ISWTDB Ch100

Chapter 100: Intersteller ABO (17,18)

Upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Abner’s outstretched hand paused for a moment. Seeing the disappointment in the other’s eyes, he could only sigh helplessly. He offered several more times to escort Ying Zhao to the infirmary, but Ying Zhao firmly refused. Abner could only nod reluctantly, but he still insisted on escorting Ying Zhao back to the dormitory.

Once back in his dormitory, Ying Zhao closed the door and immediately put away his despondent expression. He was now certain that Abner had developed feelings for him.

But what did it matter if he had? Once he left, wouldn’t Abner immediately run off to find Bella for attention? Bella had already subtly hinted to Abner that she could introduce him to her brother, who was a lieutenant general in the military.

Although Abner hated Bella for smashing the potion that should have been his, he also thought he could use the situation with Ying Zhao to take advantage of Bella’s nervousness about him and gain some benefits from the heroine.

Thanks to Xiao Bai’s monitoring through the system, Ying Zhao naturally knew all of Abner’s actions and sneered at Abner’s cheap affection.

He picked up his glasses and looked at them out of boredom. One of the lenses had shattered when his glasses fell to the ground earlier. However, being without them didn’t really affect him, as Ying Zhao’s eyes weren’t actually a problem. After his body had been replicated from the original host, his vision had long since been corrected.

The injuries on his body were just superficial. In fact, he could summon Xiao Bai to quickly erase any traces. But after some thought, Ying Zhao decided against it.

The potion he had made for his beloved was finished the night before, and the potion that had been broken today was just something he made casually. Even though it had been refined to an A level, it didn’t have much effect because the plants used to refine it weren’t particularly rare.

Thinking back to the few times he’d met his beloved recently, each time he’d tried to get close, the other had avoided him. Ying Zhao pouted in dissatisfaction and touched his cheek. He wanted to see how that man would continue to avoid him now that he was injured.

With a smug tug at the corner of his mouth, he suddenly hissed in pain as he pulled on the cut at the corner of his lips. His face showed a bit of grievance, and feeling upset, he thought that when he saw his man tonight, he would definitely act coquettish and make him comfort him.

When night fell and the sky turned completely dark, Ying Zhao carefully tucked the potion he wanted to give his beloved into his pocket and quickly headed to the garden of the marshal’s mansion.

Ernest, whose spiritual power enveloped the entire mansion, sensed Ying Zhao’s presence the moment he arrived and immediately appeared in the garden to meet him.

Today, all of the people Ernest had placed around the boy reported back that they had somehow lost him. It was as if the boy had disappeared into thin air, and no one could find a trace of him. Even the spiritual beings Ernest had sent out couldn’t locate the boy’s whereabouts.

This made Ernest extremely anxious. He worried that the boy might have encountered some danger, which was why he had gone missing.

The thought of the boy possibly being kidnapped by someone terrifying and suffering in some unknown place drove Ernest to the brink of madness. But no matter how hard he tried, the entire afternoon passed without any useful information.

Just as Ernest was growing increasingly frantic, that familiar aura reappeared, and it was right nearby.

Because of his immense spiritual power, Ernest’s range of influence was very broad. The mansion’s garden was entirely within his range, which is why he was able to sense Ying Zhao immediately and rush to his side.

Hiding in the shadows, Ernest watched the boy arrive as usual. He was eager to ask the brat where he had been and why he had disappeared all day, not realizing others would be worried.

But when he saw the boy’s cracked glasses and the bruise at the corner of his mouth, Ernest’s pupils contracted sharply. In an instant, all his questions turned into a blazing fury.

He completely forgot about hiding and instantly appeared in front of Ying Zhao, grabbing his arm and asking through gritted teeth, “Who was it? Who hurt you?!”

Ying Zhao was startled by Ernest’s sudden anger, and seeing his stunned expression, Ernest mistakenly thought his tone had been too harsh and had scared the boy.

Thinking about how the boy had suffered and how he had been so fierce with him, Ernest quickly softened his grip and gently pulled the boy into an embrace, patting his back in a comforting manner. He spoke softly, “Shh, don’t be afraid. Tell me who hurt you. I’ll make sure they pay.”

But Ying Zhao didn’t respond to Ernest’s words. He just stared at him blankly for a moment before stammering in disbelief, “Er-… Ernest? Marshal Ernest?”

Hearing Ying Zhao call him that, Ernest finally realized he had accidentally revealed his identity in his moment of panic. But at this moment, he didn’t care. All he could think about was getting justice for the treasure in his arms.

So he gently nodded to Ying Zhao, only to hear Ying Zhao gaze at him with a dreamy expression and say, “So… Marshal, you’re actually Uncle?”

Hearing the boy call him “Uncle” again, Ernest twitched his lips, feeling that the reason he had lost his mind in anger had been half undone by the boy’s words.

Grabbing the boy’s chin, he kissed his forehead and said helplessly, “Baby, I’m not that old! Now, can you tell me who hurt you?”

Hearing Ernest call him “baby,” Ying Zhao’s cheeks flushed red, and then he spoke in a sad tone, “It was Bella. I don’t even know why. After school, I was going to give Instructor Abner the potion, but halfway there, Bella’s people stopped me, and the potion was shattered.”

Hearing that Bella had dared to harm his treasure again, Ernest clenched his fists. Then, from the boy’s words, he heard Abner’s name.

Since Abner had been in contact with Ying Zhao recently, Ernest hadn’t ignored him. He had his subordinates investigate Abner thoroughly and naturally knew about the ambiguity between Abner and Bella.

Without needing to think further, Ernest understood why Bella had caused trouble for the boy. It was all because of that fickle Abner.

To think that those two scoundrels had caused his treasure to get hurt! The thought made Ernest’s eyes flash with malice. However, when he turned to look at Ying Zhao, his gaze instantly softened.

But his tone became slightly stern as he said to Ying Zhao, “That Abner is not a good person. Stay away from him from now on.”

But Ying Zhao stubbornly shook his head and retorted, “No! Instructor Abner has always taken care of me, and this time he arrived just in time too! He—”

Not wanting to hear the name of another man from the lips of the boy he adored, even if the boy only saw the other as a brother, Ernest lowered his head and forcefully kissed that slightly parted mouth.

What was meant to stop the boy from speaking unexpectedly turned into something sweeter than Ernest had imagined, drawing him in. He sucked the boy’s sweet lips with force, trying to savor more, feeling as if he were getting lost in the sensation.

It wasn’t until he heard a small cry of pain that Ernest hurriedly lifted his head. He saw the boy pushing against his chest with one hand, while the other pitifully touched the corner of his now-split lips, tear-filled eyes looking at him. “It hurts!”

Ernest instantly realized he had become too engrossed in the boy’s sweetness and forgotten about the wound at the corner of his lips, hurting him in the process.

A wave of guilt surged in Ernest’s heart. He gently stroked Ying Zhao’s back in comfort, apologizing, “I’m sorry, little one. I hurt you. It’s all my fault!”

Ernest kissed Ying Zhao’s forehead, then let the boy lean his head against his chest, showing no intention of letting him go.

Ying Zhao’s brow twitched at the sight of his lover’s dominant posture. He didn’t even know how to criticize this blatant act of taking advantage. If anyone else were treated like this, they might think the Empire’s marshal was actually a rogue.

But no matter how much he complained inwardly, he had to outwardly pretend to be shy and flustered. Remembering he had something important to say, he pushed harder against Ernest’s firm chest.

Sensing that the boy didn’t want to stay in his arms, Ernest felt reluctant but still loosened his grip.

Ying Zhao seemed to intentionally ignore their intimate moment, his eyes flickering. He cleared his throat, blushing as he pulled out a golden vial from his pocket.

Like offering a treasure, he handed it to Ernest and said seriously, “Marshal, this is the potion I promised you earlier. I’ve worked hard to refine it, and I hope you’ll be satisfied!”

Ernest, hearing this, smiled as he took the gift. He eagerly opened the bottle, and golden light shimmered at the opening, drawing a silent praise from his heart.

It was an extremely rare S-rank potion, but it was noticeably more potent than the one he had seen before through his mental connection. The effectiveness had more than doubled. The golden glow and the pure energy that overflowed from it all highlighted the preciousness of the potion.

As he pondered, Ernest realized that even though the boy had picked some rare plants from his garden, this golden S-rank potion was priceless. Did the boy not realize how generous he had been, almost without thinking?

Yet, when he looked at the boy’s innocent eyes, full of expectation for praise, Ernest couldn’t help but bend down and kiss Ying Zhao’s upturned nose. With a smile, he said, “Amazing! My little one is truly capable!”

As expected, the boy’s eyes lit up instantly at the praise. Then, excitedly, he said, “Marshal, you can drink this potion right now! It’s not the kind of potion used on the battlefield to temporarily enhance mental power. This one can be taken regularly and should be really good for your health!”

But then Ying Zhao seemed to remember something, becoming a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, Marshal, I forgot that someone in your position should be cautious with what you consume. You can have your pharmacists evaluate it first, and if there’s no issue, then you can take it.”

Ernest noticed the boy’s reluctant yet pretending-to-be-generous demeanor. Amused, he ruffled Ying Zhao’s hair and softly said, “No need!” Then, without hesitation, he downed the potion in one gulp.

This was a potion the boy had painstakingly made for him. Even if it were poison, he would still drink it.

Besides, what harm could it do? With a physique stronger than 4S, even if it were poison, he certainly wouldn’t die from it, Ernest thought carelessly.

Seeing the boy’s joyous expression because of his trust, Ernest was just about to say something when he suddenly felt the pure energy from the potion surge through him.

Ernest felt as if his entire body had been cleansed, and his once-agitated mental power was now soothed.

Although it wasn’t a complete cure, the effects were unlike anything he’d experienced with any other medication over the years.

Ernest looked at Ying Zhao in shock, feeling as if he had just acquired a priceless treasure. He lifted the boy and spun him around, joyfully saying to the now-dazed youth in his arms, “Little one, would you like to be my personal alchemist?”

Ying Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Marshal, do you mean you want me to be your personal alchemist? But I’m just a student at the Imperial Academy. I’m not qualified!”

Ernest, hearing this, firmly shook his head. “You’re the most qualified person in the world. The potion you just gave me is the most effective I’ve ever taken.”

Then he leaned in and whispered in Ying Zhao’s ear, “Besides, my dear, you’re the person I trust most. The position of personal alchemist is very important. Could you really entrust me to someone else? I only want my life to belong to you…”

The deep voice sent a tingling sensation through Ying Zhao’s ear, the feeling spreading from his heart to his whole body. After being teased by his lover, Ying Zhao’s cheeks burned. He turned his head away, avoiding Ernest’s gaze with a flushed face.

After a while, he nodded and softly said, “I would. Being the marshal’s personal alchemist is my dream. I’ll work hard to live up to your expectations!”

Ernest wanted to tell the boy how exceptional he truly was. He wanted to make Ying Zhao understand that, regardless of his abilities, he was the most special and important person to him.

There was no need for him to work hard to be worthy of Ernest. As long as he was Ying Zhao, Ernest would be willing to give him everything.

However, remembering what Ying Zhao had once told his mental projection, that Ernest had always been his goal, and seeing the fiery determination in the boy’s eyes, Ernest found this side of him especially dazzling.

The fact that the person he loved was willing to strive for him stirred Ernest’s heart.

Finally, after embracing the boy so closely, Ernest couldn’t resist wanting to get even closer to him, beyond just the clever and cute side he always showed.

But just as Ernest was about to hug him again, to kiss the boy’s forehead or his cute, upturned nose, the sound of a growling stomach interrupted.

Ying Zhao’s face turned red, and he took two steps back, embarrassed as he said, “Sorry, Marshal. It’s getting late, so I think I should go back.”

Ying Zhao turned to leave but was stopped by Ernest, who grabbed his arm and said firmly, “Don’t go. Have dinner with me, alright? It’s my fault for forgetting you haven’t eaten yet.”

“But, isn’t that a bit inappropriate…” Ying Zhao looked at Ernest, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

Ernest ruffled Ying Zhao’s hair again, smiling helplessly. “You never used to be so polite with me! What is it, now that you know who I am, you don’t like me anymore?”

The marshal feigned a hurt expression, and sure enough, the boy immediately leaned in, flustered, explaining, “That’s not it! I really like you! I… I admire you! Let’s go eat.”

Seeing the boy’s flushed face, Ernest’s eyes flashed with amusement. He casually wrapped an arm around Ying Zhao’s shoulder and said considerately, “No need to be nervous. The potion you gave me is far more valuable than the plants from the garden. You know that, right? Having dinner together to show my gratitude doesn’t even come close to being enough!”

Ying Zhao, once again pulled into Ernest’s embrace, seemed oblivious to how much he was being taken advantage of. He simply nodded obediently, following his idol’s suggestion.

Seeing the boy agree, Ernest immediately scooped him up by the waist. Before Ying Zhao could react, in a flash, they were back in Ernest’s bedroom. Without changing his expression, Ernest gently set the boy down as if the teleportation was entirely natural.

Long accustomed to his lover’s constant opportunism, Ying Zhao felt a bit helpless, thinking that his partner’s shamelessness was beyond measure.

Then, he watched as Ernest opened his communicator, notifying the household staff to prepare a lavish meal and bring it to the bedroom.

The marshal’s servants were clearly well-trained. Even when they saw Ying Zhao in the bedroom, they showed no reaction, calmly going about their tasks.

Ying Zhao looked at the dazzling array of delicacies on the table, his eyes lighting up involuntarily. Among them was the familiar Luo Luo fruit that Ernest often brought him before.

Seeing the boy’s bright eyes upon seeing the food, Ernest suddenly regretted not showing up earlier. Although he had frequently brought some delicious treats to the boy before, it was clearly not as convenient as dining directly at his own estate, where there were far more options.

Afraid the boy would feel restrained, Ernest gallantly pulled out a chair for Ying Zhao and then naturally sat beside him.

One had to admit that the head chef of the marshal’s estate had excellent culinary skills. Ying Zhao even thought that the chef’s skills were not far off from his own. Especially this feeling of being served without needing to cook himself, which was particularly enjoyable for someone like Ying Zhao, who relished such luxuries.

As the boy chewed on the food, a look of contentment appeared on his face, while Ernest, sitting beside him, attentively served him more dishes. He even took the initiative to cut his own steak into small pieces and placed them on Ying Zhao’s plate.

Seeing the boy happily devouring the food, Ernest chuckled softly and said, “Slow down, all of this is yours! As long as you like, you can come here anytime. I’ll have these dishes kept on hand for you. Even if I’m not at home, just tell the servants what you want to eat, and they’ll make it for you.”

Hearing Ernest’s words, a look of joy immediately appeared on Ying Zhao’s face. But soon after, he seemed a little embarrassed and said, “That would be too much trouble for you.”

Ernest, however, firmly speared a piece of steak with his fork and brought it to Ying Zhao’s mouth. Watching the boy’s soft lips and his cheeks puffed up with food, Ernest’s gaze deepened.

Taking a sip of red wine from the table, seemingly to ease the dryness in his throat, he curled his lips and said, “There’s no such thing as trouble—this is your right as my exclusive pharmacist.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Ying Zhao, hearing this, grinned happily, clearly more than satisfied with the benefits of the marshal’s estate.

After all, food was quite expensive in this world, and with Ying Zhao’s current financial situation, it was still rather difficult for him to enjoy such a delicious meal.

Once he was full, Ying Zhao patted his now round belly and stood up to bid farewell to Ernest. But just as he said he wanted to leave, the marshal grabbed his arm.

Ernest unceremoniously picked Ying Zhao up in his arms. Startled by the sudden action, Ying Zhao let out a cry and instinctively wrapped his arms around Ernest’s neck.

His response clearly pleased Ernest. After carrying him over, Ernest gently laid Ying Zhao on the bed, kissed his forehead, and said, “Isn’t it comfortable sleeping here? The environment here is much better than the academy dorms.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhao quickly sat up, his face flushed with embarrassment, and shook his head at Ernest. He said, “Marshal, is this also a benefit of being your exclusive pharmacist? But I still need to study at the academy. It’s not very convenient to stay here, so I’d better return to my dormitory.”

Ying Zhao’s eyes dodged, avoiding Ernest’s close proximity. However, it was clear that Ernest had made up his mind and would not allow Ying Zhao to continue avoiding him.

He forcefully sucked on Ying Zhao’s lips and softly said, “Don’t tell me it’s inconvenient. You know very well how close this place is to the Imperial Academy. Besides, this isn’t a privilege for the exclusive pharmacist—it’s a privilege for my partner! Little one, I thought I’ve already made myself clear enough!”

Ernest finally said what had been on his mind; his expression was calm, but his clenched fists revealed his inner tension.

However, the boy in front of him, upon hearing his confession, didn’t immediately accept it. Instead, he looked shocked, his eyes wide, showing clear signs of hesitation.