The moment Ruan Qing stepped into the dining hall, he was met with the stares of everyone present. Though he had mentally prepared himself, the blatant intensity of their looks still left him unsettled.
Moreover, while "Qi Lintian" had erased the marks on his exposed skin, he hadn't bothered with the rest.
Standing still was one thing, but walking caused the fabric of his clothes to rub against his overstimulated chest and inner thighs, only amplifying his discomfort.
It was an unbearable sensation—itchy, faintly stinging, and tingling all at once.
Yet Ruan Qing couldn't afford to show even a hint of vulnerability. Revealing himself as a defenseless rabbit amidst a pack of wolves wouldn't earn him mercy—it would only invite them to tear him apart.
Though darkness still shrouded the world outside, the cruise ship blazed with light, illuminating every corner.
Ruan Qing swept an indifferent glance across the dining hall before forcing himself to sit at the table meticulously prepared by the staff, suppressing his discomfort.
Lin Zhiyan had already been waiting in the dining hall. His gaze flickered briefly toward Qi Lintian, who hovered close behind Ruan Qing, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly before he schooled his expression back into neutrality.
Once Ruan Qing took his seat, Lin Zhiyan stepped forward respectfully, bending slightly to offer him a pair of chopsticks. "Great Evil God, these are delicacies of the human world. Please, give them a try."
"Perhaps You might find them pleasing."
Before Ruan Qing could accept the chopsticks—or even respond—"Qi Lintian" snatched them from Lin Zhiyan's hand and, without a second glance, tossed them into a nearby trash bin.
"Qi Lintian" then retrieved a fresh pair and presented them to Ruan Qing.
Ruan Qing said nothing, simply accepting the new chopsticks as if tacitly permitting—or perhaps wholly indifferent to—"Qi Lintian's" actions.
But to everyone else, this was a clear message: the Evil God deemed them all unclean. And more importantly, it confirmed Qi Lintian's special status.
So Qi Lintian really did have a connection with the Evil God.
Lin Zhiyan's gaze slid toward the discarded chopsticks in the trash, a shadow passing through his eyes, dark and unsettling.
Ruan Qing took the offered chopsticks, picked up a bite of food, and sampled it with deliberate grace.
A beauty remained captivating in every action—even something as mundane as eating became an exquisite sight.
The staff didn't dare look directly at him, yet they covertly tracked his every movement. The moment he lifted his chopsticks, their hearts leapt into their throats—their tension even greater than during their rituals to summon the Evil God.
Would the Evil God like the food they prepared?
The answer was... no.
Though not a trace of dislike or disgust showed in the young man's eyes, the fact that he never touched that particular dish again made his distaste clear.
Of course. How could the exalted Evil God possibly enjoy food meant for mere insects?
Just as the Evil God had never deigned to glance their way, they weren't even worthy of being his dogs.
The staff member's hands clenched tightly at their sides, their entire demeanor visibly darkening, eyes clouded with unconcealed disappointment.
"Qi Lintian" frowned as he watched Ruan Qing avoid all greasy dishes entirely. He held back at first, but even the vegetarian dishes only earned a couple of bites before Ruan Qing set down his chopsticks.
This was far from a normal human's appetite.
While "Qi Lintian" was happy to play along, letting everyone worship the youth as the Evil God, he wouldn't tolerate him harming his own health.
He picked up a piece of boneless fish and placed it on Ruan Qing's plate, his lowered gaze carrying both dominance and threat—as though something terrible would happen if Ruan Qing refused to eat.
A false god facing the true Evil God... the outcome was inevitable.
Yet, to everyone's shock, Ruan Qing didn't even glance at the fish. Instead, his cold eyes fixed on "Qi Lintian".
"Are you lecturing me?"
His voice, clear and crisp like jade beads striking a plate, was chilling in its indifference—his tone, his gaze, even his merciless expression sent a tremor through their hearts.
Though seated, his slender frame appearing fragile and weak, he now seemed utterly untouchable.
"Qi Lintian's" throat moved with difficulty before he immediately dropped to one knee. "Forgive my insolence, Great Evil God. I merely—"
Ruan Qing didn't let him finish. Without hesitation, he stood and raised his foot to kick him.
But he was too weak—if he kicked, "Qi Lintian" might not budge, while he himself would likely stumble and fall.
So instead, the kick became a step.
Ruan Qing planted his foot on "Qi Lintian's" shoulder, looking down at him with that same detached, pitiless gaze—devoid of anger, as though observing nothing more than an ant.
No, this was the gaze one reserves for ants.
Were it directed at anyone else, it would have been seen as utter humiliation—a look that didn't deem its recipient worthy of even a moment's consideration.
Yet no one present perceived it that way. Not Lin Zhiyan, not even the lead staff member.
This wasn't humiliation.
It was a blessing.
The staff nearly trembled with the urge to shove Qi Lintian aside, to take his place beneath that foot.
Not all the staff were first-time cultists summoning the Evil God, nor did all of them know Qi Lintian's true identity—but Lin Zhiyan was among the few who did.
They had long suspected Qi Lintian was connected to the Evil God, perhaps even the deity himself, which was why they had elevated him so highly.
But now, the sight of him was nothing short of infuriating.
Why him?
He was the one allowed to trail at the Evil God's heels, the one permitted to serve Him meals, the one privileged enough to be stepped on by Him.
What made him so special? His closeness to the Evil God? The deity's obvious favoritism?
Even if they were all equally insignificant in the Evil God's eyes, Qi Lintian was still the lone ant granted the right to touch Him.
Just what was their relationship?
Whatever it was, it was enough to drive them mad with envy. The staff's stares bore into Qi Lintian, laced with unmistakable murderous intent.
The desire was pure, instinctive—as if they might pull out a knife and stab him at any second.
Yet none dared act.
The Evil God's power was beyond their resistance, and with the nature of His connection to Qi Lintian still unclear, reckless action would only spell their own doom.
Unless...
Unless the Evil God were to lose His power.
Lin Zhiyan lowered his gaze, his expression now indistinguishable from the rest of the staff. Even the lead staff member mirrored the shift.
Something had already begun to change.
As for "Qi Lintian"—he had long stopped noticing the others.
He could only stare, dazed, at the foot resting on his shoulder before lifting his eyes to the figure above him. His pupils dilated uncontrollably.
Then, in the next instant, excitement flooded his gaze—so intense his fingers began to tremble.
His body reacted instantly in a way it shouldn't have.
To conceal his awkward state, "Qi Lintian" lowered his head and mechanically repeated his earlier words in a low, hoarse voice: "Please calm your anger, Great Evil God."
As he bowed, "Qi Lintian" leaned forward slightly, hiding his physical reaction behind a posture of complete submission.
Anyone who saw him like this would never guess that he was the very Evil God those cultists had spent centuries trying to summon through every means possible.
Ruan Qing gave "Qi Lintian" a cool glance before finally turning and walking out of the dining hall.
Seeing this, "Qi Lintian" immediately suppressed his improper thoughts and chased after him without hesitation.
While "Qi Lintian" could follow, the staff didn’t dare. Terrified of provoking the Evil God’s wrath, they forcibly stifled their urge to pursue, watching with reluctant longing as the figure walked away.
They looked almost heartbroken, as if their souls had already left with Ruan Qing.
***
In a quiet corner of the dining hall, Xu Jinyan continued eating his breakfast undisturbed, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around him.
Only when the slender, beautiful figure at the center of the disturbance slowly left did he finally look up, his gaze lingering on the retreating silhouette with unmistakable interest.
Xu Jinyan pulled out a napkin and dabbed his lips, chuckling softly in his mind. 'How amusing, don’t you think?'
It was unclear whom he was speaking to—no answer came, leaving only dead silence, as if he were talking to himself.
Unbothered by the lack of response, Xu Jinyan continued in that same leisurely tone. 'I’ve never seen anyone dare to impersonate the Evil God before. I have to admit, his courage is impressive.'
His voice then dropped, laced with curiosity and puzzlement, as though musing aloud. 'I wonder how he managed to evade detection from those two dogs?'
Lin Zhiyan and Fu Ji were special NPCs in this dungeon—one controlled the cult’s public operations, the other its shadowy underbelly. Both possessed absurdly overwhelming strength; even Xu Jinyan himself only dared to scheme in secret.
Yet the young man’s disguise had clearly fooled them both.
If not for the fact that his face bore such a striking resemblance to that former roommate of his—and that Xu Jinyan had already uncovered his identity—he might have been deceived as well.
How truly fascinating.
Xu Jinyan failed to notice that the cruise ship’s windows were reflective. As the young man walked away, his gaze swept indifferently over Xu Jinyan’s reflection in the glass—so fleeting it might have been nothing more than a passing glance.
Even if someone noticed, they couldn’t tell what the young man was looking at—his gaze was far too cold and indifferent, as if nothing in this world could ever catch his eye.
Thank you for all the chapters!!!!!
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