Chapter 16: Differentiation into an adult male insect again? Differentiation again? This is simply...
Yitulan didn't keep an eye on the situation here. He was more concerned about Wei'an's health. Although the medical bug said that there was nothing serious, he was still a little worried.
When he returned to the room, it was dark and the lights were off. Yitulan was wondering if Wei'an had taken a rest when he noticed Wei'an was looking at the stars intently by the window.
Noticing the incoming footsteps, Wei An smiled and jumped off the bed.
In the darkness, there was only a faint light coming in from the porthole, and everything around was blurry. Vian's eyes were clear as he leaned in, and his bright eyes looked straight at Ituran with undisguised joy.
My heart is beating like a drum.
Yitulan took the initiative to hug Wei'an, and buried his head in Wei'an's shoulders and neck intimately. The furry touch felt a little itchy, so Wei'an reached out and touched Yitulan's head.
"Watch the stars with me."
Yitulan didn't say anything, but carried Wei'an to the bed and covered Wei'an with his body, showing a protective state. Wei'an noticed that Yitulan was a little emotional, but didn't say much, and gently patted the back of Yitulan's hand.
"My Lord, I failed to protect you."
Warm water droplets dripped onto Wei An's shoulders and neck, making them feel a little hot.
Wei An was a little anxious. He turned around, wiped away the tears on Yitulan's face, and kissed his wet face.
"How could that be? How can you think this is your fault? I'm fine."
It was difficult for Yitulan to describe his current mood. The relief of having survived was mixed with a fear that could consume him. He couldn't deal with this matter rationally and objectively, and he didn't dare to imagine what would have happened if he hadn't saved Wei'an...
If he could have stayed with the Lord all the time, the Lord would definitely not have encountered such danger. It was all because he was too selfish at the time, only caring about himself, and not making full preparations for the Lord.
"Master Xiong, I have applied for a job transfer." Yitulan's voice was relatively steady.
But Wei An was completely surprised and stunned. Because of this incident, his wife planned to change her job, but Wei An still remembered the light that suddenly flashed in Yi Tulan's eyes when he first rescued him and learned that he would not hinder him from continuing to work.
If Yitulan is really uneasy and chooses to give up out of guilt, this is not what Wei An wants.
He is not a real Zerg. Even after so much time, he cannot adapt to the local customs with peace of mind. He cannot bear such a great sacrifice from another person, even if this person is his lover.
Facing his uneasy lover, Wei An couldn't help but feel distressed.
"Yitulan," Wei'an's voice was soft, but with unquestionable firmness. He gently held Yitulan's face and looked straight into his eyes.
"Look at me."
The watery light in Ituran's ice-blue eyes had not yet faded, like a glacier covered with a layer of fog, fragile and beautiful, filled with fear and self-blame, which was a side of a military woman that she rarely showed.
"Tell me, do you love your current job? On the battlefield, in the starship, commanding the army, fighting between life and death, protecting what you want to protect, that's what you want, right?" Wei An asked word by word with a burning gaze.
Yitulan was stunned. He hadn't expected the Lord to ask this first. He nodded subconsciously. It was a mission and pursuit etched in his bones, undeniable.
"Yes, but..."
"No buts." Wei An interrupted him, gently brushing the corners of his slightly wet eyes with his fingertips.
"Do you remember how happy you were when you learned that I could accept your continued service? Your eyes were shining, Ituran, and I hope the light will not fade."
"This was an accident, an accident no one could have predicted. It wasn't because you were in the Northern Territory, nor was it because of your position. Even if you were by my side, wouldn't the spaceship be affected by the abnormal magnetic field? Wouldn't it crash into that planet? Wouldn't it encounter those pirates?"
Wei'an analyzed the situation logically, "If you really want to blame it, maybe I should blame it on bad luck, or the airline's route planning errors, but you shouldn't be blamed, and it certainly shouldn't be a reason for you to give up the career you love."
"My lord, I..." Yitulan wanted to argue, but Wei'an gently pressed his lips with his fingertips.
"I know you are scared, and I am scared too." Wei An's voice became low, and his hand touched his heart, with the lingering fear of surviving a disaster.
"When I was captured by those pirates, all I could think about was, what would happen to you if I died? Would your spiritual sea collapse? Would you be sad? I didn't want to be a burden to you, and I didn't want to be the reason to break your wings."
"So, do you understand?"
Wei An took a deep breath, his dark eyes looking deep in the dim light.
"Ituran, we are partners. We are partners who support each other and make each other feel at ease."
"It's not about one side endlessly sacrificing and giving in for the other. Your value shouldn't just be reflected in 'protecting me.' You are Itulan, an outstanding and powerful female military commander, and only then my female ruler. I love the whole you, including your ideals."
These words were almost heretical in Zerg society. Males took the devotion and sacrifice of females for granted, and no male considered the dreams and careers of female monarchs equally important, or even worthy of respect and protection.
Yitulan was completely stunned, his heart pounding like something was pounding violently, a mixture of bitterness and burning emotions surging, nearly drowning him. He understood every word the Lord had said, but the combined meaning was unfamiliar to him.
Not blaming, not demanding, but... understanding and support? Or even cherishing?
"But, your safety..."
Ituran's voice was dry.
"My safety is very important, so we can work together to find a more thorough solution in the future." Wei'an's tone slowed down with a soothing tone.
"For example, equip me with more advanced personal protective equipment, or send two trusted bodyguards to secretly protect me when I travel? There are always more solutions than problems. But I can't tie you to my side and let you lose your brilliance just for absolute safety."
"The Wei An who did something like that is not the real me."
He paused, his tone firm and unyielding: "So, withdraw your transfer application. I won't allow it."
For the last four words, Wei An used the imperative tone commonly used by male insects, but to Ituran's ears, it sounded more pleasant than any sweet words.
This was the first time I heard the Lord speak in this tone, but his purpose was not to control or hurt, but to protect. The Lord was protecting his dream.
The huge, indescribable surprise hit Yitulan, making him feel dizzy. He no longer suppressed his emotions and hugged Wei'an tightly, as if he wanted to rub Wei'an into his body, forever.
The female soldier was very strong and Wei An felt a little pain, but he still smiled gently.
"Heroic Lord...Heroic Lord..."
"Vian."
Yitulan's voice was hoarse, but he was calling her clearly. It was no longer a respectful title, but was filled with burning emotions. He could no longer let go...
Thank you for your understanding, thank you for cherishing me, thank you... for seeing the whole me, thank you for loving me.
Wei An felt the body in his arms trembling slightly, and his heart felt soft.
He pulled a hand out from the restraining embrace and gently patted Ituran's back, as if soothing a frightened big cat.
"Okay, it's okay. We're all fine."
The two embraced each other, starlight filtering through the small porthole. The stars outside the porthole moved silently, eternal and quiet, witnessing this emotion that was particularly unique in the Zerg world.
The silent starry sky and each other's gradually steady heartbeats.
It took a long time for Yitulan to calm down. He still held Wei'an, reluctant to let go, but his mind had regained its usual calm and logical composure. He remembered the medical bug's words.
"Master, the medical bug said that you seem to be in the differentiation stage? What is going on?" Yitulan's tone was filled with deep worry and confusion.
Wei An himself also felt puzzled.
"I don't know. I just have a fever and feel physically weak, but my mental energy feels much more active than usual."
He attempted to release a strand of spiritual power. It was more condensed than before, radiating a lustrous sheen. It spun nimbly in the air, then, as if possessing consciousness of its own, nudged Yitulan's cheek affectionately. The moment the thread touched, Yitulan sensed a power even purer and more peaceful than before, and a wave of doubt washed over him.
Adult male insects differentiated again? This was unheard of. Was the previous flaw in the spiritual sea a blessing in disguise? Or was it the stimulation of this unexpected encounter? Or was it the effect of the male master's intentional training of spiritual power during this period?
"Once we return to the Central Star, we must immediately undergo a comprehensive and detailed examination." Yitulan said seriously. This concerns the health of the Lord and cannot be taken lightly.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Wei An readily agreed. He was also very curious about the changes in his body.
"But, after this is over, I still have to go back to the Northern Territory. I plan to go to the Northern Territory to visit my relatives." Wei An was still very tough when mentioning this.
Yitulan nodded with a smile. How could he not agree?
At this moment, Yitulan's brain flashed. It was a message from Ryan, requiring him to make the final decision on the subsequent matters. Yitulan glanced at it and frowned slightly.
"Go ahead, business is more important. I'm much better now, I'll rest here and wait for you to come back." Wei An said understandingly and pushed him.
Yitulan hesitated a little, tucked the corner of the quilt for Wei'an, and then bent down to give him a cherished kiss on the forehead.
"My Lord, I'll be back soon."
As he walked out of the room, the gentleness on Yitulan's face was instantly replaced by a coldness. He walked quickly to the command room, where Ryan and Tuan were already waiting.
"Admiral, the Male Protection Association and some of the male insect guardians have sent messages, expressing some dissatisfaction with our actions this time."
Ryan reported cautiously, carefully observing Yitulan's expression. Although the admiral's rescue was successful, according to the procedure, they should have ensured the male insect's absolute safety before launching a violent attack.
Yitulan's eyes turned cold.
"Any complaints? Reply to them. This proved to be the fastest and most effective solution, preventing the other party from resorting to desperate measures and causing greater casualties. If you have any questions, have them contact me directly."
The voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable majesty and firmness.
Ryan and Tuan looked at each other and understood that this incident had caused quite a stir for the Admiral.
"Yes!" Ryan agreed immediately.
"Have you found out the origins of those pirates?" Ituran looked at Ryan.
Ryan pulled up his profile: "Cook, a former low-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Southern Frontier Defense Force, was expelled from the military three years ago for disciplinary violations. He later joined the Ashes pirate group and became a minor leader. The box of green crystals they carried this time, according to preliminary testing, are a type of high-purity energy crystal, commonly used in black market weapons manufacturing or illegal energy transmission, and are therefore extremely valuable. Their presence on that undeveloped planet seems premeditated, intended to receive the goods."
"The Ashes Pirates..." Ituran pondered, "Their activities have always been in more remote star regions. This time, they risked approaching the central star region route just to steal a box of energy crystals?" He felt something was amiss.
"And their reaction is not right. How dare a pirate group wandering between different star fields directly kidnap so many male insects?" Ryan also added his doubts.
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