It felt so warm.
Lin Hao’s entire being absorbed the warmth from Elfa’s embrace.
Truly, so warm.
Though he was having a bit of trouble breathing.
He gently nudged Elfa, indicating he was struggling to breathe. While he enjoyed the warmth of the embrace, it was conditional on being able to breathe.
Elfa seemed to sense the King's thoughts. His hand slowly withdrew from the King's body, a flicker of something unusual crossing his cold eyes. He then stood up, remaining by Lin Hao’s side.
The King’s body was so soft, like a mochi ball. Every movement seemed capable of melting one's heart.
He looked down at the top of the King’s head. His dark hair was a little messy now, but it didn’t detract from his beauty.
He knelt on one knee before Lin Hao, his lips parting slightly as he spoke, “My King, your subject still advises against any preparations for peaceful coexistence with humans.”
Upon hearing the voice, Lin Hao looked up and saw Elfa kneeling before him. He asked, “Why?”
Why were they not allowed to coexist peacefully with humans? It seemed beneficial for everyone. Why did they disagree? Was there some hidden reason?
Elfa, kneeling on the ground, gazed into the black pupils that held him captive. He inwardly hesitated to let the King know about the past. The King should live happily within the comfortable world they had created. Such bloody matters were for their subordinates to handle. The King had come into this world pure and should not be stained by filth.
Elfa’s pupils elongated vertically. However, he reconsidered; if he didn't tell the King, the King would continue to dwell on the matter.
How should this situation be handled?
“Come in for a moment.” Elfa communicated with Xil in his mind, his tone as cold as ever.
He had compromised after all.
Xil, who had been resting under a tree, heard the message in her mind and reluctantly stood up.
Why should she listen to him?
But his tone suggested something was amiss.
After all, he had never actively sought her out in all these years. This must be something important.
She walked directly towards the cave. As she passed by Li Huan and the other, she cast a fleeting glance at them before entering.
This left the bewildered duo at the cave entrance staring at each other.
Why were they looking at them?
Xil approached Lin Hao, performed a curtsey, and said, “My King, I have arrived.”
Lin Hao nodded at Xil.
Elfa, seeing Xil enter, spoke, “My King, we will now tell you why we are unwilling for you to interact with humans.”
Meanwhile, Xil, who had been agonizing over the question of ‘why the King hadn’t smiled at her just now’ and was mentally composing an eight-hundred-word apology, was suddenly jolted back to reality by Elfa's words.
Her eyes widened slightly. She quickly contacted Elfa mentally, saying, “Do you know what you are saying?” Why tell the King about this? Are you out of your mind?”
“Cannot not tell,” Elfa replied quickly to Xil’s question.
He didn’t want to tell the King either, but to dispel the King's thoughts, he had to reveal the truth.
Xil looked into Elfa’s eyes and understood his meaning. She said nothing more in objection.
Lin Hao seemed to sense the gravity of what they were about to say. He sat up straighter and looked at Elfa and Xil.
“In the past, my King also said similar things to us.”
Lin Hao’s pupils dilated instantly upon hearing this. How, how was this possible? Weren't they… ferocious? Why would they have considered peaceful coexistence with humans?
“My King, it is true.” Xil, standing beside Lin Hao, saw the disbelief in his eyes and continued where Elfa left off. “At that time, it was just me and my King. My King smiled at me then and said, ‘Xil, Xil, let’s coexist peacefully with humans. Fighting is so painful. I really dislike fighting. Also, I hope you can all live happily.’ The King’s smile was so bright it hurt my eyes. When I told Elfa about this, his expression was just like yours now, with disbelief in his eyes.”
After hearing Xil’s words, Lin Hao felt utterly surreal. His already fragile worldview had suffered a severe blow. His body seemed to instantly lose all strength, and he sat on the ground, weak.
The final outcome didn't need to be told. The hive was destroyed, and the insectoid king fell.
Hahahaha, now he finally understood why, for several years, the insectoids either avoided them or fired a few symbolic, ineffective shots. The reason was… this.
They simply didn’t take them seriously.
Or rather, they wanted to coexist peacefully.
Lin Hao looked weakly at the cave ceiling. From the very beginning, they had viewed this powerful race from the perspective of gods. Although they were powerful, they had never initiated war.
How profoundly wrong were they?
“That is why we are unwilling to let you interact with humans,” Elfa continued after Xil, still kneeling, looked up at his King with complete reverence.
No!
They couldn’t continue with this misunderstanding.
It was time to give the insectoids a fair chance.
Lin Hao met Elfa’s gaze, looking into his blue eyes, and said, “I still decide to be a streamer.”
To dispel people’s prejudices against insectoids, he had to educate them on what a lovely race they were. They just looked a bit fearsome.
“Why?” Elfa asked, looking at Lin Hao.
Why, why, after they had explained, did the King still want to interact with humans?
“As I said not long ago, I want them to change their perception of you, so you can live happily and no longer have to live in hiding,” Lin Hao stated firmly.
In the end, Elfa and Xil agreed under Lin Hao’s gaze. They couldn't do anything that went against their King’s wishes; it was dictated by their genes. Moreover, the King's actions were for their sake.
All they could do now was to protect their King with all their might.
To prevent that incident from happening again.
Seeing that they had finally nodded, Lin Hao joyfully hopped up and pulled Elfa, who was kneeling, to his feet.
He looked at them with eyes full of tenderness.
Meanwhile, the two standing at the cave entrance were utterly petrified.
Their minds frantically processed the words spoken by the female commander.
Li Huan looked at Bai Chen with a hint of desperation, his eyes seeming to ask, ‘Is this real? Did my ears play tricks on me?’
Bai Chen, standing beside Li Huan, was no less shocked.
Although they were pirates, their upbringing was not significantly different from that of the empire. They were always taught to either avoid or kill insectoids; peaceful coexistence had never been considered.
But seeing the female commander’s expression just now, it couldn't be fake.
It was truly astonishing, a lifelong revelation.
And if they spread this news, wouldn't people call them lunatics?
Bai Chen shook his head with a hint of helplessness.