The northern zergs have mostly bronze-colored skin, not due to sun exposure, but because their zerg exoskeletons are pure black. Xu Cenfeng had been sitting on the carpet reading a book, which happened to have scientific photos. From the explanations, he learned that the northern tribe is the most formidable fighting force among all the factions.
This fact could be inferred from Faeus’ physique.
Xu Cenfeng raised his eyes and carefully observed the physique of the female zerg in front of him. His bronze skin was full of vitality, rising and falling with his breaths. Sweat slowly trickled over his well-defined chest and abdominal muscles, eventually disappearing out of sight.
He probably felt some discomfort in his chest and didn’t need Xu Cenfeng to go over and help with a kiss; he had already started to handle it himself. However, his movements were rough, and such tugging only caused pain and redness.
The textbook said that female zergs use this area for nursing, though Xu Cenfeng wasn’t sure if it was true, as he had never seen it in his previous life. Nonetheless, he observed closely, focusing with the same intensity he had used when solving exam problems back in the day.
Faeus looked down and touched his own abdominal muscles, feeling a spot that seemed to have swollen. He was already too weak to exert any strength and his gaze drifted toward the window, where he noticed that the sun had already set, and the world outside was shrouded in twilight.
Faeus’ body eventually collapsed. He lay weakly on Xu Cenfeng, panting and asked, “What time is it?”
Xu Cenfeng glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. “Six in the evening.”
Faeus felt that enough time had passed. With difficulty, he rolled off Xu Cenfeng and lay on his side, his legs trembling. He couldn’t help but think that at this rate, it would be impossible not to conceive zerg offspring.
Seizing the moment while Faeus was catching his breath, Xu Cenfeng discreetly took a fertility plug from the drawer and inserted it into him. The female zerg, perhaps due to numbness, didn’t seem to feel anything. After resting for a while, Faeus finally got up to take a shower.
Seeing that Faeus was wobbling as he walked, Xu Cenfeng asked, “Do you need my help?”
Upon hearing this, Faeus paused but, for once, refused. “No need.”
After saying that, Faeus walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
People with a suspicious nature often have sensitive hearts, a trait equally applicable to Zergs. Faeus occasionally felt awkward himself. He realized that Xu Cenfeng’s presence had gradually but noticeably changed many aspects of his life. Whether it was kissing, marking, embracing in bed together, or even something as mundane as showering, all these things were unimaginable in his previous life. Yet now, he had grown accustomed to Xu Cenfeng assisting him in these tasks.
It shouldn’t be like this.
Absolutely not.
Faeus felt that this sense of “dependence” was as terrifying as a drug, its horror level even rivaling the deep marking by a male zerg. He realized that he would spend the rest of his life relying on the pheromones of the other.
‘Why is this male zerg being so kind to me?’
If it were just about sharing a bed, Faeus wouldn’t be pondering such complex and unsolvable questions. But Xu Cenfeng’s actions had subtly exceeded the boundaries of mere bedmates.
Faeus was lost in thought, and the hot water from the shower did little to clear his mind; instead, it seemed to confuse him further. However, in his confusion, he suddenly became aware of something amiss behind him.
Given Xu Cenfeng’s previous experience, Faeus quickly realized what was causing the unusual sensation behind him. His expression changed, and he muttered a curse under his breath. Struggling to retrieve it, he found that it was positioned too deep for him to reach on his own.
“Damn it!”
Faeus cursed inwardly as he realized he would ultimately have to call Xu Cenfeng in. He cracked open the bathroom door slightly and saw Xu Cenfeng picking up clothes from the floor to put on. Annoyed that he was getting dressed when he was supposed to be taking a shower, Faeus spoke in a low voice, “Xu Cenfeng, come in!”
Faeus’ tone carried unmistakable unease.
Thinking Faeus might want to fight, Xu Cenfeng cautiously entered the bathroom. To his surprise, he found Faeus kneeling on the toilet seat, back turned, with sporadic white shower foam dotting his back. The contrast between the foam and his bronze skin was stark. As Faeus leaned forward slightly, it accentuated a seductive curve along his slender waist.
Xu Cenfeng hadn’t realized what was going on yet. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Faeus turned around and glared at him, visibly frustrated. “Damn it! Who told you to put that damn thing in again? Get it out of me now!”
Upon hearing Faeus’ words, Xu Cenfeng finally understood the situation. He rolled up his sleeves and carefully helped Faeus remove the object. More than once in the past, people had praised his hands for being long and elegant, with distinctly visible knuckles that were delicate yet refined, perfectly suited for playing the piano. But now…
“It’s out,” he said, after successfully retrieving it.
Xu Cenfeng tossed the wet fertility plug into the trash bin.
Faeus grunted softly, his body slumping slightly, almost losing balance on the toilet seat. Seeing this, Xu Cenfeng quickly caught him, feeling a sense of resignation. He whispered softly in Faeus’ ear, “Can I help you wash up?”
Faeus didn’t want to risk falling, so he reluctantly agreed. Xu Cenfeng proceeded to hold him under the shower, washing him thoroughly. Afterwards, they enjoyed a relaxing bath together in the bathtub, with Xu Cenfeng’s movements gentle and skillful, as if he had done this many times before. He even knew where Faeus was sensitive to itching.
Faeus felt that strange sense of familiarity welling up inside him again. He furrowed his brow and stared at Xu Cenfeng, asking, “Have I seen you somewhere before?”
Xu Cenfeng glanced at him and replied, “Why do you ask?”
Suspicious, Faeus voiced his doubts, “Have you bathed me before?”
Xu Cenfeng paused briefly before giving a vague answer, “Maybe.”
In his previous life, he had bathed him a few times…
However, Faeus had been injured at that time, and the injury was even intricately connected to him…
Faeus didn’t know what Xu Cenfeng was thinking inside. Unable to find out anything, he didn’t pursue the matter further.
Before going to bed that night, Xu Cenfeng saw Faeus walk out onto the balcony and make a phone call. He faintly heard Faeus instructing a squad of soldiers to accompany Zog in clearing out the beast tide, ensuring his safety. After a while, Faeus returned to the room.
Xu Cenfeng asked, “Who were you talking to?”
Faeus didn’t elaborate further, as his suspicion was merely a thought in his mind and not necessarily true. He casually remarked, “It’s just some military business with my subordinates.”
Xu Cenfeng didn’t press any further upon hearing this. He pulled up the blanket and prepared to sleep. However, in the darkness, Faeus suddenly looked at him and blurted out, “Actually, I don’t like Yenia either.”
Xu Cenfeng: “What?”
Faeus, with a habit of teasing by leaving things half-said, replied casually, “It’s nothing. Let’s go to sleep.”
Xu Cenfeng wasn’t surprised by this revelation. Although Faeus and Yenia were clan brothers, their relationship was more hierarchical than familial, even involving subtle competition. Faeus’ dogged temperament made it clear he wouldn’t easily warm up to Yenia.
Xu Cenfeng was already prone to dreaming at night, and with Faeus mentioning “Yenia” before bed, it was unsurprising that he dreamt once again about events from their past life—the tumultuous coup that had shaken Hossburgh to its core.
Xu Cenfeng actually wasn’t involved in it. Most of the time, he stayed indoors, even though Faeus had allowed him to go out with guards to stroll the streets. However, Xu Cenfeng fundamentally disliked the Zerg place, so naturally, he couldn’t appreciate the cold land all year round.
The coup happened without Xu Cenfeng’s awareness, but its aftermath left a profound impression on him.
Xu Cenfeng didn’t know the details, only that a bloody battle had erupted within the city. Faeus led a perilous campaign to reclaim control of Hossburgh, while Yenia took advantage of the chaos to escape, prompting Faeus to order a city-wide manhunt for him.
It’s said that thousands of elite troops nearly turned Hossburgh upside down, tirelessly searching for Yenia but finding no trace of him for a long time. Eventually, they forced the “black sheep” out, discovering him in Faeus’ residence.
Every time Xu Cenfeng recalled that scene, he couldn’t help but admire Yenia’s audacity and cunning. They say the most dangerous place is sometimes the safest—Faeus, to stabilize the situation, practically lived at the military headquarters and didn’t return home for several days. During the city-wide manhunt, no one expected Yenia to hide in Faeus’ own home.
That was indeed a safe place. Aside from a few seldom-seen servants, there was only a seemingly fragile male zerg whom Faeus was rumored to cherish deeply.
The day Yenia was discovered by the search team, he directly abducted Xu Cenfeng.
“Don’t come any closer! I’ll kill him if you do!”
After several days of hiding, Yenia looked disheveled beyond recognition. He had his arm wrapped around Xu Cenfeng’s neck, a gun pressed against his head, with a tight and ruthless grip, as if clutching at his last straw for survival.
At the doorway stood a squad of soldiers, their rifles aimed menacingly at Yenia, ready to shoot him down at the slightest provocation. Faeus stood at the forefront of the team, his expression unchanged. He casually toyed with his firearm and even chuckled lightly, “Just a male zerg. If you want to kill him, go ahead.”
He was always so sharp-tongued, his tone laced with faint sarcasm. “Yenia, your brain must be full of zerg shit if you thought threatening me with a male zerg would work.”
Xu Cenfeng also felt Yenia had kidnapped the wrong person. He remained calmly with closed eyes, feeling no imminent threat of death, even somewhat hoping to be shot dead. “He won’t care about me. You should surrender.”
He’s just a bird locked in a cage. Yenia used him to threaten Faeus. Isn’t that laughable?
“Surrender? No, how could I possibly surrender!”
Yenia was becoming somewhat deranged. He chuckled lowly into Xu Cenfeng’s ear, his voice audible only to them both, and asked in return, “If you truly weren’t important, why would Faeus have specifically deployed an A-grade team to secretly protect you during the coup?”
“You don’t understand him…”
“When Faeus is nervous, he always fiddles with his gun. He’s never been able to break that habit since he was young, and it seems he still can’t…”
Upon hearing Yenia’s words, Xu Cenfeng subconsciously opened his eyes and saw the stoic and cold female zerg standing across from him. His hand rested at his side, unconsciously rubbing the gun’s barrel with quick, frequent motions. Even Xu Cenfeng, as a bystander, noticed a hint of tension in the air.
Yenia chuckled triumphantly, “See, I wasn’t lying to you.”
He felt he had found a lifeline. Even though survival seemed unlikely in this dire situation, dealing a significant blow to Faeus before his potential demise would be immensely satisfying and worthwhile.
Yenia pressed the gun against Xu Cenfeng’s forehead, confident that Faeus wouldn’t allow harm to come to him. “Faeus, since you say so, then I’ll have to kill him. It wouldn’t be bad to have such a handsome zerg accompany me in death.”
He finished speaking and pretended to prepare to pull the trigger, causing Faeus to visibly change his expression. “Stop!”
Yenia paused his action, deliberately asking, “What’s wrong?”
Faeus’ face darkened visibly, his expression so grim it could have dripped water. After a brief moment of contemplation, he uttered coldly, “Hand him over, and I’ll spare your life.”
Yenia, however, sneered mockingly, “Faeus, do you think I’m a fool?! If you want me to hand him over, first order your troops to withdraw completely!”
The adjutant beside them couldn’t contain his anger at Yenia’s audacity. “Yenia, you dare to make so many demands even at death’s door!”
Despite this, Faeus agreed to his terms, furrowing his brow as he commanded, “All of you, withdraw from here immediately!”
The adjutant was taken aback. “Leader!”
Faeus bellowed in a deep voice, “Didn’t I tell you to withdraw?!”
Xu Cenfeng’s pupils slightly contracted, surprised that Faeus would actually let the team withdraw. The vast living room was suddenly left with only the three of them. However, Yenia was not satisfied. His gaze fell on the energy gun tightly held in Faeus’ hand as he went too far, saying, “Throw your gun away!”
Faeus narrowed his eyes in silence. “Yenya, don’t push it too far.”
Yenia smiled at his words. “Not willing, huh?”
He lowered the barrel of his gun, suddenly aimed directly at Xu Cenfeng’s right leg, and fired. With a loud bang, blood splattered instantly, and Xu Cenfeng moaned in pain, staggering for a moment.
Faeus, seeing this, immediately flushed with anger. He quickly drew his gun and aimed it at Yenia, like a predatory beast ready to strike: “Do you believe I’ll kill you right now!”
Yenia’s response was to point the gun at Xu Cenfeng’s other leg: “Do you dare?”
Faeus’ expression changed again.
Xu Cenfeng, enduring the pain, furrowed his brow and interjected, “Faeus, don’t listen to him!”
Xu Cenfeng knew that Yenia was just playing games with Faeus and had no intention of letting him go. If Faeus lost his gun, he’d be as helpless as a fish on a chopping board!
Yet compromise once made becomes a habit, and in the end, Faeus threw his gun on the ground and kicked it aside next to Yenia.
Yenia’s eyes flashed with a complex expression upon seeing this, appearing surprised yet mocking. “Faeus, I can’t believe your head is filled with crap. Who would have thought that the mighty leader would one day risk his life for a male zerg.”
Faeus’ expression darkened. “Let him go, don’t make me repeat myself.”
Yenia remained unmoved, his voice low and steady. “Faeus, do you still think you’re some high and mighty leader? I’ve been at your beck and call for over twenty years, and I’ve had enough!”
After his statement, as if struck by an amusing idea, his eyes suddenly gleamed. “How about this? Let me shoot three times. After the third shot, I’ll let this male zerg go. What do you say?”
Faeus sneered back with sarcasm, “Yenia, do you think I’m stupid?! What if you aim at my head? Should I just stand there and let you shoot?!”
Yenia responded calmly, “Faeus, you’re unarmed now. Even if I wanted to shoot you in the head, you’d have no choice but to stand there and take it.”
Due to the pain, Xu Cenfeng was starting to lose consciousness. He struggled to keep his balance, but then he saw Yenia suddenly raise his gun and fire two shots in quick succession at Faeus’ left shoulder. Faeus, perhaps mindful of Xu Cenfeng, did not dodge and took the shots head-on.
Faeus had never bowed to anyone, and now his left shoulder was soaked in blood, staining his black military uniform. Despite his pale face and the pain, he showed no sign of weakness. Gritting his teeth, he declared, “There’s still one shot left!”
Xu Cenfeng couldn’t help but think how foolish Faeus was. This female zerg had always been despicable and cunning. How could he trust Yenia’s words?
Yenia chuckled, “Faeus, you’re still as fearless as you were in childhood. No wonder you became a leader, no wonder…”
His voice trailed off, and the barrel of his gun aimed at Faeus’ knee as if he intended to shoot there. However, at the last moment, he suddenly lifted his hand and aimed directly at Faeus’ temple, pulling the trigger.
Xu Cenfeng was suddenly alarmed at the sight. Summoning strength he didn’t know he had, he swiftly grabbed Yenia’s wrist, forcing it to divert the gun’s aim. Despite the pain, he kicked the gun on the ground towards Faeus. With a loud bang, the vase at the corner of the stairs shattered into pieces.
“Bang—!”
“Bang—!”
In the living room, two gunshots rang out simultaneously. One shot came from Yenia, shattering the vase in the corner, while the other came from Faeus, hitting Yenia in the head.
Xu Cenfeng only felt a ringing in his ears, and then Yenia, who had been restraining him from behind, suddenly let go and collapsed to the ground with a loud crash.
“Thud—”
It was the dull sound of a still-warm body hitting the floor.
Xu Cenfeng looked up in astonishment, only to see Faeus standing expressionless across from him, holding the gun that Xu Cenfeng had kicked towards him moments ago. He had just personally ended the life of his last intimate brother.
Two months ago, his cousin Zog died in the beast tide.
One month ago, his uncle and general, Wesley, rebelled and was killed.
Just moments ago, his kin brother Yenia also died.
Betrayal and abandonment by kin, nothing else.
Later, a doctor arrived at the residence to tend to their wounds. That night, Xu Cenfeng was burdened with heavy thoughts, but due to exhaustion, he quickly fell asleep. In the early hours of the morning, he vaguely felt like someone was touching his leg. Groggily, he opened his eyes in the darkness and saw Faeus sitting by his bedside, quietly changing the dressing on his wounds.
Faeus moved with great care, unaware that Xu Cenfeng was awake. He quietly finished changing the dressing and left the room, disappearing as silently as he had appeared.
During the daytime, when they were both awake, they were always at odds, each wanting to tear a piece of flesh from the other. But at night, Faeus seemed to transform into a different zerg, silent and solitary like a snow-capped mountain deep in the wilderness.
Xu Cenfeng limped out of bed and cracked the door open slightly. He saw that Faeus hadn’t returned to his room but was sitting alone on the stairs, smoking. Faeus had a black military coat draped over his shoulders, and his back was intermittently illuminated by the dim hallway light, with shadows engulfing most of him.
Xu Cenfeng had once believed that this cold and ruthless female zerg would never show any sign of vulnerability. Yet, amidst the swirling smoke, he saw Faeus bow his head, eyes closed, lips tightly pressed together, radiating an aura of profound anguish.
Yes, who could avoid feeling pain…
His closest cousin died, the elder he most respected passed away, and another rebellious brother also fell by his hands. Overnight, everything around him was empty. Faeus seemed to have grasped nothing besides a leadership position, leaving nothing behind.
Xu Cenfeng leaned against the door, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor. Surprisingly, he felt a hint of pity towards Faeus at this moment, sensing his loneliness and sorrow. However, he knew this emotion was misplaced, so he didn’t leave the room.
One sat smoking at the stairwell, the other leaned against the door in the pitch-dark room. Though physically not far apart, they seemed forever unable to reach each other.
Looking back now, Xu Cenfeng felt that was perhaps the most peaceful period he had spent with Faeus since they had known each other. He softened his heart and often helped Faeus with bathing and changing bandages, while Faeus, in turn, rarely displayed his usual irritable temper.
Later, after the beasts in the Solitiam Forest were completely eradicated, turning it into a renowned interstellar tourist destination, Faeus, perhaps trying to cheer him up, even took Xu Cenfeng there for walks and sightseeing.
But Xu Cenfeng escaped and never returned.
If Faeus had known the outcome, he probably would have deeply regretted taking Xu Cenfeng out…
In his previous life, he had finally managed to change his temper and soften his heart. But when he looked back, that person was already gone…
Xu Cenfeng’s feelings towards Faeus were too complicated, so even after he escaped back to Earth, he wasn’t happy. All the memories of the past turned into sharp blades, repeatedly piercing him in the days that followed.
Perhaps the dream was too painful, as Xu Cenfeng shuddered and suddenly woke up. Dazed, he opened his eyes and saw a familiar figure sitting by the bedside, smoking. Through the rising smoke, he could vaguely see a cold, stern profile.
It was Faeus.
Xu Cenfeng was stunned for a moment and then slowly sat up in bed. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
Faeus paused his smoking at those words, then frowned and stubbed out the cigarette. He felt that Xu Cenfeng’s daily act of feigned ignorance was just an attempt to infuriate him. “This is my room. If I’m not here, where else would I be?”
Xu Cenfeng took a moment to process this.
That’s right, this was already the second life, and he and Faeus shared the same room.
Faeus had been awake for a long time, waiting for Xu Cenfeng to wake up so they could go downstairs for breakfast together. After speaking, he tossed the cigarette butt into the trash and reached out to pull Xu Cenfeng out of the covers. “Get up quickly for breakfast, the food is getting cold.”
Xu Cenfeng, feeling helpless, got up to wash and then went downstairs with Faeus for breakfast. Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out of the door, they bumped into a dark figure, which turned out to be the young female zerg, Agu.
With one hand in his pocket, Faeus grabbed the young female zerg by the back of its collar, thinking that having an extra zerg in the house was a nuisance. He frowned and spoke irritably, “Who allowed you to come upstairs, you little stray?”
“Roar—!”
Agu couldn’t speak and could only bare his teeth in an attempt to intimidate. Xu Cenfeng, afraid he might provoke Faeus, quietly made a shushing gesture from behind.
Agu understood and reluctantly quieted down. Though this young zerg was fierce and wild, he was easy to “bribe.” Yesterday, Xu Cenfeng had fed him a meal and given him a set of clean clothes. Since then, Agu had eagerly followed Xu Cenfeng around, waiting by the door early in the morning before dawn.
Faeus snorted coldly, deciding not to bother with the wild youngster. He was about to release Agu and head downstairs for breakfast when his gaze inadvertently caught the familiar look on Agu’s face as he lowered his head.
Hmm?
Faeus frowned in confusion, the expression tugging at a distant memory.
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![He Lived Like You [End of the World]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HLLY.jpg "He Lived Like You [End of the World]")
