In fact, You Mingxu was determined to visit Yin Feng today.
She believed Yin Feng was well aware that she would come looking for him.
She just hadn’t expected Yin Feng to personally cook a meal. This man always defied expectations.
As she entered the villa, she saw Xiao Yan waiting inside the doorway, his demeanor chilly, as if he had been standing there for a long time.
You Mingxu paused in surprise and said, “You didn’t have to wait here for me.” It was such a short distance—it wasn’t as if she could get lost.
Truthfully, Xiao Yan himself didn’t know why he had insisted on waiting there. Yin Feng had mentioned earlier that when she arrived, he should go greet her. Xiao Yan had come early, and though he had been idly waiting, he felt rather happy about it.
So, Xiao Yan could only mumble, “I didn’t have anything else to do…”
You Mingxu suddenly understood. Faced with such a childlike young man, who reminded her of You Yingjun, she softened a little and smiled, saying, “Well, thank you.”
Xiao Yan blushed, lowering his head to hide in the darkness, and said, “Teacher Yin has been waiting for you for a long time.”
At the mention of Yin Feng, You Mingxu’s brow unconsciously furrowed. From a distance, she could see the terrace was unlit. Probably, as the weather grew colder, even someone as fond of lakeside moonlit dinners couldn’t endure it. She chuckled inwardly and followed Xiao Yan into the main building.
Yin Feng was in the small dining room on the second floor, eating alone.
In You Mingxu’s imagination, if Yin Feng were to cook, it would likely be something simple and pretentious, like pan-searing a steak and having a glass of red wine—effortless and requiring no real culinary skill. But when she looked up, she saw him sitting alone at the table, holding a bowl of rice, with four dishes and a soup laid out before him.
Braised chicken wings, stir-fried beef with mountain peppers, shredded lettuce salad, sautéed amaranth greens, and pork rib with winter melon soup. It all looked quite presentable.
You Mingxu pulled out a chair and sat beside him.
Yin Feng had almost finished eating. He set down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and said, “Let’s go to the study. Tuya, throw away the leftovers.”
Tuya, who seemed to be tucked away in some corner of the house, called back from afar, “Okay.”
You Mingxu glanced at Yin Feng. His complexion seemed worse than usual, and he hadn’t so much as looked at her since she entered the dining room.
You Mingxu didn’t feel anger; instead, she found it amusing. Was he throwing a tantrum?
What right did he have to be angry with her?
You Mingxu had come on serious business, so she maintained a calm expression and followed him into the study.
The fact that she had come, and wasn’t with that “Soul” companion anymore, had gradually cooled Yin Feng’s temper. He sat down at the oversized desk and began brewing tea, saying to her, “Sit.”
You Mingxu remained expressionless, watching as he brewed a pot of clear, fragrant tea and placed a cup in front of her.
Yin Feng poured a cup for himself as well, leaned back in his chair, and said, “Sparrow’s Tongue tea. Try it.” The room was heated, his shirt crisp, his hair jet-black, and his gaze deep and shadowed.
You Mingxu glanced at him. Well, he was back to normal again.
She observed the tea leaves—slender, tender green strands standing upright—and found them exceptionally beautiful. Taking a sip, she found the aroma delightful and nodded, “Not bad.”
He looked at her, picked up his own cup, and took a sip.
They both sat in silence for a moment before You Mingxu said, “We had a meeting today and basically defined the Punisher Organization.”
“Hmm.”
“Why weren’t you there?”
“Old Duan already discussed his thoughts with me. There was no need to go. Too many people attend those meetings—it’s just extra trouble.”You Mingxu finished her cup and set it on the table. Just as she was about to pour herself another, Yin Feng raised his hand, picked up the teapot first, and filled her cup. Watching the clear stream of water, You Mingxu wondered why everyone tonight seemed so eager to pour tea for her.
You Mingxu said, "The Punisher Organization—I’d like to hear your thoughts."
Yin Feng set down the teapot and looked directly at her. "What’s in it for me?"
You Mingxu stared at him.
Yin Feng smiled faintly. "What benefit do I get by sharing my opinion with you?"
You Mingxu asked, "What do you want?"
Yin Feng paused for two seconds, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his chair.
"Give me a kiss."
You Mingxu could hardly believe her ears. Yet the man before her was impeccably dressed, handsome and dignified, his eyes dark and intense—and he had unmistakably uttered those words.
The study fell silent.
"You don’t have to speak," You Mingxu said coolly. "Consider our previous agreement void." She made as if to stand, but Yin Feng spoke up, "Fine, the kiss can wait for now."
You Mingxu glared at him. He showed not a hint of embarrassment as he said, "Stay seated."
You Mingxu snorted softly, sat back down, leaned against the chair, and crossed her legs. A faint sense of triumph stirred within her—she still held the upper hand.
Yin Feng said, "The basic, publicly confirmed conclusions have already been shared by your team in the meeting. But I believe this organization has two other distinctive characteristics.
First, among those who are guilty, some are recruited into the organization as Punishers, while others become their Hunting Targets. What is the selection criteria?
Second, how does the leader of this organization make the members so devoted and united in achieving their goals? They’re even willing to disregard life and death. How does he accomplish that?"
You Mingxu’s brow furrowed.
The first question—selection criteria? Along the way, she had encountered several of them: Gu Tiancheng, Chen Zhaoci, Xiang Rong, and the distinct styles of the room owners she had seen in their old hideout. The answer seemed to hover just beyond her grasp...
As for the second question, she hadn’t given it much thought before. But now, considering it, the leader behind the scenes indeed exerted strong control over the members—even over formidable figures like Gu Tiancheng. A chill crept into You Mingxu’s heart—what kind of person could that be?
Yin Feng gave her a deep look and said, "The answers to these two questions are actually the same."
You Mingxu watched him.
He said, "It’s in that phrase."
You Mingxu’s heart jolted.
That phrase...
All good is dead; all evil prevails.
Yin Feng uttered a single word: "Good."
You Mingxu asked, "How so?"Yin Feng stood up and began pacing slowly around the room, saying, "The organization specifically selects people who have suffered unfair treatment and lost faith in society. In a way, they were originally 'good people,' just somewhat obsessive. Gu Tiancheng, exceptionally talented and ambitious, kept trying to break through his circumstances and achieve success in career and family despite repeated injustices. Xiang Rong, needless to say, deeply loved his wife and son, unable to move on for years, only to meet with sudden tragedy. Chen Zhaoci, the woman he loved most—his only hope in life—died because of campus loans, killed by those lenders... If there had been even a glimmer of hope for happiness, these people might have persevered. But in the end, they were left with no way out.
Only such individuals are whom the organization seeks to recruit. The innate 'goodness' within them—once pure and upright—has been utterly distorted by life's hardships. At this point, if someone tells them: 'Let's eliminate those who are guilty.' After conditioning and brainwashing, like melting and recasting, they develop a new, twisted, yet solid moral perspective. Originally good people turning bad often become worse than the wicked themselves. They grow fiercely committed to 'punishing evil,' becoming the perfect 'Punishers' the organization's leaders desire. That's why they embrace the creed: 'All good is dead; all evil shall be executed.'"
You Mingxu felt waves of shock hearing this and couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Just then, Yin Feng had moved behind her. His voice came softly: "In contrast, those who are thoroughly selfish and wicked from the start could never possess such resolute determination and unwavering commitment. So the organization doesn't recruit them—instead, they become Hunting Targets. This organization is born from evil, yet it punishes evil. Hence the name: 'All Evil Shall Be Executed.'"
"Hmm."
A hand rested on the back of her chair. She felt him lean close, his whisper brushing her ear: "A Xu, don't you think everything I've said is right?"
His voice was too low and deliberate, carrying a subtle, coaxing tone. Goosebumps rose on the back of her neck. Without turning around, she reached back and pressed her hand against his face, saying coldly, "Speak properly."
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