A world polluted by evil gods (8): Be jealous of yourself

Well, what else could Xiu Xiu say?

Feeling aggrieved, Xiu Xiu curled up behind a leaf, huffing and puffing as he absorbed the power of the world, hoping he could quickly return to his original form. Maybe then, his master would suddenly remember who he was upon seeing him.

Xiu Xiu fell silent, and Si Qi gradually calmed down and resumed dealing with official matters.

The changes brought about by transferring the divine essence were still quite evident. First, his strength declined significantly—whether it was physical power, constitution, or resistance to corruption, all had weakened. He was now far more affected by the forbidden object (Xiu Xiu) than before. Secondly, Chu Feng’s abilities had clearly improved—his running speed and suppression of forbidden objects had visibly advanced.

A more obvious change was that the enforcers, who used to fawn over Chu Feng upon seeing him, had since yesterday stopped showing that fanatical obsession. Instead, there was a sense of… According to the enforcers themselves, when they saw Chu Feng, it felt like they were seeing Si Qi.

Reverence, respect, worship, fear… A desire to get close, yet not daring to.

Si Qi couldn’t help but admire the Mirror of Truth’s ability to know all things. Compared to other sealed objects, giving the divine essence to Chu Feng was indeed the optimal solution. No other sealed object could be more suited to Chu Feng’s situation—the results were practically immediate.

Xiu Xiu whispered: [Master, this is because the divine essence is one of the five powers left behind by the gods… When the Lord God had only obtained two of them, those humans polluted by the Evil God were already coveting the Lord God who had yet to grow strong, greedily trying to devour him and eliminate him before he could pose a threat. But now that the Lord God has begun to grow, the enforcers polluted by the Evil God’s power feel like citizens who’ve changed their nationality seeing the rise of their homeland—they’re filled with yearning and fear…]

Si Qi’s face was expressionless: “…”

What nonsense.

Xiu Xiu, out of habit, tried to flatter him: [Of course, Master, you’re different from those shallow outsiders~ You and the Lord God are soulmates. No matter which world you’re in, you’ll fall in love at first sight and never forget each other. So even if you’ve been heavily corrupted, the Lord God’s influence on you is stronger than on any other enforcer. The instinct from deep within your soul allows you to suppress your desire to possess and devour, leaving only the purest affection.]

Si Qi: “…” This forbidden object’s personality was really out of sync with the others—way too bizarre.

Cowardly, timid, liked to flatter, loved to play pitiful and act cute…

So…

Lovable.

Damn it. He shouldn’t be thinking like that.

Si Qi maintained a stern expression, ignored Xiu Xiu’s flattery and attempts to please, and opened the next urgent intelligence report in his hand.

—The Omniscient Church has detected abnormalities in Chu Feng and the Evil God has issued a decree to eliminate this future threat at all costs.

—The strength of the Legion Commander has diminished; now is the best time to annihilate him.

—The Truth Gavel has appeared in the hands of a church believer known as a “Divine Punisher,” accompanied by several red-robed divine envoys—suspected to be a trap.

Heh.

Si Qi sneered and closed the report.

He had many capable subordinates who consistently delivered useful intelligence to him.

Si Qi knew the Omniscient Church had a unique nature, capable of perceiving many things, and had already anticipated their response.

But so what?

The debt with Igor hadn’t been settled yet. He was already planning to cause trouble for the Omniscient Church.

Half a month later, in the outskirts of the imperial capital—

On a desolate plain, nearly a hundred enforcers and Omniscient Church believers engaged in fierce combat.

Today’s situation was even more dangerous than usual.

Chu Feng was clearly being targeted by a group of believers. Dozens of them ganged up on him alone, using countless forbidden objects to counter the sealed objects on his body—it was clearly a long-planned ambush.

Around him, numerous enforcers and believers had fallen. Many, even in death, couldn’t find peace, twisted by eerie forces into spirit-polluting monsters crawling along the ground. The scene was more terrifying than any mythological depiction of hell.

Si Qi protected Chu Feng and fought with all his might. But even at full strength, it was obvious that his power had dropped several levels compared to before.

This only made him a primary target for assassination by the believers. They had feared Si Qi for far too long and would never let go of this golden opportunity.

Killing Si Qi would free the church from its chains and lead it into an era of greater freedom and prosperity.

Amid this crisis, Chu Feng quickly noticed the change in Si Qi and grew very worried.

He feared that Si Qi might fall into danger trying to save him. Under extreme pressure, power suddenly burst from within Chu Feng. Amid the stunned shouts of the believers, he forcibly shattered forbidden objects one by one—just like the first time he met Si Qi, when a monster forcibly destroyed the forbidden object that could not be heard, seen, or sensed.

This was the power of the gods in this world, capable of destroying all foreign corruption—though no one present knew this.

They were shocked. Chu Feng really was a threat to the Evil God—he actually possessed the power to destroy sacred (forbidden) objects. Enraged, they lost control.

These insane believers not only disregarded the survival of humanity but also didn’t care about their own lives. They were determined to completely kill Chu Feng. Some were even willing to sacrifice their own souls and bodies to summon a shred of the Evil God’s will. Even just a sliver of that will was enough to terrify countless people.

The battle on Si Qi’s side was equally intense. He dealt with a nonstop barrage of threats with a cold face. His halved strength was barely holding up against the high-intensity combat he used to handle with ease. Then, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed someone pull out a small wooden hammer.

In an instant, the monster behind him let out a thunderous roar. Chu Feng couldn’t help but glance at Si Qi in alarm, only to see him rushing madly toward someone in the distance, completely ignoring everything else. The monster behind him suddenly expanded to the height of four or five stories, hideous and terrifying, letting out a deafening roar—it had clearly been completely enraged.

Chu Feng couldn’t stop him in time and witnessed firsthand just how terrifying a fully out-of-control Si Qi could be.

Facing a barrage of lethal attacks, Si Qi didn’t show a trace of fear or hesitation that any normal person would have. He used his body as the sharpest weapon, taking on attacks from several red-robed divine envoys all at once.

The most exhilarating form of violent beauty was born in that moment. Blood and limbs flew through the air, making one feel a thrilling, intoxicating rush from the very soul—adrenaline surged, blood boiled, and just watching it felt incredibly satisfying.

The believer holding the The Truth Gavel knew full well that the Legion Commander always fiercely protected his own. He deliberately used the Gavel’s rule-based power to barely keep the “Honest One” alive, baiting Si Qi to step into the trap.

He knew Si Qi’s pride—knew that even if weakened, even if he saw through the trap, Si Qi would still charge in. That would be the moment they’d use death to teach him what true regret felt like.

But who would’ve thought that even weakened, the commander’s power was still far beyond their imagination? In a panic, the believer tried to evade the god of slaughter and shouted: “Tell me your weakness!”

That shout might have seemed absurd to anyone unaware of the situation, as if he were speaking nonsense.

However, Si Qi, who was enveloped by this force, could clearly feel the name of that person surging wildly in his mind, chanted over and over, ringing deafeningly, making his throat itch with an uncontrollable urge to speak, to reveal that person’s name to the other party!  

But Si Qi, accustomed to all sorts of bizarre attacks, didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He swiftly closed the distance, and with a flash of his blade, the arm of the person holding the gavel—along with the sealed object—fell to the ground. The moment the scream erupted, the overwhelming sensation that had been echoing in Si Qi’s mind vanished instantly.  

In the past, Igor had always believed there were only two ways to evade the Truth Gavel’s interrogation: either die or bear the cost of lying.  

In reality, there was a third method—killing the wielder of the gavel or seizing it within the dozen or so seconds before its power took effect. That would render the entire problem moot.  

Si Qi kicked the severed hand, sending it flying toward the injured deputy commander, who was recuperating in the distance.  

Understanding Si Qi’s intent, the deputy commander avoided touching the object directly, instead picking it up by the arm and placing it into a containment vessel for sealed objects.  

The believer who had lost his hand turned pale but calmly tore a strip of cloth from his cloak to bind the wound. As Si Qi advanced, he said, “Commander, it’s an honor to meet you.”  

Si Qi ignored him. Instead, he swung his sword, decapitating a nearby red-robed priest. The body swayed and collapsed, only to be crushed under his foot.  

Blood splattered across his mask, intensifying his already terrifying, razor-sharp aura.  

Yet the man before him seemed utterly oblivious to the danger, his tone still fanatically fervent. “Before coming to ambush you, I had already written my will. I have no fear of death, but there are words I must share with you! Your soul is more wicked and pure than any believer’s—why not embrace our God? He will grant you supreme status and invincible power in the new world! If you join us, we will offer you everything—”  

This man, who had nearly killed Igor and become the catalyst for the entire assassination attempt, seemed deeply impressed by Si Qi’s “wicked soul,” believing him to be uniquely suited for sainthood. Even as he was captured, he desperately tried to persuade Si Qi.  

Si Qi acted as if he hadn’t heard a word, knocking him out with a casual strike.  

Before losing consciousness, the man gazed at Si Qi with regretful admiration, murmuring, “What a perfect vessel…”  

With the gavel seized, the believer subdued, and Igor’s life secured, Si Qi—having achieved his primary objective—finally relaxed. The tension that had kept him going snapped, and a roaring tide of corruption flooded his mind, plunging him into chaos.  

Huddled within Si Qi’s consciousness, Xiu Xiu hugged himself nervously.  

As a system bound to Si Qi, he could see everything Si Qi saw and feel every emotion Si Qi experienced.  

The scenes before him were filled with death, blood, and malice—like a mad artist’s depiction of hell, devoid of even a shred of rationality or humanity.  

The emotions overwhelmed the timid Xiu Xiu, who curled up under his little blanket (a World Tree leaf), trembling. This was the first time he had ever seen Si Qi so out of control, and he had no idea what to do.  

Fortunately, not long after, the Lord God arrived by Si Qi’s side. By then, Si Qi was mindlessly hurling the corpses of believers around, violently expelling the emotions and power raging within him.  

Chu Feng, worried that Si Qi might harm himself if this continued, stepped forward to restrain him. But the next moment, Si Qi grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the ground. The demon behind him roared furiously, its savage appearance terrifying all the wounded enforcers present into silence.  

Chu Feng shouted, “Snap out of it!”  

A heavy, beast-like panting sounded above Chu Feng. The cold, predatory gaze fixed on him was unmistakably demonic.  

The other team members shrank back, doing their best to avoid drawing Si Qi’s attention.  

As fellow victims of the Evil God’s corruption, they knew better than anyone that giving space to someone who had lost control was the only solution. Attempting to reason with, comfort, or suppress them would only make things worse.  

Only Chu Feng, who had never experienced such torment, instinctively reacted—even trying to bring Si Qi back to his senses.  

Si Qi hurled him aside. The monstrous wings behind him unfurled, and his cloak billowed as if caught by an unfelt wind, lifting him into the air as he flew away from the scene.  

“Whenever the Commander loses control, he finds a place to vent his emotions. He’s much easier to handle than others in that state,” the deputy commander said, helping Chu Feng up with the air of someone sharing hard-earned wisdom. “Either he destroys the surrounding area until he’s exhausted, or he finds someone to take it out on. Since the Commander took you with him the first time you met, you must know what he’s going to do, right?”  

After all, Chu Feng was the universally adored “charismatic ability user.” If he’d been delivered right into the Commander’s hands, could the Commander really resist in such a state?  

The deputy commander certainly didn’t think so.  

Seeing the deputy’s suggestive expression, Chu Feng’s face darkened. He brushed off the dust and stood. “Have you seen it happen?”  

The deputy shrugged. “Haven’t seen the person, but I’ve seen plenty of mountains and plains that weren’t so lucky.”  

The aftermath looked like the wake of a natural disaster—enough to make anyone’s scalp prickle.  

And if there wasn’t a trail of destruction somewhere, the deputy reasoned that Si Qi must have found another way to vent his rage. Otherwise, how else could he rein in such fury?  

Chu Feng ignored the deputy’s teasing and cut to the chase. “Why has the Commander’s power weakened? And why did he act like that earlier?”  

Even if the Omniscient Church had repeatedly provoked them, and even if the Commander had been targeting them relentlessly lately, it shouldn’t have led to such an outburst.  

The deputy sidestepped the question about Si Qi’s weakened power. “Before you joined the legion, the Commander had a trusted aide who’d been by his side for years. A really good guy—if something happened to him, a lot of people would be devastated. Not long ago, he nearly died, and his body was torn into over twenty pieces by the Omniscient Church before being sent back… Not as a provocation, of course—they wouldn’t dare. But to save him, we had to recover the sealed object he’d been carrying. Those fanatics deliberately used the object to provoke the Commander, threatening the man’s life to set a trap and kill him. You know how protective the Commander is of his people…”  

Chu Feng listened with a grim expression. Rationally, he understood. Emotionally, he couldn’t accept it.  

But even if he was unhappy about it, there was no way to confront Si Qi—assuming Si Qi would even listen, which was doubtful, especially since he’d already flown off.  

After Si Qi left, the deputy commander and Chu Feng stayed behind to clean up the aftermath. The battle had been too loud—the entire capital had heard it. Soon, the king’s forces would arrive, and they had to remove anything that might cause mental corruption if seen by ordinary people. There was a lot to do.  

It wasn’t until past ten at night that an exhausted Chu Feng finally returned to the Marquis’ villa.  

As he entered the hall, he heard the frenzied, impassioned notes of a piano coming from above. Assuming it was the fake young master maintaining Si Qi’s persona, Chu Feng wondered why he was playing so late.  

Only when he reached his room did the music stop abruptly, mid-melody.  

A flicker of unease stirred in Chu Feng.  

Before he could figure it out, a gust of wind rushed through the window, and a thick, black mist engulfed his vision, rendering him blind despite the brightly lit room.  

Chu Feng hadn’t expected Si Qi—who should have been out venting his emotions—to be here. “Comm—”  

The first syllable barely left his lips before he was slammed onto the thick carpet.  

His body was pinned, arms wrenched behind his back. His shirt rode up, exposing a strip of skin at his waist to the chilly air, sending a shiver down his spine.  

Realization struck. Chu Feng struggled desperately, his face burning. “What—?! Don’t!”  

He could feel the scorching heat of the other’s body against his back. “You said you wouldn’t—!”  

If Si Qi had been able to hold back even when Chu Feng’s physique was at its most alluring, why would he lose control now that the attraction was gone? This was beyond terrible!  

Si Qi’s breathing was ragged, the demon behind him howling wildly, its roars devoid of reason, like a feral beast. The sound made Chu Feng’s heart tremble.  

It was over. Si Qi really had lost control—he still hadn’t recovered. Why had Chu Feng come home knowing this?!  

Fully aware of the power gap between them, Chu Feng felt a wave of despair. He didn’t dislike Si Qi, but he hated being forced like this. No one could tolerate something like this happening to them.

“Please, don’t do this…” Chu Feng struggled with all his might on the ground, but Si Qi roughly pinned his flailing arms, eliciting a pained gasp from him. Leaning down, Si Qi buried his fluffy head in the crook of Chu Feng’s neck, the warm, soft sensation gliding over his skin—licking, nibbling lightly.

Chu Feng trembled uncontrollably, fragmented whimpers escaping his lips.

“Don’t…”

“This is too much…”

“……” Perhaps his emotions had some slight effect, or perhaps Si Qi had grown accustomed to occasionally regaining a shred of reason even in such moments of loss of control. Si Qi’s grip loosened, and he abruptly slammed his head against the nearby bed frame with a heavy thud, as if trying to knock himself unconscious.

Chu Feng turned his head dazedly, barely making out Si Qi’s self-harming act through the thick haze of darkness. His hand instinctively reached out to stop him but froze mid-air, too afraid to touch Si Qi again, fearing it might worsen his agitation.

Si Qi descended into madness once more, smashing everything in sight within the room—yet deliberately avoiding Chu Feng, the one who tempted him most.

Who knew what that fake young master outside had done? Chu Feng faintly overheard him instructing others, and no matter how terrifying the noises from the guest room grew, no one dared approach.

Chu Feng could see Si Qi was in agony.

He himself had endured such pain countless times over the years.

Sitting there and watching for over ten minutes, the scene was heart-wrenching enough. Gradually, a trace of color returned to Chu Feng’s pale face as he sank into an indescribable state—as if his soul had detached, floating coldly and numbly above, mechanically controlling his body to face everything with rationality.

Slowly, he stood up, his stiff body stepping forward to embrace Si Qi, whose entire being burned with fever.

Suppressing his fear, his voice trembled as he spoke: “Stop this… don’t hurt yourself. I can’t bear to see you like this… Just—just this once…”

After joining the legion, Chu Feng had shed blood and sweat more times than he could count, and injuries were commonplace. This time, even if it hurt a little, it probably wouldn’t be a big deal.

Once it was over, they could just forget it ever happened. That would still be better than letting Si Qi truly lose control and harm himself.

He… He wasn’t actually that unwilling.

Si Qi’s ragged breaths echoed in Chu Feng’s ears. His eyes rolled back, clearly devoid of reason, as he hurled Chu Feng onto the bed and tore off his clothes.

Even mentally prepared, Chu Feng’s body reacted instinctively.

He trembled, muscles locking up, his legs jerking reflexively when lifted, his entire body flinching backward in retreat.

Si Qi didn’t pursue him. Instead, he knelt quietly on the bed, head bowed, his docile demeanor almost pitiful—like a lone wolf licking its wounds.

Chu Feng’s face darkened. After a long pause, he forced himself to crawl toward Si Qi, repeating inwardly: It’s nothing, it’s nothing.

Closing his eyes, biting his lip, as his body was touched, a deep-seated discomfort surged from the depths of his soul. Chu Feng’s face turned ghostly pale, his limbs growing stiffer by the second.

At first, Si Qi reveled in Chu Feng’s submission, but after a while of indulgence, Chu Feng remained utterly unresponsive. Sensing something wrong, Si Qi gradually stilled.

He finally realized—Chu Feng didn’t truly want this.

Already seething with frustration, repeatedly provoked and then rejected, even Si Qi was pushed to his limit.

But to hurt this person, to force himself on him without regard—he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Lowering his head, he licked away the tear at the corner of Chu Feng’s eye, as if comforting him: Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.

The monster behind him, furious that Si Qi had once again held back, erupted in rage before giving up entirely, turning its back in silent protest, sulking.

Si Qi endured for a while longer, but as time passed, the unbearable frenzy overwhelmed him again.

Maddening emotions flooded his mind. Gasping, unwilling to let Chu Feng see his wretched state, he tore a strip of cloth and blindfolded him—though Chu Feng’s vision was already blurred, his hearing and senses sharpened instinctively, attuned to every faint sound around him.

Then, a memory surfaced—one that Xiu Xiu had once shown him, now etched deeply into his mind. It served as a timely reminder, offering a solution.

He took Chu Feng’s hand and placed it against himself.

Chu Feng’s pupils contracted violently in shock. He couldn’t believe what was happening—the usually dominant and overbearing Legion Commander was willing to compromise this far. His hand remained frozen, not daring to move, let alone entertain such thoughts.

Seeing his hesitation, the Legion Commander, already reluctant, bit his lip and compromised further, forcing down his shame and trying to manage on his own.

But someone accustomed to absolute control had no idea how to handle himself. His frantic, helpless fumbling was almost pitiable.

That sense of vulnerability, of a proud king willingly lowering himself for you, sent Chu Feng’s heart racing. The darkness, the tension—it all set his blood aflame.

As if lured by a devil, he reached out without thinking, his hand settling on Si Qi’s shoulder.

Slowly rising, his lips brushed against Si Qi’s flushed neck as he pressed closer.

In the dimly lit room, the swirling black fog thickened, blotting out even the faintest light.

As tension mounted, the fog seethed uncontrollably, growing wilder, more unmanageable.

The monster coiled at the room’s center lay limp on the ground, its golden-slitted eyes glazed with pleasure, its tail curling upward as if stroked by an invisible hand. A low, euphoric moan rumbled in its throat.

……

Si Qi felt good.

It had hurt at first, but even pain was exhilarating when emotions demanded release.

After that, there was only pleasure.

Time blurred. When he finally regained awareness, sunlight streamed through the broken, wind-whipped curtains. Si Qi sat astride Chu Feng, his hand planted firmly on Chu Feng’s chest—even in madness, his need for control prevailed.

Now, slightly clearer-headed and fully realizing what he’d done, Si Qi didn’t know how to proceed.

Chu Feng let out a needy sound, his voice hoarse as he urged, “Commander…”

The desire in his tone was unmistakable.

Si Qi couldn’t withstand this side of Chu Feng—he’d always adored him too much.

It made his body even more sensitive. An involuntary shift drew a shuddering moan from the man beneath him, whose flushed face was now etched with rapture and devotion.

Si Qi was annoyed. He’d never intended things to go this far—it was too soon.

And somehow, in the chaos, he’d ended up beneath. The thought irked him, but if this was compensation for Chu Feng’s “suffering,” he’d grit his teeth and bear it.

He stood, the friction making his legs quiver, nearly buckling.

Chu Feng’s face clouded with confusion. He reached out, trying to pull Si Qi back.

Si Qi’s expression shifted several times before he suddenly remembered something and growled through clenched teeth, “This was an accident. Remember that.”

Chu Feng’s mind blanked—it felt like his sincerity had been carelessly discarded. “Wh—”

Si Qi scowled and shook off Chu Feng’s hand. “Next time, stay away from me when I’m like this!”

Chu Feng’s face instantly turned pale.

Si Qi couldn’t bring himself to face Chu Feng now. Guilt gnawed at him.

But frustration flared just as strongly. He glared. “Aren’t you with the Marquis’s young master? Is this how you treat him?”

Chu Feng: “……”

Hah?