5. Rookie Mistake, You Should Keep A Calender For Next Time
Shen Qingqiu should have known something was wrong when he started feeling a bit weird that morning, everywhere in Huan Hua Palace feeling warmer than it usually does and his body feeling a bit weaker. He should have picked up on the weird following glances the alphas were giving him, one even commenting on his scent. He should have associated these symptoms with how about a month had gone by since he got there, and how he never felt his heat coming.
He had forgotten about it! But how was he supposed to suddenly remember when it is supposed to come when all he ever had were rut, which was also rather easy to deal with? With all that had happened and how he was just trying to survive in the Huang Hua Palace he had forgotten this was part of his new reality.
He had panicked, unsure what to do now that it had started, quickly going back to his room so he wouldn't attract anyone. It was far away enough from the main hall to not bother those here, alphas nearly never coming to the omega section of the dorms, unless maybe if they had a mate there.
He was trying to remember what the others were doing when it was happening, yet all he could think of was them knowing it was coming and just going out the Palace to be left alone through it, or maybe join a mate who knew. He also vaguely remembered some mentioning that when it happened, they would go to one of the farthest rooms in the domain, that room now nearly dedicated to this purpose.
But now all he could do was hide in his room, hoping no one would come to him because he doubted his body would let him fight back. The first time it happened he had been a bit scared, but at least he was in the middle of nowhere with no population close to him. Right now, he was stuck inside with many alphas that would very much be affected. How could he not be scared when his body barely wanted to listen to him in this situation?
He couldn't tell for how long he sat in the corner of his room, praying that no one would come to bother him, just wanting to be left alone until it was all over, not daring to even try and relived his burning body just in case it would cause for his scent to spread even more.
He was scared by one of the first things he was ever warned, which was "don't you dare try and seduce Luo Binghe". What if others were going to believe he didn't go away just to lure him in? What if Luo Binghe thought he did it on purpose? He "wasn't" Shen Qingqiu, he couldn't get away with everything he did and he was still unsure how the Demon Lord felt about Huang Hua. What if it wasn't good enough to overlook this situation?
He wondered where he had ever seen this kind of panic, then realised it was when he was still the Qing Jing Peak Lord. He would remember the panic some of his younger omega disciples had in their first heat, not knowing what to do and scared. He would always try to soothe them a bit, leading them to the small house that had been built just for that, under his request. He would assign someone to look over them to make sure everything is alright, obviously never an alpha.
This is what he felt like, panicked because it was still strange and unfamiliar, unsure what he could do to deal with it, other than find a mate, which he was not ready to do in any way. So all he could do was try to repress his scent, which was not something his body seemed to agree with and not something he really knew how to do either.
He could probably try to relieve himself by touching himself like he did in the past, but he was pretty sure this would only makes his situation worst than it already was. He wasn't far enough from everyone for his scent to not just attract anyone and getting all excited would only make it more dangerous for him. With his body unable to fight back, it wouldn't be the time to try this.
He tensed when he heard the door open, looking up only to pale when he saw who came in. His eyes caught Binghe's one, seeing how his pupil suddenly dilated. This sent him into more panic, trying to back himself off in the corner even more than he already was doing, hugging his legs close to him.
He saw some anger flash in his eyes and this only makes him more nervous and panicked, now convinced he was going to be punished or something. He did saw him close his eyes and take a deep breath, but the instant Luo Binghe step closer everything just felt worse.
"D-don't come closer!" he said, hating how pleading his voice sounded, suddenly starting to apologise, promising this won't ever happen again, that he will get out of the Palace next time, that he hadn't meant to get in heat in the middle of the domain. He shut his eyes tight, words going out even more quickly and messy when the Demon Lord got too close to him, waiting for whatever was coming, knowing he couldn't do anything, even less against the protagonist.
Then he freezes when he feels a heavy outer robe fell on him, the scent of Luo Binghe suddenly really strong around him. He instinctively grabbed it, hugging it close to himself, unsure if he should be ashamed at how he was acting, but he didn't care because of how comforting and reassuring it was to have his scent around him like this. He isn't sure how to feel about the fact that he nearly instantly calms down because of it, finally looking back up at Luo Binghe.
The man is breathing heavily as if doing his absolute best not to lose control, pupil blown wide and looking at him. Without a word, he turns around to get out of the room after closing it shut. He hears some yelling, yet he doesn't understand what is being yelled, instead, putting his attention back on the robe, which still smelled heavily like Luo Binghe. This is stronger than he ever managed to catch it.
After a little while, he decides to wrap himself in it, feeling himself relax a bit more as he is now fully wrapped in the comforting scent. At some point, he's nearly hidden fully under it, but he doesn't care, because no one is here to see him do this.
No one comes to bother him for the whole time he's in heat, although he did feel someone presence at his door. He supposed someone was simply making sure no alpha would try and do something to him when he was this vulnerable. Or maybe it was in case he needed something, as it wasn't a good idea for him to get out and walk around the Palace in his current state.
He's really relieved when his heat finally dies down and goes away. This does allow him to go and take a good bath, trying to wash away the left-over scent, even washing his clothes. He does it for Luo Binghe's robe, trying to take out his own scent from the fabric. After multiple washes he cannot smell himself on it anymore, so he assumes it should be alright now.
He tries giving it back to him, walking around Huang Hua Palace, trying to ignore the funny looks he gets from others. He couldn't tell if it was because he had suddenly gotten in heat and bothered Luo Binghe with it or if it was something else. Then the thought that maybe the alpha's scent was still on him came to his mind, making him blush. Oh no, what would the others be thinking if it did? Luo Binghe and he had done nothing!
He finally crossed the Demon Lord path, relieved that he was close to his own room. "Lord Luo" he called out, the man and Sha Hualing turning back to look at him. He presented the robe, which he had folded neatly. "Thank you… for last time" he said, not really wanting to voice it, "I am sorry for the trouble caused, I will be more careful in the future and make sure it doesn't happen again" he then promised.
There was a slight silence, Luo Binghe looking down at the folded clothing. "I made sure to wash it before bringing it back, so my scent isn't present anymore" he pointed out, wondering if this was the problem. Sha Hualing then scoffed a bit, seemingly about to say something, yet the Demon Lord did it first "Thank you for doing so" he simply replied before taking back his robe.
"How are you now?" he heard asked before he could leave, surprising him a bit. "Better?" he answered more as a question, as he wasn't in actual pain either. Going in heat alone and doing nothing was by no mean enjoyable, he was sure some had it more pleasant than he did. He had felt too hot, over-sensitive and horny, all this while trying to do nothing to relieve himself not to make his situation more known than it had probably been.
Not painful, but not pleasant either. Leaving him pretty alright now, he was still feeling a bit warm, but he knew it would be soon gone. So he could probably say he was doing better.
He simply received a 'mh' at first, Luo Binghe looking at him as if to make sure he wasn't trying to play tougher than he was. "Don't overdo it today" he then told him, tucking his robe under his arm. Shen Qingqiu quickly nodded to show he understood, then leaving to find something else he could help with… in moderation.
He founds some omegas practising their swords stance and forms. Something he could do easily without much problem, right? He could give some teaching, although he wasn't especially familiar with Huang Hua sect sword forms. He could have power through if it was one from Cang Qiong Mountain, because despite each peak having its own variation, they were similar.
Yet to do that he had to first reassure everyone, telling them that yes he was alright. No, none of the alpha came to bother him, no Luo Binghe did not get mad at him. No, Luo binghe didn't do anything to him either. Yes, he can help them since he just has to "not overdo it".
Once everyone was indeed reassured that he would be alright they got back to training, Shen Qingqiu easily falling back into the role of a teacher. It had been so long since he did this, at least outside of Luo Binghe's dream, but he wasn't too rusty.
Clearly, the training of the younger ones had been neglected and he couldn't tell whether it was because they were omegas or if Luo Binghe hadn't really tried to maintain a good training schedule for everyone since the old Palace Master was gone.
Oh well, he wouldn't me being the one to teach them, it was reminding him of his time at Qing Jing Peak, minus all the trouble of being a Peak Lord. Well, he did not have the advantages either, but that wasn't really bad, he could do without them.
He will bring these omegas to be great cultivator too and show other all over again that they can be as powerful. He did it once at Qing Jing Peak, nothing stopped him from doing it here too.