ABRIWMTHM Chapter 48

Against the backdrop of a cold, snowy forest, Chi Yao walked through the blizzard to stand before Shi Xing.

Without beating around the bush, he instructed Shi Xing to repeat the shooting motion.

Shi Xing, feeling somewhat apprehensive, complied, while Chi Yao said, “Don’t move, hold it for a moment.”

The tall man, dressed in a black combat uniform, circled around Shi Xing and suddenly pointed out his stance, saying, “Feet shoulder-width apart, holding the weapon in a reverse grip.”

“Fu Qing excels in combat, Xiang Fei is accustomed to using mechas, and Qin Jue is best at commanding warships. The combat style in the Northern Territory is shaped by their individual mental power’s strength, making them weapons themselves, often favoring single combat.”

“Among them, the most likely to teach you these skills is Fu Qing. He doesn’t like cold weapons and prefers using energy ‘guns’ powered by mental strength as supplementary weapons.”

“But your grip is very standard.”

Shi Xing felt a surge of hope.

Chi Yao confirmed, “These aren’t things you would learn outside of a military academy.”

“I participated in customizing the Star Nest’s curriculum, and they won’t teach Blue Star humans combat.”

With each sentence Chi Yao spoke, Shi Xing felt like the words struck heavily in his heart, ringing in his ears.

Chi Yao stepped in front of Shi Xing, standing firm, his ash-colored eyes appearing particularly cold against the backdrop of the heavy snowfall.

“So, where did you learn all this?”

Like the final chime of a bell, his question was commanding, catching Shi Xing off guard.

Unexpected yet somewhat expected.

Perhaps Chi Yao had begun to suspect when he casually mentioned that he could use a crossbow; today, his proficient use of the crossbow had only confirmed the unvoiced doubts in Chi Yao’s mind.

Shi Xing swallowed hard. In the extreme cold, he felt a slight sweat bead on his forehead due to his nervousness.

He couldn’t control his reactions.

And those reactions, in Chi Yao’s eyes… served as another form of confirmation of “guilt.” Shi Xing closed his eyes, unwilling to see the disappointment reflected in Chi Yao’s gaze.

Silence stretched on, and Shi Xing felt indescribably chaotic inside.

After a long while, he spoke, his voice hoarse, “If I tell you, Your Highness, you might not believe it.”

Everything was too absurd.

Chi Yao targeted the pain point directly, “Is it that I won’t believe, or that you don’t want to say?”

The bell in Shi Xing’s heart rang again, sending tremors through his entire being.

Shi Xing, in a muddle of confusion, realized he didn’t even know what he was saying, “I don’t want to lie to you.”

Chi Yao: “Then don’t lie to me.”

Shi Xing was left speechless.

Chi Yao’s uncompromising attitude made him feel like he had been pushed to a dead end, forced to confess immediately, as if he must plead for the other’s mercy afterward, he…

“I…”

As he started to speak, his hand, which had posed to shoot, was pushed back and retracted. When Shi Xing opened his eyes, he saw that Chi Yao had somehow moved to stand in front of him. In the next moment, Chi Yao’s long fingers gripped his upper arm and lifted slightly, urging him to stand straighter.

“You’re trembling.”

With eyelids lowered, the words were spoken very lightly, almost whispered against his ear.

Chi Yao stated assuredly, “Seems like it’s not a pleasant memory.”

With that, Shi Xing shivered again.

It was an instinctive reaction born from his tense body, beyond his control, not something he could think about.

With his thick eyelashes raised, his ash-colored eyes bore into Shi Xing’s, their closeness creating an almost intimate connection.

Chi Yao was calm and composed, while Shi Xing felt anxious and flustered.

Unable to withstand the gaze, just as he was about to shut his eyes again, Chi Yao patted his shoulder gently, “Come with me.”

Then, pulling Shi Xing along, Chi Yao led him to the point for hunting snow bears.

Shi Xing felt stiff all over, in a daze about his surroundings, unsure of where or when it was. With Chi Yao gripping his hand, he followed the force moving forward, his mind unusually muddled.

“Give me a ‘gun.'”

Chi Yao commanded, and several guns were quickly laid out in front of him for selection.

Chi Yao picked a small caliber, energy-powered by mental strength.

While gripping Shi Xing’s hand firmly, Shi Xing felt like he was bound by something, the contact now felt more like a restraining motion than intimate, as if it only served to prevent him from running away.

Chi Yao asked, “Can your mental strength heal the snow bear’s beast core?”

Shi Xing truthfully replied, “Should be able to.”

The principle of healing remained the same; it was just that they Blue Star humans had never healed beasts before.

Chi Yao nodded, then oriented the gun in the air, commanding, “Bring another one.”

A snow bear was quickly drawn in front of Chi Yao. Due to his powerful mental strength, no one had to exhaust the snow bear as they did with Shi Xing, so when the bear came before Chi Yao, its spirit was fully charged, causing Shi Xing to instinctively step back.

He had reacted without thinking.

Realizing he had backed away, he felt the pressure of Chi Yao’s gaze.

“Afraid?”

Shi Xing couldn’t find his voice.

He was scared, but not of the snow bear; it was the memories of those beasts.

As the spirited snow bear approached, the feelings of the past and present merged in a strange coincidence.

Chi Yao made a surprising move.

He drew Shi Xing toward himself, wrapping an arm around him from behind.

With a firm grip around his waist, his arm loosely crossed in front of Shi Xing, leaving Shi Xing fully enveloped by Chi Yao’s aura.

Powerful, safe.

“Your Highness?” Shi Xing’s voice quivered.

Chi Yao rested his chin on Shi Xing’s shoulder, warm breaths brushing against Shi Xing’s ear, sending a slight tickle, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Chi Yao: “Where is the beast core located?”

Shi Xing, belatedly realizing that Chi Yao intended to use the gun to shoot the beast core, confirmed the position.

Knowing, Shi Xing still obediently indicated the location. Chi Yao’s right arm lowered slightly, and just at Shi Xing’s side, noticing that the aim was slightly off, Shi Xing proactively reached out and gripped Chi Yao’s wrist to help adjust the targeting.

Bang—

Shi Xing reported, “Hit.”

Chi Yao stood straight, still not releasing Shi Xing, guiding him along to the snow bear. The wind sliced into the wound, cutting the skin rapidly, and the shot beast core was exposed to view.

The bullet hole was small, and the beast core indeed hadn’t shattered; after observing for a while, the beast core’s self-healing ability was also kicking in, with the core reconnecting to the flesh, the mental strength rapidly repairing the exterior.

Having obtained the answer, there was no need to look further.

“Go ahead and heal it,” Chi Yao said.

The snow bear was part of the ecosystem in the icy forest; it was best not to kill it if possible.

Shi Xing nodded, just as he reached out, he was held by Chi Yao’s warm fingers, who asked, “Is it going to be strenuous?”

Shi Xing shook his head, “No, Your Highness, they are only A-class.”

With that, Chi Yao released his grip, and Shi Xing’s mental strength quickly pushed the bullet casing from the wound into the snow. Under Shi Xing’s mental force, the beast core healed rapidly, and Chi Yao’s mental pressure kept the snow bear from moving. With a slight lift of his hand, the blood and flesh surrounding the beast core wrapped around it, in no time, the core was reintroduced into the body, leaving behind a minute wound cut by the wind.

As Chi Yao wrapped an arm around Shi Xing and walked a distance, he released the mental pressure, and the snow bear immediately rose, having endured some torment, and it rushed deep into the forest without looking back.

On the way back, the spaceship was in complete silence. Chi Yao said nothing, while Shi Xing sat in silence, his gaze lowered to his legs, not speaking.

Fu Qing praised Shi Xing’s skills loudly, only to be interrupted by Xu Jin with a glance, leading to a silent latter half of the journey.

The two snow bears they killed undoubtedly became dinner. Even Fu Qing, no matter how foolish, started to realize something was off as they returned to their residence, observing Shi Xing and Chi Yao, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. Dinner was consumed with a palpable tension, and even when Xu Jin didn’t speak, Fu Qing kept his mouth shut.

Shi Xing ate without any sense of taste.

Just after he set down his bowl, a pair of chopsticks picked up some side dishes, followed by a piece of bear meat into his bowl. Chi Yao remarked, “Too little, eat more.”

Shi Xing nodded and, unsure of his hunger level, finished another bowl of crystal rice.

“Shi Xing, come with me. The others are free to move around.”

After dinner, unexpectedly, Shi Xing was summoned into a room by Chi Yao.

It was not an office but Chi Yao’s bedroom.

“Sit down.”

Entering the room, seeing Shi Xing standing awkwardly outside the living area, Chi Yao said.

Shi Xing did not sit on the sofa; instead, he moved a chair, sitting opposite Chi Yao with his back perfectly straight, both palms placed downward on his thighs.

He looked almost like he was about to be lectured.

That was not Chi Yao’s intention, noticing his posture, he did not insist and directly stated, “I have a few questions to ask you. Answer truthfully.”

Shi Xing nodded heavily.

“Do you know that standard bullets can’t penetrate a beast core?”

Shi Xing nodded.

“Can the crossbow be improved based on your physical condition? You have an idea, right?”

Shi Xing nodded.

“Have you trained in combat?”

Shi Xing closed his eyes in pain and nodded again.

“To what extent can you manage?” Chi Yao asked.

Shi Xing spoke softly, “I learned the basics in military school, but my physical condition isn’t on par with the Empire’s people, so I can only catch them off guard with some tricks.”

“You learned it all?”

Shi Xing nodded, pained.

Chi Yao grew curious, standing up to go to the bedroom while continuing to ask, “What else have you studied?”

Shi Xing recounted honestly, “Some basic military knowledge, fundamental formations for combat.”

That was all, after all, he had only spent a little over a year in the Imperial Capital.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Chi Yao returned, already changed into casual training clothes, directing Shi Xing to get up. Once Shi Xing changed into his training uniform, Chi Yao took him to the energy shielding room. Xu Jin and Fu Qing, seemingly indifferent, walked ahead, but the eyes of the trio glued to them as they passed.

When they got further away, Fu Qing whispered, “Is His Highness taking him to the training room?”

Xu Jin said, “Looks like it?”

Yan Changyue queried, “What’s going on?”

The three exchanged looks but were puzzled about the reason.

They only noticed that the atmosphere between Chi Yao and Shi Xing wasn’t quite right.

Xu Jin finally said, “Let them adjust themselves; maybe it will resolve itself afterward?”

Yan Changyue and Fu Qing felt it made sense, though they couldn’t help but steal glances toward the training room.

Once again easily caught by Chi Yao’s hand around his throat, Shi Xing’s heart raced.

Chi Yao released his grip, not intending to continue, but sat down to summarize, “Indeed, you know a bit, but it’s not precise.”

“It’s the training method from the military academy, but it doesn’t particularly suit your physical condition.”

Chi Yao sat down. Shi Xing felt it inappropriate to stand, so he sat next to him, listening.

After a moment of thought, Chi Yao asked Shi Xing, “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

Shi Xing lowered his head, “There are some personal experiences, but this is all I know. Beyond that, I have nothing else to hide from you.”

Chi Yao was perceptive: “Is it experiences or grudges?”

Shi Xing fell silent.

And silence, sometimes, is a form of acquiescence.

Just as Shi Xing thought it was time, with only the two of them present, Chi Yao did not push him but at that moment merely sighed lightly.

“You remind me of some stories about Blue Star humans my father mentioned.”

The shift in topic was abrupt, and Shi Xing couldn’t help but look up.

Chi Yao continued, “Three hundred years ago, during the massive beast tide, all the planets in the Twin Star Galaxy united, establishing boundary lines and joining forces against the enemy.”

“But even so, Blue Star and Blue Star humans remain the most mysterious existence in our galaxy.”

“Do you know that Blue Star humans possess immense killing power?”

Shi Xing shook his head.

After listening, he felt a tinge of yearning, quietly asking, “What is it?”

Chi Yao shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“All the higher-ups in the planets know they possess abilities, yet no one knows the specifics. The reason? Probably because during a lopsided confrontation, only one powerful Blue Star human survived to return to the ranks.”

“My father privately asked the Blue Star human companions from back then, and the answer was interesting, stating that this kind of ability must not be used lightly and is only to be utilized when there’s no way out. In short, it isn’t for regular warfare.”

“Of course, Blue Star is also very mysterious; before its disappearance, people from other planets in the Twin Star Galaxy had never stepped onto Blue Star’s territory. They were like an unknown and mysterious entity. Only after the Empire signed relevant treaties with Blue Star did people realize you were tree-born.”

Chi Yao suddenly looked at Shi Xing and said, “Just like you, mysterious.”

“I’ve reviewed all your living records in the Nest.”

“From your birth until now, in every year and every month, your figure can be seen in the video data. In other words, theoretically, you have never left the Nest since birth.”

“But this knowledge is also not something that can be learned in a short time; your demeanor doesn’t match your records.”

Against the light, Chi Yao’s gaze was determined, “You possess an aura that doesn’t belong to what the Nest cultivates.”

His long fingers reached out suddenly, pressing against the back of Shi Xing’s head, and Chi Yao’s features magnified before him, their eyes meeting in an unexpected closeness. Shi Xing felt as if the other wanted to look deep into him, to see his very soul.

The restraint gave way quickly, and Chi Yao stated, “But you’re not a person who would lie; your emotions are visible in your eyes, you can’t hide them.”

“If I had to say, it seems you have an unexplainable life experience.”

“I find it hard to believe, and you also seem to think that I wouldn’t believe it if you told me.”

“Isn’t that right?”

In that gaze, the two were so close that Shi Xing could even feel Chi Yao’s breath brushing against his cheek.

Shi Xing felt his entire body go rigid, not expecting Chi Yao could guess this far.

After a long while, he gently nodded his chin, indicating acquiescence.

Shi Xing’s voice was hoarse, “It’s not a particularly good experience; do you want to hear it, Your Highness?”

Chi Yao pointed at the area under Shi Xing’s eyes, “I’ve already given you my answer.”

“What?”

Chi Yao: “I’m waiting for the day you want to tell me.”

“In fact, you may have misconstrued something; I’m not particularly curious about secrets.”

The royal family’s history is dense, with many secrets buried through the passage of time.

Additionally, as a monarch, every person in his domain has their own thoughts; it’s impossible for them to be entirely honest with him. If Chi Yao were to comprehend everyone thoroughly, it would be exceptionally tiring.

As long as it doesn’t impact him or the Empire, to be honest, Chi Yao wouldn’t even be interested in listening.

Shi Xing was perplexed, staring at Chi Yao, “But Your Highness… you’ve been asking.”

His eyes were too innocent, and Chi Yao couldn’t help but place his palm against Shi Xing’s cheek.

Upon contact with the warmth of Chi Yao’s palm, Shi Xing paused, but he didn’t feel repulsed.

Chi Yao: “The questions I asked you today are to adjust your training plan according to your situation; along with that, there’s an important matter that I think it’s time to discuss, allowing you to make a decision.”

“When I previously asked you, rather than saying I was curious about your experiences, it was more like…”

Chi Yao’s ash-colored eyes were deep.

Inside were emotions Shi Xing couldn’t decipher.

“What I truly want to ask you is,”

His voice floated softly, but the concern embedded within carried a heavy weight.

“Shi Xing, have you ever been bullied?”