Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Shi Jian endured the tingling agony in his limbs, habitually biting his lower lip. The waxen pallor spread outward from the marks of his teeth, making his naturally thin lips appear slightly fuller, dewy and slightly pursed like a luxurious satin rose petal.

His light-colored lashes lifted as he glared up at Muye with a gaze that was piercing and relentless—like an eaglet sizing up its prey, waiting for the opportune moment.

"Am I so handsome that you're mesmerized?"

"..."

Muye spat out the leaf in his mouth and struck a more cocky stance, leaning one hand against the wall, his left foot casually crossed over his right, exuding an air of roguishness. "Alright, alright, I get it. You spent too long as an Omega, so it's only natural you'd be drawn to an A-grade Alpha like me. But out of professional obligation, as your instructor, I have to remind you—the Federation doesn’t allow Alpha-Alpha relationships. You better straighten out that seventeen-year-old twisted romantic inclination of yours before someone reports you to your father’s political enemies and gets you locked up."

Shi Jian instantly felt as if Muye had licked him all over—disgusting.

Muye clicked his tongue, idly twirling the whip in his hand. "You’re actually pretty obedient like this. I hope you’ll stay this well-behaved in my classes and stop causing trouble. Especially with Yu Chen. I know both of you come from powerful backgrounds and refuse to back down, but at least in my presence, don’t take it too far, got it?"

Shi Jian said coldly, "Taking sides?"

"What Alpha could swallow being slapped twice in public? And that bite of yours wasn’t exactly painless either." Muye raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Shi Jian’s neck. When he’d dragged him out of bed that morning, the area had still been bruised purple, but now, hidden under the stiff collar of his uniform, nothing was visible.

"Gu Shiyun’s report made last night’s incident perfectly clear. While General Yu might be a headache to deal with, I have no objections to the punitive actions suggested for him," Muye said, turning serious.

"According to the Disciplinary Department, Yu Chen didn’t even make it to the infirmary before Gu Shiyun hauled him off to the detention building. The on-duty teacher just gave him a cursory sterilization with a first-aid kit—his wounds are still bleeding, far worse for wear than you. Why do you think the freshman representative was Shen Xingchuan? If that high-ranking cadet hadn’t been stuck in confinement, do you think a commoner student would’ve gotten the chance to speak?"

Muye scoffed after speaking. Shi Jian couldn’t tell who exactly he was mocking, but in the end, he didn’t care. If Muye had told him Yu Chen had died of rabies from that bite, he might’ve granted a few more glances.

Shi Jian’s emotions were sparse—few things could stir his hatred or affection. He didn’t want to waste his thoughts on anything outside his family.

Yet Muye kept his eyes fixed on Shi Jian, his tone teasing. "I just realized you’re quite vicious for a spoiled little young master with delicate skin. Were you really trying to bite through that guy’s neck? Impressive. At least you’ve got some backbone in that regard."

Shi Jian replied calmly, "All I know is that my father taught me from childhood to fight back if I’m bullied. No matter what happens, he’ll handle it."

Muye loved provoking him, like teasing a kitten. "And what if one day your father can’t handle it anymore?"

Shi Jian said firmly, "Impossible."

"...Alright then, you little seahorse baby, blindly worshipping your dad while suffering from separation anxiety."

Shi Jian closed his eyes, silently telling himself that out of sight, out of mind.

But the next second, a familiar voice made him open them again in shock.

"9 AM in Central District. Second-year student representative Gu Shiyun, on behalf of his peers and the Disciplinary Department, greets all faculty, students, and distinguished guests of the Federal First Military Academy. Glory to the Federation!"

The voice reached Shi Jian through the marble wall, cold as a machine's voice, devoid of any emotion—like an AI-generated speech.

In contrast, Shen Xingchuan’s slightly nervous tone had been far more natural for someone unexpectedly chosen as a student representative. More than once, Shi Jian had thought Gu Shiyun resembled a robot with emotion add-ons more than a human.

Muye caught the lingering surprise in Shi Jian’s eyes, his tone taunting yet cautious. "Didn’t expect that, huh? You’ve only been here a few days, haven’t even started classes properly, barely know any of your classmates, and yet you’re already chummy with the head of the Disciplinary Department?"

Shi Jian retorted coolly, "Is policing cadets’ personal bonds part of an instructor’s duties?"

"Hah? Me, policing you? I’d rather stay far away from you to live a few more years. If it weren’t for..." Muye muttered a few complaints under his breath, too low for Shi Jian to catch, before raising his voice again with a sneer. "Gu Shiyun, huh? That guy’s not as harmless as he looks. If you want to survive your years here, stay away from him."

"Why?"

Muye snapped impatiently, "Why so many questions? Just do as you’re told and keep your distance. Do you pester your dad with endless questions at home too?"

Shi Jian tuned him out like white noise.

Only when Gu Shiyun’s speech ended and applause erupted did Muye finally take mercy, jerking his chin up. "Get up. You’ve got military theory this afternoon—don’t collapse now and end up crawling to class."

Shi Jian exhaled in relief, his tense muscles relaxing as a wave of dizziness hit him.

He’d been squatting on one leg for too long, his circulation cut off. Everything below his neck was numb, making it impossible to stand immediately. Slowly, he shifted his toes flat, taking a moment to recover before pushing himself up against the wall.

Muye gave him a disdainful once-over. "Spindly limbs, weak after just forty minutes of squatting. If we had to rely on the likes of you to fight Mutants on the battlefield, we might as well send you off as a peace offering bride."

Shi Jian trembled faintly all over, though his face remained expressionless. *"Sacrificing one woman to secure the nation—what use are generals then?"*

"The only hard thing about you is that mouth of yours. Seriously, how did Shi Cangfeng raise you? Weren’t you an Omega before? Aside from your build and temper, I don’t see anything Omega-like about you."

Shi Jian looked at him and calmly explained, "Large birds of prey—like the Harpy Eagle, or the Gyrfalcon—have beaks as their hardest feature. Curved and sharp like steel talons, they can easily pierce through skin, flesh, and bone. If you keep disrespecting my father under the guise of being an instructor, I’ll have a combat knife and a Fountain Pen peck you to death."

To Muye, this level of threat was no scarier than a kid’s Halloween "trick or treat." He crossed his arms and smirked. "Who are you trying to scare?"

The next second, he yelped in pain, clutching his earlobe. An arctic-white Gyrfalcon with wings dappled with black flapped down, its talons digging into Muye’s shoulder as it caught sight of the blood seeping through his fingers—and promptly pecked at them again.

Muye swatted frantically. Once he realized what was attacking him, the Federal First Military Academy’s head-instructor for first-years, an A-grade Alpha, let out a rare, frustrated roar: "Where the hell did you get a Gyrfalcon?! Get it off me!"

But the more he yelled at Shi Jian, the harder the bird pecked.

Even Shi Jian had been startled when the large bird swooped in, but he quickly recognized the troublemaker on Muye’s head as his eldest brother Shi Xu’s Spirit, Fountain Pen, and smiled genuinely.

Muye, wary of harming the Gyrfalcon, ended up with scratches on his face. When he turned, he saw Shi Jian standing with crossed arms, enjoying the show. "Still laughing?! If you don’t call it back, I’ll pluck its feathers and make soup out of it!"

"Screech!!!" The Gyrfalcon spread its wings, letting out a raptor’s cry before diving for another attack.

Shi Jian’s voice was light, each word ending with a faintly teasing lilt that grated on Muye’s nerves. "Reporting, Instructor. That’s not my Spirit. Asking me to command it is a bit unreasonable, don’t you think?"

"Who doesn’t know your brother’s Spirit is a Gyrfalcon?! What is this, revenge for disciplining the younger sibling? Some kind of power fantasy novel?!" Muye nearly lost his right eye to the bloodthirsty bird and, in a rage, summoned his own Spirit.

A majestic German Shepherd materialized from the void with an excited bark, lunging toward Muye, who brightened—thinking he was saved.

But after sniffing around with its shiny black nose, the dog suddenly whimpered, wagged its tail, and trotted straight to Shi Jian instead.

Muye, ears still bleeding: "?"

*Is this how it’s supposed to work?*

The Gyrfalcon, spotting the intrusion from the corner of its eye, let out a piercing cry and wheeled sharply in flight, wings flapping as it kicked the German Shepherd away before it could reach Shi Jian. Then, with its claws neatly folded, it landed gracefully on Shi Jian’s shoulder, puffing up its feathers and lifting its chest with imperious dignity.

Its sharp eyes darted left and right like tracking scopes.

The German Shepherd, defeated, drooped its head and tail, crept back to Muye’s side before flopping down dejectedly. Its watery black eyes kept stealing glances at Shi Jian, only to whimper and lower its head onto its paws whenever the Gyrfalcon glared back.

Muye’s face darkened. Cursing his Spirit’s uselessness, he recalled it despite its protests.

He glared at the Gyrfalcon perched proudly on Shi Jian’s shoulder and sneered. "So the eldest young master of the Shi family is here today too. I wonder if he’ll spare some of his precious time to ask about your performance at the Academy—I doubt he’ll be disappointed."

Shi Jian immediately caught the threat. "*Fountain Pen*—"

The Gyrfalcon flapped its wings, its sharp, curved beak gleaming lethally in the sunlight.

With his ears still bleeding, Muye had no desire to end up with a face full of scratches. He hastily cut in, "Alright, alright, I get it! The young master’s not to be trifled with. Keep that damn bird away, and I won’t snitch to your kin, deal?"

Shi Jian remained unmoved, letting the bird do the talking. "Reporting, Instructor. I have no control over my brother’s Spirit."

The Gyrfalcon tensed as if ready to strike—

Muye, seeing no other choice—even if it meant offending the Shi family—summoned Wind Blades in his hands. Just as he was about to unleash them, a voice cold as the void between stars suddenly spoke.

"*Fountain Pen*, return."

Simultaneously, Shi Jian, the Gyrfalcon, and Muye all turned toward the newcomer.