A world polluted by evil gods (5): Wonderful misunderstanding

Si Qi: “…………”

Chu Feng, still bitter about being used as a body pillow the night before, muttered vengefully and said with longing, “I’ve never seen someone so cute. I like him so much. And I can tell he really likes me too—his eyes said so.”

Si Qi refused to indulge Chu Feng’s self-flattering nonsense: “You?”

Chu Feng nodded seriously, “Yes, me. He definitely likes me. Otherwise, why would he invite me to live in his house and cling to me every day, wanting me to stay by his side?”

Si Qi: “……”

Chu Feng added mischievously, “What do you think, dear Commander?”

Si Qi: “I think he just sees you as a useful tool.”

“Oh, really.” Chu Feng smirked slyly.

Then why did your soul flicker behind you?

Si Qi had no idea what that smug, confident look on the man’s face meant and snapped irritably, “You have ten minutes. Be outside the villa immediately.”

Chu Feng: “…I haven’t had breakfast.”

Si Qi: “You won’t starve.”

Chu Feng: “……”

In the end, though, after hearing that Chu Feng was rushing out for work without time for breakfast, the “Si Qi” cutie—who couldn’t bear to see him go hungry—stuffed a few sandwiches into Chu Feng’s hands, solving his breakfast problem.

As Chu Feng left the villa and got into the car, he waved the food in his hand and said to the commander waiting inside, “Si Qi is so gentle and thoughtful. He must really like me. Look, he couldn’t even bear for me to be hungry.”

Si Qi: “……”

What an ungrateful bastard.

Thinking about where they were headed next, Si Qi let out a cold laugh and didn’t stop Chu Feng from eating. The way he looked at him made Chu Feng feel a chill down his spine.

Chu Feng: This feels ominous.

“Ugh—”

Half an hour later, even though they had long left that hellish place, the stench of rot and blood still clung to his nose, impossible to shake off.

The images seared into his mind kept flashing before his eyes. Chu Feng’s stomach churned. Even though he had nothing left to vomit, he couldn’t help but dry heave, clutching the wall and covering his mouth. He finally realized just how terrifying this other side of the world truly was.

Do these black-clad people beside him really go through this kind of disgusting horror every single day?

“Eat less for the next few days. Drink milk to get by,” Si Qi said coldly.

Chu Feng nodded, still shaken. He finally understood why the boy had stopped him from eating earlier that morning.

Whatever goes in just comes right back out—it’s better not to eat, to save the stomach from the damage.

Staring at the busy agents in the distance with a numb scalp, he asked Si Qi, “Is every containment of forbidden objects like this?”

Si Qi: “forbidden objects hold deep malice toward humans. Their appearance always causes mass death. So usually, if you see a wild forbidden object, you’ll also see corpses.”

If there are no corpses, people wouldn’t even realize a forbidden object had appeared, since they often look just like ordinary items.

Chu Feng: “No, I mean—does containing forbidden objects always require people to die?”

Si Qi lowered his eyes slightly. “Rules are absolute. Unless someone can foresee the rules in advance, there’s no other way but to try over and over.”

Chu Feng asked, puzzled, “But didn’t you mention before that there’s a Mirror of Truth that knows everything, omniscient and omnipotent?”

Si Qi: “Using it comes with a cost.”

Chu Feng: “What kind of cost?”

Si Qi: “Lifespan. The more difficult the question, the more lifespan it takes.”

Chu Feng was even more confused. “But lifespan is such an abstract thing—how do you know if you’ve paid a lot or a little? Do people just suddenly grow old?”

Si Qi: “Some members have offered a quarter of their blood three times in a row. By the third time, they often die suddenly. Even if they don’t die on the spot, they usually drop dead without warning soon after.”

Chu Feng frowned. “Why would you use your own people for something like that?” He didn’t believe Si Qi was soft-hearted enough to avoid using enemies as test subjects.

Si Qi: “Because the mirror is picky. It’s smarter than most forbidden objects and knows everything. It understands how important these members are, which makes it crave their blood even more. If a regular person asks a question, even if you drain every drop of their blood, it still won’t answer.”

Because they were not worthy.

But if Si Qi asked a question, he could often get high-value information for a minimal cost, because the mirror knows how precious the lifespan of an active Savior is. It’s obsessed with Si Qi, always yearning to reap his life.

And in order to eventually locate Chu Feng—the key to salvation—Si Qi had already sacrificed a third of his lifespan over the years. His importance to Si Qi was beyond words.

Chu Feng clicked his tongue. “So when you said forbidden objects usually have intelligence, you really meant it. Then couldn’t we cooperate with them? Like, try negotiating or something…”

“You can’t trust anything they say. Their origin lies with the evil gods—they won’t help us betray them. And we can’t rely on them too much either. That only makes them stronger and harder to control,” Si Qi said coldly, shooting down Chu Feng’s naive idea. He added mockingly, “But some people don’t care. After getting a forbidden object, they’ll deliberately feed it large numbers of living humans to make it stronger.”

Like that senator Si Qi skinned alive last night. After obtaining a forbidden object, the man went around capturing orphans and homeless people to feed it—just to strengthen the pipe’s ability to alter memories and gain more personal benefits.

And this kind of thing had happened more than once. The congressmen in Parliament held great power. Anyone who managed to reach that position had come into contact with forbidden objects. Some stayed rational and didn’t go too deep. Others reached too far—and Si Qi would cut them down himself.

Will’s death had been a warning to the other congressmen. Si Qi knew the Omniscient Church was constantly trying to win over the Parliament, hoping to bring the entire Empire under their control. That way, whenever they needed to sacrifice a city’s population, it would be much more convenient.

Si Qi would never tolerate such things happening. That’s why he delivered Will as a “gift” to Parliament—surely those people would understand his message.

Chu Feng asked, puzzled, “What do you mean forbidden objects are uncontrollable? Isn’t it true that as long as you understand the rules, you won’t get hurt by them anymore?”

Si Qi replied, “forbidden objects originate from the corruption of evil gods. Using a forbidden object is equivalent to constantly being exposed to the will of an evil god. Do you know what a madman is like?”

Chu Feng nodded.

Si Qi said, “Every enforcer is a madman.”

Chu Feng swallowed nervously. “Including you?” He recalled how Si Qi could be cold and ruthless one moment, yet clingy and touch-starved the next. He didn’t believe a fully rational Si Qi would act like that—he must be losing control mentally.

At this moment, Si Qi’s face behind the mask was surely expressionless. His voice was chilling: “Including me.”

Chu Feng didn’t know how to respond. His heart suddenly felt heavy.

“Once you decide to use a sealed object, it’s like tying a time bomb to yourself—one that will definitely explode eventually,” Si Qi said as his eyes caught sight of an enforcer who suddenly started laughing joyfully. The man staggered forward, crouched beside a pile of corpses, picked up a severed arm, and began gnawing on it with delight. “Just like that.”

Chu Feng stared in horror as the enforcer, who had been fine moments ago, suddenly began eating human flesh.

Then he watched Si Qi pull a sealed object from his coat, pointing one end at the man and the other at himself.

Other enforcers might not understand what this meant, but Chu Feng clearly saw the enforcer’s soul—completely black and muddy—slowly return to a mist-like, lighter form. Meanwhile, the monster behind Si Qi let out a displeased growl. The black mist surging from its body roiled restlessly, the grotesque scales covering it becoming denser and heavier—before gradually, forcibly calming down again.

The enforcer, who had nearly gone insane, spat out the meat and apologized to Si Qi in shame, then turned and resumed working.

Chu Feng suddenly realized what this scene meant.

So the monster behind Si Qi was the result of him being in constant contact with forbidden objects, taking on and absorbing the corruption that should have infected others—all by himself?

A once pure, flawless soul had been forcibly reshaped into this hideous form through outside contamination. The pain involved must have been unimaginable.

Chu Feng looked at Si Qi, who had returned to his side to continue guarding him, and asked, “Have you ever thought about what would happen if you completely lost your mind?”

When others went mad, Si Qi could save them. But if Si Qi went mad—who would save him?

Si Qi answered blandly, “I’ve already made arrangements.”

Chu Feng couldn’t explain why, but an ominous feeling rose in his chest again. He’d had several such feelings in recent days, and each one had proven accurate. He couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of arrangements? Did you prepare a way to save yourself—like what you just did for that guy?”

Si Qi, unaware of the change in the monster’s color behind him, replied casually, “Of course.”

Chu Feng clenched his teeth.

Damn it, this guy is lying!

He clearly feared and respected this commander far more than he felt close to him. He knew his own abilities weren’t much help to someone like Si Qi. And yet, in this moment, he couldn’t stop himself from worrying—felt a heartache and frustration, like watching someone waste their life. He instinctively wanted to protect this “kid,” to give him peace and happiness, not this kind of torment.

While they were talking, the enforcers up ahead finally figured out the rules of the forbidden object. One got within half a meter of it, grabbed it, and placed it into the prepared containment vessel.

The group carefully carried the object over to Si Qi. “Sir.”

Si Qi glanced at the container. “Let’s go.”

The enforcers across from him, however, were itching to make a move.

Chu Feng, whose thoughts had been wandering, suddenly snapped to attention, an invisible chill sweeping over his entire body.

He saw the enforcers opposite them smiling warmly as they turned toward him.

“A new colleague?”

“How long have you been in the Legion? Never seen you before.”

“I’ll treat you to dinner later, okay?”

“Where do you live? Is it far? Want me to give you a ride home?”

Chu Feng’s observational skills had grown sharper by the day. He clearly noticed the look in their eyes growing more and more fanatical—as if they were beginning to show… desire.

As if they were about to pounce on him and rip all his clothes off. Chu Feng’s face darkened, and he forced out a few words: “No, thank you!”

“No need to be shy.”

“Don’t you like me?”

“Look at me—come on, look at me!”

“Tell me what you want, hmm? I can give you anything, as long as you say the word and let me…”

Si Qi swatted away the hand reaching for Chu Feng and pulled him behind him, voice cold: “I told you to go. Didn’t you hear me?”

“…………”

The deep-seated fear and respect for Si Qi snapped the crowd back to their senses—if only briefly. That was all they needed. These experienced enforcers immediately realized something was wrong.

They frowned, no longer daring to look at Chu Feng. Silently, they tried to deduce what kind of charm-type sealed object he might be carrying. Everyone had been too tense while containing the forbidden object to notice him earlier. Now that they’d let their guard down, the sealed object on Chu Feng must have activated fully—making them all lose control in an instant.

One enforcer grumbled, “You’re a guy—what the hell are you doing using a charm-type object on us?!”

Chu Feng: “…………”

He didn’t use anything, okay?!

The group stormed off angrily. Chu Feng, teeth clenched, watched them leave, his expression changing every second. Si Qi, seeing this, finally had a moment of relief after suppressing his emotions since the day before.

He teased, “Truly irresistible.”

Chu Feng’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t expected the cold-hearted commander to make a joke. He shot back, “If I wasn’t irresistible, would I have been your cuddle buddy two nights in a row?”

Si Qi raised an eyebrow.

“Are you unhappy about it?”

Chu Feng: “…Yes!”

Who would enjoy that?!

Si Qi stepped closer. The distance was far too close, and Chu Feng instantly felt a sense of danger—his back bristling like prey being watched.

Si Qi spoke slowly, as if interrogating: “Then… who do you want to be hugged by?”

Chu Feng: “No one!”

Si Qi chuckled, “No one means anyone. If I hadn’t been protecting you, what do you think your situation would be right now?”

Chu Feng: “…”

Recalling the chaos from earlier, Chu Feng deflated. “Hugs are okay, but nothing more than that.”

Si Qi countered, “And what if you can’t resist me?”

“……” Chu Feng bristled. “What are you trying to do to me?!”

Si Qi sneered, “You?”

Chu Feng: “…Yeah, me.”

Wait, why does this conversation feel so familiar?

Chu Feng said, “I think someone like the Commander, who can resist the temptations of the evil gods, should be able to restrain his urges toward me, right?”

Si Qi answered calmly, “Of course.”

Chu Feng looked conflicted. “I believe you.” Compared to those other people’s behavior earlier, the Commander truly seemed incredibly restrained.

And at this point, Chu Feng didn’t really have another choice but to trust him.

Ordinary people felt nothing for him but were unreliable. As for the corrupted and the enforcers—don’t even mention them. The only one he could count on was this Commander, who was not only strong enough to crush anyone who dared offend him, but also had the willpower not to act on any desire.

Si Qi glanced at him. “Instead of thinking about relying on others, you should focus on becoming stronger yourself.”

If Chu Feng really was the Child of the World, and grew to the level in the original owner’s memory, he wouldn’t need anyone’s help—he’d be strong enough to crush nearly everything on his own.

“You already have a sealed object, don’t you? What’s its ability?”

Chu Feng immediately became alert. “What sealed object? I don’t have one!”

Yeah, right—if the Commander found out he could see people’s souls and had already figured out Si Qi’s true identity, what if the Commander killed him to silence him?

Just getting stuck with that forbidden object had been a big enough headache—he couldn’t find it, couldn’t get rid of it. Now if the Commander started getting suspicious too, he must really be asking to die.

Si Qi replied coldly, “Oh, really.”

Chu Feng said nothing, clearly feeling guilty.

Si Qi tossed him a sealed object. “Feed it one drop of blood a day. You’ll be able to contact me at any time.”

The earring could turn invisible, so there was no risk of exposing his identity even if he wore it.

Chu Feng instinctively reached out and took the earring-shaped sealed object. He looked up to see the Commander casually putting the other earring on his own ear.

Blood seeped from his ear and was quickly absorbed by the earring. The way it reacted like a living creature made Chu Feng realize this thing was definitely not to be underestimated.

He tried to imitate Si Qi and put the earring on the same way, but all he got was pain and nothing else.

The Commander scoffed and walked over. He stretched out his gloved hand, took the earring from Chu Feng’s hand.

Because of the movement, they were standing very close—so close that in this blood-reeking space, Chu Feng could clearly smell the scent on the Commander.

It was a cold, refreshing scent like snow and ice—calming the restless emotions in his heart and making him feel tranquil.

Then pain suddenly flared in his ear. Chu Feng winced, and the chain reaction made his stomach start churning again. He felt nauseous.

Almost out of habit, he leaned his head onto the Commander’s shoulder, hoping the scent on him would soothe his discomfort. The motion made the man freeze for a moment, and after a beat, he said, “What are you doing?”

Chu Feng didn’t dare admit he wanted to smell the Commander—it sounded way too creepy. “Didn’t you say you’re not affected by me and don’t care about my ‘temptation’?”

Si Qi: “That’s not a reason for you to touch me without permission.”

“You can touch me whenever you want, but I can’t touch you? That’s not fair.”

Chu Feng fully expected to be pushed away or scolded after saying that—but to his surprise, the Commander didn’t respond at all.

Feeling like he was being treated far too gently, Chu Feng looked up and asked, “Why are you so nice to me?”

Si Qi denied it. “I’m not.”

Chu Feng pointed it out. “But I’m special to you. You know it better than anyone.”

More than ten years of protection in the shadows had allowed him to live safely in a world full of dangers. Chu Feng didn’t believe he could’ve survived that long without Si Qi’s help.

Not to mention that Si Qi, despite the risks, had brought him along and protected him in person instead of locking him up and taking away his freedom. That alone made Chu Feng deeply grateful—and increased his affection for the man.

And now, Si Qi had given him an item that would undoubtedly cause him more trouble, even putting it on for him himself… Would anyone do that for someone they didn’t care about? Chu Feng could feel how much Si Qi valued him.

Si Qi looked down, didn’t answer, and turned to lead Chu Feng out of the bloody, nightmarish slaughterhouse.

To Si Qi, Chu Feng really was special.

As the corruption of the evil gods intensified, the air grew more and more foul, making it increasingly difficult for Si Qi to tolerate.

But the difficulty wasn’t from pain. On the contrary—because of his deep corruption, he found this depraved and chaotic world increasingly addictive. Like a parched fish falling into a river, he reveled in it.

The original owner had an unnaturally high affinity for the power of the evil gods. That allowed Si Qi to control more sealed objects than most—but also meant he faced temptations far more unbearable than others.

He should have been the perfect believer of the evil gods.

And yet, now he needed a blade pressed against his own throat—like a shackle that gave him peace of mind. Something that could, when he finally lost himself to darkness, slice off the head of the hero-turned-monster.

Only then could Si Qi work freely, pushing himself closer and closer to the abyss without worrying every moment about what would happen if he lost control. Who could stop him? What would happen to the world?

Chu Feng was that blade. He was the reassurance Si Qi needed—removing any lingering hesitation.

Si Qi was deeply satisfied with Chu Feng’s existence. Because he believed that as the Child of the World, Chu Feng would one day fulfill his wish, take his place, and kill him when he became a burden to the Legion.

Just like in the original owner’s memories.

That way, he could fight at full power until the very end—without constantly worrying about what would happen to the Legion, or the future of the world, if he lost control.

He cared deeply for Chu Feng and was prepared to give him everything, teaching him how to deal with various forbidden objects.

Under Si Qi’s guidance, Chu Feng put in a tremendous amount of effort during this period. No matter what task Si Qi assigned, he would complete it wholeheartedly.

Whether it was due to his natural compatibility with this line of work or for some other reason, both Si Qi as an observer and Chu Feng himself could clearly sense something special about him.

He seemed to possess a strong immunity to those troublesome sealed objects. He didn’t hear the maddening whispers of evil gods repeating endlessly in his ears, nor did he see the various hallucinations that would normally drive people insane.

The effects of the sealed objects on him were even less significant than those caused by twisted corpses.

While Si Qi was gratified by this, he also felt a sense of regret.

He had previously refused to let Chu Feng come into contact with this world because he knew the lifespan of any enforcer was limited. In fact, it was even shorter than the prime years of a socialite—it was a one-way path with no return.

Within the legion, Si Qi was the only one who had survived ten years of exposure to forbidden objects and still lived. Other enforcers, regardless of how powerful or talented they were, generally didn’t last more than five years before either mentally collapsing or dying due to various causes.

Si Qi had originally planned to wait until he was close to the end of his own time before introducing Chu Feng to this world. He wanted to guide him in the most peaceful, harmless way possible, helping him grow strong so he could last as long as possible in this role, rather than overlap with Si Qi’s tenure and waste his limited time.

Who would have thought that Chu Feng had such a unique constitution and was completely unaffected by forbidden object pollution? This was beyond anything Si Qi had anticipated, making him regret not letting Chu Feng start learning by his side earlier.

No wonder the Mirror of Truth had referred to him as the “Child of the World”—Chu Feng truly lived up to that title.

After realizing this, Si Qi became even more dedicated to training him. He shared every detail he knew with Chu Feng, including the distribution of legion members within the empire, the chaotic and collapsing order of other countries outside the empire, and even the rules of highly classified sealed objects.

Chu Feng, aware of the scrutiny and suspicion from the vice commander and understanding that ordinary enforcers couldn’t possibly have access to so many secrets, finally realized just how extraordinary his position was.

This left him feeling a bit overwhelmed by the favor.

“You don’t need to be alarmed. With your unique constitution, you’re destined to become an exceptional enforcer,” Si Qi told Chu Feng. “But you must never tell anyone about this. The lunatics from The Omniscient Church have already set their sights on you. If they find out that you’re immune to the pollution and can freely use forbidden objects, they’ll assassinate you before you fully mature—no matter the cost.”

In order to prevent Chu Feng from falling before he had a chance to grow, Si Qi stayed by his side at all times to protect him.

And there was already a perfect excuse—

As Chu Feng spent more time following Si Qi, not only did The Omniscient Church notice him, but many within the legion also began to take note.

The reason wasn’t anything noble. Every enforcer or tainted one who had briefly worked with Chu Feng became obsessed with him after meeting him—either wanting to drag him into bed or to the dinner table.

Even after parting ways, they couldn’t forget him. They lost their appetite, couldn’t sleep, and repeatedly expressed a desire to see him again. This kind of obsession made everyone who had heard of Chu Feng think he was some shameless guy who loved flaunting his charm through forbidden objects.

To prevent Chu Feng from corrupting the legion, the commander personally kept him close at all times to guard the purity of his subordinates.

Chu Feng: “…………”

His reputation had definitely taken a hit.

This strange reputation, however, somewhat reduced outside hostility toward Chu Feng. Although assassination attempts remained frequent, they hadn’t yet escalated to a level where enemies would stop at nothing to kill him.

With Si Qi by his side, Chu Feng didn’t have to worry much about his safety in head-on confrontations. The real danger lay in the abilities of certain forbidden objects that were eerie and unpredictable—making them ideal for assassinations.

Sometimes, something as small as a single hair being picked up, or casting a shadow over a riverbank could result in the soul or body being captured by a matching forbidden object.

Chu Feng had to come up with a solution in an extremely short time. Otherwise, he could be trapped inside the forbidden object forever—each encounter a life-or-death battle.

There were times when Si Qi was besieged by too many enemies and couldn’t help him. If someone tried to kill Chu Feng during those moments, even Si Qi wouldn’t be able to shield him every time. Naturally, he often worried whether Chu Feng could escape on his own—but each time, Chu Feng surprised him.

His outstanding performance not only earned Si Qi’s admiration but also eased the concerns of the vice commander. They began to treat Chu Feng more favorably, seeing him as a usable combat force rather than a lucky charm or some kind of seductress.

Si Qi said Chu Feng had a natural intuition for battle and danger, calling him a born savior.

But Chu Feng knew the truth—it wasn’t intuition. He simply had excellent eyesight, hearing, and perception.

Situations that looked like certain death to others revealed their weaknesses clearly to Chu Feng. He could see, hear, and sense them, allowing him to dodge deadly attacks and pinpoint ways to break the trap.

And compared to others’ attitude improvements or Si Qi’s praise, what made Chu Feng happiest was his own growth. He had gone from being a burden to a companion and hoped to eventually become Si Qi’s strength—so Si Qi wouldn’t always have to face the deadliest threats alone and could be protected in return.

Just imagining that future gave Chu Feng the strength to face any hardship.

Maybe, before the devil behind Si Qi fully lost control, he could help Si Qi stop what he was doing and prevent his condition from deteriorating further.

That day, there was a lot going on in the legion. Seeing that Chu Feng had matured enough to act independently, Si Qi let him go deal with a problem alone.

It wasn’t anything serious. According to the intel, the forbidden object was only classified as C-level—well within Chu Feng’s ability to handle.

It took him just the morning to contain and seal the forbidden object. Along the way, he also saved an innocent bystander who had nearly been devoured.

The girl was sweet-looking and pitiful. After such a terrifying experience and seeing a heroic man swoop down to save her from the jaws of death, she clung to Chu Feng with complete dependence.

“Could you take me home? I’m really too scared to go alone…”

At her feet lay her servants—now just bloody corpses. Even adult men would be shaken by such a scene, let alone a pampered girl from what looked like a wealthy family.

When Chu Feng looked into her tear-filled eyes, he thought he saw a shadow of Si Qi in her pale, delicate face.

Her innocent face radiated gentleness and vulnerability, like a fawn. If she smiled, she would surely shine just like Si Qi—radiant and sweet, like the juiciest tip of a strawberry.

This softened Chu Feng’s tone. Unlike his usual attitude, which was cold and distant to avoid being liked, he subconsciously nodded without hesitation.

But Chu Feng didn’t return to the underground containment facility immediately after sealing the forbidden object. This was quickly noticed by outer legion members, who reported it to Si Qi at once.

Every enforcer had someone observing them—not to monitor, but to protect. They ensured that if contact was lost, the legion could respond quickly, and they also protected innocent bystanders in case an enforcer mentally broke down and acted violently.

As Si Qi’s key protection target, Chu Feng was never truly alone, even if it looked that way. There were always people watching from the shadows.

Si Qi read the report and was told, “Mr. Chu Feng showed a very unusual attitude toward the girl, with a clear display of affection.”

Because enforcers had unstable mental states, intelligence officers always paid close attention to any behavioral anomalies. Due to his constitution, Chu Feng usually kept others at arm’s length—yet he still attracted both enforcers and tainted alike.

This sudden warmth stood out.

Today, just by showing a slightly softer and more compromising reaction toward the girl, Chu Feng was immediately noticed by the observers, who became wary that he might be losing control.

For an “enchanter-type” ability user like Chu Feng, once he consciously used his charm to seduce or tempt others, the consequences could be severe.

Even the enforcers within the legion might collectively rebel, commit massacres, and oppose the commander, all just to earn a smile from Chu Feng.

The subordinates anxiously said, “Should we go tie him up and bring him back?”

To be honest, this was their first day following Chu Feng.

Because of Chu Feng’s unique constitution, the personnel assigned to him were rotated regularly. Those who had been rotated out were always initially resistant to being close to Chu Feng, showing clear signs of wariness. But without exception, within two days, they all displayed intense obsession with him.

They would unconsciously murmur Chu Feng’s name, intentionally collect items he had used, and search for his whereabouts, as if he were a longtime lover—deeply affectionate and entangled, while completely unaware that there was anything wrong with this behavior.

That kind of look—as if their very soul had been taken by Chu Feng—made many legion members’ scalps tingle, deeply worried that they too might end up like that.

“That young lady is the daughter of Duke Constantin. If Mr. Chu Feng bewitched her mind, the Duke will surely be furious.”

Although the legion feared no trouble, Constantin had consistently shown strong goodwill toward them, assisting in their operations more than once. Many members of the legion were aware of this.

If Chu Feng toyed with the duke’s daughter’s feelings, it would reflect very poorly on the legion.

Si Qi thought for a moment, then spoke to Chu Feng through the sealed object earring: [Return immediately after completing the mission.]

Chu Feng’s voice rang in Si Qi’s ear: [Sorry, please give me a little more time.]

Si Qi tightened his grip on the fountain pen, his voice sinking: [Explain your reason.]

Chu Feng paused, sounding a little guilty: [Do I really need a reason? If something urgent comes up, I’ll return immediately…]

Si Qi: [What are you doing right now?]

He already knew what Chu Feng was doing, but he wanted to hear Chu Feng’s explanation. Perhaps—just perhaps—his subordinates were mistaken.

Chu Feng: [I’m escorting a young lady home. She looks very frightened.]

Snap.

Si Qi slammed the pen onto the desk and ended the call.

His subordinates stared at him without blinking, as if ready to act at his command to rush out and drag Chu Feng back immediately.

Si Qi frowned slightly. “Let him be.”

He knew Chu Feng wouldn’t lose control—there wasn’t even the possibility. Everything he did was based on his own judgment, and the legion had no right to interfere with the emotional lives of its members.

The subordinates, slightly disappointed, responded with a respectful “Yes, sir,” and left the office to resume their duties.

Si Qi opened a file to review the next intelligence report, but his tightly knit brows never relaxed.

I’m escorting a young lady home. She looks very frightened.

Frightened… She… Young lady…

That single sentence echoed endlessly in Si Qi’s mind, so loud that he couldn’t focus on his work.

A long while later, a figure emerged from a cluster of secluded, shadowy buildings and stepped onto the sunlit lawn. His gentle, harmless face was slightly lowered, as if he were in low spirits.

“Saint Peter Street,” the young man said to the driver waiting outside the welfare home.

“Going shopping?” the driver asked cheerfully, smiling at the young master of the household.

Si Qi: “Yes. I want to see the fountain and the pigeons.”

Then, as if by sheer coincidence, on the way to the plaza fountain, they encountered a young man and woman walking down the street.

“Brother Chu Feng! What a coincidence,” the driver stopped the car, and Si Qi rolled down the window, calling out to Chu Feng in a soft, sweet voice. He then smiled brightly at the girl next to him, “Miss Annie, you’re here too.”

Annie was clinging to Chu Feng’s arm, her fair face filled with obsession and affection, gazing at Chu Feng with a dreamy look, completely ignoring Si Qi’s presence.

This only made Si Qi feel worse. Behind him, the monster stared menacingly at the girl, baring its sharp fangs.

Chu Feng stood in front of the car, dazed.

He truly hadn’t expected the busy commander to suddenly show up.

“Why are you here?” he asked instinctively.

“I came to see the pigeons,” Si Qi answered sweetly, then said, “Didn’t you say you were working, Brother Chu Feng? Why are you strolling with Sister Annie?” He gave Chu Feng a somewhat hurt look, “I invited you out yesterday, but you said you were too busy…”

Chu Feng: “…” Busy? Didn’t the commander know better than anyone?

At the time, the young master had only made that public invitation to express goodwill and make it easier for Chu Feng to stay at the villa. He hadn’t meant it seriously. Chu Feng knew Si Qi’s intentions and, of course, declined.

But now the commander had dropped the mask and was asking so directly… Chu Feng didn’t know how to respond.

What shocked him more was that Si Qi would even bring this up—it was clearly jealousy.

He had even gone out of his way to “catch him in the act.” It was hard to believe.

If Si Qi really wanted him to separate from Annie, a single command through the sealed object would have been enough. How could Chu Feng possibly disobey?

This meant…

Si Qi didn’t want to abuse his authority, but couldn’t hold back?

Chu Feng’s thoughts were in disarray. His flustered reaction only made Si Qi more unhappy.

Si Qi stepped out of the car and said to Annie, “Miss Annie, may I—”

“You may not!” The girl, who had just been gentle and obedient, suddenly turned vicious. “Get lost now! Chu Feng is mine!”

The shout startled the boy, his face going pale. He looked at her helplessly, eyes brimming with tears.

Chu Feng was shocked too. He saw the monster open its bloody jaws and lunge at the girl’s head—the brutal image sent chills down his spine.

He quickly pulled the boy behind him and said gently, “Leave it to me, okay?”

Si Qi hid behind Chu Feng, his eyes red at the corners, choking back a sob.

Annie glared at Si Qi aggressively. “Don’t think I can’t see through your little tricks. I know you’re jealous of me, but what the hell are you?”

The driver, sitting in the car, heard Annie’s sharp words and quickly got out, protectively shielding their young master.

The young master looked so scared he was about to cry. The driver, both angry and anxious, said, “Miss Annie, how can you say that about our young master!”

Annie’s voice grew shrill. “Why can’t I say it! He’s just a sickly weakling, a useless crybaby greenhouse flower! He likes Chu Feng, so he tricked Chu Feng into his home, pretended to be pitiful, clung to him, made him feel sorry and unable to leave, step by step drawing Chu Feng’s attention! He’s so fake! Disgusting!”

The boy was so viciously attacked that he looked like he was about to collapse. Chu Feng was stunned watching Annie dig her own grave. His lips parted as he tried to explain, pale: “No, it’s not like that. I only stayed because I couldn’t find a place to live, and I did so willingly…”

“You can live with me.” Annie switched faces quickly and looked affectionately at Chu Feng. “Aren’t I gentler and more thoughtful than that pretty boy? Is he as devoted and caring to you as I am? Let me show you how much I love you, and you’ll realize I’m much better than that frail little thing…”

She clung to Chu Feng’s arm, rubbing her soft chest against his back. Chu Feng’s scalp went numb. The monster in front of him went completely berserk, letting out a deafening roar. Chu Feng hurriedly dodged Annie’s embrace like he was escaping danger and used his earring seal to speak to the commander: [Sorry, Commander. Actually, I found out Annie is in possession of a forbidden object. I was only trying to use my ability to peacefully retrieve it from her…]

He knew the legion’s stance toward Grand Duke Constantine and that they didn’t allow any outsiders to possess forbidden objects. He also knew Annie would definitely turn hostile to protect what she believed was hers, which would make things awkward between the Legion and the Grand Duke.

He happened to notice Annie’s fondness for him and knew how executioners and the tainted behaved toward him—granting whatever he wanted. He couldn’t bear the thought of this girl, who resembled Si Qi, being surrounded or imprisoned by the cold Legion members. So he hid the truth and tried to handle it privately, thinking someone like her, who couldn’t even deal with a Class C forbidden object, couldn’t really harm him.

He had to admit—he had let his emotions cloud his judgment.

The monster’s roar gradually stopped. The boy, trembling behind Chu Feng, became subtly quiet for a moment.

[Your actions were reckless.] The commander’s voice sounded cold and detached, like he was still sitting in his office handling official matters. There was a faint trace of criticism in his tone, and nothing else.

Chu Feng: [Yes, I know. I won’t do it again.]

Chu Feng pulled his arm away from Annie’s grasp. Facing her, seeing the malice in her gaze as she glared at Si Qi—so vicious it chilled the surrounding crowd—he said helplessly, “I’m sorry, Miss Annie. I won’t be leaving the marquis’ estate. Thank you for your kind offer, but we’re not suitable.”

Annie’s face turned livid. Her eyes toward Chu Feng were filled with possessiveness, her tone as cold and clinging as a snake: “It’s because of him, right? You like him!”

Chu Feng: “I don’t like anyone.”

The young boy looked hurt. “Boohoo… Brother Chu Feng, you don’t like me?”

Chu Feng: “…” Not now, please! Commander, you’re not helping!

Feeling the monster’s icy gaze, Chu Feng knew better than to lie. “I do like him.”

Annie’s expression twisted with hatred, her hostility toward Si Qi as clear as day. She didn’t notice the monster’s creepy stare locking onto her, its look suggesting it would devour her small, dark soul in the next second.

Worried that the commander might act on impulse, Chu Feng quickly pulled Si Qi aside and said, “Didn’t you want to see the pigeons? I’ll go with you.”

Si Qi, eyes red and voice pitiful, replied, “Okay… boohoo…”

He looked utterly pitiful.

Chu Feng: “……….”

Chu Feng was speechless.

Annie was still roaring in the background, but the furious driver stopped her in her tracks.

Soon, an enforcer would arrive to contain the forbidden object in Annie’s possession. She would definitely resist with all her might, and a clash between the Legion and the Grand Duke was now unavoidable. Chu Feng sighed in resignation.

But he had to admit—he had messed things up.

All because of the little guy beside him, still sniffling.

Chu Feng: “…Stop crying already.”

He said it with the commander in mind too. It must be hard for someone so tough and cold to pretend to cry right in front of him.

Si Qi, red around the eyes, looked helpless. “Brother, do you like Miss Annie?”

Otherwise, why would someone who normally avoided the enforcers like the plague treat Annie so differently?

Chu Feng: “…………”

Feeling awkward, he told the truth. “I don’t like her. She just looks a bit like you, so… I spent more time with her.”

Si Qi clearly hadn’t expected such an answer. He paused, slightly stunned.

Then, after a moment: “Looks like me?”

To be honest, the young master of the marquis’ estate didn’t have a deep relationship with Chu Feng. On the surface, they acted close with mutual understanding, but it wasn’t real. Chu Feng couldn’t possibly have taken it seriously, could he?

Si Qi hadn’t expected his persona to be so important to Chu Feng. His ears turned a little red, and he shyly asked, “Then… does that mean Brother Chu Feng likes people like me?”

Chu Feng didn’t want to lie to the commander, so he nodded. “I do.”

Si Qi fell into thought.

So Chu Feng liked that kind of person…

No wonder, even after becoming a Legion member, with no need for the marquis’ help, he still chose to stay in the estate.

Even though he should’ve known it was inconvenient to live there, with so many eyes and ears around.

It was because he liked that weak little young master… and couldn’t bear to leave.

Si Qi’s ears burned. He stole a glance at Chu Feng, then quickly looked away in shy panic when their eyes met.

This might be… the first time he had ever been so openly pursued by someone.