He was back in another cell, which was crazier than the first one. It was cold, and Ling Yue had to hug his body a few seconds after being shoved inside. The cell was dimly lit, with two lanterns at the corners.
At least six guards were positioned at the entrance of the cell, even though there was no way Ling Yue could escape. His hands were chained with heavy chains, and the cell was locked in front of his face.
"I am a total idiot," he exclaimed, groaning as he slammed his head against the wall. "I had the perfect moment to end that crazy emperor's life. I had the hairpin right there, right at his throat, and instead I let him crash land on top of me, and then…"
He gasped as his fingers drifted to his swollen and bruised lips, still tasting the blood from when he had bitten Xuan Han.
"Kai," he hissed to the darkness, "I know he is fine and hot, not what I expected him to be, but did you have to let him affect you so much?" He ran a hand through his hair and groaned.
A low velvet chuckle suddenly rolled through the cell. "Funny," the voice purred, "to hear a prisoner confess his desires about me while locked up in my cell."
Ling Yue felt his body stiffen at the sound of the familiar voice, and soon Xuan Han stepped from the shadows beyond the bars and walked toward the cell.
He had changed from his red robe to a black one. His hair flowed freely, parted at the center, covering half of his left face.
"Open the cell," Xuan Han ordered the guards at the entrance.
They bowed and turned to open the gates.
He walked through, his shoes silent against the floor, and his silver eyes met Ling Yue's. Even in the dimly lit cell, his eyes shone brightly.
"So, little omega," Xuan began and stopped an arm's length away from Ling Yue. "How are you enjoying your little prison? I trust the cold is to your liking. Perhaps it will cool your fiery tongue long enough for an apology for the spectacle you staged in my hall."
Ling Yue rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Apologize? To the emperor who is a betrayer? No way. I'd rather lick the floor."
"Really?" Xuan Han crouched to his level on the ground, and in the blink of an eye, his face was right in front of Ling Yue's.
"Wha… jumpscare!" Ling Yue shouted as he moved backward, slamming his head against the wall. "What the hell is wrong with you appearing in front of me like that?"
Xuan Han chuckled. "Jumpscare? What is that word? You speak strangely, omega, just like last time I met you in the garden."
At the mention of the garden, Ling Yue growled at him and then moved forward, slamming his head against Xuan Han, making a dull crack sound.
Their groans resounded in the cell, and the guards tried to rush in, but Xuan Han stopped them.
"It's alright. I can handle him," he muttered.
"Yes, your majesty," the guards' voices resounded, and they turned away.
Ling Yue heaved a deep sigh and yelled, "Xuan Han! You liar!" His voice rose, echoing through the cell. "Not only did you betray me after pointing me in the wrong direction, but you also kept your identity a secret!"
"I suggested a path, little omega," Xuan Han said through gritted teeth. "You were the one who was stupid enough to trust my words. I know omegas are naïve, but I have never seen anyone as gullible as you, believing in my words. Your fault for trusting me and not asking my name."
"Xuan…" Ling Yue paused and clenched his fists. "I wish I had successfully killed you in the throne room today."
"But you didn't. Instead, you kissed me," Xuan Han teased.
Ling Yue felt heat rise to his chest and face and gasped out loud. Xuan Han leaned closer to him as he said those words, and his body reacted immediately, sending heat all over his body until he shivered.
He wasn't supposed to feel like this toward Xuan Han. Was this the author-nim's writing? She was the only one capable of writing a plot like this.
He was falling for bad writing, letting himself be controlled because he could not resist Xuan Han. Being so close to him in that cell made his heart race wildly in shock.
"Suddenly, you are silent, omega," Xuan Han's voice sounded again, in a more sultry tone that made Ling Yue's head spin.
"Oh goodness," Ling Yue groaned, tempted to lean in and taste Xuan Han's honey lips again.
His closeness was resetting his brain, making him forget why he wanted to get rid of Xuan Han and why he didn't want to be in the story anymore.
Xuan Han made it worse when he leaned toward his ear and whispered, "I felt your body arch beneath mine. You loved that kiss so much."
"I didn't kiss you," Ling Yue protested. "Don't be delusional, Xuan Han. That kiss wasn't supposed to happen. It did because we had both fallen on the ground."
Xuan Han whispered again, "But you, little omega, made the kiss happen."
"You are crazy! Crazy flop emperor!"
Xuan Han laughed out loud, making Ling Yue's blood boil. He thought he could kill the Emperor and escape the story, but he was wrong.
Xuan Han was a crazy emperor, crazier than him.
"This must have been how you lied to Feng Lan," Ling Yue suddenly said, his tone changing from sarcastic to serious.
Xuan Han suddenly stopped laughing and faced him. His hand shot forward and grabbed Ling Yue's throat. "You have been talking non-stop about Feng Lan as if you know him," he gripped Ling Yue's neck, but didn't choke him. His thumb pressed hard enough beneath the jaw to force Ling Yue's head back against the wall.
"Tell me! What do you know about Feng Lan?" he yelled in a serious tone. The playful tone was gone, replaced with something darker. "Feng Lan has been gone for thousands of years, but you..." he paused, then exclaimed, "You foolish omega dares to speak his name?"
Ling Yue groaned as he clasped his hands on Xuan Han, struggling against him. He had not expected Xuan Han to react this way. He did not expect the sequel to be set thousands of years after Feng Lan died. "What shitty writing," he thought.
"Answer! How does an omega like yourself know about Feng Lan?"
Ling Yue burst into laughter as so many thoughts spiraled through his mind, thinking of what he could say to make Xuan Han angrier. Then an idea popped into his head.
In the original story, he had remembered that Feng Lan had mentioned a child he had with an omega, and Xuan Han had sworn to protect the child.
Xiao Yu. The child was born during the last battle before Feng Lan died.
Ling Yue wanted Xuan Han to feel guilty, so he decided to mess with his head for at least until he found a way out of the story.
"Answer me, omega, or I swear I will…"
"Xiao Yu," Ling Yue suddenly said and laughed. "Remember that name?" he asked.
Xuan Han's hand shook around his, making Ling Yue smile.
Yes, you stupid emperor. Feel the guilt.
"I saw the letter," Ling Yue said aloud. "Feng Lan left me a letter after my birth, and I had only read it when I turned twenty-one. He said if he didn't return, then he had been killed. And I had heard about it—words had spread throughout the Tianyuan continent about how the Alpha Emperor drove his blade through the Warlord's heart." Ling Yue paused momentarily to catch the expression on Xuan Han's face, and he saw the guilt.
His play was working.
Xuan Han released his neck, and his hand dropped to his side. "You… you are Feng Lan's son?" he demanded.
"Yes."
"Oh no," Xuan Han stood up and stumbled back, his face drained of color.
Without a word, he turned around and bolted out of the cell, shoving the guards at the entrance. His boots thundered down the corridor, fading into the dark.
As soon as he left, the guards locked the gates again.
On the other hand, Ling Yue cackled, the sound bouncing off the walls. He clapped his hands as he laughed. "Oh my God, he actually bought it," he snorted.
"Xiao Yu? I pulled that dramatic acting so well that he thinks I am him. Oh, Xuan Han. I have always known you to be a flop fraud emperor."
He leaned against the wall, still laughing. "Oh, this is so funny. Can't believe I ratio'd the Heaven's Alpha Emperor. What a payback."