Berserk

The first signs of trouble appeared when the Goddess was updating her status. Although he had felt a bit feverish from the start, he had no idea it would escalate to such a severe degree.

"Oh, Zhang Ruofeng's endurance has increased quite a bit today; he's already reached H199, and his other stats have all hit H. The speed of this progress is truly unimaginable." As the Goddess happily stroked Zhang Ruofeng's back, he suddenly felt a surge of heat erupt from his abdomen.

"Ngh..." Zhang Ruofeng hurriedly stood up to put on his clothes. His body was already heating up, and he guessed his face must be turning flushed as well. This was the most embarrassing situation possible. Although he had constantly warned himself never to let this happen, the wicked fire continued to churn in his gut. Zhang Ruofeng just wanted to escape the room as quickly as possible.

"Hmm?" Xin Mu noticed that Zhang Ruofeng's state was highly abnormal. She felt that he had completely lost his usual indifference and seemed somewhat agitated—something even Xin Mu, who knew him well, could not understand.

"Are you running a fever, Ruofeng?" the Goddess asked, looking at his beet-red face.

"No, no." Zhang Ruofeng retreated step by step. "I just feel a bit stifled; I'm going out for a walk." He hadn't expected that just as he was about to bolt for the door, Xin Mu would block his path.

"If you've caught a cold, you need to come out." Before Xin Mu finished speaking, she reached out to touch Zhang Ruofeng's forehead. How could Zhang Ruofeng let her touch him now? If she did, he feared the wicked fire would become even more impossible to suppress.

"I'm fine, really." Zhang Ruofeng could only hunch over slightly; otherwise, if he were found out, he would surely be mocked by these two women. Even if the Goddess and Xin Mu didn't mock him, he wouldn't be able to show his face again.

"Did you eat something bad?" The Goddess looked at the evasive, fleeing Zhang Ruofeng and asked with some surprise. Through her observations over the past few days, Zhang Ruofeng was essentially a very calm person who handled most matters in the most rational way possible.

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruofeng immediately understood the source of his wretched state. That captain of the Evan Familia—the two bottles of high-grade potions of unknown quality she had given him. If he had to think of what was different about his and Xin Mu's food and drink today, it was only that one-third of the potion he had consumed, which Xin Mu had not.

"I know what's wrong with me, just let me go out first..." Before Zhang Ruofeng could finish, the Goddess Fura grabbed his shoulder from behind. Zhang Ruofeng shook her hand off in an instant, but the potion bottle he had kept in his pants pocket tumbled out.

"This color and design..." Fura looked at the bottle on the floor, feeling as though she had seen this style somewhere before. "I remember now! Isn't this the supreme work of the most formidable child in the Evan Familia—the Potion Master—the high-grade healing potion known as Dragon Blood?" The Goddess picked up the bottle and placed it on the table.

"Bright red in color, thick, and highly potent; it is generally used by high-ranking adventurers as a topical treatment for large wounds. Its ability to stop bleeding and regenerate tissue is top-tier," the Goddess explained. After all, she was very familiar with Evan, and since Perman had been a member of the Evan Familia for over twenty years, she was quite familiar with her as well. Thinking of Perman and then looking at Zhang Ruofeng's current state, the Goddess began to get a headache.

"Although I didn't expect you to obtain her top-tier work so soon, Ruofeng, do you know the adventurer Perman Aisilusi?" the Goddess asked, filled with memories. Seeing Zhang Ruofeng shake his head, Fura gave a wry smile. "This Familia leader, who seems so steady and calm now, once went by the nickname 'The Sought-After Witch.' She was a lawless person who loved to cause trouble. Because she was sweet-looking, could craft potions, and had learned healing magic, almost every low-level adventurer party would scramble to invite her on expeditions during the early days of the Evan Familia when she was the only member. Back then, incidents of people acting recklessly to the point of switching Familias or engaging in public duels over her happened all the time. She was a lawless force that even high-ranking adventurers had to watch out for."

"..." Such legendary exploits left Zhang Ruofeng and Xin Mu unable to react. After all, the person they knew was a leader who, while mischievous, was friendly to newcomers and serious and responsible toward her own Familia.

"Later, things escalated until two Familias, who were already on bad terms, finally began a War Game that lasted until one side was completely routed. Perman, who had been pushed to the forefront, even had to leave Orario for a few years before things finally calmed down. After she returned, she was much more mature and steady, as if she had become a different person. However, her eccentric nature never changed. She soon became famous among adventurers again for rising to Level 4 and being able to craft Dragon Blood and Rage Potion. But this time, she started targeting women, and many adventurers were forced to indulge her whims because they were indebted to her. I never expected you to encounter Perman without any precautions, and for her to actually give you the extremely rare Dragon Blood." The Goddess stroked the mouth of the bottle, looked at Zhang Ruofeng's flushed face, and suddenly let out a soft laugh, followed by a sly yet shy smile. "There is a reason Perman earned the title of 'Witch.' From the moment she started crafting, her potions were highly effective, but most had side effects. For those who used the proper dosage and method, it wasn't a problem. However, her Dragon Blood and Rage Potion are also items highly sought after by nobles. Most nobles are Level 1 or not even adventurers at all; the reason they seek out Perman's highest-grade potions is that they have aphrodisiac effects on men."

"Damn it!" Although Zhang Ruofeng had already guessed it, hearing his own Goddess point it out made him feel even more ashamed and unable to face anyone. He felt his body growing even hotter, and his back seemed to be steaming. Xin Mu could even see Zhang Ruofeng sweating profusely; white steam was slowly rising from his back. Even high-ranking adventurers used this potion only for topical application, yet Zhang Ruofeng had drunk a large gulp right in front of them. Judging by his reaction, the potion's effects were still volatile even after healing all of his wounds, and being in the same room as her and Fura made his body's reaction even more pronounced.

"Ah, ah..." Zhang Ruofeng felt his body was completely beyond his control. His palms were oozing blood, and he had already bitten through the tip of his tongue, but the wound healed in mere seconds. The potion's effects were rampaging through his body, and the intense side effects made him feel like he was losing his grip. He could smell the faint fragrance of the Goddess and Xin Mu even without being near them; he couldn't even tell if it was a real scent or a hallucination born from his mind starting to go haywire.

The Goddess Fura and Xin Mu were both standing there in extreme awkwardness, as neither knew what to say. Both knew what kind of person Zhang Ruofeng was. Living under the same roof as two women, Zhang Ruofeng was extremely cautious; once night fell, he would silently curl up in bed without making a sound, never opening his eyes, trying his best to see and hear nothing. His behavior was almost distorted. But in truth, Fura knew that the deep wounds in Zhang Ruofeng's heart made him afraid to develop feelings for any woman. Looking at his expression now, she knew he was in immense pain, and any slight misstep might cause his emotional scars to widen once more.

"Ruofeng." Although Xin Mu wanted to step forward, she was held back by the Goddess. Even though the Goddess knew Xin Mu liked Zhang Ruofeng, she knew that even if Xin Mu were willing, the two must never actually cross that line, or their relationship might deteriorate to an irreparable state.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!!!!" Steam began to erupt violently from Zhang Ruofeng's entire body. He knelt on the ground, and because his blood was circulating at such a high speed, fine red capillaries began to burst across his skin. He was caught in a cycle of erotic illusions, carnal hallucinations, heartache, and the burning sensation of the potion—all mixed together. It felt like ten thousand ants were crawling over his body and gnawing at his blood vessels, while his brain was occupied by both desire and the endless, tearing sensation of heartbreak. In his delirium, Zhang Ruofeng actually began to entertain thoughts of suicide; this pain was driving him to the brink of madness.

"Bang!" Just as Zhang Ruofeng was about to stagger to his feet, he felt a figure rush in from behind. He turned his head, his bloodshot eyes seeing Xin Mu charging toward him. At such close range, his desire and heartache intensified, and black spots began to appear in his vision.

Then, he saw Xin Mu raise her right hand. Before Zhang Ruofeng could react, a crisp sound echoed in his ears, and he lost consciousness.