The little Heavenly Dao spirit had been floating quietly nearby, drifting back and forth while watching the two of them lean close and speak softly. Only after Milton and Gu Qing finished pouring out their feelings and their emotions gradually settled did it finally lose control.
With a wail, it shot forward and slammed straight into Milton’s arms, its round little body bumping against his chest as it cried loudly.
“Mimi—! I thought I’d never see you again! How could you wreck yourself like that, like a broken doll… wuuu… thank goodness Gu Qing was there… waaah!”
Milton tightened his arms around the little spirit, holding it close as his voice trembled.
“I thought… I would never see you two again either.”
The Heavenly Dao spirit sniffed and looked toward Gu Qing, its tone half-angry yet full of concern.
“And you too, you foolish sword cultivator! You rushed in even though it was so dangerous! What if something had happened to you…? Luckily you’re okay…”
Gu Qing’s eyes were slightly red. He gently pulled both Milton and the little spirit into his arms without saying a word, resting his chin against Milton’s shoulder and letting out a long, exhausted breath.
The three of them stayed like that for a moment, quietly holding each other until the lingering tension slowly faded.
Only then did Milton ask softly,
“So… how exactly did you do it? Back then, when I was inside my mental sea, I suddenly felt you there… what happened?”
Gu Qing had just opened his mouth to explain when a startled shout came from the doorway.
“General!”
Yir rushed in with tears streaming down his face and threw himself beside the bed.
“You scared me to death… thank goodness you’re alright… Gu Qing really brought you back…”
Behind him, Fili stood with reddened eyes, while Vili quietly wiped his tears with a tiny flower-patterned handkerchief.
Ais leaned against the doorway. Seeing Milton awake, he finally let out a long breath, the corner of his mouth lifting into the faintest smile.
The room quickly filled with overlapping voices as everyone asked about Milton’s condition. The once-tense atmosphere suddenly grew lively.
A short while later, Raine and Navien entered the room. When they saw Milton safe and conscious, both visibly relaxed.
But when their gazes shifted to Gu Qing and Ais, their expressions turned complicated.
Everyone knew that among the insectoid race, male insects were extremely rare. Because of this, they were protected almost obsessively and held extraordinarily high status. Most male insects spent their entire lives on the homeworld, let alone participating in war.
To outsiders, male insects were mysterious and distant—spoken of but rarely seen.
According to rumors, they were delicate, temperamental, and spoiled. They never involved themselves in politics or battle.
Yet the two standing here completely shattered that idea.
Ais might be young, but he could single-handedly overwhelm creatures classified as calamity-level threats. During the mining zone battle, he had personally held the line until the final moment.
As for Gu Qing…
He was practically more monstrous than the monsters themselves. Slaughtering them seemed no harder than slicing vegetables.
While observing them, Raine could not help thinking to himself:
Could it be the opposite of the rumors? Maybe male insects weren’t kept sheltered because they were weak… but because they were too strong, and letting them out might accidentally wipe out every other race.
While his thoughts ran wild, Navien stepped forward toward Milton with complete sincerity.
“General, we truly thank you for stepping forward to confront the E05 monster despite the danger. If not for you, many refugees would have died. On behalf of the Star Alliance, I offer our deepest gratitude.”
Raine nodded immediately.
“That’s right. We really can’t repay this debt. If it weren’t for you, many races would be finished. Right now the entire star network is sharing the battle footage like crazy, applauding you and saluting the insectoid race.”
Navien then turned toward Gu Qing, his expression especially solemn.
“No matter what your true identity may be, we all know it was you who led the first successful counterattack. You carried the hope of the entire frontline. On behalf of all member races of the Star Alliance, I salute you.”
After a pause, he added quietly,
“Please rest assured. I will not reveal the identities of you and Ais. To me, you are warriors who stood up to protect all living beings.”
Raine nodded firmly.
“I swear I won’t say a word either.”
Then he clapped Gu Qing on the shoulder.
“Brother, if you hadn’t rushed into that battlefield without hesitation, we’d never have turned things around. You’ll always be a friend of the beastfolk.”
Everyone understood clearly.
Whether it was Gu Qing’s overwhelming strength or General Milton’s blood-soaked stand that held the defensive line, the two of them had completely altered the course of the war.
They had surpassed the boundaries of race itself.
They were no longer merely members of any single species.
They had become pillars supporting the world.
Raine then turned to Ais with an open, sincere grin.
“Kid, thanks. If you hadn’t held the line in the mining zone back then, we might not have lasted until Gu Qing returned. You saved a lot of lives.”
Ais froze.
For a moment, he almost could not believe the words were meant for him.
Someone… was genuinely thanking him?
And not just anyone—this was a representative of the beastfolk. There was no politeness, no empty courtesy. It was sincere recognition without hesitation.
He had always believed only someone like Gu Qing would be remembered.
But now—
He had done it too.
His persistence had truly held up a battlefield. It had truly saved lives.
This was not an illusion.
Nor luck.
It was the result of his own choices and effort.
A warmth rose slowly in his chest, like a light he had never dared hope for igniting deep inside.
For the first time, he realized:
He really could help people.
And people could live because of him.
Just then, a calm and familiar voice spoke.
“You deserve it.”
Gu Qing looked at him, his tone steady and certain.
“They held out because you stood your ground. Well done, Ais.”
Ais jerked slightly and looked up.
Something seemed to catch in his throat.
He lowered his head again, lips pressed together as the tips of his ears gradually turned red, a faint flush spreading across his cheeks.
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
“No… no need to thank me…”
Inside Gu Qing’s mind, the Heavenly Dao spirit burst into laughter, rolling around like a silver droplet.
“Oh my, oh my, our little Ais is blushing! Should we give him a little red flower sticker? Though… he really has grown up a tiny bit—haha!”
Gu Qing chuckled softly and ignored the teasing.
His gaze remained on Ais’s lowered face.
He noticed the slightly stiff shoulders, the fingers that clenched and relaxed, and the trembling ears that betrayed emotions he could not hide.
This child…
Was learning, in his own way, how to understand emotions, shoulder responsibility, and discover the meaning of living.
And Gu Qing was willing to walk beside him through this most important transformation.
Even if the road was difficult.
Even if progress came slowly.
After exchanging a few more concerned words with Gu Qing and Ais, Navien and Raine turned back toward Milton.
“General, please focus on resting,” Navien said sincerely. “Recovery must come first. The war is still difficult, and when you are well again, we will need your leadership for the battles ahead.”
Raine patted Gu Qing’s shoulder with a grin.
“Brother, take a break today. We’ll be fighting side by side again soon.”
Respect and anticipation shone in their eyes, but they both understood that the injured needed peace more than anything.
After a few final greetings, they exchanged smiles and quietly left the hospital room.
The door closed softly behind them, leaving the room wrapped once again in quiet warmth.