Who understands? The aloof female ruler always flirts without even realizing it.

"No need."

"Let's throw him in the cargo hold first. He's unconscious and can't be used on him anyway. We'll deal with it when he wakes up."

The space pirates burst into laughter, and one of them joked, "If other groups knew we threw male insects into the cargo hold, they'd be furious."

"Stop talking nonsense and get it upstairs."

Shi Yan waved his hand impatiently.

"Remember to tie it securely, or it will run away."

After all, he was a precious male, so the space pirates carefully carried Shen Yan into the cargo hold. They even thoughtfully provided him with cushions and blankets because they could tell he wasn't feeling well.

Beneath the tattered fabric, the beautiful tail hook was faintly visible in the dim light.

Standing at the cabin door, Shi Yan glanced one last time at the unconscious Xiongzi and instructed the guard, "Keep an eye on him. Notify me immediately if he wakes up."

The hatch slammed shut, the sound of the lock echoing in the empty cabin.

……

I don't know how long I drifted in the darkness, but my consciousness finally returned with difficulty.

Shen Yan's first sensation was a dull, throbbing pain in the back of his neck, followed by the tightness of his body being bound and a feeling of hunger.

His mental energy was extremely suppressed, as if his entire sea of ​​consciousness was covered by a thick shroud, making it dull and sluggish.

He struggled to lift his heavy eyelids, and it took his blurry eyes a long time to adjust to the dim light before focusing his gaze on the unfamiliar surroundings.

This is a relatively spacious room.

The walls were made of rough metal, and only a dim lamp overhead provided illumination. Apart from the bed with simple bedding, the room was almost empty.

His wrists and ankles were shackled to the metal railings of the bed frame, severely limiting his range of motion.

He struggled instinctively, the shackles clanging coldly, then as if suddenly remembering something, he immediately looked down to examine himself.

……fine.

She was still wearing the same torn clothes she was wearing before she lost consciousness. Apart from being a little messy and dusty, there were no signs that they had been changed or violated.

My heart, which had been in my throat, sank back down a little, and a mixture of indescribable relief and lingering fear welled up inside me.

Fortunately... the worst has not yet happened.

If he lost his fidelity to his wife while in a coma, he didn't know how he would face Karandal.

A good man should uphold the virtues of a rooster.

"Squeak—"

The heavy metal door was pushed open from the outside by the guard, and Shi Yan's tall figure blocked the light from outside. He walked in step by step, a confident smile on his face.

"You've finally woken up? You slept so soundly, for a full three days."

Walking to the bedside, he looked down at the boy's vulnerable, bound state: "How do you feel? This will be your home from now on."

Biting her lower lip tightly, Shen Yan turned her head away from him, expressing her strongest resistance with silence.

The heavy metal door slammed shut behind them with a creak that sent shivers down their spines.

The female insect's tall figure almost filled the simple cell. He casually tossed the nutrient solution he was holding into a corner, and his gaze fell on the male insect, who was imprisoned on the bed, as if he were inspecting merchandise.

Thick eyelashes cast shadows on her pale cheeks. Shen Yan tried to minimize her presence by curling up, but the cold metal shackles restricted all her movements.

Instead of taking any more drastic action immediately, Shi Yan seemed to be enjoying the fear and helplessness of his prey.

"Sir, why resist so?"

They remained silent, even their breathing became soft.

Refuse to communicate.

Shi Yan wasn't annoyed. He reached out and gently stroked the exposed collarbone line beneath the male's clothes.

That gaze held a mixture of greed and scrutiny, as well as a possessiveness that made the insect extremely uncomfortable, as if it were assessing all its possessions.

"Look at this skin, this husk... The male insects raised by the Star Beauty in the capital are indeed different from those we roll in the mud with."

His tone carried an almost cruel admiration: "Tell me, how much would the Empire be willing to pay to ransom you?"

Shen Yan's body trembled uncomfortably from being touched by the other person, and a feeling of nausea followed him everywhere, but he still did not turn around. He just bit his lower lip even tighter, and almost tasted blood.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Shi Yan's patience seemed to be running out.

His voice deepened, carrying an undeniable threat: "Forget it, I won't trade it for any amount of star coins."

"Your level is quite high, isn't it? This means that the future insectoids in our base will possess extraordinary talent."

This pierced Shen Yan's heart. His usually clear eyes were now burning with the flames of anger and humiliation as he stared intently at the other person.

"You... shameless!"

"Shameless?" Shi Yan grinned, his smile revealing no trace of pretense, only naked ambition.

"So cute, you haven't said anything swearing, have you? Even your insults sound like flirting..."

He stood up, and the shadow completely enveloped Shen Yan.

An immense sense of oppression washed over him, carrying an extremely aggressive aura that made Shen Yan feel a sense of physical suffocation.

His body involuntarily shrank back, and the shackles clanged rapidly with his movements.

This struggle, like a butterfly offering its neck to be slaughtered, is utterly futile.

Shi Yan leaned down, one hand bracing against the bed frame beside Shen Yan's ear, while the other hand slowly and forcefully pressed against the wrist bound by shackles.

The burning body heat and powerful force transmitted through the thin skin, making the male's whole body stiffen.

"open……"

His voice trembled with fear and anger. He struggled desperately, his wrists aching from the friction against the shackles and the rock, but he couldn't budge them an inch.

The other person's face drew closer, their breath, carrying the scent of tobacco and blood, spraying onto his neck, making his stomach churn.

"Save your energy. These shackles are specially made, specifically for dealing with disobedient valuable goods."

His gaze fell on Shen Yan's clothes, which were now even more disheveled from the struggle, revealing a beautiful collarbone that was flushed pink with urgency. His eyes became even more deep and intense.

"Only by obeying will you suffer less."

Shi Yan's voice was deep and dangerous. The hand that was pressing on the male insect's wrist began to exert force, while the other hand slowly moved downwards, intending to completely tear open the already vulnerable fabric barrier and make further demands.

Just as those filthy fingers were about to touch his waist and abdomen, and the despairing pressure made Shen Yan's vision blur and he was on the verge of a complete breakdown—

The long-dormant power, seemingly originating from the very source of his soul, erupted in the deepest part of his spiritual consciousness like a ignited star core.

No longer was the previous restlessness, no longer the uncontrollable throbbing pain, but an unprecedented terrifying energy that broke through all invisible constraints and swept through every corner of the body with overwhelming force.

"Buzz—!"

A deep, powerful hum seemed to resound in the air.

Centered on Shen Yan, an invisible yet vast spiritual pressure spread out like a tangible tsunami.

"What?"

The sneer and smugness on Shi Yan's face froze instantly, replaced by extreme horror and disbelief. He felt as if he had been struck head-on by an invisible giant hammer, the force not only acting on his body but also directly crushing his spirit.

Before it could even let out a complete scream, its massive body was struck hard and sent flying backward.

"Bang!!"

After the loud bang, the female insect slammed heavily against a metal wall several meters away, even causing a slight dent in the sturdy wall.