Chapter 118

Xia You didn't keep this matter from Lu Yinghuai.

That very night, when the marshal, who had initially planned to spend a relaxing evening with Mr. Xiao, had to hastily head to the base. Along the way, he even 'kidnapped' the emperor, who had just returned from his honeymoon.

Xia You got to pamper Baihu A Jie, the white tiger she hadn’t petted in a while, fondly pinching her tiger paw pads.

Yuan Yuan walked over, took a seat next to the white tiger, and forcefully thrust her own paw pads into Xia You's hand.

Hence, Xia You found herself pinching a tiger paw with her left hand and a leopard paw with her right, gently squeezing one then the other.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a difference between A Jie's paw pads and Yuan Yuan's…

Before leaving this morning, Lu Yinghuai mentioned to Xia You that he could discuss the energy stone speculation with Lu Jiuzhu. Lu Jiuzhu often thinks differently than others; there might be a breakthrough.

Xia You then sat cross-legged in front of the two big cats, relaying to Lu Jiuzhu the speculations she and Meng Wenxuan had discussed the previous day.

This also included the final guess she hadn’t shared with Meng Wenxuan.

Like humans, the insectoids are independent beings with flesh, blood, and racial characteristics. But the zombie virus is a pathogen requiring a host. Now, with their fates intertwined, Xia You could only think of one possibility.

The insectoid queen was once infected by the zombie virus, and even when consumed by Lu Yinghuai, the virus wasn't purged.

But throughout interstellar history, the zombie virus only emerged on the Blue Planet. This seemed like the planet's unique self-cleansing and restructuring process. Even years after the great apocalypse, remnants of the virus were found in the air and water.

After hearing this, Lu Jiuzhu paused for a while, then typed on his light-computer: [The insectoid queen indeed visited the Blue Planet, but few know this.]

[Yinghuai isn't aware either, as only a handful in the empire know.]

As Lu Jiuzhu typed, a large black panther nearby watched solemnly, its tail resting motionless on the carpet.

[The location where Uncle Zhou originally extracted the psychic sample from the insectoid queen was actually the Blue Planet.]

After typing this line, Lu Jiuzhu paused for a long time, seemingly contemplating, then slowly typed another line.

[My parents found Uncle Zhou near the Blue Planet. After he woke up, he left for a while before arriving at the imperial star.]

Xia You: "!"

This implies the actual sequence of events was—

Uncle Zhou first discovered the insectoid queen on the Blue Planet and obtained a psychic sample from her. However, he was injured by her. Later, he was rescued by the researcher couple of the Lu family. After recovering, he wreaked havoc in the federation, then arrived at the empire, adopting a disguise as a butler in the Lu household.

The white tiger sighed, its whiskers twitching: [The relationship between the federation and the empire was tense back then. The federation controlled most energy stone veins. The empire's initial exploration of their home planet wasn't about tracing history but detecting the rich energy stone veins on the Blue Planet.]

[The federation once sanctioned the empire over energy stones. Pressed into a corner, the empire didn't want this lifeline in enemy hands. So they needed the Blue Planet's veins.]

[Behind the incident where Uncle Zhou destroyed the federation's research base, the empire also lent some... support. As expected, the federation was too preoccupied afterwards to explore the Blue Planet, allowing the empire to claim it with minimal costs.]

[Given the residual viruses from the disaster era detected on the Blue Planet, after mining its veins, the imperial research institute conducted numerous tests.]

[After exhaustive tests, the conclusion was that the energy stones and insectoids

[Following this, the Empire undertook over a decade of planetary simulation experiments. Only once no issues arose did they fully implement its use.]

Even Lu Yinghuai knows little of these inner workings.

The current Emperor's ascendancy wasn’t without contention. At the time of these events, he was but an overlooked peripheral prince. It’s possible those princes privy to such secrets have long been silenced under the muzzle of energy guns.

Uncle Zhou only has fragmented knowledge of it all.

Had Xiayou not pulled Lu Jiuzhu back from the brink of death, these secrets, lost in time and unrecorded, would've remained shrouded forever.

Suddenly recalling something, Xiayou fished a fruit from his dimensional loop—a remnant from the batch Lu Yinghuai brought home days ago.

“Sister, when the Empire first ventured into Blue Star, they did detect residual zombie viruses. That's why they cultivated these fruit trees capable of absorbing the virus.”

With a delicate strand of psychic energy, Xiayou peeled the fruit, separating its flesh to reveal a seed encapsulated within.

“Yet look, sister, this core has formed a crystal much like an energy stone.”

“While I'm clueless as to why no connection between energy stones and the zombie virus was detected, I believe there’s an underlying relation we're yet to uncover.”

After a prolonged silence, Lu Jiuzhu retrieved a royal seal from his dimensional loop. Holding it with his tiger claw, he handed it to Xiayou, signaling, [If you're set on this, head to the energy stone mines.]

***

Blue Star itself is under military alert, let alone crucial areas like the energy stone mines.

While the rights to the energy stone mines are held by the royal family, noble houses, or merchant associations, many zones on Blue Star maintain maximum security, permitting only controlled robots to operate.

Robots regularly mine and sort the energy stones, transporting them to cargo ships. Without authorization from the Emperor or Empress, all others are restricted at the perimeter.

Xiayou toyed with the seal Lu Jiuzhu gave him, murmuring, “How odd… So even His Highness and Latiao lack access?”

“I wonder where Uncle Zhou encountered the Bug Queen…”

“Which place?”

A familiar voice echoed. Xiayou swiftly turned, finding Uncle Zhou impeccably dressed, hair neatly combed, standing nearby.

The old butler still donned his signature black and white attire, with a gold watch chain hanging in front.

"Uncle Zhou! You're back!" Xia You quickly stashed away the seal, dashed towards Uncle Zhou, and embraced him warmly.

Uncle Zhou chuckled, hugging back the sweetest and most sensible child in the house. He then pulled out a soft, fluffy object from his pocket and placed it in Xia You's hand.

"Play with it."

Xia You: "…?"

Uncle Zhou's demeanor was as if he'd just returned from an errand and brought back a gift for his child. Nonchalantly, he headed upstairs.

Xia You felt the warmth and slight weight of the furry bundle in her palm. She watched in astonishment as it lifted its head, revealing round beady eyes and small semicircular ears.

For a few seconds, Xia You's mind went blank, gazing at the golden-haired hamster.

Isn't this the companion creature of mercenary D?!

Holding the hamster as if it were a hot potato, Xia You saw Uncle Zhou returning from upstairs. She hurriedly cradled the hamster with both hands and followed him into the kitchen, inquiring, "Uncle Zhou, this is—"

"Hmm?"

Xia You cautiously asked, "Isn't this Mr. D's...um...companion creature?"

"Yes, it's his."

Uncle Zhou fetched a dark, rigid object from a spatial pouch and submerged it in the sink.

"Ah… um, well."

Xia You glanced down at the fearless golden hamster lying flat in her palm, then looked up at Uncle Zhou, who was searching for a recipe on the Star Network.

"Can I heal it?" Being the old butler's favorite, Xia You leaned in with hopeful eyes while Uncle Zhou was chopping vegetables, "Uncle Zhou, will Mr. D be a part of our family from now on?"

A flicker of discomfort passed through Uncle Zhou's eyes, "He's found his own place on the Blue Star; you don't need to worry about him."

"Oh, okay." Nodding in understanding, Xia You gently cradled the hamster, preparing to attempt psychic healing.

In fact, she had been curious about the hamster's condition earlier, but Mr. D left too abruptly. Xia You's psychic level back then wasn't sufficient for healing, but now she could give it a try.

"By the way, Uncle Zhou."

Shielding the hamster's ears with her palm, Xia You whispered a brief summary of recent events to Uncle Zhou.

Xia You specifically inquired if Uncle Zhou remembered the condition of the Insect Queen when they first encountered her.

Uncle Zhou's response left Xia You stunned for a moment.

"When I encountered the Insect Queen, she was in labor, and it was painful," Uncle Zhou paused before adding, "Extremely painful."

The primary mission of the Insect Queen is continuous reproduction to sustain the insect population and protect herself. So, giving birth shouldn't be such a harrowing ordeal for her.

However, this gave Uncle Zhou an opportunity to obtain a sample of her psychic energy.

"There's more," Uncle Zhou continued, "The Insect Queen gave birth in seven waves. Those newly born insects seemed different from the regular ones, as if they had lost their sanity. Furthermore, they had short lifespans and died quickly."

Reflecting upon this, Xia You felt even more confident about her speculation and finally asked, "Could you draw me a map?"

Xia You still wanted to visit the place where Uncle Zhou had encountered the Insect Queen.

Uncle Zhou pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

As Xia You turned to leave, Uncle Zhou called out to him.

"Wait."

Xia You turned back, looking puzzled.

With a furrowed brow, Uncle Zhou glanced at the golden-haired hamster in Xia You's hand and sternly remarked, "Since when is it proper to have your belly exposed to your elders?"

The golden-haired hamster conspicuously rolled its eyes. Instead of complying with Uncle Zhou's request, it provocatively flaunted its soft white belly, attempting to charm Xia You.

"Squeak~"

A bead of sweat rolled down Xia You's forehead. Quickly enveloping the little hamster with his hand, he hastily retreated from the kitchen's sacred grounds.

*

That evening, when Lu Yinghuai returned home, before he could even greet Uncle Zhou, he saw the latter serving a pot of soup personally.

Xia You and Lu Yinghuai stared at the mysterious dark green liquid in the pot, deep in thought.

Uncle Zhou pushed the pot closer to Lu Yinghuai, remarking, "Xia You doesn’t need to drink any. It's all for the master."

Xia You let out a sigh of relief as if he had a narrow escape from catastrophe.

The Emperor present at the table leaned in and asked, "What's this delightful aroma? It smells rather enticing."

He was aware of Uncle Zhou's soup-making prowess. Even if the presentation might be lacking and the taste a bit unusual, it was guaranteed to be medicinally potent.

Stirring with a spoon, Uncle Zhou ladled a bowl for Lu Yinghuai and casually mentioned, "It's softshell turtle soup."

Lu Yinghuai, feeling somewhat affronted, looked puzzled: "...?"

The marshal paused for a moment before inquiring, "Why?"

Uncle Zhou displayed a benevolent smile, "Because, my dear young man, I'm rather disappointed in you."

Lu Yinghuai was now certain he had just been indirectly rebuked.

The unsuspecting Xia You recalled the large dark shell Uncle Zhou had been working with in the kitchen earlier that day.

Was that the turtle? Had Uncle Zhou just casually caught it from the river on his way back?

Xia You, with a tactful grin, said, "Your Highness, having just awakened, it's essential to have some nourishing soup. Please, have more!"

Faced with Uncle Zhou's restorative concoction, Xia You decided to sacrifice the prince's comfort for his own safety.

Lu Yinghuai glanced at Xia You, hesitating to speak.

Xia You pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture, his eyes wide with anticipation.

The Emperor discreetly withdrew his hand that had been reaching for a spoonful.

As a pitiable man deprived of his wife's cooking, he chose not to partake in this particular festivity.

Well... let Yinghuai drink more of it.

Drink it all.

Under the scrutiny of everyone at the table, Lu Yinghuai took up his spoon, scooped some soup, and tasted it.

His expression was quite telling.