Chapter 572 – The Prodigal Feng Zhen (Part Five)
“Is that a letter from your lord? What does it say inside?”
Yang Si couldn’t help but stretch his neck to peek at the letter in Wei Ci’s hand… What could be in there that made him so cheerful?
Could it be… He raised an eyebrow, a hint of gossip stirring within him, but as he leaned in closer, disappointment washed over him.
“It’s just that Feng Zhen is willing to stay… But seriously, what kind of extraordinary talent does this guy possess to make you so happy?”
Wei Ci restrained his smile and replied earnestly, “I’m not happy because of Zishi’s compliance.”
Yang Si was surprised and asked, “Oh? Then why?”
Wei Ci explained, “Zishi is usually so wild and unruly that hardly anyone can persuade him to settle down. However, he agreed to quit the Cold Food Powder.”
True love, indeed, this is…
A flicker of surprise crossed Yang Si’s eyes. He wasn’t unfamiliar with Cold Food Powder; he heard that once someone used it excessively, they could never wean off it. If the withdrawal wasn’t managed properly, it could lead to death. Yet, despite this, some still revered it as a necessary measure because the process of quitting was excruciating.
Too many people couldn’t stick it out and chose to keep using Cold Food Powder to numb themselves.
But… whether Feng Zhen agrees to quit Cold Food Powder or not, how does that affect Wei Ci’s mood?
Seemingly sensing the confusion on Yang Si’s face, Wei Ci chuckled, “Quitting Cold Food Powder isn’t a one-day task; he’ll have to endure quite a bit.”
Yang Si couldn’t help but shiver.
So he’s happy just because Feng Zhen is going to suffer?
What a scheming little fox!
Wei Ci said, “Jingrong doesn’t understand. Once you really meet Zishi, you’ll get it.”
The onlookers were deeply concerned for his wellbeing, but the one involved didn’t take it seriously at all, wasting away and indulging recklessly—how could one not be upset?
Now that Feng Zhen is about to hit rock bottom, not being happy for a while would be an injustice to all past worries.
However…
He suppressed the smirk threatening to break through, staring at the letter with a furrowed brow, his expression tinged with doubt.
Yang Si asked, “What’s wrong with you again?”
Wei Ci answered calmly, “I just didn’t expect Zishi to be only around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, yet he has been using it for four years…”
Yang Si thought it must be something serious and replied, “Surviving four years of that stuff and still having the energy to seek thrills shows he’s got some serious resilience.”
Wei Ci subtly shook his head; that wasn’t what he meant, but he couldn’t explain it to Yang Si clearly.
In his previous life, he had lived in Zhong Zhao and kept in touch with Feng Zhen. He recalled that when Feng Zhen first encountered Cold Food Powder, he was already past his prime years. Now, how old was he? To have been addicted for four and a half years was truly perplexing.
Speaking of which… did he seem to overlook something?
A spark of realization flashed in Wei Ci’s mind; suddenly, he understood!
Cold Food Powder!
This substance had indeed taken the aristocratic circles by storm, but at that time, the Nine Provinces and Five Nations were already in decline, without hope for recovery. Some decadent aristocratic heirs used Cold Food Powder to numb themselves, resulting in widespread use that spiraled out of control.
Calculating the time, the real rampant misuse of Cold Food Powder should start in about three to five years.
In his previous life, Feng Zhen took it because he heard it could enhance his physique, but now, he was merely indulging recklessly and inviting danger.
Before this, Cold Food Powder had only spread in small elite circles, not to the point of widespread chaos.
Now then?
Recalling an evaluation from a few years ago, when a scholar had publicly stripped and seduced him, Wei Ci’s complexion turned pale with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
Unintentionally, he recalled Master Liaochen’s words.
The premature rampant trend of Cold Food Powder might very well be linked to that fiend who had stolen Dongqing’s fortunes.
“With four years of use under his belt, it’s already a deep addiction. Trying to quit is going to be excruciating.”
In his previous life, Feng Zhen only used Cold Food Powder for one or two years and was subsequently forced to quit by Jiang Pengji.
Feng Zhen himself had described the quitting process as unbearably painful, instilling in him a conditioned fear whenever Cold Food Powder was mentioned.
In this life, having used it for four years… wouldn’t the pain of quitting be exponentially worse?
Yang Si scoffed, “Go ahead and relish his misfortune. That poor Feng Zhen must feel cursed to know you.”
While the craving for Cold Food Powder isn’t as severe as an addiction to drugs, completely quitting has its challenges; the withdrawal effects aren’t something an average person can handle. The intense mental cravings and physical pain pressure flux simultaneously, leaving only sheer willpower to endure.
Tears flowing, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal spasms, headaches, nausea…
Feng Zhen had attempted to quit before, but the experience was too torturous. After a short while, he gave up and chose to submit to Cold Food Powder’s dominance.
But now… how could Jiang Pengji possibly allow him to give up?
Feng Zhen had no idea what Jiang Pengji had done to him. When the cravings struck, aside from being able to move his eyes and think, his body felt completely weak, unable to speak, yet his consciousness remained painfully aware of everything happening inside him.
The cravings would hit from blazing noon until dusk, soaking him in sweat multiple times.
Once the internal agony started to fade, Feng Zhen gasped for air, like a soul clawing back from the depths of hell.
“How are you feeling?”
Jiang Pengji entered the room, followed by a guard carrying clean clothes.
Feng Zhen lay flat on the ground, gradually regaining control of his body, although his limbs remained weak, making it difficult to sit up.
“I don’t want… to talk to you…”
Feng Zhen was drenched in sweat, sleepily closing his eyes, unable to bear the memory of previous suffering, or the thought of being ruled by his cravings.
During that spasm, he had envisioned hundreds of ways to crush Jiang Pengji, wishing he could drink her blood and devour her flesh—more savage than any beast.
Where had his rationale leaked away?
“I’ve prepared some light detox food for you to eat after you wash up. For the next month, you’ll probably experience intense cravings more frequently and for longer periods. If you lack ample strength and spirit, I’m afraid you won’t endure it.”
Jiang Pengji said, “You should consider yourself lucky; you’ve been using Cold Food Powder relatively moderately without reckless abuse.”
Feng Zhen had been using Cold Food Powder for over four years, but each dose was small, and the intervals were long. It was only in the past year that usage had significantly increased; otherwise, he wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale.
Jiang Pengji possessed immense spiritual strength to help him remain conscious and safely navigate the withdrawal phase.
Upon hearing this, Feng Zhen couldn’t help but tremble all over.
Once was that painful, and now there were going to be multiple episodes in a month? How could he manage that?
“Can I have regrets?”
He didn’t want to quit!
“Nope, if you can endure this moment, then the future will open up to you.” Jiang Pengji looked at Feng Zhen, who lay on the floor like a dried fish, and smiled, “I’ve recently brewed some wine that’s far more fragrant and potent than what you usually drink. Once you’ve gained a little control over the cravings, I’ll treat you to a couple of cups.”
Wine…
Feng Zhen smacked his lips, his mouth feeling parched, “I just want to drink two cups right now.”
