The social system of the Zerg race is severely distorted and unbalanced. Many of the male zergs in the western regions take pleasure in whipping the female zergs, and this has long become a norm. However, speaking such words in the territories of the north undoubtedly violates the taboo of Faeus.
Xu Cenfeng understood the reason and knew that Faeus wasn’t going crazy for no reason. He then turned away from that group of male zergs and stood quietly at the end of the line, waiting to enter the city.
There are many things in this world that are not as they seem to the eyes. It requires listening with ears and asking with mouths; otherwise, one would only misunderstand as deeply as in previous lifetimes, going against the tide.
Xu Cenfeng recalled the scattered and broken dreams from his past life, his gaze lowered as he left a clear footprint in the snow—
There were still many things awaiting verification.
Faeus had not yet gone far when he heard the conversation behind him, causing his steps to imperceptibly falter. He turned to look and saw Xu Cenfeng standing in the snow, wearing thin clothing, his dark hair striking against the white backdrop.
Faeus raised an eyebrow faintly, thinking to himself that this male zerg was quite resilient to the cold, no wonder he dared to become an interstellar pirate. But then he remembered that the other party had seemed to have given him his coat yesterday, so it was only natural that he had no clothes to wear.
Faeus disliked owing favors to others. He retrieved Xu Cenfeng’s coat from inside the starship, intending to return it. However, he paused when he noticed a bloodstain on the shoulder. Without hesitation, he exchanged it for another military coat and threw it directly into Xu Cenfeng’s arms from several meters away.
“Put it on!”
Xu Cenfeng heard the sound of wind approaching from ahead and raised his hand, catching the coat accurately. He instinctively looked up, only to see Faeus already turning around and leading the team into the city with Hawke. All he could see was a distant figure fading away.
Raya happened to be standing nearby, his eyes widening in surprise. “Cenfeng, how did Supreme Leader Faeus suddenly give you his coat?!”
Xu Cenfeng remained silent. He looked at the black coat in his hand, noticing the four golden star emblems on it, knowing it belonged to Faeus. Without saying a word, he put it on, shielding himself from the cold wind outside.
It was warm.
Buttoning up the coat, Xu Cenfeng said something incomprehensible to Raya, “Probably because Hossburgh is too cold.”
Setting aside Xu Cenfeng for the moment, this team consisted of a total of seven male zergs, with two from the north and five from the west. All of them needed to be registered with the military for identity verification before being sent back to their respective tribes.
After the registration process was completed for the northern male zergs, they were escorted home by the military. The western male zergs were temporarily accommodated in a hotel. Only Xu Cenfeng was taken to the interrogation room at the military headquarters.
The reason being, Xu Cenfeng’s portrait was on the wanted list for interstellar pirates provided by the west.
Hawke was in charge of the interrogation. He handed one of the wanted posters to Xu Cenfeng, showing a male zerg who bore a striking resemblance to Xu Cenfeng except for differences in eye color and hair color. “Do you know the zerg in the picture?”
Xu Cenfeng, sitting across the interrogation table, glanced at the picture and replied, “Yes, I know him.”
Hawke, taken aback by his straightforwardness, paused for a moment before reacting. Then, with a serious tone, he asked, “Come clean. What’s your relationship with those interstellar pirates?”
Xu Cenfeng responded, “No relationship.”
Hawke clearly didn’t believe him, his brow furrowed tightly. “A few months ago, there was sudden turmoil within the Klayt Alliance, and a new leader emerged. According to reliable intelligence, you were the right-hand man of that new leader. Is it true or false?”
Xu Cenfeng remained silent, seemingly pondering how to respond.
This matter was complicated.
Initially, after Xu Cenfeng jumped off the Huí Fēng Cliff, he was reborn back onto the tourist bus as expected, which subsequently overturned and dropped down, leading him to cross over to the Zerg race again.
He had initially planned to head directly to the north to find Faeus. However, unexpectedly, just like in his previous life, he encountered another companion from the tourist bus. They were mistakenly captured by the interstellar pirates and then inadvertently became the new leaders of the Klayt Alliance. Within a few days, they faced a siege from the west.
At that time, the situation was dire. The interstellar pirates group was scattered by the military. To divert the firepower, one group headed west, while the other headed north.
Xu Cenfeng was among the fleeing group in the north. He usually kept a low profile and deliberately concealed his appearance. As a mere lackey in the interstellar pirates group, One Eye had never truly met Xu Cenfeng, so he had never discovered his true identity.
Seeing Xu Cenfeng remain silent, Hawke reached out and tapped the table. The dull sound reverberated unnaturally clear in the interrogation room. “According to the Imperial Reproduction Law, male zergs have a certain right to exemption. I advise you to come clean now. If our leader personally interrogates you later, you won’t be as comfortable!”
The last sentence was obviously lacking conviction. Xu Cenfeng had been intimate with Faeus in the tent yesterday, and today he was wearing their leader’s coat. Even a fool could tell that these two zergs had a complicated relationship.
Upon hearing this, Xu Cenfeng raised his head and scanned the interrogation room, which was neither too big nor too small. Finally, he noticed an extremely subtle pinhole camera in the seam of the wall. It was practically undetectable without careful observation.
On the other end of the feed, a red-haired, green-eyed female zerg sat lazily on a chair, listening in on the interrogation process. Two legs casually rested on the table, unmistakably Faeus.
He paused imperceptibly when he saw Xu Cenfeng suddenly look up towards him in the video feed, thinking that the other party had noticed something. However, in the blink of an eye, Xu Cenfeng withdrew his gaze once again.
Xu Cenfeng smoothed out the black military coat draped over him. Despite its cold and somber color, it seemed oddly harmonious on him, contrasting sharply with the white. “You’ve misunderstood. I, too, am a male zerg captured by the interstellar pirates. I usually just serve tea and water for that leader. I have no connection with them.”
Hawke sounded skeptical. “With so many male zergs around, why would the leader of the interstellar pirates choose you to serve tea and water?”
Xu Cenfeng glanced at him, his delicate face shining like jade under the light, and smiled, casting a bewitching charm. “I don’t know the answer to that question either. Perhaps you’ll have to ask him yourself.”
Hawke suddenly realized he had asked a rather foolish question. Why else would the leader of the interstellar pirates have Xu Cenfeng serve tea and water? Obviously, it was because he was handsome! Who wouldn’t like a fragrant and tender male zerg?!
Hawke had to change the question again. “You said you were also captured by the interstellar pirates. Which planet were you living on before? What’s your last name and first name?”
This was not something he could make up because the military had a database. If they couldn’t find Xu Cenfeng’s identity information, his lie would be exposed.
Xu Cenfeng fell silent for a moment before deciding to feign amnesia. “I accidentally hit my head and lost my memory. I only remember my name is Xu Cenfeng; everything else is forgotten.”
Hawke thought he was lying because such an excuse was quite cliché among the Zerg race. “Are you sure?”
Xu Cenfeng smiled. “What benefit would I gain from lying to you?”
With too many doubts surrounding Xu Cenfeng, Hawke and the recorder exchanged a glance, realizing they could only temporarily extract Xu Cenfeng’s facial information. They planned to compare it with missing male zerg cases in the database later to confirm the truthfulness of his statement.
Hawke organized the data. “Until your identity is confirmed, you must stay in the detention center—”
Before he could finish, a low and familiar voice sounded in his earpiece. “Let him stay at Chloe Hotel with the western male zergs until his identity is confirmed.”
The detention center was no comfortable place, and Xu Cenfeng looked somewhat more appealing than the other male zergs. It didn’t make sense to let him stay in prison while those western trash could enjoy luxury hotels. Faeus, for once, showed a bit of kindness, probably because that male zerg seemed too frail and vulnerable, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
Hawke was clearly caught off guard by this turn of events, letting out a surprised “Ah.” He glanced at Xu Cenfeng and then raised his hand to block his earpiece, lowering his voice nervously. “Supreme Leader, he might be an interstellar pirate. Is it safe to keep him in the hotel?”
Faeus closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his hand reaching to touch the heated zerg patterns on the back of his neck. His estrus period was approaching, and his mental state was becoming unbearably restless, causing his emotions to flare up abnormally. With a cold frown, he responded, “If you knew he was an interstellar pirate, why did you let him into my military tent yesterday?!”
Hawke felt like a mute person who had eaten bitterness and couldn’t speak. He thought, wasn’t that to give you a chance for a romantic encounter? “Supreme Leader, I only discovered his connection to the interstellar pirates afterward.”
But Faeus clearly didn’t want to engage further and abruptly terminated the communication.
Beep beep beep beep—
Hawke had no choice but to sit up straight again, removing his earpiece in the process. He reorganized his thoughts and addressed Xu Cenfeng, “Our leader has ordered that until the case is cleared, you must stay at Chloe Hotel. You are not allowed to leave.”
He finished speaking and gestured for the recorder to step forward and remove the partition from the interrogation chair. Suddenly, the male zerg in front of him spoke up, “Is this an order from your leader?”
Hawke had expected Xu Cenfeng to question “By what right?” but he was surprised by the male zerg’s response. He glanced at him and said, “Your Excellency, this treatment is already quite favorable. According to regulations, you should be locked up in prison, which is far from comfortable like a hotel.”
Xu Cenfeng paused for a moment, not pressing further. He simply rose from his chair and followed them out of the interrogation room.
At that moment, Faeus was lazily leaning against the corridor, smoking. He saw Xu Cenfeng emerge from the room, and his keen sense of smell caught a faint trace of pheromones emanating from him. A glint flickered in his emerald eyes, but his red hair conveniently fell over his face, masking any subtle interest that might have been visible.
But his neck was even more painful…
Faeus furrowed his brow, exhaling the last puff of smoke before stubbing out the cigarette in the trash can. He straightened up, about to head downstairs to the medical department for an injection of suppressant, when suddenly Xu Cenfeng called out to him from behind, “Supreme Leader—”
Faeus halted his steps, turning to look at him. “What’s the matter?”
Xu Cenfeng approached him slowly. “Deputy Leader Hawke said you don’t allow me to leave the hotel.”
Hawke stood beside them, his face twitching. He thought to himself, ‘This male zerg’s methods are really something. He dares to accuse me directly.’
Faeus raised an eyebrow at Xu Cenfeng’s words, wondering if he had indeed said such a thing. He remained silent, waiting for further explanation.
Xu Cenfeng smiled. “But this is my first time in the North, and I’d like to take a stroll near Hossburgh. Is that possible?”
Faeus remained composed upon hearing Xu Cenfeng’s request, carefully assessing him. The male zerg before him wore his military uniform unexpectedly well, with a casual elegance. Faeus casually lifted his eyelids and said, “But you might be an interstellar pirate.”
Xu Cenfeng’s voice remained gentle. “It’s just a possibility. Isn’t it uncertain?”
Faeus detected a stronger scent of pheromones emanating from him, more tempting than before, which distracted him slightly. “So what?”
Xu Cenfeng’s dark eyes met Faeus’, lacking the cold cruelty typical of male zergs. Instead, they held a softness akin to a warm spring rain. “I just want to go out for a walk.”
Faeus seemed to ponder for a long time, though it was only a moment. Finally, he furrowed his brow slightly and uttered in a low voice, “Limited to within Hossburgh.”
It was unexpectedly easy to negotiate.
Xu Cenfeng breathed a sigh of relief without showing any traces of it. He then noticed the slightly open collar of Faeus’ shirt, through which he could faintly see the bandage wrapped around his shoulder. He asked quietly, “Is your wound feeling better?”
Faeus noticed his concerned gaze and hesitated imperceptibly. There was an inexplicable strangeness in his heart. He raised an eyebrow and asked in return, “Is it any of your concern?”
Xu Cenfeng seemed to smile faintly. “I’m the one who helped treat your wound.”
This sudden mention of the matter brought back memories for Faeus, recalling the absurdity of the previous night. He never expected to find himself in a situation where he was disheveled, lying in bed with another male zerg, hugging and cuddling. It was a scenario that no one would believe if it were spread around.
With his proud and self-assured personality, Faeus nonchalantly remarked, “Anyway, I won’t die.”
With that, he briskly turned and walked away, quickly disappearing around the corner of the staircase. Little did he know that Xu Cenfeng was left in a daze by his words, unable to snap out of it for quite some time.
Hawke spoke up, reminding him, “Let’s go, I’ll take you back to the hotel.”
Xu Cenfeng snapped out of his daze and followed him.
The Chloe Hotel was situated in the center of Hossburgh, the most luxurious hotel in the main city. After all, accommodations for male zergs wouldn’t be lacking in any way. Hawke retrieved a room key card and led Xu Cenfeng to the elevator. When they arrived at the door of his room, Hawke paused, saying, “During this time, you’ll stay here. If you need anything, just call the concierge. And if you want to go out…”
He pointed to the two soldiers standing guard outside and said, “Our leader has instructed that they must accompany you.”
The customs in the north were drastically different from those in the west. Most of the male zergs were fierce and rugged. A handsome male zerg like Xu Cenfeng walking alone on the streets would easily attract lustful desires and predatory intentions.
Xu Cenfeng took the room key card and asked, “Are you sure it’s our leader’s order?”
He didn’t ask “why?” Most female zergs in the north had a volatile temperament. If he asked that question, Hawke would probably respond with something like, “There’s no need for so many ‘whys,’ anyway, this is our leader’s order.”
This was an experience Xu Cenfeng had summarized from his previous life.
Hawke teased, “Of course, with so many male zergs staying in this hotel, only your treatment is special. It’s dangerous for a handsome male zerg to walk alone on the streets.”
With that, he didn’t linger much longer, giving a few instructions to the two soldiers on duty before turning and leaving.
Seeing this, Xu Cenfeng closed the door and settled on the hotel’s large bed. He seemed a bit tired, closing his eyes and sinking into the soft mattress, his body motionless, lost in thought.
You see,
Isn’t this kind of beginning much better than the last life?
There’s no sudden confinement, no inexplicable surveillance, just to make him a little more comfortable, just for his safety…
Emotions surged in Xu Cenfeng’s heart, and it took him a long time to finally calm down. He opened his eyes, illuminated the alarm clock on the bedside table, only to see the date displayed was the 21st, and he paused imperceptibly.
Xu Cenfeng raised his hand and touched his forehead, and sure enough, it felt slightly warm.
The physiology of the Zerg race was completely different from that of humans, with an average lifespan of about two hundred years. In his previous life, Xu Cenfeng had suddenly developed a high fever shortly after crossing over. He wasn’t sure what that fever had changed, but he had a vague feeling that his body had undergone some changes. Unexpectedly, he couldn’t escape it in this life either.
Xu Cenfeng sat up from the bed and found the thermometer in the hotel’s medicine box. Over the next few hours, he continuously monitored his body temperature, finally confirming that it was indeed due to that fever.
Xu Cenfeng vaguely remembered that the fever had lasted one whole night before subsiding on its own, with no effect from medication. He forced his dizzy brain to pour himself a glass of hot water, then lay down on the bed to rest, waiting for his body temperature to drop naturally. However, he ended up burning with fever that night, delirious and startling the waiter who brought dinner.
“Your Excellency! Are you alright?!”
Xu Cenfeng lay on the bed, feeling as if someone was shaking him while in a daze. Before he could even open his eyes, the other person had already hurriedly rushed out to call a doctor.
Xu Cenfeng’s fever left his throat dry and hoarse. He tried to open his eyes but couldn’t manage it; it felt as if there were two heavy bricks pressing down on his eyelids, causing his head to ache.
In a daze, he felt a sharp needle prick his arm, injecting medication into him. In his ears, there was a sporadic conversation:
“The antipyretic has been injected…”
“Why hasn’t the fever gone down yet…”
“Perhaps the medication takes time to take effect…”
“It’s been two hours already, how much longer?!”
The voice behind was icy cold, sounding familiar.
With a surge of strength, Xu Cenfeng forcefully opened his eyes. In the blurry and unfocused vision, he saw a figure in black military uniform standing by the bed, unmistakably Faeus.
Xu Cenfeng moved his fingertips slightly, as if trying to grasp something. He silently uttered a few words, “Faeus…”
The doctor beside was being scolded harshly by Faeus, feeling unlucky in his heart. His gaze swept inadvertently, and suddenly he noticed the male zerg on the bed had opened his eyes. He exclaimed excitedly, “Lea.. Supreme Leader, that male zerg is awake! He’s awake!”
Faeus, upon hearing this, subconsciously looked towards the bed and indeed saw Xu Cenfeng had regained consciousness. He immediately stepped forward with furrowed brows and asked in a deep voice, “How are you feeling?”
Xu Cenfeng seemed to say something, but his voice was too weak to be heard clearly.
Faeus had to lean in closer to Xu Cenfeng’s ear, frowning as he asked, “What are you saying?”
However, Xu Cenfeng remained silent. In a state of semi-consciousness, he reached out and grasped Faeus’ cold fingertips, then slowly tightened his grip. In a low voice, he uttered a word: “Faeus…”
He was calling his name.
His voice was hoarse, carrying unknown depths of emotion yet incredibly tender.
Faeus was taken aback by Xu Cenfeng’s actions, his heart skipping a beat inexplicably. He instinctively looked at Xu Cenfeng, but the male zerg, whether in a fever-induced delirium or emboldened by some newfound courage, reached out and pulled him into an embrace.
“??!!!!”
Faeus’ expression was one of astonishment, stunned into a momentary blankness by the suddenness of the gesture.
But the male zerg seemed oblivious to how audacious his actions were. Xu Cenfeng, delirious with fever, still held the red-haired female zerg tightly in his arms. His embrace was gentle and pure, carrying a unique scent of pheromones.
With his eyes closed, Xu Cenfeng found himself lost in the overlapping dreams of past and present, unable to distinguish reality. He murmured softly, “Faeus…”
“Don’t die…”
In this life, they both must live well.
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