General Wesley commands nearly one-third of the forces in Hossburgh and has extremely high prestige. It is undoubtedly a smart choice for Yenia to ally with him. Although Faeus did not deliberately pay attention, according to recent reports from the spies, Yenia seems to have secretly formed an ‘alliance’ with General Wesley.
Of course, it is one-sided on his part.
“In a few days, there will be the border garrison handover ceremony. According to tradition, the leader must attend in person. Although Yenia hasn’t told me the specific plan, I guess he will likely make his move at that time.”
General Wesley did not betray him as he did in the past. Late that night, he secretly visited Faeus’ residence. They talked at length in the study on the second floor, and Wesley revealed all of Yenia’s recent actions.
Faeus sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, lightly tapping his knee with his fingertips. Although his posture was lazy, he exuded a sense of effortless control: “If I go to the border for the garrison handover ceremony, I will definitely take some troops with me when I leave the city. At that time, Hossburgh will be left undefended. Yenia could then take the opportunity to replace my forces with his own, find a chance to kill me outside, and his mutiny plan would be more than halfway to success.”
General Wesley sat opposite him, a deep furrow appearing between his brows at Faeus’ words: “I never imagined he would have such ambitions. The position of deputy leader is already high enough, yet he is still not satisfied.”
Faeus’ expression was teasing, his narrow eyes slightly squinting in the darkness as he spoke in a low voice: “We are inherently greedy; how could we ever be content with just that?”
The ancestors taught them to make fire and hunt, instilled in them ambition, but never taught them loyalty. So one day, they will inevitably turn on themselves.
General Wesley made a discreet silencing gesture: “Do we need to act in advance?”
Faeus asked emotionlessly, “Have you figured out exactly how many soldiers Yenia has secretly turned against us?”
General Wesley shook his head slightly, “I only know that he has gotten close to several officers in the army and has even won over quite a few nobles in the city. But Yenia is too cautious, and I haven’t been able to uncover the full list of those he has subverted.”
Faeus coldly spat out a sentence: “I insist on rooting them all out.”
The traitors were a thorn in Faeus’ side. If the sharp thorns were not removed in time, they would fester and rot in the future. He never tolerated any sand in his eyes.
General Wesley frowned, “You mean to use a counter-strategy? No way! The risk is far too great! If something goes wrong outside the city, the North will be leaderless, and Yenia, as the deputy leader, could easily apply to temporarily take over your position!”
Faeus said nothing. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out into the vast, endless night, remaining silent for a long time. Although Faeus could not take in the entire northern landscape at a glance, he was intimately familiar with every piece of land and every snowflake here:
“I have grown tired of betrayal.”
Faeus rarely spoke in such a manner, causing General Wesley to pause momentarily. “Leader?”
Faeus raised his hand to wipe away the condensation on the window, clearing the view outside. His voice was low and distant: “Don’t you think the North has been living in this fog for too long? We can’t see each other clearly at all.”
“I’ve heard that in the West, they worship gods, and their Zerg God once said: ‘For a weak tribe to endure for millennia, they must rely on unity. For a strong tribe reduced to infighting, it will inevitably face destruction after millennia.’”
Faeus grimaced fiercely. He didn’t want to admit it, but the truth was undeniable: “The North has already begun its decline.”
“Whether it’s the fertility of the land or the number of our people, we’ve already begun to fall far behind the West. If we don’t want our civilization to disappear from this land, we must make changes.”
And the first step of change is to eradicate those hidden dangers named ‘betrayal’ with a sharp blade, cleansed to the bone.
At eleven o’clock late at night, Faeus finally finished his detailed discussion with General Wesley. They walked out of the study and looked down from the second floor, where they saw Xu Cenfeng sitting on the sofa, writing something with his head bowed. A medium-sized female zerg cub was playing with a toy ball on the nearby carpet.
General Wesley descended the stairs and directly lifted the female zerg cub from the floor, ruffling his hair. “ Agu, it’s time to go home.”
He doted on this little cub that he had lost and then regained, carrying it wherever he went. Since Zog’s accident, he had become even more protective, hardly letting it out of his sight.
Agu still looked thin, but he had improved a lot compared to before. At least he no longer acted like a wild beast as he did before, and he nodded obediently at the mention.
General Wesley held Agu facing Xu Cenfeng. “Say goodbye to this gentleman.”
Surprisingly, Agu stuttered out two words: “Good…bye…”
Xu Cenfeng, seeing this, set aside the documents on his knee and stood up from the sofa to pat Agu’s head gently. His voice was warm: “Come over to play next time when you have the chance.”
It was clear that Agu liked Xu Cenfeng very much. Upon hearing this, he nodded vigorously, his green eyes sparkling.
General Wesley couldn’t help but smile at the sight. His gaze inadvertently swept over to notice a stack of black folders on the sofa, each with a gold-trimmed label, clearly documents meant for the leader’s review. His expression shifted slightly.
General Wesley never expected Faeus to trust this male zerg so much, even handing over confidential documents to him. He looked up in surprise towards the stairs.
Faeus stood in the middle of the stairs, arms crossed against the railing, not descending. He noticed General Wesley’s gaze but made no indication, simply saying, “It’s getting late. You should go back soon. Don’t let Yenia find out.”
General Wesley could only nod. “Leader, then I will take my leave.”
Their residences were close by, surrounded by Faeus’ loyal soldiers, making it difficult for Yenia’s spies to infiltrate. General Wesley took advantage of the cover of night to leave the residence without alerting anyone.
Faeus descended the stairs and saw Xu Cenfeng organizing documents. He casually picked up one and opened it to read, frowning when he saw the contents marked for review: “You want to modify the rules of the Mohan Arena?”
Xu Cenfeng nodded. “Reports from subordinates indicate that 99.9% of the female zergs in the slums are engaged in illegal activities, running to the arena to earn stars. Ultimately, it’s because the arena’s entry requirements are too low; on stage, they can easily win with concealed weapons and poison, so everyone wants a piece of the action.”
Faeus flicked the folder with his fingers, making a crisp sound. “But the rules of the arena have always been like this.”
Xu Cenfeng countered, “Isn’t the arena supposed to be about strength on stage? Why should it become a contest of who can be more despicable?”
Faeus was momentarily at a loss for words.
Xu Cenfeng handed over the neatly organized documents to him. “If you find it unfeasible, you can review it again.”
If it weren’t for Faeus’ laziness and lack of enthusiasm, Xu Cenfeng might not have helped him review the documents. Previously, when he saw Faeus hastily reviewing documents, it was like seeing a student scribbling aimlessly on an exam paper. To be honest, it was somewhat frustrating.
Faeus, without even looking at the documents, simply tossed them onto the table. “If you want to make changes, go ahead.”
He leaned back on the sofa armrest, the fabric of his pajamas soft and silky, reflecting a bit of light in the dim lamp glow. Suddenly, he casually mentioned, “I’ll be leaving the city in a few days to attend the garrison handover ceremony. I might not be back for a while. Stay home and don’t wander around.”
After saying this, it seemed that Faeus felt “don’t wander around” wasn’t strong enough, so he frowned and added, “No matter what happens outside, you’re not allowed to step out.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Cenfeng paused. “Are you leaving the city without taking me?”
Faeus responded, “Hmm, I’m not taking you.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, it was evident that Faeus hadn’t included Xu Cenfeng in his plans, which indirectly indicated there was no room for negotiation.
Xu Cenfeng felt he should say something, but knowing Faeus’ character well, he knew Faeus wouldn’t take him out of the city. So, he changed the subject just as he was about to speak: “Is Yenia planning to make a move?”
Faeus didn’t hide anything from him. “He’s likely to make his move on the day of the garrison ceremony. Whatever happens in Hossburgh that day, don’t listen to a single word, don’t trust a single word.”
That’s all the information Faeus could disclose. There wasn’t anything more to say; after all, the battlefield is constantly changing, and even he couldn’t predict what might happen.
Xu Cenfeng remained silent at Faeus’ words, then after a moment, he spoke up: “Will you die?”
Faeus glanced at him sideways. “Are you afraid?”
In theory, Xu Cenfeng should have been afraid, as parting from life and death is universally sorrowful. However, whether due to experiences from a past life or other reasons, his heart remained calm like still water.
Upon hearing Faeus’ words, Xu Cenfeng reached out and pulled him into an embrace, gently holding him close. He didn’t do anything else, but his heart felt profoundly reassured. In a soft and calm voice, he said, “I’m not afraid. Even if both of us were to die, there’s nothing to fear.”
Death itself is not what people fear; it’s the regret and pain it brings behind it.
In their past lives, they were separated by different realms, with many misunderstandings in between. As they faced death, there were regrets and resentments, pain and regrets, but there was no relief. Xu Cenfeng didn’t believe there could be any pain worse than that feeling.
Faeus raised an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you afraid?”
Xu Cenfeng smiled. “Because I like you, and you like me. When we both die, neither of us will resent the other.”
Faeus thought to himself, is that a reason? He scoffed and said, “As if I’m going to die.”
He’s living just fine, why should he die?
After saying this, Faeus reached out and grabbed Xu Cenfeng’s collar, calmly assessing him. Even though he had said he would die together with Xu Cenfeng, if that day really came, he found himself unexpectedly reluctant to go through with it.
Reluctant for the other to die.
Faeus said, “Xu Cenfeng, you are not allowed to die.”
Next spring, they will hold a partner ceremony, now death would be unprofitable.
Xu Cenfeng also felt it wasn’t worth it. He hugged Faeus and they went upstairs together, stumbling in the darkness. After thinking for a long time, he finally asked, “Do you want some pheromones?”
If Faeus was going to deploy outside the city, it was highly likely that he wouldn’t be able to come back for a while. Without his own pheromones to soothe him, it would probably be uncomfortable for him.
Faeus stepped back on the stairs, breathing heavily. “No need.”
He was determined. Before being marked by Xu Cenfeng’s pheromones, he had always relied on his own strength to endure mental turmoil. There was no reason why he couldn’t go a day without Xu Cenfeng’s pheromones.
Xu Cenfeng didn’t insist. “Alright.”
He had originally wanted to make sure Faeus ate well before he left, but Faeus refused to eat even when the food was right in front of him.
To avoid the army lingering too long in one place and becoming too powerful, the border garrison was typically rotated and disrupted every year. When Faeus left, he took most of the forces from the city, leaving General Wesley to guard Hossburgh. Xu Cenfeng stayed in the residential area and wasn’t allowed to go anywhere.
Meanwhile, Xu Cenfeng discovered that overnight, countless soldiers had suddenly appeared outside the house. The leader looked somewhat familiar—it was none other than the deputy leader, Hawke.
Xu Cenfeng was somewhat surprised by the situation because Hawke’s name was on the military’s accompanying list, indicating he should have been at the border with Faeus. He descended the stairs to the doorway, where he saw Hawke patrolling outside with a rifle. Xu Cenfeng spoke up, asking, “Weren’t you supposed to be at the border with the leader?”
Hawke, who had been lingering near the door, halted at the question. He raised his hand in a military salute to Xu Cenfeng and replied, “Your Excellency, the leader changed orders at the last minute. He instructed me to secretly remain in the city to ensure your safety.”
Faeus, inherently suspicious, wouldn’t put all his bets on General Wesley. He kept Hawke inside the city for two reasons: to protect Xu Cenfeng and to facilitate communication within the city. If there were any changes outside, they could coordinate effectively.
Xu Cenfeng thought it made sense. After all, Hossburgh only had three leaders in total, so it was necessary to keep one in the city. “What about Deputy Leader Yenia?”
Hawke glanced at Xu Cenfeng, always ready with answers. “He accompanied the leader to attend the garrison handover ceremony. If all goes well, he should be back in as little as four days.”
Xu Cenfeng countered, “And if things don’t go well?”
Hawke seemed reluctant to reveal too much. He turned towards the garden, his back to Xu Cenfeng, and coughed softly. “The return date is uncertain.”
The return date is uncertain.
This phrase could refer to either Faeus or Yenia, and Xu Cenfeng, though capable of facing death calmly, couldn’t help but worry for Faeus when the time came.
Over the next few days, he counted them silently in his mind, but even by the seventh day, there was no news at all.
Hossburgh had also fallen eerily quiet. The troops stationed at the city gates were silently replaced one group after another, all unfamiliar faces. Their inspections were stringent, and without General Wesley’s orders, no one could come or go.
As Xu Cenfeng sat alone on the staircase, contemplating whether to find a way to escape and search for Faeus, a frantic voice suddenly echoed from outside the garden:
“Deputy Leader, something terrible has happened! The leader is in trouble!”
Upon hearing this, Xu Cenfeng swiftly stood up from the stairs and hurried to the doorway. There, he saw a soldier rush in frantically from outside. With a heart burning with anxiety, the soldier urgently reported to Hawke, “Deputy Leader, it’s bad news! Yenia just led the team back to the city. He said there was an attack by rebel forces during the handover ceremony. The leader is surrounded and taken hostage, and we still haven’t located him!”
Hawke’s face paled in shock upon hearing this. He grabbed the soldier by the collar, demanding, “What did you say?! Rebel forces attacked during the handover ceremony?!”
Xu Cenfeng keenly sensed something amiss and frowned as he glanced at Hawke.
The soldier, on the verge of tears, continued, “After Yenia returned to the city, General Soto questioned him about why he returned without locating the leader’s whereabouts during the attack. As a result, he was demoted and placed under investigation.”
Hawke, also hot-tempered, exclaimed, “Who gave him the authority to demote? General Wesley?!”
The soldier delivering the news then uttered something even worse: “Yenia said the leader’s whereabouts are currently unknown. According to Hossburg’s rules, in the absence of a leader, he temporarily assumes the position. General Wesley conspired with him to replace all the guards inside the city, so now no one can leave…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Hawke angrily threw him to the ground. “This despicable zerg! The leader isn’t even dead yet, when did it become his turn to sit in that position! He’s clearly aiming to rebel!”
As Hawke finished speaking in anger and pulled out his gun, preparing to lead his team to confront Yenia, a slow, deliberate voice suddenly sounded nearby: “Deputy Leader Hawke, where do you intend to go?”
Hawke, upon hearing the voice, instinctively looked up and saw a group of dark figures outside the garden gate, led by a female zerg with gray hair and green eyes—Yenia. Behind him stood the somewhat silent figure of General Wesley.
Hawke’s expression turned grim, his teeth clenched. “Yenia, Wesley, are you planning a rebellion?!”
Yenia had just been “promoted” and though he didn’t show much emotion, there was a hint of satisfaction in his demeanor. He stopped a few steps away from Hawke, waved his hands in denial at the accusation, and chuckled, “No, no, no. How could I be planning a rebellion? I have always been loyal to the leader. Even if you rebel, I would never do such a thing.”
Hawke’s heart sank at his words, unconsciously tightening his grip on the gun. “What do you mean?!”
Yenia remained silent. He raised his hand to command, and immediately a swarm of soldiers behind him surrounded Hawke. Both sides stood with their guns drawn, tension thick in the air.
General Wesley frowned and finally spoke in a deep voice, “Hawke, we suspect you’ve been colluding with rebel forces in secret, plotting against the leader. Your subordinates have confessed to your correspondence with these rebels. The evidence against you is conclusive. What do you have to say for yourself now?”
This is a blatant frame-up.
According to Hossburg’s rules, in the absence of the leader, the deputy leader has the authority to temporarily assume the position. Hawke’s presence undoubtedly poses a threat to Yenia, and he feels unsettled as long as Hawke remains.
Hawke clearly understood this was a setup, infuriated to the point of drawing his gun directly at them. However, the soldiers facing him were quicker and immediately rushed forward, overpowering him and swiftly disarming him.
The A-grade elites stationed at the gate remained impassive. They were Faeus’ loyalists, dedicated solely to protecting Xu Cenfeng’s safety. Anything else was beyond their responsibilities.
Hawke struggled with all his might, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at Yenia. “You colluded with the rebels to frame the leader, didn’t you? Tell me!”
Yenia neither admitted nor denied it. He sighed softly, casting a pitying glance at Hawke. “It doesn’t matter who did what. What matters is you’re no longer the deputy leader. Soon, you’ll be sent to Blackstone Prison to toil away. Don’t worry, after all, we were once brothers. I won’t have you sentenced to death.”
He had just finished speaking and was about to order the soldiers to escort Hawke to Blackstone Prison when a calm voice suddenly sounded in his ears, interrupting his action: “Wait a moment—!”
Yenia paused at the words, instinctively looking up. He saw a black-haired, black-eyed male zerg standing at the doorway, the very one rumored to be exclusively owned by Faeus.
Yenia arched an eyebrow. “Your Excellency, it seems you wish to intercede for him?”
Yenia showed no interest in the male zerg. To him, such creatures couldn’t stir up any significant trouble. Xu Cenfeng could stay in the North as a mascot—it was unnecessary for him to assert his presence now.
Xu Cenfeng descended the steps and walked slowly to Hawke’s side. He glanced at him, lost in thought for a moment, before redirecting his gaze to Yenia. “No, you misunderstand. I didn’t intend to plead for him.”
Yenia prompted, “So?”
Xu Cenfeng made a startling declaration: “I am his accomplice. If there’s to be judgment, I’ll accompany him to Blackstone Prison.”
Hawke exclaimed in shock, his eyes widening. He became instantly emotional, nearly breaking free from the soldiers restraining him. “Your Excellency, have you lost your mind?!”
Yenia was also somewhat surprised. Unconsciously furrowing his brow, he wondered if Xu Cenfeng had some personal connection with Hawk?
The author has something to say:
Hawke: [Surprised panic intensifies.jpg]
Xu Cenfeng: [Unwavering and straightforward.jpg]
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