Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 88

In the following days, Ling Xiao experienced what was called hellish training. On a planet where his body couldn’t adapt fully, the soul traction continued to intensify with time. Training tasks that he could easily complete on regular days became strenuous here. Moreover, he had the double punishment on him.

He had originally thought of taking time off to return to the tribe to check on Fei Jing’s condition, but every day after training, he went back to the dormitory and fell asleep. He no longer needed to ask Ying Feng for a hypnotic kiss. This continued until the half-month internship ended, and he only got to rest just before departing.

Once again at the interstellar port, classmates were exchanging their unused internship subsidies for local specialties. Ling Xiao had previously left some money with Luoluo, and now he didn’t have much left. Ying Feng was moving through the bustling stalls when he finally found a vendor selling flowers. The stall had a sign that said, “No deception between man and wolf”.

“Do you want to buy flowers? The flowers here are hardy and can be planted anywhere.” The vendor warmly greeted him as soon as he saw a potential customer.

Ying Feng quickly scanned the flowers. He recognized most of them, except for one that looked unfamiliar. It had twisted leaves and small red beans on the top.

“What’s that?”

“You have a good eye. This is a variety introduced from another galaxy in recent years and has been adapted to the local environment. Of course, it can also be taken to nearby planets without any issues. This flower is called Acacia. It usually produces these small red beans and rarely blooms. But when it does, the flower is incredibly beautiful, even more so than the jade orchids. Would you like a pot?”

Ying Feng gave him all his remaining money. “Do you have seeds?”

“Of course,” the vendor said cheerfully as he took the money. “I’ll pack them for you.”

“Ying— Feng–”

Ling Xiao’s voice echoed from the other end of the market. By the time the last note of his call faded, he had already bounded over, holding up a furry little creature and eagerly showing it to Ying Feng.

“Look! A puppy!”

The puppy was barely bigger than his palm, with light gray fur matching its eyes. Suspended in Ling Xiao’s grip, its limbs and tail dangled, and its large eyes looked somewhat innocent.

“I found it in that corner,” Ling Xiao said with anticipation. “Can we keep it?”

Ying Feng decisively replied, “No.”

“Why?” Ling Xiao’s hopeful expression turned to disappointment in a second. “Look how cute it is.”

Holding the puppy up to his chin, Ling Xiao made a similarly innocent expression. “Look, its eye color is the same as mine. So pitiful.”

“Oh, I get it.” His tone shifted, pointing at Ying Feng. “If we keep it, you won’t be the only furry member in the house. You’re jealous!”

A vein popped in Ying Feng’s forehead, his patience wearing thin. “The main issue is not the fur or eyes. It’s not a dog. It’s a wolf, right? And this is Wolf Star. This thing is probably one of its inhabitants, isn’t it?”

Little Wolf: Awooo—

Ling Xiao’s jaw dropped as if he had been hit hard.

“Who keeps a person as a pet? It probably wandered off when its parents weren’t looking. They must be worried sick.” Ying Feng, grabbing the little wolf by the scruff of its neck, took it from Ling Xiao. “Where did you find it?”

Ling Xiao pointed to a corner, looking dejected. “It was scavenging for food from the trash there.”

As Ying Feng walked over to where Ling Xiao found the creature, about to let it down, a woman passing by to dispose of her trash commented, “Don’t know whose child this is. Abandoned not long after birth. Won’t survive long on its own.”

Ying Feng paused, looking at the creature again after the woman left. Ling Xiao was right; their eye colors were exactly the same. But on Tianxiu, almost half the people had the same eye color. If gray eyes meant pitiful, then there were too many pitiful beings in the world.

“Even if you die, it’s better to die on your own land.” Ying Feng set it down. The confused little wolf, upon touching the ground, took a moment to adjust. Using its short legs, it tried to wobble after Ying Feng but quickly lagged behind, unable to keep up with his pace.

Ying Feng went back to fetch the seeds he had dropped. The vendor had already packed them and was waiting for him. Ling Xiao looked at him curiously. “What did you buy?”

“Flower seeds.”

“Why buy these?”

Ying Feng paused. Why did he buy them? It seemed like something he would naturally do without any thought. It wasn’t until he pocketed the packaged seeds that he realized he didn’t have a good reason.

“Just as a memento.”

Ling Xiao didn’t think much of it, only remarking, “There’s no place to plant them in our dormitory.”

The time to gather was nearing, and they dragged their luggage towards the port. Ling Xiao, with his sharp eyes, noticed a familiar figure peeking from behind a wall.

“Luoluo!” He put down his luggage and approached. “Did you come to see me off?”

Initially, Luoluo seemed a bit embarrassed at being spotted but soon nodded slightly.

Patting his head, Ling Xiao cheerfully said, “I’ll come back to see you if I get a chance. When you grow up, you’re welcome to visit Tianxiu.”

Luoluo puffed up his chest. “I’ve joined your tribe.”

“Oh?” Ling Xiao expressed surprise.

“When I grow up, I want to be the Wolf King!”

“Haha, I’ll be waiting to see you become the Wolf King.” Ling Xiao pounded his chest with his fist. “I swear on my soul.”

Luoluo solemnly returned a gesture of the Wolf Tribe. “I swear on Mother Earth!”

After bidding farewell to Luoluo, Ling Xiao boarded the spaceship with the others. After a few jumps, the Wolf Star became a brown planet in their view.

“Did you hear anything?” Ling Xiao asked.

Ying Feng, with his sharp hearing, nodded. “It seems to be coming from your luggage.”

Ling Xiao checked and was stunned to find a palm-sized wolf cub in his bag.

“How did you sneak in?” Ling Xiao was both amazed and thrilled as he cuddled the cub. “Are you really coming with us to Tianxiu?”

The little wolf licked his hand, and Ying Feng seemed displeased. He reached out to take the cub, but Ling Xiao protected it.

“Could it just be a regular wolf?”

“Have you ever seen a wolf that can unzip luggage?”

“But it’s just a baby.” Ling Xiao held the cub tightly, as if determined not to let go. “It’s already on the ship. We can’t just throw it out.”

Seeing Ying Feng’s reluctance, Ling Xiao compromised. “Isn’t it said that the people of the Wolf Star only turn into humans after their childhood? When it grows up and can transform, I promise to send it back home.”

Who knew whose child this was, abandoned so young, it would likely not to survive long.

“Forget it.” Ying Feng sighed. “Do as you please.”

Ling Xiao lifted the cub happily. “From now on, you’re a new member of our family. Let’s name you Hui Lang*.”

*Literally gray wolf.

“It’s already a gray wolf. Who names something after its species?” Ying Feng retorted, unable to resist chiming in.

“Its nickname will be Xiao Hui. That’s final!”

“I’ve never seen anyone name things as casually as you.”

“That’s because you’ve seen too few people,” Ling Xiao retorted. “There are plenty of people in the world who name things casually.”

Even though they’d been away only for half a month, stepping on Tianxiu’s soil again, Ling Xiao felt a sense of belonging. He couldn’t wait to bring Xiao Hui to his new home and didn’t even ask Ying Feng, who said he had some things to take care of first.

Alone, Ying Feng arrived at the church. The priest remembered him and kindly asked his purpose.

“I’ve just returned from Wolf Star and brought some flower seeds. Do you need them here?”

The priest smiled. “That’s thoughtful of you. There’s some land behind the church; you can plant them there.”

Ying Feng nodded in gratitude and left, getting tools from a nearby shed and planting the seeds.

A few minutes later, the priest realized he had forgotten to tell Ying Feng where the tools were. When he rushed to the garden, he found Ying Feng kneeling, engrossed in planting. The way he moved and looked was so human-like.

Ying Feng, fully focused on his task, only noticed the priest’s presence after planting a row. The priest, staring intently at him, seemed mildly surprised.

“What is it?” Ying Feng asked, standing up.

The priest came to his senses. “I’m sorry, I was lost in memories, thinking I saw an old friend from the past.”

He turned his gaze to the ground nearby, where all the tools for planting flowers were neatly arranged. “I was worried you wouldn’t find the tools, so I came to tell you. I didn’t expect you to find them on your own.”

“Oh,” Ying Feng replied indifferently. “I saw the greenhouse on my way here and guessed the tools might be there.”

The priest looked in the direction of the greenhouse, puzzled. He had exited from the back door, and the greenhouse was in a different direction from where they were. There was no way he would have passed by it. However, he didn’t voice his confusion and instead watched as Ying Feng planted all the flower seeds and watered them meticulously.

“What kind of seeds are these?”

“Acacia.”

“I’ve never heard of it.” The priest suggested, “Ling Xing once compiled a plant encyclopedia, with Jing Yu’s help. After he left, I published the manuscript he left behind. If you’d like, you could record the details of this new plant, and we can include it in the next edition.”

“The encyclopedia you mentioned, was it authored under the pen name ‘Yu Xingcao’?”

“Exactly. ‘Yu Xingcao’ is a pseudonym they both used, made up of their names*.”

*Clarity, the Yu (雨) from Jing Yu and the Xing (星) from Ling Xing. Cao (草) means grass. Together, it’s like Star Shower/Rain Grass.

The Yu Xingcao was a grass commonly seen in Tianxiu. In some areas, it was ubiquitous. At night, the tips of the grass glowed, and from a distance, they looked like scattered stars.”

The name was unique enough that it left an impression on Ying Feng. He had initially thought that the author was fond of this grass, which was why they chose its name as a pseudonym. He hadn’t realized there was more to the story.

“I borrowed that book from the library. I’d be happy to contribute to its completion.” Ying Feng readily agreed to the priest’s proposal.

Compared to plants, Ling Xiao seemed more interested in animals. As soon as he placed Xiao Hui in their dormitory, the little creature eagerly began to explore, as if touring its new home. By the time Ying Feng returned, Ling Xiao had made a generous space for Xiao Hui in a corner of the living room, placing a shiny doghouse there, which left Ying Feng speechless.

He wondered if those from Wolf Star recognized themselves as humans when they were young. If Xiao Hui considered itself human, being given a doghouse might infuriate it. However, Xiao Hui seemed thrilled, darting in and out of it, wagging its tail excitedly. This made Ying Feng wonder if it was just a regular wolf.

After setting everything up, Ling Xiao leaned against Ying Feng, proudly admiring his handiwork. “It finally feels like a home for the three of us.”

No wonder couples’ guides suggested adopting a pet. Even with just one additional creature, the dormitory felt warmer, much like the soft touch of rubbing one’s cheek against Xiao Hui’s fur.

Ling Xiao, wrapping his arms around Ying Feng’s neck, blurted out, “Even though it’s not one you gave birth to.”

Ying Feng glanced at him sharply. “Who are you saying would give birth?”

Realizing his slip, Ling Xiao tried to backtrack, but it was too late. Ying Feng, grabbing him by the collar, dragged him toward the bedroom. “Let’s see who would be the one to give birth.”

Ling Xiao, wishing he could turn back time, protested, “Why are we even discussing this? We’re both Tianxiu. Let’s just talk this out…”

With Ying Feng half-dragging, half-pulling him, Ling Xiao was forcibly taken into the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind them. Moments later, the bedroom door opened, and a fluffy little creature was tossed out by its neck, with the door slamming shut once again.

Xiao Hui, having been thrown out, shook its head, letting out two soft howls of displeasure. But upon seeing its bed, it joyfully scampered back to it.

……

The next day, Xiao Hui was clearly more listless than the day before. Despite the food that Ling Xiao had prepared for him, he just took a glance and closed his eyes, showing no intention of eating.

“What’s wrong with him? Soul traction?” Ling Xiao asked anxiously.

“He might be sick.”

“Sick?” Ling Xiao had no idea how to deal with the situation. “I’ll call Bing Can over.”

“His healing abilities only work on Tianxiu people. Even the school doctor of Royal Sky can only treat injuries of their own kind. It’s better to consult Yu Ji, who researches other living creatures,” Yin Feng advised.

Ying Feng’s prompt reminded Ling Xiao of someone. “I got it!”

Heng He carefully examined the creature in front of him, lifting its paw and prying open its eyelids. Xiao Hui was docile, not showing any resistance at all.

“Are you sure it’s a Wolf Star being? There are many wolves from the Wolf Star, and young Wolf Star beings and wolves look very similar. They can only be distinguished by their DNA.”

“Whether it’s a wolf or a person, I want to know why he’s so lethargic,” Ling Xiao urgently asked.

“My initial estimate is that it’s not acclimated to this environment. On top of that, it had severe malnutrition even before this, likely having eaten something bad.”

“When I found him, he was scavenging through trash,” Ling Xiao added.

“That explains it. Our medicines won’t work on him, but you came to the right person. I happen to be studying this.”

Heng He casually took a look at Ling Xiao’s medical report. “Your blood has been fully purified. We can continue our experiments. We can’t delay any longer since we’re already behind schedule.”

After two weeks, Ling Xiao was once again connected to tubes, with blood slowly flowing out of him.

“You have to heal Xiao Hui for me,” he murmured as he drifted into unconsciousness.

“Don’t worry, I will,” Heng He replied, avoiding Ling Xiao’s gaze. According to the instructions, the delayed progress couldn’t be postponed but had to be made up in stages. The set amount of blood to be taken this time was up to three-quarters of Ling Xiao’s total, a critical value for a Tianxiu person. Any slight accident, and Ling Xiao would be in mortal danger.

It was a military order. No matter how much Heng He emphasized the risks, they were insistent, and he had no choice but to obey.

He could only hope that Yin Feng would not act rashly.

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