ICAWZ Chapter 230

Another heavy rain quietly fell, replacing the northern winds and snow.

When the peak of summer arrived, and the roses bloomed across the mountains and fields, Xu Cenfeng finally realized, with a sudden clarity, that the rise and fall of all things has its own reason.

After nearly a decade of development, the Solitiam Forest finally began to show the results of its tourism efforts. Whether it was camping experiences, canyon rafting, or rare and exotic creatures, the place had sparked quite a wave in the capital. Tourists from all over the world streamed in, making what was once a forbidden land exceptionally lively.

“Hurry up, hurry up! Get the roses ruined by the rain cleaned up quickly. This was once the site of buried pollution stones, and we invested a lot of star coins to restore this sea of flowers. A group of distinguished guests is coming tonight, and if you mess up, watch how I skin you alive!”

“Don’t worry, Director, such a large mountain range, even if a few roses get ruined, it won’t make a difference. We’ll have it cleaned up in a few hours. By the way, who are these distinguished guests? The park manager even specially cleared the area and reserved a travel route just for them.”

These are all clinking star coins. The employee in charge of trimming the flowers couldn’t help but feel a pang of distress as he watched.

The director of the garden, about to say something, suddenly noticed several yellow tour buses approaching from a distance. After the buses stopped at a roadside rest area, a group of female zergs dressed in black-and-gold military uniforms descended one by one. With guns at their waists, they looked like troublemakers not to be messed with.

“Shh, it’s those guys from the North. Hurry up and get to work! If you provoke them, you’re in for a real gunshot!”

Xu Cenfeng was there to inspect the environment. After all, the Solitiam Forest was developed jointly by the West and the North, and he was the intermediary between the two. His friends would be arriving in the rainforest that afternoon, and it was only right, both out of courtesy and responsibility, for him to make a visit.

Xu Cenfeng raised his binoculars, gazing at the undulating sea of roses in the distance. The sun was slowly setting behind the mountains, and the dark blue sky was tinted with a soft orange hue from the evening glow. Below, the roses burned bright and fierce like fire, leaving one in awe of the creator’s craftsmanship.

Xu Cenfeng looked for a moment before handing the binoculars to the attendant beside him, saying, “It rained just yesterday, so have them fix the muddy roads. As for the fallen roses, don’t worry about them.”

The attendant hesitated before speaking, “But if those roses wither, they’ll turn black and rot. Won’t that affect the viewing experience?”

As the evening breeze gently blew, Xu Cenfeng’s dark hair was slightly tousled. He couldn’t help but squint, his voice calm and unhurried, “Flowers bloom and wither—that’s just how it is. If everything were perfect and flawless, how would it be any different from synthetic flowers like those in Salaranfa?”

Xu Cenfeng paused for a moment before adding, “Never mind, I’ve arranged to meet some friends. They’ll be here soon.”

Faeus was dressed in military uniform, his black knee-high boots stomping carelessly through the mud, completely unconcerned by the yellow-brown muck. He casually tugged at his collar, feeling the heat of the rainy season stifling him. His shirt, which hadn’t been properly buttoned, immediately spread open, revealing a glimpse of his muscular chest. Frowning, he remarked, “What friends are you meeting? Didn’t we agree it would just be the two of us coming out?”

Xu Cenfeng glanced at Faeus, who never bothered to dress properly, and reached out to adjust his shirt collar. “Some old friends from the West, you know them… Put your clothes in order.”

Faeus scoffed, his wild nature evident in his voice. “I’m not like those pretentious zergs from the West, who have to follow some monarchy code, where you can’t show this and can’t reveal that.”

As he spoke, Faeus lightly traced his fingertip across Xu Cenfeng’s chin, the touch warm and delicate, almost teasing. “Don’t you think so?”

The subordinates nearby immediately turned their heads, pretending not to notice, though inwardly, they couldn’t help but envy their leader for having such a handsome and well-mannered partner.

Xu Cenfeng, who usually tolerated Faeus’ audacious behavior, didn’t shy away. Instead, he just gave him a knowing smile. “I suppose so.”

After saying that, Xu Cenfeng didn’t bother to adjust anything further. He even yanked Faeus’ shirt collar back into the disheveled state it had been in earlier, before finally withdrawing his hand.

Having done all that, Xu Cenfeng turned and began walking ahead. “Let’s go. Let’s check the campsite up ahead to see if the ingredients are ready. Otherwise, we’ll be going hungry tonight.”

A vein twitched momentarily on Faeus’ forehead. This was nothing like what he had imagined. Wasn’t Xu Cenfeng supposed to be jealous? Wasn’t he supposed to forcefully button up his shirt? How could the other just let his female monarch go about in disarray like this?

“Damn it!”

Faeus muttered a low curse, kicking a stone by the roadside with a forceful motion, then strode ahead, leading his subordinates to follow.

Xu Cenfeng stood at the crossroads with one hand in his pocket, waiting for him. When he turned his head, he saw Faeus approaching with a sour expression on his face, his shirt buttoned up neatly, not even a hint of the neckline showing.

Xu Cenfeng wasn’t at all surprised by Faeus’ actions, as if he had expected it. He stepped forward and took Faeus’ hand, noticing the large group of guards following behind them. He spoke up, “Let the subordinates find a place to rest. The rainforest is safe enough; nothing will happen.”

Faeus glanced at his hand, his expression softening slightly. Without turning his head, he gave orders to his subordinates, “You all stay back. Guard the area nearby, but don’t follow us.”

“Understood, Leader!”

The area was close to Hossburgh, and since Faeus himself was an S-class female zerg, even if something went wrong, he would still have the strength to handle it. So, after a brief hesitation, the subordinates dispersed.

Once they were gone, Faeus grabbed Xu Cenfeng’s wrist, suddenly pulling him into the nearby woods. With a force that was a bit rough, he pushed him against the trunk of a tree, his voice low and displeased. “Xu Cenfeng—”

Feeling Faeus’ obvious frustration, Xu Cenfeng couldn’t help but smile. With a swift movement, he turned, effortlessly pinning Faeus back against the tree. The thin fabric of their clothes did little to block the heat between them. Patiently, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Faeus’ emerald eyes fixed on him, his brow furrowed. “Aren’t you worried about other males taking advantage of me?”

He was referring to the earlier incident when his shirt had been left open.

Sometimes, the thoughts of those in power were so complex—either following them or defying them seemed impossible.

Xu Cenfeng heard this and lowered his gaze, casually flicking at Faeus’ collar with his fingertip. “I’m afraid, which is why I told you to fix your shirt.”

Faeus’ gritted his teeth, reminding him, “But you just pulled my shirt open again!”

This made him feel as though Xu Cenfeng didn’t care about him.

Xu Cenfeng looked at him and, with a hint of helplessness, raised his hand to tuck a strand of red hair that had fallen in front of Faeus’ face behind his ear. “That’s because you don’t want to, just like you said—no need to follow the messy rules of the West.”

Faeus was momentarily at a loss for words. He realized that no matter what he said, Xu Cenfeng’s “logic” always blocked him, much like how a scholar can’t win against a soldier—reason doesn’t always work, and the reverse was true as well.

Faeus was about to argue further, but just then, a soft “Shh” brushed against his ear, carrying with it a warm breath and a teasing sensation that made half of his face tingle. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves while we’re here, alright?”

In the fading sunset behind him, Xu Cenfeng’s handsome face appeared even softer, bathed in the gentle light. As he spoke, he lowered his gaze and kissed Faeus, slowly deepening the kiss. The once arrogant and imposing female monarch immediately let out a soft groan, his posture softening in an instant.

Faeus half-closed his eyes, allowing Xu Cenfeng to kiss along his collarbone and ear. Wrapping his arms around Xu Cenfeng’s neck, he still tried to maintain some semblance of composure, his voice tinged with a hint of critique. “The scenery here isn’t bad.”

It was much more vibrant than the icy, desolate landscape of Hossburgh.

It was unknown when Xu Cenfeng had already unbuttoned Faeus’ clothes, then continued to place burning kisses on the other’s chest, leaving behind a mark of shame. Although this female zerg had just obediently fastened his clothes, Xu Cenfeng still wanted to add another layer of “insurance.”

“Places where no one has stepped foot, the scenery is always quite nice.”

Faeus’ breath became momentarily disordered, his face a little flushed, though it was hard to tell due to his dark skin. He tightened his grip on Xu Cenfeng’s neck, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”

Xu Cenfeng smiled, “Are you afraid?”

Faeus raised an eyebrow slightly, “When have you ever seen me afraid?”

Of course, he wasn’t afraid. Even if Xu Cenfeng said he wanted to have a moment with him right now, Faeus would calmly accept.

With no one around, they entangled with each other for a long time. Faeus seemed to have no idea that this dense forest had once been the burial ground of his past life. Even at the height of their passion, he said to Xu Cenfeng, “Xu Cenfeng, when we die, let’s be buried here.”

His breath quickened, his heart burning with the heat of the fiery flower field around them. He bit down hard on Xu Cenfeng’s soft lips, as if they were about to die together at that very moment. “This is also northern territory, but it doesn’t snow here, and it’s not so cold.”

When Xu Cenfeng heard the word “die”, he paused imperceptibly for a moment, then kissed Faeus even more gently, his voice low and muffled, “Faeus, are you afraid of the cold?”

But in your past life, you died on a battlefield blanketed in snow, with no flowers to accompany you.

Faeus closed his eyes, pressing his face against Xu Cenfeng’s warm cheek, savoring the closeness of their contact, and ambiguously replied, “A little warmth wouldn’t be bad.”

He hated the heat, but didn’t mind warmth. Anything connected to the name “Xu Cenfeng” would become romantic and full of expectation, even death was no exception.

“Then… let’s be buried here.”

Xu Cenfeng paused for a moment, then readily agreed. He embraced Faeus and kissed him for a while longer, ruffling his fluffy red hair before carefully smoothing out their disheveled clothes. “This time, wear them properly. Don’t undo them.”

Faeus snorted coldly, “You think I have no shame?”

After their lips were swollen from kissing, no matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn’t possibly undo his clothes in front of other zergs.

Xu Cenfeng gave a half-smile, his voice laced with amusement as he hummed, “That’s for the best.”

After they had tidied up, they walked out of the dense forest. Not long after, an aircraft appeared in the distance, slowly descending to the entrance of the scenic area. Seven or eight tourists got off the vehicle.

At this moment, if there had been other female zergs around, they would have been unable to hold back their astonishment. Half of the tourists were actually rare male zergs, and a few of them, with black hair and black eyes, looked remarkably familiar. They were all faces frequently seen on the Star Network.

Ah Sui, sharp-eyed, was the first to spot Xu Cenfeng. Excited, he ran over with his travel bag on his back. “Brother Cenfeng! Brother Cenfeng! I’m here!”

Since they got separated in the outskirts last time, they hadn’t seen each other again. Ah Sui had been both worried and missing him, not even noticing Faeus’ cold, dagger-like gaze. He threw his arm around Xu Cenfeng’s shoulder, shaking him enthusiastically. “Brother Cenfeng, I finally found you! You don’t know how worried I’ve been about you all this time, I was afraid you got caught by interstellar pirates!”

Xu Cenfeng was also happy to reunite with an old friend, and a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face. “Ever since we got separated last time, I’ve been up north. Luckily, with this trip, we can finally catch up properly.”

Just as Ah Sui was about to say something, a deep, lazy voice rang in his ear, carrying a hint of meaning: “Your Excellency, while I understand your joy, seeing such intimacy between male zergs… could lead others to misunderstand.”

Ah Sui turned toward the voice, caught off guard by a pair of narrow, dark green eyes. He couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned by the fierce, untamed aura that radiated from the other zerg. Having spent so much time in the south, he had encountered delicate and beautiful female zergs, but he had never seen such a wild face—like a blunt knife that hadn’t been sharpened, retaining the most raw and primitive appearance.

So fierce.

Instinctively, Ah Sui loosened his grip on Xu Cenfeng and took a step back, like a nervous little creature.

Faeus couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh as he saw this, then turned his gaze elsewhere. Nine out of ten male zergs who encountered him would react like this, with Xu Cenfeng being the only exception.

Naturally, Blairand didn’t like seeing his male zerg being intimidated. He stepped forward and gently pulled Ah Sui closer. Though he wore a smile, his words carried an edge: “It’s been so long, I didn’t expect the great leader to already have a male zerg. But your charm is still as captivating as ever, hasn’t changed much.”

Faeus raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face: “Of course, after all, the north doesn’t have as many ridiculous rules as you do.”

“Faeus.”

Xu Cenfeng called him softly, signaling for him not to provoke any trouble. “They’re all my friends.”

At these words, Faeus raised an eyebrow indifferently and finally quieted down.

Xu Cenfeng’s gaze shifted to Blairand. He stepped forward and shook his hand, the gesture casual as he greeted, “Major General Blairand, long time no see.”

Blairand had a strong impression of Xu Cenfeng, the “strategist.” He couldn’t help but think that Xu Cenfeng was the most gentle and well-mannered male zerg he had ever met. He hadn’t expected him to choose a northern female zerg as his partner, and no less the most troublesome one at that.

“Your Excellency, it’s a pleasure to meet you again.”

Blairand couldn’t help but recall when he had brought Ah Sui back to the imperial capital, yet had allowed Xu Cenfeng to handle things in his own way and let them spiral into ruin. He felt a twinge of guilt in his heart.

Xu Cenfeng felt no ill will. His gaze drifted to the back, where a blue-haired man with gold-rimmed glasses was quietly watching them. He had a rough guess in his mind and subconsciously started to speak, “Han…”

“Ashya.”

The male suddenly spoke, cutting him off. He then took Xu Cenfeng’s hand, his fingers subtly tightening, carrying a hint of significance in his tone. “Your Excellency, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ashya, and this is my partner, Gaien.”

The male in a suit slightly turned to the side, revealing the silver-haired female zerg standing behind him. His features were delicate, with a deep crimson tear mole beneath the corner of his eye. Though his expression was a little melancholic, he exuded a quiet, unspoken charm.

Silver hair, red eyes, of the Gohedra royal family—Eighth Prince Gaien.

Xu Cenfeng’s mind cleared, and he smiled, nodding. “Eighth Prince, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Xu Cenfeng.”

Gaien touched his shoulder in a gesture of return and bowed. “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.”

After that, there were no more words.

Ashya put his arm around Gaien’s waist and gently patted his shoulder. “He’s my friend. We’re here to relax, so don’t be too nervous.”

Ashya was a sharp businessman who navigated the world of desire, with many partners as numerous as fish in a river, but there were few he would truly call friends.

Gaien nodded slightly at Ashya’s words, letting down a bit of his guard. He then introduced, “Your Excellency, you can just call me Gaien. This is my older brother, Seventh Prince Yusto, and his partner, Lord Lu Yuan.”

Though there were many princes in the Gohedra royal family, the one closest to Eighth Prince Gaien was Seventh Prince Yusto. Both were strong contenders for the next throne, but because Eighth Prince Gaien suffered from a leg injury, in the end, only Seventh Prince Yusto remained in the race.

Yusto and Gaien looked alike, but their temperaments were entirely different. Due to being chosen as the heir to the throne, Yusto had become more composed than before, his every gesture exuding an inherent nobility. “Your Excellency, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Your Highness, just call me Cenfeng.”

Xu Cenfeng always wore a smile, no matter who he spoke to. After saying this, he turned to look at Lu Yuan, who appeared stunned, and deliberately asked, “Lord Lu Yuan, why aren’t you speaking?”

Lu Yuan: “…”

This scammer who tricked him out of five thousand for the tour registration fee!!!

Lu Yuan immediately recognized Xu Cenfeng as the tour guide from the bus during that trip. He recalled being scammed during the tour, the bus flipping over, being forced to trek through the wilderness—his frustration was overwhelming. But with people all around him, he couldn’t express his anger.

Lu Yuan forced a smile. “Your Excellency, long time no see. I heard this tour is on your treat?”

A hint of amusement flashed in Xu Cenfeng’s dark eyes, and he replied with subtle implication, “Of course, you can relax and enjoy the trip. This tour is a joint project between the West and North. I guarantee there won’t be any accidents.”

Lu Yuan forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I hope so.”

With that, Lu Yuan turned his head away.

You Que and Sanya stood at the back, remaining silent the entire time. Their temperaments were quite similar—quiet and reserved. It was only when they saw Xu Cenfeng walking toward them that they both smiled.

Xu Cenfeng exchanged a silent embrace with You Que, then patted his shoulder. Everything was left unspoken. “Found a partner?”

You Que seemed a bit embarrassed but still seriously introduced the female zerg beside him to Xu Cenfeng. “Sanya, my partner. He’s from the South, just like Blairand.”

Sanya was tall and slender, radiating an air of aloofness. His gray braid was tied up high in a ponytail, and his eyes were an unusual silver. “Your Excellency, hello.”

“Just call me Cenfeng like You Que does, we’re all friends, no need to be formal.”

Xu Cenfeng greeted each of them, then, seeing that it was getting late, said, “You must be hungry. The sightseeing bus is up ahead, and I’ve arranged for a camping spot. We’ll have a barbecue tonight, let’s go.”

The distance between the West and South regions and the Solitiam Forest was quite far. They had rushed all the way here, and along the way, had only eaten some compressed food. It would be a lie to say they weren’t hungry. Upon hearing Xu Cenfeng’s words, a cheer broke out, and they all headed toward the yellow bus up ahead.

Lu Yuan furrowed his brow and sat in the back row, feeling like there were nails growing on the bench. No matter how he sat, it just felt uncomfortable. He mumbled to himself, “This bus isn’t going to overturn again, is it?”

Yusto thought Lu Yuan was acting strangely today. Not only was he speaking with a sharp, pointed tone, but he also kept worrying about things that didn’t make sense. He shot him a sideways glance. “It’s a perfectly fine bus, how could it overturn?”

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and retorted, “Any vehicle can overturn, why wouldn’t it be possible?”

“Your Excellency, unless you plan to walk in yourself?”

Xu Cenfeng walked to the back seat, grabbed a box of drinks, and pulled out a bottle, handing it to Yusto. He then took another bottle and handed it to Lu Yuan, his smile almost teasing. “In that case, you might have to walk for two hours.”

Lu Yuan took the water, feeling a little awkward. He muttered to himself, “Well, that’s better than the bus flipping.”

His voice was so low that only he could hear it.

Ah Sui, sitting in the back, perked up his ears upon hearing this and curiously leaned forward to ask, “What did you say?”

Xu Cenfeng gave his head a light tap and handed him a bottle of orange juice. “Sit properly, don’t move around on the bus.”

“Oh.”

Ah Sui, hearing this, obediently replied with a simple “oh” and sat back in his seat. Blairand saw him twisting the bottle cap, ready to say he didn’t want any, since Ah Sui always gave him the first share whenever there was something good to eat or drink. However, before he could say anything, he saw Ah Sui, holding the opened bottle of orange juice, turn around and eagerly offer it to the zerg behind them, Ashya, his eyes sparkling. “Ashya, drink some orange juice.”

It was an ordinary sentence, yet it somehow conveyed an unmistakable… respect and filial piety?

Blairand’s smile froze for a moment.

Ashya didn’t take the drink and instead adjusted his glasses. “You drink it.”

Ah Sui asked again, “You really won’t drink?”

Ashya shook his head.

Seeing this, Ah Sui could only put the bottle back and, from Xu Cenfeng’s box, grabbed another bottle of orange juice, handing it to Blairand. “Blairand, are you drinking or not?”

Blairand: “…”

 

 

 

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