Chu Shiye held the little white snake by its tail expressionlessly, dragging it back.
The little snake bared its tiny teeth in displeasure.
Chu Shiye: “?”
“What a spirited personality for a spiritual entity,” Ji Mian chuckled lightly. “Like mine, does it also have self-awareness?”
Chu Shiye said nothing.
Generally, spiritual entities moved according to their master’s will, without any independent thoughts.
But Ji Mian had previously mentioned that his spiritual entity was unique. The Light Goddess Butterfly was not only an extension of Ji Mian’s mental power but also possessed a portion of its own consciousness.
As for his own spiritual entity…
Chu Shiye remained expressionless.
If he said no, it would imply that the little white snake’s earlier behavior had been entirely a reflection of his own thoughts.
If he said yes… he wasn’t sure whether it truly had self-awareness.
After all, for ordinary ability users, their spiritual entities were born the moment they awakened. But his spiritual entity had arrived more than twenty years late.
This was a newly summoned, newborn spiritual entity. The connection between them wasn’t strong yet, and they hadn’t had time to adjust to each other.
Because of this, he couldn’t sense much about it.
Chu Shiye kept his stoic expression.
After a moment, he decided to change the topic. “How are you feeling now? Are you okay?”
Ji Mian spread his hands. “As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
“And you?”
Chu Shiye reached out to touch Ji Mian’s forehead. Feeling the normal temperature, he finally relaxed a little and said, “I’m fine too.”
Over the past few days, his mental power had been unstable, leaving him in a chaotic and uncomfortable state.
But now, for the first time, his mind felt clear.
“I can see that,” Ji Mian smiled. “Your mental recovery has even made you a bit smarter.”
When his mental power had been in disarray, this Alpha had looked dazed and not very bright.
Chu Shiye: “…”
At that time, he indeed hadn’t been able to think much and had simply acted according to his instincts.
Thankfully… Su Lan had been there.
Su Lan had stayed by his side.
The little white snake rested begrudgingly in Chu Shiye’s palm, blinking its eyes—identical to Chu Shiye’s own—and occasionally sneaking glances at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian: Those little movements look awfully familiar.
Not just similar to its master—more like identical.
He smiled, thinking: How cute.
Both the big one and the little one were adorable.
Ji Mian reached out gently. “Can I touch it?”
Before Chu Shiye could react, the little white snake started crawling toward Ji Mian.
Chu Shiye: “?”
He pressed the snake back down, leaving only its head exposed for Ji Mian to pet.
Ji Mian tapped the snake’s head with his fingertip. It was soft.
The Light Goddess Butterfly curiously fluttered over, landing atop Chu Shiye’s head to observe the little snake.
Chu Shiye looked up.
Ji Mian warned, “Don’t pinch its wings!”
Chu Shiye: “…Oh.”
He lowered his gaze.
Ji Mian was still playing with the little snake, fascinated.
The smile in his eyes, which had just been directed at Chu Shiye, was now entirely focused on the snake.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Without a word, Chu Shiye took the snake back.
Ji Mian looked at him.
Chu Shiye covered it with his hands.
Ji Mian: …Wow, how petty.
The reason Ji Mian didn’t let Chu Shiye touch his butterfly was that his connection with his spiritual entity was deeply intertwined, and it couldn’t be handled carelessly.
But when Ji Mian had touched the little snake earlier, Chu Shiye hadn’t reacted much.
Now he was being stingy.
The little white snake squirmed out from between Chu Shiye’s fingers, sticking its head out. Ji Mian noticed its pupils.
They were the same dark brown as Chu Shiye’s eyes—not the radiant golden hue he’d seen in Chu Shiye’s mental world, those dazzling golden irises as bright as the sun.
Ji Mian leaned closer to Chu Shiye, staring into his eyes.
Speaking of which, this Alpha’s eyes did have a hint of dark gold, though it was far dimmer than the golden eyes he’d seen in the mental world.
On closer inspection, the two pairs of eyes seemed somewhat alike…
Chu Shiye: “…”
Why was Su Lan staring at him?
Why was Su Lan staring like that?
After a few seconds, Chu Shiye quietly looked away.
Then he snuck a glance back.
Ji Mian was still staring at him.
Chu Shiye: “!”
Just as this Alpha was about to turn into a block of wood, Ji Mian spoke up: “Does your spiritual entity have any special abilities?”
Chu Shiye: “What?”
Ji Mian: “Close your eyes and try to sense it.”
Chu Shiye obediently followed the instruction.
After a moment, he opened his eyes. “…It doesn’t seem like it.”
Ji Mian: “Hmm, maybe it’s because it was just born, and your mental power hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
Chu Shiye lowered his gaze. The little white snake innocently looked back at him, wriggling around in his palm.
Chu Shiye: “…It doesn’t seem very useful.”
Ji Mian smiled gently, “But it’s very cute.”
He added, “And I think it’s just like its owner—both are special and extraordinary beings.”
“It just needs a little more time to grow.”
The strength of a spiritual entity has nothing to do with its size; it’s determined by the strength of its master.
The stronger Chu Shiye’s mental power became, the stronger his spiritual entity would grow. Right now, his mental power had only just recovered, and both he and his spiritual entity still had plenty of room for growth.
Chu Shiye looked at Ji Mian.
No matter when, Su Lan always believed in him with such certainty, always gently assuring him that he was strong.
Chu Shiye said nothing.
But the dim light in his dark eyes quietly brightened.
He lowered his gaze again.
The little white snake lay in his hand. Though it didn’t speak, Chu Shiye could understand its emotions.
Inside him, a faint surge of energy was growing. If he closed his eyes, he could feel it.
Mental power and a spiritual entity—these were miracles that had never existed in his life for the past twenty years.
Like a withered tree reborn, he had finally sprouted a tender shoot in a barren land.
It was all because of Su Lan.
Su Lan had brought him light and now had given him a new life.
Ji Mian’s hand was gently pulled. He looked up, meeting those deep dark-brown eyes, which reflected his image completely.
Chu Shiye whispered, “Thank you.”
In his usually calm and steady gaze, there seemed to be countless unspoken words, waiting to pour out.
But when they reached the tip of his tongue, they hesitated, stuck in silence.
Ji Mian blinked, still watching him intently.
Chu Shiye: “…”
He couldn’t say it.
In the end, the words he couldn’t say turned into a single awkward sentence: “I don’t know how I can repay you.”
Ji Mian chuckled. “If that’s the case, I don’t know how to repay you for saving my life, either.”
If Chu Shiye hadn’t carried him out of the escape pod, perhaps he would have died in that wilderness, just as those people had intended.
So, whether it was mental power or a spiritual entity, Ji Mian sincerely hoped this Alpha could get what he deserved.
Ji Mian’s words were genuine, but to Chu Shiye, they made him pause slightly.
Ji Mian’s smile was gentle and soft, no different than before.
But it felt like a dream had shattered. Suddenly, Chu Shiye became acutely aware of a certain fact.
Su Lan… had stayed to repay the favor of saving his life.
Now that his mental power had recovered and he had reawakened his spiritual entity, would Su Lan feel there was no longer any reason to remain on this planet?
In two months, the merchant ship from off-world would pass through the port, and Su Lan would leave.
Only two months were left.
The spark that had briefly lit Chu Shiye’s eyes dimmed bit by bit.
At this moment, he couldn’t quite identify how he felt.
“…”
Ji Mian noticed the Alpha in front of him suddenly seemed deflated.
Looking up with a sorrowful expression, as if wanting to say something, he hesitated, then lowered his head again in silent gloom.
Ji Mian: Huh? Why is he suddenly upset?
He glanced down.
A spiritual entity without independent thought is always in tune with its master’s emotions. Yet, the little white snake still looked carefree, wriggling this way and that.
Ji Mian poked the little white snake, just about to say something—
Plop!
The little snake stuck itself onto Ji Mian’s hand.
Its tail coiled around his wrist, the entire snake wrapping around his long fingers, its head nestled against his fingertip.
The Light Goddess Butterfly: “?”
That’s my spot!!
The butterfly immediately darted over, circling the little white snake, scattering starlight everywhere as though loudly chattering its displeasure.
The little snake remained unmoved, its tiny head nuzzling against Ji Mian’s fingers in a sticky, affectionate manner.
Ji Mian looked back at Chu Shiye.
Chu Shiye: “…”
With a blank expression, he said, “I don’t know it.”
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So cute!