"You did what?!" Qi Zhen's voice thundered, glaring at Sheng Fei, who stood silently, his gaze fixed on the morning sun.
Sheng Fei remained stoic, his face giving away nothing as he ignored the old man.
"How could you let him go?!" Qi Zhen questioned, his fists clenched at his sides. "Have you forgotten that he is your mate?!"
"Keep your voice down, old man." Sheng Fei snapped, his eyes narrowing as he side-eyed Qi Zhen. "We're not the only ones here."
Qi Zhen panicked and his eyes darted around to ensure no one was listening. The other villagers were still some distance away so he let out a relieved sigh. He had deliberately followed Sheng Fei because he couldn't find Hua Ren anywhere. Turns out Sheng Fei let him go.
His fury simmered just below the surface, but he lowered his voice, "The Ivory Warlord is important," he stressed. "Not only is he your mate, but he also has a Celestial Weapon. You've directly handed our enemy two great assets!"
"And who's fault is that?" Sheng Fei countered. "Who gave him the ring in the first place? Aren't you the descendant? You're the one that is supposed to protect the Weapon."
"But the weapon chose him!" Qi Zhen exclaimed. "We've always been told that Qi Tianyuan was a righteous and kind man and his weapon will only accept a person that is akin to how it's first master was. The Ivory Warlord is that person. I didn't choose him. The weapon did and you know what that means for us. For you especially. After all, you were accepted by the Weapon of Qi Tianyuan's partner. Your weapon will not work without the Ivory Warlord. How will you defeat the Emperor if it doesn't work?"
Sheng Fei could feel a headache coming on. "You think I wanted this?" He asked, turning to glare at Qi Zhen. "You think it doesn’t tear me apart to be away from my mate? He is my mate, old man. My omega. I want him here more than anyone else but he needs to see the Emperor for what he really is. He needs to learn the truth for himself."
"But he is extremely loyal to the Emperor." Qi Zhen argued. "How are you sure he won't keep blindly following the Emperor even after learning the truth? What if the Emperor finds out about the Celestial Weapon?"
Sheng Fei's jaw tightened. "Didn’t you say the weapon can only be wielded by the person it accepts as its Master?"
Qi Zhen nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but—"
"Then we have nothing to worry about," Sheng Fei cut him off, his voice cold and resolute. "The weapon will remain dormant if anyone else tries to use it. Hua Ren will be fine. Besides, you said the weapon chose Hua Ren because he is like it's former Master. Righteous and kind. Hua Ren will not continue to serve the Emperor once he sees his true colours. That, I am sure of."
Qi Zhen shook his head in frustration. "You’re not seeing the bigger picture, Sheng Fei! If the Emperor finds a way to control Hua Ren, we’re finished. The Ivory Warlord is more than just a weapon; he’s a symbol, a beacon of hope for those who want to oppose the Emperor and join the rebellion. We cannot afford to lose him."
Sheng Fei's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and pain as he recalled his last conversation with Hua Ren. "And what do you suggest I do, old man? Run to the Celestial Kingdom and bring him back? Do you think he’ll just fall into my arms and leave the Emperor behind? He’s in love with him!"
Qi Zhen was stunned. "W-What did you say?"
Frustrated, Sheng Fei groaned and turned away. "I am not the one in his heart. We have to let him decide for himself. If he comes back, then fine. If he decides to stay there, then I will kill both him and the Emperor. With or without the Celestial Weapon."
Qi Zhen shook his head, not willing to accept what he just heard. "No. That can't be. You're his mate. How can he be in love with someone else? No. He must be confused. Maybe he just doesn't want to accept you because he thinks you're the evil one. I'm sure he'll accept you when he learns the truth about the Emperor."
Sheng Fei didn't want to talk about it anymore. "There’s no time," he muttered, noticing that the rest of the villagers had caught up with them. "The Celestial Army is closing in on us. We need to get the villagers to safety first. That’s my priority."
Sheng Fei closed his eyes, the weight of Qi Zhen’s words pressing down on him. He wanted Hua Ren more than anything, but the thought of Hua Ren’s love for the Emperor filled him with disgust.
Before Qi Zhen could argue further, their scout came rushing towards them, panting heavily. "The Celestial Army is tracking us down fast!" he reported, his voice laced with urgency. "They’ll catch up in half a day. We need to move now!"
Sheng Fei’s expression hardened as he forced all thoughts of Hua Ren to the back of his mind. "Let's take the quickest route to one of our safe houses," he ordered, his voice firm. "We’ll deal with everything else once the villagers are safe."
Qi Zhen opened his mouth to protest, but the look in Sheng Fei’s eyes silenced him. With a resigned nod, Qi Zhen fell into step behind Sheng Fei, understanding that for now, there was no swaying the young leader.
The Celestial Kingdom prison was a place shrouded in darkness and fear, a fortress where even the bravest souls would find themselves trembling. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the walls, slick with moisture. The corridors echoed with distant screams and the clinking of chains, a constant reminder of the torment that awaited those who were cast into its depths. Cells were cramped full of prisoners, with rusted iron bars caging them and floors littered with filth.
The Beta guards patrolled with a cold indifference, their faces hardened by the countless horrors they had witnessed. They saluted as they watched The Alpha guards escort Hua Ren to a different part of the prison. The long corridor housed solitary cells which were used to detain government officials, generals like Hua Ren and other important people of the society who had commited a crime or were suspected of commiting one.
Hua Ren’s cell was a small, relatively clean space with a narrow bed and a crude area to relieve himself. The Alpha guards quickly got to work, fastening Hua Ren's wrists and ankles with heavy chains long enough to allow him to roam around the cell. After everything was done, they each gave him glances full of pity then walked away. Majority of them did not believe the report for they had known Hua Ren for years but there was nothing they could do.