Chapter 24: Wolves and Lions (Combined)

Chapter 24: Wolves and Lions (Combined)

Rong Mi was walking towards the starship while cradling the wolf in his coat.

The previously agitated wolf had frozen like a statue the moment it was covered by the garment, causing him some concern.

"What's wrong?" Rong Mi lifted the little wolf, meeting its gaze.

The silver wolf glanced at Rong Mi, then unusually averted its eyes, refusing to meet his stare. After a moment, its tail flicked abruptly.

With a strong struggle, the silver wolf broke free from Rong Mi's grasp and leaped to the ground. It scampered along, its tail wagging, turning to enter the starship first. It bypassed Ellen and Sun Tong, quickly ascending the gangway.

Rong Mi: ?

Confused, the young man wondered if he had inadvertently angered the wolf again.

Yet, the wolf's behavior didn't seem to be a simple display of temper.

Regardless, the wolf seemed to have forgotten its anxiety and reluctance about entering the crowded flagship due to this ambiguous state of anger or no anger.

Well, that's a positive spin!

With his hands in his pockets, Rong Mi knew it was futile to rush to appease the wolves now. Hence, he strolled unhurriedly towards the starship.

Numerous medium-sized starships were parked on the desolate planet, but Rong Mi had instantly identified the flagship of the First Legion's First Squad.

This was because the black vessel had a large "ONE" painted in silver on its side, and a matching "SILVER" at its tail.

Rong Mi: I didn't expect Lu Yi to be so hands-off with the Silver Wolves, yet he's also someone who would paint his war pet's name on the tail of his starship!

Upon learning of Lu Yi's rank, Rong Mi reevaluated her estimation of his position, guessing that he might hold a role akin to the Chief of Operations in the First Legion, which would logically entitle him to make decisions on the First Legion's warship appearances.

Above the starship's gangway, two uniformed military personnel stood at the cabin door. The one on the left was slightly taller, with golden short hair and sapphire blue eyes, while the person on the right had curly black hair and eyes of a dark brown hue. One held the rank of captain, the other, that of a first lieutenant. Rong Mi had encountered them before in Lu Yi's reception room.

Approaching them to greet, he noticed that both wore exceptionally peculiar expressions.

Rong Mi: "..."

The young man stood by the hatch, uncertainly locking eyes with them, and politely greeted, "Hello?"

"I am Rong Mi, the therapist for General Lu Yi and the Silver Wolves. We've met before."

The two witnesses, having seen Rong Mi cradle the Silver Wolf from its hiding spot in clothing and then lift it by its front paws, were experiencing a tempestuous whirlwind of emotions.

To everyone in the First Legion's First Squad, the Silver Wolf was Lu Yi's spirit entity, a symbol of him.

With Rong Mi holding the wolf, one could, for all intents and purposes, say that Rong Mi was embracing Lu Yi.

When Rong Mi lifted the wolf, it was as if he was lifting Lu Yi himself.

And...

What stunned Sun Tong even more than Rong Mi's actions towards the Silver Wolf was the wolf's attitude towards Rong Mi.

Ever since Lu Yi's injury, the Silver Wolf had been avoiding the First Squad... When had it ever allowed anyone but Lu Yi to touch it?

Not only did Rong Mi touch it, but he also held it!

Not just a brief hold, but for a full ten minutes or more!

Not just for ten minutes... The wolf had actually... It was as if it fled in shame and anger after that embrace!

Sun Tong felt that the daily life within the First Legion was suddenly filled with a subtle, undercurrent of passion!

Although Rong Mi didn't seem to have any particular thoughts about their legion commander yet, Sun Tong was certain that there would be exciting developments to come!

Sun Tong: ...I need to stop thinking now, I can't continue!

If Lu Yi found out that I'm actually fantasizing about him, I won't get away with it lightly!

"Rong Mi!" Sun Tong tried his best to dispel those chaotic images from his mind and extended his hand to Rong Mi, saying solemnly, "Welcome to the First Legion."

He had initially wanted to give Rong Mi a serious impression during their first conversation. However, he couldn't resist adding, "I also want you to know that you're my idol! I love the way you pilot your mecha! And I admire how you treated Admiral Lu!"

Rong Mi: "?"

Confused, Rong Mi looked at Sun Tong, unsure of what to make of this.

" Ignore him," Ellen nudged Sun Tong, urging him to focus on preparing for takeoff instead of acting out of character.

"Welcome to the First Legion." The squad leader shook hands with Rong Mi, smiling as he led her to the guest lounge on the lowest deck of the starship. He first transmitted the access permissions for each cabin and a map of the ship to her.

Ellen explained the ship's permissions and layout to Rong Mi, starting from the top deck.

"The highest level is reserved for the Admiral and General Silver. Due to General Silver's current condition, it's not advisable to disturb them unless necessary."

"Of course," the squad leader promptly added. "That rule applies only to us. As a therapist, you have access."

"So General Silver is Ayin's full name," Rong Mi realized. "Sounds cool!"

Ellen thought to himself that 'Ayin' was a nickname only Lu Yi used.

"Is the top deck only for Lu Yi and the wolf? Am I not on the same level as them, as Lu Yi mentioned?" Rong Mi continued.

Ellen was taken aback before shaking his head.

"Your cabin is on the second level, along with the other squad members. The Admiral didn't give any special instructions, so I followed the standard practice of allocating a cabin when a new member joins the first squad."

Rong Mi pondered for a moment. "Can I switch to Lu Yi's deck? That way, if there's any issue with their mental domains, as a therapist, I can immediately sense the fluctuations in nearby mental energy and intervene as swiftly as possible."

Ellen blinked in slight annoyance.

"Yes, both the Admiral and General Silver don't object to your proximity," he said. "You're more than welcome to reside on the topmost level..."

As he spoke, he quickly sent a message to Lu Yi. Then, he continued to acquaint Rong Mi with the spaceship's layout.

"One level below the top deck is half occupied by the legion's conference room, while the other half, along with the next three levels, forms a training ground. Sharing the same floor as the training area is the spaceship's cockpit."

"Two levels below that, one half consists of the twenty team members' quarters, recreational rooms, mess hall, and so on. The other half connects to the pets' play area."

"Lastly, we're currently at the bottom level of the spaceship. It includes the reception area, spaceship docking bay, and the mecha docking area."

Turning around after finishing his explanation of the compartments, Ellen noticed Rong Mi staring at the pet play area on the spaceship's structural diagram.

"Can I enter here?" Rong Mi pointed at the location.

"Of course," Ellen smiled. "You have the same privileges as all the First Squad members. I can show you there now, actually. I need to fetch my Thunderlion from its chamber as well."

Walking, he explained to Rong Mi, "Before the spaceship takes off, all the training and play areas need to be cleared. The pets have to return to their chambers inside the spaceship to avoid injury during the initial launch phase."

Rong Mi's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Thoughts of encountering more fluffy Star Beasts filled him with anticipation. He asked curiously, "Does everyone in the legion have a battle pet?"

"Certainly not. Contracting a beast companion relies heavily on luck." Ellen accompanied Rong Mi as they swiped their cards to enter the Star Beast Arena. They opened the hatch on the left and stepped into the large star beast area, turning a few corners before swiping open the door labeled 'Rock Region.'

A wave of arid heat greeted me.

The space within this activity room was much larger than Rong Mi had imagined; it likely employed the same spatial folding technology as the mecha's space buttons.

The tangible set merged with holographic interactive projections, unfolding before Rong Mi a scorching desert of summer.

The sun hung high, casting its light upon clusters of pale yellow grass, as tall as a person, that stood like withered stalks. The desert stretched to the horizon, gradually giving way to denser tufts of grass and groves of trees.

Ellen stepped into the desert and gazed afar, calling out loudly, "Sonder!"

His mental energy waves simultaneously radiated outward. After a moment, a lion's roar echoed from the depths of the desert.

A Thunderlion, its golden pelt shimmering in the sunlight, strode across the sand towards Ellen. It was a male, with thick, pale golden mane adorning its neck, its every movement showcasing the power within its sinewy frame. The tip of the lion's tail curled up, and within the fur, faint glimmers hinted at electric currents pulsing through.

It was undoubtedly the ruler of this desert, and Rong Mi keenly sensed the unique spiritual energy of the Thunder Roar Lion permeating the air.

The surging spiritual energy resembled desert thunder in the high sky – hot, intense, turbulent... yet mixed with a madness not usually found in healthy spirits.

It was much milder than the madness Rong Mi had sensed in the Silver Wolves during their first encounter, but it was still significant enough not to be overlooked.

Rong Mi gazed at the golden lion, which stood as tall as half a person. After a moment, he turned to Ellen and asked earnestly, "Its spirit domain is injured?"

Ellen looked at Rong Mi with surprise. He hadn't expected the young man to be so perceptive, detecting something amiss just from the traces of Sandel's playful release of spiritual energy.

"Yes," Ellen replied, his expression also showing concern. "There's nothing we can do about it. The war zone is perilous, and injuries are common. Three months ago... that battle was unusually sudden, and the fighting was intense. Sandel sustained severe injuries."

Rong Mi caught the pause in Ellen's voice and delved into the memories of his original body.

Three months ago, the war zone had been ambushed, and both of Rong Mi's original parents had sacrificed themselves in that battle. Lu Yi had also been severely injured. Rong Mi could easily imagine how brutal that fight must have been.

The golden lion had now strolled up to them. Its eyes were also golden, with pupils that were even paler, shining brightly like an impending lightning bolt. It brushed past Ellen and then turned its gaze to Rong Mi. Its tail lifted slightly, and the light at its tip grew brighter. The lion breathed heavily, pacing around the two, assessing Rong Mi's status.

"Don't be afraid," Ellen reassured Rong Mi. "Sander is cautious around strangers, but it won't harm you."

Rong Mi nodded, pretending not to be affected by the lion's movements. He turned to Ellen and asked, "Was the subsequent treatment ineffective? Due to the difference in mental power levels?"

"Sander is an A+ grade Star Beast. Though its rank is high, it's not as challenging as the Silver General. Therapists can enter its mental domain."

"The insectoid corruption in its mental tree was severely contaminated. After several weeks of treatment, all the insectoid taint seemed to have been completely eradicated from the tree."

"However, after the treatment, Sander didn't fully regain its vitality. During the follow-up check three days later, the insectoid corruption reappeared in its mental tree."

The lion circled back to Ellen's front. Ellen reached out, patting its large head.

"Sander possesses lightning-based mental power. Its mental sea is a sea of thunder. The Thunder Charging Lion isn't skilled at controlling its power. It can't meticulously regulate the changes in energy within its mental sea. None of the therapists' mental powers could delve deep into the heart of the thunder sea to inspect the roots of its mental domain."

"Their mental powers would be struck by lightning and disperse. Not only would this hinder the treatment, but it would also damage the therapists' own mental domains."

Rong Mi nodded, understanding.

He was aware of this fact. In the old era, therapists had gentle mental powers. While they were highly compatible, their strength was low. When encountering patients with strong offensive capabilities but poor control, they often found themselves powerless.

However, Rong Mi's mental prowess was by no means weak.

"Since it got injured, Sandor has been rather listless," Ellen sighed deeply. "In the past, it enjoyed exploring the starship and the military base within the warzone. But now, it prefers to stay in the recreation room, as it simulates the environment where it feels most comfortable and secure."

"It doesn't matter where it likes to be, but… I can tell it's not at ease right now. I don't know what to do when the next battle comes. If we truly engage the insectoids, leaving it behind in the base won't be possible. It'll come along even if it's uncomfortable."

For humans and Star Beasts had become close friends and comrades-in-arms. The Thundering Lion wouldn't back down from enemies invading its home, nor would it leave its comrade to face danger alone.

Rong Mi softly acknowledged.

He looked at the big lion standing before Ellen, who had accepted its presence, and tried calling out, "Sandor?"

The Thundering Lion turned towards Rong Mi. It took a step forward, as if asking why Rong Mi had called its name.

Rong Mi stretched out his hand, and a small, deep purple flame of mental energy sparked to life on his palm.

The flame was tiny and harmless, an impulsive creation born from Rong Mi's subconscious.

In the next moment, the youth raised his other hand and snapped his fingers.

A tiny flame of mental energy shot up into the sky, scattering like rain, akin to a magician's fiery bouquet.

The Thundering Lion raised its head, gazing at the falling purple with curiosity, sniffing the air.

Rong Mi observed its reaction and said with a smile, "Sander doesn't reject my mental energy. Now it has imprinted my mental wavelength."

"After a few more gradual acquaintances, if you agree, I can try treating its mental domain."

Ellen turned to him in surprise, his eyes immediately revealing concealed delight. Overwhelmed with excitement, he momentarily found himself at a loss for words.

Rong Mi held up a finger, emphasizing, "Let's try first."

Despite his confidence in his abilities, he was always cautious with his words before a treatment, lest he raise false hopes.

Ellen promptly nodded, but then, a worried expression crossed his face as he remembered something.

"Will this affect the progress of your treatment for Admiral Lu?" he asked cautiously, "I understand that during the healing process, a therapist's mental domain might be disturbed by the patient, requiring time to recover."

The healers of the First Legion had their own schedules and ample rest periods. Rong Mi, on the other hand, was exclusively assigned to Lu Yi, whose mental domain was in terrible shape. Logically, all of Rong Mi's time should have been devoted to treating Lu Yi.

"It won't be an issue," Rong Mi recalled the sensation he experienced while healing Lu Yi's mental domain.

As a healer, it was true that one could be disrupted by the patient's mental energy.

But the "artificial healers" of the Interstellar Nomadic Era had long mastered techniques to resist such pressure.

Rong Mi, serving as a healer on the flagship with high workload, had his mental domain constantly challenged due to both his initial genetic modifications and the relentless demands of his work. It allowed him to quickly regain composure after being disturbed.

Similarly, his recovery speed of mental energy surpassed that of current healers.

Moreover, during his treatments for Ayin and Lu Yi, he didn't feel any disturbance from their mental energies at all.

Instead, there was an intimate, indescribable connection, accompanied by... a faint tingling sensation akin to static electricity.

In the past two days, Rong Mi had conducted several soothing treatments on both the wolf and Lu Yi's mental domains. The treatments were effective, but the strange, lingering tingling sensation remained.

"I can try entering Sandel's mental domain first," Rong Mi stretched out his hand, watching the lion approach for a sniff. Resisting the urge for a moment, he finally couldn't help but turn to Ellen, asking eagerly, "Can I touch it?"

Ellen promptly concurred, "Of course! Can we start the treatment right away?"

With his battle pet involved, Ellen was eager, "All compartments on the starship are accessible after takeoff. We can head to the treatment room first..."

"Knock, knock."

Someone rapped on the door behind them.

The lion glanced outside and visibly tensed up.

The big lion took a step back, its neck fur puffing out.

Rong Mi was puzzled by its intense reaction and turned curiously.

The recreation room's door was ajar, and Lu Yi stood at the entrance.

The Admiral was raising his arm to knock, his expression aloof.

By his feet stood Ayin.

The diminutive Silver Wolf, barely towering over the top of Lu Yi's military boots, exuded an imposing presence despite its size.

Its gaze locked onto the lion standing before Rong Mi, baring its sharp fangs.

Undoubtedly, this was a challenge and a provocation.

"Roar..." The lion rumbled in its throat, taking another step back, out of Rong Mi's reach.

The wolf's ice-blue eyes shifted, landing on the hand Rong Mi held aloft in mid-air.

Rong Mi: "...."

Rong Mi felt an awkwardness akin to being caught flirting with someone else's fluffy pet by his own. Even though he technically wasn't the wolf's owner, he believed they had forged a deep bond of friendship!

...Was the wolf possibly vying for attention or feeling jealous?

Rong Mi wasn't entirely sure, but he quietly retracted his hand that was poised above the lion's head.

The Silver Wolves redirected their focus back to the lion, taking another step forward.

Noticing the wolf's action, Rong Mi's heart palpitated slightly. He cautiously asked, "Ayin?"

Wolves were indeed formidable, and their aura was powerful... but!

The young Silver Wolf was currently just a tiny bundle that could be held with two hands, while the lion was enormous, capable of swallowing the wolf in one bite.

However, Ayin paid no heed to his call, gazing at the lion as he slightly crouched down.

The temperature around them rapidly dropped, frost forming on the desert sand.

Sandor, the Thundering Lion, stepped gingerly in place, refraining from any aggressive moves. Its tail swished back and forth, indicating a desire to fight yet also revealing unease.

Rong Mi: "..."

"Lu Yi," he glanced at the man standing beside the wolf, signaling the commander with his eyes.

His combat pet was about to engage in a battle with his subordinate's! Wasn't anyone going to intervene?!!

"You once said you'd only be Ayin and my therapist," Lu Yi stated coolly. "It heard you."

Rong Mi: "..."

...Did I say that?

He pondered carefully and realized he did mention being Ayin's personal therapist, not taking care of the others in the legion.

Rong Mi: "...But how could I resist with a lion like that!"

Especially a fluffy golden lion!

Lu Yi spoke calmly, "Ayin knows how to handle it."

Wolves wouldn't attack lions out of personal vendettas.

The "battles" between wolves and lions were akin to the sparring sessions among mecha pilots – they stopped at a certain point.

Rong Mi: "..."

"Indeed." He nodded, acknowledging that military battle pets would always maintain a certain level of self-control during their conflicts.

"Could Ayin, in his juvenile form, defeat Sandor?" He was curious and decided to observe without interfering.

On the other side, Ellen watched with bated breath.

"Wait... No! Hold on, don't start yet." Ellen quickly spoke up.

From Silver Wolves' eyes, he sensed the air of a wolf ready to discipline an unruly younger sibling!

General Silver might be small in size, but his offensive power was anything but insignificant!

Once the snow and ice spread, his lion wouldn't be able to escape the impending roar, no matter how thunderous!

While battles between pets within the legion never caused any real harm, Silver Wolves was Lu Yi's spiritual entity, and thus, usually held back the most.

...But if his lion lost, it would be in a bad mood. A bad mood led to shedding, and shedding meant fur all over him...

They were on a starship, where the cleaning robots in their room didn't have the same power as the de-furring machines in the warzone bases. Cleaning up would be quite a hassle.

Ellen turned his gaze toward Rong Mi.

"That being said, Rong Mi," he shifted slightly, unable for the first time to meet his legion commander's eyes directly. Facing away from Lu Yi, he whispered to Rong Mi, "Could you... comfort him?"

He had figured it out! The wolf was warning Sandel to keep his distance and not touch Rong Mi without permission!

"There will be fur flying everywhere..." He quickly described to Rong Mi the disastrous scene he would face after Sandel was defeated.

"...I'll give it a try?" Rong Mi blinked, then turned to the Silver Wolves at Ellen's pleading look.

"Ayin." The youth approached the wolf, crouching down to sincerely explain, "I need to treat other furred... combat pets, but that doesn't mean they're on the same level as you! You're my most important furry! The handsomest and cutest furry in the world! My favorite furry!"

Rong Mi's voice grew louder with each word. Starting with a tentative explanation as per Ellen's request, he eventually expressed his genuine feelings with a loud declaration, reaching out his hand in the end.

His movement was skilled, and as expected, he caught Ayin perfectly.

"Ow!"

The wolf howled symbolically in rejection. But when Rong Mi held it in his embrace, it didn't resist much, only lifting its head. Its ice-blue eyes finally turned to Rong Mi, seemingly assessing the truth behind his words.

Wolves were easily appeased.

Despite Rong Mi having just petted another furry creature, performed fire magic for it like a magician, and offered to be its healer.

Though the wolf was merely held close and showered with kind words without receiving any fire tricks of its own.

If the young man's words were sincere, a wolf could forgive... it could even be a little more generous.

"Of course, everything I said is true!" Rong Mi leaned closer, meeting the wolf's gaze.

Furry creatures were all adorable.

But this wolf was the cutest of them all!

Rong Mi smiled, gently touching the tip of the silver wolf's nose with his own.

Wolf: "....!"

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi's eyes flickered with an indiscernible emotion.

The Silver Wolves paused for a moment, then started to struggle fiercely.

Rong Mi understood that the wolf didn't want to be held again, so she released her grip, allowing it to slide down and run behind Lu Yi's military boots, where it then lowered its head...

The wolf seemed lost in thought as it solemnly touched its nose with its paw.

Rong Mi: !

Looking at Lu Yi, Rong Mi's expression was practically shouting how adorable Ayin was.

Lu Yi nonchalantly replied, "Don't touch Ayin without reason."

Rong Mi: "I'll try my best!"

There were times when he just couldn't resist!

Lu Yi shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness in his gesture.

The fact that the Silver Wolves were his spirit entity was a closely guarded secret, known to very few even within the military. Within the legion, only the First Squad's Captain Ellen and Vice-Captain Sun Tong were privy to this information.

Unless Rong Mi joins the legion, Lu Yi cannot reveal his unique connection to the Silver Wolves.

Nor could I explain my strange kinship with the wolves.

The admiral, thus, dismissed the subtle oddity on his nose tip and refrained from pursuing the subject further.

Gazing at Ellen and Sandel the Thunderclap Lion, who remained on high alert, he said to Rong Mi, "I'm grateful that you're willing to treat our legion's battle pets. I'll cover the treatment costs."

Rong Mi was taken aback, he hadn't thought about charging for it yet.

Lu Yi: "A suggestion."

"Next time you tend to your healing or interact with any other battle pets, it would be best to give Ayin a heads up first," the Admiral said, directing his gaze towards the Silver Wolves.

"Otherwise, Ayin would be incredibly upset," Lu Yi continued to Rong Mi. "And she would secure her status by challenging other battle pets to duels."

The Silver Wolves are spirit beasts that appear aloof yet possess an intense... proprietary nature.

Rong Mi nodded repeatedly.

He understood Lu Yi's point and promptly reinforced his stance on the wolf, declaring loudly, "Ayin is number one in my heart!"

The young man's tone was resolute. Seeing the wolf's indifferent look, he decided to squat down, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, and deliberately exaggerated his call, "I love Ayin the most ——!"

Wolf: "..."

The wolf's ears twitched slightly.

Lu Yi: "..."

The admiral's gaze also shifted slightly.

"As the starship is about to embark," he turned first and headed outside, "let's head to the public lounge."

"Ayin is the most handsome and adorable fluffy creature in the world—" Rong Mi persisted in expressing his affection to the silver wolf. The wolf walked forward expressionlessly, but the tail hanging behind him began to sway gently from side to side, indicating a change in its mood for the better. This sight made Rong Mi want to scoop up the wolf and give it a good cuddle!

Ellen trails half a step behind Lu Yi and Rong Mi, observing the interaction between the man and the wolf ahead. He can't help but inwardly cry out in astonishment.

"Help! The Silver General is no ordinary Star Beast, you know!!" The wolf's mental connection with Lu Yi is so intimate...

The wolf is actually vying for favor with Sandel the lion, allowing itself to be cuddled and kissed by Rong Mi, and now it can be easily pacified...

This is utterly terrifying if you think about it deeply!

Could it be that their Commander is finally... finding his romantic fate??!

Ellen now eagerly awaits Sun Tong's shift change, longing to share this juicy gossip with his fellow insider friend.

Ellen's thoughts race, but Lu Yi turns his head slightly, casting a glance at his subordinate.

Ellen: "..."

Caught in Lu Yi's cold gaze, Ellen instinctively conceals the unintended smile that had crept onto his face.

Ellen: ...

He immediately composed himself, concealing his fleeting thoughts. He initiated the conversation with a serious tone, "Admiral, you came to the recreation room to find me. Do you have any orders?"

Lu Yi replied, "I'm taking Rong Mi to the top level."

Ellen: "...Yes."

He had misunderstood; she was here for Rong Mi.

Rong Mi turned and asked, "Is it about the allocation of the rest pods? I'd like to be assigned the one nearest to yours."

They were currently walking through the corridor of the recreation room.

As the starship was about to launch, many members of the First Squad came to the Star Beast Activity Zone to retrieve their pets for their rest pods. They saluted Lu Yi and greeted Rong Mi, clearly aware that a new therapist had joined the Admiral's team.

overhearing their conversation, they all subconsciously pricked up their ears.

" Unsafe," Lu Yi nodded in acknowledgment to the squad members while gently declining Rong Mi's request. "If my mental domain were to suddenly go out of control, you would suffer severe repercussions."

This was also another reason why he occupied an entire level of the starship by himself.

"You're underestimating my healing capabilities!" Rong Mi retorted. "Next week, we'll commence regular treatments. I guarantee your mental domain will fully recover within a year and return to its peak condition... as long as you don't overexert your mental energy on your own!"

Lu Yi cast a glance at Rong Mi and stated succinctly, "Assuming the warzone is tranquil."

Rong Mi's lips curled, aware that in times of intense warfare, regardless of the state of Lu Yi's mental domain, he would have to fight with all his might.

"Even if you were to lose control and erupt, it's alright; my spiritual energy is highly sensitive, I won't wait until you've turned me into an ice sculpture before reacting. The moment your spiritual energy fluctuations leak out, I can intervene in time. In this situation, the closer we are, the better."

Lu Yi held onto the Silver Wolf with one hand, preventing it from being thrown around during the upcoming voyage, and remained noncommittal about Rong Mi's suggestion. Instead, he asked, "Are you planning to treat Sandel right away? Are you certain your mental domain can handle it?"

Sharing the same concern as Ellen, he didn't wish for Rong Mi's mental domain to be compromised by frequent treatments.

"My mental domain is in perfect health!" Rong Mi declared casually.

He tilted his head to look at the Silver Wolves, considering the suggestion just given by the Admiral. "Ayin, I'll let the big lion take a look at my mental domain later, would that be alright?"

"Even if I were to treat someone else, Ayin would still be my favorite fluffy companion!"

Lying on Lu Yi's lap, Ayin swished the tip of its tail, then let out a short, approving howl.

Rong Mi cleared his throat, pushing his luck. "So... can I touch the big lion during the healing? Just once! Ayin is so generous, he'll let me do it! I promise I won't get addicted to petting lions—I just want one touch! —"

The Silver Wolves: "...."

Ellen, seated to Rong Mi's left: "...."

In the nearby resting pods, the mecha pilots, maintaining their distance from Lu Yi's group but still straining to overhear, echoed the silence.

"Roar—"

The starship launched, its engines roaring to life.

Ayin looked at Rong Mi's eager expression and turned away, not wanting to respond at all.

Rong Mi cooed, "Ayin~"

Softening his tone, he persisted relentlessly. The noise of the starship's engines was deafening, so he leaned close to Ayin, their arms pressed tightly together as he spoke.

The warmth of the young man's body radiated nearby, and in that instant, Lu Yi recalled the sensation of the Silver Wolves nestled tightly against Rong Mi's embrace.

Lu Yi: "..."

Pausing in silence for a moment, Lu Yi stepped back slightly and rotated halfway with the wolf in his arms, forcing its head to face Rong Mi.

Lu Yi: "You may."

Silver Wolves: "?!?"

The wolf looked up at its master in disbelief.

Lu Yi didn't believe he should encourage excessive possessiveness in the wolf.

"Go ahead," he repeated. With his right hand lifting the back of the wolf's neck and his left supporting the hind paws, he guided the wolf towards Rong Mi, then gently pressed with his right hand, making the wolf nod toward Rong Mi.

Lu Yi: "Pet it."

Ellen: "..."

Wolf: "..."

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi met the wolf's gaze, noticing how its once round eyes now sagged into half-moons, expressing a reluctant defiance and a desire to do harm.

In those icy blue eyes, a hint of grievance lurked.

Rong Mi felt somewhat overwhelmed and almost gave up the idea.

But the image of the lion's faint golden mane flashed in his mind, firming his resolve. He seriously nodded in agreement, reached out to grasp the wolf's paw, pretending to have reached a consensus with the wolf.

Rong Mi said, "If Ayin agrees, I'll pet you just once!"

"Ayin is indeed the most generous and well-behaved wolf!"

Ayin: "..."

The young man's flattery was relentless, but the wolf showed no interest in it whatsoever.

The engines of the medium-sized starship roared loudly beneath them, and the white ice plains of the desolate planet gradually faded away.

Around the trajectory leaving the desolate planet, hundreds of starships were lined up in formation, all on high alert for combat.

They belonged to the military fleet that had come to support the operation near the desolate planet, preparing to execute the forced extermination of the high-ranking Ice Butterfly.

Rong Mi could also spot several heavily armed large starships.

These warships possessed immense firepower; their main energy weapon turrets required the combined mental input of five or more individuals to operate. However, they lacked maneuverability and had low endurance, consuming vast amounts of energy.

During the interstellar nomadic era, due to limitations in energy and mobility, humanity had been forced to abandon such ships, relying more on smaller starships and mecha pilots to engage the insectoids.

But for the purpose of ambushing a high-ranking Ice Butterfly while it was still in slumber, these warships were ideally suited.

Ellen had long since grown numb to Rong Mi and Silver Wolves' interactions.

Looking at the warships on either side, he commented with a sigh, "Within the next few days, the military will launch its ambush on the high-ranking Ice Butterfly. If the butterfly awakens before the preparations are complete, this will likely be the most cost-effective way to eliminate a high-level insectoid."

"All credit goes to your discovery of the Ice Butterfly's telepathic hypnosis wave," Rong Mi said, looking out the window with earnestness. "Once I've organized and documented the waveform, I can directly submit it to the military."

"Different insectoid species and ranks have distinct telepathic hypnosis wave patterns," Rong Mi continued. "After I've finished compiling them, we can present it to the military."

"All insectoids can be hypnotized… You've found a compatible wave pattern!" Ellen exclaimed in disbelief. "If that's the case, our chances against the insectoids will greatly increase! This is simply…!"

"Using hypnosis also has its limitations. If the intensity isn't sufficient, the duration is too short, or if we encounter highly resistant insectoids, it would be futile," Rong Mi assessed objectively. "It would be best if we could kill them outright."

"How did these Ice Butterflies breach the defenses and end up on this desolate planet? What is the motive behind the organizers of the Ice Fire Mecha Tournament… These are major questions that need answering," Ellen nodded, his expression turning grave.

"The Admiral is concerned about the possibility of a secret space portal being established nearby by the insectoids," he whispered. "For now, the military can only warn nearby space cities to heighten their vigilance. Our priority is to eliminate the high-ranking Ice Butterflies on this desolate planet, removing the biggest threat first."

"Why not dispatch search parties in the vicinity simultaneously?"

Ellen shook his head, remembering that Rong Mi was not a member of the military and thus refrained from elaborating. However, Rong Mi had already inferred from his reaction.

On one hand, it was difficult to redeploy troops from the war zone. The military was concerned that if the defenses were weakened, the insectoids might seize the opportunity to launch another assault, breaching the border defenses. On the other hand, nearby patrol teams were already engaged in the operation to eliminate the high-level Ice Butterfly. It would be impractical to summon a fleet from even further away. A distant fleet would take over a week to reach the desolate planet, and the energy cost for their round trip would be substantial. By then, the operation on the desolate planet should have concluded, allowing them to commence searching nearby wormholes. "Since we're returning to a safe star domain, we didn't bring any space exploration warships," Ellen sighed. "Otherwise, we could've at least lent a hand." Rong Mi seemed lost in thought. He always felt that the appearance of the high-level Ice Butterfly during the mecha competition had ended rather oddly. The investigation team had confirmed that the competition director was a member of the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association, and they were responsible for the swarm on the desolate planet. But why would they do such a thing...?

"Beep - the starship has entered stable cruising mode."

A broadcast from the communal lounge interrupted Rong Mi's thoughts.

There were still a few years until the sudden Zerg invasion. Rong Mi was philosophical about it; preventing the Zerg assault wasn't something that could be achieved by altering one or two things – it required much effort. Constantly dwelling on it only added to his burden.

He released his restraints, stood up, and stretched.

"Come on!" Rong Mi said to Ellen, "Let's check out the Lion's spirit domain!"

"I have a feeling that at its core, his spirit domain might harbor weapons used by higher-level Zerg for mental attacks, like the Hornet's stinger or the Ice Butterfly's venom gland. Let's take a look today, and if it's not a major issue, we'll deal with it right away!"

Ellen promptly rose to his feet, undid the restraints on the Lion, and led Rong Mi to the spirit domain treatment room.

The wolf jumped down from Lu Yi's embrace and silently followed.

The group entered the specialized treatment room for combat pets, and Rong Mi's gaze immediately fell on the restraints and ankle cuffs on the treatment bed.

"These are in place to prevent the pet from accidentally injuring someone during treatment, should they struggle due to discomfort," he explained.

As Ellen explained to Rong Mi, he coaxed the lion onto the treatment bed.

The big lion clearly had unpleasant memories of this treatment bed. Upon seeing it, it chose to crouch at the entrance, refusing to budge despite Ellen's calls.

"Come on, Sandor," Ellen said patiently. "We're here for treatment, don't you remember? The process might be painful, but you'll feel much better after."

The lion lowered its head to lick its paws, as if it didn't understand a word.

Rong Mi wasn't in a hurry either. He was fascinated by the lion's actions and happily watched from the side. The Silver Wolf glanced at Rong Mi, noticing his unwavering gaze. It then expressionlessly swiped its tail across Rong Mi's ankle, growling softly at the lion.

Sandor immediately dropped its paws and looked at the Silver Wolf.

"Aooh!" The wolf called out again.

"…Roar!" The lion stood up reluctantly and stepped towards the treatment bed.

"Wow, Ayin is amazing!" Rong Mi pretended to be surprised, looking at the wolf.

Wolf: "…"

The wolf swished its tail against Rong Mi's ankle, urging him to hurry inside and settle the matter swiftly.

Wolves don't favor being in close quarters with so many individuals.

From the moment it entered the activity room in search of Rong Mi, its fur had been slightly bristling, betraying its concealed unease and irritation.

It longed to rush back to the safety of its territory on the upper level.

Aware of Ayin's wariness, Rong Mi reached out to pat the wolf's head gently.

"If you feel uneasy, go back and wait for me," he assured her. "I promise, I'll only touch it with Ayin's supervision!"

He then approached the healing bed, placing one hand on the lion's forehead as his mental energy descended.

In an instant, Rong Mi's mental power merged into Sandel, the Thunderclaw Lion's mental domain, revealing a stormy sea of lightning and thunder.

Hovering above the mental domain was the golden symbol that represented the spiritual contract between the Thunderclaw Lion and Ellen, resembling a brilliant golden sun.

Below was a grayish-black expanse of mental sea.

More akin to a vast expanse of black thunderclouds than a spirit sea.

Rumbles echoed from the depths, accompanied by bolts of terrifying lightning that illuminated a white spirit tree growing upward in a branching, lightning-like pattern.

The tree's summit was pure white. However, as Rong Mi descended, sparse black spots began to appear on its trunk, a telltale sign of insectoid spirit energy corruption.

Without hesitation, Rong Mi's purple spirit energy condensed into a beam, diving deeper into the cloud layer.

As they ventured further, the blackness on the Lion Spirit Tree grew denser.

Eventually, Rong Mi caught a vague glimpse of the tree's roots.

At this point, the spirit sea before them was illuminated by the constant lightning, presenting a stark contrast to the upper layers.

It was a world of thunder and lightning.

The enormous root system of the spirit tree was concealed within the lightning-riddled clouds. Amidst such frequent flashes, no one could escape being struck.

The bolts of lightning intertwined, forming a massive net that descended upon Rong Mi.

A veil of purple psychic energy emerged, intertwining with the lightning.

Two distinct streams of psychic power were locked in a fierce tug-of-war. On the treatment bed, the lion began to thrash violently, roaring as if trying to break free from its restraints to assault the intruder who dared to delve deeper into its mental domain.

The Silver Wolf leaped onto the treatment bed.

Fixing its gaze on the lion, it let out a low growl that was both a warning and a soothing attempt.

Ellen looked anxious, pressing down on the lion's back to keep it still while continuously offering words of comfort.

Lu Yi leaned against the door, appearing relaxed but ready to intervene swiftly if needed to subdue the Thundering Lion.

The man's expression was serene, his gaze resting on Rong Mi's face.

The young man had striking good looks. With his eyes closed, his long, dark eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Though he seemed relatively calm, a fine sheen of sweat coated his forehead. Beads of perspiration trickled down the side of his face, rolling over his neck and disappearing into the slightly open collar of his shirt.

It was a hint of sensuality.

Within the Thundering Lion's spirit domain, Rong Mi had already reached the base of the spirit tree. Amidst the repeated clashes with the lightning, he gazed at the core of the massive root system.

The roots of these spirit trees had turned largely black. At the very center of the roots, a vivid red line was coiled. Black insectoid poison was seeping out from that crimson venom gland.

Rong Mi's gaze darkened.

This was the venom gland of an advanced Ice Butterfly, still retaining its red color due to the creature not being dead yet.

Only advanced insectoids possessed the ability to directly assault the spirit domains of star beasts or humans.

Rong Mi clicked his tongue softly, inwardly musing that the supposed tranquility of the glorious old era in the historical records didn't seem as unshakable as it was made out to be.

After observing the red venom gland for a moment, he felt that it no longer held much vitality.

The Thundering Lion had been attacked three months ago, and this venom gland had detached from the Ice Butterfly's body three months prior. It would likely be difficult for it to launch a counterattack.

Thus, his purple spirit energy swirled forth, surging towards the red venom gland, preparing to burn it to ashes.

The deep purple connected with the Ice Butterfly's venom sac, igniting a fierce blaze instantly.

The spirit domain of the Thunderclap Lion grew agitated due to the abnormal energy fluctuations, causing the white lightning to flash more frequently.

Rong Mi allocated some of his mental power to soothe the Thunderclap Lion's spirit force. However, when he reached the further depths of the lion's spiritual sea, he sensed an anomaly.

Amidst the vast expanse of dark clouds and lightning, there seemed to be a spiritual oscillation that didn't belong to the Thunderclap Lion, stirring to life at that very moment.

Rong Mi: "...."

He focused slightly and looked inward toward the clouds.

A bright bolt of lightning illuminated the area, revealing what lay within.

Rong Mi's gaze met a pair of vivid red eyes suspended within the Thunderclap Lion's spirit domain.

Eyes that could never belong to a lion.