Milton prepared to take Gu Qing on a tour of the military headquarters. On one hand, it would familiarize him with the environment; on the other, Milton wanted to see whether this mysterious male insect who had appeared out of nowhere was truly as meek and harmless as he seemed.
Male insects had always been precious. It was rare enough for one to enter the military, let alone someone like Gu Qing—an “appointed mental harmonization officer” of unknown origin. Milton did not believe he could adapt to such a high-pressure environment. At best, he would hold out for a short while before revealing flaws; at worst, he would quit within days.
The corridors of the military were straight and silver-white, the walls inlaid with transparent reinforced glass. Milton walked in front, occasionally glancing back at the quiet figure behind him. Gu Qing followed with lowered eyes, submissive and cautious, looking like a fragile white blossom that would topple in the slightest breeze.
But what happened next was far beyond Milton’s expectations—
As they walked, what they drew was not vigilance or cold stares, but… commotion.
The female soldiers along the way paused almost in unison, turning their heads again and again. Their gazes seemed hooked by something, filled with unconcealed amazement and curiosity. Some even forgot what they had been doing. Pairs of eyes clung to Gu Qing like nails.
After all, a male like this was rare.
Gu Qing was strikingly handsome, but more importantly, unlike most males, he was neither arrogant nor flamboyant. There was a timid softness about him. Walking through the territory of iron-blooded female soldiers, he resembled a small creature curled quietly in a corner—observing the world without daring to step beyond his own boundaries. It made others want to draw near, to soothe him, even… to carry him home.
“How could such a well-behaved male end up in the military?”
“So that’s the specially appointed mental harmonization officer? He looks so soft—like he would cry if you touched him. Can he really handle the military’s pace?”
“Oh my god! He’s adorable… this is way too adorable…”
But none of them dared approach.
Because General Milton was walking beside him.
A 3S-level mental force wielder, the Empire’s blade—one insect capable of standing against thousands. A single frown from him was enough to silence the entire special operations unit.
Inside Gu Qing’s consciousness, the Heavenly Dao little dumpling was already rolling around, its shrieks rivaling a mental shockwave:
“Gu Qing, look at this scene!! This is not a tour, this is the entire military going berserk! They are all about to be pierced through by that innocent, shy little look of yours! When you just lowered your head to avoid their eyes, I swear I heard their mental seas screaming—!”
Gu Qing remained calm. “Say one more word and I will toss you into the alchemy furnace for three days.”
The little dumpling instantly turned into a trembling clump of silver light and rolled into the corner of his consciousness.
“Waaah! I am sorry! I was wrong! I will shut up! I love you! Please keep flirting— QwQ!”
Milton noticed that not only had Gu Qing revealed no flaw, he had seamlessly blended into the environment—causing every insect present to begin liking him uncontrollably.
Gu Qing swept a glance at the female soldiers, as if sensing something, and his steps faltered slightly.
His brows lowered, confusion and unease flickering through his eyes. He gently tugged at Milton’s sleeve. His voice was soft, hesitant.
“…They keep looking at me. Did I do something wrong?”
He seemed utterly unaware that this very appearance of his was the true culprit behind the explosion rocking the entire military.
The moment those words left his mouth, several nearby female soldiers practically detonated—
One nearly lost her stance. Another bit down hard on the edge of her glove to steady her breathing. A third flushed at the ears, fumbling in flustered panic.
On their optical terminals, the [Military Private Chat Group] was already flooded.
Some began searching Gu Qing’s personal file. Others hurriedly submitted leave applications with impeccably official reasons:
[Request for mental fluctuation observation and synchronization consultation.]
—“What did he just say!? He asked if he did something wrong???”
—“First time in my life hearing a male voluntarily reflect on himself. And in that soft voice… I am shattered.”
—“He has not even entered the coordination room yet and I am already ready to check in as a patient.”
—“He looked so wronged… I want to give him everything.”
Milton let out a cold snort. A few static alerts flickered through his communication channel. He could more or less guess what the females behind him were discussing.
He shifted slightly, placing half his body between Gu Qing and the others.
“You did nothing wrong.”
His voice was not loud, but it sliced through the air like a blade of frost. The female soldiers who had still been sneaking glances snapped back to attention, standing straight in unison.
Milton knew Gu Qing was acting.
That expression was too flawless. Every ounce of hesitation and timidity was perfectly measured. Even the way he tugged at his sleeve seemed rehearsed.
He had grasped the emotions of every female soldier present.
Even Milton himself was being led along without realizing it.
He hated that feeling.
What irritated him more were those unrestrained gazes—like they wanted to strip Gu Qing bare and claim him for themselves.
He should not interfere.
Yet he had stepped in to block their sight.
Milton’s fingers tightened, suppressing the inexplicable vexation rising in his chest.
Damn it. This was not a reaction he should be having.
Standing ahead, the adjutants Yier and Feili had witnessed everything.
Yier blinked, slow to react. After a few seconds he muttered under his breath,
“…That move. Was he trying to block those stares?”
Suspicion and disbelief colored his tone. He glanced at the fervent female soldiers, then at the general known for cold decisiveness, and wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
“Quiet.”
Feili’s tone was steady, but his gaze was locked onto the male. Even his voice carried a rare hint of hesitation.
“…The general’s action looked like he was… protecting him?”
“Protecting?” Yier arched a brow. “Did you forget? He was mocking that male before.”
“He allowed him into the military directly, even gave him the title ‘specially appointed.’” Feili paused, eyes lingering a moment longer on the tall figure. “I have never seen the general care this much about any male.”
“Let alone indulge one like this,” Yier shook his head. “That position is not for show. Something is off. Nothing about this is right.”
Inside the sea of consciousness, the Heavenly Dao little dumpling was laughing itself senseless, rolling wildly.
“Pfft hahaha—Gu Qing, you are too good at this! That sleeve tug plus the lowered voice and drifting eyes? I literally heard a few female soldiers’ sanity snap! Are you here to harmonize mental seas or to seduce the entire military?! You even calculated your standing angle! And you blinked slower on purpose, used that super innocent tone… This is insane! You harvested goodwill from the whole army, and even made the general step in to block them!”
Gu Qing’s outward expression remained gentle and obedient, his eyes still tinged with faint unease, like a tame creature that had accidentally wandered into a hunter’s camp.
But within, his voice was calm as still water.
“I am merely fulfilling the role Milton assigned me.”
The little dumpling convulsed with laughter.
“Oh? And that role is ‘the most delectable male in the entire military’? Look at their eyes—they are practically glued to you! Some of them have already started digging into your files!”
“Good,” Gu Qing replied. “The more they investigate, the more they will find my background clean and harmless.”
Outwardly unremarkable, inwardly he precisely captured every reaction and angle of observation.
These reactions mean their impression of me has already formed into a stereotype.
Add the initial label of “timid and gentle,” and if I need to infiltrate the military system later… feasibility increases greatly.
“Carry me home?” — Unfortunately, I am more dangerous than your home.
Gu Qing obediently followed Milton toward the next door.
Behind it lay the mental harmonization command core he was about to assume.
Inside the core zone, the lighting was colder, the air tighter with pressure.
Milton’s sharp gaze swept over him. “Have you ever purified a female soldier’s mental sea before? Or do you have relevant knowledge or skills?”
Gu Qing’s shoulders trembled slightly. Unease flickered in his eyes. He deliberately lowered his voice.
“I… I do not think I have any memories related to that. To be honest, I am afraid I will not do well.” He lowered his head, fingers clutching the fabric of his clothes, voice trembling. “This job is very important to me. I… truly need it. I do not want to lose it.”
Milton frowned faintly, a trace of probing flashing through his eyes, though his tone remained calm.
“It is fine. I will provide you with materials. You can learn gradually. The military has always lacked males willing to enter the front lines, especially those willing to help female soldiers purify their mental seas. The fact that you are willing to come is rare in itself.”
Gu Qing lifted his head slightly, a flicker of light passing through his eyes before he lowered it again, heavy with feigned thought.
“If the military has always lacked males… what happens to those female soldiers whose mental seas are in chaos?”
Milton’s brow furrowed. He had not expected that question. His voice turned colder.
“That is a cruel reality…”
He paused, gaze distant.
“Female soldiers with severe mental sea disorder live in pain and fear. Their minds gradually fracture. When the mental sea collapses, it means standing at the edge of insectification. That is a one-way path.”
His tone grew heavy.
“At that point, they are essentially waiting for death. Every year, the number of female soldiers forced into retirement—or worse—due to mental sea disorder is staggering. It has become a crushing burden on the military.”
Suppressed anger surfaced in his eyes.
“The Empire did issue an order that males have the obligation to assist in mental sea purification. But for years, that command has existed in name only. Whether they come is the male’s choice. If they come, whether they truly give their effort is another matter.”
He let out a cold laugh, voice edged with sarcasm.
“Most males who come to the military are not here to purify anything. They treat this place as an amusement park. They bask in the admiration and devotion of female soldiers, toy with their emotions and loyalty. To them, it is a performance they can leave at any time.”
Gu Qing froze briefly.
He had assumed males were merely indulgent and arrogant. He had not imagined… they would hold others in such contempt.
He lowered his head, and this time the sorrow in his voice carried a thread of genuine ache.
“How could they be so cruel… The female soldiers’ situation is already this dire…”
As though making a quiet resolve, his fingers tightened unconsciously in the fabric.
“If I can help—even a little—that would be enough.”
Milton did not respond immediately. He only watched him.
That gaze seemed to peel away layer after layer, trying to see what lay beneath this facade of “gentle kindness.”
Is this an act—or sincere concern?
He knew too well how useful male tears and pity could be in politics. Too many males spoke beautifully, feigned fragility, pretended harmlessness—only to manipulate the situation from another angle.
And this male before him… had been wrong from the very beginning. No matter how humble, there was something indescribably off.
Yet he could find no fault.
Milton’s eyes darkened slightly, tension coiling in his chest. In the end, he only said lightly,
“…It is about time. I will take you to the cafeteria.”