On the forum floor:
81st Floor: Sour +1!
89th Floor: So they are going to live together now? No way! My Tong Sui, wuwuwu, I still want to give you bug eggs!
…
The discussion revolves around envy and hatred towards Bai Xingluo.
Until a new post appears —
[Bai Xingluo has mysteriously disappeared! I asked the management bugs in the central prison and they revealed that he was rescued by a star pirate group!]
1st Floor: What???
2nd Floor: ???
3rd Floor: Is this news true? That can’t be right, Bai Xingluo has always hated those star pirates!
11th Floor: I carefully looked at the pictures, and when Tong Sui and the others came out, they really didn’t see Bai Xingluo!
Moreover, Tong Sui seemed to be in a bad mood.
23rd Floor: Did Bai Xingluo betray the Empire and join the star pirates?
Is this to evade responsibility? But he didn’t expect that Tong Sui would actually evolve into an S-class male bug again?
24th Floor: If that’s the case, Bai Xingluo deserves it! Bah! I hate those traitorous scum that betray the Empire!
45th Floor: If I were Bai Xingluo, I would definitely regret it now!
78th Floor: So he’s leaving, huh? A female bug that can hurt male bugs is like a ticking time bomb beside Tong Sui.
But alas, Tong Sui loves him so much, going to find him as soon as he wakes up.
213th Floor: I said the star pirate group has been rampant all these years, and it has to do with the military’s corruption! Bai Xingluo, stay far away, never step into the Empire again!
321st Floor: He should have been executed immediately!
…
These remarks surprisingly overlap with the original timeline.
Bai Xingluo betrayed the Empire.
The bugs seemed all too eager to see the once noble hero fall, and the more miserable he became, the more it awakened their inner darkness.
The royal battleship slowly descended onto the palace lawn.
The hatch opened.
Tong Sui heard the organized cheer, “Welcome back, His Highness Tong Sui!”
He looked out from the porthole.
It was a vast expanse of palatial grounds.
White walls with golden spires, adorned with intricate carvings and paintings, showcased their high cost.
Various exotic plants and flowers were trimmed into exquisite shapes, with fountains and stone sculptures dotted around the lawn.
In front of the palace’s gigantic archway stood many uniformed bugs, apparently servants of this place.
The previous cheer came from their mouths.
At the forefront stood a group of elegantly dressed young female bugs, crowding around the old Bug Emperor in the center.
This was the central royal palace of the entire Empire, a place countless bugs dreamt of.
“Your Highness Tong Sui, you are home.”
The head of the Male Bug Protection Association reminded quietly, “You will be staying here from now on, with dedicated bugs serving you.”
“This is not my home,” Tong Sui replied. “I have my own residence; please take me back.”
His home in this world was the place they personally selected the furniture, where vegetable seeds were sown in the yard, and at sunset, one could see the river turn red.
Not this completely unfamiliar so-called royal palace.
Seeing Tong Sui’s displeased expression, the head did not dare to speak loudly again and threw a pleading glance behind him.
“Your Highness, you cannot stay at your original place now; it’s too dangerous.”
Lu Yunyi said, “You saw how those female bugs went wild today. If they find out your address, they will surely sneak in through the walls and crawl into your room when you least expect it.”
Tong Sui’s mind flashed back to the anxious crowd of bugs from earlier, each face nearly obsessed and adoring.
He felt a chill running down his back.
Lu Yunyi then lowered his voice, “You will only be temporarily residing here; if you find it uncomfortable, we’ll send you back, how does that sound?”
After hesitating for a while, Tong Sui reluctantly nodded in agreement.
He stepped down from the battleship.
The bugs instantly became excited, their eyes bright and restless.
Tong Sui walked closer gradually.
He wasn’t very good at handling so many pairs of eyes on him; his ears turned slightly red.
Before he could say anything, the palace’s servants knelt on the ground, repeating, “Welcome back, His Highness Tong Sui!”
The noble female bugs also bent at the waist, performing royal etiquette.
“Your Highness Tong Sui, may you find peace.”
Tong Sui stood frozen in place, somewhat at a loss; this level of politeness and respect exceeded his understanding.
It felt like walking down the street when suddenly someone rushed out to kneel and bow before him.
But if he did not speak, these bugs would not move.
Tong Sui could only muster the courage to softly say, “You all, please get up.”
As if receiving a command, the bugs rose, looking at him with a complex and burning gaze.
Tong Sui felt like he was being watched by some terrifying beast, overwhelmed by the intensity of their stares.
Until the old Bug Emperor in the center took a deep red cloak from a servant’s hands.
The cloak was embroidered with intricate designs, and only upon closer inspection could one distinguish the specific patterns. A complex and delicate golden medal was pinned on the chest, with a ring of white fur around the top, appearing ostentatious and luxurious.
“Child,” said the old Bug Emperor, stepping forward slowly and gently draping the cloak over Tong Sui’s shoulders.
“You have worked hard.”
His wrinkled hands slowly tied the cloak for him.
“Your Majesty, you must have mistaken me,” Tong Sui said. “I am not your child.”
“I have looked over your information; you are an orphan, so I decided to take you as my adopted son. From now on, we will be a family.”
The old Bug Emperor said, “I will hold a special banquet for you tomorrow, and all the high-society nobles will come to celebrate you.”