ABRIWMTHM Chapter 69

Shi Xing was taken aback, his back slightly shrinking, perhaps due to the close physical proximity with Chi Yao.

Moreover, being under the blankets, with him taking the initiative…

It could also be the ambiguity in the other person’s words that made him dare not think deeply about it.

And it wasn’t the first time.

His Highness said such things.

Really…

Feeling the breath on his shoulder getting even hotter, Shi Xing attempted to struggle but was held even tighter.

“Your Highness…”

Shi Xing involuntarily called out.

“Mm.”

Chi Yao answered with a single word, and his breath brushed over Shi Xing’s skin, causing him to tremble uncontrollably once again.

So warm.

This position was also quite embarrassing.

His ears were surely red, but Shi Xing couldn’t feel it because he was holding Chi Yao, whose temperature was clearly much higher than his. Moreover, due to the confusion, the leakage of mental power was further intensifying.

Unknowingly, due to the fluctuations of his emotions, the speed at which he absorbed mental power was also accelerating.

It wasn’t a deliberate absorption; it was all thanks to the passive characteristics of mature Blue Star humans. Shi Xing’s hands had touched Chi Yao’s face and neck, without noticing that the other person had any discomfort.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, taking advantage of the faint light projected from outside the window, the atmosphere in their embrace became increasingly ambiguous. Shi Xing forced himself to ignore these things and concentrated on figuring out a way.

Not daring to inject mental power into Chi Yao’s mental sea to suppress it, fearing that it might cause further discomfort, Shi Xing thought for a moment and carefully stretched out his fingertip to touch the back of Chi Yao’s neck. As soon as he made contact, he felt the other person move unnaturally, wanting to escape the touch.

“Is this uncomfortable?”

Shi Xing asked, as he had just passively absorbed a bit of the other person’s mental power with his hand.

In the tightening embrace, Chi Yao spoke as if carrying fire, scorching his skin, “Not very comfortable.”

The four words came out sounding completely hoarse.

In the embrace where not a hint of space could be found, Shi Xing sighed, thinking about the consequences of his own actions on one hand, while on the other, as time prolonged, his body completely gave up resisting, allowing Chi Yao to hold him tightly as if he were a doll, resting his hand on the other person’s shoulder’s back, silently acquiescing.

“Your heartbeat is so fast.”

At some point, Chi Yao said again.

Shi Xing didn’t want to think about the deeper meaning in this; he lay back simply and honestly, “Yeah.”

Pausing for a moment, it was the truth and also a helpless sentiment, “Your Highness, you’re holding me too tightly.”

“Uncomfortable?”

Naturally not, but…

Shi Xing closed his eyes and said softly, “Not very accustomed.”

Chi Yao: “Then get used to it.”

Shi Xing: “…”

Shi Xing was curious, “Does holding me have any effect?”

In theory, he could feel himself absorbing Chi Yao’s mental power. Due to the emotional fluctuations, most of the leaked mental power was consumed before it had a chance to dissipate, and the actual energy he could take away from the room was not very strong.

But that was just in theory.

In practice, he still had to ask Chi Yao.

Chi Yao didn’t answer immediately.

After a moment, he spoke, “Do you want to hear the truth?”

Shi Xing, trying to lighten the mood, said playfully, “Can I hear the fake version first?”

Chi Yao’s high nose brushed against Shi Xing’s skin, the heavy hot breath sprayed forth, and Shi Xing’s neck instantly formed a small patch of goosebumps, which quickly faded, only to repeat with the next breath from him.

Chi Yao: “The effect is good; I feel better.”

“What’s the real truth?”

“I don’t know if it has an effect, but the feeling will be better.”

Shi Xing opened his mouth, and before he could fully process, he had already asked, “Better bodily feeling?”

Chi Yao replied honestly, “Psychological feeling.”

Shi Xing’s heart constricted.

Here it came again, that feeling of double meaning in his words, starting again…

“Your Highness…”

Just as Shi Xing was about to say something, the doorbell rang. Xu Jin, Yan Changyue, and Bi Zhou had finally sensed the leakage of mental power and came over to knock on the door.

Shi Xing went to open it, while Chi Yao sat up.

When Xu Jin’s gaze fell on the hem of Shi Xing’s clothes, Shi Xing only then realized that the sleepwear in their embrace had become wrinkled, making it very curious what had happened to him.

But he knew it wasn’t the time to discuss this; Xu Jin quickly diverted his gaze and asked about Chi Yao.

The three entered the room to assess the situation. Due to the slightly aggressive nature of Chi Yao’s mental power, Bi Zhou was first sent away, while Yan Changyue went to turn off the mental power blocking device, ensuring that Chi Yao’s mental power wouldn’t disturb others in the villa.

Xu Jin, having been through many such situations, was organized in his arrangements and appeared exceptionally calm and composed.

After Yan Changyue returned, Shi Xing felt that Chi Yao’s mental sea had calmed down a bit, so he let Yan Changyue take care of Chi Yao while he followed Xu Jin to notify Fei Chu and Fu Qing about the leakage of Chi Yao’s mental power.

Of course, there were still some things he wanted to ask Xu Jin.

“Uncle Xu, hasn’t the His Highness’s therapist arrived yet? What’s her name again, Er Ya? Where is she?”

Shi Xing had asked the right person; Xu Jin had been contacting and urging the therapist daily.

Xu Jin: “Her ship just arrived in the Twin Star Galaxy yesterday. Today, she changed ships on her home planet and is on her way to the Empire.”

After a brief pause, Xu Jin added, “If there are no unexpected circumstances, she will arrive in three or four days.”

Shi Xing was perceptive, “What do you mean by no unexpected circumstances? Are there still possible unexpected situations?”

Xu Jin sighed inwardly and replied truthfully, “Yes, it could happen. She’ll be arriving quickly, but she will pass through the Alliance’s planets, and if the Alliance stops her, it could take five or six days.”

Shi Xing went silent for a moment, forcing himself not to think about the unchangeable things, and quickly summarized, “So, she won’t be able to arrive in the next few days, right?”

Xu Jin nodded.

Shi Xing frowned, “His Highness’s condition doesn’t seem good; I’m afraid…”

“Don’t be afraid.” Xu Jin’s calmness served like a strong injection, comforting Shi Xing. “Anything could happen; even if it looks bad, trust me, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will directly enter the chaotic period.”

Xu Jin was always there during every chaotic stage; he had seen all kinds of situations.

Thinking of something, Xu Jin sighed again, “If the contract could take effect, it would be great, but unfortunately…”

Shi Xing: “?”

Under the gaze of those deep blue eyes, Xu Jin finished his sentence, “Unfortunately, the contract hasn’t actively repaired His Majesty’s mental sea for many years.”

Realizing something, Shi Xing asked, “What do you mean? Can the contract repair the mental sea?”

“It used to be able to, at the onset of the chaotic period, it could help interrupt and provide some minor repairs to the cracks. In earlier years, His Majesty would sleep under the influence of the contract, and when he woke up, he’d feel much better.”

Shi Xing: “When the contract takes effect, does it put people into a deep sleep? Are there any triggering conditions?”

Xu Jin: “When it takes effect, it releases a special kind of mental power that makes anyone who comes in contact drowsy. During those days, His Majesty couldn’t be woken up. There should be triggering conditions, but we’re not clear what they are; there haven’t been any observed patterns in His Majesty…”

Xu Jin recalled, “Sometimes, when the situation becomes particularly severe, the contract will take effect. Other times, it can take effect without warning, making His Majesty sleep for several days…”

“However, it could be that with the ongoing battles, the issues within His Majesty’s mental sea have been accumulating. I remember over a decade ago, after killing a mutated star beast, I haven’t seen the contract perform any repair functions since, so it’s probably already quite taxing to maintain stability in His Majesty’s mental sea.”

As he spoke, they arrived at Fei Chu’s door, and Xu Jin knocked.

Later, the Secretary-General of the document, Wei Wan, came over.

She had learned from Xu Jin that Chi Yao might enter the chaotic period and came to confirm some matters with Chi Yao in advance.

After only exchanging a few sentences with Chi Yao, she pulled Shi Xing aside, informing him about the cause of Chi Yao’s argument with the Senate in the evening.

Shi Xing was surprised, “Hah, they don’t want me to follow His Highness to receive diplomat from the Alliance?”

Wei Wan succinctly explained, “The Senate has their considerations; after all, there was the example of Er Ya before, and you, little prince, hold such a high rank… They don’t want the Alliance to know of your existence. Regardless of right or wrong, I think it’s understandable.”

Wei Wan didn’t dwell too much on the Senate’s thoughts; after a brief mention, she went straight to the topic she wanted to discuss with Shi Xing.

“His Majesty’s condition is not good right now. If he truly enters the chaotic period, he might not be able to attend the diplomatic reception activities, and with so few direct royal relatives left, young Master Bi Zhou is only in his teens and won’t be able to handle the Alliance diplomats, so…”

Under the situation where Chi Yao was absent, Wei Wan felt that Shi Xing had to be present, at least a responsible adult needed to hold the fort.

“His Majesty’s stance is that he will definitely take you along if he attends.”

“But if His Majesty enters the chaotic period, little prince, you need to think carefully about this. It’s not about whether His Majesty wants to attend; in any case, everything from the Secretariat will be based on your opinion, it just depends on…”

Taking a deep breath, Wei Wan revealed the key, “It depends on whether you’re willing to have a direct confrontation with the Senate and the Elders Council.”

In other words, if Chi Yao were present, everything would be much easier, and he would help Shi Xing handle it all.

But once he entered the chaotic period, the pressure would shift directly to Shi Xing.

Shi Xing needed to think ahead—whether to start from the wider perspective of the Empire and risk conflict with the Senate and the Elders Council to participate in receiving the Alliance diplomats, or prioritize stabilizing the internal conditions of the Empire by complying with the opinions of the Senate and Elders Council by not attending.

Wei Wan conveyed her message and then left.

As Shi Xing walked back, he was deep in thought.

His thoughts weren’t about the question of whether to attend or not, but rather that the Senate and the Elders Council had upset Chi Yao, and he was not pleased.

At this moment, Shi Xing’s thoughts aligned perfectly with Chi Yao’s reprimands from the previous evening; if someone couldn’t do their job, then change to someone who could. He didn’t believe the Empire couldn’t find capable people.

Upon returning to his room, this matter was quickly cast aside by Shi Xing.

There was nothing else; it was the recurrence of Chi Yao’s condition.

It was already certain that these were the signs before the chaotic period.

After spending some time in the hallway with Xu Jin and Yan Changyue, the leakage of mental power became increasingly aggressive.

Shi Xing said solemnly, “This can’t go on; if it continues like this, he will directly enter the chaotic period.”

Before entering the chaotic period, the mental sea would leak mental power several times, usually with increasing aggression each time.

Until the intensity of the mental power attack reached a chaotic level.

During the entire chaotic period, the overlapping cycles of the mental sea would be disrupted, leading to disordered internal energies, and without the calming support of therapists, the chaotic energies would be harmful both to the mental sea and the body.

Harmful and also causing great suffering.

Tonight, Chi Yao’s mental sea had already undergone the process from an initial leak to calmness, and now it was leaking again.

If it couldn’t be interrupted…

Shi Xing couldn’t imagine the kind of harm it would inflict on both the mental sea and the body by enduring the chaotic period without a therapist, and what kind of pain Chi Yao would suffer…

Shi Xing repeated, “No, we cannot allow His Highness’s mental sea to continue to be chaotic.”

Xu Jin sensed something and looked at Shi Xing.

“The therapist’s mental power endurance is strong, and my ability has improved quite a bit during this time…”

Shi Xing was firm and unyielding, stating, “Let me try to interrupt it once.”

Even if it meant draining his mental power, that would be fine.