Chapter 94

By the time Xia You fell asleep, Lu Yinghuai curled up beside her pillow, his mind preoccupied with the speech he had revised several times before finalizing.

He then closed his eyes, reviewing his spatial knot throughout the night.

Recently, Xia You had frequently experienced nightmares. However, this night she slept exceptionally soundly, as if lulled by the captivating voice of the prince still resonating in her ears.

The next morning, Xia You stirred. Before she even opened her eyes, her hand reached out, finding the warm and soft ball of fur beside her, pulling it under the covers.

Companion beasts didn’t need sleep, but after a night spent mentally reviewing his spatial knot, Lu Yinghuai felt a pounding in his head.

He nestled in Xia You’s embrace, eyes closed, determined not to let her see the items he had sorted through last night.

With her chin resting on the furry head of the little "black coal", Xia You's sleepy voice murmured, "Good morning, Your Highness."

Lu Yinghuai turned his head, brushing his cheek against hers.

"Good morning."

After lingering in bed for a few more minutes, Xia You affectionately nuzzled the little leopard and then, rubbing her eyes, sat up.

Lu Yinghuai lay on the pillow, curling into a ball, feeling a rare sense of fatigue as he listened to the footsteps of Xia You heading to the washroom.

Inside the washroom, after stepping out of the bath and drying off, Xia You hesitated. Pinching her earlobe, she quietly pulled out an outfit from her spatial knot.

It was the Military Academy Alliance uniform that Lu Yinghuai had stored away the previous night.

Their spatial knots were interconnected. Earlier, while Xia You was snuggling with the little "black coal", she had merged their spatial knots. Using a subtle mental tendril, she sneakily accessed Lu Yinghuai’s knot, quickly located the familiar box, and transferred her desired item into her own space.

Xia You had a fondness for plush things, but seeing the prince in that uniform, which inherently exuded confidence and charm… everyone has a desire to admire beauty, right?

Xia You played with the gem button on the uniform, her ears turning pink.

Previously, when she entered that wardrobe, she simply imagined how regal and commanding the prince would look in those uniforms.

Just the day before, she had watched several old videos of the prince, including one where he wore this uniform, receiving a medal after a victory.

Xia You's gaze drifted, a wave of indescribable emotions flooding her heart.

She could never be a part of the prince’s past years, never see his younger, slightly naive self. However…

Xia You held the platinum-colored uniform, bowing her head and gently taking in its scent with a soft inhale.

Of course, it bore no particular fragrance, yet Xia You couldn't help but be reminded of the distinct scent she had occasionally caught from Lu Yinghuai.

It was a crisp aroma with a hint of bitterness, firm yet concealing tenderness.

……

Hearing Xia You emerge, Lu Yinghuai's leopard-like ears twitched, and he turned his head to find the familiar platinum uniform instantly catching his gaze.

Messages continuously popped up on his neural communication interface, yet Lu Yinghuai remained fixated on the upright figure standing at the washroom entrance, unable to look away.

"Your Highness?" Overcoming a touch of embarrassment and unease, Xia You raised her arm in Lu Yinghuai's direction, her eyes shining with inquiry, "Does it look alright?"

Lu Yinghuai, captivated by Xia You, hopped off the bed and approached her, raising his head to look at the radiant youth.

Xia You was already a gem in Lu Yinghuai's eyes, but now he realized that this gem, when adorned with a ribbon signifying ownership, was at its most brilliant and unparalleled.

[Beautiful]

Typing this response, he then leaped into Xia You's outstretched arms, settling comfortably in her embrace.

Walking over to the dressing mirror, Xia You examined her reflection and suddenly remarked, "Actually, I think this color suits me quite well."

Most of the prince's outfits were black and gold. Platinum, however...

Xia You pursed her lips, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Amusement twinkled in Lu Yinghuai's eyes.

He too gazed at the reflection of the two of them, one human and one leopard. A deep-seated sense of longing and desire, one he hadn't felt in a while, surged from within.

He wished to stand openly by Xia You's side, to hold her hand or drape an arm around her shoulders, and then personally offer her a meticulously chosen rose—something he knew he was fully capable of and rightfully should do.

……

Blue Star·Marshal Mansion·Underground Sleep Chamber

The man, who hadn't responded for a long time, suddenly furrowed his brows. First, his index finger twitched, and then, for the first time, he slightly lifted his wrist.

Within the sleep chamber, the mental energy belonging to Xia You was intense. The small tendrils hadn't thinned recently but seemed to have even plumped up a bit.

Out of boredom, the tiny tentacle, which had been fiddling with the man's collar and shirt corner, suddenly darted closer, placing its tip beside the man's finger with a vivid display of delight.

The man, whose expression had seemed somewhat restless and whose right hand was searching within the stasis pod, softened. He gathered the soft, squishy tentacle and placed it against his chest, right over the steady beat of his heart.

The little tentacle paused in confusion, attempting to poke out, but found itself gently held back.

Yet, fond of the touch, it obediently rubbed the tip against the man's finger, curled up, and drifted into a deep sleep.

The data on the stasis pod's display finally changed, showing several irregular peaks before sharply dropping and eventually returning to calm.

***

Exiting the spaceship, Xia You looked up at the overcast sky, his expression unchanged.

The "Wanderer Galaxy" wasn't exactly a pleasant name, and the trading planet within it was far from a thriving world.

Due to its harsh environment, the planet was once classified as barren.

Even now, all one could see were bare rocks and near-impassable mires, with the air thick with a foul stench.

Abandoned metal occasionally protruded from the sand, revealing sharp edges marked with the rust of time.

However, beneath this wasteland, humans built a hidden underground city.

Those who entered the trading zone, be they buyers, sellers, or mercenaries making a living, disliked bright sunlight, as it could jeopardize certain secrets.

Xia You merely stood in place, waiting for a trader to approach him.

Sen Shi stayed close behind Xia You, his hands clenched tightly by his sides.

The inspection team's battleship landed, and a tall figure emerged, standing by the exit. Dressed in a navy-blue military uniform, her light grey hair, with hints of yellow at the ends, was tucked under a cap, flowing behind her in the gusts created by the ship's descent.

Upon seeing Xia You, the female officer with long boots tilted her head slightly, her face expressionless from a distance.

Hearing the commotion, Xia You also looked over, curiosity evident in his eyes.

He had met this leader of the inspection team a few times. To describe her... she had a very distinct and unique character.

Even though their interactions consisted of straightforward exchanges, this leader gave him an impression of profound indifference— Xia You had previously pondered whether his own unilateral decisions might displease the inspection team and had prepared some explanations in advance.

Surprisingly, upon learning his identity and knowing that he intended to enter the trade planet against all advice, the other party paused briefly before responding simply with a nonchalant "Mhm."

When Xiayou mentioned the need for warship protection, the response was just a "Mhm."

The only difference was the added period.

The female officer bowed slightly from a distance towards Xiayou, then gestured towards the warship.

The next moment, the inspection team's warship slowly closed its hatch, clearly indicating their reluctance to get involved in the chaos of the trading arena.

Xiayou also diverted his gaze.

The presence of the inspection team is indeed sensitive; avoiding interaction is the right approach.

With that in mind, Xiayou gently touched the small black coal in his pocket, pondering his plan for the trade planet.

After standing for a while, Xiayou suddenly felt something at his feet - something warm, soft, lump-like, and seemingly... immobile.

Having to conceal his identity on this trip, Xiayou resisted the urge to use his psychic tendrils and instead looked down in confusion.

He then locked eyes with a creature covered in greyish-yellow fur, with short round ears and beady eyes.

Xiayou's expression blanked for a moment.

The creature, which had been resting calmly by his feet, slowly shifted its body. Under Xiayou's gaze, it raised its stubby black paw and... clutched Xiayou's pant leg.

Then it stayed still.

Xiayou: "…?"

Lu Yinghuai stood up, placed his paw on Xiayou's shoulder, and looked down at the creature from above.

Xiayou has always been fond of fluffy creatures. Even though this one seemed vaguely familiar, he couldn't immediately recall what it was. Still, this didn't stop Xiayou from softening his expression and gently asking, "Do you need my help?"

The small animal, about the length of Xiayou's forearm, looked up at him. After a moment, its beady black eyes began to squint.

Xiayou found it amusing and couldn't resist petting its head.

Suddenly touched, its ears twitched flexibly several times.

Xiayou sensed a trace of psychic energy and thought twice, deciding not to touch the unfamiliar fluffy creature again.

It wasn't until Lu Yinghuai typed with a raised claw that he reminded: [This is a companion beast.]

A companion beast?

Up to now, the most harmless companion beasts Xiayou had encountered were like red pandas, all somewhat aggressive creatures.

The creature in front of him, which didn't resemble a predator, was a human's companion beast?

But don't companion beasts typically stay close to their masters?

Unless they've entered hibernation.

But if it were in hibernation, shouldn't the state of a companion beast be less stable... perhaps?

Moreover, in Xiayou's experience, companion beasts usually radiate strong psychic fluctuations, distinguishing them from ordinary animals. However, if not for that brief psychic wave earlier, Xiayou would not have recognized the one in front of him.

Out of curiosity, Xiayou activated his light-brain to scan and identify the creature. He stared at the rapidly retrieved information for a long time, stunned.

Capybara.

Herbivore.

A creature exuding harmlessness and serenity. So emotionally stable, it almost carries a nonchalant attitude toward life... and death.

Herbivore, sociable, harmless creature.

"Sister-in-law!"

Sen Shi finally caught sight of the figure he'd been yearning for. Overjoyed, he couldn't help but call out.

Xiayou and the others looked up to see, amidst the desolation, a deep blue gem spider slowly approaching. Atop it sat an alluring woman with half her body stained in blood and damp short hair.

Upon spotting the arrival, the little capybara, which had been motionless, suddenly stood up. Before Xiayou could react, it swiftly took a few steps and plunged straight into a nearby muddy pond, quickly sinking out of sight.