The tranquility that settled over the safety pod was a welcome change for Marshal Sui. With Yue An no longer causing mischief, everything seemed to flow more smoothly. After a refreshing and much-needed sleep, Ji Xiuyun began the meticulous task of cataloging the remaining supplies in the safety pod.
Yue An, perched on the bed, observed Ji Xiuyun's methodical movements with sleepy eyes. The marshal's fingers danced across the screen as he cross-referenced inventory lists, occasionally reaching into compartments to verify their contents. Unable to contain a small yawn, Yue An gracefully leapt from the bed, his tiny paws making a soft thud as he landed. He padded over to the door, his tail swishing gently behind him, and began to scratch at it with a determined paw.
"Meow," he vocalized, turning his head to look at Ji Xiuyun with wide, expectant eyes.
The marshal paused in his work, glancing over at the small, white ball of fur. "Want to go out?" he asked, his tone neutral but tinged with a hint of curiosity.
Yue An's response was to tilt his head, following Ji Xiuyun's movements as the man approached. "Meow," he repeated, more insistently this time.
Ji Xiuyun's hand hovered over the door's control panel, hesitating for a moment. His eyes swept over Yue An's diminutive form, taking in the creamy white fur and those large, liquid eyes that seemed to hold an intelligence far beyond that of an ordinary cat. For a brief moment, he considered voicing his concerns about letting such a small creature venture out into the potentially dangerous environment. But under the steady gaze of those round, imploring eyes, the marshal's resolve wavered. Without a word, he pressed his palm to the panel, authorizing the door to open.
In a flash of white, Yue An darted through the opening, disappearing from sight in an instant. Ji Xiuyun stood in the doorway for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. Despite his better judgment, he left the door slightly ajar, a thin strip of light from the corridor spilling into the room.
As he returned to his task, Ji Xiuyun found his mind wandering. He had intended to ask Yue An about his plans, but the realization that he couldn't understand the cat's meows struck him anew. This communication barrier was becoming an increasingly pressing concern.
While organizing the supplies, the marshal's mind churned with thoughts about the future. Now that Yue An had agreed to accompany him, Ji Xiuyun found himself pondering the practicalities of their arrangement. The word "pet" felt inadequate and somewhat disrespectful given Yue An's evident intelligence, but Ji Xiuyun struggled to find a more appropriate term. The cat's small size and certain animalistic behaviors made it difficult to categorize their relationship.
Resolving the communication issue became a top priority. Ji Xiuyun made a mental note, then reached out to add it to the list displayed on the nearby wall-mounted light screen. Other items quickly followed: assessing Yue An's abilities and their potential applications in combat situations, considering the implications of keeping such a unique creature close at hand to avoid unwanted attention, and planning for necessary procedures upon their return to the Imperial Star, such as genetic testing and registration in the Starnet database.
The list grew longer, and Ji Xiuyun felt a mix of anticipation and concern as he contemplated the tasks ahead. With a small sigh, he turned his attention back to the inventory, his fingers moving swiftly over the items as he logged each one.
Some time later, as Ji Xiuyun was checking messages on his invisible chip, finding the inbox frustratingly empty of any response from Marshal Kevin, a soft scratching sound caught his attention. He removed the chip and turned towards the door, where a small white paw was visible through the gap, frantically pawing at the air in an attempt to widen the opening.
Despite himself, Ji Xiuyun felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward at the sight. Yue An's ear twitched at the sound of approaching footsteps, and he let out an eager "Meow!" as he withdrew his paw.
As the door slid open, Yue An trotted in, a small bag of seasonings dangling from his mouth. He made his way to Ji Xiuyun, gently pawing at the man's trouser leg to get his attention.
"Meow!" Yue An's muffled voice came through the bag in his mouth, his eyes shining with what could only be described as anticipation.
Ji Xiuyun looked down at the small creature, their eyes meeting in a moment of silent communication. This time, the marshal didn't wait for another meow before understanding dawned on him. "You want to have a barbecue?" he asked, his tone caught between amusement and disbelief.
Yue An's response was to rub against Ji Xiuyun's leg, letting out a soft, purring "Meow~" that seemed to confirm the marshal's guess.
Without much further consideration, Ji Xiuyun decided to indulge the request. He had finished cataloging the supplies and had been planning to explore the surrounding area to maintain his daily exercise routine. Besides, the idea of a flavorful meal was admittedly appealing after days of bland rations.
Applying an oxygen patch to his skin, Ji Xiuyun gathered the necessary tools and followed Yue An out of the safety pod. They made their way to a small pond, where the marshal stopped in his tracks, taking in the sight before him.
Arranged in a neat circle around the water's edge was an impressive array of animal carcasses, all expertly skinned and deboned. Ji Xiuyun's eyebrows rose as he surveyed the scene, his gaze dropping to Yue An, who was looking up at him with an expression that could only be described as smugly expectant.
It didn't take a genius to deduce that this was how Yue An had spent his time outside the pod. The marshal's eyes roamed over the perfectly dismembered animals—a diverse selection that included creatures from air, land, and water. Not a single potential food source had been overlooked.
"This one," Ji Xiuyun said, picking up a bird that he recognized as a common dish on restaurant menus. Its meat was known for its tenderness and rich flavor, equally delicious in soups or stir-fries. However, these birds typically nested in forested areas, and as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but barren land and withered grass surrounding them.
"Where did you find this?" the marshal asked as he began to rinse the meat in water from the pond.
Yue An stretched out a paw, pointing towards the south. "Meow," he said, as if that explained everything.
"We'll go there after we eat," Ji Xiuyun decided, his curiosity piqued.
As the marshal expertly prepared the meat for cooking, Yue An watched with rapt attention, his tail swishing back and forth in anticipation. "Meow," he agreed, his eyes never leaving Ji Xiuyun's hands as they worked.
"I wonder," Ji Xiuyun mused aloud as he held a perfectly roasted piece of bird meat just out of Yue An's reach, watching the cat's frantic attempts to get at the food with amusement, "if you'd follow anyone who offered you a good meal." He paused, a hint of pride entering his voice as he added, "Though I doubt many could match my culinary skills."
The statement was true, at least when it came to outdoor cooking. Years of military campaigns had honed Ji Xiuyun's ability to create delicious meals with minimal resources.
Yue An, hearing this, felt a surge of indignation. The marshal was clearly trying to use food to secure his loyalty! However, even as he mentally protested, Yue An couldn't help but savor every morsel of the perfectly cooked meat, grudgingly acknowledging Ji Xiuyun's skill.
After their satisfying meal, they embarked on a digestive walk through a grove of bare trees. Halfway through their stroll, Yue An came to a halt, his gaze drawn upward to the sky. The previously clear expanse had turned a murky grey, and the air felt heavy with moisture.
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Ji Xiuyun, noticing the change as well, voiced his observation. "Is it going to rain?"
"Meow," Yue An confirmed, but his tone suggested there was more to it than just a simple rainstorm.
The rainy season was approaching, and on this planet, that was no small matter. The world's seasonal cycles were extreme—when it was dry, it was deathly arid, and when it rained, it poured to the point of flooding. Yue An's former den on higher ground had been destroyed, leaving them with only Ji Xiuyun's safety pod for shelter.
As the first drops of rain began to fall, marking the end of the dry season, Yue An and Ji Xiuyun hastily returned to the safety pod. Without delay, they activated the propulsion system, setting a course for the withered forest Ji Xiuyun had previously scouted as a potential safe haven.
The pod's AI identified an optimal landing spot in the sturdy branches of a particularly large tree. Ji Xiuyun, trusting in the machine's judgment, allowed it to handle the landing procedures. He turned his attention to Yue An, who had taken up residence on the marshal's pillow, leaving a constellation of dirty paw prints in his wake.
"Little White," Ji Xiuyun said suddenly, reaching out to scoop up the furry bundle. He carried Yue An to the control panel, pulling out a chair from a hidden compartment in the pod's wall. Setting Yue An down on the control panel, he asked, "Can you read?"
Yue An froze, his eyes darting to the characters displayed on the viewscreen. To his horror, he realized that he couldn't make sense of the symbols. How could human writing have changed so dramatically in just a few decades?
The panic evident in Yue An's expression told Ji Xiuyun everything he needed to know. With a patience that belied his usual stern demeanor, the marshal began pointing out each button on the control panel, explaining its function and the character associated with it.
Yue An's mind drifted, recalling the terror he felt when he first gained sentience and was unceremoniously dropped into a classroom full of human children by the elders of his kind. The memory of struggling to understand human lessons while pretending to be an ordinary cat sent a shiver down his spine.
Noticing Yue An's lack of enthusiasm for the impromptu language lesson, Marshal Ji remained unperturbed. With a hint of challenge in his voice, he said, "Your name isn't Little White."
The implication was clear: once Yue An learned to read and write, he could reveal his true name. This subtle motivation caused Yue An's pointed ears to twitch with renewed interest, his small form suddenly alert and attentive.
"These three characters spell 'Ji'," the marshal began, pointing to the symbols on the screen.
"Meow!" Yue An responded, his eyes fixed on the characters.
"The pronunciation is..."
"Meow!" came the eager reply.
"Good. Next one..."
"Meow..." Yue An's voice was tinged with concentration.
As the days passed, their routine settled into a rhythm, punctuated only by Yue An's occasional forays outside. The cat, emboldened by his consumption of spirit stones, would create a barrier of spiritual energy to shield himself from the rain, venturing out every few hours to explore. Meanwhile, Ji Xiuyun, clad in waterproof gear, would conduct daily patrols to check the water levels and ensure their safety.
Confined to the safety pod by the relentless downpour, the unlikely pair made remarkable progress in their lessons. Yue An discovered that despite Ji Xiuyun's perpetually stern expression, the marshal's emotions were surprisingly rich and varied. His patience seemed inexhaustible, a trait Yue An found both perplexing and oddly comforting.
For his part, Ji Xiuyun's observations of Yue An were even more extensive. He had even started a small notebook dedicated to recording the cat's habits and quirks. He noted Yue An's fastidious grooming routine, his occasional bouts of coughing up hairballs, and his peculiar habit of counting his eight tails before tucking away seven and curling up into a small, seemingly dejected ball.
The marshal also observed Yue An's fondness for warm spots, his playful chase of his own tail, and his irresistible urge to pounce on anything that moved. But it was Yue An's abilities that truly caught Ji Xiuyun off guard. From digging holes and starting fires to manipulating water and wind, even summoning lightning and forming ice - nothing seemed beyond the small creature's capabilities. The deep claw marks on the pod's interior walls, left by an accidental burst of Yue An's power, served as a constant reminder of the cat's true strength.
Every time Ji Xiuyun's gaze fell on those marks, he felt a surge of gratitude for Yue An's restraint. Despite provocation, the cat had never once raised a claw against him, choosing instead to express displeasure with gentle paw taps or by pointedly turning his back. Most importantly, Yue An had never used his extraordinary abilities against the marshal.
As Ji Xiuyun's eyes moved from the claw marks back to Yue An, he found the cat gently patting his hand with a soft paw. Sensing the marshal's attention, Yue An turned to the control panel, pressing a series of keys with deliberate care.
"...Yue?" Ji Xiuyun read aloud, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Meow~" Yue An confirmed, before tapping out another sequence.
"An?"
The white ball of fur swished his tail happily, letting out an enthusiastic "Meow!"
"Yue An?" Ji Xiuyun's confusion lasted only a moment before understanding dawned. "That's your name?"
"Meow!" came the affirmative reply.
Yue An. The marshal's typically stern features softened almost imperceptibly. His slightly upturned eyes, often mistaken for a fierce expression, crinkled at the corners in what could generously be called a smile. With a gentleness that surprised even himself, he reached out to pat Yue An's small head.
Yue An allowed the affectionate gesture for a moment before leaping down from the control panel. He padded over to the small cabinet where they kept the seasonings, scratching at the door hopefully.
However, his hopes were dashed when Ji Xiuyun informed him, "We're out of seasonings."
"...?!?" Yue An's reaction was one of utter devastation. He turned to look at the marshal, who was now inserting his invisible chip at the control panel, and let out a heart-wrenching "Meow!"
First, no more spirit stones, and now, no more barbecue! What was the point of a cat's life without these simple pleasures? Overwhelmed by despair, Yue An curled into a tight ball in front of the cabinet.
Ji Xiuyun, in the midst of his daily routine of checking messages on his invisible chip, walked over to the despondent cat. Crouching down, he gently poked the small furball. "We still have food," he assured.
Yue An lifted his head, his eyes meeting the marshal's. In truth, the safety pod was stocked with more than just nutrient packs. There were also about a dozen boxes of compressed, quick-cook meals that actually tasted quite good. These were included to help alleviate the psychological stress of those seeking refuge in the pod, as tasty food could provide a small comfort in dire situations.
"Meow!" Yue An's spirits instantly lifted, his paws reaching up to rest on Ji Xiuyun's knees, his eyes sparkling with renewed hope.
As Ji Xiuyun stood to retrieve the food, his attention was suddenly caught by a message flashing on the screen. It was a series of numbers - a frequency code.
The marshal's demeanor changed in an instant. He quickly memorized the code, deleted the message, and removed the chip. Without hesitation, he activated the pod's communication system, inputting the frequency.
Yue An, sprawled in front of the cabinet, watched curiously as the marshal's promised food run turned into a flurry of activity. With a small grunt of effort, he pulled himself up and padded over to investigate.
The person on the other end of the frequency seemed to have been waiting anxiously. The moment the communication was established, the screen flickered to life, revealing the face of Ji Xiuyun's deputy.
"Marshal!" the man exclaimed, his face so close to the screen it seemed he might burst through it. "Are you alright?!"
Yue An's ears perked up at the title. He looked up at Ji Xiuyun, suddenly aware of a palpable change in the man's aura. The relaxed, almost drowsy atmosphere that had lulled Yue An into comfortable naps over the past days vanished in an instant. In its place, a sharp, commanding presence filled the pod, making Yue An's fur stand on end.
It was a presence befitting the title of Marshal, Yue An thought. He observed that Ji Xiuyun appeared to be in his early thirties, far younger than the middle-aged marshals Yue An remembered from his past. It seemed that in the decades since Yue An's absence, Earth had not only developed new writing systems and ventured into space, but had also become less stringent about the age of its highest-ranking military officers.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Yue An shook out his bristling fur and extended his claws ever so slightly, beginning to climb up Ji Xiuyun's trouser leg.
On the screen, the deputy continued his barrage of questions. "Are you injured? Should we bring medical personnel? What about supplies? Is the planet's environment safe? Do you have enough resources in the pod? And..."
Ji Xiuyun didn't answer. Instead, noticing Yue An's ascent, he reached down and lifted the cat, placing him on the control panel. Then, cutting off his deputy's stream of questions, he asked in a cold voice, "Location."
"Yes, sir! The First Army is currently stationed in the capital of the main star in the Thirteen Star System!" the deputy replied, instinctively straightening his posture. A moment later, his eyes fell on the small white creature sitting on the control panel, his face a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
Ji Xiuyun made no attempt to explain Yue An's presence. Instead, he issued a crisp order: "Break camp. Return to the Imperial Star. When passing through the S13 system, dispatch a D-class reconnaissance ship to the 22nd planet."
"Yes, sir!"
"One more thing," the marshal added, glancing at Yue An, who was tilting his head at the screen, tail swishing back and forth. In a tone devoid of emotion, he added, "Prepare some snacks on the battleship. Place them directly in my quarters."
With that, Ji Xiuyun abruptly ended the communication.
The deputy was left staring at a blank screen, his mind reeling. Snacks? Had the marshal suffered a head injury? The man's expression morphed from confusion to horror as he contemplated the implications of this unusual request.