A silver warship cut through the heavy nebula, descending slowly toward the temporary communications station of the Z-19 Military District.
As the hatch opened, several butterfly-shaped medical drones flew out from the ship’s underbelly. They circled in midair, releasing interlaced strands of energy that instantly wove into a pale golden light screen. Gently, they enveloped the wounded patient and carried him into the medical bay.
Once inside, mechanical arms unfolded and immediately began their work: removing the torn clothing, washing away the blood, scanning every wound and collecting physiological data.
In the monitoring room, light screens flickered.
“Information comparison in progress—”
“Scan complete. Sex identification: male.”
After two seconds of silence, the room erupted.
“How is that possible? A male appearing on a desolate planet, with injuries that severe?”
The military doctor repeatedly pulled up the data, his expression growing increasingly grave. “There’s no mistake. These are standard male parameters… but his internal organs are almost completely damaged. He has abrasions, lacerations, and multiple wounds of unknown origin all over his body.”
A younger doctor frowned in disbelief. “With injuries like this… a male should’ve collapsed long ago. Yet he’s still alive?”
An older doctor went pale and murmured, “This isn’t just a physiological miracle… this physique… it doesn’t look like that of an ordinary male at all.”
Outside the bay, the insectoid soldiers exchanged glances in silence. Suddenly, someone shouted, “Notify the general—he’s a male!” Only then did the others snap back to their senses. Orders were relayed, footsteps overlapped, and the entire medical area descended into chaos.
Not long after, the hatch opened again. The one who entered was the military female who had rescued Gu Qing on the desolate planet that day—Imperial General Milton Collins.
He was one of the figures at the very apex of the Empire’s military hierarchy, the only military female in insectoid history to rise from a commoner background to the rank of general, and the possessor of top-tier SSS-class combat power.
He wore a sharply tailored black military uniform. Three silver stars on his chest gleamed coldly under the white lights. His long silver hair fell like a cascade, and his violet eyes swept the room with calm authority. Wherever his gaze landed, silence followed.
“What’s the situation?”
The military doctor snapped to attention. “He’s currently immersed in high-grade restorative fluid. We’re still attempting resuscitation. His injuries are extremely severe—he was nearly dead. But… he is male. His clothing is also unusual, not made of any known modern material. It resembles relics from an ancient civilization.”
Milton’s violet eyes narrowed slightly. He raised a hand. “Transfer him to the main planet’s military headquarters. Put him in a dedicated medical chamber. We’ll ask the rest once he wakes up.”
A short while later, he entered the room housing the medical chamber. Inside, pale blue restorative fluid filled the pod, delicate patterns of light rippling across the surface. A human figure could be vaguely seen within, wrapped in light, as energy filaments intertwined and slowly repaired the shattered body.
Gu Qing lay quietly in the liquid, as though sleeping in a sea of light.
Deep within his sea of consciousness, the small silver orb curled uneasily at the edge, trembling faintly. When the chamber door activated, it couldn’t help poking its head out to peek at the outside world—only to freeze solid the instant it saw the military female approaching.
That face was so exquisitely perfect it felt unreal. Pale skin bordering on cold luminescence, lightly colored lips, an aura of icy nobility.
The little orb was transfixed. It circled him, turning into a wobbling heart shape. “So pretty… this is the peak of my aesthetic—”
The next second, a lazy streak of sword intent stirred deep in the consciousness, an impatient warning. The little orb instantly shook, shrank back into the depths, and pretended it had never existed.
Milton’s gaze settled on the sleeping figure, his expression complicated.
He recalled the scene from that day.
He had been returning from the front lines to the main ship when abnormal energy fluctuations were detected on a desolate planet nearby. He went to investigate, assuming it was just a stray mutant beast—routine cleanup.
Instead, what he saw was an insectoid covered in blood, barely clinging to life.
He had assumed the other was a military female from some unit and called in a medical team. When he stepped forward to question them, the insectoid suddenly collapsed. He had no choice but to catch him.
Surveying the surroundings, Milton noticed the S-class Steelthorn Devouring Bloom that had been torn apart.
That was not a threat the military could easily handle. Yet this insectoid was grievously injured, with barely any energy left, almost devoid of combat capability. Then who had killed that Steelthorn Devouring Bloom?
Judging from the corpse, it had been pierced cleanly through its core by a single high-energy strike—decisive and precise. There were no traces of weapons at the scene, and no other life signs.
At that moment, Milton sensed an extremely faint energy fluctuation—strange and powerful, so brief it was almost an illusion. In the instant before it dissipated, a thought flashed through his mind.
Could it have been… this insectoid?
When Gu Qing woke, the first thing he saw was a glazed crystal flower lamp floating above his head. Light flowed gently within its facets.
He lay quietly on a soft bed, dressed in a silver-white long-sleeved top and trousers. The fabric was unnaturally smooth, light against his skin as though it barely existed. The entire room was dominated by warm golden tones, its walls pieced together from softly glowing metal and crystal. The air was crisp and clean, clearly purified with precision. Floating tables and chairs, responsive light screens—everything was exquisitely refined to the point of discomfort.
Gu Qing lifted his gaze toward the window. Outside, towering buildings rose into the sky. Cutting through the air were not flying swords or spirit beasts, but countless blue-white glowing vehicles, busy yet orderly.
He was silent for a long moment before murmuring, “…Where is this?”
A gentle yet mechanical voice responded.
In one corner of the room, a silver-white humanoid robot stirred. Light flickered in its eyes as it raised an arm, blue energy lines glowing in its palm. “Esteemed guest, congratulations on regaining consciousness.”
A beam of light swept over Gu Qing’s body, fine energy threads flickering across his skin. After a brief pause, the robot continued evenly, “Contacting the main planet’s military headquarters and medical administration to confirm your condition.”
Gu Qing calmly observed it. This level of mechanical intelligence surpassed that of some low-tier puppets. He attempted to circulate his spiritual energy, only to find his dantian empty—the spiritual qi here was so thin it was nearly nonexistent.
At that moment—
“My lord, you’re finally awake, waaaah—!”
The familiar silver glow in his consciousness suddenly burst forth. The little orb looked utterly wrecked. “I was about to apply to be buried with you, you know?! You were unconscious for so long—I thought you’d never wake up again!”
Gu Qing spoke, his voice hoarse. “Where is this place?”
The little orb instantly perked up. “Reporting, my lord! This is—the interstellar age! A super world where hundreds of intelligent species coexist and mechanical aircraft fill the skies!”
It sounded like an overexcited salesperson. “The technology here is way more advanced than your old ‘spiritual tools’! And the strongest hegemon is—the insectoid race!”
“Insectoids?” Gu Qing raised a brow.
“Yes, yes!” The orb rattled on. “They’re physically strong, technologically terrifying, and insanely aggressive in space warfare! Tons of planets are under their rule! I heard some high-ranking military females can even survive briefly in the vacuum of space—ridiculously powerful!”
Gu Qing pondered quietly. “But I am not of this world. With their methods, wouldn’t they discover that?”
The little orb cleared its throat, puffing itself up proudly. “Heh—don’t worry about that! You signed a Heavenly Dao contract, remember? You’ve already been automatically registered by the world’s laws! After data conversion, your identity here is a fully legitimate male insectoid!”
Then it hesitated, shrinking slightly, its voice turning awkward. “Though… there might be just a tiny, teeny little issue… but it definitely won’t affect your life!”
“Oh?”
“Well, um…” The orb forced an embarrassed laugh. “They’ll think you don’t have pheromones.”
It quickly added, “But that’s really not a big deal! Pheromones are just… an optional attribute for insectoids!”
Gu Qing thought for a moment and replied calmly, “That’s fine.”
The little orb immediately revived. “I knew my lord would be calm and wise!”
Then it launched straight back into exposition. “Insectoids mainly have two sexes: males and females. They look similar to human men, but there are many differences—like pheromones and mental seas!”
Its tone suddenly turned dramatic. “But—males are insanely rare! Only one in a thousand females! Males are the only ones capable of purifying mental power. Even though they’re physically weaker, they can soothe females during heat cycles, so their status is outrageously high. Females practically treat them like treasures!”
Gu Qing frowned slightly, committing the terms to memory.
“As for females—they’re physically powerful, with insect patterns and bone wings. Natural warriors and reproducers. Females are further divided into sub-females and military females. Sub-females are usually petite and beautiful, good at domestic affairs and support. Military females have immense strength and leadership, and they’re the backbone of armies and battlefields!”
At this point, the orb’s voice turned serious. “Oh, right—an insectoid’s lifespan is closely tied to mental power. The stronger the mental power, the longer the life. Ordinary females live around two to three hundred years. Top-tier powerhouses can reach over four hundred.”
Then it shot up again, full of admiration. “Your lifesaving benefactor is definitely a top-tier military female! His aura was so strong I almost froze in your consciousness—terrifying, but so handsome…!”
At that moment, the door slid open.
Milton had mentally prepared himself for screaming or demands. In his experience, more than ninety percent of males—especially pampered nobles—would throw tantrums and demand privileges in this situation.
What he saw instead was the complete opposite.
The male on the bed was unnervingly calm.
It was also the first time Milton truly saw his face—strikingly handsome, like a masterpiece carved by a god.
He sat upright on the pristine white bed, long hair falling behind his shoulders, glossy black strands reflecting soft light. Bronze-toned skin contrasted sharply with the white sheets. Beneath sword-like brows, his eyes were cool and deep like ancient stars. His features were sharp, clean, and refined.
Milton unconsciously slowed his steps.
He had seen countless carefully coddled males, yet never one whose body embodied such contradictions—beneath a seemingly relaxed posture lay the taut lines of a predator’s muscles; those eyes were far too calm, not the naivety of a greenhouse bloom, but the stillness of someone weathered by storms.
This was absolutely not an ordinary male.
The conclusion rang like an alarm in his mind.
“You’re awake?” Milton’s voice was calm but probing. “I am Imperial General Milton Collins.”
As he approached, Gu Qing frowned faintly. There was a subtle fragrance in the air, not the sterile scent of a medical bay, but something like freshly bloomed roses—cool yet intense.
That rose scent… was the same one he had smelled just before losing consciousness on the desolate planet.
Gu Qing glanced around, seeing no flowers. Recalling what the little orb had said about insectoid pheromones, he looked up at the imposing military female before him and asked, his voice hoarse but genuinely curious:
“May I ask… is your pheromone rose-scented?”
Milton’s violet pupils contracted sharply. His expression turned instantly grim, his steps freezing in place.
Pheromones were a female’s most private domain, released only during heat or moments of arousal.
That question was tantamount to asking: “General, are you in heat? Are you deliberately seducing me?”
Unless… the other party was a male with an extremely high compatibility rate—high enough to detect pheromones even after suppressants were administered.
But Milton looked at the frail, mysterious male before him and immediately dismissed that possibility.
—Clearly deliberate provocation, just like other troublesome males.
“…What are you talking about?” Milton’s voice dropped low and icy, restrained fury simmering beneath it, as though he might draw an energy weapon at any second.
Inside the sea of consciousness, the little orb exploded into blinding light, screaming like an alarm.
“Wait! My lord! You can’t ask insectoids about their pheromones like that! His face turned green!! Do you know that’s basically asking, ‘Are you coming onto me?!’”
Gu Qing stared blankly. “…”
The orb continued shrieking. “Oh no, oh no! He definitely thinks you’re deliberately teasing him—a super male troublemaker!”
Gu Qing replied evenly, “I simply smelled something and asked a rational question.”
“You call that rational?!” the orb wailed. “He’s about to rationally pull a gun and duel you!!”
Gu Qing paused, realizing he had stepped on a cultural landmine. His tone remained calm, carrying a hint of apology. “My apologies. I meant no offense. I merely thought the scent felt familiar and wished to confirm whether it was a common phenomenon.”
Milton’s eyes widened. He ignored the apology entirely, seizing on one word. His voice trembled with suppressed emotion. “‘Familiar’? What do you mean, familiar? How many females’ pheromones have you smelled?”
The little orb’s voice broke completely.
“We’re doomed! This sounds like you’re a serial flirt! My lord, say you’re lying! Quick! Say it’s just hospital disinfectant!”
Gu Qing: “…”
“I apologize. That was my mistake.” Gu Qing’s voice carried a trace of fatigue as he admitted fault straightforwardly. The candid attitude stalled Milton’s anger for a moment.
“I believe it was simply the scent of medical disinfectant. My senses may not have fully recovered yet.” Gu Qing lifted a hand to his temple, perfectly playing the role of a wounded, weakened amnesiac, then smoothly changed the subject. “Also, may I ask where exactly this is?”
Milton’s anger cooled by half at the words “my mistake,” but his handsome face remained dark as he fought the urge to throw this male out the door.
In the sea of consciousness, the little orb gasped in relief.
“Phew—saved! My lord! You almost got beaten up for ‘publicly propositioning the general’!”
Milton took a deep breath, forcing his emotions back under the iron discipline of a military female.
“Z-19 Military District, main planet military headquarters medical division,” he said coldly. “You were brought back by me. The desolate planet is a restricted zone. Anyone entering without authorization is considered an infiltrator. You’d better explain—your origins.”
Gu Qing raised a hand to his forehead, his voice hoarse. “Gu Qing. That is the only name I remember upon waking. The rest… feels as though it’s been torn away. Nothing but blankness.”
Milton studied him for a long time. Turbulence stirred behind his eyes, yet he finally spoke evenly, “Understood.”
He seemed to be weighing the male’s calm composure, wondering how much truth he was hiding.
Gu Qing inclined his head. “Thank you for saving me.”
The simple sentence made Milton freeze.
…A male saying “thank you”?
In his experience, most males regarded a female’s care and sacrifice as an obligation. They either complained or used it to demand privileges. Restraint alone was rare; sincere gratitude was almost unheard of.
He instinctively thought he had misheard, but Gu Qing’s tone was too steady, too natural—no flattery, no dependence.
Milton quickly regained his composure, his expression once again cold and controlled, but that faint sense of dissonance refused to fade.
—Was this male pretending, or… did he have some other design?
And that S-class Steelthorn Devouring Bloom on the desolate planet, along with the faint energy fluctuation—were they truly unrelated to him?
The hatch closed again. As the silver-haired military female departed, the ward fell silent.
In Gu Qing’s consciousness, the little orb cautiously peeked out, warning, “My lord, you can’t casually ask insectoids about their pheromones or bone wings! Those are extremely private, ultra-sensitive topics! Females will think you’re flirting!”
Gu Qing nodded slightly. “I understand.”
Then the orb’s tone flipped, brimming with barely contained excitement and gossip.
“My lord… do you know you were unconscious for almost five full days?”
Gu Qing opened his eyes. “And?”
“And—the super powerful general came to check on you every single day!” the orb trembled with excitement. “Sometimes he just sat beside you, staring for a long, long time. His expression was… really complicated!”
Gu Qing tapped a finger lightly against the bed’s edge, brows knitting faintly. Clearly, this military female was doing more than merely fulfilling his duty.
The orb grew even more animated. “I’m telling you, someone of his status coming every day to see a patient? Totally not normal! This—this is the cold, devoted character from novels, you know?!”
Gu Qing frowned almost imperceptibly. “Be quiet.”
The orb made a small sound and retreated, aggrieved, but still couldn’t help muttering, “But it’s true… so handsome, so intense… that face, I really can—”