Goldman and the other noble young masters had a certain reverence for Faeus. Seeing him lead a group of soldiers upstairs, they unconsciously stepped back two paces, exchanging glances in bewilderment. It was clear they did not understand why the leader had suddenly come to such a place. Only Zog knew the reason in his heart. His legs couldn’t help but tremble, and he reached out to hold onto the nearby railing.
Damn it, his legs had gone weak.
Zog thought to himself that this male was indeed extraordinary. He had just brought Xu Cenfeng over, and immediately Faeus had tracked them to the auction house. Wasn’t he supposed to be attending a military meeting today? How had he come over so quickly?!
Faeus had just gone to the hotel only to find it empty. It was upon receiving information from Duoluo that he learned Xu Cenfeng had been brought to the auction house by Zog. He hurriedly led his soldiers there, quickly climbing the stairs. The sound of his military boots echoed with urgency, and the few snowflakes on his shoulders melted swiftly.
Only Xu Cenfeng stepped forward to greet Faeus as he approached. Not only was he unafraid, but he even smiled. “Supreme Leader.”
Faeus stopped in his tracks when he saw Xu Cenfeng, his dark green eyes narrowing slightly as he scrutinized the male in front of him. Seeing no bruises or signs of mistreatment on Xu Cenfeng, he finally asked, his tone inscrutable, “Who brought you here?”
Faeus had asked the question deliberately. As soon as he spoke, Zog instinctively tried to slip away, but Goldman and the others, in an act of extreme disloyalty, pushed him out.
Zog nearly fell flat on his face but managed to stand up awkwardly, only to find Faeus staring intently at him. He forced a smile. “Cousin… Cousin, what a coincidence, you’re here at the auction too.”
Faeus said nothing, but grabbed Zog by the collar and pulled him forward. Though his face was expressionless, his aura was intimidating enough to make anyone tremble. In a low voice, he asked, “Are you tired of living?!”
Faeus knew Zog’s nature well. His cousin delighted in toying with foolish males for amusement, and Faeus had never intervened. However, Zog had made an unforgivable mistake by targeting Xu Cenfeng.
Faeus now felt a surge of agitation, as if his possession had been violated.
Zog knew he was in deep trouble, but he still wanted to make a last-ditch effort. Steeling himself, he said, “Cousin, I just brought this gentleman to look around the auction house. I didn’t do anything else, really.”
That was true; he really hadn’t had time to do anything.
But Faeus clearly wasn’t going to believe his nonsense. Just as he was about to say something, he felt a tug on his hand. Looking down, he saw it was Xu Cenfeng.
Xu Cenfeng gently pulled Faeus over to the railing. Below, the auction for a slave had already started. “Supreme Leader, I want to bid on that female.”
A female?!
Faeus frowned at the words, his attention instantly diverted. He shoved Zog aside, deciding to deal with him later. “What female?”
Faeus was quite familiar with the auction house’s rules. Most of the females up for auction were slave criminals, bought by nobles and merchants with peculiar tastes for debasement and abuse, as the empire wouldn’t investigate a slave’s death. Why would Xu Cenfeng bid on a female for no reason?
Xu Cenfeng sensed the cold aura around Faeus. He clasped the slightly chilly hand of the female below, thinking that Faeus must have rushed over through the wind and snow. He gestured for Faeus to look at the frail female zerg below. “Nothing much, just that the child seems quite pitiable.”
He then added, “But I don’t have enough money.”
Faeus glanced down at the auction platform, where a small, filthy, and foul-smelling female stood. He instinctively frowned. “No, we’re not buying.”
Ugly and shabby, what would we do with it?
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a sudden itch in his palm as Xu Cenfeng gently scratched it. “But I want to buy it.”
Xu Cenfeng always had a smile on his face, but there was an extra touch of warmth when he looked at Faeus. He was tall, about the same height as Faeus, and leaned slightly to whisper in his ear, “Supreme Leader, place a bid. If we don’t, someone else will buy it.”
Down below, a few scattered zergs were holding up auction paddles, though the bidding was proceeding slowly.
Faeus twitched his ears slightly, feeling a tickle from the warmth emanating as Xu Cenfeng spoke. His eyebrows lifted slightly, unaffected by the allure of beauty. “Reason?”
If Xu Cenfeng truly had an overflow of compassion, he should be bidding for an entire cage of slaves rather than just this single female. Xu Cenfeng tapped his fingers lightly on the railing, half-genuine, half-fake. “The eyes of this little one resemble yours, quite beautiful. So, I thought I’d help him out.”
Faeus’ eyelids flickered sharply at Xu Cenfeng’s words. He thought, how could that scrawny little zerg down there resemble him?! However, upon closer inspection, he found that the zerg did indeed have a pair of green eyes like his own. Frowning slightly, he sensed something was amiss.
Xu Cenfeng had heard a rumor in his previous life, suggesting that the lost son of General Wesley had ended up in an auction house by some twist of fate and was bought as a slave by a wealthy merchant in Hossburgh. This led Xu Cenfeng to speculate on the matter.
Faeus didn’t possess clairvoyance; he simply relied on his intuition, sensing that something was off about this female. He turned to Xu Cenfeng, asking with ambiguous meaning, “Do you want him?”
Xu Cenfeng nodded. “I do.”
Faeus clarified, “You’re sure?”
Xu Cenfeng affirmed, “I’m sure.”
Faeus paused for a brief moment, contemplating for a few seconds. It was unclear what he was thinking about. Finally, he waved his hand and summoned a waiter, gazing at the female being auctioned below. “I’ll take that female down there. Have him sent directly to my residence.”
Bidding? Faeus never liked bidding. Everything from the vast northern districts to the smallest snowflake fell under his jurisdiction.
As long as he desired it, there was nothing he couldn’t obtain.
The waiter knew that their leader was always generous with his spending. Upon hearing the command, they grinned from ear to ear and immediately went downstairs to inform the auctioneer. As a result, the other guests saw the slave being auctioned suddenly removed from the platform, replaced by another one to continue the auction. No one knew what had happened.
Xu Cenfeng hadn’t expected Faeus to agree so easily. He had thought he would have to argue for it, but before he could even ask, he heard Faeus inquire, “Is there anything else you need?”
What’s the point of coming to an auction and buying a scruffy little monkey? Faeus didn’t know what Xu Cenfeng liked, but the males in Hossburgh liked to come to auctions to collect paintings and jewelry.
Xu Cenfeng subconsciously said, “You?”
Faeus’ heart skipped a beat at his words, but he saw the male smiling at him in the dim light, his eyes deep, adding a hint of allure. “What are you saying?”
Xu Cenfeng teased him, “Nothing.”
Xu Cenfeng, at this moment, was no longer the distant and formal figure he had been in the box just now. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Faeus at the edge of the viewing platform, their hands tightly clasped together, though there were no other gestures, it inexplicably made people feel that they were intimately close.
Faeus generally felt that this kind of behavior undermined his usual dignity. Without showing any signs, he tried to break free, but Xu Cenfeng tightened his grip even more, leaving Faeus struggling in vain for a moment before giving up.
Xu Cenfeng thought to himself that Faeus was always so stubborn. When he truly let go of his hand and kept his distance, Faeus would probably be the first one to feel unhappy about it.
Goldman and the others stood on the side, staring blankly, wondering when the leader had become so lenient towards males. However, before they could grasp the reason, Faeus’ eyes lightly swept over, suddenly turning towards them.
Faeus knew Zog wouldn’t just trouble Xu Cenfeng for no reason. It was likely instigated by this group of hangers-on. His way of solving problems was always so simple and rough. His dangerous narrow eyes narrowed further, his tone ominous. “If I see you all together again within six months, you’ll all be sent to the third star to kill alien beasts. Don’t even think about coming back in this lifetime!”
He was cruel by nature and always able to follow through with his words. Hearing his command, Goldman and the others couldn’t help but shiver. “Yes, Supreme Leader!”
After speaking, Faeus looked towards the stunned Zog, and with a cold tone, he uttered, “You damn bastard, come to the military base tomorrow!”
Zog’s eyes nearly rolled back at the words, feeling like his world was crashing down. Faeus was probably going to deal with him tomorrow. He might as well go to the third star to kill alien beasts.
Xu Cenfeng waited for Faeus to calm down before timely tugging at his hand. “Supreme Leader, it’s getting late. Let’s go back.”
Faeus had been eager to leave. Places like the auction house were no different from dens of vice. Upon hearing Xu Cenfeng’s words, he directly pulled him away, followed by a group of soldiers, attracting quite a few stares.
Together, Xu Cenfeng and Faeus boarded the aircraft parked at the entrance. Xu Cenfeng was about to ask how to arrange the slave they had just bought at the auction when a low, deep voice sounded beside him. “Did Goldman and his gang bully you just now?”
Faeus chose to selectively ignore Xu Cenfeng’s martial prowess. He always felt that the male zerg in front of him was pristine and delicate, like a piece of translucent snowflake that could easily melt away if not careful.
Xu Cenfeng shook his head, a hint of amusement flashing in his ink-black eyes. “No, just sat and chatted for a while.”
This answer didn’t improve Faeus’ mood. His eyebrows lifted slightly, seemingly suspicious and disbelieving. “Just sat and chatted for a while?”
The waiters inside were all stunning, far superior to the brutish fellows in the fighting arena. Was Xu Cenfeng not tempted?
Xu Cenfeng knew what Faeus was thinking. He held onto Faeus’ distinctively articulated hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a kiss. The contrast between Faeus’ bronze skin and his lighter lips created an eerie sense of allure. He softly countered, “Does missing you count?”
Faeus was momentarily stunned at his words, thinking Xu Cenfeng was teasing him again. Where did he learn all these tricks? He reached out, pinching Xu Cenfeng’s chin, forcing the male zerg to look at him, and deliberately threatened, “If you’re lying, I’ll cut out your tongue.”
Xu Cenfeng countered, “How would you cut it?”
Faeus remained silent.
Xu Cenfeng then leaned slightly, pressing against his nose tip. His ink-black locks slid down quietly, almost poking into his eyes. As he spoke, their lips touched lightly, creating an ambiguous atmosphere that made the heart race. “Like this?”
Accompanied by Xu Cenfeng’s almost inaudible voice, Faeus felt as if something soft effortlessly pried open his teeth, skillfully teasing his tongue. His breath hitched.
Damn… Who would cut a tongue like that…
Luckily, he had left the military base in a hurry, without the driver.
Faeus grunted in frustration, reluctantly responding to Xu Cenfeng. With one hand gripping the male’s shoulder and the other struggling to find the control screen nearby, he changed the destination of the aircraft from the hotel to their residence.
[Ding! Destination modification successful. We will now select the most convenient route to your residence for you!]
Upon hearing Faeus’ response, Xu Cenfeng’s kissing motion paused, subconsciously looking at Faeus, who was pressed between the seats. “Not going back to the hotel?”
Faeus remained silent, his chest rising and falling unevenly. Two of the buttons on his shirt had come undone due to their earlier movements. Frowning, he responded, “It’s not safe.”
Faeus finally realized that relying solely on Duoluo and Duoqi, two soldiers, was not enough to protect Xu Cenfeng. If even Zog, a playboy, could easily break in, then what about others?
Resting one hand behind his head, exposing much of his bronze chest, Faeus’ emerald eyes stared intently at Xu Cenfeng. After a while, he finally uttered, “Move in with me. Live with me.”
…
Nobles all lived in the central city, where land was considered incredibly valuable. As the Supreme Leader, Faeus’ residence was naturally luxurious, rivaling even palaces.
Xu Cenfeng hadn’t expected that in this lifetime, he would once again set foot in this “cage” in such a manner. After the aircraft arrived at the residential area, he followed Faeus through a familiar garden, finally stopping in front of a majestic villa.
Faeus draped his coat over his shoulders, hands casually in his pockets as he ascended the steps. His black military boots left distinct footprints in the snow-covered ground. He halted at the doorway, turning to Xu Cenfeng. “You’ll temporarily stay here today. No need to go back to the hotel.”
He had never brought a male zerg back before. Xu Cenfeng was the first.
Xu Cenfeng stood rooted to the spot, inexplicably stunned. He slowly surveyed the surroundings, feeling a deep familiarity with every blade of grass and every tree. Memories from his past life surged through his mind, tumultuous with bitterness, sweetness, love, and hate, until they eventually settled back into calmness.
Faeus didn’t rush him, leaning lazily against the doorway and lighting a cigarette. He then used his terminal to send a communication, requesting Hawke to bring a doctor to examine blood purity. Afterward, he arched an eyebrow. “What are you standing there dumbly for? Come in.”
Xu Cenfeng snapped out of his reverie and followed suit up the steps, asking knowingly, “Do you live here alone?”
A wisp of smoke escaped Faeus’ thin lips as he smirked, replying, “Who else would be here?”
In truth, there were servants responsible for cleaning, but they only appeared when there was work to be done.
If Faeus were placed on Earth, he would undoubtedly be a solitary king. Last life, his parents passed away early, his brothers died in battle, his subordinates rebelled, and later even his own uncle betrayed him. Finally, even Xu Cenfeng left him.
That female zerg died on the battlefield last life, it’s hard to say whether it was destiny not wanting him to live, or if he didn’t want to live himself.
Xu Cenfeng only knew that Faeus survived the most difficult rebellion in his life, but couldn’t withstand the battle that should have been won in the harsh winter of that year.
Some things shouldn’t be dwelled upon; delving too deep is like cutting into flesh with a blunt knife, causing pain even to the heart.
Xu Cenfeng closed his eyes for a few seconds before reopening them. Together with Faeus, he stepped into the living room, where the sofas and carpets looked familiar from memory. He spoke up, asking, “Which room do I stay in?”
Faeus hadn’t decided yet. He walked over to the temperature-controlled wine cabinet, running his fingertips over an array of bottles before selecting one with a moderate alcohol content. Then, he tossed the question back to Xu Cenfeng with a smirk, saying, “You can stay wherever you want.”
Xu Cenfeng retorted, “Can I stay in your room?”
Faeus paused at his words, giving him a deep look, then casually opened the bottle and poured two glasses of dark red liquid. “Are you sure you want to stay?” he asked.
Approaching, Xu Cenfeng lifted a hand to cover the rim of the glass. “If you want me to stay, I’ll stay… Just drink less,” he advised.
Faeus couldn’t help but find it somewhat baffling. He wondered where Xu Cenfeng had come from, not smoking was one thing, but not drinking either? Even a three-year-old cub wouldn’t be as well-behaved as him.
Tapping the ash off his fingertips, Faeus squinted through the swirling smoke and chuckled intentionally. “Alright, if you don’t drink, then I won’t either,” he said.
Xu Cenfeng, being the epitome of virtue, had never touched alcohol from childhood to adulthood. He had never seen the point before, and he certainly didn’t see it now. Shaking his head at Faeus’ offer, he replied, “I don’t drink.”
Faeus leaned in closer to Xu Cenfeng, his gaze tracing every delicate feature of his fair and elegant face. It was as if he was admiring his own possession, yet also trying to unravel the secrets hidden behind this male zerg. Finally, he spoke in a deep voice, “Xu Cenfeng, you seem to have forgotten to tell me your blood purity level.”
Xu Cenfeng paused at his words, instinctively meeting Faeus’ gaze. Those green eyes seemed to be probing, as if they had discovered something. “Do you want to know?” he asked.
Faeus took a final drag of his cigarette, then extinguished it on the table. He raised an eyebrow with a hint of ambiguity. “Of course, it’s important. What if you accidentally mark me while we’re sleeping?”
For Faeus, this was quite a “dangerous” possibility.
Xu Cenfeng understood that this answer might sound overly sensational and might not be believed if spoken aloud, but it was also something he couldn’t conceal. He couldn’t help but lower his gaze, lost in thought.
He didn’t know the criteria used to measure blood purity in this world, but he knew that in his previous life, after being rescued by the military from the interstellar pirates, he was taken to a hospital for treatment. At that time, the equipment showed his blood purity as 100%.
100%. What did that mean?
In the entirety of Salaranfa, it was likely that there wouldn’t be a third pure-blooded male zerg to be found. Currently, the only pure-blooded male zerg was heavily protected in the West, and there wasn’t even one in the North, indicating its rarity.
Xu Cenfeng ultimately shook his head slightly. He looked at Faeus, still the person exuding gentleness to the core. He spoke softly and earnestly, “Don’t worry, if you haven’t consented, I won’t mark you.”
In the North, the concept of “respect” hardly existed. Whether it was male or female zergs, it was difficult to come across something as rare as deep-sea black pearls.
But Xu Cenfeng was exceptionally “wealthy” in that regard. He was willing to give Faeus enough respect.
“…”
Faeus remained silent at Xu Cenfeng’s words. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the glass in his hand, lost in thought. He felt as if something had briefly stirred his heart, creating ripples that lingered for a while.
Furrowing his brow, he took a sip of the liquor, attempting to quell the unfamiliar sensation with the sharp taste. Then, he offered the glass to Xu Cenfeng’s lips, gently pressing down on them. “Have a little?”
Xu Cenfeng shook his head. “I don’t drink.”
Faeus chuckled softly at Xu Cenfeng’s response, finding it amusing how unique this male zerg was—no smoking, no drinking, no vice. He leaned in closer to Xu Cenfeng’s ear, his voice husky and low. “Hey, are you sure you don’t want to drink?”
Xu Cenfeng remained firm in his refusal.
Seeing the situation, Faeus had no choice but to aim the glass towards himself. However, instead of immediately drinking from it, he tilted his wrist suddenly. He allowed the dark red liquid inside the glass to flow rapidly down his neck, wetting his white military shirt and bronzed skin. Faintly visible were the bruises that hadn’t yet had time to heal from that morning’s events, which had been hidden under his clothing.
Faeus smirked slightly, teasingly asking Xu Cenfeng near his ear, “Even like this, you still won’t drink?”
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