Side Story: Hell on Earth
Chapter 107
Idea
An woke first. She patted Liberte's face, and he got out of bed to change the sheets. Liberte glanced at An, who was blushing as she gathered the old, wrinkled, and damp sheets before heading to the laundry room.
She threw them into the machine and immediately poured in soap to wash them. Once she finished her personal hygiene and stretched, she headed to the dining room.
Wan glanced at Liberte, the "future son-in-law," who politely pulled out a chair for An to sit. May smirked, watching Wan cut the roasted meat and eat with great relish, before she spoke up:
"Did you two sleep well last night?"
An's face turned even redder. May kicked Wan's leg, gently chiding her husband:
"You are not delicate at all..."
Wan shrugged, watching the shy An, who bowed her head:
"Loving and then being intimate is a very normal thing. Any couple that possesses affection but lacks intimacy is merely maintaining a comradeship..."
An bit her lip, suppressing a smile. May laughed and asked:
"Then what about intimacy without affection, husband?"
Wan's lips curled as he looked at the three of them:
"Just a bedmate to warm up cold nights, nothing more."
May frowned, half-joking, half-serious:
"Husband, that view is a bit off; besides affection, there is also duty. Why treat each other like strangers then?"
Wan remained focused on his daughter, and especially… Liberte. He continued to eat and drink as calmly as if he were at home, listening to every word Wan said:
"People can only share a bed through affection and intimacy, but true closeness comes through duty: first, having to sell oneself to save a father; second, charity; third, pitying the other party…"
Wan smacked his lips:
"In short, in love, or as a married couple, one needs harmony between affection and intimacy. Lacking either one makes it meaningless. Without affection, duty becomes empty. Living together only causes each other pain..."
Wan took a sip of wine:
"It is best to break up peacefully, so the other party can find new happiness, a new life, and a more suitable partner!"
Hearing a lecture on morality from someone who liked to appear noble and dignified at every opportunity, the scheming woman immediately seized the chance:
"Oh, that sounds very persuasive, but husband, wanting it oneself is one thing, but if the new person you mentioned does not agree, the whole village is at a stalemate. Ah, no, even worse… it is a heavy loss…"
An and Wan could not help but laugh at her humorous way of speaking. Liberte's lips curled slightly, an expression that flashed momentarily before May's eyes.
She noticed her "secret lover" smiling. Oh, so my dear is not the "upright young man" I imagined. She rested her hands on the table, leaned her cheeks against them, and smiled at Wan:
"Oh my, my husband is so handsome, generous, and reasonable, so no matter what the future holds, even if there is no affection or duty left—and even if there is no more intimacy… the one thing that cannot be missing in married life—May will still be your wife…"
An admired her parents' love and enjoyed watching her father's gentle smile:
"Am I such a selfish person? If one day we end our marriage, even without affection or loyalty, I will still wish for you to find new happiness!"
Wan winked at Liberte:
"That is what a real man is."
Liberte and May secretly mocked this lesson… implying… the future son-in-law must know how to respect and cherish Wan's precious daughter. Liberte wore a look of deep affection on the surface, gently watching the one who had always loved him.
An shyly turned to the man she had long regarded as her husband. Wan nodded, satisfied with the warm affection. May giggled and gently kissed her husband's cheek:
"Goodness, my husband is so adorable!"
The whole family laughed happily. Wan still asked the same old question:
"So, did you two sleep well last night?"
May frowned and said:
"If you keep joking, she will not sit with us anymore."
Wan paid no attention to An and ignored May. He focused on Liberte, who was shifting to another topic:
"The war continues, and the famine has depleted too much human labor, causing a shortage of workers. I fear that in the future, food shortages will worsen, and the lack of human resources, supplies, and food will have a negative impact on the Hive's military and plans..."
Wan sighed helplessly:
"I have warned that if we continue to adopt such harsh policies, we will suffer heavy losses. But the Hive is afraid that the people will rise up and rebel... so... tsk..."
Liberte sipped the spicy wine:
"I have an idea that might change the current situation..."
Wan urged Liberte to elaborate. Wan's entire family listened as Liberte spoke:
"People have children and create wealth, but wealth does not create people. The problem is that to have children, people must eat well, reduce their workload, live moderately, and wait patiently for a healthy body. Only then will the chances of producing healthy and strong children be higher."
Wan nodded, agreeing with this good idea:
"If people's spirits are at ease, labor productivity will multiply. Then, the Hive will not need to force them, nor will it need psychological intimidation; the people will gladly obey. Instead of high-pressure tactics that cause labor to stagnate and waver, it is better to let people relax, be tolerant, care for human strength, win their hearts, and achieve the best of both worlds."
Wan's lips curled into a faint smile as he inserted his fork into a piece of rare meat that was still stained with blood:
"That makes sense, but the ultimate goal is to save the evacuees and your family from starving to death."
An and May were worried that Liberte would be punished. He shrugged calmly:
"I do not deny it, but this is the best way to handle the predicament properly. People are willing to contribute to the current Hive, and having children is the path to future sustainable development!"
Wan nodded, scratching his chin thoughtfully, his inquisitive gaze never leaving Liberte. Aside from protecting his family, he gained no other benefit.
Wan immediately ruled out the possibility of a conspiracy; even if Liberte wanted to win the people's favor and plot a rebellion, he and the people had no weapons, nor did they have an army or allies strong enough to overthrow the Hive.
Liberte was right; this was the easiest to implement, and the success rate was relatively high. Simply put, in any era, one must rely on the people and win their hearts, and everything will go well. Wan was still puzzled:
"The problem is that the elimination of many men has led to a gender imbalance. Not everyone who marries can have children, let alone the fact that some may be infertile. I fear this plan is unlikely to succeed."
Liberte took a sip of wine:
"Restore polygamy. One man can marry many women. Depending on the amount of food earned, he can support a corresponding number of wives."
Wan's family stood frozen in shock. The most shocked was An; it was hard to believe that a silent, reticent, and sometimes indifferent person, who wandered like a shadow, would propose such a crazy and morbid idea.
An saw someone completely different from the Liberte she wrongly thought she understood. For Wan, this was the Liberte he had been waiting for.
"This kid is very interesting."
May frowned and asked skeptically:
"What if no one agrees to this plan?"
Wan was about to ask this very question; he eagerly waited for Liberte to answer:
"The victims only need to fill their stomachs and survive; no one cares about morality anymore. I boldly predict they will agree because hunger has already terrified them to death. We must try it to know the result... and... to increase the success rate, I suggest that regardless of age, status, or position, as long as they are of reproductive age and both parties agree, even if they are decades apart in age, we should still encourage and advise the evacuees to allow them to marry."
The series of shocks left An stunned; she began to fear the man she had long admired and loved with all her heart. May was equally surprised.
Only Wan appeared genuinely excited by the idea, laughing heartily as he heard Liberte emphasize "encouragement" and "advice"—words that carried the veiled implication of suffering for those who did not comply. This method of carrot and stick was the standard style of the Hive.
"This plan is quite good; I will report it to the Hive. If it receives approval, you will certainly be rewarded for your contribution."
An and May were happy and wished for everything to go well. Wan finished his meal and returned to his room to undress and put on his military uniform. He whistled excitedly, but as he reached the door, he suddenly recalled an important matter:
"Ah, I almost forgot."
Wan smiled and said to Liberte:
"By custom, May must go to gather herbs alone on the full moon, but rules are made by men, and if they are no longer reasonable, they must be changed. Moreover, it was precisely because she went to gather herbs alone last time that she met with danger. I do not wish for that disaster to repeat itself, but I do not want to, and cannot, abuse my power to send soldiers to do private errands, so I entrust her protection to you for the next few days."
It was an unexpected but understandable decision. Wan feared for his wife's safety and thus entrusted a significant responsibility to a man he trusted. An winked happily at Liberte. He responded with a smile, ignoring May, who was anxiously waiting for the day of herb gathering.
The arduous work she once hated now created an opportunity for her to frolic with her "secret lover." Just the thought of it made the moistest parts of her body throb with desire.
Thus, on the night of the full moon, after gathering the herbs, May and Liberte hid in a mountain cave, conducting secret and cautious rendezvous far from prying eyes.
Regardless of morality, and ignoring the risk of May's pregnancy, they clung to each other like moths to a flame, igniting the long-repressed desires deep within their flesh, reaching a climax together in a surge of sinful pleasure.
Every time they writhed and entangled on the fiery battlefield, she worried that her secret would be exposed. Whenever she committed adultery with this 'future son-in-law,' the sick, beastly lover always pushed the excitement to the limit, causing extreme stimulation—a thousand times more intense than her old husband, who would be gasping for air after only a half-hour of push-ups.
The "future son-in-law" was a monster in bed. For hours, he dug deep and plowed, spraying spring rain to submerge the damp primeval forest, yet he remained thirsty, yearning for the next downpour.
As long as she cared for him like a slave serving her master, "breathing" new life into him and helping the warrior regain his vigor, the giant would rise with pride, muscles taut and veins bulging.
The warrior fiercely charged into the battlefield, thrusting left and right, attacking every narrow defensive line. He destroyed the dense forest and deep mountains, carved rivers and streams, waiting for the moment to unleash the raw, pent-up energy that had accumulated with every second of their intense battle, finally liberating every instinct and emotion.
Heh... the young are truly the best, the finest of the fine.
"No wonder An is so obsessed with you. Your prowess is indeed exceptional. That husband of mine with the illusory strength—that 'useless' guy—is always boasting about being a master of love, but he is not even half as good as my dear. I have lived with him for twenty years, but he has never brought me to a climax. Every time I am intimate with you, I reach a state of extreme ecstasy... Ah... I have reached a climax six times... Ah... Yes... torture me... Ah... abuse me with force..."
Liberte smiled faintly at the adulteress criticizing her husband in front of her lover. He did not know if Wan was truly impotent yet fond of showing off, but the "future son-in-law" only cared that the "mother-in-law" was actually praising him.
He was too familiar with the scene; when excited, An and May would open their bodies completely for him to explore. May lowered her passionate moans to a level only her lover could hear. Throughout the process, a string of shy, rhythmic sounds echoed continuously.
May moaned frantically like a witch, gasping for air like a drowning person, urging Liberte to abuse and torment her like a slave. The more her body ached, the more frantic she became, more addicted to Liberte than any addict to a drug.
Every time they were intoxicated by desire, the mother and daughter's eyes were filled with passion and lust, lost in the bliss to the point of delirium, speaking in a daze... and always with a burning yearning:
"Ugh, it seems you are nearing your limit... my love... give me all your 'affection.' I want to bear your child. I love you..."
Years ago, Wan's only son fell into an abyss and died a tragic death. Although Wan did not state it explicitly, everyone knew he longed for another son to carry on his lineage and legacy.
Over time, he began taking various tonics to replenish his essence and even turned to spiritual mediums and charms, constantly anticipating his wife's ovulation day to conceive. He tried everything, yet nothing worked.
These favorable conditions paved the way for Liberte to play the game of "the cuckoo occupying the bush warbler's nest." He became even more excited, reaching a point of frenzy, when he heard May say:
"Wan's sperm quality is very poor. On my ovulation days, I still share a bed with him, but the conception rate is less than 10%; it is very difficult for him to get me pregnant. You are completely different from him. You are younger and stronger. Being young and healthy is your significant advantage over that useless man. Your essence is as powerful as its master; you charge like a water buffalo, making me die and come back to life countless times."
May's body bounced up and down continuously, shaking violently with every savage thrust as scorching lava flowed down to burn the jungle, yet she still felt a chill running through her, as if struck by electricity:
"So... hehe... get me pregnant, baby! Your son will inherit everything from Wan, and we will take everything away from him!"
Wan only knew that May used to be a doctor in the reproductive health department. He did not know that she knew how to distinguish the strength of sperm... and... that she possessed a talent for controlling the timing of conception.
Whomever she wanted to have a child with, that person would become the biological father. May was so obsessed with Liberte that she even revealed Wan's heinous crimes to him.
Now, she released all her hatred and anger in her endless affair with her secret lover. She poured all her love into Liberte, wholeheartedly "cherishing" this tool for revenge against her husband, passionately "caring" for her secret lover to heal her emotional wounds through passionate kisses, immersed in the fiery breath of desire.
She wrestled with Liberte, even excitedly pressing herself against his face to enjoy the ultimate human pleasure. She lowered herself, passionately kissing, embracing, and doting on the "warrior" who was in the midst of a powerful thrust.
Both parties threw themselves into the passionate encounter, he welcoming the rolling floods and surging waves, she receiving the scorching male essence on succulent lips.
She crawled along his entire body... letting... her "son-in-law" reach the very heart of the "mother-in-law." She danced frantically, her soul soaring to the ninth heaven.
Liberte knew very well that she enjoyed the pleasure of this superior position the most. Shrewdly, he coordinated and rhythmically matched her every skillful movement until she began to turn numb and speak in a daze.
Liberte then rose and buried his face in that white, succulent peach garden. He used every means to pamper and hypnotize her, strengthening his control over her mind, which would never wake from its intoxication.
Liberte had long ago predicted and manipulated her psychology, secretly congratulating himself because the "future mother-in-law"... officially could not live without her "son-in-law and secret lover." She became more submissive than a good wife; she would nod in agreement to any immoral or inhumane wish.
"You said you want to have a threesome with me and An..."
Before Liberte could finish his sentence, May, while moving like a continuous stamping machine, laughed and asked:
"Dear, are you interested?"
Liberte gazed at her tenderly, while his weapon continued to churn endlessly in the bottomless cavern.
"If you help me do this, I will grant your wish."
For the first time, Liberte spoke hesitantly, which piqued May's interest. She threw her arms around her lover's neck, her slender waist twisting like a snake climbing a pole:
"Oh, darling, you are playing the mystery game with me again. My dear, what on earth is your conspiracy?"
Liberte blew hot air into her ear and whispered. She giggled:
"You are terrifying, but I love it. Ah-hehe..."
The two secret lovers smiled and curled their lips, then remained entangled for another hour until May's heart was overflowing with "affection."
They embraced and flirted with each other. She pressed her legs together, not letting Liberte's seeds flow out, waiting for that "passionate feeling" to sink deep into her "soul."
Subsequently, these two "stray cats" went down into the lake inside the cave to wash away the traces, dressed themselves neatly, sprayed on deodorant, and leisurely returned home with her lover.
May put away her herb basket, finished washing, put on a thin nightgown, and climbed into An's bed. She held her daughter in her arms, silently calculating in her mind...