Mu Chenxing opened the door, and Tong Xiao, who had been applying a face mask inside, let out a surprised “Eh?” before standing up and pressing himself against the wall.
Mu Chenxing: “…What are you doing?”
Tong Xiao frowned. “Go take a shower, quick!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He tugged at his collar and sniffed. “No smell… right?”
There was a faint, cool scent, like he’d just come back from outdoors in a blizzard, but you absolutely couldn’t detect it unless you got close.
Pei Yao used to do the same thing to him back at school—dragging him around like that—and Tong Xiao and the others never reacted. So it clearly wasn’t this scent causing it.
Tong Xiao: “I don’t smell anything else. I remember reading online that the Admiral’s Pheromones are odorless—it’s that Alpha pressure that’s so intimidating. But I’m not talking about the Admiral’s—whatever, I’ll just sit next door for a bit. Call me when you’re done.”
He slipped out, hugging the wall.
“Don’t close the door. Let it air out.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He sniffed again.
Still just that cold air scent.
Not the Admiral’s, then… mine?
He opened the holo-screen and asked Pei Yao, “Did you smell anything on me?”
Pei Yao was probably still walking; he chuckled at the question. “Of course, deliciously fragrant. It pairs perfectly with my baby. It even teased me into leaking just a tiny bit of Pheromones—just a tiny bit. Take a shower later and spritz some Pheromone Suppressant. Zhang Yunli sent you a bunch; I had someone put them in your cabinet.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Setting the Pheromones aside for now, “Why’d Teacher Zhang send them to me?”
He’d thought they came from the Military District.
“But the other dorms have them too.”
Pei Yao: “Ask him yourself. I just oversaw the intake. The other Omegas’ share came from special Alliance Government funding. I had them procure based on the samples he provided—one set per Omega dorm. So yours has two.”
He chuckled. “After all, I’m here, and my baby has high demand.”
Mu Chenxing automatically ignored the last line and just said, “Oh.”
He grabbed a set of sleepwear and headed into the bathroom. As he hung up his clothes, he asked, “You said you smelled my Pheromones earlier. I didn’t release any, and you didn’t bite me. Where’d they come from?”
Only the gland and the canines carried Pheromones. And the ones on teeth didn’t even come out easily when gnawing bones—where’d they come from?
On the holo-screen, Pei Yao under the dim yellow streetlights smirked ambiguously. “Baby, are you sure you didn’t release any Pheromones?”
Mu Chenxing was baffled. “I didn’t. Isn’t it all you biting randomly? You didn’t even break skin—where’d the Pheromones come from?”
Pei Yao lifted his other hand and made a gripping motion. “Think I’d keep pinching your butt for no reason?”
“?”
Pinch where—damn it!
Mu Chenxing was so shocked he stuttered. “Y-you—you mean—”
Pei Yao blinked. “No rush, baby. Your body’s ready, but I know your mind isn’t yet—”
The video call ended.
Mu Chenxing took two deep breaths, stripped naked in a flash, and started scrubbing furiously.
He even held back his shame and washed that area twice… Then he started scrubbing the bathroom, terrified any residue might linger.
When he finally emerged, Tong Xiao was back, spritzing Suppressant everywhere.
Mu Chenxing’s face, already flushed from the hot water, burned hotter.
He said, a bit awkwardly, “No smell now, right?”
Tong Xiao glanced at him. “Pretty much—I figured you weren’t coming back tonight.”
Mu Chenxing rubbed his nose. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Tong Xiao hesitated, locked the door, and whispered, “Your guy’s… not up to it, is he?”
Mu Chenxing: “…I just don’t stay out all night. No need to slander him like that.”
Tong Xiao: “He’s 40, man. Heard he used to be Omega-phobic too. Any normal Alpha or Omega with a partner would’ve been studying contraception ages ago. You’ve been together almost four years. Long-distance was one thing before, but now? Out for over an hour and back already?”
He said solemnly, “Don’t go all-in just ’cause you’re engaged. Find a time to test him out. If he really can’t, dump him quick.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
For him, if Pei Yao really couldn’t, it’d be great news.
He could happily flip the tables—Pheromone secretion? As long as he didn’t use it, it’d just be playful fun!!
But he couldn’t say that to Tong Xiao.
He brushed it off casually, changed the subject, and asked Tong Xiao to look up Iron Armored Beast info.
Tong Xiao tensed up too. “Facing them this soon? How long’s breeding season?”
A moment later, he sucked in a cold breath. “Breeding season isn’t fixed! May’s just the start!”
Mu Chenxing: “…What does that mean?”
Tong Xiao: “It’s not that Iron Armored Beasts only breed at a certain time. After May hits, the planets beyond the borderlines get perfect climate for incubating them—plenty of food. They multiply into tides and migrate inward. As long as their planet has enough food, they nest anywhere and keep breeding nonstop.”
“…That’s locusts, right?”
Tong Xiao: “Locusts? Pretty much, yeah. Iron Armored Beasts’ habits and physiology are insect-like.”
He scrolled through data and read aloud, “So every Beast Tide, border troops have to land along their flight paths and wipe out any nests left behind.”
Mu Chenxing frowned. “Fourth Military District covers three border systems, 22 Barren Star total?”
“Yeah.”
Mu Chenxing: “…No wonder Pei Yao’s always inspecting. With this many planets, if even a few land during a tide and you check back in half a year… boom, another Beast Tide.”
Tong Xiao: “Yep. It’s happened plenty. That’s why they can’t clear them fast enough—the borderline can’t expand, and no one dares live on those Barren Star along it.”
Mu Chenxing pinched his brow. “Looks like rough years ahead—sleep. Tomorrow I’ll check Lin Chuan’s training plan and tweak it for you guys.”
Tong Xiao: “…”
He promptly reported Mu Chenxing to the group chat.
The group was unfazed.
“Used to it.”
“Just extra training? We survived comps like that.”
“Yeah, special training back then was eight hours a day.”
“I’m not the me from back then!”
Tong Xiao glanced at Mu Chenxing, who was pulling up training modules on his holo-screen, and swallowed his comforting words.
…
The next day.
The 64 Omegas ate breakfast together, then strolled leisurely to the spot. It wasn’t even eight yet.
This Training Venue was one they’d passed yesterday on their walk—big gates, walls, but otherwise empty. Just packed dirt ground, even some weeds.
A gust of wind hit, turning their sky-blue floral uniforms grayish-blue.
The breakfast-fed Omegas chattered:
“Military District’s this broke?”
“Thought training fields at least had roofs.”
“Yesterday’s tour—barely any did.”
“Too poor.”
“High-tech era, and they skimp on basic infrastructure?”
As they chatted, Fu Yuntao, Lin Chuan, and a few Alphas arrived.
Mu Chenxing: “Fall in.”
The 64 Omegas snapped into position in seconds.
Fu Yuntao and the others froze.
Fu Yuntao checked the time and asked Lin Chuan, “New recruits this fast this year?”
He meant the main Alpha/Beta group that arrived ten days early.
Lin Chuan shook his head. “Nope.”
Glancing at the calm Mu Chenxing and crew, he lowered his voice. “Took three days just for assembly and formation—third day still wasn’t this quick.”
Fu Yuntao nodded, mildly surprised. “Got it.”
He turned to the Omegas. “I’m Colonel Fu Yuntao of the New Recruit Camp. You’ll be under me for the next year—living, training, health issues, come to me direct.”
He pointed at Lin Chuan. “Or him.”
Lin Chuan stepped forward and saluted. “I’m Captain Lin Chuan of the New Recruit Camp, your direct instructor.”
Mu Chenxing called out promptly, “Return salute!”
The Omegas thumped their left chests in unison.
Fu Yuntao and crew: “…”
Fu Yuntao: “…You got training? From school?”
Mu Chenxing replied, “No.” He didn’t say who trained them.
A few nearby Omegas hesitated to speak.
Fu Yuntao swept them a glance. “No more chit-chat. The issue.”
“The main New Recruit Camp group beat you here by ten days—already on advanced drills. Per tradition, May means full alert for Beast Tide. So your job: Finish newbie training before May, then standby for frontline in May.”
“After talks with district brass yesterday, we drafted a training schedule. Sending it now.”
The Omegas hurriedly opened it.
Five-day plan, timed to the minute, drills to the rep—like 30 minutes for X high knees.
Breaks slotted between.
Packed tight.
Fu Yuntao continued: “This is phase one—will adjust based on your condition—”
“Report, sir! I object.”
Fu Yuntao looked at Mu Chenxing. “Too packed?”
Mu Chenxing: “Sir, I don’t have your contact. I sent my training plan to Captain Lin Chuan. I recommend we follow mine.”
Fu Yuntao blinked, glanced at Lin Chuan, who was staring down at his holo-screen.
Lin Chuan: “…”
He looked up, strained. “Report, sir. I’m… not sure I can lead it.”
Fu Yuntao frowned. “Lemme see.”
He snatched Lin Chuan’s hand, scanned it rapidly—
“…” He turned to Mu Chenxing, brow furrowed. “Time’s tight, sure, but no rushing it. Your plan’s intensity beats the next camp’s—and they’ve had ten days.”
Mu Chenxing calmly: “New Recruit Camp’s for bridging Military Academy differences.”
Meaning: They were all from one school—no differences.
Fu Yuntao: “…Did the Admiral approve this?”
Mu Chenxing: “Aren’t you New Recruit Camp Colonel? Captain Lin Chuan our direct instructor? Said anything goes through you two? Going over your heads to Admiral—against regs, no?”
Fu Yuntao rubbed his temple. “Your plan itself ain’t by the regs.”
Since when did recruits toss plans at instructors?
Mu Chenxing: “Oh, want me to get his sign-off? Or you?”
Fu Yuntao: “…”
He eyed the plan again. “This intensity—you won’t all pass out?”
Mu Chenxing: “No worries. These Omegas are solid. I didn’t let the shaky ones sign enlistment.”
Fu Yuntao, Lin Chuan: “…”
Finally reported up to Pei Yao, got electronic approval, and training prepped to start.
Just prepped.
Fu Yuntao urgently called in a medic team and an ambulance loaded with emergency gear.
Lin Chuan led folks hauling over crates.
Then the Alphas hung around, watching tensely.
The Omegas:
“Chill this much?”
“Training’ll scare ’em!”
“Hahaha, they know zilch about us!”
Amid the Omegas’ easy vibe, training kicked off.
Lin Chuan read the first item: “Weighted run, 1500 meters.”
Meanwhile, Alphas dragged crates from the wall, popped them.
Crates of Weighted Bands.
Mu Chenxing went first, grabbed two per hand, weighed them, wrapped on, stepped back, signaled Tong Xiao and the rest.
Omegas hesitated, then mimicked—two per person.
“Not heavy.”
“How much?”
“Label says—1 kg.”
“Isn’t this endurance speed?”
“Weighted for what?”
“Only 1500m? Underestimating us!”
Lin Chuan eyed them sympathetically. “1500 meters. Go.”
Track was 800m a lap—near two.
Mu Chenxing led, bands jangling, hugging the wall at a jog.
Others hurried after.
Alphas moved too, carefully pacing alongside.
The Weighted Bands wrapped around their hands didn’t affect their running too much at first.
But after half a lap, everyone’s hands started to ache.
After one lap, their hands began to shake.
By one and a half laps, someone started yelling for help.
Fu Yuntao and the others were eager to rush over and assist, but Mu Chenxing blocked their path. “What are you doing?”
Fu Yuntao said, “They’re at their limit—”
“They’re yelling for help now, and with you to help them, what happens on the battlefield when they yell for help? Who’s going to help then?”
Fu Yuntao was at a loss for words but still insisted, “It’s too heavy for them. That’s enough—let them rest a bit—”
“Also, yelling for help is just their habit. It doesn’t mean they can’t keep going,” Mu Chenxing said helplessly.
Shen Mingshu shouted, “You’re slandering me! I never yell for help!”
Mu Chenxing glanced back. “You just curse people out!”
The Omegas wanted to laugh, but their hands were shaking too much.
“Ahhh, how many meters left?”
“Hurry, hurry, sir! Tell us how many meters are left!”
Lin Chuan quickly replied, “Just over three hundred meters—not even half a lap.”
“!!”
“Charge!!”
“Aaahhh—”
The group of Omegas suddenly accelerated, yelling as they surged forward.
They powered through the last three hundred meters in one go. The moment Lin Chuan shouted “Done!”, they all collapsed in unison. They didn’t even bother removing the Weighted Bands, too focused on their trembling hands.
Mu Chenxing lagged behind at a leisurely pace before arriving. “Rest for five minutes, then on to the next round: another 1,500-meter weighted run.”
The Omegas: “??”
“My arms have reached their limit. I need to rest.”
“I can’t hold them anymore! One kilogram is so heavy.”
“I can run, but not with the weights.”
Mu Chenxing said, “Do you still remember how heavy a real gun is?”
Tong Xiao replied, “Depends on the model—anywhere from one to three kilograms.”
Mu Chenxing nodded. “So, within ten days, we need to be able to run five kilometers while holding three kilograms in one hand.”
The Omegas: “…”
Mu Chenxing continued, “Does it feel impossible?”
The Omegas nodded vigorously.
Mu Chenxing said, “If it’s impossible, we keep training. Once we can do it, we’ll head to the New Recruit Camp and train alongside the Alphas.”
“Three thousand Alpha recruits.”
“And apparently, a hundred instructors.”
The Omegas: “…”
Fu Yuntao and Lin Chuan stared in shock.
The two exchanged a glance—
Fu Yuntao: What’s going on? Who said that?
Lin Chuan: No idea.
