A world polluted by evil gods (2): “I had a very strong desire for him and want to get close to him, even . . . . Possess him. ”

The title “Child of the World” was first proposed by the Mirror of Truth. Aside from Si Qi, who could vaguely grasp the true meaning of those four words, the other two deputy commanders present didn’t really understand what the title meant. They simply thought that anyone who could be called the Child of the World must be incredibly powerful.

At the time, Si Qi had smeared nearly a quarter of his own blood onto the mirror just to get the answer to the question: “How can one save a world corrupted by an evil god and destroy all forbidden objects?”

The mirror said to seek the Child of the World. But no one knew who the Child of the World was, nor how to make them save this world.

It took Si Qi a long time to connect the fleeting glimpse of a person he’d seen in his youth with the identity of the Child of the World.

Back then, he couldn’t forget that person no matter what. The figure was always on his mind, so he ordered his subordinates to investigate and tail the man, suspecting that the person might have used some kind of forbidden object that caused Si Qi to feel so obsessed.

Over the course of ten years, Si Qi came to know a great deal about Chu Feng. He also came to understand just how terrifying Chu Feng’s extraordinary luck truly was.

Wherever a forbidden object disaster occurred, it would always, coincidentally, miss Chu Feng. Even when he was at the epicenter of a catastrophe, he would, through all sorts of coincidences, avoid every death condition and walk away unharmed. Sometimes, he didn’t even realize a deadly disaster had taken place around him.

Si Qi didn’t believe in coincidences like that, nor could he detect any trace of a forbidden object on Chu Feng. He could only attribute this “luck” to the invisible, intangible power of “rules.” After paying a great cost and using various methods to confirm that Chu Feng really was the Child of the World who could save the world, Si Qi regarded him as his final trump card for salvation.

Because the matter was too important, Si Qi had only told the two deputy commanders present—one of whom had died in an operation three years ago—and no one else.

So everyone just assumed that Chu Feng had caught the commander’s attention for some unknown reason.

Over the years, Si Qi had kept an eye on hundreds, if not thousands, of people. No one found it strange that Chu Feng was among them. If anything set Chu Feng apart, it was probably the fact that Si Qi had been watching him from the age of eight to eighteen, and he was still alive after ten years.

Others whom Si Qi had set his sights on rarely survived more than a few months—either dying from unauthorized use of wild forbidden object or from offending Si Qi.

At this moment, the deputy commander stared hard at Chu Feng, trying to spot something unusual about him. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t see what connection this man had with a title as grand as “Child of the World.”

He clearly looked like just another wealthy outsider—better looking, more refined, and with more money than average. The imperial capital had hundreds, if not thousands, of people like him. Why was he the one who stood out and earned such attention from the commander?

The deputy commander shook his head, watching as the commander once again took a hit to protect Chu Feng. He thought, as expected of the commander—even in this state, he still retained a shred of rationality and knew to protect the Child of the World. If it were him in Chu Feng’s place, the commander probably would’ve killed him already for being too dumb to dodge. There was no way he’d spare a thought to protect him. He silently wiped away a bitter tear.

It was then that the deputy commander sensed something off in the surrounding air. His expression turned cold as he barked, “On guard!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible killing intent swept through the entire area. Countless robed, eerie figures suddenly descended nearby without warning and launched a fierce assassination attempt on the legion. Several members were caught off guard and killed, falling from the rooftops.

But this assassination attempt was just a low-level obstruction. The real target was clearly the commander below. Seeing Si Qi surrounded and under attack, the rest of the legion members didn’t even attempt to move closer to him.

Because in the next second, those dozen or so malevolent figures closing in suddenly twisted unnaturally, as if the space around them had been churned into sludge by an irresistible force. Flesh, bone, and air twisted together with a hair-raising creak before they exploded with a bang, splattering into a fine mist of blood and gore that painted the streets and buildings around them in a disturbingly even coat.

Si Qi stood under the pitch-black night sky. The streetlights around had all long since been destroyed in the chaos, leaving nothing usable.

After expending immense energy, he had just barely suppressed a forbidden object of at least SS-class danger level. He was about to proceed with sealing when the monster suddenly turned into a vast cloud of black mist, spreading across the air and merging with the night, then howled as it lunged toward Chu Feng!

Si Qi’s eyes turned icy cold and he moved to act—but then, the blood and flesh sprayed across the ground suddenly gathered into a semi-transparent red shield, enveloping both Chu Feng and the monstrous creature, attempting to trap them together in one fell swoop.

Si Qi gripped his knight’s longsword and cleaved through the incredibly tough barrier with a forceful strike. The sensation was like slicing through flesh—thick and dragging. In the next second, he flashed forward through the breach, choosing to protect Chu Feng first.

Unexpectedly, the Omniscient Church didn’t care at all about the SS-level forbidden object. Their focus was entirely on the “ordinary person” whom Si Qi had been protecting the entire time. Si Qi’s expression darkened. He crushed the ring on his index finger, and his aura surged dramatically.

A moment later, a roar like that of a monster echoed above the street, terrifying the nearby residents who had been hiding in their homes, too afraid to come out. They dropped to their knees and began praying to the gods.

The legion members couldn’t even see what had happened. The roar stunned them so completely that they lost all ability to react, becoming like lifeless puppets. When their consciousness returned, they saw Si Qi, his eyes blood-red, holding the unconscious young man in his arms. The terrifying aura around him made everyone at the scene fall utterly silent. They saw Chu Feng’s face alternately pale and dark, a clear sign of being “corrupted” by the forbidden entity that had slipped in.

Anyone infected by a forbidden entity never met a good end—some would go mad, raise an axe, and kill themselves or everyone nearby. Others became slaves to the forbidden object, following its orders to collect blood, eyeballs, or whatever the entity desired.

Without a word, Si Qi took out a sealed object and pointed it at Chu Feng and himself, attempting to transfer the power of corruption from the evil god inside Chu Feng into his own body.

The deputy commander had seen Si Qi do this before—usually to save members of the legion whose will wasn’t strong enough, taking the source of their contamination into himself. But this time was different. The forbidden entity that attacked Chu Feng was far too powerful. If Si Qi absorbed that force, he would definitely lose all rationality!

The deputy commander didn’t want to see Si Qi lose his mind—or rather, he would rather see Si Qi die than become a slave to a forbidden entity.

Because that version of Si Qi would be more terrifying than any forbidden object in the world. Even if the entire Temple Knights launched an all-out siege against him, no one could say with confidence that they’d be able to kill Si Qi. He would undoubtedly become the most terrifying walking catastrophe on the planet—without a doubt.

So, summoning all his courage, the deputy commander struck the sealed object from Si Qi’s hand. Facing Si Qi’s icy stare, he forced himself to speak sternly: “Do you still remember your duty?”

As a legion commander, his duty was to protect the country, safeguard the people, and uphold peace—even at the cost of his life.

But Si Qi hadn’t even registered what the deputy commander said. A terrifying, eerie aura radiated from his entire body. His gaze repeatedly drifted toward the deputy commander’s throat and heart, like a monster on the brink of losing control. Everyone present silently admired the deputy’s bravery.

In the end, in a dazed, demonic state, Si Qi reached down, picked up the sealed object, and cradled the now-unconscious Chu Feng in his arms. With a few leaps, his figure vanished entirely from the area.

Only after Si Qi disappeared did the street fill with the sound of exaggerated, relieved exhalations—none louder than the deputy commander’s.

He grabbed a follower of the Omniscient Church, who was lying limp on the ground with white eyes and drooling, and slapped him several times, cursing: “Who the hell used the sealed object on this guy? Turned him into an idiot—how the hell are we supposed to interrogate him now?”

“Deputy commander, we’ve got another one alive over here.”

“Bring him in. Find out where they got their intel—and why they were targeting that man!”

…

Si Qi’s current state was dire.

A faint thread of rationality—like a candle flickering in the wind—was the only thing keeping him from hurting the man in his arms. That tiny sliver of sanity carried him to a nearby safehouse, but he could do no more for Chu Feng.

He shoved open the door and threw Chu Feng onto the bed, breathing heavily as he stared at the man before him—so “delicious” in a way he couldn’t explain.

His instincts told him this person was an unbelievably exquisite existence. If he devoured him, possessed him, he would gain supreme power and become something nearly godlike.

Si Qi couldn’t stop himself from licking his lips and leaning in to inhale the scent radiating from the man. It was similar to a forbidden object, yet purer—like the most magnificent treasure in the world, something everyone would chase after.

Just one bite… if he just took one bite…

Like a desert traveler glimpsing an oasis, like a starving beggar suddenly handed food, Si Qi’s body moved on its own. He leaned closer and closer, his knees and hands pressing onto the bed beside Chu Feng.

Immersed in his greedy impulses, he didn’t notice that Chu Feng’s fluctuating, murky aura was gradually stabilizing. The power that should have been corrupted by an evil god was now becoming incredibly tame, as if the force had always rightfully belonged to him.

Several hours later, Chu Feng slowly woke from unconsciousness, only to be met by the sound of frantic, heavy breathing near his ear. The sound was anxious and unstable, as if the person it came from was barely holding on emotionally. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw, in the dim moonlight outside the window, a massive shadow looming over him, rubbing against him—startling him into a scream on the spot.

“What is that?!”

The thick, churning black mist immediately reminded him of the monster he’d seen earlier. But even that monster hadn’t been this close—right next to him. Chu Feng thought the creature had caught him, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest.

He forced himself to suppress the terror and, belatedly, realized this “monster” looked very different from the one before. This one was more humanoid, evoking thoughts of a demon, while the previous one had been a pure monstrosity.

That earlier monster had completely black eyes—at least a dozen compound ones. This one only had a pair of blood-red, wicked-looking eyes. They were clearly not the same.

Then, Chu Feng felt a heavy pressure pinning him down—something was holding him firmly in place. He pushed past the fear and tried to understand what was happening to him. His entire body was cold, as if even his blood had stopped flowing.

He finally saw something at the center of the black mist—a shape. Chu Feng strained his eyes and could vaguely make out a person. That person was lying on top of him, breathing heavily right into his ear. Which meant… he was directly on top of him, with his head next to his ear?!

Chu Feng’s heart thundered. He had no idea what kind of strange events he had stumbled into tonight. Maybe tomorrow he’d have to go ask a priest at the church—if he lived to see tomorrow…

A sharp pain suddenly came from his neck, accompanied by a faint warmth. Chu Feng tensed up, terrified the person was about to do something awful to him—like tear a chunk of flesh from his throat.

But the pain lasted only a few seconds before it stopped. It was replaced by something softer—gentle kisses and licking. The fear shifted into a different kind of dread. Chu Feng’s pupils trembled, and he raised his hand to try to push the figure away.

From the feel of it, he confirmed the one above him was indeed human.

His resistance, however, triggered a strong reaction. His wrist exploded with pain, and he quickly lost control of his hand. The man had dislocated it with sheer force!

Chu Feng was both shocked and angry but could do nothing. The figure clung tightly to him, arms wrapped around him like iron bars, head buried in the crook of his neck. The heavy breathing made Chu Feng nervous—he feared what the man might do next.

So he relaxed his already minimal resistance, trying to use submissive body language to calm the other person.

It seemed to work.

The emotionally unstable man slowly quieted down. Occasionally, he’d nuzzle him, marking him with his scent like an animal staking its claim.

That unbearable night stretched on in silence. Chu Feng didn’t sleep at all. Not until the morning sunlight filtered into the room did he start to see the man more clearly through the thinning mist.

The man had short, smooth black hair. The bit of skin that showed was pale, like the luster of fine pearl. He wore a fitted black outfit that resembled a uniform, military-style, and his face was concealed by a silver-gray mask of an unknown material.

—It was the person who had saved him from the monster yesterday.

Relieved, Chu Feng continued observing him.

Maybe it was his keen business intuition, but he guessed the man wasn’t very old—at most twenty. The body hugging him had the frame of someone between adolescence and adulthood, still carrying a hint of youthfulness. The power he unleashed in battle suggested explosive strength, yet his frame was surprisingly slender, at least two sizes smaller than Chu Feng’s own. The contradiction puzzled him—but after seeing real monsters, what did size matter anymore?

Perhaps it was the extended silence or the warmth of daylight, but Chu Feng began to feel the man might not be that dangerous after all. Gathering his courage, he slowly started to slide out from under him, trying to get some distance.

He’d barely moved half a centimeter before the figure noticed. A pair of cold eyes locked onto him, and Chu Feng instantly froze—like prey caught in a predator’s sights.

Moments later, he forced a small smile and tried to speak in the most effective language he knew—words of diplomacy.

“H-hi, thank you for saving me last night.”

“……”

It seemed the non-hostile tone worked. The black-clad man paused, then slowly climbed off of him, his gaze dropping to Chu Feng’s clearly injured wrists.

Chu Feng: “…”

He gave a tactful smile and offered the man a reason for his actions. “Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to push you away last night.”

That mild attitude seemed to please the man again. He reached out, his gloved hands gripping Chu Feng’s wrist and arm. With a quick motion, there was a light pop—followed by a wave of pain, then relief.

Chu Feng flexed his wrist. It moved again. Then the other hand—pop.

Chu Feng let out a short gasp of pain. “Ugh…”

Not even a warning?

Grumbling inwardly, he still knew his place as a hostage. He smiled with gratitude. “Thank you.”

Whether he actually meant that—well, who could say?

The man stared intently at him, as if examining a new specimen. Chu Feng cautiously asked, “Can I ask… what was that monster that attacked me last night?”

The man stayed silent, seemingly unwilling to answer. Chu Feng waited patiently, and after a long while, he finally heard the man speak. His voice was cold and serious, making it impossible to guess his age.

“A forbidden object.”

Chu Feng exhaled in relief—the fact that the man was willing to answer meant he wasn’t planning to kill him. No one wastes words on someone they intend to kill.

So he continued, “And what exactly is a forbidden object?”

The man glanced at him, then stood and walked over to a chair opposite the bed. His sharp, chilling aura was more intimidating than anyone Chu Feng had ever met. Clearly, this was someone used to being in complete control.

His identity might be even more dangerous than Chu Feng had imagined the night before.

“Do you know what an evil god is?” the man asked.

Chu Feng shook his head, then nodded slightly. “Is it… some kind of evil deity?”

In this world, everyone believed in gods. Even the poorest village had at least one church.

Chu Feng worshipped the god of wisdom and wealth, as did most merchants. They prayed for endless streams of gold coins.

But some people worshipped twisted gods, seeking to bring chaos and death to the world. In recent years, the country had become more and more unstable—probably thanks to that kind of lunatic.

Those who despised such deities called them evil gods, while their followers gave them cryptic, glorified titles like Feathered Serpent or God of Night.

The man’s blunt use of the term “evil god” made it clear he wasn’t a believer. That eased Chu Feng’s mind a little, and he wisely followed the man’s tone, asking, “So… it’s some kind of evil deity?” instead of dodging the question with vague words.

The man nodded, his words concise and to the point: “An otherworldly evil god is trying to corrupt our world. The places it taints will give birth to forbidden objects. These forbidden objects carry rules that disrupt the order of the world. They must be sealed or destroyed, or else the evil god will eventually devour everything.”

Chu Feng’s expression turned a bit odd. Over twenty years of peaceful life made it hard for him to suddenly accept such an absurd “reality.”

But the “demon” before him—constantly exuding black mist, almost entirely obscuring his vision—was clearly real, standing obediently behind the man in front of him. The oppressive aura it gave off was enough to destroy everything at any moment, leaving no room for disbelief.

He could only speak with a trace of reluctance: “So, last night I was targeted by that monster you called a forbidden object, and then you saved me?”

Si Qi looked at the young man in front of him with interest and said, “Your thinking is very rational.”

Chu Feng was taken aback by Si Qi’s sudden comment, confused: “…Of course?”

Si Qi pointed at him. “Last night, you were contaminated by that forbidden object. Even I can’t guarantee I could withstand such a level of contamination. But you came out of it completely fine. Not only did you not lose your mind, you can calmly analyze the situation right now, even pretend to be obedient in front of me, trying to probe for information.”

Chu Feng’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he soon smiled. Compliments flowed as naturally as breathing, making it clear he was indeed a smooth-talking businessman:
“Your wisdom is truly impressive. Please forgive my clumsy little tricks—they’re just a survival instinct from someone as weak as me. I hope I haven’t offended you.”

Si Qi gave Chu Feng a look.

The report from his subordinates had said this person was exceptionally skilled in social situations. Whether it was business or friendship, he was always the best among the merchants.

Because of his extremely handsome appearance, youthful wealth, and graceful manners, many charming women were eager to throw olive branches his way—some seeking a brief encounter, others hoping for a long-term “relationship.”

Si Qi had read through the detailed report more thoroughly than even Chu Feng himself might have. Now, speaking with him face to face, he truly felt the gentle and friendly demeanor that came off like a spring breeze—making resistance almost impossible and sparking an instinctive goodwill.

And even…

That same sense of reliance and closeness he had first felt ten years ago resurfaced—an uncontrollable fondness that made Si Qi uneasy.

It reminded him too much of the forbidden objects that could override human reason, stir joy or despair, incite anger, or inspire devotion like to a god. Si Qi was extremely wary of such uncontrollable emotions. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent years monitoring Chu Feng ever since that fateful first encounter, suspecting he had secretly used a forbidden object on him.

Why else would he be so unable to forget him?

Once again, Si Qi’s gaze toward Chu Feng turned evaluative. His arm casually rested on the back of the chair, his elbow passing right through the black monster—something that caught Chu Feng’s attention.

He suddenly had the odd thought: Could it be… he can’t see this thing?

From the start, whether walking or talking, Si Qi hadn’t acknowledged the monster even once—even when it fully blocked his view during their conversation.

Now, the sudden distance in Si Qi’s gaze made Chu Feng a little nervous, until Si Qi asked, “Other than retaining your rationality, have you noticed any other changes in your body?”

Chu Feng immediately became cautious. He didn’t dare look directly at the terrifying creature behind Si Qi, pretending not to see it as he asked, “What do you mean?”

Si Qi’s calm tone carried an unmistakable threat: “You’re a clever man. But sometimes, cleverness backfires.”

Chu Feng kept a polite smile, not daring to say a single unnecessary word, afraid this sharp man might catch on to something.

Si Qi continued: “That forbidden object last night was of a very high level. It could perfectly override rules like ‘cannot be seen,’ ‘cannot be heard,’ and ‘cannot be perceived.’ So, if you’ve instead gained control of it, sealing it within yourself, then you should also be able to gain its power—just like I gain power from the items I’ve sealed.”

He stood up, walking step by step toward Chu Feng. He placed a hand on his shoulder, and his cold voice rang in Chu Feng’s ear—cutting straight into his soul, crushing any thought of resistance: “Right now, what do you see, what do you hear, and what do you sense?”

Chu Feng was pinned in place, unable to move.

In his vision, the pitch-black monster gripped his body with razor-sharp claws. Massive wings wrapped around him, controlling his every movement, chilling his blood to the core.

Yet he forced himself to maintain a flawless smile, replying calmly, “I don’t see anything. Everything’s the same as usual.”

Until he was sure of his safety, Chu Feng wouldn’t say a single word he shouldn’t.

The monster’s blood-red eyes locked onto Chu Feng, as if evaluating a piece of property. In the thick fog, he could see nothing—but he couldn’t let that show. Instead, he suppressed his fear, focusing on sensing his surroundings as best he could, to avoid failing whatever “test” Si Qi was putting him through.

The suffocating atmosphere stretched on for a long time. Then, Si Qi suddenly let out a faint chuckle and said, “You’d better remember what you just said.”

Seeing the monster slowly release its grip in response to those words, Chu Feng quietly exhaled in relief. He realized Si Qi’s words weren’t just for show.

A moment later, he heard Si Qi say, “You may leave now.”

Chu Feng was stunned for a moment, barely able to believe it.

What? He was just… letting him go?

“You don’t want to leave?”

Hearing the question, Chu Feng realized he had said that last part out loud. Feeling a bit awkward, he quickly replied, “Well, after all, you did save my life…”

At those words, Si Qi’s sharp and distant tone softened slightly: “You’re just an unlucky little nobody who got caught up in something you shouldn’t have. Forget what happened, and go on with your life.”

Si Qi said this to reassure the man before him—to let him return to his peaceful life and forget the events of the night. But in Chu Feng’s vision, he clearly saw a flicker in the monster behind him. There was a noticeable ripple, and its color shifted from pitch-black to gray.

Chu Feng: …?

He didn’t dare voice such things, silently committing it to memory. He said to Si Qi, “If you ever need anything from me, please don’t hesitate. I’ll repay this debt.”

“What use would I have for you?” Si Qi replied coldly.

Yet again, in Chu Feng’s vision, the monster behind him flickered.

Chu Feng: “…………”

Chu Feng nodded, once again thanked Si Qi, and then left.

Outside was an unremarkable alley. A few early risers were already heading off to work. Chu Feng paused, his gaze flickering.

Floating beside each of these people… was a faint, snowy-white mist.

Some were slightly larger, some smaller, but none bigger than a baby’s fist. In both form and color, they were nothing like the terrifying black monster he had seen beside the man the night before.

Pretending he hadn’t seen anything, Chu Feng kept a calm expression as he walked down the street, preparing to deal with the mess left behind at the hotel the previous night.

However, when he arrived at the hotel, the front desk clerk greeted him with a sweet smile and said that the matter from the night before had already been handled by someone else, so there was no need for him to worry.

Chu Feng frowned slightly. He thought about the blood and the eerie claw marks clearly left by a monster. Anyone who saw that would be terrified. Yet the front desk clerk in front of him, who appeared to be just an ordinary person, didn’t seem concerned at all—as if Chu Feng had merely broken a glass in the hotel, and was being far too polite and accommodating.

And last night, while escaping from the monster, he had passed through so many places and even fought on the main street for at least half an hour… so why hadn’t he heard any discussion about the monster this morning?

The image of that man with an attitude that seemed to control all things in the world surfaced in his mind. Chu Feng once again gained a clearer understanding of the power that man held. Silently, he took his luggage handed over by the front desk and was escorted out the door.

As Chu Feng lifted his suitcase and put on his hat, just about to leave, he casually glanced back at the hotel lobby—and saw the same front desk clerk speaking respectfully to a certain man standing beside her. And that man…

The “aura” floating behind him was black.

Chu Feng had passed by at least a hundred people on his way here, and only this one had a different color. His heart tensed. Just as the man turned his head and was about to see him, Chu Feng quickly turned away and forced himself to walk with a steady pace until he was out of the man’s line of sight—only then did he dare to pick up his speed slightly.

He pondered silently. This man was the same as that black-clad man from last night—special.

Perhaps he too possessed some strange and unpredictable power, capable of soaring through the sky and diving into the earth…

No, at this point, since Chu Feng could now see these things, he had probably become like that black-clad man as well…

Chu Feng hurried to the trade association.

He had only just arrived in the capital, and many things were still unstable. He needed to expand his network and trade routes as quickly as possible, and make many new friends. There were countless things demanding his attention. But his thoughts were in chaos, and he hadn’t dared to fall asleep at all the previous night. He was now completely mentally exhausted.

Grabbing a blanket from the lounge, Chu Feng casually picked a sofa to lie down on. Even in sleep, he dreamed of unpleasant things, his expression grim.

When his friend Mory arrived, what he saw was Chu Feng curled up on the sofa, frowning, forehead drenched in cold sweat, and letting out low, indistinct murmurs from his throat.

“Hey, hey, Chu Feng, are you alright?” Mory gently woke him.

Chu Feng opened his eyes and, realizing the person he was looking at wasn’t the demon but an old, familiar friend, slowly let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you for waking me up.” Otherwise, he didn’t know how much longer he’d be stuck confronting that monster.

“No need to thank me.” Mory chuckled, then said to Chu Feng, “I went to the hotel earlier to find you, planning to take you out for a famous breakfast spot nearby, but the front desk said you had already checked out.” Mory shrugged, a teasing tone in his voice. “What an unlucky guy.”

Chu Feng gave a habitual relaxed smile upon hearing that, trying to chat casually with his friend to ease his mood.

Unfortunately, the smile had barely formed when it froze on his face.

The dark fog was floating behind Mory—so obvious, so glaring.

Chu Feng’s expression stiffened for a split second. Just as Mory was about to look at him, he adjusted his expression and said with a smile, “Seems my luck really is bad.”

Mory said casually, “Why are you up so early today? And you even came to the trade association just to sleep. Wasn’t the big hotel bed comfortable enough? Do you prefer to sleep on this kind of sofa? Your taste sure is unique.”

Chu Feng carefully observed Mory’s reaction and cautiously replied, “No, it’s just that… something appeared at the hotel, which made me…”

Mory looked at Chu Feng with a pleasant smile and sat down beside him. His arm casually—or perhaps deliberately—draped across the backrest behind Chu Feng, his whole body angled toward him in a semi-enclosing posture. His tone was leisurely:

“Hmm? What appeared?”

Chu Feng became alert and, feigning annoyance, said, “A huge rat! I really can’t believe that place is supposed to be the most luxurious hotel in the capital. I was so disgusted I checked out early.”

Mory showed a surprised expression, then laughed out loud. “Hahaha, something like that happened? That’s really unexpected!”

As Mory said this, Chu Feng noticed the light sphere behind him flickering non-stop. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Mory had suddenly appeared in his life when he was a teenager. At the time, Chu Feng had come across Mory in trouble on the street and helped him out. Since then, Mory had been very grateful, gradually returning the favor many times. He even guided Chu Feng into the business world and offered him a lot of support.

Because of their shared profession and compatible personalities, the two had become long-term friends. Whenever Chu Feng encountered a problem, aside from his family, the first person he thought of was Mory, who had always helped him with great loyalty, giving Chu Feng a strong sense of reassurance.

But now…

Seeing the black mist behind Mory, Chu Feng lowered his eyes.

He had always tried to be honest with this friend, but it seemed the feeling wasn’t mutual.

At the very least, after all these years, Chu Feng had never seen Mory display any sort of special power…

Mory looked closely at Chu Feng and said, “You seem different today.”

Chu Feng’s smile remained unchanged. “How so?”

Mory didn’t answer. To Chu Feng’s surprise, he suddenly leaned in. Their faces were less than ten centimeters apart—already somewhat crossing the line between two adults—but Mory acted as if he hadn’t noticed. His deep blue eyes grew darker, becoming as unfathomable as the deep sea, mysterious and elusive.

Chu Feng saw the black mist behind Mory growing restless with the change in his eyes. It started spreading, floating, bristling with sharp spikes—clearly in a state of agitation. His heart instantly tensed.

He pushed Mory away and said, “I didn’t sleep well last night, and I haven’t washed up this morning. Do I smell bad or something?”

Before Mory was pushed away, there had been a fleeting look of obsession on his face. When Chu Feng saw it, his heart clenched violently.

After a moment, the dazed look in Mory’s eyes faded. He abruptly pulled back, as if waking from a nightmare, and said with a slightly unsteady voice, “Maybe. Sorry, I’ll go to the restroom.”

Chu Feng clearly saw that as Mory said those words, the black mist behind him flickered again. He was very concerned about Mory’s sudden departure and couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had just happened to him—and what he was rushing off to do now.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, a loud buzz exploded in his ears. It was as if all the sounds in the world had suddenly been amplified hundreds of times, startling Chu Feng so much that his whole body jolted.

Then he heard the sound of footsteps accompanied by rough breathing growing fainter, yet still remaining incredibly clear even as they moved farther away.

He even had an instinctive hunch in his mind—a certainty that the footsteps belonged to Mory. His hearing was now tracking Mory’s every move.

What exactly was happening to his body? How had it become like this?

As he pondered this, Chu Feng heard Mory walk from the marble-floored commerce guild building onto the cobblestone-paved main road. He heard a door open, then close, cutting off the background sounds of people talking and carriages passing. Then came the sound of metal sliding into something and falling down.

Chu Feng’s expression shifted slightly—he recognized the sound: Mory had entered a phone booth and inserted a coin.

A moment later, Mory’s voice rang out: “ID B693. Operation code: Guardian Knight. Connect me to the Commander.”

Someone on the other end acknowledged, and about thirty seconds later, a familiar voice came through: “What is it?”

Chu Feng’s face instantly turned grim.

He recognized that voice—it belonged to the man who had saved him the night before.

Mory actually knew that man—and not just casually. They were clearly closely connected!

And Mory had called him “Commander”… Was Mory part of some kind of military force? But then why had he spent the past ten years working in the commerce guild, acting like an ordinary person, even going out of his way to get close to him?

And what did “operation code: Guardian Knight” mean? What—or who—was he guarding? Him?

“My lord,” Mory’s tone was devoid of its usual laid-back ease, replaced by evident respect—something that shocked Chu Feng, who was well acquainted with his friend’s lazy personality. “The target has returned but has not disclosed last night’s events to anyone.”

The commander said, “Do not allow him to reveal anything about the forbidden objects. Protect his safety.”

“Yes, my lord…” Mory’s voice wavered slightly, hesitating for a moment before continuing, “My lord, I’m having trouble controlling myself. I believe it’s due to the target.”

“Explain,” the man on the other end said.

Mory replied, “I’m feeling an overwhelming desire toward him—a strong urge to get close to him… even to possess him.”