Chapter 60

Five days later.

At Xia You's insistence, Lu Yinghuai's hibernation pod was not relocated to the hibernation center but remained, as before, at the Marshal's mansion.

The Marshal's Mansion boasts comprehensive energy supply and monitoring equipment needed for the stasis chambers, and with medical experts like Meng Wenxuan always on hand, the military has no reason to object.

The stasis chambers for both Lu Jiuzhu and Qin Anhong are at the Blue Star Hibernation Center. Due to their unique statuses and the presence of their companion beasts, they quickly became priority subjects for observation and research at the center.

The Blue Star Base is vast, with the Hibernation Center even simulating a large tract of forested habitat ideal for Siberian tigers, accommodating two tigers—one large and one small.

The Emperor, who had sneakily left the Imperial Star, only lingered for three days before being coaxed and cajoled, both overtly and covertly, by military and Senate officials to return to the Imperial Star.

Before leaving, he didn't even get a chance to touch his wife's white tiger fur.

—— Of course, the endeavor with the bite stopper wasn't successful either.

Xia You visited the Hibernation Center a few times with her black panther to get check-ups.

After Lu Yinghuai went into deep sleep, the black panther's condition became unstable. It would often become agitated. During such times, the small tentacles Xia You had on the panther would soothe it, and prevent it from running into the protected area.

Compared to the black panther's typical behavior, Xia You's fluctuating psychic energy posed a real challenge for the Hibernation Center.

The researchers at the Research Department had previously studied Xia You's psychic energy indirectly through civets and snow leopards. However, when facing Xia You, who had an unusual healing type psychic energy, they felt somewhat baffled.

Perhaps because she had rapidly consumed a high-level energy stone and depleted it within just a few hours, Xia You's mental realm showed extreme signs of unstable contraction.

Her psychic energy level fluctuated in an unscientific manner, peaking at an S-level and at its lowest, dropping to a level where instruments couldn't detect its presence.

Xia You herself adapted well, eating and drinking as usual, occasionally walking and sunbathing with the black panther in the Marshal's Mansion.

However, recently, the black panther's mood has been unstable. Xia You fears that if she goes out, the panther might run away. Thus, apart from the initial visits to the Hibernation Center, she hasn't left the Marshal's Mansion.

Once Xia You learned about the existence of spiritual bodies and companion beasts, she paid extra attention whenever she saw other animals in the Marshal's Mansion.

Some occurrences that seemed strange in the past suddenly made sense upon closer observation.

For instance, the tabby cat that always mysteriously appeared in many places in the Marshal's Mansion, or the stoic and majestic husky standing guard, or the flocks of birds of different species that would always fly overhead in formation.

As Xia You paused to observe that husky, the handsome dog stood tall and unblinking.

However, once, Xia You happened to witness a regal German Shepherd coming to relieve the husky. After the changeover, the husky, wagging its tail, dashed towards Xia You. But Yuan Yuan growled at it, making it scuttle away in an instant with its tail between its legs.

That tabby cat, despite its small size, exuded a fierce aura. It always maintained a safe distance from Xia You and seemed very composed, like a big shot, showing no intention of provoking the black panther by Xia You's side.

As for the patrolling birds in the sky, Xia You could only look up with envy; after all, she couldn't just reach out and see if they would land.

In summary—

Many people at the Blue Star Base have spiritual bodies, and even more so within the Marshal's Mansion.

While they weren't meant to be touched to begin with, because of Yuan Yuan's protective behavior, Xia You didn't even get the chance to approach and observe.

The weather was splendid today. Having returned from the hemisphere where the Snow Mountain Conservation Area is located, Xia You was genuinely enjoying the delightful warmth of the sunlit day.

After her morning run, Xia You wiped her damp short hair, contemplating whether she should discuss continuing her physical training lessons with Wei Cheng or perhaps add a combat class... and maybe even mecha piloting and military tactics?

The black panther went to drink some water. Xia You squatted next to it, running her hand over its sleek, glossy fur. Pinching its fluffy ears and playfully tugging them, she whispered, “It's all His Highness's fault.”

Being skilled in so many areas and having such a comprehensive curriculum, now even thinking about continuing her lessons seems challenging!

The big cat, while drinking, turned its head towards Xia You, its golden eyes showing a hint of confusion.

A wave of guilt suddenly surged in Xia You's heart. She gently patted the innocent panther, “It's okay, Yuan Yuan, continue drinking.”

The black panther then turned its head and resumed drinking, its tail coiled around Xia You's ankle.

Uncle Zhou walked out from the other side and upon seeing Xia You, smiled, “Young Sir, about what you requested—”

“Ah, Uncle Zhou, I was just about to find you!” Xia You quickly stood up and gently nudged Uncle Zhou towards the nearby dining hall. As they turned a corner, she sneakily glanced back at the large black cat.

The human, whose ankle the tail tip was coiled around, suddenly walked away. The black panther paused its drinking, and the frequency of its tongue lapping water significantly decreased.

After a few licks, it turned its head to gaze in the direction of the dining hall.

Upon seeing that the black panther didn't follow, Xia You sighed in relief. Clutching Uncle Zhou's arm, she whispered, "Uncle Zhou, have the seeds arrived?"

A gleam of amusement filled Uncle Zhou's eyes. He retrieved a carefully stored box from a spatial node, unveiling three neat rows of catnip seeds inside.

Previously, many of the catnip plants Xia You had grown were plundered while luring a white tiger. She later attempted to invigorate them, but upon contact with her psychic tendrils, those once-thriving catnips wilted simultaneously, withering away in just a few days.

The research department analyzed them, deducing that Xia You's psychic power had changed. The catnip seeds weren't of high enough quality and had been "overfed," burning out as a result.

It was only then that Xia You realized that seeds cultivated in laboratories had varying quality levels. The highest grade catnip seeds were exclusive to the Imperial Research Institute. Though not classified experimental items due to their frailty, they were still a rare and delicately cultivated commodity.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhou!" Xia You gratefully accepted the storage box, her face breaking into a radiant smile.

As soon as she held the catnip seeds, Xia You felt a distinct difference from the previous batch. It was an indescribable intuition; she could sense the varied potentials between the two sets of seeds.

Uncle Zhou was about to say something when he perked up, catching a reflection of a black shadow on the banister of the staircase opposite the restaurant. He discreetly coughed, placing a hand over his lips.

Xia You quickly stashed the storage box into her spatial node, blinked, and turned to embrace the emerging head of the black panther, rubbing it affectionately.

After Lu Yinghuai fell into a deep slumber, Xia You observed Yuan Yuan for several days. While she regretted that Lu Yinghuai didn't reappear, she no longer had any reservations about pampering Yuan Yuan.

The black panther emitted a soft growl, settling beside Xia You's leg, its tail tip swaying gently.

The omnipotent old butler, keeper of the dark secrets of two Marshals, still smiled kindly, suggesting warmly, "Would the young sir like to sit on the second-floor balcony? The weather is lovely today, and the view is spectacular."

"The logistics department has delivered fresh nuts. We could prepare some snacks."

Xia You's eyes lit up with excitement. "Great! Thank you, Uncle Zhou. I'll change my clothes and join you shortly."

*

Xia You retrieved a change of clothes from her wardrobe. Passing the connecting door between her room and Lu Yinghuai's, she paused, tilting her head to look for a few seconds, smiled, then entered the bathroom.

The black panther, initially lounging on the sofa, looked towards the bathroom, from where the sound of water flowed. After pacing the living room briefly, it returned to settle on the carpet closest to the bedroom door.

Suddenly, a noise emanated from the direction of the balcony. The black panther's ears twitched alertly, and with an air of caution, it gracefully approached the balcony without making a sound.

The shrill sound of claws scratching against the wall and railing echoed from below the balcony. The panther's whiskers quivered as it detected a familiar scent.

A hint of exasperation flashed in its golden eyes. The panther sat upright near the balcony, its fluffy presence imposing.

As expected, the sneaky sound persisted for a moment before a tawny and black tiger's head peeked through the gaps in the railing.

The panther swiped at it as if playing a game of whack-a-mole.

“Roar—!”

Uncle Zhou, who was preparing snacks in the kitchen, happened to look up just in time to see a free-falling tawny and black mass.

The hefty tawny and black figure plummeted from the railing into the garden below, crushing a young sapling that Uncle Zhou had just watered that morning.

The tiger, having failed in its balcony escapade and ready to voice its frustration, halted when it saw the panther perched atop the balcony railing, looking down disdainfully.

The young tiger, which had sneakily escaped from the hibernation center, emitted a guilty purring sound, its ears flattened against its head.

With an amused smile, Uncle Zhou slid open the glass door and stepped aside.

The tiger, nicknamed "Spicy Strip," perked up. With newfound confidence, it strutted out of the ravaged garden to Uncle Zhou's side, affectionately nuzzling the back of his hand.

Uncle Zhou fetched a nutritional tablet from his spatial node and placed it in his palm. Spicy Strip promptly and wisely gobbled it up, swishing its tail in contentment.

Just as Uncle Zhou was about to close the door, Spicy Strip extended a paw to block it.

Uncle Zhou paused, taken aback, before his pupils suddenly constricted.

Just moments ago, from the depths of the little garden, a young tiger cautiously revealed its black and white form. Its thick fur and grayish-blue eyes moved gracefully and unhurriedly.

The white tiger walked directly toward the direction of the snack, seemingly accustomed to the complex scents of humans, or perhaps drawn by the unique aroma of Xia You. Without any hesitation, it stepped into the mansion.

Uncle Zhou stood frozen for several seconds. Only when both tigers turned their heads to look at him did the silver-haired old butler close the door behind him, standing in front of the glass door with a glint in his eyes.

The old butler bowed slightly, his voice carrying a hint of a smile, “Miss, young master Sun, welcome home.”

From behind the snack, a cheerful response was heard, followed by a playful nuzzle against the white tiger.

The white tiger glanced at Uncle Zhou, seemingly annoyed by the nuzzle, and then let out a brief vocal response.

The snack was incredibly familiar with the Marshal’s mansion, leading the white tiger directly to Xia You's room.

Uncle Zhou watched as the two large cats proceeded upstairs, one after the other. He then composed himself, adjusted his attire, and returned to the kitchen. He added two servings of raw meat salad to the previously prepared afternoon tea.

Emerging from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Xia You immediately noticed the tiger and leopard in the living room, each clearly staking out their own territory. Additionally, a polite and properly seated young tiger was at the bathroom entrance.

Xia You: "?"

The hand Xia You was using to dry her hair paused, and she remained stunned for quite a while.

Initially, Xia You had considered leaving the white tiger and the snack at the Marshal’s mansion. However, after several tentative suggestions, the response from the dormancy center was always firm.

As the spouse of the Marshal, Xia You's influence fell far short of overstepping the empire's boundaries to interfere with the queen or crown prince, and she had no choice but to relent.

But now…

Xia You immediately accessed her holographic computer.

As expected, the dormancy center, having lost the two large cats, had tried to communicate with Xia You immediately. However, she hadn’t noticed it until now.

Just after taking a bath, she found herself facing suspected feline intruders. Xia You took a moment of silence, then cautiously edged her way to her bedroom along the wall. She swiftly closed the door behind her, blocking the eager head of the snack from following her in.

Xia You quickly dried her hair and draped on a slightly more formal coat before returning the missed call from the dormancy center.

The video connected swiftly, revealing an elderly man sitting upright. His serious square face framed by glasses, with tight-lipped corners, gave off an aura of sternness.

Xia You was the first to smile, saying, "Good afternoon, Elder Fang."

Upon seeing Xia You's smiling face, a slight change passed through the eyes of the head of the dormancy center, and the tension in his lips eased a bit.

"My sister and the snack, along with Prince Taizi, are indeed in the Marshal's mansion. But, Elder Fang, you must believe me when I say that I absolutely did not engage in any inappropriate, unregulated, or erroneous tiger-snatching actions. I swear." Xia You promptly raised her hand, her expression earnest.

Although General Fang did not have notable military accomplishments, he had devoted his entire lengthy life to Blue Star. After the tragic demise of the Lu couple on Blue Star, he abandoned his promising career at the imperial research institute and was among the second batch of volunteers to station and research on Blue Star.

Xia You had also learned from Uncle Zhou that Elder Fang was the one who was hurriedly summoned by Lu Jiuzhu to treat Lu Yinghuai when he rarely returned to the capital star for duty reporting.

Lu Yinghuai was essentially saved by Elder Fang and was even personally carried out of the cultivation chamber by him.

Later on, when Lu Jiuzhu developed a mental energy disorder, Elder Fang was the primary physician in charge of his treatment.

Therefore, Elder Fang's feelings towards the two marshals of the Lu family were... quite complex.

Elder Fang sighed, removing his glasses to clean them with a cloth, murmuring, "I know."

Xia You sensed an underlying message, her expression slightly shifting.

"The dormancy center was ransacked from top to bottom. Although valuable equipment and the dormancy chambers remain intact, the office areas and simulated ecological forests bear some scratch marks. They'll require some time for restoration."

A lump formed in Xiayu's throat.

Master Fang adjusted his glasses and waved his hand, saying, "After some thought, I did send the bill to the palace."

Xiayu let out a sigh.

The marshal's estate is wealthy, but the hibernation center is almost ten times its size. Even with just basic renovations...

Xiayu couldn't help but sympathize with the emperor who received such an astronomical bill.

"The current hibernation center lacks a simulated forest environment, which isn't suitable for the queen and crown prince," Master Fang said after pondering for a moment. "Lady Xiayu, we hope the marshal's estate can temporarily care for these two dignitaries."

Xiayu responded sincerely, "Master Fang, just call me Little Yu. Uncle Zhou and the prince always do."

Hearing this, the stern expression on Master Fang's face softened considerably.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiayu added, "The marshal's estate is home to my sister and the crown prince. We'll follow all of your medical instructions strictly, and like the prince, return to the hibernation center for regular check-ups."

Master Fang paused for a moment, tapped a few times on his digital device, and sent two documents to Xiayu.

"The queen's condition is similar to the marshal's. Your psychic abilities in soothing and treatment are undeniably more effective than those at the hibernation center."

Master Fang had mixed feelings towards Xiayu. He was grateful for a breakthrough in psychic disorder treatment in his lifetime, but it also indirectly proved the hibernation center had been on the wrong research path for years.

Initially, the hibernation center was adamant about keeping the companions of Lu Jiuzhu and Qin Anhong, seemingly trying to prove a point.

Now, their collaborative stance has woken up the researchers who were stubbornly heading down a dead end.

The hibernation center certainly needs restructuring, but it's more than just physical renovations.

"Xiayu--"

Tears welled up in Xiayu's eyes, looking visibly saddened.

"Little Yu," Master Fang, setting aside his myriad of emotions, smiled warmly at her. "The hibernation center will collaborate with the healing center, bringing in top-level healers to assist you in the companion creature healing trials."

Medical practitioners and healers should complement each other, not be at odds.

"Okay, feel free to reach out with any new ideas," Xiayu said with a cheerful smile.

Then, shifting her tone, Xiayu asked seriously, "By the way, Master Fang, I've been meaning to ask, the prince's condition isn't typical of most psychic disorders, is it?"

Elder Fang paused, signaling Xia You to access the medical data he had sent earlier, explaining, "Yes, in fact, this was the first real episode of illness for Prince Taizi."

"Previously, the Dormancy Center had focused its research and treatments on suppressing the prince's psychic energy, intending to stabilize his chaotic mental strength and ensure the development of his physical constitution. The aim was to provide him with a robust physique capable of accommodating higher levels of psychic power."

"However, the prince's physical development has been less than promising."

"But during the time when the prince entered the protected forest zone, we were astounded to find that his dormant body began growing at an astonishing rate, increasingly aligning with his chronological age."

"Therefore, we unanimously believe that the prince's current active state in his companion beast form should be extended moderately."

Flipping through the medical records of the tiger named "Spicy Stick", Xia You skipped over some technical jargon, focusing intently on the data comparisons and conclusions. He mused, “So, what Spicy Stick needs now is to grow properly; the closer he gets to the size of an adult tiger, the healthier he'll be?”

Ignoring Xia You's informal name for the crown prince, Mr. Fang nodded with a smile.

Xia You then opened the medical records of Lu JiuZhu. After studying it for a while, he hesitated before concluding, “For my sister, the goal is to maintain a calm demeanor and strive to regain consciousness?”

Mr. Fang nodded in agreement.

Xia You raised an eyebrow.

Wasn't this just like his previous daily routine in the protected area, only now with the added task of fattening up the orange cat?

In this regard, no one could match Xia You's expertise.

After discussing some care guidelines for the tigers with Mr. Fang, Xia You ended the video call.

The moment the call ended, Xia You couldn't resist hopping in place out of sheer joy.

Who would have thought that the two big cats he initially believed could only be visited in the hibernation center would eventually return to him, even becoming house cats in the Marshal's mansion!

With a soft squeak, the bedroom door cracked open from the outside.

Reacting, Xia You reached out to fully open the door.

An orange-black young tiger stared anxiously at him.

Xia You melted at the sight, squatted down, and vigorously rubbed Spicy Stick's head, unable to hide his excitement, "Spicy Stick, from now on, make sure to eat well and strive to grow big and strong, okay?"

Spicy Stick seemed to grasp Xia You's meaning, roaring loudly and joyfully in response.

The only displeased one was the panther, whose territory was once again invaded. However, after Xia You hugged its neck and forced it to reconcile with the white tiger — even getting the panther to pat the tiger's head — the panther could only concede with a deep growl.

*

Bathed in the warm afternoon sun, Xia You took the three big cats to the large terrace Uncle Zhou had mentioned. A grand afternoon tea was already set up there, complete with a soft, long-haired carpet and Xia You's favorite pillows.

Pouring himself a cup of fruit tea and nibbling on some snacks, Xia You suddenly remembered his grooming duties and coaxed the black panther to lie down for a brushing.

Once the panther was down, Xia You's nimble fingers went to work, massaging the big cat until it relaxed, its head resting on Xia You's lap, purring contentedly.

The round-toothed comb worked its magic on the panther's black fur, gently removing the loose hairs which were then gathered up by Xia You's slender, shiny fingers.

The white tiger, drawn to the panther's purring, gazed at it for a while before stepping over to sit behind Xia You, placing its paw over Xia You's shoulder.

The weight on Xia You's shoulder was immediately noticeable. Glancing sideways, he felt the warmth radiating from the black and white furred tiger's paw pad.

Xia You: “?”

Turning his head, Xia You noticed the white tiger intently watching the nimble tentacles massaging and combing the panther's fur. After hesitating for a moment, he extended a few tentacles towards the white tiger.

As expected, the white tiger showed no intention of avoiding them. Instead, it retracted its claws when the tentacles began to massage it, laying down beside Xia You, and began purring contentedly, much like the black panther.

Gentle sunlight kissed Xia You's cheeks, casting a soft glow over the furry creatures.

As Xia You openly groomed the panther's fur while stealthily collecting the tiger's, a feeling of indescribable satisfaction filled his heart.

After a while, feeling thirsty, Xia You reached for his cup, only to find it empty.

Huh?

Lifting his gaze, he saw a tiger carefully sipping tea from his cup, meticulously wiping away any spills with its paw pad.

Xia You: “…”

Can tigers drink tea?

Wait, Spicy Stick isn't an ordinary tiger.

Can companion beasts drink tea?

That's not right either; companion beasts don't typically need to eat…

With a blank expression, Xia You messaged Mr. Fang. Upon learning that companion beasts can consume virtually anything without harm, he pulled out a large bowl from his spatial pouch and silently poured tea for Spicy Stick.

The tiger, looking slightly embarrassed, let out a soft roar, pushing Xia You's original cup back towards him.

— Additionally, it pawed the raw meat salad Uncle Zhou had prepared closer to itself and began devouring it with gusto.

Xia You tenderly stroked the diligent little tiger, murmuring, “It's okay, eat whatever you like, I've got you.”

Spicy Stick paused momentarily, turning its head to nuzzle Xia You's palm.

His gesture of lowering his head to eat the meat slowed significantly, reminiscent of times past when he'd sit in the garden, savoring a leisurely afternoon tea.

……

An hour later, Uncle Zhou came up to tidy up, only to find a scene on the grand terrace: a person and three cats sprawled haphazardly.

Xia You was enveloped by the black panther, resting her head on its large paw, with its tail wrapped around her ankle.

Perhaps feeling a tad warm from her slumber, Xia You occasionally pushed the panther away. However, it clung to her even tighter, mumbling softly in discontent, her face flushed in sleep.

A small tangerine-black tiger rested its head on Xia You's other hand, belly up, its white fur rustling in the breeze.

The white tiger lay beside the little tiger, its powerful tail resting on the younger tiger's belly, rising and falling with its breaths.

Uncle Zhou chuckled, bringing over a small blanket to cover the exposed white belly of the little tiger.

*

Xia You was awakened by the continuous vibration of the holographic computer on her wrist. Rubbing her eyes and sitting up, she groggily activated it, discovering a visitor inquiry from the marshal's mansion main gate.

Hm?

Isn't this… a task Uncle Zhou usually handles?

Puzzled, Xia You accessed the gate's surveillance. The moment she recognized the image, all traces of sleepiness vanished.

At the mansion's entrance sat an elegant civet, which twitched its ears before standing, its fluffy body upright, as it stretched out a paw to ring the doorbell.