Xuan Wei. That was the last person Wei Jin had expected to see when he walked into Xuan Han's hall, and like before, he was getting on his nerves.
"Well, well, well, who do we have here? If it isn't Wei Jin, my brother's favorite lapdog."
Wei Jin clenched his fists tightly as his eyes met with Xuan Wei's.
That stupid General, he thought. Why had he returned?
"And what the hell are you doing here, Wei Wei?" Wei Jin deliberately used that nickname because he knew that Xuan Wei hated it, and it worked because Xuan Wei was glaring at him with murderous intent. "Did the tomb get too cold for your delicate ass?"
Xuan Wei's glare turned into a smirk, and he spread his arms wide. "Thousands of years since we separated, and not even a single hug from you. I have to say you and my brother are the same."
"Coming from someone who throws boring jokes the moment we see each other again. I have to say that you don't deserve that, especially not from me," Wei Jin retorted.
Did Xuan Wei, his sworn rival, expect that he would actually hug him? If only Xuan Wei had reacted differently, then maybe he would have done the same, but he was still the same infuriating boy he had known years ago.
"Don't you have a tomb to protect? What will everyone say when they discover their good general wanders the heavenly realm instead of doing his duties?"
Xuan Wei gritted his teeth. "At least I have been doing my job diligently for years and don't have to hide behind pretty robes and a clan name." He paused, smirking. "And also being my brother's lapdog. Tell me, Jin Jin, how's the emperor's leash?"
"I told you to stop calling me Jin Jin," Wei Jin shouted. "You stupid general."
"You are the one who called me Wei Wei first."
Wei Jin stomped his foot on the ground and clenched his fists tightly, then he walked past Xuan Han, whose presence had long been forgotten in the room, and stood in front of Xuan Wei. "Let's go outside now. You and me. Let's end this disaster."
"Oh, really?" Xuan Wei asked as he leaned closer until they were only a few inches apart.
Close enough that both of them could feel each other's breath.
"I beat your ass last time, and you cried while under me. What makes you think you won't fall on your knees again, begging for mercy, Jin Jin?"
Wei Jin growled, clenching his fists tighter. Those words sent something through him, heat curling low and dangerous, and he knew that soon his pheromones would be all over the room.
Even his face turned red, and if Xuan Wei ever realized his words, presence, and actions were behind it, he would tease him forever.
"I…"
"What?" Xuan Wei cut him off. "Too afraid to admit that you will always be under me and not on top of me?"
Those words again. Wei Jin's thoughts tangled, and he struggled to breathe evenly.
Without another thought, he lunged and swung his fist at Xuan Wei.
"ENOUGH, YOU TWO!" Xuan Han's voice shattered the moment as he caught Wei Jin's hand mid-air and shoved Xuan Wei backward. "I am tired of you two acting like complete idiots for years. If you want to fight, go ahead, but not before me. Go somewhere else. And since you came to my hall, I assume you have something to report, Wei Jin?"
Wei Jin nodded.
"Good." Xuan Han let go of his hand and then pointed toward Xuan Wei. "Since you are done reporting, you may leave and return to the mirror tomb."
Xuan Wei chuckled, his eyes never leaving Wei Jin. He stepped closer, brushing past him. "I am going to be here until the concubine selection is done. I want to know who the omega is that my brother protected so much that they got away with regicide."
"But the barrier and…" Xuan Han tried to speak, but Xuan Wei cut him off, still staring at Wei Jin.
"Don't worry about that, brother. Even though I am here, if anything happens at the border, I will be alerted immediately, and I will be there with a snap of my fingers. Besides, just like Wei Jin said, my ass has grown cold after years of guarding the barrier. Now that I am here, I should stay until the selection ends." He walked past Wei Jin again, his shoulder brushing his.
Wei Jin's breath hitched, and he froze as memories of the night they spent together before the Great War flooded his mind. It had been one time, one drunken night he had tried to forget, but Xuan Wei had touched him deliberately to remind him of it.
"Your face is all red, Jin Jin," Xuan Wei chuckled, pausing before slapping Wei Jin's ass.
Wei Jin hiccuped in response, his face becoming even redder.
"Softer than last time, Jin Jin," Xuan Wei chuckled and left the room.
The room fell silent after he left, with Wei Jin trying hard to maintain his composure, especially in front of Xuan Han. The last thing he wanted was for his friend to find out about his sex escapades with his brother.
"Wei Jin," Xuan Han's voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned and saw Xuan Han standing near the balcony, staring at the sunset. "Xuan Wei and I, we are…" Wei Jin tried to explain.
"I don't care what happens between you and my brother," Xuan Han cuts him off. "There must be a reason why you came here suddenly. Does it concern Ling Yue? Found anything yet?"
Wei Jin walked toward him and stood beside him. "My informant is still gathering information."
"Then why are you here?" Xuan Han asked, sounding as though he didn't want him there.
Wei Jin already knew why Xuan Han was acting like this. It was Ling Yue's fault. Ever since the omega arrived, he had seen three different sides of his friend.
He spoke more, acted possessively, and got angry easily, which explained the state of the room.
"I came to notify you about one of the omegas."
Xuan Han's silver eyes flickered as they met Wei Jin's. "An omega? What happened?"
"Wei Lang told me he was sick. There are only eleven participants now, with only two days until the introductions."
"And?"
Wei Jin let out a frustrated groan. Xuan Han truly had no idea what was happening in the realm.
The law requires twelve participants. We need another participant."
"Another participant, huh?"
Wei Jin nodded.
Xuan Han turned from the window, met Wei Jin's eyes again, then slowly grinned. "I am entering the selection."
"What… you what?" Wei Jin almost choked, then coughed. "That is… the law forbids the emperor overseeing the selection and…"
"Which is why I am entering as an omega. We are short, and instead of wasting time, I will enter disguised as one."
Wei Jin felt like his lifespan had shortened on the spot. He had just dealt with one crazy brother; now the eldest spoke like a maniac.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Wei Jin shouted at him, throwing his hands up. "Both of you are crazy. Xuan Wei doesn't hide his, but you… You are the emperor. You are not supposed to talk like this and…"
Xuan Han cut him off with a hand. "All the more reason I should join is to see how the participants behave."
But Wei Jin knew that was a lie. The only reason Xuan Han was joining was Ling Yue.
He groaned, raised his left hand until his fan appeared, and began fanning himself. "Is there something you are not telling me?"
Xuan Han walked to his bed, fell back, and closed his eyes. "When the time comes, I will tell you," he muttered.
"Very well." Wei Jin shut his fan and sighed deeply.
Secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon, he'll discover why Xuan Han is obsessed with the omega who has tried to kill him.