“After a night of experimentation, the Research Institute has formulated the recipe for the special sedative. I have sent it to your communicator. The first batch has already arrived at the Incubation Center. The feedback indicates that Ni Hong’s energy disorder has indeed improved significantly.”
“Cold Fei’s energy monitoring results remain stable today, and she shows no other symptoms. Preliminary judgment suggests it will still be some time before she shows her bump.”
“Qin Zhen,”
At the Presidential Palace, Adjutant Qi was conducting his routine report. Previously, he had always placed Qin Zhen at the top of the list. Beyond monitoring results, he usually included private investigations that were several times longer than the reports for the other two candidates.
However, repeated setbacks had worn down his spirit. He now placed Qin Zhen at the very end and brushed past his report with a single, short sentence.
“Qin Zhen has a fever and is also experiencing morning sickness.”
Unexpectedly, the man sitting behind the command console, who was in the middle of reviewing documents, suddenly looked up. “Morning sickness?”
Adjutant Qi froze slightly, unsure why the Supreme Commander reacted so strongly.
“Yes, morning sickness.”
“Draw another blood sample and send it for a pregnancy check.”
“Yes! However, Commander, although not everyone incubating a war beast will experience morning sickness, there are many similar cases. This often indicates a longer incubation period. Additionally, Qin Zhen’s energy monitoring results are normal. Rather than a human infant, I am more inclined to believe Qin Zhen is incubating a war beast.”
“Do it.”
“Yes!”
“Furthermore,” Cang Bai added, “go to the Sixth Star Sector to conduct an on-site investigation into Qin Zhen’s private life. Focus on screening who, when, and where he has had relationships. Go personally and depart immediately.”
“Yes!” Although he complied verbally, Adjutant Qi did not understand the reasoning.
What on earth was the Commander doing? Previously, when he proactively investigated, the Commander had shown disdain and even blamed him for taking the initiative. Now that he had stopped investigating, the Commander personally issued the directive.
Even after boarding the starship, Adjutant Qi could not figure it out. However, his mood, which had been low for two days, was now uplifted. Given Qin Zhen’s profligacy, this trip would definitely yield plenty of evidence. When the evidence was presented before the Commander, surely he would finally handle this shameless fellow.
The journey to the Sixth Star Sector was long, and Adjutant Qi was gone for three days. As the backbone among the Commander’s adjutants, he still diligently reported various matters remotely to Cang Bai every day, including the status of the three candidate students.
After briefly reporting on Ni Hong and Cold Fei, Adjutant Qi paused before continuing. “Qin Zhen’s fever has still not subsided, but his energy monitoring results are stable.”
“Investigation progress,” the Commander’s digitized voice replied. It was flat as usual, revealing no emotion.
Adjutant Qi showed a look of difficulty. On the navigation screen, the green point of the starship’s location was still flying away from the Sixth Star Sector.
“The situation is quite complex, and the investigation is temporarily unfinished. Commander, please give me a little more time.”
Qin Zhen lay on the bed with two huge dark circles under his eyes. The persistent low-grade fever over several days left him weak and achy, with no desire to move.
Morning sickness was even more relentless, occurring both day and night. He could not sleep well, especially at night when he threw up violently. He once doubted whether he would vomit out the young beast inside his incubation sac. As for eating, that was out of the question. No matter what was brought before him, it was either greasy or had a fishy smell. It required soldier-like willpower just to choke down a few bites.
“Was it not simple for Peng Yunhan to give birth to a war beast? Why is it so tormenting for me?”
Just after lamenting, the door to his room was pushed open. Ni Hong wheeled himself in with an insulated lunchbox resting on his knees. “Brother Qin, it is time to eat.”
Compared to Qin Zhen, Ni Hong was in much better spirits. His surgery had been minimally invasive, and the special sedative significantly relieved the burning pain in his lower abdomen. The only reason he remained in a wheelchair was the need for rest to avoid disturbing the young beast’s dormancy.
After waking from surgery and learning the results were poor, Ni Hong had been depressed. It was actually seeing Qin Zhen suffering that made him perk up. If not for Qin Zhen, the Supreme Commander would not have become his incubation specialist, nor would the Commander have used the military’s Research Institute to develop the special sedative.
Ni Hong was grateful, so he took over the job of delivering food to Qin Zhen from the nurses. “The dishes at the cafeteria were very abundant. Fearing you might find it greasy, I did not bring pork or seafood. I brought more of your favorite beef.”
“I do not want to eat beef either,” Qin Zhen said, rolling over and turning his back to Ni Hong. “Breakfast made me sick. I am not hungry.”
The mere sight of the lunchbox made him feel nauseous.
“It is cold-dressed beef. It is sour and very appetizing.”
“I am not eating.”
“You cannot skip meals! The young beast needs nutrition. How can you provide nutrition without eating?” Ni Hong opened the lunchbox as if coaxing a child. “Brother Qin, eat a little, just a little.”
The lid had been open for barely a few seconds when Qin Zhen leaped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. The sign “Please Do Not Run or Jump, Beware of Miscarriage” sat near the sound of violent dry heaving.
Ni Hong quickly closed the lid, placed the lunchbox far away, and then wheeled himself closer. “Brother Qin, are you all right? I covered the lunchbox. There is no smell anymore.”
“Do not come over!” Qin Zhen held onto the toilet with one hand and raised the other. “You have a smell on you too, a mix of various dishes.”
Ni Hong was helpless. He had been meticulous, even changing his clothes and using a hairdryer on himself before entering the room. Yet Qin Zhen could not tolerate it. No other candidate had morning sickness this severe.
Ni Hong silently retreated to a corner, not daring to get close yet unwilling to leave. After a while, Qin Zhen came out of the bathroom and supported himself against the wall back to the bed. He was so dizzy that he buried his head in his pillow to stop the world from spinning.
“Little Ni, I feel so awful,” a muffled voice sounded from under the pillow.
“Pregnancy is like this. Many people in early pregnancy experience nausea. The doctor said it will get better soon.”
“I am not pregnant! I am incubating a war beast, a war beast!”
Ni Hong immediately shut up. Brother Qin was particularly sensitive to the word “pregnant,” as if it were an insult. Yet, everyone knew that incubating a war beast was a form of pregnancy.
“Little Ni,” Qin Zhen started wailing again, “why? Why was it so effortless for Peng Yunhan, while we have to suffer so many hardships?”
He mentioned Peng Yunhan again. Ni Hong remained silent for a moment and then spoke softly. “Brother Qin, Peng Yunhan left the Candidate Building yesterday for the Recuperation Area. Before he left, did he not come to see you?”
“He still dares to come?” Qin Zhen gritted his teeth.
“The Recuperation Area is isolated from this area. Since you have not shown your bump yet, he will likely have been assigned elsewhere by the time you move. You two very likely will not see each other again.”
Ni Hong felt aggrieved on Qin Zhen’s behalf. A fleeting romance was still a romance. How could Peng Yunhan be so heartless?
A cursing voice sounded from under the pillow again. “Unconscionable thing!”
Qin Zhen had plenty of reasons to curse Peng Yunhan. Not only was he the major contributor to the smooth delivery, but Peng Yunhan had also shamelessly seduced him and caused a mess. For the sake of Peng Yunhan’s future, Qin Zhen had not complained once. He had taken the blame himself. To not even show his face at the end was unconscionable.
In Ni Hong’s eyes, however, this looked like the resentment of a jilted lover.
“Yes, he is unconscionable. His conscience has been eaten by dogs!” Ni Hong joined in the cursing, feeling the distance between them bridge further.
“Brother Qin, forget him. There are plenty of men in the world. He is not the only unfaithful man!”
“Yes, unfaithful,” Qin Zhen abruptly raised his head, his wide eyes filled with disbelief. “What do you mean? I do not like men!”
“I said it wrong. Brother Qin does not like men.” Over the last two days, Ni Hong had grown accustomed to coaxing him.
“Little Ni, you,” Qin Zhen gagged again.
Qin Zhen was so angry he wanted to vomit. He rushed toward the bathroom just as the door was pushed open. A tall, thin figure walked in, passing the bathroom door. Qin Zhen failed to stop and crashed into the man’s arms.
The retching stopped abruptly. He felt like a person escaping a suffocating kitchen who had suddenly discovered a breath of fresh air. A dense yet fresh scent of water vapor cleansed his nasal passages and swept through his internal organs. The nausea disappeared completely.
It was so fresh and pleasant. Qin Zhen forgot to look up. He closed his eyes in ecstasy, his nose moving against the man’s chest. He sniffed greedily, wanting to lock the scent into his very soul.
Eventually, a fair palm with distinct knuckles pressed against his face and pushed him back. Through the gaps between the fingers, Qin Zhen saw the man’s face. His dazed eyes cleared instantly. He also heard Ni Hong’s anxious calls.
“Do you belong to the dog sign?”
“I belong to the horse sign,” Qin Zhen responded, realizing the man was not actually asking about his zodiac. “Mentor, why have you come?”
Cang Bai was expressionless. “Let go.”
“Oh.”
Qin Zhen realized he was wrapped around his idol like an octopus, wrinkling the Supreme Commander’s uniform. He hurriedly let go and took a step back. He stayed close enough to smell that fresh water vapor scent.
Cang Bai was half a head taller than Qin Zhen and held an indifferent, superior posture. If Qin Zhen had the courage to look him in the eye, he would have seen the displeasure in those cold eyes.
For three days, the reports concerning Qin Zhen described him as bedridden and lacking appetite. The person before him looked nothing like those descriptions. He was far too energetic.
“Shut up,” Cang Bai said suddenly.
These words were meant for the white python emerging from his collar, but Qin Zhen heard them and froze. Cang Bai turned to leave, but Lu Yanqiu appeared in the doorway, blocking his path.
“Lord Commander? You came over without notifying Director Lao. I will call him immediately.”
“No need.”
Cang Bai’s visit was a sudden thought. As the nominal mentor, it would be improper not to visit a persistently ill student.
“I understand. You came to visit Qin Zhen. He has had a fever for days, but his energy results are stable. The morning sickness is normal, though uncomfortable. Oh right,” Lu Yanqiu said, noticing the python on Cang Bai’s neck.
“If Lord Commander could have your war beast cooperate, perhaps Qin Zhen’s morning sickness could be relieved.”
She did not know that Cang Bai had founded this center. He understood the incubation process better than anyone. The method she suggested involved having the python release energy fluctuations to intimidate the young beast inside Qin Zhen, forcing it to shrink its presence and stop interfering with his system.
Cang Bai had used this on Qin Zhen before to search for energy guidance, but that was over half a month ago. He remained silent, looking at Qin Zhen, who appeared aggrieved. Cang Bai felt that if Qin Zhen could not tolerate morning sickness, he was not fit to be a beast soldier.
Suddenly, the white python appeared on Qin Zhen. It grew thicker and longer, winding around Qin Zhen’s neck and forcing his hands behind his back. Tightly restrained by the cold scales, Qin Zhen fell to his knees.
“Mentor, was close contact not enough? Was it necessary to bind me like this?”
The snake body tightened, making Qin Zhen groan. “Loosen it a bit. Please loosen it a bit.”
“White Python,” Cang Bai said.
The pressure loosened instantly. Qin Zhen’s cheek felt a trace of coldness as a red, forked tongue flashed past. The white python returned to Cang Bai’s uniform, leaving Qin Zhen with a lingering sense of fear.
Cang Bai said flatly, “Try.”
Lu Yanqiu commanded Ni Hong to bring food. Qin Zhen was bewildered, as he had felt nothing but a dull ache. When the lunchbox opened, the nausea surged again. He ran toward the bathroom, but the python head blocked his path.
Cang Bai had grasped the snake by its middle. The white python was furious that a tiny young beast dared to ignore its energy intimidation. This reflected poorly on the Nation-Guarding War Beast.
“Qin Zhen, has the sickness not been relieved at all?” Lu Yanqiu asked in surprise.
The white python, feeling it had lost face, snapped its tail around Cang Bai’s forearm and twisted. If Cang Bai did not let go, his arm would fracture. Cang Bai did not let go. A cracking sound echoed as his right arm lost its ability to move. He used his left hand to grab the snake, but it used the wall to launch itself toward Qin Zhen.
Qin Zhen rolled forward to avoid the pounce. In the chaos, he scrambled behind Cang Bai, knowing only his idol could save him. As the snake pounced again, Qin Zhen used Cang Bai as a shield, rotating the man to face whichever direction the snake came from.
The scene was chaotic and strangely funny. The white python’s patience was exhausted. It expanded until it was taller than a person and crushed toward them.
“Mentor Cang, help!” Qin Zhen closed his eyes and buried his face in Cang Bai’s back, hugging his only savior with all his strength.