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The abyss was a man's worst nightmare.
Hell on earth.
You wouldn't wish a visit to the place even upon a mortal enemy.
Luo Binghe wished that he had lost count of the days he had been stuck deep in the abyss, but unfortunately every terrifying day, every horrifying hour, every excruciating minute, was etched into his bones. But now, maybe, just maybe, he had discovered his freedom.
The sword in his hand emanated an evil energy. Dark, gloomy, bloodthirsty. It craved violence. It desired destruction. It carried a hunger for carnage, a wish to turn the world upside down and burn it to ashes.
But why should Luo Binghe give a damn?
Just like his shizun – just like Shen Qingqiu had said, he's a demon now.
Why the hell should he care about something like human emotion?
Holding the weapon, he could feel the mixture of scorching heat and freezing cold as the evil aura tested his boundaries. Pushing and pulling, it looked for an opening, not to join forces, but to devour Luo Binghe whole.
It's fine , Luo Binghe thought, clinging to the dredges of his sanity. He had lived for years suffering at the hands of so-called righteous cultivators. Getting this little troublemaker under his control would be as easy as severing the head from a beast, and he would happily sacrifice some of his rationality for its assistance.
Besides, Luo Binghe had a premonition that this silly little thing was his key to a brighter future.
The floor around Luo Binghe was scattered with blackened, bloody corpses, rotting at a rate visible to the human eye. Boiling red liquid dripped from the sharp sword's edge, and the sword, Xin Mo, vibrated with happiness, savouring the taste.
Luo Binghe gave it a small shake.
He had fed it well, and now it was time for the sword to return the favour.
Xin Mo reluctantly calmed itself. Ordinarily, it would push back at its wielder, but feeling satiated, it considered it could treat this human just this once – he would ultimately destroy this human in the end anyway.
With a single swing of its sharp blade, the sound of skin tearing ripped through the air, and Luo Binghe was faced with a black hole.
There was nothing to be seen within the tunnel other than a multitude of what seemed like stars, all bright and shining.
The sight was rather pretty and calming.
Definitely not like Luo Binghe had used the sword to tear open the very fabric of his universe.
Luo Binghe stared into the crack, his eyes empty but a faint glimmer of hope in his heart.
He had been abandoned already in this world.
Perhaps his salvation lay in another.
~*~
White walls. High ceilings. Soft fluffiness beneath the soles of his boots.
These are the things Luo Binghe should have noticed when he first stepped out of the wormhole.
It should have been a culture shock. It should have been confusing. It should have raised his defences and put him on guard.
Especially upon noticing the hyper-realistic images adorning the walls. Particularly the ones that included a person who looked vaguely familiar.
Yet, Luo Binghe didn't act wary at all.
He couldn’t, as he was too busy trying not to crumble to his knees.
Being on his knees, being subdued by bodies and auras more powerful than his own, was nothing new to Luo Binghe. It was something he had suffered far longer than he would like to admit now that his trust had been entirely destroyed.
Since entering the abyss – since being pushed to the death of his innocence – Luo Binghe had steadily grown in strength. It had been a while since he had come across a creature who could overpower him, and it was highly unlikely he would ever face a human who could challenge him.
But that's the point.
It didn't seem to be a creature that Luo Binghe was facing.
Luo Binghe braced his sword-wielding hand against the wall. Xin Mo was awfully quiet, surprisingly not taking this opportunity to chip away at Luo Binghe's sanity.
Then again, perhaps Luo Binghe’s mind was too chaotic for even Xin Mo to want to encroach.
And it all came down to a single scent.
Green tea.
Ah, but that wasn't quite right.
Luo Binghe's hand trembled.
It was a scent he knew all too well. One that would often attack him indiscriminately. One that often used the experience of time to allow a mature omega to overpower a young, fledgling alpha.
One that accompanied Luo Binghe's fall into madness.
But there was something different about it.
If Luo Binghe wasn't using all of his reason to stay on his feet and not run towards the source of the scent like a wild animal, he would have noticed.
The strong, earthy scent of matcha was accompanied by a sweet hint of vanilla.
It was the same as that person but altogether different.
In this strange, new place, Luo Binghe shouldn't have been able to smell it all, unless…
Luo Binghe's foot took an involuntary step forward. His mind raced, thoughts full of bad memories growing hazier by the minute.
It seemed like the omega pheromones were slowly taking over his mind, achieving what Xin Mo had so far failed to do, subduing Luo Binghe, coaxing him to fall into his instincts.
Oh.
Belatedly, Luo Binghe felt heat coursing through his veins, swelling, racing, and collecting in his abdomen, and he realised he had fallen into a pheromone-induced rut.
He wasn't supposed to have his rut for at least another season. It was unprecedentedly early. And the young boy realised, as the fire swallowed his body, it was more vivid than ever before.
Like walking on hot coals. Like eating a burning branch. Like bathing in a pool of boiling water. The heat consumed him, setting every nerve ending alight.
The tips of Luo Binghe's fingers tingled.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Before he knew it, his heavy, ink-black eyes were staring at a single, solitary door.
It would be easy.
To break it down.
His hand touched the fragile surface, followed by his forehead as he pressed against it.
He shouldn't open it.
Closing his eyes, Luo Binghe fought his fiercest battle.
It was far more difficult than any beast in the abyss. Far trickier than any banished demon.
Because his instinct overshadowed his reason and demanded that he break down that door and take what rightfully belonged to him.
And why shouldn't he?
Luo Binghe's demonic blood surged.
It lashed to and fro like ocean waves, eroding the remnants of his rationality.
It was a simple matter.
A simple decision.
A simple impulse that Luo Binghe had no power to resist.
In the next moment, the door opened, and Luo Binghe plunged into a well of desire.
Luo Binghe looked into the room, and his heart thudded to a stop.
If Luo Binghe had any expectations, it was definitely far from this.
His world came crashing down, and he stumbled forward, torn between instinct and repulsion.
He didn't look around the room. He didn't notice the posters on the wall, he didn't notice the figures on shelves, and he didn't notice blankets and pillows thrown haphazardly on the floor.
He didn't notice.
He couldn't.
Because his deep, dark gaze was fixed on the mound in the middle of the room.
As expected, it was an omega’s nest, and a solitary body moved in the sheets.
A tightness squeezed Luo Binghe's throat, dry and harsh. Through the thick suffocation, Luo Binghe uttered a single, confused word.
“Shi… zun?”
~*~
Within the mound of fabrics and furs, a lithe, slender body writhed.
Not a single shred of clothing covered any inch of his sweat-drenched skin. Short, black hair stuck to his face, a stark but beautiful contrast.
The blasts of pheromones were like rays of heat from the summer sun, and the sounds that accompanied them were blush-inducing.
Soft ' oh oh oh' s' entered Luo Binghe's ears, turning them a fierce crimson.
Luo Binghe recognised this person.
But at the same time, he didn't.
Logically speaking, Luo Binghe had traversed to a different universe. There was no way his master, Shen Qingqiu, could be present. But that didn't mean another version of him couldn't exist elsewhere.
Just like there may be another version of Luo Binghe who existed in this world.
However, at this present time, Luo Binghe's logic was offline, and his hand tightened its grip on the hilt of Xin Mo.
Suddenly, he was fighting two very different impulses.
Upon facing his previous teacher, Luo Binghe felt nothing but a murderous urge. Yet, as an alpha, facing this person in front of him, Luo Binghe wanted to dive headfirst into the omega's nest and make a bonding knot that would last for days.
The veins on the back of his hands popped, thick blue ridges spreading all the way up his arms as his eyes reddened and the urges clashed.
While Luo Binghe stood there, he never once took his eyes off the omega.
He saw it clearly when the omega trembled with a sigh, his body softening as he reached the pinnacle of bliss.
He also saw it clearly when the omega’s eyes blinked open, blindingly bright and adorably wet. Like a bullied kitten mewling for protection.
Luo Binghe's heart stirred, an impulse finally gaining a small lead.
Luo Binghe also saw clearly when the hazy, tired eyes of the omega landed on him.
The alpha's jaw tightened.
If this were Shen Qingqiu – Lord of Qing Jing Peak – he were facing, Luo Binghe would have expected a scowl followed by a lethal barrage of vicious pheromones and perhaps a teacup or two launched in his general direction.
What actually happened left Luo Binghe's tongue tied in a knot.
The omega blinked his wet eyes, fresh tears still clinging to his lashes. A deep flush had coloured his cheeks, and his parted lips were bitten red. The pheromones that filled the room were already laced with lust, but upon meeting Luo Binghe's gaze, there was a spike in the sweet vanilla scent, and the deep earthen matcha flooded Luo Binghe's senses.
Then, the omega opened his mouth to utter something other than a moan.
“Binghe~”
One word.
Just one word, and Luo Binghe almost fell to his knees and pledged himself to the omega in front of him.
It was the pheromones.
It had to be.
Yet, Luo Binghe couldn't deny the deep affection imbued in the voice whispering his name.
He swallowed.
His tongue rubbed the roof of his mouth.
Crescents carved into his palm.
Blood trickled over his skin.
“Binghe~” The omega called again – louder, undeniable – and Luo Binghe’s foot took one step forward on its own.
This…
This is not Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe told himself.
“Binghe”, the omega whined, “Come here.”
It can't be, Luo Binghe convinced himself as he took another step. It really can't.
He faltered.
Paused.
And the omega furrowed his brow.
Ah, now he looked more like the teacher Luo Binghe knew.
But…
“Binghe.”
The omega called his name once more.
It was sharp.
Biting.
His patience was clearly lost.
He ordered him.
“Come here.”
And Luo Binghe stepped forward.
He couldn't help himself.
This was not Shen Qingqiu; he soothed his jumping heart.
It can't be.
Because Luo Binghe felt himself guided by a thread.
It wrapped around his limbs. It tangled him up. It tied a knot around his neck and pulled him in.
But Luo Binghe didn't resist.
Because he suddenly felt like he had found his home.
~*~
Luo Binghe came to a stop at the edge of the omega's nest.
There was a frantic hammering in his chest and an urgency in his limbs. The alpha genes within him roiled with the intent to plunder, but, looking at the sultry, hazy-eyed omega in front of him, his base needs were somehow repressed.
For some reason, Luo Binghe's body was frozen.
Was it because this was a strange dimension and this was an unknown omega?
Was it because this omega resembled his old teacher, Shen Qingqiu?
Or was it Luo Binghe's naivety from before he was pushed into hell? Had his gentle sweetness clawed back from the depths of his heart to offer this omega some mercy?
“Binghe.” The omega murmured breathlessly.
The omega was a puddle in his nest. Like a ragdoll, his limbs were useless noodles, but he tried to move despite his lack of energy.
“Help me.” He said, and Luo Binghe's hands were steadying the omega's waist before he could blink.
The slender waist was like putty in his hands. Supple. Pliable. Made for him to hold.
Luo Binghe struggled to control his demonic blood, nails sharpening into blackened points ready to draw blood. But, with a gentleness unknown to demons, Luo Binghe held the omega, stiffening when the man wound his arms around Luo Binghe's neck.
“It all feels so real this time…” the omega murmured under his breath. Then, with a slight shrug of his trembling shoulders, he yanked Luo Binghe down, the pair tumbling into the messy, pheromone-ridden nest.
“Binghe~” The alpha's name rolled off the omega's tongue, and a leg hooked the alpha's ankle, stroking it seductively with a clean, unblemished toe. “Shouldn't you be helping me in another way?”
The invisible chains around Luo Binghe's wrists rattled. Oh, how he desperately wanted to claim this omega, take him and fill his stomach with his pups. Yet, his limbs seemed to have a mind of their own and refused to budge.
The omega waited as patiently as he could, his heat dizzying his head like a fall into wonderland. He tightened the hook around Luo Binghe's ankle, and his dainty, elegant hand glided over Luo Binghe's shoulder to stroke the alpha's tense, rosy cheeks.
“Binghe, I don't usually have to instruct you.” The omega sighed, “You're usually not so obedient; you're usually causing trouble and doing what you want with me, but it can't be helped.” He tapped Luo Binghe’s face twice and then tilted his head back, exposing his fragile throat to the alpha. He smiled slightly, alluring and tempting, before easily snapping Luo Binghe’s restraints with three smooth words: “Don't hold back.”
It was as if Luo Binghe, a famished, wild beast, was released from his cage.
His alpha instincts running wild, Luo Binghe unleashed the pheromones he didn't realise he was restricting. The thick scent of snowfall filled the air, gradually suppressing the deep aroma of sweet matcha.
The omega willingly drowned in the scent, shivering delightfully as a pair of strong, purposeful hands discovered every inch of his body. Slick covered his thighs, soaking into the already sodden sheets of his nest. A tremble climbed up his spine as he was hoisted up, his hips raised as Luo Binghe hastily shed his clothes.
A deep sigh escaped Luo Binghe's lips as his tight and upright mast was released, slapping against the smooth skin of the omega's ass. He barely even looked at the omega's face – barely even thought about his actions – as his instinct drove him to press the swollen head of his cock against the red, puffy, abused hole of the omega.
Despite this being Luo Binghe's first time, he showed no hesitation as he ploughed forward, spearing the omega in one swift thrust.
It punched a strained, yet satisfied, moan out of the omega's gut, his nails scrabbling at Luo Binghe's shoulders for purchase as the alpha moved without technique.
The sex was rough, crude and raw.
It was a pure joining of bodies in the most animalistic sense. A base need. A heady instinct. Like a lion declaring his sovereignty over a female in his pack.
Luo Binghe's mind was empty of everything but the omega beneath him and the need to breed him until he was unconscious.
The alpha got his wish.
Inexperience tinted every move, but the power of talent and intuition guided him. Luo Binghe snapped his hips forward and drew back until he was almost entirely unsheathed. He changed angle, he leaned down, and he stared at the face of the omega and drowned in the intoxicating scent.
Relentless and punishing, Luo Binghe fucked the omega through the wave of his heat until the latter could hardly open his eyes, his moans of “Binghe~” now only incoherent slurs.
Finally, the large knot at the base of Luo Binghe’s cock popped inside the omega's soft walls. Buried deep, he emptied his load with a hum of contentment. The omega in his arms had his eyes closed with tear stains shining light trails down his cheeks.
It was strange.
Now that a hint of lucidity had returned to Luo Binghe's pheromone-controlled brain, he stared at the man silently crying tears in his sleep, and he found it odd.
This person may have resembled his old teacher in appearance, but he was completely different in every other way.
At least, Luo Binghe could never imagine the mighty, proud peak lord submitting to anyone despite being an omega.
At the same time, Luo Binghe also felt that this omega was the same.
Wild.
Untamed.
Impossible to control.
Luo Binghe would have pondered this thought further, but there was a stirring from below him, and long lashes trembled before blinking open.
They looked at each other. Not a word spoken. But heat rose, and the air grew thick with the entanglement of pheromones.
The omega's heat wasn't over.
And, this time, having understood each other intimately once before, Luo Binghe was quick to catch on.
It was brisk; it was efficient. Just a single call of “Binghe~” and the pair rolled into a night of lustful pleasure.
~*~
Luo Binghe stretched his tired arms with a muffled grunt. His eyes were practically glued shut – not because he was exhausted, but because after four long, enduring rounds of acting as a heat suppressant, he was feeling rather lethargic.
A laziness coiled around him like a cat, only moving to follow a sunbeam.
He snuggled into the omega now lying on top of him, nudging the latter's neck with his nose and inhaling the intoxicating scent which had now calmed and allowed them both some respite.
The omega was fast asleep, obviously suffering more than Luo Binghe. His heat had been intense, and Luo Binghe had matched that energy. It was a pleasurable beating that left both the alpha and omega very satisfied.
Except for one thing.
This omega didn't belong to Luo Binghe.
But… at the same time, he did.
Now that Luo Binghe could think clearly, his inherent knowledge kicked in, and he realised this omega was his soulmate.
It was something that every alpha and omega knew; when the right person – their true mate – arrived, their hearts would be unable to hide it. So, in this sense, this omega belonged to Luo Binghe. And the half-demon, having suffered so much since childhood, refused to let this happiness escape him.
Of course, he wanted to mark this omega as his own.
Unfortunately, the omega disagreed.
Now, as an alpha, Luo Binghe should have been able to override any omega's wishes. The power imbalance between the two genders was nothing new. But Luo Binghe couldn't bring himself to do it.
Even in the heat of the moment. Even when his knot popped, locking them together. Even as he bared his sharp fangs and scraped the scorching scent gland on the omega’s nape. Once the omega said “No”, Luo Binghe's jaw froze.
Is this what it means to be soulmates?
Despite what should have been a soul-crushing disappointment, Luo Binghe still felt extremely happy. Especially as he squinted his eyes open and gazed upon the unguarded sensitive patch upon the omega’s neck.
It was tempting.
Very tempting.
Poking out the tip of his tongue, Luo Binghe dared to test and taste the omega’s gland.
“Hmph…”
A sudden shiver in his arms, and Luo Binghe retracted his tongue, as innocent as could be.
The person sluggishly moved, squirming slightly, nuzzling in, rubbing this way and that, before he shot upright in an abrupt move.
The omega sat up straight, straddling Luo Binghe’s lap while unclothed with lustful juices leaking out of him.
But, rather than the sweet meeting between soulmates that Luo Binghe had expected, a look of shock dawned upon the omega's pretty face, and his words were far more ludicrous than the previous night.
“Who the fuck are you?!”
~*~
Luo Binghe's hopeful heart soured like a plum being pickled.
What sort of situation was this?
This pretty little omega had been calling out his name ever since they met – before ever introducing themselves – and now he was asking who he was?
Shouldn't Luo Binghe be the one asking this question?
“Don't you already know?” Luo Binghe sneered, the demonic blood in his veins fizzing venomously. “You're the one who called me by name and dragged me into your nest.”
The omega, still obliviously seated in a very suggestive position upon Luo Binghe’s lap, had a shift in temperament.
His initial shock turned to horror, then flitted to embarrassment, followed by confusion and realisation. It finally settled into a serene look of nonchalance.
“Got it,” he said, shuffling on Luo Binghe’s lap with a quick glance down. “I'm still dreaming.”
He then did a double take, conspicuously staring at Luo Binghe's semi-hard monster situated between his legs. He silently mouthed, “ What the fuck?! ” before prodding the large, floppy member.
Luo Binghe's expression darkened, a thunderous emotion converging in his eyes.
“Seriously?” The omega voiced out loud. “It's really this big?” He grabbed a handful of Luo Binghe’s reluctantly hardening cock and gave it a quick tug. “And it looks human...”
“Why wouldn't it look human?!”
Luo Binghe, originally starting to rumble like a gathering storm, was quickly distracted, defending a very sore spot from a fresh wound.
“Eh?” The omega looked directly into Luo Binghe’s eyes while stroking the alpha’s very human cock. “Well, you're half demon, so why should I assume all of your body parts are human?”
Luo Binghe was stunned into speechlessness.
“Ah, but this size definitely isn't human.” The omega laughed, then continued to play. He measured the long length against himself, marvelling that it probably reached his stomach.
Meanwhile, Luo Binghe stewed.
Even travelling to another dimension, the fact he was a half-demon couldn’t be changed. And that was when it occurred to him – there must be a version of himself in this realm!
But the sudden realisation didn't bring him peace.
Instead, it brought calamity.
Maybe this omega already had an alpha version of himself.
“Hm… It's kind of disappointing.” The unaware omega knocked Luo Binghe from his spiralling. “Not a single one of the Binghe dildos I have is even half accurate. Not in size or appearance.”
He gestured to a shelf near his nest where an assortment of monstrous-looking toys was placed within easy reach.
Well, that answered Luo Binghe's question of what a dildo is… He shuddered at the thought of having one of those as his actual cock.
It was then that Luo Binghe noticed some more, glaringly obvious details about the room they were in.
He seemed to be surrounded by… himself?
Puzzled and curious, Luo Binghe studied the figures from afar. They were all slightly different in size and design, but they were undoubtedly him. It was the same with the blankets of the nest; there were images of him plastered all over it. And the posters stuck to the wall – yet again, it was him!
Confused, Luo Binghe wrinkled his nose and tentatively pointed at one of the posters, trying his hardest to ignore the face looming near his length, inspecting it in detail.
“That is…?”
The omega laughed.
“What, you can't recognise yourself?” The pretty boy grinned, and Luo Binghe felt his heart swoon. “Dreams are so stupid,” he sighed, “but it's also nice that a dream can bring you to life to help me through my heat.”
Luo Binghe was shocked.
“I’m dead?!”
“Ha! As if!” The omega snorted, finding it both humorous and unbelievable. “As if you would die. No matter how much shit that crappy author puts you through, he could never kill you off! "You're too strong!”
Listening to the omega's ramblings, Luo Binghe picked up on a keyword.
“Author… I'm a character in a book? Ngh -” Luo Binghe asked, then grunted as he was squeezed down there.
“Mhm.” The omega confirmed, then continued to marvel at the rod that had given him so much pleasure in his dreams. He sighed wistfully, “But I wish you were real.”
And that was all Luo Binghe really needed.
With an excitement he hadn't experienced in years, Luo Binghe leaned forward, taking the omega by the shoulders.
“I am! I am real!” He laughed, a rare sense of childlike joy overwhelming him. It was like the years of torture had been washed away upon receiving this person as a gift.
The omega laughed along, carried in the currents, but he still didn't believe it. It was obviously another heat-induced fantasy so he wouldn’t have to endure alone.
Luo Binghe grabbed the omega, dragging him into his arms. Even the slight hint of frustration couldn't dampen his spirits as he tried to persuade the man to believe in his existence.
“How can I prove it to you?”
Luo Binghe was desperate, his pheromones slightly frantic.
The omega grinned, relaxing in all his naked glory; he extended, “Why don't you cut open another portal?”
And so he did.
But the omega just looked in wonder, clapping his hands.
He marvelled at the impressive, realistic quality of his dream.
Luo Binghe asked again, and the pretty man suggested that he use his demon blood to summon fire.
So he did.
Yet the omega only oohed and aahed, praising Luo Binghe for being a talented magician.
They were at a stalemate, returning to their previous position of using each other as furniture, and Luo Binghe noticed something glaringly obvious.
The man was quietly impressed by Xin Mo and mildly entertained by fire. But something that he seemed to obsess over was in Luo Binghe’s lap the entire time.
“I still can't believe it's so big… and not weird-looking…”
The omega continued to play with Luo Binghe's private parts like a toy, completely unbothered by the intimidation of the throbbing, purple length.
It was partly frustration with the omega’s disbelief, partly the lingering scents of vanilla and green tea, but most of all, it was the hand that repeatedly palmed and toyed with him that led Luo Binghe to an impulsive decision.
One moment, the omega was atop the alpha, and the next, their positions were reversed.
Luo Binghe bore down on the omega, pressing against him, threatening him with a good time.
He smiled.
“If you truly don't believe that I'm real, then let's see how long you can live in this dream.”
And he descended, bowing down with the pressure of an alpha, forcing the omega to submit.
Pheromones leaked and thickened. Gasps and moans were spilt.
Luo Binghe was halfway in when he suddenly stopped, an important question popping into his mind.
“You, hm~,” he half groaned, restraining his hips from fucking forward impatiently. “What's your name?”
“Ah?” The omega mumbled, vaguely lifting his head. His hands and feet were already soft and his waist tender. He had no mind or intention to resist as he answered:
“My name is Shen Yuan.”
~*~
Needless to say, Shen Yuan had to believe that fiction had come to life when he was faced with that devilishly handsome face every time he woke up.
Luo Binghe had lived up to his promise. He fucked Shen Yuan in and out of consciousness until the omega could barely move. The limpid, soft look of the omega was enough to encourage the alpha to try for another round, but once Shen Yuan demanded that he stop with stern authority, Luo Binghe couldn’t do anything other than curl up with the omega in his nest.
After that followed the stories of their lives.
For the most part, the story that Shen Yuan was familiar with was exactly the same as Luo Binghe’s fate, save for a few differences here and there.
They spent days chatting, sleeping, and cuddling in the omega’s nest. It was a peaceful and happy time. A time which Luo Binghe wished would never end.
“Yuan-ge.”
One day, Luo Binghe approached his lover tentatively. This matter of address still set off a kaleidoscope of butterflies in his stomach, but it had been suggested by Shen Yuan once the omega found out he was older.
Shen Yuan, who was relaxing on the sofa like a boneless blob, deigned to raise his head and acknowledge the alpha.
“Hm?” He hummed, pausing the television and his crunching on snacks.
Luo Binghe stood silently. He was unprecedentedly nervous. Unfortunately, good things were never meant to last, and Luo Binghe assumed this applied to himself but doubled. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject, and he especially wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer.
With a deep breath, he stared unblinking at Shen Yuan and admitted.
“I have to go back.”
There was a clattering as the remote fell from Shen Yuan's hand.
“Back? Back where?” Shen Yuan jumped up from his seat, no longer the lazy and lifeless worm from before. “Why?”
Luo Binghe's shoulders slumped. Although it wasn't news he wanted to announce, he took some solace in Shen Yuan's response – at least the omega was as upset as he was.
Raising his hand, Luo Binghe showed his sword.
“Xin Mo?” Shen Yuan asked, noticing the weapon's odd behaviour.
The sword was quite lively. Just looking at the bulging veins in Luo Binghe's hand could give some indication of the strength required to hold it back. It tried to dart here and there, a quick slash, a straight stab, trying to attack anything in its way.
“It's hungry.” Luo Binghe vaguely explained.
He didn't exactly want to advertise that Xin Mo was thirsting for blood. As excitable as Shen Yuan was when regaling tales of the fictional protagonist of Proud Immortal Demon Way, he was still an omega. Fiction was fiction; this Xin Mo wanted real blood, and Luo Binghe would have to feed it to him.
Regardless, Shen Yuan was unfazed by the upcoming bloodbath; he was far more preoccupied with other important business.
The cogs in his head had barely whirred to life when he resettled into the cushions of the sofa and asked, “Right, when do we leave?”
…
“We?”
Luo Binghe assumed he had misheard. That a delusion had altered his hearing, or perhaps Xin Mo was so furious that it decided to pull him into an unbelievable fantasy.
“Mn.” Shen Yuan nodded and then delved into his thoughts. “Wait, is it even possible for me to come with you? I won’t get torn apart during the transdimensional travel, or rejected by your universe, will I?”
“No.” Luo Binghe shook his head firmly, a cloud of anger storming over his head at the mere thought that something would dare take his treasure from him. He wouldn’t let a lick of harm come to Shen Yuan, even if that meant Xin Mo would devour his mind. “You’ll be safe with me.”
“Good.” Replied Shen Yuan. “Then I should start packing. What should I take? You have your old robes that you arrived in, but my clothes won’t exactly be suitable…”
“No need to worry about that, Yuan-ge.” Luo Binghe said with a rush of happiness. He still felt giddy from the news that he wouldn’t be separated from his omega. His joy increased twofold when he announced his solution. “You can wear my robes initially; I’ll get more made for you once we have time.”
Just thinking about Shen Yuan wearing his white robes was enough to create an itch in Luo Binghe’s teeth. The itch spread to his fingertips when he thought about the different outfits he would have made for his omega in the future.
If only Shen Yuan would let him bite.
“Okay, then it seems like I don’t really have anything to pack.” Shen Yuan shrugged, then started listing other agenda items. “Oh, but I should probably tell my landlady that I might not be around for a while. And the owner of the bookshop – he got worried last time I didn’t show up for a week; it was embarrassing to tell him I got food poisoning from an expired sandwich.”
Happiness overwhelmed Luo Binghe as he listened to his omega making plans – plans for their future! It was more than he could ever wish for. Xin Mo might not have the patience, but Luo Binghe was prepared to wait while Shen Yuan got his things in order. One week, two weeks, or even a month would be fine! Luo Binghe would find a distraction for Xin Mo to keep him calm.
“Ah!” Shen Yuan suddenly exclaimed, pausing in his tirade. “I can’t believe I almost forgot; I should also go and see my brother!”
Of course, Luo Binghe had no complaints, and that’s how he found himself at the door of a penthouse apartment in the tallest building he had ever seen.
Since arriving in this world, Luo Binghe had seen many unusual things. It was completely different from where he was from. But Luo Binghe was nothing if not adaptable. He grew accustomed to every odd little niche he was introduced to and didn’t bat an eyelid at all.
However, his adaptability was destined to be tested when the door to the apartment swung open, revealing a face he so clearly recognised.
Tall, magnanimous, and mellow.
He looked exactly the same.
Luo Binghe was torn between shock and hate.
“Sect leader…”
“Hi Qingyuan-ge!” Shen Yuan greeted, then easily strode past the older man, not hearing Luo Binghe’s quiet murmur. Accustomed to the place and the people, Shen Yuan wandered into the apartment while querying, “Where’s my ge?”
Yue Qingyuan, used to this habitual reception, let out a soft laugh with a quick inquisitive glance at the wary alpha at his door.
“Your brother is in the lounge waiting for you.” He answered and then gestured at Luo Binghe, “Would you like to come in?”
A multitude of emotions twisted inside Luo Binghe before he returned to a calm quiet. Logically speaking, he knew this person was not the same as the one from his dimension, but seeing that same face and name together was a shock to his system. Truth be told, Luo Binghe didn’t have much of a quarrel with his sect leader. Other than letting the peak lord of Qing Jing Peak run wild and abuse an innocent disciple, he hadn’t done anything directly to Luo Binghe.
One may argue that Yue Qingyuan turning a blind eye to such atrocious behaviour is definitely worth more than a smidgen of Luo Binghe’s ire, but the full force of his hatred belonged to one person only, and so Luo Binghe’s feelings towards this doppelganger cooled fairly quickly.
If it was Shen Qingqiu that he was facing, that would be a different story.
After two more watchful glances at his sect master's twin, Luo Binghe marched into the apartment, keen to receive the comforting of his omega.
Following the traces of Shen Yuan’s scent, Luo Binghe arrived in a spacious, modern lounge. His eyes first landed upon his omega, upon which his pheromones relaxed, releasing their earlier tension.
“Binghe, I’d like to introduce you to my brothe- Binghe! ”
Luo Binghe had every intention of being polite, friendly even. Shen Yuan seemed to care a lot about his older brother, and as Shen Yuan’s alpha, Luo Binghe wished to be accepted into the pack. There was a minor blip when meeting Yue Qingyuan, but Luo Binghe thought he had smoothed it over fairly well. He was prepared to meet his omega’s older brother and had pasted a congenial smile upon his lips.
However, Luo Binghe hadn’t even seen the man before he could smell him.
And that was where the issue lay.
A familiar jab of pheromones rushed at Luo Binghe like an arrow whistling towards his heart.
Violent, offensive, and murderous.
A similar scent to his lover’s green tea pheromones, but far more bitter and twisted.
It was altogether far too reminiscent of the past, and Luo Binghe’s hand moved faster than his mind.
Xin Mo, who had been relatively peaceful after a negotiation, shone with a dangerous and gleeful light. The blade was unsheathed and at the attacker's neck before one could say hello. But what more greeting did Luo Binghe need than those same pheromones which had tormented him for years attempting another, unexpected charge?
For a moment, the room was in chaos.
Yue Qingyuan, who had been following behind, was reaching for Luo Binghe, his expression ferocious, his pheromones aimed to subdue his fellow alpha. The person with a sword to his throat wore a sneer, his omega scent still forcefully lashing out. Lastly, Shen Yuan was horrified. What was meant to be a sweet family meeting before a goodbye had almost turned into a murder scene.
Almost.
“Binghe, stop !”
The tip of the blade pressed into vulnerable skin, but at the crucial moment, the omega’s demand stilled Luo Binghe’s hand.
Luo Binghe had venom dripping from his eyes. His hand trembled, and Xin Mo cried with despair for its lost meal. As much as Luo Binghe wanted to feed it this person, his body refused to budge.
With an ugly, aggressive glare, Luo Binghe spat out two words.
“ Shen Qingqiu! ”
The tension in the room didn’t ease despite Luo Binghe’s sudden pause. It was, however, accompanied by a subtle air of confusion.
“Ah? Shen Qingqiu?” Shen Yuan was befuddled but still hurried over to grab his alpha’s arm and drag him out of the situation he had caused. “This is my brother. His name is Shen Jiu.”
Amidst the chaos, Shen Yuan gave his older brother a look, and the latter rolled his eyes, reluctantly withdrawing his pheromones. In a flash, Luo Binghe was no longer immersed in hateful memories but instead was wrapped in sweetness that soothed his frazzled wires.
The clarity allowed Luo Binghe to understand everything clearly.
As with Yue Qingyuan, that was not his world’s Shen Qingqiu.
Xin Mo complained, jolting back and forth in Luo Binghe’s hold as he was sheathed, and Luo Binghe struggled to rein in his offensive pheromones which were leaking uncontrollably. This was not only due to the face of his enemy being present but also thanks to another sense of turmoil.
Luo Binghe didn’t understand.
Why had his actions paused upon hearing Shen Yuan’s demand for him to stop?
It wasn’t the first time either.
At first, Luo Binghe assumed it was their soulmate bond causing him to be reluctant to deny Shen Yuan anything, correspondingly, but recently he had noticed something else. A powerful pressure bowing down over his head. It was faint. Barely noticeable. But it was there.
Why, as an alpha, was Luo Binghe coerced into obeying his omega?
Unfortunately, his thoughts didn’t proceed any further.
“ This is the alpha you wanted to introduce me to?”
The same face, the same voice, and the same condescending, obnoxious and sanctimonious way of speaking. That sneering expression was also exactly the same, causing the hair on Luo Binghe’s arms to rise.
“Ge, hold on a minute; there’s a reason for this!” Shen Yuan hastened to ease the mood. He turned to his alpha, “Binghe, what did you mean by ‘Shen Qingqiu’?”
Luo Binghe’s deep, dark eyes stared at Shen Yuan, his heart somewhat returning to a normal beat. He didn’t dare look at his omega’s brother in case his instincts got the better of him with a little helping hand from Xin Mo.
“They look exactly the same.” Luo Binghe explained and then nodded towards Yue Qingyuan, who was busy trying to coax his own omega. “Him too.”
“Huh.” For a minute Shen Yuan was flummoxed. “Wait, really? I always thought it was weird that they had the same name, but they look the same too?”
“Mn.” Luo Binghe confirmed, taking a deep breath of his omega’s scent to further calm the storm inside.
“And my ge looks just like Shen Qingqiu?”
Luo Binghe buried his face into Shen Yuan’s neck and nodded.
“No way!”
Meanwhile, as Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe were holding this exchange, Shen Jiu watched on with his pheromones, threatening to lose control again.
The audacity of this alpha to touch and rub against his brother like this in front of him!
Yue Qingyuan had a lot of work on his hands trying to hamper his lover’s temper.
“What about his personality? Surely that’s not the same?” Shen Yuan keenly questioned, curious about this newfound discovery and oblivious to his brother's rage.
“His personality…” Luo Binghe breathed, thought, then decided to lie for the sake of his future sex life. “It is somewhat different.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. Just a little white lie. This Shen Jiu definitely had a similar personality to the Shen Qingqiu that Luo Binghe knew, but he was more constrained, most likely by the existence of Shen Yuan.
If only there was a Shen Yuan in his original world, maybe Luo Binghe wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.
But, then again, Luo Binghe only wanted this one.
Luo Binghe answered all of Shen Yuan’s questions until the pair were interrupted by a loud cough.
Shen Jiu smiled at his younger brother, though the action was void of happiness.
“Shen Yuan”, He started, making his displeasure known, “Would you care to explain what’s going on?”
“Oh, right, well…” Shen Yuan stammered, wondering where to start. He took a deep breath and then blurted out, “I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
The previous tension, which had simmered down, suddenly came to another boil.
The atmosphere crackled and sizzled with Shen Jiu’s pheromones, tempted to attack who he assumed to be the root cause. Luo Binghe was already defensive, his hand uselessly on the hilt of Xin Mo, knowing he would be unable to do any damage to the brother of his omega.
Yue Qingyuan, forever cleaning up after his husband’s temperament, indicated to Luo Binghe that they should leave and give the siblings some time to talk.
Although Luo Binghe was suspicious of these two familiar characters, Yue Qingyuan was still the person he was guarded against the least. After some quick reassurance from Shen Yuan, he followed the other alpha out of the room.
They traipsed down one corridor after another, not a word spoken between them. Of course, Luo Binghe was too cautious to say anything, and it was a mystery as to what was going through the other alpha’s mind. He seemed to always wear a jovial smile, gentle and pleasant, trustworthy and kind, but Luo Binghe was well aware of the truth. Both this Yue Qingyuan and the one from his dimension were overprotective and indulgent of a certain Shen.
After the bluster from earlier, Luo Binghe had reason to be vigilant. If another alpha were to intimidate and strike at his omega, Luo Binghe would not be able to control Xin Mo’s wrath.
When Yue Qingyuan came to a stop, Luo Binghe braced himself. Despite being in the wrong – after all, this world's Shen Qingqiu had done nothing wrong – Luo Binghe was prepared to defend himself and leave the other alpha on his knees. However, Yue Qingyuan bullied Luo Binghe into a fluster for an altogether different reason.
“You’ve noticed it, haven’t you?” Yue Qingyuan commented, standing in the middle of the room. “That they’re different – that he’s different.”
At first, Luo Binghe was alarmed. Was he mistaken? To say something like this… Had this Yue Qingyuan arrived from his world too?
“Don’t worry; I was surprised at first too. I didn’t understand. I wasn’t sure how to handle it. But…” Yue Qingyuan smiled wistfully. “As long as it’s A-Jiu, I can accept anything.”
Luo Binghe’s eyelashes quivered.
Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!
Luo Binghe may have wished for a Shen Yuan in his own world, but it would always have to be this one. There would never be a replacement for his Shen Yuan, regardless of whether they were as identical as being copy-pasted or if they were as different as a leopard's spots!
“I get it; it’s hard to accept.” Yue Qingyuan softly chuckled. “But if you want to be with him, then you’ll have to.”
Luo Binghe was ready to brandish his tongue, his hand reaching for Xin Mo to make a statement.
“After all, it’s the fate of an alpha who’s destined to be with a dominant omega.”
All of the wind was knocked out of Luo Binghe’s sails.
“Dominant omega?”
Two words that he had never before heard side by side. They were opposites; like two magnets repelling, they were never meant to be together.
“Yes”, Yue Qingyuan nodded, then explained. “It’s rare, but it happens. Consider them as alphas in omega bodies.”
It made sense but was also contradictory.
“Haven’t you noticed how sometimes your body listens to A-Yuan’s commands even though your mind doesn’t want to?”
“Isn’t that because we’re soulmates?” Luo Binghe cast aside any and all reservations, lending his full attention to Yue Qingyuan. His knowledge was about to be broadened, and he wanted his mind to be clear.
“That’s part of it.” Yue Qingyuan agreed. “As dominant omegas, they have the same power as we do – the ability to command lesser alphas. But on an alpha equivalent or more powerful, the effect is weakened. We tend to suffer a bit more, as we have an inherent instinct to listen to our fated ones.”
Like pieces of a puzzle, everything suddenly fell into place.
No wonder Luo Binghe’s body froze the minute Shen Yuan gave a command. He was being subdued by an omega! Resistance suddenly fizzed in Luo Binghe’s heart like a shaken can. His place in the hierarchy was being challenged by an omega!
The resistance only worsened when Luo Binghe recalled their intimate moments.
Every time they joined together, Luo Binghe felt a sense of helplessness. Outwardly, he would hold Shen Yuan; he would pin him down and play with him how we wished. But now, Luo Binghe recalled the ghost of losing control. It was an underlying panic, one he hadn’t wanted to nor had the mind to acknowledge during those blissful moments. Thinking back, it seemed like Shen Yuan may have been the one steering the wheel the entire time.
Luo Binghe stared into the distance, dazed and panicked. Yue Qingyuan didn’t seem to notice his existential crisis.
“I know having an omega dominate you will take some acclimatising, but I can assure you that it has some positive points as well.”
Luo Binghe was only half listening, his eyes haphazardly following Yue Qingyuan as he walked over to a wall and placed his hand on a fingerprint lock.
The older alpha looked back at Luo Binghe, his hand jarring the door open slightly. He smiled – cheerful and clean – and then he put his finger to his lips.
“Don’t tell A-Jiu I’ve let you in here. He’d kill me.”
Luo Binghe followed Yue Qingyuan into the secret room, floating like a lost ghost seeking out warmth. He was still wrapped up in his newfound knowledge of Shen Yuan – of the life-changing fact he had received – that he only blinked his eyes furiously when the darkened room was lit up with bright lights.
Once Luo Binghe could see, he had to blink again.
And again.
And again.
In the end, he asked, “This is…?”
“Isn’t it self-explanatory?” Yue Qingyuan shot back, not looking the slightest bit embarrassed.
“Uh… huh…”
Luo Binghe’s eyes were blinded. Not only by the light but by the room itself. It was hard to imagine. He’d never seen one before. But… Luo Binghe surmised that he appeared to have entered a sex dungeon.
The sex dungeon of his soulmate’s brother…
“Should you really be showing me this?” Luo Binghe didn’t mince his words. Something so private and intimate… With Shen Jiu’s personality, he actually might kill Yue Qingyuan for showing this to an outsider!
“Mn.” Yue Qingyuan mumbled. “I said earlier that having a dominant omega can have its benefits. This is one of them.”
Luo Binghe could hardly believe his ears.
In fact, he’d rather have buds stuffed in them. If you could blind his eyes at the same time, that would also be helpful.
Yet, at the same time, Luo Binghe had to admit that he was impressed.
There were handcuffs, restraints, and paddles. On another wall was an assortment of floggers, gags and masks. A swing was set up on one side and a rather startling-looking chair on the other.
He found it hard to believe – Shen Jiu actually let Yue Qingyuan use these on him? He said as much to Yue Qingyuan.
The other alpha gave Luo Binghe a strange look.
“On A-Jiu? Gosh, no. He uses these on me.”
It was said in such an easygoing way that it made Luo Binghe question if Yue Qingyuan was really an alpha, but the earlier battle of pheromones proved the facts.
Afterwards, Yue Qingyuan led a very bamboozled Luo Binghe out of the private space. They returned to the lounge where the two brothers had resolved the tension, their conversation over.
Luo Binghe looked at Shen Jiu and then at Shen Yuan, his heart in distress.
Shen Yuan, having no knowledge of his sibling's special interest, trotted over to Luo Binghe’s side. He reached up, patted Luo Binghe’s head and kissed him with a brush of his pheromones.
“Binghe, I’m all done.” He smiled warmly, stroking Luo Binghe’s hair as if there was no one else in the room. “We can go whenever you’re ready.”
A simple smile and a simple action.
Luo Binghe’s heart settled.
From its previous panic and resistance, a calmness swept over him like the stillness of a peaceful ocean.
He looked at Shen Yuan. He felt the warmth of his hand on his head and the comfort of his coaxing pheromones, and Luo Binghe came to a conclusion.
This feeling of home.
This sensation of being loved.
This Shen Yuan.
He was worth it.
~*~
Returning to his original world didn’t fill Luo Binghe with a nostalgic joy. It reminded him of his hatred and the burning urge for revenge. Staying in Shen Yuan’s universe would have been paradise, but, ultimately, he knew he had to return.
Once his feet touched solid ground, the sword at Luo Binghe’s waist sang with excitement. It knew the feast it so craved was imminent.
Ignoring the impatient cries at his side, Luo Binghe first reached out to grab the person emerging from the warp point. He pulled Shen Yuan out and into his arms.
“Are you okay, Yuan-ge?”
“Ugh, I think I have interdimensional travel sickness.”
Luo Binghe helplessly rubbed Shen Yuan’s back as the latter dry heaved into a nearby bush. He stroked the soft material of the robe – one of his robes from when he was a disciple. Once the omega had wiped his mouth, he looked around, examining the new and unusual surroundings. There was a buzz of anticipation as he absorbed it all, taking in the real world of Proud Immortal Demon Way.
“Ah! Is that an eternal poisoning flower!?” Shen Yuan exclaimed and darted off.
Luo Binghe, having grown accustomed to his omega’s antics, sighed; he should have known this would happen. Following him, Luo Binghe squatted next to his lover as they looked at the pretty, unassuming flower, yet its name said all that you needed to know.
“Be careful,” Luo Binghe warned, reaching out to prevent Shen Yuan’s hand from tracing the soft edges of the black petals. “You know it’s dangerous.”
As the name explained, the flower was poisonous, and its effects were eternal. Shen Yuan, disappointed by the barricade, still smiled at Luo Binghe, the underlying meaning well known.
Even if Shen Yuan did get poisoned, Luo Binghe would be able to heal him one way or another…
As enticing as the deal was, the idea of Shen Yuan suffering for even a moment thanks to his curiosity was still unbearable. It was at times like these when Luo Binghe had to put his foot down and assert his authority as an alpha.
“Hmph.” Shen Yuan pouted. “Fine.” Then his eyes lit up, and he ran off in another direction. “Binghe! Look! A fire swallowing flyleaf!”
Once again, Shen Yuan muttered a few insults about the author's naming ability. This creature he had found, as marvellous as it was, also fit the description of its name: a leaf with wings that ate fire.
“But what is the point of it?” Shen Yuan couldn’t help but ponder. “Seems pretty useless to me. Just like pandas…”
After insulting one of his home country's most beloved animals, Shen Yuan continued to run about like a child at a zoo for the first time, and as much as Luo Binghe would love to indulge him, Xin Mo had been waiting long enough.
When the sword began to point its villainous aura in Shen Yuan’s direction, the omega finally stopped and focused on the task at hand.
“We need to find food for Xin Mo?”
“Mn.” Luo Binghe acknowledged, ironically, he was the one most uncomfortable with the situation.
“No problem.” Shen Yuan gave a thumbs up and contributed his worth, redeeming himself somewhat in Xin Mo’s eyes. “Which plot point should we skip to first?”
Shen Yuan came with a golden finger.
As a reader of the novel, Shen Yuan had almost godly knowledge. Xin Mo needs a beast to slay? He can tell him where it is likely to find a satisfying meal! An antidote for a poison is needed because Shen Yuan played too close to a wild grass patch? He knows where that is too! Well, if Luo Binghe himself wasn’t the antidote, anyway.
With this in mind, the pair traversed the demon realm, reaping treasures and slaying beasts.
It was a time of joyous adventure, a time when Luo Binghe could forget the troubles he had left behind.
Luo Binghe had chosen their return point to be in the demon realm. Not only was this beneficial for feeding Xin Mo without attracting attention, but there was also no risk of being recognised. He wasn’t sure just how much time had passed since he had found Shen Yuan, and, quite frankly, Luo Binghe didn’t want to face his past.
The ugly, murky emotions lurked inside him. Maybe once his heart had been set on revenge, but now, knowing Shen Yuan, matters became complicated.
Although they weren’t actually related, would Shen Yuan be able to sit aside patiently while Luo Binghe tortured and slaughtered the man who looked identical to his brother?
Probably not.
Luo Binghe didn’t feel like finding out either.
So a trip across the demon realm was ideal to stay hidden.
But it couldn’t last forever.
Not with an omega as inquisitive as Shen Yuan.
“Binghe, when can we go to the human realm? I want to see what human cultivators look like.”
Shen Yuan lounged on a chaise. During their travels, they occasionally happened upon abandoned homes, some of which were strangely human-like. Well, perhaps it wasn’t that unusual. Maybe there were other travellers like themselves, or there were demons who enjoyed gathering human items like collectibles. Either way, they often found themselves living in comfort rather than the expected squalor.
But now, it was time for them to return where they belonged.
Although reluctant, Luo Binghe acquiesced to his omega’s wish. A few days later, Luo Binghe tore yet another hole in the fabric of time and space.
~*~
Unlike the barren desert of the demon realm, the place Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan appeared this time was a lush utopia of greenery. Birds tweeted their little tunes, and the air was clean and fresh. It’s just that the sound of a beast roaring and a sword slashing through the air somewhat disturbed the peace.
Luo Binghe was currently unable to control Xin Mo to the point where he could dictate the exact time and location they arrived. Thus, this time, although he believed the time was still the present, the location was less convenient.
They had stumbled across a cultivator butchering a beast.
And Luo Binghe recognised the cultivator.
It just so happened that a wild creature had trespassed into a village. Its large size and red eyes were intimidating enough, but its hooves caused real damage as it kicked and lashed out at any nearby building. It also had a long, snake-like tongue that hissed and spat out venom, contaminating any poor villager who happened to be nearby.
Listening in to the conversation of other villagers who were now watching this spectacle with awe, Shen Yuan deduced that this cultivator happened to be passing through the village at the time and decided to lend a helping hand.
Luo Binghe, knowing the person, knew that this information was only half right.
The cultivator may have been passing through, but he was more likely testing his own power and satisfying his own urge to fight.
Regardless, Shen Yuan watched the battle with a bright, attentive stare until a hand suddenly covered his eyes. He tried to peek around and pull the hand out of his way but found his strength to be useless.
“Binghe!”
“Yuan-ge, it’s too dirty. You don’t need to watch.”
“Ha! As if I didn’t just watch you and Xin Mo dispose of many beasts and demons in the same way!”
Shen Yuan argued, frustrated, and Luo Binghe stayed silent, unable to refute but also unable to let Shen Yuan watch the carnage.
It was unsettling.
Luo Binghe couldn’t put his finger on it, but the way Shen Yuan stared at the person fighting… The instincts of an alpha raised his vigilance, and he refused to let his omega stare at this other person.
It wasn’t until the fight was over, the sword plunged into the gem on the beast's forehead, that Shen Yuan at last managed to wrestle Luo Binghe’s hand away.
Unfortunately, the fun was over, and all that was left was the quiet mutterings of the dispersing villagers.
“How impressive! Are all cultivators like that?”
“Hm… probably? We don’t see them much around here.”
A snort interrupted the innocent villagers, and a conspicuous man wearing cultivator robes looked down his nose at the peasants.
“How can you compare the mighty War God of Bai Zhan to any normal, useless cultivator?”
A wave of murmurs created a small spike of interest.
“War God of Bai Zhan? Is that the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan Peak from Cang Qiong Mountain Sect?”
“Hmph, so it turns out that even a small village like this has heard of our master!”
Ah, so it seemed that this person happened to be a disciple. Or, one of the Peak Lords fanboys, so to speak.
This news created a rise in excitement.
Shen Yuan listened intently, grunting a noise in surprise when he heard the peak lord's name.
“This Liu Qingge is as impressive as the rumours say!”
“Liu Qingge?” Shen Yuan muttered, shocked. He looked at Luo Binghe for confirmation.
“As long as nothing happened while I was away, he should still be the peak lord.”
Shen Yuan stroked his chin, staring at the back of the slender cultivator standing atop the beast's furry head. Liu Qingge, in the version of the story he had read, was already dead.
Of course, Luo Binghe wasn’t privy to the arguments and relations between the peak lords. He couldn’t comment on why the man was still alive, but the fact that Shen Qingqiu had killed him in at least one universe was no surprise at all.
“Hah.” Shen Yuan sighed, still staring at the man's unmoving back. “The older brother of Liu Mingyan – the woman meant to be bewitching enough to head up your original harem… He must be pretty good-looking. If only I could get a look…”
Alarm bells rang in Luo Binghe’s ears, and he immediately covered Shen Yuan’s eyes again.
“Binghe!”
“Yuan-ge wants to look at other men when he already has me?”
Shen Yuan groaned.
“Binghe! You know it’s not like that! Stop being so petty!”
Luo Binghe pouted, guiding Shen Yuan away from the area.
“You also mentioned my harem, but I don’t have one nor want one. Yuan-ge is enough for me.”
“... You know I didn’t mean anything by it, Binghe.”
Luo Binghe successfully distracted his lover. Leading him along, Luo Binghe ensured they quickly vacated the area. Whether Liu Qingge was a threat or not, Luo Binghe had no inclination to find out.
~*~
Liu Qingge wiped the blood from his blade. His long ponytail was whipped up in a sudden gust of wind, and, amidst the strong scent of bloodshed, a sweet scent pierced his nose.
A quick whip of his head, and Liu Qingge looked behind him, his nose wrinkling as it processed the smell.
He stared at the empty spot. The place where he had felt – but ignored – a strong gaze was now empty, with no silhouette or shadow left behind.
'Strange', he thought, ' how could that person be here?'
~*~
Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan continued their adventure.
On their travels in the human realm, they happened upon many exploits and plot points from the novel Shen Yuan was familiar with. On a certain day, Shen Yuan was particularly excitable.
In a village far off the beaten path, they happened upon an emotional couple searching for their son. It seemed that the person – Young Master Huang – had wandered into a succubi’s den. Recognising this plot point and the character involved, not to mention the anguished pleas from the elderly couple, Shen Yuan insisted that they take up this job.
If Luo Binghe had the gift of foresight, he would have refused.
The cave of succubi had no effect on Luo Binghe or on Shen Yuan. As a fated pair, it was difficult for anyone to get in between them, special powers or not. The fact that the leader of this group happened to be an old flame of the novel version of Luo Binghe didn’t make much difference either. Rather, it was a slightly different power that caused a major upset.
“Let me entertain you for a bit.” Madam Meiyin offered, sending off her servants to collect the Young Master Huang. “My love fortunes have always had great accuracy.”
This Madam Meiyin looked at Luo Binghe as she offered, holding no interest in the omega by his side. The alpha’s appearance was exactly to her taste, and she used all of her overwhelming charm to try and pull him under her thumb. Obviously, she was destined to fail.
Luo Binghe was indifferent to the offer; Shen Yuan, on the other hand, eagerly offered himself as a test specimen.
Disappointed, Madam Meiyin cast another, sultry glance towards Luo Binghe but ultimately gave in when her attempt proved unsuccessful.
“Blow on this.” She extended her arm, a small bud upon her wrist. Understanding the process from the books, Shen Yuan blew without hesitation.
As the bud opened up, spreading its delicate petals, Madam Meiyin’s focus turned to the little flower. Upon inspecting it, the succubi’s serene smile twisted slightly.
“How strange,” she said, successfully capturing Luo Binghe’s attention. “And here I thought… oh! ”
“What?”
It would be safe to assume Shen Yuan was the person keen to understand his own love fate – although he already had his alpha, Shen Yuan found novelty in the power of a fortune teller with 100% accuracy. He already knew what the answer would be but was also curious whether Madam Meiyin would pull any tricks from her sleeve in an attempt to lure Luo Binghe to her bed.
Yet, the single, abrupt “What?” wasn’t uttered by the person in question. Luo Binghe had jumped into the foray, his heart erratic and nervous for an unknown reason.
Logically, his thought process was the same as Shen Yuan's, but there was a niggling in his brain like a parasite had dug into it, whispering that things weren’t quite as they seemed.
Madam Meiyin glanced between the alpha-omega pair and smiled, relaxing in her seat.
“You two are indeed fated mates.”
Luo Binghe’s soul returned to its tranquil home.
“But you have another thread.”
Luo Binghe’s heart skipped a beat.
He looked at Madam Meiyin’s slightly smug face and then at Shen Yuan’s surprised expression.
“Lies!”
“Excuse me!?”
Before the alluring Madam Meiyin could be offended by Luo Binghe’s false accusation, a sword was unsheathed, the glare of its blade flattening everything in its path.
“Yuan-ge, let’s go.”
“Binghe! What about Young Master Huang!?”
Luo Binghe hadn’t cared about rescuing some stranger who had willingly fallen under a spell in the first place! Not wanting to dawdle any further, Luo Binghe grabbed his omega’s wrist and used the unstable energy from Xin Mo to transport them away from the cavern that held too many dangers.
Even when they were far, far away, Luo Binghe’s heart refused to settle back into place.
“Binghe,” Shen Yuan approached the agitated alpha once they were in their temporary lodgings in a run-down inn. “Don’t think too much about it. I have you, don’t I? Why would I want anyone else?” Shen Yuan coaxed his younger lover, understanding that the alpha felt his territory had been threatened. He persuaded him. “Besides, we don’t even know who it is or if they’re in this world.”
Despite Shen Yuan’s best efforts, Luo Binghe still struggled to calm his restless hands.
There was a noticeable shift in their relationship.
From that day on, Shen Yuan found his movements restricted.
It was a simple matter, really. As a dominant omega, he could have simply overridden his alpha’s authority; whether that was the right thing to do was another question. As easygoing as Shen Yuan was, he decided to let his alpha be as long as it didn’t disturb his lifestyle.
And so their travels became something akin to an overprotective father shielding their precious daughter from any evil and harm in the world. This included other people.
Especially other alphas.
Luo Binghe didn’t dare risk even the slightest chance that the succubus may have been right and Shen Yuan had another destined mate.
Maybe, once upon a time, Luo Binghe would have been kind enough to share. But life had taken his lemons and blended them to make lemonade, drinking the juice in front of his very eyes until there wasn’t a drop left.
Luo Binghe didn’t want to share anymore.
So, it was understandable that Luo Binghe took on jobs in crowded locations on his own. It was understandable that he tried to shield Shen Yuan from anyone's view. It was understandable that he asked Shen Yuan not to leave the inn without him.
Who would have guessed that, after persistently trying to avoid fate, fate would walk into them while they were unguarded?
Luo Binghe returned to the inn. His trip outside this time had been rather fruitful. Although the main reason they currently travelled so discreetly was to avoid the chance they could stumble upon Shen Yuan’s second mate, their original purpose was to avoid news of Luo Binghe’s return spreading to a certain peak lord of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.
That day’s information gathering had put those concerns to rest.
As it turned out, Shen Qingqiu was just as dastardly as Luo Binghe had expected, and news of his past exploits had become gossip for the common people. Simply put, there was no reason to worry about his return spreading to Cang Qiong Mountain, as Shen Qingqiu wasn’t there at all. In fact, with his current whereabouts, there wasn’t any risk of any news at all reaching Shen Qingqiu; the Huan Hua Sect's water prison was the most secure prison in the secular world.
Luo Binghe knew that Shen Qingqiu was hateful, but even he couldn’t have guessed just how heinous he really was. Rumour said that he had killed his benefactor and almost the entire household had burnt to death. The sole survivor of the family was a young girl who had been his betrothed, and Shen Qingqiu had abandoned her in the ashes to follow an evil cultivator on a bloodthirsty path of murder.
Well, now that person had gotten what was coming to him.
Word amongst the common people was that the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect’s Peak Lords were ready to abandon such an abhorrent person – they didn’t want their sect associated with him at all – but their sect leader was adamant in protecting the person and proving his innocence.
Luo Binghe softly snorted. Shen Qingqiu, Yue Qingyuan… Thinking of a certain couple in another world, Luo Binghe pondered that fate really had a way of playing with people.
On that thought, Luo Binghe rushed back to the inn to check up on his omega.
Shen Yuan should be waiting in the room for him…
Walking into the inn with a newfound confidence now that he didn’t have to hide, Luo Binghe almost tripped over air when his eyes landed on a face he had seen only a few months ago.
The entryway of the inn also doubled as a restaurant. Usually there would be cultivators or villages dotted around, but today all of the guests steered clear of one particular corner.
A man sat alone, an empty plate and cup in front of him with his arms folded across his chest and his eyes closed. His hair was neat and tied into a high ponytail, and the beauty mark under the corner of his left eye was distinct, arousing a person’s need to admire art.
It was Liu Qingge.
A person Luo Binghe had never expected to meet in this obscure little town.
And, for some reason, a person he didn’t want to meet.
It was unusual. Now that Luo Binghe had no fear, he shouldn’t have cared about crossing paths with this peak lord, but there was a screaming in the back of his mind that told him to run. It was instinct. An alpha’s instinct.
But it wasn’t because Liu Qingge was stronger than him.
Luo Binghe was fairly sure he could beat Liu Qingge in a match since he had suffered so much in the abyss. So why was he so bothered?
A pair of dark eyes suddenly blinked open, accompanied by a sharp stabbing aura. Instinctively, Luo Binghe’s own alpha pheromones charged to defend and return the attack.
Only a few seconds passed before Liu Qingge withdrew his pheromones.
It was a draw.
Luo Binghe’s confidence stemmed from his physical strength; it seemed that the strength of his pheromones was on par with this alpha.
The two alpha males acknowledged each other, and Luo Binghe held his breath. When Liu Qingge closed his eyes again, returning to his restful position, Luo Binghe should have breathed a sigh of relief as he realised that he hadn’t been recognised by the indifferent lord of Bai Zhan Peak. After all, why would such a powerful and aloof person recognise the poor disciple of Shen Qingqiu? It was only to be expected.
Yet, Luo Binghe found that he couldn’t sigh.
In fact, he couldn’t breathe.
Eyes reddening, chest undulating, his senses were flooded with the overwhelming scent of his omega.
And it seemed he wasn’t the only person affected.
Liu Qingge, still in Luo Binghe’s line of sight, suddenly opened his eyes. Nostrils flaring, the War God of Bai Zhan’s usually apathetic stare was directed towards the sole staircase in the inn, a fire burning in his eyes.
Ah , Luo Binghe thought, so that’s why.
Shen Yuan’s other destined mate had arrived.
~*~
Within minutes, the inn had emptied of other guests. The two alphas, recognising that they both had an interest in the same omega, instinctually flooded the area with their sharp auras. Fortunately neither had chosen to draw their swords yet, or the inn may have already been reduced to rubble.
Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge stared at each other, sizing one another up. Their hands reached for their hilts, blades an inch unsheathed, but their ferocity waned upon hearing a weak call.
“Binghe, what’s going on?”
Shen Yuan arrived at the top of the staircase. His limbs were soft and trembling, hands clutching at the stair rail nearby to prevent himself from falling flat on his face. His heat had arrived with a fiery intensity, and he desperately needed an alpha to comfort him.
As for why his heat had arrived early… Shen Yuan, despite calling out Luo Binghe’s name, was staring at the only other person in the room.
Luo Binghe’s veins bulged with the effort to prevent himself from attacking Liu Qingge in front of the omega.
“Yuan-ge, go back to the room; I’ll be right there.” He tried to usher the omega away so he could deal with the intruder.
“Wait.”
Liu Qingge raised his hand, not that Shen Yuan had any intention of listening to Luo Binghe. When faced with their true mate, it was impossible to resist, and this time it was Liu Qingge’s pheromones that had triggered his needs. Besides, as a dominant omega, Shen Yuan didn’t have to listen to Luo Binghe anyway, and this situation made this fact all the more obvious.
“Shen Qingqiu?” Liu Qingge asked, gnashing his teeth together.
The scent of this omega was all too similar to that person, but he was supposed to be locked up in the water prison. How could he be here? And how could he be Liu Qingge’s mate?
It was all a bit baffling.
Clearly this omega was his soulmate.
In all honesty, Liu Qingge had no interest in romance or omegas, but when a fated pair meets, instinct kicks in, and Liu Qingge was now gritting his teeth, restraining himself from dragging the omega to the nearest room to mate.
“No.” Luo Binghe spat out, hastily moving to Shen Yuan’s side. He didn’t have time for this. His omega was slowly losing control, lowering to his knees as his arms lost their strength.
Liu Qingge, his mind faltering, could guess as much, though the coincidence in appearance and smell were close; even his hazy mind could tell this person was different. Unknowingly, a certain relief flooded his senses, and his instincts kicked in to ask through the sweat on his brow:
“Yours?”
“Yes,” Luo Binghe snarled, gathering the omega into his arms, hiding him from the other alpha’s view. “Mine.”
Shen Yuan, falling into the hazy daze of his heat, opened his lips to refute, to explain, but ultimately bit his lip, not saying a word.
Having two true mates may sound like a blessing, but asking two alphas to share was really a curse.
The atmosphere in the inn was gradually worsening. A sticky, inviting scent curled around the three people present, none of them moving as they gauged the situation.
Liu Qingge could tell there was a genuine bond between this alpha-omega pair, but the sweet, creamy scent of green tea was irresistible. Even someone as apathetic as him was affected by the bond of a soulmate. He stared at the tuft of hair peeking over the other alpha’s shoulder, and, despite wanting nothing more than to give in to his primal desires as driven by instinct, he had no intention of getting tied up in anything dramatic.
Biting the inside of his cheek, the taste of rusty iron slipping onto his tongue, Liu Qingge voluntarily retreated.
He had to.
Before it was too late.
“Binghe…”
Meanwhile, Luo Binghe was trying to guide Shen Yuan back to their room, but the omega wasn’t as cooperative as he seemed on the surface. His body was as heavy and limp as lead. His whining should have been endearing but was grating on Luo Binghe’s ears.
It wasn’t that the omega himself was being annoying. It’s just that the situation that Luo Binghe had been trying so hard to avoid had presented itself at his door, and he knew there was only one answer.
Pheromones had triggered Shen Yuan’s heat. The pheromones of a true mate. So only that true mate would be able to satisfy Shen Yuan’s needs.
It was a split-second thought. That’s all the time Luo Binghe had. His omega’s pheromones were in the midst of arousing an early rut, and Luo Binghe needed to make the correct decision immediately.
It didn’t matter how painful it would be; it didn’t matter how jealous and irrational Luo Binghe would become.
What Shen Yuan needed right now wasn’t him.
Having steeled himself a long time ago, thanks to Madam Meiyin’s prediction, Luo Binghe took a deep breath before he regretted it.
“Stop.”
~*~
How the three ended up back in the small rented room of the inn, none of them could say.
Pheromones always caused a bout of insanity, and the two alphas were busy trying to subdue one another to really take notice. The end result, however, was something unpredictable.
Shen Yuan, defeated by his heat, was shared by the two alphas.
The first round was a mess. Luo Binghe understood that Liu Qingge needed to play his part, but sitting back and watching was unacceptable. So, Luo Binghe bullied his way in.
Shen Yuan’s clothes were torn apart. Liu Qingge would have preferred to be more delicate about it, but the unreasonable tangle of his mind only allowed his hands to stop trembling for a moment, just to remove their clothes. Luo Binghe wasn’t as polite; used to helping his Yuan-ge through his heats, many sets of robes had been destroyed by his hands.
“Hmph.” Luo Binghe snorted, judging the inexperience of the other alpha.
Liu Qingge, with a strand of coherence, felt his cheeks light up with a subtle pink blush. Fumbling with his own belt, he had the displeasure to hear Shen Yuan moan out a strangled “Binghe~” as the younger alpha took the omega’s cock into his mouth.
“Mmm~” Luo Binghe moaned around the solid length, his eyes keeping direct contact with Liu Qingge, goading him, challenging him.
Although Luo Binghe wouldn’t be able to satisfy this round of heat, he could certainly bring his lover undeniable pleasure.
Half undressed, Lui Qingge’s movements grew even more clumsy, like it was his first time wearing clothing; he tangled himself up in knots.
By the time he finally stripped to nothing but his hair crown, Luo Binghe was wiping the remnants of a cloudy white liquid from his lips.
The alpha’s provocative action succeeded.
Liu Qingge bore down on Luo Binghe, his aura gunning for the kill, but his hands snatched away the omega from Luo Binghe’s arms and pressed him down into the large double bed, successfully distracting them all.
At this point, Liu Qingge became lost again. Other than rutting against the omega, wanting so desperately to be inside him, Liu Qingge had no idea what he was doing.
The other alpha, watching this debacle, laughed.
He took great satisfaction in the fact that, although Shen Yuan had another mate, only he could bring him true joy.
Luo Binghe sidled up to Shen Yuan, twisting him so he was lying on his side, while Luo Binghe pressed against his back. He pulled Shen Yuan’s chin back, plundering his mouth in a deep, noisy kiss. With his spare hand, he lifted Shen Yuan’s leg up, then rubbed the entrance with the head of his cock.
The omega was already soaked with slick, and now a murky cloud of precum smeared across his backside, and Shen Yuan arched his back, pressing into the pressure of the object threatening to invade.
Liu Qingge swallowed. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingers dug into the mattress. Fortunately, the alphas had the sense to seal their weapons before enduring this journey, or else Shen Yuan would have been painted with blood, and no alpha would have been left to claim him.
While Luo Binghe tasted every inch of Shen Yuan’s mouth, he glanced up from under hooded lids, and his gaze seemed to declare war. At the same time, Shen Yuan let out the sweetest moan as Luo Binghe punched past the needy twitching rim and filled him with the entirety of his large length.
Bristling with urgency, Liu Qingge didn’t have any time to think. Like a puppet being controlled by a mastermind, he sidled over, admiring the omega’s rosy cheeks and glassy eyes. He settled himself on the other side of Shen Yuan, pressing against the omega’s chest, and, as soon as Luo Binghe pulled out of the omega’s gaping hole, Liu Qingge ploughed in.
Shen Yuan clung to Liu Qingge’s broad shoulders as the alpha filled him to the brim. It was suffocating. Air grew thin. And it only got worse when Liu Qingge pulled out, only to be replaced by Luo Binghe’s thick girth.
Moans and groans spilt from lips, and the alphas strangely cooperated, falling into a rhythm as they fucked the omega through his heat.
Once the deed was done and Shen Yuan was pumped with the seed from them both, the bed became a busy crowd of panting bodies.
Drifting into a post-bliss nap, Luo Binghe distractedly thought that perhaps it was the fate of having to share his omega, but watching Shen Yuan take on two alpha dicks at the same time definitely wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.
~*~
Liu Qingge was roused from his sleep by the sound of a soft click and a pressure around his neck.
Blinking his eyes open, he found the omega straddling his waist and a pressure around his neck. Raising his hand, he felt the band of leather locked around his throat and looked to the chain being held in the omega’s hand. Confused, he caught sight of the other alpha smiling, regardless of the fact he seemed to be in the same position.
“Sit.” Shen Yuan commanded, and Liu Qingge, startled, found himself sitting before he could think to ask why.
Luo Binghe didn’t need to be commanded. He shuffled readily to sit opposite Liu Qingge, interlocking their legs until Shen Yuan straddled both of their laps.
Shen Yuan was still in heat. Only a green novice would think that one round would be enough to satisfy an omega’s heat. So, of course, Liu Qingge was baffled by both their current position and the intimate, alluring pheromones rolling from Shen Yuan’s gland.
“Don’t think too much.” Luo Binghe decided to be kind. He already knew what Shen Yuan was planning, and having come to terms with sharing – and discovering the joys of it – he was far more open about accepting Liu Qingge into their relationship.
At least they could have a lot more fun like this.
Shen Yuan shuffled about on the alpha’s laps. He held two chains in his hands, leashes that extended to the alpha’s throats. With his pheromones gradually gathering in ferocity, the next round of his heat imminent, Shen Yuan grabbed the two cocks below him in one hand, stroking them together with great difficulty.
“What are you—”
“Quiet.” Shen Yuan said, and Liu Qingge’s mouth zipped shut, much to his bewilderment.
“Are you sure about this, Yuan-ge?” Luo Binghe asked, an excited anticipation fluttering in his stomach and chest.
Shen Yuan snorted. He lowered himself slightly, rubbing the tips of both cocks against his puffy red entrance.
“Are you questioning me?”
Both Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge felt a thrill trickle up their spine.
The current authoritative tone was something Luo Binghe had grown accustomed to ever since discovering his omega’s dominant trait. At first it had been difficult to come to terms with, but, just like Yue Qingyuan had said, there really were some benefits that came with it.
Their sex life never had a dull day, and, after years of pandering to others, it was nice to finally have someone to look after him.
Liu Qingge didn’t have the benefit of this knowledge. He was stuck in the muddy pit of being overpowered by an omega’s command, yet his length throbbed with the excitement of it all.
Although Shen Yuan had asked a question, he didn’t bother waiting for an answer, choosing to prove his ability with his actions.
Curses and expletives poured from all three mouths as Shen Yuan let gravity do its job. Tears pricked his eyes, his chest and throat tight as two dicks entered him at once. On reflex he yanked the leashes in his hand, successfully choking the two alphas he was riding.
“ Fuck~ ” Shen Yuan moaned, his legs shaking like a newborn animal.
He may have overestimated himself.
But, again, this is something Luo Binghe was used to.
Offering a helping hand, Luo Binghe grasped Shen Yuan’s ass and lifted the omega up until only the angry, reddened tips of the two lengths remained inside.
Then, he let go.
“ Ah~ ”
Shen Yuan’s back arched beautifully, and if one looked carefully, they could see the bulge of two large invaders in the soft curve of his stomach.
Liu Qingge, having quickly forgotten his shock, found his head overflowing with dirty thoughts.
Luo Binghe had taken charge of controlling their pace. Shen Yuan was yanking their collars this way and that with a pleasant tension. Liu Qingge couldn’t fall behind.
His eyes flickered to the pretty, pink buds on Shen Yuan’s chest.
Driven by impulse, Liu Qingge raised his hands to flick and twist the neat little buds, burying his nose into the crook of Shen Yuan’s neck to inhale his intoxicating scent. On the next descent, he bit sharply into Shen Yuan’s neck, missing the scent gland by a meagre inch.
“Liu Qingge!” Shen Yuan called out, half scolding, half moaning. This was quickly followed by a moan of “Binghe~”, as the other alpha was not to be outdone, clamping down on the other side of Shen Yuan’s neck, near his gland.
Oh, how the alphas wished to bite down on that delicious gland, pumping Shen Yuan’s veins full of their scents as he bounced on their cocks.
The delectable squeeze around their lengths enveloped them in a searing heat, the fleshy walls giving way impossibly around their size.
Shen Yuan trembled and moaned. His control over the two alphas dwindled, unable to shout any commands thanks to the lustful noises captured in his throat.
He was fucked by the two large cocks until his own shook, spurting out streams of cum, splashing over their naked bodies. And, as much as Shen Yuan was spent after this single round, the two alphas were nowhere close to finishing.
It was at this point that Shen Yuan belatedly thought… how would the knots of two alphas fit inside him?
Well, that’s something he was destined to find out.