The next morning, the palace erupted into controlled chaos. Word had spread that some Alphas sought to challenge Lian Xuan's claim on Yu Zhen, hoping to use him as leverage in a growing political power struggle.
Yu Zhen stood at the balcony of his quarters, observing the courtyard. Soldiers, swords gleaming, formed precise lines under the command of Lian Xuan's presence alone. Every movement was calculated, every breath measured. Even without issuing orders, Lian Xuan's dominance dictated the rhythm of the courtyard, the behavior of the soldiers, the hesitation of the rival Alphas.
[SYSTEM ALERT: HIGH-RISK ENGAGEMENT DETECTED]
[USER TASK: PROTECT AND STABILIZE ALPHA FACTIONS]
[INSTINCT SYNC: Lian Xuan + Yu Zhen = MAXIMUM]
The rival Alphas approached, their gazes fixed on Yu Zhen, greed and arrogance evident. Lian Xuan stepped forward, a dark aura radiating from him, golden eyes blazing like molten metal.
"Step closer, and I will tear this palace apart," he said, his voice low and terrifying. Not one syllable carried doubt; it was an alpha claiming territory, staking life and death in every word.
Yu Zhen felt his pulse spike—not with fear, but with an instinctive thrill. This was the Alpha who had claimed him across worlds, who had vowed to protect him no matter the odds. And he knew that even in this storm, together they were unstoppable.
With a subtle gesture, Yu Zhen signaled to the palace guards, arranging their formations strategically to outmaneuver the would-be challengers. Lian Xuan, reading the cues instinctively, moved in perfect sync.
The rival faction faltered, intimidated not just by strategy but by the raw, palpable dominance emanating from the Alpha. Within moments, they retreated, murmuring threats that no one dared act upon.
Later, Yu Zhen approached Lian Xuan, voice quiet. "You… could have ended them."
The Alpha's eyes softened, just a fraction, but the possessive edge remained. "I don't need to. They know their limits. You are mine. That alone is enough to protect you."
Yu Zhen's lips curved into a small smile. He realized then that the palace, the politics, even life itself could hurl danger at him—but as long as Lian Xuan was near, as long as the thread of their bond remained unbroken, he was untouchable.
[MEMORY FRAGMENT 1: FULLY INTEGRATED]
[AFFINITY LEVEL: 50/100]