At that moment, Gu Qing noticed a barely perceptible tremor at his side.
It was a young sub-female with flaxen hair and amber eyes. He kept his gaze lowered, striving to maintain composure, yet the chill and fear caused his body to shiver slightly. That subtle, restrained fear struck Gu Qing like a pinprick across a still lake, drawing a frown as a thought crossed his mind—he ought to do something.
“You cold?” he asked softly, voice gentle yet imbued with an irresistible presence. Naturally, he extended his hand, drawing the boy into his embrace. The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric, dispelling the tremors born of fear.
The sub-female froze for a moment, uncomprehending, before being enveloped in the comforting warmth. The embrace was gentle yet firm, without overstepping boundaries, like a treasured possession. Slowly, the cold skin felt warmth, and the fear in his heart began to ease. Nestled against Gu Qing’s chest, he felt the steady heartbeat and experienced protection for the first time.
He lifted his gaze to the handsome face before him—one he had noticed the instant Gu Qing entered the room.
Prior to this, he and the other sub-females had been “chosen” repeatedly—forced to smile, pulled and spun about, touched and judged. Each time felt like a drawn-out trial, pushing him toward numbness.
But at this moment, he looked up and saw a figure moving deliberately through the light.
A male he had never seen before, with no family insignia, dressed simply, black hair tied back, handsome features catching the light. His demeanor was subtle, almost transparent, like a delicate, harmless blossom.
Yet in this web of power and ambition, this seemingly fragile male navigated the banquet with poise, evading covetous gazes, leaving unscathed. It was not weakness but a quiet strength hidden in gentleness, a sharp intelligence cloaked in warmth.
He never expected to encounter such a male in a setting like this. And now, here he was, holding him safely.
Gu Qing lowered his gaze to the boy, voice soft yet commanding:
“What is your name?”
The boy blinked, lashes trembling, and after a moment whispered: “…Loes.”
Gu Qing’s lips curved faintly, as though committing the name to memory, and he nodded gently.
Arthur Rhine chuckled, swirling his glass, eyes flicking between them with playful mockery:
“Oh my, Gu Qing, where did you pick up this little one? Looks a bit… over-coddled, doesn’t he?”
Gu Qing smiled slightly, hands tightening subtly on the boy’s slender shoulders, composed:
“He’s… just a friend I recently met. I’ll take good care of him.”
A provocation cut through the air:
“Bonewing, then? Feeling restless, might as well liven things up.”
Leo Sieg, electronic cigarette between his teeth, teased: “That one won’t do, skinny as a stick.”
“Try this one. First time, cries always sound the prettiest,” Arlen Ninto laughed maniacally, eyes locking on a young sub-female.
Loes turned at the voice, face draining of color—his younger brother.
Just displayed moments ago, he was now being roughly pushed toward the center of the hall, bonewings trembling, eyes wide with terror.
He struggled, trying to rush forward, but a hand held him fast.
“Don’t move,” Gu Qing said calmly, firmly.
Loes’s heart froze. All he could do was watch in shock as Gu Qing rose to his feet.
“Bonewing… such entertainment seems excessively cruel, doesn’t it?” Gu Qing spoke evenly, the air around him momentarily still.
Simon Service frowned.
“Who are you, a low-ranking male, to dictate?” Moss Chare sneered.
Gu Qing lowered his lashes, voice soft as a passing breeze:
“I just think tearing off those beautiful bonewings will leave blood everywhere, it’s heart-wrenching. Perhaps… a method without leaving marks would be better? Something novel, more elegant to watch.”
A brief silence fell over the hall. The nobles exchanged glances—first suspicion, then interest.
“Oh? You know some new tricks?” a high-ranking noble reclined on the sofa, smile faint, “Do tell.”
Gu Qing smiled faintly, eyes on Loes, then proposed to the nobles:
“I’ll take them to freshen up, change into clean clothes before rejoining the display… That way, they’ll appear all the more precious, won’t they?”
The nobles exchanged smiles, curiosity piqued, and waved assent.
Loes, still shaken, sensed another layer of meaning in Gu Qing’s gentle words—this was no mere indulgence, but a subtle strategic move. Here, Gu Qing was the only light he could trust, the first sign of survival. His body trembled slightly, heartbeat accelerating, a long-forgotten hope rising from despair.
Down the side corridor, heavy doors closed slowly, and several sub-females finally exhaled in relief.
“…They really let us go?” one whispered.
Gu Qing said nothing, watching the sub-females adjust their attire at the end of the hall, voice calm:
“Do you know how to play the ‘Drinking Order Game’?”
“…What?”
“An old banquet game. Answer wrong, you drink. Winner chooses a dance partner.”
He retrieved several sets of clean clothes from his storage, “Change quickly. Don’t give the insects any excuse.”
Loes gripped the clothes, eyes glimmering, determination slowly rekindling.
Back in the main hall, nobles were growing impatient. Gu Qing returned with the sub-females, dressed plainly, expressions composed. No longer subservient, they were now participants, rewards, and chips in the game.
“What shall we play, Gu Qing?” Arthur Rhine asked with a smile.
Gu Qing lowered his gaze slightly, fingertips tracing the rim of his cup, voice lazy yet tinged with amusement:
“Since it’s a banquet, why be bound by rules?”
His eyes shimmered faintly, “How about ‘Five Elements Order’? Match words by elements; mistake, you drink. Winner chooses a partner.”
“Much more elegant than bonewing,” Arthur Rhine raised an eyebrow, testing, “But can they endure it?”
Gu Qing’s smile hinted at a secret, tone languid: “If not, then you’ll drink instead.”
A pause, then uproarious laughter erupted, tension dissolving. The drinking game began, Gu Qing controlling the pace, transforming cruelty into playful strategy. Nobles argued over wins and losses, while the sub-females gradually reclaimed dignity and laughter.
The shadow of bloodshed was eclipsed by wine and merriment; the hall now breathed genuine festivity.
Under the light, Loes looked at Gu Qing, gratitude and trust shining in his eyes. The male, seemingly fragile, had quietly shifted the balance of the room. Loes now knew—this was no ordinary insect before him, but a singular anomaly, a light stretching out of the mire.
The male nobles, caught up in amusement, continued the rounds, rotating dance partners, trading words and laughter. Even the usually haughty nobles flushed, repeatedly raising their cups toward Gu Qing.
“Gu Qing, your move is brilliant! Far more entertaining than our outdated tricks!”
“Ha! This is true enjoyment! Fun, and no harm to the insects, I admire it!”
“Next gathering without you wouldn’t be half as fun!”
Gu Qing smiled quietly, lifted his cup lightly, demeanor serene, and the nobles’ respect deepened further.
“Worth it, worth it. Eye-opening tonight. No blood, more thrilling than bonewing.”
“Enough mischief, time to rest.”
Some suggested moving on, others laughed and rose.
Gu Qing leaned back lazily: “If you’re tired, feel free to leave. I still wish to chat with these sub-females—it’s quite interesting.”
At his words, the nobles erupted in laughter again, hands on his shoulders, teasing:
“Right, Qing-ge, you know how to enjoy yourself!”
“None of us touched them tonight, all for you!”
“Don’t be too rough—the sub-females aren’t military pawns!”
Amid the laughter, a few nobles filtered out. Only Gu Qing remained in the fragrant haze, cup swaying slightly as he sipped, eyes calm, only cold calculation hidden in the depths of the glass.
The sub-females’ expressions varied—some still shaken, some with reddened eyes. Only Loes at the front, after a moment, suddenly knelt—full prostration, forehead striking the cold floor with a dull thud. Voice trembling yet resolute:
“Thank you, Your Excellency Gu Qing, for saving us today… if not for you, my brother’s bonewings would have been torn off for those male insects’ amusement.”
He lifted his head, eyes shining with a different light—not fear, not awe, but a yearning to break free of fate.
The fourteen sub-females behind him also knelt, voices overlapping:
“We pledge ourselves to Your Excellency.”
Loes’s tone was firm: “Whatever you seek, if it offers us even a thread of hope, we are willing, even if it leads to the fire.”
Inside the consciousness, the little orb murmured anxiously: “Gu Qing… can they really be of use? Even the smart ones among sub-females couldn’t uncover royal conspiracies…”
Gu Qing smiled faintly, voice soft: “I never underestimate anyone.”
His gaze rested on their lean but upright forms.
“Even ants, though small, can topple towers.”