In the desolate desert, Shi Qing walked alone.
This desert was the territory of the Insect Clan. Because there were few human settlements, the Insect Clan's presence was scarce. He tried to keep a low profile and acted discreetly. If any of the Insect Clan discovered him, he would eliminate them immediately.
He realized only after taking action that his supernatural abilities had improved significantly compared to before, and his control over them had greatly increased.
At the first opportunity, Yin Mingzhen thought about how Shi Qing had constantly demanded to be carried around during those ten-plus days, using his abilities to hold himself.
Eating, he wanted to be carried.
Drinking, he wanted to be carried.
Sleeping, he wanted to be carried.
He was like a little baby, always wanting someone to be with him. But now that Yin Mingzhen knew how Shi Qing had spent tens of thousands of years, he had to admit that he didn't find this little baby annoying at all. Instead, he felt a trace of tenderness.
Watching a low-level Insect Clan creature with three legs and six eyes scream and turn to ashes in his hands, Yin Mingzhen couldn't help but imagine the bewildered look on the obedient young man's face when he woke up.
Shi Qing had told him that the spaceship was continuously ascending due to the gravitational pull of Blue Star. The ascent was slow, unlike the ease with which humanoid machines could move up and down. On the day before Yin Mingzhen escaped, the young man had mentioned that they would be able to leave Blue Star in just one more day.
It was because of this statement that Yin Mingzhen, who had originally intended to leave after ensuring everything was safe, decided to take a risk. On the first night when Shi Qing had just learned to sleep, Yin Mingzhen escaped from the spaceship.
He no longer thought about whether Shi Qing would send someone to hunt him down after waking up.
The best solution at the time would have been to kill Shi Qing, eliminating this hidden threat. However, Yin Mingzhen couldn't bring himself to do it. No matter how much he was provoked, his essential nature remained that of a kind and gentle human hero.
Not harming women and children was his bottom line, and despite Shi Qing's high status, numerous subordinates, and formidable abilities, their time together had convinced Yin Mingzhen that he was just a child.
Just as Shi Qing had said earlier: a tens-of-thousands-of-years-old baby.
On the first night after leaving the spaceship, Yin Mingzhen didn't sleep well. Shi Qing had clung to him incessantly for those ten-plus days, and even though they had only spent a short time together, it felt like they had been together for decades.
Shi Qing's ability to stick to his big sweetheart like a big ball of cotton candy was incredibly effective. Without the cool and comforting body of the alien teenager, Yin Mingzhen felt like something was missing, and he woke up several times in the middle of the night.
He would reach out his hand habitually to pat the young man's back when he heard the sound of birds flying through the forest in his half-awake state. Of course, when his hand found empty space, he would open his eyes from sleep.
Yin Mingzhen had never thought he was attracted to men before, but after countless interactions with Shi Qing, who was as solid as iron, and the occasional emergence of a certain human reproductive tool in their conversations, he was no longer sure of his own sexual orientation.
After going back and forth like this several times, dawn broke, and he could only sigh and continue on his journey with a complex mood.
While he was lost in thought, somewhere out of his line of sight, Shi Qing was sitting in his small spaceship, holding a straw in his mouth. He was sipping "fruit juice" while controlling the spaceship to follow Yin Mingzhen at a distance.
Unlike Yin Mingzhen, who had to travel during the day and rest on the spot at night, exposed to the wind and sun, Shi Qing had everything he needed in his spaceship. He could lie comfortably and keep tracking the man in front.
After following him for a whole day, he began to feel a bit bored and started poking the system: [I'm a newbie, and this is the first world. Shouldn't you guys give me a newbie package or something?]
The system hesitated: [We do have one, but it's a reward for successfully completing the first world.]
Shi Qing could tell from its tone that the system had the authority to give out the reward in advance, so he smiled and gently coaxed: [Do you think I can't complete the mission?]
The system looked at his 60% rejection rate and felt it was quite risky.
Although it was true that as long as the rejection rate was below fifty, he wouldn't be kicked out of this world, the lower the rejection rate, the harder it was to reduce...
Shi Qing seemed to be provoked by the system's silence, and he sounded dejected: [Do you really not trust me at all? Do you really think I spent these past ten-plus days indulging in pleasures and taking advantage of the big treasure? Do you think I'm just the kind of person who only cares about having fun in your heart?]
The rookie system immediately panicked.
[No, Host, of course not! How could you be indulging in pleasures and only caring about having fun? I'll give you the reward right now!!]
Saying that, it produced a white jade bottle for Shi Qing.
[This is the Pollen of Illusion Flowers. Just sprinkle a bit, and even the strongest individuals will fall asleep. During their slumber, it can enhance their mental power, heal hidden ailments, and its effect lasts for five hours.]
Shi Qing held the white jade bottle, and his disappointed expression suddenly turned into one of excitement. He leaned back in his chair and said, [Silly goose.]
[System: ...]
[System: sob sob sob...]
[Alright, stop crying, stop crying. Since I've received the reward, I will definitely complete the mission.]
Shi Qing tossed the white jade bottle up and caught it again.
[What can I do with this thing...]
The system, which had gone from crying to being comforted in no time, enthusiastically suggested: [Host can use it against the Insect Clan. Just sprinkle some, and you can do as you please!]
"Do as I please..."
As Shi Qing's slender, fair fingers slowly rotated the white jade bottle, a thoughtful look gradually appeared in his silver-white eyes.
"You're right, do as I please."
Rarely did the system's suggestions get accepted, and it was ecstatic.
It knew it was very useful!
※※※
Yin Mingzheng felt a complex mixture of emotions when he realized that, starting from the second night of his journey, he began having peculiar dreams of communicating with a mechanical system.
In these dreams, he seemed to return to the Eden-like spaceship. An extraterrestrial youth nestled in his arms, playing with the zipper of his coat, much like a kitten. However, as the days went by, he noticed that he could resist less and less against the components in his dreams that involved the mechanical system.
He could only imagine the profound impact this had on a man who had always been detached and never experienced such dreams before. As the night fell, the number of insects in the desert decreased gradually. The lower-tiered insect species, focused on evolving their combat abilities, had relatively underdeveloped brains and vision. Thus, they rested at night.
As an esper, Yin Mingzheng had decent night vision. He found a low-lying area and spread his clothes as makeshift bedding. He set up traps around to ensure that if any insects approached, he would wake up immediately. However, he knew he had limited time. Staying in the desert for another day meant more danger and uncertainty. He needed to rest and replenish his energy quickly for the journey ahead.
Yin Mingzheng's breathing gradually became calm, but his grip remained tight. If there were any signs of movement, he would be instantly alert. Suddenly, a small spaceship floated silently above him.
Although it made no sound, Yin Mingzheng felt an unusual atmosphere in the air, causing him to furrow his brows as if he were about to wake up.
"Phew." Shi Qing deftly blew some pollen downward.
Yin Mingzheng's furrowed brows slowly relaxed after the pollen touched his skin, and he slipped back into a deeper sleep.
The observing system watched as Shi Qing lightly jumped to the ground and slid into Yin Mingzheng's embrace. It could not hold back and said, "Master, I feel like this isn't right."
Shi Qing, enjoying the situation, gently pressed the elastic body beneath him and half-closed his eyes to prepare for sleep, replying, "What's wrong? I haven't done anything."
The system was speechless. Indeed, Shi Qing hadn't done anything, but Yin Mingzheng... well, he might. Having grown accustomed to Shi Qing's constant presence over the past two weeks, Yin Mingzheng could feel the closeness of the soft body even in his dreams. He almost instinctively reached out and pulled the person closer, closing his eyes to start the process.
The system, which had been watching with bated breath, finally exhaled in relief when Shi Qing didn't make any advances.
In fact, Shi Qing wouldn't do anything to Yin Mingzheng. Instead, it might be Yin Mingzheng who...
Shi Qing seemed to be stimulated by the thought and started humming softly. "The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao... Names that can be named are not the eternal names..."
Meanwhile, several days of difficult traveling passed, and Yin Mingzheng finally arrived at the human base. He didn't hide but walked boldly to the entrance. He knew that the people who handed him over had never expected him to return alive, so there was no need for him to be discreet.
As expected, when Yin Mingzheng revealed himself at the base's entrance, people were first shocked and then overjoyed.
"General Yin is back! General Yin is back!"
"What?! General Yin has really returned?!"
"Fantastic! General Yin, you're alive!"
While the base erupted in celebrations, Shi Qing, who had been observing from his invisible spaceship, watched as a woman with a joyful yet sorrowful expression rushed toward Yin Mingzheng.
Even though Yin Mingzheng avoided her, she continued crying, "Mingzheng ge, I was so worried about you. I hardly ate during this time, fearing you might be suffering..."
She continued, "You've even lost weight."
However, when she tried to see how much weight he had lost, she was stunned by what she saw. Yin Mingzheng looked healthier than before, having eaten and slept well for the past few days.
The woman hesitated for a moment and then changed her tone. "You're fine, and that's all that matters. I was just..."
Cough cough.
A quiet cough suddenly echoed from behind them. Yin Mingzheng's body stiffened as he quickly turned around.
Shi Qing stood not far from the base's entrance. His clothes were torn in several places, and his usually pristine face had smudges of dirt. His eyes, normally bright, were now filled with tears. He appeared weak and fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock him over, and his eyes glistened as if he could start crying at any moment.
"Mingzheng, cough cough..." Shi Qing began, his voice hoarse.
Yin Mingzheng's mind went blank. He didn't have time to wonder why Shi Qing was here and in such a pitiful state. His body took a step forward, quickly closing the distance between them. With practiced ease, he embraced Shi Qing, unbuttoned his own coat, and covered the exposed parts of Shi Qing's body where his clothes were torn.
He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice was scratchy. "Shi Qing..."
Shi Qing leaned softly against him, not showing any intention to question him. Instead, he used a sweet, gentle tone, just like he had on the spaceship, and said, "Where did you go? I've been looking for you for so long."
With that, he leaned closer, nuzzling Yin Mingzheng's chest, and his tone turned pitiful as he continued, "It's so scary here. I encountered so many dangers, and my clothes got torn..."
It might have sounded melodramatic, but coming from someone who seemed like a little prince, Yin Mingzheng felt nothing but compassion and guilt. He tightened his grip on Shi Qing's hand.
After Shi Qing finished being pitiful, he glanced at the woman who was clearly unhappy about being interrupted, and then buried his head back in Yin Mingzheng's chest.
Fragile, pitiful, and timid.
"I'm so scared..."
The observing system had no words.
It had witnessed Shi Qing spending his days playing games and enjoying himself while sleeping with Yin Mingzheng at night. But this performance... was this really human acting?
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