Chapter 68: Clamp [Knasch, 68%]
A soft, fluffy white fox tail was comfortable and provided a substantial feeling when held. He Yue rested his head on the soft tail, hugging the large fluffy object tightly, and quietly drifted off to sleep.
The fox also had the opportunity to share a bed with his Master.
The “pheromones” remaining in his body nourished his imprint point, slowly changing him. The bonding made him even more attached to everything about his Master, especially the pheromones his Master unconsciously released.
While He Yue was asleep, Knasch quietly lifted his head and placed his arm under his neck. He Yue, completely unguarded in his exhaustion, fell into his arms, hugging the fluffy tail tightly, his forehead resting on his chest.
Knasch pulled the quilt up, completely covering his back, and rested his chin on the top of his head.
The wildly growing love embraced He Yue as tightly as this hug, pressing against him.
The fox was holding him a bit too tightly, and He Yue, curled up in his arms, let out a soft moan of discomfort.
He was most defenseless when he was asleep, his slightly furrowed brow and soft moans, his movements as he sought the most comfortable position, and then his quiet, deep sleep. Without his shell, Knasch was reminded of the black cat tail he had hidden, and the soft little cat in his arms.
His beloved Master was in his arms, trusting him completely, able to sleep peacefully.
All of this made his heart melt.
The contrast between his gentleness when asleep and his ruthlessness when wielding a whip was fatal. Knasch held He Yue tightly, and amidst the enchanting floral scent and the fermenting “pheromones” in his body, his consciousness gradually faded, and he fell into a beautiful dream.
——
The fox and Wien were rummaging through a pile of documents downstairs, the loose papers piled high on the table.
“This venue is in the city center, with a lot of foot traffic, very suitable for a solo art exhibition.” Knasch organized one of the files and handed it to Wien.
Wien marked the venue description with a red pen and said, “The rent is very high, and the application process is too complicated. It has to go through multiple levels of approval, and if any step isn’t approved, it’s a no-go.” The money he had saved over the years was a considerable amount, but it couldn’t withstand such extravagance.
Knasch glanced at the large number on the proposal. “Can’t we make some of it back from ticket sales?”
“The risk of a loan is too high, we can’t lower Master’s quality of life.”
Wien pulled out another file and handed it to Knasch. “Look at this one, it was my initial choice. The rent is reasonable, and there’s only one level of approval.”
Knasch searched for reviews of this venue on the optical network.
“But the insects on the optical network all say that the official in charge of approving this venue is super difficult to deal with.”
Wien thought for a moment. “I heard from a colleague at the research institute that one of our researchers is one of his female insects, and he’s currently in favor. I’ll go ask him for a favor another day.”
“How will you ask?”
“I’ll just give him a project, it’s just a matter of changing the name of the person in charge. No researcher at the research institute can refuse this offer.”
Wien didn’t mention the amount of effort it would take to get a project from application to successful completion. He spoke casually, as if it were a trivial matter, and the countless all-nighters and long hours of hard work were not even a consideration.
All Wien could think about was making his Master’s art exhibition a success.
Knasch rested his chin on his tail, which was on the table. He chuckled. “I thought you were just a very rigid block of wood.”
“Rigid when I need to be, stubborn when I need to be…” Wien made a few marks on the final plan. “Aren’t you the same? Stubbornly holding onto Master’s piercing, like a fool.”
With a common goal, the tense atmosphere between them had surprisingly dissipated.
“I thought a fox was supposed to be smart, but you’re just a fool.”
Knasch didn’t refute, instead saying, “You’re not so bad yourself, you foolish dog.”
“Fox!”
He Yue, who had been busy in the studio for a while, leaned against the stairs, a magnifying glass for intricate work strapped to his left eye, giving him a mechanical look.
He beckoned to Knasch. “Are you done? If you’re done, come to the studio.”
He Yue’s newly finished oil painting was coated with varnish and placed by the slightly open window to dry. The lamp on his workbench was very bright, the custom-made clasps gleaming.
Those were the rings He Yue had designed for the fox’s piercings, custom-made by the mysterious female insect craftsman.
Knasch’s gaze swept over the gleaming metal rings, his fox ears and tail drooping. He no longer had any piercings, and those exquisitely made decorations couldn’t be worn.
“Master…”
His Master had so carefully designed a gift, only for it to be put on a high shelf, to be admired but not used.
Knasch felt both guilty and heartbroken.
“Take off your clothes and come here.” He Yue patted his knee.
The fox obediently switched to his submissive state and knelt at his feet.
“Master, I’m sorry… I’ve disappointed you…” The fox glanced at the decorations on the table.
The intricate design was unique, the small decorations on the edges sometimes using filigree techniques, every detail a work of art, a testament to his Master’s ingenuity.
A wave of guilt washed over him, and the fox’s ears flattened against his head.
“Otherwise, Master can try with the piercing gun again, the fox will definitely…”
“Shut up.” He Yue’s eyes narrowed, clearly displeased.
Knasch immediately fell silent, his tail tucked between his legs as he knelt on the floor. “Master, I’m sorry.”
He Yue disliked this memory. Even though he understood the fox’s feelings and was moved by them, he didn’t want to go through such a passionate and painful experience a second time.
He took out a pair of heavy tassel ear clips from the pile of jewelry and opened them.
“Bring your ears here.”
The ear clip was fastened to the tip of the fox’s ear.
The heavy tassel had a pure silver chain decoration and a woven tassel, quite heavy. He Yue clipped it to the tip of the fox’s ear, and the ear drooped under the weight.
“Hmm?”
He Yue curiously lifted the fox’s ear, and the moment he let go, the ear clip pulled it down again.
“It… it’s too heavy.” The fox tried his best to lift his ears, but they were forced down by the pressure of the ear clip. He tried to lift his ears with his hand several times, but the weight of the ear clip always made the fleshy fox ear droop again.
He Yue was amused and asked, “Is there a breed of fox with drooping ears?”
“Master, there is now…”
He Yue played with them for a long time, until the ears were red and hot, then he took off the ear clips and clipped them to the end of the fox’s ear.
The tassel was very long, reaching from the top of the fox’s head to his shoulders.
“Don’t feel bad, I’ve modified the other ones too.”
Every piece He Yue custom-made was heavy and intricate, and they had all been changed from piercing styles to clip-on styles.
“If the piercing had healed, it would have formed an ear hole, but ear clips are different.” He Yue said, clipping the decoration in front of him. “Clips hurt if you wear them for a long time, every time.”
“Ugh…” The heavy silver ornament on his chest was different from the ear clips. Besides the swaying tassel, there was also a silver bell. It would ring with every slight movement of the fox, producing a crisp sound.
The weight could make the tip of his ear droop, and it could also pull the clamped nipple a certain distance. The clamped area quickly turned red and hot, pulling outwards.
The fox began to heat up, his arousal not escaping He Yue’s eyes.
“As expected, the fox is very suitable for my designs, my creativity wasn’t wasted.”
The fox swayed back and forth. The crisp sound of the bell tugged at his heartstrings, echoing in his mind.
He had always felt sorry, and he had never let go of He Yue’s expectations. He didn’t want his Master’s carefully designed works to be put on a high shelf, and he was incredibly guilty for not being able to resist his instincts, for disappointing his Master.
“Master…” His shimmering azure eyes stared at He Yue, already filled with tears. It was both from the stinging pain and arousal in his chest, and from his Master’s painstaking efforts and affirmation.
“How does the fox feel?”
He Yue’s hand squeezed the ends of the clip, making the nipple turn white from lack of blood.
“Ah! Mas… Master…” The fox moaned with pleasure, leaning forward and resting his head on He Yue’s shoulder. “I like… I like Master’s works, I like Master… I like you.”
He Yue squeezed hard, satisfied with the fox’s complex cry of pain. The fox was so immersed in the mixture of pain and pleasure that he didn’t plead for mercy, but instead confessed his love again and again.
“I like it very much… I like Master…”
Perhaps the fox was gradually losing his senses, or perhaps it was his selfishness, but the voice that had initially been praising the decorations now turned into “I like Master.”
“I have one more.”
A silver clasp twirled on He Yue’s index finger, the bell attached to it jingling, the smooth silver surface reflecting the light beautifully.
“What a pity it can’t be pierced, can’t be worn.” He Yue opened the silver clasp and lightly traced it over the place it was supposed to go, asking knowingly, “What do you think the fox should do?”
The fox was dizzy from the bleeding wound on his chest, his mind not very clear. His arousal trembled, and as He Yue lightly traced him with the open clasp, he trembled even more, only able to control himself with his willpower.
“You can… just clasp it on…” The fox’s voice trembled along with the clasp on his body. “Master’s… designed works… can’t be wasted.”
He Yue, who was very familiar with everything, feigned a thoughtful nod, a smile playing on his lips. “A good idea.” He fastened the silver clasp on the fox’s penis and slowly pushed it back.
This was like pulling a balloon that had floated to the sky back to the ground, pushing back the surging emotions. The fox trembled violently under his hand and finally couldn’t hold back his sobs.
“Mas… Master…”
Before the fox could plead, He Yue mischievously stopped. When the submission value wasn’t high, he would choose to force it to the end. But now, He Yue had a new idea.
He tilted his head and looked at the trembling penis on the silver clasp, and asked with a smile, “Wasn’t this your idea? If you don’t want it, I’ll take it away.”
“No! I want it!”
The fox nervously grabbed He Yue’s wrist, the pain making him even more excited, which also made the clasped area more swollen and painful. Even so, he was afraid He Yue would really take his hand away and take away the designed clasp.
“I want it… I want it, Master… don’t take it away.”
He Yue’s fingers were still on the edge of the silver clasp, his smile deepening, his tone light and teasing. “But fox, you’re too excited, I can’t push it, what should I do?”
“I…”
The fox, with tears in his eyes, grabbed He Yue’s wrist and pulled it towards himself with all his might. He cried, his penis bleeding from the tight clasp, yet he still pulled He Yue’s hand towards himself.
His hand and his Master’s hand were together, installing the work his Master had designed on his body. This made him even more excited, and he had to endure even greater pain.
A vicious cycle.
The fox finally used all his strength to push the silver clasp to the end and collapsed against He Yue, completely drained. Thankfully, the silver clasp effectively suppressed his emotions, and even if he relaxed a little, he wouldn’t cum, otherwise he would be punished by He Yue again.
The unusual pulling sensation was very strong, but the fox became even more excited because of the pain. He half-hugged He Yue, his hot fox ears gently rubbing against He Yue’s face.
“I like Master’s works…”
“Really?” He Yue lightly flicked the bell on his chest, hearing a few pleasant fox cries as expected.
He gently pushed Knasch away and stood up. “Hands on your ankles, let me admire my designed works.”
With his hands on his ankles, the fox’s entire body would be slightly arched back. Every silver ornament was perfectly displayed before He Yue, complementing the reddened skin.
“It feels like something’s missing, some color.”
He Yue took out a flexible soft whip from the cabinet, and it whistled through the air as he swung it.
“Then let’s add some color to the blank spots on the canvas.”
The fox’s ears twitched with excitement, the tassel on the drooping ear clips swaying back and forth, casting a deep shadow on the ground. He raised his chin slightly, looking at his Master with fascination.
“Please whip me, Master.”
The soft whip mercilessly lashed across the blank canvas, leaving a deep red mark on the trembling skin. The crisscrossing deep marks landed on his ribs, and as they quickly healed, they were hit again, creating marks of varying depths.
His Master’s raised hand, the whip cutting through the air, the crisp sound of the bell echoing rhythmically in the studio.
The wounds would always heal, the pain would always fade.
The surging emotions made everything unreal. Knasch watched the skilled soft whip in his Master’s hand, his burning passion intensifying.
He Yue raised his hand high, and as it came down, the whip knocked off the bell on the fox’s chest. The bell fell heavily to the ground, accompanied by the fox’s cry of pain, and rolled a few times before falling silent.
Their gazes both stopped at the bell that had rolled far away, and after a long moment, they looked at each other and smiled.
Knasch had used too much strength, his voice was very soft, his dejection unconcealed.
“A clip is still not as secure as a needle.”
He Yue ruffled his ears, the soft whip in his hand placed aside.
“How could it be? Even a needle, I can knock it off.” His words dispelled most of the fox’s anxiety, generously bestowing a sense of security at this moment. “As long as I want, I can knock it off.”
The momentary pain of the clip being pulled off his chest quickly faded, just like the previous pierced wound. The real pain in his chest gradually disappeared, and the swelling pain in his penis became more obvious.
He Yue’s fingertip lightly touched the purple-red penis, and the fox, curled up in his arms, also cried out in pain.
“You performed well today, do you want to take it off?” He Yue said, slowly moving the silver clasp.
“…No, don’t take it off.”
Knasch didn’t dare to push He Yue’s hand away, only daring to object softly.
He Yue raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Isn’t it uncomfortable to hold it in?”
“Don’t take it away… it’s fine, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
He Yue’s hand touched his forehead. “What nonsense are you talking about? Are you sick with a fever again?” “No… I just feel like, if you take it away, it will be gone.”
The pain of endurance was real, but Knasch would rather hold onto this pain than endure the insecurity that would come after a moment of comfort.
He so desperately wanted to hold onto something of his Master.
[Knasch, 68%.]
He Yue no longer struggled with the tightly clasped silver clasp.
“When you calm down, it will naturally fall off.”
“…What if, I stay aroused?”
He Yue grabbed his chin and looked at his evasive eyes.
“Has my fox gone completely mad?”
“Yes…” The fox’s eyes glanced elsewhere. “The one before you now is a mad fox.” A fox almost driven mad by the loss of security.
Thus, the fox ears that swayed in front of Wien changed from soft needles to exquisite, heavy ear clips. Wearing the heavy ear clips for a long time made the fox’s ears very painful, and the tips of his ears were always slightly red and swollen.
“If you shake in front of me again, I’ll shave your ear fur.” “You, you dare!”
Wien picked up the kitchen knife from the cutting board and said with a dark expression, “I’ll make you a bald fox today.” The fox, seeing that something was wrong, quickly fled the kitchen, bumping into the edge of the glass door and letting out a cry of pain.
Wien leaned against the kitchen door, holding the kitchen knife, staring at the fox’s fleeing back, his eyes always lingering on his fox ears.
Isn’t it just an ear clip? Isn’t it just an ear clip designed by Master? What’s there to show off?
He tightened his grip on the knife handle.
…It was indeed worth showing off.
Wien decided to withhold all meat from the fox’s dinner tonight, not even the beef he would deign to eat.
He sent a message to his military colleague at the research institute: [How to make a fox catch mice on the street?] [?] The other party replied with a question mark.
After a long while, the military colleague replied: [Throw him out of the house.] Wien thought for a moment and replied resentfully: [Good idea.]
He had long wanted to throw the fox out, nest and all.
The reason he hadn’t done so…
Wien looked at Knasch, who was wagging his tail to the heavens, kneeling by the sofa and trying to please He Yue, and shook his head helplessly, turning back to the kitchen.
Because Master also liked to play with the fox.
He Yue packed the selected paintings.
The fastest way to generate buzz before the art exhibition, besides creating an account on the optical network for marketing, was to auction his paintings. If he could sell them at a good price, more insects would come to the art exhibition.
Wien reluctantly carried the paintings to the auction company’s express mecha.
His comical appearance amused He Yue, who was standing at the side. “Doggy, what’s with that expression?” “The paintings can be retrieved after the exhibition, but if they’re auctioned off, they’ll really belong to other insects.” It was just an auction, not a senseless destruction, and He Yue’s attitude was quite good. But Wien and Knasch were heartbroken, standing at the courtyard gate, watching the mecha disappear from their sight.
“The insects who buy them with a lot of money will cherish my works, you two don’t have to stare.” Not only would they cherish them, but the auctioned paintings would occasionally be exhibited on tour, and if they were lucky, they would have a chance to see them again.
He Yue had observed for a long time.
The replica of The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian had become the signature piece of Kano’s auction house, hanging at the entrance, which was enough to show that the spiritual and cultural food of this insect civilization was far inferior to that of the human world. He Yue’s paintings had been popular even before he transmigrated, and in this new technological civilization with a slightly lacking cultural life, he was very confident in his paintings.
As expected, He Yue’s paintings stood out among a pile of gleaming meteorites, gemstones, machinery, and guns.
He submitted his paintings to another famous auction company, not choosing the male insect Kano, whom he had already blocked and deleted. The unpleasant experience at the club had left a deep impression on He Yue, and he had mercilessly blocked all news about Castle.
As one of the invited guests of the auction, He Yue wore a formal suit and appeared at the auction.
The tailored suit was elegant and sophisticated, the ironed fabric making him look even taller and straighter. The dark gray suit was impeccable, but his long hair, cascading down his back, added a touch of liveliness to the outfit.
He just stood there, expressionless, the epitome of elegance and nobility. He didn’t need any expensive decorations, just a suit was enough to highlight his noble aura.
“He Yue! I heard you have a painting here today…”
Before Kano, who was approaching, could finish, He Yue turned around, took Wien’s arm, and walked into the venue, leaving him with only a view of his flowing long hair.
He had no necessary interaction with insects other than his mission, and all his social interactions depended on his mood. He would coldly ignore insects he didn’t want to see.
Wien didn’t know what kind of dispute He Yue had with that male insect, but he sensed He Yue’s displeasure and shielded him, his broad back completely blocking Kano’s view.
“Lord Kano, please show some respect.”
This feeling of getting one over on the arrogant male insect was incredibly satisfying to Wien.
After entering the private viewing room arranged by the organizer for He Yue, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He poked Wien’s cheek, his face a playful smile despite his formal suit.
“You really enjoyed that, didn’t you?”
Wien’s eyes were soft and gentle, and he half-hugged his waist, letting him poke his cheek.
“I also dislike the insects Master dislikes.” He didn’t even know the reason, but he was already biased.
The auction officially began, and after a few unremarkable items, it was finally He Yue’s turn.
He Yue’s guess was correct, his painting was indeed a breath of fresh air for the insects.
The bidding price kept rising, quickly reaching a considerable amount. There were only two insects left, bidding back and forth, one was Kano, who was at the auction, the other an anonymous insect.
The anonymous insect wasn’t at the auction, bidding through an assistant on the optical network.
They fought for many rounds, neither giving in. The anonymous insect’s bids were very aggressive, quickly raising the price to three hundred thousand.
For a new painter who had never appeared before, regardless of fame, this was an excellent price for a first auction.
Kano raised his paddle again.
“I feel like they no longer care about the artistic value of the painting, they’re just competing.” He Yue was getting sleepy from watching them bid back and forth and yawned.
The auctioneer on the stage professionally recited the auction terms, asking the anonymous insect’s assistant if he wanted to raise the bid.
“Three hundred thousand going once.”
The assistant’s expression was anxious, and he was quickly saying something into his communication device.
“Three hundred thousand going twice, will this gentleman raise the bid?”
Finally, the assistant raised his paddle, directly raising the price to three hundred and fifty thousand, and made a gesture that He Yue didn’t understand.
Wien, seeing He Yue’s curious and puzzled look, found his Master even more endearing. He half-hugged He Yue’s shoulder and explained with a smile, “That one, he’s lighting the sky lantern.”
The gesture for lighting the sky lantern in the insect world was really different from that in the human world.
The anonymous insect indicated that he would follow to the end, no matter how high Kano raised the price.
Finally, the painting was sold for three hundred and fifty thousand, becoming the highest-priced item of the day.
He Yue nodded in satisfaction and patted Wien’s chest. “I think our art exhibition is very promising.”
His eyes were filled with anticipation. “Maybe many insects will be willing to pay a few dozen for a ticket to see oil paintings that sell for hundreds of thousands on average?”
