ISWTDB Ch97

Chapter 97: Interstellar ABO (11, 12)

Ernest watched as the young man seemed very disappointed, sighing and muttering to himself, “I’m just one step away, but I still can’t get Yuteng Grass. It’s the most crucial part of this potion. If I can’t get it, the effect of this hard-to-make potion will be halved. What should I do?”

The Yuteng Grass Ying Zhao mentioned was a very rare plant, but few people knew its medicinal value. Most regarded it as a rare ornamental plant.

Furthermore, because Yuteng Grass was scarce and difficult to cultivate, almost no one kept it at home, making it even harder to find. Even if it could be found, the young man certainly couldn’t afford it with his financial resources.

With the Eagle present, Ernest naturally heard Ying Zhao’s distress and immediately remembered the large patch of Yuteng Grass growing in his own garden.

In fact, the Marshal wasn’t particularly interested in ornamental plants, but Yuteng Grass was his mother’s favorite flower.

His subordinates, believing he would like it as well, had gone out of their way to acquire some Yuteng Grass seedlings from a remote star system and carefully planted them in his garden.

Surprisingly, they had actually managed to grow there. Ernest knew that probably only his garden had such high-quality Yuteng Grass in the entire capital star.

Thinking of this, Ernest immediately had the Eagle fly to Ying Zhao and tug at his sleeve with its sharp beak.

Caught off guard, Ying Zhao was pulled off balance by the Eagle’s unexpected strength. Puzzled, he looked at the Eagle and asked, “Mr. Eagle, what are you trying to do? I still have work to do here.”

But the Eagle, insistent, continued to tug at his sleeve before flying to the door and urgently calling out twice.

Ying Zhao tilted his head, understanding that the Eagle wanted him to follow. Thinking that perhaps his lover had a solution to his problem, he nodded to the Eagle and softly said, “I understand, just wait a moment.”

With that, Ying Zhao quickly locked up the precious potions and materials and then followed the Eagle out of the laboratory.

It was only after stepping outside that Ying Zhao realized the sky had completely darkened. Immersed in potion-making, he had lost track of time.

However, to Ying Zhao, making potions was still quite an enjoyable task. Watching the Eagle slowly fly ahead to lead the way, he didn’t notice that it was defying the natural law that Eagles can’t see in the dark.

Thinking of this, Ying Zhao’s eyes showed a hint of amusement as he quietly followed the Eagle, running in small steps. Soon, they reached the simulated training ground specially set up within the school.

This training ground was designed by the Imperial Academy to train students, surrounded by high walls. The environment inside simulated the wilderness, and unless accompanied by an instructor, the gates remained closed, requiring a pass to enter.

Although the environment inside wasn’t as harsh as the actual wilderness, it still posed certain dangers, with some dangerous plants and small star beasts present.

Ying Zhao hesitated at the entrance of the training ground, feeling uneasy about the Eagle, given the special nature of the place.

But the Eagle simply pecked at the gate’s access point, and the door opened. As Ernest’s spiritual body, the Eagle could naturally be recognized as the Marshal and easily opened the gate.

The spiritual pressure from the Eagle would ensure that no mindless beasts would dare approach Ying Zhao, so the Marshal was confident in letting Ying Zhao pass through this area.

Seeing the Eagle open the gate so effortlessly, Ying Zhao’s eyes were filled with obvious confusion. The Eagle seemed to realize it had done something too unusual but only froze for a moment before flapping its wings and urging Ying Zhao forward.

Ying Zhao looked at the Eagle, then at the wide-open gate. He bit his lip but ultimately decided to follow the Eagle into the training ground.

Ernest felt touched by Ying Zhao’s trust and quickly instructed his spiritual body to take a shortcut, leading Ying Zhao to the edge of the training ground where it bordered his garden.

Ying Zhao gazed at the towering fence in front of him, hesitating. However, when he saw the vast expanse of Yuteng Grass growing inside the garden, his eyes widened in shock.

“Mr. Eagle, did you hear that I needed Yuteng Grass, so you brought me here on purpose?” Ying Zhao asked the Eagle in surprise.

The Eagle, hearing this, landed on the fence and raised its head proudly. Ying Zhao smiled at the Eagle’s haughty demeanor.

But as he gripped the fence and tried to peer inside, a bit of worry crept into his voice. “But Mr. Eagle, this seems to be private property. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to take the owner’s plants without permission?”

Ernest, hearing Ying Zhao’s words, desperately wanted to tell him that everything he owned would one day be his, and that he was willing to give him anything he wanted. A few Yuteng Grass plants were nothing; he absolutely wouldn’t mind.

However, for now, he could only secretly spy on him through his spiritual body, and the Eagle couldn’t convey such sentiments. Besides, even if the Eagle could speak and tell Ying Zhao that the owner didn’t mind, Ying Zhao wouldn’t believe it.

But it was clear that the Yuteng Grass was very tempting to the young man. After some internal struggle, he could no longer resist the desire in his heart and decided to pick the Yuteng Grass.

Through the Eagle, Ernest watched his little one nimbly climb to the top of the fence and then leap down into his garden.

At that moment, Ernest, who had been resting with his eyes closed in his bedroom, suddenly opened them wide. He quickly went to the window, intending to watch the young man who had sneaked into his garden by moonlight.

In fact, the Marshal’s residence had always been heavily guarded, but Ernest had given prior instructions, so no one would disturb Ying Zhao in this area.

The Marshal’s mansion was unlit at night, with the house in complete darkness and the outside night also dim. However, with his 4S-level spiritual power, Ernest could easily see Ying Zhao as if he were standing right in front of him, despite the distance.

The thought of being so close to the young man made Ernest’s heart burn with desire.

Ying Zhao was happily picking the Yuteng Grass, and soon he was surprised to find that the garden not only had Yuteng Grass but also many other rare plants, many of which could be used in potions.

Thinking that his lover wouldn’t mind, Ying Zhao happily picked quite a few more.

Although the original owner, Yingyan, received a monthly allowance from the Ying family to buy potion-making materials, the money was limited. No matter how much Yingyan tried to save, purchasing these precious materials was still very difficult for him.

Moreover, the plants growing in the Marshal’s garden were not something easily obtainable outside. Holding these herbs, each one incredibly valuable, made Ying Zhao gasp.

Even just two of them would be enough for the original owner to live comfortably on the capital star for a year. It made Ying Zhao think, “So, my lover in this life is not only a war god but also a wealthy one!”

Ernest, watching the young man from afar, felt his longing grow stronger until he couldn’t resist anymore. With a flash, he moved closer to the young man.

This was the first time he had faced the young man at such a close distance. The other’s skin, glowing like jade under the moonlight, and the slightly upturned corners of his lips, revealed the boy’s good mood.

Seeing the boy so focused on picking plants, Ernest couldn’t help but feel a little happy as well. He hid in the shadows, silently watching Ying Zhao’s every move.

He saw him crouching down, carefully observing the plants, only picking those that were truly mature, his techniques particularly skilled and practiced.

With his excellent vision, Ernest could even see the tiny beads of sweat forming on the boy’s small nose. For some reason, Ernest found the boy incredibly sensual under the moonlight. He was completely bewitched, unable to control his wildly beating heart.

Unconsciously, Ernest took another step forward, seemingly wanting to get even closer to the boy. But lost in the beauty before him, he forgot to conceal his presence, causing a noise.

In an instant, Ying Zhao shot up like a startled rabbit, quickly straightening up and nervously looking around, only to find Ernest standing in the shadows.

From Ying Zhao’s angle, he couldn’t see Ernest’s face, but he knew someone was standing there, quietly watching him.

Fear flashed across Ying Zhao’s face, and he nervously said to Ernest, “S-Sir, I’m sorry! This is your garden, isn’t it? The plants in your garden are really well cared for…”

The boy seemed nervous, clumsily trying to change the subject, which only made Ernest find him even more adorable.

A hint of amusement flashed in the Marshal’s eyes. Knowing the boy couldn’t see his face in the shadows, he lightly coughed and said to Ying Zhao, “Little one, no matter how well the plants in someone else’s garden are grown, you can’t just casually pick them. Understand?”

Ying Zhao, hearing Ernest’s words, opened his mouth but then blushed and held out the plants he had picked, offering them back to Ernest. With his head lowered, he softly said, “I’m sorry.”

Seeing the boy’s embarrassed expression, Ernest felt like his heart was about to melt. He couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly and softly said, “But you’ve already picked these plants. What use is it to return them now? Why don’t you tell me, who exactly are you, and what are you planning to do with these plants, hm?”

Ying Zhao, feeling a bit awkward, still honestly confessed to Ernest, “I’m a student at the Imperial Academy next door, majoring in potion-making. Recently, I’ve been researching a very important potion but have been unable to find the necessary materials. These Yuteng Grass plants in your garden are extremely rare; I’m sorry! This is all my fault! But, could I ask you to lend me these herbs? I’ll refine them into A-grade or higher potions. Once I’ve finished, I’ll bring back half to you to make up for my mistake.”

Seeing the young man take responsibility for his mistake, Ernest felt his heart soften even more. Having observed the boy’s seamless operations in the lab, Ernest knew well how valuable the potions Ying Zhao could create would be.

Moreover, the boy had promised that the potion would be of A-grade or higher, a value far exceeding that of the plants. His sincerity was undeniable.

As Ernest looked at the boy pleading with him, he resisted the urge to simply hand everything over to him. He couldn’t agree completely just yet; he wanted the boy to return, no matter the reason.

Licking his dry lips, the Marshal chuckled lightly and said, “Since you’re so young, I’ll let you off this time. From now on, you can come and take whatever plants you need from this garden. I’m looking forward to that potion you promised.”

Ying Zhao immediately nodded enthusiastically, a grateful smile spreading across his face. “Thank you! You’re such a kind person, Uncle!”

“U-Uncle?” Ernest’s mouth twitched upon hearing how Ying Zhao addressed him, feeling as if his usually stern expression might crack.

He suddenly realized the age gap between them. The boy, studying at the Imperial Academy, was just around twenty, according to the records. As for himself, being the Marshal of the Empire, he was already thirty-five.

But considering that people in the interstellar era lived to an average of two hundred years, he was still very young. Being a Marshal at his age was practically legendary. Their age difference shouldn’t have been a big deal, even from an outsider’s perspective. But the boy called him “Uncle”!

This made Ernest feel a bit uneasy. He worried that when the time came for him to confess his feelings to the boy, would the boy find him too old?

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Ernest furrowed his brow and said to Ying Zhao, “You don’t have to call me Uncle. I’m not that old, you know.”

Ying Zhao, hearing this, couldn’t help but smile. He blinked innocently and said, “Then you shouldn’t call me ‘little one’ either. I’m already twenty years old, a full-grown adult!”

He pouted slightly, waving the herbs in his hand at Ernest.

Ernest found the boy’s lively demeanor and his puffed-up cheeks utterly adorable. He almost couldn’t resist rushing over to hug the boy and giving those cheeks a playful bite.

Taking a deep breath to calm his inner turmoil, Ernest looked at Ying Zhao with an incredibly gentle gaze and softly chuckled, “Got it, little one.”

Ying Zhao, hearing his lover call him “little one” again, bared his teeth in frustration but knew there was nothing he could do. Just then, he noticed the Eagle flying towards him from a distance, landing on the garden fence, as if ready to escort him out.

Ernest glanced at the Eagle and then at Ying Zhao. He had a private desire to deepen their bond, so he said with a hint of surprise, “No wonder you came in from here. You followed the Eagle, didn’t you?”

Ying Zhao blinked in surprise and quickly nodded, “Yes, I followed Mr. Eagle here. Do you know this Eagle, Uncle? Is it yours?”

Ernest, hearing the boy’s use of “Uncle” again, realized it was in retaliation for calling him “little one.” He no longer minded as much and nodded to Ying Zhao, saying, “Yes, it belongs to me.”

Ernest spoke with a bit of ambiguity, as his spiritual body was indeed part of himself.

Ying Zhao, understandingly, nodded and marveled, “No wonder Mr. Eagle is so smart, able to understand what I say and easily open the training ground door. So, it has a master.”

He then flashed a bright smile, seemingly feeling closer to Ernest because of this revelation. “I really need to thank Mr. Eagle for keeping me company these past few days. Uncle, the Eagle you trained is really impressive!”

Ying Zhao reached out to the Eagle, which flew to perch on his shoulder, showing a close bond between them. As Ying Zhao stroked the Eagle’s feathers, he felt Ernest’s jealous gaze and lowered his head to hide the smile in his eyes.

Casually, he asked, “Uncle, may I ask what this Eagle’s name is?”

Marshal Ernest was momentarily taken aback by the question. After a brief hesitation, he replied, “It’s just called Eagle.”

Ying Zhao pouted at the answer, clearly unimpressed by such a simple name, which made Ernest feel a bit awkward.

After all, his spiritual body was part of himself, so he had never thought about giving it a name.

But seeing the boy’s reaction, Ernest suddenly felt a desire to give his spiritual body a proper name for the first time.

He opened his mouth, about to say something more, but then saw Ying Zhao carefully placing the herbs into the small bag he carried with him. The boy then grabbed the fence, leaped onto the wall, and turned back to wave at Ernest with a smile.

“Thank you for the herbs, Uncle! I’ll make the potion as quickly as possible and bring it over!” Ying Zhao said before vaulting over the fence and leaving.

Ernest watched as the boy disappeared from his sight. Although he felt reluctant, he had to restrain himself.

Thinking of the moment when Ying Zhao waved at him, Ernest felt a bit comforted, believing that this lively and adorable demeanor was how the boy should be.

But he couldn’t help but wonder when the potions would be finished. In truth, whether they were made or not didn’t matter; he just hoped the herbs Ying Zhao had gathered wouldn’t be enough. That way, the boy would have to come back a few more times, and Ernest would be able to see him again soon.

After obtaining the medicinal herbs, Ying Zhao eagerly returned to the laboratory and began the purification process. He only stopped working when he felt his mental energy significantly drained and himself becoming somewhat fatigued.

Although the potion was not yet fully completed, Ying Zhao felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he observed how much more effective it had become compared to before. Content, he returned to his room to rest.

What he didn’t know was that while he was asleep, the Eagle from outside returned. However, it didn’t knock on the window to come inside; it simply perched quietly on a branch, gazing with infatuation at Ying Zhao’s sleeping face for almost the entire night.

The next morning, after waking up and drinking his usual nutrient solution, Ying Zhao walked to class. On his way, however, he happened to cross paths with Bella and her group.

The boy whose hand Ying Zhao had broken previously wasn’t with them, likely still recovering in the hospital.

That boy was merely a Beta from a small family. Even though he used to swagger around the school with Bella, his family was still no match for the Ying family.

So, even though Ying Zhao had broken his hand, his family wouldn’t dare to trouble the Ying family, especially since it was their child who had tried to bully Ying Zhao first.

As for the others around Bella, though somewhat apprehensive due to Ying Zhao’s previous display, they could only pretend the last incident was a fluke in order to stay in Bella’s good graces.

As soon as they spotted Ying Zhao in the distance, they began to mock him with snide comments.

“Pfft, what good is being talented with potions? He’s still just a freak without glands.”

“Exactly. Just the thought of being in the same classroom as such a freak makes me sick.”

“Someone like that shouldn’t even exist in this world! Look at those cheap clothes he’s wearing. Is he really from the Ying family? What a joke.”

Bella listened to the mocking remarks from her group, smirking maliciously.

Ying Zhao, however, paid no mind to their petty words. It was just empty chatter, something only the weak indulged in.

Next, a girl in the group whispered something to Bella, her tone full of conspiracy: “Bella, that Ying Yan is really shameless. I saw him yesterday getting Instructor Abner to walk him back to the dormitory. He really thinks he’s something. He’s just a freak without glands, yet he dares to seduce Instructor Abner! Instructor Abner belongs to you, Bella!”

This girl was the same one who had called Ying Zhao a freak in the restroom earlier. She had been so frightened by Ying Zhao’s gaze back then that she was ridiculed by her peers, leaving her feeling deeply embarrassed.

Noticing Bella’s interest in Abner, and having seen him walk Ying Zhao towards the dormitory the previous day, she decided to take this chance to stir Bella up against Ying Zhao to vent her own frustrations.

Sure enough, upon hearing that Abner had escorted Ying Zhao back to the dormitory after she had left, Bella’s face darkened instantly.

She walked up to Ying Zhao, her expression haughty, and said, “Ying Yan, you’d better know your place. Take a good look in the mirror and see what you really are. Instructor Abner is not someone you can even think about!”