Chapter 21: Mine
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: PlumSauce
Yun Yingzhi stared at the shattered bowls and chopsticks, then looked down at his own hands. He blinked, thought for a moment, and a little burst of joy seemed to blossom around him. Proud of his own strength, he happily went upstairs, planning to sleep until he woke up naturally. Suddenly, his personal terminal pinged with a notification.
Rubbing his tired eyes, Yun Yingzhi saw it was a message from Alvin. He connected the call. The video projected Alvin on the other end, dressed in a beach shirt, sitting on the sand with a drink in hand, looking very relaxed.
Alvin scanned Yun Yingzhi up and down, then frowned, asking, “Yingzhi, what happened?”
At first, Yun Yingzhi didn’t understand what Alvin meant. Alvin continued, “Why do you look so exhausted?” His voice was full of concern.
Yun Yingzhi hesitated, then shook his head and explained the night drills he had endured for the past two consecutive nights. Instantly, Alvin’s eyes filled with sympathy. “Madam Yun is truly… Our little bunny… I really don’t understand why she insisted on sending you to a military academy.”
Yun Yingzhi sighed. Alvin added, “You’ve worked so hard.” He thought to himself, No wonder Yingzhi looked so worn out—two sleepless nights couldn’t be fixed in a single day. The poor kid. This kind of child faces extreme challenges every day in a military academy. It was too hard. Alvin’s gaze was filled with tender concern.
A middle-aged man nearby asked, “Alvin, what happened? Why the long face?”
Alvin sighed again. “It’s about this little kid, Yingzhi, our little bunny.”
Yun Yingzhi was speechless. He was already nineteen, far from being a “little kid.”
The middle-aged man said, “Ah yes, that little crybaby! I remember every time I went to see you, that kid was always crying, hahahaha…”
Yun Yingzhi felt his cheeks heat up, embarrassed.
A smile spread across his face as Alvin reminisced. “Yes, that little bunny. He’s currently enrolled at Fansa Academy.” He sighed again. “As you know, his second form is a completely harmless little bunny. Yesterday and the day before, Fansa Academy held consecutive midnight training sessions—it was far too much for him.”
Following Alvin’s lead, the middle-aged man and a few others joined the conversation. Without exception, they all sympathized with Yun Yingzhi of the Yun family, and found General and Madam Yun baffling. Their child was a cute little bunny—how could they send such a tiny little treasure into a den of tigers, leopards, bears, and lions? It was simply too much for the poor child.
Hearing them call him “little bunny,” Yun Yingzhi felt both shame and a subtle sense of embarrassment, his cheeks flushing bright red. He hurriedly changed the subject, asking Alvin why he had contacted him—was there a reason?
He successfully diverted Alvin’s attention. Even after the topic changed, Alvin’s gaze was still filled with concern. “Before leaving the Imperial Star this time, I made three source weapons but forgot to deliver them. The military will be coming to pick them up today, but currently only you have access to the workshop.”
Yun Yingzhi nodded, instantly understanding. Every private source weapon workshop was important to its creator, often containing handwritten notes and personal records. For example, Alvin preferred to record inspiration on paper rather than on his terminal. Each record was precious. To protect privacy, the workshop had security measures; only those with permission could enter.
Yun Yingzhi asked, “Master, should I go to the workshop and hand over the three source weapons?”
Alvin nodded. “Sorry, little bunny. You’re already so tired but I still have to trouble you.”
Yun Yingzhi thought to himself, It was just two nights of night drills, really. Alvin’s reaction was over the top. He had previously heard from some senior students that in the past, some training had lasted three weeks straight.
Still, he said, “Master, it’s fine. I’m in good shape”—though he was really very tired.
Alvin said, “Nonsense. How could you be fine? You haven’t slept for two nights and did training beyond what your body could handle!” His voice became more distressed.
Yun Yingzhi blinked his large black eyes. He had thought he was just sleepy, but Alvin’s exaggerated concern made him suddenly feel maybe he wasn’t okay at all. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Master, it’s fine. I’m just delivering three source weapons.”
Alvin nodded. “Thank you, little bunny.”
“Master, what time will the military arrive?” Yun Yingzhi asked.
“Ten o’clock,” Alvin replied.
Yun Yingzhi checked the time. It was almost 9 a.m. If he prepared now, he could arrive at the workshop around 10 a.m. “Master, I’ll get ready and head over.”
Alvin paused, then added, “Yingzhi, they’ll also bring a batch of source weapon crafting materials. Help me check them and receive them, okay?”
Yun Yingzhi’s eyes lit up at the words “source weapon crafting materials.” He asked excitedly, “Master, what level of materials?”
For years, Alvin had tacitly approved of Yun Yingzhi using any material in the workshop. Of course, Yun Yingzhi had to pay, but only at half the market price—a privilege even Fansa Academy’s students of the Source Weapon Manufacturing Department couldn’t access.
Alvin said, “Materials from level six to ten.”
Yun Yingzhi’s eyes rolled excitedly. “Any materials I can’t use?”
Alvin’s smile deepened. “No, you can use them all freely.”
Yun Yingzhi obediently thanked him, a little burst of joy blossoming around him. He looked thrilled. After hanging up, Yun Yingzhi contacted Steward Zhang, telling him he would be heading out. The steward immediately confirmed he would have the vehicle ready on time.
Yun Yingzhi changed into casual clothes and walked outside. The hovercar was already parked at the villa entrance. He boarded the car, which set off toward Alvin’s workshop.
By 9:50 a.m., Yun Yingzhi arrived at the workshop. Yun Yingzhi opened the workshop door and glanced around. The shelves were stocked with a multitude of materials. His first thought was What kind of source weapon could I make with all of this?
He shook his head, pushing aside the flood of ideas about “manufacturing source weapons.” He retrieved the three bracer-type source weapons Alvin had made earlier.
At 10 a.m. sharp, there was a knock at the door. Yun Yingzhi opened it and began the handover. Boxes of source weapon crafting materials were carried into the workshop—sixteen boxes in total. The value of these materials could easily be considered astronomical.
The soldiers in military uniform looked stern. One handed Yun Yingzhi a materials list to check and verify. Yun Yingzhi confirmed everything was correct, then signed his name on the holographic display before handing the three source weapons over to the officer.
Once the group left, Yun Yingzhi’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the piles of materials. In the source weapon community, there was a saying: the finest source weapon crafting materials were like lovers to them. Yun Yingzhi looked at the boxes with unrestrained tenderness.
He forced himself to pull his gaze away from the materials, then called Alvin to report that the handover had gone smoothly.
Alvin smiled. “Little bunny, just leave the materials there. If you need anything, use it.” He paused, then added, “There’s a lot of material. I’ll have someone organize it when I return. You’re not strong—don’t overexert yourself.”
Yun Yingzhi shook his head. “It’s fine! I can do it!” He felt confident he could. Alvin frowned and cautioned him repeatedly not to push himself before they ended the call.
Yun Yingzhi looked at all the materials. He wasn’t tired, didn’t find organizing them a chore, and even felt his sleepiness vanish. He moved with light, happy steps, placing every “lover”—no, every material—onto the shelves. It was his first time ever organizing materials. Previously, Alvin’s apprentices had handled all the chores in the workshop; Yun Yingzhi never had to do anything.
He moved the materials quickly, even those weighing over a hundred pounds, with no sense of weakness. After putting away all sixteen boxes, he was neither flushed nor winded; it hadn’t affected him at all. Not a drop of sweat appeared. He looked at the shelves, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
Glancing at the time, it was already past 1 p.m. in the afternoon. He left the workshop and had a meal nearby. His legs seemed to move of their own accord; by 2 p.m., he was back in the workshop.
Suddenly, a private message from Yu Feiwen appeared. Yu Feiwen asked if he was ready for tonight’s mixer. Yun Yingzhi froze for a moment. He suddenly remembered—they had agreed to meet at 8 p.m. That was roughly six hours away.
He did a mental calculation. He could spend time in the workshop with the materials, leave around 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., get home around 6 p.m., shower and get ready for an hour, and use the last hour to travel to the meeting spot. The schedule was clear and well-organized. What Yun Yingzhi didn’t realize was that he didn’t leave himself any time to sleep.
A little burst of happiness continued to bubble around him as he opened the design schematics of the source weapons he had been working on the past few days. He considered which one he could attempt to manufacture under the current circumstances. His eyes scanned the shelves of materials in the workshop.
To his surprise, many of the materials he needed for his designs were already there. Yun Yingzhi blinked, silently positioning the projection frame on the design for the source weapon he intended to make for Wei Yuanqing. He thought the difficulty of that one was too high and decided to warm up with easier tasks first.
The source weapon he intended for Yun Yinghui wasn’t fully conceptualized yet, so it required further refinement. The simpler task was to create the source weapons promised to his three roommates.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he decided to start with their source weapons. They were all Level 5 espers, and making a Level 5 source weapon wasn’t difficult for him—it was actually quite simple. If all went smoothly, he could finish them within the next few hours.
The thought made him eager. He chose to start with the source weapon for Yu Feiwen. Blinking his large eyes, Yun Yingzhi looked at the dazzling array of materials and felt his mood lift, tiny happy bubbles appearing around him.
Who needs love, he thought, I could spend a lifetime with these materials.
He transformed into his bunny form, leapt precisely onto the shelves, and spun joyfully on one paw. Then, with both small paws, he began moving materials that were noticeably larger—several times his size.
Yun Yingzhi had always found it peculiar. Generally, a small bunny was weak and had little attack power, aside from its teeth, unless it awakened its esper abilities. But… his second form was quite strong.
He had checked the Star Network. Generally, the larger the physique of an esper’s second form, the stronger their second form; they also had correspondingly large appetites and great strength. But in the Empire, most second-form bunnies were genuinely weak, with almost no attack power. They could perfectly disguise themselves as adorable pets and live a lifetime without effort.
Yun Yingzhi suddenly remembered the day Prince Elvis had carried him back to the dormitory. Shaking his head, he pushed the memory aside. He quietly concluded: even as a little bunny, he could eat a lot, which allowed him to easily lift and move very heavy objects—like the materials now.
In this respect, his bunny form was clearly stronger than his human form. Bouncing and spinning in small decorative circles, he moved the source weapon materials at an incredible speed. The efficiency rivaled that of Alvin’s three apprentices combined. Part of it was because he knew where everything was, and part was because he was strong, making the moving easy.
After selecting all the materials needed, he thought that maybe all the food he had eaten since childhood had given him this strength, making him stronger than most bunnies. He was a mutant bunny. No complaints necessary—it was a good thing.
Yun Yingzhi focused and began processing the materials. The source weapon he planned for Yu Feiwen was with wind and lightning attributes. The materials he selected were those most compatible with wind and lightning. But they weren’t pure enough. While processing, he had to remove other attributes—the most difficult step in processing.
Alvin had once told Yun Yingzhi that the stronger one’s mental power, the easier it was to process materials. Yun Yingzhi possessed SSS-level mental power, making this task far easier. Alvin even suggested he might have SSSS-level mental power.
From a young age, Yun Yingzhi already had innovative ideas and was able to implement them. Source weapons were traditionally designed only for espers. Most makers only considered how to make source weapons more compatible with espers and therefore to unleash even greater power.
Yun Yingzhi thought differently. One moment he could be considering compatibility, and the next moment he could be imagining how to use source weapons to create food that was more delicious and more easily consumable. This would allow people with large appetites, who didn’t want anyone to know they were voracious eaters, to eat secretly.
Perhaps, deep down, Yun Yingzhi’s real motivation was just to make sure he could always eat his fill. But at less than ten years old, he had explained it like this:
Dad is a soldier, Mom is a soldier, Brother is a soldier, and Sister will join the military after graduation. They protect us! I might not be able to enlist because of my second form and physical condition, but all members of my family are soldiers. I want to do something useful for them. They eat bland rations on the battlefield. If I can make this research work, maybe my brother can eat better food!
Yun Yingzhi had spoken this sincerely, and before turning ten, he completed the research. Alvin had then promoted it under the guise of his mysterious apprentice—and it was extremely successful.
In Alvin’s eyes, Yun Yingzhi not only had ideas—he had the ability to realize them. Alvin thought Yun Yingzhi was the most thoughtful, obedient kid, always considering his family. After receiving Alvin’s praise back then, Yun Yingzhi had sprinted along all sorts of ideas without restraint. Now, in source weapon manufacturing, he was completely like a wild horse running free.
When Yun Yingzhi worked on a source weapon, his focus was absolute. Soon, he had completed the initial processing of all the materials. Next came the secondary fusion process, and then a third step: refinement. This ensured that the attributes could merge more effectively.
By this time, an hour and a half had passed. The most important step remained: mental imprinting. Mental imprinting was the hardest step for any source weapon maker. One wrong move, and all previous effort would be wasted.
Unlike most junior and mid-level source weapon makers, Yun Yingzhi repeatedly imprinted. Lower- and mid-tier makers worried about damaging the structure and avoided re-imprinting the same area. Yun Yingzhi, however, liked to connect imprint patterns, linking different imprints into a new, complex whole.
Generally, only senior-level crafters attempted this. The source weapons Yun Yingzhi made were versatile, packed with multiple skills—but they required a highly skilled esper to wield effectively.
Time slowly passed. Yun Yingzhi received multiple communication requests, but his concentration was so intense that he didn’t notice his personal terminal flashing. All his attention was on the source weapon in his hands.
Finally, after finishing the last major imprint fusion, sweat had dotted his forehead. He wiped it off and looked at the finished source weapon with deep satisfaction. At this point, the weapon for Yu Feiwen was done. All that remained was polishing it to match the standardized appearance of the Source Weapon Association.
While doing this, Yun Yingzhi thought: the Association’s standard designs weren’t necessarily beautiful or powerful, but their balance and stability were excellent. They were ideal for esper soldiers from ordinary families who couldn’t afford custom weapons. Overall, the designs gave a reassuring feeling.
Quickly, he finished the appearance. In the final step, he subconsciously sketched a small bunny inside the circular weapon. Finally, it was complete.
Yun Yingzhi stared at it, growing more and more satisfied. His mind relaxed. He felt utterly exhausted, almost able to sleep right there. He decided to rest for a while, then… Ah, yes—sleep, and then set an alarm for the mixer.
He glanced at the time. It was already 7 p.m. in the evening. Yun Yingzhi froze. He was seriously behind schedule!
Forget sleeping—at this point, even if he returned home to change clothes, there wouldn’t be enough time. He had to wash up quickly and head straight to the event.
Having spent so much time in Alvin’s workshop, Yun Yingzhi knew it well. There was a lounge, a bathroom, and some spare clothes. He headed straight for the bathroom in the lounge, washed up, and pulled out a change of clothes. He chose the simplest white shirt. It hung a little loose, revealing a bit of his pale neck.
He wanted something more formal, but the other clothes were either childish or gifts from Alvin or Yun Yinghui—for example, bunny pajamas, printed dinosaur outfits. Normally, he didn’t wear them, but because they came from his two favorite people, he often did. Excluding the childish clothes, the only outfit suitable to wear out was the oversized white shirt. He paired it with black pants that ended at his ankles, leaving a small section of pale skin visible.
Fully dressed and with his short hair dried, Yun Yingzhi stepped outside. Halfway there, he realized he’d forgotten the source weapon he’d just finished. He hurried back to find it. By the time he was ready, it was nearly 7:20 p.m.
Outside, the Yun family hovercar waited. Yun Yingzhi climbed in, provided the coordinates, and asked the driver to accelerate.
“Yes, sir,” the driver responded. The hovercar smoothly took off toward the skyway. Previously, when spending hours buried in source weapon materials, Yun Yingzhi buzzed with energy. Now, without materials or the need for intense focus, exhaustion hit him hard. He felt tired, hungry, and sleepy all at once. His head drooped. His body was soft. He thought it would be difficult to sleep comfortably in the hovercar in human form. This was a perfect time to switch to his second form.
Normally, he never considered transforming in front of others to sleep. But in extreme fatigue, his whole body was clearly off-balance. Just as he prepared to transform, a communication came through on his personal terminal.
Yun Yingzhi forced his eyes open—it was from Yu Feiwen. He accepted the call. In the next moment, the hidden projection panel lit up. Yu Feiwen, Ji Xiaobo, and Jing Haomiao had already finished getting ready. They appeared in the hotel lobby, dressed in haute couture.
A few staff members in matching uniforms walked behind them. Yun Yingzhi, curious as this was his first mixer, glanced at the background.
“You guys are already there?” he asked, his head drooping slightly, still clearly sleepy.
The driver in the front seat kept glancing at him with concern. Fortunately, Yun family hovercars were all autopilot; the driver only needed to input the destination and manage speed. Accidents weren’t a worry.
Often, Yun family staff—from butlers to gardeners—worried about the youngest, frailest little young master. Despite his appetite, he appeared delicate, which made them anxious. They thought, If he were our child, we’d treat him like a princess, never sending him into a military academy like Madam Yun did. Look at what they’ve done to him. Too pitiful.
The driver discreetly updated the steward, and soon, the plight of the Yun family’s little young master spread quietly. The three friends on the other end of the call stared at Yun Yingzhi with concern. Ji Xiaobo asked, “We’re here, Yingzhi. You look exhausted.”
Yun Yingzhi nodded, trying to muster energy, but within twenty seconds, his head drooped again. Ji Xiaobo asked, “Can you make it today?”
For a brief moment, Yun Yingzhi thought about saying no. But then he saw the empty dining table in the background. Staff were still preparing food. Yun Yingzhi realized he was hungry. He needed to eat.
Returning home would take time to have the butler prepare dinner. It was faster to just go straight to the event, grab a meal, and then go home—or even sleep at the hotel if needed. Yun Yingzhi’s foggy brain even thought that in his second form, he was a small bunny—a small size meant he could sleep anywhere. Sleeping at home is sleeping; curling up in a restaurant is also sleeping.
“No, I’m going over,” Yun Yingzhi said. He wanted to eat and fill his stomach. Besides, he also wanted to hand over the source weapon he’d just made to Yu Feiwen, and then discuss the remaining payment.
With that thought, his head drooped further. Under the stunned gaze of the people on the other end of the video, he completely fell asleep. The three on the other side stared at the motionless, sleeping Yun Yingzhi, shocked. Just how tired was he?
Even more shocking, apparently, Yun Yingzhi didn’t think the human-form sleeping position was comfortable. He directly transformed into his bunny form and sprawled out on the seat.
Yu Feiwen and the others, “…”
Suddenly, a low voice reached them, and they instantly tensed. They turned to see two people standing side by side: Elvis and Wei Yuanqing. Elvis was one of the most esteemed people in the Empire. Wei Yuanqing was… a devil.
After experiencing the special training Wei Yuanqing had them undergo, they were certain Wei Yuanqing was truly difficult to deal with—he was a devil. The three stiffened and looked awkwardly at the pair. Following the two’s lines of sight, Yu Feiwen and the others saw the small bunny sleeping on the video projection.
Elvis’s expression was cold, silent, staring intently at the adorable, soft little bunny. His hands twitched slightly. In his mind, he thought, I want to pet.
Wei Yuanqing’s smile deepened. “So cute.”
Elvis glanced at him, expressionless. “Mine.”
Wei Yuanqing, “…Oh.”
Yu Feiwen and the others, “…” They felt the prince was dangerous, and… today, the prince gave off a very bothersome vibe.
Thinking about it, Yu Feiwen figured it wasn’t right to let Elvis and Wei Yuanqing watch their good friend sleep. He decided to disconnect the video feed.
Elvis seemed to have sensed what he was trying to do from the subtle details and gave a command, “Do not disconnect.”
At the same time, a few vines appeared, restraining Yu Feiwen’s hands completely. He couldn’t move. Elvis gave the order; Wei Yuanqing didn’t say a word—he just acted. Yu Feiwen’s scalp tingled. He cautiously looked at Elvis, then at Wei Yuanqing.
When his eyes met Wei Yuanqing’s, he quickly looked away. All five simultaneously turned their gaze to the bunny sprawled on the seat in the video. Without Yu Feiwen and the others noticing, Elvis secretly recorded the bunny’s wild sleeping posture.
The bunny started rolling on the seat. Though small in size, and theoretically having plenty of space on the seat to stretch out, the little white body rolled around and was suddenly hanging off the edge of the seat. Elvis’s brow jumped. Wei Yuanqing’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze worried. Yu Feiwen and the others panicked, wanting to wake the bunny before he fell.
But… The bunny on the video didn’t notice any of their thoughts. With another roll, he fell off. At the last moment, the driver reached out and caught the little bunny. Even so, the sleeping bunny didn’t open his eyes, continuing to snooze. The driver gasped, relief flooding him. Elvis and the others exhaled in unison.
They didn’t realize the hovercar’s seat wasn’t high above the ground, and the soft carpet below would have cushioned any fall. Nor did they consider that as a military academy student, Yun Yingzhi could handle minor falls. Still, at this moment, they genuinely worried about him. They even thought, Sure enough, he’s a fragile little rabbit. Without someone looking after him, even sleeping is dangerous.
On the video, the driver gently patted the bunny’s back, then set him back on the seat. The hovercar continued on. Finally, they neared their destination.
Looking worriedly at Yun Yingzhi, the driver called softly, “Young Master, just three more minutes to Yun Shang Hotel.”
Yun Yingzhi was finally roused. Groggy, he opened his eyes, stunned to realize he’d unconsciously transformed into a bunny. What just happened?
After a dazed moment, he noticed his video call was still connected. His eyelids twitched. The little bunny’s black gem-like eyes scanned the other end of the call. He counted: one, two, three, four, five… Counted again. No mistake. Five people.
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