Although the Wonderous Soul-devouring Pill was not a healing medicine and had significant side effects, it was, after all, a potent tonic and offered some healing benefits. A little supplementation can't be wrong, Wen Zhixing mused.
The most crucial aspect was its hallucinogenic effect, which would plunge Zhang Tiancheng into a delusional state. It's best to hoodwink him when his mind isn't clear.
Earlier, acting on impulse to prevent his previous efforts from going to waste, he had beaten Zhang Tiancheng unconscious. Thinking back, he felt a pang of fear.
Wen Zhixing, however, didn't regret it. He had been bottling things up for so long and desperately needed an outlet. Now, he felt invigorated, the gloom that had clouded his mind for days completely dispelled.
"Zhang, I thank you," Wen Zhixing said to the unconscious form before him.
The elixir entered Zhang Tiancheng's stomach.
A moment later, its effects began to take hold.
Zhang Tiancheng's body trembled slightly, his eyelids flickered, and he started to show signs of reaction.
Wen Zhixing hadn't held back when he attacked; fortunately, most of Zhang Tiancheng's injuries were superficial, aside from a mild concussion. For a cultivator at the Qi Movement Realm, these were minor wounds. He had simply been beaten unconscious or had fainted from the pain.
Now, he seemed to be stirring.
"Zhang! Zhang, are you alright?" Wen Zhixing shook Zhang Tiancheng's body vigorously, trying to rouse him further.
Zhang Tiancheng slowly regained consciousness, feeling only a splitting headache. However, due to the Wonderous Soul-devouring Pill, his divine soul also felt wonderfully light, as if it were floating. The conflicting sensations of pain and pleasure assailing him unexpectedly produced a unique form of ecstasy.
"Mmm… Wen… Wen… Wen, wha… what happened to me…?" Zhang Tiancheng slurred, his expression dazed as he struggled to sit up.
"Zhang, what happened to you just now? I heard the sounds of a fight and rushed out immediately," Wen Zhixing asked with feigned concern.
"I… I… don't know…" Zhang Tiancheng looked bewildered, lost in a daze of conflicting sensations, as if hovering between pain and pleasure. He was in agony, yet paradoxically enjoying it.
Indeed, what could he truly recall? He vaguely remembered seeing a blood-red figure, and then being savagely beaten. Yes, that seemed to be what happened, he thought hazily.
Zhang Tiancheng shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The movement, however, caused his legs to weaken, and he swayed. Thankfully, Wen Zhixing caught him in time.
"Zhang, are you okay? Let me help you inside to rest first," Wen Zhixing said with concern.
"Wen…" Zhang Tiancheng struggled to stay alert. He sensed that something was wrong with his condition, and then it suddenly hit him.
This sensation… it's the Wonderous Soul-devouring Pill!
"Wen, you… you… gave me medicine?" Zhang Tiancheng sounded utterly incredulous.
"I saw you were injured, Zhang, and I didn't have any other elixirs on me. I had no choice but to give you this Wonderous Soul-devouring Pill," Wen Zhixing explained, supporting the limp Zhang Tiancheng, his own face visibly pale and weak.
"This… Wen, you're very thoughtful…" Upon hearing this, Zhang Tiancheng's mouth twitched slightly, and he managed a faint smile.
"Don't mention it, Zhang. It's only right. I'm all alone here in the Wonderous Palace with no one to rely on. I've been greatly indebted to your care recently. A few elixirs are nothing in comparison." Wen Zhixing was breathing heavily, his lips deathly white from excessive blood loss.
Seeing Wen Zhixing in this state, Zhang Tiancheng's heart was unexpectedly touched. Whether Wen Zhixing was trying to curry favor or not, he felt at least a flicker of warmth. This was especially true since Wen Zhixing was also extremely weak; Zhang Tiancheng could even see the cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Wen isn't a bad person at heart… Zhang Tiancheng thought.
「...」
Swaying and staggering, they finally made it inside the house.
"Wen, you rest first. I'm fine," Zhang Tiancheng said, his eyes regaining some clarity as he urged him. He himself only appeared to be severely injured; in truth, Wen Zhixing was far weaker.
"Zhang, I'm fine," Wen Zhixing managed, forcing a wide smile, but his body suddenly went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
"Wen!" Zhang Tiancheng gasped in shock. Forcibly enduring his own pain, he tried to help him up, only to find that Wen Zhixing had already passed out cold.
"Wen! Wen!" Ignoring his own injuries, Zhang Tiancheng bent down to check on him. Seeing that Wen Zhixing's breathing was steady, he finally felt a sliver of relief.
Wen Zhixing wasn't faking it. He truly was incredibly weak now. The side effects of the Blood Escape Skill were far too severe. If he hadn't controlled it precisely, he might have died on the spot. He had merely been forcing himself to stay conscious to put on an act. Now that the act was over, he let go and sank directly into a deep slumber.
"Wen, thank you…" Zhang Tiancheng murmured softly, gazing at Wen Zhixing's bloodless face.
Then, a look of confusion clouded his features. Who exactly is trying to harm me…?
The next moment, cold sweat streamed down his forehead. It's… it's… the Righteous Sun Palace! They warned me: cooperate, or die!
「...」
When Wen Zhixing awoke, it was already the next day. After a day of rest, his physical condition had improved significantly.
Wen Zhixing reflected on his actions from the previous day. I probably managed to fool him. I'm not exactly a good person either. It was indeed somewhat despicable, but it was a last resort. Otherwise, all my previous efforts would have been wasted, and who knows when I would have mastered the Blood Escape Skill. Or, Zhang Tiancheng might have discovered me practicing my secret skill.
It's just a pity I didn't trigger 'Revival of the Withered Tree.' If I had used the Blood Escape Skill for just a little longer, 'Revival of the Withered Tree' would have been triggered, and I could have undergone nirvana once more. But if that technique isn't controlled precisely, it means instant death.
Wen Zhixing only felt a brief pang of regret.
No need to rush, he thought. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Wen Zhixing frowned slightly. I wonder if Zhang Tiancheng will report being attacked. That could be a bit troublesome. If Zhang Tiancheng is smart, he probably won't make a fuss. As a mere furnace, even if he reported it, nothing would come of it. He didn't die, so pretending nothing happened is the best approach for him. I should focus on healing first.
Wen Zhixing didn't dwell on it further; it wasn't a major issue. His priority was to recover.
「Another seven days passed in a flash.」
On this particular day, Zhang Tiancheng appeared once again.
"Wen," Zhang Tiancheng called out, humming a little tune as he entered Wen Zhixing's room. His injuries had clearly healed, and he seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
"Zhang, please, come in and have a seat." A smile spread across Wen Zhixing's face as he quickly rose to greet him.
[Fortune Fragment detected. Would you like to spend one month of your life-span to randomly acquire it?]
The prompt box popped up once more.
Wen Zhixing's gaze immediately sharpened, focusing on the top of Zhang Tiancheng's head. Two faint, gray halos shimmered there.
More Fortune Fragments? Surprise flickered in Wen Zhixing's eyes.
Strange. How could Zhang Tiancheng, a mere furnace, possess so much fortune? The last time, there was also a Gray Fortune Fragment above his head. After I acquired it, it naturally disappeared. At that time, I didn't think much of it. It's reasonable for anyone to possess a small amount of fortune. The problem is, now two new Gray Fortune Fragments have appeared above his head. This is definitely problematic.
As a furnace, where did Zhang Tiancheng obtain this fortune? Shouldn't he have been recuperating these past few days? Where did this fortune come from? And more than one, at that! Something is definitely not right.