Ling Yue slumped against the jade wall of the cell they had taken him to, and before he could argue, the doors were shut in his face.
"Great. I went from a BL heartthrob to jailed omega in ten minutes flat," he groaningly said. Then he glared at the two guards positioned outside, their silver armor glinting as they stood rigid with their spears in hand.
Out of anger and excitement, Ling Yue released his lotus-scented pheromones, which wafted through the cell. They caught the attention of one of the guards, a younger guy who couldn't be more than twenty.
He kept staring at Ling Yue; all he got in return were intense glares.
"I hate this omega thing," Ling Yue groaned and sat on the ground as he slowly tried to calm his nerves and stop releasing pheromones.
The last thing he wanted was the attention of the guards on him.
Then once he was relaxed, his mind replayed the silver-haired, silver-eyed man who had betrayed him. "That jerk," he cussed under his breath. "I wonder who he is and why he has betrayed me."
He placed his head against the door and heaved another sigh, this time deeper. "How the hell do I even get out of this god-forbidden place?" he looked around him and let out a groan because there was no escape for him.
There were at least five guards around his cell, with imposing statures; he could never fight.
"Don't you have any powers, Ling Yue?" he muttered, stretching his hands toward the door. "Abracadabra… blah blah," he paused as if remembering something.
"What the hell was that word again? Change?" He scratched the back of his head yet again. "I…" he groaned. "This body is useless. I don't even know what kind of power he uses."
He turned back at the young guard who couldn't stop staring at him with his face flushed. "Should I flirt my way out?" he thought, rolling his eyes. "Hell no," the guard wasn't his type.
Even though he had a small face, his body was more muscular than what Ling Yue usually goes for. The young guard didn't interest him enough.
Then footsteps echoed beyond the cell, lighter than the guards' heavy clanks, and Ling Yue straightened immediately as a figure approached the guards, shrouded in a hooded cloak of deep sapphire.
The visitor whispered to the guards, who turned around and opened up for him. He then moved into the cell and lowered his hood to reveal a young man, another omega, judging by the subtle floral scent Ling Yue could smell from him: orchid.
Was he also sent here for punishment?
Ling Yue's eyes met the boy's sharp amber eyes, up to his auburn hair tied in an elegant knot.
Another BL worthy hottie, Ling Yue chuckled. "Who are you?" he said aloud.
The omega's lips curved into a sly smile. "Ling Yue of the Su clan, the Emperor sent me here to set you free."
"The Emperor?" Ling Yue demanded, knowing he must have heard it wrong because there was no way the Emperor would care about someone like him. And what will Xu…" He paused as he was about to say the name, but he stopped himself as his eyes met the guards' glaring ones.
As long as he was in this shitty world, he wouldn't dare to say Xuan Han's name carelessly.
"What does the Emperor want with me?"
The boy smirked and folded his arms. "Well, I believe your reputation has spread even to him. Everyone in the realm is talking about you sneaking into the Forbidden Void. A great reputation to have."
"Reputation? Buddy, I had no idea. Who are you? The welcome committee? If you are here to lecture me, save it. I have my reason for leaving. I'd rather remain here than participate in the concubine selection."
The omega chuckled and stepped closer. "I am Wei Lang, the head candidate for the concubine selection from the noble Wei clan," he introduced himself and crouched down to Ling Yue's level. "I am related to one of the officials; my aunt is a part of the Council of Heaven and…"
"Oh, nepo baby. I see that."
Wei Lang frowned in confusion. "Ne… nepo baby? What is that?"
Ling Yue chuckled, glad to see Wei Lang's confusion. "It's a term for someone who doesn't mind their business," he lied about the meaning deliberately to mess with Wei Lang because, in this world, no one knows what a nepo baby is.
"I had to because I was sent to bring you back to the hall. You are lucky you were not sentenced to death for the little drama you pulled. No one has ever walked into that Forbidden void without approval and lived to tell the story," he stood up and then stretched forth his hand for Ling Yue to take.
"It seems His Majesty has interested you, though I can't fathom why."
Ling Yue's stomach twisted. Xuan Han? Interested in him? Why? This was bad news already for him.
He was planning on escaping him, and now, he had somehow become popular all thanks to that silver-eyed man.
He heaved a deep sigh, slapped the omega's hand away, and stood up on his own. "I don't care if His Majesty takes an interest in me. I am not interested in becoming his omega toy."
Wei Lang said nothing and just stared at him in confusion.
"Well, I need your help," Ling Yue whispered, moving closer to him.
"Go on," Wei Lang responded with a smile.
"I am looking for a silver-haired, pretty man who made me end up here. Do you know him? Tall, smug, smelled like sandalwood, has silver eyes?"
Wei Lang's smile faltered, and Ling Yue saw a flicker of something—fear? Recognition? crossing his amber eyes.
"I need to settle a score with him for lying to me!" Ling Yue said through gritted teeth and clenched his fists tightly. "I'll strangle that liar if I have to," he let out a groan.
"Be careful what you say, Ling Yue. The Emperor's reach is long, and his eyes are everywhere," Wei Lang warned, as he glanced at the guards watching Ling Yue's every move. "Since I already told you what happened, let us leave for the hall," he muttered.
Ling Yue nodded and said nothing, and they both walked out of the cell together. Once outside the hall, he continued his questions. "So you have no idea who that is?" he demanded.
"No."
"But you are a nepo baby."
Wei Lang stopped walking and shot him a glare. "I do not know what that means, but I know it means something bad."
"It's just…" Ling Yue had wanted to explain the true meaning behind it, but he just let out a groan. "Forget it," he muttered.
It was silent for the rest of the walk to the Flower Hall, and Ling Yue could barely look around as it was already dark, and he was weak from all the drama he had had in just one day.
The hall was quiet as they entered, and Wei Lang informed him that all omegas had settled in for the night. "You will be sharing a room with Bai Lu until the selection is over," Wei Lang said as they walked through a long hallway.
There were crystal chandeliers hung from the curved ceilings and silk-draped walls embroidered with scenes of celestial dragons and blooming orchids that Ling Yue was too tired to admire.
He just wanted to sleep, and finally, when he reached the front of a golden door, Wei Lang opened it and gestured for him to walk in.
"Dinner had already been served while you were locked up. The selection introduction begins tomorrow, so get ready," he told him and turned to walk away.
Ling Yue let out a tired groan as he walked into the dimly lit room. He noticed two beds separated by a jade screen carved with lotus motifs on opposite sides.
He went straight to the empty, unmade bed and crashed on it, mumbling some incoherent words before falling asleep.