The Zerg Monarch’s Path to Godhood - Chapter 10.1

Wen Qi calculated his remaining Starcoins.

To be honest, the balance was not particularly large. After deducting the four million spent on purchasing Gu Nan and the previous expenses for medicine, he had roughly seventy thousand left. While it was not much, it was just enough to take Gu Nan for a checkup. However, it would not be enough to buy more medicine.

“The funds are indeed too limited,” he thought.

Wen Qi’s gaze fell back on Gu Nan.

The healing ability of female Zerg regarding flesh wounds was impressive. Just moments ago, he had watched the wound on the back of Gu Nan’s hand bleeding, yet in this short time, it had already scabbed over. The injuries on his body were not a major concern, but his eyes drifted toward the bone wings on Gu Nan’s back. The wounds there were still open and jagged, looking quite terrifying.

Wen Qi had researched the StarNet before buying medicine. While the products he purchased were effective, none were suitable for Gu Nan’s bone wings. He had miscalculated. He took another look at the bone wings and suppressed his heartache.

After accepting that Gu Nan had not lost his fighting spirit, he was no longer worried. The character of this female Zerg in his writing was exactly like this: either die or strike back. The change in Gu Nan’s rank had already given him the answer. This Zerg was shrewd and would certainly leave himself an escape route.

The injuries Gu Nan displayed at the auction today had looked catastrophic. Initially, Wen Qi had not noticed, but after seeing Gu Nan’s rank surge upward, a closer look revealed that most were superficial wounds. They had not yet reached the level of internal injuries.

In short, Gu Nan had some acting skills. Thinking further, everything today could have been self-directed by Gu Nan. Even the auction might have been orchestrated by him from behind the scenes, given his intellect. However, Wen Qi did not intend to expose him. On the contrary, he felt this version of Gu Nan was good. It proved that Gu Nan had not suffered as much damage as the rumors suggested.

“My protagonist still has some ability,” he thought with a flicker of silent pride.

Wen Qi’s gaze wandered over Gu Nan. For him, whatever thoughts Gu Nan had were his own business. What Wen Qi needed to do now was nurse this Zerg back to health, restore his confidence, and bring back his pride.

The protagonist of his story was not meant to be cautious or submissive. Such a demeanor did not suit Gu Nan. Gu Nan should be radiant, living under the bright lights and the envy of all Zerg. That was his hope. However, these were currently just his own idealistic thoughts. With the Tasker involved, implementing these ideas would surely be fraught with difficulties. But who knew what the future held?

“This place is the closest and does not require changing planets,” Wen Qi said, pointing to the hospital on the holographic map of his terminal. He looked at Gu Nan and added, “The StarNet says it has a good reputation.”

“Your injuries look severe. I think we should check them first,” Wen Qi said, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes as his gaze landed on Gu Nan’s bone wings. “Even if this does not work, we can find other methods.”

Gu Nan looked at the location the male pointed to and lowered his eyes, showing a hint of disappointment. “Male Lord, I do not need.”

He was interrupted by Wen Qi before he could finish. “It is fine.”

Wen Qi joked half-seriously, “I will not ask you for reimbursement.”

He pointed to the medicine nearby. “I bought these because I thought they would be useful, but they were not based on a checkup or your input. We are going to the hospital now simply because I want to know your physical condition. Only then can I better nurse your injuries.”

To heal this female Zerg, he first had to understand his body. The hospital was the easiest way to learn about Gu Nan’s medicinal needs. It was said that if a female Zerg wanted to restore their bone wings, bone wing repair fluid was essential.

He was not worried about other issues. If Gu Nan kept refusing the hospital visit, Wen Qi would drop it. If he did not refuse, then there was no problem. Gu Nan was an adult with full agency and would not put himself in danger. Wen Qi was at ease.

Wen Qi stared at the bone wings, his emotions flickering. When Gu Nan looked over, he happened to see the pity in the male’s eyes. A strange sensation crawled over Gu Nan’s body. Before he could think about why, the male continued, “Gu Nan, listen to me this time, okay? Your health is important.”

Gu Nan nodded.

“By the way,” Wen Qi remembered something and asked, “Are there any Zerg monitoring you here?”

Gu Nan paused. “No.” He lowered his eyes, his voice sounding weak. “Male Lord, I have already been crippled.”

“What a convincing act!” Wen Qi thought. He paused for a second to comfort him. “It is fine. I believe you will recover. It is good that no one is watching you.”

With that, Wen Qi tapped on his terminal to call for a shuttle and led Gu Nan out.

To prevent outsiders from casting strange looks at Gu Nan along the way, Wen Qi closed the shuttle’s curtains. The curtains blocked the view from outside and their view of the world. The interior was quiet. In this small, silent space, Wen Qi felt he could hear Gu Nan’s breathing. It was very light, not at all like that of a severely injured Zerg.

“Perhaps Gu Nan never even pretended to be seriously injured,” thought Wen Qi, who was subconsciously stiffening in the atmosphere.

He found himself wanting to see the expression of the person next to him. He glanced sideways and happened to meet Gu Nan’s gaze. Startled, he quickly looked away. No one spoke. The atmosphere became even more awkward.

The automated shuttle moved forward. With only the two of them inside, the tension was palpable. The silence could be broken by a single word, yet neither had the intention to speak.

After sitting upright for less than two minutes, Wen Qi turned to Gu Nan again. Perhaps the female Zerg had not had time to hide it, but Wen Qi clearly saw the exhaustion in Gu Nan’s eyes. That weariness was quickly suppressed as soon as Wen Qi looked, happening so fast it seemed like an illusion.

Wen Qi thought he should be more attentive. Gu Nan was always serious, and his nerves had likely been strained since the auction. He was too alert, not even finding a chance to rest now. This was normal given Gu Nan’s cautious nature, but being guarded against by a character he had written still made Wen Qi feel slightly uncomfortable.

Wen Qi lowered his eyes and turned his gaze back to the front. He relaxed his body and slumped into the soft chair behind him. “I will rest for a while. You do as you please.”

Gu Nan had been looking at the male since he glanced over earlier. He had seen the male’s eyes dart away and noticed his movements. But looking at the male before him, who now looked somewhat lazy, Gu Nan lowered his eyes and remained silent without responding.

Wen Qi truly closed his eyes to rest. He stopped intentionally paying attention to Gu Nan and did not know if Gu Nan actually rested. Due to the early morning stream and the emotional ups and downs of the morning, his body was exhausted. This male body was still too weak and could not handle large emotional fluctuations.

Wen Qi had originally intended to feign sleep to help Gu Nan relax, but to his surprise, he drifted off after a moment. Naturally, while asleep, he did not know that after his breathing became steady, a clear look of surprise flashed in the eyes of the female Zerg sitting beside him. The coldness in Gu Nan’s gaze softened as he looked at him. His eyes flickered as if he were deep in thought. After about half a minute, he lowered his head and closed his eyes slightly.

After ten minutes, the shuttle arrived at the hospital. An electronic voice sounded. Wen Qi felt as though he had just closed his eyes when the shuttle stopped. It seemed they had arrived. He opened the curtains and looked out. There were not many Zerg on the street. The shuttle was parked in front of a building.

He smiled apologetically at Gu Nan. “Sorry, I just fell asleep.”

Gu Nan looked away and said submissively, “I apologize; it was my fault for not waking you.”

“Actor Gu Nan, acting live,” Wen Qi thought. He did not reply but opened the door and stepped out.

The hospital was a tall, grand building. Perhaps because it was the only hospital on Blue Star 6, there were many Zerg present. From the outside, one could see a few with physical impairments. For example, the one near the door was missing a leg, and the one behind him was missing an arm. Most of the Zerg inside looked unwell, their faces covered in Zerg markings, looking like a collective scene of psychic riots.

The Blue Sequence was not a suitable place for living. It was currently noon, and the heat was intense enough to dry a Zerg out. There seemed to be no air conditioning inside the hospital. Many Zerg were wiping away sweat, their expressions and movements full of irritability.

Gu Nan followed a step behind Wen Qi. As they walked toward the hospital, they attracted many gazes. The eyes of the others swept over Wen Qi and then landed on Gu Nan, who was wearing an electric shock collar.

Although Gu Nan had changed his clothes and no longer looked as disheveled, the shock collar was far too obvious. It was so prominent that even in a place like this, it still drew looks of extreme disgust. Wen Qi noticed that the looks directed at Gu Nan were filled with loathing, disdain, and contempt.

Wen Qi had expected this. He knew it was something Gu Nan had to face. He would give his protagonist his full trust. Other Zerg could disbelieve or question Gu Nan, but they would regret it whenever his protagonist chose. Wen Qi was firm in this belief. As the only favored child of this world, Gu Nan would naturally have its protection. Furthermore, Gu Nan himself was very powerful.

Wen Qi looked at the Zerg beside him, who seemed to freeze suddenly. He hesitated, then reached out his hand toward Gu Nan and said softly, “Come, hold my hand. We are going in.”

Gu Nan looked at the hand extended toward him. His expression shifted slightly as he placed his hand in Wen Qi’s.

Wen Qi’s hand was black. Originally pale-skinned, he had used a disguise technique to turn his exposed skin black. Gu Nan’s hand rested in Wen Qi’s. The bronze and black tones created a sharp contrast. Though they did not seem to match, the sight of the two hands together gave an impression that this was how it should be. Gu Nan’s eyes flickered, and he dismissed this eerie feeling from his mind.

Seeing the obvious contrast, Wen Qi felt a bit uneasy and tightened his grip on Gu Nan’s hand. He cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment and said calmly, “Let us go.”

Gu Nan noticed the tightened grip but did not speak. Involuntarily, the coldness on his face softened slightly.

Wen Qi led Gu Nan toward the hospital. Gu Nan followed half a step behind, maintaining the appearance of a female slave. Seeing this, Wen Qi tightened his grip again but did not force Gu Nan to walk side-by-side with him.

Just as they reached the hospital entrance but before they could step inside, a cold shout rang out. “You two at the door, stop right there.”

An unexpected interruption occurred. Wen Qi and Gu Nan stopped. Wen Qi looked around. At that moment, aside from the two of them, everyone else at the door was alone. The voice was directed at them. Wen Qi looked coldly toward the source of the voice.

A tall and handsome Sub-female Zerg walked toward them. He stopped about ten steps away. He first glanced at Wen Qi, then fixed his gaze on Gu Nan, his voice full of loathing. “Traitors have no right to enter this place.”

The Sub-female appeared to be twenty-four or twenty-five years old. His skin did not look like that of a native. His face was full of arrogance, typical of someone living on the boundary between ideals and reality. Looking at his expression, Wen Qi could easily see the hurt and resentment. He immediately understood what role this Sub-female played in front of Gu Nan.

He wore a strange expression. This was the Blue Sequence. With such easily exposed emotions, it was a miracle this fellow had not been killed yet. This Sub-female had lived here for some time, so why did he still look so naive? Was he too well-protected, or was someone shielding him? Wen Qi remembered that even he had not dared to show such expressions when he first arrived. He was far too bold and did not know when he might die.

“Mr. Sub-female,” Wen Qi said, tightening his grip on Gu Nan’s hand. “May I ask if this hospital is owned by your family?”

“No,” the Sub-female frowned deeply, his tone taking it for granted. “But.”

“There are no but’s, Mr. Sub-female,” Wen Qi interrupted. His voice was so cold that the earlier polite inquiry seemed like an illusion. “We came here for medical treatment, and the hospital earns Starcoins. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Is there something wrong with that?”

The Sub-female was speechless but remained firm. He stepped forward a few paces to block the entrance. “You simply cannot enter.”

“No, not you. Him.” He pointed at Gu Nan.

Wen Qi did not have the patience to reason with everyone, but since Gu Nan was by his side, he suppressed his temper. “If you ask us to leave, do you intend to compensate the hospital yourself?”

“Or has this hospital changed ownership to you?” he asked, his gaze sweeping toward a Zerg bystander. “Is he the owner of this hospital?”

That bystander was also a female Zerg with a scar on his face. He was not wearing a coat, and his muscles were exposed, making him look fierce. However, shifting the gaze slightly revealed a stump where an arm had been.

The female Zerg glanced at Wen Qi and the Sub-female, paused on Gu Nan, and then walked away. He said impatiently, “Do not ask me.”

The Sub-female’s face changed as Wen Qi questioned the bystander. His arrogance collapsed, and he waved his hands in a panic. “I did not, I am not! Stop talking nonsense! When did I say I was the owner of this hospital? Do not spread rumors.”

Realizing he had shown weakness, he shouted, “If you enter the hospital, I will leave. I do not believe this hospital would rather treat a traitor than save normal Zerg like us.”

He naturally aligned himself with the other patients, pointing the spear directly at Gu Nan as if the others would truly stand by him. Wen Qi gave him an even stranger look and could not help but sigh inwardly. This was a naive Zerg who had not suffered enough, so childish it made one want to laugh.

Who among the Zerg here was not a criminal with blood on their hands? How many were wanted and had come here to hide? What did such Zerg want most? Nothing but to stay alive. They were also the last people who wanted to get involved in someone else’s trouble.

This planet only had this one hospital. If the surrounding Zerg backed down due to the Sub-female’s words, they would be accused of not defending their race. If they won, they would worry about retaliation. But if the Sub-female lost his momentum in the conversation, they would be implicated by him and feel they had lost.

Since they could neither lose nor win, and they could not solve the problem, they would solve the Zerg who created the problem for them. Few who came here had good tempers. The Sub-female’s actions had likely already angered them.

More importantly, the Sub-female had used the word traitor. Most of the Zerg here had violated Zerg law to get here. In a sense, they were also traitors to the race. Only immature Zerg would think the world operated according to their wishes, that everyone must be filled with righteous indignation, and that they themselves were justice. Such a personality would easily suffer in this place.

Wen Qi scanned the onlookers. As expected, several were looking at the Sub-female with murderous intent. This was a place where one could kill at will without breaking the law.

Wen Qi’s lips curled into a smile that did not reach his eyes. He asked coldly, “Traitor? Then how did you come to this planet? Exile? Banishment? Or flight?”

“Do you not find yourself ridiculously childish?” he asked.

The mockery was thick as his lips curled. Although Wen Qi had lived in an ivory tower and was a college student who had not faced much before his transmigration, he had worked summer jobs since high school. He was not ignorant of simple truths. Furthermore, given the vastness of the internet, he understood most principles. Though his experience was limited and he sometimes found his own actions childish, he was not as stupid as this Sub-female. In Wen Qi’s mind, this Zerg was very foolish.

Sometimes sincerity is a masterstroke, but sincerity that stabs at another’s heart is just thoughtlessness. It only leads to a worse end.

Hearing the mockery in Wen Qi’s tone, the last of the Sub-female’s arrogance vanished. He spoke angrily, “Am I wrong? Is he not a traitor? It is only by the mercy of His Majesty the Emperor that he was not killed.”

He glared at Gu Nan, then turned back to Wen Qi and shouted, “This is something everyone knows. You cannot deny it.”

“I came here because I made a mistake, but at least I would not betray our race.”

“A traitor like him should not be exiled. He should be. Should be.”

The Sub-female’s words trailed off as he met Wen Qi’s suddenly cold gaze. His sixth sense told him that if he continued, the Sub-female before him, who appeared to be about the same height, would explode. For some reason, he felt an instinctive fear of this person. He opened his mouth but said nothing more, though his expression made his stance clear.

“Is that what you believe?” Wen Qi’s voice turned cold.

He stared at the Sub-female. “Actually, I had something to say to you the moment I saw you.”

Wen Qi had no intention of being gentle with him. He tore away the Sub-female’s facade and looked him straight in the eye with his green eyes. “When your eyes deceive you, you should use your rusty brain.”

He pointed to his head with his free left hand, his eyes narrowing with a hint of sarcasm. “Do you think the Beast race has anything that could attract your idol? What is it? Status? Power? Or males? Why would these things attract your idol?”

“If you were in his position and knew that going to the Beast race meant high status but no males, which would lead to loss of control and death, would you go? Not only that, but most of the time you would have to act according to their whims. Would you go?”

Wen Qi looked at the Sub-female with a mocking tone. “Would you choose to live well and climb higher to escape an early death, or would you go to the Beast race to be a dog that will not live long?”

Wen Qi glanced at the onlookers and then back at the Sub-female. “Give me your answer. Your answer is his answer.”

This question stumped the Sub-female and the surrounding Zerg. These Zerg might lack a conscience and have bad natures, but most who escaped the pursuit of the race to get here had brains and could think. Several Zerg nodded in agreement after hearing Wen Qi’s words, and some even took out their terminals to record. Perhaps to them, this was just a farce, but at that moment, no one contradicted Wen Qi.

Wen Qi looked coolly at the sweating Sub-female blocking the door. The Sub-female likely had not been here long and had not adapted. His face was already pale, but after Wen Qi’s rhetorical questions, it looked even worse. However, a look of contemplation clearly appeared.

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