AMBTMS Chapter 205

As the door closed, the scent of pheromones in the room instantly intensified. The smell was light and faint, like flowers blooming on snow, yet also like the vivid red by the Naihe Bridge, making people unconsciously want to draw closer.

*Naihe Bridge is the bridge that souls must cross after death on their journey to the underworld according to Chinese mythology. At the end of the Naihe Bridge is Meng Po who serves Meng Po Soup to make souls forget their memories before going on for reincarnation.

It felt like standing in a world of ice and snow, where only a cluster of fiery red flowers stretched out, becoming the only bright color in the vast white world.

Gu Lin knew that he shouldn’t do anything right now. He hadn’t confirmed whether the person standing in front of him was truly the one he thought they were, and even if they were, he shouldn’t do anything under the current circumstances.

It would be against the Empire’s law. Even if it was Li Shu, they were still just strangers who had barely met. No matter how much Gu Lin didn’t want to admit it, the truth was right there in front of him. It wasn’t something he could decide with just his words.

Yet, it was precisely at such a critical moment. The Empire had done an excellent job educating its people on matters like this, and even someone like Gu Lin, who had never planned on being with an Omega, knew quite a bit about Omegas and Alphas. And because of this, he was fully aware of how serious the situation was.

Setting aside everything else, if this wasn’t resolved in time, not only would Li Shu suffer, but the Alphas around them would also be at risk.

For now, the pheromones hadn’t reached a critical level, and the air converter was still working, preventing anyone outside from noticing. But once it surpassed that threshold, the first to be affected would be the soldiers he had brought along.

Though they were all well-trained and could resist the lure of pheromones, the area wasn’t just filled with them. There were others here, people who didn’t abide by the Empire’s laws, and they wouldn’t care whether what they did was legal or not. After all, being in this place already meant they disregarded such things.

Gu Lin didn’t want the situation to escalate to that point. If it did, what would happen to Li Shu? Could he really protect him in the chaos?

He wasn’t sure. When facing swarms of Zergs, he had never felt fear or hesitation, but now, he was terrified. He feared that this person might get hurt. Even if there was only the slightest chance, he wanted to eliminate that possibility.

The inhibitor still hadn’t arrived, and judging by Li Shu’s current state, he clearly couldn’t wait any longer, so Gu Lin didn’t dare to take the risk. He had always believed he would never feel fear, but now he realized he had been wrong. He was capable of fear, but not for himself—for the person standing in front of him.

The person who, after only a few brief encounters, had left an indelible mark on his heart.

Gu Lin himself found it incredible. This went completely against what he understood about emotional development. He had always scoffed at love at first sight, thinking it was merely another glorified form of lust, never imagining that one day, the very thing he had scorned would happen to him.

He had leapt into it without hesitation, not caring whether he was facing a flood of beasts or perilous mountains. None of it mattered anymore.

That person was now sitting on the bed, exuding an irresistible fragrance, like a delicate cake wrapped in loose packaging. The ribbon sealing the package was now tied in his hand, and with just a gentle pull, the tempting cake would slip from the wrapping, ready for him to claim.

Never had time felt so torturous. Standing, sitting, walking, or staying—none of it felt right for Gu Lin.

He had become a statue—flawless and unmoving, frozen in place.

Li Shu knew his own body, and with the system constantly reporting the data, he understood well enough that it was unlikely the inhibitor would arrive in time. By the time the third stage hit, even if the inhibitor arrived, it would be too late.

He blinked, looked at the man who had turned into a statue, and asked softly, “Would Marshal Gu be willing to do me a favor?”

Gu Lin’s heart stirred. Before Li Shu could continue, he already knew what Li Shu was about to ask. But he didn’t answer. If the person in front of him was not “that” person, he could not help with this request.

If it was that person as he thought, he still didn’t know if he should help with this favor. Once an Omega is marked by an Alpha, that mark stays with the Omega for life, binding them to that Alpha forever.

The Empire did have ways to erase the mark, but the cost was too great. Not to mention the extreme pain during the process and the various aftereffects, the success rate was so low that Gu Lin didn’t dare to risk Li Shu’s life.

“Speak.” With this thought in mind, Gu Lin still answered. After saying it, he stared at the young man sitting on the bed unblinkingly. He didn’t know if he was anticipating something, but he could clearly feel how fast his heart was beating.

“Thump, thump.”

It was like a rabbit was jumping frantically inside his chest. He tried to calm his breathing, to quiet the rabbit down, but he knew he couldn’t. As long as he looked into that person’s eyes, his heartbeat couldn’t settle.

What a novel experience this was. What kind of feeling was this? Both fearful and expectant. He didn’t know that his eyes were already betraying his emotions, the stars in them were twinkling incessantly.

Li Shu indeed said the words he most wanted to hear, although not quite in the way he had imagined.

He said, “Marshal Gu, can you help me by marking me?”

“Boom!”

Fireworks exploded, colorful and vibrant against the dark night sky. For a moment, Gu Lin was dazed.

“Are you… are you serious?” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his voice was trembling.

Do you know what this means? Have you truly thought it through?

In Gu Lin’s understanding, Omegas were delicate, reserved beings. Li Shu completely shattered his preconceived notions of what an Omega was. This person was nothing like the image he had of an Omega.

He could pilot mechas, was merciless when it came to fighting, and didn’t fear injury… Even now, in such a state, he could still calmly say, “Help me by marking me”.

“What, you’re unwilling? If you don’t want to, I won’t force you.” Li Shu sat on the bed and slowly lowered his gaze.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stand up—it was just that his legs were so weak he couldn’t stand at all. Only by sitting could he avoid appearing too embarrassed.

Waves of heat washed over him, and the scent of pheromones in the room grew even stronger. No longer the pleasant, faint fragrance from earlier, now it was sweet, cloying, and utterly seductive.

Gu Lin dug his nails into his palm, the sharp pain was the only thing keeping him from losing control over the surging pheromones within him. Every cell in his body screamed with desire, screamed for him to rush forward and claim the tempting Omega in front of him, to devour him whole.

How could he not want to? He was practically going insane with desire. But to avoid scaring the little Omega, Gu Lin didn’t dare speak.

He didn’t say anything, which made Li Shu think he was unwilling. By now, Li Shu was so consumed by the heat that he couldn’t think straight. He had forgotten that he was currently using another identity, another face. The discomfort in his body robbed him of his ability to think, and maybe it was because the man was here that he allowed himself to be vulnerable.

But when no response came, beyond the physical discomfort, he felt a surge of grievance. Why are you rejecting me?

It doesn’t matter. Even without you, I can still find a way to solve this. Isn’t it just an Alpha? This place had plenty of Alphas. And if not an Alpha, there was another, more permanent solution—removing the gland entirely.

But that was an extremely undesirable option. Omegas were far too fragile. If the gland was removed, it would bring the Omega complications and even shorten their lifespan. If not for that, Li Shu would have already found a way to get rid of this troublesome thing.

His thoughts grew more and more chaotic. Supporting himself, Li Shu stood up, his body swaying as if he might collapse at any moment.

“Where are you going?” As he passed Gu Lin, the man grabbed Li Shu’s arm.

Li Shu was already lacking in strength, and when the man grabbed him, he stumbled directly into the man’s arms. Without time to think, Gu Lin’s body moved faster than his mind and by the time he reacted, Li Shu was already in his embrace.

Li Shu was feeling wronged, so he was unwilling to stay in the arms of the man who had made him feel this way and began struggling. Though Li Shu used all his strength, to Gu Lin, it was no more than a tickle—completely insignificant.

Using a bit of force, Gu Lin restrained him in his arms to prevent him from struggling and falling.

“Let me go,” Li Shu said in dissatisfaction. He mumbled as he struggled, “Since you won’t help me, I’ll just go find someone who will.”

“Who do you plan to find?” On hearing those words, the man’s voice instantly dropped in temperature, and the very air around them seemed to grow heavier. “I won’t allow it!”

He forced the person in his arms to look up, staring directly into those somewhat dazed eyes. “I won’t allow you to seek anyone else!”

The man’s eyes were dark, like an abyss with no end in sight. Staring too long felt like being sucked into it. At this moment, those eyes were filled with nothing but possessiveness, greed, and domination.

All of those emotions were directed at Li Shu. Gu Lin was drowning in the soft warmth of the Omega in his arms, and he almost lost control. Especially when that person was twisting around, filled with the scent of alluring pheromones.

Some things were now completely uncontrollable. The overwhelming, aggressive pheromones of an Alpha filled the room, and in just a moment, Li Shu went entirely limp in Gu Lin’s arms.

Two completely different pheromones began to intertwine and merge…

Although Gu Lin’s pheromones were overbearing, when facing Li Shu, they instinctively held back. Under the Alpha’s will, they gently soothed the Omega, who was suffering from his heat.

Some things are etched into your very bones. Even without memories, Gu Lin instinctively knew what to do to ease Li Shu’s discomfort. He gently lifted Li Shu’s head with one hand, brushing the hair behind his ear with the other.

As he was about to pull his hand away, Li Shu grabbed it, nuzzling into the warmth like a small, soft animal seeking comfort.

‘So soft.’ That was Gu Lin’s first thought. The skin on Li Shu’s face was delicate and smooth, and Gu Lin found himself unwilling to let go.

In that instant, his heart melted completely. Gu Lin narrowed his eyes, leaned closer to Li Shu’s ear and whispered softly, “Shu Shu?”

Li Shu tilted his head slightly, letting out a meaningless sound, “Mm.”

As if triggered by something, Gu Lin immediately grasped the Omega’s chin and kissed him fiercely.