The Stunning General Finds Himself in a Shura Field on a Dating Show ABO - Chapter 37

Almost the instant Ye Zhi collided with the stranger, a peculiar fragrance washed over him, like cedarwood yet also like sweet rain.

Ye Zhi’s strength completely gave way, and he collapsed into the stranger’s arms.

At that moment, all his senses seemed to be walled off, leaving only his sense of smell and touch terrifyingly acute.

As his consciousness faded, Ye Zhi felt himself being lifted up. The stranger said something, but he couldn’t make out the words.

The crisp, cool scent enveloped him, making Ye Zhi feel as if he had fallen into a snow-covered winter forest, the burning heat in his body soothed.

Instinctively, he nestled closer into the stranger’s embrace, trying to draw more of the fragrance from him.

At the same time, a warm breath brushed against Ye Zhi’s neck, and a faint sting ran through his vulnerable nape.

Ye Zhi instantly realized what the stranger intended and struggled frantically to escape

Don’t bite…

Lu Qingze had bitten his neck too harshly before, leaving Ye Zhi traumatized. Now, realizing he was about to be bitten there again, he instinctively resisted.

Fortunately, the man didn’t force the issue, merely reaching out to cup the back of Ye Zhi’s neck.

A wave of coolness spread from the burning nape, as if infused with the scent of cedarwood. The moment the man’s touch landed, Ye Zhi trembled with relief.

Not enough… more…

In response, the cedarwood fragrance in the air intensified, like a silent indulgence.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Ye Zhi gradually calmed down.

Little one, feeling better now?

As Ye Zhi regained consciousness, he found himself lying in someone’s arms. He immediately pushed the man away and finally looked up to see his face clearly.

The man had a buzz cut and appeared to be in his early thirties. His expression was aloof, with slightly downturned eyes that conveyed a gloomy, world-weary air. Yet his lips were curved into a natural smile, creating a contradictory impression.

If Lu Qingze was like a snow lotus on a high mountain—aloof, noble, and untouchable—this man was like a thorn bush clinging to a cliff’s edge, its roots reaching into the dark abyss below—mysterious and dangerous.

Ye Zhi sensed immediately that this man was no ordinary person.

He instinctively widened the distance between them, only then noticing that the man had carried him to a study room in the Library, and the door was locked from the inside.

Sensing the youth’s wariness, the man sighed softly, as if deeply hurt. Little one, using me and then tossing me aside? How heartless of you. Maintaining a constant release of soothing pheromones is exhausting, you know.

Ye Zhi frowned, confused. Soothing pheromones? What are those?

That fragrance you smelled earlier? That was my pheromones. Normally, I wouldn’t need to go to such lengths—a temporary mark on your gland would suffice. But you seem unwilling.

Leaning back in his chair, the man continued, I’m not good at much, but I have a remarkably mild temper. If you refuse, I’ll just have to inconvenience myself and use soothing pheromones to help you through your heat.

Heat? Ye Zhi’s confusion deepened. Isn’t heat something only Omegas experience?

Seeing the youth’s bewildered expression, the man chuckled softly. You’ve been injected with an Omega Inducer. You’re about to differentiate into an Omega. Don’t you know that?

Omega?

Ye Zhi found it hard to believe.

That’s impossible! I don’t have a gland… Ye Zhi protested, instinctively reaching for the back of his neck. The rest of his words caught in his throat.

Instead of the smooth skin he expected, he felt a distinct bump.

The passage he had read that morning flashed through his mind

Those who survived developed a protrusion on the back of their necks, later called the gland. The pheromones it released became the carrier of primal love and desire.

So… he had somehow grown a gland without realizing it, and he was about to differentiate into an Omega.

Panic filled Ye Zhi’s voice

How could this happen…?

Don’t worry. You still have at least a week before you fully differentiate into an Omega.

Ye Zhi had read about secondary differentiation in books, but the process was always described as instantaneous. How could it possibly take a week?

Was it because of the Omega Inducer the man had mentioned?

Ye Zhi took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts. When he looked up again, his composure had returned

What exactly is this Omega Inducer? Why do I still have a week before I fully differentiate?

You really don’t know about this?

The man seemed surprised by Ye Zhi’s confusion and continued to explain

This is an Omega Inducer, a serum that accelerates a Beta’s differentiation into an Omega. Within three days of injection, the Beta will experience a Pseudo-Heat, during which their glands will gradually develop. A week later, as the glands mature, the Beta will undergo a true Heat, completing their differentiation.

His voice grew excited as he added

And I don’t just know you’ll differentiate into an Omega—I know you’ll become an S-Class Omega.

After all, only S-Class Omegas possess bl00d that carries the scent of pheromones.

He had detected this scent the first time he met the young man.

A glint of predatory interest flashed in the man’s eyes, like a mischievous child eyeing a beautiful butterfly, eager to capture it and pin it as a specimen.

The information was overwhelming. Ye Zhi took a moment to process it, but still struggled to understand

What’s a Pseudo-Heat?

Pseudo-Heat is meant to enhance the resilience of newly developed glands. But since you’re still a Beta, you won’t release pheromones. That’s how I confirmed your unnatural Differentiation. Once you pass through this phase, you’ll be able to smell pheromones.

In the sealed room, the scent of cedarwood drifted intermittently.

Ye Zhi knew this was the other man’s pheromone signature.

Just as he’d said, Ye Zhi could now truly smell pheromones.

So the injection was real. Was he really… going to become an Omega?

Ye Zhi didn’t yet fully grasp what it meant to differentiate into an Omega, let alone what an S-Class Omega represented.

But a wave of fear washed over him, fear of the unknown. This entirely new identity instinctively terrified him.

Who had injected him with this substance? And why?

To administer the injection without his knowledge, it had to be someone who frequently interacted with him, and it must have happened when he was unconscious.

The only time Ye Zhi could recall being vulnerable was when he returned drunk from Hailin Village.

With this thought, the possibilities narrowed considerably.

Ye Zhi was almost certain that the person who injected him with this substance was one of the guests staying at the cabin.

But he couldn’t yet pinpoint who it was.

Just then, a violent knocking echoed through the quiet study room

Open the door!

The man stood up, looking like he was about to leave.

I almost forgot to mention, he said, tilting his head toward Ye Zhi. My name is Sep. Little one, once you successfully differentiate, we’ll meet again.

What does that mean?

Ye Zhi frowned deeply.

For some reason, this man gave him an intensely uncomfortable feeling.

It was the first time he had ever felt such a strong sense of aversion toward someone.

By now, Sep had already opened the study room door.

As he stepped out, he came face-to-face with Xie Shi, who had just arrived at the entrance.

The moment the door opened, the air filled with the overwhelming scent of Alpha pheromones. The intensity of the scent made it impossible not to suspect what had just transpired inside.

Xie Shi grabbed Sep by the collar, his eyes blazing with fury. What did you do to him?

Sep’s reaction was dismissive. He glanced sideways at Xie Shi and said coldly, Who are you to him? What business is it of yours?

Ye Zhi, who had also noticed Xie Shi, quickly interjected, Xiao Xie, he didn’t do anything. Let go of him.

Despite his dislike for Sep, Ye Zhi couldn’t stand by and watch him be falsely accused, especially after the man had helped him.

Xie Shi scrutinized Ye Zhi carefully, confirming that he seemed unharmed, before finally releasing Sep.

Sep straightened his collar and scoffed, An Omega with such strength? Are you sure you’re really an Omega?

With this cryptic remark, he turned and strode away.

Xie Shi’s expression darkened as he watched Sep’s retreating figure, but he remained silent.

What are you doing here? Ye Zhi asked Xie Shi, his tone unintentionally cold.

Just after I experienced a Pseudo-Heat, Xie Shi conveniently shows up at the Library.

A seed of doubt began to sprout in Ye Zhi’s mind

Could Xie Shi have administered the injection?

Initially, Ye Zhi hadn’t suspected Xie Shi at all. But Sep’s parting words had planted this seed of suspicion.

Only Alphas needed Omegas. If Xie Shi were an Alpha, everything would make sense.

I have class this afternoon, and since you were at school, I thought I’d come early and have lunch with you. Someone said you were in the library, but I searched everywhere and couldn’t find you. Worried something might have happened, I checked the library’s surveillance footage and found you here.

Xie Shi wasn’t telling the whole truth, but neither was he lying completely.

He knew Ye Zhi would experience a Pseudo-Heat today. As soon as his morning classes ended, he rushed to school.

The rest unfolded as Xie Shi described he checked the surveillance footage to locate Ye Zhi in the study room.

Yet this mix of truth and lies, combined with his worried expression, revealed not a hint of deception.

Ye Zhi couldn’t help but doubt his own suspicions

Could it really not be Xie Shi?

Just as Ye Zhi was questioning himself, Xie Shi suddenly hugged him, his voice filled with aggrieved concern

Brother Ye, I was terrified when I couldn’t find you. What happened just now? Who was that person? How could he release such a strong pheromone? Did he really not do anything to you?

Xie Shi was genuinely shaken, his questions tumbling out one after another, his worry so palpable it needed no feigning.

As Xie Shi drew closer, the sweet scent of chocolate filled Ye Zhi’s nostrils.

This fragrance was completely different from Sep’s—not just in scent, but in some subtler, almost imperceptible way.