"But even if it's real, something like this shouldn't be appearing at a street stall, right?" Jiaoqiu looked at the contraption and could not help complaining.
"Anyway, you don't have any other options right now. How does that saying go? Desperate times call for desperate measures. Just try it," Fei Xiao said with remarkable nonchalance.
Actually, for her, death was not frightening. She had long been prepared for Moon Frenzy to spiral out of control. When that time came, she would ask the Xianzhou inhabitants to end her life, preventing her from becoming a menace.
"…I told you, I will definitely find a way to cure you." Looking at the optimistic Fei Xiao, Jiaoqiu felt a pang in his heart.
Fei Xiao, as Yaoqing's Heavenly Strike General, possessed immense power. Only she could curb the war, allowing the Xianzhou to achieve maximum victory at minimal cost.
As a Foxian physician, Jiaoqiu had witnessed countless lives slip away before him, yet he had been powerless to stop it.
It was not until he encountered Fei Xiao during an emergency rescue at a camp that her determination to "heal" the war with her own body moved him.
From that moment on, Jiaoqiu swore to cure Fei Xiao's Moon Frenzy, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
As Fei Xiao's attending physician and senior, Jiaoqiu had always hoped to completely cure her Moon Frenzy. However, Moon Frenzy originated from genetic bloodlines, making it the most difficult condition to eradicate.
Moon Frenzy was originally the innate power of the Borisin. The ancestors of the Foxian shared the same origin as the Borisin and also possessed Moon Frenzy.
However, as time passed and changes occurred, the differences between the two races gradually widened. Most Foxian no longer possessed Moon Frenzy, with only a small number still retaining it.
Fei Xiao was one of those few. While Moon Frenzy granted her formidable combat power, it also caused her to lose her sanity.
At first, it could be suppressed with sedatives, but as Fei Xiao continued to fight in battles, the Moon Frenzy attacks became more frequent, and even medication could no longer control them.
Jiaoqiu vaguely remembered the last time Fei Xiao's Moon Frenzy acted up. She locked herself in a prison cell and did not allow anyone near her for several days.
It was not until silence fell within the prison that Jiaoqiu went in to check. He found Fei Xiao covered in blood and injuries, with scratch marks covering the surrounding walls.
Fei Xiao was still conscious then. She forced a strained smile at him and said, "Sorry… I've troubled you again."
Watching Fei Xiao endure Moon Frenzy attacks time and time again while remaining helpless filled Jiaoqiu with frustration and powerlessness.
Now, Fei Xiao was even considering finding a solution through unconventional means.
If only he could be more useful.
Seemingly sensing Jiaoqiu's thoughts, Fei Xiao slapped him on the back and said, "Alright, stop overthinking. Hurry up and help me see what's inside."
Jiaoqiu reluctantly began examining the device. It was fortunate that he did, because as he studied it, he realized it was not as simple as it appeared.
After fiddling with it for a while, the device ejected three test tubes filled with crimson liquid.
"Hm? What's this?" Fei Xiao leaned in curiously.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look simple. Let me analyze the components of these liquids," Jiaoqiu said seriously. He put on medical gloves and a mask, then carefully took out the test tubes.
Just as he removed the third test tube, he accidentally triggered something on the device. The previously sealed tube suddenly opened, and the crimson liquid instantly turned into vapor, spraying out.
"Ugh! Cough, cough! What is this?" Fei Xiao accidentally inhaled some of it and began coughing violently.
A bad premonition immediately rose in Jiaoqiu's heart. After securing the two intact test tubes, he hurriedly pulled Fei Xiao aside for a check-up, fearing something might go wrong.
He had expected an accident, but after a thorough examination, Fei Xiao showed no abnormalities. The result left Jiaoqiu deeply puzzled.
Could it be that this thing was harmless?
"Fei Xiao, do you feel any discomfort?" Jiaoqiu asked.
Fei Xiao patted herself down and replied, "No, I feel the same as usual."
Hearing this, Jiaoqiu grew even more confused. "Hiss, that's strange. Logically, nothing the Borisin create is normal. Even the things they use themselves come with various negative side effects."
"How about this? I'll ask the stall owner if he has any other Borisin items. Maybe there's a connection. You can research this thing further and see if you discover anything," Fei Xiao suggested.
"Alright. I'll research it first," Jiaoqiu said, nodding. He picked up the remaining two test tubes and left to study them.
Fei Xiao put her trench coat back on, stretched her body, and vanished from her spot in an instant. The surrounding scenery seemed to slow to a crawl.
In the blink of an eye, she was back at Aether's stall. At this time, Aether had already packed up and was preparing to leave.
"Yo, boss, do you still have any Borisin goods?"
"W-wah!"
Aether was startled by Fei Xiao's sudden appearance, but he quickly calmed down. Hearing her ask about Borisin items again, he hesitated slightly.
"Borisin stuff, huh? I only brought that one with me today. I should have others, but most of them are at home. I'm closing up for today, but if you want to come to my place and take a look, that's fine. It's up to you," Aether said as he packed up.
"From what you're saying, that means you do have some. Then I'll go with you." Fei Xiao agreed without hesitation.
Aether's home was not far from the market, and they arrived quickly.
Looking at the clean and quiet small courtyard before her, Fei Xiao was slightly surprised. She had not expected the boss to be someone who enjoyed training his mind and body. It reminded her of a colleague.
"Beautiful lady, please sit and have some tea. I'll go look for them first." Aether poured Fei Xiao a cup of iced tea, then turned to rummage through the storeroom.
"Phew, why is it so hot? Is it because I rushed over just now? That wasn't even a warm-up," Fei Xiao muttered as she tugged at her collar.
For some reason, ever since she came to see Aether, she had been feeling increasingly hot. At first, she thought it was due to exertion, but even after drinking several cups of iced tea, the heat did not subside.
"Phew… something's wrong. What's happening to me? Could it be because of that thing?" A restless sensation rose within Fei Xiao's body, constantly stimulating her and making her vision swim.
"No good. I can't control it anymore…"
Thump!
Hearing a sound behind him, Aether turned around and saw Fei Xiao collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Aether rushed forward to help her up. Just as he was about to call for emergency help, Fei Xiao suddenly moved.
Bang!
Aether only saw a blur before his eyes as his entire body was sent flying backward, crashing through the wall. When he struggled back to his feet, he saw Fei Xiao with crimson eyes staring intently at him, panting heavily as streams of red gas poured from her body.
"What the hell?! Moon Frenzy has flared up!"