Yue'an's obsession with catnip was more than just a feline indulgence; it was a connection to his past, a reminder of simpler times. The herb didn't have any addictive properties, but its allure for the cat was twofold: the euphoric sensation it provided and the comforting familiarity it evoked.

As a domesticated cat who had been rescued before his eyes even opened, Yue'an had always been more attached to humans and his own kind than his wild counterparts. He fondly remembered his first owner, a young girl who had longed for catnip but could never afford it with her meager allowance. Her unfulfilled desire had somehow transferred to Yue'an, becoming his own yearning.

Later, when he was taken in by the clan of nine-tailed cats, Yue'an's fascination with catnip persisted. He and a few other young, mischievous cats had once conspired to purchase some catnip plants. Their adventure had ended in disaster, with all of them sprawled out in a daze at the flower market, overwhelmed by the herb's potent effects. The punishment that followed - particularly the spanking Yue'an received as the youngest and most troublesome - had left an indelible mark on his memory.

Now, as Yue'an watched Marshal Xiu Jun prepare for the impending trial, those memories seemed both distant and vivid. The cat's intelligence, while often masked by his laziness, was undeniable. He had proven his quick learning abilities before, mastering basic music notation in just a few days under Xiu Jun's tutelage.

During the three-day wait for the trial, several fleet commanders had kept Yue'an company in the virtual community, helping him with his studies. They had even brought a universe sandbox to simulate battles, dividing into factions to engage in mock warfare. Yue'an had diligently worked through four textbooks and completed the associated question banks, rewarding himself with the four vials of catnip solution that Xiu Jun had provided.

Today was the day of Marshal Xiu Jun's trial, and the atmosphere in the room was charged with a palpable tension. Xiu Jun donned his formal military uniform with meticulous care, retrieving medals of honor one by one from the dust-proof display cabinet in his room. Each medal, a testament to his numerous achievements and victories, was carefully pinned to his cloak and chest.

Yue'an observed this ritual from his perch on the bed, cradling a spirit stone in his paws and occasionally nibbling on it. Beside him lay four test tubes filled with a green liquid, their emerald hue catching the morning sunlight streaming through the window.

The small white ball of fur couldn't help but notice something different about Xiu Jun's demeanor. Usually, the marshal's presence was like a vast, calm river flowing across a plain. Today, however, he exuded the intensity of a thunderous waterfall, as if he were ready to fly into the sky and explode along with the sun.

Yue'an rolled onto his back, his belly exposed, and watched the inverted image of Marshal Xiu Jun meticulously attaching each medal. When the last medal was in place, Yue'an gently patted the bedspread with his tail, creating a soft "pat" sound.

Xiu Jun paused and turned to look at his cat. Yue'an immediately jumped down from the bed and trotted over to the marshal, looking up at him with adoring eyes and letting out a sweet "meow."

The sunlight had now spread throughout the room, bathing Yue'an's white fur in a warm glow. His beautiful eyes, as blue as a clear sky reflected in the ocean, gazed directly at Xiu Jun. Flecks of gold danced in those eyes, reminiscent of a dawn-lit horizon.

After a moment of silence, Xiu Jun donned his cloak and bent down to scoop Yue'an into his arms. Instead of heading downstairs, however, he stopped in front of the master bedroom door.

Yue'an, nestled in Xiu Jun's arms, looked up at him curiously, then turned his attention to the door. Despite having explored every corner of Xiu Jun's home, this room had remained off-limits, respected by both man and cat.

Now, it seemed, Xiu Jun was ready to enter. He raised his hand and opened the door, revealing a room that was surprisingly ordinary, yet distinctly different from Xiu Jun's own minimalist black, white, and gray bedroom.

The master bedroom was filled with a warm, lived-in atmosphere. Beige curtains, drawn tight, failed to completely block out the morning sun, casting the room in a soft, golden hue. A large bed dominated the space, covered in a comforter adorned with delicate orange floral patterns. The bedposts were a slightly yellowed white, adding to the room's warmth.

A small bookcase stood against one wall, housing medical and logistics texts. On the bedside table lay a copy of "Basic Mecha Repair," a bookmark peeking out from its pages.

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Next to the bookcase was a dressing table, its surface cluttered with an array of bottles and beauty tools, suggesting a somewhat hurried female occupant.

Near the window stood a desk, its surface cluttered with an assortment of mechanical tools that Yue'an couldn't quite identify. Several books lay open, pressed down to specific pages, within easy reach as if their reader had just stepped away momentarily.

Beside the desk sat a toolbox, two dirty gloves draped carelessly over its edge. The scene spoke of a life interrupted, frozen in time.

Yue'an's gaze swept the room before settling on the wall opposite the door. It was entirely covered with photographs, their surfaces still pristine despite the years. These weren't ordinary photos, but rather simple chip-based holograms activated by touch, similar to the ones in the living room.

Marshal Xiu Jun, still cradling Yue'an, swept his cloak aside and sat cross-legged on the floor before this wall of memories. It dawned on Yue'an that this must be the room of Xiu Jun's parents. He recognized some of the people from the photos in the living room, but here they appeared much younger.

The timeline of the photos seemed to end abruptly during Xiu Jun's youth. Given the marshal's current age and the average human lifespan, Yue'an deduced that Xiu Jun's parents must have passed away decades ago. This room, suspended in time, was a perfect preservation of their last moments here - as if they had just stepped out and would return at any moment.

Xiu Jun remained silent, his eyes moving from photo to photo while his hand absently stroked Yue'an's fur. The cat, sensing the weight of the moment, stayed quiet and still, offering silent companionship.

As the minutes ticked by, the palpable tension in Xiu Jun's body gradually eased. His hand continued its rhythmic petting, finding comfort in the soft warmth of Yue'an's fur. After nearly an hour had passed, he finally broke the silence.

"It's time," the marshal said, his voice as calm and steady as ever. "We should go."

"Meow," Yue'an responded, jumping down from Xiu Jun's lap and following him to the front door.

Two fleet commanders, also dressed in formal uniform adorned with medals, were waiting outside with a vehicle. They snapped to attention, saluting with a crisp "Marshal!"

Xiu Jun acknowledged them with a slight nod before crouching down to Yue'an's level. He gently scratched under the cat's chin, eliciting a contented purr. Then, without warning, he flipped Yue'an onto his back.

Startled, Yue'an's blue eyes widened, a hint of wetness making them shine even more. He looked up at Xiu Jun with a mixture of surprise and mock indignation.

"Be good today," Xiu Jun said, poking Yue'an's soft belly. He seemed about to promise something but stopped short, realizing that most of Yue'an's desires were easily fulfilled. Beyond energy crystals, food, and catnip, the only thing Xiu Jun could think of was letting Yue'an play with a mecha. However, the mental image of a mecha rolling around and licking its paws under Yue'an's control quickly dispelled that notion.

Yue'an, still on his back, wrapped his paws around Xiu Jun's finger and tilted his head quizzically. "Meow?"

"It's nothing," Xiu Jun replied, withdrawing his hand. He looked at Yue'an, still sprawled on his back, and felt an unfamiliar sense of defeat. "If only you were human," he said, his tone even but tinged with a hint of frustration. At least then he could share more experiences with the cat, like piloting a mecha.

Yue'an blinked slowly in response, letting out a soft "meow."

"I'm leaving now," Xiu Jun said, standing up.

"Meow~" Yue'an watched as Xiu Jun got into the vehicle, slowly rolling back onto his feet.

After consuming so many spirit stones, Yue'an was capable of transforming into human form. But as a cat, he naturally preferred his original shape - fluffy, small, and adorable. Plus, being revered as a relic of ancient Earth in this grand cosmic era wasn't bad either. Yue'an considered his original form practically perfect.

Still, if Xiu Jun wanted him to become human, he supposed he could grudgingly oblige. Maybe. Yue'an closed the door and returned to Xiu Jun's room, nibbling on another spirit stone as his tail gently tapped against the soft bedding.

He briefly considered surprising Xiu Jun by transforming into human form in the middle of the night but quickly dismissed the idea. Given the marshal's heightened alertness and formidable close-combat skills, coupled with Yue'an's own lack of practice in human form, it seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Abandoning any mischievous plans, Yue'an finished his spirit stone and gathered his four vials of catnip solution. He made his way downstairs to the cat tree, where he settled in to watch the official broadcast of the trial. Simultaneously, he opened his own live streaming channel.

Across the star network, viewers anxiously split their screens between the Imperial High Court's channel and Yue'an's stream. Many speculated about Yue'an's connection to the case, given the marshal's recent actions - barging into the research department one day, then immediately contacting the Imperial High Court the next to file a lawsuit.

The public had been on edge for the past three days, with various theories circulating about what might have happened to Yue'an. Despite his seemingly normal behavior during his last stream, many believed it was just a facade to calm public opinion.

As viewers flooded into Yue'an's stream, they were met with an unexpected sight. The cat they had been worrying about for days was perched on his cat tree, casually opening one of the vials. To their shock and concern, Yue'an took a deep whiff of the contents, then began playfully swatting at the air before melting into a puddle of fur.

The chat exploded with reactions:

"Oh no! What's happened to him?"

"He's resorting to hallucinogens to cope!"

"What did they do to our precious Yue'an?!"