The Rebel's Omega
Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Chapter 75

As the dust settled, the two men stood, glaring at each other.

Sheng Fei was calm, holding Hua Ren protectively in his arms while the Emperor was enraged. His pheromones spread over the area, choking and oppressive. Even the smaller animals stayed far away, afraid of his anger.

He stepped forward, unsheathing his blade with a sharp, metallic hiss. He pointed the tip directly at Sheng Fei, his voice low. “Give him to me if you value your life.”

Hua Ren tensed in Sheng Fei’s arms, his fingers clutching tightly at Sheng Fei’s robes as a slight tremble coursed through him. He didn’t want to leave Sheng Fei’s arms at all. Even if he did then certainly not to the Emperor.

Sheng Fei glanced down, his expression softening instantly as he saw the fear in Hua Ren’s beautiful pale eyes. Without a word, he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Hua Ren’s forehead, his lips lingering for a moment as he inhaled the scent of peach and white jasmine that was uniquely Hua Ren’s.

“You’re safe,” he murmured softly, just for Hua Ren. "Trust me."

He would rather die than give his mate to anyone else.

The gentle action sent Hua Ren’s heart racing. He felt a bit embarrassed that he couldn’t even fight and had to rely on Sheng Fei but at the same time, he felt special. Somewhat like a princess and he couldn’t help but blush. He hid his face in the crook Sheng Fei’s neck, murmuring; "I can totally take him on my own you know. I just can’t move right now."

Sheng Fei couldn’t help but laugh. "Yeah, I know."

The Emperor’s expression twisted as he watched their little exchange. The sword in his hand trembled as his grip tightened. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice rising with unhinged anger. “And who is my general to you?”

Sheng Fei’s eyes narrowed when the Emperor referred to Hua Ren as his. It absolutely pissed him off but he remained cool headed. “I should be asking that question to you,” he said, his voice low, controlled, but one could hear the underlying anger. “Who are you to touch my mate?”

The Emperor froze, the word mate slicing through his rage like a shockwave. His grip on the sword faltered, and his hand trembled violently. He stared at Hua Ren, his sharp gaze now filled with a blend of disbelief and anger.

“Mate?” he whispered, his voice barely audible. His eyes darted between Sheng Fei and Hua Ren, as if searching for some sort of denial.

The voice in his head began to snicker, ’That general of yours sure lies a lot.’ it laughed. ’You have been entirely deceived. I told you something like this would happen. You should have killed him when you had the chance.’

“Shut up!” the Emperor roared, his hands flying to his hair. His sword clattered to the ground as he gripped it as though trying to tear the voice from his mind. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Sheng Fei and Hua Ren frowned, exchanging a wary glance. What was happening to the Emperor?

’You’re too weak, Minxiu.’ The voice pressed on, relentless and sinister. ’The person you trusted most is the mate of a rebel who wants you dead. What are you going to do about it?’

The Emperor’s breaths came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring as the voice clawed deeper into his thoughts.

’Are you just going to stand there and let him take what should be yours?’ the voice whispered like a devil perched on his shoulder. ’You have practically raised Hua Ren. He has been by your side for years. Are you just going to let some man take him? Hm?’

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Hua Ren and Sheng Fei again, his mind spiraling. The voice twisted reality before him, showing Hua Ren naked in Sheng Fei’s arms, the two of them entangled and kissing passionately. Their lips curved in mocking smiles, their eyes gleaming with scorn directed at him.

The Emperor’s chest heaved as his anger boiled over. His teeth ground together, his hands balling into fists in his hair. The voice cooed in satisfaction. ’See the way they mock you, Minxiu. They care nothing for you. Let me take over. Let me help you get your general back.’

The Emperor suddenly screamed, the guttural sound tearing through the air. His eyes burned a deep red, like thick blood, veins darkened across his skin as the voice’s power sank its claws into his mind. His body convulsed, the sound of his own rage blending with sinister laughter echoing in his skull.

"What is happening to him?" Hua Ren asked, stunned. He had never noticed such a power in the Emperor before.

Sheng Fei only stared at the Emperor for a while before turning to Hua Ren. "Will you be okay alone?"

Hua Ren nodded. "I can already feel my strength coming back. I’ll be fine. You should focus on your fight with him."

Sheng Fei gave a curt nod and gently guided Hua Ren to sit against the trunk of a nearby tree. Then, he reached up and removed his mask, revealing his sharp, handsome features and golden eyes that seemed to glint even brighter under the pale light of the night.

He crouched down, taking Hua Ren’s small slender hand in his own. "I’m about to go and fight the Emperor," he said, his voice soft. "Anything you want to say or do to me, dear wife?"

Hua Ren scrunched his nose in thought, then his eyes lit up. “Oh yes! The Emperor usually starts his fights by testing his opponent’s defense. He’s incredibly fast and he uses that speed to feint. His blade might look like it’s coming straight at you, but it’s often a misdirection for a strike aimed at your blind spot.”

Hua Ren frowned, his brows knitting in concern. “Then there’s his most dangerous move—a technique he only uses when he’s desperate or enraged. He creates an illusion of himself, but it’s not just one. The illusions mirror his actions, and unless you’re careful, you won’t know which one is real until it’s too late. You have to be very careful and try to open your senses to everything around you. That’s the only way you’ll be able to tell where he’s about to strike from."

Sheng Fei’s lips twitched. “Well... that’s useful,” he said, his tone dry, “but that wasn’t what I meant.”

Hua Ren blinked innocently. “What did you mean?”