The Overprotective Predator
**Lao Shi Chen (POV)**
The metallic tang of blood still hung heavy in the clearing, a grim testament to the absolute slaughter that had just occurred. I crisp-flicked the remaining crimson drops off my imperial blade, my breathing perfectly steady as I turned my attention back toward the strange, disheveled youth.
I expected to see him cowering. I expected to see him weeping, perhaps clutching his injured arm, paralyzed by the sheer terror of witnessing two Alpha bandits get effortlessly dismantled before his very eyes.
Instead, I froze.
The third Alpha—the cowardly rat who had been knocked unconscious earlier and had tried to ambush me from the bushes—was currently lying flat on his back, twitching. Standing over him, panting like a heavily exhausted puppy but wearing an expression of pure, unadulterated spite, was the youth.
He had somehow, through sheer dumb luck or an unexpected burst of violent adrenaline, delivered a brutal, unrefined strike that completely neutralized the final threat.
I blinked, momentarily wondering if the thick pheromones in the air were causing me to hallucinate. I closed the distance between us, my heavy boots crunching against the blood-soaked grass.
As I approached, the youth suddenly spun around, his chest heaving as he stared directly at me.
Now that the immediate chaos of the chaotic battle had subsided, I could finally see his face clearly.
He looked... remarkably ordinary.
He possessed the soft, unassuming features of a standard, everyday Beta. His scent, which should have been a heavy, metallic cocktail of fear and adrenaline, was completely masked.
It smelled like nothing. Just a regular, unbothered, utterly plain Beta who looked like he belonged behind a library desk rather than a battlefield.
And yet, his eyes completely captured my attention.
They were wide, expressive, and filled with a brilliant, fierce spark that felt deeply, agonizingly familiar.
A sudden, irrational pang struck the center of my chest. It was a bizarre sensation—like a phantom memory scratching at the back of my brain.
I knew I had seen those eyes before. I knew that defiant, glaring look, but for the life of me, I couldn't pinpoint where or when.
An overwhelming, entirely illogical urge reared its head within my Alpha instincts. I wanted to run forward, scoop his small frame into my arms, and offer him comfort.
I wanted to wrap my imperial cloak around his shoulders and shield him from the cold wind.
But I forced my feet to slow. I forced the instinct down.
*He is not my mate,* my rational mind reminded me, cold and logical.
*I would know. The bond would snap into place. He smells like plain dirt and common Beta air. There is no biological compatibility here.*
Yet, the invisible gravity pulling me toward him only grew stronger with every step I took. It defied all laws of nature. It defied my training.
As I stepped within arm's reach, ready to demand his name and his allegiance, the fierce spark in his eyes suddenly vanished. The adrenaline that had been keeping his unconditioned body upright completely evaporated.
His eyelids fluttered, his knees turned to absolute jelly, and he began to collapse forward like a puppet whose strings had been violently cut.
"Hey—"
With no other choice, I lunged forward, my arms moving on instinct alone. I caught him before his face could make a catastrophic impact with the dirt.
He was shockingly light. His head rolled back against my shoulder, his breathing turning shallow and peaceful as he instantly fell into a deep, unresponsive state of unconsciousness.
"Hey. Wake up," I commanded, my deep voice rumbling against his temple.
He didn't even twitch. He was out cold.
I looked down at the hand that had been holding his strange, glowing, magical broadsword, intending to disarm him for safety precautions.
My hand met empty air.
I frowned, looking down at the grass around our feet. The massive, powerful weapon that had been glowing with a strange, otherworldly light just seconds ago was completely gone.
It hadn't clattered to the ground. It hadn't slid into the bushes. It had quite literally vanished into thin air the exact moment his consciousness slipped away.
I scanned the immediate area, my sharp eyes cutting through the foliage. Nothing. Not a trace of the spiritual weapon remained.
*Fascinating,* I thought, my gaze dropping back down to the sleeping youth in my arms.
*And highly suspicious.*
Based on the abysmal, chaotic fighting skills I had just witnessed, this person was absolutely not a trained swordsman.
He swung that weapon like a peasant trying to swat a particularly aggressive hornet with a broom. Yet, he possessed a high-tier, self-vanishing spiritual blade that most high-ranking generals would sacrifice a limb for.
Who was he? A spy? A hidden noble? A lunatic?
"General!" a booming voice called out from the edge of the clearing.
My vice-general, along with a battalion of imperial soldiers, finally arrived, their armor clanking loudly as they took in the absolute carnage of the battlefield.
"Secure the area," I ordered, not turning around as I effortlessly hoisted the unconscious youth into a secure, bridal-style carry.
"Round up the survivors. Any bandits left breathing are to be bound in heavy iron chains and thrown into the camp cellars. They will remain there until the Emperor himself decrees their execution."
"Yes, General! And... the youth in your arms?"
"He comes with me," I replied coldly, turning on my heel and marching back toward the main military encampment.
"He is an integral part of the investigation."
=====°°°°°
The Coma Vacation
**Shao Tien (POV)**
While Lao Shi Chen was outside being a brooding, dramatic military mastermind, carrying my body around like a tragic hero in a historical romance novel, I was currently having the absolute time of my life.
Where was I? I certainly wasn't in pain. I wasn't bleeding out on the dirt, and I wasn't dealing with terrifying Alpha bandits trying to turn my neck into a charcuterie board.
I was currently lounging inside the System Void.
The void, which usually looked like a sterile, endless white expanse of digital misery, had been completely transformed.
Thanks to the absolute, unhinged, five-minute screaming tantrum I had thrown right before I passed out, the system had been thoroughly traumatized into submission.
I had scolded that good-for-nothing piece of software with every single profanity known to modern humanity, questioning its lineage, its programming, and its capitalist ethics until it literally started emitting digital weeping noises.
As an apology reward for "Host's Extreme Psychological Distress," the system had granted me full access to the VIP Entertainment Suite while my physical body was in a temporary recovery coma.
"Ahhhh," I sighed happily, taking a massive gulp of imported, high-end red wine directly from the bottle.
"This is the life. Screw the plot. Screw the Male Lead. Screw ancient China."
I was currently wearing a pair of incredibly plush, modern silk pajamas. A massive, 85-inch flat-screen television was floating in the middle of the void, blasting high-definition pop music.
I had a fully stocked snack bar to my left, a mountain of pillows to my right, and a stack of trashy web novels ready to be read.
I stood up, doing a terrible, uncoordinated little victory dance to the music, swinging my wine bottle around like a microphone.
"Stream! Let's get it! No Alphas! No Omegas! No smelling like a matchstick!" I cheered, spinning around and falling face-first onto a giant beanbag chair.
'*Hmph… Host is being incredibly mean and ungrateful!~*' the system's voice rang out.
If the system had a physical body, it would currently be a five-year-old child sitting in a corner, pouting with its arms crossed and its lower lip quivering.
A small, pixelated emoji of a crying face floated near the television screen.
'*The system only wanted to protect the overarching narrative! If the Male Lead discovered you were an Omega during a high-stress battle, the immediate plot progression would have short-circuited! The system went out of its way to grant you a high-grade Beta scent-masking protocol, yet Host treated the system like a common criminal!~*'
"Oh, cry me a river, you corporate spreadsheet!" I snapped, tossing a handful of cheesy popcorn into my mouth.
"You let me get slashed in the arm! Do you know how much real, physical pain hurts?! I am a modern citizen! The worst physical injury I've ever had in my past life was a paper cut from a corporate tax document! You made me fight two bodybuilders with an oversized glow-stick!"
'*But Host successfully survived!~*' the system chimed, trying to sound encouraging.
'*And look! The Male Lead saved you! The dramatic tension between the Main Characters has successfully increased by 15%! This is a massive victory for our mission parameters!*'
"I don't care about the mission parameters right now. I am on strike," I declared, taking another long sip of wine before flipping to the next page of my novel.
"My body is currently in a medically induced nap, and I intend to utilize every single second of it. Do not disturb me unless the world is ending."
'*Host… the Male Lead is currently staring at your physical body with extreme intensity…*' the system warned quietly.
'*His thoughts are getting weirdly possessive. Are you sure you don't want to wake up and defend your honor?*'
"Unless he is currently trying to cook me, I do not care. Let him stare at my beautiful, unbothered, sleeping face. It's the most peace I'm going to get in this godforsaken world."
=====°°°°°
The Confused General
**Lao Shi Chen (POV)**
Inside the grand command tent of the military encampment, the atmosphere was dead silent.
The campaign had been an absolute success.
After several grueling hours of tactical sweeps, my men had successfully cleared the remaining pockets of bandit resistance, rescued the surviving civilian captives, and secured the border territory.
A swift messenger had already been dispatched to the imperial palace to deliver the good news of our victory to the Emperor.
Everything was going exactly according to plan. Except for the person lying on my cot.
I walked into my tent, the heavy canvas flaps closing behind me, cutting off the distant sounds of soldiers celebrating outside. My eyes immediately locked onto the youth resting on my bed.
He had been sleeping for a long time. Too long.
I stepped closer, folding my arms across my chest as I looked down at his sleeping face. It was completely baffling. This person was currently a prisoner of war, technically speaking.
He was an undocumented, highly suspicious variable in a military zone, sleeping inside the personal tent of the Grand General.
And yet... he looked utterly, infuriatingly peaceful.
He had kicked my high-grade, embroidered silk blankets down to his feet.
One of his arms was flung lazily over his head, and his face was smashed into my pillow so deeply that his cheek was completely deformed.
He let out a soft, rhythmic snore that sounded entirely too comfortable for someone who had almost been decapitated a few hours ago.
*Sigh...*
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, a heavy breath escaping my lips. What kind of person was this? Was he completely dumb, or just entirely carefree?
Anyone else in his position would be waking up in a cold sweat, trembling with terror, begging for mercy. But this guy looked like he was having a lovely afternoon nap at a luxury resort.
How did he even end up captured by those bandits in the first place?
I had personally interrogated the rescued civilian victims before they were sent back to their villages.
I asked them if they recognized the strange youth with the glowing sword. None of them did. They claimed they had never seen him in the transport carriages, nor had they seen him in the bandit camp prior to the attack.
He had quite literally appeared out of nowhere.
*Could it be...* I pondered, narrowing my eyes.
*That he is one of those foolish, idealistic individuals who fancies themselves a hero? A person who rushes into danger to save others, completely oblivious to the fact that they possess absolutely zero martial capability?*
It would certainly explain his reckless behavior. He had tried to fight two massive Alphas with a sword he barely knew how to hold.
If I hadn't stepped in, his little heroic stunt would have resulted in his immediate demise.
And then there was the mystery of the vanishing weapon.
A sword that disappears upon the user losing consciousness is an artifact of immense spiritual power. It didn't make sense for a weak, common Beta to possess such a treasure.
This mysterious youth was a walking enigma—intriguing, dangerous, and highly suspicious. I couldn't leave him behind, nor could I let him out of my sight.
"General Lao," a voice called out from outside the tent.
"Speak," I commanded.
The tent flap opened, and the head military physician stepped inside, bowing deeply.
"The preparations for our return to the capital are complete, sir. The carriages are ready. However... regarding the youth you brought back. His physical wounds are minor, but his spirit energy seems to be locked in a deep state of stasis. There is still no sign of him waking up."
I looked back down at the snoring Beta, who had now rolled onto his stomach, completely embedding his face into my mattress.
"We move immediately," I declared, my voice firm.
"We will transport him in my personal carriage. The moment we arrive at the capital palace, I want the finest, most renowned physicians in the empire summoned to my estate. He needs to wake up soon. I have a long list of questions that require immediate answers."
=====°°°°°
Welcome to the Capital
**Lao Shi Chen (POV)**
The journey back to the capital city was a grand, loud affair.
As our military procession marched through the massive stone gates of the palace city, the streets were completely packed with cheering citizens.
Flower petals rained down from balconies, drums rolled, and the people shouted praises for the victory against the frontier bandits.
I rode at the front of the column on my black stallion, my expression impassive, nodding politely to the cheering crowds. But my mind wasn't on the celebration, nor was it on the upcoming imperial ceremony.
My mind was on the carriage trailing directly behind me.
Inside that carriage, the mysterious, nameless Beta was still completely dead to the world, entirely unaffected by the loud, roaring festival outside.
As we approached the outer courtyard of the imperial palace, I pulled my horse alongside the lead carriage, gesturing for the personal chauffeur to stop.
"General?" the chauffeur asked, bowing his head respectfully.
"Take the youth inside the carriage directly to my private estate," I commanded in a low voice, ensuring the surrounding nobles couldn't overhear.
"Carry him into the guest quarters. Ensure the guards are posted at the doors. No one enters or leaves until I return."
"Understood, General Lao. It shall be done immediately."
With the youth safely redirected to my mansion, I turned my horse back toward the main palace steps. I spent the next several grueling hours enduring the endless, tedious formalities of the imperial court.
I reported the success of the mission to the Emperor, sat through a highly drawn-out victory ceremony, drank a single, mandatory cup of wine with the high officials, and gracefully declined three different marriage proposals from ambitious ministers trying to push their Omega children onto me.
The moment the formal obligations were fulfilled, I didn't waste a single second. I bypassed the celebratory banquet entirely, threw my ceremonial cloak to my assistant, and headed straight back to my estate.
I marched through the front gates of my mansion, my long strides carrying me directly toward the guest wing. The two guards at the door immediately straightened, saluting sharply.
"Has he awakened?" I asked.
"No, General. But the head physician you requested has just finished his evaluation. He is currently inside."
I pushed the doors open, stepping into the quiet, heavily scented room. The smell of burning medicinal herbs filled the air.
The elderly imperial physician was currently packing his wooden medical kit, turning around to bow deeply the moment he saw me.
"General Lao, you have returned."
"What is his condition?" I demanded, walking over to the side of the bed.
The youth was still lying there, looking entirely too comfortable. He had somehow managed to steal yet another pillow, hugging it tightly against his chest like a lifelong treasure.
"The youth is perfectly fine, General," the physician explained with a reassuring smile.
"His physical body suffered an extreme, sudden expenditure of stamina, and his internal energy channels were temporarily overwhelmed by a sudden burst of stress. However, his pulse is strong, and his vital signs are completely stable. I have administered a high-grade spiritual warming tonic. He is simply resting deeply now. He will undoubtedly wake up very soon."
"Good. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, General." The physician bowed and quietly exited the room, closing the heavy doors behind him.
Left alone in the quiet room, I stood by the bedside, staring down at the sleeping youth. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows across his ordinary face. Now that he was clean and out of the dirty battlefield attire, he looked... pleasant. Innocent, even. An idea slowly began to form in my mind.
If this youth proved to be a good, honorable person after my thorough evaluation, perhaps his lack of martial training wasn't a permanent issue. He clearly possessed an incredible, unbreakable will, and he somehow had access to a high-tier spiritual blade.
If he was trained properly by a master—by *me*—he could easily overcome his physical limitations.
I could take him under my wing. I could personally train him in the art of imperial swordsmanship, condition his body, and turn him into a formidable warrior.
He could become my personal lieutenant, my right-hand companion, standing proudly beside me in every future war the empire would face.
Yes. The more I thought about it, the more perfect the idea sounded. A loyal, mysterious companion bound to my side through training and shared battles. It was a flawless plan.
=====°°°°°
The Ghost of Outraged Reactions Past
**(Meanwhile, inside the System Void)**
If Shao Tien had been awake to read Lao Shi Chen's mind at that exact moment, the sheer, explosive volume of his internal screaming would have likely shattered every single window in the capital city.
The reaction would have been instantaneous, violent, and filled with a barrage of modern profanities that would require a team of linguists to decode.
*"WHO THE FUCK WANTS TO FIGHT BESIDE YOU?!"*
Shao Tien would have roared, throwing his wine bottle directly at Lao Shi Chen's handsome face in his imagination.
*"Companion in every war?! Are you completely, utterly insane, you brooding, high-testosterone anime protagonist?! Who wants to willingly march onto a battlefield and get a goddamn arrow shot directly through their forehead?! Or get their neck sliced open by some random, seven-foot-tall Alpha bandit if they happen to get lucky?!"*
He would have paced around the room, tearing his hair out in pure, unadulterated rage.
*"Worst-case scenario, my corpse gets turned into a literal pincushion by thousands of enemy arrows, or I get sliced into bite-sized pieces for the vultures! I am an accountant! An accountant! I do spreadsheets, I do corporate tax evasion strategies, I do NOT do frontline military deployments! So absolutely, one hundred percent, under no circumstances... NOPE! Motherf*cker!!!"*
That would have been his exact, unfiltered reaction, accompanied by a series of aggressive rude gestures directed entirely at the Male Lead's dense, romanticized ideas of "battlefield companionship."
Meanwhile, right next to him, the system would have been absolutely losing its digital mind with pure, uncontaine joy.
A shower of bright, glittering confetti would have exploded from the system's interface, accompanied by the cheerful, obnoxious sound of party horns.
'*Ding!~ Oh, wow, Host! This is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!~*' the system would have cheered happily, its voice bouncing off the walls of the void.
'*To become the personal companion of the Male Lead! To march into the glorious, bloody heat of battle! The system highly encourages you to accept this proposal! Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with our main romantic progression mission, the system would absolutely love to see Host suffering, crying, and running for his life on a daily basis! Yay! Go Team Warrior!~*'
Unfortunately for Shao Tien, he was currently still asleep, blissfully unaware of the absolute, terrifying military training camp nightmare his future was currently shape-shifting into.
Back in the real world, Lao Shi Chen gently reached down, pulling the silk blanket up to the youth's shoulders with an uncharacteristic softness.
A small, dark smile played at the corners of the General's lips.
"Sleep well, my mysterious friend," Lao Shi Chen whispered into the quiet room.
"Your new life begins the moment you open your eyes."
Deep inside the void, Shao Tien suddenly let out a massive, violent sneeze in his sleep, knocking over his floating bowl of popcorn.