The insect throne room was crowded with anxious onlookers. The aged Bug Emperor looked worriedly at the unconscious Lu Yuanzhao on the medical bed. “Director, why hasn’t he woken up yet?”
“Your Majesty, please don’t be anxious,” the director replied. “The medical capsule has fully healed his physical injuries, but…”
“But what?”
“The damage to his mental core is too severe, and currently, there are no corresponding medical methods available.”
Research on mental energy had always been a project tightly controlled by the royal family. Without funding, no progress could be made.
Especially since the old Bug Emperor, after taking office, had launched a campaign claiming that the powers bestowed upon mankind make mental energy inviolable, disbanding all research institutions on the subject.
It was easy to understand why.
Because male bugs could soothe mental energy, losing this unique ability would be a fatal blow to their status.
Just then, Lu Yuanzhao stirred in his bed.
He opened his eyes, suddenly gripped by the Bug Emperor. “Zhao’er, do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Lu Yuanzhao shook his head, and as memories slowly came back, his face turned pale. “Father, my mental energy… why can’t I feel anything at all??”
The old Bug Emperor was silent for a moment, avoiding the question and comforting him. “Zhao’er, please calm down.”
The director spoke up: “Your Highness, your mental core has shattered. Although there’s no solution for now, technology is advancing.”
Lu Yuanzhao’s face twisted in agony as he anxiously pulled at his hair. “It’s impossible! I’m an A-level male bug, the future Bug Emperor! You must be lying to me; I don’t believe it!”
“It’s Bai Xingluo! It’s all his fault!” Lu Yuanzhao’s eyes were filled with venom. “Father, you will help me catch him, right?”
The third prince, Lu Yunyi, who had been standing nearby, couldn’t hold back anymore.
“If you hadn’t made a mistake first, Bai Xingluo wouldn’t have acted so ruthlessly against you.”
Lu Yuanzhao picked up a vase from the bedside; a shadow flew out, exploding beside Lu Yunyi, shards grazing his cheek and leaving a trail of blood.
“What do you think you are? Do you have any right to speak here?” Lu Yuanzhao shouted. “Did you forget your last name after smelling that D-level male bug?”
“Indeed, if you’re so impressive, why can’t you even handle a D-level male bug you disdain? You should just let Bai Xingluo finish you off, right?”
Lu Yuanzhao was rendered speechless and turned to the Bug Emperor.
“Father, I’ve become like this, are you really going to let Bai Xingluo go free?”
The old Bug Emperor pondered for a moment before addressing a nearby official. “Go and capture Bai Xingluo, then let Zhao’er deal with him.”
“No!” Lu Yunyi blocked the official. “The star pirate group is currently rampant and could return at any time. Dealing with Bai Xingluo now would be like cutting off our own limbs!”
The old Bug Emperor’s anger flared. “What do you mean? Is the empire unable to function with just one Bai Xingluo gone? Should I offer him my position instead?”
“That’s not what I meant; I just—”
The old Bug Emperor waved his hand, impatiently cutting him off. “I not only want to punish Bai Xingluo, but also that D-level male bug called Tong Sui.”
Having washed up and changed into the clothes Bai Xingluo had brought him, Tong Sui looked at his reflection in the mirror, finding his face more flushed than before.
He splashed cold water on his face, took a deep breath, and finally pushed open the door to go out.
Perhaps due to his high body temperature, Tong Sui felt a bit dizzy, and his steps felt floaty.
At that moment, his communicator rang, showing an incoming call from his only contact, Lu Yunyi.
Without thinking much, Tong Sui connected the call, surprised and worried when the screen appeared. “What happened to your face?”
On the virtual projection, Lu Yunyi looked serious, a long blood streak marking his cheek.
“This is nothing, Lord Tong Sui. I apologize for offending you at the banquet last night,” Lu Yunyi’s tone was serious yet calm, speaking quickly. “Also, I hope you can persuade Bai Xingluo to leave the imperial star with you. The Bug Emperor has dispatched troops to pursue you.
Lu Yuanzhao is vengeful, and after having his mental core shattered, he won’t easily let this go—”
Halfway through his sentence, the image suddenly flickered, and the next second, the connection was cut off.
Tong Sui was stunned for two seconds.
He heard a loud banging at the door downstairs. Peering through the floor-to-ceiling window, he saw military starships and a squad of soldiers in uniform jumping down, weapons in hand.
Where was Bai Xingluo?
Suddenly, he heard a cold voice from downstairs. “Who let you in?”
“Bai Xingluo, you’ve regained your sanity; that’s good. I hope you don’t struggle needlessly. Come with us, and perhaps I can defend you a little in front of the Bug Emperor.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then don’t blame us for being rude. All units, subdue him!”
Tong Sui rushed down the stairs despite everything.
When he reached the ground, he saw soldiers in uniform groaning on the floor, with the only standing figure as straight as a pine tree.
He let out a sigh of relief.
Bai Xingluo turned his head. Perhaps yesterday’s mental soothing had calmed his agitation; the crimson in his eyes flickered and returned to its original light blue.
“Let’s hurry and leave here, Luo Luo,” Tong Sui said, feeling as though he were walking on clouds, with heat radiating from him as if he were a small volcano.
He felt like he was running a fever.
His vision was a bit blurry, yet he pushed himself to move forward, searching for that glimpse of silver-white in sight.
Tong Sui’s knees buckled, and he fell forward, only to be caught by a pair of hands.
He caught a faint, cool fragrance from Bai Xingluo and, in a daze, whispered, “We can’t go back with them; they’re bad people…”
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments