Chapter 83

Chapter 83

"Dr. Gu De, can your conjecture be confirmed? Can't we use instruments for analysis and judgment like with psychic energy assessments?"

"No, psychiatric disorders are entirely different concepts from psychic energy issues. Although Prince Fei Luo is currently exhibiting symptoms consistent with such disorders, it’s still insufficient to support a definitive diagnosis—especially since His Highness is now attempting to conceal his condition."

"Considering that His Highness is only showing early-stage psychosomatic symptoms with no significant impairment in social functioning, and given his heightened state of defensiveness upon returning, I suggest we avoid alarming him for now. After all, we can’t yet fully determine the source of the Prince's distress."

"All relevant medical reports have been archived with the Male Insect Management Committee, and I’ve also briefed Prince Fei Luo’s biological parents. While Prince Yi Jia Fa seems skeptical of my conjecture, General Zhousha has cooperated by increasing surveillance over Fei Luo recently. So, there’s no need for excessive concern. If we truly care for His Highness, my advice is to avoid further stimulation and instead engage him in topics he enjoys or activities he prefers..."

Psychiatric disorders come in many forms, and depression is one of them. Though it can be further classified into mild, moderate, and severe cases, its core manifestations remain consistent.

First are the psychological symptoms: individuals with depression often experience depression, self-blame, guilt, and even self-harm, with severe cases harboring suicidal thoughts. They may also exhibit physiological changes such as fatigue, insomnia, or hypersomnia, which worsen as the condition progresses.

Other symptoms, like declining social abilities, have also become visibly apparent since Fei Luo’s return to the Alliance.

Though Fei Luo was never particularly outgoing, he now barely speaks to those around him.

Watching the silver-haired male Insect retreat straight to his bedroom after returning from the Male Insect Management Committee, the old butler frowned in worry but dared not say more, quietly dialing Zhousha’s communication line instead.

Are psychiatric disorders common among the Insect race?

Yes—countless female Insects, especially those of the lower classes, seek help for such disorders every year. Military Females often suffer from post-war trauma, unable to bear the loss of combat ability or fallen comrades.

Other female Insects—those in poverty—are consumed by anxiety over wealth and the future; the affluent but low in psychic energy feel empty and despairing over offspring and lack of partners; the oppressed may yearn to turn against society, while the privileged risk delusions of grandeur.

The Insectoid Alliance is far from a perfect or ideal society. Consequently, most ordinary female Insects harbor some degree of extreme mentality.

Because they possess so little, they cling desperately to any glimmer of hope, willing to sacrifice everything for it.

And conversely, if that sole glimmer falters, their psychological defenses may collapse like an exploding barren star, leading to a cascade of mental issues and extreme actions.

This is the predicament facing most common female Insects today, a problem the Alliance urges medical centers to address annually. Yet, ultimately, this remains an issue confined to female Insects.

Yes, female Insects.

To date, psychiatric disorders have almost exclusively afflicted female Insects. Even in places like the capital planet, such cases are rare among them.

After all, male Insects, born to privilege and lacking for nothing, seldom face unattainable desires, insurmountable burdens, or overwhelming pressures.

Even Qi Limei, who learned prematurely of his shortened lifespan, though agitated and restless, and emotionally unstable, never developed severe psychological disorders.

For male Insects, what they gain far outweighs what they lose. Even if they initially lack desires, female Insects will deliver offerings at their feet, ensuring their hearts remain free from emptiness or dissatisfaction.

Admittedly, this approach has proven effective. While it has fostered extravagance and insatiability in many male Insects, at least they rarely suffer the psychological issues prevalent among female Insects.

But now, there seems to be an exception.

Fei Luo’s life since returning to the Insect race has been routine—so routine it verges on monotony.

Though still a student at Kalms Military Academy, he no longer exhibits the eagerness to learn he once did months ago, opting instead to apply for a leave of absence.

His reasons? Half due to his inability to adapt to academy life, half due to his upcoming duties in Psychic Soothing.

Regardless of the truth, the male Insect no longer attends Kalms Military Academy. His days are now split mostly between the Torras mansion and the Male Insect Management Committee.

Sleep, zoning out, Psychic Soothing, eat, sleep.

Like a marionette, he performs his Psychic Soothing duties with unrelenting intensity but shows no interest in anything else.

On several occasions, when Qi Limei deliberately shirked his Psychic Soothing duties, Fei Luo stepped in without complaint, completing the sessions for the female Insects and never once confronting Qi Limei afterward.

Even Siluan and Ya Jin, upon learning of this, stormed the Sakhoff mansion to reprimand Qi Limei, while Yi Jia Fa openly berated Qi Limei’s father.

Yet no matter how outraged others were on his behalf, no matter how they tried to stop his self-destructive behavior, the silver-haired male Insect remained indifferent.

He squandered his vast psychic energy without restraint, pouring everything into healing the most mentally chaotic female Insects during each session. He ignored his own pallor from overexertion, ignored his growing exhaustion.

Back at the Torras mansion, he would lie in bed or sit on a bench in the backyard, gazing at the capital planet’s vibrant sky, repeating his days in mechanical routine, watching his life shorten bit by bit.

Time seemed to have stripped him of purpose, of the will to live. Yet even as Fei Luo grew quieter, his reputation among the Insect race soared.

Where Gore was once legendary among female Insects, Fei Luo now held that renown across the entire Insect race.

Especially since he began frequent Psychic Soothing duties, female Insects’ adoration for him reached fanatical heights.

On the Alliance’s black market, anything related to Fei Luo was priceless. On the Starnet, articles and records about him dominated traffic.

In reality, factions devoted to him formed, scheming to "accidentally" encounter him, collecting his belongings, even seeking out Insects who bore the faintest resemblance to him. They worshipped this seemingly perfect male Insect with fanatical devotion.

But extreme devotion is not always benign—especially for female Insects who value it above life itself.

Recently, Starnet reports about Fei Luo surged. But unlike past trivialities, these stories struck at the heart of the matter.

"Geshaluolin Family heir frequently visits Torras mansion late at night—is Prince Fei Luo’s union imminent?"

"Most elegant female Insect, Councilor Shang Ling, visits His Highness with lavish gifts—political-military alliance suspected, first consort status all but confirmed."

"Qiankesilan Family spends fortunes on purple-silver astral gems—custom wedding rings for His Highness?"

Unlike other male Insect highnesses who flit between luxury resorts, Fei Luo’s predictable routine (either at the Male Insect Management Committee or the Torras mansion) made tracking him easy.

Though many reports lacked evidence or contained inaccuracies, repetition lent them credence. And crucially, these rumors weren’t entirely false—more half-truths.

Given Fei Luo’s S-rank status, the Alliance eagerly anticipates offspring, regardless of gender or whether from a first consort or secondary partner.

The Alliance cares only for results. Thus, spurred by these rumors, female Insects clamor to visit him. And with Fei Luo’s lethargic state—and Dr. Gu De’s advice to prevent prolonged isolation—Yi Jia Fa, though believing his son merely "quieter," allowed it as a precaution.

Fei Luo himself declined unfamiliar female Insects but met those he knew. Yet even he couldn’t foresee the fallout.

Though the Starnet now bans open discussion of male Insect marriages, cracks inevitably form. Speculation about Fei Luo’s consorts spread like wildfire.

A simple denial from him could have quelled the frenzy, soothing the despairing masses.

But the current Fei Luo clearly showed no concern. So the avalanche of rumors grew unchecked.

Until it became an avalanche.

Until female Insects’ resolve crumbled under the pressure.

Thus began the chaos.

"Capital planet combat arena fighter—a Fei Luo lookalike—found assaulted and illegally confined. Multiple suspects apprehended overnight by the Alliance Inspectorate. Public warned against spreading unsubstantiated rumors or images. Violators will face legal action."

"Female Insect streamer, who attempted suicide after believing rumors of His Highness’s impending betrothal, hospitalized. Current condition unknown. Alliance urges rationality and respect for royal autonomy and privacy."

"Geshaluolin, Qi Mengtu, Qiankesilan, and other noble houses report vandalism and theft—suspected retaliation by Fei Luo extremists angered by their proximity to His Highness. Alliance Inspectorate, Legal Affairs, Civil Affairs Department, and Male Insect Management Committee reiterate: remain calm and respect Prince Fei Luo’s..."

When a flower is beautiful enough, if it initially grows at the edge of the sky, distant and unattainable, cold as ice, perhaps everyone would only admire it, cherish it, but dare not touch it.

On the contrary, when a flower so captivating it could charm the world appears, though it grows at the edge of the sky, it is not indifferent to all insects but rather deeply caring. Then, beyond mere admiration, many insects may start to harbor unrealistic desires without meaning to.

Even knowing it’s impossible, even knowing it’s wrong, they can’t help but fantasize, they can’t help but insert themselves into the fantasy. In the end, they can’t help but spark a craving to possess.

This is human nature, and it is also insect nature.

Humans and insect-kind are certainly different, but in some ways, they are not entirely dissimilar.

Before rumors exploded, whether it was the great families or the Alliance authorities, all tried to suppress and silence the talk. But no matter how vast your family’s influence, no matter how imposing the power of the institutions, ultimately, ordinary as they may be, the citizens are the foundation of this Alliance.

Thus, some messages cannot be blocked, some truths cannot be concealed.

Reading the various reports on the StarNet, sitting in his bedroom, the silver-haired male insect clenched the shattered fragments of a porcelain cup in his hand, crimson blood welling from his palm.

Had he done wrong?

No.

But perhaps, his difference alone was the greatest mistake.