Chapter Text
It was a normal day or as normal as it could get in mount hua. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, the wind was blowing, the smell of plum blossoms spreading everywhere in the air, no surprise attacks fuck Jang Ilso and no bullshit from magyo, truly a calm day for mount hua...... Actually it was a bit too calm for their liking but the disciples decided to take their blessings without complaining.
The disciples of mount hua were training diligently or as a certain devil called them lazy. The other five swords were doing their own things, training, making sure the disciples didn't slack off or are off talking to a certain someone ahem Yo iseol and Tang soso ahem, but something they all seemed to agree on was that it was... quiet, a little bit too peaceful to consider the usual. Don't get them wrong, it was a nice change of pace from the usual, precisely because this was not usual, its damn well unusual.
Baek cheon was training just as he usually would but he was sweating more then he should. He kept getting chills as if something bad was about to happen, but thats all just anxiety and stress.... right? he even decided to go visit Tang soso to make sure he was alright. There he saw Tang soso and Yu iseol chatting away and smiling.....wait...smiling!? Was that a smile on Yu iseol's face? is this a miracle? Baek cheon decided not to focus on it too much, he was there for a reason. He noticed how Tang soso gave him a dead look when he showed up and continued with that face during the check up but would immediately light up whenever Yu iseol spoke up 'weird.....probably a girl thing' was what he initially thought but the more he looked at them the more his smile grew blank. Aren't they getting a bit....touchy? The way Tang soso would keep randomly be holding Yu iseol's hand in between the check up and the way Yu iseol's face would have a soft smile on the usually cold face. They even interlocked their arms when Baek cheon's check up finished up and he was fine but the way Tang soso looked at him? He wasn't too sure about that. He turned to leave before looking back at the two for the last time and Tang soso was practically on Yu iseol!!.... Baek cheon smiled blankly, his eyes holding no emotion as he turned to leave. 'it's a girl thing.....yes! Definitely, What else could it be? Romance? Psh!' but the more he thought about it the more it seemed to make sense.
He decided to walk through mount hua's forest for a change in scenery, he was thinking of what had transpired just a few moments ago but the thing he focused on more was the look Tang soso gave him, just the thought of it made Baek cheon shudder 'why did she look she was about to kill me? I'm her senior damnit!!' but this was mount hua where the concept of hierarchy was completely butchered by a certain demon.... 'huh, thats odd' he just remembered he hadn't seen the devil disguised human. He stopped walking as he took a whiff of the air....why the hell does the whole sect smell like plum blossoms so much!? It was truly random. Sure, the sect did smell like plum blossoms, that was literally what their swordsmanship was about in the first place but the scent of it was always faint, and it usually came from the training grounds where the hard working disciples or needs more practice as cheong myeong called them, formed plums from the tip of their swords. A truly magnificent sight to behold.
Baek cheon was about to start walking again when he heard mumbling and muttering. His guard immediately went up, his eyes narrowed, taking in the surroundings as his hand was on the hilt of his blade, ready to strike at a moments notice. He took slow and steady steps to where the noise was coming from as he drew out his blade. He noticed a shadow of someone sitting and leaning against a tree, he took a quiet breath and was about to strike before stopping as he saw that familiar bald head muttering Buddha inscriptions. "Monk? What are you doing?" Baek cheon said as he sheathed his sword, looking at Hye yeon like he was a creature who escaped from the beast palace.
Hye yeon covered his face with his hands. Beads on thread around his hands. how it didn't bother his face when it touched his face? Baek cheon had no clue. The monk shook his head as he let out a muffled cry, shaking his head profusely "its terrible! Truly terrible senior Baek cheon". Baek cheon looked down at Hye yeon from where he stood, looking at Hye yeon as if he had completed lost his mind. 'has he finally lost it?'. He crouched down to where Hye yeon was sitting and patted the other's back in a hopefully calming manner. Baek cheon got out his best 'senior' voice and spoke "what's wrong monk? What's terrible?"
Hye yeon shook his head even more profusely if that was even possible. 'is he having a seizure?', now Baek cheon was genuinely concerned, the monk didn't act like this usually.....atleast not this crazy. Baek cheon sighed softly before deciding to take Hye yeon to Tang soso for a good and thorough check up, damn whatever the hell Yu iseol and Tang soso were getting upto, this an emergency!!. Just as baek cheon was about to get up, Hye yeon pulled the other by the collar of his robe, shaking him as if to make him understand common sense. 'this bastard' Baek cheon was about to curse at Hye yeon but Hye yeon beat him to it, "bastard of a senior do you not comprehend! This is an emergency!".....okay so the monk has indeed lost it.
Baek cheon tried to gently take Hye yeon's hands off his pristine robe at first before it somehow turned into a brawl "get your hands off me monk!" Baek cheon screamed out as Hye yeon had him pinned to the ground why was the monk so heavy? He's a monk! He doesn't eat meat, he eats grass or something.....oh yeah cheong myeong had corrupted this one. The monk in question shook Baek cheon again, about to say something but this time Baek cheon beat him to it "alright, alright. What's the damn problem" Baek cheon decided to give up since Hye yeon didn't seem to want to let go off Baek cheon any time soon. Also Baek cheon doesn't mess with crazy people, he learned that the hard way when be first met cheong myeong some years ago. 'time passes so quickly huh' he remembered how cute and adorable his sajil used to look, even if his personality was rotten. Now the boy had grown into a beautiful man, he could even compete against the prettiest of woman if he wanted, 'if only he could fix that personality of his'
Baek cheon was brutally brought back from his trip to memory lane by a harsh shake. Hye yeon all of a Sudden lost his desperate look and looked serious, "listen senior Baek cheon. The devil is missing".... huh? . Baek cheon looked at Hye yeon in confusion before it slowly hit him, Now it was Baek cheon's turn to lose it, "what did you say you bastard!", in an instant their positions were swapped as Baek cheon was the one pinning Hye yeon down now, shaking him, if anyone saw this without context, it wouldn't look too appropriate.
Hye yeon couldn't get out a word with how much he was getting shaked. "Calm down and listen!" Baek cheon stopped shaking Hye yeon and took a deep breath 'look who's talking! He was losing it not even a minute ago' but there were better things to focus on, Baek cheon smiled sweetly, a bit too sweetly and spoke "what's going on monk?"
That tone and smile made something inside Hye yeon shudder in fear. yup thats an alpha speaking alright. "S-senior ahem, i was looking for the devil this morning to get advice on....something but no matter where i looked i couldn't find him. I've looked everywhere where he'd be but..." Hye yeon didn't even have to complete the rest, Baek cheon understand, the devil was missing, 'what the hell is that no good bastard thinking now!' Baek cheon sighed and got off Hye yeon (much to his relief). Baek cheon offered his hand for the other to grab and get up which is exactly what Hye yeon did. After getting up, he dusted his clothes before looking at Baek cheon who was pinched his nose bridge. Baek cheon sighed for the second time that day and he had a Feeling this wouldn't be the last time either.
He turned to look at Hye yeon and spoke in his 'senior' voice, "we need to tell the others and find cheong myeong before he does something" or something happens to him, that part was left unsaid but it was understood. They weren't going to allow their sajil to get hurt again, they wont let him be alone, Never!. Hye yeon nodded before speaking up his idea "senior, you go tell the others, I'll look around the mountains just to sure". Baek cheon nodded at that plan and both of them decided to part ways. One made their way to the mountains while the other started to make their way out of the forest and towards the sect.
'Hot' was the first thought of the person curled up on the bed with multiple layers of sheets and clothing spread across the bed and on top of them. He really wanted to take the sheet off of him, off his aching scent glands, to let some air hit his sweat covered body but he didn't dare. His scent spreading was already bad enough as is, if he took off the only thing keeping his scent tame? It would draw more attention. Everyone would find out...find out what a disappointment he is....they'll know he's been lying, that he's not a beta as they thought. How was he going to face the disciples? The other five swords?...... the sect leader and the elders?
They had placed so much of their trust on him, especially with what he's accomplished while here, as the Divine dragon as the swordsman, he'll become a disappointment to them, to the heavenly friend alliance, 'I mean, who would consider an omega as their commander?', there would be so many complaints, so much disgrace, so much unnecessary drama he didn't have time for but would they even listen to him if they knew?
"An omega can never be a martial artist"
is what people used to say back when he was the plum blossom sword saint, what would they say now? He remembered how only Jang mun and cheong jin were their for him, how much effort they put to keep his shame hidden......he'll be the cause of the sect's down fall in this life wouldn't he?.... the only silver lining was that his scent was of plum blossoms, atleast it would blend in with their current surrounding without drawing too much attention. 'they won't know.......yeah.... they won't'. The more he thought about it, the more suffocated he felt, he didn't even notice the stream of tears falling onto the sheets.
'come on hyung-nim! That was 100 years ago! I doubt they'll mind, I'm sure they will be honored to listen to someone as amazing as you'
That familiar voice, that familiar way of speaking and that familiar person, just the thought of it made him let out a choked sob as he gripped the green colored ribbon in his hands, tight enough to draw blood.
"I miss you bo-ya"
The sect was.....in total panic to say the least. Every disciple was scrambled to find their mad dog and the more time that passed without them finding cheong myeong, the more they started to panic, he never leaves without telling or atleast leaving a note! but for some reason no one thought about checking their personal rooms, a thought for later. Some of the disciples in their panic even started talking crazy "what if he's been kidnapped!", hearing this ridiculous notion every disciple near that specific area stopped whatever they were doing to look at the disciple, who even dare say auch a thing, with a look that said 'really?'.
They didn't get to continue this conversation as Baek cheon walked in, radiated an aura of authority but his phonemes of anger and anxiety was making some disciples feeling suffocated. "Calm down" came a cool and low voice, Baek cheon jumped at the voice, turning around to see Yu iseol with her usual cold face but a slightly wrinkled uniform 'was it really a girl thing?..ugh, what am i thinking? There are better things to do'. Baek cheon sighed once again but did listen and calmed his pheromones down, "any luck?" He asked calmly and in response Yu iseol light shaked her head.
He was about to say something when an annoyingly familiar high pitched voice was heard "where is that bastard!". Baek cheon was about to give an earful to Tang soso for screaming so unnecessarily before noticing the small, gentle smile on Yu iseol's face. He followed to see where yu iseol was looking, just to confirm!, and his gaze landing on Tang soso 'okay. It can NOT just be a girl thing'
Tang soso, with all her hidden daggers and needles, (for some reason the disciples started to feel chilly because why were they shivering just because Tang soso showed up? Must have been the wind), came to a stop Infront of Yu iseol and Baek cheon, placing her hands on her hips as she huffed, "am i the only one who think mount hua smells a bit too much like plum blossoms?" Hearing this, the other disciples gave each other a look and nodded "yeah" ,"it's definitely not as faint as it usually is" ," a bit too much", " i thought it was just me", " i thought it was because of how windy it was", "ha! I told you"......... ignoring the last one, they could agree the scent of plum blossoms was alot more stronger about better smelling then usual.
A disciple named Hua sheng fell to the ground in completely....despair?... but why? h Hua sheng shook his head before muttering something that made everyone feel it getting much more chillier then before. "WHAT IF HE'S DEAD! Maybe it smells like plum blossoms so his sacrifice for us would be remembered!"....there was silence for a few moments before another disciple named Li Zhao came up to Hua sheng and shook him, "calm down! He'd haunt us for life, not leave us with a mere smell!", the passion in his voice was obvious but the only thing the disciples could think was if thats the case why are you crying?
Jo geol looked at the scene with a blank look before turning to speak to Yun jong, "why are they acting like this? Its not like that bastard is a kid, I'm sure he knows what he's doing" upon hearing those words Yun jong didn't bother responding, only gave the other a look that said 'shut up'.
Looking at the scene Infront of him, Baek cheon sighed for fourth or was it the fifth time? He honestly lost count. He called out Jo geol and Yun jong to come closer. Waiting for them to stand Infront of him before he spoke again, "Jo geol! Go tell sect leader and the elders about the situation. Yun jong! You come with me" not even waiting for a response from them, he turned towards the only two females in the sect (as far as I'm aware), he was still suspicious if it was a girl thing or not but that was a question for another time, "Yu iseol and tang soso! You both keep looking for cheong myeong-ah here with the other disciples, i have somewhere i have to check", without wasting a second, the two woman split their work like experienced veterans and left to do their respective work.
Baek cheon started walking towards the area where everyone's personal rooms were located with Yun jong following him behind. He entered the hall before moving towards where cheong myeong's room was. It was separate from all the other rooms as per his request. They all found that request weird since he was fine with the prior arrangement before he presented as a beta. Only after presenting had he asked his room be far away from the other disciples, of course no one was about to deny their precious sajil's request but it was a little odd. They decided not to question it too much as they thought maybe he just needed space, away from any noise which was......fine, not hurtful at all...... definitely.
'How did it come to this?' is the only thing that kept ringing through cheong myeong's hazy head. The tears had stopped at some point when Baek ah had decided to show her furry self only to start flowing again when he felt two familiar presence drawing closer and closer making Baek ah frown, 'could a marten even frown?' Baek ah snuggled in closer, wrapping her soft self around cheong myeong's neck in an attempt to comfort the other which had more or less worked......'damnit', usually he would always made some sort of excuse to leave mount hua and go somewhere private, somewhere he and a certain tang used to go for such moments. His heat always came according to schedule but this time it hit way earlier and he was by no means mentally prepared for it
'oh hush hyung-nim, You're never ready for them!'
cheong myung scoffed at the audacity of the voice in his head, he is ready for them.....MOST of the time thank you very much! cheong myeong buried himself deeper into the sheets, an attempt to hide away, he didn't want to move too much in case his body became or even acted more shameful. 'why do i have to suffer just because I'm an omega? What did I even do?.... couldn't i have escaped this curse in this life?....its not like i have bo-ya to help get through this'
'aw does hyung-nim miss me?'
cheong myeong let out a small laugh as he wiped his tears for the nth time, seeing how Baek ah perked up at his small laugh made his smile more genuine which looked quite beautiful on his face. He gently scratching Baek ah on the chin for the company "shut up you leech".
he could have sworn he heard the laugh of the person he held most dear to his heart.
Something both Baek cheon and Yun jong noticed was how the smell of plum blossoms was thickening, it made them thick of a certain possibility, something they would like to confirm first before they make assumptions. They were way passed all the other disciples room, they were walking through the hallway that led to cheong myeong's room. The more the smell of plum blossoms increased the more they were sure about their thoughts.
They were now right Infront cheong myeong's room and the smell, no, scent was unmistakable, this was an omega in heat which was a huge shock to them and a bit of a.... disappointment. Not because cheong myeong was an omega, not in the least, that just made them respect him even more. It was because he didn't trust them enough to share. What? Did he think they would stop loving him or something? 'Or did he think we'd stop listening to him?' they couldn't even dream of a world without their sajil and his bullshits, without him, mount hua would no longer be...well, mount hua. Everything they had now was because of him so they'd be damned if they let someone like their sajil, someone like cheong myeong suffer alone.
Baek cheon sighed For what felt like the hundredth time that day. He looked at Yun jong, "go and tell the others we found cheong myeong, I'll stay here", under normal circumstances Yun jong would have agreed with Baek cheon's plans but this time around he was against it, he didn't have to say or explain anything as Baek cheon understood, he was an alpha, cheong myeong was an omega in heat, it could potentially end bad. It wasn't like Yun jong didn't trust Baek cheon or that Baek cheon had such a pathetic control over his instincts, it was about cheong myeong and it would always be about cheong myeong, they didn't want the omega in him to feel stressed because of baek cheon's presence as an alpha.
"I'll go and inform them, you stay and get anything cheong myeong-ah might need" Baek nodded to himself, it was a logical choice to leave the beta behind instead of the alpha. Yun jong nodded at the decision and Baek cheon left to inform everyone of.......the news.
Jo geol grumbled to himself as he walked with all the passion of a sleepy cat or would a toddler be more accurate? 'why do i have to go tell the elders?'. The only silver lining was that most of the elders were out of mount hua leaving only a few, as in only one elder in the sect at the moment. They all decided they won't put any more burden on the disciples, ahem 'cheong myeong' ahem, and start taking more responsibilities starting from the businesses under mount hua.
He finally made it Infront of the building, no, room he was dreading to enter, he tried to clear his mind hut despite his words earlier, he was also concerned about his sajil. He took a deep breath in and without thinking entered the room only to have his eardrums get abused by a familiar voice, "you kids have no manners! Don't you know you should knock first huh!?" Hyun young said as be held that familiar frown, slamming his Fist on the table as of to emphasize his anger. A voice too familiar tried calming him down, "calm down, Hyun young. It is not a big deal, a simple mistake"
"Simple mistake! Sect leader you're being to generous! These kids need to be thought a lesson" hearing such words made Hyun jong cough 'why are you acting like that little demon!? You're an elder damnit! Act like one!', but he kept those thoughts to himself. He turned his gaze towards Jo geol who looked nervous, probably startled from getting yelled at after immediately entering. "What's the matter, Jo geol? Is everything alright?", His gaze and voice as gentle as always. Jo geol was once again reminded of why he came here and got himself together "so....um.. sect leader, there's a bit of a problem rega-" before he could complete his sentence he could feel someone shake him venomously "WHAT!? Problem? Is my baby alright!? Does he need anything!? He wants more alcohol does he? That gremlin, I'll be sure to get him the best money can get!" Hyun young said the last part almost proudly. It was a fact that no one in mount hua dared to refute, cheong myeong was the one who earned that money therefore the one who deserved to get luxuries from it should also be cheong myeong.
Jo geol felt like his head was spinning, he could hardly focus 'how does this old man have this much strength?......also, when did he get up?', Baek cheon would probably kill him if he heard that Jo geol called the elder an old man. "N-no, elder. Thats.... not it". Hyun young calmed down as he heard those words, dropping his grip on the other as he sat back down on his seat, getting pat on the shoulder by Hyun jong in an attempt to calm him down, "you should have said that earlier!", hyun young huffed as he massaged his temples. Hyun jong looked at his sajil and shook his head, sighing before focusing back on Jo geol "what were you saying?"
Jo geol got his bearings back, coughing into his hand before responding, "well sect leader, you see....cheong myeong is actually missing right now, we don't know whe-", Jo geol could feel a sense of Deja Vu as he was was once again getting shaked by elder Hyun young, "WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU BASTARD!? WHAT DID YOU TO MY POOR BABY!! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!!". Jo geol felt a none existent tear fall down his cheek why was the elder treating him like a bandit?...and SERIOUSLY! When the hell did this man get up!? He saw the sect leader getting up and trying to get Hyun young off Jo geol but he wasn't letting him go, instead kept cursing and threatening to kill them all, 'elder, I'm still a disciple of the sect you know'
Hyun Jong kept trying to pry off Hyun young's hand from Jo geol who looked as if he had accepted his fate. 'live like a human would, sajil!...a human!!'. He was about to say something when suddenly Hyun young pushed him off and kept cursing out as he shook Jo geol. Hyun jong looked up at the sky or more like the roof with a smile and a blank expression 'oh ancestors, what did I do in my previous life?'
Now not only were the disciples losing it, the elder and sect leader were no also losing it, especially Jo geol who was sent as the unfortunate messenger curse you senior brother!! and the savior came in the form of Baek cheon. The moment he came at the entrance, he hesitated to even enter the room, looking at the situation he felt safer outside.....also 'why does Jo geol look like he's seen it all?'
Hyun young noticed Baek cheon and immediately dropped Jo geol and rushed towards the senior one. Jo geol on the floor looked like he was ready to cry, he almost looked he was wronged. "Beak cheon! My baby, did you find him!!". The more baek cheon looked at the scene the more he felt like it would have been better to have sent Yun jong but it was too late now, he cleared his throat before responding "well yes, elde-" Baek cheon started to feel a sense of Deja Vu from what happened this morning with Hye yeon as the elder started shaking him "Where is he! Is he safe!? Does he need anything!? Mooncakes!? Alcohol!?" it seemed people of mount hua really liked shaking other people.
Baek cheon, somewhat used to this type of treatment responded, (unlike Jo geol who was still on the floor, contemplating his life), "yes elder he's mostly fine and he most probably needs a lot of things at the moment" hearing those words Hyun young stopped shaking Baek cheon, about to ask him another question before the sect leader beat him to it, asking the other gently with a hint of concern in his voice "Baek cheon, what do you mean mostly, is he alright?"
Baek cheon took a deep breath, looking around the room and the people within and with a resolute voice he spoke up "I'm not sure how 'alright' he is but I do know is that he is safe". Hyun jong narrowed his eyes at the younger alpha and the future sect leader, "what does that mean exactly? How can you know he's safe yet not know if he's alright?". At this rate even Jo geol, who looked resigned earlier perked up. Baek cheon Sighed as he looked at the faces of the people in the room "sect leader, elder, i think it's best you sit down for this...news"
Hyun young and Hyun jong looked at each other and nodded, deciding to follow through with Baek cheon's request, they took their respective seats. Even Jo geol stood up to listen. The sect leader gave Baek cheon a gesture to 'continue' to which Baek cheon nodded and prepared himself for the inevitable "well....you see...uh.... it's just that...um-" "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STUTTERING Fo-!?" Hyun jong had to cover Hyun young's mouth before he said anything further, Jo geol jumped back in surprise, almost tripping over and falling on the floor again. The sect leader nodded for the other to continue, "sect leader, I'll be blunt, cheong myeong is an omega"
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HUH!?