Lu Wanqing peered at the insectoid datapad again, still no news from her third brother. Growing more anxious, she couldn't help but send him another message.
The message went unanswered for a long time.
Unbeknownst to her, the sky outside had completely darkened. Lu Wanqing had to force herself to calm down in the cave. She couldn't rush; she had to wait for her third brother to return.
If her third brother had just gone out on a quick errand and would return soon, her sudden departure would surely worry him when he found her gone.
However, Lu Wanqing never expected that her wait would stretch for a whole week. After a week, she could wait no longer. Leaving a note in the cave, she gathered her courage and stepped outside.
She decided to venture into the insectoid city, especially the place where the insectoid empress resided. Perhaps her third brother had gone to find the empress.
As she walked forward, she encountered many insectoids. Slowly, Lu Wanqing began to realize that these insectoids seemed to… bear her no ill will?
During one fight, a miscalculation in her prediction caused her to fail to dodge an attack from a mutated lion in time. She thought she was surely going to die there. But in the next second, the lion didn't pounce on her to devour her as she had expected. Instead, the mutated lion behaved like a large, affectionate pet, leaping onto her and then lowering its head, nuzzling her fiercely with its furry skull.
Lu Wanqing was suddenly reminded of the huskies humans kept back in Earth's era, over three thousand years ago. Didn't those fluffy pet dogs greet their owners with such affection upon their return home?
Lu Wanqing's heart pounded. She couldn't help but reach out, tentatively stroking the mutated lion's head.
The next moment, the mutated lion let out a contented purr.
Lu Wanqing felt a sense of astonishment. After petting the mutated lion for a while, she felt a bit tired and tentatively tried to gently push the lion away.
She did everything with extreme caution, fearing the mutated lion might suddenly turn aggressive. Even a single bite from it could cost her life. She didn't want to die yet.
Lu Wanqing felt she had never been so afraid. Yet, as her hand pushed the mutated lion's head away, the creature remained just as docile and clingy, showing no hint of malice.
It wasn't just the mutated lion. Over the next three days, Lu Wanqing found that most of the insectoids she encountered were remarkably affectionate towards her.
When things are too good to be true, it's often a sign of trouble.
Lu Wanqing subconsciously became vigilant, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Meanwhile, in the insectoid empress's palace, Lu Yang, piloting his mecha, was close to severing the seven-inch tail of the Seven-Colored Sky Devouring Python. Yet, despite this, the giant serpent refused to yield.
The serpent spoke, its voice laced with confidence. "Lu Yang, kill me. If I die, Lu Wanqing will be the next insectoid empress. Then, you must protect her well, and protect the insectoids. The greater the sacrifices the insectoids make, the weaker her body will become. Conversely, the stronger the insectoid race, the healthier Lu Wanqing's body will be."
Having spoken, the Seven-Colored Sky Devouring Python suddenly soared into the sky. Even Lu Yang couldn't suppress it. In the next moment, the once-proud serpent hurled itself headfirst against the insectoid divine pillar, its blood pouring out and slowly dyeing the earth red.
Amidst the vast pool of blood, the Seven-Colored Sky Devouring Python rapidly weakened. Its pupils remained fixed on Lu Yang, the man she had loved for centuries. She truly couldn't let go in the end.
However, before closing her eyes, she couldn't help but smile. Lu Wanqing would soon become the next empress. Her greatest regret in life was towards the insectoids; as empress, she had failed to fulfill her duties and protect her people.
With the reconciliation of Lu Wanqing and Lu Yang, the human empire and federation had united. If they joined forces to attack the insectoids, they would surely be annihilated.
But fortunately, as long as Lu Wanqing became the next insectoid empress and her health became intertwined with the insectoids' fate, their future could be temporarily secured.
At the very least, until the true next insectoid empress grew up, the insectoids wouldn't be wiped out by humans, unless… Lu Yang couldn't protect Lu Wanqing, and she died prematurely.
But She Wanwan knew that was impossible.
Lu Yang was so formidable, and he loved Lu Wanqing so dearly. He would surely protect her, ensuring she lived a long life, perhaps even longer.
As long as Lu Wanqing lived, the insectoids would live. In her final moments, she had finally done one last thing for her people.
In the pool of blood, the insectoid empress closed her eyes.
Lu Yang suddenly panicked. Recalling She Wanwan's words, he quickly turned, opened the artificial wormhole, and returned to the cave, eager to find Qingqing.
But upon returning to the cave and seeing it empty, his heart sank even further. Where was Qingqing?
Lu Yang instinctively reached for his comms device, but the bareness of his wrist reminded him that his datapad had been lost during his fight with the insectoid empress!
How could he contact her without a datapad?
Anxious, Lu Yang left, intending to search for Qingqing.
But as he stepped out of the cave, he remembered something and quickly returned.
Qingqing wasn't an impulsive person. If she had left on her own, she would surely have left him a message, right?
With that thought, Lu Yang began searching the cave for a message. To his surprise, he found one – a letter and a mark!
Qingqing had left on her own!
She thought something had happened to him, so she had gone out to look for him!
With this realization, Lu Yang quickly followed the trail Qingqing had left behind, pursuing her.
Lu Yang chased for a day and a night, finally finding Lu Wanqing in a forest.
Seeing her, the knot of worry in his chest finally loosened a little. He then cautiously approached the girl ahead.
Ahead, Lu Wanqing seemed to sense something. She suddenly turned her head.
The moment her gaze met Lu Yang's, Lu Wanqing froze, blinking in confusion.
In the next instant, Lu Yang rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Held in her third brother's arms, Lu Wanqing slowly realized it was indeed him!
She quickly reached out and held him tightly.
"Third Brother, where did you go?" Lu Wanqing finally asked.
Her third brother had never disappeared without a word before. She had thought something had happened to him.
"...I just went to take care of some business," Lu Yang replied, his voice hoarse.
"I'm sorry," Lu Yang said next, his guilt palpable.
Lu Yang looked into Lu Wanqing's eyes and explained earnestly, "Qingqing, I thought I'd be back very soon, but it took much longer than expected. I scared you."
"Why didn't you reply?" Lu Wanqing asked again.
Lu Yang looked at Lu Wanqing, then down at his wrist. Finally, he explained, "I went to see She Wanwan. My datapad was accidentally lost during the fight."