They All Went Mad After the Real Young Master Died

[The title and blurb will continue to be polished, but the premise won't change. Note from April 5, 2026]

[Full manuscript completed]

In the interstellar age, human genes mutated and the entire population evolved. Those with soul beasts stood above the rest.

Yan Lan was frail and had no soul beast, so everyone looked down on him.

To get a good grade report, he pushed himself until he collapsed during physical training. When he woke up, he heard his mother apologizing to the teacher with an ingratiating smile. "I'm sorry. My child has been useless since he was little. It's his own fault for overestimating himself and causing you trouble."

He tried desperately to find a way to cure himself. At the hospital, he heard his father complain to the doctor, "Can't we just leave it untreated? This child is a burden to me."

2

One day, people from the Imperial Star arrived, claiming to be his biological parents, who had been searching for him for fourteen years. It turned out he had been switched at birth by mistake.

He arrived at his new home full of hope. His two older brothers were friendly, his parents were loving, and the adopted child who had been switched with him treated him well, too. He thought he was loved.

Until the adopted son "accidentally" sent him a message: Brother, if we use his blood, will my soul beast evolve?

On his birthday, the eldest brother forbade him from showing up. "We haven't announced to the public yet that you're a member of the Yan family."

Later, his adoptive parents went bankrupt and threw him out. His loving mother sneered at him. "Did your parents really think they succeeded in switching the children?"

Yan Lan fled in desperation, only to be caught by his second brother and thrown into a laboratory, where he was used as an expendable resource to improve his younger brother's soul beast.

Alone and helpless in the lab, he cried until his face was soaked with tears, but still couldn't beg his second brother to spare his life.

Only later did they learn that Yan Lan was the true blood of the Yan family, the youngest child they should have cherished above all else.

When the Yan family learned the truth, their world shattered.

3

The Empire's Crown Prince is a rabid dog. That is the highest praise his enemies can give him.

Because his soul power is too strong, the Crown Prince is often overcome by violent episodes. There's a saying on the frontier: "You can provoke a dog, but never the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince used to be normal.

Two years ago, a little soul beast suddenly appeared by his side. It was only the size of a palm, small enough to hide in his pocket during the day. At night, it turned into a boy whom the Crown Prince hid under his covers.

As long as the little soul beast was by his side, the Crown Prince was mentally stable.

Two years later, the little soul beast suddenly disappeared.

The Crown Prince searched every inch of the empire's territory but couldn't find him. In his dreams, he saw the boy the soul beast had become, tied to a cold operating table and dismembered.

The boy's round eyes were full of fear and tears as he cried, "Help me!!"

The Crown Prince was beside himself with anguish. Every night, he dreamed of the boy growing weaker and weaker until he finally died.

4

Then one day, the Crown Prince saw his soul beast boy again.

He had grown taller, and his eyes were narrower than before, with a new edge of cool, sharp beauty.

When the Crown Prince suggested taking him away, the boy propped up his chin and tapped the Crown Prince's chest with his toe. "So many people here like me. Why should I go with you?"

Theme: Loving yourself comes first