"That is amazing," Xie Ling said, looking around and wondering why nobody was applauding.
"Feats like that are too easy for members of the moonlight sect," Jiang Yan said, not nearly as impressed as Xie Ling.
"Still, that was really awesome," Xie Ling insisted.
"Did you hear what I said earlier?" Jiang Yan asked with one eyebrow raised. Something had been amiss about Xie Ling ever since he returned from that temple with Zhang Wei but she could not put her finger on it. He seemed to her like a whole different person. The usual Xie Ling would not have been so impressed by Su Zheng's skills.
"What did you say?" Xie Ling asked.
"Nobody has seen Han Jianyu in two days," Jiang Yan repeated.
Xie Ling remembered Han Jianyu. He was that boy that he had stopped Zhang Wei from fatally injuring.
"What do you mean nobody has seen him in two days?" Xie Ling asked. "Did something happen to him?"
In the second it took for Jiang Yan to respond to Xie Ling's question, his mind had wandered far into dangerous territory. Could Zhang Wei has done something to Han Jianyu? Could he have gone to his quarters late in the night while everyone else had vacated the courtyard to finish what he started?
"No, nothing like that," Jiang Yan said with a dry chuckle. "Most of us believe his father must have taken him to receive his training elsewhere. He has been facing a great deal of bullying. Perhaps somewhere his skills could be better accommodated. Besides, Han Jianyu is the emperor's son, if anything happened to him, we would all hear about it."
"Wait, Han Jianyu is the prince?" Xie Ling asked, unable to hide his surprise.
"Yes," Jiang Yan replied, her small brown eyes narrowing in a piercing side-eye. "Do you never listen during training?"
No. But Xie Ling wasn't going to say that.
Just like Xie Ling, Jiang Yan had the big fluffy ears of a typical virgin omega beastie except while he matched the white of his hair, hers matched the black of hers. It would be easy for anybody to look at the two of them and assume that just because they shared these obvious similarities, they were alike. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Yes, Jiang Yan and Xie Ling were close friends and they got along so much easier than most other cultivators around them. However, Jiang Yan's eager and proactive approach to acquiring knowledge and skill differed greatly from Xie Ling's carefree attitude. There were very few things Jiang Yan did not know about the history, lore, and ideals of their sects and temple and there were few things Xie Ling knew.
"I don't have to listen when I have you doing all the listening with those big ears of yours," Xie Ling said teasingly.
Jiang Yan rolled her eyes but she could not fight the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "One of these days you are going to have to start listening. Remember that you do not have an alpha protecting you yet."
[Speaking of that...]
Not you again. How is it that you start speaking into my head whenever everything seems peaceful?
[Because, Xie Ling, peace does not make for an engaging story. You ought to know that if you intend to make this story better.]
Are you going to say something of any significance? I would like to get back to my conversation with Jiang Yan.
[Save that snippy attitude for your love interest. He is on his way to you as we speak.]
Love interest? Oh, I am not going to play into this love interest business with Zhang Wei. He is a bully and now I know that he lacks empathy.
[You cannot afford to be away from Zhang Wei for long, Xie Ling.]
I suppose there is some punishment if I do.
[Look at you, right for once. You must know about soul threads. They are strings that weave the fabric of the life force deep within you. They run through you just like they run through Zhang Wei. Your soul threads are connected to his. In fact, they are two iterations of the same singular thread. You cannot afford to be far apart, especially in a time of turmoil. Stay close to Zhang Wei, spend time with him, or you will lose your life force.]
No...
"Xie Ling!" Jiang Yan snapped her fingers in front of Xie Ling's face, bringing him back to reality. "Looks like Zhang Wei is coming here."
Xei Ling looked in the direction Jiang Yan was facing and sure enough, Zhang Wei was walking toward them, strolling on the pavement lined on either side by peonies. He looked regal, like a prince. If he did not have that awful personality, Xie Ling actually saw himself falling to his knees.
"Jiang Yan," Zhang Wei said, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment as he stopped in front of Xie Ling and his friend. Then, without waiting for a response, he turned to face Xie Ling. "Xie Ling."
"Zhang Wei," Xie Ling said with a steady voice that was fake and difficult to maintain.
"I have come to you with some news," Zhang Wei said. "I have decided that you will be my omega. You will now train under my protection and tutelage. I congratulate you."
*
"You're joking," Xie Ling said, his face blank and expressionless. Seconds ago, while he was watching Zhang Wei walk toward him, he had actually considered the possibility of spending time with him but all he had to do was open his mouth and now Xie Ling could see why he had his reservations. Zhang Wei was pompous, arrogant, and mean. How could he possibly be anybody's hero or love?
"I do not go around making jokes. Once again, I congratulate you. This is a rare honor that I have bestowed upon you."
"Honor?" Xie Ling could not help the scoff that escaped his mouth as he tried to gather his thoughts and come up with a response that was as biting as he wished it to be.
"Perhaps I should excuse you two," Jiang Yan said.
"Yes, walk away," Zhang Wei said.
"No, Jiang Yan, stay," Xei Ling said emphatically while maintaining deathly eye contact with Zhang Wei.
All three of them fell quiet at this exchange. Once again, Xie Ling had talked back to an alpha, and not just any alpha but Zhang Wei. Jiang Yan remained frozen, worried that maybe the time had come for Xie Ling's sharp tongue to put him in a big mess. She knew if Zhang Wei wanted to punish Xie Ling, she would have to run across the courtyard to fetch her father to get him to stop but he would have done much damage before she would be able to return with her father.
Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes at Xie Ling, stunned into silence at the sheer audacity of this doe-eyed omega. But he could not maintain a steely gaze for too long. As his expression softened, he did not fight it.
"There aren't many people capable of getting away with speaking to me in that manner," Zhang Wei said finally.
"Perhaps people need to express their true feelings about you to your face more often," Xie Ling said.
"This is what I mean," Zhang Wei said. "People are far too afraid of me to speak like that but you do not seem to be. I wish to know why."
"So you want me to be your omega because you are simply fascinated," Xie Ling said with one eyebrow raised, telling Zhang Wei that that was a question requiring a response.
"In a way, yes," Zhang Wei replied.
"Do you see me as merely a puzzle in need of unraveling?"
"I see you as an omega worthy of my protection."
Ha! In your dreams!
"Do you even hear yourself?" Xie Ling asked, looking to Jiang Yan for some help but all his friend could do was shift uncomfortably on her feet.
With a deep sigh, Zhang Wei took one step toward Xie Ling, leaving only inches between them so that they breathed the same air, Zhang Wei's eyes flickered down to his lips momentarily, almost as if tracing them with his eyes. "Come to my chambers this evening. We have a lot to discuss." And with that, he turned around and walked away without waiting for a response.
Xie Ling's heart raced, his face felt hot and flushed at Zhang Wei's bold words and commanding voice.
Come to your room? What the hell? He would do no such thing!
"Look who has an alpha," Jiang Yan said teasingly once Zhang Wei was out of earshot and she had regained her ability to breathe.
"I would not say that just yet," Xie Ling said, folding his arms defiantly. "Not just yet."
Worthy of my foot! Xie Ling thought angrily.
This alpha was clearly insane. Xie Ling would be mad too if he let this maniac anywhere near his butt cherry.