Chapter 93 Mistaken Encounter

Chapter 93: A Misstep

Message number 102 from Jing Miao to Xi Siyan was: "Brother, little wolf choked on his formula today and spit it all up, it was so cute. He misses you so much. 【Photo】 I miss you too."

Jing Miao sat by the window holding Snow Wolf, gazing blankly at the daylight.

The pheromone diffuser had run out this morning, and Xi Siyan's scent was gone from the room. Jing Miao's body hadn't fully recovered; he tired quickly from holding Snow Wolf, but he loved holding him.

This was Xi Siyan's child.

"Miao Miao."

Jing Miao didn't turn around. He stared fixedly out the window as if he hadn't heard.

Ji Yun came to his side. "What are you daydreaming about?"

Jing Miao turned his head slowly, his hand still mechanically patting the baby. "When will my brother come back?"

Ji Yun's originally serene face darkened slightly. "Soon, Miao Miao."

But in truth, he didn't know either.

Tianfu Ze was currently facing internal and external troubles. The Hundred Sons War wasn't over yet, and a madman from the Evolution Faction had slipped in. They had turned the entire building upside down but still couldn't find him. Contact with Yinshu Town had also been cut off, with only the remaining life detection base stations sending back operational signals, which at least meant everyone was alive.

"Okay." Jing Miao lowered his head, and a moment later, a smile appeared on his face. "Can you hold him for me? I need to prepare the bottle for the little wolf."

Ji Yun, who'd clearly been waiting for this, quickly took the baby. "Children are so adorable. I wonder what his pheromone will be?" He playfully teased the sleeping child. "If we're lucky, when our little wolf is a few years older, he'll have a little playmate."

Jing Miao turned around holding the bottle. "Will Ayue give birth?"

Ji Yun choked, almost coughing. He covered his mouth to hide it, afraid of disturbing the little wolf. "Tsk, give birth to what? He's still young... saying such things."

"You're covered in Seraph's scent." Jing Miao frowned. "What's wrong with saying that?"

Ji Yun paused, raising his hand to smell his sleeve. "I was afraid the smell would make you uncomfortable. I took a thorough shower before going out these past two days and even sprayed scent blockers..." He paused, looking concerned. "Miao Miao, you seem to be getting more and more sensitive to pheromones."

They were permanently bonded, but with technology so advanced nowadays, unless you were the bonded Alpha or Omega themselves, you couldn't smell the scent.

Ji Yun remembered Ji Yue's first year with the Ji family, when his health was always poor, and even the slightest scent would make him very uncomfortable. After extensive checkups, it was only summarized as high sensitivity.

A young Omega who wasn't even of age yet—where did such high sensitivity come from?

It was very similar to Jing Miao.

Ji Yun planned to take Ji Yue for a checkup involving dialysis once Xi Siyan returned and Jing Miao was completely safe. The last time Ji Yue had a full-body dialysis was before he came of age.

Thinking about how weak Omegas became after permanent bonding, Ji Yun's brow furrowed tightly.

If having children drained an Omega's foundation like this, Ji Yue better not have any in the future. This morning, when he left the room, Ji Yue's fragile dependence still left him feeling unsettled.

"Brother, come back early." Ji Yue's fingers, which still carried a faint scent, wrapped around his wrist. "I really need you."

Since childhood, being by my brother's side always reminds me of the sky and the sea—my support.

Ji Yun lowered his head, seeing the exhaustion in Ji Yue's eyes, and felt a pang of heartache. "Okay, I'll just go check on Miao Miao and come right back."

"Ayue."

"Hmm?"

"Have I ever told you how much I like you?"

He kissed the Omega's forehead. "Rest well."

Ji Yue watched his retreating figure and gradually fell asleep. That shadow remained before his eyes. From leaving the warzone until now, every day Ji Yun was by his side, he felt he was in a place of safety.

"Do you really like Ayue?" Jing Miao smiled. "When will you two get married? Have you proposed?"

Ji Yun choked. "Not yet..."

"Are you a scumbag Alpha, Uncle?" Jing Miao frowned. "Brother proposed to me."

Ji Yun was surprised. "How did Xi Siyan propose? When did he propose to you? You... you remember?"

"A little bit. My head hurts a bit when I try." Jing Miao raised his right hand, showing the orchid ring on his ring finger. "Brother gave it to me."

Ji Yun looked at it for a moment and smiled. "Circumstances don't allow me to design a proposal ring. I haven't even told your grandfather about Ayue and me yet." Ji Yun looked at Jing Miao, an idea forming in his mind. "Miao Miao, once we get out of here, you must put in a good word for Ayue and me in front of your grandfather. Otherwise, he'll chase me away and won't let us be together. It would be so pitiful!"

Was that newly-met grandfather really that scary?

Just as Jing Miao was about to speak, he suddenly stopped.

Snow Wolf woke up in Ji Yun's arms. Ji Yun smoothly took the bottle from Jing Miao's hand and started feeding him. "Little one, time to eat. You need to eat more to grow up quickly."

Jing Miao stood there dazed for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Ji Yun's arm. "Uncle, I smell Zheng Jingguang's pheromone."

Ji Yun took a moment to process. "What?"

"The scent of agave, Uncle. Very, very faint." Memories from that night washed over him clearly. Jing Miao staggered. "He... he's here. He's here."

As soon as Jing Miao finished speaking, the entire building shook violently. Items on the table rolled everywhere. Ji Yun, holding the child with one hand, shoved the bottle into Jing Miao's hand and pulled Jing Miao toward the bathroom with the other.

"Miao Miao! Call for help! Quick!" Explosions sounded one after another. Ji Yun's nerves were stretched to the limit.

Seventh floor, tenth floor, sixteenth floor... Based on his understanding of light energy channel construction, Ji Yun knew this building, which housed a channel, like the back of his hand. He quickly judged the floors where the explosions originated.

"Mr. Jingmiao! Mr. Jiyun!" The newly installed security system in the ward activated at the first explosion. The door was locked shut, only openable by Jing Miao's fingerprint. "Are you okay? Please come out quickly! We've arranged rescue flight scooters!"

Ji Yun breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost forgotten that Jing Miao was now a key protection target. There was only one person on the other side; they should be very safe.

"Let's go, Miao Miao."

Jing Miao, looking terrified, followed Ji Yun quickly toward the door. His finger was just about to touch the keypad lock when the person who had spoken earlier loudly stopped them. "Don't come out!"

There seemed to be screams outside. The sound of aircraft came from outside the window. Another explosion. Dust from the ceiling above fell rustling down. Ji Yun clearly felt it was on the twenty-first floor. If this continued, the twenty-fourth floor might collapse downward.

Ji Yun pulled Jing Miao behind him, his expression already grim. "What's the situation?!"

"There's... there's..." The security personnel's voice grew weaker.

"There's what? Are you still there? The floor is too high; we can't jump directly from the window..." Ji Yun pounded on the door. Suddenly, the central broadcast system on the 24th floor crackled to life.

"Hello, is anyone listening?"

Jing Miao trembled all over.

"Ah, if Tianfu Ze's medical building suddenly experiences a TAS+ toxin outbreak, I wonder what countermeasures you have?" The somewhat casual voice echoed. "Jing Miao, are you listening?"

Ji Yun shielded Jing Miao, backing step by step toward the cabinets on the right side of the ward.

"Little wolf..." Jing Miao himself was scared to death, but thinking of the child, he actually rushed ahead of Ji Yun, firmly shielding the crying baby who was frightened.

"Don't be afraid, Miao Miao." Ji Yun pulled him against the cabinet, protecting him behind his back.

"Ten-oh-three and nine seconds, west longitude line... the channel passcode—I'll know it soon." That voice came through the broadcast again. "Your channel isn't hidden so well, huh? Jing Miao, didn't I say I'd take you away?"

Jing Miao's heart pounded wildly, whimpering and murmuring, "Gege."

"The explosion has blocked all three exits. Two load-bearing floors are damaged, and the power system is compromised. The building can't be breached by force now, or there could be a large-scale collapse."

Commander 02 chambered a round. "No, there are too many people trapped inside. I'll lead a team myself and find a way to locate an exit. Has Colonel Wang Song's position been located?"

"On the sixteenth floor! The area hit hardest by the explosion!"

Gan Zisen slowly regained consciousness, the first thing he felt being the wetness on his face.

He reached up to wipe his forehead, seeing crimson blood on his fingers. When the explosion occurred, he had been in his office preparing for Gu Chong's gland repair surgery procedure. The bookcase behind him had collapsed with a crash, and his ears were ringing.

The Alpha was still quite calm, adjusting his body and using his Talent to slow the blood stasis in his leg. If he couldn't get out for a long time, his calf would be in danger.

Gan Zisen looked around. The shockwave had been too strong; the office entrance and windows were buckled and deformed. The collapsed cabinets lay in a tangled mess, blocking each other. It seemed only special equipment could move them to create a passage.

Lying on the ground, he connected to his communicator group chat. "Anyone there? Are you all safe?"

Quite a few medical staff had been working on the sixteenth floor today. The explosion happened too suddenly; most probably hadn't had time to react.

After a while, a voice came through the group chat. "Doctor Gan! Doctor Gan, are you okay? The four of us from the pharmacy department happened to be in a triangular space formed by the collapsed cabinets. We only have minor injuries!"

"Ah!!! Xiao Shen! Xiao Shen! Xiao Shen, can you hear me? Xiao Shen, answer me! Is there anyone who can help us? Operating Room 11 in the East Zone!"

"The seventh floor has over twenty medical staff and more than a dozen patients! The collapse is severe! The electrical room from the eighth floor has collapsed!"

The noisy communicator alternated between relief and cries for help. Gan Zisen regained his senses for a few seconds, quickly dialing Jing Miao's communicator. "Miao Miao, answer the call! Answer the call!"

Sweating buckets during the call waiting, the high consumption of gland energy and the pain in his leg left him speechless. After a long 44 seconds, the call ended.

"Damn it!" Gan Zisen struggled to move but still couldn't budge an inch. For the first time, he felt both fearful and desperate. His communicator buzzed and flashed as he dialed another number.

"Hello."

"Zisen!"

It was that voice. Gan Zisen calmed down amidst the panic. It was that voice.

"The sixteenth floor collapse is severe. There's only one entrance, and the rescue team is still clearing it! Hold on a little longer, I'm almost to the central area!" Wang Song's voice was urgent and frantic. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? I'm coming!"

His youthful voice had been loud, even somewhat noisy, often ringing incessantly in Gan Zisen's ears.

I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming...

Gan Zisen's eyes grew moist. Suppressing the discomfort in his body, he spoke calmly to him. "Be careful. I'm fine. I'll wait for you in the office."

"Okay! I'll be there soon! The explosion area is right near you. Find a place with a stable structure to stay. It's uncertain if that madman will set off more explosions or if there will be further collapses."

"Wang Song!" Gan Zisen called out to him, many words rolling in his throat only to be swallowed back. "In our East Zone Operating Room 11, a colleague hasn't responded..."

"I know! There are many distress signals!" Wang Song interrupted him. "Our people are coming in. I'll get you out first."

"There's a matter of priority..."

"Gan Zisen! I can't do anything else until I confirm you're safe!" Wang Song's voice fluctuated in volume, occasionally accompanied by sounds of him forcefully breaking through something.

"Stay put." He seemed to calm down, rationally adding, "Your office has a load-bearing wall. I'm not just rescuing you first; I'm also checking the load-bearing wall situation for others."

Gan Zisen swallowed the bloody foam rising in his mouth. "Mm."

"I'm not doing it for you." Wang Song said awkwardly. "I... wait for me."

A few seconds of silence passed before Gan Zisen slowly spoke again. "I can't get through to Miao Miao's communicator, Wang Song."

Wang Song's heart tightened. He kicked aside a pile of rubble. "There are aircraft outside. The explosion is centered on the twenty-first floor and below. The upper floors should still be relatively safe. There's no way up right now. I'll immediately upload a priority rescue directive."

"Okay, okay."

Gan Zisen hung up and tried contacting Gan Lingxi, who was working on the thirteenth floor today.

No response either.

Probably besides his leg, he had been hit elsewhere too. Gan Zisen could no longer hold back, coughing up a mouthful of blood amidst the dust. He knew he wasn't seriously injured, just panicked.

Extremely panicked.

The hospital room door was being pounded heavily. The air filtration system here clearly couldn't fully withstand the large-scale release of TAS+. Without gas masks, they would either be crushed or poisoned.

Jing Miao held the child, watching Ji Yun kick the alloy wardrobe again and again. The Alpha's formidable physical strength erupted. By the eighth kick, Ji Yun had kicked something open.

"Jing Miao, do you want everyone to die with you? Come out with me, and I'll stop the explosions."

Ji Yun turned and pinched his ears, his gaze firm. "Don't listen. He can't open this door."

"Jing Miao, do you remember Xia Zhi? It seems he's already been rescued and brought here. Have you seen him? He was captured because of you and almost died because of you too. Aren't you going to save him? Your Talent can relieve his suffering. Why are you hiding?"

Ji Yun wanted to curse. He looked worriedly at Jing Miao, afraid these words would affect him.

The Omega's face showed fear and unease, but he stood his ground steadily.

"Miao Miao, the poison gas will be in soon. The lower floors are blown up, and we're on the 24th floor. We can't wait for rescue." Ji Yun looked at him, his gaze intensely focused, making Jing Miao completely miss the strange light behind the wardrobe panel that had been kicked open. "You have to believe me, believe Xi Siyan, and I'll believe in Ayue too."

Jing Miao looked at him, confused.

Ji Yun bent down, his head inside the wardrobe, fiddling with something. Jing Miao looked toward the door. Zheng Jingguang was still ranting incessantly outside.

"Why does he know about Xia Zhi's condition? He can use bombs but can't open my door?"

Ji Yun was momentarily stunned but had no time to think. "What do you mean, Miao Miao?"

The door's keypad suddenly beeped, as if someone was trying to force it open. Zheng Jingguang sounded almost frantic outside. "A light energy channel? Who the hell designed this? Jing Miao, if you don't come out, I'll blow this place up! Anyway, our people are almost all captured by you. If we die, we die together. You think I can't find the channel passcode?"

Ji Yun looked up and grabbed Jing Miao's wrist.

A huge circular light portal appeared before him. Ji Yun took the child from his arms, holding him securely.

The moment the explosion sounded, the three people in the hospital room vanished. The wardrobe collapsed with a crash—a normal result of the intense blast wave.

——

"Zisen! Zisen!"

Wang Song peered through the blocked entrance, only able to see Gan Zisen's blurry figure. He tried pushing the heavy debris, first trying to create an opening big enough for half a person to pass through.

"Wang Song, slow down, I'm fine."

How could he possibly be fine? Wang Song's forehead was beaded with cold sweat; no one was more attuned to the shift in Gan Zisen's tone than he was.

Wang Song struggled to clear the debris, finally breaking through a narrow space—only wide enough for half his body to fit through. He saw Gan Zisen lying on his side on the ground, unclear about the specifics.

"Almost there!" Wang Song strained to twist his body inside, assessing the blockage behind him.

"Wang Song." Gan Zisen heard his own voice, unnervingly calm. "The bookshelf collapsed and trapped my leg. I need something to brace against to get free."

Before Wang Song arrived, Gan Zisen had already pushed aside some debris, allowing his calf to move slightly. If he had a pillar to push against, at worst, he might just scrape off a layer of skin.

But any further delay could lead to real problems.

Wang Song froze for a moment, then quickly collected himself. He kicked open a bit more space, allowing more of his body to enter. "Grab my hand!"

"Okay."

Gan Zisen leveraged himself up and reached toward that strong hand.

Their fingertips touched, and Wang Song gripped him tightly.

"On the count of one, two, three..." Wang Song's voice cut off abruptly as his special communicator, crushed under pressure, played the sound out loud.

It was a language or code Gan Zisen couldn't understand. All he felt was Wang Song's muscles tensing instantly. When he looked up, Wang Song's face had gone pale.

Their intertwined hands slowly, eerily, loosened. Gan Zisen saw the inner turmoil and hesitation in Wang Song's eyes, but it lasted only a few seconds.

"Gu Chong... Gu Chong is in danger. Zheng Jingguang drugged him and took him away. He has... he has..." Wang Song's words trailed off as his communicator began a nonstop barrage of emergency alerts. Amid the alarm sounds, he slowly retreated and left without looking back.

Another explosion sounded, though weaker than the previous ones. Gan Zisen's hand dropped to the ground. He stared at the floor, unable to utter a single word.

--------------------

Ji Yun: Today was supposed to be a happy day. Why did you suddenly start bombing?

Zheng Jingguang: I'm just an NPC.

Wang Song: My screen time is too short. Even Fengduo is more popular than me. (Guess we'll have to arrange a "chasing your wife into a crematorium" plot for you.)

Wang Song: ?