Chapter 90

Holding the somewhat introspective coal-black ball, Xia You headed to the underground hibernation chamber that only they could access.

The panel of the hibernation pod flashed with lights indicating stable data. Peering through the lid, all one could see was a thick white mist.

But this time, Xia You chose to activate the internal surveillance camera of the hibernation pod. Through the displayed screen, he saw Lu Yinghuai's face after many days.

Xia You always knew about the hibernation pod's observation feature but was never keen on seeing Lu Yinghuai, oblivious and eyes closed, lying inside.

He had seen His Highness smile at him before entering hibernation, even holding his finger. That memory alone was sufficient.

But now, Xia You, with the weight of the furry little creature in his arms, both human and panther, gazed at the image on the screen.

Lu Yinghuai, sensing something, looked down to see Xia You extending his psychic tendril into the hibernation pod right in front of him.

Xia You smiled, using his psychic tendril to poke the back of the man's hand inside the hibernation pod, uncurling the little tendril that had 'run away from home', which was now curled into a ball, resting on the man's palm, looking thinner from sleep.

Technology couldn't detect the presence of psychic entities, yet the movement of the fingers of the man inside the pod was unmistakable.

The coal-black ball jumped out from between Xia You's arms, settling firmly on the transparent lid of the hibernation pod.

It sat perfectly opposite the black panther fur blanket Xia You had previously placed on the pod, looking utterly adorable.

With a thought, Xia You lifted the 'runaway' little tendril out of the hibernation pod and tucked it into the embrace of the coal-black ball.

Caught off guard, Lu Yinghuai widened his eyes, firmly guarding the independent little tendril in his embrace with both front paws, staring in astonishment at Xia You.

Xia You chuckled; the tendril under his control retreated back into the hibernation pod, wrapping around the man's wrist, reminiscent of how the prince always used his panther tail to encircle Xia You's wrist.

A surge of psychic energy began flowing into Lu Yinghuai's body. Even if it couldn't directly enter his psychic sea, Xia You's gentle yet unique psychic energy always managed to stabilize Lu Yinghuai's condition.

Xia You consumed one energy stone after another from the spatial nexus. Without the deliberate control of Lu Yinghuai and Uncle Zhou, Xia You had been absorbing and outputting energy from these stones for days, showing noticeable improvement and efficiency in his absorption rate.

The little tendril, abruptly awakened and lifted by Xia You, lay in the embrace of the coal-black ball. After a stunned pause, it cautiously nudged the panther's head and then joyfully began rubbing against the panther's fur.

Lu Yinghuai's panther face remained solemn. Using his claw, he held the independent tendril and handed it to Xia You, his gaze signaling something.

Clearly, Lu Yinghuai wanted Xia You to retract this fragment of psychic entity.

Xia You then spoke, "I've been thinking of retrieving it all this time. But now it seems beneficial to leave a part of it by Your Highness's side."

Lu Yinghuai attempted to type a persuasive message to Xia You but found his front paws firmly bound by the suddenly elongating tendril.

Lu Yinghuai: "?"

The coal-black ball looked at Xia You, its gaze filled with shock and indescribable bewilderment.

Scratching his cheek, Xia You sheepishly said, "I've been learning some binding techniques from Uncle Zhou lately and acted on instinct just now..."

Lu Yinghuai attempted to move his claws, to no avail, his deep purple eyes fixed silently on Xia You.

Xia You blinked, "Your Highness knows this particular tendril is somewhat unruly. It doesn't heed me much... quite the personality."

What does the mischievous runaway tendril have to do with the innocent Xia You after all?

With his front paws bound, the little black coal struggled to maintain balance, forced to sit on the surface of the hibernation chamber. His paws awkwardly rested in front of him as he watched Xia You absorb one energy stone after another, channeling the energy into him.

Lu Yinghuai began to introspect.

Was the suggestion to have Xia You attend lessons with Uncle Zhou really the right one?

Although Xia You can be impulsive at times, she always knows her limits.

Sensing they were approaching the critical threshold, Xia You ceased channeling her psychic energy into Lu Yinghuai. The small tentacles on the front paws of the little black coal released their grasp and quickly retreated into the hibernation chamber.

Xia You stepped forward, embracing the ruffled little black panther and skillfully smoothing its fur. While gazing at the sulking creature in her arms, she whispered, “Your Highness, you haven’t told me how you managed to transform into this form?”

Whether it's a companion beast or a psychic entity, one sign of strength is the maturity of its form.

Typically, a psychic entity or companion beast that appears juvenile or sub-adult either suffers from a developmental ailment, similar to the previous spicy strip;

Or the main entity possesses significant potential for psychic growth, much like the juvenile forest snake that's about to accompany Xia You to the trading planet.

But Lu Yinghuai clearly doesn't fit into either category.

Lu Yinghuai glanced up at Xia You and activated his holographic computer to explain:

[Before you arrived, the Hibernation Center was researching an alternative treatment called Psychic Force Regression.]

[Previously, it was universally believed that the root of psychic disorders lay in the advancement of psychic levels. Thus, some professors hypothesized that if the psychic force showed signs of regression, the condition might improve.]

Xia You, upon hearing this, frowned.

Such an approach…

Although Xia You hasn't found conclusive evidence linking the gray matter in the psychic sea of mental disorder patients with the zombie virus,

To her, only those with strong psychic powers can resist the virus—of course, during this process, the psychic force might indeed become more intensely corrupted by the virus, exacerbating the condition.

But reducing one's psychic level after being infected is akin to one army retreating suddenly when neither side is giving ground.

The dominating enemy wouldn't retreat in response; instead, it would launch an unchecked assault until victory is secured.

But experiments by nature begin with bold hypotheses, followed by testing. Without a clear answer, no hypothesis should be outright rejected.

Xia You inquired, "Were there any clinical trials?"

[Yes.] The little black panther's paw hesitated for a moment, [There was once an elderly general who proposed forfeiting his entry to the Blue Star Sanctuary, volunteering himself for the experiment.]

"And then?" Xia You's fingers, resting atop the little coal-black creature's spine, tightened anxiously.

[The general's psychic entity began to grow agitated, bloodthirsty, and frenzied, attacking anything and everything—eventually turning on his own host.]

[In a space where only the companion beast existed, it tore at its own flesh and fur, bit by bit, until it succumbed to its self-inflicted injuries.]

The companion beast mirrored the state of the old general's psychic sea. After the creature's demise, the general too...

[Subsequently, all research on psychic regression was forcibly halted and never allowed again.]

Yet Xia You's gaze lingered for a long time on those lines of text on the screen.

Noticing Xia You's emotional turmoil, Lu Yinghuai leapt out of her embrace and stood on the surface of the hibernation pod. Standing tall, he extended a paw to touch her cheek, gazing at her with concern.

Clenching his teeth so hard his lip bled, Xia You's eyes trembled. After a long pause, he finally found his resolve and softly said, "Your Highness, if I wish to propose a research direction, how can it be established?"

The young man's voice was hoarse but unwavering—filled with determination.

"Regarding psychic disorder syndrome, and... the zombie virus that once brought humanity on Blue Star to the brink of extinction."

"I can't provide research reports, nor have I found any compelling correlation yet. But I believe that the psychic disorder might very well be another parasitic transmission method of the zombie virus."

No longer the robust figure he once was, the little black panther appeared fragile. Looking up, he met Xia You's unwavering gaze and gently tapped Xia You's cheek with his soft paw pad.

[As long as you're Xia You, it's possible.]

Xia You blinked in surprise.

"There's no need for extensive research data or, or a more established logic?"

[Xia You, the Imperial Research Institute receives tens of thousands of research proposals every quarter. The Emperor has always insisted that all research proposals bypass the mainframe for human review.]

[But if every project required multiple serious approvals, too much time would be wasted, and projects without immediate results would find it harder to be established. This mainly applies to projects needing imperial funding and assigned researchers.]

[Thus, project heads with the necessary resources often seek external investors, funding their own research. Once they have significant results, they then present them for imperial review.]

[Those in medical or healing professions tend to be more attractive to investors.]

Thinking of his identity as a healer, Xia You tentatively raised his hand, pointing at himself. "So... I can become the initiator of the project?"

The little coal-black creature nodded its sleek panther head, then pointed at itself with its front paw.

[I, the investor.]

Xia You realized, "Then, entrust Doctor Meng for the research?"

He paused, nervously licking his lips before saying, "I can cooperate—hm?"

Lu Yinghuai raised his paw, silencing Xia You's offer to become a research subject with his soft paw pad.

[Meng Wenxuan is well-versed in the necessary procedures. Just provide the research direction and let him handle the details. Don't rush the rest.]

Meng Wenxuan's decision to align with Xia You was due to his unique nature in relation to psychic disorder syndrome. Once Xia You sets a research direction, Meng will be the first to dive in without hesitation.

Meng Wenxuan isn't driven by wealth. Having been in the First Legion for so long, he doesn't crave military ranks or power. What he desires is to leave his mark on medical history.

He'll be more passionate than anyone else and will have even greater means and confidence in keeping research findings confidential.

Lu Yinghuai gazed at Xia You. Although in the body of a black panther cub—soft and cuddly—his adorable eyes held gentle understanding and insight.

Xia You cradled the little coal-black creature, resting his chin atop its furry form, whispering, "Your Highness saw it coming, didn't you? Why didn't you ask?"

The little creature nuzzled Xia You's cheek with its head, the tip of its ear brushing past his nose.

[Even as soulmates, one has no right to demand or delve into all of the other's secrets.]

[You have your own private spaces and thoughts.]

The creature's tail lifted, curling at the tip as it tickled Xia You's nose, as if teasing a laugh out of him.

Tickled, Xia You sneezed softly, bursting into laughter.

On the screen in front of him, a line of words appeared gently yet resolutely:

[Of course, if you ever need me, I'll always be here.]

Xia You's arms tightened, and after a long moment, he whispered, "Mm."

A playful glint appeared in Lu Yinghuai's eyes. Taking advantage of his devolved cub form, he shifted and rested his head on Xia You's wrist, listening to the steady beat of Xia You's pulse.

Suddenly, Xia You asked, "But Your Highness, you still haven't told me how you ended up like this? Wasn't the psychic degradation experiment halted entirely?"

Lu Yinghuai, attempting to divert the topic, stiffened at his unsuccessful attempt.

Xia You, with a smile, pinched the ears of the little coal-black creature, "Your Highness?"

Reluctantly, Lu Yinghuai began typing with his furry paws: [The previous psychic degradation experiment was conducted by suppressing the activity of the psychic sea through equipment, reducing psychic output, and thus reverting the familiar to its developmental state, and decreasing the psychic rank.]

[However, my psychic sea is rather unique.]

[A few days ago, I kept lapsing into unconsciousness because your psychic energy began entering the core of my psychic sea. When there was a sign of effective treatment, the suppressed psychic force of the insectoid queen within began to resist and retaliate.]

[Most of my psychic energy was then used to maintain stability in the core of the psychic sea, which is why there wasn’t enough energy to sustain the familiar's body.]

[Meng Wenxuan suggested a temporary regression of my familiar to reduce the psychic energy consumption.]

Actually, Lu Yinghuai was initially against it, because in both the juvenile or sub-adult states, his familiar could be considered very vulnerable.

He never liked his softer, fragile self.

However, when Xia You suggested going alone to the trading planet due to their statuses, Lu Yinghuai immediately thought of this treatment recommendation.

The jaguar cub looks entirely different from its majestic adult counterpart. Young Lu Yinghuai even looked a bit malnourished, appearing like a frail black kitten.

That's why in his younger days, Lu Jiuzhu loved to carry the cub around everywhere using his familiar.

No one would ever link such a creature to the Marshal of the Empire.

The slimmed-down tail of the jaguar fell, resting between Xia You's arms. The little coal-black creature tilted its head, gazing up from Xia You's embrace.

[This trip, I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you to protect me.]

Hearing the always-dominant His Highness speak in this manner, a surge of energy overwhelmed Xia You, making him feel invigorated.

Lifting the fluffy little panther, an enthusiastic Xia You declared with conviction, "Yes!! I will surely protect Your Highness!"

Suddenly, with all four paws in the air and stretched out in front of Xia You, Lu Yinghuai looked puzzled.

Feeling a cold sensation on his belly and recalling a recent event with Xia You, the alert little coal-black creature quickly wriggled free from Xia You's grasp, eyeing a regretful-looking Xia You warily.

"Ah, the prince has discovered me."

Innocence was painted in Xia You's eyes.

The little charcoal-black creature skirted around Xia You, leaped out of the hibernation pod, unlocked the chamber's door through a psychic authentication, and left.

Xia You chuckled softly, took one last glance at the screen, gracefully turned off the control panel, and let her fingers lightly rest on the edge of the pod's lid.

Silence permeated the hibernation chamber, even the hum of the machinery was barely audible.

The gentle and even breaths of Xia You filled the room, gradually echoing against the metallic surface of the hibernation pod.

A few minutes later, with a soft click, the pod's door opened and then closed. The young man's footsteps faded away, dissolving into silence.

Atop the pod's lid, beside the previously placed small black panther plush, now rested a chubby plush tentacle. It bore a meticulously crafted image of a "dead fish" on its surface.