“Why?”
Yunyang didn’t understand.
Couldn’t all beastfolk absorb insect cores?
The Mother Insect’s core was a higher grade, sure, but it was still an insect core. Why wouldn’t it be absorbable?
Pei Wenye thought back. “According to Federation records, a Mother Insect’s core can only be absorbed by females. If a male absorbs one, the energy inside will overwhelm him, causing his contamination level to run wild. He’ll lose control and transform into a mindless beast.”
This wasn’t the first Mother Insect to be killed.
Over the Federation’s several thousand years of history, at least three Mother Insects had been slain by the Federation, though the Federation had paid a terrible price each time.
The first two cores had been awarded by the leaders of the time to the Federation soldiers with the greatest military achievements.
Without exception, the two soldiers who absorbed the Mother Insect cores suffered a violent surge in their contamination levels after absorption. They died before they could even be rescued.
Only the third time was the core awarded to an S-rank female with formidable mental strength.
That female had already awakened a fire-based ability. After absorbing the core, not only did her ability rise directly to SS-rank, it also mutated. She gained the ability to use flames as “eyes,” allowing her to sense changes in temperature within a radius of one thousand meters.
From then on, beastfolk became convinced that females were the most suitable candidates for absorbing Mother Insect cores.
As for males, those with low-level abilities had no right to receive a Mother Insect core, while those with high-level abilities already suffered from more severe contamination. As a result, none of them dared to try again.
If they had been in the Federation, with other male consorts around, Pei Wenye would have been willing to take the risk.
The stronger he became, the better he could protect his Mistress.
But this was an abandoned planet with no signal. What would happen to his Mistress if he lost control after absorbing the core?
Pei Wenye didn’t dare take that risk.
Yunyang normally didn’t pay much attention to such matters, so she truly hadn’t known.
After learning how serious the consequences were, she immediately took the Mother Insect’s core back. “Then don’t absorb it.”
Though she had been a shut-in living alone in her previous life, the thought of staying by herself on this abandoned planet without knowing when she might be able to leave was enough to drive her crazy.
She didn’t want Pei Wenye to become a mindless beast, either.
Yunyang put the Mother Insect’s core away. She was only a B-rank ability user herself, and absorbing a core of such a vastly higher level all at once would very likely be more than she could handle.
At the very least, she would have to wait until she reached A-rank before considering it.
Yunyang took out several ninth-level insect cores instead. “Then absorb these.”
This time, Pei Wenye didn’t refuse. Raising his ability level would also allow him to protect his Mistress better.
However, for the Flood Dragon clan, there was actually a simpler way to reach SSS-rank—
Complete transformation into a dragon.
Unfortunately, there was pitifully little information in the clan about this matter, and Pei Wenye didn’t know what counted as a complete dragon transformation.
All he could do was raise his ability level by absorbing insect cores, just like the other beastfolk.
·
Over the next few days, Yunyang and Pei Wenye gradually returned to a normal diet.
During that time, the two of them went through their entire contact lists, yet failed to send even a single message.
Aside from trying to contact the others, they spent their days absorbing insect cores together.
In an unfamiliar place, supplies and strength were the greatest sources of confidence. Yunyang had plenty of supplies; what she lacked was strength.
She wanted to raise her ability to A-rank as soon as possible, then absorb the Mother Insect’s core to see whether her ability might undergo some kind of mutation.
Although a blessing-induced mutation might not solve their current predicament, it was still a glimmer of hope.
During the day, she and Pei Wenye absorbed insect cores and explored the surrounding area together. At night, she held Pei Wenye as they slept.
Their initial discomfort at being in an unfamiliar place gradually faded.
On the seventh night after arriving on the abandoned planet, Yunyang finally couldn’t hold herself back any longer.
It had been nearly two months, all told, since they first arrived on the insect planet. She was craving him.
Yunyang poked Pei Wenye, who was lying beside her, then draped one leg between his.
Her knee brushed lightly against him.
Pei Wenye’s breathing hitched. The next second, his entire body tensed.
He caught Yunyang’s leg. After silently taking several deep breaths, he said softly, “Mistress, we can’t.”
At a time like this, he would have no attention to spare for his surroundings. But here, he had to remain vigilant at all times to prevent anything that might harm his Mistress.
Yunyang raised an eyebrow. Some people said no with their mouths, while their bodies were brutally honest.
If he was so determined, why didn’t he let go of her leg?
Still, Yunyang knew why Pei Wenye was refusing her.
“A-Ye, there’s nothing alive around us except the two of us—not even a blade of grass.” She blinked at him. “There won’t be any danger.”
If there really had been danger, they would have run into it on the very first day they were sent here. Why wait until now?
Even in the darkness, Pei Wenye could clearly make out her features.
He took several more deep breaths. “Mistress, I can’t take the risk.”
How could he not want her?
Beastfolk were naturally driven by desire, and these days happened to coincide with his rut.
His Mistress slept beside him every night, her scent lingering constantly beneath his nose. Heaven knew how much willpower it had taken him to keep himself under control.
Yunyang pouted. “The habitation pod has defensive systems, and you’ve already set up an ability barrier. Even if there is danger, it won’t be able to affect me.”
“I’m giving you one last chance. Do you want me or not?”
She had her pride, too!
If someone rejected her again and again, she would lose all dignity by continuing to throw herself at him.
That was what she said, anyway. Beneath the covers, the hand she had hidden was already becoming restless.
Pei Wenye’s chest rose and fell violently. His grip on Yunyang’s leg tightened slightly, leaving faint red marks on her skin.
Yunyang frowned. “A-Ye, you’re hurting me.”
That soft “A-Ye,” more coaxing than teasing, shattered the last of Pei Wenye’s restraint.
He suddenly hooked an arm around Yunyang’s waist and pressed her forcefully into his embrace.
“Mistress… I’m in my rut.”
After giving her that warning, Pei Wenye ignored whatever reaction she might have had and kissed her hard.
Pei Wenye’s rut…
Yunyang’s calves trembled.
Oh no. She should have waited a few more days.
But it was too late now. She had been the one to tempt him, and there was no taking it back.
Yunyang simply lay back and accepted her fate.
A male in rut was set alight at the slightest touch. Even a mere kiss was enough to leave Pei Wenye unable to stop.
His scorching kisses traveled downward, landing on Yunyang’s neck, her collarbone, and then—
On that soft expanse of snowy white.
Yunyang let out a quiet moan and instinctively arched her chest.
Pei Wenye was intimately familiar with every one of her reactions. Understanding her response, he lowered his head.
His lips closed over the tender little peak.
The kissing continued for a long time. Only after making sure Yunyang was completely aroused did Pei Wenye cautiously move on to the next step.
Although his rationality had nearly collapsed entirely, Pei Wenye still forced himself to remain restrained, trying not to lose himself in it.
But Yunyang couldn’t stand his restraint.
She leaned forward and bit down hard on his abdominal muscles.
“If you can’t do it, then get lost!”
