Chapter 54

Although Spicy Stick was eager to proceed with the catnip bath plan, introducing the White Tiger to catnip requires certain precautions.

Lu Yinghuai procured two pots of catnip, intending to send them to the research department for testing.

An elderly woman arrived to collect the samples, her face kind and her demeanor gentle.

Somehow, she lacked the distinct aura one would expect from a military background.

Summer sneaked several glances at the elderly woman.

Ever since her arrival, the woman had been casting nervous glances around, and at the slightest sound, her eyes darted in its direction, as if searching or perhaps anticipating something.

However, after a brief exchange with her, Lu Yinghuai remained tight-lipped.

Edging closer to Lu Yinghuai, who was inspecting a newly delivered orb from the research department, Summer discreetly nudged his arm. "Your Highness?"

Lu Yinghuai: "Hmm?"

Summer leaned in closer to Lu Yinghuai, murmuring, "That lady doesn't really seem like she's from the First Legion..."

Lu Yinghuai turned to gaze at Summer, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Summer's curriculum was diverse — but then, the heir to a noble house typically has an eclectic syllabus.

Determining someone's background based on their attire, demeanor, and speech was a requisite subject.

Summer hadn't really had the opportunity to apply this skill in practice.

Sensing an on-the-spot quiz, Summer straightened up, speaking earnestly, "When she speaks to others, she carries a gentle smile and her actions seem unreserved, not hinting at a noble origin. However, her unique demeanor reminds me of a teacher, or someone in research. But, there's no trace of a military posture in her stance or gait."

"She doesn’t seem like a soldier on a covert mission, rather she seems more like..."

Pausing abruptly, Summer's words trailed off.

He turned his gaze towards the elderly woman, who stood near the campfire, gazing into the forest, and whispered.

"More like... a mother."

The rustling sounds from the forest signaled the return of the hunting party.

Today, Mr. Brown Bear was the first to return, given that his task was to gather fruits that complement honey, clearly a task not suitable for the other two big cats, lacking the patience and attributes for it.

Branches laden with ripe wild fruits obscured most of the bear's face as he cradled them.

Finding edible wild fruits in this season is no easy task; only an omnivorous bear with intimate knowledge of the area would possess such skills.

The instant the elderly woman laid eyes on the brown bear, her eyes reddened abruptly. Tears welled up uncontrollably, spilling over and streaming down her cheeks.

The stick in the bear's hand clattered to the ground. He seemed to want to approach but hesitated upon realizing his appearance. For a moment, he stood there, lost and bewildered.

The elderly woman quickly grasped the situation. Wiping away her tears forcefully, she ran towards the bear – a creature most would scream at and flee from – and embraced him without hesitation, as if hugging her own son.

Mrs. Jiang held her long-missed son tight, burying her face deep into the warm, soft bear fur.

The embraced bear became instantly flustered. He moved his arms awkwardly for a while before gently encircling Mrs. Jiang, afraid to apply any force.

On the other side of the forest, a black panther returned with prey in its mouth. It glanced at the heartwarming reunion before it, then placed the day's catch in front of Xia You.

Xia You crouched down to pat the panther's head, but her gaze remained fixated on the touching scene not far away.

The black panther raised its head and nuzzled Xia You's cheek.

Xia You, now with the scent of blood on her: "!"

"Naughty cat!"

Annoyed, Xia You stood up, retrieving a handkerchief from a pocket dimension to wipe her face.

As she wiped, Xia You paused, suddenly saying, "At the beginning, Your Highness mentioned that the owner of the spicy sticks is our nephew, right?"

Lu Yinghui was momentarily taken aback by Xia You's reference to "our nephew" and didn't respond.

As expected, even though it was a question, Xia You soon continued her rambling.

"If it's a bonded beast, then it certainly can't have any owner. So, the spicy stick's owner is Your Highness's nephew, which means Your Highness's nephew is—uh..."

The nephew of His Highness... is perhaps, maybe, probably...

Could it be... the Crown Prince of the Empire?

Xia You froze in realization.

Lu Yinghui curved his lips into a smile and said, "Realized it now, have you?"

Xia You: "..."

Recalling the captivating video highlights stored in her memory chip related to the spicy sticks, Xia You remained silent for a long while, opened her mouth to speak, then lapsed into silence again.

Just at that moment, Spicy Stick returned, carrying its prey.

The young tiger paused in its stride when passing the embracing mother and son, glancing at them with evident envy. Then, with thoughtful intent, it sped up its pace, holding onto its prey, to avoid startling the lady.

It then also placed its catch in front of Xia You, adjusting its position with its paw and rubbing affectionately against her, clearly familiar with the gesture.

Xia You: "..."

Crown Prince of the Empire.

Crown Prince of the Empire.

Xia You repeated the title several times in her mind. Then, meeting Spicy Stick's shining eyes, which seemed to say, "Aren't you going to pet me?", she promptly knelt and began fervently petting the young tiger.

A bonded beast doesn't represent its owner. All she saw in front of her now was Spicy Stick!

The young tiger's fur became tousled from the vigorous petting. With a resigned look, it sat down, licked its paw pads, and started grooming its messy fur with its claws.

Blue Star's sanctuary has always been off-limits to outsiders. Mrs. Jiang had her wish fulfilled by seeing her son but couldn't stay for long. She touched her son's soft face with a slightly reluctant look in her eyes.

As she was leaving, Mrs. Jiang, who had already stepped out, suddenly turned around and said, "Nan Nan, even though Mom knows you like deer, you shouldn't scare them like that. It's not right."

The brown bear, previously lost in melancholy, looked around the campsite and located the deer cowering under a tree, its eyes bewildered.

The aircraft required space to land, and the white tiger nearby was in poor condition. There were concerns it might get agitated, so the aircraft was parked some distance from the campsite.

Seeing Lu Yinghui ready to escort Mrs. Jiang, Xia You glanced at Mr. Brown Bear, who was gazing at Mrs. Jiang's retreating figure, and loudly said, "Your Highness, allow me to escort Madam Jiang!"

Xia You sprinted to Mrs. Jiang's side, winking at Lu Yinghui.

Lu Yinghui paused for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

So, before Mrs. Jiang boarded the aircraft, Xia You had her extend her hand and used her psychic abilities to assess Mrs. Jiang's health.

As expected, while Mrs. Jiang wasn't part of the First Legion's confidential personnel, she was granted special access to the sanctuary because she was ill.

After pondering for a moment, Xia You left a sphere of psychic energy, about the size of half a fist, beside the shadow on Mrs. Jiang's heart. It slowly nibbled at the ominous shadow, as if eroding something.

"Madam Jiang, after you return, it would be best to have another medical check-up at the hospital."

Mrs. Jiang hesitated, "There's no need, I..."

"There is." Xia You gently grasped Mrs. Jiang's hand, her eyes softening, "You still have to wait for Major General Jiang Nan to come home."

Mrs. Jiang knew who Xia You was. Although she was unaware of the specifics of Xia You's abilities, she knew that Xia You had a unique way of treating the psychic disorder that no one else could manage before.

If he says so...

A spark ignited in Mrs. Jiang's eyes, and she tightly gripped Xia You's hand.

"Alright... okay." Mrs. Jiang slowly let go of Xia You's hand and bowed slightly, "Thank you."

Xia You, taken aback, hurriedly helped Mrs. Jiang up.

As the two watched the aircraft depart, Xia You peeked at Lu Yinghui's holographic computer.

Lu Yinghui extended his hand, allowing Xia You to view it.

"First Hospital of the Imperial Capital? Ah... I know of it. I've heard it's quite difficult to get an appointment there."

Xia You read the content displayed on Lu Yinghui's holographic screen.

"There are a few medical experts there who specialize in cardiac issues."

Lu Yinghui tapped twice to send an email and then turned off the holographic screen.

In the interstellar age, most diseases have known cures, and medical pods can accomplish much more than before.

Yet, the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death still persists.

The premise for medical pods to cure diseases is that the patient's physical condition must meet the initial criteria to enter the pods. Otherwise, they might succumb in the anesthetized environment of the pod.

Mrs. Jiang's health was already deteriorating. This time, with the intent of possibly seeing her son for the last time, she reached out to an officer who once visited their home for condolences.

"I hope my psychic energy can be of use."

"It will be. Let's head back."

Xia You quickly turned around, taking a few brisk steps to catch up with the long-legged Lu Yinghui.

Back at the camp, Mr. Bear had collected all the wild fruits into a large bowl, and next to it sat a big red bucket containing the wild beehive.

White Tiger, probably sensing the smell of blood, emerged from the woods.

Before Mrs. Jiang had approached the camp, White Tiger seemed to detect an unfamiliar scent and retreated into the forest.

However, it didn’t stray far.

Xia You had the opportunity to witness the agility of the White Tiger.

The massive-bodied White Tiger could surprisingly climb trees silently, expertly concealing its conspicuous fur.

Xia You hurried over, rolling up her sleeves. She unleashed her psychic tentacles towards the two prey, sharing the meat with the waiting beasts.

Lu Yinghui walked over to Mr. Bear and whispered, "Xia You examined Mrs. Jiang and left some of her psychic energy inside her. I’ll have the medical department pay special attention."

Mr. Bear softly growled in response, his eyes filled with gratitude.

While he naturally missed his family, he understood that seeing his mother here wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Xia You's healing ability was unique — a fact Mr. Bear had personally experienced. Yet, no one knew whether the uniqueness of Xia You's psychic power could miraculously work on human ailments.

Thinking of this, Mr. Bear tapped Lu Yinghui's forearm with his thick paw.

Lu Yinghui looked at him.

Mr. Bear raised his hand, pointing at his temple with his long, blunt claws, silently conveying his decision.

Lu Yinghui could guess Jiang Nan's concerns and naturally understood Jiang Nan's decision.

After a brief silence, Lu Yinghui looked towards Xia You, who was surrounded by three large cats in the distance, and murmured, "Okay."

*

Seizing the moment while the big cats were engrossed in their meal, Xia You held his breath and finally managed to touch the elusive white tiger he had been yearning to approach.

After stealthily patting it twice, the white tiger realized and looked up at him.

Xia You froze in place.

The black panther quickly moved to Xia You's side, ready to defend against a potential attack from the white tiger.

However, the white tiger didn't attack. It didn't resume eating either but just kept its gaze fixed on Xia You.

Its slate-blue eyes slowly narrowed.

After an extended stare-down with the white tiger, Xia You suddenly came to a realization.

Wait a minute—

Given that Latiao is the crown prince of the empire, Latiao's mother must be the Empress.

And the current Empress is…

Swallowing hard, Xia You refrained from attempting to touch the tiger's whiskers. Instead, he crouched down, pulled the food bowl closer, and placed it beneath the white tiger's mouth. Speaking softly, with a hint of trepidation, he murmured:

"...Sis, please eat."

The white tiger gave Xia You a glance. It didn't understand him, but the tempting smell from the bowl seemed more appealing than the two-legged creature in front of it.

So, it resumed tearing into the chunks of meat.

A young tiger, who had been warily watching the scene, let out a sigh of relief and continued eating.

Xia You also exhaled deeply, abandoning any thoughts of stealthily petting the tiger, and instead focused on feeding the panther.

After the meal and some rest, Xia You checked the schedule. That afternoon, it was time to provide some mental comfort to Mr. Brown Bear.

Logically, the symptoms exhibited by the brown bear were milder than those of other companion beasts. It should have recovered quickly. However, during the treatment, Xia You discovered that while the grey substance inside the bear wasn't abundant, the part that resided in its brain was much more stubborn than that in Quqi and Xuebing.

Every time Xia You cleared the grey substance from the bear's body, within a few days, new grey material, influenced by that in its brain, would manifest and attach itself to the bear's flesh and bones.

Perhaps this is why, even though Jiang Nan, a human being, has always been conscious, his mental strength value never reaches the threshold required for waking up from the hibernation pod.

However, this time, the brown bear made a new request.

"Forcibly cleanse the brain area?" Xia You stared in astonishment at the line of text displayed by the brown bear on the screen. "The most prudent approach right now is for me to gradually channel my mental energy into your brain and then slowly consume the grey matter. It might take longer, but it's safer."

"If we take a risk..."

Xia You furrowed his brow.

Even for companion beasts, the brain remains a vital organ.

His Highness had previously shared research data with him: the spiritual form corresponds to the sea of consciousness, and the same applies to companion beasts.

The body represents the outer layer of the sea of consciousness, while the brain signifies its most crucial and sensitive core.

Any damage or destruction to this core results in irreversible harm to the entity, potentially causing instant brain death. Even the best medical pods can't remedy such damage.

That's why, during prior treatments, whenever Xia You's tendrils of mental energy tried to detach the grey matter from Quqi and Xuebing's brains, they instinctively reacted with painful convulsions.

"Are you... sure about this?"

With a grave expression, Xia You asked again.

Sitting across from Xia You, the brown bear met his gaze and gave a solemn nod.

Observing the usually composed bear now making such a risky request, and recalling his encounter with Jiang's mother earlier in the day, Xia You quickly understood the reason.

He fell into deep contemplation.

When it came to familial bonds, Xia You never experienced a connection profound enough to warrant mutual sacrifices. Yet, he still harbored an undying affinity and aspiration for Ning Zhuiyue, his biological mother whom he barely remembered.

What if... the roles were reversed?

Xia You lifted his eyes to see Lu Yinghuai, who was busy examining a young tiger's mouth nearby.

If faced with a similar situation himself, perhaps he would make the same decision as General Jiang Nan.

Sensing Xia You's gaze, Lu Yinghuai turned around, only to find Xia You had already closed his eyes, placing his palm on the forehead of the bowing brown bear.

Letting go of the young tiger, which had just extravagantly consumed half a bucket of honey, Lu Yinghuai approached the brown bear, ready to intervene if necessary.

The black panther also crouched on the other side of the bear.

The young tiger had initially wanted to approach, but a glance from Lu Yinghuai made it reconsider. Lu Yinghuai subtly nodded towards the tent.

Getting the hint instantly, the tiger, nicknamed 'Spicy Strip', quickly got up and took post outside the tent, ensuring no intrusion from the white tiger.

—On several occasions before, whenever Xia You was soothing the mental energies of the big cats or Lu Yinghuai, the white tiger would curiously poke its massive head into the tent.

However, the way the white tiger gazed at Xia You was akin to the way one looks at meat in a food bowl.

……

Layers upon layers of grey matter blanketed the brown bear's brain. Xia You had previously infused it with much of his mental energy, and now several small orbs, radiating a faint glow, floated within.

As Xia You's mental tendrils prepared to get to work, he realized that the dense cover of grey matter made it nearly impossible to find the crevices he had located earlier.

Pondering for a moment, a mental tendril expanded and painstakingly shaped itself into a chisel.

After a brief rest, it extracted a portion of itself and formed a hammer.

Perfect.

Let's get to work!

Xia You, with furrowed brows, chipped away at the bear's brain area. The bear's reactions transitioned from initial agony to a numb acceptance of the pain.

It must be said, Jiang Nan's tolerance for pain was truly commendable.

However, Lu Yinghuai remained vigilant by their side, both to prevent any instinctual attack from the bear and to monitor Xia You's condition through his facial expressions and complexion.

Seemingly sensing Lu Yinghuai's concern, a slender tendril of mental energy snaked out, climbing from Lu Yinghuai's knee up to his wrist.

It appeared too exhausted for any additional movement and simply lay there limply.

Lu Yinghuai glanced at Xia You and then gently cradled the tendril in the palm of his hand.

As the tendril nestled against his palm, it continued its laborious task.

Xia You's mental tendrils could reflect his state of mental energy. In case of an emergency, Lu Yinghuai would be able to react immediately, breaking the connection between Xia You and the bear.

An hour later.

Breathing heavily, Xia You lifted his hand from the bear's head, accepted the warm water handed to him by Lu Yinghuai, and drank it down in one go.

The mental tendril, limp in Lu Yinghuai's palm, was laboriously wrapping around and nibbling on three energy stones.

Meanwhile, the large, chocolate-colored, fluffy creature collapsed with a thud, emitting rhythmic snoring sounds.

After downing three glasses of water in succession, Xia You exhaled deeply, his clothes drenched in sweat.

He looked at Lu Yinghuai and raised three fingers.

Lu Yinghuai understood, "Cleared thirty percent?"

Xia You nodded, too drained to speak. Considering the tent's floor was carpeted, he grabbed a pillow and was about to lay back.

However, the sensation against his back wasn't the familiar softness of a blanket, but the more comfortable warmth of a body.

Xia You nuzzled the black panther with his cheek, adjusting himself to nestle within its warm embrace. Turning his head towards Lu Yinghuai, he urged him on with a look.

Lu Yinghuai, left with no choice, gently placed the tendril, which was still nibbling on the energy stone, onto a nearby pillow and accessed the communication page on his light computer.

As expected, there was a message from the Hibernation Center.

After a glance, Lu Yinghuai reported, "Jiang Nan's mental energy levels are rising. If this pace continues, he should meet the awakening criteria by dawn."

"Well done." Lu Yinghuai sincerely praised the young healer. "Xia You, you truly are incredible."

Lu Yinghuai never hesitated in lauding Xia You. In his eyes, praise doesn't lose value with repetition. Instead, such commendations only serve to embolden an otherwise unsure young soul, making them shine even brighter.

Because in the future, Xia You would undoubtedly become a formidable healer, receiving even more vibrant accolades.

Lu Yinghuai wanted Xia You to believe from the bottom of his heart that he received such praise not because of anything else but solely due to his excellence, to cherish it, and let it transform into radiant confidence.

Unable to help himself, Xia You grinned, silently giving himself a mental high-five.

"Even though there'll be a recovery and adjustment period after his awakening," Lu Yinghuai said with a soft chuckle, "he should be up and about by the time his mother enters the medical pod."

Jiang Nan's hibernation has been prolonged—over a decade. This period has added a rehabilitation phase for him, something his peers, Fan Yu Xin and Cheng Zhi Nian, didn't undergo, and potentially, he might face more pain from mental discomforts.

Yet, just waking up would already be a miracle.

***

On the third day, the brown bear was released from the sanctuary.

Both Lu Yinghui and Xia You's neural processors received a report from the research department simultaneously.

Catnip has been confirmed as non-toxic and free of genetic anomalies, ready for clinical trials.

Xia You's gaze instantly landed on the little tiger.

When Mother Jiang arrived, Xia You clearly noticed the shiny envy in Spicy Stick's eyes.

"Spicy Stick, come here!" Xia You beckoned to the little tiger.

The little tiger, who had been trying to snuggle up to its mother without success, thought Xia You had urgent news and hurried over.

"Roar?"

The little tiger's voice was gradually deepening, carrying a hint of formidable strength.

Xia You gently patted the little tiger's head and said with a smile, "It's a nice day, Spicy Stick. How about we head to the river for a bath?"

The little tiger's eyes lit up.

Could it mean what he thinks it means?

Xia You nodded with a smile.

The little tiger ran to the flower rack, meticulously picked the most lush catnip, and hurriedly followed Xia You to the river with it in his mouth.

Xia You swore he had never seen Spicy Stick so eager and impatient for a bath.

With the combination of catnip and a bath, Yuan Yuan had long since kept her distance, and Lu Yinghui did not join in the fun either.

Xia You filled the portable bathtub that Yuan Yuan had previously used, then thoughtfully added a few leaves of catnip, then, considering the amount of water, added a few more.

Is that enough?

If he added too much, he genuinely worried the White Tigress might swallow Spicy Stick in one bite.

Seeing Spicy Stick about to jump into the portable bathtub, Xia You quickly grabbed the little tiger, gently persuading him, and then merely dabbed a towel moistened with catnip water on Spicy Stick's back.

Xia You whispered, "Let's test it out first."

Once done, both man and tiger stealthily approached the white tiger, who was resting with closed eyes near the campsite.

Spicy Stick was a bit nervous. As he moved forward, he even stumbled a few steps, almost landing on his chin.

The white tiger seemed particularly sensitive to the scent. Before the little tiger got too close, she twitched her whiskers, opened her eyes, and rose to her feet.

Xia You held his breath.

The little tiger's eyes widened.

The white tiger took a step, came over to the little tiger, looked at him with a puzzled gaze, sniffed him, pondered for a moment, then cautiously licked the strangely scented cub in front of her.

Little tiger: "!!!"

Xia You: "Phew, that was close!"

Having tasted the scent, the white tiger licked the area where Xia You had applied the catnip water a few times. Just as the little tiger was flattened by the licking, not knowing whether to cry or laugh, the white tiger walked away.

Spicy Stick froze on the spot.

Xia You facepalmed.

She probably licked off all the catnip water...

Realizing this, Spicy Stick dashed toward the river where the portable bathtub was.

Xia You's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately gave chase.

Two legs could never catch up to four.

By the time Xia You arrived, Spicy Stick had scooped up all the catnip and was rolling wildly in the light green water of the portable bathtub, attempting to marinate himself into a walking catnip tiger.