Chapter 26: Her Lover, the Deceiver Part 3

A Jia Hua like that was so fierce! But filled with a sense of absolute security!

Listening to Zhen Yan’s barrage of questions beside her ear, Jia Hua wanted to facepalm. Earlier, caught up in the fight, she’d forgotten to hide her strength and simply enjoyed herself. Now that the fun was over, it was time to explain.

Indeed, one lie required a thousand more to cover it.

But Jia Hua didn’t want to fabricate anymore. Making up excuses was exhausting. And she didn’t want to keep deceiving Zhen Yan.

She stopped walking. Amid Zhen Yan’s puzzlement, she turned her head and said, “Zhen Yan, if I said I wasn’t originally from this world, would you believe me?”

Zhen Yan clearly hadn’t expected Jia Hua to just tell the truth. She was momentarily stunned.

Seeing Zhen Yan’s expression, Jia Hua’s eyes dimmed slightly. She turned her head back and continued carrying Zhen Yan through the jungle, her voice low. “Zhen Yan, think what you will. But you and I are lovers now. It’s impossible for me to let you leave.”

Jia Hua’s voice turned somewhat cold, very different from her usual smiling demeanor.

“The original Jia Hua has gone to enjoy a new world. Now, the user of this body is me. Your lover is me. While I still like you, you cannot, and are not permitted to, leave my side,” Jia Hua said heavily.

The nature of the Atonement Team was to let members suffer to atone for sins. Therefore, for every mission world where a team member possessed a body, the original host’s predetermined destiny was guaranteed to be utterly miserable. The Atonement Team forcibly struck a deal with the original hosts—throwing them into the Pleasure Group to enjoy a lifetime of bliss, while the Atonement Team members endured the host’s original suffering on their behalf. Under the System’s interference, they even endured more suffering.

The Retirement World was the same. The Original Owner had already been tossed into the Pleasure Group to enjoy happiness. This body’s heart, mind, and soul now belonged entirely to Jia Hua, who came here to retire.

The only difference was, in previous mission worlds, the System followed her, allowing her to know the world’s future trajectory and choose the most miserable path to walk. But in the Retirement World, she was free.

Behind her, all was silent. Jia Hua thought Zhen Yan was frightened by her forceful declaration. Just as she prepared to turn her head to look, a soft sensation landed on her nape.

Zhen Yan was kissing her!

Jia Hua halted instantly, feeling Zhen Yan’s lips kiss the back of her neck, then slowly withdraw.

Then she heard Zhen Yan whisper softly in her ear: “As long as you let me stay by your side, I will never leave you.”

“Jia Hua, I love you.”

Zhen Yan pressed her forehead against the smooth skin of Jia Hua’s nape. There was no Nape Patch there…

Her arms tightened around Jia Hua’s neck. She asked no more questions.

Perhaps, Jia Hua, like herself, was a flawed Omega.

Hearing Zhen Yan’s declaration of love, Jia Hua felt her pupils contract slightly, then the corner of her mouth curved upward infinitely.

Mm, as expected of the person she liked. Hearing she was an outsider, yet not afraid of her, even continuing to love her… Truly wonderful.

They continued walking through the forest where daylight was scarce. But Bakero Forest was simply too vast. After walking an entire day, they hadn’t even reached the nearest red circle.

The sky darkened. Night fell.

Jia Hua helped Zhen Yan, who had recovered significantly, stop in a wooded area.

Jia Hua said, “Let’s camp here for the night.”

Zhen Yan wasn’t well-versed in such matters. Hearing this, she nodded. “Okay.”

Jia Hua built a campfire. Clearing a patch of ground, she started another fire. Then she told Zhen Yan, “You open the Tent here. I’ll go cut some saplings to set it up.”

She took the Machete and walked some distance away.

While cutting down a small tree not far away, a giant venomous spider suddenly sprayed venom at her face. She dodged rapidly. The venom missed.

Seeing this, the spider tried to flee, but an angered Jia Hua threw her Machete, pinning it directly. The spider struggled twice, then fell heavily from the branch, dead.

Cold-faced, Jia Hua walked over, pulling the Machete from the spider’s body. She kicked the spider corpse away and headed towards a nearby puddle.

The Machete was covered in spider blood. Better wash it.

She placed the Machete in the puddle to wash it. The sky was dim now. Only the place where they’d set camp glowed with red-yellow firelight.

Just as she’d washed it and was about to put the Machete away, a Piranha suddenly leaped from the puddle, jaws wide, aiming for her hand.

Jia Hua’s expression turned icy. She released a wisp of Mental Power into the water. The puddle instantly rippled with countless waves. Numerous Piranhas floated to the surface, covering the entire puddle.

With a cold snort, Jia Hua picked up a large leaf from the ground. Scooping up a handful of the floating fish onto the leaf.

Tonight, they’d eat grilled Piranha. Had to try some local delicacies, right?

“Creak—creak—” The distant firelight flickered erratically, accompanied by piercing, shrill screeches.

Jia Hua frowned. Carrying the large leaf, she flashed towards their campsite.

Returning, she found the ground around the camp littered with venomous creatures. Zhen Yan stood amidst the carnage, looking exactly like the King Yama himself.

Seeing Jia Hua return, her expression instantly softened. “A monkey stole one of our military backpacks.”

Amidst the chaos of venomous creatures, she’d lost focus for a moment, and one backpack was taken.

Watching Zhen Yan, full of self-blame, Jia Hua tossed the dead fish on the ground. Walking over, she hugged Zhen Yan, comforting her. “It’s alright, it’s alright. As long as you’re safe.”

She released Zhen Yan and asked, “Whose backpack was taken?”

Zhen Yan said, “Mine.”

Jia Hua: “That’s not so bad. Just some clothes, food, and medicine inside. We’ll just be more careful—no changing clothes and avoid getting hurt.”

Zhen Yan shook her head. “Both our Suppressants were in there.”

Jia Hua blinked. “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. One night should be fine, right?”

Zhen Yan: “…Then what about food? We have no food now.”

Jia Hua laughed upon hearing this. Pointing behind her, she said, “How about we try some local specialties tonight?”

Zhen Yan looked toward where Jia Hua pointed and saw the large leaf piled with fish. “What are those?”

Jia Hua shrugged. “Probably Piranhas or something. They just tried to eat me.”

Zhen Yan pressed her lips together. “Are they edible?”

Jia Hua nodded. “Of course.”

Zhen Yan asked, “How do you know? Have you eaten them before?”

Jia Hua replied, “I guessed.”

Zhen Yan: “…Will you eat them?”

Jia Hua shook her head. “I don’t eat fish. They’re for you.”

Zhen Yan: “…”

In the end, several branches were set up over the campfire. The left branches were skewered with Piranha; the right branches held skewers of non-venomous snake meat.

“If you don’t want fish, you can have snake meat.” Jia Hua offered Zhen Yan the grilled, pale snake meat.

Looking at the snake meat, Zhen Yan swallowed hard, then decided to eat the fish after all.

Alone, Jia Hua enjoyed the delicious snake meat. Pure and original, no additives—taste, superb!

Zhen Yan ate only one Piranha and stopped. Jia Hua, however, ate her fill. Together, they found branches to prop up the Tent, lit another fire, and scattered Insect Repellent powder around the tent before retreating inside.

Using the Flashlight, they placed their dirty jackets and shoes in a corner, then squeezed into the double Sleeping Bag.

This Tent cost a high price. Its defensive properties were excellent. Insects, snakes, and venomous creatures would have difficulty chewing through it. Barring an attack by a large creature, they could sleep relatively safely for now.

Night enveloped the entire forest.

In her deep sleep, Jia Hua felt as if she were hugging a furnace. It was very, very hot. She opened her eyes. The moment her mind cleared, she perceived that Zhen Yan in her arms was burning up.

Inside the tent, the scent of Grape Scent Pheromones filled the air. This scent stirred the Pheromones within Jia Hua as well, making them active.

Frowning, she switched on the Flashlight. Zhen Yan was flushed red all over, burning hot, her eyes tightly shut, her mouth constantly opening to exhale.

“Zhen Yan, wake up…” Jia Hua roused Zhen Yan.

“Mm…” Zhen Yan struggled to open her eyes. They were filled with bloodshot veins, looking somewhat frightening.

Jia Hua helped Zhen Yan sit up and asked with a furrowed brow, “Has your Susceptible Period arrived?”

The heavens truly knew how to play jokes. The Suppressants had just been stolen, and now Zhen Yan’s Susceptible Period hit. Without any Alpha Suppressant, Jia Hua was an Alpha—how could she comfort Zhen Yan?!

It was said that when an Alpha couldn’t find relief during the Susceptible Period, the Pheromones and Mental Power within them could go berserk! At that point, Zhen Yan could easily fall into a frenzied, violent state.

The burning heat in her nerves caused Zhen Yan immense pain. Her mind was growing unclear. An S-Rank Omega in Estrus required even more comfort. Moreover, a lower-ranked Alpha wouldn’t even be able to satisfy the needs of an S-Rank Omega.

Zhen Yan bit down hard on her lower lip, drawing blood.

With force, she pushed Jia Hua towards the edge of the tent. “Leave! Get as far away as possible! Don’t come near me, or I might hurt you!”

It wasn’t just Alphas in a Susceptible Period who attacked approaching Alphas—an Omega in Estrus would also attack other Omegas who came near.

Zhen Yan knew she was an S-Rank Omega, while Jia Hua was merely a D-Rank Omega. If she lost control and harmed Jia Hua, she would never forgive herself!

But how could Jia Hua possibly leave her girlfriend alone to face such an aggressive, surging Susceptible Period? She walked over, lifted her own hair, and exposed her nape to Zhen Yan, saying, “Zhen Yan, I need to confess something to you. I’m actually an Alpha. So when you bite, it might be painful. But endure it. Once you release this once, we’ll leave the forest immediately and get you to a hospital.”

Jia Hua presented her nape right before Zhen Yan.

Two Alphas couldn’t Mark each other, but they could provide temporary relief. Though the process was agonizing, it was better than being driven into a violent frenzy by the raging pheromones inside them.

The pain of the bite on her nape was long in coming. Jia Hua turned her head and saw Zhen Yan staring blankly at her nape, unmoving.

Jia Hua grew somewhat anxious: “Even if you mind that I’m an Alpha, just like you, we can discuss it after your Susceptible Period! Just bite!”

But Zhen Yan, her reddened eyes meeting Jia Hua’s, suddenly smiled within Jia Hua’s anxious gaze.

She grabbed Jia Hua’s hand and placed it on her own nape, saying seriously, “But I’m an Omega. I can’t bite you.”

Jia Hua felt an earthquake in her pupils.

But then she heard Zhen Yan ask her: “Jia Hua, are you willing to Mark me?”

Beneath Jia Hua’s palm, an invisible gland radiated heat.

Gazing into Zhen Yan’s reddened eyes, Jia Hua saw through the endurance and anxiety hidden within them.

The Pheromones inside Jia Hua erupted explosively within the small tent. Both their breaths instantly grew ragged.

Jia Hua grabbed Zhen Yan’s slender waist, pulling her close. Amidst their locked gaze, she slowly pressed her downwards.

Grape-scented Omega Pheromones and Mango-scented Alpha Pheromones intertwined within the tent, becoming indistinguishable from each other.

“A Temporary Mark or a Permanent Mark?” Jia Hua heard her own breathy, panting voice.

Zhen Yan’s answer was irrelevant to the question. “I only love you. Only you…”

Jia Hua felt she understood.