Chapter 56
In the middle of the night, as Xiao Qi dozed off while still pondering his unanswered questions, Wen Xin gently held him close. Cradling the little fox in his arms, he walked back toward the church.
Xiao Qi nestled in closer, pushing his small chin into the warmth of Wen Xin’s embrace. Perhaps feeling safe, even in his sleep, he unconsciously smacked his lips, as if savoring the tastes of the delicious food they had enjoyed earlier that day.
“Wen Xin…”
Hearing the voice, Wen Xin’s footsteps slowed for a moment. He turned and looked around the empty street. The only people far away stood at a well-lit intersection, a line of patrolling guards.
Scanning his surroundings, Wen Xin’s eyes landed on the sleeping Xiao Qi.
Not hearing a response, Xiao Qi called out again in his sleep, “Wen Xin…”
Now sure of the voice’s source, Wen Xin smiled and gently rubbed the fox’s head. “I’m here.”
“Next time, I want to eat… meat pies, chicken skewers…”
Wen Xin’s eyes curved with amusement. “Alright.”
They soon reached the church. Before entering the living quarters, Wen Xin spotted a group of Wei Xin Cult members waiting in the courtyard from a distance.
The twelve bishops and three cardinals were present, and it was unclear how long they had been waiting there.
Noticing their arrival, one of the members rushed over, only to be met by Wen Xin’s gesture for silence.
It was then that they saw Xiao Qi nestled comfortably in Wen Xin’s arms, sound asleep.
He looked so peaceful, so content.
Cardinal Shi, who had been eager to speak, stopped when he saw this scene. He stood there as if something lodged in his throat, making him pause in place.
Suddenly, he recalled that even during his earliest days beside His Holiness, he had never seen him so at peace.
While he was lost in thought, Wen Xin reached him and mouthed silently, “Everyone can go now.”
Before Cardinal Shi could say anything, Wen Xin patted the fox in his arms and walked past them, pushing open the door and stepping inside.
The members of Wei Xin Cult were left where they stood, baffled and uncertain.
The three cardinals exchanged glances and gestured for the others to disperse.
Understanding, the group began to leave the courtyard, lowering their voices as they talked.
“He told us all to go… does that mean His Holiness has calmed down?”
“Did anyone know where His Holiness went today?”
The cardinals had initially wanted to send members to follow Wen Xin and Xiao Qi but didn’t dare for fear of making an already tense situation worse.
So, they had waited, unable to leave or even sit down, processing reports that were brought to them in person.
Now, seeing that the fox and the young man were in good spirits, they finally felt safe enough to ask about the Pope’s whereabouts.
Once the three cardinals nodded, the members from the commercial district and patrolling guards stepped forward to report on Wen Xin and Xiao Qi’s outing.
When they learned the two had gone to the marketplace and had a wonderful time, the cult members who had been holding their breath collectively sighed in relief, patting their chests with gratitude.
“Thank goodness, thank goodness. His Holiness didn’t leave the city, so he’s not planning to go.”
The cardinal in charge of commerce beamed, “Who was in charge of managing that market street back then?”
A black-robed member stepped up excitedly, “It was me, Your Eminence.”
“Good job, very well done!”
The cardinal nodded approvingly. “I’ll allocate more funding soon. Part of it will be for today’s vendors as a reward for delighting His Holiness. Use the rest to plan how to further develop that street so it’s even better and more enjoyable for His Holiness.”
While the others celebrated, only Cardinal Shi stood in silent contemplation, replaying Wen Xin’s words from earlier in his mind, confused and uncertain.
*
The next day, Wen Xin woke up early.
He did two sets of physical training before having breakfast with Xiao Qi. After resting for a while, he continued with more explosive strength exercises.
Three hours flew by.
Covered in sweat, Wen Xin exhaled contentedly.
Following the advice of his instructors, he always took the time to stretch his muscles properly.
As a result, his body was well-proportioned without any area appearing disproportionately developed.
His black training clothes were drenched and clung to his lean waist, outlining the smooth lines of his frame. His long, well-shaped legs, likely over 108 centimeters, caught the attention of passing male and female cult members, who couldn’t help but stop and stare.
Wen Xin took a quick shower.
Looking at the time, which was nearing noon, he sought out the cult member who had helped gather information for him.
The day before, he had only confirmed Tang Qi’s safety. Now, he asked for his friend’s current address.
Wen Xin intended to visit.
He didn’t forget to ask Xiao Qi if he wanted to come along.
Of course, Xiao Qi wanted to.
But today, an important meeting required the presence of Wei Xin Cult’s Pope, so the little fox had to regretfully decline.
Wen Xin patted the disappointed-looking fox. “Is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll bring it back for you.”
Xiao Qi could have anything he wanted with countless cult members ready to serve him. But hearing Wen Xin’s words made him so happy that his eyes squinted with joy as he nuzzled Wen Xin’s palm.
Tang Qi’s parents lived in the Baihua Community on Cheng’an Road in City B.
After the city’s power structure was reorganized, the old neighborhood names were changed for easier management and distribution. Baihua Community became known as District B3-11.
District B3-11 was some distance from the church.
Wen Xin could have run there, which would have counted as half a day’s training, but showing up sweaty wasn’t the best way to visit a friend.
So he borrowed a motorcycle from Wei Xin Cult.
Before the apocalypse, Wen Xin had only seen such vehicles on store billboards.
Now, as long as it worked and had fuel, he could ride it without hesitation.
Don’t ask why—when survival is at stake, hesitation isn’t an option.
Wen Xin recalled some training camp techniques and tested the balance before confidently hitting the road.
The roads in City B had been cleared and were relatively clean, with only occasional dried bloodstains.
While the highways outside the city were filled with abandoned or wrecked cars, operational vehicles were scarce.
Oil extraction and transportation were limited, and gasoline prices had skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for most.
Hence, few people drove.
Wen Xin encountered minimal traffic, making for a smooth journey.
In under two hours, he reached District B3-11.
Wen Xin parked by the roadside, took out a metal chain from the trunk, and carefully secured the motorcycle to a rail before turning to face the community.
The residential buildings varied in height, with weathered walls and rows of poplar trees spaced every ten meters along the road.
To the left of the entrance was a grocery store, and to the right, a bank.
Both had metal shutters that had been pried open, leaving the interiors looted and in disarray.
The security booth housed two uniformed guards, chatting idly.
It was lunchtime, with people coming and going, but the guards didn’t pay attention.
Residents seemed used to this, entering through a broken section of the gate without calling on security or showing entry cards.
Wen Xin stepped up and knocked on the booth’s glass window.
After a few knocks, one of the guards finally responded, opening the window and asking what he needed.
“I’m here to visit a friend who lives here,” Wen Xin said.
The guard waved dismissively and pointed at the broken gate. “Looking for someone? Just go through there. The gate doesn’t work without power.”
Wen Xin glanced at the opening. “…”
Turning back, he saw the guards had already closed the window and resumed chatting.
With a frown, he entered the community through the broken gate, just like everyone else.
Elevators had mostly stopped running, making lower floors more desirable for survivors.
Tang Qi’s home was in Building Six, on the tenth floor.
A bit high, but not difficult for Wen Xin to climb.
According to the cult’s investigation, both Tang Qi and his parents were fortunate.
When a massive zombie wave hit City B, Xiao Qi happened to be passing through with the newly established Wei Xin Cult.
Seeing that the city’s mayor had already fled, leaving no one in charge, Xiao Qi decided to make City B the cult’s headquarters.
Intimidated by an S-class mutant’s presence, the zombies scattered, saving countless lives, including Tang Qi’s parents, who cried tears of joy.
When Tang Qi returned, Wei Xin Cult needed manpower, so he was hired immediately without even a formal interview to join the traffic management department.
He performed well, earning his superiors’ favor and securing a job that wasn’t easy but paid enough to support a family of three.
In an era where feeding one person was difficult, Tang Qi’s job was the envy of many.
He cared deeply for his parents and went home for lunch daily.
Based on the time, Wen Xin assumed Tang Qi was home by now.
Soon, he stood at Tang Qi’s door.
Double-checking the number to ensure he hadn’t made a mistake, he took a deep breath and knocked three times.
“Is anyone home?”
Five seconds later, footsteps approached, followed by a cautious voice.
“Who is it?”
The voice was young, male, and strong.
It had been months, but Wen Xin recognized it as Tang Qi’s.
A smile tugged at his lips as he happily introduced himself. “Tang Qi, it’s me, Wen Xin!”
The door opened immediately.
Before him stood Tang Qi’s familiar, cheerful face.
Surprised and excited, Tang Qi pulled Wen Xin into a bear hug before he could react.
“Wen Xin! It’s really you!”
Tang Qi never imagined he’d see his friend here.
“I heard you say your name and couldn’t believe it. Weren’t you heading to City A to find your brother? How did you end up in City B?”
Tang Qi fired off questions, barely giving Wen Xin a chance to respond. Smiling, Wen Xin patted his friend’s back.
When Tang Qi calmed down, Wen Xin said, “I’m here on business. When I remembered you were in this city, I had to come see you.”
He added lightly, “Seeing that you’re doing well puts me at ease. How are Uncle and Aunt? Is Huanhuan okay?”
Tang Qi replied, “My parents are good, but they don’t live with me. They think the tenth floor is too high to climb.”
“So, I found them a lower-floor apartment in a nearby complex with better security.”
The zombie wave in City B had driven many to flee, leaving vacant homes that Wei Xin Cult used to house refugees.
As Wen Xin listened, a fleeting thought of doubt crossed his mind.
If the other complex had better security, why didn’t Tang Qi live with his parents?
He dismissed the idea quickly. There was no reason to doubt his friend over such a trivial matter—maybe it was because a three-person place was harder to find.
When they discussed the ragdoll cat Huanhuan, Tang Qi’s expression shifted to playful annoyance.
“Huanhuan’s fine, but with my job keeping me busy, I left her with my parents for them to look after.”
“And that little rascal’s a handful. On the way here, she’d run off and make a mess if I took my eyes off her. Before I reached City B, I barely had clean clothes—almost reeked like a pickled dish. It drove me crazy…”
Wen Xin knew Tang Qi was just venting.
Though Tang Qi’s expression was fierce, there was a warm glint in his eyes.
It wasn’t a hardship—it was a treasured memory.
Seeing his friend’s genuine happiness, Wen Xin felt reassured, smiling as Tang Qi continued his animated story.
Suddenly, Wen Xin’s ears caught a noise inside.
“Do you have guests?”
At Wen Xin’s question, Tang Qi’s body tensed.
It was as if cold water doused the flame of excitement on his face, making his expression falter.
Wen Xin glanced inside.
Different-sized shoes sat in the entryway.
Assuming Tang Qi lived with his parents, he hadn’t thought much of it before.
But Tang Qi just said he lived alone, so those extra shoes belonged to someone else.
Were they friends or colleagues?
Tang Qi let out an awkward laugh. “Oh, they’re friends. We don’t often get time off, so we took this chance to gather.”
Time off…
Wen Xin frowned slightly.
Had he come without any prior knowledge, he might have believed it.
But he knew from the cult’s report that Tang Qi’s job required him to be present, with no breaks planned, at least not this week.
Wen Xin shook his head, feeling like he was being overly suspicious.
Tang Qi might not be telling the truth due to personal reasons. Why question his friend’s motives?
Seeing Wen Xin shake his head, Tang Qi’s eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Meeting Tang Qi’s worried gaze, Wen Xin felt guilty for overthinking. “No, I just remembered something.”
If Tang Qi had guests over, it wasn’t right for Wen Xin to impose.
He offered, “Enjoy your gathering. I’ll come by another time to catch up.”
“Wait…”
Tang Qi started to ask him to stay but hesitated, swallowing his words with regret.
He spoke casually, “You don’t need to come to me; I’ll visit you once we’re done. Where are you staying?”
It was natural for friends to exchange addresses.
Wen Xin was about to reply when someone inside, tired of waiting, walked out and cheerfully said, “Why the formality? If you’re friends of Tang Qi, join us!”
Tang Qi looked surprised, his expression tensing and eyebrows furrowing.
Wen Xin studied the man.
Tall and thin, with sharp, narrow eyes and a drooping nose.
There was something calculating in his gaze that made Wen Xin uneasy.
Before he could respond, Tang Qi interrupted, “No, my friend has other things to do and can’t stay.”
The man smirked, “Come on, we heard your whole conversation. He didn’t say he was busy.”
“If we’re all friends, why not introduce us? It won’t hurt you.”
Tang Qi’s voice grew cold. “Zhao Shouqiang, I’m warning you, don’t push it.”
“What’s wrong with meeting someone new?”
Zhao Shouqiang turned to Wen Xin, his eyes lighting up. “Well, aren’t you something? And Wen Xin? That’s an interesting, fitting name…”
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Wen Xin’s face.
Before Tang Qi could react, Wen Xin moved with the speed and precision of a predator.
Within moments, Zhao Shouqiang was on the floor, wrist twisted painfully, screaming, “Ahh! Not so hard!”
Tang Qi’s jaw dropped.
He stared at Wen Xin, now looking deceptively harmless with most of his face buried in the fluff of his coat, like whipped cream hiding molten steel.
But noticing Zhao Shouqiang’s attempt to struggle, Wen Xin pressed down harder.
“Ah—”
Tang Qi flinched at the sound.
Wen Xin looked up at him, asking, “These aren’t your friends, are they?”
Before Tang Qi could answer, hurried footsteps echoed inside.
A man rushed out, waving his hands nervously. “Wait, wait, it’s a misunderstanding. Don’t take it too seriously. He’s just like that, no harm meant.”
Another chimed in, “Yeah, just a misunderstanding.”
Wen Xin scrutinized them.
Seeing they carried no weapons, he narrowed his eyes and asked, “What did he mean by my name being ‘interesting and fitting’?”
One man’s expression shifted subtly.
Before he could speak, the first man glared at Zhao Shouqiang and kicked him in the head. “You idiot, can’t keep your hands to yourself. Do you know this is harassment?!”
Pinned and unable to dodge, Zhao Shouqiang wailed as he took the hits.
Wen Xin saw the man growing more aggressive and seized his ankle, giving him a cold stare.
The man smiled apologetically. “Sorry, brother. He’s got no filter. Last time he met someone named Zhang Cuihua, he kept going on about how it was destiny because his ‘soulmate’ had the same name.”
Wen Xin: “…”
The man continued, “This guy ruined our gathering. We’ll call it a day. Sorry for this, Tang Qi. We’ll meet another time.”
He called the other man, and they left without looking back at Zhao Shouqiang.
Seeing them abandon him, Zhao Shouqiang panicked. “Wait, don’t go! Help me—”
Wen Xin noted how they left without hesitation, showing no concern for Zhao Shouqiang.
At that moment, Tang Qi finally moved.
He looked at Zhao Shouqiang and then at Wen Xin, conflicted.
He sighed and said, “I’m sorry.”
Wen Xin took a long look at him. “Can I ask an unpleasant question?”
Tang Qi tensed. “Go ahead.”
“How much money do you owe?”
Tang Qi blinked. “Huh?”
“Why else would you put up with that?” Wen Xin’s brow furrowed. “Is he your godson, or are you his guardian?”
Tang Qi: “…”
He laughed wearily and pinched Wen Xin’s cheek. “Who knew you’d come back so sharp-tongued?”
Wen Xin swatted his hand away. “What hold do they have over you?”
Tang Qi’s eyes shifted. “It’s complicated.”
Wen Xin: “Keep it simple.”
Tang Qi: “…”
Why did his soft friend now seem more like a sledgehammer?
Tang Qi exhaled deeply, scratching his head. “It’s related to the new rumor causing a stir—a realist cult rising secretly. Have you heard of it?”
Wei Xin Cult, realist cult.
Wen Xin asked, “Are they opposed to Wei Xin Cult?”
“You could say that.”
Tang Qi hesitated. “The realists claim we’re all deceived, that the Pope is controlling us like puppets.”
