Chapter 201 Approaching the Divine (23)
He originally thought Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend was just hysterical, or perhaps he just refused to admit that terrifying truth and chose to ignore all the signs.
However, after drinking the medicine for a few days, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's condition did not improve at all; instead, the human quality in his eyes diminished.
In its place was a cruel bloodlust.
This day, he still made a trip to Fuxian Hall.
But from passersby, he learned that everyone in Fuxian Hall had left the city early due to recent weird objects disturbances, their whereabouts unknown.
So he could only return empty-handed, continuing to brew that seemingly useless medicine for Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend.
During the day, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend could mostly maintain consciousness, especially on this particular day, he was inexplicably clearer than at any time in the previous few days, even able to joke and banter with Tian Shikang, and even took out scriptures to review.
"Although the academy is closed now and the imperial examinations are canceled, you never know when they might resume, so it's best to be prepared early," Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend said with a smile.
Tian Shikang was particularly happy, saying that the medicine from Zhongyuan Hall had finally taken effect.
However, he never expected that as soon as the sun set, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's condition would rapidly worsen.
His breathing became heavy and rapid, his skin grew increasingly red, and his entire body felt as hot as charcoal.
Tian Shikang thought Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend had a high fever and reached out to check the temperature of his forehead.
As a result, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend dodged away, his whole body trembling, emitting a low groan from his mouth, and struggling to squeeze out a broken sentence: "Stay... stay away... from me..."
Then, he painfully clutched his head and fell heavily to the ground.
Tian Shikang watched Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's changes in a panic, hurrying forward to ask, "Are you alright?"
Kneeling beside Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend, Tian Shikang, who was about to help him up, suddenly heard a low, beast-like guttural sound.
Before he could react, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's face slowly lifted from between his arms.
This was not the Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend he knew!
This was the first thought that flashed through his mind.
The second thought: Run!
And he did just that.
As he ran towards the door, he looked back, only to see Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's face already close by.
On that crimson, bleeding face, the deep, dark eyes held only a bloodthirsty desire, his mouth was split wide, and bloody drool dripped from the corners.
Tian Shikang could tell that this weird objects, wearing Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's skin, had only one emotion.
That was, a craving for the flesh and blood of the person before him.
At this point, they were too close; the gasping of "Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend" was right by his ear.
Tian Shikang's heart pounded uncontrollably, a chill rushing from his spine to the top of his head.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his back, and Tian Shikang cried out in agony.
He didn't know if "Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend" had bitten or scratched him, but he didn't dare to look back, burying his head and running.
However, his speed was no match for "Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend" who had transformed into a weird objects; the next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his leg and fell to the ground...
"Don't do this! Let me go!" Tian Shikang was in too much pain to get up for a moment, looking at the roaring, approaching "Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend," he could only cry out helplessly, his voice filled with fear and unease.
"Run... fast." Suddenly, this sentence was mixed in with the irrational, beast-like roar.
Tian Shikang opened his eyes, which he had just closed out of fear, in shock, and saw a trace of clarity return to Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's eyes.
"Hurry..." Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend gritted his teeth and squeezed out another word.
Then, he hardened his heart and slammed himself heavily against the wall, dislocating his own arm, and then looked down at his leg, seemingly thinking of how to cripple himself.
Tian Shikang felt a pang of pain in his heart seeing Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend control himself through such self-mutilation.
Originally, he had thought that if there was truly no other way, he would have to harden his heart and find a knife...
But now it seemed that Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend still had a trace of consciousness deep down, though he didn't know how long it would last, but this was a glimmer of hope.
As long as there was that one glimmer of hope, he didn't want to abandon Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend.
At this critical moment, he inexplicably remembered what that strange woman had said.
"Generally speaking, I'm in this temple at night; if you encounter any trouble, you can come find me."
Tian Shikang struggled to get up, facing Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend who was in painful struggle, he no longer hesitated, quickly ran to the pillar, found the rope he used daily to tie Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend, and swiftly returned to Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's side.
At this moment, Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend was struggling to try and stand up, the furious look in his eyes reappearing, but then suppressed again: "Why... why aren't you running..."
Tian Shikang said nothing, taking advantage of Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend's temporary clarity, he quickly used the rope to tie his hands and feet.
Fortunately, he was accustomed to doing this, making it quick and secure, difficult to break free from.
As for whether the transformed Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend could still be restrained in this manner, he wasn't sure, but he could only do this.
"I'm sorry, I must save you..." Tian Shikang said to Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend, whose eyes were gradually clouding and who was about to lose himself, his voice filled with trembling apology.
Then, he locked the main door and rushed towards the deep, secluded residence he had seen that day, without looking back.
A few drops of cold rain fell, landing on Tian Shikang's head and face.
First, a few sporadic drops, which quickly turned into a downpour, soaking him completely.
But Tian Shikang could no longer care; he had to hurry...
...
At this moment, in Silver Ginkgo Village, Tian Shikang still felt a lingering fear recalling the events of that day.
He had merely clung to the last straw of hope and gone for help, actually not holding much expectation.
But what he didn't expect was that the Earth Mother Divine Official was so incredibly powerful, using the power bestowed by Earth Mother and those terrifying tentacled monsters to extract the weirdness from Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend, successfully reversing the "weirdness" affliction that everyone said was incurable.
Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend also never thought he could turn back into a Mortal body, and immediately knelt before the Earth Mother Divine Official in excitement, babbling words of gratitude.
From then on, both of them became followers of Earth Mother.
In these chaotic times, only Earth Mother could lead them out of the darkness.
And ever since Tian Shikang witnessed the Earth Mother Divine Official's exquisite divine power, an unprecedented craving surged within him.
Just as one, once having seen a high mountain, would not be content to remain at its base gazing up, Tian Shikang's desire for power gradually intensified to the extreme.
Especially seeing that little widow named Song Yanran could also pass the assessment and become a newly promoted Novice Divine Official, he finally, one day, could no longer suppress his desire and knelt before the Earth Mother Divine Official, begging to be allowed to study under the Earth Mother Divine Official and become a Divine Official who could serve Earth Mother.
Fortunately, the Earth Mother Divine Official was benevolent and willing to give him a chance.
Thus, he diligently studied the divine book, helped repair the temple, and served the Earth Mother Divine Official...
Finally, he became the second newly promoted Novice Divine Official and also received the power bestowed by Earth Mother...
"Shikang Divine Official, are you going back now?"
Tian Shikang was walking on the field path when he suddenly vaguely heard a timid man's voice.
The voice was weak and muffled, as if covered by the soil.
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