly someone with a sense of shame; recalling his own actions of seeking affection and tail wagging would indeed make him feel incredibly awkward.

But the live stream was still on, and Lu Yinghuai, being the kind of leader that cared for his subordinates' dignity, would surely act accordingly.

With a mere thought from Marshal, the black panther that had been guarding near them slowly approached, brushing against Xia You and coming to a halt beside Lu Yinghuai.

Having just finished dissecting his second prey, Xia You casually patted the panther's massive head and its furry ears.

The snow leopard stared blankly at the scene in front of him, then looked up at the composed and serious-looking Marshal, and again at the black panther affectionately nuzzling the young man, its face bewildered and eyes vacant.

Of course, there couldn't possibly be jaguars in the snowy mountains. That must be someone's psychic manifestation.

This black panther had always roamed freely in the Marshal's mansion. Given the current situation... could it belong to the Marshal himself?

Lu Yinghuai raised his hand and cleared his throat lightly.

Instinctively, the snow leopard stood upright with all four paws aligned, its tail stiffened.

“Beep beep—”

Just as Xia You was distributing the meat among the three fluffy creatures, his computer suddenly chimed in.

Xia You paused momentarily, then accepted Wei Cheng's communication request.

"Sir Marshal, young master, there's been a change. The white tiger, which should have been on the central mountain of the conservation area, has unexpectedly descended."

Wei Cheng had sent Lu Yinghuai several messages earlier, but Lu Yinghuai hadn't checked them promptly. Their coordinates indicated they'd soon enter the white tiger's territory, and no one knew what might happen when the psychic waves of their team got closer.

The descended white tiger might turn and head straight for any intruders in its domain.

Xia You remarked, "Isn’t that normal? Once it's well-rested, it will look for food. Few animals can survive up in the high mountains, so it's only natural for the tiger not to find prey."

"No, this isn't like her usual hunting. In another day's journey, she will leave her territory."

Xia You's expression turned grave.

Tigers possess a strong territorial instinct. They usually command vast territories and within those boundaries, they typically do not tolerate the presence of another of their kind.

A tiger's daily routine involves hunting, resting, and patrolling its territory. If invaded, they would risk everything to defend their domain.

Generally, tigers don't abandon their territories unless it's for their cubs.

"What's her condition?" Lu Yinghuai inquired.

Wei Cheng replied, "He's in excellent condition, showing no signs of injury."

Xia You speculated, "Has this female tiger given birth to new cubs, prompting her to seek a safer location to raise them?"

After saying this, Xia You paused and reconsidered, "No, that's not right; the season doesn't fit."

Even if she entered her mating season at the beginning of winter, it's unlikely she'd be carrying cubs this soon.

The chat in the live stream was suddenly flooded with rows of ellipses.

[I wanted to ask earlier; doesn’t the Marshal’s wife seem to simply see animals as, well, animals? You get what I mean, right?]

[I think so too.]

[I like calling him "Little Host" haha. Using "Marshal’s wife" always gives me the illusion that the Marshal is watching.]

[Little Host, that’s a cute title haha. Whispering, I quite like the Little Host.]

[That was quite audacious of the person before!]

[Getting off-track here! Under what circumstances would a spiritual entity leave its territory?]

[...To pick a fight?]

Lu Yinghui considered this possibility and frowned, "Are there any other surveillance markers in the direction she headed?"

"Uh... yes," Wei Cheng's answer sounded a tad terse.

"Is it another tiger?" Xia You inquired.

After a long pause, Wei Cheng replied with evident difficulty, "Not a tiger, it's a..."

"Mature brown bear."