The Cannon Fodder Male Insect Refuses the Crematorium - Chapter 2

“Raw-rolling sliced meat porridge is a dish where meat and vegetables are added to pre-cooked congee and simmered over a low flame.”

Lu Qing answered questions from his fans without letting it affect the speed of his knife. Large stalks of scallions were sliced into green rings, halved crosswise, and stacked into a small, emerald-colored mountain.

Aleut regained a sliver of composure. The Male’s emotions remained stable; he did not seem to care about the harsh comments.

After a moment’s hesitation, Aleut decided against disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of Lu Qing’s livestream. He suppressed the urge to hunt down the haters one by one, opting instead to pull their identities and investigate the sudden surge in viewership, keeping a sharp eye out for anything detrimental to Lu Qing.

User [RottingBug]: Eh? User [RottingBug]: Those scallions are huge. Are they mutated?

Lu Qing lifted the pot lid and swept the emerald fragments inside. Catching the comment out of the corner of his eye, he said, “It is not a scallion. It is Wild Green Glow.”

“Wild Green Glow?!” Parson nearly shrieked.

He did not need to look at the comments to know what that was. No bug knew the “exquisite” taste of Wild Green Glow better than he did.

Years ago, he had explored the desolate forests of the Empire’s southwest with the Boss. In the southwest, both bugs and plants grew abnormally large due to the extreme climate. The forest sat in a high-heat zone on the border of the Beast Thickets. The intense heat killed off any plant that could not take it, leaving only heat-loving species to stretch their limbs and claim the sky.

Dense thickets intertwined, growing so rapidly that their fat leaves acted like giant umbrellas, blotting out the sun. Venemous species lurked everywhere; to them, the forest was a paradise, waiting for the chance to tear into a throat.

In such a perilous place, edible resources were scarce. Gourmet food existed but was rare and usually guarded by fierce beasts. The only common edible plant was Wild Green Glow, which was bitterly spicy when raw and like chewing wax when roasted dry. To survive while searching for materials, they had to eat it constantly. It was now a psychological trauma for him.

From Parson’s vantage point, he could see both the live scene and the digital broadcast. His gaze darted between the two, his brain nearly exploding from the information overload.

Wild Green Glow in porridge? Is that not going to be deathly spicy?

Because Wild Green Glow was easy to store, transport, and very filling, it was sold in markets. However, due to its pungent taste and poor texture, only commoners and military Sub-males bought it. Any bug with money would not dream of suffering through it.

User [MalesAreIdiots] was clearly a Sub-male who had tasted it. He posted a disbelieving question: “What did you say? Wild Green Glow in porridge? Are you kidding me?”

Soon, another comment followed: “If you cannot cook, do not. You are a menace to bugs.”

The livestream had 126 viewers, but because of the Wild Green Glow, 20 bugs had already left.

Parson was anxious. If he were not Lu Qing’s agent, he would want to complain too. He wondered if putting Wild Green Glow in porridge was a bit problematic.

The Male’s expression remained as peaceful as ever as he pulled a bowl of pinkish-white, blanched meat slices from a lower compartment. The agitation in the chat seemed to have nothing to do with him.

He swept the meat into the pot with chopsticks and finally paused to look at the new comments.

“It will not be a menace,” Lu Qing said unhurriedly. “Wild Green Glow is good for the stomach. It is delicious and affordable. It is a good thing.”

[MalesAreIdiots], whose name was Campis, was a former Vice Captain of the Third Squad, Thirteenth Legion. He should have had a glorious future, but everything changed years ago when his impoverished father sold him to a tyrannical Male.

Though the war a century ago had brought changes, progress was not universal. The status of Males still carried weight; he could have run, but he would have had to abandon his honor and duty. After twenty years, he had finally escaped that misery.

But he had grown to hate Males, seeing them as trash. He stayed in the stream only to see what other ridiculous things this Male would do so he could mock him.

[MalesAreIdiots]: “Good for the stomach? You must be confused. If something that spicy does not irritate the stomach, it is a miracle. Who are you trying to kill with laughter?”

Lu Qing did not respond. Having explained once, he simply watched the pot, letting the Sub-male rant.

Watching the flood of comments, the agent felt his forehead itch, as if his antennae were about to sprout. The viewer count grew, but it was not the kind of fame he had hoped for. It was notoriety.

Eventually, the Sub-male ran out of steam. He seemed drained by Lu Qing’s soft, ignoring attitude and gave up. He wondered what was wrong with him and if he were really reduced to seeking validation from a Male clown.

Campis smiled bitterly at his own impulsiveness. He was about to log off when he heard Lu Qing’s gentle voice: “It is ready.”

Lu Qing’s well-defined hand lifted the lid slightly. Amidst the rising steam, the milky-white porridge was speckled with emerald green. The aroma felt as if it could pierce through the screen.

Recalling livestreaming tips he had researched, Lu Qing tilted his head, served a small bowl of the fragrant porridge, blew gently on a spoonful of meat and rice to cool it, and held it toward the screen. “Fans first.”

The chat exploded. That head-tilt was a critical hit to their hearts.

User [WhenCanIFindAHusband]: “Ah, so beautiful! Kissing my wife!” User [RottingBug]: “Slurp, this porridge looks so good. Even if it is poison, I want a taste.” User [RegretAfterAbandonment]: “Such a domestic and beautiful Male. I am in love! Subscribing now!”

The chat scrolled faster than ever. Unknowingly, the viewer count broke 150 and was heading toward 300.

Campis froze. The porridge looked far better than he imagined, at least on par with a high-end restaurant he had visited once. This Male actually had some skill.

Sub-males were direct; they loved and hated fiercely. Campis awkwardly typed: “It looks good. If you can actually eat it normally, I will tip you a Small Spaceship.”

Tips on Blue Star Live were ranked in seven levels: 666, Flying Stick, Interstellar Bicycle, Small Spaceship, Deep Sea Submarine, Luxury Warship, and Cosmic Carrier. A Small Spaceship was the fourth tier, priced at 999 Star Credits.

Campis was not trying to make things difficult; it was his clumsy way of apologizing for his earlier harsh words.

The viewers waited expectantly for Lu Qing’s next move, curious about the taste. Even the chat paused briefly.

However, Lu Qing set down the first bowl, took another white bowl, filled it, and walked off-camera. The audience was confused. They wondered where he was going and if he were stopping the broadcast.

“Mr. Parson, your complexion looks dull and your tongue has a thick yellowish-white coating. Your digestion seems poor. Wild Green Glow is warm in nature; cooking it with beetle meat can help warm the stomach.” Lu Qing gently placed the bowl on the guest table and set a porcelain spoon beside it.

Parson was stunned. He had not expected the Male to notice his stomach issues. But beetle meat was another “dreadful” ingredient. Parson smacked his lips and gripped the spoon, staring at the delicious-looking porridge, hesitant to take a bite.

It might be effective, but it might not taste good.

Parson looked at Lu Qing, then back at the porridge, caught in a loop of indecision. The Male did not watch to see if he ate it, nor did he try to persuade him further, as if it did not matter either way.

“Damn it.” Parson’s throat hitched. A light, savory aroma drifted over; a fresh, sweet scent surrounded him. Unable to resist the temptation, he swallowed a mouthful of the hot porridge.

The next second, his eyes lit up. It was delicious!

Lu Qing returned to the camera, picked up the bowl that had cooled, and began to eat unhurriedly. The soft, thick porridge and the tender, fragrant meat flowed gracefully from the porcelain spoon. His movements were elegant and natural, like a high-born noble in a palace; every gesture was full of composed flow.

Campis watched, mesmerized. When the Male finished, signaled by a crisp clink of the spoon, Campis snapped out of it. He immediately sent three Small Spaceships in a row.

“Thank you, ‘MalesAreIdiots’, for the three Small Spaceships.” At the sound of that gentle voice, Campis’s face turned red. He regretted picking such a blunt name; hearing it spoken so kindly made him feel shy. He decided he was definitely changing his name after the stream.

【Promotion Level +143】

As the stream ended and before any fans could notice, a childish voice echoed in Lu Qing’s ear. He calmly closed the video. Today was just a trial run; a simple introduction was enough.

“Lu-lu is the best! With a promotion level of 100, we can unlock the second page of the recipe book!”

The voice cheered in his ear. Meanwhile, Parson quickly finished the rest of the porridge and bowed in thanks.

“That was the most satisfying meal I have ever had. My stomach feels rejuvenated.” Parson, with his buzzcut and burly frame, looked quite endearing as he scratched his head in gratitude.

Lu Qing said, “You can come back for another ‘tasting’ next time.”

Parson looked as if he had won the lottery. He happily promised to show up the moment the next cooking stream started, then hurried off.

After the Sub-male left, a piece of paper drifted from Lu Qing’s side, slowly expanding into a thick, intricate old book. Two eyes appeared as if drawn on the cover, and a pair of tiny, thin arms sprouted from the sides. The book looked serious as it stroked where a chin would be. “Just a tasting, and look how happy he is. Little Lu, you are tricking him and he is still thanking you. Sigh.”

Lu Qing washed the dishes, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

When he left his family, his father and half-brother were both present. His father said nothing, merely handing him a card as a final gesture.

His half-brother raised an eyebrow and asked, “Should I call Aleut to see you off?”

Lu Qing paused, then shook his head in thanks and boarded the interstellar transport. The scenery outside changed repeatedly, a kaleidoscope blurring past. Having discarded everything from that home, he felt a sense of relief arriving alone at a secluded small house.

Lu Qing tended to the garden, planting vegetables, medicinal herbs, and light blue flowers. Inside, dust bunnies had gathered like weak insects caught in spiderwebs. He cleared the traces of long-term vacancy and laid down a fluffy rug. Neat tea sets were placed on the table, and a warm fire was lit in the fireplace his grandfather had loved most.

Lu Qing had rejected the mansion his father offered, choosing instead to live in a quiet corner of the Empire in his grandfather’s house. He brought with him the book he had found there, the one that called itself The Compendium of a Hundred Flavors.

Lu Qing sliced some apples and arranged them on a plate. Though it had only been half a month since he moved, memories of his old home were already fading.

The book, like a restless child, flipped and hopped through the air. Once tired, it grabbed a slice of apple and crunched away. Lu Qing picked up a book and read quietly.

The living book eventually got bored of playing by itself. It flew over and plopped down on Lu Qing, pointing accusingly. “You do not love me anymore. You love other books.”

Lu Qing set his book down and rubbed his brow. “Want a snack?”

The book shouted grandly, “Yes!”

Lu Qing did not know what kind of creature this was. It looked like a book, but it had eyes, spoke, and had hands. It said that calling it a “System” might be more accurate. It had rambled to Lu Qing about the various hosts it had guided in different worlds, their amazing adventures, and their missions.

It sounded powerful and thrilling, but in reality, Lu Qing had found it in a filthy fireplace. It was about to be used as fuel and turned to ash.

The book crunched on some potato chips. It claimed to be the youngest child of the Great Creator, roughly ten years old in human terms. If not for a space-time turbulence and a betrayal by a former host, it would not have ended up here as a pathetic, charred book. It had commissioned Lu Qing to livestream its recipes to gain “Promotion Energy” so it could accumulate enough power to return home.

Perhaps out of boredom, or perhaps a fleeting sense of kindness, Lu Qing had agreed.

That night, Lu Qing sat at his desk. His fingers moved deftly through components; a screwdriver was as natural in his hand as a fork. Wires, soldering iron… soon, a small mechanical leg was shaped and connected.

The book was fast asleep on the shelf. Above it sat a row of various small robots, looking remarkably like the defensive mechs sold to Sub-males in the markets. Late into the night, Lu Qing packed away his materials and placed the half-finished robot at the back of his mechanical army. Then, he lay down and closed his eyes.

The next day, Lu Qing headed to the supermarket early with a basket. The book insisted on coming along, so Lu Qing let it.

The morning market was noisy. Most shoppers were Sub-males or robots. Tall, muscular Sub-males were everywhere. Cooking, managing the household, and protecting their Males, these were the fundamental lessons they learned from birth.

Lu Qing was not short; even among Sub-males, he held his own. Still, he drew frequent glances. He picked out some Wild Green Glow, red beef, and fruit for the book. Then, he decided to check the seafood section.

Tall Sub-males automatically cleared a path when they saw him. Lu Qing smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

“Ah, no problem, no problem!” A Sub-male blushed and hurried away.

Because seafood was highly nutritious for their species, the area was crowded. Lu Qing looked around and spotted a large red fish. Just as he reached out to grab it by the tail, his fingers brushed against another hand.

“Sorry.” “This fish.”

The two bugs made eye contact. Aleut froze on the spot.

Lu Qing nodded, his gentle eyes lowering slightly. His dark lashes cast shadows over his gaze, which held something deep and unreadable, eventually settling into a faint smile. “You take it.”

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