ABRIWMTHM Chapter 35

Hanging up the communication, Chi Yao looked again at Shi Xing.

That gaze swept over, and Shi Xing couldn’t help but shrink his shoulders, futilely trying to reduce his presence.

Chi Yao: “You…”

“Never mind, I’ll do it.”

Shi Xing: “?”

In the next moment, Chi Yao stood up, took a few steps closer, leaned down, and pressed his long fingers against the chair surface, exerting a bit of force, directly lifting Shi Xing along with the chair to the front of the sofa.

“?!” The feeling of weightlessness made Shi Xing blink in surprise.

Chi Yao exhaled deeply, regaining his calm demeanor, and asked, “How much of your mental power did you just use?”

Shi Xing: “Um, about half?”

Chi Yao: “You’d better be.”

“!” Shi Xing.

In the next moment, Chi Yao’s mental power unfurled, and Shi Xing felt something sweeping and gazing through his mental sea. This sensation was uncomfortable, yet he couldn’t resist; the gap in their levels was too vast to oppose.

Under the scrutiny of such overwhelming power, Shi Xing’s heart raced intensely for a couple of moments.

He knew Chi Yao wouldn’t harm him, but his instinctive reaction was uncontrollable, wanting to escape from this feeling of pressure.

Thinking this, Shi Xing indeed tried to move, but a large hand pressed down on his head. “Don’t move.”

Chi Yao said gently, “Let me take a look.”

As they made contact, Chi Yao’s mental power was unconsciously absorbed by Shi Xing. That hand, as if possessing some magical power, lightly rested on his head. Despite still feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Shi Xing had no desire to retreat.

The inspection lasted for more than ten seconds; when Chi Yao retracted his mental power, Shi Xing took a deep breath, belatedly realizing he had been holding his breath.

Sweat trickled down his forehead again. Before Shi Xing could notice, Chi Yao pulled out a piece of tissue and slapped it onto his face. “Wipe this.”

Reaching out to grab it, Shi Xing felt his fingertips weak and soft, his whole body powerless.

“There doesn’t seem to be any problems. Wait for the doctor to come and give you a thorough check-up.”

Shi Xing dazedly nodded. The pressure from the high-level mental power inspection still left him a bit bewildered.

After wiping his face clean, something cool was pressed against it, very comfortable.

Shi Xing looked up; Chi Yao’s long fingers were pinching the cup, indicating with a glass filled with clear water pressed against his face.

Shi Xing hesitated before reaching out to take it. Chi Yao’s smoky gray eyes were watching him, and upon confirming he held it steadily, he released his hand.

Chi Yao sat back down on the sofa, his posture straight, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that he wasn’t in his usual state.

Sitting there with no expression on his face and no more words, the atmosphere fell into silence again.

Shi Xing keenly sensed something and tentatively asked, “Your Highness, do you want some water?”

“I’ll go get it for you…”

Chi Yao didn’t even look at him and responded quickly, “No.”

Before Shi Xing could ask again, an emotionless voice uttered three words, “I’m full.”

Shi Xing: “…”

Shi Xing didn’t dare say anything further.

Outside the spaceship, Xu Jin and Fu Qing were still somewhat confused about the situation.

After getting off the spaceship, they first contacted the soldiers and medical personnel from another ship. Not sensing any leakage of mental power, Xu Jin had hoped, for a moment, that Shi Xing would succeed given that he knew Shi Xing was still weak and his abilities had just begun to grow.

Until they felt the leakage of mental power again.

But strangely, Xu Jin thought it had failed; while waiting for Shi Xing to descend, both Fu Qing and Xiang Fei noted that the fluctuations of mental power in the air had disappeared.

SS, SSS-ranked officers said this; Xu Jin felt there was no reason for them to deceive themselves.

“Sir Xu, what should we do now?”

Before receiving communication from Chi Yao, the head of the security team, Qin Jue, asked Xu Jin.

Xu Jin, feeling restless, paced back and forth, “Wait a little longer.”

In fact, his judgment proved correct; not long after, Chi Yao’s communication came through. He could give orders as usual, and it sounded like he was fine. Xu Jin didn’t dare delay, hurriedly coordinating the medical team to board the main ship with their equipment.

Fu Qing helped on the side, even when his name was called in the communicator, the first concern remained Chi Yao’s physical condition.

Fu Qing: “Is His Highness… fine?”

Xu Jin: “Should be.”

Fu Qing realized something and then his eyes lit up, lowering his voice, “Is Shi Xing really that amazing? He can…”

Xu Jin mercilessly interrupted Fu Qing’s beautiful ideas, “We still don’t know what the situation inside is; from what His Highness said, it’s hard to say whether he’s conscious or unconscious. Moreover…”

Xu Jin looked at Fu Qing with a soft gaze, “I think it would be best if you consider your phrasing; from what I heard His Highness say, we’re all going to get scolded later.”

Relying on his age, Xu Jin could still play the elder card, while Fu Qing was younger than Chi Yao and was Shi Xing’s caregiver, so he would be the first to take the hit.

Fu Qing: “…”

Fortunately, the situation inside the main cabin was much better than Xu Jin had imagined.

Chi Yao’s chaotic mental power was disrupted, and Shi Xing was awake.

After consulting with Chi Yao, according to his wishes, they emptied out the guest room opposite, moving all the medical equipment inside, while the medical team busied themselves within.

Chi Yao instructed Xu Jin: “Take Shi Xing over there; let the doctor check him.”

Xu Jin complied. Just as he led Shi Xing through the door, Chi Yao’s voice came from the opposite side, “Close the door.”

Xu Jin was stunned for two seconds, realizing it was directed at him. Glancing at Fu Qing, who was standing in front of Chi Yao, and at the visibly irritable Chi Yao, Xu Jin couldn’t help but silently wish him well and closed the door as instructed.

After sitting down in a daze, Shi Xing finally became aware of something. While allowing the medical staff to apply a tourniquet in preparation for a blood draw, he softly asked Xu Jin, “Sir Xu, why did His Highness ask you to close the door?”

Xu Jin didn’t hide anything from Shi Xing. “To scold someone.”

Just after he said that, the sounds from the next room couldn’t help but raise in volume.

Chi Yao: “Whoever is out there, explain what exactly happened earlier?!”

Chi Yao: “How did Shi Xing end up coming in here?!”

Shi Xing: “…”

Xu Jin: “…”

Coincidentally, Xu Jin also had questions for Shi Xing, “What happened next? Why did His Highness’s chaos stop?”

In two opposing rooms, separated by a single door, one side started with the beginning while the other spoke of what happened next. Nearly at the same time, the storytellers fell silent. The difference was that Xu Jin nodded happily after listening, whereas Chi Yao pressed his fingers against his forehead, feeling the veins bulge.

—“What did I tell you before?”

—“Is this how you act?”

—“And then?”

While Shi Xing was undergoing his examination, Chi Yao’s intermittent voice could be heard from next door. The volume wasn’t particularly high, but that tone of serious deliberation was enough to create a sense of invisible pressure for Shi Xing, even if it wasn’t directed at him.

Suddenly, raising his voice, “What do you mean ‘he can think about it’? How old is he and how old are you? If something goes wrong, the responsibility lies with you?! What will you use to bear that responsibility?!”

Accompanied by a crash, sounding like something shattering, Shi Xing jolted, unable to suppress a shiver.

The examining doctor reminded him, “Relax.”

“All the rooms in the main ship are soundproof; otherwise, shall I open it?” Xu Jin noticed Shi Xing’s face went pale from listening and proactively suggested.

Shi Xing prevented him, “No, no need.”

Pausing for a moment, with a hint of guilt, he said, “Sir Xu, did I implicate Major General Fu?”

Xu Jin was all too familiar with this kind of situation, pondering for a moment before sincerely saying, “Not necessarily implicate.”

“By rights, we should have stopped you and let you face the danger; that was indeed our failure.”

Xu Jin: “His Highness is right to scold you.”

If it weren’t for him taking Shi Xing for a check-up and getting him out of the way, he probably would be getting scolded too.

Shi Xing: “…”

—“There won’t be a next time.”

—“You go accompany Fei Chu; the two of you will reflect together.”

—“Qin Jue, go back and draft a list, letting the first army sign up if they want to accompany and protect Shi Xing, and pick five candidates based on their overall capabilities, kept on standby.”

Shi Xing: “!”

Xu Jin: “…”

Just then, the examination concluded, and the medical professionals needed time to analyze the data. Shi Xing, feeling he had dragged Fu Qing down, heard those few sentences and hurriedly stood up, heading next door.

Upon reaching the doorway, he happened to overhear Chi Yao arranging punishments.

“Copy the military regulations ten times, undergo high-intensity training in the energy room ten times, and give me results within a week.”

Shi Xing: “…………”

Shi Xing gritted his teeth and stepped inside, tentatively calling out, “Your Highness.”

Chi Yao’s gaze swept over Shi Xing, and he shot him a cold look.

Before Chi Yao could speak, noticing there were no outsiders in the room, Shi Xing said, “It was all my idea today; it has nothing to do with Major General Fu. If not… you could still scold me?”

This statement was ill-timed, which happened to clash with Chi Yao’s angrier moment. A light scoff came from him.

Chi Yao: “Do you think I wouldn’t want to?!”

Shi Xing choked on his words.

Lowering his head, he tried again to salvage the situation, “Actually, my mental power has been quite abundant lately; I had planned to try soothing your mental sea every night, and I had thought of several methods but didn’t have the chance to mention it. It just happened to coincide with today…”

His voice lowered further, “The short-term chaos of the mental sea twice takes a toll on a person; since you’ve already leaked your mental power once in the tree nest, I was thinking… it was my impulsiveness; I apologize, Your Highness.”

The plan was real, and the apology was sincere.

Chi Yao was left speechless by this talk, calming down was impossible, but continuing to scold… looking at Shi Xing’s pitiable appearance, he found it hard to say anything.

The atmosphere froze.

Xu Jin tried to ease the tension, “Alright, alright, even if Shi Xing made mistakes today, the result is ultimately good. Besides, he might not have contributed much but must have put in some effort, right?”

Chi Yao turned away, not in a good mood.

Not refuting was akin to tacit approval.

Seeing a way to maneuver through the conversation, Xu Jin added a few more neutral comments and shifted the topic back to Fu Qing.

Chi Yao repeated the punishments he had set for Fu Qing.

Noticing Shi Xing seemed about to say something, he quickly interjected, “It’s already quite lenient; if you plead for mercy, I’ll double the punishment!”

Shi Xing was startled, unable to articulate a response.

Fu Qing behind Chi Yao also shook his head slightly at Shi Xing, signaling him to refrain from saying anything further.

Shi Xing still didn’t understand His Highness’s temperament; after waiting for a long while, he realized he shouldn’t insist on words, as that would only stoke anger further.

Xu Jin once again eased the tension, and the matter was settled just like that.

Soon, the doctor entered the room, reporting Shi Xing’s examination results, consistent with what Chi Yao had observed, except that his mental power had experienced some consumption and suggested he replenish some crystals and beast cores. Otherwise, there were no other major problems.

After listening, Chi Yao nodded, went through the reports one by one, instructed one or two doctors to stay in the main cabin, and to check on Shi Xing again in the evening.

Letting him go after two days of observation, provided that there were no issues.

The doctors, who had long followed Chi Yao, understood his ways. They agreed on the next examination time and then left.

Fu Qing didn’t dare to linger in this awkward situation and slipped away.

Shi Xing also wanted to leave but couldn’t.

Chi Yao instructed the guard to tidy the room and took Shi Xing to the study, where he reviewed documents. Xu Jin brought a bunch of beast cores and crystals for Shi Xing to absorb in front of Chi Yao, telling him not to be too hasty; he could leave whenever he felt ready.

Shi Xing held the crystals, never before had absorbing energy felt so torturous.

After a while, once Xu Jin also closed the door and left, Shi Xing finally had the courage to look at Chi Yao.

He saw Chi Yao had an expressionless face, surrounded by projection screens. Just as Shi Xing was about to call out to him, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, the Senate’s communication came through, prompting Shi Xing to quietly close his mouth.

Looking at Chi Yao’s expression, it didn’t seem like he wanted to talk to him.

Sigh.

Shi Xing let out a heavy sigh in his heart.

It seemed he had thoroughly offended His Highness, and he had no idea when His Highness would cool down.

This desire remained strong until he left Chi Yao’s study.

During dinner, he asked Xu Jin, and the attendant reassured him, “His Highness has that temperament; when he’s angry, you can’t go against him. The more you talk, the angrier he becomes.”

“He’ll calm down… just wait a couple of days; it will be fine.”

“Let His Highness digest it on his own.”

However, less than two days later, to be exact, half a day passed, and that night when he woke up in a daze, Shi Xing was certain that His Highness probably no longer held any good feelings towards him.

Blue Star humans fear falling ill during their maturity period, especially when it comes to sudden fevers or discomfort in their mental seas stemming from discord.

Shi Xing groggily felt his way to the medicine kit Xu Jin had prepared, took his temperature with the thermometer several times, and after seeing the displayed temperature, he exclaimed that he was doomed.

Unfortunately, he was experiencing both a fever and discomfort in his mental sea, both at once.

After finishing the last document, Chi Yao had just turned off the projection screen when a knock sounded at the door.

Shi Xing called out to him from outside.

Chi Yao allowed him to enter, and as the door opened, Shi Xing only poked his head in, peering at him with eager eyes.

“Your Highness…”

His voice was gentle, and Shi Xing said, “I have something to tell you.”

“But, can you not be angry?”

His sea-blue eyes were too clear, shimmering with a faint light as they looked at him; for a moment, Chi Yao even considered agreeing.

Chi Yao: “Go ahead.”

Realizing Chi Yao wouldn’t fall for this tactic, Shi Xing felt somewhat disappointed, heavy-headed and light-footed, sensing the unpredictability of fate.

Knowing he couldn’t hold out much longer, he spoke frankly, “Your Highness, it seems that I’m… running a fever.”

Chi Yao was taken aback, his pupils instantly contracting.

He looked directly at Shi Xing, seeing the unnatural flush on his face, his heart trembled.

“Anything else?” Chi Yao tried to keep his tone normal.

Shi Xing closed his eyes, “My mental sea… is also not feeling well.”

The atmosphere froze.

The two faced each other in silence.

Both were well aware of what this meant.

Breath quickened, and Chi Yao wasn’t sure if it was the significant blow to him or the consecutive incidents today that left him dizzy.

Thinking more than usual, he immediately retorted, “On what basis do you think I wouldn’t be angry?!”

Shi Xing shrank his shoulders, meekly murmuring, “Dream on?”

Chi Yao: “…”

Chi Yao: “…………”

Taking deep breaths, Chi Yao nearly couldn’t control himself from pressing his hand against his forehead.

Veins bulged on his forehead, thumping violently.