CAT Chapter 10: Sonnet (2)

Although the conclusion was unexpected, it resolved the issue that had been weighing on Lin Si’s mind.

Svenya said, “Let me see… Weapon adaptation isn’t needed for now. The intensity of basic training can be roughly set, but combat training is necessary.”

“He has combat experience in his muscle memory,” Lin Si replied.

That time his arm was pinned and nearly broken, the move Ling Yi used was undeniably a standard combat maneuver.

After Lin Si briefly recounted the incident, Svenya said with interest, “Then let’s test it out.”

Her arm was in poor condition, so she turned to call in the Colonel.

The Colonel was unaware of what had happened in the equipment room earlier. When Svenya asked him to engage Ling Yi, he hesitated.

“He’s too young and hasn’t received any formal training,” the Colonel frowned. “I’ll go easy on him.”

Svenya coughed awkwardly. “Colonel, I suggest you don’t do that.”

“Oh?” The Colonel raised an eyebrow and assumed a ready stance. “Alright then.”

Ling Yi stood across from him and glanced at Lin Si. “Am I supposed to fight him?”

“Based on Lin’s description, you’ll respond instinctively. Just follow your reflexes.”

Ling Yi nodded slightly.

The Colonel said, “I’m starting now.”

Ling Yi’s body tensed slightly.

The Colonel held back and didn’t use any tricky moves, simply throwing a punch toward Ling Yi’s face.

However, the enhanced strength and reflexes of a modified body were formidable, making even this straightforward punch difficult to counter.

Ling Yi moved.

He leaned back, dodging the punch, and swiftly hid behind Lin Si.

The Colonel, “…”

Svenya, “…”

It was a quick, agile, and flawless escape.

Ling Yi peeked out from behind Lin Si, looking at the Colonel.

Lin Si was dumbfounded.

“You disrupted the little baobao’s performance,” Svenya said, pushing Lin Si out then closing the equipment room door.

The Colonel resumed his offensive, aiming a punch directly at Ling Yi’s face. Ling Yi dodged instantly, the fierce punch brushing past his ear. Missing the first strike, the Colonel immediately shifted tactics—pulling back his right fist, throwing a left punch, lowering his center of gravity, and sweeping out with his leg. The sequence of moves was executed in an instant!

At that critical moment, Ling Yi had limited options. A backward flip would put him at a disadvantage, dodging right would land him squarely in the path of the Colonel’s left punch, and moving left would expose him to the leg sweep.

The Colonel’s expertise was evident.

From an observer’s perspective, Ling Yi was cornered, with no clear path to escape. The outcome seemed inevitable. However, just as he was about to be struck, Ling Yi suddenly moved.

He blocked the Colonel’s hook with his arm, grabbed the Colonel’s muscular forearm with his hand, and used the momentum to leap into the air. In that split second, he dodged the powerful leg sweep.

But that wasn’t all. In the next moment, while airborne, Ling Yi delivered a flying knee strike to the Colonel’s chest!

The Colonel, unable to regain balance from his leg sweep, was forced to stagger back a few steps under the blow.

Ling Yi used the momentum to leap away, stopping in front of him.

The military personnel aboard the Voyager were all elites and experts in combat. Even with such a brief exchange, a lot could be gleaned.

The Colonel felt humbled.

Svenya had no choice but to show him Ling Yi’s data for consolation.

Seeing on the monitor that the sparring had ended, Lin Si reentered the room.

Svenya said to Lin Si, “Although he doesn’t remember, it’s clear he’s undergone professional training… I’ll need to reconsider his training plan.”

The Colonel added, “The training itself isn’t the main point.”

Scratching the back of his head, he continued, “Let me think how to put this… His speed is incredible—not just the speed of his movements.”

After organizing his thoughts for a moment, the Colonel finally found the right words. “Most people, even if they know the proper response in their mind, need a moment to coordinate their body. But with this kid, it feels like his body is completely in sync with his mind—almost reacting at the same time he’s making a decision. Otherwise, there’s no way he could’ve dodged me in such a short span of time.”

“But there are still issues,” Svenya remarked, jotting notes on the draft of the plan. “Right now, he’s operating purely on instinct and can’t fully tap into his physical potential. Moreover, he lacks experience. Even with professional training, he still needs to hone his combat instincts. Otherwise, mistakes in judgment could lead to serious consequences.”

She turned to Lin Si. “I’ll think about the training plan and send it to you by tonight at the latest.”

Lin Si replied, “Thanks for your hard work.”

Svenya winked at him playfully.

By this time, evening was approaching. Lin Si still had a celebration banquet to attend in Zone 1, so after a brief exchange, he took Ling Yi back with him.

Ling Yi asked Lin Si, “Can I come here and play every day from now on?”

Lin Si answered, “Mm-hmm.”

—It seemed the little one really liked it here.

By the time they returned to Zone 6, it was already late, and the banquet was about to begin.

Lin Si dressed Ling Yi in slightly more formal attire.

The clothes Bethy had prepared for Ling Yi were more than suitable, showcasing her determination to style the child as refined and exquisite as possible.

First, he buttoned the brown vest, adjusted the waist strap at the back to cinch it snugly, then tied a bow beneath the winged collar of the white shirt, pinning it with a matching brooch. He rolled up the shirt sleeves slightly, revealing cuffs of the same fabric and color as the vest, adorned with three small cufflinks.

Finally, Lin Si gathered Ling Yi’s shoulder-length black hair, loosely tying it near the ends with a ribbon. Only then did he consider the ensemble complete.

The doll-like little one immediately drew attention as soon as he was brought into the banquet hall.

—Over the past few days, rumors had spread about Lin Si adopting a little angel—a blank slate of a child who had reopened his eyes under the radiation of the black hole. But for many, this was their first time seeing him.

Scientists and scholars weren’t an unfeeling group, on the contrary, most were sincere and straightforward. And aboard the ship, it had been far, far too long since anyone had seen a child.

Without a mother planet to provide the Voyager with an endless supply of resources, the ship could only traverse between planets in search of usable materials—collecting metals, minerals, and energy to sustain itself. On a resource-limited vessel with strictly allocated provisions, the population was tightly controlled. People couldn’t afford to devote themselves to non-work-related matters, and there were even some cold, unwritten rules in place. Although there were romantic couples aboard, no new lives were born here.

Most of the women had been wives and mothers back on Earth. Seeing Ling Yi now, the long-dormant maternal affection in their hearts stirred, with some even tearing up.

After Madam Chen and Mr. Lambert gave the opening remarks, Ling Yi was immediately surrounded by a chorus of “Little darling” and “Sweetheart.”

Onboard the ship, there were actually meals similar to those on Earth—not every dish was nutrient paste.

Zone 6 had developed methods to cultivate leafy plants and raise certain animals, which were then handed over to Zone 2 for further cultivation. These resources, however, were incredibly rare, far more costly than nutrient paste, and could only be found in abundance at events like this banquet.

Naturally, the women didn’t just greet Ling Yi—they soon discovered how satisfying it was to spoil him with desserts!

All it took was cutting a small piece of cake for the little angel to pick it up with a fork, place it in his mouth, and gaze back with his beautiful black eyes, filled with happiness and contentment. He would then curve his eyes into a smile and say, “Thank you, ma’am.”

—It was utterly delightful.

Lin Si, recognizing that keeping the little one solely by his side wasn’t conducive to his growth, left him temporarily in the care of the much gentler and more meticulous women. He retreated to a quieter table, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

The amber liquid exuded the characteristic aroma of strong spirits.

The dim lighting left him at the boundary between shadow and light. The romantic strains of the banquet’s music evoked images of brass instruments and roses, but Lin Si was clearly detached from the cheerful ambiance.

He wasn’t fond of socializing, a well-known fact, so those interested in him only observed from a distance.

Yet someone still chose to sit beside him.

“Strong liquor dulls pain,” the newcomer remarked lazily, leaning against the chair back. “From what I’ve observed, you have a particular fondness for it.”

“Everyone has their quirks.”

“Like how Zheng-ge never touches alcohol, and the Wizard can’t tolerate unfinished tasks on his schedule?”

Lin Si replied coolly, “Since when did you start observing others?”

“Zheng-ge said that if I kept avoiding people, I’d eventually drop dead at my keyboard.” The speaker was a blond, blue-eyed young man who carried a vintage mechanical keyboard with him. “But if I leave my keyboard, I might die on the spot.”

Lin Si let out a faint chuckle.

“But I have to listen to Zheng-ge—how could I not admire him? Otherwise, I wouldn’t even bother showing up.” The young man showed no intention of continuing the conversation, setting his keyboard on the table. A projection screen appeared in front of him, and he began typing furiously, the clattering of keys filling the air. Clearly, his version of “socializing” was merely symbolic.

They coexisted peacefully for about ten minutes until Zheng Shu arrived.

Zheng Shu made his way over, greeting the women politely before reaching the secluded corner.

In his mid-thirties, Zheng Shu was undoubtedly the kind of man who exuded charm—tall and well-built, with handsome features and a rare blend of gentleness, elegance, poise, and steady confidence.

The man typing on the keyboard paused, looking up to greet him. “Zheng-ge!”

Zheng Shu nodded at him. “Xiao Ning.”

Then he frowned slightly. “Lucia’s already finished. You could consider giving your keyboard a break.”

“No.” The response was blunt.

—Even Zheng Shu couldn’t persuade him. He took the seat next to Lin Si, scanning the crowd before his gaze landed on Ling Yi. “If I weren’t so busy, I would’ve raised him myself.”

“You’re indeed slightly more qualified than I am,” Lin Si remarked, taking another sip of whiskey and looking at Ling Yi.

Having been separated from Lin Si for a while, Ling Yi was already feeling a little uneasy. Noticing Lin Si watching him, the child immediately played cute to the women to free himself and ran over.

But both seats next to Lin Si were taken.

The little one glanced to both sides, standing in place, clearly a bit upset.