In that moment, Hua Ren’s thoughts turned desperately to Sheng Fei. He could almost feel Sheng Fei’s warm, golden gaze on him, the way he always treated him with tenderness and respect. Sheng Fei’s touch was never forceful, never oppressive—it made him feel cherished, as though he was someone special.
A sharp pain suddenly snapped him out of the memory, his eyes widening as the Emperor’s teeth pierced his skin.
A cry of pain escaped Hua Ren’s lips. He thrashed, his hands clawing at the Emperor’s arms, but his struggles were in vain. “No... no, please,” he whispered, his voice breaking, desperation seeping into every word. He didn’t want to be marked. At least not by the Emperor. If the Emperor marked him, he would be bound to the Emperor forever.
The pressure of the Emperor’s bite increased and Hua Ren’s vision blurred, a mix of fear and despair clouding his thoughts, until—
Something burst through the ceiling with a deafening sound. Before Hua Ren could fully register what was happening, the Emperor’s head snapped up, his sharp canines retracting just as a powerful fist collided with his jaw.
The impact was like an explosion.
The force of the blow sent the Emperor hurtling across the room, his body crashing through a wall and disappearing far into the corridor beyond.
Hua Ren gasped as the hold around him vanished, but before he could even collapse onto the bed, strong familiar arms wrapped around him. The calming scent of sage enveloping his senses. His eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat as he recognized the golden eyes blazing with fury before him.
"Sheng Fei," he whispered, the tension in his body melting away as relief flooded his chest.
Sheng Fei’s expression softened as he took off his outer robes and draped them over Hua Ren’s exposed body. He pulled him close, his arms steady and warm, as he cradled him against his chest. “Sorry I’m late,” he murmured, his voice low but tender.
Hua Ren’s breath hitched as he remembered the mark. He clung to Sheng Fei, panic surging through him once more. “H-He bit me,” he sobbed, clutching at Sheng Fei’s robes desperately. “He bit me. Check it. Check it now!”
Sheng Fei tightened his hold, his heart pounding at Hua Ren’s frantic plea. “You’re safe now general. I’m here.” He said, his voice calm. "Do not be scared."
But Hua Ren couldn’t be consoled. Tears streamed down his face as he begged, “Please! Check it! I can’t—I can’t...”
Sheng Fei gently pushed back Hua Ren’s snowy white hair and scrutinized the faint marks left by the Emperor’s canines. Relief swept over him like a wave as he let out a deep breath. The bites were shallow—barely more than scratches.
“He didn’t mark you,” he said softly, as he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the spot, his lips warm against Hua Ren’s skin.
The tension in Hua Ren’s body dissolved almost instantly, and he melted into Sheng Fei’s arms as though the kiss had banished the Emperor’s lingering presence.
“You’re not bound to him,” Sheng Fei reassured, cradling Hua Ren closer. "Everything is fine."
Tears brimmed in Hua Ren’s eyes as he gazed up at Sheng Fei. He had been thinking about him, wishing he would show up and save him but he never thought that it would actually happen. Before, being marked and belonging to the Emperor was everything he ever wanted but now, after almost being marked against his will, he didn’t even want to see the Emperor’s shadow. He had never felt this way before. So weak, so useless, and he hated it.
Without a word, he buried his face in Sheng Fei’s chest as he began to cry. The tears he held back when dealing with the Emperor rushed out like a busted tap. He was scared. He was so so scared. He had never been so scared in his entire life.
In front of Sheng Fei, he let down his defences and allowed himself to be vulnerable for he now knew that he was safe.
Sheng Fei held him tighter, his hand stroking Hua Ren’s hair in soothing motions as he rocked him gently. When his spy within the Emperor’s guards had rushed over to break the news to him, he was terrified and he didn’t think he would make it in time but he was relieved he did. He couldn’t even imagine the state Hua Ren would have been in if the Emperor had succeeded. No omega wanted to ever be marked against their will.
Especially by an Alpha who wasn’t their mate.
Blaze burst into the room, sheathing his sword, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. “We need to leave. Right now,” he said urgently. “I’ve cleared a path, but they’ll surround us in minutes if we don’t move.” His gaze softened slightly as it landed on Hua Ren, who clung to Sheng Fei like a lifeline. He had always seen the Ivory Warlord as tough and cold but, an omega was always an omega after all.
Sheng Fei nodded. "The clothes?”
Blaze tossed a bag toward him. Sheng Fei caught it, quickly pulling out a clean set of black robes. He tried to coax Hua Ren into sitting up, but Hua Ren’s arms only tightened around his neck.
“Don’t let go,” Hua Ren whimpered, his voice breaking as his body shook. “Please...”
Sheng Fei melted instantly. How could he even deny him? Even in such a situation, he found Hua Ren so cute.
Without hesitation, he draped another robe over Hua Ren’s body to keep him covered, then swept him up in his arms, holding him bridal style. “Let’s go,” he said to Blaze.
They leaped through the hole in the ceiling, sprinting across the rooftops before diving into the dense forest beyond.
But just as they thought they had gained enough distance, a powerful presence loomed behind them. The air shifted, thick with oppressive energy, and the Emperor appeared, his dark eyes blazing with fury.
“You think you can take what’s mine?!!!” he roared, his voice reverberating through the forest. He lunged forward with startling speed, his fist aimed directly at Sheng Fei.
Sheng Fei’s eyes narrowed, his body moving instinctively. He twisted sharply, dodging the blow while keeping Hua Ren safe in his arms. The Emperor’s fist collided with a nearby tree, shattering the trunk with a deafening crack.
The earth trembled as the tree splintered and fell with a thunderous crash, a cloud of dust erupting into the air. Sheng Fei moved swiftly in the cover of the dust, slipping a sleek black mask over his face.