An Alpha stood there, unmoving, his expression full of grievance and quiet joy.
“Ahem… I wasn’t laughing at you.”
Ji Mian covered his mouth, trying to suppress his amusement.
“I just… thought of something funny.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
The expression on his face shifted to “Do you think I believe you?”
Ji Mian finally composed himself, his smile softening.
“Anyway, I get it,” he said. “The reason your spiritual entity is so clingy toward me has nothing to do with you—it’s entirely its own decision, right?”
Chu Shiye: “…Mm.”
Ji Mian continued, “So, like my spiritual entity, yours is special and has its own thoughts, yes?”
Chu Shiye: “…Mm.”
In truth, even he wasn’t entirely sure about that.
Ji Mian smiled. “Alright, I understand.”
With that, he resumed walking.
Chu Shiye followed, carefully observing Ji Mian’s expression.
He had explained the issue with his spiritual entity.
Was Su Lan… happy about it or not?
Chu Shiye glanced at Ji Mian for a few seconds, then timidly reached out and tugged lightly at Ji Mian’s sleeve.
Ji Mian turned to look at him.
Chu Shiye stared at him expectantly, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Ji Mian thought: Ah, how adorable.
With a soft chuckle, he said, “Don’t worry about it. I don’t dislike the little snake.”
Chu Shiye blinked, not looking away.
Really?
“Really,” Ji Mian confirmed. “I think it’s very cute—just like you.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Su Lan just complimented me.
Su Lan complimented me twice today.
Quietly, Chu Shiye turned his head to the side, avoiding Ji Mian’s gaze.
Ji Mian thought: Ah, he’s happy now.
Still, the question lingered in Ji Mian’s mind: Was the little white snake so clingy because it had its own thoughts, or…
For now, Ji Mian decided not to investigate too deeply. Otherwise, this Alpha might end up sulking and running off in embarrassment.
—
The two exited the alley and found themselves in a bustling night market. The aroma of freshly cooked noodles wafted through the air.
Ji Mian asked, “Want some noodles?”
Chu Shiye replied, “Yes.”
They approached a noodle stand and spotted Kane sitting there, loudly ordering, “One bowl of noodles, two portions of meat, and four braised eggs!”
Ji Mian chuckled. “Looks like business has been good for you lately.”
Kane grinned. “Good? It’s been amazing!”
Ji Mian and Chu Shiye sat across from him, listening as Kane boasted cheerfully, “You know the Relief Society at the city gates? I bought a bunch of medicine dirt cheap from a neighboring planet, and they’ve been buying it all from me. They don’t even care what price I charge—they just take whatever’s available. I’ve been making a killing.”
Ji Mian asked, “You provided all the medicine for them?”
Kane nodded. “Yep… Why are you looking at me like that? The medicines I sell are completely legit—no shady knockoffs. I don’t do that kind of dirty business.”
Ji Mian smiled. “I know you’re a good guy.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Ji Mian continued, “Since you’ve dealt with the Relief Society, what do you think of them?”
Kane shrugged. “Money talks. Why would I badmouth someone who pays well? But honestly, my interactions with them are limited to transactions. They don’t talk much, but they seem loaded. Probably from some developed planet doing charity work.”
Charity work?
Ji Mian and Chu Shiye exchanged a glance but said nothing more.
Kane’s communicator buzzed on the table. He glanced at it and chuckled. “Heh, another payment just came through.”
“My life keeps getting better and better. Once I save up a bit more, I’ll open a second shop!” Kane’s eyes gleamed with ambition as he waved his chopsticks.
“After the second shop, there’ll be a third, then a fourth… Someday, I’ll own the biggest shop here, expand to the neighboring planet, and eventually conquer the Seventh Star System!”
Ji Mian smiled. “Well then, congratulations in advance.”
—
The noodle vendor brought over two bowls of noodles—one, spicy and covered in chili oil, was placed in front of Chu Shiye; the other, a simple beef noodle soup, was set before Ji Mian. A separate dish of braised meat accompanied them.
Chu Shiye picked up some braised meat and placed it in Ji Mian’s bowl.
Ji Mian, in turn, took a braised egg and placed it in Chu Shiye’s bowl.
Chu Shiye silently returned the egg.
Ji Mian then scooped some of his noodles into Chu Shiye’s bowl.
Kane watched the exchange in silence before raising his hand. “…Boss, I’ll have another plate of braised meat!”
—
After dinner, they returned home.
As soon as they stepped inside, the little white snake sluggishly crawled out of Chu Shiye’s pocket.
Chu Shiye: Go back.
The snake ignored him entirely, curling around his wrist instead.
Ji Mian noticed and laughed softly. “I don’t think it’s listening to you.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
He looked at Ji Mian, his face full of silent grievance.
Ji Mian raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. “What’s wrong now?”
Chu Shiye muttered, “It’s not my fault.”
Ji Mian: “Hmm?”
Chu Shiye sighed heavily. “I didn’t make it act like this.”
Ji Mian nodded understandingly. “Mm-hmm.”
Chu Shiye added, “I don’t know why it’s like this, but… it’s not my fault.”
Ji Mian grinned. “Mm-hmm.”
Chu Shiye frowned. “…Are you just brushing me off?”
Ji Mian looked at him, his gaze warm. “Not at all.”
Seeing Chu Shiye’s silent pout, Ji Mian reached out and patted his head.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said gently. “It’s just how it is.”
For a moment, Chu Shiye froze, then quietly turned his face away, his ears slightly red.
Ji Mian, watching him, thought: Ah, how adorable.
The little white snake yawned lazily, mouth wide open, showing no reaction to Chu Shiye’s attempts to control it.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Why is my spiritual entity always so disobedient?
Ji Mian glanced at the snake and raised his fingers slightly. Light gathered at his fingertips, and the Light Goddess Butterfly appeared, glowing softly.
The little white snake’s attention immediately shifted to the butterfly, its gaze fixed on the luminous creature.
The Light Goddess Butterfly flapped its wings lightly, and the little snake started wriggling toward Ji Mian again.
Expressionless, Chu Shiye pressed the snake down firmly.
He was used to this.
He was numb to it.
Ji Mian chuckled softly. “It’s been a while, and it still doesn’t listen to you?”
Chu Shiye lowered his head. “Mm.”
Ji Mian thought for a moment. “Alright, let me teach you.”
He guided the Alpha to sit on the edge of the bed and said, “Close your eyes, focus your mind, and imagine that you and your spiritual entity are an inseparable whole.”
Chu Shiye obediently closed his eyes, concentrating as instructed.
Ji Mian pressed his fingertips lightly to Chu Shiye’s brow, sending a gentle stream of light into his body, reestablishing their mental connection.
Chu Shiye flinched slightly, but this time, he felt a clear, warm force guiding him, like a lamp glowing in the vast cold night.
Ji Mian’s soothing voice reached his ears: “Don’t doubt the power you possess. Your spiritual entity comes from within you. Face your spiritual world, find it, and master it.”
With his eyes shut, Chu Shiye felt like a child taking tentative steps forward. In his spiritual world, waves surged, forming an endless ocean. He plunged into the waters, thinking:
This is my power.
I am the master here.
The ocean parted before him, no longer obstructing his path.
He touched it.
He felt it.
Golden light shimmered faintly across his body. At the same time, the little white snake curled into a tight ball, trembling—not from fear, but from a strange, joyful excitement.
Chu Shiye could feel the same emotions—joy and exhilaration—but he realized they didn’t come from his spiritual entity.
Instead, he was the one who had brought these feelings to his spiritual entity.
From this moment on, he truly controlled his mental power and became the master of his spiritual entity.
It was like a snake shedding its skin, reborn.
The little white snake rolled over and over, its form shifting—growing larger, then smaller—before finally settling back to its original size.
Except for one detail:
It now had four tiny, delicate legs.
The little white lizard, now properly equipped with legs, tested its newfound ability to walk by scuttling across Chu Shiye’s palm.
Chu Shiye: “…?”
Ji Mian: “…?”
Spiritual growth is good, of course.
But was this Alpha’s spiritual entity not a snake, but… a lizard?
Ji Mian glanced at Chu Shiye.
Chu Shiye’s face was filled with frustration.
No wonder—while the original little snake had been cute, this… snake-with-legs creature looked rather odd.
The little white lizard climbed up Chu Shiye’s arm without a care for its owner’s mood. Halfway up, it made a beeline for Ji Mian.
Before Chu Shiye could react, Ji Mian reached out and caught it gently.
The little white lizard twirled happily in his hand.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Ji Mian laughed. “It’s still cute, honestly.”
Chu Shiye said nothing.
“Don’t be upset,” Ji Mian reassured him. “Even spiritual entities can have different forms.”
As he spoke, the Light Goddess Butterfly fluttered gracefully, shifting between its physical form and a dreamy, soft blue glow.
“Try again,” Ji Mian suggested. “See if you can consciously change its form.”
Chu Shiye obediently closed his eyes again.
This time, it was much easier to connect with his spiritual entity.
The little white lizard’s body began to shimmer with golden light before transforming back into its original snake form.
Ji Mian clapped lightly. “Ah, it’s back to being a snake.”
Chu Shiye picked up the snake and asked, “But… what’s the point?”
Unlike Ji Mian’s spiritual entity, which could adapt its form for battle, his spiritual entity didn’t seem to gain anything from growing legs or losing them.
Ji Mian chuckled. “Don’t worry, these things take time to figure out. Who knows? Maybe your spiritual entity has even more forms to unlock.”
Chu Shiye paused for a moment before muttering, “Like turning into a big lizard?”
Ji Mian cleared his throat. “Or maybe something with wings, like mine.”
Chu Shiye frowned. “Four legs and wings? That sounds strange.”
Ji Mian smiled knowingly. “In old Earth legends, there were creatures like that. They’ve long since gone extinct in today’s world.”
He remembered the brilliant golden eyes he had seen deep in Chu Shiye’s spiritual world.
Both Chu Shiye and his spiritual entity were undoubtedly unique.
“Don’t worry,” Ji Mian said gently, “everything will turn out fine. I promise.”
Chu Shiye looked into his eyes for a long moment before nodding. “Mm.”
Su Lan’s smile is so beautiful, he thought.
The Light Goddess Butterfly leisurely flew over, landing on Chu Shiye’s head. The little white snake immediately perked up, ready to chase it again.
The butterfly fluttered away gracefully, leaving the snake dejected.
Chu Shiye stared at it silently.
Ji Mian tapped the snake’s head playfully.
The snake immediately brightened, nudging its head against Ji Mian’s fingertip and wagging its tail.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Why is it like this?
Why is my spiritual entity still behaving the same way?
He gave the snake a clear mental command: Stop.
The little snake ignored him completely, clinging lazily to Ji Mian’s fingers and rubbing against him.
Chu Shiye: “??”
I’ve already mastered controlling my spiritual entity—why can’t I stop it from doing this?
Wait…
Could it be…
It’s not the snake that wants to be close to Su Lan.
It’s… me?
No way…
Impossible…
The realization struck him like a lightning bolt, and his expression shifted dramatically. His pupils quaked in disbelief.
He shot a panicked glance at Ji Mian, grabbed the snake, and bolted out of the room.
Ji Mian: “…?”
Why did he run away after giving me that terrified look?
Am I some kind of monster?
How rude!
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
