Hua Ren’s eyes followed his movements, watching as Sheng Fei carefully set down the bowl and opened the box, removing a roll of cotton. He then took a knife and gently tore the blood-stiffened fabric around Hua Ren’s shoulder, peeling it back to reveal the deep gash beneath.
The wound was raw and angry, still oozing slightly. It was obvious that the Emperor truly intended to kill Hua Ren by slitting his throat. If Hua Ren was an ordinary fighter, he would have died instantly.
Sheng Fei’s hands were steady as he dipped a piece of cotton into the water, wringing it out before bringing it to Hua Ren’s skin.
The first touch of the cool, damp cotton against his shoulder made Hua Ren flinch, and his face tightened in pain. He bit his lip and closed his eyes, his complexion white. It hurt. It really really hurt. But he felt he deserved it. In fact, it wasn’t enough. He deserved more for all the innocent people he had slain in the name of the Emperor.
He realised that the rebels he had killed for the Emperor were just people who were tired of being oppressed, tired of suffering. They wanted to fight for a better Kingdom, a better future for themselves and their children but he had ruined it all for them.
He wondered, if he was being praised in the Capital and the thriving towns surrounding it, what about those far away? The ones being oppressed? They must hate him. They must wish him dead.
All along, he had been loving and serving a tyrant.
"Stop thinking so much." Sheng Fei said, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of Hua Ren’s lean smooth neck, massaging the place reassuringly. "Clear your mind. Focus on circling your energy to numb the pain."
"I won’t." Hua Ren whispered, his voice hoarse from the excrucuating pain. "I need this. I need the pain." It was the only thing reducing the intensity of his guilt.
Sheng Fei sighed, dabbing at the wound, gradually cleaning away the dried blood until the skin around it was bare and clean. He now confirmed the rumors about Hua Ren.
Deadly yet kind-hearted, Hua Ren was fiercely just. He’d never show mercy to anyone, himself included, if a crime had been committed. He followed the rules with unwavering devotion, a thorough enforcer of justice.
But Sheng Fei believed that sometimes, rules were meant to be bent or even broken.
Nothing was absolute.
Knowing Hua Ren would not listen, Sheng Fei said nothing more and continued to work as gently as he could, his eyes never leaving Hua Ren’s face. He noticed every flicker of discomfort, the way he bit his lips and furrowed his brows. Even the slight trembling of his long white lashes.
’So beautiful.’ Sheng Fei thought. Even when in pain, his Omega was exquisitely beautiful. He never in his life thought he would end up with such a good looking mate. He used to think about who his mate would be when he was young and also, what his mate would look like but as he grew older and that incident happened, all thoughts of his mate were no longer important.
Until he set eyes on Hua Ren on the battlefield 7 months ago.
Hua Ren looked fierce and breathtaking as he rode atop his horse, his pure white robes gleaming under the sun. His snow white hair cascaded behind him like a banner, streaming wildly in the wind as he moved, every motion controlled and powerful.
Everything around Sheng Fei seemed to slow—the desperate cries of soldiers, the guttural yells of pain, the whinnying of horses, and the harsh clash of steel against steel.
Then, their eyes met, and Sheng Fei’s world came to a halt. His heart stopped, even his breathing stilled. All he could see was the striking figure of Hua Ren—beautiful, commanding, his expression that of confusion as he stared back at him. Sheng Fei’s mind and senses drowned in the white-haired general’s piercing gaze.
In that frozen moment on the battlefield, nothing else existed.
When he realised who Hua Ren was, he immediately knew that their relationship was doomed and he decided not to pursue it until he held Hua Ren in his very arms that fateful night.
He fully felt the bond and the hold an Omega has on their mated Alpha.
He growled low, feeling his lower parts tighten considerably. He had to stop thinking about such things. His mate was injured.
"The cut is too deep. You need stitches." He said to Hua Ren after he stopped the bleeding.
Hua Ren opened his eyes, glancing at Sheng Fei before nodding, determined. "Do it."
Sheng Fei glanced at Hua Ren to make sure he was ready before turning to the lantern nearby. The flame flickered, casting a warm light over them, illuminating the sharp glint of the needle and thin wire in his hands.
Taking a deep breath, Sheng Fei held the needle close to the fire, rotating it slowly to ensure every edge was sterilized by the heat. The flame hissed slightly, turning the needle’s tip faintly red for a moment before it cooled.
With steady hands, he dipped the needle and wire in a bowl of distilled water then positioned himself next to Hua Ren. "This is going to hurt." He warned.
Hua Ren chuckled weakly, turning slightly, enough to look at Sheng Fei. "I’m used to it Sheng Fei. Besides, It won’t hurt as much as I want it to."
Sheng Fei gritted his teeth in anger. He suddenly hated this attitude of Hua Ren’s but said nothing. It was quite normal to feel this way after realising the person you’ve been loyal to was a tyrant and you’ve killed innocent people because of him. In fact, it would have been a problem if Hua Ren acted like it didn’t matter. But still, he didn’t want Hua Ren to punish himself.
Maybe it was his Alpha part feeling this way. After all, Hua Ren was his mate but he really didn’t want to see him beating himself over it.
He worked quickly but carefully. His gaze occasionally flicking to Hua Ren’s face, where only the faintest wince betrayed the pain he must be feeling. Bit by bit, Sheng Fei closed the wound, each stitch pulling the torn skin together, sealing it tight. He then secured the bandage in place, giving it a final, reassuring pat.
“Okay, I’m done.” He sighed, a note of relief in his voice. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Hua Ren nodded and accepted Sheng Fei’s hand since he was still weak. As he rose, his vision blurred, and his legs faltered, but Sheng Fei’s arm was already wrapped around his waist, supporting him. Hua Ren leaned against Sheng Fei’s solid frame, allowing himself to be guided through the quiet room until he was eased onto the bed.
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