Chapter 54 Pheromones

Chapter 54: Pheromones

As Lin Juangui got back into the car, he heard Mu Zhang say, "Feeling completely at ease now?"

This time, Lin Juangui had come to the Federal Capital Star to see Huo Zeshen off to school, and Mu Zhang had once again accompanied him.

It wasn’t that Mu Zhang was keeping a close watch on him; rather, Mu Zhang had a meeting to attend on this side, and accompanying Lin Juangui was merely "on the way."

The experiments by Sword Group had not yet officially begun. Although the equipment and personnel had been secretly transported over, the most critical component—the samples—had yet to be provided by Sword Group.

Lin Juangui took off his suit jacket and set it aside, seemingly ignoring Mu Zhang’s remark. "Having to come in person for a meeting—does Liang Yu take himself too seriously? Are online meetings no longer enough for his lectures?"

Since Liang Yu had taken over from his two older brothers as the project lead and, with Grandfather Liang’s tacit approval, began using forceful measures to purge the corrupt elements within the group, his influence had grown.

Liang Yu had previously been in poor health and had little influence within the group, but after years of recuperation, his condition had gradually improved. The projects he handled had become major revenue sources for the group.

This was an opportune time for consolidation of power. Liang Yu’s status within the Liang family was rising steadily, and it remained to be seen whether the title of family heir would eventually fall to him.

Lin Juangui’s change of topic was somewhat abrupt, even deliberately provocative. Mu Zhang, however, seemed unbothered. "Yeah, so I’ll drop you off at Yunhang Star before heading to the meeting."

Lin Juangui’s expression was hard to describe. "Might as well not go at all."

Mu Zhang turned to look at Lin Juangui, a clear smile in his eyes. "You sent that kid off to school; I’m just sending you off to school. What’s wrong with that?"

Lin Juangui, however, seemed thoughtful. "You’re not the type to let emotions interfere with work. Lately, you’ve been hoping I’d keep my distance from Huo Zeshen. What is it about him that has you so concerned?"

Mu Zhang’s smile faded, his expression turning serious and profound. "Haven’t you read the project proposal? Didn’t you notice the mention of Youlan Star?"

"It’s precisely because I read it that I’m even more curious about his role in the project." Lin Juangui pulled up the virtual screen on his light brain, displaying data about the current whereabouts of the children rescued from Youlan Star.

Unsurprisingly, Huo Zeshen was the most successful among them. With Lin Juangui’s support—providing resources and backing—and his own hard work, attending school on the Federal Capital Star was no issue at all.

Cai Yu had also been admitted to a military high school, though it was somewhat less prestigious compared to Huo Zeshen’s school.

The other children either hadn’t yet presented or were still in middle school on Sailing Star. Their abilities were relatively average; as long as they could live out their lives peacefully, no one would likely take notice of them.

Lin Juangui locked eyes with Mu Zhang, waiting for an explanation.

Mu Zhang remained silent for a moment, but he knew that if Lin Juangui wanted to get to the bottom of something, he would spare no effort. It was better to save him the trouble.

"The specifics aren’t clear. All we know is that everyone responsible for the experiments on Youlan Star died. Sword Group caught a glimpse of something from the data they sent back and decided to continue the experiments. The children on that planet were all test subjects. Whether Huo Zeshen showed such great potential because of your help or for some other reason, no one knows. That’s why it’s best for you to stay away from him for a while so we can observe."

Lin Juangui closed the files, his mood visibly sinking.

He looked out the window, a slight frown forming on his brow, beginning to worry about Huo Zeshen’s future.

Mu Zhang knew that Lin Juangui wasn’t fond of those experiments. Whenever Ge Miao reported on the project’s progress in the study, Lin Juangui’s expression would turn grave, and he would leave quietly afterward. But what was bothering him this time?

"Will you blame me for cutting off contact with him?" Mu Zhang asked deliberately.

Lin Juangui turned to face Mu Zhang. "Since there’s a reason, why would I blame you? But that child is indeed too dependent on me. Since you can use me as an excuse, I can use you to fend off his enthusiasm."

This was a trap Mu Zhang would never see coming. Someone of his temperament didn’t care who hated or disliked him—he was confident enough to make even those who despised him kneel and beg for mercy.

But if Huo Zeshen could withstand the pressure and grow, he might just surpass Mu Zhang one day.

Mu Zhang truly didn’t seem to mind. When he heard Lin Juangui say he didn’t blame him, a faint smile slowly spread across his lips.

Who knew what mischief this Omega was plotting now? Just earlier, he’d said he would hate Mu Zhang, yet now he was changing his tune so quickly.

Mu Zhang raised his hand and lightly tapped Lin Juangui’s nose with his fingertip, a gesture of helpless affection. "Whatever you say."

Lin Juangui indeed had a plan.

Since those people were closely monitoring Huo Zeshen’s movements, Lin Juangui needed to keep his distance even more to avoid becoming a target under surveillance himself.

Lin Juangui hadn’t forgotten who his blade should be aimed at. But for now, he lacked the influence to be Huo Zeshen’s strongest support. He could only bide his time and wait for the right moment.

Huo Zeshen never spoke about what he had been through. When he was with Lin Juangui, his attention was entirely focused on him—a way to divert attention, making Lin Juangui pity him.

Judging by Huo Zeshen’s performance in exams, his weakness and inferiority complex were a protective facade meant to mislead others. The more Lin Juangui pitied him and spent time caring for him, the more people would believe that Huo Zeshen’s current abilities were due to Lin Juangui, thereby lowering the vigilance of those monitoring him.

Unknowingly, Lin Juangui was being used. His lingering feelings for the adult version of Huo Zeshen had become a shelter for the younger version.

But Lin Juangui’s attitude remained unchanged. He was, in fact, relieved.

If Huo Zeshen knew how to bide his time, it meant he was sharp and unusually intelligent. Lin Juangui no longer needed to worry about whether Huo Zeshen would be mistreated.

After dropping Lin Juangui off at Yunhang Star, Mu Zhang leisurely made his way back to the Federal Capital Star. He thought he was already late, but Mu Yuanqing hadn’t arrived either.

If this had happened before, Liang Yu wouldn’t have dared to complain about being stood up. But as his position in the Liang family grew more secure, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing’s tardiness.

"Was the meeting time provided by my assistant inaccurate?"

Liang Yu wore a faint smile, showing no signs of anger, but the light in his eyes was cold.

Mu Zhang shot Ge Miao a look, signaling him to check on Mu Yuanqing’s whereabouts. Ge Miao nodded in understanding.

"Today is the official start of the school year for major federal universities. My Omega is still in school—I can’t just abandon him, can I?"

Liang Yu was also an Alpha and understood how troublesome Alphas with Omegas could be. He smiled without warmth. "Indeed, Omegas are more important. But General Mu…"

Just then, Mu Zhang’s communicator lit up. Gu Mi sent urgent news: a sudden outbreak of conflict had occurred at the border of the Fourth Military Region, with hordes of alien beasts attacking in waves. Mu Yuanqing had immediately led troops to the front lines to command the operation.

However, Mu Yuanqing’s mech was still undergoing maintenance. Forcing it into battle would only cause further damage. Although the nearby alien beasts had been mostly cleared, Mu Yuanqing’s mech had sustained over 80% damage, and he himself was injured.

With the frontline situation critical, Mu Yuanqing’s absence from the meeting was justified. Upon learning the news, Mu Zhang and Liang Yu exchanged glances, realizing the meeting likely couldn’t proceed.

"I’ll take my leave. Let’s reschedule for another time."

Mu Zhang stood up to leave, but Liang Yu stopped him. "Mr. Mu, I know you and General Mu have a good relationship—or rather, you used to. But since you married your Omega, you’ve grown distant from him, until the group decided to continue the project."

"Mm, what are you trying to say?" Mu Zhang didn’t turn around, as if he had already guessed Liang Yu’s intentions, his demeanor casual and unconcerned.

Liang Yu watched Mu Zhang’s back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I know you agreed to participate in the project only out of curiosity about the mechs the group is developing. Back then, my two older brothers went to great lengths to invite you to join. But no one in the military knows what cards Di Yanhe might play. She sent Mu Yuanqing to keep you in check—surely you realize that."

Mu Zhang had long stopped caring about such remarks. He let out a low chuckle, as if finding Liang Yu’s provocation too naive. "As you said, I’m married. No one cares about the past anymore. If you, Mr. Liang, think my past relationship with Mu Yuanqing could affect the project’s progress, does that mean Sword Group is losing confidence in this project?"

"I just don’t want to see you, Mr. Mu, trapped by past sentiments and used as a pawn by the military. If you’re willing, you could easily take control of the military yourself, instead of pouring money into it for the sake of old feelings."

Mu Zhang turned around, looking at Liang Yu with a faint, ambiguous smile. "Mr. Liang, are you suggesting the military has no lucrative opportunities left, so you’re reaching into my territory?"

Liang Yu laughed heartily. "How would I dare? I just think your current position is rather awkward and wanted to offer some help."

As a federal arms dealer controlling advanced technology, Mu Zhang had been navigating gray areas for years. If he wished, he could incite a formidable political upheaval.

Sword Group excelled at manufacturing mechs, but federal laws required combat mechs to be equipped with biometric sensor modules and prohibited self-activation.

Hamstrung by these regulations, Sword Group made repeated attempts to circumvent the constraints and develop more powerful mechs.

However, after extensive testing, the R&D department discovered that while AI algorithms enabled large-scale mechanized combat operations, their inflexibility in responding to complex ambushes and infiltration missions would inevitably lead to swift defeat.

Ultimately, only highly capable humans could unlock the mechs’ full potential. Consequently, Sword Group turned its attention to biochemical research—even adopting the mantra of “hoping for human advancement.”

Yet the experiments continued to fail. Years of investment in personnel and capital yielded no tangible returns. Although the Liang family held a controlling stake in the corporation, some shareholders opposed continuing such unprofitable ventures.

Liang Yu’s willingness to assume responsibility at this critical juncture stemmed from his extensive experience, exceptional competence, and uncompromising ruthlessness—qualities that intimidated others.

The military, ironically, posed an obstacle for the Liang family; yet years of collaboration had rendered the relationship between Sword Group and the military inseparable.

Sword Group supplied mechs for training and frontline operations, while combat data collected from soldiers was fed back to Sword Group for comparative analysis by researchers.

Mu Zhang, as an emerging force, was coveted by all—but he dismissed every overture, making it clear he held little regard for anyone.

In the past, he enjoyed a strong rapport with Mu Yuanqing and willingly provided additional military equipment to the Fourth Military Region. Now, however, he treated all military regions equally—offering no preferential treatment whatsoever. Liang Yu viewed this shift as an opening.

Aside from his somewhat tarnished public image and widespread lack of acceptance among Federation citizens, Mu Zhang’s capabilities were undeniable.

His military acumen was evident in his flawless record commanding Tian Guang through countless battles—after all, he was General Mu’s grandson.

Though the military remained under Sword Group’s influence, a corporation could not directly confront the armed forces and was forced to rely on more circuitous methods.

Yet Mu Zhang refused to play along.

Collaborating with Sword Group was akin to making a pact with the devil. Mu Zhang agreed to invest in the project solely out of curiosity about the legendary mech.

In the past, Mu Zhang had indeed worried about Tian Guang’s future trajectory. His own unbending nature made him unwilling to submit to anyone—and his current status was earned purely through relentless effort.

Now, however, he had Lin Juangui—a perfect complement to the missing piece in his life.

Although their relationship was founded on a contractual Alpha-Omega agreement—an arrangement that left Mu Zhang slightly uneasy—he was already making genuine efforts toward Lin Juangui, wasn’t he?

While Mu Zhang lacked proficiency in caring for an Omega and had triggered several misunderstandings with Lin Juangui, he believed those missteps could be corrected.

Thus, in response to Liang Yu’s “kindness,” Mu Zhang politely declined: “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Liang—but let’s revisit this once the project officially commences. This setup has been in development for years, and ultimately rests entirely in Sword Group’s hands. I retain the right to withdraw at any time. The military has been compelled into cooperation with you, yet you’re still withholding the prototype. What’s the delay?”

What Sword Group feared most was Mu Zhang’s nonchalance. They attempted to recruit Lin Juangui—but he declined, leaving Liang Yu with no leverage.

It appeared they’d need to find another angle. Liang Yu didn’t press further, merely stating that the prototype had been in long-term hibernation and required clearance by headquarters’ researchers before activation.

Mu Zhang said nothing more—and walked out.

No wonder Sword Group had recently intensified surveillance on the children stationed on Youlan Star.

Without activating the prototype, the experiment could not proceed. With no alternative options, they could only place their hopes on past experimental subjects—for now.

Mu Zhang felt no regret over keeping Lin Juangui away from Huo Zeshen. The fact that the boy had survived the chaos on Youlan Star—and caught Lin Juangui’s attention—proved he was not to be underestimated. Mu Zhang had underestimated Huo Zeshen.

Previously, Mu Zhang found it puzzling: in his eyes, Lin Juangui was sharp and perceptive—not easily deceived.

Later, however, Mu Zhang came to understand that Lin Juangui’s soft spot for children and animals was something deeper. He often extended help to those in need, finding solace in doing so.

Mu Zhang saw no issue with that. Preserving kindness was a rare virtue in these times—and he was willing to protect it.

Whether Lin Juangui understood Mu Zhang’s intentions, however, remained unclear. Mu Zhang knew patience was essential—but the knowledge that he had only two years left weighed heavily upon him.

Upon returning to Tian Guang, Mu Zhang declared without hesitation: “Set course for the Fourth Military Region.”

Ge Miao immediately grew alert. “Sir, the situation there may be—”

But Mu Zhang insisted, “It’s fine. The extent of damage sustained by Mu Yuanqing’s mech indicates the crisis is severe. We must provide support.”

Sword Group cared little for military casualties. They failed to grasp the significance of frontline soldiers to their commanders.

To outsiders, Mu Zhang was an unpredictable, ruthless space pirate who eliminated all obstacles in his path. No one could anticipate his next move—only that he always succeeded.

Liang Yu was preoccupied with consolidating his influence within the corporation and paid scant attention to the project. Mu Zhang saw through this—but couldn’t be bothered to expose him.

With so many ventures under his control, Mu Zhang knew not everything would proceed smoothly. He had long grown indifferent to such matters. For now, he needed to focus solely on what he deemed most urgent.

The military was being bled dry by Sword Group. If the Federation’s borders were breached, ordinary citizens would suffer. Even as a space pirate, Mu Zhang retained a basic moral compass—and had not yet descended into indiscriminate plundering.

So when Lin Juangui saw news footage of Tian Guang’s fleet actively supporting the Fourth Military Region in battle, he felt a subtle sense of relief.

The Fourth Military Region fell under Mu Yuanqing’s jurisdiction. It was fortunate Mu Zhang hadn’t severed ties with his “white moonlight.” If he were to divert all his attention exclusively to Lin Juangui, it would become a genuine burden.

“Quite routine. Actually, I still think it would be better if you brought that cat to Yungang Star.”

The Colorful Cat had already settled contentedly at Luochen Manor—plenty of space to run and play freely. Transporting it to the small villa on Yungang Star would severely restrict its movement. Unwilling to see it unhappy, Lin Juangui decided to leave it behind.

Lin Juangui had already sensed something amiss—but chose not to probe further. After all, Mu Zhang was likely at the Fourth Military Region at this time, and he had no intention of interfering with the main storyline—or risking becoming collateral damage.

So Lin Juangui replied, “I think it’ll be happier at the manor. Of course, that’s just my opinion—I’m not certain what’s truly best.”

Mu Zhang chuckled on the other end. “You should trust yourself. Your decisions are always right. If—and I mean *if*—you need Gu Mi’s assistance, he’d be willing.”

Before Lin Juangui could fully process Mu Zhang’s words, the call disconnected. Lin Juangui checked and confirmed the signal had been lost—not that the other party had ended the call.

Displaying excessive indifference at such a moment could easily invite criticism. Lin Juangui first contacted Ge Miao—but received no reply—then reached out to Gu Mi.

“What’s going on with Mu Zhang? He called me, then the signal cut out. Isn’t he at the Fourth Military Region? Has the battle not concluded yet?”

Gu Mi sighed deeply, his tone heavy with concern. “We’re already tracking the signal. It would’ve been faster if he’d called me directly. Maybe he simply missed you too much.”

After a brief silence, Lin Juangui made a decisive decision without hesitation: “I’ll take leave from school. Send a starship to pick me up. I’m heading to the Fourth Military Region.”

Gu Mi panicked instantly. “No—the battle just ended. There’s no reason to go! Mu Zhang and General Mu have both gone missing together, but we *will* find them. Trust me!”

“I trust you—but is there any issue with me going to locate my Alpha? Mu Zhang just told me that, if necessary, you’d assist me. Are you defying his explicit instruction?”

Gu Mi had no rebuttal—and quietly arranged the details.

En route to the Fourth Military Region, [Lin Juangui] suddenly popped up, eyes gleaming with excitement, asking whether this was the moment Mu Zhang would finally die.

Earlier, Gu Mi had personally briefed Lin Juangui: Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing had accidentally entered a magnetic anomaly during joint combat, losing all contact. Moreover, a group of uncontained alien beasts lingered nearby—posing extreme danger.

Lin Juangui’s urgency to reach the Fourth Military Region wasn’t driven by concern for Mu Zhang—but rather by the complications Mu Zhang’s death would create for *him*.

First, he lacked the capacity to withstand pressure from Sword Group. Second, even with Gu Mi’s support, Tian Guang’s forces might not readily accept his authority—requiring immense effort with uncertain outcomes.

As for Huo Zeshen—needless to say—Lin Juangui currently lacked the ability to protect someone targeted by Sword Group. With mounting issues and his own fragile health, he feared collapsing from exhaustion within days.

So Lin Juangui doused [Lin Juangui]’s enthusiasm with cold realism: “Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing’s fates are intertwined—and both possess protagonist-level narrative immunity. Even if Mu Zhang noticed me due to my efforts, new plot developments will inevitably emerge between them. Don’t get your hopes up. I’m only going to assess whether any opportunities can be created.”

What Lin Juangui still lacked was a legitimate reason to divorce Mu Zhang.

Although he often mentioned his underdeveloped body that made it difficult to conceive, planning to use this as an excuse to address the public in the future, given how much Mu Zhang valued Lin Juangui, he wouldn't easily let Lin Juangui leave once the contract period ended.

When Lin Juangui chose to marry Mu Zhang, he had already anticipated this day. Having studied numerous cases before, he knew that getting divorced in wealthy families often required both parties to suffer significant losses, and negotiating the terms was always the hardest part.

Given this, Lin Juangui had to find Mu Zhang's weak spot, making him agree to the divorce.

Of course, it was still a bit early to talk about this, but Lin Juangui was someone who liked to plan ahead. He had to seize every opportunity.

Gu Mi had already picked up on the faint signal released by Mu Zhang's call. After pinpointing the exact coordinates, he immediately dispatched members of the Sky Light Fleet to rescue them.

[Lin Juangui] sighed in disappointment, shaking his head as he said, "Why do I always miss out on the fresh excitement?"

When they arrived at the Fourth Military Region, the members of the Sky Light Fleet were somewhat touched to see Lin Juangui personally coming. They couldn't help but feel that Mu Zhang and his Omega had an incredibly close relationship.

When Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing were found, the alien beasts on that planet had already been wiped out. The two were lying side by side in the beasts' nest, unconscious.

Both were now recuperating in the intensive care unit of the military hospital. When Lin Juangui arrived, he happened to see a doctor instructing a nurse to get the strongest suppressants available.

"General Mu's body is really..."

Before the doctor could finish, he caught sight of Lin Juangui out of the corner of his eye, and his expression immediately brightened, like he'd found a saving grace.

"Mr. Lin, I didn't expect you to come. This is truly wonderful."

Lin Juangui had a good idea. The last time Mu Yuanqing was injured, he had used his pheromones to soothe him, and it seemed the same was needed now.

However, the nurse nearby expressed concern upon hearing this. "Is this really appropriate? Mr. Lin is, after all..."

Everyone knew Lin Juangui was Mu Zhang's Omega. Having him release calming pheromones for an Alpha other than his partner would surely cause anger, no matter how close their relationship was.

But Lin Juangui simply smiled and said, "It's fine. I've done it before, so I have some experience."

Though the nurse was wearing a mask, her widened eyes showed she was somewhat shocked by Lin Juangui's words. Gu Mi stood nearby with a forced smile, looking weary, while the doctor cheerfully led Lin Juangui away to sanitize and change into sterile clothing.

This time, Lin Juangui didn't have a book with him. He could only sit quietly in a chair nearby, releasing his pheromones.

Over the next few days, Lin Juangui continued to visit Mu Yuanqing, without neglecting Mu Zhang either.

The doctors and nurses at the hospital praised Lin Juangui for his kindness and selflessness. After all, military hospitals rarely saw Omegas, and aside from suppressants, there were few ways to help Alphas through their rut cycles. Yet, suppressants were proving ineffective for these two Alphas.

With the aid of Lin Juangui's pheromones, both Mu Yuanqing and Mu Zhang were successfully transferred to regular rooms. Lin Juangui even arranged for them to share a room so he wouldn't have to release pheromones for both separately.

The day Mu Yuanqing woke up, the first thing he saw was an Omega with a face as lovely as a flower.

His vision was blurry, but as he blinked hard, he saw the Omega set down his device and smile gently at him. "General Mu, you're awake."

When Mu Yuanqing realized it was Lin Juangui, he broke into a cold sweat.

After Mu Zhang's call with Lin Juangui, he had told Mu Yuanqing many things, including the contract marriage. He said he needed Lin Juangui, but even after all this time, Mu Yuanqing's presence still lingered in Mu Zhang's mind.

For some reason, learning that Mu Zhang and Lin Juangui's marriage was a sham had brought Mu Yuanqing a sense of relief.

When faced with death, desires intensify. Both had thought they wouldn't make it back, so they had acted without restraint.

Now, with rationality restored, Mu Yuanqing felt nothing but guilt upon seeing Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui stood up and hit the call button. He touched his own gland, his expression meaningful as he looked at Mu Yuanqing.

"My pheromones smell the same as Mu Zhang's, don't they? I hope they weren't too strong for you, General Mu."

"Not really, I..."

The sound of something hitting the floor interrupted them. Lin Juangui and Mu Yuanqing both turned to look.

Mu Zhang in the next bed had also woken up.