ABRIWMTHM Chapter 36

That night, of course, no one was able to sleep well.

Chi Yao dialed Xu Jin’s communication line, and soon the doors of the rooms in the main cabin opened.

There was also a medicine cabinet in Chi Yao’s room, so he had Shi Xing sit on the sofa while using a temperature gun multiple times. Chi Yao looked at the numbers on the gun and took a deep breath again. Shi Xing glanced over and noticed that the decimal point seemed to have risen a couple of places since he arrived, nervously picking up a cushion to hold in his arms, not daring to speak.

“What’s wrong with your mental sea?” Chi Yao asked Shi Xing.

Shi Xing thought he wanted to check again and instinctively moved to avoid contact, “Don’t…”

Chi Yao understood, “I won’t look.”

“Relax, don’t be nervous,” Chi Yao instructed.

Shi Xing indeed stopped moving. He rested his chin on the cushion, took a moment to calm down, and then felt a bit guilty as he added, “It’s not that you can’t look, it’s just that I feel a bit uncomfortable. If you want to see, I can prepare myself.”

“Not looking.”

“Uncomfortable symptoms can’t be discerned externally.”

Oh, that’s true.

Shi Xing relaxed a bit, organizing his words, “There are no fluctuations; everything else in my mental sea is fine. The uncomfortable feeling… it’s just that I feel very tired and don’t want to mobilize my mental sea.”

After a pause, realizing something, Shi Xing added, “It seems like it lacks vitality; the fluctuations have decreased.”

The mental sea has a natural ebb and flow of energy circulation, except when it’s being called upon.

Noticing the color in Shi Xing’s cheeks deepening, Chi Yao softened his voice, “How do you feel? Are you sure?”

Shi Xing followed his words, “Mm, let me feel again.”

His voice lacked strength, and after saying a few sentences, his head felt dizzy and unclear.

“Definitely lower than usual; the circulation has slowed down.”

This is not a good sign.

Chi Yao couldn’t find the words to say, unsure of what to convey. After a moment, he placed his hand on Shi Xing’s head, using the back of his hand to feel his forehead.

The skin contact transmitted mental power, and in this gentle action, Shi Xing didn’t dislike it, even felt a bit attached.

“Your Highness, are you angry?”

Unable to see his face, Shi Xing asked softly.

Chi Yao remained silent.

“I don’t think it should have anything to do with using my mental power today, after all…”

He was interrupted by Chi Yao, “If you keep talking, I’m going to get very angry.”

Shi Xing: “…”

Shi Xing: “…Oh.”

The medical team arrived quickly, followed by Xu Jin, Yan Changyue, and Fu Qing.

Everyone’s expression was extremely serious. Shi Xing wanted to make a joke but realized that no one could possibly find anything funny at this moment, so he silently swallowed his words.

They conducted a detailed examination, and while the results seemed fine, in reality, they were quite bad.

It looked good in that other than the fever, the fluctuations in the mental sea were reduced, and there were no major issues with the body.

In reality, it was bad, as Blue Star humans that fell ill during their maturity period also showed these two symptoms.

The doctor whispered to Chi Yao, “You peeked at his mental sea today, didn’t you? That might have had some effect. It’s uncertain whether the fever is asymptomatic or caused by physical discomfort; we’ll have to observe further.”

“If the temperature can drop tomorrow, it would be just a normal high fever, no big deal.”

Chi Yao’s eyelashes lowered slightly, “What if it doesn’t?”

The doctor paused for a moment and spoke again in a lowered voice, “Then we may need to take some measures, like absorbing a large amount of crystal and beast core energy, to see if that alleviates the situation.”

“Is there any data on the mental sea?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a nurse came over with the report and handed it to the doctor.

The doctor glanced at it and went silent for a moment. Chi Yao caught that reaction and asked, “Is the situation not good?”

The doctor answered honestly, “The fluctuations in circulation have decreased quite significantly.”

“The normal value is above 3; it started to rise and has already dropped to 2.7…”

No need for the doctor to continue, Chi Yao already understood it wasn’t a good sign.

Nodding, he instructed the doctor to prepare the medication for cooling down through an IV later. Chi Yao looked at Shi Xing from a distance, a breath pent up in his chest that he couldn’t release for a long time.

Chi Yao’s silence seemed to transmit to everyone else; they quietly bowed their heads to do what they needed to, not saying much.

Once the medicine was prepared, the doctor consulted with Chi Yao. He asked Shi Xing about his condition and carried the feverish, somewhat dazed person back to his own bed, allowing him to have the IV in a familiar environment.

Initially, Shi Xing wanted everyone to leave him alone, but his words were ignored. Eventually, he didn’t know when he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes.

When he woke the next day, people were already moving around by his bedside. Shi Xing groggily opened his eyes and felt a hand on his forehead; without needing to see clearly, he knew it was Chi Yao, as his mental energy told him so.

“Your Highness,” Shi Xing spoke, his throat inexplicably hoarse.

“Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere else today?”

Shi Xing shook his head.

After the cooling medication was administered, Shi Xing’s temperature didn’t continue to rise the next day, but it also didn’t drop; it was like it was sealed, remaining in a stable range.

“We’ll take the medication for another day,” the doctor suggested.

Chi Yao nodded.

Due to Shi Xing’s sudden illness, the two ships ceased to move and remained in place for adjustments.

Xu Jin and Yan Changyue took turns watching over Shi Xing, while Fu Qing, with his unique style, was copying military regulations in the main cabin’s lounge. Whenever he grew tired of writing, he’d check in on Shi Xing’s condition.

Having burned with fever all night, Shi Xing found it challenging to lift his hand the next day and felt weary. When people came to talk, he felt slightly better, but when they left, the fatigue returned to its usual state.

Shi Xing felt a sense of familiarity with this feeling…

But with his head all hazy, he could only recall the time he had a fever in the tree nest; he couldn’t remember much else.

After attempting to think twice, Shi Xing found his mind to be even murkier and decided to give up.

In the afternoon, Chi Yao brought beast cores and crystals to see Shi Xing. Yan, the attendant, arranged one side of the sofa to be particularly comfortable. Shi Xing nestled on it, following the doctor’s advice to absorb energy, while Chi Yao sat on the other side of the sofa, surrounded by projection screens as he worked.

“Your Highness, if you’re busy, you can go to the study. Both Xu Jin and Yan Changyue are watching over me,” Shi Xing said.

Chi Yao gave Shi Xing a response that left no room for persuasion, “I’m not busy.”

“I’ll keep you company. You absorb your energy.”

With nothing to say, Shi Xing covered himself with a thin blanket and obediently began to absorb the crystal’s energy.

Chi Yao glanced over and noticed that Shi Xing’s speed of absorbing crystal energy had decreased. Previously, it took about two to three minutes for one to shatter into powder in his hand; now it had stretched to five or six minutes, and he still hadn’t switched to another.

Knowing this was not an encouraging sign, Chi Yao lowered his gaze, not pointing it out.

That night, Shi Xing’s condition changed once again.

The high fever persisted, and his temperature rose.

The doctor confirmed that the normal medication didn’t work, switching to the specialized cooling medication for Blue Star humans. They toiled until midnight, and once the new medication was used up, all possible treatment measures had been taken, allowing the medical staff to leave.

Shi Xing’s condition drastically declined; during the day, he could still move about and say a few words, but at night, he remained in a daze. After calling out to him twice and receiving no response, Chi Yao stopped trying.

That night, Xu Jin and Yan Changyue kept watch.

By the third day, it was nearly noon when Shi Xing finally woke up completely.

Feeling unwell and wanting to sleep again, Chi Yao wouldn’t allow it, urging the attendant to help him sit up and forcing him to eat something.

Shi Xing frowned, “Your Highness, I don’t want to eat.”

“Be obedient.”

Shi Xing stirred the congee with the spoon in his hand, feeling lethargic.

Chi Yao sighed inwardly but maintained a firm expression, “Or do you want me to feed you?”

Shi Xing’s hand paused, imagining that even less appetizing scene, and ultimately mustered the strength to finish the congee, one spoonful at a time.

Before napping, he heard some noise from the study. Even with soundproofing, the commotion could be heard from his room, indicating it was significant. Shi Xing gave a confused look to Xu Jin, who had just entered.

Xu Jin lowered his voice, “It’s nothing to do with you; His Highness is communicating with the Elders Council.”

Actually, it was somewhat connected, but seeing Shi Xing in this state, Xu Jin didn’t elaborate on the details.

After Shi Xing took a nap and woke up, he moved slightly and felt something tugging on his hand.

Opening his eyes, he clarified the person sitting by the edge of the bed and sheepishly said, “Your Highness?”

“It’s me.”

It was Chi Yao holding Shi Xing’s hand, and in his palm lay a crystal.

He looked over just in time to see a crystal shatter. Chi Yao didn’t want Shi Xing to take in all the energy and create a troublesome mess with the powder, so he tossed the broken pieces into a waste bin, skillfully replaced it with another intact piece, and placed it back in Shi Xing’s palm.

Chi Yao held Shi Xing’s hand, fingers curling around it, as they both absorbed the crystal energy together.

Feeling the gentle flow of energy merging into his mental sea, Shi Xing gradually realized that perhaps he hadn’t woken at the right time; Chi Yao held his hand, guiding him piece by piece to absorb the crystal energy.

It was difficult to describe the feeling; he felt a mixture of sourness and an emotional swell in his heart.

As a new crystal was replaced, Shi Xing regained his senses and spoke, “Your Highness, I can do it myself.”

After he finished speaking, Chi Yao’s gray eyes darted over him, dismissing, “Not happening.”

“Aren’t you still busy with work? This is too much trouble for you.”

Shi Xing referred to a small projection screen in front of Chi Yao.

It indeed displayed documents sent from the Senate today.

Chi Yao didn’t even move his head, “Not troublesome; this was already scheduled. I just wanted to go over it one last time.”

Shi Xing softly insisted, “If you can’t, Xu Jin and Yan Changyue can come and do the same.”

Upon hearing this, Chi Yao finally turned his face away from the projection screen and fixed his gaze on Shi Xing.

There was no visible emotion on Chi Yao’s face, but as the time stretched on, Shi Xing began to feel anxious.

Noticing Shi Xing’s discomfort, Chi Yao spoke again, his voice low yet firm, “What you said is correct, but your person in charge is still me.”

Not Xu Jin or Yan Changyue.

Shi Xing completely didn’t know what to say anymore, lowering his eyelashes.

Chi Yao asked, “Could you remember anything after waking up?”

Shi Xing shook his head; he felt dizzy and only wanted to lie down.

“Then, how about some water? Xu Jin prepared some for you earlier.”

Shi Xing nodded.

Xu Jin was attentive and had even prepared a straw, allowing Shi Xing to take several gulps and feel slightly better in his throat.

Chi Yao’s hand reached out again, lightly touching his forehead, which felt burning hot.

The brief moment of visual separation gave Shi Xing a bit of courage, “Are you still angry, Your Highness?”

Chi Yao responded with a soft scoff, “What do you think?”

Shi Xing: “.”

As soon as he moved his hand away, Shi Xing shifted slightly, causing Chi Yao to think he wanted to sit up. Just as he was about to help, he sensed something, halting his hand in mid-air.

Shi Xing didn’t want to sit up.

He simply twisted on the bed, angling his head to rest against Chi Yao’s outer knee, playfully pressing his face against it.

Chi Yao sat at the edge of the bed, and with Shi Xing leaning against him, through the thin fabric, he could feel Shi Xing’s moist breath.

This intimate contact made Chi Yao’s back stiffen slightly.

Shi Xing closed his eyes, wrapped himself up in the blanket, and leaned against Chi Yao, “Your Highness, please don’t be angry.”

Chi Yao: “Reason?”

Shi Xing replied, “I think I’ll be fine.”

“The fever even has nothing to do with your treatment; I was fine in the afternoon.”

Looking down at Shi Xing’s feverishly flushed face, Chi Yao’s expression was complex, “Then what do you think it relates to?”

Shi Xing murmured, “Anyway, it’s not a treatment issue.”

Chi Yao chuckled, “So if you say there’s nothing wrong, then there really won’t be?”

Shi Xing fell silent for a moment before responding softly, “I think there isn’t.”

“I haven’t even properly treated you yet.”

“I haven’t seen the full picture of your mental sea either.”

“The outer layer of the mental sea where the healing power penetrated a few days ago, the residual issues detected were still numerous.”

After a pause, he asserted, “Heaven wouldn’t be so unfair to you, Your Highness.”

Nor would it be so unfair to him who had been reborn.

That really sounds like something a child would say. Chi Yao wanted to refute it, but looking at Shi Xing, who was nestled against his knee, his heart softened for a moment.

He intended to push away the person who was playing coy but instead, his hand lifted and gently ruffled Shi Xing’s hair.

“Sleep well.”

Shi Xing buried his face in the blanket, muffled as he negotiated, “Just let me lean on you for a moment.”

“…”

Worried that Shi Xing would suffocate under the blanket, Chi Yao pulled it down, allowing his head to emerge.

In silence, he took Shi Xing’s hand again, continuing to patiently guide him to absorb the crystal energy.

Feeling bold, Shi Xing asked, “Your Highness, are you no longer angry?”

After a few seconds of silence, when no answer came, Shi Xing changed the subject, “Xu Jin said you got angry today; was it because of the Elders Council?”

Mentioning this, Chi Yao did have something he wanted to say to Shi Xing, “You know that the partners of the direct royal family in the Empire are required to participate in politics.”

Shi Xing responded, “Mm.” Xu Jin had mentioned it.

Chi Yao continued, “The Elders Council used your status as a Blue Star human as an excuse, claiming you were too fragile during your maturity period. They want to postpone your rightful abilities until after your maturity period, meaning you won’t have the right to intervene in major national matters for another three years.”

“What do you think about this?”

Shi Xing pondered with his muddled brain, “Are they afraid I won’t survive the maturity period?”

Chi Yao lightly scoffed, “Perhaps.”

Shi Xing replied, “Well… that’s not entirely unreasonable, is it?”

Chi Yao: “…”

Chi Yao: “…………”

Sensing the heaviness in the air, Shi Xing felt uneasy, “Your Highness?”

Chi Yao shook his head, sighed lightly, and spoke in a voice filled with helplessness, “I think you might as well stress me to death.”

Shi Xing: “!”

Despite being deep in thought, Chi Yao didn’t plan to elaborate further. He turned back to the documents.

From Shi Xing’s observation, Chi Yao didn’t appear outwardly angry, but it couldn’t be said that he wasn’t upset.

Combining this with the last comment, Shi Xing discovered a hint of a post-disaster inquiry vibe.

Startled for two seconds, the discomfort in his body compelled Shi Xing to lie flat; it could be postponed until later, as long as it wasn’t now.

Following this, he refrained from asking Chi Yao again whether he was angry.

In the evening, he was checked once more, and his temperature continued to rise slightly. After the doctor left, the expressions of the four people in the main cabin were unusually grim.

After eating dinner, Shi Xing felt drowsy and fell asleep.

Having gone to sleep early, he was still jolted awake by the changes but not at the hour everyone else was sleeping.

Shi Xing felt like he was going to melt, waves of uncontrolled mental power spilling out, and he breathed heavily.

The leak of mental power led Chi Yao and the others to arrive quickly.

The sound of the door opening almost coincided with Chi Yao’s anxious voice, “Shi Xing, what happened?”

Shi Xing half-kneeled on the bed, sweat dripping profusely from his forehead, feeling like he was about to explode.

“Your mental sea…”

“Your Highness,” Shi Xing frowned tightly, articulating every word, “I think my mental sea is expanding.”

Not in the normal growing sense, but rather, rapidly expanding.

“Your Highness, I…”

“It feels so uncomfortable.”