Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Gu Shiyun’s expression immediately darkened tenfold. Though Yuan Xiu didn't appear particularly tall or strong, he held Shi Jian steadily in a bridal carry. With a single glance from Yuan Xiu, Scarface and Yang Dao led a group of assembled Alphas to block Gu Shiyun’s path.

Dozens of wind blades materialized behind Gu Shiyun, the distorted air currents twisting the emotions in his eyes into a gloomy vortex, as if poised to annihilate everything in his way.

Before leaving, Yuan Xiu chuckled softly, "Show some mercy, or our little jellyfish might just die at the hands of his boyfriend~"

Gu Shiyun unleashed his wind blades, and lower-level Alphas quickly collapsed en masse. Yet none were fatally wounded; they merely clutched their injuries, writhing and howling in pain.

Blood snaked from countless bodies, pooling at Gu Shiyun’s feet. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, but the man seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed murderously on Yuan Xiu as he carried the unconscious Shi Jian into a sightseeing elevator, shielded by his Alpha subordinates.

Gu Shiyun’s blood boiled, his self-control hanging by a thread. No matter how many Alphas surged forward, he savaged them with brutal efficiency, leaving them barely clinging to life.

He longed to raze this wicked underground city to the ground, to pulverize every last person who had taken Shi Jian. But Yuan Xiu’s parting threat held Gu Shiyun, despite his absolute power, in check. Even if these small fry were no real threat, he couldn't afford to act recklessly.

The most terrifying part was that Yuan Xiu had Gu Shiyun completely by the throat. He didn't even dare to verify whether the man’s words were true or false. He would die for Shi Jian, pay any price without hesitation—but he couldn't bear the thought of Shi Jian facing even the slightest danger.

And now, of all times…

Gu Shiyun squeezed his eyes shut in anguish. He didn't know if his decision to follow Shi Jian’s plan was the right one, but at this point, he could only strive to complete the task Shi Jian had given him, ensuring that Shi Jian’s sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.

When he opened his eyes again, an Alpha charging at him was seized by the throat in a vice-like grip. The man clawed desperately at Gu Shiyun’s unyielding hand, leaving bloody scratches before being slammed against the wall at the last possible second, his spine snapping as he collapsed limply to the ground.

Gu Shiyun was surrounded by an unending wave of Alphas. Even with their comrades’ agonizing fates unfolding before them, they continued to charge. Gu Shiyun wielded his AS with one hand while engaging in close-quarters combat with the other. Veins stood out in his bloodshot, furious eyes, his entire body splattered with the foul blood of his enemies. A palpable aura of violence clung to him, making the white-haired, crimson-eyed Alpha look every bit like a death row inmate clawing his way up from hell.

——An hour earlier, inside the vehicle’s hidden compartment.

Gu Shiyun’s palm rested on Shi Jian’s slender waist, his thumb slipping stealthily beneath the fabric to draw slow, rhythmic circles on the smooth skin, all under the guise of their close embrace.

‘There’s a listening device.’

Shi Jian melted bonelessly against Gu Shiyun, his expression dazed and pliant, arms wrapped tightly around the other’s neck. Yet beneath the facade, he was communicating something far more urgent.

Shi Jian “said,” ‘They’re after me.’

Gu Shiyun: ‘The signal’s jammed—can’t reach the instructors.’

Shi Jian: ‘The base must have external communication channels.’

After a brief silence, Gu Shiyun stared intently at Shi Jian, this time speaking aloud. “This is too dangerous.”

Shi Jian remained composed. “But we need more intel, don’t we? If they’re an Omega-worshipping extremist group, they won’t harm me. If anything, *you’re* the one who should be worried.”

Those crimson eyes held his gaze steadily, the gun-calloused fingers beneath his clothes tracing gentle circles on his skin, sending waves of electric sensation through him.

‘What do you need me to do?’

‘Get me their full layout and plans—everything about this organization.’

‘And what about you?’

…

Gu Shiyun couldn't stay silent. “You know the risks. If I… if I can’t find you in time, if something happens to you—then I…”

He couldn’t finish. His heavy gaze bore into Shi Jian, his entire being rejecting this reckless, dangerous plan.

After a brief silence, Shi Jian straightened slightly, meeting Gu Shiyun’s eyes with a faint smile. “It won’t be worse than any moment I’ve lived through since my Secondary Differentiation.”

Gu Shiyun, who had once boasted of being a born commander, was told in his very first mission that everything could be acted out using these familiar scripts.

Then, without needing to worry about him, he was to map out the organization’s entire structure as quickly as possible and ultimately find a way to report it.

Their performance as a loving couple was clumsy, but it didn’t matter—because it was merely bait, needed to lure in their target. Shi Jian’s goal had been clear from the very beginning: he wanted to uncover the organization’s best-kept secrets.

And now, it seemed his risky gamble had paid off immensely—the organization’s secrets were, in fact, intimately connected to him.

Yet, rewinding to this very moment, Shi Jian, curled up like an infant inside the nutrient tank, was in no position to scheme. He was completely naked, his skin snow-white, his blue hair fully spread out, drifting with the bubbles in the nutrient fluid under the dim blue light, resembling a moon jellyfish shimmering with blue-purple starlight in the deep sea.

Slender, fragile, and achingly beautiful—like a transient dream swept away by the tides.

A gloved black hand pressed against the transparent glass wall, reflecting a pair of eyes filled with obsession, admiration, and religious fervor—as if gazing upon a deity with utmost devotion.

Overcome with joy, the man even shed tears, murmuring excitedly, “Finally… this day should have come sooner. You will become this world’s one true god.”

“Bzz—bzz—”

Behind him, the communication device on the console emitted a white glow, but no figure appeared in the harsh projection—only a digitally altered, authoritative voice.

“Mr. A, how much longer do you plan to admire him?”

The man addressed as “Mr. A” didn’t even turn around, still entranced by Shi Jian, his worshipful gaze unwavering. His voice, deliberately hoarse and unpleasant, replied, “Shh… don’t wake him.”

The voice chuckled darkly. “I helped you complete your deification experiment, risking exposure by Shi Cangfeng and the new Speaker, not just so you could worship your god up close whenever you pleased.”

The tone abruptly turned cold, sharp and unyielding. “What about what I want? When will it succeed?”

Mr. A finally turned around, stepping slowly into the light. The mirror reflected a tall figure entirely shrouded in black robes, clearly not resembling an Omega.

The person he was dealing with clearly didn’t care about the gender of an Omega-worshipping cult leader—or even that the other party, like himself, was concealing their identity.

All he cared about was the smooth progression of his plan—to bring the sprawling Federation under his control.

“As long as the experiment proceeds smoothly, an S+ Omega vessel who has never borne children will easily produce the strongest ‘Scorpion King’ you desire. What’s the rush? Right now, the most important thing is to hold off those would-be rescuers, isn’t it?”

The voice fell silent for a moment, sounding slightly reassured but still pressing. “The tracker Shi Cangfeng implanted in his son is the top-of-the-line model—capable of real-time behavioral pattern analysis. It can’t just malfunction. Even if you’ve temporarily blocked its location display, staying in one place for too long will inevitably raise suspicion. Even if you manage to silence the royal family’s distress signal, news of Shi Jian’s disappearance won’t stay hidden for long. You know better than anyone how relentless the Shi family can be when provoked—even I can hardly contain them. So if you want this plan to proceed smoothly, quit stalling and focus on completing Shi Jian’s gender transition.”

“I must correct you—what I’m doing to Shi Jian isn’t a gender transition. Current biological science isn’t advanced enough to reverse genders at will. I’m merely orchestrating an artificially interrupted Secondary Differentiation. Not a transition—an awakening. He was always meant to be an S+ Omega.” Mr. A’s tone turned poisonous briefly.

“What?!” Even through the voice distortion, there was a noticeable pause before the voice regained composure and coldly ordered, “Explain.”

Mr. A didn’t mind the other’s arrogance, smiling as he replied, “General Shi is indeed formidable—he tricked them all, even Shi Jian himself. He never underwent Secondary Differentiation at all. That so-called ‘accident’ was nothing but a carefully orchestrated ruse that fooled everyone—so of course, the doctors’ efforts were useless. Injecting Omega pheromone extracts into an Omega’s body… well, might as well be saline solution!”

A string of bubbles rose in the nutrient fluid as long, thick eyelashes fluttered. Mr. A strolled closer, his voice gentle. “Coming around already? Truly worthy of an Omega destined for S-rank since birth.”

Shi Jian struggled to open his eyes in the dense, water-like fluid, but his consciousness had already been flickering back during their conversation. Some of the shocking secrets he had heard clearly, others not so much. At first, he was only stunned by the extremity and madness of these two—but when Shi Cangfeng was mentioned, he froze completely—

What did they mean by a tracker in his body? What did they mean by him never having undergone Secondary Differentiation? That the accident was never an accident at all?! Then what were all those struggles, pain, and resentment he had endured—what did any of it mean?!

The sudden flood of information was like a heavy, jagged icicle—driving straight into his forehead. In that instant, he felt a chill to his very core and instinctively curled tighter. Yet Mr. A, who seemed to know all the truth, stepped closer and continued mercilessly, “Those seemingly hidden clues were actually glittering in plain sight, weren’t they? Otherwise, how do you explain an E-level Alpha’s talent mastering such lethal blade techniques in such a short time? How could an E-level Alpha’s mental endurance withstand months of sensory deprivation?”

“You’d call it a miracle, wouldn’t you? But do miracles repeat themselves? Though I’d devoutly believe all the world’s miracles would descend upon you, when the result is clearly engineered, it’s best not to call it a miracle—that would only tarnish the word.”

Mr. A seemed oblivious to Shi Jian’s pained expression, soothing him gently, “Just treat it as a nightmare. Once you wake, you’ll reclaim all your father took from you—everything that was rightfully yours.”

Tears slipped from the boy’s tightly shut eyes as sorrow surged from all directions, engulfing him completely.