Chapter 103
Chen Min had almost fully recovered, and the royal family was preparing to summon him to inquire about the state of his spiritual sea. They also arranged for a specialist doctor to examine him to ensure his spiritual sea had stabilized and that there would be no further outbreaks with the golden eagle. At the same time, he was eager to return to the mecha team as soon as possible. During the three years he had been away, the mecha squad had been infiltrated by various noble families, and it was no longer the squad he once knew. Clearly, a tough battle awaited him.
The little chubby bird was following the golden eagle around the garden on the balcony, hopping up onto the railing as the golden eagle did. It carefully shuffled its little claws along the rail, trying to stay close to the golden eagle. The golden eagle glanced down at the fluffy chubby bird and reached out to ruffle its head. The little bird lost its balance and tumbled right off the railing.
The golden eagle: “…”
The golden eagle: “!!!”
The little bird didn’t fall into the garden but off the side! Being so high up, and since it couldn’t fly yet, the golden eagle’s feathers puffed up in fear. It dove down just in time to catch the little bird mid-air.
Relieved yet puzzled, the golden eagle thought it hadn’t used any force. How did the little chubby bird fall? It carried the bird back to the garden, but as soon as it landed, the chubby bird rolled off its back like a little ball.
The golden eagle: “!!!”
Seeing the bird lying there with its eyes closed, the golden eagle’s eyes widened: Had the chubby bird… died?
Panicking, it carefully extended a wing to poke at the little bird, but it just rolled over twice on the ground with no reaction.
The golden eagle was terrified: It’s dead for real!
Inside, Chen Min sensed what had happened and frowned. “It seems something happened to that little bird.”
Huo Ranchuan raised an eyebrow and opened his communicator. Sure enough, his deputy had just sent him a message: [General, that kid fainted in the water cell. I don’t know if he passed out from hunger or what. Should we get a doctor to check on him?]
Normally, prisoners like this would be sent directly to serve time in prisons built on designated barren planets, but this young man was still being held in the Empire’s central military district’s water cell. The deputy wasn’t sure what Huo Ranchuan intended and didn’t dare to ask. Now that the boy was unconscious, he had no choice but to report it.
Looking at the little chubby bird, Huo Ranchuan glanced at the bathroom door. Teacher Bai had gone in a while ago and hadn’t come out. If he came out and saw the little bird unconscious, he would surely be worried. However, if the host remained unconscious, the spiritual entity would also be affected, possibly unable to regain consciousness, or if it did, it wouldn’t be in good shape.
So, Huo Ranchuan replied, “Take him to the military hospital. Have him sign an IOU for the medical expenses and put it on my tab.”
The deputy pulled the weakened Adean out of the water cell and took him to the hospital.
Chen Min had already come out and was holding the little bird in his arms. He couldn’t help but think how truly adorable it was. Its spiritual level seemed to be only at A, but he saw potential in it. “If we nurture it well and use a spiritual power booster, it might even level up.”
Standing by the door, Huo Ranchuan heard Chen Min ask, “What do you plan to do with its host?”
Huo Ranchuan shrugged. “What else? Deport him.”
Ever since Bai Nuosi picked up the little bird, Adean essentially gained a get-out-of-jail-free card. Huo Ranchuan initially considered training Adean, but since he refused to pledge loyalty to the Empire, deporting him back to his home planet in the barren star belt was the only option. Whether he became an enemy or an ally in the future didn’t matter.
Just then, Huo Ranchuan turned and saw the Teng Snake lying anxiously outside the bathroom door. The Teng Snake had been lethargic lately, often hiding in its room to minimize its presence. Yet now, it has come out.
Huo Ranchuan’s expression sharpened as he sensed something was wrong. He strode to the bathroom door, and even before he reached it, he smelled the scent of Bai Nuosi’s pheromones.
He looked serious and exchanged a glance with the Teng Snake, who was visibly anxious, pacing and raising its head at the door.
Huo Ranchuan called out loudly, “Xiao Bai? Xiao Bai, are you in there?”
There was no response. Huo Ranchuan held the doorknob. “Xiao Bai, I’m coming in.”
When Bai Nuosi still didn’t respond, Huo Ranchuan forced the locked door open. The anxious Teng Snake was the first to rush inside.
By this time, the scent of pheromones in the bathroom was intense. People in the Beastman Star System were generally not sensitive to pheromones, and Huo Ranchuan usually detected only a faint fragrance. But now, perhaps due to the temporary mark he had left on Bai Nuosi, he was extremely sensitive to Bai Nuosi’s pheromones.
The strong scent made his head buzz. Taking a deep breath, he approached the sink, where Bai Nuosi, drenched in sweat, lay slumped with his face and neck flushed. He was on his knees beside the sink, eyes closed, and looked like he was in pain.
The Teng Snake crawled beside him, nudging his arm with a worried expression.
Huo Ranchuan knelt down and pulled Bai Nuosi into his arms. Immediately, he saw the red and swollen gland on the back of Bai Nuosi’s neck.
Huo Ranchuan wasn’t sure what was happening, suspecting it was a side effect of his temporary marking. After all, he wasn’t an alpha but a beastman. While marking Bai Nuosi temporarily had calmed his spiritual energy, who knew what it might have done?
Worried and guilty, Huo Ranchuan took off his coat, wrapped Bai Nuosi in it, and carried him out of the bathroom.
Chen Min, holding the little chubby bird, was already in the living room. He could smell Bai Nuosi’s pheromones too. Seeing Huo Ranchuan emerge, he said, “Don’t panic. Maybe Bai Nuosi’s heat has just started.”
Huo Ranchuan rarely lost his composure, but at this moment, although he said nothing and appeared calm, Chen Min, who knew him well, could sense his worry and anxiety.
Huo Ranchuan released his personal flying device, quickly boarding with Chen Min. Because the craft was small, the golden eagle had to return to Chen Min’s spiritual sea, while Teng Snake shrank in size, coiling on Huo Ranchuan’s shoulder, watching Bai Nuosi with concern.
From the first time since Bai Nuosi started working, he had never been sick. He had always been the one carefully taking care of sick cubs. Teng Snake had once disguised itself as a cub, enjoying Bai’s care without a second thought. Now, seeing Bai Nuosi so vulnerable, it felt terrible. It resolved that it would take care of Bai Nuosi in the future.
After boarding, Huo Ranchuan gently wiped the sweat off Bai Nuosi’s face with a handkerchief. Bai Nuosi’s brow was furrowed, and his forehead was hot. The scent of pheromones was so strong that even Chen Min, who wasn’t usually sensitive to pheromones, felt a bit restless.
Huo Ranchuan held Bai tightly and asked Chen Min, “I know about heats; I’ve researched omega information. This doesn’t seem like a heat.”
An omega who had been recently marked wouldn’t go into heat so soon—at least that’s what the information said.
Chen Min, holding the chubby bird, leaned closer to check on Bai Nuosi. He was genuinely worried since the golden eagle still had feelings for Bai Nuosi.
Huo Ranchuan blocked him with his hand, his face expressionless.
Chen Min rubbed his nose and backed off, “I’m just concerned about Bai Nuosi’s condition. Honestly, I was only taking a look—no need to be so defensive.”
Huo Ranchuan continued wiping Bai Nuosi’s forehead. “It’s basic decency for a man to keep his distance from someone already claimed. Got it?”
Chen Min sighed. “Claimed? Bai Nuosi isn’t a spiritual entity.”
Huo Ranchuan ignored him. In his mind, Bai Nuosi was already his, and he wouldn’t let anyone else get close.
Upon reaching the central district hospital, Huo Ranchuan immediately sought out Doctor Sajinna, a trusted physician. The Empire had many skilled doctors, including those knowledgeable about pheromones, but Huo Ranchuan didn’t trust most of them. Sajinna specialized in spiritual seas and entities but had recently started researching pheromones. She even consulted with off-world experts, having studied for a while at Blackbird Star System.
Sajinna was investigating whether pheromones affected spiritual entities’ volatility. Based on her preliminary findings, there was indeed an impact, but its extent depended on the strength of the pheromones and the entities involved.
Rushing to the hospital bed, Huo Ranchuan set Bai Nuosi down as Sajinna quickly checked his gland.
“Commander, it looks like Bai is allergic to your spiritual energy.”
Sajinna was shocked as she examined the swollen gland.
Huo Ranchuan’s expression darkened. “How could that be?”
If Bai Nuosi was allergic to him, then… Huo Ranchuan clenched his jaw, unwilling to consider such an outcome.
Sajinna used all her expertise, consulting the specialists she had recently worked with, and finally reached a conclusion: “Commander, Bai Nuosi isn’t allergic.”
Huo Ranchuan quickly approached, looking at the feverish Bai Nuosi. “Then what’s going on?”
Sajinna used a simple term: “Unfulfilled desire.”
Huo Ranchuan: “???”
Sajinna explained, “Bai Nuosi has never been marked before, so his gland was completely intact. Since adulthood, he’s only ever used suppressants and has never been soothed by another’s pheromones. He went through each heat under suppression. If he continued like that, he might develop a resistance to the suppressants, needing to change types frequently. Still, it’s not necessarily a problem. I’m not sure if our suppressant for spiritual energy would work on him.”
Huo Ranchuan’s temple throbbed. “Get to the point.”
Sajinna: “In simple terms, he entered an early heat due to a lack of pheromone satisfaction from the initial temporary marking. The desire for pheromones triggered an intense heat. He might have felt it coming; didn’t he seem like he needed you more these past two days?”
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
Did he? He didn’t think so; Bai Nuosi had been avoiding him!
Sajinna shook her head, smirking. “Commander, on Blackbird Star System, if an omega faces this situation and doesn’t get satisfaction, they often find someone else. The alpha is then looked down upon and even blacklisted.”
She was implying he wasn’t capable enough.
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
He stared at Sajinna blankly. “Stop the nonsense. Just tell me what to do.”
Sajinna adjusted her glasses. “Simple, General: just mark him a few more times.”
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
Sajinna continued, “Normally, one mark from an alpha is enough. If it’s not working for you, try two, three, or even four times. Eventually, the issue should resolve. If you’re struggling, I have medications that can enhance stamina…”
Huo Ranchuan pointed to the door. “That’s enough. You can leave now.”
He finally understood why Sajinna, despite her talent, had not been promoted. With that mouth of hers, it was a wonder she was still around.
As Sajinna exited, she peeked back in. “Good luck, Commander!”
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
Sitting beside the bed, he looked at the unconscious Bai Nuosi. Now that he knew Bai Nuosi’s condition was due to his heat, he felt much more at ease. When he had seen Bai Nuosi collapse earlier, he had been extremely worried, fearing it was his fault that Bai Nuosi… oh, right, it actually was his fault.
Huo Ranchuan rubbed his forehead and sighed.
Quickly, he pulled out an omega-specific suppressant from his storage terminal. Since temporarily marking Bai Nuosi in the cave, he had researched a lot about omega physiology and even about omega-beastman dynamics.
After his research, he spent a considerable amount to have someone purchase several expensive suppressants and pheromone-blocking patches for omega use from Blackbird Star System. Since he already considered Bai Nuosi as his, he prepared everything he could.
He had chosen an oral suppressant instead of an injection because he didn’t want to cause Bai Nuosi any pain. He opened one capsule and placed it at Bai Nuosi’s lips. “Xiao Bai, open your mouth.”
When Bai Nuosi didn’t respond, Huo Ranchuan gently parted his lips and fed him the suppressant.
The suppressant wouldn’t work immediately, so Huo Ranchuan cradled Bai Nuosi in his arms, using his scent to comfort him.
At this moment, Huo Ranchuan himself felt restless. He longed for his mate’s pheromones too. But after biting Bai Nuosi once, Bai Nuosi had avoided him and rejected his confession. If he marked Bai Nuosi again while he was unconscious, Bai Nuosi might never want to see him again.
Huo Ranchuan stroked Bai Nuosi’s hair gently. “It’s okay, Xiao Bai. You’ll feel better soon.”
Just then, a knock came from the door. Huo Ranchuan felt irritated. “Who is it?”
“Commander, Han Baiyi is here to visit Teacher Bai.”
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
How did the news spread so quickly?
Outside, Han Baiyi stood straight with his now-adult black panther, holding a bouquet of flowers, waiting patiently. Both he and the panther were worried about Teacher Bai. And they weren’t the only ones—others who cared about Teacher Bai were also on their way.
