A world polluted by evil gods (3): “I like it.”

Chu Feng was startled by what he had just heard. In a flash, the image of Mory’s head leaning toward him earlier passed through his mind, sending a shiver down his spine and making him feel completely unsettled.

Mory said, “Before last night, nothing like this had ever happened. But today… something’s really off with him.”

The person on the other end of the line was silent for a moment before replying to Mory, “Figure out exactly what has changed in him. I want an answer in three hours.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the call ended, Mory stood there quietly for over half a minute, thinking about how to handle the situation. Soon, this highly efficient “spy” made a phone call, instructing the other party to send over more than ten people — all different in gender, age, sexual orientation, personality, abilities, and whether or not they were “enforcers” — to make contact with the target, Chu Feng, within three hours.

Just from listening to that one call, Chu Feng could get a glimpse of how massive this so-called “Legion” was. He grew increasingly anxious.

In the following three hours, Chu Feng came into direct contact with more than ten people for various unavoidable reasons. Among them were a prestigious official, the chairman of a business association, and the daughter of a noble family. His sense of awe toward the Legion deepened even further.

It was clearly a colossal force entrenched within the empire. Whether nobles of high status, officials in parliament, or wealthy merchants — they were all just pawns under the Legion’s command, moved at its will.

Chu Feng smiled bitterly to himself. He had no idea what he had done to be targeted by someone as powerful as the head of the Legion. The other party had apparently noticed him as early as ten years ago and even sent Mory to his side, disguised as a close friend, protecting him every day for ten years straight.

To be honest, the word “protect” brought Chu Feng some comfort — at least it wasn’t described as “monitor” or “detain,” which would’ve been much more unsettling.

Even last night, when he was being chased by that monster, the dignified Legion Commander had personally come to save him, getting injured just to shield him. That at least showed that the other party valued him highly and didn’t want to see him killed by one of those monsters, right?

Too many shocking things had happened in just one night, and Chu Feng’s mind was in turmoil.

But considering he’d unknowingly been protected all this time by the leader of such a massive organization, Chu Feng also felt somewhat reassured.

Maybe he should’ve said a few more words of thanks to the other person this morning.

Even though he figured someone of that stature probably wouldn’t care about the gratitude of a small-time businessman like himself.

Just as he was thinking this, the three hours were up. Chu Feng watched as the man on the other side, whose glowing halo behind him flickered constantly, left with Mory. He knew Mory was now going to report the findings to his superior, so he tuned in with his suddenly heightened hearing, trying to catch what Mory had discovered.

The results weren’t great.

Chu Feng’s expression darkened as he heard Mory say, “The target exerts a strong attraction on both tainted and enforcers. tainted display a clear possessiveness toward the target, with intentions of imprisonment, violation, and consumption. This attraction is unaffected by factors such as gender, age, or sexual orientation. The reaction of another enforcer is slightly weaker than the tainted’s, but the signs are still similar.”

During the conversation, Chu Feng realized that the “enforcers” Mory referred to were likely those people with black halos floating behind them — like Mory himself, the noblewoman, and the Legion Commander he met last night.

As for the tainted, Chu Feng had a good guess: it was the imperial capital official who had immediately lit up upon seeing him and tried to get physical. That person’s soul was distinctly different from “normal” people — a nearly black hue, but not as dense and solid as the enforcers’. It was more like something had forcibly polluted a once-white soul into black.

So…

If he were to encounter anyone with an unusual-colored aura in the future, would all of them — regardless of gender, age, or background — develop… those kinds of thoughts about him?!

And last night… the Legion Commander, who was especially odd in both color and demeanor… could he have also…?

The realization sent a cold sweat down Chu Feng’s back. His lips tightened as he found himself in an incredibly thorny predicament.

He guessed that his current condition might have something to do with his sudden ability to see and hear so many things. But how to deal with this situation — he really had no clue.

All he could do was place his hopes on the Legion Commander to find a solution for his predicament. Maybe they could somehow fix this constitution of his that attracted dangerous people, or perhaps assign more people to protect him.

But then, the friend he thought cared most about him was the first to shatter that hope. With a serious tone, Mory said, “The target will become the source of chaos. I recommend placing him in an isolated room with no contact, limiting interaction to the bare minimum with only ordinary people.”

Chu Feng frowned and, after a moment’s thought, understood why Mory would say that.

Whether tainted or enforcer, they would all lose control around him. If the Legion Commander kept sending enforcers to protect him, the situation would spiral out of control. But if ordinary people were assigned, they wouldn’t stand a chance against an enforcer.

It was a tough dilemma. Just as Mory said, the simplest way to eliminate the problem was to lock away the source — him.

But Chu Feng… really didn’t want things to turn out that way. What was the difference between that and prison?

One option was to live in a world full of dangers, where he might get kidnapped or violated at any moment. The other was to spend his life trapped in a room, cut off from the outside world, losing all connection and meaning in life.

Chu Feng lowered his head, his heart sinking to the bottom.

He thought, if the Legion Commander really agreed with Mory’s plan, he would definitely run. Even knowing how vast and powerful the other side was, with abilities beyond his imagination, he still had to try — and it was the right call not to reveal his improved vision. Without it, he wouldn’t even be able to tell friend from foe.

But just as he was bracing himself for the worst, the Legion Commander said, “I’ll assign someone to handle this. Your mission ends today. Someone will come to help you hand over to the new guardian knight.”

Mory, who clearly respected the Legion Commander deeply, had no complaints or objections to this more troublesome alternative. He simply accepted it without hesitation.

After Mory hung up, Chu Feng gradually realized that this longtime friend might disappear from his life forever and wouldn’t even dare to see him again. His feelings grew complicated.

If it weren’t for his sudden new abilities, he might still be completely in the dark — unaware of the existence of these forbidden entities, unaware of this hidden group of people fighting in the shadows to protect ordinary people like him. He wouldn’t have known that the new connections he’d made were just part of a test. He wouldn’t have known that his friendship with Mory was wrapped in so many hidden truths…

Mory, once assigned a new task, acted quickly. After just a few calls, everything was in place. He then approached Chu Feng, looking troubled. “My mother is seriously ill. My father told me I must return as soon as possible. I’ve already bought a ticket for the night train — I’m leaving today.”

When he said this, the black mass behind Mory kept flickering. Chu Feng already understood that the flickering represented “lies”—a reaction that occurred when someone’s behavior did not match their true thoughts.

As usual, he comforted Mory, saying, “That’s really terrible. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Mory shook his head. “You’ve just arrived in the imperial capital, and there’s already so much for you to handle. It’s better to let it go. It was supposed to be me who welcomed you properly and introduced you to some people, but in the end…”

Chu Feng replied, “This isn’t your fault.”

Mory gave a helpless smile and patted Chu Feng on the shoulder. In the moment his hand touched Chu Feng, his expression seemed to distort slightly, but he quickly pulled back his hand, lowered his head, and said, “There’s a banquet this afternoon. I’ll do my best to introduce you to some people there.”

Chu Feng was stirred by this, guessing that this banquet might be where the new “Guardian Knight” would appear. He nodded knowingly and said, “You’re very thoughtful. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing between friends,” Mory smiled. He then excused himself, saying he needed to bid farewell to the guild leader, and quickly left Chu Feng’s side. His retreating figure gave off the impression of someone fleeing in haste.

Chu Feng, concerned that his troublesome constitution might attract unnecessary problems, didn’t want to venture out casually. He stayed in the office dealing with paperwork until the banquet began, not stepping out until Mory came to fetch him again.

“This time we’re visiting a marquis. As everyone knows, the nobility these days no longer enjoy the exalted status they once had. To maintain appearances, many declining nobles have had to sell off their estates, wine cellars, or family antiques in exchange for money, living quite pitifully… But the marquis we’re visiting today is clearly not one of them. He’s extremely skilled in business, with many enterprises under his name that even the guild leader covets. His perfumes and lotions, in particular, have completely won over the hearts of women throughout the empire… Wealthy, influential, and well-connected, the marquis is clearly one of the most popular figures in the imperial capital.”

Mory, as he always did, played his part carefully, attentively narrating the realities of doing business in the capital and sharing information about the marquis.

“He’s a very easygoing nobleman—elegant, well-educated, and free of the arrogance seen in many lesser nobles. He’s also extremely passionate about charity. Reportedly, over the past decade, he has helped the church establish more than thirty welfare homes. Both nobles and merchants enjoy dealing with him, and government officials see him as a bringer of good fortune.”

“He has two sons. The elder is a member of parliament and is rising quickly in politics, becoming a candidate for prime minister at a very young age.”

“The younger son has been sickly since childhood and rarely appears in public. He is shy and spends most of his time recuperating at home. When he does go out, it’s usually to a church or welfare home. He is a devout believer.”

“The whole family dotes on the younger son, and this banquet is being held especially in his honor. If you want to build a relationship with the marquis or get to know the promising young prime minister candidate, then approaching from the younger son’s side is clearly a good strategy. Of course, given our status, that’s our only real option anyway. If you can win the young master’s favor, I think the marquis wouldn’t mind offering a little help now and then. And just a little help from them would bring us countless benefits.”

Mory was well aware of how likable his friend was, and how easily Chu Feng could build rapport with others. If he set his mind on becoming friends with someone, he could become close with almost anyone, except perhaps the particularly eccentric.

Everything Mory said was entirely consistent with how he usually behaved. If Chu Feng hadn’t learned the truth, he might not have had even the slightest doubt and would’ve felt only deep gratitude for his friend’s help.

Of course, even knowing that the other party might just be carrying out a mission, he still felt grateful.

The two of them intentionally arrived more than ten minutes late to the banquet. This allowed the hosts more time to prepare without appearing flustered, while also avoiding making anyone wait too long or seeming rude.

At the entrance, they were greeted by the marquis and his wife, who both wore warm smiles. Just as Mory had described, they were very friendly people.

After presenting the carefully prepared gift, they entered the banquet hall. Amidst the bustling scene of clinking glasses and lively chatter, the most eye-catching figure was undoubtedly a handsome young man in a suit, exuding confidence and charisma.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, carried an imposing presence, and maintained a stern expression.

Surrounded by high-ranking officials and prominent businessmen, all vying for his attention, the young man was clearly the center of attention. Elegantly dressed ladies beamed at him, their glances full of admiration. If he wished it, his night would certainly not be a lonely one.

Though Chu Feng was wealthy, he was ultimately just a local tycoon. As a newcomer to this city teeming with elite figures, without an introduction, it would take considerable effort to break into certain circles.

Luckily, he had a good friend—one who didn’t mind paving the way for him.

Mory said to Chu Feng, “He’s here.”

Chu Feng followed Mory’s gaze to the upper level of the hall. At the same moment, the young man in the crowd, who had previously worn a cool and reserved expression, broke into a gentle smile. He put down his wine glass and walked toward the staircase. With everyone watching and smiling, he carefully and attentively welcomed a boy down the stairs, his face full of pride and tenderness.

“Let me introduce you all—this is my younger brother, the precious gem of our family, an outstanding and kind-hearted angel.”

Many who knew the young man were seeing this side of him for the first time—so relaxed, so emotional. Their faces showed some surprise, and they began to look at the younger boy with more seriousness and respect.

Due to his brother’s highly noticeable actions, the boy drew intense attention. He seemed very flustered by this, blushing shyly and lowering his head to hide behind his brother. Only a pair of bright, black eyes peeked out, watching the crowd. A moment later, he offered everyone a pure, clear, and sweet smile—so bashful that he reminded people of a timid little deer.

Several women let out involuntary squeals, while the men also smiled warmly. The boy had clearly made a good impression.

He was an exceptionally gentle and obedient child—innocent and harmless.

The young man doted on his brother deeply. After introducing him as the star of the birthday banquet, he acted like a knight, carefully guarding his brother’s side, filtering through guests and only allowing those he deemed trustworthy near the boy, ensuring his brother experienced no discomfort whatsoever.

Mory prepared to play the role of a brave hero, attempting to converse with the young master under the watchful eye of the knight. Lowering his voice, he said to Chu Feng, “Two years ago, during a charity event at a welfare home, I was lucky enough to meet this young master… Of course, I used a few small tricks, but he didn’t notice. He thinks I’m a kind-hearted person… Well, looking into those pure eyes makes my conscience ache a little, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue a friendly relationship with him, right?”

Chu Feng’s eyes flickered; he didn’t really listen to any of it. Mory forcefully brought him before the young master, and it took all of Chu Feng’s strength just to maintain a calm and gentle demeanor.

The young congressman clearly didn’t like Mory’s eager, businessman-like approach. His gaze toward Mory was filled with scrutiny and distance. Fortunately, the young master seemed to recognize Mory’s face and took the initiative to say, “Are you Mr. Mory?”

His voice was soft, as if made light by years of frailty, yet it was clear and pleasant—reminiscent of the cheerful laughter of children playing on the grass. No one could resist such a pure and beautiful voice. To let that voice be touched by sadness would be a great misdeed.

Mory immediately put on an eager, friendly smile and said to the boy, “Yes, Young Master Si Qi. I heard today is your birthday, so I brought a gift and my heartfelt wishes.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mory,” the boy replied with a sweet smile. “You really are a very kind person. I was sorry last time we didn’t get a chance to talk more because of me.”

When Mory saw the congressman’s smile become even brighter because of him, a fleeting trace of arrogance and disdain crossed the congressman’s face. But when he lowered his head to look at the boy, he returned to a gentle expression and said to him, “In that case, let him keep you company for a while.”

The boy nodded happily and invited Mory to sit and chat on the nearby chairs. He seemed a bit tired, likely from standing too long earlier.

When Mory signaled for Chu Feng to follow, the congressman’s expression turned somewhat displeased—he clearly wasn’t happy to see yet another opportunistic person join. However, since his naïve younger brother noticed Mory had brought a friend, he generously insisted that Chu Feng also come over to enjoy the refreshments. Left with no choice, the congressman had to relent.

Chu Feng, truth be told, didn’t particularly want to follow along to enjoy the food.

His scalp tingled, and his head was in chaos.

He was watching a terrifying, bloodthirsty monster walking calmly through the dazzling banquet hall, following behind a supposedly harmless young boy—capable of slaughtering everyone in the room at any moment. Yet no one could see through the creature’s disguise; instead, they tried their best to please and protect him, terrified he might somehow get hurt.

Chu Feng wanted to laugh—it all seemed so absurd and ridiculous.

It was insane…

He hadn’t expected to see the legion commander again so soon, let alone that the person beneath the mask would look so pure and obedient…

He swallowed hard and wisely chose not to expose the other’s disguise. Pretending he knew nothing, he conversed with the wide-eyed, seemingly innocent boy, doing his best to appear calm and composed—to charm this curious and naive young master.

Chu Feng felt like he was about to split in two.

On one hand, he was so tense from fear of the monster that his whole body felt stiff, not daring to offend even slightly; on the other hand, he had to present himself as a wise and composed adult, “tricking” this gullible child in hopes of gaining his favor.

Before long, he truly became friends with the boy and earned his strong affection.

For the old Chu Feng, this was perfectly normal behavior. People around them looked on in jealousy, frustrated that Chu Feng had won the young master’s favor instead of them… But Chu Feng himself felt none of the pride he once would have.

He found an excuse to visit the restroom, leaving space for the two others to talk alone, and hopefully, to gather intel.

Sure enough, after he left, the two of them silently left the banquet hall and went to a deserted terrace.

Mory, with a speed that rivaled turning a page, changed expressions and said, “I’ll organize the target’s information and get it to you shortly.”

Si Qi maintained his sweet smile and said warmly, “I’ll complete the mission assigned by the master properly.”

Mory nodded and quickly, businesslike, listed everything important about dealing with Chu Feng—his personality, relationships, the things that annoyed him. He included even tiny details that not even Chu Feng himself was aware of—Mory had them all memorized.

What shocked Chu Feng the most was that Mory apparently didn’t even know who their legion commander was, and thought this person was simply another colleague sent by him… Was the legion commander that elusive within their own ranks?

Feeling the conversation had gone on long enough, Chu Feng emerged from the restroom. Mory quickly said it was getting late and he needed to catch the night train. Chu Feng and Si Qi expressed regret and saw him off from the villa before continuing their conversation.

The boy, having just made a new friend, was clearly excited. Upon hearing that Chu Feng had only recently arrived in the capital and hadn’t even found a place to live yet, he immediately invited him to stay at their home until he found a suitable property.

Chu Feng figured this must be a decision made by the legion commander, acting as a Guardian Knight to protect him. So he didn’t show any sign of refusal.

The marquis and his wife, along with the older brother—the prime minister candidate who doted on his younger sibling—were all very accommodating. Hearing the boy’s request, they also extended a warm invitation, saying they hoped Chu Feng could spend more time with the boy.

After politely declining twice, Chu Feng, under the envious gazes of everyone around them, moved into the luxurious villa.

That night, lying on the soft and extravagant bed, Chu Feng replayed the events of the past two days and felt as if it were all a dream. Too bizarre, too absurd—it didn’t feel real.

And yet, this was reality.

He closed his eyes and tried to extend his hearing to monitor the villa.

He heard the marquis and his wife worriedly discussing how their younger son didn’t look well after attending the banquet. Clearly, the event had drained him, and they were trying to figure out how to improve his health.

He also heard the talented young heir of the marquis family discussing with his subordinates how to get rid of a troublesome fellow congressman, win over other members, and secure his rise to power.

And he heard the obedient young boy—who was supposedly already asleep due to frailty—return to his room, where an unfamiliar set of footsteps suddenly appeared. That person got into the bed beside the boy.

Then, the boy opened the window and, with inhuman speed and agility, leapt out from a height equivalent to three stories, disappearing from the villa in near silence.

Chu Feng: “…………”

Chu Feng could only marvel at how rich and eventful some people’s lives were—utterly dazzling and impossible to keep up with.

With all those thoughts swirling in his head, he lay on the plush bed and gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, led by a maid, Chu Feng arrived at the dining room and saw the boy already at the table. The rest of the family were warmly asking if he had slept well and if he felt any discomfort.

Chu Feng immediately noticed that the monster who had been behind the boy was now gone—and a faint black mist still lingered near him. He felt deeply puzzled.

As they ate, Chu Feng kept watching the boy, and the more he observed, the more something felt… off.

This clearly wasn’t the same boy. Although his tone during conversation and his obedient, gentle demeanor were exactly like yesterday’s, he was absolutely not the same person Chu Feng had met.

Yet the family members who had lived with the boy for over ten years—who cared for him like he was the apple of their eye—didn’t notice anything wrong.

“Brother Chu, what do you think?” the boy asked, blinking his warm, harmless eyes.

Chu Feng tensed inwardly, but under the subtly threatening gaze of the young prime minister candidate, he smiled and said, “Of course. I don’t have any plans anyway.”

“That’s great~” The boy clapped his hands cheerfully and said, “Then let’s visit the orphanage together later. I think you’ll really like the children there.”

What could Chu Feng say? He could only keep smiling.

Soon, he and this not-actually-Si Qi boy arrived at the orphanage by car. Black mist flickered constantly behind the boy—he was lying the entire time. Using medicine as an excuse, he left Chu Feng all alone, completely at a loss for what to do.

Luckily, a group of children soon ran over to play with him, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

The children here were extremely well-mannered—neatly dressed, polite to strangers, respectful and measured. Even the youngest didn’t make excessive noise. This gave Chu Feng a good impression of whoever managed the orphanage. After all, sustaining a non-profitable institution like this would require immense resources and effort. And the fact that it was done so well showed real care.

Just then, the boy who had supposedly gone off to take medicine reappeared. But this time, following behind him wasn’t the little black mist—it was a monstrous presence that made Chu Feng’s scalp crawl.

Chu Feng: “……”

Now this was the real boy.

He quickly noticed another boy walking beside Si Qi. This one had a calm and gentle aura, the kind that reminded people of a teacher or a priest. He spoke slowly and appeared very easy to get along with.

He introduced himself as Igor, a good friend of Si Qi’s who had grown up at the orphanage and known him since childhood. Normally, he helped take care of the children here.

Seeing the floating black orb behind Igor, Chu Feng knew this person’s identity was definitely not that simple. But since the other party didn’t bring it up, Chu Feng wasn’t foolish enough to ask. He stuck to their surface-level identities in conversation—but the more they talked, the more unbelievable it all became.

Because when these two boys spoke of the children—discussing how they wanted to create a better future for them—they said only kind, sincere things. And during the entire conversation, the dark mist or the creature behind them never flickered once.

That meant every word they spoke was genuine, with no lies mixed in.

It left Chu Feng both shocked and respectful. Somehow, these two didn’t match his mental image of cold-blooded, decisive legion members at all.

Just as he was thinking this, the gentle-looking boy suddenly said to him, “Young master rarely brings people here. He must really like you.”

Whether due to his altered constitution or not, Chu Feng found himself sensing far more than he used to. It wasn’t just enhanced sight or hearing—he could now detect more subtle, core truths.

For example, the boy this morning who looked exactly like Si Qi. His acting had been flawless, so much so that even Si Qi’s closest family couldn’t tell the difference. But Chu Feng had easily seen through it. During the car ride, the imposter had desperately restrained his desire to throw himself into Chu Feng’s arms. And as soon as they got out, he had bolted away to switch places with the real Si Qi, now standing here.

Then there was the boy in front of him now. Compared to his attraction to Chu Feng’s unique body, he seemed much more focused on the legion commander. His attention never once drifted toward Chu Feng—not even a single glance.

This brought Chu Feng a small measure of relief, while also making him curious about Igor’s relationship with Si Qi.

Just then, the legion commander smiled and said politely, “He’s indeed very nice. I like him.”

Igor’s face showed a subtle expression—something like jealousy. But due to his gentle nature, even his jealousy carried no aggression. He just looked wronged and pitiful.

Chu Feng couldn’t help wanting to comfort him, to tell him it was just a polite remark—something the legion commander said to protect him, not something to be taken seriously.

But as that thought arose, Chu Feng’s mind stalled. He widened his eyes, staring at the ferocious, twisted creature standing in the sunlight.

His hair stood on end.

Wait a second… when he said he liked him just now… why didn’t the creature behind flicker?!