Chapter 82 Obsessive Bait

Chapter 82 The Obsessed Bait

After waking up, Lin Juangui had been sending messages to Huo Zeshen.

The frequency wasn’t high, and there wasn’t much substantial content—just cute cat emojis to maintain a presence—but Huo Zeshen never replied.

Lin Juangui didn’t mind whether Huo Zeshen responded or not. The military was inherently busy, and with Huo Zeshen likely in his rut cycle recently, Lin Juangui was in no hurry.

Huo Zeshen did indeed enter his rut, just as Lin Juangui had guessed. The changes in his pheromones were no secret to someone as sensitive to pheromones as Lin Juangui.

Without an Omega’s pheromones to soothe him, the Alpha was suffering alone at home. He hadn’t opened his light brain to check any messages at all. With no urgent matters requiring his attention at the military, he focused all his energy on resisting the mating urges, refusing to let himself become a madman driven wild by the lack of Omega pheromones.

The house was a mess, courtesy of the Alpha. The smart housekeeping robot’s switch had been brutally damaged, and the Alpha’s pheromones permeated every corner of the room.

Huo Zeshen’s hand, veins bulging, tightly gripped the shard pendant Lin Juangui had given him years ago. His expression was pained and conflicted, his brow furrowed with an uncharacteristic vulnerability rarely shown to outsiders.

No Omega could help Huo Zeshen; his level of pheromone intensity was something no one could withstand. Whenever he regained a bit of strength, Huo Zeshen would inject himself with a rut suppressant. The brief lucidity would quickly fade into an even more intense craving.

Seven days later, finally emerging from his rut, Huo Zeshen pushed himself up from the floor. His clothes were torn to shreds, so he simply stripped them off and tossed them aside. His naked body was powerful and vital, brimming with energy.

Huo Zeshen walked to the living room, pulled out a drawer, and deftly replaced the pendant chain he had broken. Glancing around at the chaotic state of the room, a self-mocking smile flickered across his face.

Every time his rut cycle ended, Huo Zeshen felt utterly disgusted with himself.

Initially, he would endure his ruts in specialized rut chambers at the military. Later, as his rank rose and he acquired his own home, the feeling of surveillance finally faded, but it did little to lessen his aversion to these periods.

Even though he knew it was a perfectly normal physiological reaction—Alphas, despite benefiting from their pheromones, still faced the constraints of the rut—Huo Zeshen had long accepted these rules. Yet, each time it ended, he would still fall into deep thought for a long while.

After reattaching the necklace and cleaning himself up, Huo Zeshen finally noticed the messages Lin Juangui had sent. Still, he didn’t reply.

He felt guilty.

In his imagination, he had defiled Lin Juangui. Along with the filthiness he felt, there was more—he didn’t know how to face such an enthusiastic Lin Juangui.

He knew Lin Juangui was kind, gentle, not petty, and good to everyone—a presence Huo Zeshen looked up to.

For years, he had thought about taking Lin Juangui away from Mu Zhang’s side, but what right did Huo Zeshen have?

Lin Juangui had lived a life of luxury all these years. Whatever Mu Zhang could provide, Huo Zeshen knew he could never match, no matter how hard he tried.

Moreover, it was all just Huo Zeshen’s one-sided feelings. Whether Lin Juangui was willing was another matter entirely; his thoughts might not align with Huo Zeshen’s. Huo Zeshen couldn’t make decisions for Lin Juangui based on his own preferences.

Huo Zeshen suddenly sighed.

Every time he thought about these things, he felt a sense of melancholy. In the end, he could only shake his head and temporarily push these worries aside.

Huo Zeshen still had unfinished business. Lin Juangui was indeed important, but he also had his own goals. He wanted to face Lin Juangui’s gaze with a confident and stable appearance.

But what now? What should he do?

Huo Zeshen didn’t know how to treat Lin Juangui. No one had ever taught him how to win the affection of someone he loved or how to interact with an Omega who was already married.

Just as Huo Zeshen was tangled in these thoughts, an insect plague broke out in the Sixth War Zone. As a general of the Seventh Military District, he was obligated to lead the support effort.

With no room left to dwell on other matters, Huo Zeshen immediately headed to the Seventh Military District to prepare the fleet for deployment to the Sixth Military District and assume command.

The frontline base of the Sixth Military District was gone. The precision-steel fortifications looked as if they had been gnawed by some giant beast, twisted alloy skeletons exposed, severed cables dangling from charred wreckage, occasionally sparking with blinding electrical sparks.

The air reeked of acrid smoke and scorched metal, melted polymers, and the acidic mist evaporating from the insect race’s corrosive fluids.

The ground was coated in viscous insect blood, mingling with human blood to form disgusting, blood-soaked mud.

Beneath the rubble of the command center, a damaged communicator intermittently emitted distress signals, soon drowned out by the skittering of crawling insects.

A few surviving worker bugs scavenged through the wreckage, their mouthparts dripping with slime, compound eyes glowing an eerie purple under the dim light.

The most suffocating thing was the overwhelming silence.

No artillery fire, no shouts, not even the screeches of the insect race.

Only the mournful wail of wind through the ruins and the occasional faint, unidentifiable sounds.

The Sixth Military District…

Had fallen.

This was the scene that greeted Huo Zeshen as he led the warships into the Sixth Military District—a hauntingly familiar scene, identical to that of Youlan Star years ago.

The warships continued deeper into the Sixth Military District. The screeching of insect swarms grew louder. In the combat command room, the Sixth Military District, now occupied by the insect race, glowed with a sinister purple glow on the star map projection.

Huo Zeshen stood before the tactical platform. His adjutant’s voice sounded beside him: “Main cannon charged. Target locked on the insect race’s nest in the Sixth Military District. Awaiting your command, General.”

The young general turned and walked toward the observation window. The sound of his military boots on the metal floor echoed like judgment drums.

Nearly a hundred warships were in position outside the window. Huo Zeshen issued a decisive order: “Fire.”

The blue glow of concentrated energy cast a frosty glow on the man’s profile. Countless particle beams pierced the darkness, forming a net at the predetermined coordinates.

“Second wave, prepare. Aim at their escape routes.”

Sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum, but everyone seemed to hear the death cries of the insect nest being torn apart. They vaporized in the intense light, like ants under a magnifying glass.

The afterglow of the main cannon’s volley gradually faded in space. The periphery of the Sixth Military District’s airspace was littered with massive insect remains. Burning carapace fragments and debris from the warships they had devoured slowly spun in zero gravity, forming a lethal debris field.

The insect race’s signals were scattering on the star map. Those purplish-red light points fled in all directions like panicked fireflies.

“All squads, attention.” Huo Zeshen opened the fleet-wide comms, his voice steady and stern. “Deploy interception nets according to predetermined coordinates. Clear the nest debris. Confirm core destruction.”

“Received, General.” Brief responses came from the squad commanders over the channel.

Huo Zeshen approached the holographic star map. His stern face was sharply defined by the tactical screen’s light.

The progress of each squad updated in real-time on the projection. The fleeing insect race was being methodically eliminated—until a piercing alarm blared suddenly over the comms.

“General!” The scout’s voice was unusually tense. “The remaining insect swarm has suddenly changed direction! They’re all heading toward the flagship! At least a thousand of them!”

The command room fell into dead silence.

In the real-time scan, the purplish-red light points that should have been fleeing simultaneously reversed direction like deranged moths, tracing bizarre trajectories as they surged toward Huo Zeshen’s flagship, as if pulled by some invisible force.

Huo Zeshen’s gaze remained sharp. He unbuttoned his military jacket, revealing his combat suit underneath. “All ships, battle stations level one. Notify the boarding teams to prepare for combat.”

The adjutant sprang to his feet. “General! You can’t personally—”

“There’s no time for a full tactical response. Direct engagement is the best approach. Activate all outer defense cannons. Clear a path for mech deployment.”

Huo Zeshen’s command allowed no argument. As red alarm lights flooded the command room, “Ultimate” completed its arming sequence.

The thrusters roared to life as Huo Zeshen charged alone into the overwhelming swarm. With a casual swing, a kilometer-long ion blade sliced forward, causing the first wave of worker bugs to explode into a blue mist in the vacuum.

The mech spun and advanced through the swarm, each strike precisely severing the insects' neural nodes, leaving a rain of carcasses in its wake.

But the insect tide seemed endless, shifting toward Huo Zeshen as if drawn by a tempting feast.

Or perhaps, something else was attracting them.

More insects trampled over the remains of their comrades to surge forward, completely ignoring the flagship they had initially targeted, instead frantically pouncing toward the "Ultimate."

A massive soldier insect suddenly ambushed from the flank, its scythe-like forelimbs slashing fiercely at the mech's abdomen. The "Ultimate" leaned back at an almost impossible angle, its mechanical leg kicking upward and piercing straight through the soldier insect's belly.

Corrosive fluid splattered onto the armor, triggering an immediate alarm—

"Left arm joint damaged. Mobility reduced by 7%."

This battle was unlike any before.

Huo Zeshen had always killed insects without batting an eye; even though the swarm knew no fear, they would often cower and flee when he released his pheromones.

But now they were swarming toward him en masse. Why? Huo Zeshen scanned his surroundings for what had changed.

A name suddenly flashed in his mind—Huo Zeshen recalled how Lin Juangui had torn off his inhibitor patch at the charity banquet stairwell.

The pheromones lingered around Huo Zeshen, slowly enveloping him, conveying a wordless sorrow.

Lin Juangui was using this method to keep Huo Zeshen close, wanting to uncover his own past memories—a chip he was willing to put on the table for Huo Zeshen.

But now that chip had become a lure driving the insects into a frenzy on the battlefield.

What the insect swarm smelled and pursued was the trace of Lin Juangui's pheromone scent, still clinging to the joints of Huo Zeshen's mech.

Huo Zeshen's voice was chillingly calm. "All units, switch to B1 combat protocol. Prioritize clearing the swarm around me."

Missiles whistled out, exploding into brilliant fireballs amid the insect tide. Seizing the moment, Huo Zeshen activated the mech's self-cleaning program; high-pressure airflow instantly flushed away all residual pheromone traces on the armor.

The distant swarm halted for a second, then began wandering aimlessly as if having lost their target.

Huo Zeshen let out a slow breath; his combat suit was soaked in cold sweat, but his eyes were sharper than ever.

The discovery that Lin Juangui's pheromones attracted insects alarmed him more than the swarm itself.

News of the Sixth Military District's fall had spread back to the Federation, dominating headlines for days.

Since the Federation's founding, there had only been two large-scale insect outbreaks: one in the early days of the Federation, and another when Mu Zhang's grandfather, Mu Jie, led forces to eradicate all insect nests near the Federation, bringing nearly a century of peace.

After that, each military district strengthened patrols to ensure no queen insects could settle on planets within their jurisdiction, dispatching teams to eliminate any detected swarms to keep everything under control.

But what caused this outbreak? Officials claimed the investigation was ongoing.

Beyond curiosity and fear about the outbreak's cause, the news that Huo Zeshen's fleet had killed the queen insect was uplifting. Huo Zeshen's name became a household name overnight, though it was unclear if he was being used as a shield.

About two-thirds of the civilians from the Sixth Military District had evacuated; those with relatives went to seek refuge, while others were relocated to different planets.

Another lengthy post-disaster reconstruction began. Zhuang Xi quickly assembled personnel and supplies ready for delivery to the Sixth District. He asked Lin Juangui if he wanted to join, but Lin Juangui said, "I've already dispatched Tian Guang for support. I won't be joining this time."

Compared to Zhuang Xi's mercenaries, Tian Guang was clearly more disciplined.

Though Lin Juangui had no expertise in interstellar combat, he had capable subordinates. Upon learning of the Sixth District's plight, the current captain of Tian Guang immediately requested to lead the fleet in support, and Lin Juangui agreed.

As a "civilian organization," Tian Guang, despite its limitations, could alleviate much of the military's pressure. When Huo Zeshen's forces killed the queen, the Tian Guang fleet also destroyed a nearly mature queen insect.

In just three days, the insect outbreak in the Sixth District was initially contained. Within half a month, aside from scattered insects drifting in space without energy sources or formation, all queen insect locations were found and vaporized to ensure no pheromones remained to attract other swarms.

When Lin Juangui personally delivered supplies to Tian Guang, he learned many things from a trusted deputy captain—things certain people would rather he remained ignorant of.

Gu Mi also joined this trip. In the past, Lin Juangui wouldn't have thought much of it; Mu Zhang always liked to assign various people to protect him. As Mu Zhang's Omega, Lin Juangui accepted it, and over time, he almost grew accustomed to it.

But wasn't this a form of subtle surveillance?

As they approached the Seventh Military District, Gu Mi had finished communicating with the Tian Guang captain and was about to return to his room to report to Mu Zhang when Lin Juangui's personal assistant, Qu Yang, personally came to find Gu Mi, saying Lin Juangui invited him for a drink.

Gu Mi felt a sense of foreboding, wondering why it was so sudden. Qu Yang smiled at him and said, "Sir is already waiting for you."

Meaning she had delivered the message, and if Gu Mi was late, it was his own problem—it was out of Qu Yang's hands.

Gu Mi had no choice but to follow Qu Yang to the ship's bar while messaging Mu Zhang that Lin Juangui had requested his presence. Mu Zhang didn't ask why, only gave Gu Mi a new time—likely when he'd be free next.

After his bodily modifications, Lin Juangui could drink alcohol like water; his physique was greatly enhanced, and only his heat could affect his state.

Gu Mi rarely went on field missions before. If not for Lin Juangui heading to the Seventh Military District and Mu Zhang specifically assigning him, he might not have come. But Lin Juangui was no pushover either; sensing something amiss, he called Gu Mi over.

But why invite Gu Mi for a drink? Did Lin Juangui want to get him drunk?

Gu Mi was wary. Upon arrival, he smiled at Lin Juangui, who stood behind the bar. Lin Juangui got straight to the point, asking Gu Mi about the casualties Tian Guang had suffered in the recent operation.

Lin Juangui's slender fingers held a cocktail shaker, the clinking of ice crisp and cold.

He wore a dark silver silk shirt today, sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing the delicate, pale artificial skin of his wrists.

The liquid from the shaker was slowly poured into a chilled glass, the drink showing a strange gradient, like the meeting point of clear sea and sky.

Gu Mi felt "honored," unsure of Lin Juangui's intention. He took the drink offered by Lin Juangui but didn't rush to drink, instead complimenting him, "I didn't know you could mix drinks."

Lin Juangui chuckled lightly. "I know how to do quite a few things, actually, I just rarely have the chance to show them in front of Mu Zhang."

When the two were together, it was either business or discussing the Federation's current situation, followed by routine concerns about each other's health before Mu Zhang returned to work and Lin Juangui went back to his study.

Their relationship seemed stable, but that stability was built on a lack of emotional exchange and was fragile.

Beads of sweat formed on Gu Mi's forehead; he knew Lin Juangui was no one's fool. Even Mu Zhang had said he felt pressure around Lin Juangui because you never knew what he might deduce from your subconscious reactions.

Gu Mi had experienced Lin Juangui's sharpness before and avoided contact outside work, but this time Lin Juangui had summoned him, so he couldn't refuse.

Just then, the bar's music shifted; a low electronic bassline flowed in the background like a silent pressure.

To ease his tension, Gu Mi took a sip of the drink. He raised an eyebrow; the drink Lin Juangui gave him was refreshing, a sensation that made his scalp prickle.

Lin Juangui took another spherical ice cube from the ice bucket, using tweezers to place it slowly into his own empty glass.

The ice cube landed with a light "clink."

Just as Gu Mi was most off-guard, Lin Juangui poured the liquor into the glass and said, "There have been many transactions in Tian Guang recently that I wasn't aware of. You know about them, don't you?"

Gu Mi's fingers paused slightly, and Lin Juangui gave him a knowing look.

"I'm screwed."

Gu Ni took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, then downed the rest of his drink in one gulp.

Lin Juan'gui poured himself a glass of gin, sipping it slowly with a leisurely demeanor. "The patrol reports for the past three months have all been excellent, but no matter what it is, as long as something is done, there will always be traces. If you're unwilling to listen to me, then the one giving you orders must be Mu Zhang."

"Mr. Lin, I..."

No one would ignore the loyalty of their subordinates, and Lin Juan'gui was especially vigilant about it.

His public image was indeed good, with the label of a philanthropist, but that didn't mean he'd tolerate corruption under his nose.

Not long ago, the Runlin Group had a mid-level manager who abused power for personal gain, and Lin Juan'gui made an example of him by dealing with him without any mercy. This incident served as a warning to others, letting people know that Lin Juan'gui wasn't as soft-hearted as others thought.

Lin Juan'gui gently swirled his glass, the ice ball spinning lightly in the liquid, refracting tiny glimmers of light.

"Most of Tian Guang's members used to follow Mu Zhang. I don't want any conflict between old and new factions in Tian Guang, and I'm particularly strict about monitoring this aspect. What's Mu Zhang trying to achieve by pulling this stunt?"

Selling things to the military and then smuggling them to Tian Guang through other means—is Tian Guang short on those military-grade energy cores?

Gu Ni remained silent.

Lin Juan'gui was too lazy to press him further. "It's fine, we'll be arriving at the Seventh Military Zone soon. What I'm curious about might soon have an answer."

As for who to ask, it went without saying; as long as Huo Zeshen was attentive enough to the supplies, he'd definitely notice something amiss.

Lin Juan'gui downed the gin in one go, then left the bar with an undeniable aura of authority.

Gu Ni didn't dare to stop him and could only wait for Mu Zhang's instructions before responding. He really wasn't good at this kind of thing, always causing trouble, and now he had something of a lingering fear regarding Lin Juan'gui.

This time, besides delivering supplies to Tian Guang, there was also a batch of military mecha parts to be handed over to the Seventh Military Zone.

At the starport dock of the Seventh Military Zone, the transport ship's hatch slowly opened. As Lin Juan'gui stepped onto the gangway, he was met with the smell of metal and engine oil, mixed with the scorched scent of distant plasma engines cooling.

Lin Juan'gui wore a simple white turtleneck and a dark gray trench coat. He looked around, and an adjutant quickly approached, saluting sharply: "Good day, Mr. Lin! Why have you come in person?"

"Hello, please coordinate the supply transfer with my assistant. I need to discuss some matters with General Huo. Could you have someone show me the way?"

Lin Juan'gui was very polite. The adjutant thought for a moment, had a subordinate handle the handover with Qu Yang, and prepared to personally take Lin Juan'gui to see Huo Zeshen.

In the mecha maintenance bay, Huo Zeshen stood before the "Ultimate," his bare upper body wrapped in several bandages. He held a detector, frowning as he inspected the damage to the mecha's left arm joint, where there was a crack corroded by alien acid.

When the maintenance bay door slid open, Huo Zeshen didn't turn around.

"I remember ordering that no one is allowed..."

The footsteps didn't stop but grew closer. Huo Zeshen frowned and turned around, the detector's cursor still hovering in the air, and Lin Juan'gui was already standing before him.

Huo Zeshen glanced past Lin Juan'gui at the adjutant standing outside the door. The adjutant silently closed the door for them and left.

Lin Juan'gui's gaze fell on the bandage on Huo Zeshen's shoulder. He handed him a military-grade repair gel. "Wounds corroded by alien acid aren't fully treated by ordinary med-bays and will leave scars. You staying here alone shows you want to save medical resources for your subordinates, but don't neglect yourself."

Huo Zeshen didn't accept it, only saying, "The Seventh Military Zone isn't short on medical supplies."

Lin Juan'gui withdrew his hand, showing a somewhat hurt expression. "I came all this way to bring you something, and this is how you treat me?"

The maintenance bay suddenly fell silent, with only the hum of the ventilation system.

Huo Zeshen's ears inexplicably felt warm. He truly didn't know how to deal with Lin Juan'gui, so he changed the subject. "I have something to ask you. This isn't the place to talk."

Huo Zeshen put down the detector, picked up his military jacket from a nearby rack, draped it over himself hastily, took Lin Juan'gui's hand, and led him to his office via another route.

Lin Juan'gui silently admired Huo Zeshen's broad shoulders and the long hem of his coat, his gaze without any concealment. When Huo Zeshen turned to meet his eyes, he averted his gaze and coughed awkwardly.

Huo Zeshen's reaction made Lin Juan'gui feel like a scoundrel teasing an upright general.

After looking around Huo Zeshen's office, Lin Juan'gui asked, "Are you sure you want to talk here?"

Huo Zeshen's office was like a silent military fortress—precise, rigid, and inviolable.

The style was extremely minimalist, with no redundant decorations, no personal photos or ornaments. The smart lighting system embedded in the ceiling simulated natural light but always maintained a cool, dim brightness.

In the center of the office, a floating star map projection could instantly switch to real-time status of any war zone, and the command console was connected to all the warships, mechas, and intelligence networks of the Seventh Military Zone.

Outside the window, the blue light from warships taking off and landing occasionally swept past Huo Zeshen's profile, illuminating his deliberately stern eyes.

"What, are you not comfortable here?"

The office wasn't meant to be a relaxing place; those who entered either brought military intelligence or news of death.

Lin Juan'gui closed his eyes and listened patiently for a few seconds, then lightly pointed to several spots in Huo Zeshen's office. "These places, do you know about them?"

Lin Juan'gui was naturally referring to listening devices.

Huo Zeshen nodded, his eyes expressing confusion.

Lin Juan'gui unhurriedly sat in the chair opposite Huo Zeshen's desk. He pointed to his own temple. "Born with it."

It was only when facing Huo Zeshen that Lin Juan'gui could reveal his secrets without any reservations.

Huo Zeshen also pulled up a chair and sat beside Lin Juan'gui, rather than sitting behind the desk scrutinizing him like he would with other subordinates.

The man activated his light-brain and turned off all the listening devices in the office. Lin Juan'gui raised an eyebrow, showing a relaxed expression. "It's much quieter now."

Huo Zeshen didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point. "Tian Guang members purchased military supplies that flowed out from the Seventh Military Zone. Are you aware of this?"

"I found out on the way here, and I know who directed it, but I haven't asked about the purpose yet. After all, he and I are partners, and asking about many things would hurt feelings."

Lin Juan'gui was very frank, which was consistent with his usual approach—he could leave half unsaid, but there was no need to lie.

Huo Zeshen's face suddenly showed an enigmatic smile. "Haven't you ever wondered why he's doing things that seem to have no advantage for himself?"

"Why?"

Lin Juan'gui felt he could guess the reason, but also thought this possibility would make Mu Zhang seem petty.