Chapter 102: Psychic Power

Chapter 102: Psychic Energy

Xiao Jinshi hadn’t expected Song Yuqing to agree so readily to meet him, even allowing him to visit.

Over the past six months, Song Yuqing had rarely granted their requests for an audience. During the half-year Pei Huai was confined to the military district, he had desperately sought to see Song Yuqing outside of training, but Song Yuqing never relented.

Most recently, Pei Huai even escaped the military district to see Song Yuqing, only for Song Yuqing to call Pei Wei to escort him back.

Now, Pei Huai’s contact information had been blocked by Song Yuqing, and he was once again cast into disfavor.

When Song Yuqing told him to come, Xiao Jinshi felt quite flattered.

Upon seeing Song Yuqing, Xiao Jinshi found him on a call, seemingly delegating tasks.

“Mm,” Song Yuqing responded with a few syllables to the other end.

Only after concluding the project debrief with Ye Siling did Song Yuqing turn his gaze to Xiao Jinshi. “What is it?”

Xiao Jinshi smiled faintly, tapping his fingers casually on the steering wheel. “Nothing much, just that the old man [his father] can’t wait any longer. He wants me to take you home to meet the family—probably trying to play the sympathy card.”

“Actually, I also wanted to take you to meet my family,” Xiao Jinshi added, looking at Song Yuqing.

After all, shouldn’t you always introduce someone you love to your family?

Song Yuqing glanced sideways at Xiao Jinshi, whose smile seemed genuine.

Song Yuqing wasn’t surprised. Last month, he had visited the military district, bringing a lab team to fit an alpha injured at the border with a psychically controlled mechanical prosthetic.

At the time, several researchers from New State's robotics division had proposed new ideas.

If replacing a part of the body was possible, then why not preserve only the spirit and consciousness, constructing an entirely mechanical body?

This idea was almost identical to the visions of those in Sri-Lan Continent.

Despite proposing such concepts, they still revered Song Yuqing, believing that only he could realize this vision at this stage.

Some even thought Song Yuqing had already mastered the technology, though it remained immature—otherwise, why would he switch to another field instead of continuing to tackle this challenge?

From that moment, Song Yuqing knew someone would grow impatient.

Song Yuqing raised his eyes slightly. “Do you also believe what they say—that I can extract an alpha’s psychic energy, place your father in a ‘new vessel,’ and extend his life by ten or twenty years?”

Xiao Jinshi curved his lips. “No one but you can do it for him.”

Over the past year, Xiao Jinshi’s father hadn’t entirely relinquished power to Xiao Jinshi. After a year of acting, he could no longer keep up the pretense.

If he hadn’t wanted to extend his life, the Xiao family wouldn’t have pursued those projects in Sri-Lan Continent before.

With Hakimi dead, Xiao Jinshi’s father could no longer rely on Xiao Lin and the others. His only hope was for Xiao Jinshi to successfully get close to Song Yuqing—a newly emerged prodigy with extraordinary talent.

So, first, he pretended to relinquish power, then showered Xiao Jinshi with fatherly affection to soften his attitude, hoping Xiao Jinshi would plead with Song Yuqing for the sake of that meager love.

“I have no other choice,” Xiao Jinshi said, taking Song Yuqing’s hand, his fingertips lightly pressing the inner side of Song Yuqing’s wrist. His tone was pitiful as he looked at him pleadingly. “Brother, help me, please.”

After speaking, Xiao Jinshi lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the back of Song Yuqing’s hand.

His posture was humble and pitiable.

Under the cover of shadows, Xiao Jinshi took a deep breath of the cool scent emanating from Song Yuqing’s skin, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing gripped Xiao Jinshi's chin. "Stop pretending."

Even that dying old man, half-dead and on the verge of stepping into his coffin—Xiao Jinshi would still find a way to make use of him. Xiao Jinshi really was something else.

Xiao Jinshi stopped pretending, nuzzling closer. "Brother, feel me."

"Just think of it as petting a dog."

Song Yuqing: "..."

"Stop playing the dog here," Song Yuqing said calmly, lowering his gaze. "Come with me to the lab to pick something up."

In the laboratory.

Xiao Jinshi touched the black box on the table and asked Song Yuqing, "What's this?"

Song Yuqing pressed his pale fingertips against the box's latch, opened it, and pointed through the glass at the contents inside.

He said casually, "Extracted psychic energy? Call it whatever you want."

Xiao Jinshi fell silent for a moment. So, those seemingly unreliable, impossible things were actually true.

It's just that some people still regarded information that far exceeds current understanding as nothing more than jokes.

Even though Xiao Jinshi didn’t understand the field, he couldn’t help wanting to ask for more details. "Is human evolution passing me by? When did you do this?"

Song Yuqing gazed down at the contents of the box and explained briefly, "Last month, a donated body was delivered. The body wasn’t even cold yet, so I gave it a try." Or more accurately, it was a bit of psychic energy recovered at the last moment.

Song Yuqing put it simply.

In reality, this had been his research focus for the past six months.

Sufficient theoretical basis was what allowed him to succeed on the first try. "However, the psychic energy is somewhat damaged. It’s only psychic energy—no capacity for thought, no consciousness, just basic primitive reflexes."

"For example, it will avoid higher-level psychic pressure and instinctively suppress other alphas when encountering lower-level psychic power," Song Yuqing continued to explain.

"Like a..." He pondered his wording, "...a bully."

Xiao Jinshi breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good."

"Take this to your father. Tell him I can do it, but the risks are on him," Song Yuqing said lightly.

After speaking, Song Yuqing casually tossed this specimen—something others would desperately fight over—to Xiao Jinshi.

Xiao Jinshi couldn’t help but feel Song Yuqing was being incredibly generous.

But then again, it made sense—Song Yuqing was just that brilliant. Even the imperfect results he didn’t value would be treated as treasures that people would fight over.

Xiao Jinshi: "Thank you, brother."

Song Yuqing sat in his chair, looked up at Xiao Jinshi, and suddenly his lips curved into a faint smile. "Your father should be even more grateful for how filial you are."

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

He had a feeling Song Yuqing’s tone was somewhat teasing, but he still loved seeing Song Yuqing smile so gently.

Xiao Jinshi leaned down, completely wrapping Song Yuqing in his embrace, then tugged Song Yuqing’s collar down with his teeth, revealing his fair collarbone.

His voice was muffled by the fabric he’d pulled down. "Since I'm such a devoted son, shouldn't you reward me, brother?"

The alpha licked Song Yuqing’s neck. Song Yuqing slowly curled his fingers, tilting his head slightly away, overwhelmed by the sudden closeness, only for Xiao Jinshi to follow after him, nipping at his collarbone.

From the pale, sharp line of his jaw all the way to his cheek.

The alpha wanted to go further but was stopped by Song Yuqing pressing a hand against his shoulder.

The beautiful man tilted his face up slightly, eyes glistening. Several buttons of his shirt had been bitten open by the alpha, the fair skin of his collarbone rising and falling faintly with each breath.

A kind of profaned beauty—like a lofty god corrupted by an alpha, dragged down from his divine pedestal.

Xiao Jinshi was halted but didn’t retreat, staying close instead, his breath ragged, his eyes dark with intent, as if he might bite open another button of Song Yuqing’s shirt at any moment.

Song Yuqing’s eyes had already returned to their usual cool detachment, even carrying a hint of indifference. "Enough. Someone might come soon. Stop fooling around."

Xiao Jinshi sulked but leaned in again to kiss the corner of Song Yuqing’s lips.

"I’m leaving."

Song Yuqing: "Mm."

Xiao Jinshi really didn’t want to go, but Song Yuqing wouldn’t let him stay. Song Yuqing wouldn’t humor him or allow them to be seen together. He was always kept a secret.

He was just a distraction for Song Yuqing when he was truly bored.

But Song Yuqing was rarely ever bored.

Every time they grew slightly closer, Song Yuqing would quickly return to his usual self, leaving him with severe withdrawal symptoms—constantly thinking of him, longing for him, yet unable to see him.

He was the one obsessed with this relationship, begging for Song Yuqing’s scraps.

When the elder Xiao saw what Xiao Jinshi brought back, the long-faked kindness in his eyes almost couldn’t contain his excitement.

"What does this mean?" He deliberately played dumb.

Xiao Jinshi smiled coldly. "Why pretend? Who do you think you’re fooling? You want to survive? Then you sign the agreement. Even if you recover, I’ll still be in charge of the Xiao family."

The elder Xiao wavered, but Xiao Jinshi’s conditions gave him some reassurance. If Xiao Jinshi hadn’t set terms, he would have been more suspicious. After all, only if he lived would these terms hold weight.

"Really? Is it possible?"

Xiao Jinshi handed Song Yuqing’s plan to his father.

As his father reached for it, ready to read page by page, Xiao Jinshi pressed his hand down on the document. "Read it here. This is confidential. No one else can see it. I’ll take it back once you’re done."

A flicker of gloom passed through the old man’s eyes. What a fine son he had—so quick to side with outsiders.

Once his lifespan was extended, he would definitely strip Xiao Jinshi of all his power.

The elder Xiao looked down and asked, "Is that really… psychic energy?"

Xiao Jinshi removed the outer shell of the black box and tapped on the glass. "Of course. After your surgery, you’ll be placed in here first."

"Look." He exerted a bit of psychic pressure, and the energy writhed, trying to escape.

The elder Xiao: "..."

Was he saying they would lock him in a box like this and suppress him with psychic power?

Xiao Jinshi was truly such a devoted son.

The elder Xiao read through the entire document. He had been closely following the project in Serendib and could understand parts of it.

He also believed Song Yuqing truly had the capability.

The elder Xiao: "I need to think it over. Whether I live or die isn’t important. I just want to see you and Qingqing have children of your own. I want to see you happy."

Xiao Jinshi smiled, yanked the documents back from his father’s hands. "Then think it over."

He took the plan and left with the psychic energy.

That old bastard—how audacious.

Still thinking about kids? Hoping for a child between Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing to inherit the Xiao family?

The old man really loved handing things over on a silver platter.

The elder Xiao: "..."

Only after Xiao Jinshi completely disappeared from view did the elder Xiao’s face fall abruptly, his sharp eyes turning ice-cold.

Now that the opportunity was here, he was afraid Song Yuqing and Xiao Jinshi might kill him.

But this was his only chance to survive.

If he didn’t make it, the Xiao family would pass to Xiao Jinshi. Even though Xiao Jinshi was his chosen successor, he wanted to live longer and cling to power himself.

Song Yuqing received a call from Xiao Jinshi on the third day—likely because the elder Xiao wanted to know more.

Song Yuqing didn’t have time to go over, so he told the old man to speak on the phone.

After answering all of the elder Xiao’s questions, Song Yuqing added calmly, "This is a win-win situation. You’ll be my first successful case. This technology of mine is enough to make every member of the council beg for my help."

"But, Mr. Xiao, if you’re unwilling, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m sure there are plenty of volunteers."

The elder Xiao: "..."

Was he supposed to beg Song Yuqing instead?

These past few days, he had been thoroughly frustrated by Xiao Jinshi and Song Yuqing. The feeling of having his life in someone else’s hands was terrible.

Losing control over his own life was utterly miserable.

It was like Song Yuqing had slipped a leash around his neck—a tug from Song Yuqing would suffocate him, but without it, he would die outright.

In the end, the elder Xiao confirmed the surgery time with Song Yuqing. He personally prepared everything Song Yuqing needed. The only thing Song Yuqing could bring in was himself.

His men stood guard outside the door, ensuring his safety.

The extraction surgery took place at the Xiao residence.

The elder Xiao also severely restricted Xiao Jinshi’s movements, silently tearing apart his façade of being a loving father once again.

It was also a message to Xiao Jinshi and Song Yuqing that if anything happened to him, they would all fall together.

Song Yuqing had someone administer an injection to Xiao's father before entering.

After the injection, Xiao's father quickly slipped into a daze, as though wrapped in thick cloth—aware of his surroundings but unable to move.

He heard someone come in and overheard the conversation between Song Yuqing and Xiao Jinshi.

Xiao Jinshi: "How should we do this? Can you make sure he ends up like that creature—half-dead, with only basic reflexes left?"

Song Yuqing: "No need. Just kill him outright."

Xiao Jinshi nodded. "Right. He’s not worth your hands getting dirty."

Xiao's father wanted to grab something, to speak—but not a single word came out, nor could he lift a finger.

How could they be so bold? Weren’t they afraid he’d drag them down with him?

The men outside were loyal to him. How dared Song Yuqing go this far for Xiao Jinshi?

Had Xiao Jinshi truly found love?

Xiao's father tried to struggle, but it remained only a thought. His efforts changed nothing, only deepening his despair.

"Brother, turn around. It’s too bloody—ugly to look at," Xiao Jinshi said to Song Yuqing with a faint smile, beneath which flickered real pain.

Song Yuqing merely glanced up coolly. "I’ll watch."

A strong intuition told Xiao's father that his life would end by Xiao Jinshi’s hand.

Xiao Jinshi was pulled back to that day—his mother shielding him in her arms as she was hacked apart, blood gushing uncontrollably, life slipping away beyond return.

Her warm blood splattered across his face; he had died once that day.

And ever since, he had lived twisted and corrupted.

Even now, he still couldn't understand how power could mean so much that Xiao's father would do such a thing to the woman who loved him completely.

How could he let the alpha responsible for his mother’s death live on so easily? How could he even consider sparing him?

To do so would be a betrayal of his mother.

"Father, all these years, you’ve never shown the slightest remorse," Xiao Jinshi said softly, his eyelashes hiding the coldness and resolve in his eyes.

"Today, I’ll send you to make amends to Mother."

Song Yuqing watched calmly, finding no fault in it. He was willing to play along with Xiao Jinshi’s act—perhaps because, in his place, he would have done the same.

The alpha who caused Xiao Jinshi’s mother’s death should die on the very day he believed he would live forever.

That was the first step of psychological revenge.

He understood why his mother didn’t want him to kill his own father, but for him, only when that man and those people were truly dead would he be free.

Though he wasn't guilty of treason, he remained imprisoned, unable to escape.

Song Yuqing handed Xiao Jinshi a handkerchief. "Wipe your hands. Have someone come in to clean up."

Xiao Jinshi’s gaze shifted from Xiao's father to Song Yuqing. "Aren’t you afraid of me?"

As a witness to this act, wouldn’t Song Yuqing have nightmares? Wouldn’t he keep his distance?

Song Yuqing seemed amused. "Do you think I have a father who absolutely must stay alive?"

Xiao Jinshi froze for a moment, then understood. A dull ache spread through his heart, especially when he saw the faint smile at the corner of Song Yuqing’s lips.

"I’ll help you..." and kill him along the way. One more death didn’t matter.

"No need. Consider me reborn," Song Yuqing interrupted before Xiao Jinshi could finish.

"Xiao Jinshi, from today onward, you are free. There’s nothing to fear."

Xiao Jinshi’s heart clenched. The satisfaction of revenge paled compared to Song Yuqing’s words: "You are free."

Song Yuqing turned to look out the window. When would he die?

He wished every second that his "wonderful father" would suffer a terrible death.

It was snowing again, flakes falling steadily. Outside, the world lay blanketed in white.

Song Yuqing gazed at the view, while Xiao Jinshi’s eyes stayed fixed on Song Yuqing.

The young man stood slender and distant, pure as a handful of snow, even after being part of this.

Amid the lingering scent of blood, the cool, clean fragrance from Song Yuqing was the only thing Xiao Jinshi could smell.

"Alright."

Let today be their rebirth.

Author’s Note:

Song Qingqing (regretless, fearless version): I can’t kill my father myself, so I’ll watch you do it.

Xiao Jinshi: Brother helped me deal with the old man. Brother must really love me.