Chapter 273: Just Like Me.
Ren Fengxiang glanced at the simple bouquet and then dismissed it, understanding Jiang Che. If it were something truly valuable, he wouldn’t easily entrust it to this child, even if it were just a bouquet.
However, he didn’t discard it casually; instead, he carefully stored it away.
In case Jiang Che remembered to ask later, he could immediately produce it.
"I don’t know." Cao Yong shook his head, unaware of why Ren Fengxiang was seeking him out.
But to him, it didn’t matter whether he went to Ren Fengxiang’s or Jiang Che’s side, because what he initially wanted was for his sister to escape the man-eating environment of Leng Feng’s domain.
"However, if you have any orders, feel free to command, and I will do my utmost." Cao Yong looked seriously at Ren Fengxiang.
"Sir, Yi has always admired you, and I have always admired you too." He wasn’t lying; even as an ordinary person, he greatly respected Mr. Ren’s resilience.
"Yi just admired you too much and said some things earlier, please don’t mind." Cao Yong began to explain for his sister.
No one wants to become like this; if there is a chance to revert, surely even Mr. Ren wouldn’t refuse.
He is already so strong now, if he were normal, he’d surely be even stronger.
"I haven’t paid it any mind," Ren Fengxiang shook his head, having long grown indifferent to everything over these years of bizarre occurrences.
Even his own condition now was inconsequential to him.
If it weren’t for Jiang Che wishing for him to regain form, he would feel indifferent regardless.
"If you plan to follow me, later go say a proper farewell to your sister, see her one last time."
"I don’t even know if your following me will end in life or death." Ren Fengxiang spoke as he canceled the energy-formed limbs, becoming a small figure seated within a vase, standing upon the dark earth.
Beside him was a similarly styled vase, its mouth deep and unfathomable, seemingly ready to engulf.
"Forget it, seeing her will only make parting harder." Cao Yong shook his head.
"Will she survive over there?"
"She will, but I understand Jiang Che; with your sister’s attitude, he might be a bit displeased."
"It doesn’t matter, as long as she’s alive." Cao Yong shook his head, enduring hardship over there was of little concern.
As for suffering?
They’ve already endured the worst.
If it weren’t for sensing the land of Leng Feng might devour lives, even if covered in spikes, he wouldn’t care.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t propose going to Jiang Che’s domain even to be a dog.
"Alright then." Ren Fengxiang, residing within the vase, showed only a head exposed.
He stared straight at Cao Yong, "If I want you to become like me, would you agree?"
"I would." Cao Yong responded without the slightest hesitation.
"You have your reasons for seeking me out, and giving the restorative medicine to my sister means you need me to assist you." Cao Yong said, looking at his limbs.
His limbs were equally slender from prolonged malnutrition, in no better shape than his sister.
"Good kid, I wasn’t wrong about you." Ren Fengxiang laughed heartily.
Soon after, a vase appeared in his hand.
It was a size smaller than the one on him and a shade darker.
Gazing at the vase in his hand, Ren Fengxiang’s eyes dimmed, "Now you still have a chance to back out."
"Once you enter it, your limbs won’t regenerate."
"No matter medicine or the miracle of limb regrowth, your limbs, in the vase, will only twist, swell, and destroy."
"I’m ready, should I do it myself?" Cao Yong stared at the vase, without hesitation.
"Alas..."
With a long sigh, Cao Yong felt a fierce wind sweep by, and then his limbs lost all feeling.
Where his arms met the roots turned cold, his legless body constantly leaning forward.
Pain hadn’t yet struck when Ren Fengxiang seized his shoulders.
"The most painful part is yet to come." Ren Fengxiang observed Cao Yong, his other hand gripping the vase tremblingly.
Cao Yong hadn’t processed what happened before feeling himself forcefully shoved into the vase.
The vase neck was tiny, only as thick as a throat.
The gray vase mouth was already coated with fragmented flesh, and Ren Fengxiang continued pushing him inward.
"After this concludes, I will transfer the succession of the domain to you; should I perish later, you will inherit all rights to this domain." Ren Fengxiang’s hands didn’t slow; sparing mercy only intensified Cao Yong’s pain.
Cao Yong merely groaned, never voicing the pain aloud.
"You’re so strong, could you die?" Cao Yong puzzled, believing that even if they perished, the Lords wouldn’t.
At this level, even an sss-ranked Lord would expend effort trying to kill them.
Ren Fengxiang merely glanced at him, choosing this boy because he was resilient enough.
Fearing his plan might fail, upon his own demise, the domain wouldn’t fall to the Copper Vase.
Although Cao Yong remained weak, Jiang Che nearby could offer assistance.
He wouldn’t easily lose facing the Copper Vase.
Moreover, his sister within Jiang Che’s domain would prevent Cao Yong from betraying Jiang Che.
After all, if Jiang Che died, his sister would perish too.
"Naturally, I won’t die so easily myself."
"But in this conflict, sacrifices must occur, and I’d prefer that person be me." Ren Fengxiang spoke quietly; amid the sound of flesh squeezing, Cao Yong fell into the vase.
Cao Yong felt an instant emptiness in his body, soon enveloped by something.
Meat squeezed into smaller form instantly filled the vase, flesh swelling and sealing every gap inside.
Recognizing the body’s changes, only then did he understand why Mr. Ren said taking restorative medicine only exacerbates pain.
As the vase offered no room, flesh filled every crevice inside.
"Are you alright?" Looking at the slightly smaller vase beside him, Ren Fengxiang spoke softly.
"Yes." Cao Yong intended to ask how he might materialize energy limbs like Mr. Ren, but held back.
"You need to reach the thirteenth tier to manifest energy limbs."
"For now, just survive here on your own."
"There’s food in the house." Upon finishing these words, Ren Fengxiang turned to leave.
The rounded vase bounced on the ground, quickly hopping far.
Cao Yong remained standing motionless; he saw surrounding black soil and numerous brown vases, no limbs, only his head at the vase’s neck.
Now, it was not the pain foremost but overwhelming despair.