Marshal Xiu Jun felt an overwhelming surge of energy coursing through his veins, a restless vigor that desperately needed an outlet. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he scooped up his feline companion, Yue'an, and made a beeline for the virtual training grounds. Once there, he immediately sealed off the area, ensuring complete privacy for what was about to unfold.

In the simulated environment, man and cat unleashed their full potential, engaging in a no-holds-barred battle that turned the virtual world upside down. The air crackled with energy as Xiu Jun's lightning-fast reflexes clashed with Yue'an's feline agility. Holographic projections shattered, landscapes morphed, and the very fabric of the virtual reality seemed to bend under the intensity of their combat.

As the dust settled, it was Yue'an who found himself on the losing end, his digital avatar sprawled out in defeat. Xiu Jun couldn't help but smirk at the sight, a mixture of pride and amusement dancing in his eyes.

With their excess energy finally expended, Xiu Jun removed his VR helmet, his breath coming in short pants. Both he and Yue'an took a moment to recover, their bodies still tingling from the neural feedback of the intense simulation. As the adrenaline began to ebb, Xiu Jun felt a dull ache spread through his muscles, a testament to the realism of the virtual combat.

Just as he was about to relax, Yue'an, now back in his physical cat form, pounced on Xiu Jun, delivering a swift swat with his paw. True to his gentle nature, the cat's claws remained sheathed, but the message was clear - he wasn't entirely pleased with his defeat.

Chuckling softly, Xiu Jun reached out to scratch under Yue'an's chin, his touch soothing and apologetic. The cat's irritation gradually melted away under the marshal's ministrations, and soon enough, Yue'an was sprawled contentedly on the nearby sofa, his earlier grievances forgotten.

Feeling the weight of exertion settling into his bones, Xiu Jun decided it was time to call it a day. He took a quick shower, the hot water washing away the last remnants of tension from his muscles. Clean and refreshed, he scooped up his feline friend and headed to bed, both of them ready for a well-deserved rest.

As they settled in for the night, Xiu Jun couldn't help but marvel at Yue'an's sleeping habits. The cat was a picture of serenity, curled up into a small, fluffy ball. Occasionally, he would shift, seeking out the warmest spots, but otherwise, he slept as if the world had ceased to exist.

Cats, Xiu Jun mused, had an innate affinity for warm, snug spaces. It was fortunate then, that the marshal's robust constitution made him a veritable furnace. As he lay in bed, the warmth radiating from his body turned the covers into a cozy haven that Yue'an found irresistible.

This nocturnal arrangement had become something of a ritual for them. Each morning, when Xiu Jun lifted the covers, he was greeted by the endearing sight of Yue'an in various states of feline bliss. Sometimes the cat would be sprawled across his stomach, other times curled into a tight ball by his side, or occasionally draped over him in impossible angles, always wearing an expression of utter contentment.

Today was no exception. As Xiu Jun's eyes fluttered open, he immediately felt the warm weight of fur against his neck. Yue'an had wedged himself into the narrow space between Xiu Jun's shoulder and the pillow, his limbs splayed out in all directions as he slept, oblivious to the world.

Glancing at the time, Xiu Jun carefully extricated himself from the bed, trying not to disturb his sleeping companion. Deprived of his warm perch, Yue'an stirred restlessly, burrowing his head under the pillow in search of comfort. The result was a comical sight - a small, furry body with its head seemingly severed by the pillow, a visual that never failed to amuse Xiu Jun.

As he moved to retrieve his uniform from the closet, a thought struck Xiu Jun. He cast a glance at the still-sleeping Yue'an and made a decision. Grabbing his clothes, he retreated to the bathroom to change. It was important, he reasoned, to establish boundaries and privacy norms, even with a cat. After all, if Yue'an were to assume his human form one day, such habits could lead to awkward situations.

Xiu Jun had just finished putting on his undershirt and was reaching for his jacket when he heard a soft mewing from outside the bathroom door. The gentle padding of paws accompanied the sound, and he could almost picture Yue'an's paw tapping at the door.

Pausing mid-motion, Xiu Jun considered for a moment before opening the door. Yue'an trotted in, his tail held high, and leapt onto the countertop beside the sink. As Xiu Jun resumed his morning routine, Yue'an mimicked him, licking his paw and running it over his face in a feline version of washing up.

Unlike many cats, Yue'an had never shown an aversion to water. In fact, he seemed to revel in it, a trait that had initially surprised his first owner. Xiu Jun smiled at the memory of the young girl who had adopted Yue'an, recalling how she had prepared for their first bath together as if gearing up for battle - rubber gloves, goggles, waterproof apron, the works. Her shock when Yue'an had happily settled into the warm water without a fuss had been priceless.

Lost in these thoughts, Xiu Jun almost missed the drowsy state of his feline companion. Despite the lingering exhaustion from yesterday's intense training session, Yue'an was valiantly fighting off sleep, determined to stick to their shared morning routine.

With gentle hands, Xiu Jun lifted Yue'an and carefully washed his paws with warm water, meticulously drying them afterward. The cat accepted this treatment with sleepy grace, his eyes half-closed in contentment.

As Xiu Jun prepared to leave for work, Yue'an roused himself enough to see him off. The cat's farewell meow was soft and laden with sleep, a sound so adorable it made Xiu Jun's heart clench with affection.

"Meow..." The tiny sound, filled with drowsy sweetness, was Yue'an's way of saying goodbye.

Xiu Jun gazed at the small cat seeing him off, his expression impassive even as his mind raced. Perhaps, he mused, they should make yesterday's rigorous training a daily occurrence. It would certainly improve Yue'an's combat skills, and if it resulted in more of these adorably sleepy moments, well, that was just a bonus, wasn't it?

The marshal's usually stern face softened imperceptibly as he watched Yue'an's pink paw pads wave a drowsy goodbye. As he climbed into his car, Xiu Jun allowed himself a small smile. The day ahead might be filled with responsibilities and challenges, but he knew that at the end of it all, he had this small, furry bundle of joy to come home to.

Little did Yue'an know of the training regimen Xiu Jun was planning in his mind. The cat, blissfully unaware, settled on the outdoor corridor to bask in the morning sun, the gentle breeze ruffling his fur as he fought off the urge to doze off again.

But sleep, tempting as it was, had to wait. Yue'an had more pressing matters to attend to. His spiritual energy, depleted from yesterday's intense battle, needed replenishing. With great effort, he dragged himself back to the bedroom, his tiny paws padding softly on the floor.

Using his claws, Yue'an managed to pry open the box where he kept his spirit stones, only to be met with a shocking sight. Where once there had been a bountiful collection, now lay a mere scattering of about thirty stones.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The realization hit Yue'an like a splash of cold water, instantly dispelling any remaining drowsiness. A distressed yowl escaped him as he turned, instinctively seeking Xiu Jun, only to remember that the marshal had already left for work.

For a long moment, Yue'an stood there, a small, forlorn figure in the vast bedroom. Then, with a determined swish of his tail, he closed the box with a resounding thump. He knew the location of the black market now; it was time he learned to fend for himself. After all, he couldn't always rely on Xiu Jun, who had his own responsibilities as a marshal.

Decision made, the small cat turned towards the wardrobe, ready to begin his solo adventure. Yesterday's shopping spree had resulted in a full closet of clothes, housed in a custom-made wardrobe that Xiu Jun had ordered specially for Yue'an. The white cabinet was adorned with delicate pink paw print patterns, and even the drawer pulls were shaped like little white cat heads with dangling rings.

Yue'an carefully selected an outfit, gripping the clothes gently between his teeth as he hopped out of the wardrobe. After a moment's hesitation, he opened a drawer and extracted a pair of underwear as well, steadfastly refusing to contemplate how Xiu Jun had known his human form's sizes so accurately.

However, Yue'an had severely overestimated his adaptability to human form. It had been over a century since he last assumed human shape, and the memories of how to dress and walk as a human had long since faded.

The transformation itself was disorienting. The shift in perspective alone was jarring - the world suddenly seemed so much smaller, and his senses, while still sharp, were vastly different from his feline ones. Had it been this challenging the last time? Yue'an tried to recall, but his memories of that time were filled only with excitement and wonder, any discomfort forgotten in the face of new experiences.

Determined to overcome these obstacles, Yue'an focused on the task at hand. With movements that were awkward and uncoordinated, he slowly began to dress himself. It was a far cry from the graceful, agile cat he was used to being, but it was a necessary step in his journey towards independence.

Despite the challenges, Yue'an had managed to take the first step successfully. Although, it must be noted that "successfully" in this context meant spending a full ten minutes just to put on clothes.

Now dressed, Yue'an gripped the edge of the bed, extending his long, unfamiliar human legs to touch the floor. With extreme caution, he attempted to stand upright. The difference between his current form and his feline one was stark. As a cat, even when standing on his hind legs, there was always a slight bend to his knees. But human legs, when standing, were meant to be straight and tall.

This new posture felt utterly foreign to Yue'an. Fighting against his feline instincts, he managed to straighten his legs fully, wobbling slightly as he found his balance. Clinging to the bed for support, he inched his way towards the wall, using it as a guide as he slowly made his way towards the bedroom door.

His cautious, faltering steps made him look like someone recovering from a long-term injury, taking their first steps in physical therapy. This was precisely what Marshal Kevin thought when he caught sight of Yue'an as he climbed through the window.

Kevin had only intended to sneak into Xiu Jun's house to pet the cat and perhaps use the bio-capsule for some gaming, away from his wife's watchful eyes. He certainly hadn't expected to find a stunningly beautiful young person in the home of his perpetually single former student.

Yue'an, standing at the top of the stairs and gripping the banister, found himself in an unexpected staring contest with Kevin, who had just climbed in through a second-floor window. This was far from the ideal situation for Yue'an, who was still struggling to master the basics of human movement.

The white-haired Yue'an maintained a stoic expression as he regarded Kevin, internally debating whether it was too late to transform back into a cute little cat, meow innocently, and hope the marshal would pretend this never happened.

Kevin, for his part, was momentarily struck speechless by the sight before him. The young person's beauty transcended gender norms, their features delicate yet striking. A quick glance at their throat confirmed the presence of an Adam's apple - this was a young man.

The youth's appearance was nothing short of ethereal. His skin was as pale and flawless as the finest jade, contrasting sharply with eyes as blue and clear as a cloudless sky. White eyelashes and eyebrows framed those eyes like freshly fallen snow, adding to his otherworldly appearance. His face was devoid of color, save for the faintest pink tinge to his lips. The overall effect was one of a being too pure and detached to belong to the mortal realm.

This air of otherworldliness was somewhat dispelled by his attire - a warm beige top paired with light blue straight-leg trousers. His feet were bare, toes curling slightly against the cool wooden floor. This small, very human gesture finally grounded him in reality.

Even Marshal Kevin, a man who had seen much in his long life and whose wife was renowned as the "Interstellar Beauty," found himself momentarily stunned by the young man's appearance.

After waiting in vain for Kevin to break the silence, Yue'an decided to ignore him and focus on the task at hand. Gripping the banister tightly, he began to make his way down the stairs with painstaking care, terrified of a misstep that might send him tumbling.

Kevin observed this awkward descent with growing concern. A theory began to form in his mind about the identity of this mysterious youth who had emerged from Xiu Jun's bedroom.

"He must be one of the clones rescued from beneath Research Building No. 1," Kevin thought to himself. These clones, created for experimental purposes, had never experienced anything beyond the confines of a laboratory. They lacked emotions, memories, and all the experiences that shaped normal human beings. It explained the young man's lack of reaction to a stranger suddenly appearing in the house.

Even the way he walked betrayed his unfamiliarity with the most basic human actions. The sight filled Kevin with a profound sense of pity.

After a long moment of silence, Kevin finally found his voice. Instead of asking for the young man's name or expressing confusion at his presence, he approached him as if his being there was the most natural thing in the world.

"That's not how you walk," Kevin said, his voice gentler than he'd ever used with anyone except his wife. Even Xiu Jun had never heard this tone from him.

Yue'an turned towards him, his crystal-clear blue eyes widening slightly. Unable to control his facial muscles to express emotion properly, he simply stared at Kevin with a blank, somewhat confused expression.

This empty look only served to soften Kevin's heart further. "What a pitiful existence," he thought again.

Yue'an, observing Kevin's sudden shift into what could only be described as 'parenting mode,' had a moment of realization. Surely, Xiu Jun must have called Kevin to teach him how to be human! With this comforting thought, Yue'an relaxed and began to pay close attention to Kevin's instructions.

Meanwhile, Xiu Jun was finding it difficult to concentrate during his second court session of the day. The previous day had seen a thorough presentation of the case and evidence, and today, the defense lawyer seemed to be putting up only token resistance.

For violations of the Interstellar Legal Code, even the most skilled lawyer couldn't save a guilty party if the evidence was sufficient. The code's authority superseded the laws of any individual nation in the galaxy, serving as the fundamental law for all of humanity.

Even with Xiu Jun's mind wandering, the jury would undoubtedly reach the correct verdict. As the gavel fell, sealing the defendant's fate, Xiu Jun's thoughts were elsewhere, pondering how best to educate Yue'an.

Unlike a normal human, Yue'an only needed to understand contemporary human lifestyle. His worldview, philosophy, and values were already well-formed and largely compatible with peaceful human society. The priority was teaching him how to communicate and use a human body effectively.

Especially communication - that was the top priority. Xiu Jun was dying to know what his cat was thinking most of the time.

On his way home, the curious marshal opened up a shopping app and impulsively purchased several children's educational books. The two legion commanders who witnessed this were shocked to see their marshal so openly browsing through children's literature on his holo-screen.

What Xiu Jun couldn't have anticipated was the scene that would greet him upon his return home. As he confidently stepped through the door, having speed-read one of the books, he was met with the sight of human-form Yue'an sitting face-to-face with Marshal Kevin.

And then, to his utter disbelief, Yue'an turned to him with a completely straight face and chirped, "Papa!"

Xiu Jun stood frozen in the doorway, silently observing Kevin, who was holding a children's educational book and teaching Yue'an how to pronounce words. The urge to punch something - or someone - was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.

Kevin had completely abandoned his usual image of calm and collected authority. Instead, he wore the dopey grin of a besotted new father.

Marshal Xiu Jun stepped into the living room, his face a mask of stoic disapproval as he stared at his former teacher.

"I understand your desire for a child," his gaze seemed to say, "but please, go home and bother your wife. Don't treat our Yue'an like your own offspring."

Xiu Jun glanced briefly at the second-floor window in the surveillance camera's blind spot, then back at Kevin. The message was clear: "There's the window. Please use it to leave. And... thank you, I suppose."