Chapter 7: Grotesque Romantic Aesthetics
He Yue wandered aimlessly through the streets.
In truth, Koeyle had meticulously prepared all the daily necessities he might need, filling several wardrobes with clothes alone, so he didn’t have any specific shopping goals at the moment.
It was just that compared to staying at the Area A base and staring boredly at the training military females, he preferred to explore this unfamiliar world.
On the streets of the insect world, it was rare to see a lone male insect. Those surrounding a single individual, whether robust, handsome, or delicate, were without exception the female insects belonging to the male insect in the center.
Regardless of the appearance and physique of the male insects who passed by He Yue, they naturally enjoyed the service and care of female insects.
“Don’t male insects work?” He Yue asked Wien beside him.
“No, female insects earn money for their masters and also take care of their daily needs.”
Overhead, a speeding mecha vehicle streaked across the sky, leaving a white trail before quickly disappearing.
He Yue witnessed advanced technology in the insect world that he hadn’t seen in the human world before transmigrating.
This place was filled with mechanical metal and cool-toned lights, exuding a cyberpunk feel. Those hurrying along the streets alone were definitely masterless female insects, while those surrounded by others were undoubtedly male insects.
A man with his collar wide open, holding a wine bottle, passed by He Yue. He was surrounded by many female insects who carefully supported him as he walked.
He casually tossed the glass wine bottle in his hand, and it smashed on the ground with a clang, shattering into pieces. Several female insects followed behind him, silently picking up the shards and placing them in a designated trash can on the street.
The strong smell of alcohol was pungent, and He Yue frowned in displeasure.
Wien’s voice sounded at the right moment: “Master, there’s a bar not far down this road where many male insects go to drink. It’s very noisy, and the smell is unpleasant. Let’s go this way.”
He Yue looked up and saw a bar with flashing lights not far down the street, the noisy drumbeats and electronic dance music audible from a distance.
From time to time, one or two drunks would stumble out of the bar, so intoxicated they could barely walk straight, slurring “I’m not drunk” as they staggered around, making a spectacle of themselves. Their female insects showed no signs of disgust, instead vying to support them.
He Yue looked at them with disdain, feeling a sense of discomfort as if he had been contaminated by some unclean air. He brushed his sleeves in the air and decisively changed direction.
Disgust, extreme disgust.
That kind of unrestrained indulgence and wanton pleasure was no different from that of beasts, only making He Yue feel dirty and uncomfortable. He preferred rules and restraint, the explosion after extreme forbearance, and absolute madness under absolute control.
He liked the thrill of the chase.
This was a sophisticated pleasure only humans could enjoy, and it was also the signature of him, the chief animal trainer of “Castle.”
Should he establish a new “Castle” club here?
He had spent a significant portion of his time before transmigrating at the “Castle” club, which had become his primary place for indulging in his particular interests.
This thought flashed through his mind before being pushed aside by the impactful scene before him.
A sign reading “Art Auction” and another reading “Grand Opening” hung outside the storefront, various flower baskets placed at the entrance, and a red carpet extending from the doorway to the wall facing the entrance.
He Yue’s gaze collided head-on with the oil painting at the end of the red carpet.
It was a giant oil painting, and even though He Yue was standing far away, he could clearly see the scene depicted on it.
In the center of the painting was a well-proportioned man, dressed in white cloth, wearing a crown of woven willow branches. His hands were tied to a wooden cross, rough ropes chafing his wrists, pulling him upright, creating an exaggerated body curve.
A long, thin spike pierced his chest, blood flowing from the wound, staining a large area of the white cloth.
The man’s head was tilted, his expression both pained and numb, but his eyes weren’t completely closed. He still had one last breath left; he wasn’t a corpse yet.
He was handsome and bright, his stretched body almost at its limit. He possessed the mythical aura of a beautiful youth from Greek classicalism, and thus, sacred. But he was stained with blood, strangled and desecrated.
He Yue stared at the oil painting, transfixed.
(The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.)
He Yue instantly recognized this painting that had once had a considerable influence on his life. It had even influenced the style of his own paintings and his aesthetic sense.
That impactful grotesque aesthetic art.
(Why is it here?)
It should still be in his studio, not in this alternate world of insects.
[It’s…]
(My painting. I bought it at an auction when I was very young and kept it in my studio.)
The system’s voice disappeared for a while.
[Host, I can confirm it’s not a product of time travel.]
He Yue walked closer to the oil painting, close enough to see every brushstroke clearly.
This wasn’t the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian from his studio.
In his youth, He Yue had carefully examined every corner, every detail, and even every brushstroke of that painting. He knew better than anyone what the original looked like.
If he were to create a replica, he could reproduce it better than anyone in the insect world.
“Does Master like this painting very much?” Wien asked, looking at the painting.
They had stood at the entrance for a long time, long enough for the male and female insects admiring the painting to change several times.
He Yue nodded and walked closer with Wien: “This painting is beautiful, grotesque, and romantic. Especially the touch of red in the middle, it’s the perfect finishing touch. This young man is also beautiful, not just his face, but also the extreme struggle of near-death and the artistic representation of the human body stretched in pain…”
He critiqued the painting, his gaze fixed on the canvas, almost immersed in it, completely oblivious to Wien’s gaze.
He Yue looked up at the painting, and Wien looked at him from the side.
In his memory, He Yue had never spoken for so long.
The painting was beautiful, and the contorted young man in it was also beautiful.
Wien remembered these two points.
He didn’t fully understand the strange and crazy romantic aesthetics that He Yue spoke of, but he also appreciated the painting’s beauty because of his affection for He Yue.
He asked, “If it’s an auction, does Master want to buy it?”
With two spending cards provided by a pharmaceutical research doctor and a military colonel, He Yue’s current purchasing power was more than enough to acquire an oil painting at an auction.
“It’s just a replica, no need to buy it.”
The label next to the painting only indicated the original artist and owner, not even the name of the replica’s creator.
Were they trying to pass it off as the original?
As a painter, He Yue deeply despised such behavior. This disdain and dissatisfaction far outweighed his confusion about why this painting, created in the human world before he transmigrated, would appear in the insect world.
Various peculiar objects were displayed in the exhibition hall. According to the information provided, most of them were spoils of war seized from interstellar conflicts, such as naturally weathered gemstones, horns broken off from some kind of monster…
Some were displayed as treasures of the auction, while others were marked with the auction time.
He Yue strolled around with interest, walking deeper into the exhibition hall.
He was a regular at the “Castle” auctions, often buying beautiful but useless artworks or beautiful and useful animal training tools, and occasionally selling his own handmade toys.
In front of the innermost display case in the exhibition hall, the female and male insects who came to visit surrounded it, occasionally cheering and applauding.
“Next, we will showcase the leather rope that will be auctioned here tomorrow. It was designed and handcrafted by the designer…”
The host’s voice came through the microphone.
He Yue moved closer, peering inside through the crowd.
On the red velvet display stand, the female insect host, wearing white gloves, held a soft, leather-woven rope with great care. The length of the black braided rope was unknown, but it dragged on the ground, coiled in a pile.
The soft leather formed different patterns under the braiding, and the marks it left on the skin would also be various beautiful patterns. Different techniques and skills could produce completely different results, making it a highly versatile tool.
“Next, please invite the male insect to demonstrate its usage.”
On the stage, a female insect wearing only shorts knelt in the middle, his hands tied behind his back. He was well-built, his exposed muscles showcasing his physique perfectly.
His male insect wrapped the leather rope around him several times, even tying a few rough knots around his chest. The black contrasted with his skin tone, and the partially compressed muscles, bulging due to the tightness, highlighted his excellent physique even more.
This familiar scene…
(My DNA is stirring.)
[Host, please calm down.]
He Yue even wondered if someone had established a “Castle” club here before him.
The bound female insect model knelt motionless in the center of the stage, accepting the gazes of countless people, his expression calm and indifferent. His male insect basked in the approval and applause of the audience, a proud look on his face.
What was there to praise about the visual enjoyment solely supported by the female insect’s physique and appearance? Even newcomers to “Castle” who hadn’t learned much wouldn’t be so clumsy.
He Yue couldn’t help but speak up:
“Such clumsy technique is a complete waste.”
All eyes turned towards the source of the voice, even the female insect on stage, who had been looking down indifferently, looked up.
The end of the leather rope was held in the male insect’s hand, and he said, “This male insect thinks my technique is terrible. Would you like to come up and give some guidance?”
The leather rope was indeed a rare gem in the insect world, even considered a high-quality tool in “Castle,” making He Yue’s hands itch.
(The model female insect on stage doesn’t have a number above his head.)
[He is indeed not a conquest target.]
(Then there’s no need to waste time on him.)
He Yue turned to Wien.
“We’ll do this performance together.”
A flash of surprise flickered in Wien’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. His heart raced with excitement, but he managed to keep his voice steady.
“Okay.”
