One evening, after leaving the military headquarters, Gu Qing walked along the path toward his small villa. Beneath the dim streetlights, his tall, slender figure moved with ease and measured grace.
As he rounded a shadowed corner, a familiar presence quietly approached.
It was Weli.
He glanced around nervously, then, almost like a thief, produced a small special-alloy box from his sleeve and held it out to Gu Qing.
“What… is this?” Gu Qing raised a brow, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation, yet his fingers deftly accepted the box.
Weli’s lips curved into a grin, his cheeks tinged with red. His voice was low, controlled, but brimming with excitement. “It’s some energy stones I’ve kept aside… I know they’re valuable, but don’t worry. There’s no record, no log. Holding them won’t get you in trouble.”
Gu Qing seemed startled, stepping back half a pace, waving his hands. “N-No, I can’t accept this… it’s far too precious.”
“Don’t say that. Really, no one will check,” Weli urged, sincerity in every word. “You saved my life. Compared to that, this is nothing.”
Gu Qing shook his head, hesitation flickering in his eyes. “I cannot take it for free…”
“But didn’t you say you wanted to study energy stones?” Weli pressed on. “Maybe if you figure them out, you could help even more insects… Think of it as me contributing a little.”
After a moment of silence, Gu Qing sighed softly, letting his fingers trace the surface of the box. His voice was light as the wind. “Then… I will accept it. Thank you, Weli.”
Weli stole a glance at him. That gentle, handsome face, now tinged with a faint blush—his heart skipped a beat, and he felt completely undone.
“Ahhh—Lord Gu Qing actually accepted it! Does this mean… accepting me isn’t far behind? How can he be so cute! If only I could become his mate… I’d give him everything, everything!”
Yet those black eyes remained as deep and unreadable as the night sky. He couldn’t tell—was Gu Qing genuinely pleased, or merely being polite?
Still, he couldn’t help pressing his lips together, ears burning, yet unable to suppress the smile creeping across his face. “…If you are willing to accept it, that alone makes me happy.”
Within the spiritual sea, the Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling rolled and twirled in excitement, trembling with joy.
【Hehehe! Gu Qing, you’re too strong! Just as expected, that golden-haired commander practically delivered himself!】
【This is what it means to fish without a ripple. You show a hint of disappointment, and he’s ready to move the entire warehouse for you!】
The Little Dumpling laughed wildly. 【Gu Qing, you are truly brilliant, wise, and unrivaled in strategy—forever my god!】
Gu Qing let out a soft chuckle, ignoring the exaggerated gleam of silver light in his consciousness, and turned to leave. Still, his steps were slightly lighter than before.
Back at his small villa, Gu Qing activated the isolation array and carefully examined the energy stones. The spiritual energy within the crystals flowed gently and purely, without impurity. He lightly touched one with his fingertips, and his consciousness immediately penetrated it. A familiar pulse of energy met him—it was a high-grade spiritual stone.
Within the spiritual sea, the once-lazy Little Dumpling went berserk, silver light spinning chaotically.
【Waaaah! Aren’t these the high-grade spiritual stones normally distributed by your sect? And of such exceptional quality, rich in energy!】
Gu Qing’s voice was soft. “They are similar, but for them to appear here… it’s too coincidental.”
【Gu Qing!】 the Little Dumpling suddenly spoke seriously. 【There must be something strange behind these!】
Gu Qing said nothing, merely observing the energy stones before him.
The spiritual energy they emitted was pure and strong, even surpassing equivalent-grade stones in the cultivation world. It offered excellent restorative effects for his damaged meridians.
Yet their perfection suggested hidden truths, secrets not meant to be seen.
He inhaled deeply, setting aside doubts for now, and focused on repairing the shattered meridians within. Whatever the truth, his own condition had to stabilize first.
After all, as the military’s mental harmonizer, he bore the immense responsibility of assisting female soldiers in purifying their spiritual seas.
Fortunately, to avoid overburdening male insects, the Empire mandated only minimal purification each month. Though his injuries were not yet fully healed, Gu Qing could barely manage to endure.
His purification method was calm, gentle, and effective—so much so that high-ranking officials began to privately speculate on this “special male insect,” wondering just how far he might go.
Yet Gu Qing knew the truth: such work was an enormous strain on his still-healing meridians. A lapse in balance could seriously injure him and jeopardize the entire purification mission.
Moreover, if these energy stones were connected to the world’s distorted laws, he would need to restore his strength quickly to investigate and uncover the truth.
The Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling, seeing him finally calm and begin healing, sighed in relief.
【Good! You’re finally repairing your body! You were so badly injured, and you risked yourself for that foolish insect… I nearly died of worry!】
Gu Qing smiled faintly. That alone was the greatest comfort for the little dumpling.
He focused fully, feeling the spiritual energy flow through him, mending each damaged meridian.
Elsewhere, Milton sat quietly in his chambers, fingers lazily tracing his silver hair, his mind filled with images of Gu Qing at the headquarters—that seemingly obedient, soft-spoken male insect who could calmly purify female soldiers on the brink of spiritual collapse.
He truly… was helping them.
Milton would not admit it, but he felt an unexpected respect for this male insect. The evidence was right before him.
Gu Qing’s reputation had spread among the female soldiers, moving from initial skepticism to trust and reliance.
Many actively requested his purification services just to spend more time with him; some brought gifts, spoke in ambiguous terms, or even tentatively “recommended intimacy”—a nearly highest-level invitation in their culture.
Especially Weli, unabashedly making advances multiple times, even secretly submitting a “temporary partner evaluation,” clearly seeking to force himself in.
Yet—Gu Qing refused.
He refused all female insects.
No mercy, no hint, not even perfunctory politeness. A cold, “Thank you, but I do not need it,” cut off every intent cleanly.
Only now did Milton suddenly realize—among all the females vying for Gu Qing, the only one who had shared genuine intimacy with him… was himself.
His mind flashed to the scene at the hot springs—steam swirling, Gu Qing bare-chested, skin warm, droplets sliding along the collarbone, gaze calm yet teasing:
“You saw and touched me completely… now, perhaps you should consider whether you are responsible for me?”
At that moment, he had not dared respond. Recalling it now, his heart raced uncontrollably, heat creeping up to his ears.
That mischievous male insect, seemingly innocent, understood how to stir the heart more than anyone.
Milton raised a hand to shield his eyes, exhaling softly, voice hoarse and nearly unrecognizable.
“…What am I thinking?”
His world was cold as ice; solitude was normal; trust built only on calculation and gain.
But Gu Qing was different.
He had thought proximity would reveal everything, yet the gentler Gu Qing was, the more he resembled a labyrinth shrouded in mist.
Every step closer felt like acceptance, yet he could never reach the core.
And that unknowable distance—that was what truly left him restless and uneasy.