Marshal Xiu Jun was completely unaware that Yue'an had mentally added him to his "naughty list."

He took the cleaned chip and walked to the control panel. This invisible chip was a point-to-point communication device, with Xiu Jun's chip connected to the other Imperial Marshal, Kevin.

This was a secret known only to the chip's creator and the two involved parties.

Those in power didn't want the entire military to be too closely knit, so publicly, Kevin and Xiu Jun appeared to be mere acquaintances, occasionally even showing signs of rivalry during important meetings.

In reality, the two Marshals had quite a good relationship behind closed doors.

It was common knowledge that when Xiu Jun was accumulating military merits, he had been a general under Marshal Kevin's command.

However, when Xiu Jun's achievements were sufficient for promotion to Marshal and he was just waiting for the official document, Marshal Kevin had severely reprimanded him in front of hundreds of thousands of troops.

Whether or not the two parties cared about this incident, others who knew about it certainly did. After Xiu Jun's public reprimand, the first to send condolences was the previous Emperor of the Empire.

Few people knew that Xiu Jun and Kevin had an unofficial teacher-student relationship.

A teacher scolding a student wasn't particularly noteworthy, and Xiu Jun didn't consider being reprimanded in front of hundreds of thousands of soldiers to be embarrassing.

As a military commander, being scolded for making a wrong decision was a light punishment. A soldier, especially a leader, must have the spirit to face mistakes and sacrifices head-on.

After all, the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives due to his erroneous orders would never have the chance to see him being reprimanded.

Xiu Jun inserted the chip into the control panel's slot, unsurprised by the empty message area.

He quickly completed a thorough identity verification, input a short string of coordinates, and after confirming the transmission was complete, he promptly removed the chip.

The Marshal's mecha and spacecraft had been reduced to space debris. While the escape pod was equipped with thrusters, it lacked the power to penetrate the planet's atmosphere. To leave this place, he could only wait for rescue.

Xiu Jun wasn't clear about the situation outside, but it didn't take much imagination to realize that all hell must have broken loose.

The news that Xiu Jun, the Iron-Blooded Silver Blade of Synthes, had been ambushed and gone missing during a routine patrol would be explosive across the various star system alliances. It would also be enough to tempt other countries and alliances coveting the Synthes Empire to try and take advantage of the situation.

At the very least, the pressure on Kevin must be enough to make him lose a good chunk of hair.

The Marshal silently sent his sympathies to his already slightly balding teacher.

Xiu Jun knew that rescue would come quickly, but due to the complex interplay of power, hidden agendas, and external enemies, it probably couldn't be too fast either.

He had to prepare for at least a few days' stay on this planet.

Water and food were the top priorities.

The Marshal carefully tucked away the invisible chip close to his body and turned his attention to Yue'an, the presumed native creature of this planet.

As he turned, he froze in surprise.

Yue'an was holding an energy crystal as big as his head with both paws, nibbling on it bit by bit. He didn't waste even the tiniest crumb, licking up every piece that fell.

Energy crystals were currently known as the minerals with the highest energy content and hardness.

To date, there was no perfect method to break them down or purify them. Attempting to cut them by striking crystal against crystal would cause severe energy loss within the mineral.

Researchers in this field had been puzzling over this for over two hundred years, trying to figure out how to perfectly break down and cut the crystals while preserving their internal energy.

As a result, energy crystals had not yet been widely used as mechanical materials. Even the Marshal's mecha, now reduced to space debris, only had a coating of synthesized energy crystal powder in critical areas.

Yet this hardness problem that had troubled people for over two centuries seemed to be... no issue at all for this little creature.

Yue'an was eating happily. Although the spirit stone had no taste, he could clearly feel the spiritual energy in his body gradually increasing.

The sensation was like basking in the sun in a warm room on a cold winter day, making his entire body feel like a melted puddle of contentment.

Xiu Jun watched him gnaw on the stone for quite a while, deciding to temporarily set aside the question of just how hard this small animal's teeth must be.

He asked, "Xiao Bai, do you know where there's a water source?"

Yue'an, still nibbling on the stone, glanced at him, then rolled over, hugging his precious spirit stone and turning his back to Xiu Jun.

His entire body language screamed refusal.

The Marshal, who had never known how to reason with others and had never had anyone reason with him, fell silent for a moment. He decided to approach the matter from the angle of Yue'an's preferences.

"One crystal if you take me to a water source."

"Meow!" Yue'an immediately flipped over and stood up!

"So easy to understand," thought Xiu Jun, observing Yue'an's excited reaction. He turned to gather a few containers, even spotting a simple folding grill and seasonings in the cabinet where the containers were stored.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Is it far?" Xiu Jun asked.

"Meow!"

The Marshal, at Feline Language Level Zero, paused. "Far?"

Yue'an remained silent.

The Marshal tried again, "Not far?"

Yue'an opened his mouth: "Meow!"

"Is it dangerous?"

Yue'an didn't respond.

"No danger?"

"Meow!"

The Marshal glanced at the seasonings and folding grill, then asked, "Are there aquatic animals?"

"Meow!"

Good, not far, no danger, and aquatic animals present.

Xiu Jun put back a few of the containers he was holding, feeling that he might be using up his annual quota of words on this little creature.

Remembering his lifesaver's disgusted reaction to the nutrient solution earlier, and driven by a desire to prove that the human race's sense of taste wasn't faulty, the Marshal decided to bring the grill and seasonings. After a moment's thought, he also grabbed a tube of antidote, just in case.

Yue'an, having been away from human society for many years, only recognized the containers meant for water. As for the other tools' purposes, he was completely in the dark.

But that didn't matter to him. The only thing that mattered was the spirit stone.

Yue'an looked at Xiu Jun, meowing at him, pressing the half-eaten spirit stone under his paw while greedily eyeing the wall where the crystals were stored.

A classic case of wanting more while still eating.

And he was craning his neck to look, too.

"I'll give you more when we return," the Marshal said.

Yue'an sat in place, staring up at the human for a long while. Then, with a turn of his head, he flopped onto the ground, hugging the spirit stone, refusing to budge.

Xiu Jun: "..."

This form of protest was alarmingly straightforward.

If anyone in the military dared to act like this, they'd be thrown into solitary confinement without a second thought.

Xiu Jun observed Yue'an for a good while. Years of military life and the habit of never going back on his word made him instinctively resist the idea of compromising.

Yue'an remained silent, nibbling on the spirit stone, his beautiful cat eyes slightly narrowed, occasionally turning to glance at the human standing there.

Xiu Jun felt somewhat helpless under those glances, but his helplessness, when reflected on his face, only made him appear colder.

"If I give it to you now, are you planning to carry it with you on the way?" the Marshal asked.

"Meow!"

That's easy to solve!

Yue'an, completely unfazed by the human's expression, meowed at him.

You carry me!

I'll carry the spirit stone!

Let's have a cross-species heart-to-heart walk and talk!

Marshal Xiu Jun failed to grasp the complex meaning behind the little furball's actions.

The expectation in Yue'an's eyes gradually faded, his ears drooping bit by bit.

He looked at the Marshal pitifully, letting out a soft "meow" as he walked over and placed his front paws on Xiu Jun's long legs, trying to use body language to convey, "Pick up this adorable little cat!"

However, the romantically challenged Marshal was completely bewildered.

Tch.

Having failed at his attempt to be cute, Yue'an withdrew his paws, mentally adding another black mark against Xiu Jun. He pushed his half-eaten spirit stone into a corner for safekeeping, then turned to scratch at the door with a series of disgruntled noises.

The Marshal remained oblivious to being written up in the kitten's mental black book once again.

He simply assumed the little one had given in and cheerfully opened the pod door.

Given Yue'an's short legs, it took only about ten minutes to reach the water hole he had claimed as his territory.

The fish in the water seemed to sense movement on the shore, quickly diving deeper with a flick of their tails.

The water hole wasn't particularly large, but it was deep. Groundwater constantly bubbled up from the bottom, slightly warm due to geothermal activity.

It was a living water source, roughly four to five square meters in area. Despite its depth, it was crystal clear, allowing one to see straight to the bottom.

There weren't many fish left, as most had been caught by small animals unable to find food during the dry season.

Yue'an plopped down at the edge of the small pool, contentedly licking his paws.

Xiu Jun glanced at him, then surveyed the surroundings, noting the absence of any large predators.

To guard a spring in such a place during the dry season - this little creature was quite impressive.

Xiu Jun filled all the containers he had brought with water, then observed the fish near the bottom of the pool.

He recognized this species of fish. It was commonly used in household recipes in the Thirteenth Star System - mild in flavor and non-toxic.

To avoid paying another energy crystal, the Marshal decided to use the pointed skewer from his grilling kit. His hand moved like lightning, swift and precise, spearing two fish in one go.

Yue'an was startled by the sudden movement, his cat eyes widening as he turned to look at Xiu Jun.

The Marshal said nothing. He set up the portable energy stove, took out the seasonings and oil, and began to grill under the watchful gaze of those beautiful sapphire-like eyes.

Having risen through the ranks from a common soldier, Xiu Jun had plenty of experience with wilderness survival. The numerous occasions when he had to fend for himself had honed his grilling skills to perfection - limited to grilling, that is.

Yue'an watched as Xiu Jun methodically brushed layer after layer of various substances onto the fish. Some scents he could vaguely recognize, others were completely foreign.

But it smelled delicious.

Mouth-watering, even for a cat.

When the Marshal finished grilling, he turned to find the white furball had unconsciously inched closer.

Yue'an looked at him, then at the grilled fish, then back at him, then at the fish again. Finally, he reached out and placed a paw on the Marshal's hand, leaning in to sniff the grilled fish with his pink nose.

It was a bit hot, but nothing that could harm a supernatural being's constitution.

It might be slightly uncomfortable for a cat's tongue - but in the face of such tantalizing food, that was hardly a concern.

"Humans truly have an endless pursuit of culinary delights," Yue'an thought as he devoured the fragrant grilled fish.

The Marshal watched as the furball elegantly yet swiftly finished one grilled fish. When those blue eyes met his again, he calmly stated, "We don't usually eat nutrient solutions."

Yue'an: ...

Why are you still hung up on that?!

How petty can you be!

Yue'an gave a perfunctory "meow" and turned his attention to the other fish in the Marshal's hand.

"This one's mine," the Marshal refused.

Yue'an glanced at Xiu Jun, then walked to the edge of the pool. He focused on one fish, raised his paw, and...

A thunderous boom erupted. Unlike the previously thin, almost imperceptible electrical discharge, a lightning bolt as thick as a child's arm crashed down with the thunder. Water exploded upwards, drenching both the unsuspecting human and cat sitting by the pool.

Along with the water spray came the fish from the small pond.

All of them.

Xiu Jun: ...

Yue'an: [Cat face bewildered.jpg]

The Marshal looked at his now thoroughly soaked grilled fish.

Yue'an sheepishly tucked in his neck, genuinely surprised at how much half a spirit stone had amplified his magic.

Uncomfortable, he pawed at the ground before him, then turned to gather all the fish that had been blasted onto the shore. He neatly arranged them in front of Xiu Jun.

Sitting behind this row of fish, he looked up at the Marshal and gave an innocent "meow," attempting to charm his way out of trouble.

Xiu Jun wasn't angry. This wasn't a big deal to begin with, and besides, this little one had saved his life.

He just found the small, cute furball's attempts to appease him quite amusing.

Moreover, the new power Yue'an had just displayed piqued the Marshal's interest considerably.

Xiu Jun knew this was a bit of a wicked amusement on his part.

The Marshal maintained his trademark impassive face, silently observing the white furball for a full minute before turning away. He set aside the ruined grilled fish and skewered three of the fish Yue'an had brought back, wordlessly beginning to grill them.

Yue'an breathed a sigh of relief, looking down at his paws, still somewhat shaken by the lightning bolt.

The dry, hot environment quickly dried the moisture from their bodies.

The grilling process was equally swift.

Yue'an eyed the three grilled fish eagerly, unable to wait as he approached.

However, just as he got close, the Marshal raised his culinary creations high above his head.

Yue'an tried to reach up with his paw but found it impossible to reach.

He looked at Xiu Jun, pitiful and dejected: "Meow..."

The Marshal, hearing this cry, felt an urge to pet him but remained outwardly unmoved.

He even cruelly presented Yue'an with a choice: "This, or an energy crystal. Which do you want?"

Yue'an's eyes widened as he stared at Xiu Jun, thinking this human was truly shameless!

How could he ask such a question!

Angry, Yue'an jumped onto Xiu Jun's leg, then without hesitation, rolled over to expose his fluffy, soft belly.

He let out a sweet, soft "meow."

What nonsense!

Of course, His Majesty wants both!