Chapter 29

Chapter 29

But Shi Jian quickly dismissed his own speculation.

Oh.

Pretty hard.

Probably not ED.

But why hasn’t it softened yet?

Maybe he has functional anejaculation.

Shi Jian expressionlessly adjusted his position.

Shi Jian waited for what felt like an eternity, even yawning, while Gu Shiyun was still wrestling with his gland.

Perhaps it wasn’t just Shi Jian’s pheromones that were confused—even Gu Shiyun himself seemed puzzled. Shouldn’t he be releasing pheromones after biting?

Right—

Where are the pheromones?

The S-Class Alpha, lost in his out-of-control state, raised his head in bewilderment, the sweet scent of freesia still lingering in his mouth, yet he couldn’t sense his own pheromones.

What’s the difference between an Alpha without pheromones and one who’s sterile?

As his mind gradually cleared from the haze of instinct and lust, Gu Shiyun released Shi Jian and slowly sat up, staring blankly into the darkness before him.

His consciousness hadn’t fully returned yet—otherwise, if he were in a rational state, he definitely wouldn’t be sulking like a kindergartener whose lollipop had been snatched away by a bully, all because he couldn’t mark Shi Jian due to his lack of pheromones.

The S-Class’s frame was inexplicably massive—nearly two meters tall, with lean muscle—and when he pressed down on Shi Jian, it felt like a small mountain had collapsed onto him, so heavy that he could barely breathe, his fingers completely immobilized.

—If marking an Omega required this level of restraint, Shi Jian thought, then he might as well give up on marriage and children for life.

Shi Jian lay flat like a salted fish for a while longer before sitting up as well. He reached back to touch the gland on his nape, relieved to find it only slightly swollen without any bleeding.

But accidentally brushing against it still made him hiss in pain. He shot a quick, resentful glance at the culprit—what is he, a damn dog? Biting so hard.

What followed was a long silence. Gu Shiyun remained motionless like a statue, and Shi Jian, growing restless, shifted from sitting upright to curling up in a corner, hugging his knees and quietly resting with his eyes closed.

He replayed the earlier training session with Gu Shiyun in his mind. The S-Class Alpha’s reflexes were freakishly faster than a machine’s—often, before Shi Jian could even strike, the other would predict his next move based on combat experience and intercept it in advance. Even in this dark, cramped environment, it hadn’t hindered his judgment at all.

His only successful strike had relied on exploiting Gu Shiyun’s pity for his weakness. And Shi Jian could tell—Gu Shiyun had sensed his intent the moment he swung the dagger, but for some reason, he hadn’t dodged.

In a real fight, Shi Jian would’ve been counter-killed the moment his first strike failed.

This was the hierarchical divide among Alphas, no different from a wolf pack. Differentiation determined everything—the victor reigned, the loser submitted. For an E-level Alpha to inflict real damage on an A+ under neutral conditions was absolutely impossible.

The same logic applied on the battlefield. An E-level Alpha was practically disabled—even the lowest-tier Mutant could crush him like an ant.

Shi Jian buried his face deep in his palms and let out a nearly inaudible sigh for his unpredictable future.

By the time Gu Shiyun fully regained his senses, this was the scene before him.

The disheveled young man, forced and struggling, was curled up in the corner. Hearing Gu Shiyun stir, he let out a stifled sob, trembling fearfully as he exposed the bruised, pitiful gland hidden beneath his hair.

Like a ragdoll that had been ravaged.

Memories flooded back, and Gu Shiyun’s mind buzzed—

He had actually… actually…

Shi Jian looked up at the sound, studying the once-again frozen Gu Shiyun with mild confusion. Just as he was about to speak, the other cut him off.

Gu Shiyun’s eyes were filled with unrestrained devastation. He wanted to move closer to Shi Jian, but the guilt of what he’d done made him hold back, afraid of hurting him again.

He closed his eyes, voice thick with anguish. “I’m sorry.”

Being bitten out of nowhere had pissed Shi Jian off at the time, but upon reflection, Gu Shiyun had clearly been out of control. It wasn’t really his fault, and by now, Shi Jian’s anger had long faded.

“…It’s fine. We’re both Alphas—it’s not like I was taken advantage of.”

Shi Jian assumed that would be the end of it. He still wanted Gu Shiyun to keep teaching him dagger techniques, but the next words out of the other’s mouth made his eyes widen in shock.

“The harm I’ve caused you can’t be undone, and it’s entirely my fault. I will take responsibility—even if the Federation doesn’t allow Alpha-Alpha marriages, I would never just walk away after… this.”

Gu Shiyun couldn’t bear to meet Shi Jian’s gaze, but his tone was resolute as he abruptly stood. “I’ll go request my father’s approval immediately and have the council amend the laws to legalize Alpha-Alpha unions. Don’t worry—no matter how difficult, I will marry you and give you the proper standing you deserve.”

The sheer volume of information in that speech left Shi Jian dazed, unsure which part to react to first. But the most pressing issue was clearly…

This guy thought he’d… slept with him?

Shi Jian’s vision darkened. He took a deep breath and grabbed Gu Shiyun’s arm as the other took a half-step forward. “Wait a second!”

Noticing the growing guilt in Gu Shiyun’s eyes—who knew what he was imagining now—Shi Jian hurriedly clarified, “It’s not as serious as you think. When you were out of control, you only bit my gland. Nothing else happened—not even a temporary mark.”

Gu Shiyun paused, seemingly processing this.

Just as Shi Jian sighed in relief, he heard the other mutter, “Not even a temporary mark…?”

Shit.

This was worse than not clarifying.

Watching Gu Shiyun spiral into extreme doubt about his own sexual function, Shi Jian awkwardly tried to comfort him. “Uh… it’s okay. Alphas have their off days every month. It’s not your fault—I get it. I’ve heard some Alphas get too excited their first time and can’t find the right spot… Anyway, virgin Alphas are like this. You did great.”

Then, to his despair, Shi Jian realized Gu Shiyun—who already usually resembled an emotionless robot—now looked even more withdrawn.

This topic needed to end now. He pulled Gu Shiyun back down to sit. “Can I ask… why couldn’t I sense your pheromones even in that situation?”

After a moment of silence, Gu Shiyun chose honesty. “I was born without pheromones or a spirit. The doctors say it’s because I’ve never undergone Secondary Differentiation. Once it happens, I’ll be like any other normal Alpha.”

Shi Jian hadn’t expected him to share this secret so readily. Stunned, he recalled Muye’s vague remarks about Gu Shiyun being a “monster.” Connecting the dots, he finally understood what Muye had meant.

A monster…

Gu Shiyun had said he was twenty, yet Secondary Differentiation typically occurred at adulthood. In a top-tier military academy brimming with prodigies, even an E-level Alpha like Shi Jian had pheromones and a spirit. For an S-Class to be born incomplete… he really was an outlier.

But Shi Jian felt no malicious satisfaction at the flaw of someone so exceptional. Gu Shiyun had been kind to him—one of the few in this jungle-law academy who understood and accepted him. If Gu Shiyun was a monster, what did that make the others who upheld these rules? What did that make Shi Jian himself, also an outcast?

“So I guess we’re both in the same boat now?”

Shi Jian smiled at Gu Shiyun, utterly unbothered by his imperfections.

Gu Shiyun numbly nodded, then felt something icy in his chest melt at that smile, turning into a warm stream that flowed through his veins, bringing with it the rejuvenating warmth of spring—as if, in that instant, he’d seen countless flowers bloom in the breeze.

Suddenly, he was flooded by an emotion even stronger than an Alpha’s instinctive possessiveness. Not destruction, not conquest—but something tender, something cherished. The kind of happiness that came simply from gazing at someone, feeling the void inside him quietly fill.

For the first time in his life, Gu Shiyun experienced such emotions so vividly. He was tongue-tied and couldn't find the right words, so he simply stared unblinkingly at Shi Jian, like the legendary dragon guarding its treasure, protecting what was priceless to him.

The awkward topic seemed to finally be behind them. Shi Jian returned to his training and practiced for several more hours with Gu Shiyun's guidance, only letting his very useful sparring partner leave when the latter had to check in with the Disciplinary Department.

Gu Shiyun's thoughts lingered on Shi Jian. The once workaholic who used to work his peers into the ground now absentmindedly handled school affairs. The moment he finished the backlog of documents, he rushed straight to the detention block.

As he neared Shi Jian's confinement room, Gu Shiyun deliberately slowed his steps. Before opening the iron door, he expected to find the other resting, stretched out on the long bench like a sleeping beauty enjoying his "prison" time—just as he had been during their first encounter.

After all, this was a spoiled rich kid who had grown up indulged by his family, somewhat delicate and accustomed to pleasure rather than hardship.

But upon entering, Gu Shiyun was surprised to see Shi Jian still seated upright on the bench, flashing his dagger with deadly precision. He was wholly absorbed in his task, not sparing a single glance toward the white-haired Alpha who had deliberately muted his presence.

The silver blade flickered between the boy's slender, agile fingers, dancing as nimbly as fingers in a game of cat's cradle. The speed was dizzying, leaving trails like streaks of cold light.

Gu Shiyun marveled at Shi Jian's learning ability. Having only just started less than a day ago, even with relentless practice over these dozen or so hours, it was rare for a beginner to achieve such mastery.

The fluctuation in his emotions broke Gu Shiyun's carefully maintained stealth. Shi Jian's ears twitched, and in an instant, he flung the dagger toward the source of the disturbance—just skimming past Gu Shiyun's temple before embedding itself deep into the wall.

A few strands of white hair drifted silently to the ground in the aftermath.

Gu Shiyun's breathing grew heavy. Through the darkness, his burning gaze locked onto Shi Jian, barely restrained yet profound.

In that moment, the boy's sharpness was like an unsheathed blade—

Dangerous, yet heart-stoppingly beautiful.