During the meeting, Qin Mohan quietly placed his mental power on his little streamer, observing his every move.
Every breath he took, every blink of his eyes, captivated him without exception.
However, he only used a tiny bit of his mental power, because using too much might be discovered by the bugs beside him.
If discovered, it would be difficult to resolve.
His mental power remained focused on him until the end of the meeting.
He also discovered something: his mental power seemed to like the little streamer very much, automatically going to Lin Hao's side without his command.
If not for the slight deficiency in his mental power, his mental entity would probably have always surrounded the little streamer.
And why was his mental power missing a piece?
Thinking of this, Qin Mohan's face showed a trace of confusion. Really, why was his mental power missing?
He lowered his head and carefully recalled his past memories.
—Splendid Transition—Biu~—
Qin Mohan woke up to find himself in a confined space.
Although he had spent countless days and nights here, he still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
This room, apart from some hidden ventilation shafts, had no gaps at all.
He sat on a bed, staring blankly at the light filtering through.
Suddenly, he reached out, trying to grasp the light. Just as he was about to touch it, the light suddenly disappeared.
He slowly looked up, at the person who had suddenly appeared in his room, blocking his light.
He saw the person walk up to him, take out a photograph from their space, and then point at it, saying, "Do you recognize this person?"
When Qin Mohan saw the photograph in the man's hand, he instantly scrambled to a corner, doubled over, and began to dry heave violently.
Yet, he heaved for a long time, but nothing came out of his mouth. A large amount of sweat covered his face and neck.
His white shirt was soaked with sweat, and the glasses on his nose were gone.
Seeing that the person hadn't answered his question, the man went to Qin Mohan's side, grabbed his hair, straightened his back, and then kicked him to the ground.
Then, he stepped on his face and said, "4357, I'm talking to you, don't pretend you can't hear. I'm asking if you recognize this person?"
The man spoke while increasing the pressure of his foot.
Seeing distinct marks on the face of the person under his foot, he removed his foot, squatted down, and pulled Qin Mohan's face towards him. Then, he pointed at the photograph and said.
Qin Mohan was forcibly turned by the man, made to look at the photograph up close. Upon seeing the photograph, he suppressed the churning in his stomach and said coldly, "No."
Upon hearing this answer, the man flung his face away, then stood up and lightly patted the dust off his body. He looked down at Qin Mohan and said, "See, you can answer questions."
With a soft snort, he left the room.
Qin Mohan, left on the ground, stared blankly at the light that reappeared in his vision, and the photograph the man had dropped.
Seeing the photograph, something seemed to flash through Qin Mohan's mind. He used all his strength to crawl towards the photograph, bit by bit.
But his body did not obey his brain's commands; it barely moved.
Finally, it took him half an hour to endure the nausea in his stomach and tightly embrace the photograph.
It was as if it were a treasure of the world or his very life, never letting go for a moment.
His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he fell into a deep sleep.
In his dream, he felt as if someone were drifting away from him. He tried desperately to chase after them, but could not catch up to the receding figure.
Watching that person grow further and further away.
Qin Mohan's eyes suddenly flew open, only to find that he was not in his room.
He curled himself into a corner, warily surveying the surroundings.
No, no, his room should be pitch black.
Not like this, bright and beautiful.
This was not where he belonged. What was this place, and why did it feel so familiar?
It was as if this place were his original home, but his room was black, it shouldn't be like this.
At this moment, Bai Han, who had prepared his equipment, thought his friend must not have woken up yet. Without knocking, he walked directly in.
And what he saw upon entering was this scene.
His usually aloof childhood friend was squatting in the corner like a child lacking security, warily observing everything around him.
Was this truly his childhood friend?
Gone was his original elegance, replaced by this current state.
"How are you feeling now?"
Bai Han cautiously walked to Qin Mohan's bedside and asked.
He had only recently learned about what had happened to his friend. When he learned that the Emperor had sent him there, he was stunned.
He wanted to ask those questions, but thinking of the Emperor's face, he refrained.
He could only silently burn incense for his friend.
Qin Mohan, lost in his own world, slowly turned his head upon hearing the voice and said to Bai Han, "Me? I'm alright."
He recognized the person before him, his childhood friend who studied medicine.
Upon recognizing the person, his body relaxed somewhat.
Bai Han, standing by the bed, looked at his friend's gaunt cheeks, the arms covered in needle marks, and the ligature marks on his neck.
He silently clenched his hands hanging by his sides.
But after a moment of internal struggle, he relaxed his hands.
Although he felt immense pain for his childhood friend, for the sake of his family, he could not do anything that defied the Empire.
His actions were too far-reaching; he could not act on his own accord.
He lowered his head, concealing his gaze, then looked up at Qin Mohan and said, "Let me check your body."
After speaking, he took out the instruments and slowly began to examine the person before him.
Qin Mohan, lying on the bed, knew this person and did not put up any excessive resistance, cooperating with Bai Han wholeheartedly.
After half an hour, Bai Han finally finished the basic examinations. He casually tidied up his instruments and said to Qin Mohan, "Rest well."
Then, he strode towards the door. However, if one looked closely, Bai Han's steps were somewhat hurried.
If he didn't leave now, he would be unable to resist hugging Qin Mohan and crying.
Qin Mohan showed no particular expression at his childhood friend's departure. Instead, he lowered his head and looked at his hands.
Empty.
He looked at the veins on his hands.
Qin Mohan thought to himself.
Before he lost consciousness, he seemed to have been holding something, but he couldn't recall it at all now.
Unable to recall, Qin Mohan frantically hit his head, trying to remember that person or that thing. But no matter how hard he thought, he just couldn't remember.
One day later.
Qin Mohan, lying in bed, saw Bai Han preparing a potion and said, "My mental power seems to be missing two-thirds. Do you know why?"
Just yesterday, Qin Mohan had carefully examined his body and found that, aside from memory gaps, his mental power also seemed to be missing a large portion.
He had thought about it all night, but still couldn't figure out what he had done with his mental power.
Moreover, the void in his mental power seemed irrecoverable. No matter how he tried to mend it, it remained vacant.
This made him very confused.
When he saw Bai Han, he thought of him as a doctor and hoped that by asking him, he might know what was going on.
Bai Han, who was carefully preparing the medicine nearby, suddenly looked bewildered at his friend's question. How would he know that his mental power was precisely missing two-thirds?
Furthermore, regarding the deficiency in mental power, wouldn't it be enough to cultivate and replenish it? Why come to him?
He expressed that he didn't understand.
"It can't be repaired." Qin Mohan, lying in bed, saw Bai Han's expression clearly and answered his question before he could even ask.
Saving him the trouble of asking again.
"Ah, it can't be repaired? It can't be repaired, so what? Hey?! Wait, what did you just say? It can't be repaired?!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Han, still tidying his medicines and observing the IV drip on Qin Mohan's arm, almost crushed the ampoule.
But he managed to restrain himself in the end.
This potion was one of very few in the entire universe; it couldn't be wasted.
"You said your mental power can't be repaired?!" Bai Han quickly approached Qin Mohan's bed and asked, lowering his head.
If this were true, it would indeed be a momentous event.
A Crown Prince of the Empire, despite his high mental level, missing two-thirds, and it being irreparable, would that not cause a stir if revealed?
No, this matter absolutely must not be known by a second person.
Not only for his friend's sake but also for the future of the Empire.
"Mhm." Compared to Bai Han's astonishment, Qin Mohan, as the person involved, appeared quite calm.
Although the feeling of missing mental power was uncomfortable.
However, he could guess that the person he gave it to was willing.
Thinking this, Qin Mohan ignored the terrified Bai Han beside him and looked out the window.
"Mohan, Mohan, I have something to attend to, so I can't go with you." A female voice interrupted Qin Mohan's thoughts.
Qin Mohan turned his head, glanced at Zhao Feier, nodded to indicate he understood, and then turned and walked towards his residence.
Zhao Feier, standing in her spot, watched until Qin Mohan disappeared from her sight before heading in a different direction.
Qin Mohan arrived in his room, sat on the sofa, closed his eyes, and slowly sensed his mental power.
Then he opened his eyes.
He quietly looked at the fruit on the table.
Indeed, the missing mental power had not returned.
He lay on the sofa, closed his eyes, and was about to try and sense the location of his mental power when he was suddenly interrupted by a tremor.
Disturbed, Qin Mohan irritably opened his eyes and looked towards the door.
What was this tremor?
Just as Qin Mohan was about to give up checking outside, another wave of tremors came.
Qin Mohan, who had been somewhat annoyed, was replaced by a look of seriousness when he felt this again.
He walked to the door, and as soon as he opened it, he saw a giant vine in his garden blooming wildly.
At this moment, Qin Mohan did not show much surprise. Instead, he carefully searched for its weak points.
After the last battle, he had come to understand this plant's combat style.
But as he turned, he saw his little streamer being picked up by that man.
The analysis of damage he had already made was completely disrupted by this.
His eyes seemed unable to move away from his little streamer's waist.
He actually let a bug pick you up.
Truly hateful.
I remained pure for you, yet you are in another man's arms.
As expected, you are truly disobedient.
Will only locking you in a room make you obedient?
Thinking this, Qin Mohan, though he liked the idea, immediately dismissed it.
Doing so would frighten him. The only thing he could do now was to get closer to him.
Only by getting closer would there be any further development.
Lin Hao, held in Elfa's arms, suddenly felt a chill and silently pulled at his clothes.
After placing Lin Hao in a safe spot, Elfa said to his cub, "King, do not run around."
After saying this, he saw Xil also bring Rila over, and then said to Lin Hao, "King, do not run around."
After speaking, Xil also flew towards the vine.
Aslan also quickly approached Lin Hao. Before he could speak, he heard Lin Hao say, "King, do not run around."
"Hehe." Aslan chuckled upon hearing the cub repeat his words, then also flew over.
Lin Hao looked at the three commanders in the air, inwardly grumbling: Am I the kind of bug who runs around?
No need for three bugs to repeat themselves three times!
Hmph (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻
Mini Theater:
Ahhh, why has my eldest son turned into this crazy character? I originally wanted to write him as cool and aloof, how could he have collapsed so ridiculously?
But this is quite addictive.
Oh, why do I kind of like my crazy son?
What should I do?
Isn't this too ridiculous?
But if I change his character now, he's already gone mad, and I can't fix it. This is really bothersome yet addictive.
Note: This kind of crazy character is best liked within novels. If you see it in real life, don't hesitate, report it to the police immediately!!!!
Cherish life, stay away from crazy people, my darlings!!
Qin Mohan: I am not crazy.
Lin Hao: Mmm, yes, crazy is better than you.
Tch, still want to have a "black room" play with him? Tch, what are you dreaming about? Have you asked my three great commanders?
(Suddenly feel like writing a play, but... I remember I'm a pure writer, right?)
I can't ruin my own persona. Yes, I'm a pure writer.
Then, let's vote. If there are more votes, I'll write it, hehe (º﹃º)
I haven't written a play before, maybe I can write a cute extra chapter or something.
Damn, I'm getting carried away again.