Chapter 143: The Dismembered Chu Ping

"Chu... Chu Ping... Chu Ping..."

No matter how composed Zhang Ya usually pretended to be, she was, after all, just an ordinary person.

At this moment, seeing her companion brutally killed in the dirt pit and dismembered as well, Zhang Ya was so terrified that her voice stuttered. "How could this be... How could he end up like this?"

After all...

Just half an hour ago, the two of them were still bickering with each other.

An hour ago, they were even fighting side by side.

But now...

Chu Ping had turned into a pile of bloody flesh and limbs. How was Zhang Ya supposed to accept this?!

"He must have been harmed by the monster in the mist!" While helping the wolf cub dig the pit, Ye Da scooped up Chu Ping's body parts from the dirt and said, "But Chu Ping is very smart. He must have hidden himself underground to prevent himself from being dragged away."

"B-But..."

Looking at the bloody and horrifying scene before her, Zhang Ya was genuinely too scared to speak coherently. It took her a long time to finally finish a sentence, "What... What is the use of that?"

"It is useful."

Ye Da nodded and said, "Chu Ping is not dead!"

"Once I piece him back together, he will live."

"Help me dig quickly. Don't leave behind his hands, feet, or internal organs, or Chu Ping will be disabled even if he recovers... Uh, he might be disabled."

"Lord..." Zhang Ya desperately wanted to ask if Ye Da had lost his mind, but she ultimately held back. Instead, she tried to persuade Ye Da, "Chu Ping is gone. Let's... let's go back. Let Chu Ping be buried right here. Stop digging!"

Zhang Ya watched as Ye Da dug the upper half of Chu Ping's body out of the dirt, his stomach already split open with his internal organs spilled all over the ground.

Not only that, but his limbs had also been hacked into pieces, scattered throughout the dirt pit.

Even his eyes had been gouged out, leaving two bloody sockets.

His mouth had been slashed open.

His face was covered in blood.

Under these conditions...

How could he possibly still be alive?

Although Zhang Ya was deeply saddened, she had at least accepted the fact of Chu Ping's death. But the Lord...

Lord, it seemed, had suffered some kind of heavy blow. Chu Ping was in this state.

And yet, he actually believed Chu Ping might still be alive?!

He's gone mad.

The Lord has lost his mind.

She was about to go mad, too!

"Trust me."

Ye Da did not offer a lengthy explanation because it was impossible to explain.

Though even he doubted whether someone could truly survive after being reduced to such a state, the contract between him and Chu Ping had not disappeared. In fact, Chu Ping's attributes were still displayed on this pile of flesh!

[Level 2 Vassal: Chu Ping]

[Loyalty: 98% (I've been caught, I can't get out, that invisible monster keeps hurting me, it hurts so much! I decided to dig a hole and bury myself, ha, that monster can't dig me out of the earth, they have no physical form, so they can't drag people out from the dirt! So that's it! I am so smart! Wait, earth doesn't seem to stop it from hurting me either, it found me, ah! Ah!!!)]

[Status: Multiple complete transections, missing parts, traumatic amputation, severe blood loss and unconsciousness. If treatment is not administered within one hour, the vassal will die completely!]

He wasn't even dead yet!

One had to admit, the earthworm's ability was truly too invincible!

Seeing that Zhang Ya was still standing blankly on the spot, looking utterly traumatized, Ye Da had no choice but to persuade her further, "Chu Ping is really not dead. He's just unconscious right now. As long as he receives treatment, he will get better."

"Even if he isn't dead, he... he's already like this," Zhang Ya took a deep breath and said. "Would you still be willing to treat him? Would you still be willing to keep a useless vassal?"

The last sentence came straight from the bottom of Zhang Ya's heart.

She knew that the misty world had awakened all sorts of strange abilities in people, and she had heard in the communication channel before that some people possessed abilities like immortality.

However, with Chu Ping injured to this extent, even if he were returned to Earth, the best surgeons would never be able to restore him to his original appearance.

Becoming disabled or entering a vegetative state was probably the best possible outcome for Chu Ping's current situation.

Under such circumstances, only family members who truly loved him would be willing to spend money, effort, and time to get Chu Ping treated and keep him alive.

Yet, if a vassal completely lost his labor capacity and his value, would a Lord still want him?

"Of course."

Ye Da answered with absolute decisiveness, "You are my vassals. As long as you haven't truly died for a single day, as your Lord, I will definitely find a way to save you back!"

[Loyalty +1]

[Loyalty +1]

[Loyalty...]

The moment Zhang Ya heard those words, her loyalty skyrocketed!

She had always assumed that Lords would only cherish them when they were useful, just like capitalists.

Capitalists only value employees when they have value.

The moment employees lose their value...

Capitalists discard them without hesitation.

But right here, right now...

Hearing the Lord's promise, Zhang Ya finally believed that she had not chosen the wrong person, nor had she followed the wrong master!

The Great Bear Slayer was truly a Lord of deep loyalty and righteousness!

A truly wonderful companion!

"Alright, I'll help you dig!"

Zhang Ya finally made up her mind. Even though the pit before her looked terrifying, she was going to help the Lord bring Chu Ping back.

Even if Chu Ping couldn't survive, she would find a place with good geomancy to bury him!

After all...

They were once companions!

"No need, I'm done digging."

Ye Da took off his coat and wrapped up Chu Ping's internal organs, severed hands, broken feet, and all the other parts inside it.

Then, he shoved this massive bundle of flesh directly into Zhang Ya's arms and said, "My storage backpack is full. Just help me hold this part of Chu Ping."

"The rest is heavier, I can carry it myself!"

With that, Ye Da hoisted Chu Ping's two thighs onto his shoulders, scooped up Chu Ping's upper body along with the bronze treasure chest, called out to the two wolf cubs, and headed back toward the stone house.

The wolf cubs didn't think much of it and simply trotted happily behind their master.

Only Zhang Ya was left behind in the same spot, clutching the bundle of flesh and blood, frozen in place!

"This..."

All around, the black fog surged.

She was still holding a wet, sticky cloth bundle in her hands. Furthermore, because Ye Da's coat wasn't a proper wrapping, one of the longer severed hands slipped out from the fabric, its pale, curled fingers pointing straight out like pickled pepper chicken feet, intensely drawing Zhang Ya's attention.

Not only that...

A rich, thick stench of blood kept wafting into her nostrils!

Coupled with a sudden cold breeze blowing from behind, that nameless terror almost completely enveloped Zhang Ya.

She watched as the warm yellow light ahead grew smaller and smaller, gradually swallowed by the mist until it became a hazy yellow glow, like a safe zone about to vanish!

Terrified out of her wits, Zhang Ya gave a violent shudder and cried out, "Lord, wait for me!"