The iron doors of the forge remained barred to the outside world, but the heat inside wasn't just from the coals. Cheng stood at his drafting table, his silk shirt discarded, sweat glistening off the hard ridges of his back as he looked at the glowing blue screen only he could see.
[SYSTEM MISSION COMPLETE: "The Lotus Crush"]
[REWARDS DISTRIBUTED: 1,000 Evolution Points & "Advanced Concrete" Formula.]
[NEW MISSION: "The Iron Throne's Shadow"]
Objective: The Minister's rivals are sending an assassin tonight to steal the 'Dragon's Breath' blueprints. Neutralize the threat and protect the 'Tragic Omega'.
Reward: "Modern Steam Engine" Basic Schematics.
Cheng's eyes darkened. The "Scholar" in him was already calculating the structural integrity of the forge walls, but the "Alpha" in him was growling at the thought of an intruder near his mate.
The Grandma's Awakening
"My Lord..." a soft, cracked voice came from the corner.
Heng's grandmother was sitting up, propped against a pile of furs. Her eyes, once cloudy with death, were now clear. She looked at Cheng—the "demon" the village feared—and then at her grandson, who was hovering nearby with a bowl of soup.
"You are the boy from the scrolls," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The one with the soul of a star. You didn't just heal my lungs... you changed the air in this province."
Cheng walked over, his presence filling the room. He didn't bow, but he placed a respectful, large hand on her shoulder. "Rest, Elder. I didn't save you for your thanks. I saved you because you are the only blood my Omega has left. And what belongs to him, I keep alive."
The Step-by-Step Defense
Cheng didn't waste time. Using his new Evolution Points, he "purchased" a temporary [Security Perimeter Scan].
Step One: He used his "Advanced Concrete" knowledge to seal the weak points in the forge's stone foundation.
Step Two: He modified the "Dragon's Breath" to fire a non-lethal, high-pressure salt-shot—perfect for stopping an assassin without alerting the entire estate.
Step Three: He pulled Heng into the hidden loft, his touch urgent and possessive.
The Ultra-Long Spicy Fortress
"They are coming, aren't they?" Heng whispered, his violet eyes wide as he looked at the locked iron doors. "The people who want to take your 'Magic'?"
"They can try to take the steel," Cheng rasped, pinning Heng against the rough wooden beams of the loft. "But they will never take you."
Cheng claimed Heng with a raw, detailed intensity that was fueled by the impending danger. He wasn't just making love; he was reinforcing his claim. He mapped every inch of Heng's trembling body with his mouth, his hands marking the Omega's hips with the strength of a man who would tear the world apart to keep his "Gilded Cage" intact.
The thrusts were deep, rhythmic, and incredibly possessive—a detailed account of a Scholar turning into a Warlord. Every moan from Heng felt like a brick in the wall Cheng was building around them. He didn't stop until the System pinged: [Target 'Heng' Security Perception: 100%... Bonus Points Awarded.]
"I am the Architect," Cheng groaned against Heng's neck, his teeth grazing the scent gland. "And you are the only treasure I've designed this whole world to hide."
As the clock struck midnight, a soft clink sounded at the forge window. The assassin had arrived. But Cheng was already standing in the shadows, the "Dragon's Breath" primed, and a cold, modern smile on his lips.