AMBTMS Chapter 198

Ever since Li Shu made his mark in the advanced round, invitations to recruit him have been pouring in, mostly aiming to win him over. It was clear why—the talent Li Shu displayed in the competition could no longer simply be described as “genius”.

Li Shu had a clear goal for himself and wouldn’t accept any offers. His gender alone was enough to cause him a lot of trouble.

At times like this, he couldn’t help but wonder why he had to be an Omega. If he were a Beta, it wouldn’t be so troublesome. Although this world provided all sorts of privileges for Omegas, there were also many restrictions on them.

It wasn’t always noticeable, but in situations like this, it became very obvious. If it weren’t for 1314 helping him cover things up, it would have taken a lot of effort for him to even participate in this competition. It’s not that he couldn’t participate—it was just troublesome, there were too many problems to solve.

Like now, no one knew he was an Omega, and no one would even think of him as one. After all, how could such a powerful person be an Omega? How could such a strong combat awareness belong to a pampered Omega?

People on the Star Network unanimously speculated that “Lu Xi” was a powerful Alpha. Some even compared “Lu Xi” to the legendary Gu Lin, who became known to the interstellar public after a major competition many years ago.

For the people living in the safe zones, war was too distant to truly resonate with them. But this competition was different. It was something everyone could participate in. The feeling between personally joining in and merely watching from the sidelines was entirely different.

Gu Lin had initially sent an email to “Lu Xi” with the attitude of just giving it a try. They had been keeping an eye on what was happening on the Empire Star, and were naturally aware that a powerful figure had emerged, and was sought after by various factions.

The Chiyan Legion scoffed at the external claims that this rising “Lu Xi” could rival Marshal Gu Lin of the past. They knew in their hearts just how strong their marshal was. After all, how could someone who merely performed well in a virtual competition compare to their marshal, who had fought countless battles against the Zerg and achieved numerous victories?

When Gu Lin received a reply, he was surprised, especially when he learned that “Lu Xi” hadn’t responded to anyone else but him. It was as if, to “Lu Xi”, he was someone special.

This realization made Gu Lin curl the corners of his mouth, but after he realized it, he immediately straightened his mouth and gave his orders.

The meeting would take place on the Empire Star, so it would have to wait until he returned there. Coincidentally, his current mission was almost complete, and after dealing with the pesky bugs jumping around, it was time to return to the Empire Star and solve the real trouble.

No one had an endlessly good temper. Those people had overstepped their bounds time and time again. It wasn’t that Gu Lin didn’t care, he was just waiting for the right opportunity.

Along with Gu Lin’s return to the Empire Star came the news of Helian Zheng’s return as well. The reason for Helian Zheng’s return was simple—the engagement.

The engagement ceremony between the Helian family and the Li family was grand. Both families were prominent, and Helian Zheng’s and Li Luo were outstanding figures among the younger generation. This engagement drew widespread attention.

The engagement was set to take place after the competition ended. Li Shu packed up his things and moved back to the Li family. It wasn’t that he hadn’t planned to return, even if he was unwilling, the Li family wouldn’t have allowed him to continue staying at the school during this time.

The current patriarch of the Li family was a man who cared deeply about face, similar to the “male chauvinists” from Li Shu’s original world. He had to have complete control over family matters. Li Shu moving out had already defied his will, and if Li Shu still refused to come home at this time, he would send people to drag him back, no matter what.

Li Shu fully believed that the man could do such a thing.

Not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble, he moved back when the Li family contacted him. For being so sensible, the patriarch surprisingly gave him a rare smile upon his return.

“This is a major event for the family. What happened in the past is the past. I won’t hold it against you. After the engagement ceremony, if you still wish to live at school, I won’t stop you. Besides that, if you have any other requests, I’ll try to meet them. Didn’t you say before that you wanted to visit Moz Star? If you still want to go after this time, I’ll arrange for some people to take you.”

Moz Star was where the original owner’s mother’s family was from. The original owner had always wanted to visit the place where his mother had lived and had asked the Li family patriarch several times, only to be denied.

This time, however, he agreed. It seemed this engagement banquet was indeed important, so much so that the patriarch even made such a concession.

“Alright, Father.” Hiding the sarcasm in his eyes, Li Shu smiled and replied. He had been planning to visit Moz Star anyway, but he was going to ask Gu Lin for help using his identity as “Lu Xi”. Now that the opportunity had come to him, he might as well use it.

The Li family placed great importance on the engagement banquet. By the time Li Shu returned, preparations were already in full swing. Li Luo and his mother were too busy to bother Li Shu, and were preoccupied with organizing the event.

Everyone in the household, including the servants, had a cheerful look on their faces. After all, a marriage alliance with the Helian family, especially with Helian Zheng as the partner, was something many could only envy.

As for Li Shu, the eldest young master of the house, he was selectively ignored. Servants were always good at reading the room, and with the whole family focused on Li Luo’s matters, it was only natural that they would neglect the other Omega child of the household.

Li Shu spent most of his time in his room, discussing cooperation with Gu Lin via his light brain. At the same time, he had 1314 look for flaws in the plans of Li Luo and his mother.

Since they had set up the original owner so that they could successfully marry into the Helian family and to make Li Luo Helian Zheng’s Omega, Li Shu planned to reveal the truth just when they thought their plan had succeeded.

As for whether the Helian family would still want Helian Zheng to marry Li Luo after learning what kind of person he was, that was no longer Li Shu’s concern.

In the blink of an eye, the day for the meeting with Gu Lin arrived. Li Shu asked 1314 to send the prepared evidence to the Helian family anonymously, treating it as a gift for them ahead of the engagement.

After finishing everything, Li Shu applied the pheromone inhibitors and stepped out.

1314 informed Li Shu that the original owner’s heat would occur during this period, so Li Shu prepared a pile of suppressants and inhibitors based on his memory, just in case.

Ever since he embarked on the path of cultivation, he hadn’t experienced such primal sensations. Thanks to his current physique, he was now forced to endure this feeling once again.

Li Shu sighed again. Why was this body not a Beta? If he were a Beta—or even if he were simply not an Omega—many things would be much more convenient.

The marriage between the Li family and the Helian family, strictly speaking, was the Li family marrying up. The Li family had originally been a small business family and had only gradually entered politics in this generation. Marrying into the Helian family would bring immense benefits to the Li family.

If successful, with the Helian family supporting them, the Li family’s influence would steadily rise. Whether it was Li Shu or Li Luo who married into the Helian family, it was a guaranteed win for the Li family.

This was precisely why Li Luo was so anxious. At the slightest sign of trouble, he wanted to push the original owner into a pit of despair. Otherwise, why had they suddenly targeted the original owner after so many years?

Having delivered the message to the Helian family, Li Shu didn’t pay much attention to the follow-up. His mind was entirely focused on another matter.

—The matter of the original owner’s biological mother.

This was also one of the conditions for Li Shu’s cooperation with Gu Lin. He wanted to investigate the truth behind the destruction of the Yue family twenty years ago.

The Yue family had once been the most prominent family on Moz Star. Moz Star was far from the Empire, governing itself independently. At the time, the Yue family held real power on Moz Star, akin to the imperial family on the Empire Star. Later, the Yue family fell, and the Empire took back Moz Star’s independence. The Li family played a significant role in this and successfully transitioned from a business family to a political one.

The original owner’s mother was actually the youngest Omega of the Yue family. After the Yue family fell, she concealed her identity and returned to the Empire Star with the patriarch of the Li family. She had believed that this Alpha would give her a home as he had promised, but after the Yue family was no more, she lost her value and was discarded.

When the Yue family still existed, her status as an Omega of the Yue family had been a great asset. But once the Yue family was gone, that very status became a death sentence.

Li Shu had uncovered all of this after arriving in this world. However, the investigation was only halfway through before the trail went cold. There were too few clues left on the Empire Star. To continue digging deeper, he would need to visit Moz Star.

What had really happened back then? Why had the once-thriving Yue family suddenly been destroyed, leaving no trace behind? There were too many mysteries, tangled together like a knotted ball of yarn, impossible to unravel.

Due to his current status, there were many things Li Shu couldn’t investigate. Gu Lin was different. He was already in power, and if he really wanted to do something, no one in the Empire could stop him.

Li Shu understood that, for those in power, there was nothing scarier than a partner with no demands. A person with no desires was someone who couldn’t be controlled. So it was necessary to reveal some of his motives appropriately.

Sure enough, after hearing Li Shu’s request, Gu Lin’s expression softened a little.

Li Shu lifted the crystal glass and took a light sip. “I trust that, with the marshal’s capabilities, you can give me a satisfactory answer.”

This marked the agreement.

Gu Lin lowered his eyes, and his gaze happened to land on Li Shu’s hand holding the glass. Such delicate fingers. Gu Lin was momentarily distracted. The person before him had beautiful hands—slender, long, white, and translucent. The exposed wrist bones seemed as fragile as porcelain, as if they would break with a light touch.

The crystal glass reflected a white light, but the hand holding it was even more striking than the expensive glass itself.

These were not the hands of an Alpha. It could only belong to a Beta or… an Omega.

He had seen these hands before…and they felt so familiar.

Gu Lin shook his head and scolded himself for being delusional. How could that be?

“Marshal?” Seeing that the man was lost in thought, Li Shu spoke up.

“My apologies,” Gu Lin snapped back to attention. “It’s a pleasure working with you.”

“It’s a pleasure working with you too.”

Li Shu didn’t linger long. As Gu Lin watched his departing figure, he seemed deep in thought.

This person’s appearance was unfamiliar, and his presence was unfamiliar as well, yet he gave off an inexplicable feeling of familiarity. A vague thought surfaced in Gu Lin’s mind, but it was too absurd and he quickly dismissed it.

Could it be him?