The Heroic Master Is Tough-Talking but Soft-Hearted: The Aloof Major General Has Fallen - Chapter 18

The surrounding bugs watched as Asher led his Master into the military department and eventually into his private office.

“Master, this is where I usually work.”

Asher stepped inside and silently watched the male sitting in the wheelchair. He remained uncertain of Cen Li’s true intentions for coming to his office. Cen Li offered a noncommittal hum, his gaze circling the sparse room.

“The Major General’s office is quite large.”

The workspace was logically divided, and items were arranged in an orderly fashion. Aside from the necessary facilities, there was nothing superfluous. Upon closer inspection, it felt somewhat empty. Asher assumed the male had simply taken a sudden interest in touring his workspace, so he followed up with a few brief words to prevent the atmosphere from cooling.

“Tell me, Major General,” Cen Li’s gaze shifted, suddenly turning sharp. “You were late. How should I punish you?”

Asher met his Master’s cold eyes, and his body stiffened beneath his military uniform. After a short silence, he reached out slowly, his fingertips landing on the door handle. The cold, hard texture of the metal sent a chill from the point of contact straight to his heart.

“Do not close the door.”

The male’s cold, heartless voice reached his ears. Asher felt a bitterness in his chest, but he withdrew his hand without resistance. The occasional sound of footsteps in the corridor seemed to amplify in his ears. He walked obediently to the front of his Master and knelt.

The office door remained wide open, offering no concealment. Anyone passing by could clearly see everything inside. Asher felt as if he could already hear the whispers and discussions from just a wall away. He had never felt such humiliation. It was as if he had been stripped bare and exposed to every passing gaze. Was his Master truly so ruthless that he would begrudge him even a single layer of dignity? Asher’s hands, resting at his sides, clenched tighter and tighter.

[Humiliation Value +5] [Humiliation Value +5]

The continuous notifications prompted Cen Li to look at Asher a few more times. Fortunately, the humiliation values were finally increasing, and the total was starting to add up. Cen Li made a rough calculation and felt a bit discouraged. Even at this rate, he would have to humiliate Asher many, many more times. He offered a silent apology in his heart.

The air remained silent for a long time. Asher, who had been kneeling throughout, finally spoke to answer the male’s previous question. “Master, you may punish me however you wish.”

Cen Li’s thoughts were pulled back to the present as the female bug continued.

“There are no tools in the office. If you require them, I can go to the equipment room. There are high-quality whips there, and the scars left after a lashing are not easily healed.”

Asher spoke to break the heavy silence. He did not want to remain in this stalemate any longer. He just wanted it to end quickly. He did not dare to hope for more.

Cen Li remained silent for a moment. “That is unnecessary.”

He reached inside the inner side of the wheelchair and pulled something out. “I brought one.”

Those three simple words caused Asher’s pupils to contract. He looked up and saw a leather whip in Cen Li’s hand. Asher was all too familiar with this whip; Cen Li had used it to beat him every time in the past. He had not expected the Master to bring a whip to the military department. It seemed he had planned to find a reason to punish him all along.

A faint, bitter smile touched Asher’s lips. He reached for his collar and quickly undid a button.

Cen Li interrupted him. “There is no need to take off your clothes.”

Asher hesitated, but eventually moved his hand away from the second button. In truth, he had no other motive; he simply did not want to get blood on his military uniform.

The rise in humiliation values had slowed down. Cen Li felt the flexible, smooth body of the whip. This was the type of whip most favored by the Empire’s males. The leather was fine, and the handle was cleverly designed. It ensured that the fragile males would not hurt themselves while swinging it, yet it was highly effective at leaving marks on a female bug’s body.

Cen Li toyed with the whip, seemingly considering where to strike. This scene was witnessed by a passing bug who quickly hurried away with a companion. Before they had gone far, they found a crowd of bugs gathered at the corner, nearly causing a blockage. Upon asking, they learned that everyone had noticed the abnormality in the Major General’s office.

Their expressions were varied and grim.

“Will the Major General be all right?”

“I saw the Major General has been kneeling for a long time. His Master is terrifying! He has no heart at all, coming all the way to the military department just to corporally punish the Major General.”

“He did not even close the door. The male must be doing it on purpose!”

They felt sorrow for the Major General but were powerless to help. Just then, a complaint arose from a young female bug.

“Are males truly allowed to do whatever they want?!”

The moment the words were spoken, the crowd fell into a collective silence. The truth was that males really could do whatever they wanted. With so many of them present, not a single one dared to step forward and stop the male’s arrogant behavior.

“Oh no! The Major General has been struck!”

A female bug came running from the direction of the office, his face filled with terror as if he had seen something horrific. Then, everyone heard him clearly.

“I just saw the male swing the whip. It was a very loud crack. The Major General is likely in grave danger.”

The air suddenly went deathly still. They all seemed to hear the crack of the whip echoing in their ears, and a chill rose from within their bones. But when they looked back, they found that the office door had been closed. They could no longer pry into the room.

The moment the whip cracked through the air, Asher’s heart instinctively shrank. He bowed his head and stared at the ground, offering his back to his Master like a crustacean exposing its soft underbelly for sacrifice. However, Asher did not feel the lash land on his back. Instead, it was replaced by a heavy thud.

The door collided violently with the frame, letting out a short, sharp vibration. The whip had struck the wooden door with immense force, causing the wide-open door to slam shut. The sharp sound of wind rushing past reached Asher’s ears. His professional instincts took over, and he reached a conclusion almost instantly.

The Master’s strength had increased. He thought to himself that the whip would certainly hurt more than usual when it landed on his body. However, at least he would not be watched. Asher found a small, grim sense of relief in the midst of his suffering.

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