Chapter 98: Chapter 98
The Emperor’s eyes flickered with joy as he leaned back on his throne. Finally, after a full agonizing week, someone had brought him something worthwhile.
His lips curled into a slow, pleased smile. It won’t be long now before he gets his omega back.
Hua Ren...
‘That general occupies far too much of your thoughts,’ the voice sneered inside his skull. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in love with him.’
The Emperor’s eye twitched. Love?
He scoffed inwardly. How absurd. Love had nothing to do with it.
The Ivory Warlord was his right hand man, his possession. A rare, dangerous creature he had trained and shaped over the years. The first person he had deemed worthy of naming a general of the Celestial Kingdom.
Hua Ren was his and he wanted what was his, returned. That’s all.
‘Have you forgotten that he has a Celestial weapon?’ The Emperor replied to the voice. ‘What if he teams up with the rebels and uses it against us? You’ll have no chance of ever leaving my body.’
The voice went silent for a while then sighed. ‘For once, I agree with you. We have to get him back.’
The Emperor sat forward once more, addressing the leader of the Night Dragon Troupe. “Very well. Assemble every soldier you need and depart today. Search all three locations. I want no mistakes.”
The leader bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Also,” the Emperor continued. “When you find them, bring Hua Ren back to me alive. Break his bones if you must. Shatter his legs or chain him and drag him across the dirt if he resists but see to it that he breathes when he reaches this palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“As for the Alpha with him...” The Emperor’s smile returned, cruel and gleaming. “Kill him. And bring me his head.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” the leader replied then turned and hurried from the throne room. The other soldiers followed swiftly, vanishing through the large doors.
The Emperor exhaled slowly then glanced at the left where his other two generals were seated.
Sensing his gaze, the Whispering Blade, Yin Mei, and the Iron Strategist, Zhen Shu, stood up straight.
“Yin Mei.” the Emperor called and she stepped forward, bowing deeply.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Dispatch the Silent Night.”
Gasps rippled across the room like a sudden gust of wind.
The Silent Night?!
Even the most stoic ministers flinched. Their eyes widened and the guards exchanged glances. The name alone was enough to stir unease in even the most hardened hearts.
The Silent Night were not just soldiers. They were executioners. Phantoms of death. Shadows that obeyed no law but the Emperor’s will, causing death and destruction wherever they go.
The last time they were sent on a mission was a year ago to enemy land. They were meant to retrieve a stolen secret scroll. The Silent Night had not only retrieved it but also butchered anyone whose finger had so much as grazed it.
Yin Mei hesitated, lips parting in disbelief.
“Y-Your Majesty... the Silent Night?” she echoed, stunned.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have water in your ears?” he snapped, his tone laced with contempt. “Or has your tongue grown too bold?”
Panic flooded Yin Mei’s face. She immediately dropped into a deeper bow, trembling. The Emperor wasn’t joking at all. He was dead set on capturing Hua Ren.
“F-Forgive me, Your Majesty.” She pleaded. “I did not mean to question you. I was merely... surprised.”
The Emperor’s fingers tapped once against the obsidian throne, the sound echoing through the hall like the crack of a whip.
“Do as I command.” he ordered. “Send the Silent Night. Their mission is to retrieve the Ivory Warlord when the Night Dragon Troupe fails. Which, I know, is inevitable."
“Understood, Your Majesty,” she said calmly. After all, the Night Dragon Troupe was going after the Ivory Warlord. The guarantee of their survival was less than 5%.
The Emperor waved his hand in dismissal. “Go. And remember—he is to be brought back alive.”
Yin Mei rose and turned swiftly, her boots clicking lightly against the floor as she strode from the hall.
She let out a sad sigh as she passed through the towering doors. Poor Hua Ren. Despite not liking him much, they were still comrades and she had some amount of respect for him. To be an omega but hold so much power. It was unheard of. Why did he have to go and betray the Emperor? Now he was going to be hunted and dragged back like a dog.
The Silent Night had no mercy.
*******
The surviving members of the Night Foxes knelt in a line, heads bowed, arms bound behind them with thick iron shackles, the chains linking them together like livestock prepared for auction. Their clothes were tattered, stained with dust and dried blood. Some stared blankly at the ground, others at nothing at all, their eyes hollow from defeat.
“You do know that the constables from the nearest town will be here within the hour.” Sheng Fei glancing sidelong at Hua Ren. “We should get going.”
They were standing under the shade of a broad old tree. Hua Ren was dressed in simple, light blue robes, which he actually wasn’t happy about. Sheng Fei had to practically beg him to wear them, telling him that they were fugitives and they would be easily recognised if they went about in their usual attires.
It wasn’t that Hua Ren wasn’t aware but he somewhat liked the way Sheng Fei kept begging and fussing. It was quite funny too. Having an Alpha beg him like that. Anytime he recalled the way he begged Sheng Fei in bed, it made him furious and embarrassed so he would use any chance he got to retaliate.
“I know,” he murmured, eyes flicking toward a shuttered tea stall not far away. His features were concealed beneath a veiled hat, hiding his exquisite beauty from the world. “I just... want to see someone before we leave.”
Sheng Fei followed his gaze, golden eyes narrowing slightly. “The tea stall owner?” he asked, inching closer to Hua Ren’s side. “I remember you two had a nice conversation the other day. What did you talk about?”
Hua Ren pursed his lips, turning away. “Why should I tell you?”
“Come on...” Sheng Fei pleaded. Feeling bold, he moved closer, quietly slipping an arm around Hua Ren’s waist as he begged shamelessly. “Please please please please tell me, I want to know.”
“She was the one who told me about the bandits,” Hua Ren said, slightly annoyed as he tried to remove the arm around his waist but it didn’t budge. Instead it stuck on tighter. “Her son was kidnapped by them weeks ago. I want to tell her that we’ll find him but, do you think we’ll be able to?”