Go Back to Your Big Cat Form! Chapter 11: Collared by Lu Yao

Chapter 11: Collared by Lu Yao

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Aide Zhao said that Snow Leopard would be taken for a medical checkup over the next few days and wouldn’t be on the Ares. Lu Yao felt a pang of regret but had no choice; he had to focus all his energy on Distant Star. He managed to finish all the repairs and adjustments just in time, the day before the team’s inspection.

The renewed Distant Star looked steady and serene under the lights. Distant Star had never worn a colored paint job. After cleaning the mecha’s exterior scars, Lu Yao applied only a layer of transparent anti-reflective coating to prevent the iron giant from becoming a target in space battles due to intense glare. After repairs, the mecha needed a test run.

Since Zhou Yunchen wasn’t on The Ares, Lu Yao asked Zhao Minghe whether they would bring in another pilot for the test.

“Uh…” Zhao Minghe hesitated. “The General doesn’t allow anyone else to touch Distant Star.”

Lu Yao frowned. “So, this is another one of those ‘the mecha is like a spouse’ situations?”

Zhao Minghe froze for a moment. “Ah—no. The General does have other spare mechas. They’ve been lent out before, but Distant Star… Distant Star is different. She’s been with the General through… a long stretch of time. During those days, only Distant Star was by his side.”

“But a mecha still needs a test run,” Lu Yao said. “If he doesn’t want anyone else handling it, does he have to fly back from the front lines himself?”

“The General can’t make it back,” Zhao Minghe considered. “Major General Lu, could you perform the test run for him?”

“Me? I don’t have a mecha pilot license.”

“But you need to start up the mecha during repairs anyway, to run various tests,” Zhao Minghe said. “You just need to repeat the procedure once more.”

Lu Yao looked into Zhao Minghe’s earnest eyes, unsure how to respond. For minor mecha repairs, technicians would test the systems via external interfaces. For the full-scale maintenance Lu Yao had performed on Distant Star, the technician would access the mecha’s main control system to check all pathways after repairs. Pilots were then called in to test compatibility and ensure no shortcuts or errors had been made.

“Major General Lu?” Zhao Minghe asked nervously. Zhou Yunchen was currently just a snow leopard and obviously couldn’t do the test, but he surely wouldn’t allow any other pilot near Distant Star.

Lu Yao exhaled and accepted the task. “Understood. I’ll run the test myself.”

Distant Star was brought into the testing area, and Lu Yao climbed back into the cockpit, taking his seat. The chair designed for Zhou Yunchen was far too large, swallowing him almost completely. Lu Yao awkwardly leaned back as he started up Distant Star.

His own voice echoed through the speakers, “Hello, General Zhou. I am Lu Yao, responsible for the maintenance and modifications on Distant Star. The neural control unit has been replaced, and the new unit lacks previous records. I have copied the relevant combat data. If additional records are needed, please consult the AI and follow its instructions for uploading. The main system has also been updated. Aside from the initial universal settings, I added a replaceable system compatible with S-class psychics. To switch systems, please consult the AI.”

When recording, Lu Yao hadn’t thought his tone sounded odd. Sitting in the cockpit now, however, the words felt colder and flatter than any robot voice. Still, recording it again wouldn’t make much difference. He set his voice aside and began the mecha tests according to procedure.

The tests lasted four hours. By the time Lu Yao climbed out of the cockpit, sweat had soaked through his clothes, and strands of long hair clung to his neck and cheeks. If another pilot had done the test, he would have only checked the universal systems. Since Lu Yao himself possessed S-class psychic ability, he also tested the replaceable system.

The results were flawless. The replacement system, however, required not only S-class psychic ability but also at least an Alpha-class physique to operate effectively. Even with some tasks delegated to the intelligent control system, Lu Yao was nearly exhausted by the end of the test.

“Major General Lu, are you all right? Do you want a doctor?” Zhao Minghe asked.

Lu Yao leaned against Distant Star’s footrest. “No, I’ll rest on my own.”

Once back in his room, he collapsed onto the bed and couldn’t get up until morning, when Wonderland woke him to board the military starship taking them home. After finding his room on the ship, Lu Yao immediately fell asleep again. He woke a few times but remained utterly drained. He ate a little, let Shen Zishen and the others know he was alive, and then returned to sleep.

During his slumber, the starship made multiple jumps, successfully returning to the Rose System and docking at New Blue Star’s spaceport. After this mission, everyone received three days of leave.

Lu Yao was awakened by changes in gravity as the starship entered New Blue Star’s atmosphere. Upon landing, Zhao Minghe’s arranged shuttle took him to Zhou Yunchen’s villa. At least until he formally submitted and registered the divorce, Lu Yao was still the General’s spouse. Snow leopard would be delivered there as well.

The shuttle cut through the crowds and traffic on New Blue Star. The planet’s sun was setting in the west. Older than Earth’s sun, it cast a gentler light that barely stung exposed skin. Layers of clouds turned rose-colored beneath its glow. People called it Lus. The star-planet system centered around it was known as the Rose System.

A millennium ago, the Federation had unified, spreading humanity across the galaxy. But Earth’s environment deteriorated rapidly. To preserve ecological samples, humanity fully relocated off Earth, leaving it as a protected research zone.

The Rose System, in the southern Cross Spiral of the Milky Way, became the Federation’s first choice. New Blue Star, a habitable world, had grown into the Federation’s political and military hub through generations of human development.

Zhou Yunchen’s villa sat in the capital’s central district, the heart of human civilization. Before marriage, Lu Yao had lived in District Eight near the mecha research base. Afterward, he moved to the central district to accommodate Zhou Yunchen’s personal security needs as a General.

In the divorce agreement, Lu Yao had declined ownership of the villa, but he still needed to stay there for now. His apartment on the ninety-first floor lacked sufficient space and natural greenery for the snow leopard. Lu Yao planned to find a new property as soon as possible according to snow leopard’s needs, and then submit the divorce papers.

Half an hour later, the shuttle landed in front of the familiar white villa. Lu Yao carried his suitcase into the garden and noticed two cardboard boxes—one large, one small—resting on the steps by the front door. He remembered buying nothing before leaving. As he hesitated, his personal AI assistant suddenly connected to Zhao Minghe’s communication. “Major General Lu, do you see the boxes in the garden?”

Lu Yao nodded, already suspecting what might be inside the large one—but what was in the small box?

“Open them and see. Snow Leopard is in there.”

The boxes weren’t sealed. He stepped onto the steps and approached, hearing the breathing of a big cat. His heart unknowingly quickened. Slowly, he lifted the lid of the larger box. Before he could fully open it, a silver-gray leopard head popped out, as if a white mushroom had sprouted from the box.

Snow Leopard raised his head to look at Lu Yao, and his long tail unfurled like a mushroom stem, gently swaying behind him. Zhao Minghe had said many times that Snow Leopard wouldn’t bite. The last time he had batted at Lu Yao’s hand with his paw, there had likely been no aggression—it had been Lu Yao overreacting.

Besides, this Snow Leopard had a fluffy “mushroom” head and gemstone-gray eyes. The rose-colored glow of Lus’ clouds bathed the garden, tinting everything a soft purple-red—even Snow Leopard’s gray eyes reflected the faint violet light.

Lu Yao widened his eyes slightly and couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke Snow Leopard’s cheek. He was soft and warm. The leopard’s ears twitched and turned backward at the touch.

“Snow Leopard has an implanted chip for location tracking and health monitoring, so please don’t worry,” Zhao Minghe continued over the communication. “The nearby box contains quarantine certificates, health records, DNA reports, and other documents. Please, keep them safe. There are also some tools you might need.”

One of Lu Yao’s hands lingered on Snow Leopard’s cheek, absentmindedly stroking his fur. His other hand picked up the box from the ground. He opened it and raised an eyebrow at its contents. “A collar and leash?”

“Yes. Made from military-grade materials, very sturdy. The collar comes with a built-in shock device. If you feel you can’t control him, press the button—the current is strong enough to subdue him,” Zhao Minghe said with a smile. “However… he shouldn’t bite anyone, especially his owner.”

Lu Yao hesitated, tugging slightly at the black leash. Its material glinted coldly like metal. Snow Leopard pressed against his palm, seemingly unaware that his neck would be restrained.

“Major General Lu, there’s also a small box containing the shock device switch.”

He found the black velvet box Zhao Minghe mentioned. Opening it, he saw… a ring.

“For convenience, you can carry it with you. There’s also a spare inside.”

Lu Yao seldom wore accessories. He pursed his lips but took the ring and slid it onto the index finger of his right hand.

“You can try putting the collar on Snow Leopard.” Zhao Minghe hadn’t mentioned that Zhou Yunchen had personally prepared the collar, leash, and ring. The General had noticed that although Lu Yao liked large felines, he remained cautious around their predatory instincts.

Zhou Yunchen didn’t want Lu Yao to stay distant out of fear, so he handed him the controlling tools. As for the ring… that was his personal indulgence. After three years of marriage, they had never had a pair of wedding bands.

Snow Leopard raised his head. From this angle, he could see Lu Yao’s long, pale fingers holding the dark collar. Lu Yao unfastened the metal clasp and leaned down, presenting the collar in front of Snow Leopard. Zhao Minghe was nearby, saying, “He won’t bite.”

Yet Aide Zhao’s voice faded in Zhou Yunchen’s ears. Snow Leopard blinked and noticed the silver ring on Lu Yao’s knuckles, followed by the steady, icy-blue gaze in his eyes. 

The sweet scent of catnip mingled with body warmth and exhaled breath, brushing against Snow Leopard’s sensitive whiskers.

Suddenly, he felt a tightening around his neck. As all his attention focused on Lu Yao’s hands, the collar was firmly secured around Snow Leopard’s neck, the metal electrodes inside pressing coldly against his skin.

 

Author’s Note:

The collar—yes, it’s black and electrified.

 

 

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