After Raising Monsters, I Was Loved by Everyone in the Wasteland – CH49

Chapter 49

A voice full of raw anger, accompanied by an overwhelming pressure, questioned sharply.

Upon hearing it, Wen Xin felt as if someone had struck him hard in the head.

His body swayed, his mind went blank, and his knees buckled involuntarily.

…No!

Desperately, Wen Xin grabbed onto the bedpost.

His hand hit the wooden post with a loud slap.

He gritted his teeth, barely keeping himself from collapsing fully.

The sound was neither too loud nor too soft but just enough for those outside to hear clearly.

In an instant, Wen Xin felt the force pressing on his shoulders retreat, almost as if it had fled.

He frowned, wondering why he had this strange impression.

It seemed like there was an intimidating presence outside, and it was unclear how many people were out there.

Wen Xin stayed on alert as he took in his surroundings.

The last time he’d woken up, his attention had been entirely on Xiao Qi, the little fox, and he hadn’t had the chance to observe his surroundings.

Now, he noticed he was in a luxurious hotel suite.

With golden tones, sophisticated and elegant decor, intricately carved natural patterns on the walls, and floors polished to a pristine shine, the room exuded grandeur.

Wen Xin turned his head, examining the bed he had just slept on.

The soft blankets and the plush mattress were so fresh they seemed like they had just been unwrapped.

This was definitely not how captives were treated.

Wen Xin had thought he was in the hands of the Wei Xin Sect.

But now, it seemed someone else had saved him.

As he pondered this, Wen Xin turned around, and unexpectedly, he spotted his pistol on the table!

He froze, his pupils narrowing as he hurried over.

He ejected the magazine and counted—there were still four bullets!

The strange feeling inside him was immediately confirmed.

This treatment was definitely out of the ordinary.

Most people might not recognize a real gun, but they would recognize the shape since even kids’ toy guns were everywhere.

Wen Xin knew that if he were in this position, he wouldn’t have allowed someone he rescued to keep a weapon.

If he were rescuing someone, he would hide the weapon, lying if questioned, saying it might have been lost.

Only when he was certain the person posed no threat and that he wouldn’t be harmed would he return it to them.

Wen Xin wondered why they would be so trusting of him.

Then a possibility came to mind that might explain the situation.

Xiao Qi.

If Xiao Qi had helped him maneuver his way here, then such favorable treatment made sense.

As he thought about Xiao Qi, other details, that he’d previously overlooked, resurfaced in Wen Xin’s mind.

The fox statue resembling Xiao Qi was a symbol of the Wei Xin Sect.

The pockmarked face of the dying man who had despairingly shouted “God” before he saw the illusion of a pink ball and then Xiao Qi himself.

Wen Xin couldn’t convince himself that this was a coincidence.

He wasn’t sure how to feel.

The memory of his fallen squad haunted him, and deep down, Wen Xin didn’t want Xiao Qi involved with the Wei Xin Sect.

But he was at least 60% sure that there was a significant connection between the two.

Exhaling deeply, Wen Xin put away his gun.

Inevitably, he noticed some bruise marks on his hand.

Someone had carefully applied a layer of white ointment, which was still damp.

The deep red and purple marks were now less visible under the ointment.

Though the bruises had faded, Wen Xin couldn’t forget the feeling of his hand squeezing down, creating these marks.

It was like what his instructor had warned him about—he had hesitated and hadn’t fired right away.

His instructor had once told him that in this increasingly chaotic world, humanity’s real enemy wasn’t ferocious zombies or super-strong mutants.

It was humanity itself.

One day, he would have to discard the softer parts of his humanity and aim his gun at his fellow humans.

If he still hesitated then, it would only be a source of torment and burden.

What his instructor had said back then had turned out to be true today.

There was only one thing the instructor hadn’t foreseen.

Wen Xin didn’t regret killing that pockmarked man.

Watching the man fall to the ground, Wen Xin had felt a surreal detachment but no regret.

Not even a little.

Wen Xin touched the bruise, lowering his gaze as he thought, maybe he wasn’t such a good person…

Outside, it had been quiet for some time.

Aside from the earlier angry shout, there hadn’t been any other sounds.

Wen Xin had also kept silent, subconsciously controlling his breathing, so the room was so still that even a pin drop would be audible.

He had a feeling.

He was waiting for the people outside to make a move, and they were likely waiting for him to act as well.

Wen Xin wasn’t one to drag things out and didn’t intend to keep stalling.

He gripped his gun, his finger on the trigger, and slowly made his way toward the door.

One step, two steps, three steps…

Creak—

Before Wen Xin could reach the door, it suddenly opened from the outside!

Wen Xin’s expression sharpened, and he raised his gun instantly.

But a small pink ball was tossed in from the outside, soaring through the air!

“Xiao Qi!”

Wen Xin’s face changed as he quickly reached out to catch it.

The little ball landed in his arms, whimpering softly as it burrowed pitifully into his arms.

“Yip yip yip!”

Its sound was filled with grievances like it had been wronged.

Meeting Xiao Qi’s tear-filled eyes, Wen Xin’s heart ached, and he furrowed his brow.

While comforting the little one, Wen Xin warily looked toward the door.

Standing there was a stranger dressed in deep red robes, visibly aged, with wrinkles covering his face and sparse gray hair on his head.

Behind this person, a dozen black-robed figures slowly rose from their knees.

Wen Xin recognized their robes, with patterns that matched those worn by the pockmarked man exactly.

Only the emblem on their chests was different.

The emblem was of a blooming flower; the simple black robes had three petals, more elaborate robes had four, and the red robes had five, somewhat resembling the succulents Wen Xin once grew.

But his instructor had said that emblems of any religion had a special meaning, so it likely wasn’t such an ordinary plant.

Wen Xin could only recall a faint sense of familiarity with the emblem.

He didn’t think much of it and didn’t particularly care.

“You’re a member of the Wei Xin Sect, right? Why did you bring me here? Why not just be direct?” he asked.

The red-robed elder spoke gently, “No need to be so tense, young man. If we meant you harm, we wouldn’t have left that little one with you.”

Wen Xin looked down at his gun, expressionless.

His gaze remained entirely unwavering.

The elder saw his hostility and sighed helplessly.

“Allow me to introduce myself; I am the red-robed Cardinal of the Wei Xin Sect. My name is Shi.”

“For those who have died, I am deeply sorry.”

At the mention of this, Wen Xin’s face hardened, and his grip on the little fox tightened.

The little fox, sensing Wen Xin’s brewing anger, became stiff in his arms.

Unexpectedly, Wen Xin didn’t explode in rage.

“There’s no need to exaggerate,” he replied coolly. “We’re merely on opposing sides with different interests.”

Hearing this, Cardinal Shi let out a sigh of relief.

Immediately after, Wen Xin pointed his gun at the Cardinal’s forehead, his gaze colder than before!

“So, prepare food, water, and transport for me to leave here. Now.”

Cardinal Shi’s whole body tensed under the dark gun barrel.

“…Please believe me; we genuinely have no ill intentions.”

Wen Xin’s expression didn’t change. “Have someone prepare it first. Once it’s ready, then you can say whatever you want, and I’ll listen.”

The young man, so unyielding and firm, unsettled Cardinal Shi. Sweat began to trickle down his brow as he said hurriedly, “Fine, I’ll have it prepared.”

He turned to the black-robed followers around him, shouting angrily, “What are you standing around for? Didn’t you hear his request? Move!”

The followers scattered immediately.

Wen Xin noted Cardinal Shi’s obvious unease. He was intrigued—one could easily fake a calm expression, but physiological responses like sweat were much harder to disguise.

If that were true, why hadn’t they taken his gun?

Surely, it wasn’t simply a lack of malice?

Curiosity piqued, Wen Xin lowered his gaze to Xiao Qi, his expression thoughtful.

Cardinal Shi, observing Wen Xin’s skeptical gaze, felt a shift in his own demeanor. Casting aside his previous tension, he replied in a cold tone, “Leave if you must, but you won’t be taking the one in your arms with you…”

He choked slightly, as though struggling with some inner turmoil, his face a twisted mix of resignation and frustration.

“That foolish fox.”

Cardinal Shi quickly adjusted his expression, his tone turning harsh again. “That’s the pet of our leader—you will need the leader’s permission to take the fox with you.”

The leader’s pet…

Wen Xin’s eyes flickered.

This identification seemed to explain why Xiao Qi had been among the members of the Wei Xin Sect, and why the fox statues resembled Xiao Qi.

After all, if the leader revered the deity, it wasn’t so far-fetched that they would adopt a fox bearing such a resemblance to the deity as a pet.

Still, Wen Xin wasn’t entirely convinced by these few words, nor did he reveal his real thoughts.

Turning Cardinal Shi’s words back on him, he countered, “So, are you that so-called Leader?”

Cardinal Shi was momentarily stunned, then seemed to choke on the very notion, his face twitching with indignation. “How dare you!”

“If you’re not, then how dare you call your leader’s pet a ‘foolish fox’?”

Wen Xin pressed, “And if you’re not, how dare you toss your leader’s beloved pet into my room so casually?”

These sharply delivered remarks left both Cardinal Shi and Xiao Qi momentarily breathless. They shared a brief look of mutual relief.

Good; things were going as planned.

With a bitter smile, Cardinal Shi spoke with renewed seriousness. “This fox, though it holds His Holiness’s favor, grows arrogant with that favor. Just recently, it endangered His Holiness’s critical plans to save you. Foolishness is an understatement.”

Wen Xin frowned.

Xiao Qi, sensing Wen Xin’s softened demeanor, cast a knowing glance at Cardinal Shi, indicating for him to push further.

Cardinal Shi understood immediately.

“If you think tossing it here was cruel, let me assure you—once we return to the sect, His Holiness will likely punish it severely. Whether it survives… well, that remains to be seen.”

Xiao Qi trembled in Wen Xin’s arms, coordinating perfectly with the Cardinal’s statement.

Wen Xin, filled with sympathy, gently held the little fox close, stroking its fur as he reassured it softly. He then glared at Cardinal Shi with renewed resolve. “If that’s the case, I have even more reason to take it with me.”

The tension between them spiked once again, both sides feeling a sword-like pressure.

“You’re leaving?” Cardinal Shi asked with a slight smirk. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“You’re alone, and you want to carry a burden with you. Our members surround this hotel. Even if you make it out of here, you won’t get far. We’ll just catch you again soon enough.”

“That part is simple,” Wen Xin replied, undeterred. “You’ll be coming with us. If your people catch up, they won’t dare touch me with you in tow.”

“Rest assured, Cardinal Shi, our people in City A are warm and welcoming. They’ll make sure you’re well treated.”

Cardinal Shi: “…”

He hadn’t anticipated being so effortlessly outmaneuvered by someone so young.

And Wen Xin was as good with his words.

As he spoke, Wen Xin had already approached Cardinal Shi, pressing his gun against the Cardinal’s chest with a firm, single word: “Move.”

There was no way Cardinal Shi would willingly follow Wen Xin to City A and become a prisoner. His throat bobbed as he desperately called out to the little fox in his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, Xiao Qi did not respond.

He looked down—well, what a sight! Wen Xin, all the while threatening him, was also scratching Xiao Qi’s chin! Somehow, with a few deft movements of his fingers through the fox’s fur, Wen Xin had Xiao Qi purring contentedly, his ears flattened back, eyes half-closed in bliss, lying limp in the young man’s arms.

Cardinal Shi: Emergency situation here! Requesting backup! Requesting backup!

Xiao Qi: The fox you are calling is currently being pampered. Please call back later.

Cardinal Shi: …

Frustrated, Cardinal Shi had no choice but to follow Wen Xin’s lead, walking stiffly out of the room.

“Young man, I know you have doubts about our intentions, but I must clarify. The members of our Sect who attacked you acted independently, withholding knowledge from His Holiness the Pope.”

Wen Xin raised an eyebrow.

Seeing a chance for negotiation, Cardinal Shi immediately softened his posture, speaking earnestly, “You’re aware of the current situation. Nearly every communication tower has broken down, no one to maintain them; the network is crippled, and phones have no signal. To reach anyone far away, we have to rely on people driving messages back and forth, which can take days, even under the best conditions.”

“By the time we heard from passing bounty hunters, it was already too late.”

Cardinal Shi sighed bitterly. If they were to dig into the issue, the Sect was almost blameless. After all, it was they who had found Zhang Quanyong first.

The City A base was operating under the guise of ‘rescue,’ but in reality, they were robbing people right out of the sect’s hands. Clearly, they were in the right. But that pockmarked-faced fool had acted on his own, even colluding with City A insiders, which changed everything, making it seem like they had placed a spy in City A all along.

No one wants to make enemies without cause, especially when Cardinal Shi had heard of Wen Jingfeng, known to be something of a madman.

But that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst part was… Cardinal Shi had called for Xiao Qi’s help several times, but still got no response, leaving him smiling bitterly.

Wen Xin listened carefully to Cardinal Shi’s explanation, and to be honest, he believed him about seventy or eighty percent—not because of how sincere Cardinal Shi appeared, but because Wen Xin recalled the last words of that pockmarked-faced man before his death: No need to call for help; I alone am enough to take down all of you!

The man had said this with such arrogance, he probably wasn’t lying. This implied that the Sect in the southeast was indeed acting independently of the main sect regarding their attack on City A.

This slightly eased Wen Xin’s hostility towards the Weixin Sect, though he did not stop moving forward, surveying the area around him.

“If this is all just a misunderstanding, then where is Zhang Quanyong now?” Wen Xin’s words were carefully phrased. He didn’t ask whether Cardinal Shi knew Zhang Quanyong or if such a person even existed. He simply asked where Zhang Quanyong was, directly.

As expected, Cardinal Shi’s face showed a slight change upon hearing this.

“You want to know where he is? Forget it. He carries the antibody to the zombie virus. There is no way we would hand him over to you.”

In an instant, Wen Xin’s pupils contracted, his steps unconsciously halting. An antibody to the zombie virus.

He’d known this mission was crucial but had never expected it to be this significant. If Zhang carried the antibody, there might be a chance to develop a vaccine against the virus.

He couldn’t leave. He had to see Zhang Quanyong—the hope for humanity’s survival rested on him.

From his arms, Xiao Qi made a discontented noise, pawing at Wen Xin’s sleeve for attention. Wen Xin, barely thinking, patted the fox reassuringly.

Cardinal Shi, watching the little fox turn traitor so quickly, could have cried from frustration.

Swallowing his pride, he said, “I advise you to dismiss any reckless thoughts. Stay here obediently; even if you were to hold me hostage, the Weixin Sect might be forced into a standstill, but outside, there are hordes of zombies…”

“Fine,” Wen Xin replied, “I’ll stay.”

Cardinal Shi hadn’t even finished his speech, “…It’s absolutely impossible for you to break through alone. Wait, did you just say you’ll stay?”

Why the sudden change? He hadn’t even said much to sway him.

Wen Xin’s face remained expressionless. “Yes, I’ll stay, but Xiao Qi must leave.”

Upon hearing this, the little fox’s eyes widened, squeaking anxiously, Why do I have to go? Are you abandoning me, Wen Xin?

“Don’t worry, I’m not abandoning you,” Wen Xin soothed, patting the fox’s head. “Remember, to save me, you delayed something important for your master. You’ll be punished when you return.”

Xiao Qi fell silent, realizing it had indeed dug its own grave.

Wen Xin’s voice grew pained, murmuring, “Why would you become someone else’s pet instead of coming back to me directly? What have you been through, Xiao Qi?”

The more Wen Xin spoke, the guiltier Xiao Qi felt, clinging tightly to his clothes.

I’m not leaving; I want to stay with you!

Seeing its stubbornness, Wen Xin’s voice turned firm, “Xiao Qi, listen to me.”

Xiao Qi sensed the finality in his tone and quickly contacted Cardinal Shi’s consciousness, You have to help me!

A cold sweat broke out on Cardinal Shi’s forehead. “I-I mean, our honored leader wouldn’t necessarily punish Xiao Qi… Our leader is the kindest, most forgiving person on Earth. How could he get angry with his beloved pet over a small matter?”

Flustered, Cardinal Shi stumbled over his words, not realizing his response had given something away. But Wen Xin, ever perceptive, immediately noticed a strange feeling rising within him.

He tightened his grip on Xiao Qi’s neck fur, saying slowly, “…Fine. Since Xiao Qi wants to stay with me, we’ll never be separated again.”

The little fox’s eyes lit up with joy.

Wen Xin lowered his gun. “I have one request.”

“I’d like you to send someone to City A to deliver a message to my family that I’m safe.”

Seeing that he had finally placated Wen Xin, Cardinal Shi felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He readily agreed to this reasonable request. Even if Wen Xin intended to send a message to City A’s base, it would take several days for the word to reach there—plenty of time for them to reach their main Sect base in City B.

With thousands of sect members within their defensive base, they felt secure, as long as Wen Jingfeng didn’t lead an army to their doorsteps.

Once arrangements were made, Wen Xin handed his letter to a member of the Weixin Sect, instructing them to deliver it as soon as possible. The member, seeing Xiao Qi, immediately treated him with reverence.

“Of course, we will deliver it as quickly as possible.”

Wen Xin observed everything, glancing down at Xiao Qi, who seemed unaware of the implications, his expression complex. His hand stilled.

Xiao Qi lifted his head, catching Wen Xin’s deep gaze, shrinking back timidly, his little squeak cautious, “Yip?”

Wen Xin looked into Xiao Qi’s bright black eyes, misty and trembling, ready to shed tears at any moment. He lowered his gaze, then raised it, a sudden smile breaking across his face.

“Ah, after all this time, has my little Xiao Qi turned into a crybaby?”

Lifting Xiao Qi’s body gently, he bounced him playfully and bumped his forehead into Xiao Qi’s. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Xiao Qi’s eyes shimmered with happiness, reaching out its neck to touch foreheads with him.

Outside, as Cardinal Shi emerged, his followers hurried over, bowing respectfully.

With a stern expression, he ignored them, heading straight down to the hotel’s lobby on the first floor. There, he suddenly dropped to his knees!

Other sect members noticing this were shocked, rushing to help him up.

“Cardinal, what happened? Are you hurt? Did someone attack you?”

“Someone, help! Quick!”

But Cardinal Shi waved his hand weakly, breathlessly saying, “N-no need to panic, my legs… just gave out.”

His followers stared blankly, utterly confused.

They were all puzzled, unsure of how to respond to Cardinal Shi’s strange behavior, and stood there in silence, baffled.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Shi was still catching his breath, shaken by the ordeal. How could he possibly explain that their revered leader—the Weixin Sect’s emperor, no less—had insisted on keeping their identity hidden from Wen Xin? Out of fear that Wen Xin would bear a grudge over those who had died, the leader forced him to play this entire charade.

Cardinal Shi was heartbroken. He had even cursed the emperor, calling it a “stupid fox!”

“Ah, it’s going to be the death of me…”

Soon after, the group prepared to leave.

Wen Xin had a restful sleep, and upon waking, he ate something and felt fully recovered. However, this whole experience made him realize how out of touch he’d been, spending so much time on training without understanding what was happening in the world beyond his immediate sphere. All he knew of the outside world were rumors he’d overheard from his instructor. He had no idea about the specific forces targeting City A’s base, nor did he know that the Weixin Sect possessed a type of incense capable of clouding people’s minds.

Not wanting to waste time, Wen Xin resolved to gather as much information as he could, especially regarding Zhang Quanyong’s whereabouts. Yet, Cardinal Shi, wary of revealing too much, had instructed everyone else to avoid interacting with Wen Xin.

After much effort, Wen Xin managed to approach a member of the sect dressed in a black robe. However, as soon as the person noticed the little fox in Wen Xin’s arms, his face turned pale.

“What is it… what do you want to… to ask?” the man stammered.

Wen Xin sighed, feeling a bit exasperated. “Nothing urgent. Can I speak with Cardinal Shi?”

The black-robed member quickly nodded, “Yes, of course! Absolutely!”

At that moment, Cardinal Shi was sitting under a temporary canopy, leisurely brewing tea. But as soon as he caught sight of Wen Xin—and more importantly, the little fox in his arms—his hands trembled, and the tea nearly spilled from his cup.

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