Heart-Locking Pill

"It wasn't completely hopeless. By chance, I obtained a Heart-Locking Pill years ago. It can rapidly restore a large amount of Qi and Blood in the short term and keep him alive. After that, he'll have to rely on himself. But this medicine is highly toxic. He might take it and drop dead on the spot. Is your friend willing to take that gamble?"

Fang Yue noticed that while Xin Jue was speaking, he kept sneaking glances at the heart in Niu Niu's hand.

What was so interesting about a heart?

Strange.

For some reason, Fang Yue felt that Xin Jue seemed to be eagerly hoping Niu Niu would take the pill.

Could it be... that there was something wrong with the medicine?

Fang Yue looked at Niu Niu. His expression was grim, and he seemed to have sensed a hint of malice from Xin Jue as well.

Then Fang Yue received a private message from Niu Niu.

"Brother Ye, once I've taken the medicine, hold me down. I'm afraid I'll jump up and kill this brain-dead NPC the moment I take it!"

...All right. He hadn't noticed anything wrong with the medicine. He just disliked Xin Jue.

But in your condition, do I really need to hold you down? Even if you were free to move, you couldn't beat Xin Jue.

After all, Niu Niu was only a reserve member of the Patrol Team. There was no way he could match Xin Jue, who was a squad leader.

Fang Yue didn't tell Niu Niu that he suspected Xin Jue. It was only a hunch, and he had no proof.

After briefly asking Niu Niu what he thought, Fang Yue said, "Brother Xin Jue, he's willing to take the pill."

"Really?"

Fang Yue nodded, but Xin Jue still wasn't reassured. "I want to hear him say himself that he's willing to take the pill. Otherwise, I can't take responsibility for getting a Patrol Team member killed."

What a hassle.

Fang Yue looked at Niu Niu, who gritted his teeth and managed to force out two words.

"I'll take it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a -1 prompt popped up above his head.

The sight nearly scared the soul out of Niu Niu. He had just one HP left!

Niu Niu immediately glared at Xin Jue even more viciously. He wasn't looking at his savior; he was looking at the enemy who'd killed his father.

Fang Yue hurriedly sent him another message—Hold it in!

Phew!

The world was so beautiful, yet I was so irritable. That wasn't good. Not good at all.

Niu Niu gradually calmed down, even putting on a grateful expression.

Good. He was teachable.

Fang Yue nodded.

That was more like it. Why pick a fight with an NPC? Getting something out of it was what mattered.

"Good. Since you asked for it yourself, I'll give you this pill. But if you survive, you'll have to do me a favor someday. Consider it a debt you owe me. No objections, right?"

As he said this, Xin Jue looked at Fang Yue. Clearly, he'd realized that the man lying on the ground didn't have the strength to speak.

Fang Yue nodded. "I'll agree on his behalf."

It was only a verbal agreement. Whether Niu Niu chose to honor it had nothing to do with Fang Yue.

After receiving his answer, Xin Jue took a small brocade box from his pocket. He opened it, took out a vermilion pill, and prepared to put it into Niu Niu's mouth.

Fang Yue stared curiously at the vermilion pill. Suddenly, a line of information appeared before him.

Fang Yue froze for a moment before realizing that his Analysis Pupil had activated.

"Name: Heart-Devouring Pill."

"Grade: Mortal Grade Low-tier."

"Effect: Restores Qi and Blood, ??? [Unknown]."

"Description: Refined from the filth of Anomalous Worms and medicinal herbs. After ingestion, the Anomalous Worms inside the pill are reactivated and begin parasitizing the body.

At first, they nourish the body and restore Qi and Blood while devouring the consumer's heart. Eventually, the consumer becomes a Medicine Person.

A Medicine Person's constitution varies depending on the medicine.

Because its effects and appearance resemble those of the Heart-Locking Pill, people often 'accidentally ingest' it and die."

"Note: Heart-Devouring Pill. Crunchy and crispy. One bite for you, one bite for me, and we'll both die together."

Heart-Devouring Pill?!

It wasn't a Heart-Locking Pill!

"Wait—"

Fang Yue's expression changed. He hurriedly reached out to snatch the Heart-Devouring Pill, but Niu Niu panicked, afraid Fang Yue would take it away. He actually leaned forward and swallowed the pill straight from Xin Jue's palm.

This...

Fang Yue was dumbfounded.

People could do that?

Niu Niu had gone so far in his pursuit of death that there was nothing Fang Yue could do.

With no other choice, Fang Yue stepped forward and grabbed Niu Niu.

"Spit it out!"

But the moment he grabbed him, he immediately felt Niu Niu struggling.

He had the strength to move now?

Fang Yue froze. Looking closer, he saw Niu Niu's complexion improving at a visible speed. His eyes were closed, and his face wore a blissful, satisfied expression, as if he were enjoying something wonderful.

Fang Yue was still wondering what was going on when Niu Niu suddenly gave a full-body shudder and opened his eyes.

"I'm all better!"

Fang Yue: ???

I suspect you're being lewd!

"Brother Ye, you can't understand how amazing this feels! Have you ever experienced your HP rapidly regenerating? That sensation... tsk, tsk. I wish a few Anomalies would beat the crap out of me, so I could just watch my health bar go up and down and enjoy the ultimate healing!"

...Well, to be honest, I've been enjoying that feeling ever since I started playing this game.

Still, Fang Yue asked curiously, "What kind of pill was that? It heals you that well?"

That well?

Niu Niu looked as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.

He broke free from Fang Yue's grasp, holding the severed hand and the heart. Then he stood tall, leaned back in a tactical pose, raised his chin, tilted his head back at an angle of more than thirty degrees, and boomed:

"Brother Ye! It's not a question of whether it's powerful. It's something truly special..."

Niu Niu closed his eyes, savoring the sensation.

"It's like hundreds of bugs massaging you from inside your body. That deep, bone-level comfort—wow, I can't even describe it. Let me put it this way: I'll never need to go for a massage again! I can just stay in the game and take pills!"

"Is it really that good?"

Fang Yue was shocked. Then he privately messaged Niu Niu: "There's some bad news, though. What you just felt wasn't an illusion. There really are hundreds of bugs inside you."

Niu Niu, still savoring the sensation, froze when he saw the message.

"...Brother Ye, what do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. The pill you took wasn't called a Heart-Locking Pill. It was called a Heart-Devouring Pill. It was supposed to eat your heart, but since the Anomaly already ripped your heart out, I have no idea what effect that'll have."

"It wasn't a Heart-Locking Pill?! That bastard tricked me!"

Niu Niu's eyes blazed as he glared at Xin Jue. At the same time, he hurriedly messaged Fang Yue.

"Brother Ye, save me! My life is so miserable! I've got [Anomalous Curse] hanging over me, and now someone's sabotaged me again. I've got it so rough!"

"Brother Ye, if you save my life, I'll give you half the money I make selling my Lifespan tonight!"

Fang Yue hadn't thought much of it at first.

But when he heard Niu Niu say that, he perked up.

If you want to talk money, now you've got my attention!

Niu Niu had to have made at least a hundred thousand selling his Lifespan. Half of that would be fifty or sixty thousand!

That was a huge sum!

Now he was motivated!

"Leave it to me!"

Fang Yue had just sent Niu Niu the message when he looked up and saw that Xin Jue's men had once again crept closer, weapons raised. They were quietly surrounding the two of them.

"Whoever comes closer will regret it!"