I am the best in the world (2): Is it okay to give a love ring as a gift upon meeting someone?

The warriors present actually all understood that, compared to a useless heir, the Si family obviously preferred the young and famous Si Wu to become the next family head.

It’s just that Si Qi had the support of his entire maternal family behind him, making him more important than the exceptionally talented Si Wu. Therefore, the Si family had no choice but to carefully nurture Si Qi, treating him like a precious treasure.

But all of this changed completely with the opening of the Holy Realm Master’s secret realm.

The original owner was solely focused on the idea that as long as he obtained the inheritance of the Holy Realm Master, he could secure the position of heir and turn his fortunes around overnight.

However, he never considered that the Si family would rather let Si Wu, the illegitimate child, inherit the legacy of the Holy Realm Master than let him waste it. They would prefer Si Wu to wield this power and become the future Holy Realm Master, dominating the entire continent.

By then, with a Domain-level powerhouse stationed at the Si family, they would be able to do whatever they wanted. How could they possibly be looked down upon by a mere marriage alliance, the Qi family? There were plenty of families on the continent eager to curry favor with them, willing to marry off their daughters to Si Wu.

Thus, Si Qi, who had no power but still occupied the position of heir, became very annoying.

Just when the Si family was troubled about how to deal with Si Qi, finding a legitimate reason to let him die without anyone being able to find fault with it. The original owner, who had always been “very restless,” suddenly took the initiative to propose entering the secret realm, wanting to walk into that perilous place, where it wouldn’t be surprising if humans died at any moment, under their “protection.”

This was practically handing them the opportunity on a silver platter.

As long as they killed Si Qi in a place where no one could see, the Si family could legitimately replace the heir without having to bear any responsibility.

And the family on Si Qi’s mother’s side, after learning that Si Wu had obtained the inheritance, would probably not dare to casually fall out with the Si family. They might even take the initiative to downplay the matter, not mentioning Si Qi’s death at all, as if it never happened.

Even though everyone knew in their hearts that there must be some hidden truth behind this matter, and that Si Qi’s death was definitely to make way for Si Wu, no one would delve deeper into it.

Even if they knew, they might still laugh and say that Si Qi died well and died cleverly. The Si family lost a useless heir but gained a future Holy-grade powerhouse, which was truly a great fortune.

Therefore, when the original owner entered this secret realm, the power holders in the Si family were actually just watching the original owner go to his death, never expecting him to walk out alive.

In the final moments before the original owner’s death, the thing that suddenly became clear in his mind was this.

This truly was the greatest sorrow, the death of the heart, leaving him unable to die in peace.

Also because of the family’s deliberate neglect, at this moment, the original owner’s storage space contained nothing useful, only those pretty but useless clothes, jewelry, gold, and perfume.

The only object related to weapons was a silver dagger inlaid with jewels, so soft that it could be bent with a mere flick of the hand.

If someone else were in Si Qi’s position, they might feel embarrassed by their mortal physique and the lack of usable items at hand, but Si Qi felt that everything was just right.

While those around him were busy sweating over important matters, Si Qi put down his teacup, took off the sapphire ring from his index finger, and some tools for making jewels, and leisurely began to “play.”

While “playing,” he didn’t forget to remind Uncle Huang to keep an eye on the fire’s temperature and not to stop.

Under Uncle Huang’s resentful gaze, Si Qi leisurely picked up the carving knife and skillfully began to carve the gem, which was as deep as the sea and as vast as the sky.

He could sense how much the original owner loved these gems, and this made him feel a genuine joy whenever he touched them.

Xiu Xiu really liked watching Si Qi seriously doing his work. This made the already charming young man seem even more captivating, as if he were a beautiful painting.

In the distance, a passing man inadvertently saw this scene, and his leisurely steps came to an involuntary halt.

After a moment, the man walked over in this direction.

Xiu Xiu noticed the man’s actions, took a careful look, and then hurriedly reminded him.

[Master! It is the Lord God!]

Si Qi’s hand paused slightly, his eyelashes as black as crow feathers lifted, and his pitch-black eyes quietly observed the man approaching from afar, crossing countless snow-capped mountains.

The man’s stature was as tall as ever, dressed in a simple yet intricate black robe with silver edges, exuding an exotic charm. His aloof demeanor was colder than the wind and snow, subtly emanating an oppressive aura.

However, more eye-catching than his outstanding appearance was his strength, which had once defeated an eighth-grade master with three strikes, a feat that countless people talked about with great interest. Many speculated that he was at least at the peak of the eighth grade, or even a ninth-grade master just one step away from the Holy Realm!

Si Qi observed Chu Feng’s attire and discovered that the seemingly simple patterns on his clothes actually held deeper significance. These were designs resembling characters, sewn with silver threads. The weapon at his waist and the ring between his fingers were similarly engraved with these unique patterns, which was also the reason his outfit exuded an exotic charm.

And if this pattern was engraved on a weapon, it could enhance its magical properties, somewhat similar to the simplified version of the magic circle that Si Qi had just drawn, barely qualifying as a rune.

This made Si Qi instinctively glance at the magic circle beneath his feet, and the action caused Chu Feng, whose gaze had been on him, to look over as well.

Since Chu Feng knew how to use such runes, he could naturally see the differences in this spell. After he clearly observed the magic circle, a few deep expressions of importance appeared in his eyes.

This made him unable to help but keep his gaze fixed on the exquisitely handsome youth who seemed somewhat out of place in the surrounding environment.

Si Qi did not feel the slightest bit flustered by the attention of the strong. He calmly finished carving the last detail on the ring, then set down the gem and carving knife. Like the original owner, he raised his chin and spoke with an air of arrogance.

“Are you Chu Feng? You don’t look too bad.”

Huang Bo, hearing this, quickly apologized to Chu Feng with great respect: “Young Master speaks and acts this way all the time. Please forgive him for his rudeness.”

This sentence seemed to be saving face for Si Qi, but in reality, it was pushing Si Qi into the fire. Even someone who wasn’t angry might feel that the other party owed them something upon hearing it, and at this point, it was only right to get angry.

After listening, Si Qi raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, no wonder the original owner was criticized so harshly for eating a meal or wearing clothes. It was as if the young master from a prominent family spending his family’s money to enjoy himself had become a scandal of the utmost wickedness, attracting countless mockeries from the outside world. It turned out it was this group of people who were tirelessly stabbing knives in the back, fanning the flames everywhere, deepening the impression that the original owner was incompetent and pretentious.

The servants naturally acted under the orders of their superiors; the Si family must have been planning to replace the heir long ago.

Chu Feng didn’t even know if he heard Uncle Huang’s words, his eyes fixed on Si Qi without blinking.

Si Qi was already good-looking, and his elegant and noble demeanor was the finishing touch. Sitting among a group of burly men, he truly stood out, dazzling and eye-catching.

He casually and arrogantly said, “I like all the beautiful things in this world. Your looks and abilities are quite good, very much to my liking. As long as you stay by my side, I will definitely not treat you poorly. Think it over.”

The idle magic warriors around, after hearing this, rolled their eyes and disdainfully looked at Si Qi, who always boasted because of his status despite having no real skills. Their faces were full of contempt.

He really thought he was something, daring to talk to Chu Feng like this.

Even if Si Qi’s father came, he would have to greet Chu Feng with a smile and flattery. It just goes to show that a good-for-nothing was indeed a good-for-nothing; you couldn’t make a wall out of rotten mud.

The few magic warriors from the Si family felt their scalps tingle at Si Qi’s audacity, fearing that if Chu Feng got angry, he would publicly execute Si Qi. They had no choice but to step in to save him under everyone’s watchful eyes, but saving him was just too much of a loss.

Some magic warriors around them were even more eager to watch the show, stopping their path-clearing actions, crossing their arms and grinning, waiting to see the spectacle.

Who would have thought that Chu Feng would calmly reply, “What can you give me?”

The crowd around who were waiting to watch the fun: ???

The group of magic warriors from the Si family, hesitating whether to save the person or not: ???

Si Qi lazily sat in front of the fire, casually tossing the gem in his hand to Chu Feng, saying nonchalantly, “Here, a reward for you.”

This tone, this attitude, not to mention top-tier masters like Chu Feng, even the idle magic warriors around felt infuriated upon hearing it.

Who cared about this effeminate thing? This gemstone ring had no advantages other than being pretty. Wearing it during battle would hinder their ability to wield weapons. To put it bluntly, it was a burden that no one wanted, a symbol of weakness that didn’t participate in combat.

If Si Qi were to throw the stuff in front of them, they would definitely be so furious that they would want to take action against him, giving him a long lesson on what it meant to not offend a warrior’s dignity.

However, to everyone’s surprise, after receiving the ring, Chu Feng carefully examined the gem, and his expression slightly changed as if he had seen some extraordinary treasure. He then put away the ring and said seriously, “I will accept this item. In this secret realm, I will ensure your safety. If you wish to obtain the inheritance, I will assist you in acquiring it.”

These words caused the faces of everyone around to change dramatically. Even Si Qi was surprised. He curiously asked, “Don’t you have any thoughts about the inheritance?”

How could he be willing to hand over the inheritance just for a ring?

Chu Feng gently nodded, “I am only one step away from the Holy Realm, no need to take a long detour.”

A simple sentence, but the implication was enough to leave everyone stunned.

They anticipated that Chu Feng’s strength was definitely not low, but they didn’t expect him to have reached such a level!

But why would someone like him be willing to protect Si Qi for the sake of a mere ring? What kind of virtue or ability did Si Qi possessed to make Chu Feng look at him differently?

Could it be… because of beauty?

Everyone carefully observed Si Qi’s appearance. Indeed, every frown and smile exuded an indescribable charm, combined with his splendid attire and innate noble demeanor, he was undoubtedly more beautiful than anyone in the world.

For a moment, there was an almost imperceptible feeling of being persuaded, and the gaze directed at Si Qi had a few more unusual hues than before.

The experts following Si Qi all showed signs of unease, exchanging glances and politely declining, “It’s just a mere ring, how could we possibly ask you to lend a hand? There’s really no need.”

Si Qi replied bluntly, “So, are you implying that you think Chu Feng is lying, afraid he might go back on his word, or are you worried he might secretly attack when I’m off guard?”

The experts didn’t dare to say anything and quickly replied, “How could a mere ring possibly invite Senior Chu? Young master, please don’t joke around.”

“Whether it’s a joke or not depends on what the person involved thinks,” Si Qi snorted coldly, raising an eyebrow and questioning Chu Feng, “Chu Feng, do you think my ring is worth you stepping in to solve my problem?”

Chu Feng replied without hesitation, “Of course it’s worth it.”

The experts had grim expressions. In such a public setting, they couldn’t bring themselves to tell Chu Feng to leave, so they could only watch with cold faces as he approached Si Qi.

After arriving here, Chu Feng noticed that the temperature in this area was unusually warm. He looked at Si Qi with confusion, vaguely sensing something was off—would a powerful magic warrior need a campfire to keep warm?

Si Qi continued the previous topic: “If you don’t care about the legacy of the Holy Realm Master, why did you come here?”

Chu Feng explained, “Witnessing the power of the Holy Realm Master with my own eyes might provide some inspiration for my breakthrough.”

Si Qi was taken aback. Nodding, as if he and Chu Feng were already very familiar, he took out the red agate bracelet from his wrist, raised the carving knife, and began to carve it, without exchanging any more words.

Chu Feng carefully watched Si Qi’s actions and noticed that the fragile jewelry, which could be easily crushed, seemed to require considerable effort for Si Qi to carve. Considering the fire in front of him and the surrounding temperature, Chu Feng said, “You…”

Si Qi spoke casually, “That’s right, I am a mortal, without any magical or martial powers. So I need these external forces to protect myself, otherwise, I would be frozen to death in no time.”

Chu Feng exclaimed in surprise, “You are actually a mortal?”

Si Qi tilted his head, smiling at him, his tone sounding both threatening and playful.

“What’s wrong? Do you look down on mortals?”

“No,” Chu Feng pondered and said, “You don’t seem like a mortal, you…” He didn’t know what to specifically call the magical patterns, so he paused for a moment. Si Qi took over and said, “A mortal is just a mortal. Can a mortal be stronger than a magic warrior? At least I’m stronger than this group of people.”

Such heretical words made all the magic warriors around frown. Chu Feng’s gaze fell on the ring in his palm, and after a moment of silence, he nodded and said, “You are indeed very impressive.”

A group of onlookers had increasingly strange expressions after hearing this, their gazes shifting back and forth between Si Qi and Chu Feng, with the longest gaze lingering on Si Qi’s appearance, clearly thinking about leaving.

Si Qi hadn’t expected Chu Feng to appear so quickly this time. Since he was already here, Si Qi no longer hurried to seek self-protection measures. In a cheerful mood, he carved a red agate bracelet, put it back on his wrist, and said to Chu Feng, “Alright, take me to the depths of the secret realm.”

Chu Feng nodded, stood up, and walked towards the jungle. Si Qi: “Wait.”

Chu Feng turned back: ?

Si Qi pointed at the surrounding plants and trees: “These trees might seem no different from the flowers and grass outside to you, but to me, they are like a mountain of knives and a forest of swords. Just a single fallen leaf could cut through my body.”

Chu Feng’s expression slightly changed.

As soon as he saw Si Qi, he felt that this person had an extraordinary demeanor and was definitely not an ordinary person. When he saw the appearance of the magic patterns, he was even more convinced of this idea.

Even after learning that Si Qi was an ordinary person without any cultivation qualifications, he was still certain that with such a magical artifact, Si Qi’s strength could absolutely crush countless magic warriors.

Chu Feng, who had never looked down on Si Qi, only at this moment finally realized Si Qi’s fragility, frowned slightly and said, “Since that’s the case, why did you come here?”

“Because I’m interested,” Si Qi said calmly. “As long as it’s something I’m interested in, even if it’s a mountain of knives or a sea of flames, I’ll go take a look.”

Chu Feng’s tone suddenly became a bit cold. “Are you joking with your life?”

“Life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can.” After being scolded by his lover, Si Qi wasn’t angry. Instead, he opened his arms and said with a smile, “If you’re afraid I’ll get hurt, then hold me and move forward together.”

Chu Feng’s expression was icy, showing no sign of being moved.

The young man was not in a hurry either. Under the mocking gaze of the surrounding people, he confidently raised his hands, as if to say, “I don’t mind being embarrassed, you can just reject me.”

After a few breaths, Chu Feng ultimately found it hard to resist the bright, smiling eyes of the young man. With a stern face, he walked over, bent down, and picked up the young man, saying coldly, “Don’t let it happen again.”

As soon as he finished speaking, it seemed that the incredulous gazes from those around them were too intense. Chu Feng, carrying Si Qi, leaped lightly and flew directly off the mountain.

The experts, filled with resentment, could only grit their teeth and follow. The casual magic warriors, who were dumbfounded, naturally didn’t want to fall behind and hurriedly chased after them.

Snowflakes as big as goose feathers hit their faces, and Si Qi buried his head in Chu Feng’s embrace, drawing warmth from him like a furnace. He said to Chu Feng, “Infuse the magic martial power into the ring.”

Chu Feng casually shielded Si Qi’s head with his hand, preventing the snowflakes from landing on Si Qi’s face. The next moment, an invisible barrier opened beside him, blocking the falling snow and the biting cold wind.

Si Qi explained, “This barrier can convert the magical and energy forces of heaven and earth into defensive capabilities, blocking all external attacks. The stronger the user’s abilities, the more indestructible the barrier becomes.”

Chu Feng carefully felt the effortless fluidity of the ring’s operation and sighed softly, “It’s truly amazing.”

Si Qi chuckled, “If you stay by my side, I’ll give you as many of these things as you want.”

Chu Feng did not respond.

But in his heart, he couldn’t help but wonder, since Si Qi had such abilities, why would he be afraid of just a few leaves?

Was he not deliberately saying these things to trick him into holding him?

Si Qi didn’t know what Chu Feng was thinking and continued, “Of course, even if you don’t follow me, I still want to give you all these good things. After all, I like you so much.”

Chu Feng was pondering why he agreed to hold Si Qi in the first place when he heard this and asked back, “Do you usually talk to people like this?”

“Only to you,” Si Qi said with a smile. “I wouldn’t be this nice to anyone else.”

Chu Feng’s expression was unchanged, except for a slight movement of his Adam’s apple.

Si Qi teased, “Are you very nervous? I’m pressed against your chest and can hear your heart beating really fast, it’s making my ears hurt.”

Chu Feng: “…… I’m not.”

Si Qi didn’t mind his lover’s insincerity and continued to ask, “Where do you usually live? Do you have any relatives or friends? Have you ever been to other secret realms before?”

Chu Feng: “Yes.”

Si Qi: “Only two words, and you’re so aloof. Fine, but if you want to tell me something in the future, don’t expect me to listen.”

Chu Feng: “…”

After a few seconds, Si Qi said again: “How about the other secret realms?”

Chu Feng: “Very dangerous.”

Si Qi knowingly asked: “Aren’t you very strong?”

Chu Feng could only explain, “The rules set by the master of the secret realm are absolute. No matter how strong you are, there are situations where you can’t resist.”

For example, some secret realms didn’t allow men to enter, some didn’t allow those over thirty, and some didn’t allow people who were considered unattractive.

Since the master of the secret realm created this place to find a favored successor, it was natural that there would be certain criteria for selecting the successor. It didn’t mean that just anyone could come in.

The secret realm was fraught with danger, and no one knew what the other party’s rules were. You might accidentally touch a taboo and die at any moment.

Si Qi said with a grin, “We don’t even know what rules this Holy Realm Master has set. If it were up to me, this secret realm should only allow the most good-looking people to enter. That way, it would just be the two of us in the entire secret realm, and we could enjoy a little world of our own.”

Chu Feng fell silent.

Si Qi: “So what do you think the ‘rules’ of this secret realm are?”

Chu Feng: “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

Si Qi said with a smile, “Then do you want to know? If you want to know, give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you.”

Chu Feng instinctively glanced at Si Qi, met his smiling eyes, then quickly looked away and replied coldly, “No need.”

“Tch~ Don’t you know that I have a bad temper and don’t like being rejected?” Si Qi pouted, then after a moment, with a cheeky grin, said, “But~ I give special treatment to good-looking people with the surname Chu and the name Feng. Whenever you want to know, you’re always welcome to come and kiss me.”

Chu Feng remained silent for a moment, then said, “Why don’t you let others know your true abilities?”

The disdainful looks from the people around Si Qi were too obvious; Chu Feng felt something was off as soon as he arrived.

Si Qi raised an eyebrow, “What, am I supposed to care about others’ opinions?”

Chu Feng: “……”

Si Qi: “Moreover, I hate those violent things.”

Chu Feng thought for a moment and said, “Are you afraid?”

Si Qi shook his head: “Of course I’m not afraid of these things, but getting blood on me is really dirty, isn’t it? It would ruin my nice clothes! Do you know how much time I spent designing one piece of clothing?”

Chu Feng: “…………”

Si Qi sat in Chu Feng’s arms, glanced at the sky, and said, “It’s getting dark, let’s find a place to rest.”

Hearing this, Chu Feng looked around and finally found a flat hillside to stop.

The experts who had been hurrying along behind them followed Si Qi to the hillside, their hearts filled with anxiety.

According to the agreement, they were supposed to shake off others on the first night, secretly deal with this undeserving heir, and then regroup with Si Wu to ensure his safety.

But now, not only had Si Qi found a powerful ally, making it impossible for them to act, but he also had countless idle magic warriors around him trying to curry favor with Chu Feng, all eyes fixed on them. How could they possibly make a move?

Even worse, Si Qi, as usual, ordered them around: “Hurry up and build a shelter here, I need to rest.”

The experts whispered softly, “Young Master, if you just need to rest, a tent will be enough.”

Si Qi raised an eyebrow, displeased, “Do you want me to sleep in such a shabby tent? Do you have any common sense?”

The experts were furious but had no place to vent their anger, secretly cursing those who wanted to stay in such a place as lacking common sense.

Si Qi said coldly, “If you don’t want to obey orders, get lost. My family doesn’t need such arrogant subordinates.”

The experts’s gentle smile froze on his face. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and bowed his head, saying, “Yes, young master.”

The surrounding magic warriors who witnessed this scene shook their heads and sighed, thinking to themselves that having such a person as the head of the Si family was truly unfortunate.

Uncle Huang approached, wanting to say something to Si Qi, his gaze repeatedly shifting to Chu Han, his hesitant demeanor making one eager to ask more.

Si Qi knew that this person was just trying to sow discord, completely ignoring him. He said to Huang Bo, “Huang Bo, you are always aware of my preferences. You must make sure they build me a house that is no less than the one in the manor, otherwise I won’t be able to rest well.”

Huang Bo helplessly replied, “Young Master, the old servant certainly hopes you can live comfortably, but in such a place, it is more important for them to ensure your safety… Building a house would distract everyone’s attention.”

Si Qi insisted, “I have Chu Feng protecting me, do I still need to worry about safety? Hurry up, you’re really being annoying with all this nagging.”

Uncle Huang lowered his head, trying hard to suppress the killing intent in his eyes.

Si Qi continued, “Kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, not a single one can be missing. If you don’t do a good job, you won’t get to rest today.”

Uncle Huang hesitated, “But after the house is built, we’ll have to leave as soon as it gets light…”

“So what?” Si Qi said matter-of-factly, “Is there a difference between clothes you throw away after wearing once and a house you throw away after living in once?”

Huang Bo’s face turned green. Looking at the willful and reckless young master in front of him, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth, “No, no… I’ll keep an eye on them right away.”

“Go,” Si Qi instructed, “Make sure it’s done carefully. If it’s too ugly, I won’t live there either.”

Uncle Huang couldn’t even speak this time. He bowed to Si Qi, fearing that Si Qi would continue to make some outrageous demands, and quickly walked away.

Si Qi turned his head, his expression changing rapidly to a smiling one as he said to Chu Feng, “After the house is built, you can live with me. I’ll share my bed with you.”

Chu Feng silently looked at Si Qi. Although it was their first meeting and he didn’t know Si Qi’s usual personality, he subconsciously felt that Si Qi wouldn’t do anything unreasonable.

So he listened quietly, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Si Qi persistently asked Chu Feng, “Can you cook?”

Chu Feng: “……Yes.”

Si Qi: “Then you better do well, Uncle Huang—”

He called Uncle Huang over and instructed, “Bring out all the ingredients.”

Huang Bo responded with an “mm-hmm,” readily taking out various kitchen utensils, tableware, vegetables, and fresh meat. Amidst the astonished gazes of those around, he naturally said:

“Young master, what would you like me to prepare for you?”

Si Qi: “No need, let Chu Feng do it.”

Huang Bo sighed, “How can we let Senior Chu do such things… I’ll take care of it.”

Him? He must be eager to poison him to death as soon as possible.

Si Qi glanced at Chu Feng and said, almost pitifully, “Chu Feng, don’t you want to cook for me? Then I might as well starve. If I end up with health issues from hunger, it’s all your fault for not taking care of me.”

Seeing that Chu Feng still didn’t react, Si Qi let out a long, exaggerated sigh and said, with a pitiful tone, “Hey~~ who was it that said they would protect me in the secret realm? It seems now that i was just a lie to deceive this innocent young man!”

Chu Feng: “…………”

More and more people around were looking this way. Chu Feng had a blank expression and slightly clenched his hand.

After a moment, this man with a cold face slowly said, “What do you want to eat?”

Upon hearing this, Si Qi’s face instantly brightened, and he grinned, “What do you like to eat?”

Chu Feng: “……”

Si Qi teased, “Do you think I’m trying to find out your preferences? You’re overthinking it. I just think the dishes you like are the ones you make most often and the best. It’s not like I want to make you happy~”

What does it mean to be transparent? This is what it means to be transparent. And judging by Si Qi’s expression, it seemed like he deliberately let Chu Feng hear his meaning.

Chu Feng lowered his head, remained silent, walked over, picked up the ingredients in front of him, and quietly set up a makeshift stove to start cooking.

The people around them couldn’t help but feel deeply moved, thinking to themselves that this person was indeed unmatched in shamelessness. Even the renowned and cold-hearted Chu Feng had no way to deal with the spoiled and unreasonable behavior of that useless member of the Si family.

Si Qi said from the side, “Uncle Huang, bring me the trash can. Chu Feng, throw the kitchen waste into the trash can. You mustn’t be like these people, casually throwing things on the ground without a shred of ‘common sense.’”

Chu Feng didn’t refute; he did whatever Si Qi said. If he said a few more words, who knew what the young man would say next.

However, those around him who took out food and wine from their bosoms, sat down casually, and threw away the lotus leaves and wine pouches that wrapped the food, were very annoyed by Si Qi’s indirect criticism. They shouted loudly, “Do you think everyone is as pretentious as you?”

Si Qi raised his chin, glaring back without any courtesy, and arrogantly said, “Which one of you litterbugs said this? Step forward and say it to my face! If you dare to say it, I dare to have someone beat you to death!”

Chu Feng: “…………”

The speaker: “…………”

The surrounding onlookers: “…………”

Arrogance and tyranny are not frightening; what is truly frightening is being able to speak such arrogant and tyrannical words with such self-righteousness.

The speaker’s face turned beet red, ultimately lacking the courage to stand up in front of so many people. He felt that if he did stand up, Si Qi would shamelessly have him killed. So he stayed in place, unwillingly muttering, “You let others do the killing, what kind of man are you?”

Si Qi sneered and said without giving an inch, “What, the food you eat is grown by you? The clothes you wear are woven by you? Do you think I need to do it myself to kill a small ant like you? What do you think you are!”

The faces of the people around slightly changed.

In this world, the strong were the ones who were respected, and martial power was everything. They were accustomed to valuing the strong and had always adhered to this principle themselves. Naturally, they wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with what Si Qi said. On the contrary, because of Si Qi’s words, they held him in higher regard and their disdain for him diminished significantly.

After all, Si Qi even dared to call Chu Feng to be his errand boy and head chef. What else was there that he wouldn’t dare to do? Not to mention, Si Qi had the entire Si family backing him, with a group of Si family’s experts standing around him.

Thinking of this, the people who originally wanted to take the opportunity to mock Si Qi suddenly fell silent.

Meanwhile, the experts who were silently moving stones to build houses, deliberately avoiding looking this way, were almost amused by these cowards who were waiting for Si Qi to provoke public anger and get beaten up by the crowd. They had hoped to see Si Qi confront a group of people and then “have to take Si Qi away,” but in the end, it turned out to be Si Qi single-handedly crushing everyone and stealing the spotlight.

The heavens did not grant their wishes, so they had no choice but to continue enduring humiliation and hardship while laying the bricks, finally finishing the house as requested by Si Qi before nightfall.

Si Qi walked into the house, looking very critical, and said, “Just this?”

Uncle Huang quickly forced a smile and said, “Young master, given the conditions, please make do.”

“I’ve really been too accommodating!” Si Qi looked left and right, first saying that the bricks were cut unevenly and looked unsightly, then complaining that the door panel actually let in the wind and made noise when pushed. He dismissed the house that a group of masters had worked together to build for an entire afternoon as worthless, shaking his head and sighing, “You guys, such a large group of people, can’t even build a decent house. I’m really too disappointed.”

The experts had veins bulging on their foreheads, extremely angered by Si Qi.

However, thinking of the tasks assigned to them by Si Wu and the elders, they suppressed their anger and apologized to Si Qi, saying, “We’ll fix the bricks and door gaps right away. Young Master, please go inside and rest.”

Si Qi had a look of disdain on his face, incessantly muttering, “How can I possibly rest well in this place? Hurry up and fix it, and I’ll move in once it’s done. Seriously, I never expected you to be so useless.”

The experts: “…………”

The warriors outside, who had been listening to everything, all wore knowing smirks, pointing at Si Qi and then at their heads, making a mocking gesture.

Si Qi walked out of the house, looked up at the snowstorm and the starry sky, then suddenly turned around and said to a young man who was holding up his pants and walking towards the downwind area, “Hey! You’re not planning to relieve yourself near my resting place, are you? Don’t you have any ‘common sense’?”

The young man, suddenly stopped by this troublemaker, frowned and said, “What else am I supposed to do?”

Si Qi replied as if it were obvious, “Haven’t you used the bathroom in all these years? You can actually do something like relieve yourself anywhere!”

The young man rolled his eyes and said, “Where do you expect me to find a toilet in the middle of nowhere? Are you crazy?”

After saying that, he ignored Si Qi’s reaction and found a secluded thicket to hide in.

Si Qi let out a cold laugh, no longer trying to persuade him, and simply said, “Looking for death.”

The people around them thought Si Qi was just annoyed by the young man’s disrespectful attitude and didn’t take it to heart.

He muttered a few words to himself, thinking that Si Qi really liked to stir up trouble for no reason, and the rumors were indeed true.

Seeing that his repeated reminders had no effect on the group of rough men, Si Qi decided not to say anything more. After the experts had dealt with the issues Si Qi had deliberately pointed out, he said to Chu Feng, “Come sleep in the room with me.”

Chu Feng silently looked at him.

Si Qi, puzzled, said, “Why are you staring? I promise I won’t do anything to you tonight. Of course, if you want to do something to me, I won’t stop you either~”

Seeing that everyone around was watching the commotion, Chu Feng knew the boy’s temper. Although he seemed easy to talk to, he was actually impossible to outsmart. In the end, he walked into Si Qi’s room.

The door was closed with a smile by Si Qi.

However, he didn’t sit directly on the bed or chair to rest. Instead, he leaned slightly against the windowsill, looking outside through the window.

Outside, many people were finding a place to rest one after another. They didn’t care much about where they slept; they could spend the night with the sky as their blanket and the ground as their bed.

Si Qi, while observing the situation outside, said to Chu Feng, “What do you know about this legendary Holy Realm Master?”

Chu Feng replied, “I only know that his martial arts are unmatched and unrivaled in the world.”

“I thought so. Most people only pay attention to the martial arts of the strong and have no interest in anything else,” Si Qi changed the subject. “Do you know how the rules of the secret realm came into being?”

Chu Feng nodded, “They are based on the will of the secret realm’s master.”

Throughout thousands of years, there had only been a few dozen documented secret realms. People still did not have a complete understanding of this area, and much of it remained speculation.

One known fact was that secret realms were often formed from the bodies of their masters, shaped and evolved over time. Therefore, Chu Feng speculated that the will of the secret realm was the will of its master. This was why the conditions within each secret realm vary greatly, and the rules were completely unpredictable.

Si Qi said, “Yeah, the rules of the secret realm are the will of the secret realm’s master. You say these people just barged in so recklessly, aren’t they looking for death?”

This was the second time Si Qi has said “seeking death.” Chu Feng couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know what rules that Holy Realm master has set?”

Si Qi turned to look at him, a bright smile on his face, and said slowly, “You want to know?”

He pointed to his crimson lips, “Then you should know what to do.”

Chu Feng: “…”

Chu Feng’s calm gaze silently fell outside the window.

Si Qi chuckled, not minding at all, and simply said, “There will come a time when you’ll regret it.”

Chu Feng remained silent.

Time passed second by second as Si Qi stood by the window, waiting quietly.

The bright moon in the sky silently emerged from the thick snow fog, the stars twinkling, clear and distant, with a hint of hidden killing intent amidst the brightness.

In the stillness of the night, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly erupted from the distant forest, the chilling sound instantly shattering the peaceful night sky and waking many from their dreams.

Then came the sounds of explosive martial arts and beastly roars, and everyone quickly stood up, weapons in hand, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Scarlet eyes gradually appeared in the heavy snow, and groups of monsters emerged from the darkness, their bloodthirsty gazes as cruel and cold as the original owner had seen before dying.

Si Qi and Chu Feng quietly stayed in the room, making no movements, as if everything in front of them was just an insignificant illusion.

Chu Feng was unconcerned due to his confidence, but what about Si Qi?

Si Qi gently stroked the smooth stone on the windowsill, reminiscing about the tent that had been deliberately dismantled before the original owner’s death.

Through a layer of fragile glass, Si Qi quietly watched the people outside fighting fiercely with the ferocious monsters. Even when someone was pounced on and killed by a monster right in front of him, he didn’t even blink as the monster’s blood-red eyes met his through the window.

Because after the monster killed the person in front of him, it simply ignored Si Qi and left.

Chu Feng quickly understood some things: “Is it because of the house?”

Si Qi pretended to be regretful and said, “Ah, you missed an opportunity to kiss me.”

This meant an indirect admission.

Then he quickly raised the corner of his mouth: “But you still have more opportunities.”

Chu Feng understood: “So, there are many rules in this secret realm?”

Si Qi pointed to the sky outside the window: “As numerous as the stars in the sky, and my love for you.”

Chu Feng: “…………”

A flash of helplessness crossed his eyes, and Chu Feng said in confusion, “But you said the rules here are very simple?”

Si Qi smiled and said, “They are very simple. But some people can’t even manage those simple things.”

Chu Feng vaguely grasped some details and was about to speak when the door was suddenly opened from the outside.