IHEA 1: Ji Jixuan, go die
Translator: Abo Dammen
【He found out.】
Five minutes after seeing this message, a piercing alarm sounded in the cabin where Xu Lin was hiding.
This was a sightseeing cruise ship sailing late at night, carrying over a thousand passengers. It had departed from the main city of Danshi, and its destination was Huakou Port in District Nine. It was a long journey lasting 17 days.
Only 48 hours after departure, this sudden accident shattered the passengers' pleasant trip.
The night sky opened its mouth wide, swallowing the faint sliver of moonlight between the clouds. On the boundless, pitch-black sea where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, the lit-up cruise ship beneath their feet was the only refuge for these thousands of people.
Everyone knew that an alarm sounding abruptly under such circumstances was not a good sign.
There were quite a few guests having dinner in the banquet hall. The alarm, echoing sharply throughout the cabin, killed anyone's appetite for food. Everyone looked up, glancing around.
"What's going on? A fire?"
"Strange, has the ship stopped?"
"Look! What's that!"
Someone pressed against the porthole to look outside.
Behind the cruise ship, a dozen military speedboats were cutting through the waves at high speed. Like hyenas catching the scent of prey, they charged forward with glowing green eyes.
Those with sharp eyes noticed the emblem printed on the speedboats and exclaimed in astonishment, "Those are the Ji family's boats!"
Xu Lin pressed down his hat brim and calmly distanced himself from the noisy crowd. As he turned to leave, he accidentally bumped into a portly man who had brought his wine glass to the window to see the commotion.
"Ouch!" The portly man lifted his stepped-on foot and roared, "Are you blind?"
After shouting, he took a closer look and realized he had bumped into a lady wearing a long dress and a feathered hat. The lace veil hanging down from the hat brim covered most of her face, making her features indistinct. As she lowered her head, half a corner of the inhibitor patch on her nape peeked out from her collar.
She was an omega.
The portly man immediately fell silent, realizing how rude his behavior had been towards an omega lady. Before he could utter a few gentlemanly words to save face, the lady picked up her skirts and hurriedly left the banquet hall.
The dozen or so speedboats quickly surrounded the cruise ship from all sides, their lights flashing. The moment they stabilized, a group of highly trained alphas surged out from the cabin doors, swiftly boarding the cruise ship's deck. They were armed and worked in coordination. Some guarded every exit, while others silently searched all around.
It seemed... they were looking for someone.
The cruise ship had up to eighteen decks with over two thousand cabins, far too many places to hide. The commotion raised by these alphas running around so conspicuously was naturally anything but normal.
This inexplicable search hadn't even sought anyone's permission, and these uninvited guests who disrupted everyone's perfect journey showed not a hint of apology, acting with arrogant and rampant insolence.
It was just like the Ji family's style.
The passengers departing from the main city, Danshi, were all either wealthy or noble. Anyone picked at random from this cruise ship was not someone to be trifled with. Yet, even though there were murmurs of complaint, they all tacitly quieted down in unison after the appearance of one man.
The man who entered the banquet hall was dressed in formal attire, as if he had just come from a meeting hall. He was very tall, his body proud and lofty like a green pine tree beneath the suit. The lower half of his face was fitted with a black muzzle. His skin held a sickly pallor, as if his health was poor.
The man's eyes under his brows were narrow and long, his gaze cold, severe, and grim. His emotionless eyes swept across the banquet hall, a barely suppressible ferocity rising within them.
"Is that Ji Jixuan?"
"Impossible. Didn't the young master of the Ji family just get engaged to the eldest daughter of the Chen family recently? Instead of sticking to his fiancée, what's he doing here late at night with nothing better to do?... Oh my, it really is him."
"Looking at them, are they searching for someone? Who are they looking for?"
"Shh."
Ji Jixuan's gaze swept across the crowd and settled on the portly man. Without a word, he walked directly towards him. The whispering crowd automatically made way for him.
He stopped in front of the man, his looking down from a height cold gaze seeming slightly displeased. Under this stare, the man broke out in a cold sweat.
Ji Jixuan's gaze didn't linger on his face but fell on the man's suit pocket. The portly man was taken aback, instinctively touching his pocket. It was bulging.
He made a sound of surprise and pulled out a pocket-watch-style tracker from his pocket.
This wasn't his. He immediately thought of the omega who had bumped into him earlier. Who had planted it goes without saying.
"Young Master."
Just then, an alpha bodyguard ran over and whispered a few words to Ji Jixuan, who then turned and left.
The bodyguard, who had already followed Ji Jixuan out a few steps, suddenly thought of something, turned back, and snatched the tracker from the portly man's hand.
Hurrying to catch up with Ji Jixuan, the two of them entered the elevator one after the other. Inside, the bodyguard handed the tracker to Ji Jixuan. "It belongs to the main family."
Ji Jixuan glanced at it but didn't take it. The bodyguard dutifully packaged the tracker in a plastic evidence bag, put it away, and began succinctly reporting the process of finding their target.
"We discovered Mr. Xu Lin in the tenth-floor music hall, disguised as a waiter. He clashed with us, seized a Python revolver and a 39-09."
Hearing this, Ji Jixuan's brows furrowed.
The alpha took in this subtle change of expression, instantly so frightened his hair stood on end, his voice cracking slightly with tension. "Mr. Xu Lin is completely unharmed!"
"Mr. Xu Lin, please don't be impulsive."
"I said step back!"
On the top deck, Xu Lin, who had already changed out of the dress, held a military dagger. Its sharp tip was pressed firmly against the neck of the alpha in front of him, whom he was using as a hostage.
The hostage alpha dared not make a reckless move, not so much worried about having his throat slit, but afraid that the perpetrator holding him from behind might, in emotional agitation, accidentally get bumped or hurt.
Xu Lin was forced back against the deck railing. Behind him was the bottomless sea, the churning waves crashing against the ship's hull. The sound of each wave was like the countdown to a bomb's explosion.
In front of him were a dozen alphas fanning out to surround him, and the encirclement was continuously shrinking.
"Can't you understand words?!"
The knife tip pierced the alpha's neck, a trickle of blood winding its way down the blade like a fine stream.
The alpha he was using as a bargaining chip showed no panic, as if he cared nothing for his own life, and even began advising Xu Lin almost earnestly and patiently.
"Mr. Xu Lin, there's no point in resisting. This area is full of our people so you can't escape. The Young Master will be here soon—"
"Shut up!" Xu Lin didn't want to hear his nonsense. He abruptly pulled out the revolver he had seized from his waist and pressed it against the alpha's temple. "Say one more word and I'll blow your brains out immediately."
"Even if you kill me, it won't help."
Click. Xu Lin placed his finger on the trigger and applied slight pressure. "Don't think I won't do it."
The alpha immediately fell silent.
Xu Lin racked his brains, desperately trying to think of a way to escape, but he was a step too late. He saw a familiar figure emerging from the cabin in the distance.
The circle of alphas surrounding Xu Lin, having successfully stalled until their backbone arrived, acted as if granted amnesty and stepped back to both sides.
Ji Jixuan stopped two meters away from Xu Lin, gazing at him intently for a long time without speaking.
Xu Lin stared at his muzzle and let out a scornful laugh.
"Hasn't even been that many days since we last met. Looks like Young Master Ji isn't having an easy time.
"Dragging such a body outside, causing such a huge scene. What, aren't you afraid of everyone finding out now?
"What if your fiancée accidentally finds out? How will you handle that then?"
The sarcasm in Xu Lin's words was obvious. The person in question, Ji Jixuan, showed no reaction to his taunts.
The hostage alpha caught between them couldn't help but swallow hard.
Xu Lin found it utterly pointless. He lowered the gun pointed at the hostage's head and kicked the alpha in front of him away. The alpha immediately returned to his comrades.
Xu Lin then shifted the muzzle, aiming it directly at Ji Jixuan's forehead.
Seeing this, the alphas who had just relaxed became highly alert again, their hands reflexively moving to the weapons at their waists.
The cold wind whistled across the deck; the atmosphere was like drawn swords and strung bows.
Ji Jixuan showed no awareness of having a gun pointed at his head. He was as calm as a puddle of water about to freeze.
After a long while, he even made a request, "Let's go home, Xu Lin."
Xu Lin seemed to have heard a huge joke. The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile, but his eyes held not a trace of amusement.
—Bang!
A bullet grazed past Ji Jixuan's ear and shattered the porthole glass behind him.
Accompanied by a loud crash, the glass shattered into thousands of pieces, scattering across the ground.
Ji Jixuan, who had been inches away from having his head shot through, didn't even flinch or blink.
In contrast to the calm Ji Jixuan, the Alphas behind him acted as if facing a great enemy the moment they heard the gunshot. They drew their guns, raised their arms, and then dozens of black muzzles swiftly aimed at Xu Lin.
The salty, damp sea breeze carried the lingering scent of gunpowder, stinging the corners of Xu Lin's eyes.
Ji Jixuan kept looking at Xu Lin's face and said, "Put them down."
This wasn't directed at Xu Lin.
The alphas looked at each other for a couple of seconds, but not daring to disobey Ji Jixuan's order, they complied as instructed.
If Xu Lin hadn't been holding a gun, he would have almost felt like applauding and cheering.
"Young Master Ji truly has no fear of death."
He stared directly into Ji Jixuan's eyes and mocked, "If I'd known you valued your life so little, I shouldn't have bothered meddling back then."
Ji Jixuan's fingers, hanging at his sides, curled slightly.
After a long pause, he said, "Whatever it is, let's talk about it after we go home."
He was still saying this. It was so absurd that Xu Lin couldn't even laugh.
Go home. Did he still think the matters between them could be cleared up with just talking?
Xu Lin pressed his lips into a tight line, the taste of blood from his bitten tongue filling his mouth. He looked silently at the man he had loved for years as if he were a monster, like he was seeing him for the first time.
"Go home?" Xu Lin retorted. "Where is my home? You should know better than anyone. Do I need to remind you?
"Ji Jixuan, these past six years... you must have had a great time playing me, didn't you."
Upon hearing this, a dark, incomprehensible emotion flashed in Ji Jixuan's eyes. It was gone in an instant, too fast for Xu Lin to even see clearly. The next moment, Ji Jixuan took a step towards him.
"Don't come closer!" Seeing him approach, Xu Lin fired another shot. This bullet landed just a few inches in front of Ji Jixuan's toes, forcing him to stop.
"What, you're not even dodging? Are you betting my aim is poor?" Xu Lin opened the revolver's cylinder. Four bullets remained. "Or are you betting that I won't kill you?"
Xu Lin's index finger rubbed against the trigger. "Then congratulations.
"I hope you have four more lives to spare."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Lin tightened his index finger. This shot, which caught everyone off guard, hit Ji Jixuan squarely in the shoulder. The bullet went straight through, and the splattering blood instantly stained his clothes red.
The force of the shot forced Ji Jixuan to take a small step back. Before he could react, Xu Lin's next shot exploded again in the night, the bullet hitting Ji Jixuan's right arm. Xu Lin fired two shots in one second, looking very much like he intended to empty the cylinder and turn Ji Jixuan into a sieve.
With Ji Jixuan hit twice in a row, the bodyguards abruptly fell into disarray. No longer heeding Ji Jixuan's orders, they sprang into action. Some hurried to check his injuries, while others desperately threw themselves in front of him, fearing Xu Lin would truly use the remaining two bullets to pierce Ji Jixuan's heart and take his life.
But Xu Lin did not continue.
In the few seconds of commotion, Xu Lin found an opening. Without a moment's hesitation, he threw away the pistol, vaulted over the railing, and jumped down into the bottomless sea below. This was his real goal all along.
Ji Jixuan's pupils constricted violently. In that instant, he understood Xu Lin's intention and moved simultaneously.
Xu Lin's falling speed abruptly stopped. His wrist was caught by a terrifying force, the immense impact of the fall nearly broke his hand bone in two.
Hanging suspended in mid-air, he looked up and saw Ji Jixuan, half his body leaning over the railing, gripping him tightly.
The gunshot wound on his shoulder was gushing blood incessantly. Warm blood slid down his arm, blood droplets coagulating on his knuckles before dripping onto Xu Lin's cheek like broken pearls, tracing a red watery line.
It looked exactly like the hideous scar that had been on his face before.
Ji Jixuan's hand was trembling. In his current physical condition, he couldn't pull Xu Lin up. What he could have done easily before was now as difficult as climbing heaven.
Indeed, recklessly and wantonly damaging his gland like that, it was only natural for his rut cycle to become chaotic and erupt. The current Ji Jixuan was truly full of weaknesses.
He had almost forgotten, he still had something more handy than a gun.
Xu Lin raised his other free hand and tore off the inhibitor patch on his own nape.
An intense pheromone surged violently from Xu Lin's gland. Fine sweat instantly beaded on Ji Jixuan's forehead. The man who had remained expressionless even with a gun to his head now showed uncontrollable pain on his face.
The veins on his neck bulged, his teeth clenched tight, as if enduring some unspeakable torment.
"Xu Lin... stop."
His voice trembled, his fingers spasming, almost losing his grip on Xu Lin.
Xu Lin heard footsteps coming from the deck. It seemed the alphas were preparing to come assist him.
Time seemed to slow down. Xu Lin knew he couldn't delay any longer. He took out the dagger, raised it high, and stabbed down heavily!
Ji Jixuan grunted. The sharp knife tip pierced through flesh. His palm was completely impaled by the dagger, pinned to the ship's structure like a specimen.
His blood poured down in sheets, thoroughly dyeing half of Xu Lin's face red.
Yet even so, he still refused to let go.
Xu Lin's voice was very soft, carried by the wind into Ji Jixuan's ear, "Low pheromone compatibility has this advantage. Second Young Master Ji, are you satisfied with the results of your experiment?"
The sticky blood fermented between their tightly clasped palms. Xu Lin's hand slowly slid downward.
Ji Jixuan felt the warmth in his palm gradually slipping away. He lost his composure, a rare occurrence, and roared, "Xu Lin!"
"Ji Jixuan." Xu Lin placed his hand on Ji Jixuan's fingers and applied force. "Go die."
Injured in the shoulder and arm, with his palm now pierced through, Xu Lin easily pried open his fingers, broke free from the restraint, and fell right before Ji Jixuan's shocked pupils.
The lean figure was swallowed by the surging waves, leaving no trace behind.
Author's Feed:
My take on ABO, many private settings, and background is fictional.
1V1, contains dog blood, contains conventional plot devices. The shou is initially a beta, later becomes an omega. Contains disfigurement plot, will recover later. Friends who dislike this type, please be aware and avoid accordingly~
Extreme control fans^ are not advised to read. If you don't like it, just leave. No need to force yourself to read. Let's discuss civilly, no arguing.
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